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The Startup Junkies Podcast

The Startup Junkies podcast is hosted by Jeff Amerine and the team at Startup Junkie. We’ll cover topics ranging from getting started, planning, growing your business, proving your concept, leadership, marketing, exit strategies and so much more. We’ll interview business owners, entrepreneurs, experts and people we think will bring value to our audience. Subscribe, and together we'll take your business to the next level.
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Now displaying: April, 2022

This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. These are the stories of the people that are afflicted with creating the next great products and services that are going to change lives - not just in America, but worldwide. We're going to tell the stories of the next great beer producer, products and apparel makers, and the stories of people that don't accept the status quo and that want to make things better. 

Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast.

Apr 25, 2022
Hosts Caleb Talley, Matthew Ward, and Jeff Amerine sat down with Jigesh Vora, the founder, and CEO of SwiftGo. Jigesh comes from a family of businessmen, was a professional consultant for one of the Big Four retailers, and has a background in startups. For his third startup, SwiftGo, Jigesh decided to tackle one of the biggest problems with in-store shopping: checkout lines. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Matthew, Jeff, and Jigesh discussed how the application works, addressed questions about competition and hesitant users, and dreamed about the exciting future of SwiftGo and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

Thanks for tuning in!

 

Shownotes:

(2:04) Origin Story

(5:07) How the Application Works

(6:41) Competition

(11:03) Developed for Shoppers

(20:38) Securing Intellectual Property and the Future of SwiftGo

(26:25) Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

(29:03) The Most Exciting Piece of Running SwiftGo

(31:06) Raise Venture Capital or Fund Organically?

(33:37) Landing the Plane - Advice to Younger Self 

(38:32) Connecting with SwiftGo

 

Links:

Caleb Talley

Matthew Ward

Jeff Amerine

Jigesh Vora

SwiftGo

 

Quotes:

“As they say…simple is tough, right? When you think about it, it's tough to build something that is simple, and it took us a while.” - Jigesh Vora, (5:22)

 

“The exciting part [of running SwiftGo] is being able to pivot quickly and build things and be creative. And then in the future, see those happen. I think that that's the most exciting part. So yeah, it can be tiring at times. It can be stressful at times, but it never gets frustrating is how I put it…Our decision is our own…If we don't believe in it, we change and we do something we believe in.” - Jigesh Vora, (29:47)


“The one thing I would definitely pass on [to my younger self] is, don't be stressed…when you believe in something, be okay with standing your ground…be okay with taking the shot and yeah, it might not work out, it might work out, but it's your shot and go with what you feel like.” - Jigesh Vora, (34:19)

Apr 18, 2022
Summary:

Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!

 

On this special edition episode of the Startup Junkies podcast, host Jeff Amerine was joined first by Erin Campbell, Chief Marketing Officer and CoFounder of Gen Z, and her colleague, Bo Mo. Gen Z is using multiple strategies to transform the bottled water market. Next, Jeff talks with Calvin Smith, serial entrepreneur, businessman, and chairman of the Startup Junkie Foundation who learned from his mistakes and used those lessons to grow as an entrepreneur. Finally, Jeff chats with Ronnie Brewer, former Arkansas Razorback and NBA basketball player turned recruiting coordinator, about what it takes to be successful.

 

Throughout the episode, Jeff Amerine and these guests discuss what it takes to make it in the startup world, including disrupting the market, learning from your mistakes, and tapping into your full potential as an individual and a corporation.

 

Thanks for tuning in!

 

Shownotes:

(0:46) All about Gen Z

(1:17) The Genesis behind Gen Z

(4:01) Reception from Buyers

(4:45) What’s Next for Gen Z?

(8:09) Background on Calvin Smith 

(12:54) A Metaphor for Entrepreneurship: Little Failures Lead to Greater Success

(16:12) What We Need from the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs 

(19:11) Advice to Younger Self

(20:51) Ronnie Brewer, Hero of Basketball

(21:10) Thoughts on the Startup Crawl

(22:57) Excellence in Athletics Translates to Entrepreneurship 

(25:11) Accept Nothing Less than the Best

 

Links:

Jeff Amerine

Erin Campbell

Bo Mo

Calvin Smith

Ronnie Brewer

 

Quotes:

“...I think in this culture of fast fashion, fast this, fast that, we can slow down and enjoy things and enjoy the smile that these bottles bring. And it's so unique because not a lot of products these days really are doing that.” - Bo Mo, (6:04)

 

“...What we need is the next generation of people coming up…to give back selflessly, without expecting anything in return and saying, ‘Hey, if I give back to this community, we're all better for it. I’m better for it.’” - Calvin Smith, (17:42)


“...The constraints that you have on yourself [are]…only in your mind. If you let that go, anything is possible and you can achieve anything. And we’re a prime example with the Razorbacks. But again, we're just scratching the surface. And that's motivation to people in the entrepreneurial world, and you can do anything, but don’t just settle for scratching the surface - keep on grinding, keep on getting better.” - Ronnie Brewer, (26:05)

Apr 11, 2022

Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!

Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire were joined by Donna Griffit, a professional storyteller and pitch strategist with a special place in her heart for startups. Donna has had to adapt and adjust many times in her career, whether it was shifting jobs or recessions and pandemics, and she’s picked up immeasurable wisdom for entrepreneurs along the way. Let’s learn about it all!

Thanks for tuning in

SHOW NOTES:

(1:11) Introducing Donna Griffit

(7:19) Comparing Startup to Corporate

(11:45) The Story-Building Process

(14:26) The Secret Weapon

(15:46) 3 Trends to Look for with Venture Capitalism

(17:46) Common Pitch Deck Mistakes

(21:20) Differences in Venture Capitalism after Covid

(24:46) How Can Startup Scenes in the Heartland Get Investment Dollars off the Sidelines?

(29:46) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Thoughts

 

LINKS:

Davis McEntire

Caleb Talley

Donna Griffit

Donna's Website

Donna’s Secret Weapon Article

Donna’s Secrets from the Boardroom Articles 1 & 2

Apr 5, 2022

Summary:

Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!

 

Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward were joined by Kirsten Blowers, a serial entrepreneur and owner of Riff Raff and City Supply. Kirsten’s entrepreneurial spirit was planted by her parents, sparked by the great recession, and fueled by a love to tackle and adapt to any obstacle in her way. Want to know what it looks like to pivot before it was cool? 

 

Check out this episode! 

 

 

Shownotes:

(1:01) Introducing Kirsten Blowers

(1:23) Riff Raff during the Recession

(7:17) The Spark of a Serial Entrepreneur

(9:05) Oh S**t Moment in 2020

(17:02) The Evolution of Riff Raff

(20:24) Staying Current and Going beyond Statistics

(26:48) What’s Winning and What Comes Next?

(30:03) Success Does Not Have to Be about Growth

(32:10) The Process of Handing Off a Company

(36:14) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks

 

 

Links:

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Caleb Talley

Kirsten Blowers

Riff Raff

Riff Raff Shop

City Supply



Quotes:

My parents are both entrepreneurs. My mom is a childcare provider; my dad's a food consultant. They've always instilled resiliency and pivoting just as a way of life.” (2:28) - Kirsten Blowers

 

 

I think a lot of people get stuck in the idea that they have to stick to their original process. If it shifts, it shifts. Everything shifts. (19:25) - Kirsten Blowers

 

If I don't want to do something, there's no expectation. I'm the only person that has to live up to that expectation. (26:12) - Kirsten Blowers

 

More money, more problems, you know? If this [present success] is healthy and good, if we're excited every day, if everyone's getting paid what they should be paid, and if we're still able to move forward with trends, then why are we trying to [change]?” (27:21) - Kirsten Blowers

 

Episode Sponsored by:

AEDC - https://www.arkansasedc.com/

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