#44: Jaideep Singh is the founder and CEO FlyFin, a VC backed startup helping automate finances for freelancers and business owners. While he initially began working as a software engineer, he later went on to become a founder of various companies and received an MBA from Wharton. One of his first startups, Spock, worked to create a database of over 1 Billion people to help companies find talent. Jaideep is a serial entrepreneur and says the first step for validating a startup idea involves asking whether you are working on a problem you personally care about. In this episode we dive into:&nbs ..read more

#70. Lucas DiPietrantonio and Jackson Corey, co-founders of Darkroom, join the podcast. DiPietrantonio and Corey discuss their three-year roadmap, which includes building their own educational resource, Darkroom University. They also delve into their unique perspective as entrepreneurs and investors, their focus on customer satisfaction and bottom-line results, and their proprietary framework for assessing and diagnosing businesses' growth challenges. They stress the need for long-term partnerships and the importance of a strong product-market fit and continuous improvement. Darkroom Links:&nb ..read more

#48: Olive oil enthusiast and startup founder Katina Mountanos sits down with Ethan to discuss her exceptional company, Kosterina. A startup that is dedicated to making quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO for short), the Mediterranean lifestyle, and its associated health benefits accessible to Americans. Kosterina is a lifestyle brand that has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews, leading Whole Foods to reach out to Mountanos for partnership! In this episode we dive into:  The power of 'launching what you know' Why Katina believe's in rapid prototyping  The choice to take on vent ..read more

#45: David Utley, M.D. is the founder and CEO of Pivot, a digital health company helping users eliminate their tobacco use. Pivot has raised over $40 million, and David has over 100 published US patents. David is a seasoned entrepreneur and had previously been a founder at BARRX, which raised $70+ million in VC funding before being acquired in 2012. He has also served on the board of numerous startups and continues to engineer new solutions towards improving health outcomes. In this episode we dive into:  Establishing partnerships with employers and large companies Why you may want to co ..read more

Margaret Wishingrad is the CEO and founder of Three Wishes, a high protein, low sugar, grain-free cereal. After struggling to find a healthy cereal for her son, Margaret decided to create her own. Taking on the cereal industry juggernauts is a daunting task, but having had experience running an advertising agency with her husband, Margaret has used her marketing skills to develop a brand and build a following around a product that she is proud of. In this episode we dive into:  How to begin creating, testing, and reiterating a product Branding 101 and using your brand to build customer r ..read more

#34. Fran Maier  is the CEO and founder of BabyQuip, the "Airbnb of baby rental equipment." Having been a co-founder for Match.com, Fran is no stranger to the startup world. In fact, Fran has been involved in starting numerous enterprises and continues to invest in other startups. Fran encourages founders to differentiate their business from the market and talk with customers in order to establish a successful brand. In this episode we dive into: Why building brand trust is important Co-founding Match.com, TrustE, and BabyQuip BabyQuip's unique Shark Tank experience Fran's tips for navig ..read more

#29: Juan Andrade  joins Annaka and Ethan to talk about Rebank, a startup-to-startup software company that provides young businesses with the financial operation systems needed to succeed. Juan discusses the importance of trial-and-error marketing and how his own issues at his previous job led him to conceptualize Rebank. This episode we dive into:  Finding a target audience and understanding the problem you solve Marketing without an experienced marketer The benefits of working with an accelerator and Juan’s experience at Y Combinator For the full episode summary, visit startupsav ..read more

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

Devo Harris went from grammy award winning producer and founder of GOOD Music alongside Kanye West to successful tech startup founder. Harris founded Adventr to introduce interactive video marketing to the mainstream and to create valuable experiences for consumers. On this episode of the podcast, we chat with Devo about how his background influenced his entrepreneurial journey, the ways venture capital needs to change, and how working with Kanye impacted his story so far.  About the guest:  Devo Harris is a Grammy award winning producer, entrepreneur, and founding member of Kanye We ..read more

#65: On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast, we hear from Jesse Randall, founder of Sweater Ventures, about his journey to create a venture capital fund that is open to anyone, regardless of wealth or accreditation status. He explains how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), once created to protect everyday people from investment scams, has now become outdated and condescending towards smart individuals who are not wealthy. Jesse also shares how a bold marketing choice early on helped the startup to build a 60,000 person waitlist. Sweater Ventures Links:  https://www.linkedin ..read more