Summary:
On this special edition 300th episode of the Startup Junkies podcast, current hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire sat down with past hosts of the podcast.
Though each of them has a unique journey, these Startup Junkie members shared about how the podcast has played an integral role in getting them to where they are today. Throughout the episode, the group discussed an array of topics, including how Startup Junkie got started, what it’s like to be on the show, why Northwest Arkansas is an ideal area for the podcast’s home base, what their hopes are for the next 100 episodes, and much more.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(4:26) How Startup Junkie Got Started
(8:57) Startup Junkie Guests
(20:17) Startup Junkie Is a Launching Pad
(24:39) The Beginning from Multiple Perspectives
(33:36) Vanity Statistics
(36:44) Showing Up and Staying with It
(45:51) Epigenetic: The People of Northwest Arkansas
(54:35) Hopes for the Next 100 Episodes
Links:
Quotes:
“Being an entrepreneur is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute and then figuring out how to build it on the way down.” Jon Cadieux, (11:29)
“...The ideas are not really what makes a startup successful or a company successful, it’s the people.” Michael Iseman, (18:01)
“We get to talk to some of the coolest people on the podcast.” Jeff Amerine, (22:52)
“...Free enterprise and the ability to create something from your own wits and to get people to rally around what you're doing is the salvation of the world.” Jeff Amerine, (40:27)
“There's no greater satisfaction than seeing people do well and being a small part of that journey…it's been a lot of fun and super gratifying.” Jeff Amerine, (53:51)
In this episode of the Startup Junkies podcast, hosts Jeff Amerine and Davis McEntire sat down with Nathan Beckord, the founder and CEO of Foundersuite. Foundersuite is a company that streamlines the process of fundraising and investor relations for startups. After working in investment banking, Nathan had an idea to build software to simplify the fundraising process for startups, and today, his company is helping thousands of other startups. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Davis, and Nathan discussed how Nathan got the idea for Foundersuite, what it offers, and how the company is supporting others in the startup process.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(1:18) Origin Story
(2:48) What Is Foundersuite?
(8:52) Client Benefits with Foundersuite
(14:11) Investor CRM and Database
(16:18) Nathan’s End Game
(21:27) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“It's been…kind of one foot in front of the other, just grinding away adding more features that people need for their fundraising journey.” Nathan Beckord, (4:20)
”I like to tell founders…there's…a couple of right ways and a thousand wrong ways to raise capital. We're trying to build these tools, like the bumpers at the bowling lane that kind of keep you in the right lane.” Nathan Beckord, (9:21)
“I believe there's a strong corollary between the speed at which your fundraising is going and the likelihood you are to actually be successful.” Nathan Beckord, (9:54)
“I built this because I really want to be a founder and…I knew fundraising, I had been doing that forever. That's like the one thing I really know deeply.” Nathan Beckord, (17:07)
Summary:
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sat down with Adam Zambanini, President of Residential Products at Trex Company. Trex is an alternative decking company that is one of the greenest companies in the world. Trex has been around for 25 years and recently is expanding into Arkansas. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, and Adam discussed what it’s like to work at Trex, why they’re expanding to Arkansas, and what the future of the company holds.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(1:37) Trex to Arkansas
(5:48) Adam's Origin Story
(8:33) The Entrepreneurial Spirit
(10:48) Breaking Ground in Little Rock
(18:51) Experimenting with New Materials
(21:55) Finding Success at Trex
(25:20) Why Arkansas?
(31:27) The Future of Trex
(33:53) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“So what we're doing is we're trying to create an outdoor living experience, right? We don't want to be just the decking and railing manufacturer. We want to be the solution to that threshold, to your back door.” Adam Zambanini, (5:14)
“I always tell people if there's something you can't accomplish at Trex, it’s kind of on you because the way we've built this company is there's been a lot of very, very smart people. There's been a lot of ideas and…there's a lot of collaboration throughout the walls of Trex. And so no idea is a bad idea. It's kind of our culture…there's a lot of support across the organization.” Adam Zambanini, (14:16)
“We love to get consumer feedback and we love to get contractor feedback because we don't exist without that consumer or that contractor.” Adam Zambanini, (17:55)
“We don't just want to just launch new products for new products sake. It's launch the right product…that the consumer wants. So we spend a lot of time and energy on those new products.” Adam Zambanini, (33:37)
Summary:
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley talked with William Peng, co-founder and CEO of Northstar. This FinTech company enables employers to offer financial wellness as an employee benefit. William, a former product designer, co-founded the business to provide financial wellness through financial advice for The One Hundred Percent. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, and William discuss financial wellness, working for a startup, tech valuations, and much more!
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(0:43) Introducing William Peng and Northstar
(4:53) Encouraging Users to Get the Most Out of the Product
(6:32) How Working for a Startup Affected William’s Entrepreneurial Journey
(13:04) Tech Valuations
(14:59) Northstar’s Ideal Customer
(17:59) What Does Winning Look Like for William?
(22:30) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Thoughts
Links:
Quotes:
“There is a lack of resources for the majority of people—unless you’re already wealthy and can afford a financial advisor, for example—to make the best [financial] decisions for themselves.” William Peng, (3:37)
“With financial advice, it’s kind of the classic vitamin versus painkiller problem where people don’t generally sit around thinking ‘I need financial advice,’ unless they have a specific moment in time that they’re looking for it.” William Peng, (5:12)
“Our core [customer] base has a lot of high-growth tech companies of different sizes, from startups all the way to enterprises, but we also work with customers in other industries as well. It’s really important that we can support a wide diversity of backgrounds and employees, and not just those who have high-paying tech jobs.” William Peng, (15:15)
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(1:27) Origin Story
(8:30) More about Mycelium
(12:47) Applications Running on It
(15:50) Onboarding Others
(19:52) The Game of Growing
(23:30) Paying the Bills and the Team
(26:15) The Future of Mycelium
(27:28) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“...All of a sudden there was this network of computers decentralized all over the globe that managed and maintained the system as opposed to having a central authority or, you know, a meeting behind closed doors to do that.” Rishi Mittal, (4:06)
“The best way to look at IoT is we're really trying to build an information super sidewalk…where we don't need that high bandwidth, those real-time streaming applications…but we do need to send reliable information over long distances. And for that, you can use something kind of like a dedicated sidewalk for smaller bandwidth items.” Rishi Mittal, (11:11)
“The mission of Mycelium networks is to accelerate the world's adoption of decentralized networks. And we started with Helium, we’re starting in Northwest Arkansas, and we're just going to take it from there.” Rishi Mittal, (12:35)
“You're literally running over a low band sidewalk. Your batteries last longer, you can get those sensors really, really tiny and really, really cheap. So you could essentially deck out whatever you want with tracking or humidity sensors, or temperature sensors, whether it's setting up a deer camp or tracking your dog or testing the heat of your soil for your rose garden…just really anything you can think of. And a lot of these solutions can be implemented for under $20.” Rishi Mittal, (13:43)
”We just want to build. You know, we just want to bring more networks to Northwest Arkansas and open up the space here.” Rishi Mittal, (23:15)
Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode of Startup Junkies, host Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire sit down with Josh Stanley, CEO of Cartwheel, a startup studio that creates B2B SaaS companies. Josh is a serial entrepreneur with vast experience in developing startups successfully and sharing his knowledge with others. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, Davis, and Josh discuss the methodology behind Cartwheel Startup Studio, the difference between venture and startup studios, and how regional growth is beneficial.
Shownotes:
(1:15) Introduction to Josh Stanley
(5:45) About Cartwheel Startup Studio
(9:08) Methodology behind Cartwheel
(18:36) Cadence of Startups
(24:00) Differences between Venture and Startup Studios
(27:09) Advice for People without Access to a Startup Studio
(40:30) Future of Cartwheel Startup Studio
(43:54) Cartwheel Startup Studio’s Mission
(45:00) Regional Growth
(50:40) Remote Work Narrative
(57:17) Closing Thoughts
Links:
Quotes:
“This is the right model…the idea of pulling forward failure…fail before you form and fund failure. Fail before you put time, people, resources, talent behind an idea. Fail first, then only fund the things that make the most sense...” - Josh Stanley, (7:11)
“If you get emotionally attached…you’re going to seek data that suggests this is the right idea. So, we remove that kind of cognitive basis layer that exists in all of us through this model. We take a macabre approach. We’re trying to kill ideas. If you look at it as, ‘How can I kill this idea?’ And if that idea won’t die, I guess I have to form it then.” - Josh Stanley, (9:55)
“There’s nothing wrong with that model…but, you are inheriting a change management problem. You have to change either culture, processes, ways of working, or just straight up talent…you’re inheriting mostly a blank slate. You’re not inheriting a finished product by any means.” - Josh Stanley, (31:40)
“I want to bring people off the sidelines. I want to help. We want our reach to be broader than just starting up new companies…we want to be immersive…what’s next is whatever the region needs…and hopefully the things we believe will add value, truly will add value.” - Josh Stanley, (43:54)
“That’s part of the energy that is tangible here…it doesn’t feel like a zero sum game. It doesn’t feel like you have to compete against others to win.” - Josh Stanley, (46:52)
In this episode of Startup Junkies, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire sit down with Vance Reavie, founder and CEO of Junction AI. Vance is a multi-time founder, and he recently completed Fuel, a Northwest Arkansas-based accelerator that helps growth-stage artificial intelligence and machine learning startups become enterprise-ready. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, Davis, and Vance discuss Junction AI, Vance’s journey to Northwest Arkansas, building a launchpad for corporate innovation, and much more!
Shownotes
(1:26) Introducing Vance Reavie and Junction AI
(6:35) Allowing Yourself to Pivot
(9:19) What Does Winning Look Like?
(11:27) Vance’s Background and Transition to Arkansas
(14:59) Building the Junction AI Team
(19:40) Why Vance Is Excited to Be In NWA
(27:20) Advice for Young Talent
(30:56) Building a Launchpad for Corporate Innovation
(36:14) Advice for Vance’s Younger Self
(40:41) Closing Thoughts
Links
Quotes
“We had to understand, does what we do matter to the enterprise, and if it does, how are we going to get in there and sell it and make a success of it? So that’s why we wanted to [be a part of Fuel], and I was blown away by the program.” Vance Reavie, (6:24)
“They say the top three things that typically cause new ventures to fail is number one, you’re building something that no one wants. Two is you’ve hired wrong—you’ve got people in the wrong seats. And the third one is a lack of focus. And all three of those can be equally deadly.” Jeff Amerine, (8:34)
“...You get quite addicted to that idea that things can move this fast, and that’s a lot of fun. And it draws people in. People want to be part of it when they see this happening because, seriously, none of us want to do nothing or just be bored at work or whatever it is. We see something exciting happening and you’re drawn to those people or that project…” Vance Reavie, (32:26)
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes:
(1:43) The Origin Story
(3:25) Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP)
(4:43) Why Outdoor Rec?
(10:26) The Kind of People and Founders GORP Is Looking to Bring In
(12:09) Definition of Accelerate
(18:15) Phil’s Projects Besides GORP
(24:07) Where Is GORP Going?
(26:21) National Businesses vs. Local Businesses
(28:00) Arkansas’ Future in Outdoor Rec
(33:53) The Landing Question - Advice to Younger Self
(35:39) Get in Touch
Links:
Quotes:
”...I think our whole region can claim world-class in a lot of different activities, and people from all around the world really come here and enjoy this activity. Therefore, because we have that, then we know we have people here that are passionate about it and that would have ideas or problems to solve within it.” Phil Shellhammer, (6:24)
“If I can get the right passionate people in a room and just have them talking about where the biggest problems are…then you can actually build entrepreneurs out of that [who] otherwise might not have dipped their toe, and they create a little side gig business until it's a legitimate business.” Phil Shellhammer, (11:40)
“You need people wrapped around you that can help support, that have gone through it before, that know the expertise.” Phil Shellhammer, (30:51)
“...My whole goal is to sit with as many people as possible, walk them through their journey, help them figure out where their problem is, what problem they want to solve and how they want to do it. So the more we can do in outdoor rec within that, the better.” Phil Shellhammer, (36:10)
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:
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)
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:
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)
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
(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
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:
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/
Summary:
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!
Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Grace Gill were joined by Amanda Earhart, CEO and Founder of PushKin. Amanda is on the quest to build a healthy community where businesses can communicate and reach their potential. This tool is shaking up the way companies have meetings, celebrate employees, and set culture and vision. Be sure to listen to the podcast and even hear all about why you might want to be a doomsday prepper.
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes:
(0:58) Introducing PushKin
(3:39) The Backstory of Amanda Earhart
(4:56) Working with Cartwheel
(9:34) Web 2.0, Meta, and Entropy
(11:44) The Future of Ownership in B2B SAS Software
(13:26) A Passion for People to Grow
(17:02) PushKin Industry Domination
(22:48) Fighting Frontline Worker Fatigue
(24:22) The Impact of Mentorship
(27:22) Raising in Venture Scaling
(33:15) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“[Who can support a startup?] You look to accelerators, you look to startup studios, and you look for a mentorship group.” (5:23) - Amanda Earhart
“Communication, when you get down to the brass tacks of it improves so many business outcomes.” (15:05) - Amanda Earhart
“One of the things [my mentor] was always really passionate about for me personally is to get out of my comfort zone. When she saw me comfortable, she would challenge me.” (25:41) - Amanda Earhart
https://www.startupjunkie.org/
Episode Sponsors:
AEDC - https://www.arkansasedc.com/
Teemyco - https://www.teemyco.com/
Summary:
Welcome to the Startup Junkies podcast!
This week’s show hosts include Jeff Amerine, Davis McEntire, and Grace Gill. They had the opportunity to speak with Blair Singer on all things leadership and sales for this episode. Blair is an international speaker, bestselling author, trainer, advisor, and business consultant. Get out your pen and paper, you will not want to miss this!
Listen to the full episode now!
Shownotes:
(1:09) Introducing Blair Singer
(6:20) From Sales to Trainer
(8:49) Selling You to Yourself
(11:27) Building a Winning Culture
(18:53) Teach Them How to Teach
(20:45) What’s Next for Blair Singer?
(24:52) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“This is the issue of entrepreneurship: It's not so much the customer that’s the battle. The toughest sell of all is you selling you to yourself.” (3:01) – Blair Singer
“I see people with great ideas, but they never see the light of day. They're very technically competent, but they can't sell the idea.” ( 7:29) – Blair Singer
“That's the dream for me. It's to blanket this planet with the best teachers, leaders, and facilitators in the world.” (20:00) – Blair Singer
Sponsored by:
Summary:
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!
Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward sat down with Coleman Davis of Explore Eden to discuss how this startup is changing the way we experience the outdoors! NWA is known for its trails, rivers, and campgrounds, but with that comes some unknown barriers. Explore Eden seeks to provide the joy and adventure of the outdoors with the safety, ease, and privacy that many people hunger for. Whether you have never camped or go every weekend, Explore Eden seeks to get you off the couch and outside. Hear all about it in this episode!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes:
(1:01) Introducing Coleman Davis of Explore Eden
(3:39) Building a Two-sided Market
(4:56) Acquiring Private Property, Good Ratings, and Warm Weather
(9:47) Three Types of Stays for Three Types of Campers
(10:30) The Nitty Gritty of Explore Eden
(14:11) Expanding Your Marketplace
(19:18) Origin Story of Coleman Davis & Explore Eden
(20:40) You Can’t Control the Weather!
(25:26) Transition from Bootstrapping to Outside Capital
(26:40) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“We solve the problem of uncertainty, and we get a lot of people out camping that normally wouldn't go.” (2:01) - Coleman Davis
“If you own land, and have for years, it brings you to $0 in return until you sell it—unless you're growing crops or have cattle. We tell landowners, ‘Hey, we can solve a problem.’” (4:20) - Coleman Davis
“How can we provide value to the camper? What's going to help the camper?” (14:58) - Coleman Davis