The Startup Junkies Podcast
The Startup Junkies podcast is hosted by Jeff Amerine and his team at Startup Junkie Consulting. 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 will move your business to the next level.
Mon, April 28, 2025
414: Creating Solutions for Problems in Retail Media Advertising with AdFury.ai
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley and Daniel Koonce sit down with Eric Howerton, serial entrepreneur, co-founder of White Spider, and currently the co-founder of AdFury.ai. The conversation dives into Eric’s journey as an entrepreneur, his approach to solving niche problems in the retail media and advertising space, and the importance of relentless purpose over simple profit-seeking. Eric introduces AdFury.ai, a new SaaS platform that leverages artificial intelligence to automate the creation of highly relevant display and video ads for retailers and agencies. He explains how, while sponsored search advertising is well established, display and video ad creation remains painfully manual, limiting its reach and effectiveness. AdFury automates the process, allowing agencies and brands to quickly scale and personalize creative assets based on keywords, thus increasing efficiency and relevancy for both advertisers and end customers. The episode goes beyond technical discussion, with Eric sharing hard-earned wisdom about what it takes to succeed as a founder. He emphasizes emotional intelligence, resilience, and having a clear sense of purpose, warning that entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart or those simply chasing a lifestyle or wealth. Instead, it’s about being deeply committed to solving real problems and being prepared to persevere through inevitable adversity. Eric’s candid reflections and practical advice make this episode a meaningful listen for anyone considering, or currently navigating the entrepreneurial path. Listen now! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (04:22) AI-Driven Ad Creation Software (12:35) Optimizing Ad Spend Efficiency (17:00) E-commerce Content Optimization (20:02) Adapting Quickly to AI Advances (26:13) Motivation for Entrepreneurs (29:24) Prioritizing Family Time Over Work (31:26) The Risks of Promoting Entrepreneurship (38:05) Unlearning Societal Expectations (44:22) Ignorance, Missteps, and Self-Reliance (48:55) Subconscious Intuition in Entrepreneurship (49:32) Trusting Optimism Amid Uncertainty (50:21) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Eric Howerton AdFury.ai
Mon, April 21, 2025
413: Transforming Video Documentation in Public Safety with CLIPr
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley and Kendall Jasper are joined by Humphrey Chin, founder of CLIPr, who shared how his startup is revolutionizing documentation for police officers. Originally conceived as a tool to pinpoint important moments in any video—serving students, event attendees, and enterprise teams—CLIPr found its true calling during a pivotal accelerator program. After a Bentonville police officer heard Humphrey’s pitch, it became clear that law enforcement needed a faster, smarter solution for creating police reports from hours of body cam footage. CLIPr’s technology now automatically generates the first draft of a police report from body cam videos, slashing the time officers must spend on paperwork. As Humphrey explains, this means police can focus more on patrol and less on administrative burdens. By integrating seamlessly with body camera providers, CLIPr simplifies uploading, ensures searchability, and maintains accuracy—capturing what’s said, not just what’s seen. The reception from law enforcement has been overwhelmingly positive. Departments now go straight to discussing pricing, not just possibilities—a clear sign CLIPr solves a real problem. Humphrey hopes this is just the beginning, envisioning future applications for social workers, insurance adjusters, and anyone facing mountains of documentation. Check out the episode now! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (05:33) Competing Video Tools vs CLIPr’s Utility (08:08) The Necessary Challenge of Police Documentation (11:24) Using Audio as Truth in Law Enforcement (16:44) AI Transcription Accuracy Levels (20:37) How CLIPr Makes Documentation Effortless (23:45) Utilizing CLIPr Outside of Law Enforcement (28:38) How Success Requires Post-Meeting Action (31:53) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Kendall Jasper Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Humphrey Chen CLIPr
Mon, April 14, 2025
412: Crafting Compelling Brand Stories in the Competitive Design World with EO Space
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson sit down with John Ferrante, the co-founder of EO Space, a design studio based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. John shares insightful stories about his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of building unique offerings and maintaining strong relationships with clients. He discusses the challenges and surprises he has faced over the last five years, particularly the simplicity at the core of running a business: working with people and keeping promises. John explains EO Space's mission of being a people-friendly design studio, highlighting the importance of customer-centricity and fostering strong partnerships with founders. He also shares exciting news about an upcoming project involving an innovative alternative drink that has already received global accolades, illustrating EO Space’s role in shaping its brand experience. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, John talks about his pursuit of an MBA at SMU in Dallas, expressing his desire to be surrounded by excellence and further his business acumen. He reflects on the differences between the entrepreneurial communities in Northwest Arkansas and Dallas, noting both the competitive nature and supportiveness present in each. Looking forward, John envisions EO Space specializing more in the consumer packaged goods sector and growing their network within Arkansas. He ends with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs to prioritize taking action and seeking customer feedback over excessive planning. Listen today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (04:48) Rethinking Business Success Fundamentals (08:40) Personalized Success in Entrepreneurship (11:25) Prioritizing People in Business (18:44) Motivation Through Earning Trust (20:22) Striving Beyond Average (26:24) From Festivals to a CPG Focus (27:26) Engaging with Local Entrepreneurs (29:49) Closing Thoughts Links Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube John Ferrante EO Space
Mon, April 07, 2025
411: Building a Hole-in-One Business: The Journey of Birdie and Brews
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley and Daniel Koonce dive into the innovative world of Birdie and Brews, an indoor golf lounge in Northwest Arkansas. They are joined by Tyler and Shania Watkins, co-founders of this unique establishment that blends the thrill of indoor sports with a welcoming lounge atmosphere. Tyler shares the inspiration behind Birdie and Brews, which began as a brainstorming concept three years ago. He aimed to create a space where people could enjoy golf regardless of the weather, drawing from experiences at various golf facilities across the country. As a pilot, Tyler had the opportunity to explore these facilities extensively, learning what worked and what could be improved upon. The Watkins talk about the rapid growth of their venture, describing the first few months since their December 2024 launch as a whirlwind. Contrary to their initial expectations of a slow build, the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with corporate events and birthday parties contributing significantly to their success. The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining the personal experience in business, with both Tyler and Shania emphasizing the role their dedicated team plays in fostering an inviting environment. Shania's background in management shines as she discusses the value of nurturing a supportive work culture where staff feel like family. Looking ahead, Tyler and Shania envision expanding Birdie and Brews to additional locations while preserving the unique atmosphere that sets them apart. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about their entrepreneurial journey and future plans! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (05:26) Creating Affordable Atmosphere Excellence (11:33) How Corporate Events Changed Business Model (17:02) Creating Vision and Operational Harmony (22:29) Choosing a Full Swing Simulator (29:28) How Sharing Dreams Drive Success (31:48) Navigating Team Dynamics in a Small Business (37:37) A Local Breweries and Staff Focus (39:19) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Tyler Watkins Birdie and Brews
Mon, March 31, 2025
410: Turning Pinball and Cocktails Into a Unique NWA Experience with Bo Counts
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Harrison Kitson, and Jeff Amerine welcome back Bo Counts, the founder of Pinpoint Fayetteville. Bo returns to discuss the fascinating niche he’s carved out with Pinpoint, Arkansas’s only barcade that uniquely blends retro pinball games with craft cocktails. Delving into his journey, Bo shares how his collection hobby morphed into a full-fledged business that prioritizes unique experiences over typical bar antics. Bo is renowned for his knack for trend prediction, playfully dubbed “Boastrodonics.” He reflects on market shifts, noting how Pinpoint has offered non-alcoholic cocktails since 2017—an initially overlooked concept that’s gaining traction. Listeners are offered a behind-the-scenes peek into the complexities of the spirits industry, from navigating inventory challenges to innovating with popular drinks like the espresso martini. Bo also sheds light on the cultural factors influencing drinking habits, emphasizing how economic pressures steer consumers towards familiar favorites. Beyond pinball and cocktails, Bo’s impact extends into local entrepreneurship, where he serves on boards and consults aspiring businesses. His insights on collaboration and pushing the envelope are not only inspiring but also a testament to his commitment to community growth. As he ventures into new frontiers with projects like a restaurant and champagne bar, Bo leaves listeners with valuable advice: embrace the unknown, follow happiness, and always strive for innovation. Listen now! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (04:16) Hunting Vintage Games Through Networking (09:21) A Curated Bar Experience Strategy (14:30) Predicting Future Alcohol Trends (19:23) Trendsetting Before Popularity Hits (22:11) Returning to Familiar Trends (27:49) Bitters: From Medicine to Cocktail (33:53) Rejecting the Business is Business Mentality (34:25) Closing Thoughts Links Daniel Koonce Harrison Kitson Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Bo Counts Pinpoint Fayetteville
Mon, March 24, 2025
1: Innovations in Male Reproductive Health and Epigenetics with Path Fertility
Summary In this first episode of the Fuel Podcast , hosts Tom Douglass and Grace Gill sit down with co-founders of Path Fertility, Andy Olson and Krisin Brogaard, to discuss their fascinating journey in transforming male reproductive health diagnostics. Andy and Kristin dive into the often-overlooked issue of male infertility, explaining how traditional sperm analysis just isn’t cutting it anymore. As a result, they’ve come up with a cutting-edge solution that looks at sperm’s epigenetic profiles to provide more accurate diagnoses and better treatment paths. The conversation explores their experience with the Fuel program in Northwest Arkansas, which has been a game-changer for Path Fertility. It’s given them the tools to secure funding from thirty-three employers and has significantly boosted their company’s growth. Along the way, both Andy and Kristin embraced the local community, which surprisingly enriched both their personal lives and business network. Kristin also shares exciting future plans for expanding their technology to livestock fertility, working with major artificial insemination groups, meaning Path Fertility is making big strides not just in human health, but also in helping the agricultural sector. Throughout the discussion, Andy and Kristin reflect on the lessons learned during the Fuel program, particularly the value of strong commercial partnerships and strategic planning. The episode highlights the impactful work that Path Fertility is doing and emphasizes the importance of advancements in the field of reproductive health. Listen today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (05:16) Male Infertility Misdiagnosis Issues (08:33) Fertility Testing: Employer-Paid Initiative (12:09) Fertility Test Marketing Strategy (15:07) Executive Engagement Through Fuel Training (17:04) A Strategic Focus on Companies (22:10) Innovative Preventative Healthcare Initiative (23:12) Healthcare Innovation in Arkansas (26:55) Closing Thoughts Links Tom Douglass Grace Gill Fuel Accelerator Andy Olson Kristin Brogaard Path Fertility Connect with Us! For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Fuel Podcast . Stay tuned for more episodes, where we dive into the stories of more inspiring startups and the incredible things they’re doing. Don’t miss out on the conver
Trailer · Mon, March 24, 2025
Welcome to the Fuel Podcast!
Welcome to The Fuel Podcast, the official podcast of Fuel Accelerator! Whether you're an entrepreneur, innovator, or visionary, this podcast is designed to fuel your growth and drive your success. In each episode, we'll dive deep into the world of startups, scaling, and business acceleration, featuring insights from industry leaders, experts, and Fuel Accelerator's own success stories. You'll gain practical advice, strategies, and inspiration to elevate your business and take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level. This is your go-to resource for actionable insights and behind-the-scenes looks at what it takes to build and scale a thriving business. If you're ready to ignite your potential and accelerate your business, you’re in the right place! https://www.fuelaccelerator.com/
Mon, March 17, 2025
409: Betting on Yourself and Building a Personal Brand with Mallory Files
Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine are joined by Mallory Files, Owner of Ozark Charcuterie Wine Bar, who shares her inspiring journey from experiencing burnout in a full-time job to creating a thriving catering service and eventually opening a successful wine bar. Feeling the pressure of a demanding job and grappling with mental health challenges, Mallory discovered solace in creating charcuterie boards, inspired by her grandmother’s culinary finesse. Encouraged by friends and her therapist to pursue this passion, she started an Instagram page that quickly grew into a business. Despite facing personal challenges, including a difficult pregnancy, Mallory persevered, leading her business to remarkable growth through strategic social media and SEO efforts. Mallory's entrepreneurial spirit shines as she describes the distinct customer avatars she created for her catering and wine bar clients, as well as her decision to focus more on catering while integrating the wine bar aspect creatively. The discussion highlights her marketing strategy, emphasizing SEO over social media and targeting specific customer needs. The hosts delve into Mallory's efforts in managing a growing team and expanding her product offerings, all while maintaining a personalized touch. Mallory shares her vision for the future, including aspirations for personal branding and scaling her business wisely. Her story is one of resilience and strategic growth, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating similar paths. Tune in today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (03:03) Mallory’s Backstory (07:43) Costly Convenience vs. Budget Living (10:17) Marketing Strategies for Platforms and Audiences (12:36) Curating an Ideal Audience (17:34) What Goes Into a Perfect Charcuterie Board (21:49) Custom Gourmet Platter Experience (22:48) Balancing Kindness with Assertiveness (26:42) Building a Personal Brand Journey (29:24) Embracing Change in Business (31:19) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Mallory Files Ozark Charcuterie & Wine Bar
Mon, March 10, 2025
408: Innovating Men’s Fashion with AI-Driven Styling with Anya Cheng
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Harrison Kitson connect with Anya Cheng, the founder of Taelor, a men's clothing service that uses AI technology. The discussion starts with Anya detailing her journey from working in big tech companies like Meta and eBay to founding Taelor, inspired by her own wardrobe challenges while being a leader in those organizations. Taelor simplifies fashion for men who dislike shopping, using AI to select outfits based on users' preferences and needs and offering rental services. Throughout the episode, Anya illustrates Taelor's success, noting its impressive growth and partnerships with renowned companies and influencers. The company integrates global brands and works even with emerging designers, offering high-quality clothing. Taelor collaborates with women’s rental services and dating sites to reach more consumers. Anya highlights how Taelor aids sustainability by reducing waste from unsold inventory through a circular fashion model. The conversation discusses the importance of customer feedback and AI in evolving the business, as well as the secret to startup success—believe in yourself and trust your knowledge of the problem you aim to solve. Moreover, Anya emphasizes the value of curiosity and open-minded networking for entrepreneurial growth. The episode concludes with details on how listeners can explore Taelor, offering discounts for a firsthand experience of their service. Overall, the episode provides a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of combining fashion with cutting-edge technology in a startup venture! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (04:28) Post-Holiday Wardrobe Updates (09:14) Online Personalized Style Consultations (10:54) Everyday and Occasion Fashion Styling (14:21) A One-Stop Shop for Men’s Needs (19:00) Global Partnerships with Quality Brands (22:13) Startup Resilience and Self-Belief (23:16) Interactive Development and Feedback Importance (27:01) Embracing Curiosity and Not Just Strategy (27:45) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Anya Cheng Taelor
Mon, March 10, 2025
408: Innovating Men’s Fashion with AI-Driven Styling with Anya Cheng
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley and Harrison Kitson connect with Anya Cheng, the founder of Taelor, a men's clothing service that uses AI technology. The discussion starts with Anya detailing her journey from working in big tech companies like Meta and eBay to founding Taelor, inspired by her own wardrobe challenges while being a leader in those organizations. Taelor simplifies fashion for men who dislike shopping, using AI to select outfits based on users' preferences and needs and offering rental services. Throughout the episode, Anya illustrates Taelor's success, noting its impressive growth and partnerships with renowned companies and influencers. The company integrates global brands and works even with emerging designers, offering high-quality clothing. Taelor collaborates with women’s rental services and dating sites to reach more consumers. Anya highlights how Taelor aids sustainability by reducing waste from unsold inventory through a circular fashion model. The conversation discusses the importance of customer feedback and AI in evolving the business, as well as the secret to startup success—believe in yourself and trust your knowledge of the problem you aim to solve. Moreover, Anya emphasizes the value of curiosity and open-minded networking for entrepreneurial growth. The episode concludes with details on how listeners can explore Taelor, offering discounts for a firsthand experience of their service. Overall, the episode provides a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of combining fashion with cutting-edge technology in a startup venture! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (04:28) Post-Holiday Wardrobe Updates (09:14) Online Personalized Style Consultations (10:54) Everyday and Occasion Fashion Styling (14:21) A One-Stop Shop for Men’s Needs (19:00) Global Partnerships with Quality Brands (22:13) Startup Resilience and Self-Belief (23:16) Interactive Development and Feedback Importance (27:01) Embracing Curiosity and Not Just Strategy (27:45) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Anya Cheng Taelor
Mon, February 24, 2025
407: Exploring Lithium's Impact on Regional Economies and Clean Energy
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, we dive into the electrifying world of lithium, renewable energy innovations, and its impact on the economy. Hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine are joined by guests Florence Meaders, program manager of the Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster (LRIC) and Matt Newman and Aviram Hadash from Brightmerge, who explore the profound potential of the Smackover Formation in South Arkansas and the revolutionary technologies shaping the future. One key highlight of the episode was the transformative potential of the Smackover Formation, which has the capacity to supply ten times more lithium than the entire U.S. currently produces. Florence emphasized its unique extraction process—direct lithium extraction (DLE)—which minimizes environmental impact compared to traditional methods. Additionally, Brightmerge’s cutting-edge innovations were also in the spotlight, with CEO, Aviram, detailing how their technology solves key challenges in optimizing electric vehicle (EV) fleet charging and microgrid design. Focusing on tailored, data-driven solutions, their platform helps fleet owners determine optimal charging schedules, equipment, and total cost of ownership (TCO), while factoring in local energy resources and environmental variables. Partnering companies like Volo X amplify their mission to make EV transitions both practical and economical. Matt provided a broader perspective, stressing the importance of diversifying energy sources to accommodate future demands. From smarter lithium usage to energy storage evolution, the conversation stressed the need for strategic partnerships, resource recycling, and advancing battery technology. This episode encapsulates the profound transformation underway in energy and logistics—underscoring innovation, collaboration, and sustainability as key drivers of progress. Tune in to unlock the future of lithium and EV advancements! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (05:36) Fleet EV Charging Challenges (10:26) Optimizing Last-Mile Delivery Algorithms (14:15) EV Fleet Transition Cost Comparison Tool (17:58) Renewable Energy and Grid Innovation (22:34) Advancements in Solar Energy and Storage (26:46) Future of Lithium vs. Alternatives (31:22) Recruiting Lithium Industry Experts (36:36) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Aviram Hadash Matt Newman Brightmerge <a href="h
Thu, February 20, 2025
22: Más que Cal: Una conversación con Guillermo Torrez
Summary En este episodio, nos adentramos en el apasionante mundo de la estuquería en Bolivia de la mano del líder de Cayara SRL, Guillermo Torrez. Conversamos sobre los mayores desafíos del sector de la cal y el estuco, los secretos que pocos conocen y cómo equilibrar tradición, innovación y compromiso con el medioambiente. ¡Una charla para conocer cómo se forja el éxito en un rubro tan único como vital! Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:56) Who is Guillermo Torrez? (01:10) Family business. (04:19) Overload. (06:43) New opportunities. (16:40) New experiences. (18:54) Government regulations. (23:42) Focus. (27:30) All about the norms. (35:53) Seize the opportunity. (39:55) Teamwork. (41:22) Entrepreneurship lessons. (46:04) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Guillermo Torrez
Mon, February 10, 2025
406: Building Ventures Through Outdoor Recreation with Phil Shellhammer and Zoe Rose
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Daniel Koonce are joined by Phill Shellhammer and Zoe Rose Maddox from the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) to discuss the newly launched Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator and how it’s changing the entrepreneurial landscape in northwest Arkansas and beyond. Phil kicks off the conversation by highlighting the foundational role GORP has played since October 2021 in nurturing early-stage startups in the outdoor recreation space, emphasizing GORP's mission to turn innovative ideas into viable business models rapidly. Zoe then brings attention to the scale of GORP's impact, noting that forty-six companies have participated, with many still active and generating revenue. One of the standout projects discussed in this episode is the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator. This program differs from GORP, which focuses primarily on incubating new ideas, by aiming to push established companies to the next level. Zoe explains that the accelerator targets businesses ready to scale, particularly those innovating around cycling technologies, products, and community-building platforms. In a testament to the global reach of their endeavor, Zoe shares that applications have poured in from countries like the Czech Republic, the UK, France, New Zealand, and Korea, underscoring Bentonville’s growing reputation as a hub for cycling innovation. A key insight from the episode is the reflection on overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing curiosity. It's an inspiring reminder for all entrepreneurs to persist and stay passionate about their ventures. Tune in today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (03:16) Arkansas’s Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurship Expansion (06:40) How Arkansas Models Business Support (10:40) Av Bike-Focused Accelerator Program Launch (13:11) Marshall: Industry Expert & Cohort Advisor (17:18) How Bentonville’s an Emerging Hub for Remote Work (20:08) Virtual Cohort Launch and the Bentonville Summit (23:09) Bentonville’s Expansion Dream (28:43) Community Support for Entrepreneurs (30:46) Embracing Curiosity Over Expertise (33:18) Mission-Driven Work Satisfaction (34:41) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Phil Shellhammer Zoe Rose Maddox Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation <a href="https://entrepreneurship.uark.edu/pro
Thu, January 23, 2025
21: Una charla en Bolivia con Andy Choque
Summary En el reciente episodio de nuestro podcast, tuvimos el honor de conversar con Andy Choque, gerente general de Banacorp S.R.L. y miembro de la mesa directiva de la Unión de Bananeros (UNIBAN) en Bolivia. Andy nos compartió detalles sobre la vida cotidiana de los productores de banano en la región del Chapare, Cochabamba. Desde las primeras horas del día, los agricultores se dedican al cuidado meticuloso de las plantaciones, asegurando que cada planta reciba la atención necesaria para producir frutos de alta calidad. Este arduo trabajo refleja la dedicación y compromiso de los bananeros bolivianos con su tierra y producto. La banana boliviana ha ganado reconocimiento en mercados internacionales por su sabor distintivo y calidad superior. Andy destacó que factores como el clima favorable del Chapare y las prácticas agrícolas sostenibles contribuyen a estas características. Además, la proximidad geográfica a mercados clave en Sudamérica permite una distribución más eficiente y rápida, garantizando que el producto llegue fresco a los consumidores. La industria bananera boliviana ha enfrentado desafíos significativos en los últimos tiempos. Andy mencionó que, debido a bloqueos y conflictos sociales, se han perdido cajas de banano destinadas a la exportación, lo que representa pérdidas económicas considerables para los productores. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:51) Who is Andy Choque? (02:33) Growing in the industry. (08:05) Yearly reduction. (11:08) Personal growth. (14:24) Just like marriage. (26:39) Competition. (30:45) National blockades. (33:29) The best of times, the worst of times. (52:24) Winning qualities. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas
Mon, January 06, 2025
405: Balancing Business and Passion: Anna Buckley’s Entrepreneurial Journey with PICNiC
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Anna Buckley, the dynamic founder of PICNiC. Balancing a full-time job and a burgeoning side hustle, Anna embodies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship. Based in Washington, D.C., by way of Arkansas, Anna brings innovative solutions to classic designs, filling gaps in the market and elevating everyday dining experiences. PICNiC, launched in March, was born from Anna’s desire to create durable and aesthetically pleasing cabbageware—plates inspired by the timeless cabbage design but made from hard plastic melamine. The idea sprouted during a planned picnic on the D.C. National Mall. Frustrated by the lack of durable, non-ceramic cabbageware plates available, Anna saw an opportunity and seized it. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2023 with a degree in finance, Anna moved to D.C. to start her career at Ernst & Young (EY) as a business consultant. Her entrepreneurial spirit, however, couldn’t be contained. Leveraging her time management skills and type-A personality, she worked tirelessly after hours to bring PICNiC to life. By September, her products were ready, marking a significant milestone in her journey. Anna’s entrepreneurial drive was evident even in college, where she interned at Startup Junkie and participated in the Student Activity and Curriculum Enhancement (S.A.K.E.) program. These experiences laid the foundation for her current success, providing her with invaluable insights and mentorship. As PICNiC grows, Anna envisions expanding her product line and engaging in more collaborations. Through her journey, she aims to inspire and mentor budding entrepreneurs, sharing her story to show that with passion and perseverance, one can indeed balance business and personal interests. Tune in today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:16) PICNiC’s Elevator Pitch (02:14) Anna’s Origin Story (03:53) About Anna’s Entrepreneurial Journey (04:40) Balancing Government Consulting and Entrepreneurship (05:28) Describing Cabbageware (06:25) Identifying and Filling a Gap in the Market (08:31) Overcoming Entrepreneurial Problems (09:41) Preparing for the Future with Marketing (12:48) Being a Solo Entrepreneur (13:42) Future Collaborations and a Vision of Success (15:28) Anna’s Desire to Educate and Past Mentors (19:09) What Anna Has Learned Working in Corporate America (21:47) Advice to Younger Self (23:21) Closing Question Links Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie <a href
Mon, December 30, 2024
404: From his Attic to a 9-Figure Exit: Jeffrey Feldberg's Talks Maximizing Company Value
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson have a conversation with the co-founder of Deep Wealth, Jeffrey Feldberg. Jeffrey’s journey began in a modest attic with a small e-learning startup in 1996 and has evolved into a masterclass in business exits. Despite facing initial challenges, Jeffrey's company gained remarkable traction, leading to a substantial seven-figure buyout offer from a Fortune 10 company. Unyielding in his vision, Jeffrey declined the offer, choosing instead to immerse himself in the intricacies of business exits. Within a mere twenty-four months, his perseverance paid off, as he successfully orchestrated a nine-figure deal for his company. Deep Wealth was born from this success. Jeffrey realized that exiting a business requires a unique set of skills distinct from those needed to grow or start one. His frustration with costly, inexperienced advisors propelled him to refine his strategies and develop an industry-agnostic, nine-step system for business exits. This framework is designed to guide entrepreneurs through the complex exit process, catering to diverse industries and age groups. Beyond financial gain, Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of rewarding key team members and fostering a culture of gratitude and generosity within organizations. His belief in the transformative potential of successful business exits extends to broader societal impacts; he envisions a "virtuous cycle" where the wealth generated from exits is reinvested into the community, sparking further innovation and economic growth. Deep Wealth stands as a beacon for entrepreneurs seeking to navigate their exits strategically and successfully. With Jeffrey Feldberg’s expert guidance, entrepreneurs can not only achieve their financial goals but also contribute to the enrichment of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:08) About Deep Wealth (10:17) Advice on Receiving All Stock Offers (13:33) Diving Into Deep Wealth’s Nine-Step System (22:51) How Entrepreneurs Help Solve Problems (29:42) Advice to Younger Self (32:17) Closing Question Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Jeffrey Feldberg Deep Wealth
Mon, December 23, 2024
403: Journey from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurial Success with Bryan Fittin
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Bryan Fittin, founder and CEO of Go Rogue Studio, to explore the story of his transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Initiating his career within the corporate confines of Walmart’s vendor community, Bryan always harbored a passion for content creation. This passion ultimately gave birth to Go Rogue, a podcast dedicated to entrepreneurs transitioning from corporate settings. But his ambitions didn't stop there; inspired by Jeff Amerine's sage advice on product-market fit, Bryan courageously ventured into the entrepreneurial realm, launching Go Rogue Studios in 2019. The pandemic turned out to be a pivotal moment for Bryan's video marketing business. As remote content production surged in demand, Go Rogue Studio, already adept at video podcasting, found itself ahead of the curve. Through Go Rogue Studio, Bryan and his team offer comprehensive content creation services, from video production to thought leadership, focusing on simplifying the process and enabling businesses to connect authentically with their audiences. In this episode, Bryan emphasizes the importance of genuine human connection through content, the value of an abundance mindset in entrepreneurship, and overcoming personal barriers to success. Tune in to learn from Bryan’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey and discover actionable insights for your own business endeavors! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:18) Bryan’s Backstory (08:20) About Go Rogue and Its Services (11:00) Strategies for Being on Camera (14:45) What Inspired Bryan’s Marketing Workshops (19:57) Renting Go Rogue’s Studio (23:11) Advice to Younger Self (25:15) Closing Question Links Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Bryan Fittin Go Rogue Studio
Thu, December 19, 2024
20: Constancia y Esfuerzo - Una Charla con Robert McGrew
Summary En este episodio, Robert comparte su inspiradora trayectoria marcada por su fe, su familia y su pasión por el emprendimiento. Con una carrera diversa y un profundo compromiso con la comunidad latina, ofrece valiosos consejos sobre liderazgo, tendencias en negocios y lecciones aprendidas trabajando con emprendedores. Una conversación llena de inspiración y estrategias para crecer. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:53) Who is Robert McGrew? (02:14) What inspired you? (06:39) A change in perspective. (08:15) Getting started. (12:04) Top 40. (12:55) On my own. (19:11) Looking ahead. (22:30) What’s in a name. (27:24) Biggest challenge. (31:15) Serving others. (32:45) Leadership. (36:40) Lessons learned. (39:15) Back to the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Robert McGrew McGrew Solutions Inc.
Mon, December 16, 2024
402: Revolutionizing Government Contracting for Small Businesses with GovBidAI
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson are joined by co-founders, Joshua Hedeby and Moner Attwa, of Opportunity Hound by GovBidAI where Joshua serves as the CFO and Moner is the CEO. GovBidAI is an innovative platform designed to streamline the complex landscape of government contracts for small to mid-sized businesses and is revolutionizing the way these companies navigate the government sector. GovBidAI’s mission is to demystify government contracts and make it easier for smaller businesses to access a market where thirty percent of federal spending is allocated to them. Joshua and Moner share their professional backgrounds in public accounting and finance, leading to their passion for supporting smaller enterprises in the government contracting space. Additionally, GovBidAI provides a suite of tools, including the aptly named "AP Deep Dive" report and a proprietary search function that delves into government contract solicitations down to the document level. This innovation helps businesses quickly discern whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, saving time and valuable resources. Throughout the episode, the conversation highlights the affordability of GovBidAI's services and the company’s future plans. It even teases upcoming features and vertical expansions, aimed at further simplifying government contracting. Listen today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:46) GovBidAI’s Elevator Pitch (02:53) Joshua’s and Moner’s Roles and Backgrounds (06:19) The Problem GovBidAI is Solving (13:42) GovBidAI’s Pricing Tiers (19:35) How GovBidAI is Staying Above the Curve (21:58) Advice to Younger Selves (24:52) Closing Question Links Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Joshua Hedeby Moner Attwa Opportunity Hound by GovBidAI
Mon, December 02, 2024
401: Automation in Agriculture: Innovations from Farmblox’s Nathan Rosenberg
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Nathan Rosenberg, founder and CEO of Farmblox. Founded from Nathan's dual expertise in farming and robotics, Farmblox is pioneering automation solutions designed specifically for the agricultural sector. Initially conceptualized as a project to grow crops inside forty-foot shipping containers, Farmblox has since pivoted to enhance and support existing farms. Today, it’s involved with over seventy farms across the U.S., focused on specialty crops like maple syrup farms, vineyards, and orchards. Nathan explains that Farmblox operates akin to "Zapier for physical stuff on farms," enabling farmers to automate processes such as irrigation based on soil moisture and weather data. Through its innovative platform, Farmblox connects various sensors and devices, providing real-time data and alerts that can be monitored and managed from a farmer’s smartphone. This effectively saves farmers up to seventy-five percent of their time—a precious commodity in the world of agriculture. The conversation also touched on the challenges and skepticism farmers face when adopting new technologies, with Nathan emphasizing the importance of demonstrating tangible benefits and simplifying technological integrations to meet farmers' unique needs without disrupting their traditional practices. Nathan's vision for Farmblox extends to reducing water usage by fifty percent in some of the most water-intensive agricultural areas in the U.S., and eventually expanding into European markets. The episode closes with Nathan sharing his entrepreneurial journey and the importance of timely investment and growth decisions. Tune in today! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Nathan’s Backstory (03:46) About Farmblox and Its Solutions (05:40) The Gap Between Entrepreneurship and Farming (07:01) Convincing Farmers to Utilize Automation (9:31) Farmblox’s Strategy for Agriculture in the South (13:38) Farmblox’s Future Plans (16:23) What Winning Looks Like to Farmblox (18:01) Farmblox’s Ideal Customer (18:48) Farmblox’s Partnerships (22:06) Foreseeing the Next Leap in Farming Technology (23:25) Advice to Younger Self (24:54) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Nathan Rosenberg Farmblox
Mon, November 18, 2024
RERELEASE 327: A Conversation with Philip Mudd, Former CNN Correspondent and Counterterrorism Analyst
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and previous Startup Junkie Michael Iseman sit down with Philip Mudd, a former CNN correspondent and counterterrorism analyst. During Philip’s extensive and accomplished career, he was a valuable asset to the FBI, CIA, and the American nation as a whole and received numerous CIA awards for his expertise and diligence. Philip is also the author of three distinguished publications and is a member of multiple prestigious associations. Throughout this episode, Philip shares insight on how to present information to your boss (in his case, President George W. Bush), how to successfully navigate chaos, and why you need to have a “call mom” sentence for any project. Show Notes: (1:03) Introduction to Philip (1:58) From English Major to Senior Executive (4:29) Leadership Basics (8:34) Decision Advantage (16:08) Addressing Vulnerabilities (19:00) Navigating Crises (28:00) Taking Responsibility When Things Go Wrong (31:12) Hiring People More Experienced than You (39:24) Voicing your Opinion to a Worldwide Audience (44:44) Protecting Data (48:51) Cyberattacks during Times of War (55:14) Geopolitical Business Consequences (1:06:50) Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Michael Iseman Philip Mudd Startup Junkie
Thu, November 14, 2024
19: Consultoría desde Nicaragua - Una charla con Allison Lacayo y Ricardo López
Summary En este episodio, exploramos el mundo de la consultoría y el outsourcing en Nicaragua a través de Castlewalk, una empresa innovadora fundada en 2021. Nuestros invitados, Allison Lacayo, Ricardo López y María Elena, comparten sus experiencias y desafíos al trabajar con empresas de EE.UU., destacando cómo Castlewalk personaliza sus servicios para adaptarse a cada cliente. Conversamos sobre el impacto de la externalización, las claves para mantener relaciones a largo plazo, y cómo Castlewalk ayuda a sus clientes a optimizar recursos y mejorar la eficiencia operativa. Show Notes (00:10) Welcome & introduction. (00:39) What is Castlewalk? (05:14) The journey begins. (07:08) Human resources. (09:16) Family’s sacrifice. (13:18) All about the focus. (16:40) The biggest challenge. (22:01) Resilience. (24:22) Never give up. (29:08) Different entrepreneurship cultures. (23:04) Networking. (37:39) Vision for the future. (40:01) Sound advice. (41:41) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Allison Lacayo Ricardo Lopez Castlewalk Group
Mon, November 11, 2024
400: Special 400th Episode with Some Startup Junkie Originals
Summary In this special celebratory installment of Startup Junkies, we sit down for our four hundredth episode! Hosts Jeff Amerine, Jon Cadieux, Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Matthew Ward gather to reminisce about past ventures and share their experiences in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas. The episode marks a significant transition for the podcast, highlighting their first in-person international engagement with a South Korean accelerator cohort. The discussion delves into the unique entrepreneurial energy in Northwest Arkansas, characterized by frequent networking events and a supportive community. As the hosts collectively reflect on their roles within Startup Junkie, they emphasize the multitasking nature of their small but dynamic team that managed to organize over two hundred events in 2023. Additionally, several investments are highlighted, including Torch Dental, Privacy Hawk, and Persimmon, showcasing their success due to strategic timing and market needs. The team amusingly touches on controversial entrepreneurial ideas, including one about creating rain using a spray rig that required a wildly fluctuating budget and another about a contentious T-shirt website that attracted Secret Service scrutiny. Throughout the episode, the team shares lighthearted anecdotes, including a humorous comparison between cryptocurrencies and the US dollar, missed investment opportunities in Tesla and Amazon, and analyzes entrepreneurial education versus real-world experience. Ultimately, the episode celebrates the evolution of both the podcast and the entrepreneurial landscape in Northwest Arkansas, marked by strong community ties, innovative ideas, and collective growth in the startup ecosystem. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (9:59) Recognizing Missed Opportunities (12:51) Analyzing Failed Investments (17:27) Economic Crisis Impacts (23:34) Driving Global Investments (32:20) Podcast Experience and Insights (35:05) Transformative Growth Since 2020 (38:52) Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs (43:06) Ensuring Ideas Don’t Become Obsolete with Time (46:10) Closing Statements Links Jeff Amerine Jon Cadieux Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Matthew Ward Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube NWA Workplaces Bike Rack Brewing
Mon, November 04, 2024
399: Bringing Startups to NWA with the Korean Cohort
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley are joined by international guests Lena Goo of Maycoders from South Korea and Alex Benamou, a recent addition to the Korean company EMCT. First up, we have the inspiring Lena Goo from Maycoders, a K-beauty specialist company that's revolutionizing the beauty industry. Lena takes us on her entrepreneurial journey, starting from her days at Samsung to co-founding Maycoders. She explains how the company connects international clients with Korean manufacturers to source and create high-quality beauty products. Lena sheds light on the unique competitive culture of the Korean skincare industry, emphasizing the importance of innovation, affordability, and quality in staying ahead of the curve. Our second guest is Alex Benamou from emCT, a startup focused on remote monitoring solutions for control panels. Despite being relatively new to the team and originally hailing from France, Alex has quickly become an integral part of this Korean company. He gives us an insider's look into EMCT's groundbreaking technology that simplifies facility management and tackles the pervasive issue of false alarms. Alex shares his experiences of cultural integration and the exciting journey of working in a startup that bridges global markets. Throughout this episode, you'll hear how these startups are navigating the complexities of international business, leveraging technology for innovative solutions, and building robust networks across borders. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business professional, or simply someone fascinated by global market dynamics, this episode is brimming with valuable insights and inspiring stories. Show Notes [0:00] Introduction - Lena Goo [02:30] The Company’s Origin Story [04:05] Lena’s Background [10:02] Business Culture in South Korea [11:13] Advice from Lena [12:55] Introduction - Alex Benamou [14:57] Transitioning to Startup Culture [15:37] About emCT [20:52] Arkansas Culture [24:09] Advice to Younger Self Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Maycoders Lena Goo emCT Website Alexandra Benamou Linkedin
Thu, October 31, 2024
18: Innovación y Conexión con Paola Lopez
En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, conversamos con Paola Lopez, una líder con más de 13 años de experiencia en educación superior, destacada por impulsar Latinx. Paola comparte cómo ha fomentado la colaboración entre estudiantes y desarrollado sus habilidades en gestión de crisis. Además, nos ofrece consejos para emprendedores sobre la importancia de construir conexiones comunitarias y superar desafíos en el camino al éxito. ¡No te pierdas esta charla inspiradora! Host: Ignacio Balderrama Guest(s) Name and Company: Paola Lopez | Serve2Perform and LatinXNA Guest & Company Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolaclopez/ https://www.serve2perform.com/ https://www.latinxna.com/ https://www.startupjunkie.org Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:43) Paola’s story. (03:18) Two languages. (06:01) Big project. (07:10) Finding your voice. (11:17) Hispanic nuances. (15:34) Big challenge. (17:56) The big leap. (21:36) Community impact. (25:15) Advice from the past. Quotes “Siempre mi mamá era ‘eres puertorriqueña’ - Con eso siempre lleve la cultura a mis clases, a las diferentes ferias... Cada verano desde kínder hasta casi terminando mi escuela superior los pase en Puerto Rico.” -Paola Lopez (01:25) “Aprendí inglés watching Sesame Street y Garfield, así aprendí inglés... La educación de los 90’s.” -Paola Lopez (01:52) “El proyecto que fue un logro fue ese desarrollo y ese trabajo en la Universidad de Oklahoma por que fue teniendo la visión siendo una profesional bien joven, teniendo esa visión de decir ‘vamos a hacer lo que necesitamos que hacer no importa las barreras, las puertas que casi abren o casi están cerradas’ y persistiendo.” -Paola Lopez (06:01) “Para un profesional joven es difícil encontrar tu voz y usar tu voz.” -Paola Lopez (07:10) “Mi estudio son en servicios humanos, una combinación de psicología y psicología industrial y organizaciones.” -Paola Lopez (08:14) “La belleza de ser latino es el matizado de ser latino.” -Paola Lopez (11:16) “De brincar de educación alta hasta emprendedor y un startup, una comunidad diferente, he aprendido mucho en los últimos dos años.” -Paola Lopez (17:56) “Usa tus librerías públicas, conéctate con la comunidad, yo sé que es difícil y que hay mucho miedo, pero hay gente que te quieren ayudar y te quieren apoyar, y específicamente en Northwest Arkansas, yo nunca he vivido en un área que tiene tanto y tantos resources para la comunidad y para seguir adelanta… No pierdas la visión, no pierdas la confianza, sigue adelante.” -Paola Lopez (22:01)
Mon, October 28, 2024
398: Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Community Support with Small Bay Solutions
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Matthew Ward and Victoria welcome Katie Linder-Jesse, the innovative mind behind Small Bay Solutions. Small Bay Solutions supports tenant businesses and aims to drastically reduce the failure rates of small enterprises. Situated in Northwest Arkansas, the facility comprises 33,000 square feet of climate-controlled, new construction units designed to be customizable for various types of businesses. Katie elaborates on how Small Bay Solutions distinguishes itself by regularly surveying its tenants to pinpoint their struggles—be it marketing, logistics, or accounting. Once identified, the facility brings in relevant resources to address these challenges. This hands-on approach helps businesses not just survive but thrive. Small Bay Solutions also engages through active promotion, paid advertising, and networking events, thereby creating a robust support community. Katie advises newcomers to actively engage with this welcoming community in Northwest Arkansas, as genuine connections can pave the way for business growth and success. They also dive into tenant experiences, showcasing success stories from businesses like In Bloom Floral and Mountainside Properties. For those interested in joining this thriving community, Small Bay Solutions offers simplified and transparent contracts, ensuring all commitments and services are clear. To explore more about what Small Bay Solutions has to offer, you can visit their Springdale location or reach out via their website. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (01:16) Katie’s Origin Story (05:04) Why Small Bay Solutions was started in NW (09:16) Tenants of Small Bay Solutions (14:57) Ideal Tenant (19:50) NWA Culture (23:18) Process to get Connected (28:46) Advice to Younger Self (30:25) Closing Question Links Matthew Ward Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Katie Linder-Jesse | CEO of Small Bay Solutions Small Bay Solutions Website Small Bay Solutions Facebook Small Bay Solutions LinkedIn Small Bay Solutions Instagram Connect with Us! Do you consider yourself a startup junkie? Join the conversation by following us on Ins
Mon, October 21, 2024
397: Startup Crawl 2024
Summary In this special episode of Startup Junkies, we’re recording live from Startup Crawl 2024 where we sat down with a variety of guest entrepreneurs and their innovative ventures. Louis Lee, CMO of Wonderful Platform, discussed its pioneering work in senior care technology. Wonderful Platform’s companion robot, Avadin, addresses elderly loneliness and depression through personalized AI-driven interactions. Jangwon J Lee’s company, DeepSales, tackles the unique sales challenges in Asia. By building a comprehensive business database and employing AI, it streamlines lead generation and pre-qualification for SMEs. Sarah No, a champion for early childhood education, shared insights on Playtag. This game-changing platform leverages AI and computer vision to analyze child behavior, enhancing teacher-parent communication and improving learning outcomes. With a ninety percent satisfaction rate in Korea, Sarah aims to refine Playtag's offerings for the U.S. market through valuable customer feedback. Kris Adams enlightened us on Startup Junkie’s robust event calendar, boasting over two hundred free events to support local entrepreneurs. He introduced the ARse program focusing on tech and tech-enabled startups in Arkansas. In a short time, ARise has already connected one hundred and nine startups with thirty subject matter experts, offering free coaching, access to capital, and valuable industry connections. Stephen Park of DOWHAT, a hospitality venture, enhances operational efficiency in hotels via mobile app integrations, already serving fifty-five hotels in Korea. Stephen's positive experience in Northwest Arkansas and ambitious goals for market expansion encapsulate the collaborative spirit of the region. Overall, this episode reflects on the warm, family-like community among entrepreneurs, epitomized by the growing success of the Startup Crawl event, making it clear that the commitment to collaboration and consistent effort forms the backbone of NWA’s thriving startup ecosystem. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:54) Louis Lee’s Origin Story (2:23) The Solution Wonderful Platform is Offering (4:12) Closing Question (5:04) Introduction to Jangwon J Lee (5:20) Jangwon’s Background (6:50) DeepSales’ Ideal Customer (7:45) DeepSales’ Pre Qualification Process (8:38) Customers’ Responses to DeepSales (9:24) DeepSales’ Sourcing Solutions (10:32) Jangwon’s Origin Story (12:04) Jangwon’s Impression of Northwest Arkansas (12:32) Closing Question (13:11) Introduction to Sarah No (13:28) About Playtag (15:00) Sarah’s Background (15:54) Sarah’s Goal with the Accelerator (16:48) Closing Question (17:37) Introduction to Kris Adams (17:47) About the ARise Program (20:03) ARise’s 2024 Milestones (24:49) ARise’s Outreach Initiatives in Arkansas <
Mon, October 14, 2024
396: Transforming Federal Research into Startups with HIGHWAY Ventures
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine sit down with Lane Patterson, founder of HIGHWAY Ventures, a startup studio that incubates and launches mobility companies in Northwest Arkansas. Unlike conventional venture studios that build minimum viable products, HIGHWAY Ventures focuses on leveraging federally funded technologies from various research labs to solve existing problems and create market-ready companies. HIGHWAY Ventures’ unique model includes licensing technology solutions, assembling executive teams, and facilitating innovation within specific fields. This year alone there is a projected two-hundred billion in funding for federal research and development going directly towards new technology innovation. However, the resources required to bolster that tech out of the lab and commercialized in the private sector are vastly underfunded. That’s where HIGHWAY Ventures comes in as the bridge over the valley of death that exists where technology is running out of funding and dying in the lab. Throughout the episode, the conversation highlights Lane’s dynamic journey from his origins at Kansas State University to gaining significant experience in the entrepreneurial landscape. Lane shares anecdotes from his early career in the telecommunications sector and his evolution into the startup world, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurial ventures and the importance of resilience and strategic planning. Additionally, Caleb, Daniel, Jeff, and Lane dive into the complexities of commercializing federal research, addressing challenges such as navigating outdated patents and ensuring the applicability of technologies across different sectors. Lane also touches on the motivations and dynamics of founding teams and the importance of aligning incentives to drive success. Listen now! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:47) Lane’s Origin Story (4:25) Why HIGHWAY Ventures Was Established in NW (6:02) About HIGHWAY Ventures (9:33) Utilizing Technology to Start a Company (12:51) The Startup Studio Cycle and Impact (17:07) The Importance of an Exit Plan (21:19) Advice to Younger Self (22:47) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Lane Patterson HIGHWAY Ventures
Thu, October 10, 2024
17: Emprendimiento y Propósito con Brittany Johnson
Summary En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, conversamos con Brittany Yvonne Johnson, fundadora de Ambivert Books, un emprendimiento dedicado a los libros, enfocado en la comunidad hispanohablante. Durante la charla, Brittany nos comparte su experiencia como emprendedora, los retos de lanzar un negocio, y su historia personal. Además, hablamos de cómo su pasión por la literatura y la conexión comunitaria han impulsado sus proyectos, y de qué manera ha logrado crear espacios para que personas de diferentes orígenes se conecten. Show Notes (00:06) Welcome & introduction. (00:29) New name. (00:55) Brittany’s story. (01:58) NWA adventure. (04:11) Love of art. (06:22) International program. (13:38) How it started. (18:06) A shared problem. (19:27) Mom knows best. (21:48) Where to find you. (22:25) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Claudia Scott Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Brittany Johnson Ambivert Books
Mon, October 07, 2024
395: Navigating Banking Challenges Using Technology with Teslar Software
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, the focus is on navigating banking challenges using technology, featuring Joe Ehrhardt, CEO of Teslar Software. Host Caleb Talley, alongside co-hosts Daniel Koonce and Jeff Amerine, delves into the significance of ethical business practices and the integral role of technology in modernizing community banks. Teslar Software is a forward-thinking technology company out of Springdale, Arkansas with a focus on software solutions for financial institutions. Created to help the FDIC post-2008 financial crisis, Teslar has pivoted to assisting community banks in modernizing their services, especially in consumer lending. Joe explains the necessity for community banks to invest in technology to remain competitive, noting the decline in traditional networking and the rising demand for online services, particularly among younger consumers. Throughout the episode, Joe emphasizes the importance of trust, initiative, and long-term impact in Teslar’s operational philosophy, aiming to empower community banks and promote sustainable tech ecosystems. Additionally, Joe highlights the importance of building a company culture that prioritizes long-term relationships with customers and ethical decision-making, even if it doesn't yield immediate returns. The discussion highlights the supportive ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas, known for its community-driven values. Tune in today! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Joe’s Origin Story (7:16) About Teslar Software (9:30) How Teslar Has Integrated Into Community Banks (19:53) The Solutions Teslar Software Provides (22:43) Community Banks’ Investment in Technology (23:31) The Current Health Status of Community Banks (26:22) Teslar’s New Space in Springdale (28:29) Building a Strong Company Culture (31:15) Advice to Younger Self (34:29) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Joe Ehrhardt Teslar Software
Mon, September 30, 2024
RERELEASE 359: Startup Crawl 2023
With Startup Crawl 2024 being right around the corner, we wanted to rerelease last year's Startup Crawl episode. Get a sneak peek at what to expect at this year's event! Summary On this special episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson head to Startup Crawl, where they interview several entrepreneurs participating in this year’s event. The night celebrated entrepreneurship in the Heartland with food trucks, local craft beer, live music, and entrepreneurial connection. Jeff, Caleb, and Victoria sat down with Joshua Carnes of Sights & Sounds NWA, Brody Maxwell of TrueRep, Orson Weems of the Music Education Initiative, Bryan Fittin of Go Rogue X, and Bridgett Skeirik of Montay Coffee to discuss their entrepreneurial endeavors and Startup Crawl’s impact on the community. Show Notes (0:32) Joshua Carnes and Sights & Sounds NWA (3:33) Brody Maxwell and TrueRep (7:02) Orson Weems and the Music Education Initiative (13:34) Bryan Fittin and Go Rogue X (22:03) Bridgett Skeirik and Montay Coffee Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Joshua Carnes Sights & Sounds NWA Brody Maxwell TrueRep Orson Weems The Music Education Initiative Bryan Fittin Go Rogue X Montay Coffee
Mon, September 23, 2024
394: Investing in Opportunities with RZC Investments & Runway Group
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, we sit down with guests Don Huffner and Scott King to explore the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurial ecosystems in Northwest Arkansas. Don Huffner is an investment professional with RZC Investments, where his keen eye for sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and monitoring investments drives success. With a rich background that includes private equity investments at 1K1V and roles in investment banking at Barclays and management consulting at Accenture, Don brings a wealth of experience and a global perspective to the table. A graduate of the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom, Don holds degrees in Business Management and International Relations. Additionally, Scott King is the Chief Experience Officer at Runway Group, where he excels in creating world-class experiences through strategic design and placemaking. With over 30 years of experience, Scott's expertise spans business strategy, experience strategy, retail & brand strategy, design research, and more. His impressive portfolio includes work with top-tier organizations such as Frog Design, AT&T, General Motors, CVS, and multiple start-ups. Scott's extensive knowledge in business process development, systems integration, product development, and supply chain management makes him an invaluable asset to any entrepreneurial discussion. Together with hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley, the conversation delves into the unique, collaborative culture of the Ozarks, comparing it to the Silicon Valley of the late '90s and early 2000s. They highlight the importance of mentorship in the startup ecosystem and explore strategic investments that continue to shape the region's growth. The discussion underscores the potential and promise of Northwest Arkansas as a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:08) Don’s Backstory (5:39) Scott’s Origin Story (9:47) About Runway Group (10:40) About RZC Investments (13:45) The Appeal of NWA and Its Quality of Life (20:07) RZC Investments’ Fund of Funds Strategy (24:29) The Helpful Ecosystem of NWA (30:17) Advice to Younger Selves (34:56) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Don Huffner RZC Investments J. Scott King R
Mon, September 16, 2024
393: The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas with Anna Beth Gorman
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Daniel Koonce are joined by Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of The Women's Foundation of Arkansas (WFA). Founded in 1998, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has been working to understand the diverse needs and realities facing women and girls so it can respond through purposeful action and engaged philanthropy. The foundation's initiatives, such as the Women’s Economic Mobility Hub, support Black women entrepreneurs by providing them with unrestricted funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. WFA also addresses barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, including language barriers, resource awareness, and access to capital. Additionally, the foundation's internship program, funded by the Delta Regional Authority, offers housing and transportation for high-paying internships, helping first-generation college students gain essential social and financial capital. Gorman also mentions the "Girls of Promise" program, which introduces young women to STEM careers through hands-on activities and job shadowing. WFA’s extensive efforts in promoting women’s economic development in Arkansas involve publishing reports on economic indicators for women and advocating for inclusive language and easier resource accessibility. Throughout the episode, Anna Beth shares about her experience working to support women entrepreneurs in Arkansas, the unique barriers that exist for these women, and how running for the Arkansas Secretary of State impacted her approach to advocacy. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:44) Anna Beth’s Origin Story (2:40) The Difference the WFA is Making (4:33) Barriers to Women Entrepreneurs (7:44) WFA Success Stories (10:17) About the WFA’s Financing Options (12:34) The WFA’s Impact (14:35) The WFA’s Program for Young Entrepreneurs (18:34) How to Get Involved in the WFA’s Programs (20:00) About Anna Beth’s Background (24:53) Lessons from Running for Arkansas Secretary of State (28:33) What’s Next for the WFA (29:02) Closing Question Links Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Anna Beth Gorman Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Thu, September 12, 2024
16: Asegurando un futuro hispano con George Ramirez
Summary En este episodio de Startup Junkies en Español, conversamos con George Ramirez, dueño, CEO y fundador de HEXA Insurance Agency LLC. George comparte su experiencia como emprendedor latino y los retos que ha enfrentado al iniciar y hacer crecer su negocio. Discutimos la importancia de enfocarse en un nicho específico y cómo identificarlo, además de cómo aprovechar las relaciones para impulsar el crecimiento. También hablamos sobre la relevancia de estar en los lugares adecuados y rodearse de las personas correctas, el valor de servir a la comunidad, y cómo diferenciarte de la competencia para destacar en el mercado. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:44) George’s story. (01:35) The invitation. (02:45) Wanting a business. (05:25) Customer service. (08:58) What is Hexa insurance? (11:47) All about networking. (14:59) Biggest challenge. (17:45) Find your niche. (24:10) Who you know. (28:40) Golfing. (30:46) Having a vision. (31:42) Advice from the past Links Ignacio Balderrama Ana Ortiz Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas George Ramirez HEXA Insurance Agency
Mon, August 26, 2024
392: The Wellnest Shop: Building Community through Clean Products
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Claudia Scott and Daniel Koonce are joined by Stephanie Sirianni and Caitlin Livingston, co-founders of The Wellnest Shop, a brand that brings you the best in authentic health and healing, and products to support self, family and home. Founded in 2022, The Wellnest Shop stands as a beacon of holistic wellness and community support, providing a range of services like workshops, events, and a wellness home program. The Wellnest Shop also has an in-house essentials line and offers unique product categories including but not limited to cosmetics, house and home, personal care, pets and animals, and toys and games. With these products, The Wellnest Shop isn't just a place to purchase goods, it’s a nurturing space where monthly birth meetups and community support groups are held, all aiming to prioritize bio-individuality for their customers. Additionally, Caitlin and Stephanie run a podcast named The Wellnest Mamas and are active on social media and YouTube, providing a platform for alternative health and wellness information. Future ambitions include launching a second location in Fayetteville and developing a franchising program. Their journey underlines the importance of dreaming big and fostering a supportive community environment, encouraging others to pursue their dreams and contribute to a healthier lifestyle! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:48) About The Wellnest Shop (2:46) Top Three Non-toxic Products You Should Have at Home (4:44) About Non-toxic Product Sourcing (5:53) Erasing Non-toxic Stigmas with Brick and Mortar Consulting (7:06) Making Non-toxic Products Attainable with Community Based Entrepreneurship (7:45) The Wellnest Shop’s Community Support (8:38) The Wellnest Mamas Podcast (10:16) The Wellnest Shop’s Startup History (11:30) The Wellnest Shop’s Workshops and Events (13:41) Advice for Starting a Non-toxic Journey (16:55) About The Wellness Home Program (18:05) The Wellnest Shop’s Recent Relocation (22:21) The Meaning Behind The Wellnest Shop’s Name (23:02) Stephanie and Caitlin’s Upcoming Wellness Services (26:10) What’s Next for The Wellnest Shop (27:02) Advice to Younger Selves Links Claudia Scott Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Caitlin Livingston Stephanie Sirianni The Wellnest Shop
Thu, August 22, 2024
15: El Arte de Servir con Adam Arroyos
Summary En este episodio, el Dr. Adam Arroyos, CEO y fundador de Serve2Perform, comparte su inspiradora trayectoria y los desafíos que ha enfrentado como emprendedor exitoso. Conoceremos qué lo motivó a escribir 'PerformanceGPA®', las influencias que han marcado su camino y lo que lo impulsa a seguir sirviendo a nuestra comunidad. También hablamos sobre los desafíos más comunes que enfrentan los negocios latinos al comenzar y los muchos recursos disponibles en Estados Unidos. Adam ofrece valiosos consejos para los dueños de negocios actuales, brindando una visión única sobre el equilibrio entre la vida laboral y personal y el desarrollo del talento y liderazgo. ¡Únete a nosotros para una conversación llena de inspiración y aprendizajes clave para líderes y emprendedores! Show Notes (00:04) Welcome & introduction. (00:38) Adam’s story. (01:53) Tejano. (02:50) U of A decision. (05:25) Becoming an entrepreneur. (08:41) An idea. (13:30) It’s a network thing. (16:00) Making a difference. (17:13) Writing a book. (18:58) Advice for new entrepreneurs. (21:51) The challenges. (30:21) Time for change. (33:10) Book recommendation. (34:52) A look into the future. (41:18) Work / life balance. (43:32) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Adam Arroyos Serve2Perform
Mon, August 19, 2024
391: Conversation with Slim Chickens Co-Founder Tom Gordon
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Caleb Talley, and Daniel Koonce sit down with Tom Gordon, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a restaurant setting itself apart by offering high-quality chicken products and embodying southern hospitality. Founded in 2003, Slim Chickens has expanded to two-hundred and eighty-four restaurants globally, including franchises in the United Kingdom and forthcoming ventures in Germany. Slim Chickens thrives thanks to its unique menu, which boasts seventeen different dipping sauces, unique sandwiches, and quality tender breading. This diverse menu has contributed significantly to the brand’s success and popularity, particularly among consumers aged eighteen to forty who seek both good food and a memorable dining experience. Despite its success and growth, Slim Chickens remains committed to its core identity, choosing not to over-diversify its menu to ensure consistent quality and experience for its customers. Moreover, managing a growing enterprise isn't without its challenges. Tom emphasizes the importance of solving problems and handling financial analyses to maintain profitability, especially in the face of inflation and supply chain hurdles. Despite these challenges, Tom remains passionate about hospitality, continually striving to balance franchise owner satisfaction with high employee wages. Throughout the episode, Tom discusses his vision for Slim Chickens, including ambitious goals such as reaching a billion dollars in revenue by 2027 and expanding the domestic and international footprint of the chain. Additionally, Tom shares his advice to young entrepreneurs, highlighting openness to partnerships and investor input, stressing the necessity of finding common ground to foster business growth. Tune in today! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:52) Tom’s Origin Story (3:59) Slim Chickens’ Locations Globally (5:41) Slim Chickens’ Franchising (6:38) Exploring the Intricacies of the Restaurant Industry (9:35) About Slim Chickens’ Cultural DNA (11:30) Fried Chicken Competitors Internationally (13:20) The Impact of Recent Inflation and Supply Chain Challenges (16:41) Collaboration between the Culinary and Marketing Teams (18:48) What Sets Slim Chickens Apart Domestically (20:12) Tom’s History with the Restaurant Industry (24:39) What’s Next for Slim Chickens (26:21) The Importance of Staying Involved in the NWA Community (27:57) Advice to Younger Self (31:37) Closing Question Links Victoria Dickerson Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie <a href
Thu, August 08, 2024
14: Finanzas y Sabores con Federico Deciga
Summary En este episodio de nuestro podcast, tenemos el placer de conversar con Federico Deciga, dueño de Deciga’s Lab. Federico comparte con nosotros su inspiradora trayectoria en el mundo de las finanzas, desde sus comienzos y las influencias que lo llevaron a seguir esta carrera, hasta su transformación al negocio de la comida. A lo largo de nuestra charla, Federico nos habla de los desafíos que ha enfrentado y las estrategias exitosas que ha implementado. Además, nos ofrece una visión personal de cómo equilibra su vida laboral y personal, sus hobbies y las lecciones importantes que ha aprendido en su camino como emprendedor. ¡No te lo pierdas! Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:59) Federico’s story. (05:00) Flying solo. (07:31) It is up to you. (13:15) Our first food truck. (21:35) It is a community. (22:54) It takes a team. (29:35) Honest criticism. (31:07) Biggest challenge. (32:27) Quality quality quality. (34:26) Starting advice. (35:13) The best time to start. (37:05) The ups and downs. (39:49) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Federico Deciga Deciga’s Lab
Mon, August 05, 2024
390: How to Grow and Scale Your Business
Summary In this virtual episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine chat with serial entrepreneur and founder of Growth Readiness, Todd Westra, about what it means to be “growth ready.” Drawing from his experience interviewing two-hundred and fifty CEOs in thirteen weeks, Westra identifies recurring themes in business growth, particularly the importance of people, processes, and tools. He uses the analogy of SpaceX rockets to explain the difference between launching a business and scaling it, emphasizing the need to transition from what got the business into orbit to focusing on what needs to happen in orbit. Moreover, Westra introduces his growth readiness framework, which consists of four stages of transition and three growth checkpoints in each stage. He highlights common growth blockers, such as financial fluency, understanding cash flow, and managing expenses. Westra also stresses the importance of client profiling, simplifying deliverables, and being less emotionally connected to the product to achieve scalability and efficiency. Throughout the episode, Todd talks about his previous business ventures, his current business, Growth Readiness, and how to grow and scale your business, including crafting an exit strategy. Tune in to this episode to learn about Todd's Orbit Framework and Growth Readiness Assessment so you can identify what might be holding your company back from real growth! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:04) About Todd (7:12) The Four Stages of “Launch Transition” (16:18) Challenges That Can Inhibit Growth (22:22) Scaling a Trust Based Business (27:38) Crafting an Exit Strategy (33:13) Advice to Younger Self (34:54) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Todd Westra Growth Readiness
Mon, July 29, 2024
389: The App that Really Pays to Use
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Jeff Amerine are joined by Rick West, chairman and co-founder of Field Agent, a company revolutionizing B2B retail solutions by offering an on-demand marketplace with efficient, cost-effective tools for retail professionals to evaluate in-store conditions, drive sales, understand shoppers, and generate ratings and reviews. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and affordable, allowing users to deploy solutions quickly. As an all-in-one retail toolkit, every solution in the Field Agent Marketplace can be launched with just a few clicks, in just a few minutes, for just a few dollars. Furthermore, Rick explains his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his early days growing up in Appalachia and his international stint with Procter & Gamble, which ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. He emphasizes that Field Agent operates in two economies: the traditional B2B model, where large companies like Walmart and Procter & Gamble hire them to collect data, and a B2C model, where everyday users download the Field Agent app to perform tasks and earn money. The company recently underwent significant changes, including a Series B funding round and acquiring Shelfgram, enhancing Field Agent's machine learning and AI capabilities. This acquisition enables real-time data collection and predictive analytics, providing clients with a competitive edge. Throughout the episode, Rick talks about the importance of relationships and mentorship in the business world, how he was able to develop an app that "really pays to use," and how he is adjusting to his new role within Field Agent. Tune in to learn about what the future looks like for Field Agent and to hear how you can make cold hard cash while you shop! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:42) Rick’s Background and Origin Story (4:16) What’s Next for Field Agent (7:15) Stepping Back from Day-to-Day Work (10:58) About Field Agents and Its Recent Acquisition, Shelfgram (16:10) Using Historical Information to Be Predictive (21:23) The Role of Social Listening (26:04) Field Agent’s Process: Everyday People Reviewing Products (28:03) Rick’s New Role and What’s in the Future for Him (30:00) Closing Question Links Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Rick West Field Agent
Thu, July 25, 2024
13: Sabor y Tradición Guatemalteca con Mauricio Guerrero
Summary En este episodio de Startup Junkies En Español, conversamos con Mauricio Guerrero, propietario de 211 Café en Bentonville. Mauricio nos comparte su historia que inicia en Guatemala, su pasión por el café, las adversidades vividas y su experiencia siendo un emprendedor latino en el Noroeste de Arkansas. Hablamos sobre la transición de su carrera en el mundo corporativo, a ser un dueño de negocio y abrir su propio café, los desafíos enfrentados, y su visión para el futuro. ¡No te pierdas esta inspiradora charla sobre café, cultura y comunidad! Show Notes (00:04) Welcome & introduction. (00:25) Mauricio’s story. (01:30) A deal is a deal. (04:50) Arrving in NW Arkansas. (05:00) Traveling is life. (06:31) The beginning. (07:40) Childhood memories. (13:20) The changing times. (23:50) Starting a network. (26:35) Working for free. (31:16) Something about a name. (35:11) The evolution of coffee. (41:50) An important message. (44:04) Advice from the past. (45:05) Where can we find you? Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Mauricio Guerrero 211 Cafe
Mon, July 22, 2024
388: From Concept to Crypto: Building an NFT Platform
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Harrison Kitson and Daniel Koonce welcome Josh Owen and Daniel Fritsche to talk about their NFT trading platform, TradePort, which is the most comprehensive multi-chain NFT aggregator for traders and developers. Founded in 2021, TradePort is a multi-chain NFT marketplace and infrastructure company aimed at seamlessly integrating the creation, buying, selling, and bidding of digital assets across multiple blockchain networks. The company's journey began after observing the lack of documentation and infrastructure in the rapidly growing NFT space. Initially starting as a launchpad for NFT projects, TradePort evolved into an aggregator, integrating supply from multiple marketplaces and developing a universal data model for digital assets. A standout goal for TradePort is to dominate the NFT marketplace by commanding ninety-four percent of transaction volume while continually increasing supply in the order book. They also aim to bring real-world assets on-chain, thereby serving as the core infrastructure for tokenizing real-world items such as traditional watch dealers' assets. Their long-term vision includes expanding to all relevant NFT chains and becoming a programmatic interface for all digital assets, including decentralized finance (DeFi). By facilitating transparent provenance and reducing dependency on traditional gatekeepers in asset validation, TradePort aspires to transform how assets are managed and traded globally. Throughout the episode, Daniel and Josh give an inside look at their journeys and how they first became involved in the cryptocurrency space as a hobby to how they were able to monetize this shared interest. They also explain what NFTs are, what makes them unique, and how you can trade them on TradePort. Tune into this episode to learn about Crypto and the future of NFTs! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:00) Daniel, Josh, and TradePort’s Backstory (8:02) Venturing into the NFT Space Early (12:50) What Makes an NFT Unique (14:49) About TradePort (21:41) Educating People on NFTs (25:22) The TradePort Experience (26:09) An NFT Success Story (28:05) What’s Next for TradePort (33:59) Exploring Potential Privacy Issues (36:21) Advice to Younger Selves (38:43) Closing Question Links Harrison Kitson Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Josh Owen Daniel Fritsche TradePort
Mon, July 15, 2024
387: Leading the Way in Renewable Agriculture: Carbon Chicken Project
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Harrison Kitson and Caleb Talley dive into the innovative Carbon Chicken Project with Turner Tomlinson, Jody Hardin, and Richard Ims. These pioneers are at the forefront of renewable agriculture, utilizing biochar and up-cycled poultry litter to revolutionize farming practices. Turner Tomlinson, with a background in chemical engineering and water management, underscores the importance of addressing the issue of excess poultry litter. Therefore, the Carbon Chicken Project involves upcycling this poultry litter using pyrolysis technology to produce bioenergy, thus establishing a carbon-negative farming ecosystem that combats climate change by promoting regenerative farming practices and carbon sequestration. Jody Hardin, a fifth-generation farmer, introduces the vision of creating the first carbon-registered project in Northwest Arkansas. This initiative aims to enable local companies to offset their carbon footprints while revolutionizing agriculture. Lastly, Richard Ims brings his entrepreneurial experience to the discussion, emphasizing the commercial viability and diverse applications of biochar in increasing feed efficiency and water retention. Their target customers range from backyard gardeners to commercial farmers, showcasing the product’s versatility. Throughout the episode, Turner, Jody, and Richard share their motivations, the challenges they face, and the innovative solutions they're implementing to create a meaningful impact on the environment. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the future of agriculture and our role in combating climate change! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:59) Turner’s Background (2:19) About Jody (3:57) Richard’s Origin Story (7:25) The Genesis of the Carbon Chicken Project (19:22) Potential Markets for the Carbon Chicken Project (21:59) Exploring the Carbon Chicken Project’s Mission and Legacy (28:32) Multifaceted Problem Solving (33:17) The Carbon Chicken Project’s Ideal Customer (35:21) Why the Carbon Chicken Project’s Product is Emerging Now (39:29) Advice to Younger Selves (42:34) Closing Question Links Harrison Kitson Caleb Talley Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Turner Tomlinson Jody Hardin Richard Ims Carbon Chicken Project
Thu, July 11, 2024
12: Sin Prisa pero sin Pausa con Diego Morales Ibarra
Summary En este episodio, nos sumergimos en la inspiradora historia de Diego Morales Ibarra, un líder comunitario dedicado y multifacético. Diego, originario de Guanajuato, México, nos comparte su viaje desde sus inicios hasta convertirse en una figura clave en el desarrollo económico y comunitario de Arkansas. Exploramos cómo su paciencia y perseverancia han sido fundamentales en su rol como Director Adjunto en Conexión de Negocios Latinos y fundador de DIMORI Services LLC. A través de sus experiencias en el Consulado Mexicano y el ASBTDC, Diego nos demuestra cómo el tiempo y la dedicación pueden transformar comunidades y abrir nuevas oportunidades para las poblaciones minoritarias. No te pierdas esta conversación llena de aprendizajes sobre el poder de la paciencia en la construcción de un mejor futuro. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:49) Your story. (03:07) It’s a health thing. (06:43) Life after the consulate. (07:18) Being the boss. (10:43) El mercadito. (11:36) Initial advice. (13:51) Networking? (15:08) The inspiration. (16:51) Latino growth. (19:23) Significant challenge. (29:54) Arkansas Latino Business Awards. (29:54) Advice from the past. Links Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Diego Morales Ibarra DIMORI Services, LLC
Mon, July 08, 2024
386: Putting Life Before Work with LifeWork Talent
Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Daniel Koonce are joined by Rachel Heisten and Alissa Owsley, founding partners of LifeWork Talent, a consulting service helping organizations unlock the power of their people by building a culture where individuals thrive, enjoy the best experience, and develop exceptional human skills. Alissa and Rachel, who initially met while working in human resources in 2011, speak candidly about the challenges and rewards of practicing what they preach as business advisors, sharing the importance of taking time to appreciate the present and redefine traditional notions of success. LifeWork Talent focuses on customized talent management services, encompassing workshops, executive coaching, and strategic partnerships, to intertwine life with work and inspire positive change in organizational cultures. Additionally, Rachel and Alissa underscore the significance of flexibility, adaptability, and continuous learning in their entrepreneurial journey, rejecting the societal trope that entrepreneurship is an inherent quality. They also address imposter syndrome, urging listeners to embrace and navigate the challenge of enjoying work without it becoming their identity. Throughout the episode, we dive into Rachel and Alissa’s inspiring journey of two close friends and former corporate professionals who transitioned from the structured environment of a large corporation to founding their own consulting business. Rachel and Alissa share their origin stories, the obstacles they faced during the pandemic, and how an intervention from friends and mentors pushed them to pursue their dreams. Furthermore, they offer valuable perspectives on personal growth, the challenges of starting a business, and the importance of staying true to one's values while navigating the business world. Tune in to see our guests put Life before Work! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Rachel and Alissa (1:11) Rachel, Alissa, and LifeWork’s Origin Story (6:21) Recognizing and Addressing Unmet Needs (10:25) The Shifting Mindset of Job Security Post Pandemic (16:17) About LifeWork’s Services (19:28) Combating Imposter Syndrome (23:22) Navigating the Good and Bad of Entrepreneurship (29:11) Differentiating between Purpose and Identity (33:02) How Rachel and Alissa Define Winning (37:33) Managing the Growth of a Business (42:23) Advice to Younger Selves (47:01) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Rachel
Mon, July 01, 2024
385: Dreams to Reality: Building a Sleep Therapy Business with Elsbeth Fast
Summary Join our hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Daniel Koonce in this episode of Startup Junkies as we explore the fascinating world of sleep therapy with Elsbeth Fast, a dedicated entrepreneur transforming lives through innovative sleep solutions. Elsbeth is the founder of True Sleep Therapy, a private practice specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI). Elsbeth’s career began in clinical settings, focusing predominantly on veterans struggling with PTSD and insomnia at the Veterans Healthcare System in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Here, she became a national trainer for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) program. Moving into the civilian sector, she founded True Sleep Therapy to provide CBTI to a broader population. Her work primarily involves addressing sleep disorders, using evidence-based techniques to aid individuals in improving their sleep hygiene without the reliance on medications. Beyond her clinical skills, Elsbeth had to quickly learn the non-clinical aspects of running a business—skills such as budgeting, business planning, and social media marketing. Throughout the episode, she shares her journey of founding a successful sleep therapy practice, the challenges she faced, and the triumphs she celebrated along the way. Discover the unique techniques and strategies she employs to help clients achieve better sleep, and gain valuable insights into the business side of health and wellness. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs in the therapeutic field and anyone interested in improving their sleep health! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Elsbeth Fast (0:56) About True Sleep Therapy (2:03) Defining Cognitive Based Therapy (10:44) Tips and Tricks for Getting Better Sleep (12:16) Elsbeth’s Origin Story (24:52) How Insomnia Is Detrimental to Health (29:30) How Lucid Dreaming Correlates to Proper Sleep (35:15) Navigating the Obligations of Business Ownership (39:42) Advice to Younger Self (40:46) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Elsbeth Fast True Sleep Therapy
Fri, June 28, 2024
Business Buzz Ep. 5: Folly, Parks, and Cocktail Clubs with Lewis Chase
Summary On episode 5 of Business Buzz, host Daniel Koonce welcomes Fayetteville’s own Lewis Chase, one of the founders of Feed and Folly, City Park, and Guisinger Cocktail Club. Daniel and Lewis discuss Lewis’s background, his relationship with his business partners, and the origin of “the Dudes of Folly.” Lewis talks about what inspired him to start each new venture and how he is able to bring something unique to Fayetteville every time. Tune in to learn about the importance of your business’s location, prices, and culture. Lewis dives into his most recent venture, the Guisinger Cocktail Club and explains how he was able to create such a creative menu and a unique customer experience. Thank you to Fossil Cove Brewing Co. for sponsoring this episode! If you want to learn more about Fossil Cove, go to www.FossilCoveBrewing.com . Links Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Fossil Cove Brewing Co. Feed and Folly City Park Guisinger Cocktail Club
Thu, June 27, 2024
11: De Pasíon a Negocio con Azalia Molina
Summary En este emocionante episodio, nos acompaña Azalia Molina, la talentosa dueña de Clever NWA, una destacada agencia de marketing que ha revolucionado el panorama empresarial. Azalia nos guía a través de su increíble viaje, compartiendo cómo convirtió su pasión en un negocio exitoso. Descubre los secretos detrás de su impresionante trayectoria empresarial y aprende de su experiencia única como emprendedora latina. A lo largo de la conversación, Azalia ofrece valiosos consejos para aquellos que buscan iniciar y hacer crecer su propia empresa, destacando la importancia de la perseverancia, la innovación y la conexión con la comunidad. Además, exploramos el enorme potencial de las conexiones en el Noroeste de Arkansas (NWA) y cómo estas pueden ser un motor fundamental para impulsar tu éxito. No te pierdas esta conversación llena de conocimientos, estrategias y motivación que te inspirará a seguir tus sueños y alcanzar nuevas alturas. Ya seas un aspirante a emprendedor o alguien en busca de inspiración, este episodio te proporcionará las herramientas y la confianza necesarias para avanzar en tu camino empresarial. Show Notes (00:24) Welcome & introduction. (01:32) The beginning. (02:43) Art into business. (03:41) What is your favorite art outlet? (04:47) My first piece of art. (05:52) Business challenges and achievements. (09:50) A valuable lesson. (11:47) The greatest challenge of starting a business. (17:05) Sound advice. (19:15) A balancing act. (24:12) Where can we find you? (24:39) What is next? (25:38) Advice from the past. Links Claudia Scott Ignacio Balderrama Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Ana Ortiz Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Azalia Molina Clever NWA
Mon, June 24, 2024
384: The Rise of Outdoor Brands in Northwest Arkansas with BLK ELK & LIVSN
Summary In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, hosts Caleb Talley and Harrison Kitson welcome two dynamic companies making waves in the outdoor and creative content industry: Blk Elk Media and LIVSN Designs. Joined by Andrew Gibbs-Dabney from LIVSN and Daniel Mitchell and Trent Sugg of BLK ELK, this engaging conversation dives into the origin stories of these innovative brands, their journey in Northwest Arkansas, and how they have managed to grow and thrive in a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founded in 2018, LIVSN is a company using natural and technical materials to create sustainable, high-quality outdoor clothing with classic styling and a modern fit. Additionally, BLK ELK is a production company specializing in outdoor and adventure content, focusing on working with brands in the outdoor industry. The collaborations between LIVSN and BLK ELK have resulted in some of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns in Arkansas. Throughout the episode, Andrew, Daniel, and Trent discuss how Northwest Arkansas has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, how storytelling has been instrumental in both businesses' growth, and what’s in store for both companies' futures. From production challenges to the importance of community engagement, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Andrew, Daniel, and Trent (1:44) About BLK ELK and Its Origin Story (3:00) LIVSN’s Origin Story (4:49) BLK ELK and LIVSN’s Collaboration (7:11) Working Within NWA’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (12:36) How NWA’s Outdoor Scene Has Developed (19:54) About the Well Worn Life Documentary Series (27:13) Exploring LIVSN and BLK ELK’s Fifth Kickstarter Campaign (30:38) Advice for Successful Kickstarter Campaigns (35:57) What’s Next for BLK ELK and LIVSN (46:11) Advice to Younger Selves (53:06) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Andrew Gibbs-Dabney LIVSN Designs Daniel Mitchell Trent Sugg Blk Elk Media Well Worn Life
Mon, June 17, 2024
383: Eat My Catfish: A Journey of Grit, Gratitude, and Giving Back
Summary In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Travis Hester, founder of Eat My Catfish, a successful catfish and seafood restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Inspired by his love for cooking and his culinary background, Travis established Eat My Catfish fifteen years ago, which has now blossomed into a thriving chain of eight restaurants and four food trucks. Travis discusses the transition from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar store, highlighting one of the pivotal moments in expanding Eat My Catfish when a friend suggested crawfish. Implementing this suggestion led to skyrocketing sales, with the restaurant eventually sourcing over one hundred thousand pounds of crawfish annually. Travis credits Eat My Catfish’s farm-to-table approach and commitment to fresh ingredients as defining factors in its success. In addition to business insights, Travis underscores the importance of striking a balance in life, valuing his roles as a father, husband, and employer, and illustrates a heartfelt customer story, signifying the profound bond between his business and the community. He also mentions their involvement in educational initiatives, like school visits to teach children about crawfish, emphasizing his and the restaurant’s commitment to giving back. During the episode, Travis shares his entrepreneurial journey, including navigating challenges, embracing opportunities, and building a thriving business. Through his candid storytelling, he highlights the importance of hard work, positivity, and giving back to the community, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and the resilience required to overcome adversity. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Travis Hester (0:59) Eat My Catfish’s Origin Story (3:52) From Food Truck to Brick and Mortar (11:58) Finding Confidence to Begin (14:46) What’s Next for Eat My Catfish (20:58) Eat My Catfish’s Arkansas Business of the Year Award (25:30) Eat My Catfish Customer Stories (30:16) Advice to Younger Self (31:56) Closing Question Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Travis Hester Eat My Catfish
Mon, June 10, 2024
382: The Rise of the "Author-Preneur" with Michael DeLon
Summary Join hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Harrison Kitson on this episode of Startup Junkies as they dive into the world of storytelling and book publishing with Michael DeLon, #1 Amazon Best-Selling author of On Marketing , creator of The Credibility Game Plan, and founder of Paperback Expert. Paperback Expert equips entrepreneurs with marketing strategies to attract more clients, and guarantees business growth if clients adhere to their system, demonstrating a book's versatility in attracting leads, converting sales, and generating referrals. By using Paperback Expert’s proprietary “speak-to-write” process, business owners can create their own book in under a day. Through a series of structured phone calls, Paperback Expert helps clients outline their book, record their book, and publish their book. Then, once their book is published, Paperback Expert shows them how to use their book to position themselves as an expert in their industry. Until now, having your own book was either too difficult or too expensive, but that’s no longer the case with Paperback Expert. Throughout the episode, Michael shares his inspiring journey, from ministry to entrepreneurship, and the pivotal role a book played in establishing his expertise. He also explores the step-by-step process of turning your ideas into a published work, leveraging your book as a powerful marketing tool, and building a lasting legacy for generations to come. Listen today and discover how crafting your unique story and publishing a book can transform your credibility, attract more clients, and elevate your business. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Michael DeLon (1:04) Michael’s Origin Story (5:39) About Paperback Expert and Its Clients (6:46) The Process of Writing a Book with Paperback Expert (8:29) Increasing Brand Awareness with Digital Platforms (10:49) Connecting with Clients and Marketing their Books (15:09) Balancing Life with a Family Run Business (20:57) Overcoming Obstacles in Business (28:40) What’s in the Future for Paperback Expert (31:19) Advice to Younger Self (33:28) Closing Question Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Michael DeLon Paperback Expert On Marketing: The Definitive Guide for Small Business Owners
Thu, June 06, 2024
10: Mente abierta al cambio con Geovanny Sarmiento
Summary En este episodio de Startup Junkie en Español, nos acompaña Geovanny Sarmiento, de la Cámara de Comercio de Rogers-Lowell. Geovanny profundiza en la importancia de mantener una mente abierta en el camino del emprendimiento. Destaca cómo los emprendedores pueden beneficiarse al buscar y valorar recomendaciones no solo de amigos y familiares, sino también de desconocidos y expertos en diferentes campos. A través de su experiencia y conocimientos, Geovanny nos ofrece estrategias prácticas para integrar diversas perspectivas en la toma de decisiones empresariales. Descubre cómo abrirte a nuevas ideas y enfoques puede impulsar la innovación y el crecimiento de tu negocio. ¡No te pierdas esta inspiradora y educativa conversación que te ayudará a transformar tu enfoque emprendedor y llevar tu startup al siguiente nivel! Show Notes (00:05) Welcome and introductions (00:32) About Geovanny Sarmiento (02:38) How Geovanny ended up in Northwest Arkansas (05:45) Defining community (09:28) General necessities (14:16) Building trust (24:10) The Spanish advantage (32:50) Advice to past self (41:09) Closing question Links Claudia Scott Andres Balderrama Geovanny Sarmiento Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce
Mon, June 03, 2024
381: Trailblazing Digital Innovation with Kenny Tomlin
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Harrison Kitson are joined by Kenny Tomlin, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of CourtAvenue, a cutting-edge digital transformation company. Founded in 2020, Court Avenue, headquartered in Austin, partners with Fortune 500 clients to harness emerging technologies, transforming client interactions, and optimizing business operations. Its focus has increasingly shifted towards AI-driven solutions, helping companies adapt and innovate in an ever-accelerating tech landscape. A key facet of CourtAvenue’s strategy is its selective approach to incubating boutique services and technologies. This includes ventures like an experiential design business and a platform focused on conversational commerce using AI. By incubating these specialized entities, CourtAvenue not only addresses immediate market needs but also anticipates future technological trends. Kenny’s broader vision for Court Avenue includes potential expansion into new markets such as Latin America, Asia, and Europe, signifying a commitment to global growth. Additionally, CourtAvenue’s selective nature regarding co-founding and incubating entities ensures each venture aligns with its core values and strategic objectives. In this conversation, Kenny offers advice on identifying opportunities within emerging technologies like AI, navigating the evolving digital landscape, and the essential mindset required for long-term entrepreneurial success. Drawing from his experiences at the forefront of digital innovation, including founding and selling companies like Rockfish, Kenny highlights the paramount importance of building strong relationships, continuous learning, and embracing the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Kenny Tomlin (6:40) Navigating the Digital Transformation (9:42) About CourtAvenue (13:29) The Process of Incubating Companies (17:26) Kenny’s Entrepreneurial Experience (25:35) What Winning Looks Like to Kenny (29:28) CourtAvenue’s Future Vision (32:45) Advice to Younger Self (39:38) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Kenny Tomlin CourtAvenue
Fri, May 31, 2024
Business Buzz Ep. 4: Crafting Seltzers with Jesse Core
Summary On Episode 4 of the latest Startup Junkie Podcast Series, host Daniel Koonce welcomes the founder of Scarlet Letter Beverage Co., Jesse Core. Daniel and Jesse discuss how Core Brewing developed into Scarlet Letter Beverage Co. Jesse dives into how his team approaches flavor innovation, their partnership with Sam’s Club, and how he modernized brewing in Northwest Arkansas. Join us to learn how to listen to the data to figure out what the consumer wants, how to get over the hump of growing pains and establish the right capacity and resources to get out ahead of growing demand, and how to follow market trends. Tune in to hear about Scarlet Letter’s newest product hitting the market this summer. Links Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Jesse Core Scarlet Letter Beverage Co.
Mon, May 27, 2024
380: Inside the Specialty Coffee Revolution with Jon Allen of Onyx Coffee
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Daniel Koonce dive into the world of specialty coffee with Jon Allen, co-founder and creative director of Onyx Coffee Lab. Founded in 2012 with the mantra “Never Settle for Good Enough,” Onyx has built an award-winning team of roasters that ship freshly roasted coffee worldwide and serve unique brews in four locations across Northwest Arkansas. Jon’s, and his wife and fellow co-founder, Andrea’s, commitment to exceptional coffee led them to a method they call relationship coffee, meaning that for seventy percent of the coffee they import, they visit the farms where it is grown and pay the producers directly. This approach allows them to establish their standards for coffee quality and ensures transparency with Onyx Coffee Lab consumers because they share detailed purchase information on Onyx’s website. Visitors can see the price paid to the producer, the market commodity price at the time of purchase, the fair trade price, the import costs, and the individuals involved in bringing the coffee to the United States. Throughout the episode, Jon discusses Onyx's unique approach to sourcing, roasting, and distributing high-quality coffee, which includes transparency in pricing, traceability to the farmers, and a deep respect for the coffee's origin. He also shares insights into the industry's evolution, the growing demand for specialty coffee worldwide, and the importance of supporting sustainable practices at the source. This conversation offers a glimpse into the passion, dedication, and innovation driving the craft coffee movement that has taken off in Northwest Arkansas. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Jon Allen (1:03) About Onyx Coffee Lab (3:57) Onyx’s Origin Story (6:01) Pricing Transparency (9:04) Focusing on Green Coffee (15:10) From Coffee Roasting to Consulting (22:33) The Rise of Coffee Ventures (29:50) Onyx’s Interior Design Vision and Narrative (34:58) Advice to Younger Self (38:15) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Jon Allen Onyx Coffee Lab
Thu, May 23, 2024
9: El Arte de la Buena Cocina con Juan Bahena
Summary En esta edición número 9 de Startup Junkie en español, entrevistamos a Juan Bahena, un destacado emprendedor en la industria restaurantera especializada en comida mexicana. Juan nos lleva a través de su inspirador viaje con Tula, su aclamado restaurante ubicado en Downtown Fayetteville. Tula no solo se distingue por su auténtica cocina mexicana, sino también por la experiencia única que ofrece a cada cliente. Desde platillos tradicionales hasta innovaciones culinarias, Juan nos muestra cómo ha creado un lugar que va más allá de la comida, fomentando una comunidad vibrante y apasionada alrededor de su negocio. Descubre cómo Tula ha llegado a ser un referente en Fayetteville, donde cada comida es una celebración de la cultura mexicana y cada visitante se convierte en parte de una gran familia. ¡No te pierdas esta conversación llena de inspiración y sabor! Show Notes (00:11) Introduction to Juan Bahena (02:38) The Inspiration behind Tula Mexican Restaurant (04:05) About Tula’s Menu (07:23) The Dining Experience at Tula (09:32) Finding Your Value (12:37) Tula’s Rule (15:26) Tula’s Ideal Customer (17:23) Overcoming Career Obstacles (22:16) Business vs Community (37:24) Behind the Scenes of Tula (41:44) How to Get in Touch (47:34) Advice for Younger Self Links Claudia Scott Startup Junkie Kiva Northwest Arkansas Ana Ortiz Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Andres Balderrama Juan Bahena Tula Mexican Restaurant
Mon, May 20, 2024
379: Building Innovative Digital Products Through Strategic Partnerships with Few.io
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Jeff Amerine sit down with co-founders of Few.io, Arlton Lowry and Zackery Hill. Few.io is an award-winning agency helping get digital products to market faster through strategy, UX/UI, and development for web and mobile applications. Few’s goal is to have a positive impact in people’s lives, including its employees, believing that if it focuses on people and quality of work, the rest will take care of itself. With Few’s proven partner approach, its clients’ success is also its success. From concept-to-scale, Few: Talks to Users: Discovers pain points, goals, and preferences so clients can create a product that addresses those needs in the most effective way possible. Develops a Strategy: Delivers a clear plan of action around user needs and business goals, allowing teams to work together more efficiently and effectively. Designs Solutions: Designs an intuitive and visually appealing user interface that enhances the user experience, reducing the user learning curve and increasing adoption. Builds to Scale: Allows access to experienced developers and engineers that play a pivotal role in ensuring products are functional, secure, and scalable. Ships Products: Provides the support needed to launch and scale products confidently through quality assurance, testing to branding, and go-to-market strategy. Throughout the episode, Arlton and Zack share Few's journey from a creative conference to a thriving digital agency, their approach to fostering innovation and problem-solving for their clients, and the importance of strategic risk-taking in business growth. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:38) Few.io’s Origin Story (2:24) The Key to Few’s Success (6:15) About Few’s Culture (9:34) Few’s Remote Team (14:43) Promoting Curiosity (17:36) The Impact of AI (22:40) Few’s Ideal Customer Profile (27:15) Managing Risk with Startup Clients (33:52) Growing up in Arkansas (36:04) Few’s Collaboration with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (40:24) Advice for Beginner Developers (43:15) What’s Next for Few.io (46:37) Advice to Younger Self (49:46) Closing Question Links Daniel Koonce Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Arlton Lowry Zackery Hill Few.io
Mon, May 13, 2024
378: Telling Local Stories and Building Community with Gavin Magee
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Harrison Kitson and Kristopher Adams sit down with Gavin Magee, founder of Fayetteville City Lifestyle, a community-focused digital magazine aiming to connect residents to the people, places, and things that make Fayetteville such a special town. Whether readers are native to Northwest Arkansas or are new to the area, the Fayetteville City Lifestyle is a one-stop-shop for hyper local, expertly created content that inspires and connects communities. Rather than taking a content-first approach like other publications, the City Lifestyle stands out by positioning people first, ultimately creating a platform that highlights the best of what Fayetteville has to offer by the people who represent it best. City Lifestyle’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and uplift readers through entertaining articles, detailed and searchable listings of local eateries and businesses, and by sharing unique experiences and events in and around their area. Throughout the episode, Gavin shares his entrepreneurial journey in franchising a national publication, discusses discovering hidden gems to partnering with local businesses, and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and fostering a sense of pride in the city he calls home. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:39) About Gavin Magee and Fayetteville City Lifestyle (5:46) Gavin’s Backstory (9:55) Exploring City Lifestyle’s Content (14:03) Appealing to the People of Fayetteville (16:59) Identifying Business Partners (21:29) Obstacles That Gavin Had to Overcome (25:59) The Future Vision of City Lifestyle (30:03) Advice to Younger Self (32:51) Closing Thoughts Links Harrison Kitson Kristopher Adams Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Gavin Magee Fayetteville City Lifestyle
Fri, May 03, 2024
Business Buzz Ep. 3: Creating Content with Bryan Fittin
Summary On episode three of Business Buzz, host Daniel Koonce visits the Go Rogue Studio in Bentonville, Arkansas to interview Go Rogue’s Founder and CEO, Bryan Fittin. Daniel and Bryan dive deep into how Bryan monetized his hobby, why he turned down his dream job, and how his video marketing company evolved to find their own lane. Join us as Bryan talks about his favorite podcast, touches on Go Rogue’s workshops and creator events, and describes what separates a good podcast from a great podcast. Links Daniel Koonce Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Bryan Fittin Go Rogue Studio
Thu, May 02, 2024
8: La Salsa Secreta del Emprendimiento con Rodrigo Salas
Summary En este episodio número 8 de Startup Junkies en Español, nos sumergimos en el vibrante mundo de la gastronomía mexicana con nuestro invitado Rodrigo Salas. Rodrigo comparte su fascinante viaje como emprendedor en el negocio de las salsas mexicanas y cómo su mudanza al noroeste de Arkansas marcó un punto de inflexión en su vida, abriendo nuevas oportunidades y desafíos. Además, como director ejecutivo de 'E for all', Rodrigo comparte su pasión por impulsar el crecimiento empresarial y el espíritu emprendedor en comunidades diversas. Únete a nosotros para una conversación inspiradora sobre resiliencia, innovación y el poder de seguir tus sueños, sin importar los obstáculos que puedan surgir. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & Introductions (00:30) About Rodrigo Salas (02:18) Focusing on Your Business (02:53) Mentorship (03:43) About EforAll (07:11) EforAll’s Selection Process (11:05) Entrepreneurial Transition (13:41) The Advantages of a Non-Profit (18:50) Major Differences (21:51) Initial Advice (27:11) EforAll’s Impact (32:23) Advice to Younger Self Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Andres Balderrama Rodrigo Salas Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Quotes “Mi negocio lo empecé hace 8 años, casi 9, y es de salsas mexicanas para poder preparar platillos fáciles para comer o salsas picantes.” - Rodrigo Salas (01:13) “Nosotros nos sabíamos que esperar de NW Arkansas como siempre la ignorancia pues te da miedo, pero nos ha encantado vivir aquí.” - Rodrigo Salas (01:13) “Lo más difícil para mí con mi negocio es que todo está en Texas, nuestra distribución, nuestra producción… En lo primero que me enfoque fue asegurarme que lo que teníamos allá lo podíamos seguir haciendo.” - Rodrigo Salas (02:28) “Algo que me ha ayudado mucho a mi como emprendedor ha sido gente que han sido mis mentores y que me han ayudado en cosas que yo no tenía ni idea de lo que tenía que hacer.” - Rodrigo Salas (02:53) “Desde que empecé mi negocio yo empecé a regresar ese favor y hacer mentoría con otras personas.” - Rodrigo Salas (03:09) “Mi idea fue hacer eso, algo que fuera realmente autentico y que realmente reflejara esos sabores.” - Rodrigo Salas (05:37) “Por tres años yo produje las salsas en una cocina industrial.” - Rodrigo Salas (06:15) “Mi proceso era bastante simple, como quería recrear esos sabores de México, los ingredientes tenían que reflejar eso.” - Rodrigo Salas (07:22) “Yo busque los proveedores de ingredientes… Les pedí certificaciones del origen, de los pesticidas que usaban… Y así f
Mon, April 29, 2024
377: Navigating the Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape with Eyal Gallico
Summary On this engaging episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson delve into the ever-changing world of cybersecurity with Eyal Gallico, founder of Apollo IT Services, a company that works with businesses to provide professional, proactive, and affordable IT and cybersecurity services for businesses of any scale or along any journey. Eyal’s journey began fifteen years ago when he moved from Israel to the United States, settling initially in College Station, Texas. Eyal worked for a subsidiary of Apple Computers before relocating to the vibrant city of Austin where he engaged with various IT and medical software companies, accumulating a wealth of experience in the tech industry. However, Eyal eventually found that his career was neither financially nor personally fulfilling, prompting him to establish his own company. Throughout the conversation, Gallico shares his insights on the latest threats, including the rise of AI-powered phishing attacks, ransomware, and the role of nation-states in cybercrime. Additionally, he provides practical tips for individuals and businesses to safeguard their digital assets, emphasizing the importance of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and proper backup strategies. The conversation also touches on Gallico's personal journey, from his beginnings as a graphic designer to his entrepreneurial endeavors in the tech industry. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (0:50) About Eyal and How He Started Apollo (2:31) The Process of Building Apollo (4:26) The Progression of Cybersecurity (9:37) Cybersecurity Preventative Measures (12:27) About Apollo’s Services (19:06) About Apollo’s Core Team (24:33) How Eyal Ventured into IT Services (26:23) Exploring the Nature of Cybersecurity Threats (41:30) Advice to Younger Self Links Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Harrison Kitson Eyal Gallico Apollo IT Services
Mon, April 15, 2024
376: Transforming Accounts Payable into Profit for Scaling Businesses
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Victoria Dickerson, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Scott Coffey, President and Founder of AccelePay, a platform that helps businesses turn accounts payable into profits. By capturing early payment discounts and utilizing an efficient payables process, AccelePay increases revenue while decreasing administrative costs. Additionally, cash flow and supplier relationships are strengthened, resulting in improved business performance. Scott is also the President at Exchange Capital, a factoring company that offers business clients extremely effective tools to assist owners and managers with the growth of and decision making for their business. Exchange Capital’s services provide clients with a more predictable cash flow while simultaneously eliminating the burden of accounts receivable billing and clerical work. Throughout the episode, Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the world of invoice factoring and early payment solutions. His expertise and unique perspectives offer valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business owners, and any individuals interested in exploring innovative financing strategies. Listen now and discover how these alternative financing models can help businesses unlock cash flow, scale operations, and foster better vendor relationships! Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:12) Scott Coffey’s Background (2:24) Exchange Capital’s Origin Story (5:57) An Explanation of Factoring and Its Impact (10:23) About AccelePay and Its Timeline (15:35) Accelepay’s Ideal Client (24:06) Scott’s Relationship with His Dad (26:50) Managing a Business Relationship with a Family Member (29:03) COVID Challenges (35:40) Advice to Younger Self (37:54) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Scott Coffey AccelePay Exchange Capital
Fri, April 12, 2024
Business Buzz Ep. 2: Unearthing Brews with Ben Mills
Summary On episode two of the brand new Startup Junkie podcast series, host Daniel Koonce welcomes the founder and owner of Fossil Cove, Ben Mills. Daniel and Ben grab a few of Fossil Cove’s newest beers and discuss Ben’s journey from brewing beer in his dorm room for fun to running Tripadvisor’s #1 location for Nightlife in Fayetteville. Ben talks about some of his most creative brews, his company's unique branding, and his commitment to making sure his customers have fun. Join us for this special episode to learn about Fossil Cove’s community involvement, the latest trends in beer, and how Ben became a pioneer in the Northwest Arkansas brewing scene. Links Fossil Cove Brewing
Mon, April 08, 2024
375: From Stay-at-Home Mom to Organizational Mogul
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Amber Taggard, Founder of The Organizer Chicks, a company on a mission to create functional spaces, managed calendars, and intentional mindsets. After reading the statistic that the average American wastes seventeen minutes a day looking for lost items, Amber decided she wanted to use her Counseling Psychology background to help others reclaim their homes and spaces. The Organizer Chicks believe that an organized life is a thriving life, inspiring it to utilize the power of organization to help its clients find space in their lives for the people and moments that matter most. With the values of empathy, non-judgmental service, and professionalism, The Organizer Chicks strive to make organization a positive and empowering experience for all its clients by increasing tangible productivity, emotional peace, and mental clarity by bringing order and simplicity to physical and mental spaces. Throughout the conversation, Amber shares her inspiring journey from being a stay-at-home mom to building a thriving professional organizing business, and discusses the importance of delegation, finding the right team, and catering to individual client needs. Additionally, Amber delves into the challenges of working with extreme keepers (hoarders) and the potential for digital products and franchising. Show Notes (0:00) Introduction (1:22) About Amber Taggard (7:18) Expanding The Organizer Chicks (12:41) The Organizer Chicks Customer Profile (17:28) Ongoing Help from The Organizer Chicks (22:44) Adapting to Individual Client Needs (24:54) Crafting a Business Model (28:50) Overcoming Challenges (30:40) About The Organizer Chicks Podcast (32:53) Advice to Younger Self (35:33) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Harrison Kitson Amber Taggard The Organizer Chicks
Mon, April 01, 2024
374: Positioning Your Startup For Funding Success
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Randy Williamson, Senior SBA and Commercial Lender with Arkansas Federal Credit Union. AFCU is the largest credit union in Arkansas, boasting twenty-one branches with expansion plans already in the works. As a member-owned, tax exempt institute, it offers a full range of services that differ from traditional banks, and after sixty-eight years in service, Arkansas Federal Credit Union is approaching a 2.4 billion dollar footprint. AFCU aims to empower entrepreneurs through financial knowledge, putting them in the position to make educated business decisions. Throughout the conversation, Randy dives into the important considerations and best practices for startups and small businesses seeking financing from lenders. He also shares insights on crafting a solid business plan, understanding industry benchmarks, seeking external guidance, and building relationships with lenders. Additionally, Randy emphasizes the importance of realistic financial projections, scalable pricing strategies, and retaining earnings for growth and resilience. The discussion highlights the value of candid feedback, market validation, and positioning your business idea for fundability, providing a roadmap for entrepreneurs navigating the lending process and increasing their chances of securing capital to fuel their ventures. Show Notes (0:50) Introducing Randy Williamson (2:29) Credit Unions vs. Banks (5:02) Advice for Startups to Become Bankable (9:15) The Importance of Customer Discovery (13:50) Running a Sensitivity Analysis (17:18) Having a Good Relationship with Your Banker (21:27) Accommodating to Digital Banking Trends (26:26) The Do and Don’ts of a Business Plan (31:56) Other Funding Alternatives (39:40) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Harrison Kitson Randy Williamson Arkansas Federal Credit Union
Fri, March 29, 2024
Business Buzz Ep. 1: Going Vintage with Cy Bond
Summary A Startup Junkie Podcast Series, host Daniel Koonce welcomes the founder and CEO of Grandpa's Vintage and Demolition Goods, Cy Bond. JJ's Grill sponsored this episode as Daniel and Cy grab a drink and discuss Cy's journey from a kid who loved 90's culture to a business owner who "sells old clothes." Cy talks about the biggest influences on his fashion and the biggest supporters on his entrepreneurial journey. Join us for the first episode of this brand-new podcast series as Cy describes his unique style, clothing trends that are on their way out, and what just might be the next big fashion fad. Links Daniel Koonce Cy Bond Grandpa's Vintage Demolition Goods
Thu, March 21, 2024
7: Startup Junkies en Costa Rica
Summary ¡Bienvenidos al séptimo capítulo de Startup Junkies desde Costa Rica! En esta entrega, exploramos la fascinante historia de dos emprendedores locales que están dejando su marca en el mundo empresarial. En la primera parte, nos adentramos en el colorido universo de las celebraciones con nuestra invitada especial, July Quiros, fundadora de Creaciones July. Descubre cómo July ha transformado su pasión por la creatividad en un próspero negocio, ofreciendo una amplia gama de artículos personalizados para fiestas, baby showers, quinceañeras y graduaciones. Desde ideas innovadoras hasta desafíos superados, July comparte su inspiradora historia y los secretos detrás del éxito de su empresa. Luego, pasamos a la segunda parte del episodio, donde nos sumergimos en el mundo empresarial con Asdrubal Porras, propietario de Rapident. Desde sus modestos comienzos hasta convertirse en un referente en el sector, Asdrubal comparte sus experiencias, lecciones aprendidas y visión para el futuro. Descubre cómo ha superado obstáculos, identificado oportunidades y se ha mantenido resiliente en su camino hacia el éxito. Sintoniza este episodio para obtener una dosis de inspiración, consejos prácticos y motivación para emprender tu propio camino hacia el éxito. ¡No te lo pierdas! Show Notes (00:20) Cuando empezaste tu negocio? (00:30) ¿Qué te inspiró a comenzar esta aventura? (00:56) ¿Cuales son sus productos? (01:50) Producto más popular (02:45) ¿Cuál es tu producto favorito para crear? (03:47) Los desafíos de iniciar tu propio negocio (05.25) ¿Dónde ves tu negocio dentro de 5 años? (06:30) ¿Parte favorita de ser dueña de un negocio? (06:48) Consejos del pasado (09:18) La carga de trabajo (10:26) Experiencia pasada (10:54) ¿Qué consejo le darías a otras mujeres que quieran iniciar su propio negocio? (15:05) Emprendedor desde pequeño (17:10) Proyectos nuevos (17:54) ¿Por qué emprender? (19:03) Pros y contras de ser emprendedora (21:48) Consejos para emprendedores principiantes (26:43) Regreso al pasado Links Claudia Scott July Quiros Creaciones July Asdrubal Porras Rapident Quotes “Yo comencé cuando mi hermana estaba embarazada, que si hacerle las cositas para el baby shower.” - July Quiros (00:36) “Hacemos decoraciones para fiestas infantiles, baby showers, XV años… Tacitas, arreglos, botellas.” - July Quiros (01:01) “Lo más difícil para nosotros ha sido como la parte de salir a hacer las decoraciones por lo del transporte – No manejamos y no teníamos transporte propio.” - July Quiros (03:51) “Nosotros tenemos como proyecto un poco meter cartel inserts, inflables, cuando comenzamos lo habíamos pensado y tal vez en un futro una tienda más grande.” - July Quiros (05:35) “(El
Mon, February 26, 2024
373: Tiny Home of the Future with Daizhan Ennals
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce, Claudia Scott, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Daizhan Ennals, the CEO and founder of Renewed Robotics, a manufacturer leveraging robotics and technology to help people become more resource independent. Born in Cambridge, Maryland, Daizhan dedicated five years of service to the United States Marine Corps. where he developed expertise as a mechanic, inspiring him to delve into the rigorous world of mechanical engineering. Throughout the conversation, Daizhan shares his entrepreneurial journey, explains Renewed Robotics Self-Assembling Municipality (S.A.M.) device, and lays out his plan to help end homelessness and home insecurity. Show Notes (0:47) Introducing Daizhan (1:48) About Renewed Robotics (3:14) Developing the Self-Assembling Municipality (S.A.M.) (4:30) The Intent behind Renewed Robotics Tiny Home (5:30) How the S.A.M. Device Works (7:29) The Research behind the S.A.M. Device (10:04) Daizhan’s Entrepreneurial Journey (12:54) Renewed Robotics’ Project Timelines (15:42) Renewed Robotics’ Ideal Customer (18:31) The Future of Renewed Robotics’ Manufacturing (19:36) About the S.A.M. Referral Program (23:27) The Challenges of Business Ownership (25:42) Achieving Sustainable Drinking Water (29:02) Daizhan’s Motivation behind Helping Others (32:20) Advice to Younger Self Links Daniel Koonce Claudia Scott Harrison Kitson Daizhan Ennals Renewed Robotics Quotes “[The S.A.M.] will be a self-assembling and self-sustaining tiny home that can not only dig its own foundation, but unfold on its own and have solar panels on the outside to power the onboard battery bank, HVAC lights, water filtration system, and everything else. It will ideally be used for people who don’t have access to luxury, first-world amenities, so it can bring everyone up to speed with one device.” - Daizhan Ennals, (2:10) “These technologies that are going into the S.A.M. are being developed and promoted independently. There’s just no one gluing them together. And that’s what Renewed Robotics is doing, we’re more of a technology integrator, not necessarily a technology inventor.” - Daizhan Ennals, (8:03) “One of the most difficult parts of founding such a capital intensive product is getting a lot of people to actually understand the full scope of what you’re doing and then having faith that you can execute on that.” - Daizhan Ennals, (10:19) “The referral program is to incentivize those who
Mon, February 19, 2024
372: Swimmer Safety: The Joys of Swimming with Bonnie Adams
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Victoria Dickerson, and Daniel Koonce, sit down with Bonnie Adams, founder and CEO of The Joys of Swimming, an organization providing water safety education that saves lives and develops lifelong swimmers. Throughout the conversation, Bonnie shares an inside look at her two companies: The Joys of Swimming and SWIM OZ, and delves into her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of water safety amongst swimmers with all different backgrounds, from elementary school kids to Olympic-level swimmers. Show Notes (0:45) Introducing Bonnie Adams (12:20) Water Education in Schools (22:04) The Impact of Northwest Arkansas’s Entrepreneurial Community (29:27) Participating in Northwest Arkansas’s Entrepreneurial Culture (34:35) The Joys of Swimming’s Origin Story (38:27) Advice to Younger Self (41:50) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Daniel Koonce Bonnie Adams The Joys of Swimming SWIM OZ Quotes “I’m all about building community. And so it’s been really neat to have that, be able to grow that aspect of it, and circle it back to The Joys of Swimming.” - Bonnie Adams, (8:39) “There’s so much benefit from swimming. Yes, it’s a sport. Yes, it’s athletic. Those are wonderful pieces of it. But the pieces that you learned packing your swim bag, going to a swim meet, preparing your nutrition, all those things are really just amazing. And then you add on the fact that it can save your life is huge.” - Bonnie Adams, (10:19) “I feel like you can do just about anything in [Northwest Arkansas] and there is support somewhere, and it may not be you’re the one that’s going to support me, but you’re going to put me into contact with who is… but it’s really incredible what a tight knit space this is.” - Bonnie Adams, (28:10) “There’s so much to go around, whether it’s events or networking or ideas, we’re in a blessed place. I’m sure everybody else here calls it the same, but [Northwest Arkansas] is a bubble. We are in a very special place and it’s amazing that we get to live here and do life here and learn from each other.” - Bonnie Adams, (31:44)
Thu, February 15, 2024
6: Startup Junkies en Español con Laura y Sandra Carrasco
Summary En este sexto episodio de Startup Junkie en Español, nos sumergimos en el mundo culinario con las hermanas Laura y Sandra Carrasco, las mentes maestras detrás de Bites & Bowls, un restaurante que está conquistando el paladar del noroeste de Arkansas con sus exquisitos waffles. Descubre cómo estas emprendedoras convirtieron su pasión por la comida en un exitoso negocio, desafiando los obstáculos y encontrando inspiración en cada plato que sirven. Acompáñanos en esta deliciosa conversación, donde Laura y Sandra comparten sus experiencias, consejos y sabiduría para aquellos que sueñan con emprender en la industria gastronómica. Prepárate para abrir tu apetito y tu mente mientras nos sumergimos en un viaje lleno de sabor y emprendimiento. ¡No te lo pierdas! Show Notes (00:08) Bienvenido (00:30) Presentación de Invitados (00:59) De la Idea a la Realidad (02:18) El Nacimiento de Un Menú (03:07) De Dónde Eres (03:45) Lo Que Ha Cambiado en El Noroeste de Arkansas (06:03) Limitaciones Que Llevaron a Un Menú (08:30) Necesidad Y Falta de Recursos (09:00) Herramientas a Tu Disposición (11:03) Menús de Temporada (12:56) Obstáculos a Superar (14:31) Errores Tempranos (16:55) Un Acto de Equilibrio (18:52) Conociendo a Su Cliente (20:39) Listo Para la Expansión (23:09) Proporcionando Ayuda (25:33) Asesoramiento Emprendedor (27:55) Técnicas de Venta (36:55) Consejos Del Pasado (38:50) Que Sigue Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Laura Carrasco Sandra Carrasco Bites & Bowls Quotes “La idea siempre había estado ahí y empezamos a planear.” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (01:14) “(El Menú) Es cómo nosotros una fusión… un poquito de aquí, un poquito de allá.” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (01:59) “Laura es el 100% en el menú yo nada más lo pruebo y si me gusta le digo.” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (02:51) “En muchos aspectos es igual, trabajando todo el tiempo… Diferente, es que somos más.” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (04:10) “Antes de tener el negocio no es que éramos muy involucradas en la comunidad entonces es al comenzar el negocio que empezamos a explorar más, a conocer más gente.” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (04:25) “El menú nace porque al momento de nosotros comenzar no teníamos todo el fondo para comenzar con una cocina completa, entonces para ser posible ofrecer un desayuno que fuera completo y a la vez tradicional hasta cierto punto la conversación con la ciudad era así ¿cómo que equipo de cocina puedo utilizar?” - Laura y Sandra Carrasco (06:09) “Fácil
Mon, February 12, 2024
371: Interviewing Students - Student Expo Winner
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Harrison Kitson, Claudia Mercado, and Annie Xu sit down with Jenna Kempkes, a senior biomedical engineering major at the University of Arkansas and the winner of Startup Junkie’s student expo during last November’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. As a patient care technician at UAMS and a student intern at the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Jenna is passionate about applying her biomedical engineering skills and knowledge to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare. Jenna has received the Gilman Scholarship, was awarded first place at the NWA Biodesign Sprint Program, has been included in published research in the GeroScience journal, co-founded and led the Pre-Med Hogs student organization, and completed several study abroad programs in Germany and Kenya. She is also an active member of the Army ROTC, the Honors College Executive Board, and various pre-health and medical humanities clubs. Throughout the episode, Jenna shares about the provisional patent on her Pavlik harness for hip dysplasia, her experience with Startup Junkie’s Student Expo, and her outlook on being a young entrepreneur. Show Notes (0:46) Introducing Jenna Kempkes (2:50) About Jenna’s Harness (4:30) The Inspiration behind Jenna’s Journey (5:49) Jenna’s Research Process (10:11) Next Steps for Jenna (11:43) Jenna’s Experience with the Office of Entrepreneurship (13:41) How Jenna Stays Driven (17:36) The Impact of COVID (18:52) Jenna’s Experience at Startup Junkie’s Student Expo (22:48) Advice to Younger Self Links Harrison Kitson Claudia Mercado Annie Xu Jenna Kempkes University of Arkansas Quotes “I’ve only known this, I call it an organized chaos lifestyle, but it’s something I’ve realized I really love and is really important to me…and I keep finding more opportunities, and I’m really big on why say no? What’s the worst that will happen if you try?” - Jenna Kempkes, (14:34) “I hear the word entrepreneurship and I [think] I’m too young. I can’t do that. I still feel that way sometimes because it’s this scary world and you hear these people and everything they’ve given up for it…I didn’t realize that it could be something I explored safely at the University and that I didn't have to have some big idea…And now I’ve realized you don’t have to start a business to be an entrepreneur.” - Jenna Kempkes, (20:11) “Encourage an open mind. Having an open mind about everything around you is life changing...and so that closed mindset could have stopped me f
Mon, February 05, 2024
370: Clearing the Air: Entrepreneurship on the Spectrum
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill talk to Peter Mann, founder and CEO of Oransi. Oransi is a leading manufacturer of HEPA air purifiers and a motor technology company with a sustainable mission based in Radford, VA. Peter’s passion for clean air began with his son who struggled with asthma. Conducting extensive research, he learned the significant impact of poor air quality on one’s health. Peter aimed to create an affordable and accessible solution for others, thus, Oransi was born in 2009. Peter shares his passion for neurodiversity advocacy, and discusses how being on the autistic spectrum has impacted his career as an entrepreneur and the lack of awareness about neurodiversity in the workforce. He details how entrepreneurship may be a viable option for those on the spectrum rather than corporate jobs. Throughout the episode, Peter discusses his passion for marketing, clean air advocacy, and autism advocacy. Show Notes (0:49) Introducing Peter Mann and Oransi (3:41) Maintaining a Competitive Edge (6:50) Strategies for Marketing Clean Air Energy (8:33) Making the Jump from Corporate to Entrepreneurship (12:48) Entrepreneurship on the Spectrum (24:29) Advice to Younger Self (25:16) Closing Thoughts Links Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Peter Mann Oransi Quotes “There’s been a lot of work recently in terms of raising awareness and education about the importance of indoor air. And there’s a guy at Harvard who leads their healthy building program who says your facility or building manager has a bigger impact on your health than your doctor does.” - Peter Mann, (7:13) “We’re really kind of, shockingly in some ways, in the early days of understanding the impacts of poor indoor air quality and what we’re doing is really just trying to raise awareness for [the danger of that] as well as provide solutions that are affordable and accessible.” - Peter Mann, (8:14) “For me, I think how I got to where I am is largely in part due to [being autistic] and that drive for autonomy. I don’t know anyone who’s autistic that worked their way up through a large organization to the top, but I know several folks that are autistic that started their own business…if your interest is work or producing new things or bringing products to market or working on problems, and that’s where you get your energy, I think that’s definitely an advantage.” - Peter Mann, (14:28) “You’re going to work most of your life. You could have a fifty year career and you don’t have to crush it i
Mon, January 29, 2024
369: Factors that Play into Entrepreneurial Success with Chris Heivly
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by Chris Heivly, co-founder of MapQuest and managing director of Build the Fort. Based out of Durham, North Carolina, Chris is the author of Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder’s Field Guide, a book which simplifies entrepreneurship and outlines five basic elements that are common to both startups and startup communities. Chris is passionate about sharing his expertise in helping other entrepreneurs find success, and as a frequent blogger and public speaker, Chris advocates the importance for communities to develop viable entrepreneurial ecosystems. Throughout the episode, Chris discusses the value in networking and mentorship as an entrepreneur, the mechanics of building a startup ecosystem, and the different types of business systems. Show Notes (0:54) Introducing Chris Heivly (5:03) The Trajectory of MapQuest (10:21) Chris’ Startup and Investing Journey (13:17) The Importance of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (18:41) The Process of Building an Ecosystem vs. A Venture (22:02) The Impact of Mentorship (29:16) Advice to Younger Self (30:57) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Chris Heivly heivly.com Build the Fort Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder’s Field Guide The Startup Factory Quotes “Every entrepreneur knows, and if anybody’s been doing it for more than a couple of years, and if you’ve ever had any real success, you know that your success is based on the backs of the people that helped you. And it’s just the nature of this thing that you get help. And I think the best entrepreneurs seek help and are more self aware and more vulnerable to put themselves out there.” - Chris Heivly, (10:40) “The very nature of being in an entrepreneurial community is one of disruption, is one of discovery, is a process of knowns and unknowns, with the best intent and with the best motivation.” - Chris Heivly, (17:03) “The basis for our view is around systems theory, and in systems theory there’s either three
Thu, January 18, 2024
5: Startup Junkies en Espanol con Tahamara lbarra
Summary En nuestro quinto episodio nos acompaña una invitada excepcional: Tahamara Ibarra de LinguaConnect Translations. En esta edición Tahamara comparte su experiencia y conocimientos sobre la importancia de comprender no solo las palabras, sino también la cultura y el contexto detrás de cada mensaje. Descubre cómo LinguaConnect está transformando la manera en que nos comunicamos en un mundo cada vez más diverso. Prepárate para sumergirte en una conversación que te inspirará a superar los límites del lenguaje y a conectarte de manera más profunda con aquellos que te rodean. ¡No te pierdas este episodio lleno de aprendizaje y descubrimientos! Show Notes (00:32) Introducción a Tahamara Ibarra (02:06) La Educación de Tahamara (03:25) Por qué Thamara Comenzó su Propio Negocio (05:03) Cambios en la Cultura Local (06:01) De una Idea a la Realidad (07:10) La Cronología de una Empresa (11:25) Superando Obstáculos (14:41) Lecciones Valiosas (17:57) Valores Fundamentales (20:15) Palabras de la Sabiduría Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Quotes “Estudie español con énfasis en el lado medico” - Tahamara lbarra (02:06) “Al paso del tiempo lo que me di cuenta es que me gustaba más las clases de idioma y las clases medicas eran muy difíciles.” - Tahamara lbarra (02:06) “Decidí estudiar para ser maestra de español y después seguí mi educación con una maestría en español… Y en la maestría era la intención de ser profesora” - Tahamara lbarra (02:35) “Primeramente nunca me vi como una emprendedora, siempre pensé que iba a estudiar en algo, iba a trabajar, pero nunca sabia en que.” - Tahamara lbarra (03:25) “Me di cuenta que siempre, en cada trabajo usaba mi habilidad de español.” - Tahamara lbarra (03:58) “Llegue a la conclusión que podía combinar mi pasión de educar con mi amor a lo que es el idioma, la lectura y hacer un negocio de educar.” - Tahamara lbarra (04:04) “Uno tiene que entender que el idioma refleja lo que es la historia.” - Tahamara lbarra (04:40) “Ahora creo que hay más conciencia de que la información se debe de proveer (en otros idiomas).” - Tahamara lbarra (05:33) “Estoy tan orgullosa y me siento humilde de saber que hay tanta ayuda para la comunidad.” - Tahamara lbarra (09:59) “Es impresionante cuantas personas de negocios comenzaron igual como yo, y como otras personas que literalmente era una idea...” - Tahamara lbarra (10:37) “Estos programas hacen posible que las personas aprendan información, sepan a donde recurrir para sus herramientas y pongan esa información y herramientas a trabajar.” - Tahamara lbarra (10:45) “Para mí, el mayor obstáculo ha sido el miedo.” - Tahamara lbarra (11:38) “Lo que me encanta de mi pro
Mon, January 15, 2024
368: Arkansas's Best Kept Burger Secret with Ahren Boulanger
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Ahren Boulanger, the founder of Pleasant Counter, a family-run restaurant in Springdale specializing in burgers with a passion for sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. Ahren unpacks his diverse food influences, his take on the challenges of menu diversity, and why his preference for quality ingredients is revolutionizing the local dining scene. Additionally, he shares insights from his previous fermentation business, delves into the valuable lessons learned from international cuisine, and reflects on starting up in different regions, from California to Texas and now Northwest Arkansas. Caleb, Victoria, and Ahren also dive into what it takes to create food while aligning with your mission and discuss Pleasant Counter's recent trip to the World Burger Championships in Dallas where they placed 4th best burger in the world! Show Notes (1:09) Introducing Ahren Boulanger (13:08) How Pleasant Counter fits into NWA’s Restaurant Scene (23:10) Ahren’s Experience at the World Burger Championships (36:03) How the Community Can Help Encourage Entrepreneurship (44:49) Advice to Younger Self (50:18) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Ahren Boulanger Pleasant Counter Facebook Pleasant Counter Instagram Quotes “We leaned into a simple menu…there’s a lot of customization that’s kind of hidden in there, I’m not purposely trying to be cryptic, I just don’t want to clutter up the menu…[doing a few things and doing them well] is the philosophy I was trying to embrace.” - Ahren Boulanger, (8:37) “There’s nothing we’re doing that’s so difficult. It’s just as long as we do it the way we like to do it, it works. But to try and do all that other stuff and not using an actual distributor that just shows up at your door and brings you things is rough, but it makes it so that we can do it the way we want to do it.” - Ahren Boulanger, (41:21) “Also my personal phone number is the restaurant phone number. So my cell phone, you can just go on Google and literally call or text me…It’s just a little bit more personal. I guess it’s something that most people wouldn’t do, but it’s kind of our whole thing. There's not a lot of restaurants where you can go in and talk to the owner and actually have the owner bus your table, wash your dishes, make your food, take your order. So I think people like it.” - Ahren Boulanger, (49:01)
Mon, January 08, 2024
367: Ecosystem Building with Endeavor
Summary Welcome to another great episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast! On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine are joined by Canem Arkan and Shawn Morris from Endeavor, the leading global community of, by, and for high-impact entrepreneurs. Endeavor is on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world by inspiring high-growth founders to dream bigger. Endeavor creates a multiplier effect by providing entrepreneurs with the platform to scale faster and pay it forward, resulting in a compounding of their individual impact. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Canem, and Shawn talk about the importance of exposing yourself to a variety of markets and how a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem can exist anywhere with the right key people and support groups. Show Notes (0:47) Introducing Canem and Shawn (1:23) Endeavor’s Origin Story (3:46) Endeavor’s Expansion into New Markets (10:36) What’s Next for Endeavor (23:13) The Importance of Storytelling for Northwest Arkansas (28:24) Celebrating Wins and Normalizing Failure (34:24) Gaining Exposure to Different Markets (41:14) Current Challenges in the State (47:06) Advice to Younger Self (50:51) Closing Question Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Canem Arkan Shawn Morris Endeavor Quotes “We work with scaling founders with the goal of job creation and revenue generation and what that does for economic transformation…Because what we found was people with good ideas need certain help and people who have fifty or one hundred team members need a different kind of help. So how do we plug and support all the organizations that exist and do that for scaling founders who need a different kind of help?” - Canam Arkan, (1:23) “We still have a lot more to do. So part of what we’re trying to focus on is are there areas of specialty we can really hone in on because we’re industry agnostic, but it’s hard to be everything to everyone, which is what we try to do.” - Canam Arkan, (11:00) “It feels more and more people are seeing that there’s things happening here in NWA. And so whether it’s investors from out of town or just founders in the region checking this place out, it feels more like people want to come in. And so how do we bring those people in and show them around and what’s happening here and hold their feet to the fire of you’ve been here, you’ve seen it, now start doing stuff here.” - Shawn Morris, (12:35) “I think [celebrating wins] is helpful when it comes to sel
Mon, January 01, 2024
366: Game Changers: The Story of TheatreSquared
Summary Welcome to another great episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast! In this live recorded special episode, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley join Amy Herzberg and Bob Ford, the co-founders of TheatreSquared (T2), and Shannon Jones, the executive director, on the set of A Christmas Carol for a captivating discussion about TheatreSquared’s origin and mission. Since its founding in 2005, TheatreSquared’s locally produced and nationally acclaimed productions have remained rooted in its founding vision that “theatre done well and with passion can transform lives and communities.” Throughout the episode, Amy, Bob, and Shannon share how TheatreSquared has impacted Arkansas’s artistic landscape and how its reputation continues to blossom in the performing arts world. Show Notes (1:45) Introduction to Bob Ford and Amy Herzberg (2:23) TheatreSquared’s Origin Story (15:59) TheatreSquared’s Impact on Arkansas’s Artistic Landscape (19:53) Attracting Talent from the University of Arkansas (26:29) Introduction to Shannon Jones (33:29) Catering To New Audiences (36:37) How TheatreSquared Approaches Innovation (40:37) Measuring TheatreSquared’s Success (44:32) Questions from the Audience (52:54) Advice to Younger Self (56:09) Closing Question and Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Bob Ford Amy Herzberg Shannon Jones TheatreSquared Quotes “Having this theatre [in Northwest Arkansas] makes a real statement about how the arts are valued in this area, and that means a lot to people who are coming from all over the place to study at the University of Arkansas in its theatre department.” - Amy Herzberg, (20:05) “I think one of the things that theatre does really well is it touches lives. Like you said, in our mission, it transforms communities. And the thing about T2 and the thing I think that we do really well, and I think we'll continue to expand upon, is making that human connection. And I think one thing that we use to help build upon what is already there is our ability to adapt.” - Shannon Jones, (33:52) “When I see a young person say, ‘I've never seen me and my friends on stage before, I've never seen my story before. Thank you.’ That's how I measure [success]. That's what keeps me going, that to me is impact. We could fill this place, I guarantee, if we put on certain shows over and over again, and that would also look like a certain
Thu, December 21, 2023
4: Startup Junkies en Espanol con Olivia Barraza
Summary En nuestro cuarto episodio, tenemos el honor de contar con la presencia de Olivia Barraza, directora ejecutiva de Latinas en Bici. Esta apasionada emprendedora comenzó su viaje en el mundo del ciclismo en 2016 y, al experimentar personalmente los impactantes cambios que esta actividad trajo a su vida, decidió compartir esa transformación con otras mujeres. Acompáñanos para conocer más sobre el viaje personal de Olivia, las experiencias que la llevaron a fundar Latinas en Bici y cómo esta organización está haciendo una diferencia significativa en la vida de muchas mujeres. ¡Prepárate para ser inspirado y motivado en este episodio lleno de determinación y empoderamiento! Show Notes (00:10) Introducción a Olivia Barraza (01:13) El Inicio de Las Latinas en Bici (06:38) Un Viaje de Desarrollo Personal (11:10) Desafíos de Iniciar Un Negocio (13:24) Lo Que Hace Latinas en Bici (15:35) La Misión de Latinas en Bici (18:20) Aprendiendo de Tus Lecciones (13:21) La Importancia de la Adaptabilidad (22:37) Consejos Para Emprendedores (25:36) El Futuro de Las Latinas en Bici Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Olivia Barraza Latinas en Bici Quotes “Latinas en Bici nació de este deseo de compartir una misión de empoderar a otras chicas a través de la bicicleta.” - Olivia Barraza (01:13) “Yo siento que el inicio comenzó desde esa primera vez que empecé yo a ver los cambios cuando empecé a hacer bici y que me ayudo a transformar mi vida personal.” - Olivia Barraza (01:27) “Empecé hacer yo bici en el 2016 y en el 2019 nació Latinas en bici.” - Olivia Barraza (01:52) “Empezó con un deseo, con una energía con un propósito y con una fuerza interior.” - Olivia Barraza (02:26) “Son pasos fundamentales para regístralo a nivel del estado.” - Olivia Barraza (03:41) “Esto no es nada más un grupito es también una potencia a crea una comunidad latina.” - Olivia Barraza (04:36) “Los primero tres años fue el enfoque a crecer el grupo, a community outreach pero ya ahora este año me he dado cuenta como Directora Ejecutiva necesito un desenvolvimiento personal, capacitarme para poder manejar y llevar esta organización.” - Olivia Barraza (06:12) “Lo que es bien importante es saber hacia dónde voy… Tomar pasos hacia las metas que tengo como directora ejecutiva.” - Olivia Barraza (07:01) “Todo empezó con un propósito de año nuevo, voy a comprarme una bicicleta.” - Olivia Barraza (09:15) “El aprender andar en bici me llevo a salirme de mi zona de confort pero también a descubrir que había una comunidad.” - Olivia Barraza (10:13) “El mayor reto, primer
Mon, December 11, 2023
365: A Natural Chat with Austin Simkins
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson talk to Austin Simkins, co-founder of Natural Way Food Group, an innovative food company based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In 2017, Austin and his brother Quinn started their journey in their grandmother's utility room with a family recipe for chocolate covered peanut butter. Natural Way Food Group has since grown to sell peanut butter in six different flavors in over one thousand stores across the country, including Walmart, Safeway, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. Throughout the episode, Austin discusses how Natural Way Food Group’s products differ from its competitors, what’s on the horizon for Natural Way Food Group, and how its marketing tactics are community driven. Show Notes (0:56) Introducing Austin Simkins (1:37) The Start of Natural Way Food Group (6:02) The Process and Struggles of Building a Business (10:21) Natural Way Food Group’s Peanut Butter vs. Others (14:09) Natural Way Food Group’s Target Market (16:28) The Impact Sports Can Have on Entrepreneurship (19:27) What’s Next for Natural Way Food Group (30:45) How Natural Way Food Group Is Reaching Its Customer Base (40:00) Advice to Younger Self (42:18) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Austin Simkins Natural Way Food Group Quotes “For me personally, since I wasn’t the most talented athlete, I had to outwork people. And so that’s the same mentality I have with our business. I may not be the smartest guy in the room, but I will outwork you. I will put in more hours than you do. I will find a way to get over whatever hurdle I have in my way to get to the next point.” - Austin Simkins, (17:14) “Building those relationships at the end of the day, I can love my job, I can make as much peanut butter as I can make, but if I don’t have customers that love the product and believe in what we’re doing, it doesn’t matter. So they are the lifeblood of the company. I want to connect with people on the deepest scale that we can.” - Austin Simkins, (33:10) “Trust the process. The first couple of years when we started, it was the expectation that things would happen overnight, and I think that’s part of our culture of instant gratification. We’re just inundated with it. We put in a little bit of work and we want the finished result right now...but as I’ve gotten a little bit older, I’ve just fallen in love with the process. I’ve had a couple of mentors that have told me if you can learn to love the proce
Mon, December 04, 2023
364: Risking it All and Achieving Your Dreams with Lloyed Lobo
Summary Welcome to another great episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast! On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with serial entrepreneur Lloyed Lobo, co-founder of Boast.ai, a company accelerating the success of innovation by helping eligible companies get quicker access to R&D tax credits. Lloyed has been involved in the startup ecosystem for more than fifteen years as an entrepreneur, community builder, and angel investor. Throughout the episode, Lloyed talks about dealing with his sharp rise to success, the power of having a tribe, and his Wall Street Journal bestseller From Grassroots to Greatness. Show Notes (1:01) Introducing Lloyed Lobo (3:13) Lloyed’s Origin Story (14:04) The Inspiration behind From Grassroots to Greatness (24:50) Balancing Resilience and New Opportunities (29:01) The Process of Idea Validation (39: 13) Advice to Younger Self (45:46) Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Lloyed Lobo Boast.ai From Grassroots to Greatness Quotes “...when we ask what entrepreneurship is today, it’s all about making money. But to me, what entrepreneurship is, is taking an obscure idea to execution and impact while dealing with extreme risk. There’s no bigger risk than being in the middle of a war. The other thing I learned was about leadership. Great leaders cascade purpose, not just goals.” - Lloyed Lobo, (5:50) “The only way to learn something that you suck at is to put yourself in an environment that forces you to do that something over and over again. Now, another key lesson here is the importance of the people you surround yourself with, right? You become the average of the people you surround yourself with.” - Lloyed Lobo, (9:59) “Every obscure idea that eventually went on to become this enduring global phenomenon had four stages in common. People listen to you or buy your product or service. You have an audience. When you bring that audience together to interact with one another, it becomes a community. Now, when the community comes together to create impact towards a greater purpose far greater than your product or profit, it becomes a movement. And when that movement has undying faith in its purpose through sustained
Tue, November 28, 2023
363: A Wicked BOLD Conversation with Deric Calhill
Summary On this very raw episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson chat with repeat guest and serial entrepreneur Deric Calhill, founder of Wicked BOLD, a company that crafts small-batch, all-organic vegan chocolate utilizing ethically sourced cacao and just four other real ingredients. Deric founded Wicked BOLD chocolate with his wife Brooklynn in 2019 after years of not being able to find a dairy-free chocolate. Now, four years later, Wicked BOLD has flourished and is being sold in Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, and Sprouts stores nationwide. Throughout the episode, Deric discusses his success on social media, the multiple books he’s authored: Zero to Side Hustle and Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea?, and how wealth doesn’t always mean that you’re happy or that you’re making conscious money. Show Notes (0:52) Introducing Deric Calhill (1:15) Wicked BOLD’s Origin Story (11:14) Deric’s Social Media Strategy (17:05) About Zero to Side Hustle (23:44) Redefining Wealth (31:28) Being Able to Trust Yourself (36:59) Advice to Younger Self (41:12) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Deric Calhill Wicked BOLD Zero to Side Hustle Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea? Quotes “We read ingredients and a lot of mainstream chocolate had corn syrup in it or artificial flavors, and it was bullshit because chocolate is such a simple food. We decided we can probably go and make it simple. And I think I credit it because neither of us come from food so we’re not immersed in this crazy ingredient world. We were so simple going into it. We just believed that we could do it.” - Deric Calhill, (5:54) “I’m obviously very entrepreneurial and capitalistic, and I love making money, but I don’t love making money so much that I’d bring my value system down in order to do it.” - Deric Calhill, (7:20) “....because you put yourself out there when you start a business, when you post a video, when you try to write a book, you’re putting your soul on the line that says this is what I think I can be good at…No one successful is going to try to hurt someone else because they’re too busy being successful.” - Deric Calhill, (15:42) “If you’re going after perfection, you’re never going to start anything because it’s never going
Thu, November 16, 2023
3: Startup Junkies en Espanol con Daymara Baker
Summary En este tercer episodio de Startup Junkies En Español nuestras anfitrionas Claudia Scott y Ana Ortiz tiene como invitada a Daymara Baker de Right to Start, una organización sin fines de lucro y no partidista dedicada a ampliar las oportunidades empresariales para todos. Daymara comparte cómo desempeña un papel crucial al conectar las voces de los emprendedores con los responsables de la toma de decisiones, trabajando incansablemente para eliminar obstáculos y facilitar el camino para aquellos que desean lanzar su propio negocio. Show Notes (00:50) Introduction to Daymara Baker (02:03) Growth in Northwest Arkansas (02:30) Daymara’s Background (04:07) Opening a Business (09:29) The Benefit of Networking (13:21) The Power of Adaptability (15:24) Learning from Failure (17:50) The Social Impacts of Business (19:26) Metrics That Matter (21:08) Bridging the Gap (25:23) Government Contract Experiences (29:06) Managing the Pandemic (34:08) Advice to Entrepreneurs Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Daymara Baker Right to Start Quotes “Yo nunca había pensado abrir un negocio” - Daymara Baker, (04:15) “Abrí una panadería comercial para ayudar a gente” - Daymara Baker, (04:41) “¿Qué te está frenando para no hacerlo?” - Daymara Baker, (05:38) “Así que decidí abrir un negocio porque claro yo ya tenía una misión bien concreta de lo que quería hacer” - Daymara Baker, (05:56) “Dentro de un negocio es esencial el networking” - Ana Ortiz, (09:29) “El efecto multiplicador es increíble sobre todo ena zona como esta (Noroeste de Arkansas) que tiene una concentración increíble de recursos” - Daymara Baker, (10:15) “Y en el momento que damos el paso, preguntamos, hablamos, pedimos… Es toda una avalancha de ayuda y sentimientos positivos” - Claudia Scott, (10:46) “Algo que yo pienso que compartimos los Latinos… Es que tu no confías en las instituciones, sobre todo instituciones del gobierno” - Daymara Baker, (11:15) “Otro está pagando para que sea gratis para nosotros” - Daymara Baker, (11:42) “Si vas a ser emprendedor tienes que aceptar desde un principio que vas a cambiar” - Daymara Baker, (12:35) “Uno aprende muchísimo más cuando uno fracasa que cuando todo va super bien” - Daymara Baker, (15:39) “El conocimiento que obtienes de un fracaso, una idea que no funcione, también te ayuda a tener que adaptarte” - Daymara Baker, (15:47) “Que tu impacto social pueda seguir incluso a través de una pandemia” - Daymara Baker, (30:59) “Ser empresario es un camino un poco solitario” - Daymara Baker, (32:30) “Cuand
Mon, November 06, 2023
362: Fuel AI/ML Cohort 2023 Part 2
Summary On this special episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Grace Gill, Darian Harris, Tom Douglass, and Louis Diesel head north to the Ledger in Bentonville, where they sit down with four of the participants in Fuel’s AI and machine learning 2023 cohort. Fuel is specifically designed for seed and growth-stage technology companies ready to scale and become enterprise-ready. Members of the cohort receive mentorship and education from leaders in their vertical, as well as coaching and connections from Fuel’s enterprise partners. Caleb, Grace, Darian, and Tom sat down with Kannan Udarayajan of Siemba, Mike Romeri of Analytics2Go, Humphrey Chen of CLIPr, and Somya Munjal of Youthful Savings to discuss their entrepreneurial journeys and their experiences with Fuel thus far. Show Notes (0:38) Introducing Part 2 (1:24) Kannan Udayarajan and Siemba (10:59) Mike Romeri and A2Go (18:04) Humphrey Chen and CLIPr (34:04) Somya Munjal and Youthful Savings (43:47) Closing Thoughts Links Fuel Caleb Talley Grace Gill Darian Harris Tom Douglass Louis Diesel Kannan Udayarajan Siemba Mike Romeri Analytics2Go Humphrey Chen CLIPr Youthful Savings Quotes “ Just being under the umbrella of Fuel gives enormous credibility to whatever you’re building and showcasing. By being part of the Fuel cohort, we have been able to get so many introductions in the Bentonville area, but I’m also seeing that the fact we are part of the Fuel program is resonating in other markets as well. ” - Kannan Udayarajan, (7:27) “ Certainly, everyone knows Walmart is here [in Bentonville], and there’s a level of sophistication with Walmart, but I think the entire ecosystem is a very high-performing ecosystem. And I think there’s sort of a community of interest here where people are trying to optimize the performance of the entire ecosystem, and it brings a lot of sophistication and a certain set of skillsets that are cooperative and innovative, and people know how to get things done. ” - Mike Romeri, (15:13) “ This is like one of those things where Northw
Mon, October 30, 2023
361: Fuel AI/ML Cohort 2023 Part 1
Summary On this special episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Grace Gill, Darian Harris, and Tom Douglass head north to the Ledger in Bentonville, where they sit down with four of the participants in Fuel’s AI and machine learning 2023 cohort. Fuel is specifically designed for seed and growth-stage technology companies ready to scale and become enterprise-ready. Members of the cohort receive mentorship and education from leaders in their vertical, as well as coaching and connections from Fuel’s enterprise partners. Caleb, Grace, Darian, and Tom sat down with Andrew Bart of AlgoFace, Dexter Caffey of Smart Eye Technology, Kevin Butler of Edify, and Keith Fix of Retail Aware to discuss their entrepreneurial journeys and their experiences with Fuel thus far. Show Notes (0:35) Introducing This Year’s Fuel Accelerator (2:51) Andrew Bart and AlgoFace (13:11) Dexter Caffey and Smart Eye Technology (23:14) Kevin Butler and Edify (32:44) Keith Fix and Retail Aware Links Fuel Caleb Talley Grace Gill Darian Harris Tom Douglass Andrew Bart AlgoFace Dexter Caffey Smart Eye Technology Kevin Butler Edify.ai Keith Fix Retail Aware Quotes “ Even in the mentor sessions, I know we’re here to acquire enterprise-level customers and learn how to be better at doing that and optimizing that process. But the reality is I came here to meet people. The way I’ve operated in life historically is that things tend to develop organically…People do deals with you ultimately because they like you and they trust you. And look, I just want to engage with people in the community. I’ve met an incredible group of people. The exposure [through Fuel] has been nothing short of amazing. ” - Andrew Bart, (6:11) “ The business climate [in Northwest Arkansas] is something that’s completely different than any other place I’ve been in the States as well as globally…It’s a completely different environment here business-wise. I don’t think a lot of people understand that. ” - Dexter Caffey, (18:26) “ Getting exposure to mentors and business people around t
Thu, October 19, 2023
2: Startup Junkies en Español con Jessica Sanchez
Summary En nuestro segundo episodio del podcast Startup Junkies En Español tenemos como invitada a Jessica Sánchez. Jessica es propietaria de NWA Bilingual Solutions una compañía que se especialista en proveer servicios de traducción e interpretación a diferentes corporativos y organizaciones del área para beneficio de la comunidad. Fundada a finales del año 2020, NWA Bilingual Solutions también se dispone a concientizar a la comunidad de los derechos que la ley le otorga en cuanto a la interpretación en su idioma sin costo alguno se refiere. Jessica tomo experiencias vividas en su niñez y la convirtió en una compañía la cual está haciendo la diferencia en el Noroeste de Arkansas. Show Notes (00:28) What is your company? How did it start? What was the need you saw? (02:21) When did you launch the company? (03:15) You saw the need and decided that you would do something about it. (05:54) Parents needing their kid’s help for translation & interpretation. (07:47) From idea to business (09:40) Who is Jessica Sánchez? (11:46) No place to live. (12:08) Cultural shock (13:01) Learn English (16:15) Give value to the service you offer. (18:06) The importance or limits (19:59) Linguistic access (20:57) Where is the diversity? (22:35) Where do you see your business in the next few years? (26:10) Your kid is dead. Links Jessica Sánchez NWA Bilingual Solutions Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Quotes “Como muchos que crecieron en este país que son padres de la primera generación en este país hemos estado interpretando por nuestros padres.” - Jessica Sánchez, (01:05) “Esto fue un crecimiento gradual.” - Jessica Sánchez, (09:10) “Yo soy Jessica y tengo ansiedad social.” - Jessica Sánchez, (09:56) “Yo crecí en ese papel donde yo tenía que encargarme o ayudarles a mis papás de lo que fuera la necesidad de ellos.” - Jessica Sánchez, (10:19) “Nos mudamos aquí (Arkansas) en el 2005 y otro cultural shock… Yo no entendía el inglés… ¿Qué es y’all? ¿Qué es esa palabra que utilizan en inglés?” - Jessica Sánchez, (12:12) “Cuando mi mamá iba y les decía ‘spanish please’ o algo, no, la miraba horrible, la ignoraban, la hacían a un lado, entonces, he crecido mirando eso, he crecido mirando las diferencias y la discriminación que hay por el idioma que uno habla y como las personas nada más se lavan las manos diciendo ‘aprende inglés’ estamos aquí en los Estados Unidos y exactamente por eso porque estamos en los Estados Unidos en un lugar que es una mezcla de culturas que está basado en esto.” - J
Mon, October 16, 2023
360: Innovative Spaces: Loloft's Industrial Coworking in Downtown Rogers
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by returning guest Brendan Howell, co-founder and CEO of Loloft, which is reimagining the warehousing industry by offering small and growth-stage companies a physical space to store and manage their products without the burden of traditional long-term leases. Loloft officially opened its first location in Rogers at the beginning of September, and it is already surpassing its early targets and goals. Throughout the episode, Brendan discusses Loloft’s emphasis on community building, which cities are next for Loloft, and his thoughts on appealing to an unexpected market. Show Notes (0:32) Introducing Brendan Howell and Loloft (7:51) Loloft’s Emphasis on Community (11:55) What’s Next for Loloft? (16:28) Brendan’s Origin Story (24:56) Appealing to an Unexpected Market (29:50) Loloft’s Intentional Positioning (32:07) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Brendan Howell Loloft Quotes “So the best way to describe what we’re doing is office coworking combined with warehousing. So it’s really a kind of mix of the two concepts. And we coined the term industrial coworking to try and accurately describe what we’re doing.” - Brendan Howell, (4:27) “It was really eye-opening to see the access you can get by being in a community that is actually trying to build community and trying to build connections. So companies can come in and just do their own thing here, but if they want to participate, there’s that option as well.” - Brendan Howell, (10:27) “We never intended to be in this business. We’re not property people. We don’t have a background in commercial property. But we saw a solution to a problem that we had, and a lot of other people had the same problem. So, we weren’t constrained by the dogma of the industry. We just came from outside and solved the problem.” - Brendan Howell (20:49) “For us, from a business operations perspective, it’s dollars outside of square feet. There’s a lot of opportunity for us as a business to provide services. For the members, it’s below cost relative to getting a full-time employee. But for us, it’s also good revenue because we’re not just renting space, we can provide a service inside the space.” - Brendan Howell, (27:42)
Thu, September 21, 2023
1: Startup Junkies en Español con Ana Saenz
Summary Nuestro primer episodio del podcast Startup Junkies En Español tiene una invitada increíble. Ana Sáenz, propietaria de la panadería en línea The Magical Spatula. Originaria de Costa Rica, Ana se mudó a Arkansas hace 5 años con su esposo. Apasionada por la cocina desde muy chica, y sobre todo el gusto por hornear, Ana decidió llevar su pasión al siguiente nivel al decidir tomar clases de cocina y graduarse del centro Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food en la ciudad Bentonville en el Noroeste de Arkansas. Show Notes (0:05) Introducing Ana Sáenz and Her Origin Story (1:46) What inspired you? (4:31) Best part of culinary clases (9:22) Challenges of entrepreneurship (11:34) Networking (18:30) Education & Recepies (20:34) What makes you different? (33:45) What’s next? Links Claudia Scott Ana Ortiz Ana Sáenz The Magical Spatula Quotes “Desde niña siempre horneé con mi abuelita y me acuerdo que todas las navidades hacíamos galletas, hacíamos tamales… Y me acuerdo de escoger con ella sabores, colores y todo ese tipo de cosas y siempre fue la cocina en general pero especialmente la parte pastelera con ella siempre fue recuerdos que tengo de mi niñez con ella.” - Ana Sáenz, (01:46) “Paso el tiempo y perdí el miedo al idioma, perdí el miedo a manejar e independizarme y mi esposo me dice ¿por qué no te metes a clase culinarias y lo haces una carrera profesional?” - Ana Sáenz, (02:40) “Los eventos que hacían en la universidad, en Brightwater, traían chefs de todo el mundo… Super interesante, super divertido.” - Ana Sáenz, (04:57) “Yo no quise entrar al mundo de pedir préstamos, no quise entrar a pedir capital o a pedir algún préstamo a ningún banco, yo quise empezar con lo que yo tenía, como yo pudiera y de ahí partí.” - Ana Sáenz, (09:24) “Lo que mejor aprendí es que todo está en networking, todo está en ámbito de con quién te relacionas, que contactos puedes absorber, que personas adecuadas puedes reunirte o puedes estar en contacto con y de ahí salen tus ramas al éxito definitivamente.” - Ana Sáenz, (11:45) “Algo que admiro de la cultura aquí o de donde estamos, es la cantidad de oportunidades de hacer ese networking, esas conexiones.” - Claudia Scott, (12:11) “Siempre va a haber miedo, siempre va a haber dudas de uno mismo, pero yo siento que depende de las herramientas que la gente busque así va a haber el éxito después de esto.” - Ana Sáenz, (14:59) “Yo sé que nunca es tarde para empezar un negocio… Nunca, nunca, nunca es tarde.” - Ana Sáenz, (23:14) “Tienen que confiar en lo que su instinto les dice.” - Ana Sá
Mon, September 18, 2023
359: Startup Crawl 2023
Summary On this special episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson head to Startup Crawl, where they interview several entrepreneurs participating in this year’s event. The night celebrated entrepreneurship in the Heartland with food trucks, local craft beer, live music, and entrepreneurial connection. Jeff, Caleb, and Victoria sat down with Joshua Carnes of Sights & Sounds NWA, Brody Maxwell of TrueRep, Orson Weems of the Music Education Initiative, Bryan Fittin of Go Rogue X, and Bridgett Skeirik of Montay Coffee to discuss their entrepreneurial endeavors and Startup Crawl’s impact on the community. Show Notes (0:32) Joshua Carnes and Sights & Sounds NWA (3:33) Brody Maxwell and TrueRep (7:02) Orson Weems and the Music Education Initiative (13:34) Bryan Fittin and Go Rogue X (22:03) Bridgett Skeirik and Montay Coffee Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Joshua Carnes Sights & Sounds NWA Brody Maxwell TrueRep Orson Weems The Music Education Initiative Bryan Fittin Go Rogue X Montay Coffee Quotes “The reactions we’ve been seeing tonight [at Startup Crawl] have been really cool. People have been…enjoying learning about the ecosystem of small businesses and startups here in Northwest Arkansas. It’s just been cool how engaged people want to be.” - Joshua Carnes, (2:39) “With the way we’ve structured our pricing and also the affordability of using a product and a hardware device that most people carry around every day, and then just our magnet we sell at cost, you’re able to utilize velocity-based training whether you’re a strength coach at the university level and you want to outfit your athletes with the latest programming that professional athletes are using, or if you’re just an everyday gym-goer that wants to utilize programming that D1 athletes are utilizing, we’re able to provide that.” - Brody Maxwell, (5:39) “What we’re doing is exposing careers and opportunities in music, entertainment, and live events. Because, as you said, that ecosystem, that’s a sector of industry that people don’t think about, that nighttime economy where most people
Mon, September 11, 2023
358: Marketing Water: How Gen Z Water Found Their Niche
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Victoria Dickerson, and Claudia Scott sit down with Erin Campbell, co-founder of Gen Z Water. Erin joined the podcast last year after Gen Z Water won the People’s Choice Award at Startup Crawl 2022, and she’s back this week to share what she’s been up to since. Throughout the episode, Erin discusses the unique challenges of marketing water, how she found her ideal niche in the Gen Z market, and the benefits of taking risks as an entrepreneur. Show Notes (1:17) Introducing Erin Campbell and Her Origin Story (6:47) Marketing Water (12:39) Connecting with Gen Z Customers (20:53) Leaning into Risk as a Startup (26:28) Building to Sell (31:10) What’s Erin up to Now? (33:06) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts Links Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Claudia Scott Erin Campbell GEN Z Water Quotes “With the insights and the data and the research that we did during the pandemic, it was incredibly clear that that fit, filthy-rich, famous brand imagery was a huge disconnect from the value system of the Gen Z generation, [and] much more inline with the aspirational millennial generation.” - Erin Campbell, (13:22) “It landed so well because I feel like we did it with such intention. There is a story, there is a reason, there is a strategy, there is a data point, there is an insight behind every decision that we made. So, to that risk point, they’re informed, and they’re educated risks. They’re not just careless; they’re very calculated, and we made sure that we had a reasonably data-informed argument that would justify that risk.” - Erin Campbell, (22:46) “I don’t know if [my] younger self would have been ready to hear, ‘just take risks.’ I think she had to go through the whole process to get to where I am today.” - Erin Campbel, (34:29)
Mon, September 04, 2023
357: Startup Junkies Selects: Startup Crawl 2022
Summary: We're gearing up for Startup Crawl 2023! In this special episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, we're revisiting the live show we recorded during Startup Crawl 2022. It's an evening of exciting startups, passionate entrepreneurs, incredible craft beer, and amazing live music. Tune in to get a taste of what you can expect at Startup Crawl 2023, happening Friday, September 8th from 5-9 pm at the Fayetteville Square! Get tickets at www.startupjunkie.org/startupcrawl. Show Notes: (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)
Mon, August 28, 2023
356: The Importance of Building a Culture of Support with Brittnie Simon
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Grace Gill, Harrison Kitson, and Claudia Scott are joined by Brittnie Simon, founder and owner of Collab Design Co. Collab is a digital marking agency in Northwest Arkansas whose goal is to elevate businesses through creative initiatives that drive results through strategy, marketing, and design. In this episode, Brittnie talks about what she learned about culture in corporate America, as well as how she builds a culture in her company that encourages growth and innovation. Show Notes (0:53) Brittnie’s Origin Story (12:27) Introducing Collab Design Co. (15:00) The Importance of Support Networks (19:29) Building a Company Culture and Avoiding Burnout (27:01) Selling Clients What They Need (29:20) Social Media Advice for Small Businesses (37:38) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts Links Grace Gill Harrison Kitson Claudia Scott Brittnie Simon Collab Design Co. Quotes “What really stood out to me on my journey was how many people that I was able to lean on, like connections that supported me…[and it was the same experience] when I launched my business. When I started networking and connecting in the community, people want to refer locally and they want to get to know who they’re referring.” - Brittnie Simon, (15:43) “If you have your cup and it’s full of creative juices, and as you’re doing things you kind of lose it, and if you don’t have a way to refill it…then you’re kind of at the end of your cup and you’re not doing successful work. So being able to say, hey my cup’s empty and build that communication there, then we can pivot and help give you opportunities to refill.” - Brittnie Simon, (20:26) “I think there’s a misunderstanding of what consistency means [on social media], and I think that’s the biggest challenge. Consistency isn’t posting every day. Can you post weekly, on a regular basis consistently? Even if it’s once or twice a week. You just determine your level of consistency and commit to it.” - Brittnie Simon, (29:25) “The other thing I’ve learned is that social media is a long game. Marketing is a long game. So trying to see return on investment one week after you started posting consistently is going to dishearten you…You’re probably going to be putting effort in for about a year before you’ll see those results.” - Brittnie Simon, (33:37)
Mon, August 21, 2023
355: Building Strategic Technology with Jonathan Sasse of Metova
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Victoria Dickerson, and Grace Gill sit down with Jonathan Sasse, chief strategy officer at Metova. Jonathan talks about the process of implementing new technologies, such as AI and machine learning, into businesses with outdated or inefficient systems. He also discusses the importance of understanding why their customers purchase from them, how to build trust with clients, and how to end up with the right product rather than the easiest solution. Show Notes (0:36) Introducing Jonathan and His Origin Story (3:21) What’s on the Horizon for Metova (5:40) Jonathan’s Take on AI (10:34) Knowing When to Implement New Technologies (15:26) Metova’s Ideal Customer (19:14) Helping Decisions Makers Understand the Need for New Tech (23:13) Metova’s Development Cycle (27:06) Building Relationships with Clients (29:35) Advice to the Younger Self (31:04) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Grace Gill Jonathan Sasse Metova Quotes “[We’re] really looking at things through the customer’s lens. So like, what do your customers want from you? What are they hiring you for in the first place? And what’s frustrating them? And if AI can help make that better, great. But we also have to be careful [of] technology for the sake of technology, because it will happen. They’re like, here’s all the things I need, and it’s the five buzziest technology things.” - Jonathan Sasse, (8:27) “So as a customer, I’m applying a lens of, I know it’s possible, but you didn’t do it. And so now I want this from you because it’s clearly possible. And it’s not so much that your competitors dangled some new feature to me, but I was exposed to something that’s clearly technologically possible that you could choose to implement and make my life better.” - Jonathan Sasse, (12:25) “Our sweet spot is really established companies that don’t have technology as their core DNA and that are at some kind of a crossroads. They’re not exactly sure where to go, but they have the resources to invest in doing it, and they have enough upside to come out of that with the ROI that’s needed.” - Jonathan Sasse, (15:53) “A dev shop will build what you tell them to build…As a product agency, it’s more about the consulting and advising—you know, we’re bringing things to the table that are maybe going to change the direction of their business, maybe change their business model. We’re going to be advisors at a very high level and certainly a strategic partner…” - Jonathan
Mon, August 14, 2023
354: Designing a Business for Yourself and the Market with Mo Elliott
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Jeff Amerine and Victoria Dickerson are joined by entrepreneur Mo Elliott. Mo founded Fayettechill while he was a student at the University of Arkansas and served as the CEO for thirteen years before eventually selling the outdoor lifestyle brand in 2022. After a successful exit from Fayettechill, Mo pivoted to real estate, flipping houses and eventually purchasing and operating multiple Airbnb properties in Santa Fe, New Mexico with the Pecos Group, which he founded. Throughout the episode, Mo, Jeff, and Victoria discuss Mo’s transition from retail to real estate, why he chose Santa Fe, and what’s next for Mo and the Pecos Group. Show Notes (0:36) Introducing Mo Elliot and His Origin Story (6:14) Leaving Retail for Real Estate (10:27) The Magic of Santa Fe (13:26) Establishing Fayettechill as a Northwest Arkansas Staple (15:44) What’s Next for Mo? (21:00) Staying Connected to Fayetteville (22:06) Advice to the Younger Self (24:21) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Mo Elliott Dos Hermanas Compound Tesuque Outpost The Pecos Group Fayettechill Quotes “ What I love about real estate is you make the purchase and it’s a tangible asset in front of you and you can control everything. With manufacturing, it’s rough. We’re buying 50,000 units twelve months in advance. We have data to understand what we sold last season, but it’s such a question mark with manufacturing, and it’s always changing. ” - Mo Elliott, (6:42) “ I built [Fayettechill] with all the ideals of a little Patagonia. And so having a north star of our ideals and then eventually creating products that I wanted to use outside. And then the employees that worked for us, we were our own test dummies on the products that we wanted. So it wasn’t like we were designing for another core market that we weren’t a part of. ” - Mo Elliott, (14:30)
Mon, August 07, 2023
353: The Story of Big Box Karaoke with Justin and Mailena Urso
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Grace Gill sit down with Justin and Mailena Urso, founders and owners of Big Box Karaoke. Big Box Karaoke is a combination bar, restaurant, and karaoke hotspot located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. Throughout the episode, Justin and Mailena discuss the importance of continuous growth, the entrepreneurial mindset, the struggles they faced through the Covid-19 pandemic, and their shared love for karaoke. Show Notes (0:52) Introducing Justin and Mailena Urso and the Big Box Karaoke Origin Story (14:17) Finding the Right Location (17:49) The Pandemic’s Effects on Big Box Karaoke (25:18) Re-Opening after the Pandemic (28:17) Balancing Feedback (31:11) The Core Customer Base (34:12) Longterm Projections and Hopes (38:01) Advice to the Younger Self (40:48) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Justin Urso Mailena Urso Big Box Karaoke Quotes “ March 15th I think is the date everybody remembers. I always tell this story: On the Saturday before the shutdown, in an eight-hour timeframe, we did as much revenue as [we did] in the next six months combined. In eight hours. And it was one of our busiest nights ever, but it took six months to make that same amount of revenue that [had only taken] eight hours. ” - Justin Urso, (19:23) “ We averaged fifty reservations a week before the pandemic, and then you go to zero. And 80% of our business was based on reservations, so the math just doesn’t add up. ” - Justin Urso, (23:05) “ Our business is expensive to build out. It’s not just opening a coffee shop or an ice cream parlor or something. There’s a lot of costs that go into building out those rooms and the technology involved. And so [expansion] is a little bit more difficult. ” - Justin Urso, (27:25) “ We were like, if we build it, they will come. That was our mindset. But we did do a lot of testing. We personally experienced this concept a lot and had a great time and took our takeaways from that…and there were other businesses in other markets like ours that were popping up. So it wasn’t like this was a brand new thing. ” - Mailena Urso, (30:12) “ The advice we would give to people in that situation is just believe in what you’re doing and have some backup for it. And if you can’t find the backup, then that’s maybe where you’re like, okay maybe let’s change it a little bit. ” - Mailena Urso, (33:49)
Mon, July 31, 2023
352: Immigration Reform and the Power of a Diverse Population with Tahmina Watson
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Grace Gill, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Tahmina Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law, a Seattle-based law firm that exclusively practices in the area of United State immigration and naturalization law. Throughout the episode, Tahmina discusses the challenges many immigrant entrepreneurs face when trying to obtain their visas, the importance of advocacy, the power of making someone else’s dreams come true, her latest book The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders, and much more! Show Notes (0:51) Introducing Tahmina Watson (2:51) Immigration Challenges for Entrepreneurs (10:05) Skills-Based Immigration Policies (13:48) Catering to a Diverse Population (15:46) Tahmina’s Inspiration for Writing a Book (20:58) The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders (25:33) The Power of Good Karma (30:10) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Harrison Kitson Tahmina Watson Watson Immigration Law The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders Quotes “Immigrants do get the job done, but entrepreneurship is also a throughline in the American history. And so if we are looking to have an America that is going to be prosperous for our children [and] our grandchildren, we need to keep the eye on the ball of making sure that the next generation of entrepreneurs come to the U.S. And this is where we have the next Google and the next thing that’s going to change the world.” - Tahmina Watson, (7:15) “One of the things that is so important for me to explain so that people understand it is that when businesses cannot fill their positions, who is the loser? It’s the American consumer that is the loser. It’s the American tax purse that is the loser. You know, we are not helping ourselves by not thinking about the various tools that can solve our economic problems, and immigration is one of those tools.” - Tahmina Watson, (9:33) “I love being here. America’s given me my home. My children are here, and I want a country that my children can prosper in and their children can prosper
Mon, July 24, 2023
351: A New Era of Radio with Noel Sosa
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by Noel Sosa, manager of Rox Radio Group. With four different stations across Northwest Arkansas, Rox Radio Group is the largest independent radio company in the region. Growing up, Noel dreamed of becoming an emcee, and by his late teens, he was opening for some big names in the hip-hop scene. When a local radio station manager pulled Noel aside after a show and offered him a job, Noel decided to give radio a shot. With hands-on experience and training, Noel has now spent twenty-two years in the industry. Throughout the episode, Noel, Jeff, Caleb, and Victoria discuss Noel’s start in radio, how podcasts and radio can work together, becoming a staple in your community, and much more. Show Notes (0:57) Introducing Noel Sosa and Rox Radio Group (5:50) Noel’s Favorite Part of Radio (7:24) Noel’s Love for Boxing (12:51) Golf’s Impact on Noel’s Life (16:20) Are Podcasts and Radio Conflicting Interests? (20:22) Selling to Advertisers (25:07) Becoming a Community Staple (28:29) Radio Listener Demographics (33:39) Connecting Through Music (36:53) Maintaining Brand Consistency (38:50) Advice to the Younger Self (41:36) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Noel Sosa Rox Radio Group Quotes “If you look at the data that is available, radio is doing very well. It’s just so accessible. It’s so accessible to where if I don’t reach you specifically, I’m going to reach someone you know. If there’s a message that my advertiser is trying to get out, we’re going to get that message out…Radio is still extremely viable—one of the most viable products out there.” - Noel Sosa, (17:00) “You need to be as present [in] as many places as possible. Meet people where they are—and obviously, I’m a radio company. I’m always going to make sure that that is our foundation, but what are we doing to interact in those other spaces? Podcasting, streaming, or do our DJs put together playlists, things like that.” - Noel Sosa, (18:51) “We’re a local outfit just like you are. We care. We live here. We have relationships here. Our friends live here. Our family lives here. We vote in this community. You know what I mean? We care about what happens here, which means we’re going to care about the work that we do for you. Because if we don’t have these relationships, we don’t have a business, right?” - Noel Sosa, (23:46) “If you earn someone’s trust, you earn their business o
Mon, July 17, 2023
350: From Failed Attempts to Successful Entrepreneur: Yoon Kim's Journey on Outdoor Media Summit
Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson interview Yoon Kim, founder of Outdoor Media Summit and Outdoor ECOM. Yoon shares his entrepreneurial journey, including failed attempts and success stories. He also discusses his personal life, including how he met his partner and his perspective on life and business. He offers insights into the struggles and triumphs of entrepreneurship and provides inspiration for those looking to start their own business. Show Notes (0:57) Yoon’s Origin Story and Entrepreneurial Journey (6:33) Yoon’s Current Projects (11:25) Arkansas’s Involvement in Outdoor Recreation (18:17) Outdoor ECOM and AI (24:15) Yoon’s Choice to Give Back (31:27) What Keep’s Yoon Up at Night? (37:17) Advice to the Younger Self (39:33) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Yoon Kim Outdoor Media Summit Outdoor ECOM Quotes “ I think just being super patient and waiting for the right opportunity and then taking advantage of it—that’s kind of my way [the] way I look at my style of entrepreneurship. ” - Yoon Kim, (3:47) “ It’s cool because in Arkansas, we’re leaders in some of these [outdoor spaces]. We’re the brown trout capital of the world and the mountain bike capital of the world. Pretty soon we’re going to be one of the paddle capitals of the world. We have the Paddle Industry Association that was formed here in Northwest Arkansas. So we have leadership in different pockets of these outdoor industries. ” - Yoon Kim, (12:38)
Mon, July 10, 2023
349: Efficient Trucking Logistics Ecosystem in Arkansas with FR8relay
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by FR8relay co-founder and CEO Aayush Thakur. FR8relay is an Arkansas-based technology company working to create a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable trucking logistics ecosystem. With 70% of US freight being moved by trucks, core inefficiencies in traditional long-haul trucking operations threaten the industry’s future. Luckily, Aayush and FR8relay have a solution that can save companies money, decrease driver turnover, and create a more sustainable trucking future. Show Notes (0:54) Introducing Aayush Thakur and FR8relay (1:24) Aayush’s Origin Story (9:10) Issues with Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Vehicles (13:40) FR8relay’s Solution (16:12) Electric Semi-Trucks (18:23) Leaving Memphis for Northwest Arkansas (23:05) FR8relay’s Ideal Customer (25:40) Cutting Down on Driver Churn (28:46) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Aayush Thakur FR8relay Quotes “Yes, our model will work and enable everything to happen today, not [in] twenty years. You don’t have to burn any money. We are efficient. We can work with the same human people today.” - Aayush Thakur, (14:19) “Before coming [to Northwest Arkansas], we had raised $200,000…and then after coming [to Northwest Arkansas] and being connected to people, we were able to raise $1.3 million. That’s just the dollar figures. And you take that and then you see the number of connections we have made.” - Aayush Thakur, (20:38) “We actually take a simple process and make it more complex. But by making it more complex, we see a lot of savings in that…We start with one shipment. We collect 10 of those, for example, and then we would run them through a blender, and then you will get smaller chunks of trips out of it, where it creates these little loops for each of the drivers to come back home, while each of the trailers is getting to the final destination.” - Aayush Thakur, (25:07) “If you are trying to do forced PR where you say, we’ll do this for the driver, we’ll give them bonuses…those things are really great, and you should do that, but the main thing people are struggling with [on the road] is family. It’s that sense of belonging, a sense of fulfillment that is missing.” - Aayush Thakur, (26:44)
Mon, July 03, 2023
348: Film, AI, and Aviation with Zak Heald of Intercut Productions
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Zak Heald, Owner of Intercut Productions, a full-service video production agency in Bentonville, Arkansas. Zak shares about his early start in entrepreneurship and how he created Intercut Productions with a DBA the day he turned 16. Throughout the episode, Zak discusses how his team utilizes AI to increase productivity, his passion for aviation, and the power of ask. Show Notes (0:54) Introducing Zak Heald (1:19) Zak’s Origin Story (11:30) Building a Business and Learning on the Fly (19:44) Zak’s Take on Machine Learning and AI (30:22) Bentonville Studios (34:49) Filming in Northwest Arkansas vs. Filming in Other Cities (39:26) Supporting the Local Economy (40:51) Incentive to Film in Arkansas (47:03) Dozen Duzit (52:46) Advice to the Younger Self | The Power of Ask (57:00) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Zak Heald Intercut Productions Dozen Duzit Quotes “We realized early on that we could build the business if we just had cash flow. Like, that was going to be the key to building the business was cash flow. And so we started pursuing those jobs that provided that cash flow. For us right out of the gate, that was weddings.” - Zak Heald, (14:54) “I’ve just learned to set long-term goals, keep people really happy, provide as much value as you can, and it always comes back around.” - Zak Heald, (19:35) “The more people understand AI, the more they use it, and the better they understand how it comes up with its answers, the more powerful it will become for people…once you understand how it’s being taught and all that, the ideas will come to you. How can I use this to better my business or to start a new business altogether?” - Zak Heald, (28:18) “Our biggest thing right now is we want to provide that base infrastructure. Provide a place that productions can call home, whether they shoot in our studio, whether they just use it for offices and for building sets and all that kind of stuff. Regardless, we just want it to be a home base, a place that productions can feel like…it is their place.” - Zak Heald, (35:53)
Mon, June 26, 2023
347: Josh Perry and Lane Hero: The Trip Cost Calculator for Drivers
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by Josh Perry, founder of Lane Hero, a trip cost calculator app for drivers. Josh shares about his background being from a family of truck drivers as well as his passion for solving some of their everyday problems, like the pain point of calculating costs for a trip. He created Lane Hero to take some of the strain off the drivers so they can go back to doing what they do best: keeping America's economy running. Show Notes: (0:48) Introduction to Josh (1:07) Josh’s Origin Story (2:36) About Lane Hero (6:42) Josh’s Background (10:46) About the Lane Hero App (23:29) Lane Hero’s Marketing Strategy (26:27) What Success for Lane Hero Looks Like (31:08) Advice to Younger Self (32:11) Closing Question Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Josh Perry Lane Hero Quotes: “At the end of the day, for the individual driver, and the owner operator model, which is seventy-eight percent of the entire freight movement in the United States, it provides such a value and eliminates such a burden of time on the accounting side and on the cost analysis side that [bigger player’s] opinions aren’t very valid.” - Josh Perry, (5:56) “The service aspect of trucking is what I’m really attached to on both the customer side and on the driver side because if you focus on the people that are making your business run, whatever the case may be, you get so much additional benefit over the dollars. So that’s the feeling I pursue.” - Josh Perry, (7:50) “Most people don’t understand that all the goods in this room are all transported by a truck. Same goes in any country you're talking about anywhere in the world. So the real vision and goal is to level the playing field and be the largest precursor to any economy anywhere in the world and have it in over fifty countries with over fifty thousand users in each country.” - Josh Perry, (26:38) “It takes sacrifice. It takes putting in the time. I’ve sacrificed a lot of hours of time I could have been spending with my family in order to help families all across the world get more time with their dad or their mom or whoever that's out there driving a truck.” - Josh Perry, (30:26)
Mon, June 19, 2023
346: Kick Ass Conversation with Sticker King Anthony Constantino
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by Anthony Constantino, co-founder and CEO of Sticker Mule, the largest e-commerce website for custom stickers. Anthony is also the founder of Stimulus, a new social media platform intentionally designed to make people happy. Throughout the episode, Anthony shares about building Sticker Mule from the ground up, starting a new social media platform that doesn’t incentivize negativity, and becoming a professional boxer at forty years old. Show Notes (0:36) Introducing Anthony and Sticker Mule (4:40) Stimulus, a Different Type of Social Network (10:22) Creating Businesses to Solve Problems (12:03) Content Moderation (15:07) Anthony’s Background (17:49) How Stimulus Gathers Feedback (20:36) How to Get Verified on Stimulus (21:52) Stimulus’s Ideal User (23:53) A Simple Formula to Succeed (31:24) Stimulus’s Giveaway Program (32:33) Mule Sauce (34:16) Anthony’s Boxing Journey (39:34) Advice to the Younger Self (41:10) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Anthony Constantino Sticker Mule Stimulus Quotes “ Stimulus removes a lot of the negative design decisions that were embedded in Twitter and replaces them with more positive ones. We have a number of innovations that are unique to us, the biggest one being [that] we replace ads with integrated giveaways. So if you want attention, [the] number one tool to get attention on Stimulus is [to] run a giveaway. Everyone wants attention. That’s a positive tool to get attention, and it’s an easy tool to get attention. ” - Anthony Constantino, (8:09) “ I suspected that if people operated [on Stimulus] using their own identity, that would naturally push people in a more positive direction, and you wouldn’t have the negativity. I suspected a few things: If you remove the incentives to be nasty and introduce incentives to be more pleasant, you would naturally have a better community. ” - Anthony Constantino, (12:34) “ [We have] a simple formula that we use to succeed [that’s] basically: Make the experience incredibly good so that people that encounter us are highly likely to buy. So, you know, as an experience gets better, your ability to convert customers goes up. As your ability to convert customers increases, you can justify a large ad budget. ” - Anthony Constantino, (26:11)
Mon, June 12, 2023
345: Conversations about Homeownership with Skylar Wallace
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Skylar Wallace, founder of Level Up Lenders, a company on a mission to create a positive impact through home ownership in rural America. Skylar earned his MBA from the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and has founded multiple businesses, ultimately gaining traction through the help of EOS in his current venture. Throughout the podcast, Skylar shares about his background and his passion for using home ownership to help rural communities improve their quality of life. Show Notes (0:50) Introducing Skylar and His Origin Story (6:13) Utilizing EOS (8:31) Taking Action While Learning (11:44) Leveraging Impact Vehicles (20:10) Focusing On What You Can Control and Looking Toward the Future (25:50) The Challenges of Scaling (29:14) How Skylar Chooses Markets (35:14) The Visionary and Integrator Relationship (39:34) Skylar’s Thoughts on Traction and Other EOS Tools (41:51) Advice to the Young Self (47:16) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Skylar Wallace The Level Up Lenders Quotes “ Now we know anytime we bring on a new [loan officer], we’re not going to sit around and talk about this. Day one, you go out and start taking massive action. And so our sales methods have changed, but that activity remains the same. ” - Skylar Wallace, (11:28) “ In the investment world, there’s these things called investment vehicles, which are different vehicles that you can invest in. There’s venture capital, there’s the stock market, and all those things. So I’ve been thinking about this concept of impact vehicles. A lot of [entrepreneurs say], ‘I want to create a positive impact in the world. I want to make a difference.’ But there’s actually a lot of different vehicles you can leverage to do that. ” - Skylar Wallace, (12:40) “ Our commitment is that it’s never a ‘no.’ It’s always a ‘how,’ because every file is a family. So if somebody comes in to our office, they’re not going to get turned down. They’re going to be shown—look, you can’t buy today, but here’s the steps that we need to do to fix your credit, to get you on the path. ” - Skylar Wallace, (15:54) “ I believe the number one skillset an entrepreneur should have is the ability to sell. If you can sell—that’s the thing because that’s how you create revenue. ” - Skylar Wallace, (42:20)
Mon, June 05, 2023
344: A Conversation with Mark Zweig
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward are joined by Mark Zweig, founder and chairman of Zweig Group. Mark’s entrepreneurial journey began in his parent’s front yard when he was only twelve. He bought and sold bicycles, motorcycles, and cars throughout his adolescence and time at university. After earning his MBA, Mark worked for a management consulting firm before leaving for a string of successful positions with other flourishing businesses. Mark returned to his entrepreneurial nature in 1988 by founding Zweig Group, which grew rapidly for over a decade. Since his return to entrepreneurship, Mark has founded Inc 500 and Inc 5000 startups, written a book, served on multiple boards, and is now teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Arkansas. Show Notes (1:09) Introducing Mark Zweig (2:00) Mark’s Entrepreneurial Origin Story (16:12) Growing a Successful Business (23:13) What Drew Mark to Northwest Arkansas (28:15) Changing the Perception of Arkansas (34:44) Designing Homes and Buying Back Mark’s Business (44:31) What’s on Mark’s Plate Now? (47:30) Advice to the Younger Self Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Matthew Ward Mark Zweig Zweig Group Quotes “We grew by 30% a year, thirteen years in a row. And we were always profitable. We never had any outside equity. We did sell stock to key employees, and we would finance 100% of that. And that was really a strength. We just did a lot of stuff that we advocated our clients do.” - Mark Zweig, (19:00) “Our business planning process was one where every year, each line unit manager had to come up with three new things to sell and three new ways to sell what they had. And that just sort of baked in the innovation.” - Mark Zweig, (19:58) “To me, entrepreneurship is about building value. It’s not just what you can suck out of it along the way. And so, that, to me, is a core tenant of it. And if that’s your goal, you do everything differently.” - Mark Zweig, (48:55)
Mon, May 29, 2023
343: From the Navy to Tech: The Story of Central Standard and Metova
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sit down with Josh Duntz and Tyler Dunbar of Metova and Central Standard Talent, respectively. With their Naval backgrounds, Josh and Tyler have a unique perspective on the business world. Throughout the episode, the crew discusses Central Standard and Metova’s expertise in identifying customer needs and developing digital products that align with business goals. They highlight the importance of tailoring technology solutions to meet the specific needs of each customer, and how this approach sets Central Standard and Metova apart from other tech agencies. They also comment on artificial intelligence, exploring whether these emerging technologies pose a threat to Central Standard and Metova, and whether AI can be as effective as humans. Show Notes (1:33) Introducing Josh and Tyler (6:08) Josh’s Transition from the Military to the Civilian World (9:20) Key Takeaways from Military Service (15:42) Central Standard and Metova’s Connection (21:01) Finding Talent without Paying Silicon Valley Prices (23:35) The Threat of AI (27:51) Looking at the Landscape of the Current Economy (32:52) Advice to Their Younger Selves (35:38) Tyler and Josh’s Naval Background (39:23) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Josh Duntz Tyler Dunbar Metova Central Standard Talent Quotes “I approach leadership the same way in business now, where it’s like, I don’t care if you’re the lowest man on the totem pole or the CEO of the company. I believe that before decisions should be made, everyone should be able to voice their opinion.” - Josh Duntz, (13:19) “Rule of thumb is we’ll save you 30-50% in cost. And for somebody who’s in any sort of startup, there’s another critical element to this. You also don’t have to give any of your company away to get really high-quality talent.” - Tyler Dunbar, (21:24) “You have a certain mindset of what outsourcing looks like, right? And typically, for most people, it’s not high quality. So that’s a piece that looks really different for us. We focus on hiring people long-term—custom solution building for a team just for you. And [that allows] us to really focus on high-quality technical talent that is retained over time. So rather than fill fifty really low-level positions, we really try to focus on those senior and mid-level positions that establish and create value for years and years to come.” - Tyler Dunbar, (22:34) “I think you still need huma
Mon, May 22, 2023
342: What Do Rental Tuxedos, Soap Franchises, and Vegan Jerky Have in Common? Fred Gustafson
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Grace Gill are joined by Fred Gustafson, operating partner of Wabi Capital and president of Louisville Vegan Jerky. Fred details how his entrepreneurial journey began with an online tuxedo rental startup that saw great success and an early exit. He shares about jumping into franchises without any prior experience, leading to—of all things—a brick-and-mortar shop for soap. Throughout his wild ride of entrepreneurship, Fred has learned the importance of being flexible and willing to learn something new. Show Notes (1:01) Introducing Fred (1:20) A Successful Exit with Menguin (10:57) Working with Voxie and Buff City Soap (23:08) Wabi Capital (26:29) Louisville Vegan Jerky (30:08) Marketing to Meat Eaters (38:28) The Wabi Capital Name (40:35) Advice to the Younger Self (43:24) Closing Thoughts Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Grace Gill Fred Gustafson Wabi Capital Louisville Vegan Jerky Quotes “We started Wabi with our whole background being entrepreneurs and really not finance and investment people. And we felt like that was actually a strength for us…We’ve always kind of looked at business as—there’s a lot of strength in being an outsider to the industry you are going into.” - Fred Gustafson, (23:58) “The challenge isn’t as much [convincing] more plant-based, vegans, and vegetarians to eat more of this stuff. It’s more so, how do you show the traditional meat eater that there is this healthy, better for you, more natural, less-processed alternative that also happens to not use any animal products, that can deliver more on the nutritional value, the taste, everything like that, as a way to supplement your diet.” - Fred Gustafson, (29:40) “People still want an indulgence in their snack. They want stuff to taste good. They want that craveable deliciousness. And so we want to be that. We are that. We’ll always deliver big on flavor, but then also be this cleaner, whole food, vegan-based product.” - Fred Gustafson, (36:45)
Mon, May 15, 2023
341: Golf, Sales, and Real Estate in Northwest Arkansas
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward are joined by Palmer Hays of Bennet Commercial Real Estate. A collegiate golfer, Palmer shares his insights on how he learned sales through the golf course by building relationships and gaining trust. He highlights how the state of the real estate market is influenced by people and their needs. He explains that infrastructure follows people, and as the population grows, new businesses and buildings emerge to support them. Show Notes (1:16) Introducing Palmer Hays (4:09) Palmer’s Origin Story (6:59) Choosing Commercial Real Estate (7:59) Business on the Golf Course (11:55) Market Changes in Northwest Arkansas (15:37) The Perks of Northwest Arkansas (22:02) Projecting Future Trends (28:13) Handling Exponential Growth in Northwest Arkansas (33:14) Prioritizing Mixed-Use Properties (37:10) Advice for the Younger Self Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Matthew Ward Palmer Hays Bennett Commercial Real Estate Quotes “A typical deal that we’ll see—we’re either working with a tenant that needs to find a space, whether that be a startup or Fortune 500 company, a manufacturer, or just your typical [quick service restaurant]...We can touch on those businesses, and we can learn so much from what they do and also be able to solve one of their biggest issues at the time, which is typically finding a piece of real estate that works for them.” - Palmer Hays, (7:12) “I wouldn’t say I had experience in sales prior to getting into the real estate industry, but what I did have experience in was talking to people who had a lot of business dealings. I grew up playing golf, and typically at the golf courses, you’re talking to business owners. You’re talking to individuals who own real estate. You’re talking to individuals who are having to make those decisions.” - Palmer Hays, (8:06) “There’s nothing better than just getting here [to Northwest Arkansas]. So I’ll tell people all the time, if you have the opportunity and if the property is worth it, just come to Northwest Arkansas and take a peek at it.” - Palmer Hays, (16:16) “Real estate as a whole, if you take a ten thousand foot view at it, it’s based on people. Where are people? Where are they located? Where are they coming from? What do they need around them?...So whenever you have more and more people moving in here, there’s going to be a need for X, Y, and Z…People drive real estate, so whenever you have more people, you’re going to have more need. And
Mon, May 08, 2023
340: Consumer Insights with Field Agent
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine sit down with Rick West and Henry Ho, co-founders of Field Agent, where Rick serves as the CEO and Henry is the Chief Strategy Officer. Field Agent is a tech company built for winning at retail by connecting brands to shoppers across the country. This enables companies to capture in-store information, gather rich consumer insights, and drive product trials completely on demand. Throughout the show, Rick and Henry discuss the solutions Field Agent provides, how to improve interactions with customers, and how to create business ventures that are scalable and repeatable. Show Notes: (0:57) Introduction to Rick and Henry (1:41) Field Agent’s Backstory (9:33) About Field Agent (14:18) Raising Outside Venture Capital (18:56) What’s Next for Field Agent (26:03) Interacting with Customers (27:56) The Future Utilization of AI (35:16) Scalability and Repeatability (39:13) Northwest Arkansas’s Collaborative Ecosystem (46:27) Advice to Younger Self (49:57) Closing Question Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Rick West Henry Ho Field Agent Quotes: “We built this platform along with a crowdsourcing engine to help our clients understand store conditions like pricing product, distribution, merchandising, etc…We also created it so we would be able to gain everyday shopper insights into their shopping experience.” - Henry Ho, (10:19) “We’ve created an opportunity or a marketplace for people to be able to come in and see items and actually purchase as opposed to talking to a bunch of different sales people from different companies to try and make something work.” - Rick West, (19:24) “We think we have the secret sauce to have a services mentality, a sales led growth mentality, and taking the best of that and then productizing it to make it scalable and repeatable.” - Rick West, (35:37) “I think one of the joys I have as an entrepreneur is not only are we pouring into business entrepreneurs, there’s a whole bunch of social entrepreneurs in Northwest Arkansas that are doing incredible things.” - Henry Ho, (44:51)
Mon, May 01, 2023
339: Solving Homeowner's Headaches with Owen Parker
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson are joined by Owen Parker. Owen is the co-founder and CTO of HomeKeeper, an app that creates easy to follow, effort-free maintenance plans for busy homeowners that want to take great care of their home without the hassle of researching, billing, and record keeping. Throughout the episode, Owen and the hosts discuss HomeKeeper’s origin story, creating a platform that helps both customers and vendors, and future plans for scaling. Show Notes (1:23) Introducing Owen Parker and HomeKeeper (4:24) Owen’s Origin Story (8:34) Advice for App Development (10:26) Helping Both Customers and Vendors (12:40) HomeKeeper’s Unique Rollout (16:40) Raising Outside Capital (18:10) What’s Next? (19:53) How Owen’s Childhood Impacted His Entrepreneurial DNA (22:44) Advice for the Younger Self (25:56) Connecting with HomeKeeper Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Owen Parker HomeKeeper Quotes “I guess the advice would be do not over-engineer. But don’t solve your problem, solve whatever the universal problem is for that marketplace.” - Owen Parker, (10:10) “That’s our number one priority, it’s advocating for the homeowner. Now that being said, when it comes to vendor relationships, we think that there’s a hugely positive impact for vendors as well.” - Owen Parker, (10:48) “I think that’s the big thing that keeps me up at night. We’re sort of in a race against time to perfect the processes and models to take this to other markets, because we know that it’s going to happen. I mean, this business makes too much sense to not exist.” - Owen Parker, (16:03)
Mon, April 24, 2023
338: Scaling Empathy with Chris Thompson
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Victoria Dickerson, and Matthew Ward sit down with Chris Thompson, creator and CEO of SoberSidekick, a free app that helps users maintain their sobriety by connecting with a community of people who can empathize and relate with where they’re at. Chris opens up about his personal sobriety journey and the road to creating a platform aimed at solving the issue of isolation and loneliness for those struggling with addiction. Throughout the show, Chris talks about scaling empathy, designing an algorithm that provides users with a judgment-free space, and the current realities for recovering addicts in the healthcare system and how Sober Sidekick aims to solve some of those issues. Listen and be inspired by Chris's story and mission! Show Notes: (1:07) Introduction to Chris (2:28) Moving to Northwest Arkansas (6:53) About SoberSidekick (11:25) The Importance of Supportive Networks (14:06) Growth Tactics (17:31) SoberSidekick Users (21:28) Expanding SoberSidekick (30:03) SoberSidekick’s Business Model (34:11) The Process of Raising Capital (37:48) Measuring Success (43:51) Advice to Younger Self (45:47) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Victoria Dickerson Matthew Ward Chris Thompson Sober Sidekick Quotes: “...acknowledging that luck, I started to theorize what if there was an algorithm we could build that created a world where connecting with the right people at the right time was no longer up to chance. So I formed this idea of an empathy algorithm.” - Christ Thompson, (8:39) “Most people don’t commit suicide during therapy sessions…it’s when they think they’re alone. And that’s what we’re there for. An analogy I make is like AA therapists, mental health professionals, you could compare them to the heart surgeon and we’re here to be the pacemaker.” - Chris Thompson, (20:41) “Understanding how we need to go to the market is the first step to being able to produce an effective pitch. It’s about understanding how our own data correlates to outcomes and how that can be positioned.” - Chris Thompson, (35:00) “The differentiator between founders is not IQ, it’s not talent, it’s just resilience. You know there’s mental and emotional resilience, but then there’s also the idea of building something to be resilient and that’s why we bootstrapped as long as we possibly could.” - Chris Thompson, (40:17)
Mon, April 17, 2023
337: A Successful Business That Started as a Backyard Idea
Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine sit down with Patrick Randall, Fallon Cardoza, and Jason Lam, co-founders of Boulders and Brews. Boulders and Brews is a coffee shop and rock-climbing gym with a clear mission: Growing the NWA climbing community and helping climbers of all skills grow by providing a premier indoor climbing facility that embodies the climbing atmosphere with an open, welcoming environment for new climbers. Throughout the episode, the crew discusses turning an old Piggly Wiggly into a bouldering gym, learning to pivot and adapt, and creating a safe space and culture for the climbing community and Boulders and Brews’ staff. Show Notes (0:58) Patrick’s Origin Story (2:51) Fallon’s Origin Story (3:27) Jason’s Origin Story (5:06) Each Parter’s Role (8:44) Choosing a Dickson Street Location (11:21) Investing in Arkansas’s Climbing Culture (14:57) Learning to Pivot and Adapt (18:10) Dealing with Vendor Issues (21:07) Curating a Safe Space for Customers to Enjoy (23:05) Boulders and Brews’ Burgioning Company Culture (25:38) Climbing’s Barrier to Entry (28:47) Creating a Gym That’s Convenient for Students (31:41) Outreach and Events (37:03) Advice to the Younger Self Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Patrick Randall Fallon Cardoza Jason Lam Boulders and Brews Quotes “...We’ll bring some health and fitness back. So adding that diversity to Dickson Street I think is really helpful for the community—and exposing the sport to people from all walks of life that would never be interested in climbing, but since it’s in the right location, they’re like, ‘Alright, I’ll maybe give it a shot.’” - Patrick Randall, (10:59) “We actually have the mecca of outdoor climbing two hours away from us in Jasper—Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. People from all over the world come to develop routes here in Arkansas. It’s such a great beginner place for people to be able to go out. All the anchors and everything is fixed and ready for you. I mean, it’s right in our backyard.” - Fallon Cardoza, (11:51) “It’s been magical to go into the space and watch people enjoy the safe space that we intentionally created for them to walk into and feel safe and feel happy and feel like they have a community away from their home…I’m told almost daily that people feel all of these really great positive things, and being able to know that we were attributed to that is so re
Mon, April 10, 2023
336: Exploring Arkansas's Crescent Hotel with Author and Artist Sean Fitzgibbon
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Jeff Amerine, Victoria Dickerson, and Grace Gill sit down with Sean Fitzgibbon, author and artist of the nonfiction book What Follows Is True: Crescent Hotel. Sean is a freelance creative who specializes in various forms of visual development. He has had his work exhibited throughout the United States and was a 2023 recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Award. Throughout the show, Sean shares the eerie history of Eureka Springs’ Crescent Hotel as well as how he turned a longtime interest into a passion project, his experience promoting his work on Kickstarter, and best practices for entrepreneurs looking to do the same. Show Notes: (0:49) Introduction to Sean (9:40) About What Follows Is True: Crescent Hotel (15:13) Utilizing Kickstarter (23:42) Stories Found in the Book (32:35) Sean’s Research Experience (39:59) Where to Find Sean’s Work (42:06) What’s Next for Sean (44:57) Advice to Other Creatives (52:52) Closing Question Links: Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Grace Gill Sean Fitzgibbon What Follows Is True: Crescent Hotel Quotes: “This is a big passion project because I’ve always loved telling stories. I always have this weird history I’m attracted to. I always want to go to these strange places that are off the beaten path.” - Sean Fitzgibbon, (9:13) “If you’re going to do a Kickstarter campaign, you need to go support other Kickstarters. There's a network effect. People will look and be like is this just some interloper coming into our community…also a lot of people think of Kickstarter as a shortcut and it’s not. It’s a profit maximizer.” - Sean Fitzgibbon, (19:00) “I want to do something for society, and I feel like I’m helping bridge this gap of making history accessible. It’s a gateway to literacy for children.” - Sean Fitzgibbon, (47:28) “A fist doesn’t do anything, whereas an open hand gives and receives. And that’s the way I look at it…I don’t ever want to have a closed fist.” - Sean Fitzgibbon, (50:06)
Mon, April 03, 2023
335: Hunger & Action Gym with Founder Mariano Quinones
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Mariano Quinones, founder of Hunger & Action Gym, a local boxing and general fitness gym in Springdale. After boxing helped Mariano graduate high school and eventually obtain a degree, he made it his mission to give back to the community by providing a healthy space for individuals to come together. Throughout the show, Rodrigo shares about his entrepreneurial journey starting Hunger & Action, how he found boxing to be a release when he hit rock bottom, and his hopes that Hunger & Action can do the same for youth today. Show Notes: (1:08) Introduction to Mariano (2:00) Mariano’s Origin Story (7:41) Helping Out the Next Generation (9:42) The Risks of Starting a Business (10:54) Why Members Choose Hunger & Action (14:49) Marketing Hunger & Action (18:53) What Hunger & Action Offers (24:02) Hunger & Action’s Boxing Fights (26:49) What’s Next (29:20) Advice to Younger Self (30:15) Closing Question Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Mariano Quinones Hunger & Action Gym Quotes: “The meaning behind it, to give a little background behind Hunger & Action, hunger was the desire for something, just wanting something bad enough. And then action is the necessary steps to achieve a goal.” - Mariano Quinones, (4:13) “I learned a lot just wanting it, just really being hungry, wanting it bad enough that I did my due diligence and research. It was exhausting at times, but I read this quote somewhere and it said, ‘Start where you’re at now and better tools will come along the way.’” - Mariano Quinones, (6:14) “The hardest part looking into it would be a little bit of fear of failure. I think the biggest obstacle is just getting over the fear and then knowing that I’d rather try than regret [not trying] at one point.” - Mariano Quinones, (9:43) “I think we were received really well by the community…We don’t have all the bells and whistles. We don’t have all the equipment we really want to compete on that level. I really think it’s just being ourselves.” - Mariano Quinones, (11:15)
Mon, March 27, 2023
334: Supporting Entrepreneurship for All Communities with Rodrigo Salas
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Rodrigo Salas, executive director of Entrepreneurship for All Northwest Arkansas, also known as EforAll. EforAll is a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization that partners with communities to help under-represented NWA residents successfully start and grow businesses. It works to ensure all individuals are presented with the same opportunities, especially through its Spanish program, EparaTodos. Throughout the show, Rodrigo discusses his entrepreneurship background, his passion for NWA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and how EforAll provides value to Hispanic entrepreneurs in the form of mentorships and programs. Show Notes: (1:01) Introduction to Rodrigo (1:41) Rodrigo’s Origin Story (8:26) About EforAll (13:03) The Importance of Bilingual Resources (18:33) Filling Bilingual Service Gaps (21:35) Building Bridges within the Community (24:54) About Chamoy (31:39) What’s on the Horizon for NWA (37:18) Advice to Younger Self (38:43) Closing Questions Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Rodrigo Salas EforAll Quotes: “It’s between an incubator and an accelerator because what we do is get deep into business understanding because a lot of the people that come through our program are struggling with that part, like knowing how to structure the business or determine who is their customer segment.” - Rodrigo Salas, (10:36) “We all know that networks make a big difference for success…Every touchpoint they have with anybody from the community helps them expand their network. So that’s the objective of the program as well.” - Rodrigo Salas, (17:10) “We’re experiencing this tremendous growth from a population perspective, from an economic perspective, and from an entrepreneurial perspective…So looking at the size of the ecosystem that has been built here in Northwest Arkansas, it’s amazing.” - Rodrigo Salas, (31:42)
Mon, March 20, 2023
333: Getting to Know NWA with Randy Wilburn
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Randy Wilburn, founder of I Am Northwest Arkansas, a website that showcases business, culture, and life right here in the Ozarks. Additionally, Randy hosts the I Am Northwest Arkansas podcast, an informative interview-based show that highlights everything that makes NWA one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. As an unexpected transplant to the area, Randy embraced the community and he embarked on a mission to share its vibrancy with everyone. Throughout the episode, Randy discusses some of the most memorable moments he’s had on air, shares why podcasting is good for businesses, and gives insight into why NWA is a great place to live. Show Notes: (1:02) Introduction to Randy (1:37) Randy’s Origin Story (9:19) About the I Am Northwest Arkansas Podcast (12:16) Podcast Strategy Consulting (13:19) The Importance of a Podcast’s Digital Footprint (19:22) What Makes the NWA Community Special (22:47) What’s Next for I Am Northwest Arkansas (25:08) Maintaining a Collaborative Culture (28:14) Experiencing NWA (39:32) Memorable Guests (47:06) Advice to Younger Self (48:39) Closing Question Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Randy Wilburn I Am Northwest Arkansas Quotes: “The one thing I can say about podcasting is that it’s such a powerful medium that allows you to shift and listen and consume really great information that is either really wide open or super narrow and hyper-focused.” - Randy Wilburn, (5:22) “I think the technology’s there, and from a marketing standpoint, that’s the beauty of something like a podcast, and that’s why anybody listening should consider creating this type of content…you can take it and chop it up into different pieces.” - Randy Wilburn, (16:12) “The thing I really appreciate about the people here is that they take you at face value…they’re going to take you for who you are right then and there. And so you don’t have to wait for an invitation to sit at the table, the table’s already open.” - Randy Wilburn, (19:03) “We’re not only trying to build what we have right here, but we’re also trying to export it to other places and build relationships that matter in the same way.” - Randy Wilburn, (25:26)
Mon, March 13, 2023
332: Building a Better Bentonville with James Bell
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with James Bell, vice president of Bentonville Economic Development and host of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, a show that tells the stories of triumph and growth through the lives of the business leaders, executives, and business owners of Bentonville, Arkansas. Additionally, James is an accomplished senior executive and previous founder with more than twenty-five years of experience in diverse business environments. His passion for economic development and entrepreneurship led him to return to Arkansas to help advance Bentonville's recognized success. Throughout this episode, James discusses his excitement about seeing Bentonville continue to establish itself as a place where his son can grow up and explore, as well as the state of innovative healthcare and mobility coming to Northwest Arkansas. Show Notes: (1:06) Introduction to James (4:54) Working at the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce (6:17) Starting a Business in Bentonville (8:20) Northwest Arkansas’s Healthcare Ecosystem (17:02) What Makes Bentonville Special (22:33 About The Ledger (27:37) Bentonville’s Exciting Future with Mobility (34:44) James’ Favorite Barbeque (37:37) Advice to Younger Self (40:02) Closing Question Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill James Bell Bentonville Economic Development Quotes: “I love that I get to help people do the things that they most want, that they’re most passionate about. I get to help them build their businesses or decide whether they should be here in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.” - James Bell, (5:42) “If you look at that breadth of businesses, starting from the standpoint of potential customers to just the opportunity to learn from experts and access an amazing workforce, it’s all here.” - James Bell, (6:57) “...they’re going to build a transformational healthcare system. I can’t wait to see what all that means, but what I do know from my experience is that all this transpired in the past five years. I can’t imagine it happening anywhere else in thirty, forty, or fifty. And I think that says a lot about this place and how people think here.” - James Bell, (14:03) “You have this amazing place where people are sort of pulling and working together and moving in the same direction. You can stand in the square in Fayettevi
Mon, March 06, 2023
331: Sustainable Composting in NWA with Ricky Ludeman of Ozark Compost and Swap
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Caleb Talley sit down with Ricky Ludeman, founder of Ozark Compost & Swap, an environmental protection organization on a mission to make composting mainstream. Ozark Compost & Swap makes composting convenient by offering pick-up services at your doorstep. Throughout this episode, Ricky discusses his entrepreneurial journey and how Ozark Compost has grown over the years from another idea to an actionable concept that promotes sustainability to the NWA community. Show Notes: (0:47) Introduction to Ricky (2:17) About Ozark Compost (7:22) Ricky’s Vision for the Future (9:19) Supporting Local Businesses (11:31) What Items Can and Can’t Be Composted (15:21) Implementing New Processes (20:23) Ozark Compost’s Marketing Strategy (26:43) Advice to Younger Self (29:41) Closing Question Links: Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Ozark Compost & Swap Quotes: “They talk back and forth and the plant tells the microbes what it needs. The microbes bring exactly what the plant needs back to it and in exchange it gives it carbohydrates and sugars. So it’s this really cool relationship, and you get these really beautiful gardens with this worm casting.” - Ricky Ludeman, (5:06) “There’s this quote that I love and it's, ‘Either my business is growing or I’m growing.’ And I think it’s this really cool, positive way to look at entrepreneurship as it’s awesome when your business is growing, but when you get in some ruts, that just means you’re growing.” - Ricky Ludeman, (14:01) “...when we talk about sustainability, there is this huge leadership aspect. Like let's get the big leader in the community to help with this and show that they can do it and it’s easy. And that kind of trickles down with the employees and then the rest of the community. So businesses are a huge focus for us right now.” - Ricky Ludeman, (23:19)
Mon, February 27, 2023
330: PR meets AI: Diving into Intelligent Relations with Stamatis Astra
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Stamatis Astra, co-founder and head of product at Intelligent Relations, a PR firm that leverages artificial intelligence to build broader and smarter relationships. Additionally, Stamatis is a venture partner who invests in strategic startups with applications that enrich people’s lives. He also co-hosts Grecian Echoes, a talk show in Boston, that offers an in-depth analysis of current news and events laced with provocative commentary to its one hundred fifty thousand Greek-American audience members. Throughout this episode, Stamatis discusses his experience as a lifetime entrepreneur, finding excitement in the beginnings of new ventures, and making public relations accessible for businesses of every size. Show Notes: (0:49) Introduction to Stamatis (1:20) Stamatis’s Background (3:57) About Intelligent Relations (10:59) How Artificial Intelligence Benefits Companies (13:52) Different Startup Models (18:18) Chasing New Ventures (21:47) Raising Venture Capital (25:34) Overcoming Challenges (29:34) Advice to Younger Self (30:39) Closing Question Links: Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Startup Junkie Stamatis Astra Intelligent Relations Quotes: “Our technology is a combination of media monitoring databases and artificial intelligence. It allows us to, depending on the company, find the relevant stories, find the relevant journalists that cover the stories, and create relationships with them…bottom line is, we allow any business to connect with journalists and get press.” - Stamatis Astra, (5:34) “There’s very different levels of startups. There’s a startup that is simply a Powerpoint or a deck and there’s two or three people and that’s it. And there’s a startup with a seed round and twenty-five to fifty people that pay salaries.” - Stamatis Astra, (14:14) “That’s what we do. We train the model, we get the data. The more data we get, and the more speeches and ideas the customer puts in, the more robust the model gets in order to do all the matching and creating the content.” - Stamatis Astra, (27:38)
Mon, February 20, 2023
329: Building a Resilient Team with Dr. Adam Stoverink
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Matthew Ward, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine sit down with Dr. Adam Stoverink, the director of the Sam M. Walton College of Business MBA program at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Stoverink is the author of the book Unbreakable, a resource for leaders on how to build resilient teams, and has also been featured in twelve other notable publications. Additionally, Dr. Stoverink is an associate professor of management, teaching leadership and teamwork to graduate, undergraduate, and executive audiences. Throughout this episode, Dr. Stovering discusses the four essential pillars of resilient teams, how to create adaptability, and what character traits define a satisfactory team member. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Dr. Stoverink (2:16) About Unbreakable (6:19) The Process of Writing a Book (8:23) Advice on Building Psychological Safety (13:16) The Walton MBA Do Good Project (19:24) Learning from Failure (22:21) The Four Pillars of Resilient Teams (28:13) Hard Work vs. Lucky Timing (30:14) Attributes of Good Team Members (32:49) Advice to Younger Self (35:56) Closing Thoughts Links: Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Startup Junkie Dr. Adam Stoverink Quotes: “We have to feel safe in that environment to speak up. Innovation is a big part of what you all do, and if you want to be innovative, you simply have to have all the perspectives on the table. And if people don't feel safe to go against the grain, your innovation is cut.” - Dr. Adam Stoverink, (7:31) “We don’t really have one another’s back. We do what we have to do to accomplish our goals, but we don’t go beyond that. I think that is what really separates the outstanding teams from the mediocre teams.” - Dr. Adam Stoverink, (12:50) “You have to have a moderately high, above average confidence, but it can’t be too high. Otherwise, you’re going to run into the situation where hubris takes over and you’re not on the lookout for possible adversities because you think you’re untouchable.” - Dr. Adam Stoverink, (23:12) “Part of building a resilient team is being very clear about what components are needed to be successful. Part of that is personality. You want a mix of personalities, but most important is diversity of thought that often comes from diversity of backgrounds, which correlates with diversity of demographics.” - Dr. Adam Stoverink, (31:25)
Mon, February 13, 2023
328: Farm-to-Table Meals for the Community with Kelton Hays
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Kelton Hays, executive director of Cobblestone Farms. Cobblestone Farms is a local nonprofit committed to cultivating a community free from hunger by ensuring all people have access to fresh, nutritionally dense foods that are produced through sustainable agriculture practices. Throughout this episode, Kelton discusses the deeper mission of Cobblestone Farms and how important addressing food insecurity is to uplifting the community. Show Notes: (0:53) Introduction to Kelton (1:34) Kelton’s Background (5:20) Why Cobblestone Farms Needs to Exist (11:03) Food Insecurity in Northwest Arkansas (15:41) Being Unburdened by Shame (17:35) Growing Food for Hunger Relief vs. Donating Food (21:45) Raising Money (30:54) Engaging Bigger Players (37:51) Getting People Involved (41:34) Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Kelton Hays Cobblestone Farms Quotes: “If somebody were to ask us what we do at Cobblestone Farms and I wanted to be a little ethereal, a little heady, I would say we give people dignity. Food is a lot more than calories. We want people to have dignified access to great food in the same way any of us sitting in this room would have.” - Kelton Hays, (6:34) “That’s the big picture. We want to give people dignity. We want people to feel dignity because your quality of life, your health outcomes, and your ability to thrive as a human being, if you do not possess dignity and live in shame, is going to be a negative outcome .” - Kelton Hays, (14:46) “My heart is to mobilize individual community members. We all have such potential…We often get so intimidated by the magnitude of an issue or by our perceived inability to meet the issue that we think, ‘Well, I can’t do anything.’ Yeah, you can.” - Kelton Hays, (20:02)
Mon, February 06, 2023
327: A Conversation with Philip Mudd, Former CNN Correspondent and Counterterrorism Analyst
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and previous Startup Junkie Michael Iseman sit down with Philip Mudd, a former CNN correspondent and counterterrorism analyst. During Philip’s extensive and accomplished career, he was a valuable asset to the FBI, CIA, and the American nation as a whole and received numerous CIA awards for his expertise and diligence. Philip is also the author of three distinguished publications and is a member of multiple prestigious associations. Throughout this episode, Philip shares insight on how to present information to your boss (in his case, President George W. Bush), how to successfully navigate chaos, and why you need to have a “call mom” sentence for any project. Show Notes: (1:03) Introduction to Philip (1:58) From English Major to Senior Executive (4:29) Leadership Basics (8:34) Decision Advantage (16:08) Addressing Vulnerabilities (19:00) Navigating Crises (28:00) Taking Responsibility When Things Go Wrong (31:12) Hiring People More Experienced than You (39:24) Voicing your Opinion to a Worldwide Audience (44:44) Protecting Data (48:51) Cyberattacks during Times of War (55:14) Geopolitical Business Consequences (1:06:50) Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Michael Iseman Philip Mudd Startup Junkie Quotes: “There’s a couple basics you have to think about. One's how to get people better. Mediocre mission, great people, you can win. Great mission, mediocre people, you can’t win.” - Philip Mudd, (4:51) “I’ll never forget it, the difference between presenting what you know and presenting what the decision maker needs to know based on determining what the decision is.” - Philip Mudd, (13:53) “We have a responsibility not only to customers, but to families. Let’s talk about how we ensure that today we work through this as opposed to man this is a rough day. Don’t do that. The workforce will tense up and tense means worse decision making.” - Philip Mudd, (24:27) “I think you have to take a step back and say, ‘I am not the keeper of knowledge. I am the keeper of the questions.’ Questions result from judgment, experience, exposure, and perspective. So some people around the table might have knowledge that I don’t have.” - Philip Mudd, (31:31)
Mon, January 30, 2023
326: Entrepreneurship in the Heartland with Quinn Robertson
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: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Quinn Robertson NXTUS 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)
Mon, January 23, 2023
325: The Importance of BBQ and Community with Nate Walls
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: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Nate Walls Secondhand Smoke Second Helping NWA 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)
Fri, January 06, 2023
324: Funding Solutions for Entrepreneurs with Michail Myburgh and Backd
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: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Michail Myburgh Backd 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)
Mon, November 28, 2022
323: Bringing Fun into the World with PaddleSmash
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Tim Swindle, a serial entrepreneur in the toy and game space and co-founder of Glacier Games. With his passion for outdoor sports, Tim teamed up with two others to create a new recreational game called PaddleSmash, which combines the best elements of Pickleball and Spikeball. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Victoria, and Tim discuss how incorporating fun into your day is a necessity, building a business with Kickstarter, and how entrepreneurs should advertise their ideas, not safeguard them. Show Notes: (0:55) Introduction to Tim (1:27) Tim’s Origin Story (5:16) The Development of PaddleSmash (9:36) Tech vs Outdoor Sports (13:41) The Importance of Having Fun (17:33) Lessons Learned (22:49) Increasing Your Surface Area (26:01) The Kickstarter Experience (29:17) Social Media Strategy (32:34) Advice to Younger Self (33:11) Closing Questions Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Tim Swindle PaddleSmash Quotes: “There’s a resurgence to being low-tech right now. People spend so much time on their computers, laptops, iPads, and iPhones that you’re seeing physical board games and outdoor games becoming more popular. We’ve become so digital with society that they provide this opportunity to get back to actually interacting with each other.” - Tim Swindle, (12:07) “That would be my biggest advice to entrepreneurs. Go out there, share your ideas, and talk to people. Don’t worry about anybody stealing it, that’s not going to happen. Get the real raw feedback as to whether or not you have something and can move forward.” - Tim Swindle, (25:01) “People think Kickstarter is where you start, but a lot of times these people have gathered interest and email addresses prior to launching, and they engage that community once they go. Then the Kickstarter algorithm says they’re trending, and they start to show up everywhere. So focus on pre-marketing and building a community before you ever go live.” - Tim Swindle, (26:27)
Mon, November 21, 2022
322: Working with Experts in Aerospace and Defense with Brad Gentry
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Brad Gentry, the CEO of Gentry Professional Services, an elite engineering consulting and talent acquisition firm that specializes in placing subject matter experts with clients that require specific knowledge. With over a decade of experience, Brad is experienced and skilled in engineering design, project management, and business development. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Victoria, and Brad discuss preparing the next generation of labor workers and how a company’s culture is vital to success. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Brad (1:26) About Gentry Professional Services (5:34) Challenges with the Labor Market (8:06) Encouraging Employee Retention (11:02) Navigating the CHIPS Act (13:36) Technologies' Role in Supplementing Labor (19:23) Gentry Professional Services Culture (28:08) The Future of Gentry Professional Services (32:02) Advice to Younger Self (34:36) Closing Questions Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Brad Gentry Gentry Professional Services Quotes: “The way that manifests itself today is when someone retires they may have someone who is two or three steps behind them in experience. So that generational gap has followed us as people have progressed through their careers.” - Brad Gentry, (4:37) “We go through a vetting process of not just checking references, but also behavioral assessments because somebody can be the smartest person in the room but if they can’t work with others then it’s not going to be a good fit. So we do several things to assess not only their knowledge and skills, but also how well they interact with the team they’re going to be supporting.” - Brad Gentry, (16:15) “We work hourly and that fits with retirees greatly…They’re coming back because they want to. So we want to make it a good experience for them and treat them like family. We found that if you let them have that autonomy, flexibility, and respect to work on what they want to, they will in turn represent you well to the clients.” - Brad Gentry, (25:04)
Mon, November 14, 2022
321: Public Radio, Podcasting, and Great Storytelling with Ozarks At Large
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine sit down with Matthew Moore and Kyle Kellams of KUAF. Matthew is a reporter and producer for Ozarks at Large , a locally produced news podcast/daily show that covers news, sports, politics, arts, culture, and the quirky and unusual happenings in the Ozarks. Kyle has been the news director at KUAF for over twenty-five years and has been producing Ozarks at Large for over three decades. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Matthew, and Kyle discuss the history and future of public radio, how podcasting has influenced traditional radio, and the burden of providing newsworthy content. Show Notes: (0:57) Introduction to Matthew and Kyle (2:03) Matthew and Kyle’s Origin Stories (7:02) Marrying Podcasting with Traditional Radio (8:57) Podcasting’s Effect on the Radio Business (10:52) Providing News Coverage to Large Areas (14:24) A Public Radio Station’s Business Model (20:11) Changes in the Radio Industry (24:18) Listening to Your Own Content (27:05) Interesting Moments (32:46) When Earned Media Makes Sense (37:11) Advice to Younger Selves (40:10) Closing Questions Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Moore Kyle Kellams Ozarks at Large Quotes: “I think for a certain number of people who had left radio for whatever reason, audio became cool again. For public radio, at least, podcasting is a natural rift back and forth.” - Kyle Kellams, (9:10) “At Ozarks at Large sometimes we get to tell a different kind of story that you can really only tell on radio. If you were trying to tell that story in the paper or on TV, you would need different kinds of aids, but hearing someone tell a story from perfect memory in a way you can only do through audio is really cool.” - Matthew Moore, (13:42) “I could talk forever about the fractured media landscape and the danger that it poses, but I think one of the great things going for us is there’s so many out there doing it like that and so few doing it like us, that we have people searching for the kind of radio we do.” - Kyle Kellams, (16:03) “There’s this expectation of a kind of journalism, reporting, and storytelling they can hear from other stations like NPR. What they hear from Ozarks at Large is a very specific and very regional version of that. It’s high-quality and well-informed, unbiased storytelling.” - Matthew Moore, (16:34)
Mon, November 07, 2022
320: Changing the Conversation on Women's Health in Innovation with Elizabeth Prenger
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and guest host Permjot Valia sit down with Elizabeth Prenger, founder and chief brand officer of Prose Creative, a company that helps brands and individuals connect with audiences by creating authentic relationships through their content and messaging. Elizabeth is also the co-founder as well as the marketing and public relations lead at FemHealth Founders, a startup that empowers female entrepreneurs to build and lead profitable women-centric companies. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Permjot, and Elizabeth discuss the current product landscape and how women are making their voices heard through entrepreneurship. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Permjot (2:10) Introduction to Elizabeth (5:09) Elizabeth’s Entrepreneurial Origin Story (10:45) Pain Points with the Current Product Landscape (17:41) About Elizabeth’s New Prototype (23:45) Launching FemHealth Founders (27:40) The Response to FemHealth Founders (33:28) Decision-Making Hierarchies between Women and Men (37:38) New Postpartum Recovery Concepts (40:25) Giving Women the Words to Identify Their Needs (44:41) Advice to Younger Self (48:38) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Permjot Valia Elizabeth Prenger Prose Creative LLC FemHealth Founders Quotes: “One of the things I love the most about this journey of being an entrepreneur and launching these ideas is I’ve learned so much about things I wouldn’t have even considered looking into before.” - Elizabeth Prenger, (7:06) “What I really liked and found refreshing about you [Elizabeth] was you didn’t talk about your identity, you were talking about the problem and the women who suffered from the problem and how your product solved that.” - Permjot Valia, (11:08) “We have 80% of the buying power. Women are the primary purchaser in the retail and healthcare space. So we should be more involved. We should be making these products.” - Elizabeth Prenger, (28:43) “If we as women feel more empowered to research, educate ourselves, ask questions, and be our own best advocate in this space, I think the outcomes of that can be really powerful. It can save lives. It can save families. It can save a lot of women.” - Elizabeth Prenger, (43:21)
Mon, October 31, 2022
319: Reconnecting over Food & Social Media with Sophia Rascoff
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Sophia Rascoff, the co-founder of Recon Food, a social media app that allows users to research, recommend, and reconnect with friends through a common love of food. Sophia explains how Recon Food was designed to be a space where individuals can share photos, recipes, and experiences with their social network without all the stressors that come with a more mainstream media platform. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Victoria, and Sophia discuss the rise of vertical social platforms and how Recon Food aims to combat the toxicity of social media. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Sophia (1:21) About Recon Food (7:00) Navigating the Toxicity of Social Media (9:59) Being a Young Entrepreneur (12:44) Three-year Forecast (17:04) Monetizing Recon Food (18:57) Product Placement Opportunities (21:29) Advice to Younger Self (25:19) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Sophia Rascoff Recon Food Quotes: “Social media as an entire concept has become very stressful as of late due to the bad news you encounter on it. It’s not really a fun place anymore. So the goal of this was to be a space where people could talk without having to be bombarded with everything else.” - Sophia Rascoff, (1:29) “On the receiving content side of Instagram, it’s a highlight reel where you’re left comparing the best of what you see to your entire life, which isn’t accurate and is not a great reflection, but it’s what happens.” - Sophia Rascoff, (8:50) “...everyone says just get off social media, but I don’t think for my generation that's really a viable solution. It’s such a powerful tool I know we can do so much with. It’s just about optimizing it and making sure it’s used in the best way.” - Sophia Rascoff, (15:58) “My favorite piece of advice, which I would give someone else and also which I wished I had discovered sooner, is that in this day and age, if you have the ability to just go do it, why not start?” - Sophia Rascoff, (21:29)
Mon, October 24, 2022
318: Connecting Arkansas and Asia in Business with Yang Luo-Branch
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Yang Luo-Branch, founder and president of the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses, the first Arkansas-Asian Chamber of Commerce in the Natural State. Yang shares about her experience as a first-generation immigrant from China and overcoming struggles that many immigrants face, such as public speaking and adjusting to an individualistic society. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Grace, and Yang discuss what it means to be a global citizen, create meaningful connections through conversations, and how problem-solving is a lot like eating with chopsticks. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Yang Luo-Branch (1:51) About the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses (8:13) Yang’s Origin Story (10:51) What’s Next for the Arkansas Association of Asian Business (14:04) The Association’s Reach in Arkansas (18:41) From Global Citizen to Northwest Arkansas Resident (21:11) Being Welcomed in Northwest Arkansas (24:44) First-Generation vs Second-Generation Immigrants (27:02) Global Challenges (32:38) Tangible Outcomes of the Association (38:40) Advice to Younger Self (39:24) Closing Questions Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Yang Luo-Branch Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses - join the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses newsletter here! Quotes: “We have an analogy in my culture—we use chopsticks to eat everything, right? The rice, the noodles, the soup, whatever. We just have this mindset of problem solving and using chopsticks to eat everything versus using different shapes of knives, you know, utensils. Very specialized. So that’s how I approach things in life, too, I feel, doing art, doing nonprofit, doing data analytics at Tyson which is the company I work for. To me, it’s just approaching life. Solving life’s whatever needs to be solved and if I can play a role in this whole context, I feel I’m pretty lucky.” - Yang Luo-Branch (10:24) “We have members writing to us long paragraphs telling their stories from east Arkansas, from south Arkansas, from north Arkansas, definitely outside of these population-dense areas. They just feel passionate about, ‘Hey, there’s something like this existing in Arkansas.’ And they care about us in south Arkansas, too.” - Yang Luo-Branch (14:59) “I think global citizen, I mean it sounds fancy or sounds like a big word, but to me it’s really just mak
Mon, October 17, 2022
317: Changing Banking Technology with Personalized Mobile Banking
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Davis McEntire, Victoria Dickerson, and Jeff Amerine sit down with Parker Graham, founder and CEO of Finotta, a platform that helps financial institutions personalize their mobile banking. Along with his successful entrepreneurship career, Parker has also played in the NFL as a tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and was named Innovator of the Year by Pipeline in 2022. Throughout the episode, Davis, Victoria, Jeff, and Parker discuss the past, present, and future of Finotta and the intricacies behind funding a startup. Show Notes: (1:05) Introduction to Parker (1:34) About Finotta (2:38) Finotta’s Journey So Far (5:09) Who Finotta Caters To (8:43) How Being an Athlete Influences Entrepreneurship (13:57) The Ideology behind Finotta (19:29) Advice to Entrepreneurs (25:25) Advice to Younger Self (27:19) Closing Thoughts Links: Davis McEntire Victoria Dickerson Jeff Amerine Parker Graham Finotta Quotes: “The mobile app looks similar at every bank and credit union, there’s not a lot of differentiation. So what we build is a technology that gets embedded in the mobile front end and personalizes the user experience.” - Parker Graham, (1:49) “It’s all about engagement. We improve the times that users are spending on the device with that bank. So the more time the bank has with that customer, the more opportunities they have to sell them a product and generate revenue.” - Parker Graham, (5:46) “Open banking is the buzzword and what that means is the infrastructure is becoming less siloed where technology’s starting to talk to each other. Technology stacks are becoming more fluid and it allows for companies like us to come in and build and deploy cool stuff quickly.” - Parker Graham, (16:29) “Be patient and get your metrics in order so that when you want to raise capital, you can. The worst thing you can do is get on a treadmill where you’re constantly consuming and needing more.” - Parker Graham, (21:21)
Mon, October 10, 2022
316: Developing Leaders with Luke Owings and Abilitie
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine sit down with Luke Owings, VP of product at Abilitie, a leadership development company that provides team-based simulations. In 2020, Luke left his corporate job and decided to lean into his mosaic career, pulling together a disparate set of experiences to create a fulfilling and impactful picture of work. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, and Luke discuss the history behind Abilitie, how Abilitie is influencing education, and Abilitie’s vision for the future. Show Notes: (1:12) Introduction to Luke (6:10) How Being an Athlete Affected Luke’s Career (9:26) About Abilitie (12:40) Driving Change in How Education Is Delivered (16:35) Bringing Faculty to the Table (19:57) What’s Next for Abilitie (22:12) Advice to Younger Self (23:14) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Luke Owings Abilitie Quotes: “With tools like ours, we run our entire MBA virtually to create an accessibility that never existed in the past, and of course there’s the pricing accessibility as well.” - Luke Owings, (13:40) “What we strive to do when we create our cohorts and our classes, is to have some diversity. So, the entrepreneurs are one group we have in there, and we also like to have some people who are transferring from one thing to another.” - Luke Owings, (14:58) “From our faculty perspective, we opt toward practitioners, people who have been there, people who have experience...who are coming together and saying, ‘I learned a ton over the years. I want to help the next generation.’” - Luke Owings, (16:58) “Our goal is to grow. Our goal is to continue to create an opportunity for people to have conversancy in the language of business connections around the world and confidence in how they build and run their company.” - Luke Owings, (20:33)
Mon, October 03, 2022
315: Turning Art into Business with Amy Keever
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Davis McEntire, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Amy Keever, owner of Amy Keever Gallery, a unique Parisian art salon located a block off the Bentonville square. Amy is a primarily self-taught glass mosaic artist of twenty-one years who prides herself in creating one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces. Throughout the episode, Davis, Jeff, Victoria, and Amy discuss balancing a business that is also your creative outlet and how to reignite your creativity when you’re feeling uninspired. Show Notes: (1:02) Introduction to Amy (1:11) About Amy and Amy Keever Gallery (2:54) Being a Business Owner and an Artist (4:56) Future Plans for Amy Keever Gallery (6:20) The Gallery’s Ideal Customer (8:38) Balancing a Business as Your Creative Outlet (10:57) How to Refuel Your Creative Side (13:04) Mentoring Young Artists (15:12) What Comes Next (18:20) Advice to Aspiring Artists (21:14) Closing Thoughts Links: Davis McEntire Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Amy Keever Amy Keever Gallery Quotes: “As a small business owner, you don’t have that boss to tell you, ‘This is how you have to do this.’ So, setting up systems was a big deal for me. I have a vision book that I keep the year’s goals and everything in.” - Amy Keever, (4:06) “I think when you have a passion like that, it’s really hard, you’ll do anything to keep that. I’ve always said my dream is like a baby and it’s my job to protect that baby…There are some things that are not fun, but I know they get me to my end goals.” - Amy Keever, (8:38) “I always said I wasn’t necessarily the most academic teacher, but I could motivate a kid. I think so much with life is about validation. If you can say, ‘Hey you’re valid just as you are,’ that’s a huge thing to be able to conquer.” - Amy Keever, (13:05) “I would be true to myself and not feel like I had to validate myself to the rest of the world to be able to go forward in what I’m doing.” - Amy Keever, (17:31)
Mon, September 26, 2022
314: SEO and Organic Traffic with Farzad Rashidi of Respona
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sit down with Farzad Rashidi, the lead innovator at Respona, an all-in-one link-building outreach platform built for B2B, SaaS, and agencies to increase organic traffic from Google. As the former director of marketing at Visme, Farzad helped the company gain over fourteen million users, and since then, he’s been helping other companies achieve similar successes via Respona. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, and Farzad discuss how Respona is utilized as a promotion tactic and the concept of backlinking. Show Notes: (1:01) Introduction to Farzad (1:21) About Respona (6:59) The Resilience of Backlinking (11:10) The Concept of Hyperlinking (14:07) Link Building (18:55) Respona’s Customer Journey (21:57) Respona’s Focus on SEO (23:30) Making the Choice Not to Raise Venture (28:31) What’s Next for Respona (30:43) Respona’s Company Culture (34:15) Advice to Younger Self (35:47) Closing Thoughts Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Farzad Rashidi Respona Quotes: “Instead of us trying to invest cash to pour into advertising to become a household name, let’s start showing up in places where people who are looking for a product or a solution like ours would naturally come and find us.” - Farzad Rashidi, (4:21) “So now, not only do you have to create a good website with a good foundation that loads fast, you have to have content that people stay on to read and is relevant contextually. You also have to convince other websites to link back to it and talk about it.” - Farzad Rashidi, (9:05) “We are not in the sales industry…the reason being is the way we structure our companies is entirely inbound. So, what we do is produce lots of educational pieces that are targeted for our industry. So, it touches all bases when it comes to the customer journey.” - Farzad Rashidi, (18:56)
Mon, September 19, 2022
313: Changing the Success Rate of Entrepreneurs with Greg Shepard
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Davis McEntire sit down with Greg Shepard, founder and CEO of BOSS Capital Partners, a boutique investment firm focused on Series Seed through Series B technology businesses. Greg also founded BOSS Startup Science, a school for entrepreneurs. Greg is a twenty-year startup veteran and serial entrepreneur, a Forbes author, a TEDX speaker, and the host of Meet The BOSS Forbes Radio show. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Davis, and Greg discuss the curriculum of BOSS Startup Science and the methodology behind startup accelerators. Show Notes: (1:06) Introduction to Greg (1:45) Greg’s Background in the Venture Capital Arena (3:39) About BOSS Capital Partners (8:32) Insights from Greg’s Five-Year Study (17:28) Thoughts on Raising Money vs. Selling a Product or Service (20:55) Success of the BOSS Startup Science Methodology (24:52) Concept Centric vs. Entrepreneur Centric (34:42) Curriculum of BOSS Startup Science (44:04) Advice To Younger Self (50:32) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Greg Shepard BOSS Capital Partners Quotes: “I did this study and was trying to figure out why they were failing, but what I really needed to learn was when they were failing because the why was coordinated with the when. They always collided at the same time.” - Greg Shepard, (4:55) “I thought that the first thing I should focus on was helping them not fail, but the first thing I needed to focus on was helping them get into an accelerator in the first place.” - Greg Shepard, (6:18) “It enables the people that are running the venture studio to put together funds and start making money on the loads. I don’t feel that is helping the entrepreneur. I think a lot of these things developed are helping the middle man but not really helping the entrepreneurs.” - Greg Shepard, (25:40)
Mon, September 12, 2022
312: Creating and Exiting a Business with Will Trapp of Gratavid
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Davis McEntire sit down with Will Trapp, founder and CEO of Gratavid, a tool for collecting and sending personalized videos. Before Gratavid, Will became a recognized expert in web development and design systems as the director of technology at Saatchi & Saatchi X. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Davis, and Will discuss the variety of ways customers utilize Gratavid, the process of being acquired by a private equity firm, and the benefits of bootstrapping. Shownotes: (1:12) Introduction to Will (2:02) About Gratavid (3:45) Acquisition by Private Equity Firm (5:28) Bootstrapping Gratavid (8:04) Finding Your Niche (13:07) Pros and Cons of Being Acquired (15:05) Integration Period While Being Acquired (21:10) Different Ways Customers Use Gratavid (22:45) Building the Gratavid Team (24:26) What’s Next for Will (25:42) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (30:30) Advice to Younger Self (35:28) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Will Trapp Gratavid Quotes: “And I remember my lawyer, he said, ‘Start a business to run a business. Don’t start a business to try and sell a business.’ And I genuinely never intended to sell Gratavid.” - Will Trapp, (4:07) “Companies that want to stay relevant have to embrace the fact that they’re going to have entrepreneurial people if they want to maintain a competitive advantage. And those entrepreneurial people are going to have side hustles going on.” - Jeff Amerine, (12:09) “There’s just two different ways to go about it. You can raise money or you can bootstrap. I think your chances of success are so much higher if you can figure out how to bootstrap for as long as you can.” - Will Trapp, (34:27)
Mon, September 05, 2022
311: Changing Realtime Customer and Employee Feedback for Companies with Adam & Kfir Alfia
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Davis McEntire, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with brothers Adam and Kfir Alfia, founders of Real Time Feedback, a two-way customer communication platform that allows customers to communicate directly with management in real time through technology. Adam and Kfir’s entrepreneurship experience spans three decades, including their 2004 venture Maestro Personal Assistants, the premier provider of personal assistance/concierge services. Throughout the episode, Davis, Jeff, Victoria, Adam, and Kfir discuss their multiple ventures, the current customer service space, and why addressing feedback is so important. Shownotes: (1:03) Introduction to Adam and Kfir (1:21) About Real Time Feedback (1:54) Adam and Kfir’s History with Maestro (4:00) Idea behind Real Time Feedback (6:18) Real Time Feedback’s Success (9:05) Addressing the Problem of Disengaged Employees (14:37) Customer Feedback Trends (19:15) Ventures Involving Family Members (23:28) Managing Multiple Ventures (25:27) Feedback over the Next Five Years (29:44) Advice to Younger Self (30:43) Closing Thoughts Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Victoria Dickerson Adam Alfia Kfir Alfia Real Time Feedback Maestro Personal Assistants Quotes: “And so we’re really hypersensitive to customer experience. When a customer calls up our service, we want them to hang up the phone and go, ‘Wow, that was one of the best phone experiences I’ve ever had with anybody.’” - Adam Alfia, (2:54) “We actually put a lot of emphasis in that response time because you’re getting somebody that’s having a negative experience, and you want to respond quickly and save that relationship and save that experience in real-time and in the moment while that customer is in your business.” - Adam Alfia, (8:31) “If you’re turning your customer into your eyes and ears, they’re able to let you know about deficiencies in your business that you otherwise wouldn’t have known because you don’t have the staff to properly address issues.” - Adam Alfia, (10:38) “There’s a whole swatch of guests and customers that are silently having bad experiences and leaving, and then either thinking, ‘Oh let’s never come here,’ or, ‘I’ll tell my friends,’ but those are the people who are the silent majority that really need a voice and that'
Mon, August 29, 2022
310: Creating Strategic Innovation and Design with Sandra Hodzic
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire sit down with Sandra Hodzic, the director of strategic innovation and design for the Government of New Brunswick. Sandra has over ten years experience in corporate innovation and has a deep understanding of how to identify breakthrough ideas and take solutions to market. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Davis, and Sandra discuss the methodologies used to further social innovation and what that looks like throughout Canada. Shownotes: (0:59) Introduction to Sandra (1:48) About Strategic Innovation and Design at the Government of New Brunswick (9:24) What Innovation Can Look Like (11:50) Social Innovation throughout Canada (17:48) Methodologies Used in Social Innovation (28:10) Organizations Fostering Social Innovation (30:10) Challenges Moving Forward (34:39) Advice to Younger Self (36:17) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Sandra Hodzic Quotes: “Innovation isn’t the panacea to all social ills. It’s just one set of mechanisms that can be deployed amongst a variety. Actually, I would argue that it works best when it’s complemented by other methods as well because a lot of them do work very well and in unison.” - Sandra Hodzic, (4:21) “Innovation is doing cool stuff that matters. I think that’s ultimately what we try to create is we try to work on interesting things that make a difference and that matter in the lives of the individuals we collaborate with, the public that we serve, and the people that we’re there to represent.” - Sandra Hodzic, (8:33) “...whenever I embark on a project where that individual’s leader allowed them the space and the time in their workday to focus on being playful, and being disruptive, and being divergent, and employing new methods of overcoming risks or de-risking a model, those are the ones that have led usually to the most success.” - Sandra Hodzic, (25:12)
Mon, August 22, 2022
309: Wicked Bold Chocolate Follow Up with Deric Cahill
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode, hosts Matthew Ward, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Deric Cahill, the founder of Wicked BOLD, a company specializing in producing small-batch, vegan chocolate. Wicked BOLD’s chocolate is handmade in Texas using only three ingredients—one of which is organic and ethically sourced cacao from Belize. Throughout the episode, Matthew, Jeff, Grace, and Deric discuss utilizing TikTok as a marketing strategy, the challenges behind starting a business, and how to navigate growth while staying authentic. Shownotes: (2:00) Introduction to Deric (4:50) TikTok Strategy (13:28) Zero To Side Hustle: The 0–90 Day Playbook for Entrepreneurs (16:02) Advice to Those Wanting to Start a Business (22:16) Next Steps for Wicked BOLD (26:24) The Volatility of Inflation (33:04) Keeping the Authenticity behind Wicked BOLD (36:59) Navigating How to Delegate Work (39:38) Advice to Previous Self (41:33) Closing Thoughts Links: Matthew Ward Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Deric Cahill Wicked BOLD Zero to Side Hustle: The 0 – 90 Day Playbook for Entrepreneurs Quotes: “People love seeing people succeed at the core of who they are. So for small brands that don’t already have their brand strategy or their social media strategy, I would highly recommend showing people what you are like. You always hear the saying ‘friends buy from friends’ or ‘people buy from people they like,’ and that’s the approach I take on TikTok.” - Deric Cahill, (8:46) “I want to be irrational. I want to live life a little bit on the outskirts and I want to be unapologetically me…I want to find my people and I don’t want to care about the people that are not my people.” - Deric Cahill, (12:25) “And while my customers might not notice that my prices stay consistent—maybe they do—but I’m not relying on a $3 difference in the cost of my goods to feed my family. So, I keep my prices consistent.” - Deric Cahill, (27:27) “I feel like everything that I do right now with my time is in perfect alignment with who I want to be…I’m not faking it for anyone, which is really cool…I’m on my track to like my best life.” - Deric Cahill, (34:38)
Mon, August 15, 2022
308: Matchmaking Musicians and Venues Made Easy with Zipgig
Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Davis McEntire sit down with Andrea Harding, the founder of Zipgig, an all-in-one booking platform and online marketplace for independent performance venues to book gigs with musicians and bands instantly. Andrea is a passionate entrepreneur driven to improve the lives of others through technology and software automation. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Matthew, Davis, and Andrea discuss Zipgig’s business model, the challenges Andrea experienced launching Zipgig, and the automation services Zipgig provides. Shownotes: (1:10) Introduction to Andrea Harding and Zipgig (3:26) Andrea’s Career Before Zipgig (5:24) Business Model of Zipgig (6:42) Why Northwest Arkansas? (11:27) Zipgig’s Target Audience (15:08) Challenges Launching Zipgig (18:10) Potentially Funding Zipgig (21:22) The Automation Process Zipgig Provides (28:03) Advice to Younger Self (29:56) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Andrea Harding Zipgig Quotes: “This is a really green space. There’s lots of ways that venues and bands need help and so there’s an opportunity for various subscription services, which I’m kind of testing a little bit, but definitely opportunities to monetize.” - Andrea Harding, (6:21) “They don’t have any of that information. They’ve never even booked events. And so that’s the ideal customer because they really could benefit from a platform like Zipgig.” - Andrea Harding, (12:12) “We really just wanna grow and we want to bring live music to places and make it easy where you might have a hard time booking.” - Andrea Harding, (25:35)
Mon, August 08, 2022
307: Preserving the Blues with The Music Education Initiative
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, Davis McEntire, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Orson Weems, the executive director and co-founder of The Music Education Initiative, a diverse-led nonprofit that exists to engage, educate, and elevate the next generation of professionals in the business of music and entertainment. Prior to heading The Music Education Initiative, Orson worked as the chief operating officer with the legendary music and entertainment icon Al Bell and his global music, entertainment, and artist development company, Al Bell Presents. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Matthew, Davis, Victoria, and Orson discuss BC’s Blues Shack & Juke Joint and the initiative behind preserving the blues genre. Shownotes: (1:15) Introduction to Orson Weems (1:49) Introduction to BC’s Blues Shack & Juke Joint (6:04) The Influence of Tradition and Blues in the South (9:04) What Fueled the Blues (17:43) Initiatives Behind Preserving the Blues (25:29) Orson’s Entrepreneurial Journey (29:18) Demographics of the Blues (36:14) Location of The Music Education Initiative (42:00) Furthering The Music Education Initiative’s Mission (44:39) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Victoria Dickerson The Music Education Initiative Quotes: “These folks, they themselves were bringing enjoyment to people so that people could actually have some good times to try to think about things other than what they were dealing with in their tolls and everyday lives.” - Orson Weems, (8:16) “... he likes to find rare and unique artists because when you have rare and unique artists that are giving something of themselves back to the audience where they can feel a memorable experience and they can go away talking about it.” - Orson Weems, (18:49) “This exhibit here is for those that may not have seen what a larger juke joint was, but you can get a feel for it here with the way it’s been built and the way it’s open for the community.” - Orson Weems, (31:17)
Mon, August 01, 2022
306: Changing the NFT Media Space
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies ! On this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Matthew Ward, and Davis McEntire sit down with Joe Payne, co-founder and CEO of Society of the Hourglass, as well as a serial entrepreneur who also founded Moxy Ox. After working for RevUnit for six years, Joe felt like he needed something different. So, after kicking around ideas for a while, he came across web3 and NFTs and founded the Society of the Hourglass to create new job opportunities and push the entertainment industry in Northwest Arkansas forward. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Matthew, Davis, and Joe discuss NFTs and the inspiration, challenges, and opportunities surrounding The Society of the Hourglass. Shownotes: (1:47) Introduction to Joe Payne (3:12) Introduction to The Society of the Hourglass (6:12) The Dynamic of the NFT Space (13:17) The Society of the Hourglass Narrative (16:19) How the Society of the Hourglass Started (18:31) Inspiration behind the Society of the Hourglass (20:52) Challenges with the NFT Space (25:06) Opportunities for the Society of the Hourglass (27:20) End Goal for the Society of the Hourglass (29:45) Funding for the Society of the Hourglass (33:53) NFTs as a Financial Related Asset (39:47) Advice to Younger Self (41:07) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Matthew Ward Davis McEntire Joe Payne The Society of the Hourglass Quotes: “The spirit and ethos of the space is really leaning into decentralization and greater access and distribution for the everyday person…I think there is a really powerful move to be made and I think it’ll shift online things like e-commerce, entertainment, IP, and things like that.” - Joe Payne, (7:49) “The spirit of what we’re trying to do though is just co-create with all of the people that are supporting early on and that’s where all of the really interesting and fun ideas come from. You’ve got people that get it and are involved because they want to contribute and put their mark on it.” - Joe Payne, (12:07) “ The possibilities are endless, right? I think really, it just comes down to how the market receives it and what people get excited about and where they want to see the brand brought to life. ” - Joe Payne, (26:23)
Mon, July 25, 2022
305: Choosing to Thrive with Beta Experiences
Summary: In this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talked with Stacy Taniguchi, a retired professor and a current senior consultant and managing partner at Beta Experiences. Beta Experiences is an innovative consulting venture backed by research and psychology, where clients are led to discover what their core values are so they can design a life of thriving. While he was a professor at BYU, Stacy became a tour guide. As Stacy met some other guides, they realized they had expertise in consulting, so they began taking people out into different environments and teaching them through experiences. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, and Stacy discussed how Beta Experiences came to be, what the experiences are like, and tips for creating a life where you can thrive. Thanks for tuning in! Show Notes: (1:03) Introductions (1:30) Origin Story (7:10) Client Base (9:55) Informing the Work at Beta Experiences (17:24) Backed by Academic Benchmarks and Psychology (21:58) Enjoying the Journey (29:33) The Experiences (34:03) Landing the Plane and Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Stacy Taniguchi Beta Experiences Quotes: “...[We are] helping individuals take a look at their life and realize that you can either endure life or endure your business or endure your family, or you can work with us and we'll help you with certain types of tools to develop more of a thriving kind of environment.” Stacy Taniguchi, (8:47) “So my hope is that this ‘choose to thrive’ that I'm trying to teach people is hopefully an avenue to give them some hope again, because what I teach is not complex. It's not rocket science…They're just creating a list, but there's a pathway to do it…We're not creating a bucket list. In fact, I tell people don't call this a bucket list. This is a list to thrive.” Stacy Taniguchi, (16:02) “We just want people to get on board to start taking control of their future.” Stacy Taniguchi, (17:14) “That's one thing that I've found through my research that you really need to do: to be able to create a list that's going to be meaningful, and in many cases, transformational, which in my mind, creates a life to thrive.” Stacy Taniguchi, (20:33) “...We all come from [an] academic background [and] all of our stuff is evidence based…It's not just anecdotal — it's because we know research backs up what we're talking about.” Stacy Taniguchi, (33:33)
Mon, July 18, 2022
304: Measuring Success through Significance with David Baker and Eric Hinson of Parable
Summary: In this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill talked with David Baker and Eric Hinson, CEO and COO and co-founders of Parable, a company that preserves family legacies through the creation of documentaries. After starting their careers in different fields, David and Eric both felt that they were not contributing meaningfully to the world. Nearly three years after they had last met in person, the duo got together again and dreamt up Parable and began telling different families’ stories. Now, they enjoy making a difference and fulfilling their passions as they help others preserve their legacies. Throughout the episode, the hosts talked with David and Eric about their pasts that led them to create Parable, what the company does, and what legacy David and Eric hope to leave with Parable. Thanks for tuning in! Show Notes: (0:36) Welcome and Introductions (1:30) The Story of Parable (17:22) The Process (20:18) Product Value (34:31) Looking at Parable’s Future (37:51) Eric and David’s Legacies (44:24) Landing the Plane: Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill David Baker Eric Hinson Parable Quotes: “This seem[ed] like a really good idea, you know, to sit down and interview people. It gets that human side that I've been missing, working in products and marketing. And I just saw the power of it.” Eric Hinson, (6:39) “Parable exists to turn stories into legacies.” David Baker, (16:26) “People always say…look forward to the goal. But nobody ever thinks to look back to where you've come from, and that's the better way to measure success. How far have you come?” Eric Hinson, (22:28) “...The product that we provide is a lot more than just capturing the stories. It's giving everyone a chance to connect in a way that they haven't ever really connected before.” David Baker, (27:17) “I think there's something special to realizing that the people that we come from are human also. They become sort of mythical… in negative or positive ways over time. And they're not tangible in a way. This is an opportunity to humanize those individuals and hopefully kind of help someone understand how they're anchored in the world and where they come from.” David Baker, (34:02)
Mon, July 11, 2022
303: Getting People into the Right Positions with Stratice
Summary: In this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill talked with Jordan Franklin, the CEO at Stratice, a human capital management firm. Though she originally planned to attend medical school, Jordan instead spent time working at a staffing agency and worked her way up to the number one salesperson. Eventually, Jordan decided to do her own thing and started Stratice in 2015. Now, the team at Stratice shares success with their clients as they help fill necessary roles and help companies achieve their goals. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Grace, and Jordan discussed how Stratice works, the current war on talent, and the future of Stratice and the new company they are starting, Gumption. Thanks for tuning in! Show Notes: (1:10) Introductions (2:23) All about Stratice (7:11) Candidate Market (11:53) Ideal Clients (16:14) Putting Together Teams Vs. Filling Individual Roles (19:19) Best and Worst of Owning a Business (21:04) The Future of Stratice (22:48) Gumption (32:13) Landing the Plane and Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Jordan Franklin Stratice Gumption Quotes: “...We go out whenever companies need a new headcount or are adding projects to their itinerary. We go out and help them find that staff. We do it differently than big companies. We do it more in a concierge service situation. We really want to be their partner.” Jordan Franklin, (2:29) “I always wanted to help people. And, and as a young kid, helping people [meant working] as a doctor… And I didn't really think about, oh, well, there's multiple ways that you can help people. And so through recruiting, it really is another way of helping people. You don't realize how much of a counselor you are.” Jordan Franklin, (6:09) “...I'm not just selling your position, I'm selling what you actually expect out of this person.” Jordan Franklin, (8:56) “...[Going to a job board is] just not how things are done now. So it's got to change. It's also not how Gen Z wants to be hired. Like you're not going to go to a job board and go look for a job…You're going to go find someone and you're going to be like, ‘Hey, what you got out there?’” Jordan Franklin, (26:17) “...Staffing has been around forever, right? Like, it's cool. You can rethink it somewhat. But if you really want to get down to it, we've got to rethink how
Mon, July 04, 2022
302: Refreshing the Role of Finance with Mosaic
Summary: In this episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Caleb Talley, Davis McEntire, and Grace Gill were joined by Joe Garafalo, the COO and co-founder of Mosaic, a technology company building its first strategic finance platform. Joe has a background in finance with a varied career history, but he has found his true passion in developing Mosaic in order to help companies do their jobs more efficiently. Though Mosaic is just getting started, they have a future of success and growth ahead of them. Throughout the episode, they discussed how Mosaic got started, what it looks like now, and what’s on the horizon. Thanks for tuning in! Show Notes: (1:15) Origin Story (6:58) What Mosaic Looks Like Now (7:40) Ease of Implementation (8:48) Target Company Size (9:45) Building Mosaic’s Teams (13:11) Co-founder’s Journey (14:32) What’s Next for Mosaic (15:40) Weathering the Current Economic Storm (22:31) Advice to Younger Self Links: Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Grace Gill Joe Garafalo Mosaic Quotes: “Once [the first version of Mosaic] was built, people would ask us questions and we would get back to them with an answer in a couple minutes. And they were like, ‘Hey, it used to take you guys like three or four weeks to respond to us’…so we showed them what we had built and they were like, ‘Hey, put a front end on top of this tool so that we can interact with it.’” Joe Garafalo, (4:32) “What we're building at Mosaic is much more generalized so that any company can plug in, regardless of the nuances of their individual businesses.” Joe Garafalo, (6:00) “As a founder, you should do all of the jobs across the company. So for us, we were three finance guys. We had never sold, we never did marketing, we never did product design. But the cool part about it was as you embark on the journey and you do all of those individual jobs, you learn what the qualities and the traits are, the skill sets that you need to then go out hire for.” Joe Garafalo, (11:03) “The most important thing is we want to build an important company that helps people do their jobs more efficiently.” Joe Garafalo, (14:43)
Mon, June 27, 2022
301: Making Finance Cool With Fuel
Summary: On this episode of the Startup Junkies podcast, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley talked with Alyona Mysko, the CEO and Founder of Fuel Finance. Alyona has worked in finance for years and is an expert in financial planning and risk management. She started Fuel Finance about three years ago with the goal of making finance cool, efficient, and easy for founders. Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, and Alyona discussed what it’s like running a business in Ukraine right now, stories of Fuel’s success, and how Fuel and other businesses are giving back to Ukraine. Thanks for tuning in! Show Notes: (1:00) Introduction to Alyona (2:00) Origin Story (3:37) How the War in Ukraine Is Affecting Businesses (6:36) Fuel Gives Back (9:20) How Can Others Help? (11:05) Entrepreneurial Journey with Fuel (13:26) The Future of Fuel (15:24) Building the Team: An Experience in Resilience (20:34) Landing the Plane - Advice to Younger Self Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Alyona Mysko Fuelfinance Spendwithukraine.com Quotes: “I believe we make cool and easy finance for founders with our product, so they can really easily understand what is going on inside their business.” Alyona Mysko, (2:55) “...We’re not [the] usual startup because we are profitable and...we do financial products, so we understand how to manage finance.” Alyona Mysko, (12:34) “When you get all dashboards and all information and insights and graphs in several clicks…[that is] the future of finance.” Alyona Mysko, (13:04) “...You should do it with passion, or not at all. So that's why…we have like all crazy team members. We're passionate, but also…we have this culture of responsibility inside…especially working with clients and for our customers and what we provide.” Alyona Mysko, (17:20)
Mon, June 20, 2022
300: Startup Junkie Podcast Hosts Reunion
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: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Jon Cadieux Michael Iseman Cynthia Maggard Matthew Ward 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)
Mon, June 13, 2022
299: Simplifying Fundraising with Foundersuite
Summary: 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: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Nathan Beckord Foundersuite 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)
Mon, June 06, 2022
298 - Bringing the Greenest Decking Business to Arkansas with Adam Zambanini of Trex
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: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Adam Zambanini Trex 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)
Mon, May 30, 2022
297: Making Financial Wellness Attainable for the 100 Percent
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: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley William Peng Northstar 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)
Mon, May 23, 2022
296: MyCelium Changing the NWA Network
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire talked with Rishi Mittal, an entrepreneur who founded Mycelium Networks in Northwest Arkansas which deploys and operates decentralized wireless networks. After teaming up with a friend to mine Bitcoin in 2011, Rishi and his friend had to stop a few months after they started due to the amount of power they were using. Though his time with this project was short, Rishi learned a lot about how to start and run a venture, and he found a passion for blockchain, cryptocurrency, and the whole decentralized world. Throughout the show, Jeff, Caleb, Davis, and Rishi discussed Rishi’s history and interest in blockchain and how his company, Mycelium, is setting up its own IoT network all over Northwest Arkansas, applying it to the blockchain, and creating a new type of internet architecture. 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: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Rishi Mittal Mycelium Networks 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. An
Mon, May 16, 2022
295: Startup Studios & Impact with Josh Stanley of Cartwheel
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: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Josh Stanley Cartwheel Startup Studio 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 f
Mon, May 09, 2022
294: Better Retail, Ecommerce, & Marketing with Fuel Alum Vance Reavie
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 Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Vance Reavie Junction AI Fuel Accelerator 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)
Mon, May 02, 2022
293: NWA's Booming Outdoor Recreation Industry with Phil Shellhammer
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast! On this episode, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire spoke with Phil Shellhammer, director of the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program at the University of Arkansas, co-founder and CEO of Eksplor Gaming, and President of Wize Computing Academy. Phil and his family moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2009 with plans to leave shortly after. However, like many others, they fell in love with the outdoor community and opportunities that the area brought, and Phil now dedicates his time to helping other entrepreneurs find their path in the outdoor recreation space through the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP). Throughout the episode, Jeff, Caleb, Davis, and Phil discussed how GORP is contributing to the growth of entrepreneurs, why Arkansas is an excellent place for outdoor recreation, what’s next for GORP, and much more! 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: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Phil Shellhammer GORP 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 t
Mon, April 25, 2022
292: Exploring the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Jigesh Vora of SwiftGo
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)
Mon, April 18, 2022
291: Highlights from Startup Crawl
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 s
Mon, April 11, 2022
290: Unpacking the Story-Building Process with Donna Griffit
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
Tue, April 05, 2022
289: Start a Business, Adapt, & SUCCEED w/ Kirsten Blowers of Riffraff & City Supply
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/
Mon, March 28, 2022
288: Improving the Employee Experience w/ Amanda Earhart of PushKin
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: Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Caleb Talley Amanda Earhart PushKin Cartwheel 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/
Mon, March 21, 2022
287: Leadership & Sales with Blair Singer
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: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Grace Gill Blair Singer 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: https://www.arkansasedc.com/ https://www.teemyco.com/
Mon, March 14, 2022
286: Camping Made Easy with Coleman Davis of Explore Eden
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: Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Coleman Davis Explore Eden LLC 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 startupjunkie.org
Mon, March 07, 2022
285: Food, Fellowship, & Fun with Denise Thomas, CEO of The World Trade Center AR
Summary: Welcome to the Startup Junkies podcast! Hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Grace Gill were joined by Denise Thomas for this episode on the power of food, fellowship, and fun! Denise is the CEO of The World Trade Center of Arkansas, as well as a respected business strategist both in our state and across the globe. We had a blast getting to pick her brain on this episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:02) Introducing Denise Thomas of the World Trade Center of Arkansas (4:42) Overseeing International Trade (6:47) Evolution of Client Services (9:29) Pandemic's Impact on Global Trade (15:01) Building a Resilient Company (16:51) The Status Quo and the New Normal (19:18) Doing Business Internationally (24:11) Next for WTC (28:41) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Grace Gill Caleb Talley Denise Thomas World Trade Center Arkansas Export.gov Quotes: "When a client comes to Arkansas, those are considered export dollars, just like a consulting company. They may physically go somewhere else to do the work, but the income that they make are export dollars." (2:39) – Denise Thomas "I always give my services to whoever needs help with something. I'm very supportive of others and what they want to do with their lives and their goals." (4:33) – Denise Thomas "We understand what your market is…and really identify the right market for your product." (20:31) – Denise Thomas startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 28, 2022
284: Marketing in the Digital Age with Rahul Chauhan
Summary: Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Rahul Chauhan joined the Startup Junkie crew for this episode of the podcast! Chauhan is the Group Managing Director of Foresight Digital as well as an NFP Board Member and RMIT Career Mentor. He came on to discuss how Foresight Digital cultivated a remote work environment that has created a better experience for clients and employees! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (0:58) Introducing Rahul Chauhan (3:58) WFH, Pivoting and Hiring Internationally (11:02) Worldwide Talent Search (14:56) Creating Healthy Communication Systems (21:04) A Talent Retaining Culture (27:07) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Special Host: Grace Rahul Chauhan Quotes: " Transparency is a huge part of our culture. " (5:30) – Rahul Chauhan " The ability to deliver something, manage outcomes, and have your own emotional regulation typically comes with time and seniority. " (12:07) – Rahul Chauhan startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 14, 2022
282: Talking Tech with Kenny Kinley
Summary: Welcome to a brand new episode! The Startup Junkies welcomed Kenny Kinley on our 282nd episode! Kinley is the CEO of Edafio Technology Partners and has proven leadership experience in broad roles such as IT, sales, marketing, account management, and more. It was a pleasure to discuss all things tech with him on this episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:12) Introducing Kenny Kinley (3:48) Edafio Technology Partners (9:22) Angel Investing (12:43) Figure Out What's Important (16:47) Anywhere Recruitment (20:48) The War on Talent and Remote Work Benefits (26:00) Global Privacy Regulations (29:21) Future of Tech with Edafio (32:37) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Kenny Kinley Edafio Technology Partners Cadron Creek Capital Quotes: "To start a business, not only do you need an entrepreneurial spirit, but you need the programs from the state and also investors." (10:00) - Kenny Kinley "Finding that cultural fit, where it's people you're going to enjoy working with and there's good alignment and objectives is really important." (12:32) - Jeff Amerine "If you try to hire too fast, then you hire the wrong people, and instead of hiring 35, you end up hiring 45." (16:16) - Kenny Kinley "You still need to meet people and have relationships, but instead of four or five face-to-face meetings, there may be one or two, but then the rest of it, you can do virtually." (23:35) - Kenny Kinley "I would go back and tell myself, don't worry so much about what other people think. It is just a vicious cycle… Through mentorships, relationships, and reading you try to soak up all the information and make the best decision you can and just move forward." (33:10) - Kenny Kinley https://www.startupjunkie.org/
Mon, February 07, 2022
281: Growing Your Company with Tim Redmond
Summary: Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast! This episode spills the tea on all things business growth, as we had the opportunity to speak with Tim Redmond. Redmond is the founder of Redmond Leadership Institute, President of Redmond Growth, and a consultant focused on helping owners build businesses that serve them and fulfill their purpose. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:02) Introducing Tim Redmond of Redmond Leadership Institute (4:43) Problem Solving with Business Owners (6:14) Redmond's Diagnostic Process (8:14) The Ideal Customer (13:12) From a Large Company to Consulting (16:15) How to Hire (23:04) Advice for Younger Self (26:16) Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Tim Redmond Redmond Leadership Institute Redmond Growth Consulting Quotes: “I'm one of 11 kids, so I had to learn to collaborate or die.” (1:45) - Tim Redmond “We've got some people that were struggling making $2,000 - $3,000 a month, and they're now making $30,000 - $50,000 a month in profits.” (11:31) - Tim Redmon “65% of all the people in the country are not going to go to college to get a four-year degree. [There are] things like plumbing and electrical and construction [that] you can build fantastic businesses around that are very hard to outsource and are not going to be replaced by AI or automation anytime soon.” (19:54) - Jeff Amerine “I would've probably had [my younger self] spend more money on lunches and bribing various successful people to hang out with [me] than I did towards trying to build my future through savings and investments.” (23:29) - Tim Remond startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 31, 2022
280: Putting the Joy back in Local Shopping with Rejoicy
Summary: A familiar face joined us this week with some great updates! Edwin Ortiz, founder of Rejoicy, stopped by to tell us all about the traction, vision, and future of this service. Rejoicy helps small businesses create websites and start selling in less than 10 minutes, which is a victory if we have ever heard one. Hear all about empowering merchants and being where your customers are in this episode. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (0:53) Introducing Edwin Ortiz (1:47) Serial Entrepreneurship Starting with Luncher (3:42) Who Should Use Rejoicy? (8:24) Shopping Local Internationally (10:20) Let’s Talk About Techstars (13:49) Farmer's Markets Are an Open Door (16:00) Building Brand Awareness (18:00) Pandemic Impact on Online Market (20:23) Serial Entrepreneurship (23:55) Five Year Plan (35:26) Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Edwin Ortiz Rejoicy Luncher Quotes: "That's probably our beachhead; bakers, makers, movers, and shakers." (5:57) - Edwin Ortiz "We see a lot of opportunity for the international market, but in a very hyper-local way." (8:40) - Edwin Ortiz "We want to empower all those local merchants." (16:13) - Edwin Ortiz "It's okay to learn from other people. It's okay to talk about competitors. Don't be scared." (21:22) - Edwin Ortiz "eCommerce on its own is not important. It is the fact that your customers are there that matters." (31:19) - Edwin Ortiz startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 24, 2022
279: Talking Arkansas with Steuart Walton
Summary: The Startup Junkies were joined by an NWA legend on this 279th podcast episode! We are excited to introduce you to Steuart Walton, the co-founder of Runway Group. Not that only, but he is also the founder of Game Composites and serves on many boards, including Walmart, Crystal Bridges, and The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. To say he is a busy man would be an understatement, and we were thrilled to have him on the podcast with us! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (0:58) Introducing Steuart Walton (4:56) What To Expect From a Post-Covid Arkansas (7:09) Aspiring to be the Center of Excellence for Outdoor Recreation (13:13) Arkansas, the Underdog (21:29) The Future of Aviation and Aerospace in Arkansas (32:56) The Long-term Horizon (39:58) Closing Remarks Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Steuart Walton Quotes: "The real economic impact of COVID in my mind was the initial disruption." (2:30) - Steuart Walton "The state of Arkansas is one of the most underappreciated states in terms of natural beauty." (7:57) - Steuart Walton "I think when folks underestimate you and then you have almost impossibly high expectations for yourself… Those two ingredients actually set you up to go a long way and to make a lot of progress in a really short [amount of] time." (17:34) - Steuart Walton "If you have success, it's not going to be like, 'Oh my gosh, I was successful and all my problems went away!' Your problems are just gonna look a little different, but they're still going to be there and they are still going to be real. They're still going to drag you down if you don't address them." (38:31) - Steuart Walton startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 17, 2022
278: The Digital Transformation with Howard T of FROM
Summary: Thanks for joining us for another Startup Junkie episode! This week we welcome special guest Howard Tiersky of FROM, a Digital Transformation Agency, onto our podcast! We are also joined by co-hosts Caleb Talley and Davis Mcentire, who were both honored and excited to discuss the digital transformation age with Tiersky. Tune in now! Shownotes: (1:00) Introducing Howard Tiersky of FROM (4:56) The Evolution of Brands Needing an Online Presence (7:30) The Process of Evaluating Your Digital Marketing (10:44) Difference Between Art and Business (12:04) Addressing Website Problems 101 (18:42) The Journey Into Public Speaking (22:49) What Does Winning Look Like? (26:56) From the Dot Com Days to Today (31:28) Three Ways to Make Digital Customers LOVE Your Brand (32:52) Advice to the Past Self (34:56) Closing Remarks Links: Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Howard Tiersky FROM Quotes: "You think you've got a great website because it's pretty, but here's a video of people sitting down trying to use it, and they're trying to solve particular problems. They have a decision process they're going through and you are not meeting their needs." (8:23) - Howard Tiersky "Whether it's a website or an app or any kind of touch point with the customer, I think the first thing you want to ask is 'What's our definition of success?'" (12:33) - Howard Tiersky "The three things that make brands that are really loved is one, meeting customer's needs, two, occasionally doing something extra that delights the customer, and the third is to stand for something that the customer really cares about." (31:34) - Howard Tiersky startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 10, 2022
277: Actually Loving What You Do with Dean Matt Waller of Walton College of Business
Summary: Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Episode 277 finds our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire sitting around the table with none other than Dean Matt Waller of the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. We discuss topics around the growth and future of Northwest Arkansas, falling in love with entrepreneurship, and leaving a legacy of a life well lived. This is an inspiring episode and we are excited for you guys to get to hear it! Thank you for tuning in! Shownotes: (0:50) Introducing Matt Waller (1:45) A Brief History of Walton College of Business (10:28) Outdoor Recreation Business (13:03) Upcoming Masters Programs (18:14) Building Healthy Young Business People (24:03) From Entrepreneurship to Deanship (33:23) Venture Capital Firm and Working through Chemo (44:17) Advice to Waller’s Younger Self (49:07) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Matt Waller Sam M. Walton College of Business Quotes: "That's one of the changes, when I first got here 27 years ago, people would come get a job and then leave. There weren't as many jobs in Arkansas. Now there's lots of jobs in Arkansas." (16:44) - Matt Waller "We want students to come in and leave as E.P.I.C. business people: excellence, professionalism, innovation, collegiality." (18:49) - Matt Waller "I love business. I don't feel like I'm working most of the time. My whole life I always don't feel like I'm working." (28:35) Matt Waller I think there have been times in my life where I've tried to do things I'm not good at. And now that I know I'm comfortable enough now, Yeah, that's something I would not do good at. And so I'm not going to do it (45:55) - Matt Waller "There's two problems people have. They let fear hold them back, I've done that a time or two, or two they let hubris hurt them." (46:11) - Matt Waller startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, January 03, 2022
276: Top 5 Episodes of 2021
Summary: Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! This episode is hosted by the usual crew including Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire. For our end of the year special we wanted to recap some of our favorite moments on the Startup Junkie Podcast! We go through our top episodes of 2021 so if you are wanting more from one of these Startup Junkies then go back to past episodes and hear it all! Tune in today! Shownotes: (0:52) Introduction to 2021 Recap (2:03) Data on Deck with TJ Sangram of SupplyPike | Ep. 267 (6:14) Shifting The Dollar to NWA Food & Beverage Industry w/ Kim Bryden of Cureate | Ep. 262 (13:43) Buying The Farm w/ Carter Malloy & Michael Iseman of AcreTrader | Ep. 258 (18:31) Building Sustainable Talent with Tim Miller | Ep. 263 (24:22) An Overnight Success Story 6 Years in the Making with Vance & Spencer of Lineus Medical | Ep.248 (28:18) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Ep. 267: Data on Deck w/ TJ Sangam of Supply Pike TJ Sangam SupplyPike Ep. 262 Shifting The Dollar to NWA Food and Beverage Industry with Kim Bryden of Cureate Kim Bryden Cureate Cureate.co Ep. 258 Buying The Farm with Carter Malloy & Michael Iseman of AcreTrader Carter Malloy Michael Iseman AcreTrader Ep. 263 Building Susta
Mon, December 27, 2021
275: How Subscription Revenue Models Have Changed Online w/ Paul Chambers of SUBTA
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! This episode is hosted by the usual crew including Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire. The special guest joining this show is Paul Chambers, the co-founder and CEO of Subscription Trade Association. Paul has an extensive expertise in the subscription commerce economy going back to more than two decades. He has been recognized by national and international publications for his work in this space and we loved getting to talk with him! Tune in today! Shownotes (1:11) Introducing Paul Chambers of Subscription Trade Association (1:41) What is the Subscription Trade Association? (3:26) Stumbling Into an Idea (6:06) The Art of Subscription Businesses (11:54) It all started with selling popcorn! (17:34) What’s next for SUBTA? (22:34) Team Building Extraordinaire (28:04) Advice to his younger self (30:14) Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Paul Chambers SUBTA Trade Association SUBTA Trade Association Website Quotes "We didn't set out to build an event to make millions of dollars just to be a money grab type of scenario. We set out to help find a community and create a community." (5:30) - Paul Chambers "By leading with the best intentions and just focusing on growing a business, growing a good business, and doing the right things, the rest tends to follow." (22:50) - Paul Chambers "One thing I share with my team is that it's okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from our lessons and don't make those same mistakes again." (28:26) - Paul Chambers "I had an entrepreneur tell me one time, you just gotta look yourself in the mirror and not believe your own BS." (29:56) - Paul Chambers startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, December 20, 2021
274: (Reissue) Junk It Up with Kourtney & Beau Barrett
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Beau & Kourtney Barrett, Founders of JUNK Brands, join the Startup Junkies Podcast for episode 274. Beau and Kourtney detail the start of JUNK Brands, and how it grew to become the nationally recognized headband company that it is today. They discuss the importance of listening to the market and providing customers with authentic products that leave them coming back for more. Beau and Kourtney also explore the subculture that helped them scale, and how to use your community as leverage to keep growing. They are huge advocates for the entrepreneurial community here in Northwest Arkansas, and we cap off the discussion talking about what new venture is brewing in the Barrett family, and the "What's Next!?" question that they have been asked a thousand times. Enjoy! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:34) Introducing Kourtney and Beau Barrett (1:54) It all starts with chickens. (6:09) ...But How did it turn into headbands? (11:16) Branding “JUNK” (12:54) Living the Entrepreneurial Dream (15:32) Scaling and selling in the early stages. (23:50) The good, bad, and the ugly (36:52) Advice on Starting Up (38:38) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Michael Iseman Kourtney Barrett Beau Barrett JUNK Quotes "As we thought through it [branding the headbands as JUNK] the more we really liked it. That the brand didn't take itself too seriously, that it was fun, that it was high quality and just kind of represented our attitude about the whole thing." (11:56) - Kourtney Barrett "When you first create a product, when somebody authentically buys that product, who is not your mom, your brother, or somebody that you know is doing it out of obligation... That is all an entrepreneur needs to fuel the fire." (14:14) - Beau Barrett "Finding the subcultures where you can become relevant and grow organically (especially in apparel) is super important." (23:21) - Beau Barrett startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, December 13, 2021
273: Eating In with James Farmer of EasyBins
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! We had the opportunity to meet with James Farmer of EasyBins for episode 273! In this post-pandemic world, getting things to your doorstep sometimes is the only way to go. Look no further than EasyBins! Learn how James and his company are bringing hype back to the dinner table and making things easy, not just convenient. Don’t miss this episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:44) Introducing James Farmer and EasyBins (3:06) Why their Model Works (7:24) Power of Word of Mouth & Competitive Pricing (10:05) The Story Of James Farmer (16:48) What It Costs To Be Up At Night (21:24) Success in 5 Years (28:50) Fighting Scammers (32:13) Beyond Delivery (36:38) Changing Habits From Restaurants To Dining Room Table (42:40) Customer Logistics (46:14) Wrap Up & Advice Links Jeff Amerine Michael Iseman James Farmer EasyBins Quotes "There's a difference between convenience and easy. And it's EasyBins, not ConvenienceBins." (2:43) - James Farmer "The first couple people you hire are going to set your culture." (12:53) - James Farmer "[On competitors] Do things they're not doing." ( 23:43) - James Farmer "Food is one of the very few things that we derive identity from. We have a relationship with food." (25:53) - James Farmer startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, December 06, 2021
272: Rebroadcast: From Social Media Account to Retail Store - Luke & Natalie Freeman of Freckled Hen Farmhouse
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkie's podcast! For this holiday season, we are rebroadcasting an episode that was an absolute joy to record. Our regular host, Jeff Amerine, was joined by the former executive director of Startup Junkie Foundation, Haley Allgood. They had the opportunity to sit and chat with Luke and Natalie of Freckled Hen Farmhouse, a shop that began as a social media account and transformed into a retail store. Through featuring products during an at-home renovation, Luke and Natalie started what would be a fantastic functional and sustainable home goods and gifts store on College Avenue in Northwest Arkansas. You will want to visit this store as Christmas is quickly approaching! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:40) Introducing Natalie and Luke Freeman (2:10) From Farmers to Freckled Hen Farmhouse Shop (6:06) Curating the Merchandise (5:14) Utilitarianism and Beauty (9:20) Credibility of Suppliers (10:59) The Next Five Years (14:48) Financing Without Savings (18:25) Physical Location Vs. Online Store Growth (23:06) How to Invest Your Time Well as an Entrepreneur (26:14) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Haley Allgood Luke Freeman and Natalie Freeman Freckled Hen Farmhouse Quotes "It's really grown into something that's more than a gift store, it's a one-stop shop for people buying meaningful gifts for people they love, and also a place for people to find items that inspire them to live a well-lived meaningful life." (8:45) - Luke Freeman "I feel like maybe my end goal is not necessarily a retail store, but it's always been building community." (12:47) - Natalie Freeman "We rented a cabin for a weekend and sat down and hammered out the business plan. We disconnected, no wifi. It was just us pencil and paper writing out this inspiration, this idea that had come to us." (15:39) - Luke Freeman "[On creating an online business first.] So just knowing that we're only going to grow as our customer requests, I just think it's a better business decision for us." (20:53) - Natalie Freeman startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, November 29, 2021
271: The Cornerstone of the Internet, SEO, featuring Kris Reid of Ardor SEO
Summary Our hosts, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward, speak with Kris Reid of Ardor SEO on this week's episode. This podcast recording is a never-before-seen interview from earlier this year, and you will NOT want to miss it. Kris Reid speaks to us on search engine optimization and how it is a foundational piece of having a successful website. Without users finding your website, how do you actually make a profit? Kris Reid and Ardo SEO have the solution to this problem, so tune in now! Shownotes (0:50) Introducing Kris Reid (2:03) From Software Engineering to SEO (4:02) Is SEO Growth Hacking? (5:14) Common Mistakes with Clients (9:04) Ideal Customer (14:40) AI, Machine Learning, and SEO (18:53) Ardor SEO and VC (21:25) Profit First Mentality (24:29) The Why for Kris (26:05) Future Casting with Kris (27:59) Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Kris Reid Ardor SEO Ardor Media Factory Quotes "Most people think that they need a website, but you don't, if you're not going to rank it, what's the point? --- It's words that sell. And those words need to get in front of people's faces. If you spend 30 grand on a website and no one sees it, what's the point?" (4:13) - Kris Reid "What we're trying to do is build up our clients' authorities to get them trusted by Google, so that Google will reward them with lots of traffic and customers." (5:05) - Kris Reid "That's what Google's looking for, to build up your trust... If it's some tiny little new site, that's not worth anything. If it's a big, strong authority site like the FBI or a university, that's a big, strong credible backlink… that's the secret of Google." (8:24) - Kris Reid startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, November 22, 2021
270: Developing New Markets & Vaccines with Louis Bowen
Summary Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Davis McEntire sit down with Louis Bowen, co-founder of Pacific GeneTech Limited as well as founder of Asia Capital Management Limited in Hong Kong. In this week's episode, we discuss Louis' entrepreneurial journey, his relocation to Hong Kong along the way, and how he tackled making a difference in the Asian markets as he founded one of the first private investment banking firms in the area as well as operating Pacific GeneTech, a vaccination development and commercialization firm. Don't miss this one, tune in! Shownotes (1:16) Introducing Louis Bowen (6:08) Pacific GeneTech (13:14) Long Cycle Commercialization of Intellectual Property (18:44) H5N1 Scare (23:44) Raising Capital Internationally Vs. Domestically (27:08) Evolution of Asian Market Today (34:21) Pacific GeneTech and NWA (37:13) Human Health and on The Horizon (39:13) Advice to Younger Self (38:13) Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Louis Bowen Asia Capital Management Pacific GeneTech Quotes "Not many entrepreneurs have an appreciation for how long-cycle commercialization of intellectual property, particularly as it relates to human or even animal health, requires a kind of long-term commitment and patience." (13:18) - Jeff Amerine "One reason why we chose Northwest Arkansas was that we wanted to be close to the source of technology, we wanted to continue to work with the university." (31:20) - Louis Bowen "There's a real skill in being able to take technology out of the lab and turn it into a reality." (35:01) - Louis Bowen "I probably felt as though I could solve more problems than I could in the investing world. You know, nothing goes in a straight line. There's nothing linear investing in early businesses, early stage businesses." (40:48) - Louis Bowen startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, November 15, 2021
269: Taking Notes on the Changing Work Environment with Phil Libin
269: Taking Notes on the Changing Work Environment with Phil Libin Summary Welcome back to the podcast! We are the Startup Junkies, and this is episode 269. Our hosts for this episode contain the usual Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire and are also joined by the prodigal son himself, Matthew Ward! We had the pleasure of talking to Phil Libin who is a serial entrepreneur and just a fun guy! We laughed, chatted, and got to dive into his latest ventures, Mmhmm and All Turtles. Don't miss this one, tune in! Shownotes (1:31) Introducing Phil Libin (3:33) Why move to Bentonville, Arkansas? (6:41) Genesis and future casting for Mmhmm (12:24) All Turtles Philosophy (18:15) Out of Office vs. In-Person Benefits (21:08) Commentary of Evolving VC World (30:37) Paradigm Shifts in Apple, AI, and Machine Learning. (35:39) Advice to Younger Self (38:13) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Phil Libin Mmhmm All Turtles Quotes "Quality of life improves quality of work and quality of work improves quality of life." (8:16) - Phil Libin "We're never going back to anything, we're going forward. We're not going back to the way things were... We are going forward to the way things should be." (19:13) - Phil Libin "I care about brilliant people having a chance to show their brilliance and make high impact products. And I don't want them to waste their time making startups first." (25:25) startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, November 08, 2021
268: Dismantling the Exclusiveness of VC with Jesse Randall of Sweater
Summary Welcome to episode 268 of the Startup Junkie's Podcast! Jeff Amerine, Davis McEntire, and Caleb Talley spend time with Jesse Randall, CEO and Founder of Sweater. This platform allows everyday investors to access the most exclusive asset class, Venture Capital. This episode will cover Jesse's journey as a tried-and-true entrepreneur. Sweater aims to disrupt the way venture capital is done. In other words, you'll want to tune in! Shownotes (1:36) Introducing Jesse Randall (3:52) How is Sweater different? (6:41) Sweater's Venture Capital Structure (8:28) Stage Focus within Sweater (9:27) Syndicating, Leading, or Following? (13:00) Identifying Strategic Partners (17:31) How did Sweater Come About? (22:13) Being a Public Investment Company (28:54) The Next 5 Years for Sweater (31:44) Day To Day Challenges (34:24)Advice to Younger Self (36:33) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Caleb Talley Jesse Randall Sweater Quotes "People have this desire to be entertained and they want something to brag about on the weekends, and have something to talk about with their friends, and being an investor is an element of their personal brand and a little bit of status associated with it." (3:34) Jesse Randall "They are great businesses and I'm grateful that they have the opportunity to raise money... They just typically don't qualify to raise money for VC funds." (5:36) - Jesse Randall "[On advice to younger self] I would say, freaking learn how to sell. Number one rule, learn how to sell something." (34:46) - Jesse Randall https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, November 01, 2021
267: Data on Deck w/ TJ Sangam of SupplyPike
Welcome to episode 267 of the Startup Junkie's Podcast! Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine are joined by TJ Sangam, CEO and co-founder of SupplyPike. This company seeks to help suppliers focus on growing their business while they do the other work of building and informing collaborative products through machine learning and artificial intelligence. From topics circling the disruptions within supply-chain in 2020, to the wild wild west of NFT’s and cryptocurrency, to a future of deep fake and AI, buckle up and get ready for this episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:22) Introducing SupplyPike (3:13) Entrepreneur Journey of TJ Sangam (5:20) SupplyPike’s Response to Disruptions in Global Supply Chain (8:44) Surprising Data in 2020-2021 (9:27) Supply Community (11:20) Anticipated Supply Acquisitions in the Future (13:36) A Dip into Cryptoworld & AI (22:40) What’s Next for SupplyPike? (26:50) New Product Launch: Data Lab (41:17) Advice To Younger Self (43:32) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley TJ Sangam SupplyPike Quotes “A lot of times suppliers don't even know that they're hemorrhaging tons of money So we help identify that.” (2:28) - TJ Sangam “[Small CPG’s] expertise is in making the product, not necessarily supplying them.” (6:19) - TJ Sangam “We want to use this data to model supply chain behavior.” (23:42) - TJ Sangam "We want to automate replenishment, which is the bulk of what happens in supply-chain." (24:36) - TJ Sangam startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, October 25, 2021
266: Tapping into Venture Capital with Hall T. Martin of TEN Capital Network
Welcome to episode 266 of the Startup Junkie's Podcast! For this episode, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine sit down with Hall T. Martin of TEN Capital Network. Whether it's discovering helpful tips on improving your pitches to VC funds or how to get the most out of raising capital for your startup, you will NOT want to miss this one! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:55) Introducing Hall T. Martin (5:14) Creating TEN Capital Network (7:26) Venture Scaling Route (11:41) Funding as a Service (14:47) What's Next for the Funding World? (20:53) Recipe for a Successful Angel Network (25:16) Events for Startups (26:59) Simplifying Reports On Investments (29:58) Why Join Angel Investing? (32:01) Advice To Younger Self (33:30) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Hall T. Martin TEN Capital Network Quotes "It was all about student education, student experience, and job placement. The angels that came together, that was their 'why.' That's where I really learned that if the "why" is just to make money, you're going to have a 30% turnover rate every 12 to 18 months." (4:17) - Hall T. Martin "I'm amazed how many people are out pitching... yet they really haven't finished the deck, they really haven't put the financial projections together. I always coach them, 'Let's get the basics together.' " (7:43) - Hall T. Martin "I think the key is to number one, find what your 'why’ is. Why would we come together? What is our mission? What are we going to do?" (21:09) - Hall T. Martin "Investing is not so much about the finance, it's about building relationships." (32:19) - Hall T. Martin startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, October 18, 2021
265: Show Me the Money: Exploring NIL with WLJ & Friends
Summary This is the Startup Junkie's Podcast, welcome back! Episode 265 gathered a lot of incredible people around the Startup Junkie table! Alongside our hosts, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire, we sat with Meredith Lowry and Judy Henry of Wright Lindsey Jennings Law Practice, and Sarah Goforth and Cari Humphry from the University of Arkansas’ office of entrepreneurship and innovation. The NCAA, the U of A, and the NIL are some big buzz words for any collegiate sports fan and we got to discuss the legal ramifications alongside with the U of A’s response to the matter. Don’t miss this episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:49) Introducing WLJ and UARK guests (3:13) Pressure of NIL with the NCAA and UARK (13:07) UARK Programs to Empower Athletes with New NIL Procedures (22:12) The Need for Financial Advisement and Education (26:29) Legalities of This Transition (35:36) UARK Vs. Other Universities (41:20) Relationship with Businesses and Universities and NIL Procedures (48:17) Changing Marketplace and Changing Regulations (1:02:55) Growth of Sports Management (1:10:45) Closing Remarks & Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Meredith Lowry Judy Henry Wright Lindsey Jennings Law Practice Sarah Goforth Cari Humphry UARK Office of entrepreneurship and Innovation Quotes "This has been a pressure point boiling up to the surface for a couple of years. And finally became reality when states went ahead and had statutes that immediately came into effect this summer. The NCAA couldn't ignore it any longer and had to take some action." (7:24) - Judy Henry "A lot of them are not equipping themselves because they devote so much time to their sport.. [they have no time to ] to really be successful and negotiate and go after opportunities and start their own businesses." (15:27) - Sarah Goforth "I feel we've [UARK] differentiated ourselves with the wide variety of mentors and community partners involved who are giving their time and their expertise. An
Mon, October 11, 2021
264: Make A Ripple in Your Community by Shopping with Pebble starring Evan Mullins
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkie's Podcast! Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire are joined by Evan Mullins, data-scientist and founder of Pebble. A startup that’s goal is to help grow and build up other small companies. We want to hear all about it! From a childhood spent innovating, to seeing a problem and solving a problem in school, to the creation of Pebble, we were able to hash it all out with our good friend Evan on this week’s episode. You will want to hear all about Evan and Pebble, and maybe even get on the platform yourself after listening to this! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:49) Introducing Evan Mullins of Pebble (2:12) Always an Entrepreneur (7:13) Empirical Evidence and Marketing a Startup Up (9:29) Why work with Pebble? (10:41) Business Model of Pebble (15:03) Pebble’s Online Process (18:22) Data Analytics of Pebble (22:32) Market Expansion (28:33) Advice to Younger Self (39:58) Wrap Up Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Evan Mullins Pebble Quotes "I knew that small businesses really value their time. It's really hard to get on their schedules and it's really hard to get them to pay for things.” (4:37) - Evan Mullins "It's all about exposure. You're getting access to a whole other market of people and getting to see and interact with customers” (9:46) - Evan Mullins “What we're offering is whenever someone goes to buy anything, they're going to find you.” (10:27) - Evan Mullins startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, October 04, 2021
263: Building Sustainable Talent with Tim Miller of Central Standard
Welcome to the Startup Junkie's Podcast! This week we mixed it up a little. Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire are joined by guest co-host Tim McFarland and sit down with Tim Miller of Central Standard. Old friends, Tim and Jeff, catch up on his newest venture on the entrepreneurial journey. This episode discusses the flaws in talent recruiting agencies who pull from the international pools and what makes Central Standard different. Thanks for joining us! Shownotes: (0:49) Introducing Tim Miller of Central Standard (1:38) From Collegiate Track Athlete to Serial Entrepreneur (11:01) Experience as an Early Stage Startup (16:48) The War on Talent (31:55) Why Mexico? (35:50) Business Growth Outpacing Talent (40:08) Culture's Influence on Customer Loyalty (45:22) Central Standard's Business Model (55:34) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Timothy McFarland Timothy Miller Central Standard "It's a talent and recruiting agency, but I like to call a talent agency because first and foremost, I think what makes us different is we are trying to appeal to the talent down there, much like a CAA (creative artists agency.)" (20:46) Tim Miller "I think our message resonates. They see that we care about their career. We wanna help them find an industry." (25:37) - Tim Miller "We want to help people identify opportunities." (24:13) - Tim Miller "What you are seeing is that the people with deep pockets, um, are, are able to attract talent and, and, and talent is moving at a frequency. It's never moved before. Loyalty lasts only so long." (35:05) - Tim Miller startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, September 27, 2021
262: Shifting The Dollar to NWA Food and Beverage Industry with Kim Bryden of Cureate
Welcome to the Startup Junkie's Podcast! Kim Bryden of Cureate joins our Startup Junkie hosts, Jeff, Caleb, and Davis to discuss shifting the dollar to Northwest Arkansas' food and beverage industry. Whether it's making a killer Bloody Mary, almost being in the FBI, running a grocery store, or having a massive heart for small businesses, Kim was beyond fascinating to learn from! Cureate will be NWA's new best friend; listen to the whole episode to hear how! Thanks for joining us! Shownotes: (1:06) Introducing Kim Bryden of Cureate (8:43) Early Stages of Cureate (11:51) Why Northwest Arkansas? (19:06) Distribution End Goals & Co-Packers (23:25) Staffing Hospitality Industry in 2021 (28:08) Consumer Demands Solution in NWA (31:22) Kim's Expectations of The Heartland (50:57) Advice To Younger Self (54:18) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Kim Bryden Cureate Cureate.co Quotes: "I'd like to work with people that, I don't know, care about stable cashflow. Who actually build businesses that are of and from their communities." (8:02) - Kim Bryden "[It's] that inflection point where they've done a thing for a certain period of time, and now they're considering "What's my next business development strategy, marketing strategy, sales strategy?" (9:29) - Kim Bryden "I'm hoping and desiring that the small businesses that emerge from this time truly define what their mission is and what values [they have] and what they stand for." (24:48) - Kim Bryden "The best businesses with the strongest cultures are going to attract the best people and everyone else will suffer." (26:15) - Jeff Amerine startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, September 20, 2021
261: Breaking Through Glass Ceilings With Ryann Hartley of Hartley Flooring
This is the Startup Junkie's Podcast; welcome to it! In episode 261, we have Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire from Startup Junkies sit with Ryann Hartley of Hartley Flooring. From the dynamic of being a woman in the industry to the entrepreneurial spirit being in her DNA to creating an immaculate company culture, we got to hash it all out with Ryann! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:24) Introducing Ryann Hartley of Hartley Flooring (3:48)) From Sherwin Williams To Flooring (5:23) Company Culture (7:31) Winning & Customer Targeting (10:39) Glass Ceiling In Construction & Contract Work (15:22) What's Next For Flooring? (19:04) Owning The Business 100% (22:02) Advice to Women in Trade Space (25:33) What's Next For Ryann Hartley? (34:33) Advice To Younger Self (37:27) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Ryann Hartley Hartley Flooring Quotes: "Working with Sherman Williams, a 150 year old multi-billion dollar business, the career ladder was forever long, as long as I wanted it to be, but there was just something attractive about small business in Northwest Arkansas." (2:28) - Ryann Hartley "Nothing is perfect. It just isn't. So being willing to just ride those waves and meet those challenges when they come up, there's all kinds of unforeseen things and unknown things… so when you just meet those challenges as best you can over time, you gain respect." (11:38) Ryann Hartley "...So [I was] running a gas pump at a liquor store. That's what small business is, it' 's not always sexy, it's hard work." (20:25) Ryann Hartley startupjunkie.org wlj.com
Mon, September 13, 2021
260: B'ing Unique with Ben Clark of B-Unlimited
Welcome to The Startup Junkie’s Podcast! Ben Clark, CEO of B-Unlimited, joins our hosts, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire, to discuss how he created a people company that just so happens to sell t-shirts. Ben breaks down how making a bought-in team, along with well-curated values and a striving for excellence, has scaled this t-shirt company into an entire culture. From building trust and rapport with competitors, helping other struggling businesses during COVID, to the impact of technology, to even the NCAA licensing fiasco, we dive into just about everything! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:07) Introducing Ben Clark of B-Unlimited (5:19) Big News for B (8:19) Reaching Out To Competitors (10:08) COVID and Uncertainty of University & Greek Life Retail (12:02) Building Brand Loyalty (16:01) Transitional Leadership (26:22) Culture Creation and Talent Acquisition (28:39) Science, Technology, and Earth Friendly Initiatives (37:15) Impact of New NCAA Protocol (44:27) 5 Years From Now (44:27) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Ben Clark B-Unlimited Quotes: "Through COVID it really has caused me to reach out to all my competitors, which has been something really different than the past… I've just been able to talk to them and just kind of talk through what we're doing. It was good to know that you had someone there, even though they were competitor... that could help you and pick up the pieces." (8:19) - Ben Clark From seeing another business fail, [it] actually helped me understand that I needed to make [us succeed]... and it's really more about systems, procedures, and automation." (16:45) - Ben Clark "Our ethos is: be unique, be yourself, be unlimited and that's on our wall... we don't care how big we get. Culture costs money, it's an investment." (24:39) - Ben Clark "You've got to find a community to help you navigate… Seek out good mentors and advice." (45:23) - Ben Clark <a href="https://www.startu
Mon, September 06, 2021
259: Transforming the Industrial Workspace with Brendan Howell
Summary: This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. Brendan Howell of Loloft jumps into this episode with our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire to discuss transforming the industrial workspace. Brendan discussed his newest venture meant to take traditional industrial space contracts and work environments and aim them to serve small to midsize companies. This looks like combining office grade co-working space with the fit and amenities a larger warehouse would offer. This will be coming to a city near you so listen to the rest and look out for Loloft! Thanks for joining us! Shownotes: (1:22) Introducing Brendan Howell of Loloft (5:44) Brick & Mortar to Digital Startup (10:14) Dutch Auction Digital Project (10:13) Pandemic Pivot (14:25) Transition to Industrial Co-Working Model (30:38) Benefits For Early To Mid Size Companies (33:47) Future with Northwest Arkansas (41:07) Advice to Younger Self (46:40) Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Brendan Howell Loloft Industrial Coworking Quotes: "The whole idea was that we want to enable small to midsize companies to get started and take physical space on a flexible basis. We want to have the amenities that office coworking has also." (26:17) - Brendan Howell "So if you're a startup, you want to get into business in a physical space, you come and see us go: "Yep, I need 300 square feet." or "I need 1,000 square feet." [And then you can] sign up tomorrow." (27:37) - Brendan Howell "So now the idea is to make this a unicorn billion dollar plus company that was born in Northwest Arkansas." (28:59) - Brendan Howell "Being a startup, you just don't know how much space you need... You've got an idea how much you need today, but you don't know how much in three to six months [or] in a year, because you know, startups are the kind of slow and steady growth to explosive growth, or explode into pieces." (30:58) - Brendan Howell "Collaborate. It's all about the team with any sort of business. I've tried to do it all by myself and being a dictator is not the right way to do it. You just get sick of yourself." (45:41) - Brendan
Mon, August 30, 2021
258: Buying The Farm with Carter Malloy & Michael Iseman of AcreTrader
Summary: Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Davis McEntire, were joined by Carter Malloy and Michael Iseman of AcreTrader. AcreTrader's goal is to simplify farmland investment. It's no joke that the global population and, therefore, demand for food is proliferating, Carter and Michael believe in offering a truly diversified investment opportunity with long-term returns. Hear how this company is not only leveling up in asset acquisition but also a stellar company culture! Thanks for joining us! Shownotes: (1:03) Introducing Carter & Michael of AcreTrader (5:07) From Listing to Sign-Ups (7:49) Farm Styles Offered (10:13) Due Diligence of Saying Yes or No (15:53) Adapting to Challenges (22:09) Evolution of Leadership from a Small to Large Team (27:50) What Winning Looks Like (30:45) Craziest Business Experience (35:22)Advice to Younger Self (37:18)Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Davis McEntire Carter Malloy Michael Iseman AcreTrader Quotes: "And as a result, we ended up having a great product. We have really great investments to come through and ultimately really great outcomes for those that we work with." (4:15) - Carter Malloy "Within your team, the people who are closest to any particular interaction are going to understand it better than you. So trusting your team, trusting the process, and ultimately trusting the data very quickly, in this case proved out." (16:46) - Carter Malloy "We work really hard, but we have a lot of fun too. We celebrate the wins and the milestones, and then everyone comes back and works harder to achieve the next one." (29:19) - Michael Iseman https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, August 23, 2021
257: Adversity as a Catalyst to an Entrepreneurial Spirit with John Vuong
Summary This is the Startup Junkies Podcast, welcome back! Episode 257 consisted of our hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley joined by special guest John Vuong. John is the founder and president of Local SEO Search. This Toronto-based Search Engine optimization company aims to aid business owners who desire to attain ready to buy customers on Google. Website engagement, call scheduling and heightened business are the goals and we got to sit with John and discuss how he got there and what the plan is for the future! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes: (1:18) Introducing John Vuong of Local SEO Search (4:10) Adversity & Work Ethic (10:48) Passion for Small & Local Businesses (12:11) Instilling Conviction into a Team (13:30)How to Utilize SEO (18:19) Biggest Challenges Along the Way (21:36) Virtual Work & Cultural Nuances (30:40)Advice to Younger Self (32:57)Wrap Up Links: Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley John Vuong Local SEO Search Quotes: "In order to learn, you have to educate yourself and make mistakes." (10:42) - John Vuong "Many of the entrepreneurs that are successful, whether they were there were immigrants or whether they're from here, if they've had a bit of a hard scrabbled start... that drive and that hunger is a little bit more there. I think there's maybe even more appreciation of how hard it really is to do well." (5:54) - Jeff Amerine I think more business owners and founders, if they take a step back from that typical mythology, and they think about what they want to get out of it in terms of satisfaction and self-actualization, all those other things that really give you a sense of being and quality, peace of mind." (23:45) - Jeff Amerine "I'm never happy because I feel like there's so much more I can learn and do and impact others." (28:52) John Vuong https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, August 16, 2021
256: How Podcasting Saved The World with Ryan Estes
Summary Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Our team, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward, were joined by Ryan Estes, co-founder of Kitcaster. Kitcaster is where podcasting and startup strategy meet. Did podcasting actually save the world? Is Clubhouse going to run podcasting out of business? Check out this episode to see! Shownotes (1:02) Introducing Ryan Estes (4:26) Kitcaster Business Model (6:44) Podcasting Benefits (9:27) Podcast Statistics From 2020-2021 (11:53) Clubhouse Vs. Podcasting (20:28) Kitcaster Roadmap (35:53)Advice to Younger Self (36:58)Wrap Up Links Ryan Estes Kitcaster Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Matthew Ward Quotes "My journey into entrepreneurship was just based on anger and resentment, ultimately. I had some terrible bosses that I was like, this can't be my life, this is going to be horrible." - Ryan Estes (2:06) "I've kind of validated, launched, and killed many, many projects over the years. Looking for something that really resonated with me personally, and had the scale potential that made it worth my while." - Ryan Estes (3:22) "Really with [entrepreneurship] it's like getting really honest with yourself. If you put 18 months into a project and it's not working, you gotta let it go. To be able to do that, that's a hard thing to do sometimes." - Ryan Estes (22:51) "Maybe you lost contact with some of your friends, it's been three or four months-- So having podcasting, hearing other guys that are hanging out or having conversations… it's unbelievably important to kind of keep that loneliness at bay." - Ryan Estes (10:36) "99% of your ideas are terrible... Spend a week putting together a terrible idea and then put it away. Then develop a terrible idea and then put it away. Get in the habit of killing ideas." - Ryan Estes (32:03) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, August 09, 2021
255: The Game of Life with Shelby Matussak of Dead Lemon Games
Summary Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Shelby Matussak joins our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire to discuss his transition from unemployment to board game creator. From making a passion project into a business, the importance of face-to-face human interaction, and why asking for help is so hard as an entrepreneur; this episode is packed with helpful information. As founder of Dead Lemon Games and creator of the new board game hit Lonely Undead , Shelby's grit, optimism, and creativity inspired all of us here at Startup Junkie! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:17) Introducing Shelby Matussak (1:49) Introducing Dead Lemon Games & Lonely Undead (5:52) Displacement of Unemployment (12:59) Board Games & Pandemic Parameters (15:53) Funding Dead Lemon Games (18:36) Co-Founder Scott Forbush & Round Mountain Coffee (23:55) Advice to first-time Creators (26:43) Defining Future Success (30:20) Advice to Younger Self (32:30)Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Davis McEntire Shelby Matussak Dead Lemon Games Lonely Undead Facebook Page Lonely Undead Kickstarter Lonely Undead Instagram BoardGamesOnABus Scott Forbush Round Mountain Coffee Quotes " I don't think there's any substitute for being in a physical space, with a number of people, and being set forth with a problem or an objective and having to work together to sort of accomplish a shared goal. Whether it be a friendly competition or it could be cooperatively. "(5:22) "[On product feedback] And as a new entrepreneur, start small, start close to yourself, like, look at your friends, look at your family, see what resources you have… maybe you can figure out how to weave them into your process." (25:56) Definitely don't take on everything yourself. Even if they're small tasks and you have friends that can help... if you do have to kind of crunch some numbers and outsource a couple of things to make and keep yourself sane, do that, that's
Mon, August 02, 2021
254: Navigating the Entrepreneur’s Mind with Psychiatrist Mark Goulston
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Mark Goulston discusses navigating entrepreneurs' minds with Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward. Dr. Goulston is a Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 coaches member, a founding member of Newsweek Expert Forum, a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, an acclaimed author and renowned psychiatrist. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:52) Introducing Dr. Mark Goulston (1:28) Psychiatry and Worldview (8:38) Psychology and Product Creation (11:10) Creating Workplace Culture (19:07) Designed Thinking (22:55) Journey of Dr. Goulston Working with Entrepreneurs (33:50) Handling Conflict as Key to Relationships and Team Building (39:28) Youth Mental Health & Failure to Launch (43:12) Advice to Younger Self (44:51) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Dr. Mark Goulston Markgoulston.com Get Out Of Your Own Way Defeating Self Defeat Quotes “A visionary thinker looks at the unknown as an adventure to be lived.” - (5:59) Dr. Mark Goulston “What you have to realize is that people aren't just listening to you, they're listening for something. It's a different dynamic.” - (11:26) Dr. Mark Goulston If everybody in the company wakes up and says, ‘I can't wait to go to work’, you have a good culture." - (16:52) Dr. Mark Goulston “[Entrepreneurs] What we all have in common here is we're all unemployable.” - (23:23) Dr. Mark Goulston https://www.startupjunkie.org https://wlj.com
Mon, July 26, 2021
253: The Practicality of Explorative Psychology in Entrepreneurship with Zach Washam
Summary We are back at it again with another Startup Junkies Podcast! Our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward had the opportunity to speak with Zach Washam, former banking analyst now the creator of Machine Learning Edge, now PyFi and short-form essay writer. From machine learning, to explorative psychology, you will not want to miss this existential hour of an episode! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:54) Introducing Zach Washam (1:45) PyFi Update! (2:50) Where Banking Meets Machine Learning (13:15) Psychology and Motivational Speaking (14:44) Existential Hour (24:23) The practicality of Explorative Psychology (31:46) Imposter Syndrome (35:24) Defining Success (44:41) Wrap up Links Zach Washam Machine Learning Edge / PyFi zachwasham.com Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Books Maps of Meaning Memories, Dreams, Reflections The Grand Biocentric Design Give and Take Quotes Everybody's focusing on deals, transactions, sta
Mon, July 19, 2021
252: Banking, Mental Health, and Storytelling within Entrepreneurship with Heather Nelson
Summary Glad to have you back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! Caleb Tally, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward are joined by Heather Nelson, President, and Co-Founder of Seal Solar. Seal Solar is a solar design and installation firm out of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Understanding banking, taking mental health seriously, and using storytelling to educate and market have played a significant role in Heather's Midas touch success stories. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:54) Introducing Heather Nelson of Seal Solar (1:35) From Banking to Entrepreneurship (7:01) Seal Solar Origin (10:00) Importance of Mental Health (12:33) Storytelling as an Entrepreneur (22:24) Being Comfortable with Uncertainty (25:02) Imposter Syndrome (28:34) Casting Vision for Seal Solar (32:24) Why Solar Energy? (38:23) Advice to Younger Self (40:46) Wrap Up Links Heather Nelson Seal Solar Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Quotes "You really need a strong banking relationship or you're just not gonna make it." (2:00) Heather Nelson "[Entrepreneurship] will highlight and show you all these gifts, passions, and things about yourself and your abilities that you never knew… but it will also show you the deepest, darkest, ugliest things about yourself. That you've spent a lot of time shoving into every crevice and corner saying, Lord Jesus, please don't let anybody ever see that or know that about me. (10:15) Heather Nelson "We've got a world that says you have to be a subject matter expert on everything at 22, and that's just the biggest lie ever." (23:10) Heather Nelson "It's not about whether the utilities are bad and solar's good or solar's bad and utilities are good... The thing is there's this amazing technology and how do we work together to utilize this great technology?" (33:18) Heather Nelson https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, July 12, 2021
251: Building Communities and Changing Lives featuring Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley
Summary Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine are joined by Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley this week on this latest episode. Darrin is currently the CEO of Southern Bancorp Inc and has partnered with Vance, a founding member of BankWorx. Together they are seeking to reimagine and reinvent the way banks use and develop core banking systems. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:00) Introducing Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley (2:14) Southern Bancorp (13:11) Facing Big Challenges (16:20) Growth Alongside Coinbase (19:52) Innovation Driven by Pandemic Impact (24:23) Do Banking Education Differently (28:05) Defining Success Down The Line (30:54) Opportunity Zones and Gentrification (35:22) What They Wish They Had Known (39:28) Wrap up Links Southern Bancorp Darrin Williams Vance Smiley Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Quotes "Our work really focuses on building economic opportunity… we really work to increase the net worth of the people that we serve." (4:14) Darrin Williams "We don't exist just to be a bank. We really exist to make a difference. Build communities and change lives." (6:18) Darrin Williams "I'm becoming much more interested in the impact of my work...it means something more than a paycheck, more than an equity upside." (35:57) Vance Smiley "My parents were so dedicated to being servant leaders. I mean, every day I saw my parents focused on helping other people, it was never about them… so my interest in the law, my interest in politics, all came from this desire to serve." (37:46) Darrin Williams https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/
Mon, July 05, 2021
250: Branding Authenticity, Simplicity, and Joy with Dustin Finkel of Ka-Pop! and Awakened Foods
Summary This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. Welcome back! This week, the usual crew, Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Dustin Finkel, CEO and Founder of Ka-Pop!, which recently merged with Bubba's Fine Foods to create Awakened Foods. From brand awareness, relationship building, and family-work balance to the importance of community, we discussed all the things that lead Dustin and his team to success. Thank you for joining us! Shownotes (0:53) Introducing Dustin Finkel (1:41) From Investment Banking to Food Production (5:05) Shark Tank and Brand Awareness (7:13) Building Relationships While Sourcing (9:52) Company Culture + Branding (14:42) Balancing Family and Running a Corporation (18:40) The Value of Intentional Community and Partnerships (29:46) Advice to Younger Self (33:58) Wrap Up Links Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Dustin Finkel Ka-Pop! Awakened Foods Awakened Foods Crafters Bubba's Fine Foods Quotes "So despite my food background, it started just like everyone else. I thought there was a better way... The difference is I had a network that allowed me to really kind of partake and grow this business fairly quickly." (4:12) - Dustin Finkel "And that's really the differentiator that our branding is about… it's about enjoyment. Snacking is fun. It should not be a trade off. It shouldn't be about this serious engagement." (11:15) - Dustin Finkel "I want consumers to love my product to just gravitate toward it, [to] enjoy the eating experience." (12:26) -Dustin Finkel "That was the whole point; build as much flexibility to grow. Because who knows what the next COVID is or who knows what the next growth trend is or what that might be." (20:40) - Dustin Finkel "I don't accept mistakes. I hate them, but understanding how to deal with them, understanding how to react, understanding how to take patience into account." (33:28) - Dustin Finkel https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/http://wlj.com/
Mon, June 28, 2021
249: How to Exit Well with Jessica Yakovitch
Summary Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast! Our hosts Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Jessica Fialkovich of Transworld Business Advisors and Exit Factor in this week's episode. Working in five startups, overseeing millions in transactions, with 1,000 business owners and over 300 deals... we were fortunate to hear Jessica's story and advice! Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:22) Introducing Jessica Yokovitch (1:47) Jessica's Path to Entrepreneurship (5:05) Creation of Exit Factor (7:07) Pro Tips on Business Selling (9:28) Exiting & Multigenerational Business Plans (13:56) Small Business Advocacy (20:20) The Startup Itch (23:40) Navigating a Husband and Wife Team (28:23) Advice to Younger Self (29:29) Wrap Up Links Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Jessica Fialkovich Exit Factor Transworld jessicafialkovich.com Quotes "There's this fallacy of protection and security in corporate jobs... I mean, really the only security you can have is for yourself." (2:39) "There is some emotion around this [multigeneratinal business plans] when they thought it was going to be a legacy business. But, their legacy can continue, because if you can extract finances, you can extract money out of a sale, then you can fund what's going to be the next legacy project for your family and the next generation." (11:29) "What we've seen is the necessity for dissemination of information and helping business owners get through crises." ( 14:33) "[Work-Life balance is] just an ebb and flow...Cause it's never balanced." (27:04) "I always say that I would have told myself, you don't have to do this all on your own." (28:42) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/
Mon, June 21, 2021
248: An Overnight Success Story 6 Years in the Making with Vance & Spencer of Lineus Medical
Glad to have you back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! The podcast crew is back in person and better than ever! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Tally meet with Vance Clement, CEO, and Spencer Jones, Founder, and CTO, of Lineus Medical. With their company being right on the heels of FDA approval for their flagship device, Safebreak Vascular, you won't want to miss this discussion! We cover all things from balancing expectations, responding to failure, and navigating what’s next after success. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:22) Introducing Spencer Jones and Vance Clement (1:27) Origin story of Lineus Medical (9:25) SafeBreak Vascular in the Marketplace (12:43) Pros and Cons of Accelerators (20:58) Future of Lineus Medical and Venture Capital (24:29) Transitions from Day Jobs to Entrepreneurship (26:59) Counting the Cost and Responding to Failure (35:44) Advice to Fellow Entrepreneurs (39:45) Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Spencer Jones Vance Clement Lineus Medical ZeroTo510 Digital Health CT Project HealthCare Nashville Quotes "As startups do, [we were] trying to balance things on a knife's edge. We were waiting to get clearance and then we would have lots of money, and if we did not get clearance, we would have zero money." (9:25) - Vance Clement "[A good accelerator] can be really valuable with helping you grow, helping you learn, but then helping you expand your network in areas where you may not have a lot of contacts." (15:11) -Spencer Jones "It'll become painfully obvious when it's time to leave your current employer for your entrepreneurial endeavor." (28:40) Spencer Jones "A simple rule: the rule of PI, it's going to take 3.14 times longer than you think. And cost 3.14 times as much money." (37:14) Spencer Jones https://www.startupjunkie.org/ <a h
Mon, June 14, 2021
247: Navigating Leadership, Culture and a Multi-Sided Marketplace with Bryan Clayton
Welcome back to another Startup Junkies Podcast! Thanks for tuning in! In this episode, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Tally, and Matthew Ward talk with Bryan Clayton about business growth, culture setting, localized PR, and all things lawn care! Bryan began in the lawn industry, creating one of the largest landscaping companies in Tennessee, then transitioned to the online marketing world with GreenPal. He has a ton of experience and wisdom for us startup junkies, and you won’t want to miss a thing! Shownotes (1:03) Introducing Bryan Clayton and GreenPal (3:28) Managing People and Setting Culture (7:45) Challenges of a Multi-Sided Marketplace (11:46) GreenPal and Venture Capital (19:00) User Retention (24:18) Residential or Commercial? (25:57) PR Strategy (28:01) GreenPal and Liability (30:29) The Why (34:57 ) Advice to Past Self (35:50) Wrap Up Links Bryan Clayton Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward GreenPal Quotes “It’s amazing how, in some ways, the accidental business, the one you never probably were at sleep at night dreaming about, becomes something that can be huge and really great.” (3:13) “When you’re in a service-based business like that, it’s very people dependent that you know, that your, your culture is kind of one of your competitive advantages.” (4:44) “One thing that we applied to the second company in GreenPal is making it super dead easy for anybody that does business with you to talk to you and tell you how you’re doing, where you suck, where they wish you would improve. (6:13) “I think there's a correlation between the least you can make your business sexy [and] the greater, your chances of success.” (11:17) “PR is a big part of our strategy to move people to the platform on a local level...We want to move a local audience to a local network.” (26:45) “[On mentorship] I know that I’ve got to be able to add value when I meet with this person to help them be successful...when I get home tonight, I’m not turning on Netflix. I’m turning on YouTube and I’m watching some kind of podcasts like this one.” (33:02) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/
Mon, June 07, 2021
246: Future of Connectivity among Entrepreneurs with Michael W. Marra
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! Thanks for tuning in! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Tally talk with Michael W. Marra. Jeff and Caleb speak with Michael about his transition from civil engineer to now serial entrepreneur and investor. Michael is the CEO and founder of Entre: Social Network for the future of work and gives us all the details of that journey. You won’t want to miss what the advice this startup junkie has for you! Thanks for listening! Shownotes (1:06) Introducing Michael Marra (1:27) From Civil Engineer to Serial Entrepreneur (3:22) History of Entre (6:12) From Social Media to Real Life Networking (9:33) Revenue Model of Entre (15:36) Entre Partnerships (17:00) Community Scaling and Accessibility (20:45) Outside Capital (22:29) Value of Connectivity (27:10) Building a Team (31:42) Product PR vs. Personal PR (34:17) Advice to Past Self (37:32) Wrap Up Links Michael W. Marra Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Entre Quotes “...none of my friends were entrepreneurs, none of my family was, I was always looking for people to connect with. And that's when I started really building up this community of entrepreneurs, which led me down to building Entre.” (2:29) "So we're more transitioning into being the platform and the vehicle that enables more connection and enables actually people to build their own communities in their own businesses." (9:06) "Entrepreneurship is such a global thing now. And, I think there's a lot to be said for enabling connection cross countries as well." (18:28) "I encourage every entrepreneur to do events... because without doing events at the beginning we never would have been able to do what we're doing right now... it led to all of our relationships." (21:47) "...one connection can literally lead to an endless, endless possibilities." (29:55) "Putting their name and their face on everything… if you do that, then the company's never going to be bigger than yourself." (33:33) Once you can have clarity around who you are and that's in, who you are, is in line with what you do. That is the ultimate clarity. (36:03) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/
Mon, May 31, 2021
245: Doing Good Work with Raul Hernandez
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward talk with Raul Hernadez, business strategist, coach, consultant, and author. Raul assists creative founders in their company’s growth, culture, strategy, and team leveraging. Jeff and Matthew speak with Raul about things from his own journey into his consulting and coaching business, to engaging clients, work-life balance, how to define personal success, not to mention his upcoming book Productive Profits . You won’t want to miss this discussion. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:54) Introducing Raul Hernadez (2:02) Backstory and journey to online business (4:05) Themes and challenges of entrepreneurs (5:09) Raul introduces his book (8:47) Challenges in authorship (10:31) Difference in guiding companies in various “early stages” (11:37) Tips for engaging clients (12:27) Long-term goals for Raul’s business and marketing Consulting, and executive coaching (13:38) The “why” behind Raul’s work (14:54) How Raul recharges and spends “free time” (16:01) Work-life balance in 2021 (18:24) Thoughts and future for Clubhouse (21:28) What personal success looks like for Raul (22:04) Advice to Raul’s younger-self (22:54) Wrap up Links Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Raul Hernadez Productive Profits Creating Startup Junkies Zig Ziglar Quotes “Because the thing about businesses sometimes is it can be very binary. It either works or it doesn't... It's a balance sheet. It's finance, it's a product market fit. But, when you work with organic matter, with humans, it's variable. You don't know what you're going to get.” (4:51) “The train is going, but you're building the train tracks as well. And the train doesn't stop. In my view the train shouldn't stop. Cause that's your business. That's momentum.” (11:18) “ ...and then also taking cycle time to make sure that what you've implemented you're seeing and bearing the fruits of... and you may not see those fruits within the first 30 days. You might see those in 60, 90, 180 days.” (13:17) “So there is no [work-life] balance, but I think that you can actually create harmony between both.”</em
Mon, May 24, 2021
244: Demystifying Solopreneurship with Dwain Hebda and Kelli Reep
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Dwain Hebda and Kelli Reep discuss solopreneurship and freelancing with Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward. Dwain is the founder of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths and Kelli founded Flywrite Communications, both of which are Public Relations and Journalist agencies. They discuss engaging readers with a story, drumming up your own business, deciding when to go full-time, and much more! Thanks for listening! Shownotes (1:15) Introducing Dwain Hebda and Kelli Reep (8:34) Driving your own ship as a solopreneur (13:56) Telling a story that engages with readers (18:59) How simplified language and a 24-hour news cycle affects communication (22:12) Outsourcing accounting and legal responsibilities to stay above board (29:35) Deciding to freelance full-time (36:19) Advice for the younger self (39:31) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Dwain Hebda Ya!Mule Wordsmiths Kelli Reep Quotes “ If you can’t sell – and in this case, sell yourself – people are not just lining up outside your door because you announced to the world that you can put a sentence together. It doesn’t work that way. ” (9:56) “ You have to be able to build a compelling case as to why you are going to be an expense for them that month. You have to be able to demonstrate how this is going to pay off and you have to demonstrate how you taking it off their hands actually save them money. ” (10:47) “ You really do need a couple of members of your team who are versed in something you’re not versed in. And in my particular case, the best hire I ever made, the best money I spend year in and year out is an experienced accountant who could guide me through a number of different things early on. ” (23:09) “ Had I jumped out on my own based on the first magazine article that I landed, I’d have been hungry really, really quick, and it just wouldn’t have worked. ” (32:15) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, May 17, 2021
243: Creating a Healthy Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Lynn Butterfield
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with Lynn Butterfield, a nationally recognized expert in equity capital and investing services. Lynn has been quoted by platforms such as Newsweek and ABC News, and he has consulted for companies from across the globe. Lynn discusses his time working in the Middle East, growing entrepreneurial hotspots, and his predictions for Northwest Arkansas. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:00) Introducing Lynn Butterfield (5:08) Entrepreneurship occurring in unexpected places (9:34) The University’s impact on an entrepreneurial ecosystem (21:11) Lynn’s Northwest Arkansas plans (24:43) Advice for the younger self (26:07) Wrap up Links Lynn Butterfield Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Quotes “ Money is important, make no doubt about it, but what’s more important than the money is the network that has access to capital. ” (11:10) “ The important thing is sitting around a table and getting to know each other and listen to the way they answer questions. ” (11:27) “ If you don’t have all the ingredients and you have a great chef, you can’t make a great pie. ” (18:23) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, May 10, 2021
242: Riding the Tornado with Tobin Lehman
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Tobin Lehman, President of New North and author of Ride the Tornado . New North is a B2B tech marketing agency that focuses on zigging while other marketing trends zag. Caleb, Jeff, Matthew, and Tobin discuss having a strategy vs. being adaptable, making personal connections in sales, jumping on new trends, and helping young entrepreneurs. You’ll want to hear this episode. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (0:59) Introducing Tobin Lehman and his book (5:37) Digital marketing challenges for small businesses (7:16) Strategy vs. agility (13:00) Early-adopting media formats for lead generation (19:12) Breaking convention (24:54) Scratching the entrepreneurial itch (31:18) The intrigue of the tech space (33:38) Writing Ride the Tornado (39:43) Advice for the younger self (42:10) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Tobin Lehman Ride the Tornado New North Quotes “ I think that’s one of the mistakes – maybe one of the missteps – that a lot of early tech or early startups make is just trying to do a little too much versus just winning really well on one or two, three channels at the most. ” (6:44) “ There’s these big, almost like tectonic shifts in marketing, which is really strange. And so our advocation is usually like, if everybody’s going this way, go that way, let’s try something different. ” (19:55) “ For me, it’s not about building the next big company for myself, but I’m really liking to see people come up and see them have this idea and watch it go through their brain like, I’ve seen that. I know what that feels like...That’s something that I think is awesome. ” (26:49) https://www.startupjunkie.org/ https://wlj.com/
Mon, May 03, 2021
241: Creating a Unique Yoga Experience with Nicole Calhoun, Ph.D. ERYT
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies podcast! In this week’s episode, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Morgan Scholz talk with Nicole Calhoun, Ph.D. ERYT, owner of ELXR Yoga Lounge. Nicole has her undergraduate degree in biology and her Ph.D. in molecular genetics, and she got her yoga teacher certification as a passion project. After teaching yoga part-time for a few years, she opened her studio in 2018, and she pivoted to yoga full-time after being laid off due to the pandemic in March 2020. She talks with the startup junkies about creating a unique yoga experience in NWA, how her scientific background influences her business decisions, and what is next for ELXR Yoga Lounge. You don’t want to miss this inspiring episode! Shownotes (1:15) Introducing Nicole Calhoun and ELXR Yoga Lounge (7:08) Creating a unique yoga experience in NWA (11:44) How Nicole’s scientific background influences her business (17:44) What does the future look like for ELXR Yoga Lounge? (23:57) Embracing social media (33:20) Starting a business in NWA (36:20) Nicole’s experience owning a yoga studio as a Black woman (45:51) Advice for the younger self (47:59) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Morgan Scholz Nicole Calhoun, Ph.D. ERYT ELXR Yoga Lounge EYL Instagram Quotes “ I kind of felt like I had something to say within the world of yoga, and like, watching all the yoga teachers over the years and how influential they could be and how mindful that they were with the way that they live their lives, and their ability to really help people was super impressive to me. And so, I decided to go to yoga teacher training. ” (2:34) “ I rented the space, came up with the brand, the marketing, the teachers, everything, the design of the studio, what we wanted to offer and how we wanted to offer it, and put it all together in about a month. And then we opened about 30 days after I signed the lease. ” (6:04) “ I’m actually very thankful that I have a background in the sciences because science is very analytical and it’s very facts-based. So, you don’t really do science or run experiments or projects off emotion – it’s all based off facts. Like these are the facts, and I’m not going to try to massage the facts to fit my narrative. I’m
Mon, April 26, 2021
240: Sending a Warm Welcome with David Jay
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talked with serial entrepreneur David Jay. David is a self-proclaimed startup junkie, and he’s here to talk about his latest venture: Warm Welcome. Adding video to your professional image through your email signature, business card, and website is a great way to stand out from the crowd, and Warm Welcome is here to help. Caleb, Jeff, Matthew, and David chat about the impact of video, the pros and cons of venture capital, moving from Oregan to Florida, and the importance of quality time with the family. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:16) Introducing David Jay and Warm Welcome (10:40) What happens with audio platforms like Clubhouse? (12:20) Venture capital (16:55) Using video to stick out from the crowd (25:15) Moving across the country (27:47) What does success look like for David? (30:48) Advice for the younger self (32:38) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward David Jay Warm Welcome Quotes “ As the market matures, it needs more than just a tactical solution to the problem, it needs a strategic solution to the problem. And that’s where we said, we want to personalize every touch point on the customer journey. ” (8:08) “ People used to think that video had to be produced and polished and perfect, and what we found this year is that people actually don’t want that most of the time. They want it to be personal, and they want it to be engaging, because it’s real and authentic, not because it’s produced and perfect. ” (17:18) “ When you put a video bubble on your website, or you send out a video email to your customers, and you say, ‘hey we’d love to hear from you’ because it gives an opportunity to share their problem with you. And then, if you take the time to answer those questions, it shows that you care and that you have something to offer back. ” (20:13)
Mon, April 19, 2021
239: Uncovering Your Brand DNA with Suzanne Tulien
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this week’s episode, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine speak with Suzanne Tulien, the founder of Brand Ascension. Suzanne is an expert in establishing brand identity, and she talks with Caleb and Jeff about the importance of identifying, defining, and aligning with your brand. Tune in to hear her help Caleb and Jeff define their personal brands! Shownotes (0:55) Introducing Suzanne Tulien (4:23) Defining your values to establish your brand (9:47) Branding vs. Marketing (16:00) Branding a region (19:16) Advice for startups (25:44) What is success to Suzanne? (29:14) Creating personal brands for Jeff and Caleb (36:51) Advice for the younger self (38:05) Wrap Up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Suzanne Tulien Brand Ascension Quotes “ I was realizing all the sudden that what I’m doing for you is a disservice – designing a look and feel on a logo, that was just really putting lipstick on the pig so to speak, and not helping you truly clarify and understand who you are as a brand. ” (2:37) “ They should have been telling me who they were, as a designer, but instead I found myself telling them who they should be, because they weren’t clear enough. And so the DNA methodology came out of a desire to create a step-by-step process to help them identify, define, and align to who they’re saying they are – who they’re promising to be – and deliver. ” (3:08) “ I have to consciously, strategically, and deliberately align myself to create the standards of performance that you do in business – or my standards of living for a personal brand – that I can actually step into. ” (7:14) “ We’re going to start aligning – that’s the third thing – identify, define, and align. So align is what you have to do in order to deliver on your promise, and how do we make these core values in this style attribute tangible, so that it shows up in my actions and behaviors. ” (7:56) “ Marketing might get your clients or prospects in the door, but it’s your brand that keeps them coming back. ” (12:03) “ Everybody already has a brand. They already have a personal brand because a personal brand is just a perception, and you begin formulating giving off things that create perceptions from day one. ” (22:
Mon, April 12, 2021
238: Paving a New Path for Real Estate Investment with Eric Shirley of Four Oaks Capital
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Eric Shirley, the Director of Acquisitions at Four Oaks Capital. Eric began flipping houses in college before turning his focus towards multi-family complexes. A year and a half ago, he teamed up with a few of his biggest competitors to form a superteam of sorts. Caleb, Jeff, Matthew, and Eric talk about Four Oaks Capital’s three main pillars, educating investors to build trust, and which markets will be the next to get hot! As always, thanks for tuning in!Shownotes (1:44) Introducing Eric Shirley (5:26) Purposefully partnering with investors (12:23) Implementing systems to keep the machine running (14:50) Predicting the next big market and what success looks like (23:37) Teaming up with your biggest competition (26:30) Anticipating challenges (29:10) Finding accredited investors (32:48) Advice for the younger self (35:10) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Eric Shirley Four Oaks Capital Diary of an Apartment Investor Quotes “You could buy a house on a Friday. Two weeks later after putting a little work into it, you can make 40, 50 grand. It was my first taste of real estate.” (4:04) “It was really just a product of need, knowing that what I was doing wasn’t going to fill my long-term goals, and that’s not the way I wanted to do it. So just looking for a more efficient way.” (5:11) “At this point, we look at 100-120 deals a month. We’re submitting maybe 2 offers a month based on that deal flow. So, we sift through a lot of less than ideal opportunities to find the diamond in the rough, but that’s our commitment to our investors to find those kinds of unicorns that still exist.” (7:12) “That was probably our biggest learning curve was kind of the systemization and the process implementation, and creating those from scratch. At the end of the day, I don’t want a business where I am the business. I want a business where when I stop being the business, it continues to run like a well-oiled machine. And those things don’t come without processes and procedures.” (12:52) “I think for a lot of us that have had success in whatever facet of life, being self-aware enough t
Mon, April 05, 2021
237: Managing Sports Leagues Like a Pro with Etienne Bernier of Kreezee Sports
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward are joined by Etienne Bernier of Kreezee Sports. Etienne is an ex-firefighter from Quebec City that used his entrepreneurial spirit to solve a problem he was facing while managing an adult hockey league. He and his business partner built Kreezee Sports to help you manage your amateur sports club, league, or tournament. Tune in to hear about Etienne’s unique entrepreneurial journey! Shownotes (1:31) Introducing Etienne and Kreezee Sports (5:38) How Etienne’s background affected his entrepreneurship (9:02) Kreezee Sports and COVID (13:29) Quebec’s startup scene (16:18) Customer acquisition (20:59) What does future success look like? (23:59) What sets Kreezee Sports apart (26:52) Advice for the younger self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Etienne Bernier Kreezee Sports Quotes “If you’re the leader of the company, you have to take the punches. And maybe that’s the relation between business and hockey. I think in business it takes a lot of courage and you have to never give up. I mean, you are facing a lot of [challenges].” (7:43) “I think the dark side of COVID with our business is that the traffic is very low on our websites, because we do provide websites to sports clubs, leagues, and tournaments. So yeah, the traffic has been very low since COVID happened because a lot of leagues are shut down for the entire season.” (10:10) “Obviously we started with a small [tournament], but having that customer in our portfolio gave us a great showcase, and then a lot of people joined us because the credibility was there because of that customer. So that's one of the main reasons why we got into the US market so fast. Then we grew a lot, because when you have big names using your software, it’s way easier to get new customers to join a new software.” (18:35) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at <a href="http://tinycapital.com/startupjunkie
Mon, March 29, 2021
236: Protecting Businesses by Becoming the Hacker with J. Foster Davis of BreachBits
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward talk with J. Foster Davis. Foster spent 13 years in the Navy before co-founding the cybersecurity firm BreachBits where he now serves as the COO. The guys talk about the importance of cybersecurity, different strategies for auditing security systems, and how BreachBits is revolutionizing the industry. You don’t want to miss this episode! Shownotes (1:36) Introducing Foster Davis (12:31) What is BreachBits? (16:40) BreachBits background (20:20) Red teaming vs blue teaming (29:43) Cybersecurity tips (37:15) Advice for the younger self (39:39) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Foster Davis BreachBits Tiny Capital Quotes “BreachBits is the idea that the best way to catch a thief is to hire a thief. The best way to find out if you are going to be hacked by a hacker is to actually hire hackers to do it.” (12:31) “I love red teaming because it’s not just about us taking the tools that a hacker uses, the tools that the offensive, the adversary uses. It’s about becoming them. It’s about immersing ourselves in the way that they think. And so, in many ways what you want to actually do is have a very deep separation between your blue team and your red team.” (21:48) “I have a lot of experience in risk management, and I am a big believer that cyber risk is just like any other risk. Cyber security is really not that mysterious. If you’re a business owner or responsible for a line of business, you should be asking your security people the same thing you’re asking your finance people or your logistics people or your storeroom people. What is the bad thing that can happen? How likely is it that it will happen? And if it were to happen, how bad would it be?” (26:03) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at <a href="
Mon, March 22, 2021
235: In the Business of Making Money with Helen Maringer of Shire Post Mint
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward are joined by Helen Maringer, the CEO of Shire Post Mint. Helen clues Jeff and Matthew into the secrets of coin making, having a dedicated following of Game of Thrones fanatics, taking over the family business, and moving from Springdale to West Fork. You do not want to miss this episode! As always, thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:17) Introducing Helen Maringer from Shire Post Mint (5:19) Customer base (11:01) Marketing through Kickstarter (15:14) Working with the family business (20:12) How the ScaleUp Program helped Shire Post Mint (21:26) The process of creating coins (30:28) What’s the vision? (32:44) Advice for the younger self (33:21) Wrap up Links Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Helen Maringer Shire Post Mint Quotes “[Working in a family business] has been a struggle for sure. Clear communication has been our best asset.” (15:17) “On a personal level, I think ScaleUp really helped my confidence in making decisions for the business.” (20:14) “The actual striking of the coins is kind of the quickest part. So, you know, 500 to 5,000 pretty much takes about the same amount of time.” (29:20) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, March 15, 2021
234: Making Farmland Investment Accessible with David Chan
Summary Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this week’s episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with the COO and a Founding Team Member of Farm Together, David Chan. FarmTogether is capitalizing on a never-before-seen opportunity in the farming industry. With many family farms being sold to outside ownership, FarmTogether allows regular people to make safe, stable farmland investments. David talks to the hosts about making farmland more accessible, international investment, the importance of climate change initiatives, and much more. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:15) Introducing David Chan and FarmTogether (7:27) Making farmland more accessible (12:38) What do returns look like through FarmTogether? (17:23) COVID-19’s effects on FarmTogether (23:52) International investment in farmland (28:26) Brokers’ response to FarmTogether (31:24) David’s climate change conviction (37:18) Advice for the younger self (40:12) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward David Chan FarmTogether How's It Growing? Quotes “Farmers who have invested in efficient operations, efficient water, efficient planting densities, and new varietals are still operating in the black. And so that’s what’s very positive here because it means we believe that the future is very bright.” (21:45) “I really can’t overstate how large of a transfer of ownership is underway and expected to take place over the next 20 years. The USDA actually projects 70% of all US farmland is going to trade hands over the next 20 years. And it's, you know, I think it’s equivalent to about 500 million acres. I think that’s twice the size of Alaska.” (27:04) “We’re very proud to announce that we have 100% of our acres in a program called Leading Harvest, which is a broad sustainability standard for farmland investors in the United States.” (34:56) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at <a href="http://tinyc
Mon, March 08, 2021
233: Leveraging Your Success to Change Lives with Robert Wallace
Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this week’s episode, Robert Wallace joined Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward to talk about his entrepreneurial journey and how he defines success. Robert is known worldwide for his skills as an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and business consultant. Robert draws inspiration from his difficult upbringing, and he is determined to leverage his success to benefit others’ lives. You don’t want to miss this riveting episode! Shownotes (1:41) Introducing Robert Wallace (5:54) Robert’s entrepreneurial inspiration (10:37) How faith impacts Robert’s goals (15:26) Making solar energy more accessible (20:54) Learning from failures (24:28) Finding time to become an author (29:52) Looking towards the future (31:43) Accepting that we don’t know everything (34:19) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Robert Wallace RobertWallace.com BITHGROUP BITHENERGY Quotes “I think that too often as we age and get older, we lose the ability to dream. And one thing my father instilled in us was to not lose that ability. And so, I’ve been a dreamer.” (11:04) “How can I use this wealth, how can I use this access, how can I use this authority and power to make the lives of people better? And if I’m not doing that, then what good am I? Right? What value do I have? And so for me, it is how do I use these blessings to make life better and to have an impact on their lives. And that’s what drives me.” (14:31) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, March 01, 2021
232: Rewriting the Book on Marketing with Tyler Elliston
232: Rewriting the Book on Marketing with Tyler Elliston Tyler Elliston - Right Side Up Summary Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Tyler Elliston, founder of Right Side Up. Tyler spent six years as an in-house marketer for a handful of companies, and he founded Right Side Up to create a new avenue for companies looking for marketing help. In Right Side Up, Tyler started a third way that was different from marketing agencies and staffing firms. Tyler chats with the guys about creating a new style of marketing company, learning from failures, and what inspires him. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:47) Introducing Tyler Elliston and Right Side Up (6:28) Learning from failures (10:43) Landing big clients and defining success (16:52) What does work look like post-COVID? (20:25) B2B marketing advice (23:14) Influencer marketing (29:43) What inspires Tyler? (31:33) Advice for the younger self (33:33) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Tyler Elliston Right Side Up Quotes “When I started consulting and thought about building a business around consulting, I wanted to do it in a way that was different than the traditional agency model.” (2:50) “I feel like I got so caught up in that state of having a good idea and the excitement that I felt, the feeling of like, I’m on the verge of something great, something big, like an idea that’s going to be impactful. Almost to the point that it would slow me down from really making progress on it, because I was afraid that it might not pan out.” (9:36) “I do think our model can certainly grow very large in the context of big agencies and sort of providing an alternative to that...but honestly, right now, we’re just trying to do great work within the space we’re in.” (15:18) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and
Mon, February 22, 2021
231: David Meltzer - Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, Host of The Playbook Podcast, 3x Best-Selling Author, and 1,000,000,000 Happy People
Welcome back to another week with the Startup Junkie Crew! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with David Meltzer, co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing. Founded by Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon and veteran sports & technology executive David Meltzer, Sports 1 Marketing is a global sports and entertainment marketing agency that leverages over $20 billion in relationship capital and over 38 years of business experience, bringing athletes, celebrities and businesses together to make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun. In this episode, you will get to hear about David’s incredible journey from law school to sports marketing, how he recovered from losing over $100,000,000, and his mission to bring happiness to 1,000,000,000 people. Check it out! Shownotes (1:28) Introducing David Meltzer (7:57) Enjoying the process rather than the outcome (14:47) How going virtual has increased audience reach (23:08) Balancing planning with living in the moment (30:56) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward David Meltzer Quotes “Gratitude gives you perspective. It takes pain from a position of a stop sign to a position of a turn signal. It’s an indicator that you have something to learn. Gratitude allows you to find the light, the love, and the lessons, even in the most difficult, challenging circumstances." (12:05) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, February 15, 2021
230: Launch Factory - Preparing Founders For A Successful Launch with James Hereford
Summary Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies podcast! In this episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward chat with James Hereford, co-founder and partner at Launch Factory. James is originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, and he graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma before earning an MBA from Rice University. Launch Factory is a venture studio that generates business ideas, pairs the ideas with founders, and provides the founders with the necessary tools to get the company off the ground. James and the guys talk about the venture studio model, launching businesses, planning for an exit, and much more. Thanks for listening! Shownotes (1:49) Introducing James Hereford and Launch Factory (7:54) The venture studio model (12:00) Recruiting founders (16:29) Challenges with the scaling process (21:59) What types of businesses is Launch Factory creating? (23:54) Planning for an exit (26:10) Advice for the younger self (27:32) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward James Hereford Launch Factory Quotes “We prioritize finding concepts that meet a certains et of business criteria. So, you know, we want to see potential for a $100+ million exit. We want to see fundable milestones within the first two years, because that 300k only gets you so far. And so, whatever the concept is, we have to be sure that around month 12 or 15, we’re going to be able to hit a milestone that we can go and raise a seed round on.” (22:15) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, February 08, 2021
229: Growing LIVSN with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney & Kelsey Ferguson
Hey everyone, welcome back! This episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney & Kelsey Ferguson from LIVSN. LIVSN creates versatile, well-made clothing for people who value experiences more than stuff. They make good clothing with tried and true methods and with high-quality fabrics. During this talk, you will get to hear about the progress LIVSN has made since their last appearance on the podcast, upcoming launch of a new product on Kickstarter, and plans around new product lines in the near future. Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (3:42) What is LIVSN up to? (12:34) Rolling out a new pant design (16:40) Joining a startup during a worldwide pandemic (25:56) Raising a child while parenting a startup (28:50) What’s next for LIVSN? (33:36) LIVSN’s top markets (35:36) Expectations for the Kickstarter (36:39) Venture capital (41:57) Advice to the younger self (42:43) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Andrew Gibbs-Dabney Kelsey Ferguson EcoTrek: Adventure Pants LIVSN Instagram LIVSN Website Quotes “You can buy your way into some stuff, but you know...If you’re getting your product on and in people’s hands, and they really start using it, that’s the way to [get media attention].” (10:57) “I’ve always felt like the company has a different feel than many other companies I know. And if you look at the messaging that Andrew has created the entire time the brand has been alive, you’ll notice that we don’t shy away from being transparent about everything that we are good at and what we need to improve on and how we’re going to do that.” (17:46) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you
Mon, February 01, 2021
228: Wicked BOLD Chocolate - A Gamechanger in the Chocolate Business
Welcome to another week with the Startup Junkie crew! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine have a talk with Deric Cahill, founder and CEO of Wicked BOLD Chocolate. Wicked BOLD Chocolate is a chocolate company that only uses organic & ethically sourced cacao in their process and commits to ingredient transparency. They source their cacao through Belize leveraging their partners at Chocolate Alchemy. In this episode, you will get to hear about the story behind Wicked BOLD Chocolate, the importance of being resilient during tough times, and thoughts around growing and managing their supply chain moving forward. Tune in with us! Shownotes (2:07) Introducing Deric Cahill and Wicked BOLD Chocolate (7:41) Utilizing farmer’s markets and building an online presence (12:56) Changing the way chocolate is perceived (14:53) Growing the brand and exploring new territory (23:42) Planning for future growth (30:52) Collaborating with other businesses (32:47) Advice for the younger self (36:36) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Deric Cahill Wicked BOLD Chocolate Wicked BOLD Chocolate Instagram Quotes “Everything we do as a company, I want to be rooted in that. Like giving back and like empowering people to live life to the boldest. That’s our motto.” (16:26) “Even if your stop at Wicked BOLD is a year, three years, five years, whatever it is, you’re leaving us better than when you came to us, and we’re positioning you to do whatever the hell you want to do to be as happy as possible.” (16:48) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, January 25, 2021
227: inq Tattoos - The Tattoo Experience Reimagined
Hey everyone! Welcome back! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with Peter Joukov, COO and co-founder of inq Tattoos. Husband and wife team, Peter and Maria Joukov, founded inq Tattoos because they saw an unmet need in the market for today’s tattoo customer and a better way to work for today's tattoo artist. Leaning on their military, corporate, and business backgrounds, they created a modern and accessible tattoo experience for the everyday customer and a supportive space for professional artists. In this episode, you will get to hear about the story behind inq Tattoos, how they find the right franchisees, and certain challenges with franchising in different states. Thanks for listening in! Shownotes (2:19) Introducing Peter and inq (8:15) Solving problems with unique solutions (11:54) Effects of COVID-19 (14:14) Marketing in the tattoo industry (16:56) Temporary vs permanent tattoos (18:09) Franchising (26:34) Controversial tattoos (32:01) Advice to the younger self (34:22) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Peter Joukov inq Tattoos Quotes “Sometimes people don’t realize that things can be done differently. And if you’re having a problem and you solve a problem for yourself, you may be solving it for other people as well.” (11:27) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, January 18, 2021
226: Meeting Mack McLarty - The Importance of Like-Minded Partnerships
In this episode, Caleb talks with Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty, III in an interview from Startup Junkie’s inaugural startup week event in September 2020. Mack is well-renowned for his business acumen, and he served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton’s administration. Caleb and Mack discuss a handful of entrepreneurial topics, as well as several things that Mack attributes to his success. You do not want to miss out on this standout episode! Shownotes (1:08) Introducing Mack McLarty (3:20) The importance of positively impacting others (6:01) How the late 90s became a golden age for entrepreneurs (9:15) Closing the capital gap between the Heartland and the Coasts (12:12) The Ferment Group’s investment criteria (16:13) Advice for growth-oriented entrepreneurs taking on investors (18:09) The government’s role in the democratization of innovation (23:17) Widening investment opportunities while protecting investors (25:35) Surrounding yourself with quality people (28:25) Being true to yourself (34:05) Succession planning (37:32) Mack McLarty’s game-changing moments (40:42) Mack McLarty’s legacy Links Caleb Talley Mack McLarty Quotes “It is essential that the investor be aligned with the management and founder - entrepreneur - and vice versa. That the management and founder be aligned with the investor. As my father liked to often say, have as good a front-end understanding as you possible can have. In other words, understand really what the other is trying to accomplish.” (17:04) “Human nature being what it is, people are going to naturally want to work for someone they respect, that they trust, and they feel who will be fair and even-handed in giving them an opportunity to succeed.” (27:28) “If you are not finding meaning in what you’re doing and some joy and sense of accomplishment, you probably should be thinking about maybe shifting that at some point and doing something else.” (19:08) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Mon, January 11, 2021
225: Rolling with Rogelio - Social Innovation Style 2.0
Shownotes (1:26) Introducing Dr. Rogelio Garcia Contreras (6:03) How Rogelio ended up at the University of Arkansas (13:49) The social innovation challenge (18:57) Rogelio shares a few highlights from the social innovation challenge (26:09) Thinking outside the box (38:04) Playing the long game (44:38) Advice for the younger self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Dr. Rogelio Garcia Contreras Quotes “Although social entrepreneurship has become a very popular rallying point...solutions to these kind of complex problems never come easy, right?” (16:19) “I’m an optimist in the human spirit and resilience to come up with solutions down the road that address these issues. But it is imperative that we all are aware of the magnitude of the problem, but we also are aware of how we can connect.” (43:16) Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/ Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies , and we’ll let you know within a couple of days.
Fri, January 08, 2021
128: Inspiring Action with Enactus (Rebroadcast)
The Enactus team at the University of Arkansas is on the rise, and is headed to the Enactus National Competition to present three major projects in Kansas City for the first time in eight years. Director of Enactus at the University, Rachel Sullivant, explains the students’ projects. From a hybrid coffee & retail space that employs adults with developmental disabilities to a workshop allowing those experiencing homelessness to create and sell home décor, Enactus is on a mission to engage students and the community to tackle complex social issues through entrepreneurship. Get to know Rachel, and how you can get involved with social entrepreneurship by reaching out to her at rsullivant@walton.uark.edu . Learn more about Enactus here , and check out the idea behind the McMillon Innovation Studio here ! Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Thu, January 07, 2021
146: Fuel and the Future with Seth Waite (Rebroadcast)
Chief Strategy Officer of RevUnit, Seth Waite, joins this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast where we dive into the details of Fuel, the future of supply chain management, and the values that Seth has formed to guide his career. He is a futurist, philanthropist, and one of the facilitators for Fuel, a program led by RevUnit and Startup Junkie to help supply chain startups become enterprise-ready. Participants will receive mentoring, coaching, and connections with Walmart's Supply Chain Innovation team and leaders from CaseStack, Propack, Tyson, and other large enterprises. Applications are open for the Fuel Accelerator: fuelaccelerator.com RevUnit is very cool: revunit.com Learn more about the man behind the microphone at sethwaite.com Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hosts: Michael Iseman & Haley Allgood michael@startupjunkie.org haley@startupjunkie.org
Wed, January 06, 2021
142: Chatting with a Champion - Tom Chapman (Rebroadcast)
Tom Chapman, Founder of Chapman and Company, joins this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast recorded in Denver in the middle of the Startup Champions Network Fall Summit. Startup Champions Network is a group of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders similar to the Startup Junkies that meets twice a year to share best practices and stories. Tom, one of the original members of the network, gives us his take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and the importance of like-minded communities to come together and share great ideas. We discuss Angel Investment Networks, Omaha, the Nebraska Navy, and Tom even gives us an account of working for Enron early in his career during the days of exponential growth followed by massive layoffs. Lastly, Tom shares his mantra that, “when you get to a data-driven approach… you will recognize that entrepreneurship is the way for us to solve most the world’s problems, and to live a life that you can be happy and proud of.” Tom’s Company: https://www.chapmanandcompany.co/ Tom’s Email: tchapman@chapmanandcompany.co Tom’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tchap623 Startup Champions: http://www.championsnetwork.co/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Host: Michael Iseman michael@startupjunkie.org
Tue, January 05, 2021
138: Innovation over Invention - Bryce Paden of i2i Labs (Rebroadcast)
How does a startup, small firm, or entrepreneur with an innovative technology idea get the required facetime with a tech giant/mega retail corporation to pitch their next big idea and impact the world? Bryce Paden, co-founder of i2i Labs, has the solution in the unique form of a tech broker of sorts. Hardly a full year into business, he has proved, with an uncommon business model no less, that there is certainly a market for the service i2i Labs provides. The company curates and accredits small tech teams before helping them present their innovations to large corporations that have the resources to buy the technology, but not the time or man-power needed to create it. Bryce also gives us a sneak peek into his next business. Think recreational axe throwing. Get excited! To contact a professional at i2i Labs, visit https://www.i2ilabs.co/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 04, 2021
141: Launching LIVSN with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney (Rebroadcast)
Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, Founder and CEO of LIVSN Designs, joins The Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Andrew got his start in apparel working for Fayettechill as a warehouse employee, but the success of the company would lead him to play the role of CEO in 2 short years. His passion for outdoor recreational activities and apparel led him to create his own clothing line– LIVSN. The idea of offering high-quality, durable outdoor clothing for people who value experiences more than stuff has vaulted the launch of a successful Kickstarter campaign. In this episode, Andrew and the team explore a wide range of topics from work-life balance to overcoming all the obstacles that most startups face. We also focus on the future of LIVSN, and what Andrew plans to accomplish in the foreseeable future. LIVSN: https://www.livsndesigns.com/ LIVSN kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/livsndesigns/hi-wool-fleece-and-flex-canvas-pants-built-for-lif LIVSN Instagram: https://instagram.com/livsndesigns Fayettechill: https://www.fayettechill.com/ Arkansas Interscholastic Cycling League: http://www.arkansasmtb.org/ BLK ELK Media: https://www.blkelkmedia.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! This episode was sponsored by Tiny . Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, December 28, 2020
224: Sheets & Giggles - The Sheet in the Bedding Industry
Hey everyone! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine zoom with Colin McIntosh, founder, and CEO of Sheets & Giggles. Sheets & Giggles is one of the fastest-growing sustainable bedding brands in the U.S and is disrupting the traditional industry. In this episode, you will get to hear the real story behind the ideation of Sheets & Giggles, the analysis that went behind finding the perfect industry to create a company, and the importance of getting the right people on the bus. We are glad to have you here! Shownotes (1:16) Introducing Colin McIntosh and Sheets and Giggles (6:40) Sheets are part of the perfect business model (8:29) Why eucalyptus lyocell? (13:08) What sets Sheets and Giggles apart? (16:40) Impact investing (18:40) Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey (21:30) Maintaining culture through growth (24:59) What is the end goal? (30:38) Advice for the younger self (32:55) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Colin McIntosh Sheets and Giggles Amazon Store Quotes “The content that we do is insane compared to the rest of the space. And if it makes us laugh, if it makes me laugh, it goes. And that’s, I think, the thing that other brands don’t see...When you’re on Instagram and you’re scrolling, I’m not going to stop for the same thing I’ve seen a thousand times, but I might stop if I see a guy sleeping in a bathtub for an allegory about the amount of water that cotton sheets use.” (14:29) “I would love to look back in five years and say that we built a large, national brand that does a lot of good in the world and is very well-respected and makes a lot of people laugh….Whether that’s a public company or a subsidiary of Mattress Corp, you know, like I’m pretty agnostic about that, as long as we can achieve the goal.” (26:43)
Mon, December 21, 2020
223: Perry Marshall - Darwin 2.0
Welcome back! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward chat with Perry S. Marshall, owner of Perry S. Marshall & Associates. Perry S. Marshall & Associates has helped tens of thousands of small companies become big companies by applying advanced 80/20 to online advertising. Perry is one of the most sought after business consultants in the world, consulting in over 300 industries. Endorsed in Forbes and Inc Magazine, he’s guided clients like FanDuel and InfusionSoft from startup to hundreds of millions of dollars. In this episode, you will get to hear about common obstacles start-ups face, some topics surrounding some of Perry’s books, and interesting talk around AI and Machine Learning. Check it out! (1:23) Introducing Perry Marshall (2:11) Perry’s shower thoughts (4:54) The problem with profit-based health care systems (7:31) How Perry wrote the best-selling book on digital advertising (18:54) Kindergarten business vs. the adult version of business (22:23) Evolution 2.0 (45:49) The earth as a self-regulating organism (51:50) Artificial intelligence vs. Biology (56:52) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Perry Marshall 30 Day Street MBA Evolution 2.0 Quotes “So I write this book and then I turn it into an ebook, and right about then, like, Google hit the hockey stick and it just turned into this crazy magic carpet ride. Like, the whole world discovered that the English language is for sale, and the French, and the German, and Spanish. Right? And, like, this thing just went supernova, and Google went supernova, and like, I just kind of rode the coattails and I hung on for dear life.” (16:54) “I know how to explain things. I’m a marketing guy. And that’s why I wrote Evolution 2.0 ...This is literally the first book ever published that correctly explains how evolution works, that you don’t have to be a PhD to understand it.” (45:26)
Mon, December 14, 2020
222: Giftgoat - A Pro Bowler, Marketing Executive, and Developer Start-Up a Company During the Pandemic
Shownotes (1:50) Introducing Giftgoat (5:55) The story behind the name (8:05) Grassroots customer acquisition (12:22) How the three founders came together (14:14) Managing workflow, company culture, and growth when working remote (21:44) COVID-19’s effects on Giftgoat (24:04) Managing launch week, and commitment to hustling through the early days (26:47) Advice for the younger self (28:39) Where can you find Giftgoat? Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Steven Gurley George Wauchope Evan Mathis Giftgoat Quotes “We’re looking at data. That’s all we want is to see how users are interacting with our platform so that we can make a better product.” (24:53) “I would have told myself to not try to grow companies too quickly, because in the event of something like the global pandemic, that could be the end for your company.” (27:05) “So I think the biggest thing is to just bury your ego and listen to people who are more accomplished and successful than you.” (28:14)
Mon, December 07, 2020
221: Norman Crowley - The Irish Tony Stark on a Mission to Save the World
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this week’s episode, Caleb, Jeff, and Matthew talk with Norman Crowley, entrepreneur, and climate change enthusiast. By the time he was 40, Crowley founded and sold three companies for upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars. Now, Crowley is the CEO of the Cool Planet Group and focuses on finding solutions for climate change. Tune in to this episode and you will hear about the businesses Crowley founded, how we can create cool, sexy solutions to climate change, encouraging the younger generations to innovate, and an electric 1963 Corvette Stingray with 1,200 brake horsepower! Shownotes (1:45) Introducing Norman Crowley (12:18) Separating climate change from other agendas (19:39) Predicting how the energy landscape will change in future decades (26:48) Three areas Cool Planet Group is focusing on (29:10) Norman’s opinions on alternative civilization settings (32:45) The importance of galvanizing innovators in the younger generation (37:36) Norman gives advice to his younger self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Norman Crowley Cool Planet Group Quotes “People just want to live their lives. They don’t want to be constrained, and they don’t want to hear about what they can’t do. They want to hear about what they can do.” (12:04) “There are people in Bangladesh dying because water levels are rising, right? And then that has nothing to do with the fact that you would like rich people to be less rich, right? And it’s really dangerous tying both of those things together because when you tie both of those things together you alienate whole swathes of the population. And then poor people in Bangladesh drown because you’ve got some other agenda.” (14:16) “Find a way of becoming wiser earlier, right? And then trust yourself once you are becoming wise. None of us are perfectly wise, but find a way of listening to and trusting yourself.” (40:29)
Mon, November 30, 2020
220: Dr. Joseph Daniels - A Catalyst for Change in Northwest Arkansas
Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Dr. Joseph Daniels, founder of Build Community Through Love. Build Community Through Love seeks to infuse AGAPE LOVE into the strategic and actionable redesign of authentic community. Dr. Daniels has a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, is a community builder, and is a real investor. In this episode, some of the topics you will get to hear about our insights around inclusivity in ecosystem development, opportunity zones in real estate, the need for equity in Northwest Arkansas, and Dr. Daniels' why. Thanks for listening in with us! Shownotes (2:01) Introducing Joe Daniels (5:06) Moving from a metropolitan area to NWA (11:19) Inclusivity in entrepreneurial ecosystems (26:12) Joe’s future with Build Community Through Love (32:15) Joe talks about what drives his passion (35:48) Advice for Joe’s younger self (38:55) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Joe Daniels Build Community Through Love Website BCTL Podcast BCTL Instagram Quotes “We value all of these things and then allow for a seven day event where everybody comes in from outside to come into our home. And we begin saying, you know what, we’re not gonna, we can’t do anything. We’re just going to let everybody be themselves. And, you know, if I’m a taxpayer in this city, I don’t want to have to go to another city for a week just to let other people come into my house and wreck it, just for me to have to come back.” (27:20) “So I would tell young Joe, as he’s coming out of high school, begin thinking of ways to employ people. Begin using your mind to solve problems. Don’t force yourself to get A’s in a system that’s gonna continue to keep you locked into as an employee, because your mind is so powerful. And if you use your mind, you can always be an employee, but you can also be someone who can really affect change, and who can provide ideas that solve and can provide real solutions.” (37:08)
Mon, November 23, 2020
219: Bo Lais - Innovative Property Maintenance, a Kansas City Collaboration, and Venture Ecosystem Development
Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Matthew Ward talk with Bo Lais, founder of Lula and KC Collective. They chat about building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas City, silver linings from the Pandemic, and working with Pipeline. Listen to this week’s episode to hear about an ideal example of a business that assesses the marketplace and adapts to address a need in the property management industry! Shownotes (2:24) Introducing Lula (5:46) KC Collective (10:20) Surprises of working with KC Collective (12:42) Creating a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem (14:40) A silver lining from the pandemic (18:14) Raising capital for Lula (21:13) Working with Pipeline (26:44) Advice for the younger self (28:27) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Matthew Ward Bo Lais Lula KC Collective Quotes “You really need universities, corporations, and they need government, right? You need all of them to play nicely with one another in order to be a really strong, entrepreneurial city.” (13:08) “We’re always asking, you know, investors to take more risks but on the other side, you know, I think that founders, I think we need to do bigger things. We need to have more exits, right? More exits and bigger exits.” (17:07)
Mon, November 16, 2020
218: Creating Startup Junkies | Jeff Amerine of Startup Junkie & Jeff Standridge of The Conductor
218: Creating Startup Junkies Jeff Amerine - Startup Junkie; Jeff Standridge - The Conductor Welcome to a special episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Morgan Scholz sit down with Jeff Amerine and Jeff Standridge to talk about their new book "Creating Startup Junkies". In this episode, you will get to hear about the genesis of the book, the importance of venture ecosystem development, and the crucial pillars to creating a venture ecosystem. This is an episode you do not want to miss out on! Check out this link to find more information on how to create an effective ecosystem: https://www.creatingstartupjunkies.com/ Shownotes (2:03) What led to writing a book? (5:09) Who is the book for? (14:02) What are the benefits of building a startup in unexpected places? (20:19) Discussing the four pillars (27:09) Game-changing policy changes for startup ecosystems (33:14) What is the biggest goal of the book? (34:36) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Jeff Standridge Morgan Scholz Creating Startup Junkies Quotes “Otherwise they think of economic development as ‘we’re going to go attract a big plant from somewhere,’ and there’s a place for that, that’s important. But that’s kind of like buying a winning lottery ticket. What we’re talking about in this book, and in everything we do, is sort of the Money Ball play, to use a movie reference. This is the how do you get a better on base percentage with the talent that you have locally, and it’s something that sticks.” (8:10) “If we believe that this is a movement that can change lives, our defining purpose and reason for being is to empower and enable innovators and entrepreneurs. And by virtue of that, improve their lives or quality or standard of living. The book is a manifestation of that. It’s intended to be a little bit inspiration, a little bit practical and tactical detail for how to do it.” (33:32)
Mon, November 09, 2020
217: AccelEvents - The All-in-One Virtual Event Platform with Jonathan Kazarian
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have a virtual chat with Jonathan Kazarian, founder and CEO of AccelEvents. AccelEvents is a virtual event platform that creates high-quality broadcasts and on-demand videos at scale. With over 12,500 companies, organizations, and events who have utilized the platform, AccelEvents has been proven to be an effective solution. In this episode, you will get to hear about the birth and development of AccelEvents, advice to be successful with organizing and running virtual events, and emerging trends in the virtual event space. Check out this great episode! Shownotes (1:16) Introducing Accelevents (7:03) The benefits of transitioning to virtual events (12:44) Setting up a virtual event through Accelevents (14:11) How virtual events favor tech employees (16:26) Scaling quickly with a global virtual team (18:02) Price structure and how sponsors benefit from virtual events (22:56) The future of virtual events post-pandemic (24:25) Jonathan gives advice to his younger self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Jonathan Kazarian Accelevents Quotes “One big trend that we’re seeing...is that these events that used to take three, six, nine months to plan in person and were crazy expensive, now through our platform, these event organizers can take that event and they can repurpose and reuse a lot of the content and bring that community back and re-engage that community every month or every quarter and build those deeper relationships.” (7:20) “You learn best by taking the hit in the face with a two-by-four, because you know the kinds of things you won’t do again. And some of those, I think some of those life lessons are the things that define good leaders. If you could do everything right and you’ve kind of lived an enchanted life, when the first big obstacle comes up you have no idea how to deal with it.” (25:40)
Mon, November 02, 2020
216: Going Straight to The Source - A Conversation Around Medicinal Marijuana in Arkansas Jeff Starling - The Source
Hey everyone! We are glad to have you here for another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Jeff Starling, an owner of The Source. The Source is a one-stop-shop for the highest-grade medical marijuana in the state. Their pledge is to create a high-end, seamless experience that enhances the patient's journey to healing and leaves them feeling cared for. In this episode you will get to hear about changing attitudes around medical marijuana, thoughts around full legalization, the impact COVID has had on the weed supply chain, and innovation in the weed industry. We are happy to have you here with us! Shownotes (1:12) Introducing The Source and Jeff Starling (3:03) Opening a business in a highly regulated industry (4:56) Marijuana as medicine (7:16) Changing the stigmas about medical marijuana (10:57) A surprising client base (12:25) Preparing for the full legalization of recreational marijuana (14:26) Staying above board in the medical marijuana industry (18:09) What’s next for The Source (20:07) Marijuana quality in Arkansas compared to other states (25:53) How Issue 3 can affect the future of legalized marijuana (29:50) Jeff gives advice to his younger self (31:39) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Quotes “There was some resistance to us opening our location in Bentonville, cause everybody thinks it’s going to bring crime and, you know, this counter-culture attitude, and it’s just going to be a sore-spot… To be honest, it was already here. People can just be more open about it, and everybody’s paying taxes on it now. So the attitudes are definitely shifting.” (7:20) The powers that be in Arkansas did not want this, they didn’t. They made every hurdle and bit of red tape to go through in order for anybody to get approved here. But, the people voted. The people spoke. This is what they wanted. This is how our government is supposed to be set up. That we, as the people, have the right to put things on the ballot that we want to see voted on.” (26:07) “I think that when you start to see these small towns get this industry moving in and all the sudden there’s tax revenue and jobs, and again, the economics become way more important. You’re going to start to see people’s eyes are opening up.” (27:41)
Mon, October 26, 2020
215: Slim Chickens - From a Garage to a Global Hit with Tom Gordon
As a part of the Game-Changers Series for Startup Week, Caleb Talley sat down for a conversation with Tom Gordon, the co-founder, president, and CEO of Slim Chickens. They talked about the early days of Slim Chickens, how the company has adapted through the pandemic, the current and future expansion of Slim Chickens, and much more. You do not want to miss out on this tremendous episode! Shownotes (1:20) The beginnings of Slim Chickens (6:12) Handling finances with a young business (8:21) Taking outside capital after initial investors (11:15) Building a culture that welcomes everyone from the community (13:40) Going international (15:33) Making menu decisions (18:49) Adjusting to the pandemic environment (23:55) Tom gives advice to his younger self Links Caleb Talley Tom Gordon Slim Chickens Quotes “We say none of us really ever lost. Everybody who has a company that they start from scratch makes sacrifices. And those are things you’ve got to do. You know, you don’t pay yourself. You sell a car to make payroll. You know, you take your money to the bank after Friday lunch to make sure you make Friday payroll for your people. That’s real-life in business. That’s real life in American capitalism, and if you stick to it, you know, often you can get to the next level.” (7:45) “You know, those are lessons that are learned and will always be valuable to me and Greg Smart. And it just takes time. Surviving is the key, and if you can survive long enough and have enough time and adjust quick, you know, I think that anybody in the US, anybody in this country has a shot at it.” (25:
Mon, October 19, 2020
214: The Construction Giant Sam Alley Builds on the American Dream
This week, Jeff Amerine talks with Sam Alley, chairman, and CEO of VCC. VCC is a leading general contractor in the nation, and it is the largest retail construction company in America. In this episode, you will hear about how Sam started VCC with two partners, challenges the business has overcome, and the strong culture found within the company. Sam also shares advice for engineers who are looking to build their own businesses. As always, thanks for tuning in! Shownotes (1:10) Sam Allley introduces VCC (3:46) Sam talks about the early days at VCC (6:18) Challenges that VCC has overcome (9:34) Advice for entrepreneurs looking to build large enterprises (11:47) Building a strong culture (14:19) Managing a business through COVID-19 (20:06) Advice for engineers looking to start their own business (22:15) Sam’s take on the American Dream Links Jeff Amerine Sam Alley VCC Quotes “So really, construction includes engineering and business together, and that’s why I was really excited to choose the construction industry.” (2:41) “If you ever go and start your own company, people will come and ask you to service them because they’ve dealt with you. And it doesn’t matter what the name of the company is, it’s the individual that makes a difference.” (4:09)
Mon, October 12, 2020
The Journey From Tough Beginnings to Owning and Running a Billion-Dollar Agriculture Business
Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine chat with special guest Sarah Frey, CEO, and founder of Frey Farms. Frey Farms is one of the nation's largest fresh produce suppliers and grows fresh produce in the Midwest, Southeast, and West Virginia. From a recent appearance on CBS to creating her book "The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life -- And Saved an American Farm", Sarah Frey has made an impact on many people telling her remarkable entrepreneurial story. In this episode, you will get to hear about Sarah's inspiring journey to save the family farm, an in-depth conversation around everything pumpkin related, and how COVID has affected the agriculture industry. Listen in to this great story! Shownotes (1:00) Introducing Frey Farms (11:17) Frey Farms, the largest pumpkin provider in the country (16:14) Educating the public on the pumpkin as a part of a meal (19:20) The sales model of Frey Farms (27:00) Using imperfect produce (31:32) How Sarah’s childhood experiences prepared her for future success (35:32) The future of Frey Farms (38:40) Sarah’s advice to her younger self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Sarah Frey Frey Farms Sarah's Homegrown Quotes “Food was simple. It was clean, and it was delicious. Nothing ever went to waste on our farm, because we couldn't afford to waste anything on the farm where I grew up when I was a little girl. And it’s those same principles that apply today to our business on a much larger scale. And I think there is an opportunity to tell that story...to educate the consumer on this is who we are. This is how we grow your food. This is what’s important to us. And I think that translates to more customer loyalty at the grocery retailer.” (20:17)
Mon, October 05, 2020
212: Belgium Does More Than Just Beer - The Journey to Sales Process Automation with Salesflare
Hey everyone! We are back again with another spectacular week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Jeroen Corthout, co-founder and CEO of Salesflare. Salesflare is a simply powerful CRM that automates data to build better relationships and make more sales. It's a fast, visual, and easy-to-use sales machine that is built by humans for humans. In this episode, you will get to hear about the evolution of Salesflare, the amount of time employees spend on SaaS platforms, the flexibility of raising various funds to run a startup, and the impact of COVID on Salesflare. We are happy you are tuning in with us!
Mon, September 28, 2020
211: Sales and Marketing Go Together Like PB&J - Words of Wisdom from Mark Donnigan
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another great episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. This week, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward have a lively conversation with Mark Donnigan, founder of d-launch. d-launch is a marketing consulting firm Mark started in 2010 to help startup companies crush their business objectives through marketing architecture. In this episode, you will get to hear about Mark's impactful journey from sales to opening his own marketing consulting firm, his approach to picking your first marketing hire, and why there should not be a demand generation function. Tune in for these words of wisdom! Shownotes (1:01) Introducing Mark Donnigan (4:46) Go-to market engineering (10:51) The importance of a startup’s first marketing hire (19:30) Demand generation marketing (23:35) The difference in B2C and B2B sales (31:00) Mark’s advice for his past self Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Mark Donnigan d-launch Quotes “The high failure rate of startups is due largely to the fact that - not because what was built didn’t work, or didn’t fulfill the promise...but it’s because they failed to educate the market as to the problem that this invention would solve.” (5:52) “In some ways, a lot of the B2C motions are, are, are, the tactics are different in B2B. It’s true, but at the end of the day, I’m still selling to a human. And if that human doesn’t connect with me, as another human even at the most basic relationship level, I’m not going to close the sale” (23:59)
Mon, September 21, 2020
210: A Revolution that Matters - Steve Case is Spreading the Startup Movement Across the U.S.
Hey everyone! This is another special week with your Startup Junkie Crew. This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have an insightful call with Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and CEO of Revolution. Revolution is a venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs build the next generation of transformative companies outside of Silicon Valley. In this episode, you will get to hear about barriers around private investment activity, important aspects of developing a venture ecosystem, and opportunities exposed by COVID-19. You do not want to miss out on this valuable episode!
Tue, September 08, 2020
209: Water is BIG - The Strategy and Tactics of Better Water
Tyler Elm - BlueInGreen Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine speak with Tyler Elm, Chief Marketing and Business Sustainability Officer of BlueInGreen. BlueInGreen designs the most efficient water treatment solutions in order to lower the total cost of treatment while improving water quality. In this episode, you will get to hear about Tyler's sustainability background, challenges of growing in a niche vertical, and potential exit strategies for BlueInGreen. Check out this episode! Shownotes (1:06) Introducing BlueInGreen (1:52) Tyler’s career background (6:47) BlueInGreen’s significant growth in a conservative market (12:51) BlueInGreen’s plans to scale internationally (15:50) COVID’s effects on scaling for BlueInGreen (20:38) How teaming up with a strategic partner could benefit BlueInGreen (28:20) Tyler shares advice to other people looking to team up with a startup (36:02) Wrapping up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Tyler Elm BlueInGreen Quotes “What we’ve been trying to do is scale certain technologies and certain markets based on high value opportunities for the customer. So the drive of strong ROI and applications that really leverage our core competencies of being able to treat more water with less energy and have a smaller footprint.” (10:12) “I would say that we’re giving the customer the opportunity to either tap a capital budget or an operational budget. In some applications, the operation, the operational savings cover more than the capital costs very quickly.” (23:34)
Mon, August 31, 2020
208: Talent Whisperer - How Cameron Smith brought the best and brightest to NWA
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. This week, Caleb Talley has a special chat with Cameron Smith of Cameron Smith & Associates. Cameron Smith & Associates is one of the nation's leading recruiting firms that is devoted to finding and placing the best talent. In this episode, you will get to hear about the impact Cameron Smith & Associates has made in Northwest Arkansas, the game-changing moment for Mr. Smith, and the transformation of fastpitch softball in Arkansas. Check out this fun, insightful episode! Shownotes (00:34) Intro (2:21) Cameron Smith and Associates origin story (7:39) Cameron shares game changing moments from his career (10:21) Cameron and his wife Monica’s meeting story (15:32) How Cameron changed the Arkansas sports landscape (21:41) COVID’s effects on Cameron Smith and Associates (23:14) What’s next for the company? (24:40) Best advice Cameron has received Links Caleb Talley Cameron Smith Cameron Smith and Associates Quotes “I was busier than all get out, and I really couldn’t hire recruiters quick enough to manage the business. So fast forward 25 years later. There are 1,600 plus Walmart vendors here. And I believe we are responsible for bringing more than 500 of those teams here, and help facilitating close to 5,000 jobs. It’s been a great run, and we’re very grateful” (5:13) “When you’re first starting out, you have this vision for this business. You’ve got to ask a lot of questions. You have to do your due diligence. You’ve got to run the numbers and make a plan.” (25:31)
Mon, August 24, 2020
207: Strongarm Technologies - The Journey to Keep Industrial Athletes Safe with Sean Petterson
Welcome back to another week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have a chat with Sean Petterson, founder, and CEO of Strongarm Technologies. Strongarm Tech is a developer of a safety science platform that uses wearable sensors and AI-driven analysis to collect, analyze and predict insights on industrial workers in order to mitigate the risk of injury, enabling clients to mitigate workman's compensation claims from back injuries and increase worker productivity and comfort. In this episode, you will get to hear about Sean's compelling story and background, critical adjustments made during COVID-19, and insights around company culture. Check out this compelling episode! Shownotes (1:14) What is StrongArm Tech (6:20) How StrongArm Tech saves company’s money (9:51) Where will StrongArm be in the 3 years? (12:13) COVID’s effects on StrongArm (16:26) How insurance helps in StrongArm’s sales process (19:23) Sean talks about keeping people from all areas of operation focused on the data that truly matters (22:52) Sean shares stories of how StrongArm has been impactful and helpful to clients (26:20) Sean talks about the culture of StrongArm (29:39) Seans shares advice to his younger self (31:53) Wrap up Links Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Sean Petterson Strongarm Tech Quotes “So today we’ve transitioned, and Strongarm is the world’s leading safety science company. We’ve had over 35,000 people run through our platform, and we’re reducing injuries now at a rate of nearly 50% year over year.” (5:32) “So for us to be able to be front that is solely focused on one issue - the industrial athlete, and making them relevant in the future by driving value that is not seen necessarily, is our unique operation.” (21:58) “We use a core set of values, and those values for us happen to be a cool acronym that ends up being sacred. But those values are things like self-improving, and our ability to stick to those is key for us to hire the same people as we build that scalable business.” (27:15) “Your value as an entrepreneur and as an individual leader is your ability to synthesize. To disagree with some of the insights you may get, to agree with some of the insights you may get, but to synthesize your own thoughts based on the information that you pull in is hands down the most valuable a
Mon, August 17, 2020
206: Beer Saves The World... Again with Brian Crum and Bianca Montoya with Beyond the Tap
206: Beer Saves The World... Again Brian Crum and Bianca Tessa with Beyond the Tap Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with Bianca Tessa and Brian Crum from Beyond the Tap. Beyond the Tap is a podcast that brings together the best of craft beer, wine, and spirits, which are made in Northwest Arkansas. They inspire, educate, and celebrate the people who are making it happen as they sit down with the top brewers, distillers, and vintners across the region. In this episode, you will get to hear about the story behind the creation of the Beyond the Tap podcast, learning experiences around creating and growing a podcast, and insights around the adult beverage industry during COVID-19. Check out the episode!
Mon, August 10, 2020
205: Antibodies are the Answer with Namida Labs with Omid Moghadam
Once again, we are back with another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have an in-depth chat with Omid Moghadam, the founder and CEO of Namida Labs. Namida Labs uses unconventional approaches to develop quick solutions for current healthcare challenges. They have been an effective in creating large scale antibody testing for communities and large employers. In this episode, Omid discusses his expedition to Fayetteville, Arkansas; practical insights around COVID-19 related decisions and testing; and the meaning behind the company name "Namida". Buckle up for a great episode!
Mon, August 03, 2020
204: Gingiber - The Art of Business Becomes The Business of Art with Stacie Bloomfield and Gingiber
Welcome back everyone! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Stacie Bloomfield, founder and artist of Gingiber. Gingiber is a creative company that aims to encourage and inspire others to live their fullest lives through workshops, products, and other areas. In this episode, some of the insightful information you will get to hear about include: Gingiber's pivot during COVID-19, the process behind creating a timeless product, and the management of quality behind a product. Listen in on this great episode!
Mon, July 27, 2020
203: Winning the E-commerce War with Allan Peretz of Bold Strategies
Welcome back folks! It is another great week with the Startup Junkie crew. This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward zoom with Allan Peretz, founder and President of Bold Strategies, Inc. Bold Strategies brings together proven CPG experts and emerging digital talent to create custom e-commerce departments for their clients. In this episode, some of the interesting topics you will get to hear about are Allan's journey leading up to Bold Strategies, the effect of COVID-19 on e-commerce and retail strategy, and the vision of Bold Strategies. Do not miss out on these nuggets of information!
Mon, July 20, 2020
202: Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort - Your Next Retreat with Laura & Zack Kraus
202: Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort - Your Next Retreat GUESTS: Laura and Zack Kraus Hey everyone! Welcome to another week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have a chat with Laura and Zack Kraus, founders of Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort. Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort is a 1950's Palm Springs inspired trailer resort featuring eight renovated and themed vintage travel trailers from the 1950's-70's. The trailers are permanently parked in a semi-circle surrounding a pool, astroturf and fire pit, and can be rented by the night. In this episode, you will get to hear about the creative process around Pink Flamingo, Laura and Zack's journey to Arkansas, and difficulties around building the resort. Listen in on this great talk! Shownotes (1:06) Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort (2:54) How It Started (8:24) How has COVID impacted Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort? (10:14) Funny Stories around the trailers (14:08) How did it all really come together, here, in Northwest Arkansas? (21:43) What challenges have they faced? (29:32) Laura and Zack share about things they know now that they didn’t when they first started. (31:58) Closing Thoughts Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort
Mon, July 13, 2020
201: Martial Trigeaud - The French Champion Cyclist Making Heart Surgery More Effective and Efficient
It's another week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, Jeff Standridge, and Matthew Ward talk with Martial Trigeaud, serial entrepreneur and Chief Operating Officer of Vascugenix Incorporated. Vascuegenix Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing innovative products to improve patient safety during interventional cardiology procedures. In this episode, you will hear about Martial's journey from France, his illustrious cycling resume, and Vascugenix's innovative product called the Speed-Torque. We hope you enjoy this exciting episode! (00:34) Intro (01:52) Martial’s Story (04:34) Vascugenix Incorporated Overview (10:30) What are the future plans for vascular genetics? (12:32) The transition from advisor to a member of an executive team (15:58) Let’s talk cycling (26:27) Work-Life differences between France and the United States (28:05) Martial’s Remodeling projects (30:05) If you could take all the knowledge that you've accumulated at your current age and give some advice to your younger self when you were starting out your journey, what would that advice be? (32:53) Close Quotes “And that's why I feel Vascugenix is going to be a very successful company because we really think about the 360 view from the worst scenario to the best scenario and everything in between.” (14:53) So I feel like sometimes we need to push a little bit on people, but I understand at the same time, you don't want to push too hard on people because it's complex. Life in the US is very complex because you have family issues, financial issues. I mean, I understand all of that. I think we should do a mix of both where we need to push people a little bit more but manage them correctly for them to do a good job. (27:28) “Be a learner. The first thing is to learn how to learn. Understand what is valuable and what is not valuable.” (30:24) Links: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vascugenix-inc https://www.vascugenix.com/ Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Matthew Ward https://www.linkedin.com/in/martial-trigeaud-36903011/en-us
Mon, July 06, 2020
200: Reunion of the OG Startup Junkies
This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, Matthew Ward, and Taylor Hasley have a zoom party with Michael Iseman, Media and Investor Education at AcreTrader, and Jon Cadieux, founder, and owner of NWA Workplaces. During this special episode, the crew takes a trip down memory lane with some of the original Startup Junkies. You will get to hear about the early days of the Startup Junkies Podcast, COVID-19 related matters, and predictions of the economy. Come join the party to celebrate 200 episodes of the Startup Junkie Podcast!
Mon, June 29, 2020
199: Hannah Withers - The Resilient Owner of Maxine's Tap Room and Leverett Lounge
It’s another week with the Startup Junkie Crew! On this episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Hannah Withers, owner of Maxine’s Tap Room and Leverett Lounge. Maxine’s Tap Room is a historical bar in Fayetteville that was voted one of the best bars in America by Esquire Magazine. Leverett Lounge is a Fayetteville favorite restaurant on Leverett Avenue that has a smooth balance of comfort and class. This week, you will get to hear about Hannah’s entrepreneurial background (1:15), Feed the Heard program (10:23), and the importance of locally owned businesses (23:04). We are glad you are with us! Our Favorite Quote: Jeff – “With the knowledge and experience you have now, what would you tell your past self?” (33:10) Hannah – “We made so many mistakes… as long as you do what you love with people you trust, you will be okay.” Maxine’s Tap Room Leverett Lounge Hannah Withers
Mon, June 22, 2020
198: Pinballs, People, and Persistence - Pinpoint
Welcome back to another week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have an in-depth zoom talk with Bo Counts, serial entrepreneur and owner of Pinpoint. Pinpoint is Arkansas’ first and only pinball bar. With over 20 classic pinball cabinets, skee-ball, darts, and a full bar, Pinpoint offers a fun, relaxed experience for people of various ages (21+) and backgrounds. In this episode, you will get to hear about Bo’s interesting career adventure (2:35), the allure of creating an experience with retro gaming that breaks stereotype (6:15), and the origin of the Pinpoint name integrated with expansion plans (16:28). You do not want to miss out on this great episode! Our Favorite Quote: Bo – “We don’t sell pinball or cocktails; we sell togetherness and experience.” (18:00) Pinpoint Bo Counts
Mon, June 15, 2020
197: The Art of the Hustle with Sam Parr, Founder and CEO of the World's Largest Newsletter
We are happy to see you again on another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have an exciting chat with Sam Parr, founder and CEO of the world's largest newsletter: The Hustle. During this episode, you will get to hear about Sam's career progression in various entrepreneurial pursuits, the research arm of Hustle Con Media called Trends.co, and valuable insights into how to attract consumers. Tune in to this value-filled episode! Our Favorite Quote: Jeff - "Where do you draw the line on fake news, free speech, and all of that since you are a media guy?" Sam - "You have to let people do their thing... You must take the bad with the good." The Hustle Trends Sam Parr
Mon, June 08, 2020
196: A Conversation of Clarity with the Arkansas Secretary of Commerce
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have a focused conversation with Mike Preston, the Arkansas Secretary of Commerce and Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. In this episode you will get to hear about Mr. Preston's journey from Florida to Arkansas, Arkansas' commitment to small business initiatives, and the strategy to create more jobs in Arkansas. This is an episode you do not want to miss! Our Favorite Quote: Mike - "The state is here to support you... We see that business will be the answer to getting us back to where we were before." Arkansas EDC
Mon, June 01, 2020
195: Matchstick Studio - A Perfect Marketing Match That Sticks
In this Episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward have a virtual chat with Jordan Carmon, Co-Founder and CEO of Matchstick Studio. Matchstick Studio is a full-service creative studio that works directly with companies’ marketing departments to provide services, such as design, print, and copyrighting, that might not be offered internally in order to help these companies accomplish their goals. Learn about the motivations behind creating and growing Matchstick and how Matchstick is helping other businesses during the COVID-19 in this week’s episode! Our Favorite Quote: Jordan - “I want someone who is going to fit with the team first… (A) lot of the skills we are able to teach. The personality and the values are the most important things to us when considering hiring.” Find Matchstick Studio Here Connect with Jordan Here
Tue, May 26, 2020
194: Getting Saucy with The Pitmaster of the South - Jordan Wright of Wright's BBQ
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward zoom with Jordan Wright, founder and owner of Wright's BBQ. Wright's BBQ creates a life changing barbecue experience by combining quality smoked meats with their exceptional customer service. During this week's episode, we dive into how Wright's BBQ was created and some of the intricacies that go into making great tasting barbecue. Our Favorite Quote: Jordan - "People are the most important asset." Wright’s BBQ Reach Jordan Here
Mon, May 18, 2020
193: Getting in the Loop with IdeaLoop
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley have a virtual chat with Blake Reeves and Chris McCroskey from IdeaLoop. At IdeaLoop, Blake is the Enterprise Software Sales Leader, and Chris is the Founder and Ideator. IdeaLoop is a customer software development company that helps some of the largest brands in the world to improve their efficiencies. In this episode, you will get to hear about IdeaLoop’s early use of virtual communication, how to get the right people on the bus, and many other pieces of invaluable information for people during these crazy times. Tune in for a great episode! Find IdeaLoop Here Connect with Blake Here Connect with Chris Here
Mon, May 11, 2020
192: Dave Creek Media - A Catalyst for Growth
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley zoom with Glenn Crockett, leader of the 10x growth accelerator program and founder of Dave Creek Media. Dave Creek Media is a marketing company that helps companies grow through data-driven digital marketing. From Fortune 500 companies to local growth companies, Dave Creek Media is prepared to work with clients of various sizes and backgrounds to accelerate their growth. In this episode, you will get to hear about the emergence of Dave Creek Media, the transition from a large corporation into being a business owner, and the importance of being proactive during difficult times. Members of the Startup Junkie community hope you are doing well during these unprecedented times! Contact Glenn Here & Here Connect with Dave Creek Media Here
Mon, May 04, 2020
191: A Large, Impactful Digital Transformation with SmallWorld
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward zoom with Jake Curreri, the founder of SmallWorld. SmallWorld is a global technology consulting firm that helps organizations make, adapt, and grow their digital capabilities. In this episode, you will get to hear about the unification of the human and digital experience, the consequences of COVID-19, and Jake’s appearance on The Tonight Show. During this time of COVID-19, Jake shares with the crew how companies can make optimal adjustments in their communication, culture, and other parts of their business to tackle challenges brought on by this time of change. SmallWorldus.com 6 Steps to Digital Transformation Contact Jake Here and Here
Mon, March 23, 2020
190: Video Marketing x2 - Go Rogue X
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward sit down with Bryan Fittin and Loren Lewis to talk about Go Rogue X. Go Rogue X simplifies video marketing for small to medium-sized businesses. From high quality videos to strategic marketing help, they can help a business gain a competitive advantage in their environment. Inside this episode, you will get to hear about what Go Rogue X is about, the reality of work-life balance, and many more exciting topics. Website: GoRogueX.com Contact Bryan Fittin Here and Loren Lewis Here
Mon, March 16, 2020
189: Getting Creative with Designsteins
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward talk to Matt Woolley about his company Designstein. Designstein is a firm who enhances a brand’s presence online and in big box aisles. From initial concept to finished product, Designstein brings a company’s vision to life. Inside the episode, the crew talks to Matt about his past in banking, what led him to Designstein, and what his future goals are for the company. Our Favorite Quote: Jeff - "Peter Drucker said that culture eats strategy for breakfast... we like to say that culture is a part of strategy" Visit Designsteins here Contact Matt on LinkedIn here
Mon, March 02, 2020
188: Dusty Pruitt and Teaching Traction
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley talk to Dusty Pruitt about his consulting firm Teaching Traction. In their discussions, you are going to hear about Dusty's background, 6 key components of an organization, and some funny stories along the way. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a must-hear episode! Our Favorite Quote: Dusty: "You either die a hero or you live to see yourself become the villain.” Connect with Dusty Pruitt and Teaching Traction
Thu, February 27, 2020
187: Digging Into This Dot
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Caleb Talley sit down with Tracy Lee to talk about her company This Dot. During the show, the crew talks with Tracy about her beginnings in startups, lessons she has learned on the way, and her plans with This Dot. This is an episode you do not want to miss out on! Connect with Tracy and This Dot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyslee/ https://www.thisdot.co/
Mon, February 17, 2020
186: Showing Gratitude with Gratavid
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Caleb Talley sit down with Will Trapp, founder of Gratavid, to talk about the journey he has had with his company. Gratavid helps organizations increase donor retention through personalized videos. Their clients are using Gratavid to share thank you videos, birthday videos, and videos that connect donors with the causes they are supporting. From trigger words to drink cider to cold calling advice, this is an episode you do not want to miss! Our favorite quotes: Jeff - "What advice would you give to a first-time entrepreneur?" Will - "Do it... It will most likely fail... you will learn so much from each one (failure)." Link to Website: https://gratavid.com/ Connect with Will on LinkedIn
Mon, February 10, 2020
185: Endeavor
In this episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Haley Allgood sit down with various members of Endeavor Northwest Arkansas. Started 23 years ago, Endeavor has helped 1,800 entrepreneurs build more than 1,100 companies in 34 markets throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. In this session the crew talks with the program about its entrance into NWA, the demand for software developers, and the importance of entrepreneurship. Our Favorite Quote: Jeff: "We get to have great conversations with people like you and drink cider on a Tuesday afternoon."
Tue, February 04, 2020
184: Crime Map
In this episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood sit down with the winners of the Congressional App Challenge, high school students Julian Sanker (Fayetteville) and Lucas Kellar (Springdale). The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide coding competition which aims to encourage students to pursue STEM education. During the episode, Haley and Jeff talk to the two standout students about their award winning website Crime Map, Python, and future plans. Our favorite quotes: Jeff: "What advice would you have for other younger students that might want to try the Congressional App Challenge or get into software development?" Lucas: "When there is an opportunity, always take it." Julian: "Just practice... Try, try and try." Link to Crime Map: https://lkellar.org/maps/
Mon, December 23, 2019
183: Christmas Week Special with Chief Glenna Wallace
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood make a trip out to Oklahoma to sit down with Glenna Wallace along with her grandson, Skylar. Glenna Wallace is Chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and has been serving since 2006. Her role is similar to the owner of a startup in which her hands are all over the place for her people. Tune in to hear more about the adversity she faced and how she served as an inspirational leader for many. Learn more about Glenna and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe here .
Mon, December 16, 2019
182: Who Wants to Clean Their Own Trash Cans?
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood sit down with Heather Reynolds. Heather joined by her family, is the owner of Can Can Cleaners of North West Arkansas. Can Can Cleaners is an outdoor trash can cleaning service which offers various subscriptions such as monthly, quarterly, and one-time cleans. Can Can has been rapidly growing due to her unique model and her focal point is on expansion in NWA. Tune in to hear about the process as a whole, challenges that Heather came across, and how she overcame those obstacles leading to successful start of operations. Learn more about Can Can on their website .
Mon, December 09, 2019
181: Take a Ride With Buddy Pegs
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine is joined by Haley Allgood and Caleb Talley, in which they sit down with Scott Fitzgerald of Buddy Pegs. Buddy Pegs is an organization that reunites kids with their bicycles. The trend of where children devote their free time has shifted from being outside to playing games on tablets and other technology that has merged in the recent years. Buddy Pegs offers numerous classes, after-school bike clubs, and family bike clubs. Their passion is to provide our youth opportunities to ride their bikes with their friends in a safe manner. Tune in to hear more about Buddy Pegs and their growth as an organization. Visit their website here.
Mon, November 25, 2019
180: Downfall of Regulations on Startups
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood sit down with Rhett Davis. Rhett Davis serves as the Small Business Advocate for Region 6 in which he assists business owners overcome federal regulations that are potentially burdening their growth. The Small Business Administration is a Federal Agency which provides free consulting to small businesses along with accessible funding. Throughout this episode, Rhett dives into some experiences throughout his career and discusses recently implemented regulations that benefit small businesses. Tune in to learn some helpful new facts that could help your startup! Learn more about the SBA . Dive deeper into Brett's work here .
Mon, November 18, 2019
179: Roll Up Your Sleeves and Make it Happen!
In this week’s episode of the Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood make a trip out to Haxton Road Studios in Bentonville, Arkansas to sit down with Judy Robinette. Judy is a startup funding expert who comes with an abundance of titles, published author, investor, corporate leader, along with Founder & President of JRobinette Enterprises. Judy has also been featured on several major news platforms such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CEO Magazine, and many more. To say the least; you name it, she’s done it. Throughout the episode, Jeff and Haley pick at Judy’s brain in which they discuss Judy’s most recent book, Crack The Funding Code . This book is to educate entrepreneurs on how investors think and what they need to hear for potential investments to become reality. Our favorite quote: “When you’re younger, you wonder how far you’ll go. When you get older, you wonder what difference you have made in the world.” Connect with Judy on LinkedIn.
Mon, November 11, 2019
178: A Solved Problem Is No Fun
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkie Podcast, Jeff Amerine sits down this Scott Andrews, Founder and CEO of Allterity. Allterity is an outsourced eCommerce Operations firm in which they provide operations and finances services for growing brands. The main call to action for Allterity is to assist business owners so they can work on their business, not in it. Scott has years of experience in operations and finance from leadership positions and has worked alongside with plenty of businesses at different stages. A key takeaway from this episode which Scott Elaborates on, it is one thing to have a great idea, but it is a whole new world going out and executing the idea. Tune in to hear more. Learn more at their website. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.
Mon, November 04, 2019
177: Digital Design From Concept to Scale with Few.io
In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sit down with Zack Hill and Will Carter from Few, a digital design and development shop that works with a variety of business including Arkansas State University, XNA, and startups. Zack and Will are key leaders for Few as Zack has been the CEO for 2 years and Will is the Director of Accounts. Few specializes in building digital products such as concepting, custom web/mobile applications, digital/physical design, and go-to-market strategies. Few is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with remote workers scattered across the country from New York to California. Learn more about Few.io on their website . Connect with Zack and Will on LinkedIn.
Tue, October 22, 2019
176: #CelebrateTheWin with Michael Paladino and Joe Saumweber
Shownotes: In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood sit down with the co-founders of RevUnit, Michael Paladino and Joe Saumweber. RevUnit is a premier digital strategy and product studio helping enterprise workforces leverage technology to WorkBetter. Since founding in 2012, RevUnit has grown its team to well over 100 members and earned a reputation for delivering its best-in-class software development capabilities combined with a unique focus on employee engagement and internal productivity applications. In July, RevUnit received a significant investment from Mountaingate Capital (“Mountaingate”), a leading private equity firm based in Denver, Colorado. The strategic investment will allow RevUnit to accelerate its growth, both organically and through targeted add-on acquisitions — while staying true to the culture and unique ways of working that make RevUnit teams so successful. Our favorite quotes: Joe: “Eventually you get to a point in a company’s story where you either become the acquirer or you get acquired. Fortunately for us, we were able to architect a scenario with a great exit event for our team, maintain who we are, and become the acquirer through private equity.” Michael: “You’re going to screw up. It’s going to happen. But how you treat people when you screw up makes the difference.” Michael: “My son walked by and said ‘Dad, why is there a dancing unicorn on the screen?’ And I heard myself say ‘Peter hold on, I’m working!” Follow Ups: Connect with Michael and Joe on LinkedIn. Follow RevUnit on Facebook , LinkedIn , and RevUnit.com
Fri, October 11, 2019
175: In Matters of Life and Data with Charles Morgan
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Haley Allgood and guest host Jeff Standridge join Charles D. Morgan, a visionary leader whose five decade long career has brought Arkansas technology companies to the global playing field. Long before data science was a trending career, Morgan lead the Acxiom Corporation from 25 employees in the 1970s to over 7,000 by making decisions on data and developing database marketing solutions for some 50 of the top Fortune 100 companies. In his current role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Orion, Charles is leading a growth stage startup of over 200 employees, using real time data to increase transparency in telecommunications and block spam callers.
Mon, September 30, 2019
174: What's Next After Next?
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Haley Allgood sits down with Tom Douglass, the founder of Catapult Consulting and former Director of Emerging Technology for Walmart. In Tom’s former role at Walmart, he worked with startup founders that were solving future problems with technology that would be ready for implementation in 3-7 years. Currently, also serves the chairman for the 2019 NWA Tech Summit, to be held October 20-23rd, which will showcase world class speakers, NWA’s top amenities, and key insights into what’s next in the realm of supply chain, retail, and e-commerce technologies. Connect with Tom . Learn more about the 2019 Tech Summit and buy tickets here .
Mon, September 16, 2019
173: It All Begins with a Song
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Jon Cadieux, and Chandler Abbott sit down with Troy Campbell, the founder of The House of Songs. The House of Songs has become a global songwriting enterprise with Troy’s philosophy that an artist’s biggest audience may be in a foreign country. Troy founded the Ozark House of Songs after seeing the same infrastructure like bike trails, startup companies, and corporate partners growing in Northwest Arkansas as he saw in Austin, Texas in the 1990s. According to Troy, the old music industry is gone and will never be back, but the new model of finding your true audience is refreshing because there will always be a demand for great songs. Check out The House of Songs on their website , Facebook , Instagram , and PBS documentary Connect with Troy on LinkedIn .
Mon, September 09, 2019
172: Ethical Sourcing Begins and Ends with People
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jon Cadieux, the founder of the Startup Junkies Podcast, returns to showcase several of his tenants at NWA Workplaces. This episode features founder Kaylynn Jordan, and VP Jon Jordan of Ethical Sourcing. Kaylynn founded Ethical Sourcing as a way to give people a fair wage in developing countries, bring unique products to stateside retailers, and support international causes for education and human trafficking. They currently manage some 250 products and service 6 retailers. To Kaylynn, business is not intended to harm, but to build up communities and families. Links: Ethical Sourcing Website , Facebook , and Instagram . Connect with Kaylynn , Jon Jordan , and Jon Cadieux on LinkedIn.
Tue, September 03, 2019
171: Keeping Fayetteville Freckled
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood joined Luke and Natalie Freeman, the founders of the Freckled Hen Farmhouse, a curated retail shop of functional and sustainable home goods and gifts. The shop began as a social media account featuring products that Luke and Natalie used in renovating their home and has grown into a retail store on College Avenue and an online presence of more than 40,000 followers. In this episode, Luke and Natalie reflect on humble beginnings and sustainably scaling the business to what it is today. Connect with Jeff , Haley , Luke , and Natalie . Check out the Freckled Hen Farmhouse online , on Instagram , and on College Avenue .
Mon, August 12, 2019
170: Goodbye, Michael
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Chandler Abbott sit down with Michael Iseman, the former Chief Relationship Officer of Startup Junkie, now an Analyst and Investor Educator at AcreTrader. Michael reflects on four years of working at Startup Junkie, finding a wife, and working with thousands of entrepreneurs and startups. Jeff recalls highlights of Michael’s tenure, such as kicking off Arkansas’s first accelerator program, helping entrepreneurs run the startup race well, and finishing with a grand finale at the Fuel Accelerator Demo Day. Thank you Michael for your hard work to grow Startup Junkie!
Thu, July 25, 2019
169: WhyteSpyder and Startup Junkie are in Springdale
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Haley Allgood and Martha Londagin sit down with Eric Howerton and Brooke McNeely of WhyteSpyder. WhyteSpyder has recently relocated to Emma Avenue and Startup Junkie has opened a new office in Springdale for events and consulting meetings in the Springdale area. Eric and Martha reflect on the history of Springdale while Haley details the resources available to entrepreneurs through Startup Junkie. Learn more about WhyteSpyder . Connect with Haley , Martha , Eric , and Brooke .
Mon, July 15, 2019
168: Fayetteville’s Premium Soft Serve Startup with Ryan Burton
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Chandler Abbott join Ryan Burton, the founder of Burton’s Creamery. Ryan started Burton’s Creamery as a food truck in 2014 and it has since expanded into catering service and a brick and mortar store in Uptown Fayetteville. Ryan tells the story of how a sweet hobby became a successful startup by establishing a MVP, going to ice cream school, and creating NWA’s only premium soft serve. Connect with Ryan Check out Burton’s on Dickson or Uptown Follow Burton’s Creamery on Instagram
Mon, July 08, 2019
167: Professional and Personal Branding with Helena Gadison and Dr. Todd Jenkins
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Chandler Abbott sit down with Helena Gadison and Dr. Todd Jenkins to discuss how entrepreneurs should create an authentic brand for themselves and their business. Todd currently serves as the chair of the NWA Young Professionals Summit and Helena will be one of the guest speakers this year. During this podcast, Helena and Todd preview the themes of personal, professional, and philanthropic development for the 4th annual NWA YP Summit. Connect with Helena and Todd Get your ticket to the 2019 NWA YP Summit here
Mon, July 01, 2019
166: There's No Free Lunch, But There Is Free Lunch Delivery with Edwin Ortiz
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Chandler Abbott sit down with Edwin Ortiz, the founder and CEO of Luncher. Luncher is a platform that enables customers to get lunch delivered for free in high density areas with supply chain efficiencies. Edwin views Luncher as a culmination of his experiences in supply chain that began when he took over his parents transportation business when he was just 12 years old. To Edwin, Luncher is not just an innovative delivery service, it’s a way to reclaim a lost hour every day while eating healthy. Luncher is currently delivering lunch to Bentonville, Springdale, and Fayetteville Connect with Edwin on LinkedIn
Mon, June 24, 2019
165: Read this labl with Kent Wood
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Taylor Hasley sit down with Kent Wood, the founder and CEO of ReadtheLabl. Kent founded ReadtheLabl after recognizing a need in the marketplace for transparent packaged foods and researching at the University of Arkansas Food Innovation Center for a solution. Kent’s vision for ReadtheLabl began by creating three sauces that are organic, shelf stable without acids, and contain no added sugar or preservatives. Using his experience of coaching professional tennis players and implementing technologies like artificial intelligence, Kent envisions expanding the brand with personalized healthy meal solutions. ReadtheLabl’s sauces are currently distributed across several local stores in NWA and central Arkansas. They can also be ordered directly from https://readthelabl.com . Connect with Kent on LinkedIn.
Mon, June 17, 2019
164: Eating in with James Farmer of Easybins
In this episode of the Startup Junkies podcast, Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman sit down with James Farmer, the founder of startup grocery delivery service, Easybins. Easybins is a unique delivery service that offers free delivery in which a user places their order before midnight and it’s delivered while the customer sleeps at night. The mission of Easybins is not just to create a seamless delivery service, but to make eating at home easier. According to James, food for us is more than fuel. It's how we gather in community, share in conversation, and connect to the many cultures around us. To order from Easybins, visit https://www.easybins.com/ Connect with James
Mon, June 03, 2019
163: Building Bands and Brands with Stephen Linn
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Michael Iseman and Chandler Abbott sit down with Stephen Linn during his visit to Bentonville for the Power of Music Festival. Stephen founded AmpliFLY entertainment after two decades of broadcasting and marketing experience with major networks to help independent artists build a sustainable career and currently serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Building and growing something new has been a defining characteristic throughout Stephen’s career and he shares how both artists and entrepreneurs do customer discovery, develop their brand, and pivot when necessary. Connect with Stephen and AmpliFLY entertainment Learn more about the I’ll Fly Away Foundation , which sponsors the Power of Music Festival
Tue, May 28, 2019
162: Collaboration + Exploration = Ownership with David Baker
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman sit down with David Baker, current Vice President of Product Strategy at RevUnit. RevUnit builds digital solutions and strategies that unlock productivity and drive employee engagement by leveraging human-centric design, strategic vision, and emerging tech. David discusses how collaborative design processes and opportunities to try new things foster employee ownership in their work. To David, working better means constantly trying to question how you’re working and seeking alignment with the people you’re working with. Learn more about RevUnit: https://revunit.com/ Connect with David Baker Hosts: Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 20, 2019
161: Shark Tank Special
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Haley Allgood head to the first ever Shark Tank casting call in Arkansas. Presented by Startup Junkie, the casting call gave local entrepreneurs in the heartland the opportunity to give a one-minute pitch of their business, product or idea. If chosen, local contestants may be featured on “Shark Tank” for a chance to make their dreams a reality. Guests featured in this episode include Mindy Zemrack, casting coordinator for Shark Tank, several companies participating in the casting call (Luncher, Shiphike, dOugh M G, Bristle), and Dmitri Love, a University of Arkansas graduate who was previously featured on Shark Tank with his company Bundil. Shark Tank season 11 premiers this fall on ABC and will hopefully include companies that pitched at the Bentonville Casting Call! Watch the current season of Shark Tank Connect with Mindy Connect with Luncher Connect with Shiphike Connect with dOugh M G Connect with Bristle Connect with Dmitri Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Haley@startupjunkie.org
Mon, May 13, 2019
160: A Discounted Drink with Purlu
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman sit down with the creators of the Purlu App, Brad Cardwell and Caitlin Trickett. Purlu showcases food and drink specials for Northwest Arkansas in an app interface that is easy to use. Brad and Caitlin discuss the challenges of communicating with a development team on the other side of the world while sharing the excitement of gaining momentum by partnering with NWA restaurants. Download the Purlu app: https://www.purluapp.com/ Connect with Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-cardwell-014a07115/ Connect with Caitlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-trickett-4b801799/ Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffamerine/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-iseman/ Hosts: Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, May 06, 2019
159: A Fireside Chat with Michael Melfi
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Michael Melfi reflect on investing in America’s heartland. This episode was recorded as a live simulcast for Michael Melfi’s Be Investable podcast. In Fayetteville and Detroit, Jeff and Michael are improving the odds of entrepreneurs by building sustainable startup ecosystems. As entrepreneurs turned investors, Jeff and Michael discuss how critical the importance of the team is in increasing the chances of raising money and becoming venture ready. Check out the Be Investable podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-be-investable/id1335245597?mt=2# Connect with Michael Melfi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsmelfi/ Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffamerine/ Host: Jeff Amerine Jeff@startupjunkie.org
Thu, May 02, 2019
158: Startup Weekend Special
This episode of the Startup Junkies Podcasts contains four mini episodes featuring mentors and participants of the 2019 Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend. Hosts Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, and Chandler Abbott sit down with mentors Kent Watson of Metova, Jordan Carlisle of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Aricka Lewis of RevUnit. Kent and Aricka talk about advising the Startup Weekend teams with customer discovery and validation while Jordan reflects on his experience of being involved in over a dozen Startup Weekends. As participants, the Listing Village team returns to the podcast to share the side hustle concept they developed throughout the weekend. To learn more about Arkansas Startup Weekend: https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasStartupWeekend/ Connect with Kent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watsonkent/ Connect with Jordan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordantcarlisle/ Connect with Aricka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arickaclewis/ Connect with Listing Village: https://www.linkedin.com/company/listingvillage/ Hosts: Jeff Amerine, Haley Allgood, & Chandler Abbott Jeff@Startupjunkieconsulting.com Haley@startupjunkie.org Chandler@startupjunkie.org
Thu, April 18, 2019
157: A DataRank Reunion
In this special edition of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Jeff Amerine and Chandler Abbott sit down with mentors and participants of the 2019 Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend. Startup Weekend gives aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators a chance to develop a working concept in a weekend and get feedback from experienced mentors. Ryan Frazier and Chuong Nguyen, former co-founders of DataRank, returned to mentor teams at Startup Weekend and share updates on their careers during an on location interview at the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub. As a mentor, Ryan used his experience of gathering user feedback and customer validation from DataRank to advise the Startup Weekend teams as they developed their first prototype. Chuong reflects on how the NWA entrepreneurial scene has evolved from when he first entered in the early 2010’s and a new venture he’s working on with some of the former Datarank founders. Please excuse the background noise of Startup Weekend teams hard at work! To learn more about Arkansas Startup Weekend: https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasStartupWeekend/ Connect with Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryfraz/ Connect with Chuong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phodamentals/ Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Chandler Abbott Jeff@Startupjunkieconsulting.com Chandler@startupjunkie.org
Thu, March 21, 2019
156: MORE Tech > Less Tech
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, the co-founders of MORE Technologies, Canon Reeves, Kaushik Ramini, and Peyton Smith, join Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman to reflect on the first year of MORE Technologies and share their excitement from their recent launch on Kickstarter. MORE Technologies, an Edtech company that provides affordable robotics education, went from an idea to a full business in 54 hours with 75 pre orders after winning the 2018 Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend. Canon, Kaushik, and Peyton outline the lessons learned in refining the design, developing a strategic advantage, and finding target customers that lead up to the Kickstarter launch and their goal of transforming robotics education. To learn more about MORE Technologies and the Kickstarter campaign: http://www.moretech.co Connect with Canon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/canonreeves/ Connect with Kaushik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushik-ramini-uark/ Connect with Peyton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peytonsmith/ Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Thu, March 14, 2019
155: Farmland investing made simple by AcreTrader - Carter Malloy
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Carter Malloy, Founder and CEO of AcreTrader, joins hosts Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman to detail the recent launch of their farmland investment platform. AcreTrader pairs the high performing investment of farm land with a transparent and approachable platform which makes it easy for investors to add farmland to their portfolio without buying a whole farm. Carter grew up on a family farm, and has an impressive background as an entrepreneur, researcher, musician, and hedge fund manager. He shares some of his story that led him to this venture and details his vision for the company and culture forming around AcreTrader. Learn more or invest with AcreTrader: https://www.acretrader.com Connect with Carter Malloy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carter-malloy-610a422/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 25, 2019
154: A Penny Earned with Will Gilbrech
In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Will Gilbrech joins Jeff Amerine and Michael Iseman to reflect on his entrepreneurial journey that began when Will and Michael were taking Jeff’s New Venture Development course at the University of Arkansas. Since then, Will has led sales development for Arkansas’s first Y Combinator startup, DataRank, and now co-owns a fast growing HVAC company, Franklin Heating & Air. Tune in to learn more about Will’s journey as well as his philosophy on cost effectively growing a business. To learn more about Franklin Heating and Air: https://www.savewithfranklin.com/ Connect with Will Gilbrech: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-gilbrech/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 18, 2019
153: Rest, Hustle, Grind with Michael Brown
February 18th, 2019 Michael Brown, CEO of Insight Leadership Group and Lead Minister of Thrive Christian Church, joins this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast to detail how an early morning epiphany began an entrepreneurial journey to become a business and spiritual counselor. Insight Leadership Group uses data driven strategies to work with CEOs and leadership teams to diagnose goals and then execute a plan for improving the workplace culture. In business and church, Michael’s mission is to help people enjoy finding their dream and he is rewarded by a career that empowers him to do both. To learn more about Insight Leadership Group, visit http://www.insightlg.com/ . Connect with Michael Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbinsight/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 14, 2019
152: Celebration and Restoration at Markham & Fitz Chocolate
152: Celebration and Restoration at Markham & Fitz Chocolate In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Lauren Blanco, CEO of Markham & Fitz Chocolate joins the team to discuss her passion behind creating a company and her spirit for bringing people together through chocolate. Lauren believes that businesses can be a driver towards making the earth a better place. In doing so, she ensures that Markham & Fitz leaves an environmentally friendly footprint, and takes a conscious effort towards zero waste. Lauren details her story about where she started; the changes that take place in a growing business, and everything that she learned in order to create a flourishing chocolate company. Markham & Fitz recently won a Good Food Award for their Ooh La Lavender bar, and are soon to be distributed internationally with some of the best chocolate in the world. Good Food Awards: https://goodfoodfdn.org/awards/winners/2019/chocolate/ Connect with Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-blanco-06982372/ Markham & Fitz: https://www.markhamandfitz.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, January 07, 2019
151: Ecosystem Building with the AEDC
151: Ecosystem Building with the AEDC In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, Michael Iseman and Jeff Standridge sit down with Clark Cogbill and Jeff Moore of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to discuss business retention and expansion in the State of Arkansas. This episode is actually a simulcast airing here on the Startup Junkies Podcast, and also on the Arkansas Inc. Podcast run by the AEDC. Be sure to subscribe to both for more stories of entrepreneurs and innovators from Arkansas and around the world! There is an incredible amount of activity going on in the State of Arkansas to foster an environment across the state the encourages entrepreneurialism and creativity. We dive into specific opportunities, grants, and tax credits available to entrepreneurs through the AEDC, and programs run by the Venture Center, Winrock, the Conductor, and Startup Junkie. Arkansas EDC: www.arkansasedc.com Get your Free Copy of Jeff's Book: http://info.arkansasedc.com/the-innovators-field-guide Check out this blog written by Startup Junkie's Haley Allgood detailing business incentives from the AEDC and beyond: https://www.startupjunkie.org/it-pays-to-be-an-arkansas-based-company/ Fuel Accelerator: https://www.fuelaccelerator.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Host: Michael Iseman michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, December 17, 2018
150: The Fargo Forecast with Greg Tehven
Greg Tehven is an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder in Fargo, North Dakota, and Executive Director for Emerging Prairie. Emerging Prairie works as a similar concept to Startup Junkie, connecting and building their entrepreneurial community - and they do it in some big ways, like organizing the world's largest 1 Million Cups chapter, hosting a TEDx event with over 2,000 attendees, and bringing people together for brunch at midnight. In this episode, Michael and Greg discuss the value of hard selling the connectedness of the community and leveraging the assets a region has to build on the bright spots. Greg is married to his city; he takes the long view and works tirelessly to build community and bring the best out of himself and those around him. Through humor, hard work, and humility Greg and many others are turning Fargo, North Dakota into a premiere, startup destination. Emerging Prairie: http://www.emergingprairie.com/ A Silicon Valley for Drones: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/26/technology/a-silicon-valley-for-drones-in-north-dakota.html TEDxFARGO: http://tedxfargo.com/ Greg’s Website: http://gregfromfargo.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Host: Michael Iseman michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, December 10, 2018
149: Startup Weekend with David Tominsky
David Tominsky is the Chief Relationship Officer at The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He's also an active Facilitator and Organizer at Startup Weekends across the country, and he joins Michael & Jeff on the Startup Junkies Podcast while he was in Northwest Arkansas facilitating the firs Maker Edition of Startup Weekend. David and the team discuss how the catalytic work ethic combined with the resources and network at Startup Weekend lead to endless possibilities. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tominsky/ Learn More about Startup Weekend: http://communities.techstars.com/usa/bentonville-ar-usa/startup-weekend/13241 Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, November 19, 2018
148: Blockchain for Business with Mary Lacity and Zach Steelman
Dr. Mary Lacity and Dr. Zach Steelman, join this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss practical business applications of blockchain, and the different paths that led them to work together. Mary shares her story of missing out early on Microsoft, a near miss on the boom of the world wide web - and her internal declaration that she would not let this third major opportunity pass her by once she learned about blockchain technology. Zach's experience has been more of a practitioner with an insatiable appetite since Bitcoin launched a decade ago - and he is now teaching students in the Walton college, working with them to develop practical business applications on the Ethereum platform. These two have teamed up to lead the Blockchain Center of Excellence they at the University of Arkansas - a program funded by a Governor Asa Hutchinson initiative on a mission to develop research partnerships, educate the community, and accelerate industry adoption of blockchain technology. https://walton.uark.edu/enterprise/blockchain.php Connect with Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lacity-37713616/ Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachsteelman/ Mary’s Book Blockchain for Business: https://www.sbpublishing.org/blockchain.html Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Mon, November 12, 2018
147: A Special 10-Year Anniversary Episode
In this episode Michael sits down with Jeff & Phyl Amerine to discuss the early beginnings of what grew to become Startup Junkie, and the journey that led to today. Jeff takes us back, almost 10 years to the day, to when Tom Dalton and Jeff began Innovate Arkansas in NWA. This is what began the non-traditional business model that Startup Junkie still operates under - High-quality consulting at no cost to the entrepreneurs. Jeff shares stories of different triumphs and plenty of hurdles the team's encountered along the way, and how he's never lost sight of the values that were cultivated from the very beginning. We cap off the conversation inviting everyone from the Startup Junkie team to share some of their favorite memories of Jeff and the Startup Junkie team. Enjoy! Learn more about Startup Junkie: https://www.startupjunkie.org/ Say "Hello" to Jeff at jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Host: Michael Iseman michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, November 05, 2018
146: Fuel and the Future with Seth Waite
Chief Strategy Officer of RevUnit, Seth Waite, joins this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast where we dive into the details of Fuel, the future of supply chain management, and the values that Seth has formed to guide his career. He is a futurist, philanthropist, and one of the facilitators for Fuel, a program led by RevUnit and Startup Junkie to help supply chain startups become enterprise-ready. Participants will receive mentoring, coaching, and connections with Walmart's Supply Chain Innovation team and leaders from CaseStack, Propack, Tyson, and other large enterprises. Applications are open for the Fuel Accelerator: fuelaccelerator.com RevUnit is very cool: revunit.com Learn more about the man behind the microphone at sethwaite.com Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hosts: Michael Iseman & Haley Allgood michael@startupjunkie.org haley@startupjunkie.org
Mon, October 29, 2018
145: Reforming Real Estate with Listing Village
Daniel Schroeder and Matthew Young of Listing Village, a real-estate marketing solutions company based out of Little Rock, Arkansas, join this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast. Listing Village is focused on connecting suburban realtors with clients by removing the middleman, and creating a personalized real estate experience for all homebuyers that lead them back to the real estate agent. Recently, Listing Village, was accepted into the Y Combinator Startup School, based out of Mountain View, California. Daniel and Matthew share their success story; the future of the real estate industry, and how Listing Village will create a reduced, perfected process. Finally, Daniel and Matthew remind us, “If you’re not getting ready for tomorrow, you’re doomed to repeat yesterday.” Listing Village: ListingVillage.com Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, October 22, 2018
144: Made in America with EMS, Inc.
Marilyn Miles, owner of Electronic Manufacturing Solutions (EMS, Inc.), along with Clayton Hornsby VP of Manufacturing join this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss their entrepreneurial journey. What began as a side hustle while balancing a full-time job, EMS, has now grown to 77 employees located in rural Lincoln, Arkansas. EMS is an electronic contract manufacturer company, specializing in the production of circuit boards, wire processing, and cable-data distribution. Marilyn details some growing pains that EMS has had to face, as well as the geographic challenge of recruiting new employees. This is an incredible company, and we finish the episode with a reminder from Marilyn on the importance of dreaming big, and creating a vision for the future of your company. Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, October 15, 2018
143: The First Rule About Art Club with Karen Ahuja
Karen Ahuja, a local freelance artist, joins this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcasts to discuss her upbringing as a graphic designer turned painter in the Northwest Arkansas region. Karen shares her story, explaining how she went from a hobbyist to a business woman who now has prints of her paintings sold in stores such as; HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and many more! As an artist, she describes the cultural pressure she felt towards trying to make a profit. However, her ability to leverage social media lead her to a rewarding, successful career. Karen also details her outline for The Welcome Pineapple Project. Where she is raising awareness for post-adoption challenges through art. Karen also shares how she exercises her mind through creativity and hard work, so she is always ready to take on new challenge. Karen’s Instagram: @KarenAhuja Karen’s Website: http://www.KarenAhuja.com The Welcome Pineapple Project: http://www.karenahuja.com/welcome-pineapple.html Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, October 08, 2018
142: Chatting with a Champion - Tom Chapman
Tom Chapman, Founder of Chapman and Company, joins this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast recorded in Denver in the middle of the Startup Champions Network Fall Summit. Startup Champions Network is a group of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders similar to the Startup Junkies that meets twice a year to share best practices and stories. Tom, one of the original members of the network, gives us his take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and the importance of like-minded communities to come together and share great ideas. We discuss Angel Investment Networks, Omaha, the Nebraska Navy, and Tom even gives us an account of working for Enron early in his career during the days of exponential growth followed by massive layoffs. Lastly, Tom shares his mantra that, “when you get to a data-driven approach… you will recognize that entrepreneurship is the way for us to solve most the world’s problems, and to live a life that you can be happy and proud of.” Tom’s Company: https://www.chapmanandcompany.co/ Tom’s Email: tchapman@chapmanandcompany.co Tom’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tchap623 Startup Champions: http://www.championsnetwork.co/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Host: Michael Iseman michael@startupjunkie.org
Thu, September 27, 2018
141: Launching LIVSN with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney
Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, Founder and CEO of LIVSN Designs, joins the The Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Andrew got his start in apparel working for Fayettechill as a warehouse employee, but the success of the company would lead him to play the role of CEO in 2 short years. His passion for outdoor recreational activities and apparel led him to create his own clothing line– LIVSN. The idea of offering high-quality, durable outdoor clothing for people who value experiences more than stuff has vaulted the launch of a successful kickstarter campaign. In this episode, Andrew and the team explore a wide range of topics from work-life balance to overcoming all the obstacles that most startups face. We also focus on the future of LIVSN, and what Andrew plans to accomplish in the foreseeable future. LIVSN: https://www.livsndesigns.com/ LIVSN kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/livsndesigns/hi-wool-fleece-and-flex-canvas-pants-built-for-lif LIVSN Instagram: https://instagram.com/livsndesigns Fayettechill: https://www.fayettechill.com/ Arkansas Interscholastic Cycling League: http://www.arkansasmtb.org/ BLK ELK Media: https://www.blkelkmedia.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, September 21, 2018
140: "JUNK It Up" with Beau & Kourtney Barrett
Beau & Kourtney Barrett, Founders of JUNK Brands, join the Startup Junkies Podcast for episode 140. Beau and Kourtney detail the start of JUNK Brands, and how it grew to become the nationally recognized headband company that it is today. They discuss the importance of listening to the market and providing customers with authentic products that leave them coming back for more. Beau and Kourtney also explore the subculture that helped them scale, and how to use your community as leverage to keep growing. They are huge advocates for the entrepreneurial community here in Northwest Arkansas, and we cap off the discussion talking about what new venture is brewing in the Barrett family, and the "What's Next!?" question that they have been asked a thousand times. Enjoy! Learn more about JUNK Brands: https://www.junkbrands.com/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, September 03, 2018
139: The Evolution of E-Commerce with Blake Puryear
Blake Puryear, Head of Product at Engine, is an e-commerce expert who has his eyes set on the future of the marketplace. Engine is a Fayetteville based e-commerce platform built for the digitally native, vertically integrated brands that are building and selling their own products directly to the consumer. In this episode, Blake and the team discuss their perspective on the Northwest Arkansas startup scene and what it means to be a part of passionate, thriving community. We dive into Blake’s passion projects, lessons learned from working with more than a dozen startup companies, and a personalized evolution of e-commerce. Engine Website: https://www.enginecommerce.com/ (1:35) Stance Socks: https://www.stance.com/men/ (1:35) Peet’s Coffee: https://www.peets.com/ (12:15) Klayvio: https://www.klaviyo.com/ (22:40) VentureBeat: https://venturebeat.com/2018/05/22/shopify-rival-engine-hopes-to-blaze-a-trail-for-arkansas-ecommerce-startups/ (37:10) Engine Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf61PogryCa4L8qJdIRtGKw Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, August 20, 2018
138: Innovation over Invention - Bryce Paden of i2i Labs
How does a startup, small firm, or entrepreneur with an innovative technology idea get the required facetime with a tech giant/mega retail corporation to pitch their next big idea and impact the world? Bryce Paden, co-founder of i2i Labs, has the solution in the unique form of a tech broker of sorts. Hardly a full year into business, he has proved, with an uncommon business model no less, that there is certainly a market for the service i2i Labs provides. The company curates and accredits small tech teams before helping them present their innovations to large corporations that have the resources to buy the technology, but not the time or man-power needed to create it. Bryce also gives us a sneak peek into his next business. Think recreational axe throwing. Get excited! To contact a professional at i2i Labs, visit https://www.i2ilabs.co/ Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Wed, August 08, 2018
137: Mentors Matter with Shelley Simpson and Dr. Todd Jenkins
“The key is not to prioritize your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Stephen Covey JB Hunt executives Shelley Simpson, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer and Todd Jenkins, JB Hunt’s Senior Diversity Lead & Chair of NWA YP Summit, join the Startup Junkie podcast for episode #136. They discuss both the importance of finding mentors as well as share insight on the differences between mentors, sponsors and coaches and why you should try to find all three! Shelley Simpson also shares her journey of working up the ranks of JB Hunt and advice from her dad that helped her reach her current position. Lastly, she explains how she chooses priorities and where she allocates time to outside of work. You don’t want to miss this episode! To learn more about JB Hunt, visit their site here and to learn more about Work Matters, check out their site . Register for the NWA Young Professional Summit here . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, July 30, 2018
136: Create and Collaborate with Haxton Road
Neil Greenhaw, founder of Haxton Road Studios, combines cutting edge technology and his passion for all things vintage to create a world class recording studio in Bentonville, AR. In this podcast episode, Neil shares his story of growing up in rural Arkansas where he fell in love with music, traveling internationally with a band up to 240 days a year, and then returning to Arkansas and opening a recording studio. Neil has chosen to invest in the community and believes that collaboration is key to successfully promoting local artists. Haxton Road Studios recently partnered with Bike Rack Brewing Co. to produce an album showcasing the musical talent here in Arkansas. Neil comments,“Sky’s the limit,” regarding the opportunities hovering on the horizon for the Northwest Arkansas music industry. After personally experiencing his state of the art recording equipment and seeing his commitment to quality, we couldn’t agree more. To learn more about Haxton Road Studios, visit their site here . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, July 09, 2018
135: A Cider a Day…with Black Apple Crossing
Trey Holt and Leo Orpin, co-founders of Black Apple Crossing, Arkansas’ first hard cidery, join us for their second podcast episode. Their cidery has experienced exponential growth over the last three years and they plan to distribute in retail stores later this year. In this episode, Leo and Trey share parts of the brewing process as well as “flopped” flavors that didn’t make it to market. In addition to serving a fantastic product, Black Apple Crossing believes in always putting the customer first; listen to how this drives the cidery in everything they do! To learn more about Black Apple Crossing, visit their site here . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Sun, June 24, 2018
134: Shirt Happens with Ben Clark
Ben Clark, CEO of B-Unlimited, bought the company in 2006 with big dreams but the economic crisis of 2009 forced him to scale back and focus on one customer, a sorority at the University of Arkansas. Fast forward nearly a decade and this apparel company has taken over the college market providing screen printed shirts to over 500 sororities all across the United States. Listen to how the power of perseverance grew a small company into one of the Best Mid-Sized Companies to work for in Arkansas*! *According to INC survey To learn more about B-Unlimited, visit their site here . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Thu, June 14, 2018
133: Music Legend Al Bell is Betting on Bentonville
World-renowned art. Extraordinary landscapes. Delicious food. What more could Northwest Arkansas need to become the #1 destination in the United States? How about one of the greatest business executives in the recording industry investing in its success? Listen to the incredible story of Al Bell, a legend in the music industry, and his mission to take Bentonville’s music scene to the highest level. To learn more about Al Bell Presents, visit albellpresents.com . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, June 04, 2018
132: Finding your Why - Dr. Jeff Standridge
Dr. Jeff Standridge, Chief Catalyst at Conductor and best-selling author, shares advice with us on topics such as time management and the importance of discovering your “Why.” Despite Jeff’s concurrent roles as author, consultant, mentor, husband and father, he makes time for opportunities that support his “Why.” Listen to Jeff’s perspective on why his busy schedule still allows him time to take on new responsibilities! Find Jeff’s books on Amazon here: The Innovator’s Field Guide and The Top Performer's Field Guide Follow Jeff on these platforms: Website , Conductor , Conductor Facebook Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, May 28, 2018
131: Defining Success by Jeff Amerine’s Standards
Startup Junkie team members chat with Founder, Jeff Amerine, about the journey that led him to where he is today. Jeff candidly discusses a variety of topics, focusing on the experiences that have shaped his current definition of success. On everything from his military background, which taught him to “focus first on the things that will kill you”, to family, where he artfully likens children and startups, Jeff gives us his fresh and genuine perspective. Finally, Jeff shares his goal of community engagement in Northwest Arkansas, a crucial component in building a thriving startup ecosystem here in our backyard. To learn more about Startup Junkie, visit https://www.startupjunkie.org/ . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, May 21, 2018
130: Chasing a Sweet Dream - Simkins Brothers' Sweets
Have you ever thought of taking a treasured family recipe and creating a company to share the treat with others? Co-owners and brothers Austin and Quinn Simkins share their story of growing their family pastime of making Chocolate Poppers into the business Simkins Brothers’ Sweets that won the IdeaFame Pitch Contest and placed second at the Collegiate Venture Competition. They also discuss the challenges they’ve faced along the way and share advice to those considering making their business dream a reality. To learn more about Simkins Brothers’ Sweets, visit sbrotherssweets.com . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, May 07, 2018
129: These ARE the Droids We're Looking For
Meet the incredibly talented, Canon Reeves! CEO and co-founder of MORE Technologies, Canon is currently a sophomore at the University of Arkansas working toward providing every child in Arkansas access to robotics. From winning a competition with RFID smart cabinets to pitching at and winning the most recent Startup Weekend, Canon has been busy developing prototypes and add-ons for his robots. In the hopes of improving STEM education and access in the state, Canon plans on using MORE Technologies’ robotics kits to keep kids hooked on STEM for the long haul. Check out Canon’s time-lapse of an all-night build session here . Learn more about MORE at moretech.co , and check out summer classes for the kids at nerdies.me Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Mon, April 30, 2018
128: Inspiring Action with Enactus
The Enactus team at the University of Arkansas is on the rise, and is headed to the Enactus National Competition to present three major projects in Kansas City for the first time in eight years. Director of Enactus at the University, Rachel Sullivant, explains the students’ projects. From a hybrid coffee & retail space that employs adults with developmental disabilities to a workshop allowing those experiencing homelessness to create and sell home décor, Enactus is on a mission to engage students and the community to tackle complex social issues through entrepreneurship. Get to know Rachel, and how you can get involved with social entrepreneurship by reaching out to her at rsullivant@walton.uark.edu . Learn more about Enactus here , and check out the idea behind the McMillon Innovation Studio here ! Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Fri, April 20, 2018
127: Disseminating Knowledge with Dean Waller
We flip the script on Matt Waller, Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and place him in the hot seat. A purveyor of entrepreneurship, Dean Waller is known for his interviews with entrepreneurs, and we couldn’t be more excited to get the latest on business, entrepreneurship and the future of experiential learning at the University. The future of the Walton College of Business will integrate other colleges on campus to provide a hands-on and innovative learning experience that will create the next generation of entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate moguls. Check out all the Walton College of Business has been up to here ! Have a question for Dean Waller? Reach out to him at mwaller@uark.edu . Check out his entrepreneurial spotlights on his Linkedin . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Mon, April 16, 2018
126: Singing Praises for Patience with Chad Williamson
Meet Chad Williamson, a man who’s worn many hats (or should we say bowties ). From an early age, his perception on social constructs was shifted by his military brat upbringing. From his first business, to his current educational non-profit, it’s amazing to see how relationships and character development inspired Chad’s journey. Current co-founder of Noble Impact, an educational non-profit providing students with purpose-driven education, Chad has been a forerunner on the entrepreneurial scene focused on purpose and experience. His advice for the budding entrepreneur is translated best by song – catch it at the end of the podcast! Learn more about Noble Impact here ! Follow Noble Impact on Facebook , and Instagram @ nobleimpact . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Mon, April 09, 2018
125: Delving into Denovo
Meet Steve Perry, president of Denovo Brands. Dedicated to innovative outdoor retail products, Steve, along with several other Denovo owners, stems from a career in mass market retail at Walmart. Denovo Brands includes Equip , which focuses on hammocks, and Kijaro , which produces premium sporting & outdoor chairs. Join us as we sit down with Steve and learn about the challenges of building a retail product company in NWA, as well as the ins and outs of product development. Learn more about Denovo Brands here , and check out Kijaro and Equip ! Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Fri, March 30, 2018
124: Solving for Success - When Science Meets Startups
Introducing our very own, Ellen Brune! Holding a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Ellen is our Senior Entrepreneur in Residence. Ellen serves as a liaison between Startup Junkie and the University of Arkansas. Her focus is helping scientists at the University commercialize their research. Ellen’s experience with her own company, Boston Mountain Biotech , is invaluable and tailored to science-based startups. Much of the value of science-based startups is tied up in intellectual property, making it challenging to gain fundraising. With Ellen’s extensive experience, and her wealth of skills (including mountain biking and home brewing kombucha), she’s a strong advocate for the science-based entrepreneur in NWA. Reach out to Ellen at ellen@startupjunkie.org & follow her on Instagram @ebrune3. Want to learn more about Boston Mountain Biotech? Check it out here ! Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Wed, March 28, 2018
123: Ashton McCombs - Founder & President of Phigenics
Ashton McCombs and Jeff are both Naval Academy graduates who took a successful plunge into entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ashton shares stories about the path that led he and two colleagues to leave corporate careers and start Phigenics, a smart water management company in 2004. It has been over a decade, and Ashton shares stories, lessons learned and advice to future entrepreneurs. In addition to presiding over Phigenics, Ashton is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Spectrum Living Solutions (SLS). SLS was created in response to the needs of several individuals with family members who have developmental disabilities. Since its inception in Arkansas in 2015, the SLS team has grown to encompass a wide variety of individuals, including proven business and community leaders. Learn more about Phigenics here ! Follow them on Facebook and Twitter @Phigenics. Learn more about SLS on their website & follow them on Facebook . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, March 12, 2018
122: Rolling with Rogelio – Social Innovation Style
Rogelio Garcia Contreras is the Director of Social Innovation at the Sam Walton College of Business, and he’s planting the seeds of social entrepreneurship in NWA. Through bringing the Social Innovation Challenge to the University of Arkansas, Rogelio has created a collaborative environment for anyone who’s interested in solving pressing community problems with, you guessed it, innovation . By encouraging entrepreneurial social innovation, Rogelio provides a compelling argument for companies to establish viable and sustainable operational processes with the fate of the community and future generations in mind. Check out the Social Innovation Initiative of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation here! To learn more about the Social Innovation Challenge, shoot Rogelio an email at rogeliog@uark.edu . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, March 05, 2018
121: Pressed for Success with Omar Kasim
Being an entrepreneur comes with its fair share of hang-ups and frustrations, but it’s not often that you’re ejected from the driver’s seat of your own business venture. Omar Kasim, previous founder and owner of Con Quesos, experienced just that. From an operational upswing, to having a partner leverage financials to remove him from the company, Omar is on the come up with his latest venture, Juice Palm. The first USDA certified organic restaurant in the state, Juice Palm is booming, and its cold pressed juices are pressing the competition. Check out Juice Palm on the corner of Steele & Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville. Be on the lookout for their Bentonville location, which will include a production kitchen & café, coming up later this year in the 8th Street Market! Learn more about Juice Palm’s menu and values at JuicePalm.com . Follow them on Facebook @ Juicepalm , and Instagram @ juicepalm_ . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 26, 2018
120: Double Dose of Dad Humor
From bubbles, to market crashes, to wise investment decisions – join us for a special episode where we bring back someone near and dear to our hearts, Jon Cadieux, the original co-host of the Startup Junkies Podcast! Jon is the CEO and founder of 455 Media Group, a company committed to helping small businesses get the most for their marketing budget. Check out 455 Media Group at 455mediagroup.com . Follow them on Facebook @ 455mediagroup . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, February 19, 2018
119: America 2 Africa: Intercontinental B2B with Toyin Umesiri
Did you know that there are 54 countries on the African continent? That’s 54 opportunities to trade and foster communications with nations that are up-and-coming in the sphere of innovation! Toyin Umesiri, CEO and founder of Nazaru, talks with us about commercial interests in Africa, the Trade with Africa Business Summit, and how one person can have a major impact on such a global scale. She also talks about how her company, Nazaru, fosters B2B dialogue and showcases Africa’s many different exporters and brands. To learn more about Nazaru, visit Nazaru.com . To learn more about the Trade with Africa Business Summit click here . Get to know more about Toyin through her website, ToyinUmesiri.com . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, February 09, 2018
118: Finding Your C-Suite with Tanya Hayes & Cary Stockdell
Company executives don’t just grow on trees – your C-suite could come to you as a result of services that specialize in executive search and executive coaching. Join us as we learn from the best in the business (of business). Executive recruiter and Razorback football alum, Cary, explains the importance of culture and talent to a company, while career coach, Tanya, explains authenticity and succession planning to scale up a business. Looking to boost your business with talent? Check out Cary’s services at stringersearch.com , reach out to him directly at cary@stringersearch.com . Ready to look into leadership development? Reach out to Tanya at thayesbluvista@outlook.com or (312)-718-2790. Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, February 02, 2018
117: Say Heyo to Yeyo's Mexican Grill
From its humble beginnings as a food truck, Yeyo’s Mexican Grill is setting up shop in downtown Bentonville. With a seasonal food truck and a brick-and-mortar business to run downtown, you might wonder how founder Rafael Rios had time to sit with us for this podcast episode. We join him in his restaurant, just days before its public opening, to talk about the roots and foundation of Yeyo’s, as well as the story behind the Rios Family Farm. Fun fact: If you eat in a restaurant in Bentonville, chances are, you’re eating food sourced from the Rios Family Farm. Learn about the dream, as well as the mentality, behind Yeyo’s, El Alma de Mexico . Stop in for a grilled burrito or the MST (Mexican street tacos) at 801 SE 8th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Need an event catered? Check out yeyosmexicangrill.com Like and follow them on Facebook @ yeyosmexicangrill and Instagram @ yeyosmexicangrill Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, January 26, 2018
116: Spilling the Beans with Ancil Lea III
Ever wonder why entrepreneurs flock to coffee shops? Recently published author, Ancil Lea, explains the mindset of an entrepreneur, as well as our ingrained aversion to traditional office spaces. In his book, Common Grounds: An Entrepreneurial Guide to the Coffee Shop , Ancil explains the importance of community support through your local coffee shop. Listen as Ancil spills the beans on the coffee shop dynamic, the entrepreneurial grind, and the potential for personalized healthcare through ever-changing technology. Get the scoop on Ancil’s medical software technology and services at http://www.ancillea.com/ . Check out his book, Common Grounds , on Amazon . Follow Ancil Lea Consulting on Facebook and catch the latest buzz on Twitter @ ancilleaceo . Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, January 19, 2018
115: Buttering our Biscuits with Anna & Sam Russell
If you’re looking for a made-from-scratch breakfast, look no further than The Buttered Biscuit. With fresh-made breakfast foods sourced from clean ingredients, Anna and Sam Russell deliver a homemade spin on the most important meal of the day. The couple, hailing from Michigan, explains their brand-built restaurant that facilitates great memories and a consistent brand culture. Driven by a love of breakfast foods and the experience of previous startup hang-ups, Anna & Sam have created a purpose-driven business that fills a niche in the Bentonville community. Stop in for breakfast at 1403 SE Moberly Lane, Bentonville, AR 72712 View their menu here: https://www.thebutteredbiscuit.co/ Like their foodie posts on Instagram @ thebutteredbiscuit and follow them on Facebook @ TheButteredBiscuit Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook ! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here ! Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Tue, January 09, 2018
114: BookGazers – Arjun & Arthi Krishna
Arjun and Arthi Krishna are the recent winners of the Congressional App Challenge for the Arkansas 3rd District, and two of the most inspiring students we’ve met! Their winning app, BookGazers, is a marriage of paperback books and augmented reality, and is currently being displayed on Capital Hill, and they’ve been invited to D.C. for the #HouseOfCode event. In this episode we discuss the Congressional App Challenge, the Y.E.A. (Young Entrepreneurs Academy) program hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and much more about how Arjun and Arthi view the world. http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/bookgazers-takes-the-win-for-the-2017-congressional-app-challenge-in-arkansas-3rd-congressional-district-represented-by-steve-womack/ Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: Michael@startupjunkie.org
Fri, December 29, 2017
113: Launching Leisurlist with Jerra Nalley
Whether she is working in an international corporation or a startup team of one, Jerra Nalley has always had a knack for connecting people. She joins us on the show to share her story, and how she became the founder of Leisurlist, an all-encompassing platform to connect residents with their community in Northwest Arkansas. Eat. See. Do. Northwest Arkansas. Visit www.leisurlist.com and download the app on the app store today! Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: michael@startupjunkie.org
Wed, December 20, 2017
112: Arthur Dent’s – A New Type of Tea
Skylar Wallace and Tyler Scantlan join the show from Arthur Dent’s, a new type of tea. They create a story and experience around one of the world’s favorite beverages, and are utilizing some of the best equipment in the world to craft your cup of tea. In this episode we learn about their inspiring story, which is a combination of determination, hard work, and an inclination to strike when an opportunity arises. They are both working full time jobs while pursuing their Executive MBA in the Entrepreneurship track at the University of Arkansas. You can learn more and sign up for updates at www.arthurdents.com or reach out to info@arthurdents.com . Skylar mentioned the help that they received from our friends at the ASBTDC – If anyone is looking for assistance with market research, financial forecasting, and loan package preparation, reach out to sbdc@walton.uark.edu . Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: haley@startupjunkie.org michael@startupjunkie.org
Wed, December 13, 2017
111: Making Asparagus Sexy with Seth Kaffka
Seth Kaffka dives into the (admittedly unsexy) topic of selling commodities, and brings more enthusiasm than some people take to a professional sporting event. He shares the story of what started in 2006 as Blackhive Corp buying and selling a truckload of sugar packets, that eventually grew into a diversified portfolio of activities that spans from canned asparagus to branding some of the most innovative new products going on the shelves of top tier retailers. Seth and his team bring an opportunistic approach to business, especially in sales, with a level of customer care that keeps clients returning. You can learn more about their four organizations under one roof below, or reach out to Seth at seth.kaffka@blacksailscapital.com www.blacksailscapital.com www.blkboxlabs.com www.blackhivecorp.com www.liftretailsolutions.com Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Wed, December 06, 2017
110: "Bucket the Change" with Francis Hwang
“Bucket the Change” might not be a part of your daily vocabulary today, but it will be soon! Bucket Technologies is an emerging company in Northwest Arkansas and in this episode we sit down with Francis Hwang, CEO to discuss their plans to remove coin change from cash retail transactions. You can learn more at www.buckettechnologies.com or say hello at @bucketthechange on twitter, instagram, and facebook. Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: michael@startupjunkie.org haley@startupjunkie.org
Wed, November 22, 2017
109: Coffee Community with Kyle Tabor, Founder of Blue Sail Coffee
Kyle Tabor is the founder of Blue Sail Coffee, with three Central Arkansas locations, and a thriving in-house coffee roastery. Kyle walks us through his journey of starting with a few thousand dollars and sleeping on a military cot in the back of his first location, to creating an omnichannel coffee company with an incredible culture and brand. Kyle recommends Common Grounds: An Entrepreneurial Guide to the Coffee Shop Office, a book that was written out of his coffee shop! Ancil Lea is a Conway resident, who at the time of this podcast has the #1 Best Selling New Business Book on Amazon. You can read it for free on Kindle, or buy the paperback version today! http://amzn.to/2BeNLaP Stop in to buy a cup of coffee at their Little Rock or Conway, AR locations, and learn more about Blue Sail online bluesail.coffee or say hello! Twitter @BlueSailCoffee , Instagram @bluesailcoffee , Facebook @bluesailcoffee …and don’t forget to order your Blue Sail subscription today! http://bit.ly/2ztigfM Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: brett@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkie.org
Tue, November 14, 2017
108: (Part 2/2) Animation, Winning Oscars, and the New Design School with David Kersey
This is Part Two of our conversation with Oscar winning digital artist, David Kersey. If you haven’t checked out Part One, then we would recommend starting there to learn about all of his experience in Hollywood. Part Two picks up with David’s move back to Arkansas in 2015. We discuss the New Design School, and all the efforts they are putting towards educating the next generation of creative professionals. You can learn more about their programs at www.newdesignschool.org and say hello to them at @newds on Facebook, @newdesignschool on Twitter, and @newdesignschool on Instagram Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, November 06, 2017
107: (Part 1/2) Animation, Winning Oscars, and the New Design School with David Kersey
David Kersey is an Oscar winning digital artist, now building the animation program at the New Design School in Northwest Arkansas. In Part One of our conversation with David, we learn about his early interest in the arts, how he fell in love with animation, and the stories of working with Sony and Disney on movies like Polar Express, Tangled, Ratatouille, and eventually winning an Oscar with Frozen. Tune in to Part 2, where we talk about the New Design School, and everything that David has been working on since moving back to Arkansas in 2015. You can learn more about their programs at www.newdesignschool.org and say hello to them at @newds on Facebook, @newdesignschool on Twitter, and @newdesignschool on Instagram Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org
Mon, October 30, 2017
106: SCREEMO and the Israel Startup Nation
SCREEMO helps brick and mortar marketers to connect physical customers to the omnichannel using digital gamified experiences in-store to create a call to action on the consumer's mobile and enhance the customer experience. Shai Bargil , who leads operations for SCREEMO, and Adir Zimerman CEO, join us to share more on their innovative platform to bring advertising to life. The founder team started in Israel, and recently moved operations to Bentonville, AR after catching the eye of Walmart CEO, Doug McMillon in a product demo. In Israel, it’s required for all able-bodied individuals to serve in the armed forces, usually for 2 years. We enjoy learning about how this shared experience shapes the individuals, and how its implications have played into shaping an entrepreneurial ecosystem with more startup companies per capita than nearly anywhere in the world. Start-up Nation – A further dive into Israel’s Startup Ecosystem Learn more about SCREEMO here , or get social with them on facebook @Screemo.net or on twitter @SCREEMOengage Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Wed, October 18, 2017
105: The Arkansas Fellowship
The Arkansas Fellowship is a 2-year program that is aimed at getting some of the top Arkansas graduates integrated into the most entrepreneurial companies in the state. This episode we meet some of the Fellows, learn about their experience with the host companies, and dive into the future of the Fellowship. Our guests this week are: Jackson Fitzgibbon & Anna McCorquodale – Collective Bias Christian Wheeler & Austin Rodgers – Corporate Insight Strategy Anna Conard - Apptegy Christopher Gavin - Slim Chickens Harrison Hollingsworth - SupplyPike Geneva Brock – Zenwork www.arkansasfellowship.org - Learn more and say hello to the fellows on Facebook @arfellowship and Twitter @ARFellowship Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at www.startupjunkiespodcast.com Host: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, October 09, 2017
104: Rigid, Get-It-Done Dudes
Kevin and Aaron Higgins are cousins, business partners in four successful companies, and as their customers describe them, they're two "rigid, get-it-done dudes." With a wealth of international, cross-disciplinary experience, Kevin and Aaron share their story of teaming up to create four ventures over the last decade. Nu Fangled Images can digitize your VHS home movies. FTown Longboards is the number one skate shop in Arkansas. Orion Global Partners is their sourcing and logistics execution company. Guerrila Film Fare is one to keep an eye on at film festivals in the coming months. You can find them on the Fayetteville Square at 101 W. Mountain St. #200 Fayetteville, AR 72701 or say hello on the web: @NuFangledImages @FTownLongboards @GuerrilaFilmFare Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at http://startupjunkie.libsyn.com/#RMy8MpXHr5sm7d1x.99 Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, September 26, 2017
103: The Biggest Startup Party of the Year
This episode is the countdown to the AR Startup Crawl which will be on Friday, September 29th in Downtown Fayetteville! Haley Allgood and Megan Frohardt join Jeff to talk about all of the music, bands, and startups that will be out showcasing the growing Arkansas startup and technology scene. Sign up here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-crawl-tickets-36490104886 If you have any questions visit arstartupcrawl.com or reach out to Haley@startupjunkie.org. Hosted by Jeff Amerine: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, September 12, 2017
102: Influencing Public Perception
This week we have a roundtable discussion in Conway with the AR Conductor team, and our friends at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Jeff Moore and Clark Cogbill are leading the marketing efforts for the AEDC, and have a long collective history working with some of the largest marketing firms in the state and in the region. Get in touch at http://www.arkansasedc.com/ Jeff Standridge and Kim Lane are leading efforts at the Conductor in Conway which just launched their brand new Makerspace run by Jason Huselton, and if you’re interested in learning more check out Episode 89 when we interviewed Jeff about the other efforts of the Conductor, find them online at www.arconductor.org or get social with them @ar_conductor Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Read more at http://startupjunkie.libsyn.com/#RMy8MpXHr5sm7d1x.99 Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, September 04, 2017
101: Back to School
Two students from the University of Arkansas join the podcast to discuss their entrepreneurial journey and the resources that all students should know about! Andrew Miles is CEO of Grox Industries and has won numerous awards and challenges through university competitions. Laura Wasson won the Design Solution Challenge by solving a problem at a local non-profit called “Seeds That Feed”. Don’t miss out on hearing their advice and how they have achieved such great success! Grox Industries: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15248273/ Seeds That Feed: http://www.seedsfeed.org/ Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 28, 2017
100: The Return of Jon Cadieux
It's the 100th episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! Thank you to everyone who has listened over the years and helped us achieve this incredible milestone. This episode, the original hosts of the show, Jon Cadieux and Jeff Amerine, take over and reminisce on the best moments from the show. Hear the lessons both have learned over the years and how the podcast has brought attention to some of the best entrepreneurs in the area. Jacob Moore also hops on the show to discuss digital marketing and his great new company! Jacob Moore’s website: https://www.jacoblmoore.com/ Jon Cadieux’s Company: https://www.455mediagroup.com/ Givecamp NWA: http://www.givecampnwa.org/ Startup Crawl: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=36490104886 Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 21, 2017
99: Content Marketing and Blogging
Yoon Kim is the founder of the media startup Blogs For Brands, a full service content marketing agency with an award-winning design team that manages blogs, social media, email, and ads for brands. With a team of over 10 people based in Siloam Springs, Yoon tells his story of how they are changing the game of digital marketing. He also created the Outdoor Blogger Summit, a summit designed for journalists and outdoor bloggers to come together to share ideas and practices. Don’t miss hearing his great advice for small businesses looking to break down marketing barriers and expand their customer base! Blogsforbrands: http://blogsforbrands.com/redesign/ Outdoor Blogger Summit: https://outdoorbloggersummit.com/ Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 14, 2017
98: Startup City of the South
Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Devin Howland join the Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss all things Fayetteville! Mayor Jordan has been the mayor of Fayetteville since 2009, and Devin Howland is the new Economic Vitality director for the city of Fayetteville. We chat about their perspectives on Fayetteville and what makes the city primed for incredible growth. Learn how the public sector can support entrepreneurship, and the ways you can be involved in some of the upcoming events! Mayor Jordan’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lioneld.jordan?ref=br_rs Mayor Jordan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lioneldjordan/ City of Fayetteville Twitter: https://twitter.com/FYVgov Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 07, 2017
97: Building Leaders with Elevate Performance
Tim McFarland and Ed Nicholson from Elevate Performance join the podcast to discuss how they help bring out the best in leaders, and how good leaders can bring out the best of an organization. Elevate Performance is a consulting firm in Fayetteville, AR that assists leaders with personal coaching, peer advisory forums, and business advisory services. They help them with their greatest opportunities and biggest challenges. A great quote from this episode: “Everything counts because everything communicates” Find out more about Elevate Performance: https://www.elevateperformance.us/ Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 31, 2017
96: Creating The Future with Kenneth Siemens
Famous local artist Kenneth Siemens joins us to talk about his incredible story. Learn how Kenneth went from working an 8-to-5 corporate job to starting his own design business, Kerplunk Creative. Kerplunk Creative, LLC is a nimble agency specializing in bringing entertainment and excitement to product and retail. He now has art all over the state of Arkansas and works with some of the biggest companies helping to create the future! Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 24, 2017
95: Startup Junkie Social - Russians, Hyperloop, and Youth Entrepreneurship
Welcome to the Startup Junkie Social! This is a round table chat with a few of the Startup Junkies. We’ll discuss important events happening around the world and in our own community related to entrepreneurship, and any other interesting topics that may arise. We have some exciting upcoming Startup Junkie events! Find the link to them below. Learn more about the Natural State Angel Association event here Learn more about the NWA Venture Mashup here Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com chris@startupjunkieconsulting.com haley@communityventurefoundation.org
Mon, July 17, 2017
94: Engineering the Future with Ozark IC
If you like engineering, then you're going to love this one! This week we welcome Matt & Jim from Ozark IC. We discuss their work with semiconductors, and how the future is powered by engineering. Their company has received grants from NASA, so they know what they're talking about. Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 10, 2017
93: The Next 20 Years
The future of everything! Listen as Jeff & Michael discuss a wide range of entrepreneurial topics, including accelerators, posers vs. players, and Jeff’s “revolutionary” idea for beer currency. Don’t miss a single episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. Be sure and “Subscribe” to us on the Podcasts app, as well as follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @startup_junkie Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 03, 2017
92: Scale at the Highest Level: Fortune 1
We were honored to welcome Cindi Marsiglio and Latriece Watkins to the show - representing the company that knows scale better than any other: Walmart. We visited during their Open Call event which Cindi emceed and was kicked off with speeches from Asa Hutchinson (Arkansas Gov.), Doug McMillion (CEO) and other Walmart leadership. The audience was 500 different US product manufacturers looking to get on-shelf of the world's largest retailer. Cindi is the VP of US Manufacturing, and is overseeing the deployment of Walmart's commitment to allocate $250B in U.S. Manufacturing, and Latriece is the SVP of Merchandising Consumables and OTC - which means her team is helping educate and on-board these 500 potential new Walmart vendors. The future is still bright for US manufacturers! Find out more about the open call event here: http://news.walmart.com/events/walmarts-2017-open-call-event Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 26, 2017
91: Driving Success with Gan Nunnally
Gan Nunnally is an incredible businessman who runs George Nunnally Chevrolet in Bentonville, Arkansas. He won Dealer of the Year in Arkansas for 2017. Right now, he's up for TIME Dealer of the Year. He joins us to chat about running a successful family-owned business and treating customers right. He is also a part of the "Fireball Run" series on Amazon! You don't want to miss hearing out on how Gan "drives success" every day. Check out his dealership's website: http://www.bentonvillechevrolet.com/ Fireball Run: http://www.fireballrun.com/ Hosts: Jon Cadieux m ichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 19, 2017
90: Money, Medicine, and Making Dreams Come True with Dr. Nancy Gray
Nancy Gray, Ph.D., is the head of BioVentures, the technology licensing office and business incubator for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). You don’t want to miss out hearing Nancy tell us about her incredible career. She has worked all over the country in countless roles in the both the entrepreneurial and pharmaceutical fields. She is currently helping oversee the Health Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Conway! Learn more about Bootcamp: http://www.arconductor.org/conductor-calendar/bootcamp BioVentures: http://bioventures.uams.edu/ Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 12, 2017
89: Conducting Business with Dr. Jeff Standridge
The Startup Junkie podcast comes to you from Conway, AR this week! Dr. Jeff Standridge drops by to tell us about the new Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. This amazing new camp teaches students the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and gives them the opportunity to formulate new health science ventures. Dr. Jeff Standridge is the team leader of The Conductor, a public-private partnership with UCA and Startup Junkie Consulting driving innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development in Central Arkansas. A great quote from this episode is: “Seemingly small actions consistently applied over time yield massive results” Check out the Conductor: http://www.arconductor.org/ and follow them @AR_Conductor For more information about the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, visit www.arconductor.org/conductor-calendar/bootcamp/ Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 05, 2017
88: Packaging with Love
We're joined by Steve McBee (CEO of Creative - creative.promo) and the leadership team from Tango Press, Steve Toth and John Ballentine ( tango-press.com ) to talk about a recent project that they collaborated on to surprise and delight a company on a large scale. They share the thought that goes into each element of packaging from the consumers experience, and insights on how to work with people and companies that you know, trust, and love. Say hello: https://www.facebook.com/creativepromomktg/ http://tango-press.com/ Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 29, 2017
87: Tech Talk with Lofty Labs
Casey Kinsey joins us from Lofty Labs, a value added tech consultancy that thrives at the intersection of Web Development and Data Analytics. Casey shares some of his entrepreneurial journey, including the tipping point was when he realized he'd never work for someone else again, accidentally growing Lofty Labs to something larger than himself, and advice for startups who need to hire outside tech help. Find out more here: http://hirelofty.com/ and say hello @loftylabs Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 22, 2017
86: Breaking it down with Kirsten Blowers and Anna Morrison
Kirsten Blowers and Anna Morrison join us to share their experiences about starting and growing a business in Northwest Arkansas. Kirsten started Riffraff seven years ago, starting with only $100 and growing a business now worth over a million dollars. Kirsten was recently named to Forbes 30 under 30 for retail entrepreneurship and Riffraff has nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram. Anna Morrison started Campus Concierge four years ago and employs over 100 tutors in Fayetteville. She was recognized by Arkansas Business as a 20 in their 20s for 2015. Both of these ladies are total rock stars and fun fact, Anna was one of Kirsten’s first employees at the original Riffraff store! Get in touch! Follow Kirsten Blowers (@kirstenblowers). Help her get past the 30k mark! Also, go buy some clothes at shopriffraff.com Check out what Campus Concierge is doing at @docollegebetter on Instagram. Find out more at docollegebetter.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, May 16, 2017
85: Venture MashUp with Kenny Tomlin
The NWA Venture MashUp is held around Northwest Arkansas to bring the entrepreneurial community together and celebrate a local success story. We had the opportunity to learn from Kenny Tomlin, who has been a technology leader, startup founder, investor and more over his career. Most notably in our local startup scene, Kenny started Rockfish Digital which grew (without ever raising capital) to be acquired by WPP in 2011. Kenny is now leading WPP ventures, and working with YouEarnedIt, an employee engagement platform, as well as SubVRsive, a Virtual Reality company. Learn more about Kenny here: https://rockfishdigital.com/kenny-tomlin/
Tue, May 02, 2017
84: International Comedian, Raj Suresh
Raj Suresh joins us to talk about growing his comedy career, his work in opening and booking the Grove Comedy Club in Bentonville, AR, and shares his entrepreneurial path that started while attending grade school in India. Pardon any background noise in this episode. We were recording in Bike Rack Brewing Co. on the first night of pouring beer in their new location in the Bentonville 8th Street Market. Find out more about Raj @rajdoescomedy and www.rajdoescomedy.com Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, April 11, 2017
83: The Global Startup Movement
This episode is going to be a little different than our normal format. By way of a connection at Walmart we were introduced to Andrew Berkowitz who runs the Global Startup Movement. He’s interviewed entrepreneurs, investors, and support organizations like Startup Junkie all over the globe – Seriously – Africa, Australia, Silicon Valley, Hong Kong and many more. In this episode, Andrew plays the host this episode, and Jeff and Michael share their take of the history and future of Arkansas’ Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. If you’d like to learn more, you can find Andrew at thegsm.co – enjoy! Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, April 04, 2017
82: Permjot Valia - The International Man of Mystery
Permjot Valia is a world-class heckler. He also has a strong, diverse background in sales, early stage investing, startups, and mentoring. We were able to get him to the microphone for this short episode during his last visit to Northwest Arkansas – it’s backed with humor, sales psychology, pitch advice and much more. Enjoy! Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 27, 2017
81: IdeaFame: Bring Your Best Idea
Haley Allgood & Michael Iseman from the Startup Junkie team share their lessons learned and takeaways from visiting South by Southwest in Austin and we discuss launching IdeaFame, an idea sharing platform for innvoators and entrepreneurs to gather customer feedback and win $10,000+ to jump start their idea! We’d also filmed the promo video for IdeaFame staring Michael, and we get an insight into the four alteregos he portraied throughout the week. Big shout out to the professional crew at Element Studios - www.elementstudio.io Enjoy and stay in touch! Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Haley@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, March 14, 2017
80: Jeff Charlson joins the Startup Junkie Team
Jeff Charlson, former Walmart VP, and current Bike Rack Brewing Co. CEO joins the Startup Junkie Consulting team as the Senior Entrepreneur in Residence! In this episode we welcome him to the team, talk about his learnings from a career in Fortune 500 companies, get an update on the brewery, and down a couple of delicious beers. Jeff is a rockstar. You can find him at: Jeffs@startupjunkieconsulting.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 06, 2017
79: The Square-to-Square Run, Walk, and (pub)Crawl (Part 2/2)
This episode we welcome Jeff back to the microphone after a brief hiatus, and the conversation couldn’t be confined to one episode, so it’s broken into two. We’re also happy to have Lance Stokes, founder of Lauren James with us for a conversation that covers many topics, including: Lessons learned and planning for the next B2F Square2Square Run, Walk, & (pub)Crawl (30+ miles of running, walking and drinking local beer). What is special about Northwest Arkansas, and building the density and gravity for a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. The 479 Founders Forum – a group of local entrepreneurs that Lance is a part of – will be hosting a startup job fair, Build 479 on April 20th. If you’re interested in any of the upcoming events, email Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, February 27, 2017
78: The Square-to-Square Run, Walk, and (pub)Crawl (Part 1/2)
This episode we welcome Jeff back to the microphone after a brief hiatus, and the conversation couldn’t be confined to one episode, so it’s broken into two. We’re also happy to have Lance Stokes, founder of Lauren James with us for a conversation that covers many topics, including: Lessons learned and planning for the next B2F Square2Square Run, Walk, & (pub)Crawl (30+ miles of running, walking and drinking local beer). What is special about Northwest Arkansas, and building the density and gravity for a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. The 479 Founders Forum – a group of local entrepreneurs that Lance is a part of – will be hosting a startup job fair, Build 479 on April 20th. If you’re interested in any of the upcoming events, email Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com and tune in to the next episode (79) for more!
Tue, February 14, 2017
77: Congressional App Challenge Winner - Caroline Gschwend
Our guest this episode is Caroline Gschwend who is the most recent victor of the Congressional App Challenge for District AR 03 with her app "defendUS". She shares her story of a growing interest in computer science, building the winning app, and the tools that she used to win. Check out her App: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjBe90OEInA Her Tools: http://stackoverflow.com/ http://www.fotor.com/ Caroline is also an active volunteer with the Community Venture Foundation, whose Executive Director, Jessica Boyd joins as a co-host of this show. Jessica gives an update on the different programs that CVF is running and has on the horizon. Follow and stay in touch with CVF: www.communityventurefoundation.org https://www.facebook.com/communityventurefoundation/?fref=ts Host: Michael@startupjunkiespodcast.com
Tue, February 07, 2017
76: Marketing Wizard and Eureka Pizza Founder: Rolf Wilkin
Rolf Wilkin, founder of Eureka Pizza, Local Trade Partners, and the original RazorBucks joins the podcast to share stories and lessons learned from growing multiple businesses by being opportunistic and sticking to his core values. Rolf see’s opportunity where other’s see risk or potential failure. He is a genius promoter, and remains a student. Some of his book recommendations include: Guerilla Marketing – Jay Levinson The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing – Al Ries & Jack Trout Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz Join Local Trade Partners: www.localtradepartners.com Eat Eureka Pizza: www.eurekapizza.com Hosts: brett@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, January 30, 2017
75: Bill Beyer, the Tea Sommelier of Savoy
Lifetime entrepreneur, Bill Beyer is our guest this episode. He and his family are building a world-class tea company. Savoy Tea is the third venture that Bill has started, and he’s on his way to creating one of the first billion dollar brands without raising a dollar of capital. Savoy Tea has 3 (soon to be 5), locations where they create a customer-centric atmosphere and serve their house-blended teas. They source tea from tea gardens and family farms all over the world: China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, South Africa, Argentina… And yes, Bill is actually a certified Tea sommelier. You can find more information, and order your blend here: https://savoytea.com/ Hosts: Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com Brett@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, January 24, 2017
74: Finding the Diamond in the Haystack with Eric Hinson
Eric Hinson, CEO and Founder of Explainify joins us to share his story of building a great culture in a great company. Explainify is a company that can “find the diamond in the haystack” in helping brands clearly understand the value that they deliver to customers – and how to communicate it effectively. Eric is currently publishing his first book from his lessons and experience at Explainify: “Diamond in a Haystack: How to uncover your brand story, rise above the noise, and give your customers a reason to care.” Get your free sneak peak here: Go.explainify.com/book Reach out to Eric here: http://explainify.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjhinson/ Hosts: Brett@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, January 17, 2017
73: SBA Resource Partner Roundtable
We are joined by the professionals from SCORE, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Center, and the regional SBA office to discuss the services available to small businesses around the nation, and particularly in Northwest Arkansas. If you’re interested in reaching out to utilize any of these services, you can reach out to our guests below: Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center – Bill Fox bfox@walton.uark.edu SCORE NW Arkansas – David Bernstein davidb@nwascore.org Regional SBA Rep - Jeffery Salazar jeffery.salazar@sba.gov Hosts: Brett@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, January 09, 2017
72: The Internet of Things and Countdown to Skynet
We are joined by Will Hurst from AT&T as well as the team from Little Bird Systems - Bryon Western, Edgar Cilio, and Jim Lewis. The conversation leads us through an entertaining deep dive on the Internet of Things - both what it is and how it will have an increasing effect on our lives going forward. http://www.littlebirdsystems.com/ Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com Disclosure: We do not own the rights to Skynet :)
Mon, January 02, 2017
71: Starting in the Garage with James+James Furniture
James Smith joins us from James + James Furniture, a business that he started in his garage and grew to a nation-wide furniture and logistics company that's currently hiring if you like what you hear: Check out their showroom in Fayetteville or their online show room here: https://carpenterjames.com/ Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, December 19, 2016
70: Elise Mitchell: "Leading Through the Turn"
Elise Mitchell is the founder of Mitchell Communications and most recently the author of Leading Through the Turn, which details her story of how a journey mindset can help leaders find success. In this episode, we learn how Elise took her interest and skill set and built it into an international strategic communications firm. We also discuss her brand-new book: Leading Through the Turn, which is available for pre-order and will officially launch January, 2017. Learn more and buy the book here: www.elisemitchell.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, December 12, 2016
69: Crowdfunding & Board Games with Michael Iseman
Jeff and Michael dive into the intricacies of Kickstarter, and the recent successful campaign that Michael and his business partner Jay Clark had for FML! The Game. You can find out more about their project by viewing the updates to their campaign, and look for games to be available early 2017. Kickstarter: http://kck.st/2fdIBAL Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com Host: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Wed, December 07, 2016
68: Cape Breton Island Edition
Jeff is joined by Bob Pelley with Innovacorp, and Darren MacDonald from Cape Breton University. During Global Entrepreneurship Week they set up shop at the Navigate Startup House in Cape Breton - all the way in North Atlantic Canada. In this episode discuss the incredible work that is going on there to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem and share perspective on what it takes to lift up a region. Learn more about their organizations below. Enjoy! www.innovacorp.ca http://navigatestartup.com/
Mon, November 14, 2016
67: Ashton McCombs, Founder and President of Phigenics
Ashton McCombs and Jeff are both Naval Academy graduates who took a successful plunge into entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ashton shares stories about the path that led he and two colleagues to leave corporate careers and start Phigenics, a smart water management company in 2004. It has been over a decade, and Ashton shares stories, lessons learned and advice to future entrepreneurs. www.phigenics.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, November 07, 2016
66: Skosay is on the Leading Edge of Retail Technology
We sit down with Jason and Justin to discuss retail technology and everything that the Skosay team has to offer. These entrepreneurs have been working and innovating in the CPG space for their entire adult lives, and have created a new product that is beginning to gain traction. Find out more at: www.skosay.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, October 31, 2016
65: Adam Tobin and Sam Bell share maker stories from the Bay Area
In our final episode from the Tinkerfest at the Amazeum with co-host Jon Cadieux we speak with Adam Tobin and Sam Bell from the Chabot Space & Science Center. This conversation covers Adam's two previous toy companies, the museum they run in the bay area, cycling, education, hiring, and even dumpster diving! This is a fun one! Chabot Space & Science Center @ChabotSpace Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, October 24, 2016
64: Professional Tinkerers Carrie Beach & London Kaye
In this episode Jeff is joined by Jon Cadieux and two fantastic guests. First is Carrie Beach, who is a veteran teacher at Washington Junior High in Bentonville. She runs the cardboard construction at the Tinkerfest, and created a Fab Lab in her classroom to help mold the creative minds of the students that she works with every day. At 11:50 we shift to speak with London Kaye who hails from New York City. She got her start making elaborate street art out of yarn, and turned her passion into a profession, you can check out what she is working on now at: @madebylondon www.londonkaye.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, October 17, 2016
63: Maker-in-Chief, Joel Gordon of the AR Innovation Hub
With guest host, Jon Cadieux, Jeff talks with Joel Gordon of the Arkansas Innovation Hub, one of the founders of Tinkerfest. He shares stores of makers, maker faires, making, and education. Find out more at: www.arhub.org Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon@455mediagroup.com
Tue, October 11, 2016
62: Sam Dean on the Amazeum and Tinkerfest
Our original co-host, Jon Cadieux rejoined the set this week with our guest, Sam Dean of the Scott Family Amazeum. We discuss the incredible children's museum in Northwest Arkansas and some other great initiatives like the Tinkerfest, and the local maker movement in Northwest Arkansas. Discover more here: www.amazeum.org Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, October 03, 2016
61: Shannon Bedore with Sightline Retail
Shannon Bedore joins us this week. We learn about her 20 year career in the retail world, a successful birthing center that she started and sold to a private equity group, and her most recent venture, Sightline Retail. Sightline optimizes the process of selling into major retailers for early stage product companies. Learn more at www.sightlineretail.com Hosts: jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, September 19, 2016
59: Walter and William Burgess with Power Technology, Inc.
We had an on-site visit to Power Technology, Inc. in Little Rock, AR and learned about the new advancements coming in the theater world with the transition from bulbs to lasers. Power Technology has been providing innovative laser solutions for over 40 years - they create military lasers, bioanalytical lasers, and other industrial applications. Find out more: http://www.powertechnology.com/ Host: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, September 12, 2016
58: Jeston George talks rapid growth with Apptegy
Jeston George has been growing Apptegy for the past three years - what started in his living room is now occupying an entire floor of the Simmons building in Downtown Little Rock with nearly 50 employees. Apptegy is a constant contract tool for any schools and their communities, and their user base is growing rapidly with over 200 districts signed up. To learn more find them at www.apptegy.com or on linkedin: http://tinyurl.com/zkjvhmc Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 29, 2016
57: Arlton Lowry with Made by Few
Arlton has been growing the Made by Few conference over the last five years, and will be holding the event in Northwest Arkansas for the first time on October 26-29. You can find more information about the conference, or register here:https://madebyfew.com/ The Made by Few vimeo account with recaps of former conferences: https://vimeo.com/workwithfew Arlton referenced another podcast that he has found helpful, Burning Questions: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/burning-questions-podcast/id1123472466?mt=2 The books that he recommended were Startup Communities and War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Communities-Building-Entrepreneurial-Ecosystem/dp/B00B1D8RHI https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472477842&sr=1-1&keywords=war+of+art
Mon, August 22, 2016
56: Cape Breton MentorCamp Kickoff
This episode was recorded in Cape Breton, Canada at Breton Brewing just before the kickoff of Mentor Camp. www.mentorcamp.ca The first group was the founding team from TrapTap, the world’s simplest traffic indicator, and they were incredibly successful on Kickstarter, raising $370K on Kickstarter and even more on Indiegogo. Find out more: http://traptap.com/ hello@traptap.com April Dunford and Patrick Hankinson who were in town for the Mentor Camp joined to share their experiences. April has been involved with seven different startup companies and been through four exits. Patrick is 28 and working with his third early stage venture. The last pair was from Halifax, Liz Gosselin and Robert Ore spoke on the upcoming mentor camp. Liz is the founder of Pivot, a Halifax based digital marketing agency: http://letspivot.com/ Robert Ore now runs an impact fund for a family office in the US. Four years ago he exited his last venture, Ocean Nutrition Canada. Pardon the background noise. This episode was recorded at the Breton Brewery: http://bretonbrewing.ca/
Mon, August 15, 2016
55: Taco Talk with Omar Kasim - Founder of Con Quesos
Omar Kasim graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in three years. He balanced the decision of starting a restaurant that he had been contemplating launching, or going to Law School. The entrepreneurial track seemed more intriguing, and now one year later he has a successful fusion taco fast-casual restaurant in Fayetteville, AR and plans to expand the brand. The Motivational Speech that Omar mentioned at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLcJHC9J7l4 http://conquesos.com/ https://www.facebook.com/conquesos/home okasim@conquesos.com Hosts: Jeff@Startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@Startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 08, 2016
54: Songcat Gives Music Production a Makeover
Songcat makes top-notch music production feasible for musicians to access from their home studio. The service matches artists with other talented musicians online, and then produces a radio-ready song for $500. Described as the "Uber for Music Production," Songcat has been experience 2x user and revenue growth each of the last three months. The opportunistic founder team has made four moves across international borders since the inception of this idea in late 2014 living in Ireland. They walk us through their path to market and future plans for SongCat Contact: info@songcat.biz https://www.facebook.com/songcatmusic/?fref=ts https://twitter.com/SongCatMusic https://soundcloud.com/songcat Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, August 01, 2016
53: A Trio of Young Community Leaders
Mike Abb, Dr. BowtieTodd Jenkins, and Keaton Smith joined the show to discuss the upcoming Young Professional Summit in Northwest Arkansas - Ignite Your Passion. Conversation started with the background of these young community leaders. It flowed into some details about the upcoming summit, and why it is important to have a strong group of young people engaged in the community, and we discussed how while generational differences can be useful at a macro level, it's unfair to apply them to any individual. Come to the YP Summit to continue the conversation with us: Sign up for the YP Summit: http://web.rogerslowell.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=9975 Find our guests: Mike Abb: http://www.abboriginal.com/ https://www.facebook.com/abboriginalproductions/?fref=ts Keaton Smith: https://www.facebook.com/keaton.smith.50?fref=ts Dr. Todd Jenkins https://www.facebook.com/BowtieTodd/?fref=ts https://twitter.com/BowtieTodd bowtietodd@bowtieleadership.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 25, 2016
52: Spencer Jones with LineGard Med
52nd Episode! Released weekly, this means we've lasted an entire year on the air! Pop the champagne? Nah. We went with hard cider from our friends at Black Apple Crossing. This week we were joined by Spencer Jones with LineGard Med, and exciting company that was founded by Spencer under two years ago when he was working as a registered nurse. He saw problems with the status quo in the hospitals he worked in, and started down a road of creating medical devices. It's been over 400 days since he last scrubbed in, and he doesn't plan on turning back. Spencer is in the process of moving his company back to Fayetteville after participating in two accelerators, and working as the Entrepreneur in Residence at the HUBx LifeSciences Accelerator in Little Rock, AR. Books recommended in this episode (with links to Amazon): Running Lean Venture Deals Made in America Straight from the Gut Give and Take The Hard Thing about Hard Things Make Your Own Waves The Obstacle is the Way Get in touch with Spencer: Linkedin http://linegardmed.com/ https://www.facebook.com/linegardmed/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, July 18, 2016
51: Joe Ehrhardt talks finding opportunities in banking
Joe Ehrhardt began his banking career in high school, and it has been his area of focus ever since. He combined that passion with his interest and skill in computer science to begin 3E Software, Inc. which has grown into a national software solution company for banks, headquartered in Northwest, AR. Joe Ehrhardt info@3esoftware.com http://www.3esoftware.com/ Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Tue, July 12, 2016
50: Mathew Scott with FEED. The Agency
Mathew Scott joined us to share his interesting background - everything from a military background in psychological warfare to building medical sales teams, and his current venture, FEED. The Agency which helps with brand building for physicians and dentistry. accounts@feedtheagency.com http://feedtheagency.com/
Mon, July 04, 2016
49: Permjot Valia and the Island Sandbox
Jeff visited the Island Sandbox at Cape Breton University for the Investor Readiness Bootcamp and ran through a number of exciting companies and investors. StuGig www.stugig.com www.phvpushing.com info@phvpushing.com Univfax www.univfax.com Collegio Technologies www.collegio.ca Mealworm Protien http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dalhousie-students-bugs-flour-1.3570880 Collin Deacon Bob Elly Gillian McCrae Darren MacDonald Hosts: Jeff Amerine: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Permjot Valia: Pvalia@mentorcamp.ca
Mon, June 27, 2016
48: Margie Raimondo with Raimondo Winery
Our guest this week is Margie Raimondo, taped live from her winery in Mountain Home, AR. Margie is a third generation wine maker with Sicilian roots, and plenty of passion for her products - All 387 of them! In addition to wine, Raimondo Winery offers a wide variety of oils, vinegars, mustards, and other cooking supplies. Reach out to Margie: mywine64@gmail.com Visit the winery: 1406 Highway 62 West, Mountain Home, AR 72653 Raimondowinery.com Blog: Raimondorecipies.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com M ichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 20, 2016
47: Tariq Abdullah talks Hackathon and Legal Technology
Tariq Abdullah is an entrepreneurial attorney who recently moved from Kansas City to Northwest Arkansas, and is now the Director of Legal Data & Analytics in the Legal Operations department with Walmart. Listen in for more information on an upcoming Hackathon that he is planning, some new legal technology that he has experienced, including the introduction of AI attorneys. Contact Tariq: Tariq.Abdullah@walmartlegal.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 13, 2016
46: Tameka Montgomery, Associate Administrator with the SBA
Tameka Montgomery leads the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration. She spent 2 days touring Northwest Arkansas to learn more about our entrepreneurial community, and capped off her visit with a podcast recording at Bike Rack Brewing. Tameka shares more about the scope of her position with the SBA, her career that led to this presidentially appointed position, and shares her insight on the NWA entrepreneurial community. Learn more about the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/ Contact the hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Haley@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, June 06, 2016
45: Corey Boelkens with RaftUp talks about his recent product launch
Corey Boelkens recently launched the app for his company, RaftUp, which is maximizing both fun and safety on the water. They increase location based communication in boater communities and have had a strong launch as the boating season is kicking off. Contact Corey: http://www.raftup.com/ contact@raftup.com https://www.instagram.com/theraftup/ https://www.facebook.com/theraftup
Mon, May 30, 2016
44: Kanat Bektemirov Sheds Insight on the Tech Scene of NWA
Kanat Bektemirov, currently an Engineer with CaseStack joins the show. He shares experiences with his incredible internships at Google and Amazon, gives advice to young developers seeking a successful career, and makes comparisons between the technology environment in Silicon Valley vs. Northwest Arkansas. Contact Kanat: LinkedIn: https://goo.gl/5tIyGN Email: bekt17@gmail.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 23, 2016
43: Part 2/2 of our interview with Jeff Amerine, the original Startup Junkie
Part 2/2: Our typical host, Jeff Amerine has a long history of working with startup companies and holding leadership roles in the military and with fortune 500 companies. We thought our audience on the podcast would be interested in getting to know more about the host, and Jeff was willing to share. Part 1: Childhood, militarty experience & Family Part 2: Startups, Forune 500's, successes and failures, moving back to AR & the road ahead. Contact: Startupjunkieconsulting.com Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 16, 2016
42: Part 1/2 of our interview with Jeff Amerine, the original Startup Junkie
Part 1/2: Our typical host, Jeff Amerine has a long history of working with startup companies and holding leadership roles in the military and with fortune 500 companies. We thought our audience on the podcast would be interested in getting to know more about the host, and Jeff was willing to share. Part 1: Childhood, militarty experience & Family Part 2: Startups, Forune 500's, successes and failures, moving back to AR & the road ahead. Contact: Startupjunkieconsulting.com Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 09, 2016
41: Brent Hale talks BIG Sexy Food
Our guest this week is Brent Hale of Big Sexy Food! He talks about how he got his start in the NWA food scene, and describes his model of utilizing popup restaurants with a creative twist on classic foods. His next event will be in Fayetteville on 5/20 and 5/21. Reservations are filling up quickly here: http://www.bigsexyfood.com/popup.html Contact: brentrhale@gmail.com www.bigsexyfood.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, May 02, 2016
40: Amy Callahan & Chris Whittle of Collective Bias
Amy and Chris from Collective Bias shed light on the early days at collective bias, and how far they've come in their 7-year journey as an influencer marketing company. They also share how important it is to give back, and discuss GiveCamp NWA, an event they were hosting that weekend to develop a web presence for non-profit companies. Guest contact info: Amy Callahan amycallahan@collectivebias.com Chris Whittle chriswhittle@collectivebias.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, April 25, 2016
39: Edward Haddock & Matt Stevens with the SBA Talk Entrepreneurship Initiatives
We were fortunate to have Matt Stevens, Manager of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, and Edward Haddock, the Deputy District Director of the SBA in Arkansas on the show this week. We dive into the strategic initiatives of the SBA to help grow scalable ventures in the innovation economy. We discuss the overall initiatives, and how Startup Junkie has been leveraging those initiatives to develop strong programs in the region of Northwest Arkansas. Contact and learn more:https://www.sba.gov/Edward.Haddock@sba.govMatthew.Stevens@sba.gov Hosts:Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comBrett@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, April 18, 2016
38: Caleb Hamilton with Metova
Caleb Hamilton of Metova talks about growing the culture of a world-class development company that just opened a new location in Fayetteville, AR. They have a fantastic model to work with anyone from startups to Fortune 500 companies. They are always looking to bring on great talent. They have a flexible culture and well thought out training programs to help their employees grow within the company. www.metova.comCaleb.hamilton@metova.com Hosts:Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comMichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, April 11, 2016
37: Michael Iseman talks about FML! The Game
Michael makes the switch from co-host to the victim of Jeff's jokes on the other side of the table. Michael & Jeff dive into the making of FML! The Game, which is a board game parody of The Game of LIFE, marketed for young adults. As Jeff eloquantly describes it: "It's like cerebral beer pong" The project will be live on Kickstarter from April 12 - May 13. Preorder your game at: www.kickstarter.com/fmlthegamewww.fmlthegame.comwww.facebook.com/fmlthegamemichael@fmlthegame.com Host:Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, April 04, 2016
36: Talking Virtual Reality and Electronic Vehicles with Bentonville High School Students
Bentonville High School students are working on some interesting projects! This week we have two groups, one who recently won the Congressional App Challenge for their work on an educational virtual reality app. The community has rallied around the second group to support their Electronic Vehicle conversion. Guests this week:Tyler Gaykennethtylergay@gmail.com Marc Aranibar @MarcAranibararanibarmarc@gmail.com Steven Douglass & Kyle Watson@BvilleEVTeamevchallengebentonville.weebly.com Tye Killingsworthtkillingsworth@bentonvillek12.org Hosts:Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comMichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 28, 2016
35: Tim Robinson of Phat Tire
Tim Robinson, an owner of Phat Tire Bike Shop, was welcomed to the show. He shares the story of following his interest in biking, and seizing every opportunity that presented itself in growing both his company, and the biking culture in Northwest Arkansas. http://phattirebikeshop.com/https://www.facebook.com/PhatTireBikeShop Hosts:jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.commichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 21, 2016
34: Jeff Charlson of Bike Rack Brewing Co. Talks Growth & Beer
Jeff Charlson, CEO of Bike Rack Brewing Co. talks about how he and his world-class team have implemented smart growth, and had a fun time doing it. Listen in to learn about the future for BRB, and how they've become a leader in the Bentonville brew scene. bikerackbrewing.comhttps://www.facebook.com/bikerackbrewing/?fref=ts Hosts:jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.commichael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 14, 2016
33: An Ensemble from Startup Junkie HQ
We pulled a group of co-workers the Startup Junkie Headquarters on the Fayetteville Square and gathered around the microphones. Learn about some great businesses operating in Northwest Arkansas making use of our space. From beautiful mahogany wood, to in home health care, this episode was wide ranging - Enjoy! Episode 33 Guests: Jessica Boyd Executive Director of the Community Venture Foundation jessica@communityventurefoundation.org www.communityventurefoundation.com Scott Andrews COO/CFO with Hayseed Ventures Scott@hayseedventures.com www.hayseedventures.com Seth Ellsworth Founder of Belize Mahogany Designs belizemahoganydesigns@gmail.com belizemahoganydesigns.com - Contact the hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, March 07, 2016
32: Permjot Valia and the Mentor Camp Team
Permjot Valia guest hosts with Jeff Amerine interviewing the team assembled for a mini Mentor Camp at the University of Arkansas. The impressive team from Atlantic Canada assesses our entrepreneurial ecosystem, compares it to their home scene, and even calls the hogs! Enjoy! This show's guests: Permjot ValiaMentor Camp Founderpvalia@mentorcamp.ca Collin DeaconPresident & Founder, BlueLight AnalyticsTM Sandra GoodwinManaging Director, Client Development, McInnes Cooper D.Darren MacDonald, MSc, CUXPManager, Island Sandbox at Cape Breton University Gillian McCraeVP Propel ICT Stephen NicolleTechnology Executive Advisor
Mon, February 29, 2016
31: Leo Orpin with Black Apple Crossing Cidery
Our guest, Leo Orpin, has opened the first cidery in the state of Arkansas, located in the heart of Springdale. Leo was kind enough to bring some "prowlers" (the cidery's version of a growler) to share his delicious product, and he walks us through the cider making process, as well everything they leveraged to build a destination hang-out spot in Springdale. In this weeks episode, we say goodbye to co-host Jon Cadieux, who is moving on to bigger and better things. Thank you for all of your efforts in launching the podcast, it's been a fun ride, and we hope to see you for many beers to come. Find Leo and the Black Apple Crossing here: blackapplecrossing@gmail.com 321 E Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764
Mon, February 22, 2016
30: Cameron Magee of Avad3
Cameron Magee of Avad3 talks with the Startup Junkies about building the capital intensive company, Avad3, which specializes in audio/video event production and helping brands tell their stories through high-quality videos. Startup Junkies Podcast host Jon Cadieux announces that he will stepping down as a host after next weeks episode. Contact information for Cameron Magee: http://www.avad3.com/ cameron@avad3.com
Mon, February 15, 2016
29: Matt Fifer Founder & CEO at Selling to the Masses
Matt Fifer Founder & CEO at Selling to the Masses joins us for a great conversation on how his firm helps consumer product entrepreneurs take their products from concept to the shelves of the country?s top retailers. They link inventors and early stage companies with the right expert for their unique needs through marketing exposure on their site, referral services, and events.
Mon, February 08, 2016
28: Rick Boosey of Kyya Chocolate and Richard Bell of Core Brewing Co
Rick Boosey shares the story of how a trip to Africa inspired him to create Kyya Chocolate so that he could have a meaningful, sustainable impact for the orphanages he visited in Africa. This led to a real passion for chocolate. Sourcing the coco direct from the farmers who grow it. Truley a unique take on a delicious treat. Richard Bell is the Head Brewer at Core Brewing Company, he has a dream job. Core Brewing co is rapidly becoming a marquee beer brand in Northwest Arkansas and has generously supplied our podcast audience with the chocolate beer they teamed up with Kyya Chocolate to brew. Together Richard and Rick talk about two of our favorite things, beer and chocolate and how they joined forces to make Chocolate Beer.
Mon, February 01, 2016
27: Menguin Founders Justin Delaney and Nathan Bellah
Menguin is an online shop for tuxedo and suit rentals. Justin and Nathan built Menguin with the mission of making the tux rental process easier on the customer. And that is exactly what they strive to do day-in and day-out. Listen in as they tell us a story of how far they go to provide their customers with the best customer service.
Mon, January 25, 2016
26: Lauren & Lance Stokes of Lauren James
Lauren Stokes shares with us here story of how a sketch of a dress turned into a multi-million dollar southern lifestyle clothing company. With here husband Lance, they have built a great brand that is sold in hundreds of stores and is still growing.
Mon, January 11, 2016
25: Jessica Boyd with the Community Ventures Foundation
Jessica Boyd with the Community Ventures Foundation joins us for a conversation on their mission to educate, engage, support, and build the entrepreneurial community by increasing the breadth, depth, and quality of free entrepreneurship initiatives. The Community Venture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in July of 2015. Our organization was formed to address the need for more free entrepreneurship initiatives in our community. We are committed to building the entrepreneurial community in Arkansas and our surrounding regions. All of our activities fall within one or more of three focus areas: Entrepreneurship Education, Engaging Entrepreneurs, and Supporting Existing Efforts. We have provided support for and led efforts such as the Small Business Association's (SBA) Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative, the SBA's InnovateHER contest, the Winrock International and the state of Arkansas’s Innovate Arkansas program, the 100 Girls of Code program, MentorCamp, Give Camp NWA, and many more entrepreneurship-focused initiatives.Our mission is to educate, engage, support, and build the entrepreneurial community by increasing the breadth, depth, and quality of free entrepreneurship initiatives. Our goal is to improve the quality of life in the regions where we operate, by increasing the number of entrepreneurial opportunities and success stories. www.communityventurefoundation.org Our contact information: Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com
Mon, January 04, 2016
24: Starup Junkie Consulting Team members Jeff, Jay and Michael
As we wrapped up 2015 we thought in only fitting to talk with the Startup Junkie Consulting team. Here we talk with Jay Amargos and Michael Iseman, both a key part of the SJC team plus I get a chance to put Jeff on the other side of the mic. He talks about his passion and vision for Startup Junkie Consulting and how he got to here.
Mon, December 21, 2015
23: 2 Guys, the Arkansas Fellowship and How it Has Imacted Them
A conversation with Sreesh Reddy and Jeremy Enders. They were plucked off the streets of Fayetteville as our guests for this show and as coincidence would have it, Jeff knew them from their involvement in the Arkansas Fellowship. Through the Arkansas Fellowship, Sreesh found a place at Perk.com and Jeremy at Stone Ward Advertising. Listen is as they talk about the Arkansas Fellowship, entrepreneurialism and of course what they're doing now. Our contact information: Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com Read more at http://www.startupjunkie.libsyn.com/#g8m9JGJD7OLjzJSj.99
Mon, December 14, 2015
22: 2.7.0 Accelerator Part 2 Participants speak with us about their new and growing businesses
Part 2 In this episode we talk with businesses that were chosen to be a part of the Two Seven Zero Accelerator, a Startup Junkie Consulting initiative. Recorded in the basement of the the Old Post Office in Fayetteville and hosted by Hayseed Ventures. Business descriptions taken from their company websites. 3:05 Leah Garrett - Olive Bloom / Olive Loom produces professional clothing made by a network of Loomineers from all walks of life from all over the USA. www.oliveloom.com 6:54 Omar Kasim - Con Quesos / Con Quesos is a fast-casual fusion taco restaurant opening in Fayetteville, AR. They offer fusion tacos as well as unique cheese dips.conquesos.com 13:25 Clayton Chamberlain - American Native / American Made handmade leather, selvedge denim, and wax canvased goods.www.americannativegoods.com 21:37 Edgar Cilio - Little Bird Systems / They are a company dedicated to bringing embedded wireless products for real time monitoring and data logging solutions. Their products are designed to seamlessly interface with the end users. Whether you want to track miles and elevation on a bike ride or monitor process quality in your manufacturing facility, Little Bird Systems has the perfect RF embedded solution for you.www.littlebirdsystems.com 29:25 Scott Fagaly - Endangered Gentleman / Providing handmade men's grooming and personal care products. Made in America.www.endangeredgentleman.com Our contact information: Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com
Mon, December 07, 2015
21: 2.7.0 Accelerator Part 1 - Participants speak with us about their new and growing businesses
In this episode we talk with businesses that were chosen to be a part of the Two Seven Zero Accelerator, a Startup Junkie Consulting initiative. Recorded in the basement of the the Old Post Office in Fayetteville and hosted by Hayseed Ventures. Business descriptions taken from their company websites. 4:40 Ben Mills, Owner and Founder of Fossil Cove Brewing Co, 1946 N Birch Ave, Fayetteville, AR. www.fossilcovebrewing.comben@fossilcovebrewing.com 8:20 Shannon Bedore, Managing Director of Sightline Retial. Sightline is uniquely positioned to offer non public companies the ability to leverage a centralized retail administration team to help develop relationships and achieve growth across multiple retailers. Sightline has expertise in buying, replenishment, analytics, project management and marketing. their team is designed to be an extension of yours and they are fully aligned with key retailers’ organizational structure. This, along with the management and aggregation of data and strategy from each retailer partner, allows for efficient and effective solutions.www.sightlineretail.com/ 12:50 Danny Duong, Founder of Bespoke Knots. Bespoke Knots is an Arkansas based menswear company focused on the pursuit of creating your perfect bow tie. Each of their ties are designed and fabricated around an individuals specific set of needs, so they don't sell off-the-shelf, mass produced neckwear.www.bespokeknots.com/ 17:10 Loria Oliver, Host Retail Her and Founder, The Tot Tote. The Tot Tote is a two in one system that goes from a stylish toy organizer to an amazing tote bag for your child. It is designed to help the busy parent with their growing child’s needs. The Tot Tote can help organize your child’s toys, books, crayons, snacks and more in the car, on the plane and beyond. www.thetottote.com 21:00 Josh Rackley, Founder of Mosh Marketing. Mosh Marketing is a marketing company serving small businesses, with an emphasis on digital marketing. Our contact information: Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com
Mon, November 30, 2015
20: Stan Zylowski; from mobile tech to great food, he's a man about business
Stan Zylowski is the co-founder and President of Movista/MVRetail. Stan has also had a had in starting several other local businesses including a restaurant and a local butcher shop. Stan holds a management degree from Troy State University and received his M.B.A from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton School of Business. Stan Zylowskimovista.com Our contact info: Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com Jeff Amerine / jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, November 23, 2015
19:Fayettechill Founder Mo Elliot discusses company culture, lean startup, keeping it simple and having fun
Mo Elliott is the founder of Fayettechill Clothing Company. Mo started Fayettechill while studying entrepreneurship his junior year at the University of Arkansas. Starting with a T-shirt he has grown his company to multiple products, all targeted toward people who like the outdoors and an active lifestyle. Check out Mo's company and products at http://fayettechill.com/. Our contact info: Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com Jeff Amerine / jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, November 16, 2015
18: Live from the 2015 NWA Technology Summit
In this episode we set up a booth at the 2015 NWA Technology Summit in Rogers Arkansas. The NWA Tech Summit is put together each year by the NWA Tech Council & the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce. This episode is a break from our normal format in that we interview several people including high school students, entrepreneurs and a New York Times best selling author. Note that Jon mistakenly refers to the President and CEO of AT&T Mobile & Business Services Ralph Del Rio, in fact his name is Ralph de la Vega. Our apologies to Mr. de la Vega. Our guest in order of appearance: 1:50 Joyce Grippi, Founder of Grippi Business Solutions 8:15 Mary Lewis, Executive Director, Accelerate Arkansas 20:55 Bentonville School District Ignite PSC Program Students Aikman Ewalt, Castle Kerr, Ernesto Santos 29:50 Louis Patler, PH.D. New York Times best-selling author, speaker and consultant, President of The B.I.T. Group Thank you to the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, the NWA Tech Council and all of the folks who made the summit a success. Our contact info: Jeff AmerineStartup Junkie ConsultingJeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux455 Media Group, LLCjon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, November 09, 2015
17: Rethinking Breast Cancer Screening with Omid Moghadam
Omid started as an electrical engineer and is now CEO of Ascendant Dx, a proteomics company focused on bringing new diagnostic tests to market. Currently they are focusing on tests based on newly discovered biomarkers for breast cancer and childhood diseases. Omid is an experienced executive, entrepreneur and inventor. He has spent the last 18 years bringing new products and businesses to market in fields ranging from photography, medical imaging, and microprocessors to graphics, healthcare information technology and genomics. He specializes in finding markets for new technologies, or finding new markets for old technologies. Specially, if it involves developing new business models, and new corporate structures. He is also an expert in intellectual property strategy development. Omid is Entrepreneur In Residence at University of California at Los Angeles and has done Personal Genomics Research at Harvard Medical School http://www.ascendantdx.com/ Jon Cadieux Managing Director 455 Media Group, LLCwww.455mediagroup.com Jeff AmerineFounding PrincipleStartup Junkie Consultingwww.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Mon, November 02, 2015
16: BHS Superintendant Mike Poore talks how Ignite is changing education
Currently Mike Poore is the Superintendent for Bentonville Public Schools. He officially assumed this position on July 1, 2011. Mike began transitioning in the spring of 2011. He is excited that his vision for Bentonville Schools closely aligns with a community that seeks to be the best in all that they do. Under his leadership, the school district has opened 3 new schools and has plans for 2 more schools to open, Bentonville West High School in the fall of 2016, and our 11th elementary school in the fall of 2017. Bentonville Public Schools consistently ranks as a top performer in academics, arts and athletics Mike is leading the way by forming partnerships with the business community in a STEM program called Ignite. Idea was Hatched: National, Regional, and Local employers need graduates with professional skills and certifications Employers feel that young employees are not work-force ready Workforce of tomorrow must know how to collaborate, innovate, and communicate Ignites Basic Concept Partnership with K-12, Business Community, and Higher Ed can yield an approach that prepares students through rigor and support Give students projects that are meaningful and that capture their passion and they will exceed expectations Students learn best when they can explore and when they are backed up in their learning with highly trained business and community leaders along with a strong instructional leader Ignite empowers students to be co-constructors of their education and leverages community resources to support learning. Delivery Ignite will use our own campuses and satellite campuses to support this project based environment. We also hope to eventually have a regional career tech center. Bentonville Schools is in the process of delivering to six community needs with the following professional strands: IT Solutions, Logistics Management, Construction Trade, Culinary Art, Med-Prep, Digital Media/Global Business Solutions Ignite is becoming a reality as a result of multiple partnerships with both small businesses as well as the largest organizations in this community. To learn more about the program contact Mike at mpoore@bentonvillek12.org Contact Us: Jeff Amerine jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com www.startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux jon@455mediagroup.com www.455mediagroup.com
Mon, October 26, 2015
15: Lacie Bray from Ozark Beer Company chats with us about business and beer
Lacie Bray is a co-founder and business manager at Ozark Beer Company. She is originally from Rogers, Arkansas, but left the area after college. She returned in 2010 by way of raft guiding in the Rockies, teaching in Chicago, and a stint gardening in South America. Her diverse background has equipped her with the invaluable skills of perseverance, a positive outlook, and creative problem solving. All of which serve her well in running Ozark Beer Co. Her favorite adventures these days involve her 18 month old son. To learn more about the brewery or get in touch with Lacie, visit www.ozarkbeercompany.com. Ozark Beer Company is a manufacturing brewery located in Rogers, Arkansas. We opened the doors to the public in November 2013. Our beer is available at over 125 locations throughout Benton and Washington County as well as our tasting room at the brewery. In the Ozarks, hard work makes honest people, and here at Ozark Beer Co, hard work makes honest beer. We are rooted in a deep tradition of independent, spirited people who live their lives with a resilience and humility rarely seen anywhere else. In these mountains and at OBC, hard work isn’t what we do, it is who we are. Jeff Amerine www.orici.io www.startupjunkieconsulting.com jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comJon Cadieux www.455mediagroup.com www.bentonvilleworkplace.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, October 19, 2015
14: Brewmaster Jesse Core sheds light on the micro-brew business
Core Brewing & Distilling Company started in September of 2010. The founder, Jesse Core, began production on a 1-barrel RIMS brewhouse with 8 small fermenters. Our first client was Kingfish in Fayetteville. By 2012, we expanded our brewhouse to a 4-vessel, 25-barrel brewhouse with 4 x 25-barrel fermenters and 2 x 25-barrel Brite tanks. Demand quickly grew, and Core expanded again by adding 10 more 40-barrel fermentation vessels and 5 more 40-barrel Brite tanks. / / Our growth has occurred due to consumer demand. At Core, we understand that quality is vital. If we produce consistent product of high quality, demand will grow. Additionally, Jesse has established a culture of humility and hard work putting the emphasis on the customer. We are good people making good product. In 3 short years, we have grown from 0 to 500 barrels of sales in a month. Our product is found in over 400 locations, and we have won numerous awards. The mascot of the company is a wiener dog. His name is Barney. He was a gift from Jesses mother, and Barney was a special member of the family for over 19 years. / / Jesse Core, Core Brewing Co. http://corebeer.com/
Mon, October 12, 2015
13: Gadgets and business building with Cole Thornton of Gadget Grave
Cole Thornton is the owner and founder of Gadget Grave in Fort Smith AR. Gadget Grave repaired more than 45,000 devices over the past 5 years and are continuing to see a steady increase each month. Cole manages day-to-day operations, online marketing, and growth planning. Gadget Grave has grown into the industry leader in Arkansas. They have been in business for over 5 years and have bootstrapped it the whole way. With less than $12,500 in startup funds, they have been able to generate over $5,500,000 in sales to date and they continue to grow and expand into new markets.
Mon, October 05, 2015
12: Al Lopez aka Papa Rap, a passionate man about bringing people together
Papa Rap is a Latino Motivational speaker for parents and students. His messages go from parent involvement in our schools and communities to student success by making the right choices in life. He will be speaking on the show about Arkansalsa. ( http://www.onecommunityar.org/en/arkansalsa/ ) ArkanSalsa Fest is an eclectic art and music festival to raise money for scholarships and to inspire community leaders. The festival celebrates the rich diversity of Northwest Arkansas by bringing people together and offering them a chance to meet new amigos/friends while listening to music, dancing, eating delicious food & visiting with local nonprofit organizations and businesses that benefit us all in our area. Al Lopez, AKA Papa Rap ( http://www.paparap.net/ Jeff AmerineStartup Junkie Consulting jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Jon Cadieux455 Media Group, LLCjon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, September 28, 2015
11: Michael Paladino shares his story of startup, growth and how he and his company are impacting area students
Michael Paladino CTO & Co-Founder of RevUnit talks with us about his business and some of the lessons he's learned since starting his company with CEO & Co-Founder Joe Saumweber. Headquartered in Bentonville they have guided their company through a rapid startup just three years ago and continue to grow.
Mon, September 21, 2015
10: Jeff Clapper talks with us about company culture, family support and having fun
Jeff Clapper talks with us about 8th & Walton and how in just a few years his company has become the leader in Walmart Vendor training. "It's important to me to help other people". Jeff company culture, how his families support is so important and the challenges of running a small business. Jeff Clapper www.8thandwalton.com Jeff Amerine www.orici.io www.startupjunkieconsulting.com jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comJon Cadieux www.455mediagroup.com www.bentonvilleworkplace.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, September 14, 2015
09: Mill Creek Software Owner Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller shares his story of not only running a successful software development company but how he helped build one of the top startups in Northwest Arkansas.
Mon, September 07, 2015
08: Tom Tessmer Discusses Retail Branding & Intelligence
Intelligence engineer, Tom Tessmer of Integrated Insights joins us to talk about the complex nature of retail intelligence, branding and story telling.
Mon, August 31, 2015
07: A conversation with Scott Andrews of Hayseed Ventures
We talk with Hayseed Ventures COO Scott Andrews. Hayseed Ventures is a VC Production Studio located in Northwest Arkansas. They are actively working to change the face of startups in Northwest Arkansas and to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship in beautiful downtown Fayetteville. Q : What do you do? Scott: We are a startup that starts startups. We are a venture studio, with a team of 7, we partner with early stage companies and help them raise funds. Our goal is to work with 6 to 8 companies a year. Q : Who is John James? Scott: He is a physician by profession who likes to build businesses. He figured out how to arbitrage keywords back in the 90s with google adword traffic and became a huge portion of it, he built Grill Stuff and started Acumen brands (monetizing facebook). Q: What is your competitive advantage? Scott: Customer Acquisition. We understand the process of getting the data, analyzing it and creating the economic machine that drives it. Q: What are some of your current portfolios. Scott: We actually have 5. One is the Q-Ball, it's a quiz ball reloaded. We built the content behind the machine and then built a SaaS business around it and built an online platform for it Q: What kind of companies you work for? Scott: A company that is early but has some tractions, some customers and some revenues. Example: Menguin (Online Tuxedo Rental) Q: Your model, how it is different from venture fund or from incubator or accelerator? Scott: Its kind a mixed of everything. Our revenue is like a venture fund. We are co-founder. Q : How did you come to work for Hayseed Ventures? Scott: My interest is to work with a lot of different engineers and to continuously learn and learn about new things. Q: What advice could you give to entrepreneurs who might want to talk to Hayseed? Scott: Any entrepreneur needs to understand the problem they are solving, If you have specific interest or understanding, turn into competitive advantage. Q: What do you look for entrepreneurs or businesses to work with? Scott: We have a checklist and the top 3 are: Can we test this quickly? Can we reiterate it quickly and can we do it cheaply? And aside from these, we also identify if the business is a 10 million dollar business, if not then it is not something that we mess with. Does it have a clear customer acquisition strategy? Q: Why should entrepreneurs come to Hayseed? Scott: With a team having different brains, you get a lot of experience thinking about you all the time and you get a lot of contacts. An accelerator would introduce you to a lot of people and say go figure it out; a venture capital groups would say here’s the check, go figure it out. We’ll say come work with us, we will help you figure it out. We are hands-on and we’re teacher, not doers. We will teach you how to run your social strategy, how to manage your
Mon, August 24, 2015
06: The Internet of Things
Bryon Western and Jim Lewis of Little Bird Systems talks with us about the internet of things. The Product Rapid Commercialization System for the Industrial Internet of Things - lego building block approach to building electronics Difference from other companies : Giving the very quick path from the bench-top prototype to something that they can commercialize and take to market. Internet of Things - trend in industry that connect electronics to any physical object, measure data on such object and perform an action on that object. FOCUS : Industrial Market Bandwidth Discipline - optimize protocol - system that are not highly bandwidth thing Sale Cycle - Up to a year from completion of development cycle (which takes about 18 months to 2 years) for them to get back or realize income The Business Model and How Money is Generated from this product GOAL : To move people from that bench-top prototype to a 2nd stage ruggedize prototype (mass produced unit) - provide service to create their customer electronics - sell them the hardware they need to sell their products to customers (JIM’s Perspective on what they do) What is the market? 15 Trillion dollar market Glad to have partners with business intellects How to startup a company (based on their experience) Laying plans - what is the market? how to approach the market? what would set you apart from someone else? Getting everything in place - operating plans, financial model Opportunity to make difference in the world, in the industry you are attacking (BRYON’s Perspective on what they do) Be involved - hire people who can contribute Entrepreneur Programs could help you operate the business - adding technical knowledge CEO vs employee in the startup : As an employee, you have to deal with every aspect of the business - keeping contacts - inform the people what you are doing and Delegating tasks - trust people that they can also do what you can do ADVICE : Creating a company Based on Technology Get a business person - somebody who have worked with technology - if you explain something to somebody and don't they get it, it is not their fault it's your fault - practice the skill of simplifying things and communicating it to people What’s the future of Technology-based businesses in Arkansas Prediction: 2020 - 50 billion devices will connect to internet - whereas right now 90% are not connected. What’s right in Arkansas as an area of startup technology companies? A lot of Manufacturing and Agriculture is going on so the advantage is you can get first hand information from people who needs the solution For Arkansas to grow with technical startup companies/businesses companies
Mon, August 17, 2015
05: A Discussion with Brewer Lee Robinson
Jeff and Jon talk with a local brewer, Lee Robinson, Founder and Co-Owner of Bentonville Brewing Company. A Discussion with Micro-Brewer Lee Robinson of the Bentonville Brewing Company Q: What is the difference between nano and micro-brewery? A: It’s based on volume production, what you can do annually. How many barrels a year - in Arkansas it’s 500 barrels a year is a micro-brewery. However this number increases every year, the bar keeps on raising for what can be considered as micro-brewery. Q: How do you sell your beer? A: We self-distribute and we don’t go through distributorship because that means a lot more costs,a lot more kegs and lot more inventories to get a good percentage of the keg. Q: Your run your own tap room? Where is your tap room? A: Yes, we run our own tap room. Its over here at 1000 Southeast 5th St in Bentonville, Arkansas. Q: What is your background? Is that where you met Gavin Edwards (co-owner)? A: My background is actually finance and real estate. Yes, we have worked together in real estate over the last few years, he was a realtor and I was a loan officer. He came into the brewery a little bit later in the game. It was me and another friend of mine who started it. Q: About your brewmaster, how long he’s been doing it? A: About 2 or 3 months now. But before him, we brought in a guy who is experienced so it is from that person where our current brewmaster has taken his technical background from. Q: When you guys decided that you wanted to do this, how did you come to an agreement? Who’s gonna do what? What does the partnership look like and all that fun stuff? A: A lot of handshakes and verbal. We do have a new operating agreement now but that’s probably one thing that we should have defined more clearly early on. We should have written out in detail what and whose role should it be because many would not do the roles they said they would do. We did some other things, trading equity for work and build-out and stuff like that but it didn’t quite go as we planned but we all got it done in the end. I did all the licensing with the TTB and ABC, a lot of stuff, I didn’t know about. You can read all that stuff online but depending where you live at, you will have different circumstances to go through in getting a license. Q: Now that you’re in the game, are you getting a little more confident with all that works, getting the traffic, getting the brand out there and all that? A: Yes, we’re very excited how things are going so far. Our first brews were actually very good beers.The first time we had a bad batch, they got messed up, we got the wrong yeasts and we just flushed it down the drain. Q: What do you think the outlook is for craft brew? A: I think it’s very positive right now especially here in Benton County and in the Little Rock area, there is a lot of growth happening, there are a lot of breweri
Mon, August 10, 2015
04: How to Put Together a Successful Partnership
In this episode, we are joined by Startup Junkie consultant Jayshica Amargos. She joins us in a fun conversation about business partnerships. How to Put Together a Successful Partnership Find the right partner/s. Do DUE DILIGENCE.. Be diligent enough and check references of potential partners even if you already know them. Examples of questions to address in finding partners are as follows: What companies are in your portfolio? What types of companies and individuals do they like to work with? Will they open doors? Are they going to be tough to work with? Are they just only financially oriented or are they’re going to add value in other ways? Being clear on your purpose in entering into a partnership will also help you find the right partner/s. For instance, if you only enter into a partnership because you cannot afford to pay for your own employees then you might end up with a wrong partner because in doing so, you might neglect to take proper due diligence on that person having only in mind your desire to establish a company with employees. Identify red flags. Identifying red flags would save you from a failed partnership. For example, if a prospective partner would not allow you or your CPA to check the books then that could mean that something is being concealed from you, a sign to walk away. Be definite on how you would go about the partnership. Clearly define the following with your partners: Responsibilities and scope of work Expectations and Scope Dispute/Issue Resolution Accountabilities Figure out if there is a cultural fit between you and the other party. Identify your own company values, objectives and culture. Once you have identified yours, have a comprehensive understanding of what the other party has - its values, objectives and culture. Examples of questions that you might want to consider are as follows: What is their purpose? What drives them? Why are they doing what they are doing? What is their vision? Where do they want to be in 5 years? What’s their mantra, their mission,? What they do on a regular basis? What are their core values that drive how they operate? One of the main reasons why many partnerships fail is because parties fail to align their cultures and so the best thing to do is to identify this at the earliest stage. You might also want to enter into a team agreement or a trial period with a partner in order for you to assess if you and your prospective partners are culturally aligned . This will also allow you to decide whether to push through with the merger or partnership. Communicate regularly. In every relationship, communication is a must. In a partnership, expectations should be defined and this could be
Mon, August 03, 2015
03: Beer and the Business of Beer
In this episode we talk about the business of craft beer. NWA is seeing a lot of new nano breweries opening and we will more than likely continue to see more open in the coming months and years. History of Beer and Beer Business The craft beer business includes nano-breweries and micro-breweries. Northwest Arkansas is the home of a lot of very tasty craft breweries. Samuel Adams, one of the biggest brands in US craft brew industry, resurrected the movement towards beer with taste in the late 1980s. The millennials are aging into the stage where their interests are on things that are hand-crafted and not mass produced so the growth in craft brewing has increased while the overall mass-produced beer market has flattened out. The Business of Beer The brewing business is not easy. Having a qualified brewmaster is part of the equation and this is so because in all cases, the beer has to be great. Craft beer can be a high margin business but understanding the brewing process, and the numbers that drive the operation are essential. For example one in every five or six batches has to be tossed because it did not work right. Beer brewing involves chemical engineering process and it pays to have a smart business person, the brewmaster, and even a chemical engineer to ensure efficiency. The Demand for Beer and Development of Beer Business The penetration of craft brew particularly in the southern United States is low but the demand is there. So as the demand increases, more and more craft breweries are expected to open. Innovations in unique flavors have also kicked in (e.g. putting in chilli peppers and chocolates in beer) and it is working. Canning. Many craft breweries are canning beers because it actually keeps the beer better because it keeps the beer from being exposed to ultraviolet light that could contaminate the beer. Brand Labeling. The childlike, cartoonish designs of beer logos indicate that the designers may have gone too far on designing the labels. Brand labels must be improved to easily differentiate the brands. The traditional retail competition for shelf space sorts itself out for this micro booze. Venture Capital on Beer Business. It is a growth sector, it has an 11% annual growth rate whereas large and established national breweries or brands are flat and declining. Consolidations are expected and it is better for the large players to buy out brands that are bigger rather than risk in coming up with something new. Capital Expansion, Strategy and Distribution. The approach and level of regulatory complexities are different per each state and even locally within states. This makes expansion across state lines a tricky proposition. Words of Wisdom/T
Fri, July 03, 2015
02: Can You Get Funding with Just an Idea
In this second episode we talk about ideas and funding startups. Jeff talks about how easy or difficult it is funding validated ideas vs unvalidated ideas. We discuss funding, consulting and small business support resources. Contact Information: Jeff Amerine www.orici.io www.startupjunkieconsulting.com jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comJon Cadieux www.455mediagroup.com jon@455mediagroup.com
Mon, June 29, 2015
01: How to Get Your Your Business Started
In this first episode Jeff and Jon talk about what to do with your business idea. More importantly, they talk about how to test if your business idea is a good one or a not so good one. They continue on with some detail about starting lean, planning lean and minimizing your startup risks. Also, Jeff answers the question "What is the typical age of a successfull entrepreneur?" Contact Information: Jeff Amerine www.orici.io www.startupjunkieconsulting.com jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.comJon Cadieux www.455mediagroup.com jon@455mediagroup.com
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