Startup Savants

This week on the Startup Savant podcast, we dove deep with Ken Gavranovic into scaling businesses that stand the test of time. We uncovered the essence of product-led growth – shining light on the user experience as a catalyst for organic expansion. Ken shared the riveting journey of Interland; from equity hurdles to a triumphant IPO, emphasizing the monumental leap from $0 to $200 million. We rallied behind his advocacy for employee ownership and aligning your team's heartbeat with the company's core mission.Ken Gavranovic Links: https://kengavranovic.com/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Curtis Matsko, the founder of Portland Leather Goods, joins the podcast to share the story and learnings of growing his company from its humble origins launching inside his garage. Curtis shares tales about convincing his girlfriend to leave her job and trust in his now wildly successful company and living at a Zen monastery. Portland Leather Goods: https://www.portlandleathergoods.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-matsko Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Author Chris Matthews joins the podcast to share his experience in the startup world and how it led him to write his new book Start Telling People. This episode we dive into how to create superior product demos, mistakes you might be making when showcasing your products, and how to bridge the gap to create a better startup culture in your business. Chris Matthews Links: http://www.verysmallrobots.com/http://www.starttellingpeople.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Start-Telling-People-Chris-Matthews/dp/B0C4XWSXY9https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CJWG3994/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-366385&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_366385_rh_usStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcast https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

This week we are joined by Aravinda Seshadri founder of Venturous Counsel, a startup law firm specializing in helping diverse-led startups and their allies navigate the legal complexities of entrepreneurship. The pair chat about the insights and advice on the basics of startup legal, covering topics such as equity distribution, founder shares, funding options, building strategic partnerships, and much more. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned startup founder, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you navigate the legal landscape and set your startup up for success.Venturous Counsel Links:https://www.venturouscounsel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aravindas/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Kori Estrada, founder of Risewell, joins the podcast. Kori shares the story behind her fluoride-free toothpaste brand, the problematic nature of fluoride in oral care products, and how the brand found the replacement ingredient, hydroxyapatite. With a background in finance, Kori didn't foresee a career in better-for-you products, the founder discusses the journey to becoming a founder and what she's learned along the way.Risewell Links:https://risewell.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/koriestrada/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Wissam Tabbara, founder of Truebase, discusses how to build and scale startups, focusing on developing the right go-to-market strategy and not just the product. He emphasizes starting with identifying the problem you want to solve first, rather than starting with a solution looking for a problem to solve. Tabbara shares his experience founding multiple successful companies and insights on what makes startups succeed.Truebase Links:https://truebase.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wissamtabbara/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Devo Harris went from grammy award winning producer and founder of GOOD Music alongside Kanye West to successful tech startup founder. Harris founded Adventr to introduce interactive video marketing to the mainstream and to create valuable experiences for consumers. On this episode of the podcast, we chat with Devo about how his background influenced his entrepreneurial journey, the ways venture capital needs to change, and how working with Kanye impacted his story so far. About the guest: Devo Harris is a Grammy award winning producer, entrepreneur, and founding member of Kanye West's label GOOD Music. Harris is notably responsible for propelling EGOT winner John Legend to fame by signing him to the label. His startup, Adventr, has caught the attention of major brands including Adidas, Nike, Lexus, H&M, 23andMe, Paramount+, and NASCAR.Adventr Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/devoharris/https://adventr.ai/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

What is a weighted pillow and why did the founders of YouTube and GoPro invest in the company behind it? Mikey Goldman, founder of Quiet Mind, joined the Startup Savant podcast to discuss the creation of the first-ever weighted pillow. Diagnosed with ADHD and math dyslexia, Mikey was overprescribed a litany of medications to manage his symptoms daily. The founder decided there must be another way. In this episode we discuss how Mikey created the weighted pillow in stealth mode, the necessity of NDAs even for friends, and how a mixture of PR and SEO has become the company's most successful marketing strategy.Quiet Mind Links: https://www.onequietmind.com/https://www.instagram.com/quietmind/https://twitter.com/quietmindhttps://www.tiktok.com/@onequietmindStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#77. Tiffany Yang, the co-founder of Sweety, shares her journey from taking her family's small shaved ice cream shop and creating a nationally distributed brand in stores like Walmart and Costco. She shares the wild tale of landing Walmart as Sweety's first retail customer and the challenges the startup faced along the way. Tiffany also highlights the importance of storytelling, persistence, and staying true to your brand values in the startup world.Sweety Links: https://www.sweetyicecream.com/IG/TikTok: @sweetyicecreamco Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

What caused the rise of clickbait? This week we are joined by Sivani Babu, co-founder of Hidden Compass, to discuss the rise of clickbait or ‘junk food media,' its role in the devolution of journalism as we know it today, and how Hidden Compass is turning the tides to create a better tomorrow for media.Hidden Compass Links: https://hiddencompass.net/https://www.instagram.com/hiddencompassmedia/https://twitter.com/Hidden_Compasshttps://www.instagram.com/wayfaringsiv/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

This startup shaped the ready-to-drink coffee aisle we know today. This week we are joined by Jash Mehta, co-founder of Pop & Bottle. You'll probably recognize Pop & Bottle from your local refrigerated drink section, however, achieving nationwide distribution was no stroke of good luck. Jash discusses carving out a niche early on, building based on data and feedback, and the importance of keeping fundraising top of mind at all points in time.Pop & Bottle Links: https://www.popandbottle.com/https://www.instagram.com/popandbottle/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Are you undervaluing PR as an IPO-strategy? Paul Wilke, founder of Upright Position Communications joins the podcast to discuss the relationship between PR and exiting. Paul also provides valuable advice on evaluating PR firms, identifying your internal PR person, representing yourself as an executive during an IPO, and the importance of clear communication in promoting a company.Upright Position Communications Links: https://uprightcomms.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pwilke/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcast https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#73. Are low-ABV beverages here to stay? The co-founders of Libby, Grant Hemingway and John Green, are on a mission to create a better-for-you wine experience that scales. John and Grant emphasize the need for transparency and authenticity in marketing, and they share their journey of creating Libby as a response to the demand for refreshing, low-alcohol, low-calorie wines. They also discuss the challenges of entering the wholesale market, the importance of understanding consumer preferences, and their mission to make the wine industry more inclusive and accessible.Libby Links: https://drinklibby.com/https://instagram.com/drinklibbyhttps://twitter.com/drinklibbyhttps://tiktok.com/@drinklibbyStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcast https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

Could your hiring and firing strategy be hurting your startup? This week on the Startup Savant podcast, Ethan is joined by Karn Saroya, founder of Re a blockchain-based reinsurance startup. The pair discuss Karn's evolution as a leader from his first startup to now, how performance management and hiring (or firing) employees can make or break your startup, and the real value behind Y Combinator's personalized growth metrics. Re Links: https://re.xyz/https://twitter.com/REprotocolEmail Karn: karn@re.xyzStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#71. In this episode of the Startup Savant Podcast, Ethan interviews Melissa and Lee, the co-founders of Frame, a fitness company specializing in Pilates reformers. They discuss their journey from closing their brick-and-mortar studio due to the pandemic to creating a home version of the reformer. The couple delves into the challenges of designing, prototyping and manufacturing a physical product with no experience.Frame Links: https://www.framefitness.com/https://instagram.com/framereformerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-belzberg-7831301b/https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-bentivoglio-227369222/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#70. Lucas DiPietrantonio and Jackson Corey, co-founders of Darkroom, join the podcast. DiPietrantonio and Corey discuss their three-year roadmap, which includes building their own educational resource, Darkroom University. They also delve into their unique perspective as entrepreneurs and investors, their focus on customer satisfaction and bottom-line results, and their proprietary framework for assessing and diagnosing businesses' growth challenges. They stress the need for long-term partnerships and the importance of a strong product-market fit and continuous improvement.Darkroom Links: https://www.darkroomagency.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcorey/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasdipietrantonio/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#69. In this episode of Startup Savant Podcast, Ethan interviews Rachel Krupa, founder of The Goods Mart. Rachel shares her experience of reinventing the beloved convenience store by offering better-for-you products. She discusses the importance of location in the retail and food industry and trusting your gut as an entrepreneur. Rachel also talks about her journey of balancing her PR agency, Krupa Consulting, with The Goods Mart, and how she redefined her definition of success.The Goods Mart Links: https://www.thegoodsmart.com/https://www.instagram.com/rachkrupa/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkrupa/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcast https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#68: Rishi Khanna, CEO of Stocktwits, joins the podcast to discuss the trials and triumphs of user-generated communities. They discuss the recent Reddit API turmoil, how Rishi's role as CEO helped facilitate Stocktwits' growth to over 7 million users, and the secret behind building an activated user community you can monetize.Stocktwits Links: https://stocktwits.com/https://stocktwits.com/rkhannahttps://twitter.com/rkhannahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rishikhanna/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#67. On this episode of the Startup Savant Podcast, Ethan interviews Joe Calderon, founder, and CEO of Pelipost. Joe's mother's incarceration ignited the idea for Pelipost, a print-on-demand photo company that serves families of incarcerated individuals across the US. Joe discusses the challenges of starting Pelipost while being self-funded and facing competition. The episode also delves into the importance of effective communication with facilities and the power of a strong social media strategy.Pelipost Links: https://www.pelipost.com/https://www.instagram.com/pelipostapp/https://www.tiktok.com/@peliposthttps://twitter.com/pelipostappStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#66: John Goscha, founder and CEO of Native Voice, joins Ethan to discuss how his startup harmonizes various AI assistants. John highlights how voice assistants like Siri and Alexa need to focus on quality user experience to succeed in the ambient computing era. He also predicts that devices like headphones will be integrated with voice assistants to enable seamless human-device interaction.Native Voice Links: https://www.nativevoice.ai/https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-goscha-548000b/ jgoscha@nativevoice.aiStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#65: On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast, we hear from Jesse Randall, founder of Sweater Ventures, about his journey to create a venture capital fund that is open to anyone, regardless of wealth or accreditation status. He explains how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), once created to protect everyday people from investment scams, has now become outdated and condescending towards smart individuals who are not wealthy. Jesse also shares how a bold marketing choice early on helped the startup to build a 60,000 person waitlist.Sweater Ventures Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweaterceo/https://www.sweaterventures.com/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#64: In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Andrew Jamison, co-founder of Extend, a platform that enables businesses to issue and manage digital credit cards. Jamison shares his journey from leaving the corporate world of American Express to embarking on entrepreneurship. He recounts his experience implementing solutions for corporate clients in SAP consulting and developing an interest in payments while working at Amex. Jamison explains that the idea for Extend came from identifying a gap in the market for a solution that would capture spend, reconciliation, and expense management, particularly for the middle market. Jamison also touches on the challenges of starting a company, including the need to secure investments from friends and family before reaching out to professional investors. Extend Links: https://www.paywithextend.com/https://twitter.com/PayWithExtendhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/paywithextendStartup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#63. On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast Bridget Weston, CEO of SCORE, shares her insights on business mentorship. SCORE is a nationwide network of over 10,000 volunteers that offers free one-to-one mentorship, workshops, and assistance with business plans to small business owners across the US. Weston discusses the importance of goal-setting, clear communication, and having skin in the game for success. She also explains how SCORE is using AI to better connect small business owners with mentors who meet their needs. The episode highlights SCORE's track record of success in helping start over 30,000 new businesses and add over 82,000 jobs last year. SCORE Links: https://www.score.org/https://www.instagram.com/score_mentors/https://www.linkedin.com/company/score-mentors/getstarted@score.orgStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#62: Ethan chats with Tristan Kalos and Antoine Carossio, the co-founders of the cybersecurity startup Escape. The main objective of Escape is to assist companies in developing secure GraphQL applications by identifying and resolving any security concerns in their API. Tristan and Antoine share how they first met and how their unique skills contributed to the development of Escape. The group discusses their research and development process for Escape and how a research paper inspired their algorithm. Tristan and Antoine discuss their successful recruitment strategies and hiring process for engineers. They explain how their early strategic marketing led to a mass of inbound calls and how Escape's continuing technical blogging marketing strategy has succeeded.Escape Links:https://escape.tech/https://twitter.com/EscapeTechHQhttps://discord.gg/G9FEuFuKfdhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/escapetech/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#61: Adrian Fagerlund and Ethan discuss Linkby, a global two-sided marketplace connecting advertisers and premium publishers. They explore Linkby's role in facilitating this relationship and their plans for future expansion. Their conversation also touches on the other co-founders, Chris and Andrew, their roles, and the group dynamic as a team. Adrian gives Ethan a glimpse at Linkby's unique hiring process.Mention the Startup Savant podcast for free services on Linkby!Linkby Links: https://linkby.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianfagerlund/https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkby/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#60: Chen Amit joins Ethan to chat about his fintech startup, Tipalti, a global, scalable, and holistic payables automation system. Chen recalls the process of creating Tipalti and deciding to start as a one-man show. The pair discuss what factors led to Tipalti's success and growth, how skills from Chen's former poker career are useful for business, and his evolutions of leadership. Chen also provides valuable insight on handling difficult situations, creating a high-quality team, and knowing when to say no or walk away.Tipalti Links:  https://tipalti.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/tipalti/  https://www.instagram.com/tipalti/  https://twitter.com/tipalti/  Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#59: Marina Martianova joins Ethan to discuss her innovative web3 digital fashion startup, Seamm, a startup that produces virtual replicas of physical fashions to be utilized in the metaverse, in tandem with fashion houses. The pair chat about the future of the metaverse, refining an investor pitch, and building Seamm as a two-sided marketplace.  Seamm Links: https://www.seamm.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-martianova-84198810a/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#58: Andy Choi joins the podcast chat about his mission-driven startup and how he found the 'why' behind his company. Andy is the founder of Do Good Points, a nonprofit and tech startup hybrid that offers a rewards system for charitable donations incentivizing people to give back to their communities.Check out the Cashing Out podcast: https://cashingout.exitwise.com/In this episode we dive into: How Do Good Points leveraged data to create a hyper-targeted customer baseWhy as a founder you should be searching for solutions, not problemsThe value of Effective AltruismDo Good Points Links: https://www.dogoodpoints.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhchoi/Book recommendation: Startup With Why by Simon SinekStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#57: James Graham joins Ethan to chat about his telecom startup, Community Phone which provides cell and landline service to users all across America. The pair have a riveting conversation about product market fit, the necessity of experimentation, and how you can generate unique startup ideas in order to disrupt the marketplace.In this episode we dive into:The importance of product market fitWhy James asks himself simple questions and allows himself to be confusedCommunity Phone's experience in Y-CombinatorCommunity Phone Links:https://www.communityphone.org/https://www.instagram.com/communityphoneco/https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-phone/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wittedhaddock/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#56: Mir Hwang is the CEO and Co-Founder of GigFinesse, a platform that connects music artists with venues to the benefit of both parties. Mir is an NYU alumni who utilized their extensive entrepreneurial support system to build the startup into what it is today.In this episode we dive into:Going from app to desktop due to consumer demandThe choice to move from New York to Austin during the pandemicLeaving medical school to pursue entrepreneurshipGigFinesse Links: https://www.gigfinesse.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigfinesse/https://www.instagram.com/gigfinesse/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#55: Annafi Wahed joins Ethan to discuss her political newsletter and social media platform, The Flip Side, which uses “equal bias” in order to explore both liberal and conservative perspectives. The pair chat about the polarization of American politics today, cultivating an audience by utilizing incentives as well as self-created luck, and the dire need for balanced discussion in America's divided political landscape. In this episode we dive into: Annafi's journey from corporate America to politicsHow The Flip Side is actively combatting political divisiveness in the USWhy creating your own luck is crucial for foundersThe Flip Side Links: https://www.theflipside.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/annafiwahed/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#54: Jeremy Barnett sits down with Ethan to discuss his martech startup Rad AI. A startup that utilizes influencers or what Jeremy calls, “key opinion leaders,” and artificial intelligence to assist companies on their marketing journeys. The pair discuss the makings of a strong content marketing strategy, how AI has impacted the martech space, and how to leverage influencer marketing to grow your business. In this episode we dive into: What you need to know about influencer marketing for your businessWhat content marketing is and how you should  deploy this kind of strategyHow much you should anticipate spending with a marketing agencyRad AI Links: Jeremy@radintel.aihttps://www.radintel.ai/https://wefunder.com/rad

#53: Adam Nash is the co-founder and CEO of Daffy. With an extensive background in Silicon Valley, Nash previously served as CEO of Wealthfront, VP at LinkedIn as well as Dropbox, and Director at eBay. In addition to his role at Daffy, he is also an angel investor and board member at companies such as Acorns and Shift.Visit Daffy.org/AdamNash/invite for a discount at Daffy!In this episode we dive into: How business model influences company cultureThe key differences between founder and leadership rolesHow Adam uses Twitter and blogging to ideate Daffy Links: https://www.daffy.org/https://twitter.com/adamnashhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnash/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#52: Founder and CEO, Sufian Chowdhury joins the podcast to discuss his fast growing and essential startup, Kinetik. Committed to serving the underserved, Kinetik is a non-emergency medical platform which connects patients on medicare or medicaid with transportation services. Sufian dives deep into the logistics of Kinetik, including the origins of Kinetik, how he gained his clientele and the funding of his business. He also proves valuable insight into the significance of mentorship, networking, and removing ego from the process of building a business.In this episode we dive into: The fundraising power of being a mission-driven startupWhy relationship building is crucial for founders Kinetik's hiring strategy during economic turmoil Kinetik Links: https://kinetik.care/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufian-chowdhury/ Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://twitter.com/StartupSavanthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast

#51: Co-Founder and CTO, Simone May joins the podcast to discuss her innovative digital marketing freelancing platform, Clutch. Clutch connects businesses who need social media marketing and web design support to college student creators who are able to easily keep up with trends and assist clients meet their marketing goals. Simone breaks down the mission of Clutch, the future of the gig economy, how to make a killer survey, and more!Clutch Links:- https://www.thatsclutch.com/- https://www.instagram.com/thatsclutch_com/Startup Savant Links:- https://startupsavant.com/- https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/- https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/featured

#50: Ethan is joined by founder and CEO David McFarland to chat about his cutting edge business insurance company, Coterie. Coterie is committed to providing high quality insurance policies for small businesses who may not have been approved by other companies. David discusses his impassioned decision to start Coterie, how the company is funded, the importance of making insurance simple for entrepreneurs and more. Coterie Links: https://coterieinsurance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmcfarland23/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavanthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast

#50: Andrew Hollar and Max Rebarber are co-founders of the startup, Fig. After discovering their own dietary restrictions, they realized the frustration and isolation associated with not knowing what brands of foods they could eat without flaring up symptoms. Dedicated to helping others with the same plight, the pair started Fig. With the help of TikTok and word of mouth, they have grown to over five hundred thousand users in two and a half years. In this episode we dive into: How the co-founders have overcome challengesFig's customer acquisition strategyThe importance of consumer feedbackFig Links: https://foodisgood.com/https://www.instagram.com/foodisgoodco/https://www.linkedin.com/company/fig-food-is-good  Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavanthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast Startup Savant Links:  

#48: Olive oil enthusiast and startup founder Katina Mountanos sits down with Ethan to discuss her exceptional company, Kosterina. A startup that is dedicated to making quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO for short), the Mediterranean lifestyle, and its associated health benefits accessible to Americans. Kosterina is a lifestyle brand that has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews, leading Whole Foods to reach out to Mountanos for partnership!In this episode we dive into: The power of 'launching what you know'Why Katina believe's in rapid prototyping The choice to take on venture capital Kosterina Links: https://www.kosterina.com/https://www.instagram.com/kosterina/ Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavanthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast

#47: Suki Mulberg Altamirano  is the founder and CEO of Lexington Public Relations. She initially began doing PR in the beauty industry  at KENZO and Elizabeth Arden, but after a period of burnout, Suki decided to go independent and start her own company. In addition to Lexington PR, Suki is also a partner at PressReady, which works to provide newer companies and startups with the tools they need to craft their brand and begin DIY PR. In this episode we dive into: The importance of PR and how your startup should start telling its storyEstablishing your value proposition and finding your target audienceHow to ensure your outreach messages are being readLexington PR Links: https://lexingtonpr.com/ Startup Savant Links: Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#46: Tony Tran  is the founder and CEO of Lumanu, a company working to build the financial infrastructure needed for our modern day creative economy. Lumanu currently has over 40,000 users and has raised $12 million in their Series A. Tony studied computer science at MIT and initially began working for big name companies like Google, McKinsey, and Booz Allen, but after learning about the difficulties freelancers and creatives face when billing for their  work, Tony changed gears and created Lumanu. In this episode we dive into: Why billing can be challenging for freelancers and contractorsHow to make a rejection valuableThe importance of growing your network and making meaningful connectionsLumanu Links:https://www.lumanu.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hieumanity/ Startup Savant Links:Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcastFollow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast 

#45: David Utley, M.D. is the founder and CEO of Pivot, a digital health company helping users eliminate their tobacco use. Pivot has raised over $40 million, and David has over 100 published US patents. David is a seasoned entrepreneur and had previously been a founder at BARRX, which raised $70+ million in VC funding before being acquired in 2012. He has also served on the board of numerous startups and continues to engineer new solutions towards improving health outcomes.In this episode we dive into: Establishing partnerships with employers and large companiesWhy you may want to consider hiring an experienced CEOThe power of innovating a neglected space___________________________________________________Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcastFollow Startup Savant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#44: Jaideep Singh is the founder and CEO FlyFin, a VC backed startup helping automate finances for freelancers and business owners. While he initially began working as a software engineer, he later went on to become a founder of various companies and received an MBA from Wharton. One of his first startups, Spock, worked to create a database of over 1 Billion people to help companies find talent. Jaideep is a serial entrepreneur and says the first step for validating a startup idea involves asking whether you are working on a problem you personally care about.In this episode we dive into: Why paying taxes can be a challenge for freelancers and self-employed entrepreneursHow to validate if a business idea is worth pursuingGetting your product off the ground in the early stages___________________________________________________Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcastFollow Startup Savant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#43: Josh Cliffords is the founder and CEO of FreeWater, the world's first free beverage company. Josh has founded numerous companies, but in 2018, he decided to tackle the world's water crisis and hasn't looked back. Josh's ‘negatively-priced' business model leverages advertising to make goods and services pay for themselves, and while he is currently focused on growing FreeWater, he has plans to continue expanding this business model into new industries.In this episode we dive into: Their ‘negatively-priced' business modelDisrupting industry juggernautsDeveloping new skills as a founder___________________________________________________Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast! Subscribe to our YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcastFollow Startup Savant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#42: Former NFL player turned entrepreneur Parker Graham joins Ethan to discuss his startup Finotta, which offers banks a digital platform geared towards improving their customers' financial health. Parker details his journey from a professional athlete to a startup founder. He discusses how his first company's initial failures shaped his approach to creating Finotta and ultimately raising over $3 million dollars from one of his early customers.In this episode we dive into: Overcoming difficult obstacles as a founderBuilding company culture by establishing valuesThe importance of a founder's pain tolerance threshold_____________________Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast! Subscribe to our YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featuredFollow Startup Savant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#41: Kyle York is the founder and CEO of York IE. Kyle has advised and invested in 100+ startups and is a board member for several companies. Kyle initially began working in EdTech, and after developing an interest in the tech space, he became the CRO at Dyn, a software company that was later acquired by Oracle. In addition to York IE, Kyle is a co-founder of York Real Estate and York Athletics.In this episode we dive into: The difference between York IE and traditional VC firmsThe market in approachDefining success for yourselfVanity metrics & their impact on startups________Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast! Subscribe to our YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featuredFollow Startup Savant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavantTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#40. Matt Blumberg is the Founder and CEO of Bolster, a company working to help startups scale by pairing them with executive talent and board members. In addition to running Bolster, Matt is the author of Startup CEO: A field guide to scaling up your business, and he runs a popular entrepreneurship blog, StartupCEO.com. Matt has worked with many companies throughout the years, and he has continued to write books dedicated to entrepreneurship.In this episode we dive into:What is and isn't the role of a CEOHow to scale yourself as a leaderThe importance of a balanced board of directors

#38: Anthony Nitsos joins Annaka and Ethan to discuss startup Finances. As a fractional CFO, Anthony works with startups to build their financial systems and ensure that they have the correct figures to make informed decisions. Anthony recommends startups put in the work building a strong financial system in their early stages to help facilitate growth and success.In this episode we dive into: The value of hiring a fractional CFOCommon pitfalls for young startups building their financial systemsKey areas startups need to focus on during the early stages of their company

#38: Alex Song is the CEO and founder of Proxima, which helps brands boost their marketing abilities by using big data and Proxima's AI-powered software. Alex began his career in finance, but eventually he decided to start his own business. He is no stranger to entrepreneurship and has confounded many companies over the years. While Proxima works to help other companies leverage data to improve marketing, Alex initially built Proxima to help solve problems he had been experiencing with his own ventures. In this episode we dive into: Changes in the advertising industry due to iOS 14.5The rise of social platforms and how we consume contentAudience PersonasHow to target your audience in our new digital ageFor the full episode summary and notes, visit StartupSavant.com/podcast!

#37:  Ksenia Yudina joins  Annaka and Ethan to discuss her journey founding UNest, a fintech app designed to help families invest in their kids' futures. Ksenia walks us through the problem she saw with traditional options for families, and she shares her story innovating the finance industry, an industry that is often reluctant to change.In this episode we dive into: Innovating an industryUsing direct feedback to create changesAcquiring another companyFundraising and the doubt that can accompany a new founderRead the full episode summary at StartupSavant.com/podcast!

Shellye Archambeau serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She previously served as the CEO of MetricStream, a software company focused on risk management and compliance. Her book, Unapologetically Ambitious was chosen by Fortune magazine as the business book of the year. In this episode we dive into: Analyzing the risk in order to decide if an opportunity is worth pursuingOvercoming imposter syndromeFinding mentors and establishing connections with mentorsWhy you shouldn't fall in love with your productRead the full episode notes and summary on Startup Savant! Buy Shellye's book here. 

Margaret Wishingrad is the CEO and founder of Three Wishes, a high protein, low sugar, grain-free cereal. After struggling to find a healthy cereal for her son, Margaret decided to create her own. Taking on the cereal industry juggernauts is a daunting task, but having had experience running an advertising agency with her husband, Margaret has used her marketing skills to develop a brand and build a following around a product that she is proud of.In this episode we dive into: How to begin creating, testing, and reiterating a productBranding 101 and using your brand to build customer relationshipsGrowing retail partnershipsUnorthodox marketing strategiesRead the full episode summary on Startup Savant!