Podcasts about bootstrapped

Summary:In today's episode, Les speaks with Chris Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Radicl, and a pioneer in cybersecurity innovation. Chris shares his inspiring journey from early days at Price Waterhouse to co-founding LogRhythm, and now leading Radicl - a company on a mission to bring military-grade cybersecurity to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), especially those in the defense industrial base (DIB). With humility, vision, and deep industry experience, Chris talks about the challenges of cybersecurity for SMBs, the promise of AI in threat detection, and the principles that drive Radicl's product and culture.Here's a closer look at the episode:1. Chris's Cybersecurity RootsGrew up curious and mischievous - early hacking instincts emerged from pushing boundaries.First tech job at Price Waterhouse, where he was inspired by early internet penetration testing.Mentored by pioneers like George Kurtz (founder of CrowdStrike) and Ron Gula.Early work included database security assessments and automated audit tools.2. Building LogRhythmCo-founded LogRhythm after stints at Counterpane and Tenable.Bootstrapped early development by selling his home and self-funding the venture.Partnered with Phil Villella (nuclear physicist) and Andy Grolnick (CEO) to scale the company.Lessons from early days: founder commitment, frugality, focus on product-market fit.LogRhythm grew to 500 employees before exiting via private equity in 2018.3. The Genesis of RadiclFounded Radicl to address cybersecurity gaps in SMBs within the defense supply chain.Inspired by the SolarWinds hack and national security threats.Assembled a founding team including his brother Matt and a former fighter pilot.Mission: protect under-defended SMBs in DIB against industrial espionage.4. The Opportunity and Market NeedDIB SMBs are often unable to afford or operate traditional cybersecurity solutions.Barriers include tight margins, complex compliance (e.g. CMMC), and lack of in-house talent.Advances in cloud, automation, and AI now make affordable, scalable solutions viable.Radicl addresses both compliance operations and 24/7 security operations via software + human hybrid model.5. Radicl's Product and PlatformDelivers “virtual SOC” capabilities—blending human expertise with AI and automation.Handles CMMC readiness, threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management.Designed for transparency: customers can engage with Radicl's ops team in-platform.AI-driven agents are increasingly being introduced to reduce cost and improve response times.6. Looking AheadPreparing for a Series A raise in the next 4–6 months to accelerate R&D investment.Focused on doubling down on AI innovation and expanding platform features.Vision: democratize advanced cybersecurity for SMBs while delivering elite protection to the DIB.Chris aims to balance company building with family, health, and meditation—striving for better life integration as a second-time founder.Resources:Website: RADICLhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/radicl-defense/ https://radicl.com/Chris Petersonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetersen1/ https://radicl.com/bio-chris-petersen 

Rich J. Yun didn't build Jet Designs to sell it. He built it to solve a real need: on-demand design support for early-stage startups.But once it was running smoothly, he listed it on Acquire.com. No brokers. No outside capital. Just a clean listing and the right buyer.Within days, the deal was done. All cash. No earn-out. No complications.In this episode, Rich explains how he prepared for a fast exit using Acquire.com templates, recording walkthroughs on Loom, and managing multiple buyers without letting things drag.He also shares how to structure your data room, what buyers really look for in service businesses, and how to stay flexible to close faster.You'll learn:How to prep a design services business for acquisitionWhy documentation creates speed and trustHow to juggle multiple buyers with confidenceWhy founders don't need “scale” to sellWhat Rich included in his listing that made it stand out3 lessons from Rich's exit:Clear docs remove 90% of buyer objectionsAcquire's resources (templates + videos) save time and stressIf you're honest and prepared, buyers move fastWhether you're running a solo service or a small SaaS, Rich's exit shows that simplicity, clarity, and preparation are all you need.Follow Rich's journey:→ LinkedIn→ Twitter→ Jet Designs

Amper vijf jaar na de lancering draait de Gentse startup Tally drie miljoen omzet. Toch was de online form builder niet het eerste idee waar Marie Martens en Filip Minev mee speelden. Corona dwong het koppel om hun startup in de reissector te stoppen, waarna ze zich op een nieuw avontuur stortten. Zonder extern kapitaal, en met ChatGPT als bron van nieuwe klanten, slaagt Tally erin om maand na maand te blijven groeien. In Trends podcasts vind je alle podcasts van Trends en Trends Z, netjes geordend volgens publicatie. De redactie van Trends brengt u verschillende podcasts over wat onze wereld en maatschappij beheerst. Vanuit diverse invalshoeken en met een uitgesproken focus op economie en ondernemingen, op business, personal finance en beleggen. Onafhankelijk, relevant, telkens constructief en toekomstgericht.

Send us a textInteresting things about the distillery:Started with whiskey, then limoncello, and last vodka.  Bootstrapped, so didn't have a large bank loan to force them to get out something to start.  They used “Creative aging” to get whiskey done faster.  Natural, not pressurizedMost likely small barrelsHas a second location in Put-in-BayOur Bottle: Dark CherryThis was their very first bottlePipe Pairings:Cocktails:Research Sourceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdbIG8JNsVY&t=405sSupport the showWebsite:www.whiskeychaserspod.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/whiskeychaserspodcastInsta:https://www.instagram.com/whiskeychaserspodcast/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@whiskeychaserspodcastThanks For Listening! Tell a Friend!

GSD Presents: Top Global Startups with Yossi Abraham Bootstrapped and Thriving: The Profitable Growth Mindset Behind Startup Success June 18th, Wednesday

Omar Zouhair didn't build PageCrafter to flip it. He built it to fix a bottleneck in his own team. But once it worked, he listed it on Acquire.com with no expectations.Seven days later, the deal was done. All cash. No earn-out. No back-and-forth.In this episode, Omar breaks down what made the deal so fast: clean documentation, transparency, and flexibility.He also shares the exact files he created, how he managed buyer calls, and why being clear about handoff terms makes everything easier.You'll learn:How to prep a SaaS for acquisition, even if it's tinyWhy good documentation can 10x buyer trustWhat makes a buyer skip the earn-outHow to list even if your product isn't “done”What founders should do before they scale3 lessons from Omar's exit:Buyers don't always need scale, they need clarityA simple Figma file can make diligence frictionlessThe right timing beats the perfect productWhether you're running a side project or a small SaaS, Omar's story proves that speed comes from preparation.Follow Omar's journey:→ LinkedIn→ Twitter→ PageCrafter

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Sarah Vilenskiy, founder of Blossom Essentials. She has taken her skincare brand from direct-to-consumer roots to the shelves of major retailers like Walmart. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: From marketing to skincare: Sarah's founder journeyLearning from agency experiences: good and badNavigating the impact of iOS 14 on Meta AdsTransitioning from DTC to retailAdapting to economic uncertainty and changing consumer behaviorRetail profitability vs. digital acquisition costsBuilding brand trust through education and transparencyLeveraging direct mail and retention strategiesFinding and owning your niche in a crowded marketThe importance of aligning brand voice with founder authenticityFind more episodes on our website.--This episode is brought to you by BSR Digital.BSR Digital helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, visit their website or book a call here.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand, where we explore the strategies and innovations driving success in the digital age. Today, we're focusing on the critical issue of online privacy and digital sovereignty, and why it matters more than ever for both businesses and individuals. With increasing threats to online privacy, from censorship to surveillance, this discussion will provide insights into building a tech company with integrity and the importance of fighting for an open internet.Joining us today is Yegor Sak, Co-Founder & CEO of Windscribe, a privacy-first internet company that empowers individuals and businesses to reclaim their digital sovereignty. We'll explore why privacy matters, how to build a tech company without compromising values, and the ongoing battle for the open internet. Let's dive in!Key Highlights:1. Building a Tech Company Without Selling Out: Yegor will discuss how Windscribe competes with large, ad-funded tech companies without outside capital, focusing on principles that guide their approach to building a tech company with integrity.2. Why Privacy Matters – Especially for Small Businesses and Everyday Users: Yegor will explain why online privacy is essential for small businesses and everyday users, addressing misconceptions and highlighting the risks of neglecting privacy.3. The Legal Battle and Validation of Principles: Yegor will share a personal anecdote about being targeted by Greek authorities due to a Windscribe IP, and how the case was thrown out, validating his commitment to "privacy by design."4. Building a Culture of Passion and Pride: Yegor will talk about how Windscribe creates a culture where employees are motivated by the company's mission to defend user rights and privacy, despite challenges.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Today I am so excited to be speaking to a woman who feels as passionately about the power of food as I do. Danielle Duboise is the co-founder of Sakara Life, a company providing the highest quality, whole food nutrition and supplements for body, skin and mind. We talk about building a body you can feel good in, and how as someone in the wellness space, she navigates its complexities. Full disclaimer, she and I both agree that the answers to a lot of health issues may be more simple than we are sometimes led to believe! But before I tell you a bit more about Danielle, but first I just want to say a quick merci to our sponsor today - Ergopouch. ErgoPouch makes premium swaddles, sleep sacks, sleep suits and pajamas of certified organic cotton and are skin friendly as reviewed by the Eczema Association of Australia. Our head of marketing, Taylor, recently had her second daughter and swears by ergopouch for all of her baby's sleep wear. As we are talking so much about conscious parenting with Danielle today, it's great to be working with a brand that cares so much about children's exposure to harmful chemicals and makes sure all their products are natural, healthy and safe for sleeping.Visit ergopouch, spelt out with .com, to learn more!And as we are speaking all about food with Danielle today, I want to take this opportunity to talk a little about an issue that I feel personally very strongly about which is food waste. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 120 billion pounds every year. That's estimated to be almost 40 percent of the entire US food supply, and equates to 325 pounds of waste per person. That's like every person in America throwing 975 apples right into the garbage — or rather right into landfills, as most discarded food ends up there. In fact, food is the single largest component taking up space inside US landfills, making up 22 percent of municipal solid waste. So we clearly need a solution, and I am thrilled to have one for you in the form of Mill, an at home food recycler that I am truly thrilled to be working with and that I am using at my own house now. Mill is your kitchen's new best friend. A simple, odor-free food recycler that turns leftovers and scraps into nutrient-rich grounds with no effort. Mill prevents food waste without smells, flies, or chores. It works while you sleep and you can keep filling it for weeks. You can use the grounds in your garden, add them to your curbside compost, or let Mill pick them up and deliver them to a small farm for you - which I completely love for my city friends. I can attest to using them in our organic vegetable garden here in Maine and being thrilled with the results. Give it a try for yourself -- it's risk-free and you can get $75 off at mill.com/rev.So now just a little more about Danielle and the story of her starting Sakara.Bootstrapped from just $700, Danielle and co-founder Whitney Tingle raised at a dinner party, Sakara Life is a whole-body wellness company on a mission to nourish your body's innate power. They put clients in the driver's seat of their own health with their proprietary plant-based nutrition program, functional snacks and supplements.With a Masters of Science in Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition from University of Western States, Danielle combines her expertise in science-backed nutrition with her passion for holistic wellness to inspire others to nourish their bodies and live their most vibrant lives. Today we speak about the importance of reframing our thoughts around food - how we can embrace food instead of fear it. We also speak about her personal experiences with eating, but also how she is navigating the world of pregnancy, post partum and motherhood with both consciousness and grace when it comes to her family's health.

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Lisa: Refusing to give up.Too many families face overwhelming challenges when trying to access life-saving benefits, often giving up before receiving the help they need. Lisa Marino, Founder and CEO of Dopple, has made it her mission to simplify the process.Lisa's personal experience navigating the welfare system while earning her MBA at Stanford inspired her to create Dopple. She explained, “We built for others what we did for ourselves to get our own family through.” Her platform connects families to an array of funding sources—government benefits, philanthropic programs, and contributions from friends and family—by streamlining the process into a simple, AI-driven solution.In today's episode, Lisa highlighted a staggering statistic: “40% of families eligible for SNAP are so overwhelmed by the application process that many just drop out.” She's determined to eliminate this friction, helping families secure critical funding for essentials like childcare, diapers, and even college savings.Dopple's approach begins with a 12-month budget, encouraging families to think comprehensively about their needs. The platform then leverages AI to match families with available resources and funding opportunities. Lisa shared, “We've taken this budget that maybe started at $25,000 and start whacking away at it… shifting $20,000 plus from being out of pocket to the family to the village that wants to support them.”Dopple's innovative model also addresses the philanthropic side. By fractionalizing gifting, Dopple enables friends, family, and organizations to contribute directly to a family's needs. Additionally, the company generates revenue through subscription-based kids' clothing and essential products like diapers and formula.Lisa's commitment to making a difference extends beyond her platform's services. Dopple is currently raising funds on Wefunder, inviting everyday individuals to invest in the company's vision. Lisa explained, “I believe in being egalitarian… If we're trying to help families fund the basics, we need to walk the walk.”By tackling the bureaucratic hurdles that prevent families from accessing critical support, Lisa and Dopple are making an extraordinary impact. Learn more about their mission and investment opportunity at thedopple.com/invest.tl;dr:Lisa Marino, CEO of Dopple, shares her journey navigating welfare systems during her MBA at Stanford.Dopple simplifies access to critical benefits, combining AI and a comprehensive family budgeting platform.The platform connects families to funding sources, reducing out-of-pocket expenses by leveraging their community.Lisa emphasizes Dopple's egalitarian approach, inviting individuals to invest via a Wefunder campaign.Her superpower, refusing to give up, drives her to tackle challenges with persistence and grit.How to Develop Refusing to Give Up As a SuperpowerLisa Marino's superpower is her unrelenting tenacity to overcome obstacles. She described it simply: “The hard part was sitting down and figuring it out.” Whether navigating complex welfare systems during her pregnancy or guiding her company through challenges, Lisa defines success as persistence. As she told her kids, “People who put on the big kid pants clean it up… and move forward.”Lisa's determination was tested during her time as CEO of Rocky. She inherited a company with a $400 million preference stack and declining revenue. Despite being advised against taking the role, she worked tirelessly to restructure the business, rebuild profitability, and grow through acquisitions. Years of difficult conversations and strategic moves eventually led to success—an exemplary display of perseverance.Tips for Developing This Superpower:Set Realistic Expectations: Focus on achieving small wins, even when faced with overwhelming challenges.Embrace the Grind: Accept that progress takes time and effort, and remain committed to the vision.Allow Yourself Breaks: Give yourself permission to recharge when needed, such as Lisa's “quarterly pity party.”Take Control: Address challenges proactively rather than waiting for them to escalate.By following Lisa's example and advice, you can make refusing to give up a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLisa Marino (she/her):Founder and CEO, DoppleAbout Dopple: Two thirds of all families live paycheck to paycheck yet billions of federal and philanthropic dollars earmarked for these families go unused each year. The system is opaque, inefficient, and requires an advanced degree to navigate. I know this because at one point, before I became a successful operator, I was forced to navigate it for my family. Dopple is the platform to bring transparency and efficiency to the flow of funds in this market. We are the qualification engine and payment rails in the middle. Dopple launches in July in New Jersey, and I am looking for a famly foundation with an aligned vision to be a design and beta partner with us. Use of funds will be to cover needs such as diapers, childcare and tuition for mid to low income families in NJ.Website: thedopple.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/thedoppleOther URL: thedopple.com/investBiographical Information: - First person in my immigrant Mexican family to go to college, which I paid for myself. BS Wharton, MBA Stanford GSB, MA Latin American Studies, Stanford.- Reformed tech M&A banker and 3rd time entrepreneur who gets it done while a single mom. - Bootstrapped my last company and sold it to McClatchy in January 2024.- Designed with my daughter and then GC'd my home build during 2022-2023 in Big Sky, MT while simultaneously running a company. Every piece of trim in my house I stained myself. - At 54, there's still no friends on powder days.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisa-marino-b520545Instagram Handle: @thedopple Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, DealMaker, DNA, Rancho Affordable Housing (Proactive). Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear |  Matthew Mead, Hempitecture |  Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on August 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Your Portal, Your Future: How to Choose the Right Reg CF Platform." With so many investment crowdfunding portals available today, selecting the right one can be overwhelming for both founders and investors. In this session, Devin will break down the critical factors to consider—such as platform fees, audience demographics, compliance support, industry focus, and overall user experience. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or an investor exploring where to put your dollars to work, you'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to evaluate and choose the platform that best aligns with your goals. Don't miss this practical, insight-packed hour designed to help you take your next step in the Reg CF ecosystem with confidence.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Apply for the Live Pitch here. VIPs get access to our better-than-in-person networking, including backstage passes, VIP networking and an exclusive VIP webinar! Get your VIP access for just $25. A select group of affordable sponsorship opportunities is still available. Learn more here.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Future Forward Summit: San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25 · 3:30 - 8:30 pm PDT.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Josh Sebo (COO of OfferVault), Adam Young (CEO of Ringba), industry legend Harrison Gevirtz and special guest Haiphie Hua (Head of Strategic Partnerships at CodeClouds) discuss:- A Legacy of Resilience: How Haiphie's Parents Escaped Vietnam- From Day One to VP: Haiphie's Ascent from the Bottom to the Top- Offer Creation Over Branding: The Importance of Backend Operations- Bootstrapped Expertise: Learning in the Trenches- CodeClouds & Consulting: How to Build Profitable Offers, Funnels & Custom Software- Affiliates as Offer Owners: How Affiliates Should be Thinking- The Evolving Landscape: Major Shifts and What's Next- Scaling Starts After The Sale: Focus on LTV, Retention & Backend FlowsFollow Us:OfferVault:WEBSITE: https://www.offervault.com/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/offervaultINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/offervaultmarketing/TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/offervaultLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/offer-vault/Adam Young: RINGBA: https://www.ringba.comRINGBA's INNER CIRCLE: https://try.ringba.com/inner-circle/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ringbaINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/adamyoung/TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/arbitrageLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/capitalistHarrison Gevirtz:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/affiliate/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisongevirtz/Haiphie Hua:CODECLOUDS: https://www.codeclouds.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/haiphiehua/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haiphiehua/

What do you do when wholesale for brick-and-mortar sales suddenly causes you to lose the Buy Box? There's only one thing to do: get out of brick-and-mortar sales. That's exactly what Anna Maria from BabyForte did after large online pharmacies snatched the Buy Box away from her on Amazon. Local pharmacies reacted immediately and negatively to her cautious price adjustment. Since then, she has been focusing fully on her online business again. In this podcast episode, she talks about the three phases a D2C brand goes through when it is being built up, why she continues to invest in her web shop, why she relies on a clearly defined brand portfolio, and why she is not looking for investors at the moment. She also reveals why her team spends every week analyzing click rates.Note from the sponsor Taxdoo:Every marketplace trader can tell you a thing or two about it: different tax rates, different responsibilities, tax advisors who are inexperienced in e-commerce. The taxtech company Taxdoo wants to remedy this situation. Taxdoo offers a comprehensive platform for online retailers who need to carry out legally compliant and efficient sales tax reporting and accounting processes. The software analyzes all sales, fees, and payments, resulting in a transparent and audit-proof solution, is seamlessly integrated with many marketplaces and can handle all EU and UK sales tax processing, including OSS exports. If you want to know more about VAT, read our blog article, in which you will also find a table with all VAT rates in the EU, UK, and Switzerland. Find out more here: https://marketplace-universe.com/vat-traps-7-critical-rules-every-marketplace-seller-in-europe-needs-to-know/Note from the sponsor MediaMarkSaturn:Even though it's only summer, Cyber Week is coming around faster than you think! That means: Plan early. Because the time between November 24th and December 1st is not just a sales boost – it's a full-on operational challenge. The most common mistakes? As Alexander Klinger from MediaMarktSaturn knows it's not enough stock, no prep for returns and customer inquiries, poor product content and shipping KPIs all over the place. MediaMarktSaturn shares participation details 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Secure visibility, top homepage deals are handpicked – only sellers with strong KPIs and competitive prices stand a chance. And use Retail Media wisely. They work, but only if you book them early. For more practical tips see the full interview on Marketplace Universe:https://marketplace-universe.com/good-cyber-week-preparation/Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Supplements in Marketplaces02:32 Anna Maria Silinger: Founder Insights08:38 The Evolution of BabyFORTE13:11 Transitioning from Startup to Mature Company18:56 Profitability vs. Growth Strategies23:31 Exploring New Marketplaces25:56 Shipping and Fulfillment Strategies27:06 Regulatory Challenges in the Supplement Industry29:49 Lessons from Physical Pharmacy Partnerships33:17 Future Growth and Brand Development

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Keilian Knudsen and Prags Mugunthan, co-founders of Pangea.ai. Keilian and Prags explored their journey from university roommates in Scotland to building a global tech talent platform. Keilian described how growing up in Switzerland with an American mother and Norwegian father gave him a multicultural view of the world and a drive to create something of his own. Prags shared how moving from Sri Lanka to Norway at a young age gave him access to education and opportunity, which shaped his path toward entrepreneurship. Their first ventures included a sandblasting startup and a digital memory bank, both of which failed but pushed them to solve the problem they encountered firsthand—how hard it was to find and hire reliable software developers.That problem led to the birth of Digital Knights, a service-based business that eventually became Pangea. Keilian and Prags candidly shared about the tough early days, including running out of money, borrowing from friends and family, and nearly walking away from it all. What kept them going was their shared vision and complementary strengths. They also emphasized the importance of building repeatable systems and processes, especially after realizing that excessive hustle without structure could limit their growth.Discover how missed hires, borrowed savings, and unwavering conviction led Keilian and Prags to build Pangea in this episode of The First Customer!Guest Info:Pangea.aihttps://www.pangea.aiKeilian Knudsen's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/keilian/Prags Mugunthan's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pragsm/Connect with Jay on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/The First Customer Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcastThe First Customer podcast websitehttps://www.firstcustomerpodcast.comFollow The First Customer on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Most SaaS companies treat onboarding like a checklist Rocketlane turns it into a competitive edge.In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains welcomes Srikrishnan Ganesan , co-founder and CEO of Rocketlane. Sri shares how strategic onboarding builds trust, boosts expansion revenue, and drives customer success from Day 1.They explore how AI is transforming service delivery from reactive to proactive, and why onboarding is the second sale that most founders overlook. Whether you're scaling a SaaS product, leading a customer success team, or building from zero, this episode is packed with frameworks, strategies, and insight.

In this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino speaks with Ryan Duey, co-founder and co-CEO of Plunge, the cold therapy and sauna brand that has quietly scaled to $80M+ in annual sales with minimal outside funding. Ryan breaks down how a garage-built idea during COVID turned into a high-growth wellness hardware business with over 40,000 customers, including a fast-growing B2B channel. Founders will appreciate his transparency about scaling manufacturing, solving shipping nightmares, and building technical moats through operational execution. If you're in DTC, hardware, health & wellness, or considering community rounds, this is a must-listen.Highlights include…Founding story: From brick-and-mortar wellness to e-comm hardware (2:01)Shark Tank ROI and national brand awareness (5:00)Market sizing: Comparing cold plunge to hot tubs & sauna categories (6:33)Expanding product lines to drive retention & cross-sell (8:55)B2B growth: Cold plunges entering hotels, gyms & commercial spaces (9:00)Solving hard problems: Damage-in-transit, demand planning, and support infrastructure (11:39, 14:45)Bootstrapped to $80M+: Smart cash management, customer pre-orders, and debt usage (17:57)Manufacturing capacity & scaling challenges (20:18)Moat = execution: Why hard ops are the defensible layer (14:45, 22:17)Acquisition potential: PE, wellness tech, or DTC conglomerates (23:35)

Vicky Pasche is the founder and CEO at Dapper Boi, a gender-less body-inclusive apparel line. Selling via their Shopify store. Founded in 2015 in 2024 they hit $1.36million. Hit PLAY to hear: How one viral video turned a year of no sales into $30K in 3 weeks

Maor Shlomo is the founder of Base44, an AI-powered app builder that he bootstrapped to an over $80 million acquisition by Wix in just six months. As a solo founder (with severe ADHD), he hit $1 million ARR just three weeks after launch and grew the product to more than 400,000 users, all while navigating two wars in Israel and never raising a dollar of outside funding.What you'll learn:1. The growth playbook that took Base44 from three friends to 400,000 users without spending any money on marketing2. How he hasn't written a single line of front-end code in three months—and how to structure your code repository to make it easier for AI to write your code3. His AI productivity stack that allowed him to compete against heavily funded competitors4. Why being a solo founder in AI might be the ultimate advantage (and the wedding story that almost killed the business)5. The story of signing the $80M acquisition deal while war broke out with Iran6. How to identify when to sell vs. stay independent (and why Maor chose acquisition despite being highly profitable)7. The counterintuitive product decision that tripled activation by removing a “helpful” feature8. How building in public on LinkedIn drove more growth than any paid channel—Brought to you by:Sauce—Turn customer pain into product revenue: https://sauce.app/lennyDscout—The UX platform to capture insights at every stage: from ideation to production: https://www.dscout.com/Contentsquare—Create better digital experiences: https://contentsquare.com/lenny/—Transcript: ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-base44-bootstrapped-startup-success-story-maor-shlomo⁠—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/167384119/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Maor Shlomo:• X: https://x.com/ms_base44• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maor-shlomo-1088b4144/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Maor and Base44(08:16) The origin story: how Base44 came to be(14:55) Bootstrapping and solo founding: challenges and insights(22:52) Productivity hacks and tech stack for solo founders(27:23) How to get started using Base44(28:47) Thoughts on raising money(34:05) Distribution in the age of AI(36:09) Ambition and goals(40:05) Growth strategies: from first users to thousands(51:32) Building in public(57:42) The solo founder journey(01:00:23) Community support(01:03:23) Hackathons and partnerships(01:06:42) The importance of velocity in product development(01:08:20) Technical stack and infrastructure insights(01:15:24) Activation lessons(01:18:19) The acquisition journey with Wix(01:25:14) Final thoughts and advice for founders—Referenced:• Base44: https://base44.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Tzofim: https://www.israelscouts.org/• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/• RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• Wix: https://www.wix.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com• Yoav Orlev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-orlev-4a044b72• WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/• Google: https://about.google/• MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com/• Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/• Render: Render.com• Claude 4: https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-4• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

"It's not a brute force approach. It's a cleverness-based approach. It's a new kind of information that lets us do new things." Host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, to unpack how clever, constraint-driven science turned a scrappy, bootstrapped lab into a genomics powerhouse. Ivan explains how their breakthrough technology—capturing the physical proximity of DNA—opened new frontiers in genome assembly, microbiome discovery, and cancer diagnostics, all propelled by a lean, scientist-led team and organic growth. The episode dives into Phase's evolution into a data-driven research leader, its focus on non-dilutive funding over venture capital, and its vision for clinical impact and therapeutic spinouts—all fueled by a passion for unlocking powerful new biological information.

Whether you're a one-man shop dreaming bigger, or a multi-bay owner stuck in neutral, Elijah's hard-won lessons on pricing, scheduling, and customer trust will help you shift from survival mode to booming business.Tune in to learn how a pole-barn passion project became a high-growth auto-repair force—and why your location, lift count, or local economy no longer have to cap your potential.

This isn't just another swimwear startup - it's a $15K, single-SKU experiment that exploded into 300% annual growth. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Londre Bodywear, a brand redefining fashion by embracing the philosophy of doing less, but doing it better. Here's how Ainsley Rose, co-founder and CEO of Londre Bodywear, turned plastic waste into cult classics and bootstrapped a climate-first brand consumers can't stop talking about.

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsey Carter, the Founder and CEO of SET ACTIVE, a brand that has reshaped how women experience athleisure—not just in terms of function, but also in terms of feeling.  Lindsey shares her raw and powerful journey, from bootstrapping the brand at 25 with zero funding to building a movement rooted in authenticity, storytelling, and unmatched community connection. Her story is one of resilience, vision, and redefining what it means to be “active.” What I love about this conversation is how candid Lindsey is about the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship—what it truly takes to persevere when everything feels uncertain.  We explore the magic of creating products that resonate on an emotional level, how community drives every decision, and what it's like to grow a company without paid ads, outside investment, or compromise. Here are some key takeaways from the episode: * How Lindsey bootstrapped a brand that's done millions in sales with zero paid media   * The power of building for the “everyday girl” who just wants to feel confident and comfortable   * Why community isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of everything SET ACTIVE does   * The real-life challenges of being a solo founder—and how Lindsey reframes hard days   * What's next for the brand: new fabrics, potential men's drops, and continued innovation   Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to how Lindsey Carter is rewriting the rules of modern activewear—one intentional, community-led decision at a time. Whether you're a founder, fashion lover, or someone seeking inspiration, this story will move you. For more on SET ACTIVE, visit:  https://setactive.co/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they've generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year. Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Ryan Carey, founder of Better On — a platform that helps leaders enhance their communication skills through asynchronous video. Carey recounts his path from working at YouTube to establishing his own venture in 2019. He underscores the importance of self-care and mental health, sharing how his company has achieved consistent 15% year-over-year growth and now employs seven full-time team members, all without external investment. Carey highlights the power of video in marketing, the ongoing challenge of balancing sales efforts with product development, and the critical roles of trust, exercise, and sound financial management. He also reflects on the value of mentorship and the courage required to navigate the uncertainties of growing a business. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Ryan Carey believes the hardest part of growing a small business is facing the unknown — never knowing what tomorrow might bring, how you'll feel, or what changes could come in the market or industry—which means having the courage to move forward despite constant uncertainty. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Ryan Carey said his favorite business book that has helped him the most is Blue Ocean Strategy, explaining that it opened his eyes to how to approach markets differently. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Ryan Carey shared that he doesn't listen to many podcasts, but he did highlight his use of tools like Loom, an asynchronous video recorder, as a valuable resource. While not a traditional learning tool, he uses video heavily to communicate more effectively and save time — something he considers essential for running and growing a small business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Ryan Carey recommended QuickBooks as a key tool to help grow a small business. He stressed the importance of getting your “money house in order,” noting that having clean, organized financials makes running and growing a business much easier. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Ryan Carey said that if he could give himself advice on day one of starting out, it would be: “It's going to be hard as shit, but it's going to be so great.” Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Take care of your body first — it's the only temple you've got — Ryan Carey Success is helping the most people, making the most money, while hiring the fewest — Ryan Carey Trust your people, make them feel seen, and you'll build a culture that lasts — Ryan Carey      

What if building a healthy cereal brand wasn't just about clean ingredients—but redefining performance nutrition from the ground up?In this episode, Eoin Carroll, founder of Truely Cereal and former pro bodybuilder, shares his journey from competitive sports to pioneering a high-protein cereal brand that puts quality before hype. Learn how his obsession with nutrition and performance shaped a company focused on clean ingredients, vertical integration, and bold packaging. Eion opens up about bootstrapping the business, balancing fatherhood, and pushing boundaries in the crowded CPG space. If you're an entrepreneur, health nut, or someone looking to fuel smarter, this conversation is packed with takeaways on building resilience—both personally and professionally.Subscribe now for raw insights into brand-building, discipline, and innovation from someone who's lived it.

Want to start, grow, and monetize your own podcast? Watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Success Secrets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Welcome to the optYOUmize Podcast where we help entrepreneurs build the business AND life of their dreams. Get tips, tactics, stories, and inspiration from interviews with business and personal development experts and lessons from my own successes and failures so you can make more, work less, and live better. You don't have to go it alone--we're here to support and motivate you, and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goals. Follow optYOUmize Podcast with Brett Ingram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Summary Brett Ingram interviews Justin Snyder, the founder of Forest Super Foods, who shares his journey from starting with just $100 to building a successful superfoods business. Justin discusses the importance of quality in products, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the significance of customer service and feedback. He emphasizes the need for constant growth and adaptation in business, as well as effective marketing strategies for bootstrapped entrepreneurs. The conversation highlights the shift towards natural health solutions and the importance of understanding product quality in the superfood industry. ⁠Visit https://forestsuperfoods.com.au to order super foods with world wide delivery. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship 03:20 Bootstrapping and Building a Brand 05:57 Quality Over Price: A Business Philosophy 09:04 Navigating Challenges and Financial Management 11:52 The Importance of Customer Service 15:12 The Shift Towards Natural Health 18:03 The Future of Superfoods and Personal Experience 22:18 Optimizing Health Through Nutrition and Sleep 23:07 Understanding Quality in Superfoods 28:01 The Importance of Transparency in Supplements 31:12 Marketing Strategies for Business Growth 36:55 The Journey of Business Growth and Improvement 42:16 Connecting with Forest Super Foods #superfoods #businessgrowth #bootstrap #digitalmarketing #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #entrepreneurship #optyoumize #brettingram #entrepreneurpodcast #podmatch

What does it take to build a multi-million dollar AI startup from scratch, without raising a cent?In this episode of Liftoff, we sit down with Ricardo Ghekiere, the founder of BetterPic, the viral AI platform creating professional headshots in minutes. Bootstrapped from $0 to $4 million in just 15 months, Ricardo shares the real story behind BetterPic's explosive growth from Belgium to the global stage.

Bootstrapping vs VC: John Rush on Building 25 Successful Products

Jason Hennessey is the CEO of Hennessey Digital, a digital marketing agency specializing in legal marketing using a holistic approach. In his role, he grew the small consultancy to a multimillion-dollar business that made the Inc. 5000 list for six consecutive years. As an entrepreneur, internationally recognized SEO expert, author, speaker, podcast host, and business coach, Jason has scaled and sold multiple businesses. He has been reverse-engineering the Google algorithm since 2001.  In this episode… When considering outside capital to kickstart growth, founders often turn to private equity. How can you evaluate private equity opportunities while protecting your company's culture, team, and long-term vision? Jason Hennessey, CEO of Hennessey Digital, shares how he scaled his legal SEO agency by partnering with private equity. With host Todd Taskey, Jason explains why he partnered with Trinity Hunt, the importance of assembling a strong leadership team, and how he adapted the company's culture.

Alan de Souza built Reachbox.ai (Zapmail), an AI-powered cold email outreach platform offering email warmups, campaign automation, and lead enrichment. He scaled from zero revenue to $6 million ARR in just 18 months, serving 4,500 paying customers at $110 average revenue per user while growing 25% month-over-month with only 7.5% churn rate. His 27-person team generates $230,000 in revenue per employee, with 280 active affiliates driving 35% of all customers through a 20% lifetime commission program that pays out over $50,000 monthly. In this episode, Alan reveals how he added $5 million ARR in just 6 months using systematic customer feedback from 1,500+ conversations, why he still does 10 customer calls every day, and the exact affiliate strategy that turned his customers into a revenue-generating army earning lifetime commissions.

Dorian Morris built Undefined Beauty into a national retail brand without investors, relying on her industry expertise, community insight, and bold pivots. By staying self-funded and mission-driven, she proved that inclusivity and smart strategy can scale on her own terms.For more on Undefined Beauty and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Cathy Yoder, founder of Empowered Cooks, who shares her inspiring journey from starting a simple blog in 2008 to building a thriving business with seven full-time equivalent team members. Her popular YouTube channel, which focuses on air fryer recipes, has garnered over 752,000 subscribers and has been a key driver of her success. Cathy has sold more than 50,000 cookbooks, achieved over $70,000 in monthly sales, and generates significant revenue from both digital and physical product sales. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the importance of staying authentic, continuously learning, and balancing the demands of family life with entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, Cathy plans to sell her product line and retire, marking the next chapter of her remarkable journey. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Cathy Yoder, the hardest thing in growing a small business is "the grind of working hard without seeing immediate returns." She emphasized the challenge of staying committed during the early phases when results are slow, especially in a culture that expects instant success. Her advice is to trust your gut, keep at it, and be okay with delayed rewards. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Cathy Yoder's favorite business book that helped her the most is Essentialism by Greg McKeown. She shared that it taught her to cut out the fluff, focus on what truly matters, and work more efficiently, especially after experiencing overwhelm from trying to do everything in her earlier business partnerships. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Cathy Yoder recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business, including the Ed Mylett Podcast and Brendon Burchard for motivation and performance, and Jody Moore's “Better Than Happy” podcast and life coaching membership for mindset and personal development. She also emphasizes the value of joining mastermind groups and hiring business coaches early on, even if it's a small investment, as they helped her build systems and accountability that supported her business growth. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Cathy Yoder recommends YouTube as a powerful tool to grow a small business. She highlights that, while it's a long game and not an instant win, it's a fantastic way to build trust, generate leads, and get paid while doing it. By being authentic and consistently creating content, she was able to grow a loyal audience and convert that engagement into substantial revenue through product sales and memberships. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Cathy Yoder's advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be: “Trust the process. Keep going.” She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, especially during the early stages when progress feels slow, and believes that staying consistent and trusting your instincts is key to long-term success. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Being okay with being uncomfortable is the key to building habits that lead to success — Cathy Yoder Success is not either family or business—it's being present and impactful in both — Cathy Yoder Authenticity will always set you apart in a world full of automation — Cathy Yoder      

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Dean Mathews, the founder of On The Clock. Dean shares his evolution from a solo software developer in 2004 to leading a team of 23 professionals, supporting 170,000 to 280,000 active users. Originally launched as a time-tracking app, On The Clock has expanded to include employee scheduling and payroll services, with ambitious goals of reaching $10 million in revenue and one million monthly active users. Dean discusses the critical role of consistency, hiring the right talent, and leveraging tools like Asana for effective project management. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and fostering a culture that prioritizes growth and team development. Other Resources:  When should a growing small business have a Board of Directors or Advisors? Get a return from an effective Chairperson of a Board An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here.   Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.   And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Dean Mathews, the hardest thing in growing a small business is shifting from doing everything yourself to empowering others by building systems and trusting your team. He highlights the importance of moving from working in the business to working on the business, emphasizing that true growth comes from hiring the right people, clearly defining roles, and creating an operating structure that allows others to thrive. You can't scale alone, and recognizing that earlier can make a significant difference. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Dean Mathews' favorite business book that has helped him the most is Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson. He found it especially valuable because it offers practical frameworks and structures for growing teams and building an internal operating system. The book resonated with him as it closely aligned with the challenges he faced while scaling OnTheClock, particularly around leadership, processes, and team development. He even conducted a book club at work based on it, applying its lessons to enhance how his company operates. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Dean Mathews recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business, especially in the SaaS space. His top pick is the SaaStr Podcast, which features insights from successful SaaS founders and is packed with growth strategies. He also expressed strong interest in exploring content by Alex Hormozi, particularly his books $100M Offers and $100M Leads, and his podcast focused on data-driven business scaling. Additionally, Built to Sell Radio by John Warrillow was recommended for its focus on recurring revenue and building sellable businesses, while Nathan Latka's Podcast was noted for its sharp focus on SaaS metrics like ARR, MRR, CAC, and churn—making it a valuable listen for any growth-minded founder. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Dean Mathews recommends using a project management tool like Asana to grow a small business, as it helps teams stay organized, track progress, and manage both projects and processes effectively. He believes every business boils down to three core elements—people, projects, and processes—and Asana helps align them in a structured way. Additionally, he highlights creating an internal operating system (built in tools like Google Slides), which outlines company values, goals, job roles, meeting structures, and key metrics. Together, these tools support scalable growth and team alignment. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Dean Mathews' advice to himself on day one of starting out in business would be to “buckle in, you're in for a ride” and to understand early on that scaling a business is all about people. He emphasizes that success doesn't come from doing everything yourself, but from hiring the right people, trusting them, and building systems that empower them to thrive. He reflects that if he had learned earlier how to let go of control and focus on developing others, his business could have grown even faster. Surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you in their areas is key to building something truly sustainable. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Trusting others with your vision is the first step to real growth — Dean Mathews A strong culture starts with clearly defined and lived values — Dean Mathews Leadership is less about control and more about enabling success  — Dean Mathews  

In this episode, Alex (@AlexHormozi) sits down with Ahnny Truong, founder of EMME Lash & Beauty, to unpack how she bootstrapped her way to millions, sharing the bold moves, early mistakes, and branding breakthroughs that helped her dominate the lash industry.Welcome to The Game w/Alex Hormozi, hosted by entrepreneur, founder, investor, author, public speaker, and content creator Alex Hormozi. On this podcast, you'll hear how to get more customers, make more profit per customer, how to keep them longer, and the many failures and lessons Alex has learned and will learn on his path from $100M to $1B in net worth.Wanna scale your business? Click here.Follow Alex Hormozi's Socials:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | AcquisitionMentioned in this episode:Get access to the free $100M Scaling Roadmap at www.acquisition.com/roadmap

7 factors of success for game studiosDownload the full report, share with your team: DOWNLOAD REPORTGrab your FREE TRIAL with our partner PlaytestCloud: https://start.playtestcloud.com/riseIn this special episode focused on community building, host Sophie Vo sits down with Julianne Becker, co-founder of Coconat — a workation retreat and co-living space in Brandenburg, Germany. Far from a typical tech leader, Julianne shares her remarkable journey from NGO work in Vietnam to launching an award-winning rural innovation hub that fosters creativity, collaboration, and community for creative and game founders.In this episode, we cover:* The realities of transitioning careers into entrepreneurship* The challenges of building a coliving space and thriving ecosystem from scratch* Insights on funding, bootstrapping, and grassroots marketing* How to create meaningful community integration in rural areas* Balancing family life while building a values-led business* The power of diverse, inclusive residencies, especially the acclaimed Rabbit Indie Game Residency (application deadline: June 15). Rabbit Residency is a standout initiative offering indie game developers a month-long retreat to collaborate, innovate, and connect globally — with a focus on diversity and inclusion.* Exciting developments, including Coconat's new role as a Brandenburg Startup Accelerator to support game devs, mobility innovators, and more through funded residencies.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in creative leadership, rural innovation, the future of work, or indie game development.

In this episode of the Maffeo Drinks Podcast, Chris Maffeo welcomes Chris Walker, an entrepreneur known for his insights into bootstrapping and the modern startup environment (he is the Founder of Refine Labs and Passetto). His work on the Stacking Growth Podcast (Ex Revenue Vitals) inspired him to launch his podcast.They discuss common misconceptions about the need for venture capital, the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs, and the essential skills every founder should master. Chris shares his experiences and thoughts on why many businesses fail due to unnecessary funding and the mental barriers hindering entrepreneurship.The discussion also covers how to achieve personal alignment, the myth of media glorification, and the reality of building a sustainable business. Tune in for valuable lessons on creating and scaling businesses effectively.00:00 Welcome to the Maffeo Drinks Podcast00:09 Inspiration and Beginnings01:11 Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital03:33 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs06:45 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 115:14 Procrastination and Action18:07 The Power of Self-Belief32:49 Final Thoughts and Farewell

The salient focus of this podcast episode revolves around the experiences and insights of a bootstrapped entrepreneur (Shira Abel) who shares invaluable strategies for successfully launching and sustaining a business with minimal capital. Throughout the discourse, we explore Shira's journey through the initiation of three distinct companies, each illustrating the necessity of a robust network and the importance of understanding customer dynamics. Notably, Shira emphasizes the critical lesson learned from their initial venture in technical writing, where a lack of diverse clientele led to its downfall. Furthermore, we delve into the strategies employed to cultivate a marketing agency that achieved significant financial success, underscoring the value of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship. We aspire that listeners will glean practical knowledge from these narratives, facilitating their own entrepreneurial endeavors.In the realm of entrepreneurship, the journey is often fraught with both triumphs and tribulations. This episode of the Frugalpreneur podcast encapsulates the essence of such journeys through the lens of a seasoned entrepreneur (Shira Abel) who has successfully navigated the complexities of launching and growing three distinct businesses. The discussion begins with her first foray into the world of business through a technical writing company, a venture that, despite its initial promise, faltered due to a lack of strategic foresight and client diversification. Shira candidly reflects on the lessons learned from this experience, particularly the pitfalls of operating with a singular client and the importance of treating one's enterprise as a legitimate business rather than a temporary job.As the conversation progresses, we are introduced to her second venture, a marketing agency that she managed to grow to impressive heights, achieving seven-figure revenues. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the broader context of female entrepreneurship, where only a small percentage of women reach such financial milestones. Shira attributes her success to the cultivation of a robust network and the proactive pursuit of customer engagement, emphasizing that a strong foundation of client relationships is paramount for any bootstrapped endeavor. She articulates the necessity of understanding one's customer base and the market landscape, which are critical for sustaining and scaling a business.The episode culminates in a discussion about her third venture into public speaking, driven by a desire to leverage her expertise for a greater impact on society. The overarching message is clear: success in entrepreneurship is not merely about capital investment but rather about the strategic cultivation of networks, understanding market needs, and maintaining an unwavering focus on customer acquisition. This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for aspiring entrepreneurs, offering a wealth of knowledge and practical advice that can be readily implemented in their own business journeys, thereby reinforcing the fundamental principles of perseverance and adaptability in the entrepreneurial landscape.Takeaways: The importance of establishing a strong network prior to launching a business cannot be overstated, as it facilitates customer acquisition. Success in entrepreneurship often hinges on understanding customer needs and effectively communicating one's unique value proposition. Bootstrapped businesses benefit significantly from ongoing engagement with potential customers through various platforms, such as LinkedIn and social media. Past failures can serve as invaluable learning experiences, guiding future entrepreneurial endeavors towards greater success and sustainability. A strategic approach towards marketing and customer relationships is essential for scaling a business to seven figures or more. ...

Reflecting on 10 years since its launch, the honeypot maker explains why the company did not take on any VC funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is a re-run of one of our top episodes from 2023. Host Alex Theuma is joined by Marie Martens, Co-Founder of Tally, who shares how the company bootstrapped to 60K MRR with a team of five. Marie shares: - The choice to bootstrap Tally. - Generational expectations for how to 'set yourself up for success' vs reality. - How Tally is positioned against its competition in the form building space. - The journey from idea to securing Tally's first users (including the little trick she used on ProductHunt). - Why Tally chose a freemium model. Guest links: Since this recording, Tally has scaled to $2M ARR - still with a team of five. You can follow the story on the Tally blog: https://blog.tally.so/we-crossed-2m-arr-with-a-bootstrapped-team-of-5/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemartens/ Website: https://tally.so/      Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fXKVcwl8FS8How a BOGO Deal Bootstrapped Neven Eyewear to MillionsJonathan Strauss lost a $500 pair of sunglasses jet skiing—and turned that wipeout into Neven Eyewear. What began as a desperate liquidation promo turned into a DTC breakthrough. In this episode, Strauss reveals how a buy-one-get-two offer saved his brand, what's changed with Meta ads, and why scaling a bootstrapped Shopify store takes more grit than cash.Learn:Why BOGO x3 worked when nothing else didHow Neven ships worldwide with no VC moneyThe backend tech powering their crazy offerWhat most brands get wrong about Meta adsSponsored by:Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnelsCleverific – Smart order editing for ShopifyAddress Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costsLinks:Neven Eyewear → neveneyewear.comSight for Sound → neveneyewear.com/pages/sight-for-soundJudge.me Reviews → apps.shopify.com/judgemeGlasson 360 Viewer → apps.shopify.com/glassonShopify → shopify.com

Ian and Aaron discuss the need for an AI Newsletter, being beamed up to the mothership, web components, and more.Sponsored by Bento, WorkOS, NativePHP for Mobile, and Laracon US 2025Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Cushy W-2's (03:29) - New Madness (15:28) - Aaron's Very Good Tweet (22:50) - AI Newsletter (33:40) - A Theory About The World (39:28) - A Love Letter To....Rails? (48:05) - Weekend Breakfast (56:49) - A New Practice Links:Introducing Claude 4Junie, by JetBrainsWindsurfJosh Pigford on XAaron's tweet about AIProducer Dave's tweet about joining LaravelIan Landsman & Andrey Butov's Bootstrapped.fmAdam's tweet about his love letter to RailsInstrumental Components Paula's Runway Cafe

Send us a textBrittany Smith and Janki Patel are the powerhouse duo behind Jump Ahead Pediatrics. What started as a shared dream between two burned-out therapists became a multi-state staffing agency serving schools with over 100 employees. In this episode, they walk us through how they bootstrapped their way from a $250 rental space to building a mission-driven business that puts people first. They talk openly about leadership challenges, lessons learned, and how they continue to grow while staying rooted in values and trust. This episode is a blueprint for anyone building something real with someone they trust.Episode NotesMeet Brittany and Janki Co-founders of Jump Ahead Pediatrics, Brittany and Janki built a multi-state therapy staffing agency from scratch. Their business places OT, PT, speech, and support professionals in schools that need them most.Bootstrapped with Purpose With no outside funding, they launched using personal savings, donated equipment, and community support. Every early win was reinvested back into the business.Partnership and Leadership Their 50/50 partnership is built on trust and balance. They lead with intention, grow through coaching, and prioritize people and culture in every aspect of the business.What's Next They're expanding into adult staffing and new states, with a goal of hitting 500 employees while mentoring others on how to scale the right way.Connect with the Founders and Jump Ahead PediatricsWebsite: jumpaheadpediatrics.com Meet the Founders: jumpaheadpediatrics.com/about/#founders Facebook: facebook.com/jumpaheadpediatrics Instagram: instagram.com/explore/locations/259440741061213/jump-ahead-pediatric-therapy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/81905361Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders Instagram: @badass_women_in_business LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com Athena: athenaac.com

Meet the CMO and co-founder behind one of the fastest-growing creative services in the world. From bootstrapping a startup to building an Inc. 5000 company, Johnathan Grzybowski has redefined how businesses access high-quality creative talent. In this episode, we dive into his journey with a global subscription-based design service, his approach to leadership, and the personal stories that fuel his mission to help others. Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, or simply navigating the balance between business and family, Johnathan brings real, relatable insights you won't want to miss.Johnathan Grzybowski is the CMO and Co-Founder of Penji, a creative subscription service revolutionizing how businesses access top-tier creative talent. Bootstrapped from the ground up, Penji has served thousands of clients worldwide and earned recognition as an Inc. 5000 company. With a background in International Studies and Business, Johnathan transformed early entrepreneurial challenges into opportunities by making creative talent more accessible for businesses of all sizes.Outside of Penji, Johnathan is a storyteller and content creator. He hosts Dear Dads—a heartfelt platform for fathers to share their journeys, inspired by his love for his family—and Free Ideas, offering entrepreneurs actionable strategies to elevate their businesses daily. As a husband, father, and business leader, Johnathan's guiding principle is simple: help those who help others. Whether discussing business growth, bootstrapping success, or balancing life and leadership, Johnathan delivers authentic, practical insights to every conversation.Contact Johnathan:Email: johnathan@penji.co Website: https://penji.co/?nab=4  Remember to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss "Information That You Can Use." Share Just Minding My Business with your family, friends, and colleagues. Engage with us by leaving a review or comment. https://g.page/r/CVKSq-IsFaY9EBM/review Your support keeps this podcast going and growing.Visit Just Minding My Business Media™ LLC at https://jmmbmediallc.com/ to learn how we can help you get more visibility on your products and services. 

Silas Deane is a founder, serial entrepreneur, and University of Kentucky graduate who bootstrapped his company, VendEngine, from a back-of-the-napkin idea to an $84 million exit. VendEngine serves correctional facilities, providing a solution that transforms how families support incarcerated loved ones. With no outside funding, Silas grew the company steadily over 12 years, leading to an $84 million acquisition by Tyler Technologies. His accomplishments recently earned him a place in UK's Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame, a recognition of his successes since his time at UK.In this episode, Silas shares how he navigated the Dot-Com boom and bust, the challenges of bootstrapping a tech company, and the strategies he used to scale VendEngine in a complex industry. Expect to learn how Silas approached building technology solutions for underserved markets, why he never raised capital for the business, and what advice he has for entrepreneurs looking to grow without outside capital.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.com

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sit down with Mike Salguero — Founder and CEO of ButcherBox, the $550M direct-to-consumer brand redefining how meat is sourced, delivered, and consumed. Mike shares the untold story of how he bootstrapped ButcherBox without raising a single dollar of outside capital, scaling it through a series of internet-driven arbitrage opportunities and a deep obsession with product quality. We dive into the company's mission to transform the meat industry for the better — from supporting family farms to championing animal welfare and sustainability. Mike also unpacks his approach to building a profitable business, staying customer-obsessed, and leading with purpose in a noisy market. This episode is a must-listen for founders who believe in building with integrity, vision, and long-term impact.Connect with Mike Salguero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalguero/Learn more about ButcherBox: https://www.butcherbox.com/Chapters:00:00 The Mission Behind ButcherBox03:12 The First Arbitrage: Finding Gaps in the Internet07:41 Why Product Obsession Was the Foundation10:56 Scaling Without Venture Capital14:03 Transforming the Meat Industry From the Inside18:30 Lessons in Building Operational Excellence22:15 Marketing Through Purpose, Not Promos25:40 Why Mission-Driven Brands Win Long-Term28:36 Supporting Farmers and Creating Supply Chain Change33:02 Staying Profitable While Growing Fast36:10 Advice for Founders on Focus, Vision, and Longevity

Jeff Shiner is the CEO of 1Password, the access management company used by over 100,000 businesses and millions of individuals worldwide. He joined 1Password as CEO in 2012, when the team was just under 20 people. Under Jeff's leadership, 1Password expanded into B2B, launched a SaaS platform, and scaled from a small family-run operation into a global company. In 2019, Jeff led 1Password through its first-ever funding round – a $200M Series A from Accel – to build out its go-to-market team and accelerate product development. Before joining 1Password, Jeff held senior roles at IBM and led teams through multiple acquisitions and integrations. --- In today's episode, we discuss: Why bootstrapping isn't always what it's cracked up to be The switch from a consumer product to B2B Launching before billing — and why that worked When being “too secure” nearly killed the product Becoming CEO… without telling anyone Much more --- Referenced: 1Password: https://1password.com Accel: https://www.accel.com Arun Mathew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-mathew-b7186412/ David Teare: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveteare/ Floodgate: https://floodgate.com LastPass: https://www.lastpass.com Mike Maples: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maples/ Natalia Karimov: https://1password.com/company/meet-the-team/natalia-karimov Roustem Karimov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roustem/?originalSubdomain=ca Sara Teare: https://1password.com/company/meet-the-team/sara-teare Shopify: https://www.shopify.com Tobi Lütke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiaslutke/ --- Where to find Jeff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jshiner --- Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson --- Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast --- Timestamps: 0:03 – How Jeff got involved with 1Password 2:01 – How 1Password was initially set up 10:41 – The secret CEO 13:44 – What Jeff's first six months encompassed 16:13 – The lightbulb moment that caused a pivot 17:50 – 1Password's unusual company journey 22:08 – Creating an aligned product roadmap 29:19 – Retaining a customer-centric focus at scale 30:40 – Why 1Password's first B2B product failed 39:43 – How Jeff thinks about competitors 46:44 – Building different go-to-market functions 52:45 – Staying bootstrapped for 15 years 57:17 – Jeff's one regret 1:02:00 – 1Password's most pivotal moments

Demi Marchese is the Founder and Head of Brand at 12th Tribe, a fast-growing fashion brand blending curated style with operational excellence to empower the next generation of confident women. With expertise in merchandising, marketing, and brand-tech integration, Demi turns creative vision into scalable systems that drive real growth.Bootstrapped from scratch, 12th Tribe reflects Demi's hands-on leadership across every function, from designing product drops to building workflows that streamline team execution. She's driven by a mission to not only create beautiful apparel, but to curate a lifestyle rooted in confidence, freedom, and community.Demi is also a systems thinker, embracing AI and automation to scale brand voice, streamline content, and optimize customer journeys. She's trained ChatGPT to mirror her own copy style, implemented AI-driven SMS segmentation, and continues to experiment with tools that bring brand and tech closer together.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:40] Intro[01:00] Building a site before Shopify blew up[03:34] Testing demand without inventory risk[05:06] Leveraging organic social growth[07:09] Responding quickly to market shifts[08:57] Episode Sponsors: Intelligems & Electric Eye[12:01] Refocusing on your core customer[14:10] Scaling brand voice using AIWant more insights from top Ecommerce leaders? Our episode guest was a featured speaker at eTail Palm Springs 2025, sharing insights with top Ecommerce minds. If you want to be part of the next big discussions, join eTail Boston in August 2025 and/or eTail Palm Springs in February 2026!Learn more at eTail's official sites:etaileast.wbresearch.com/etailwest.wbresearch.com/Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeYour online vibe director + stylist 12thtribe.com/Follow Demi Marchese linkedin.com/in/demimarcheseBook a demo today at intelligems.io/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

This week on Above The Fold, I'm in NYC catching up with my new friend and fellow startup nerd, Adam Simone—co-founder of Leaf Shave and Smoosh. We get into what it really means to build product-first brands and why having strong opinions might actually be a founder's best tool.We talk about his mechanical engineering background and how it led to building a shaving brand that doesn't suck, and why their second brand, Smoosh, turned into a surprise hit with a totally different audience.Adam breaks down the chaos and clarity of launching two brands with one small team, why TikTok turned on them (lol, truly), and how staying product-led keeps the vision clear—even when the market throws curveballs.If you're trying to scale something meaningful, juggle two brands, or just need a reminder that not every decision needs a focus group, this one's for you.Listen now for insights on product development, startup reality checks, and the joy of building weird stuff that works.

Justin Soleimani is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Tumble, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in machine-washable, spillproof rugs designed for modern living. Before establishing Tumble in 2021, he worked as a consultant at Bain & Company, advising clients across various industries. Justin holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from Emory University, where he met his Co-founder, Zach Dannett. Under their leadership, Tumble has grown significantly, scaling to high eight-figures in revenue within four years. Zach Dannett is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Tumble. Before Tumble, he served as the General Merchandise Manager and Buyer & Merchandiser for Outdoor Furniture at Noble House Home Furnishings, LLC and as an Investment Management Associate at BBR Partners. Zach earned his BBA in Finance from Emory University's Goizueta Business School in 2011, where he met his Co-founder, Justin Soleimani. In this episode… Breaking into the ecommerce ecosystem with a physical product — especially a large one like rugs — comes with unique logistical and financial hurdles. From expensive shipping costs to supply chain inefficiencies, many startups fail to develop a sustainable model. How did a product-focused, bootstrapped brand scale successfully without sacrificing profitability? Justin Soleimani and Zach Dannett, experts in DTC product development and operations, tackled this challenge head-on by designing a modular, collapsible rug that's easier and less expensive to ship. Justin and Zach spent over 15 months perfecting their design before launching, focusing on optimizing everything from the product's dimensions to its warehousing footprint. They emphasize the value of focusing on profitability from day one by cutting out unnecessary SKUs, refining your supply chain, and tailoring offerings to fit consumer needs and carrier constraints. In this episode of the Minds of Ecommerce podcast, Raphael Paulin-Daigle interviews Justin Soleimani and Zach Dannett, Co-founders and Co-CEOs of Tumble, about building a nearly nine-figure DTC brand. They share how product-first thinking drove early success using the value of modular design, shipping optimization, and bootstrapping strategies. Tune in for insights on crowdfunding, curated product assortments, and manufacturing challenges.

In this episode I sit down with Wade Foster, the founder and CEO of Zapier. We explore Zapier's unique path, from building its first integrations on nights and weekends in Missouri to scaling with minimal funding through Y Combinator. Wade shares how “don't hire till it hurts” became a guiding mantra, why Zapier embraced remote work early on, and how the rise of AI is unlocking new automation possibilities through Zapier Agents. Whether you're curious about seedstrapping, enterprise workflows, or the frontier of AI benchmarks, this conversation delivers practical insights for building a lean, innovative company.00:00:00 - “Don't Hire Till It Hurts” Mantra00:01:24 - The First Zap & Early Users00:03:42 - Joining YC & Minimal Funding00:05:09 - Profitability & Lean Hiring00:06:57 - SEO for Marketplace Growth00:08:10 - AI Agents & Unstructured Data00:10:28 - Enterprise Playbook & GTM00:13:14 - ARC Prize & Future of AGI00:17:29 - Remote Culture at Zapier00:20:29 - Seedstrapping Advice in AI00:25:09 - Reimagining Processes w/ AI00:28:54 - Final Insights & Future

Guest: Ben Chestnut, Former CEO and Co-Founder of MailchimpIf you find yourself selling your startup, then Mailchimp co-founder Ben Chestnut has some important advice for you: Get a dog. When Intuit bought Mailchimp in 2021 for $12 billion, the company asked Ben if he wanted to stay on as CEO, but he chose to “walk off into the sunset” and let the new owners take over. After that, he estimates it took 6 to 12 months before he stopped checking his email, social media, and calendar with the same level of stress a CEO might have. Adopting a dog, he discovered, forces you to “get OK with the voices in your head."“After the acquisition, that's all I do, I walk the dog,” Ben says. “And the dog was good therapy ... No judgments from a dog.”Chapters:(01:09) - Growing slow (03:06) - The long journey (07:48) - Is money a burden? (09:35) - Building globally in Atlanta (11:22) - Ben's upbringing (12:59) - The first 10 years (17:58) - Scaling to one billion emails (19:22) - Freemium (23:32) - No equity (26:00) - Deciding to sell (33:55) - “I'm a sunset guy” (35:29) - Stress and support (37:25) - Time with the parents (39:07) - Get a dog (42:24) - The voices in your head (46:03) - Serial and “Mailkimp” (53:00) - Hiring interviews (57:14) - Fitness routines (59:27) - Lights off (01:01:46) - AI & reinvention (01:06:30) - The worst days (01:09:15) - What “grit” means to Ben Mentioned in this episode: Intuit, Wolt, DoorDash, LinkedIn, Dan Kurzius, Salesforce, ExactTarget, Pardot, Constant Contact, Rackspace, Free by Chris Anderson, Wired Magazine, Charles Hudson, the Freemium Summit, Drew Houston, Dropbox, Evernote, Phil Libin, TechCrunch, Brian Kane, Catalyst Partners, Georgia Pacific, Scott Cook, Bing Gordon, Vinay Hiremath, Loom, Joe Thomas, Caltrain, Flickr, Saturday Night Live, Droga5, Cannes Film Festival, Strava, Twitter, LinkedIn, Nvidia, Glean, Rubrik, Amazon AWS, and Mechnical Turk.Links:Connect with BenLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner Perkins