Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Quinn Robertson, a senior associate at NXTUS. NXTUS is a non-profit organization that connects mentors, capital opportunities, and customers in an effort to further entrepreneurial growth. As an entrepreneurship supporter, Quinn decided to leave his position in the corporate world and work with startup founders by helping them grow companies of significance. Throughout this episode, Quinn shares about NXTUS’s role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the startup scene in Wichita, and the state of the Heartland as a place for families and entrepreneurship to prosper.
Show Notes:
(0:59) Introduction to Quinn
(1:26) Quinn’s Background
(3:23) Wichita’s Startup Scene
(6:18) Comparing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
(14:42) NXTUS’s Role in Wichita’s Growing Ecosystem
(21:20) Weaknesses in the Regional Ecosystem
(23:50) What’s Next for NXTUS
(27:24) Cultivating Entrepreneurship in the Next Generation
(32:58) Opportunity Gaps in Northwest Arkansas
(39:54) Advice to Younger Self
(42:40) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“I think both of our ecosystems will press forward with money flowing in from the federal or state government and family or philanthropic areas as well…there’s this little cluster here in the Heartland that I think we’re going to see all grow together.” - Quinn Robertson, (7:00)
“We try to be a connector more than anything. Even if we’re not everything to everybody, we want to be one arm's length away from everything so we can connect individuals to the right people from our own lane and let other people do the great work they’re better suited to do than we are.” - Quinn Robertson, (16:18)
“There’s a little bit of continually morphing and finding small injection points where we can add value, but also where we can stand back and be incredibly supportive of the work that’s going on.” - Quinn Robertson, (28:37)
“As I talk to entrepreneurs, I ask them, ‘What’s your level of success? What’s your happiness metric that you're trying to go towards?’ As long as you have a clear understanding of what that is, then I think you can start to align things really well.” - Quinn Robertson, (41:39)
Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Nate Walls to chat about his endeavors, Secondhand Smoke and Second Helping NWA. Nate has been serving the community since 2020, when he started sharing meals with families impacted by the pandemic. Throughout the episode, Nate shares his entrepreneurial journey starting Secondhand Smoke and his mission to better the community with Second Helping NWA.
Show Notes:
(0:59) Introduction to Nate
(1:38) Nate’s Backstory
(8:11) About Secondhand Smoke and Second Helping NWA
(12:25) Current Business
(16:24) Running a Nonprofit and Business
(18:45) The Importance of Community
(22:20) Taking the Winding Path
(25:17) A Willingness to Learn
(28:46) What’s Next for Nate
(31:46) Advice to Younger Self
(33:27) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“People say all the time that it’s the people, but it really is the people. If you don’t have a good rapport with the community, I don’t know that you can make it.” - Nate Walls, (18:45)
“Just love people and whatever your trade is or business you’re trying to start, just make sure that love is apparent in what you do.” - Nate Walls, (23:13)
“I think when we start, we have this I know it all attitude, but you have to say, ‘I don’t know everything.’ You have to be humble and say, ‘I don’t know everything, but I can learn.’ If you’re not able to do that, it’s going to be slow moving.” - Nate Walls, (25:17)
Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
In this episode, Startup Junkies Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Michail Myburgh, co-founder and chief technology officer of Backd, an alternative lending company headquartered in Austin, TX. Michail explains how Backd helps entrepreneurs secure business funding with quick turnaround times rather than waiting months for traditional funding options. He also shares about what it's like to build a resilient company culture, going into business with his brother, and why the United States is an incredible place for starting a business.
Show Notes:
(0:54) Introduction to Michail
(1:12) About Backd
(3:28) Backd’s Ideal Customer
(5:04) Backd’s Funding Process
(10:10) Michail’s Entrepreneurial Journey
(12:41) What Winning Looks Like
(15:12) Getting Creative with Backd
(19:13) The Culture of Backd
(24:28) Advice to Younger Self
(27:20) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“Our efficiency and our quickness is really where we shine. There’s quick decision making on our part.” - Michail Myburgh, (7:01)
"The way we see it, our greatest asset is our employees and the people that make the company. It's very important to us to get the right talent and create a culture where everyone can thrive." - Michail Myburgh, (19:14)
"The advice I would give is go to the United States. Don't waste time anywhere else. This environment, for a business owner, is absolutely amazing. There's nowhere else on earth where I think you can build these businesses as effectively as you can here." - Michail Myburgh, (24:36)