In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Baird Hall, co-founder of Churnkey. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Baird didn’t start his first company until he was 27, though he feels he could have begun earlier. His first venture, a social audio network for sports fans, ultimately failed because while the product had passionate users, …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Lynn Whitbeck, Founder and CEO of Petite2Queen. Lynn grew up in a mid-sized town, and her experience in the Girl Scouts, where she spearheaded a cookie-selling strategy with a shy friend, sparked her love for sales. That early success, along with her passion for helping people, laid the foundation fo…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Len Covello, CTO and Co-founder of Engage People. Len discusses his early influences, including growing up in Toronto and being inspired by his father, who was an entrepreneur in the catering business. Len's passion for technology started at a young age with his first computer, a Vic 20, and continue…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Andrew Watson, Co-Founder of Igloo Media. Andrew recounts his upbringing in Italy and England, and how his initial aspirations as a tennis player eventually led him to entrepreneurship in the U.S. He describes his collegiate tennis career, where he honed his competitive spirit, which later translated…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sanket Karamchandani, Founder of Miss Neeta's Ice Cream Parlor. Sanket shared his entrepreneurial journey from a childhood dream inspired by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to becoming a business owner. Growing up in the Bay Area, Sanket was driven by the desire to pursue something he loved, which he…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very, very, special friend, Christopher Wink, Co-founder and CEO of Technical.ly. Chris discussed his upbringing in a rural corner of Northwest New Jersey, which lacked exposure to technology and entrepreneurship. Despite not coming from a family with a background in journalism or entrepreneurship,…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jeff Bruno, CEO and Co-founder of B.Modelr. Jeff shares his entrepreneurial journey, which began in Philadelphia, and how his passion for small business finance led him to create his fractional CFO service. However, after realizing the limitations of the service model, Jeff and his partner, Julian Wr…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very special friend, Jedidiah Weller, the CEO and Founder of Open Forge and Startup Wars. Jedidiah shares his entrepreneurial journey, beginning in rural Pennsylvania, where he grew up in Amish country. He details how his experiences in a challenging upbringing without strong entrepreneurial role m…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jack Adler, CEO and Founder of Out2Win Sports. Jack shares his journey from growing up in Bluebell and Villanova to his time at Syracuse University, where he founded Out2Win Sports in 2021. The idea for his sports marketing firm, which specializes in connecting brands with athlete creators in the NIL…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Leopold van Oosten, the CEO and Founder of Amsterdam Standard. Leopold recounts his entrepreneurial journey, which began in a small, unremarkable town in the Netherlands. Initially studying hotel management with aspirations of entering the hospitality industry, his path took a dramatic turn during an…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ann Carden, CEO and Founder of Expert In You. Ann delved into her entrepreneurial journey, which began in Missouri, influenced by her father, an entrepreneur. Ann's early ventures started with a doll business that she grew into a global enterprise, crafting and selling her own line of dolls. This exp…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tomé Duarte, the Fractional CTO and Founder of Penguin Objective. Tomé shares how he started the year strong with a record-setting Q1, crediting his meticulous use of spreadsheets for managing his operations and cash flow. Originally from Portugal, Tomé explains that he lived in Brazil and Ireland be…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jennifer Cresswell, Founder of Thoughtgro. Jennifer grew up in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area and having a background in industrial engineering from Cornell, Jennifer's drive to improve and optimize systems led her to launch Thoughtgro in July 2022. Despite initial challenges and a steep learning …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tim Branyan, founder of TrueFanz. Tim grew up in Kokomo, Indiana and explained how his early life, including the influence of his comedian father and his curiosity, shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Tim's first business venture was modifying Xbox consoles during high school, which taught him about m…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jim Keeney, founder and CEO of Dapt Tech. Jim explains that the entrepreneurial drive is fueled by a desire to build things and solve problems, which began for him in childhood. He talks about how Dapt Tech helps businesses track profit and loss by activity, allowing them to accurately assess the cos…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Allen, Co-founder and CTO of Cobalt Innovations Inc. Mark grew up in Bluebell, Pennsylvania. He credited his wife’s influence for igniting his entrepreneurial spirit. Initially working in tech as a software consultant, Mark eventually co-founded Cobalt during the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Timothy Poore, the CEO and Co-founder of ATP Healthcare. Timothy shared insights into his journey as an entrepreneur, reflecting on how his upbringing, particularly his parents' business endeavors, shaped his work ethic and determination. He discussed the origins of ATP Healthcare, a company that spe…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Catherine Griffin, Founder of Impactable. Catherine recounts how her experiences leading a fund and accelerator in Philadelphia, which focused on social entrepreneurship and global innovation initiatives, inspired the creation of Impactable. Catherine explains that Impactable is a predictive impact a…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Natalie Doyle Oldfield, CEO and founder of Success Through Trust Inc. Natalie grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and shares that she was inspired by her parents' strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Her father’s experience as an author and business owner profoundly influenced her career …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marc Portney, CEO and Founder of Globalsource Infrastructure Partners. Marc spent his early days in Queens, New York, where he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit by shining shoes for pocket money. He emphasizes the importance of relationships in business, recounting how his hands-on approach and aut…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Monik Pamecha, CEO and Co-founder of Toma. Monik grew up in Bombay and was influenced by his hardworking father. This environment fostered an early interest in technology, leading him to create websites and tech blogs as a teenager. His first notable venture involved writing a humorous blog about a s…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very, very special guest, Rick Nucci, CEO and co-founder of Guru. Rick, highly regarded in the Philadelphia tech scene, reflected on a memorable moment at the Founder Factory event, where he humorously referenced a sports figure to highlight the significance of operations roles in companies. He emp…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bobby Varma, CEO and founder of Princeton Identity. Bobby shared her journey from her early life in India to her entrepreneurial ventures in the U.S. She highlighted how her father's love for travel and entrepreneurship influenced her adaptability and problem-solving skills, which are crucial traits …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell, co-founders and co-CEOs of FunkkOFF, a company that creates innovative oral care products. Joelle, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in finance, and Sonia, an experienced brand manager with a passion for strategy and analytics, share their journey from childho…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Lin, Founder and CEO of Sliimeyhoney. Mark shares the journey of how he founded his gourmet slime company. He explains that Sliimeyhoney creates slimes that not only look and feel like favorite foods but also smell delightful, making them sensory toys. Mark started his business during the COVID-…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jared Waters, CEO of Mini Materials. Jared shares his unique journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming an entrepreneur. Jared explains how moving frequently in his childhood helped him become more outgoing, a trait that benefits his entrepreneurial ventures. He reveals that he bought Mini Mate…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Veon Brewster, the founder of Veba Baby. Veon shares her journey from Jamaica to the U.S., where her upbringing in a household focused on education inspired her entrepreneurial spirit. She details her academic and professional background, highlighting her work in tech at Google and PricewaterhouseCoo…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tim Swindle, co-founder of PaddleSmash. Tim shares his journey from growing up in Chicago and being inspired by his entrepreneur father to his early ventures, including a golf teaching business at age 12 and a successful software company called PointDrive, which was later acquired by LinkedIn. He als…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Assaf Pashut, the Founder of Chefee Robotics. Assaf shared his entrepreneurial journey, which began in Israel and Silicon Valley, where he developed a love for food and business. His initial foray into entrepreneurship was as a swim instructor, which later led him to start a catering business called …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ryan Bouton, co-founder of Gatsby Chocolate. Ryan grew up in rural Virginia, and initially worked at Halo Top as the first employee and later leveraged that experience to co-found Gatsby Chocolate, the first-ever low-calorie chocolate on the market. Ryan emphasized the challenges and lessons learned …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Charisse Pasche, co-founder and COO of Dapper Boi, an all-gender, body-inclusive clothing line based in San Diego. Charisse shares her journey from growing up as a first-generation Filipino immigrant in a family of entrepreneurs to co-founding Dapper Boi with her wife. She recounts their early busine…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Rasmus Barfred, co-founder of THEMAGIC5. Rasmus recounted his early days in Denmark, where his entrepreneurial spirit was subtly influenced by his mother's approach to life. He didn't initially set out to start a business, but his involvement in a software venture during university with his future co…

In our first episode of our Shark Tank series, I was lucky enough to interview Sam Chason, the Founder and CEO of Storage Scholars. Sam shared his entrepreneurial journey from humble beginnings to success on Shark Tank. Growing up in Westchester County, he always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He started with a lemonade stand and progressed to flip…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Eric McHugh, the President and Chief Growth Officer of SHOPX. Eric grew up in Southern California, which exposed him to a wealth of entrepreneurial resources. He recounted his experiences at a VC incubator where he interacted with numerous startup founders, gaining invaluable knowledge that shaped hi…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Scott Martinis, the CEO and Founder of B2B Catalyst. Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his unexpected entry into the business world after initially planning a different career path. He discusses his early experiences in marketing agencies, the challenges of nailing down product-…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ted Mann, the CEO and co-founder of CollX, a platform designed to help collectors determine the value of their trading cards. Ted shares how the idea for CollX was inspired by his son’s interest in Pokémon cards and the difficulty in assessing their value. He explains that the platform utilizes advan…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brian Pickell, the CEO and co-founder of KPInterface. Brian shares how his upbringing in the Valley Forge area and the influence of his ambitious older brother, along with his faith, shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. He reflects on his transition from working at other startup firms to co-founding KP…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Casandra Mann, the VP for Operations at Precision Systems Inc. (PSI). We delved into the history and resilience of PSI's founder, Walt, who overcame throat cancer and significant business challenges, including the impact of 9/11. Despite losing $7 million in contracts overnight, Walt rebuilt the comp…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bill Evans, CEO of Liberty Fox Technologies. Bill recounts his journey from growing up in Northeast Philadelphia to establishing his own company after being laid off from a previous job. Inspired by his family's entrepreneurial background, Bill took the plunge into entrepreneurship, initially startin…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Zach Rattner, CTO and Co-Founder of Yembo. Zach discusses his upbringing, including his formative years spent tinkering with computers in rural Vermont, which laid the groundwork for his future in technology. He elaborates on how Yembo, a company specializing in computer vision for property inspectio…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jon Kinney, the Founder and CTO at Headway. Jon delves into his entrepreneurial roots, tracing his upbringing in Southwest Wisconsin. Growing up in a household where his mother was a graphic designer and his father was a musician, Jon was surrounded by creativity and technology. His first foray into …

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Alyson Caffrey, the dynamic COO of Operations Agency. Alyson recounts her East Coast upbringing and how the "Northeast hustle" instilled a unique drive in her. Despite not coming from an entrepreneurial background, she became an "accidental entrepreneur" after leaving her 9-to-5 job. Within 30 days o…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jeremy Gordon, CPO and CTO of Startup Science. Jeremy shared his background, revealing how his experience with the Air Force laid the groundwork for his disciplined and focused approach to entrepreneurship. He spoke about his transition from military life to civilian pursuits, including his ventures …

This episode is extra special because I was lucky enough to interview THE AJ Bruno, Founder and CEO of QuotaPath. AJ wears many hats—he's a limited partner, podcast host, serial entrepreneur, commercial pilot, dad, and much more! AJ delves into the personal aspects of his life, including his upbringing in Pittsburgh, where his father's entrepreneur…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jerry Macnamara, CEO and Founder of Proven Chaos. Jerry grew up just outside of Philadelphia and his entrepreneurial spirit wasn't directly influenced by his parents but rather by his high school soccer coach. Inspired by his frustration as a senior leader making others rich with his decisions, he de…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Matt Watson, Founder, CEO, and CTO of Full Scale. Matt grew up around entrepreneurial parents who ran a flea market business, he gained early exposure to the world of business and sales. His first venture, Venn Solutions, stemmed from a serendipitous encounter with a car dealer needing software assis…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Trachtman, Director and Owner of Lucid Circus. Adam's upbringing in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and his formative years at a creative and performing arts high school in Philadelphia laid the groundwork for his journey. With a blend of analytical precision inherited from his mother and a risk-taking…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Karim Kerachni, Co-founder of Steamates and head of franchise development for Massachusetts at PropertyGuys.com. Karim shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey and unique approach to productivity while traveling the world. Born in Canada and raised in France, Karim's upbringing in a family of…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Whitney Stowell, Founder and CEO of Cribworks. Whitney discusses his entrepreneurial journey from a rural upbringing to navigating the fast-paced business world. Growing up on a farm instilled an entrepreneurial spirit in Whitney, who later transitioned into the professional realm by working in gover…

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Olivia Parkes, CEO of The Systems Boss. Olivia shares her story of moving from the UK to Chicago, driven by a desire to pursue her dreams and create a thriving enterprise in the United States. From her early aspirations to her eventual realization of starting her own company, Olivia's tale is one of …