Startup Savants

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

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

Author Chris Matthews joins the podcast to share his experience in the startup world and how it led him to write his new book Start Telling People. This episode we dive into how to create superior product demos, mistakes you might be making when showcasing your products, and how to bridge the gap to create a better startup culture in your business.  Chris Matthews Links:  http://www.verysmallrobots.com/ http://www.starttellingpeople.com/  https://www.amazon.com/Start-Telling-People-Chris-Matthews/dp/B0C4XWSXY9 https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CJWG3994/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-366385&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_366385_rh_us Startup Savant Links:  https://startupsavant.com/podcast  https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/  https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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