School for Startups Radio

July 9, 2025 – Former Kleiner Perkins VC Dave Whorton and Reclaim Sobriety Ken Cox

Dave Whorton – Founder of Tugboat Institute, Former Kleiner Perkins VC and Author of Another Way: Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last
Dave Whorton is an experienced tech investor and founder who spent twenty years of his career at the highest levels of Silicon Valley venture capital and tech startups. At the preeminent tech venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, he worked directly with chairman John Doerr for several years. He cofounded four companies, including Good Technology. In 2013 he founded the Tugboat Institute to connect, support, and inspire purpose-driven leaders of Evergreen businesses—those built to adapt and grow profitably for one hundred years and more. He considers Evergreen company leaders and their businesses to represent capitalism at its best. Dave is passionate about purpose-driven companies that prioritize long-term shared success and people-first values and practices. At sixteen, Dave began his first job at Hewlett-Packard, working alongside manufacturing line workers at three divisions over four summers. It wasn’t until later in his career that he would come to realize the profound influence of HP’s founders and their “HP Way,” which sparked his dedication to serving businesses like early HP. Early in his career he founded four companies including Good Technology and Drugstore.com and worked for stints at top venture capital and private equity firms, KPCB, TPG, and Interwest. During this time, he witnessed the VC industry pivot from a proven forty-year playbook of managing risk with staged, reasonable financing to something much more aggressive: Get-big-fast, which later evolved into growth-at-all-costs. The lack of any profit discipline and manic pressure to grow didn’t feel right to him after being on the other side of it with Good, but he didn’t perceive an alternative… yet, that is. A pivotal conversation opened his eyes to a different kind of founder – seasoned entrepreneurs who were building profitable, innovative, people-first businesses that were designed to last beyond their lifetimes as independent, thriving businesses with no plans for an exit or IPO. Dave set off on a journey of interviewing a number of these entrepreneurs, and later included non-founder CEOs —eventually over 300. He found that these companies were often underappreciated and underserved. In 2013, Dave founded the Tugboat Institute to support and connect these leaders, coining the term “Evergreen companies” to describe these businesses. Since that time, members and friends have urged Dave to write a book about discovering an important alternative to Silicon Valley’s model—namely, Evergreen companies. After five years working with his co-author Bo Burlingham, Dave captured his learning journey and the key principles of Evergreen companies in his book, Another Way: Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last. Dave’s hope is that Another Way greatly increases awareness of Evergreen companies and their incredible importance to our communities and society—and inspires new founders to build their own Evergreen companies that endure for generations. Dave has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford. Dave enjoys spending time between innovative Silicon Valley and mindful Sun Valley, Idaho.Ken Cox – Co-Founder of Hostirian.com, Colocation and Web Hosting, Founder of InLink.com and Author of Reclaim Sobriety: 12 Rounds of Sobriety 
Ken Cox is an entrepreneur, author, and lifelong advocate for resilience. As the President of Rivercity Internet Group LLC and the Owner of BOX STL, Ken has spent decades helping businesses and individuals push beyond their perceived limits. His mission has always been about providing the infrastructure—both technical and personal—to empower others to grow. But Ken’s journey hasn’t always been smooth. He knows firsthand the struggles of addiction and the battle to reclaim one’s life. His personal experiences with sobriety have not only shaped his life but inspired his latest work, Reclaim Sobriety: 12 Rounds to Sobriety, where he shares his hard-earned lessons to help others navigate their own battles with substance abuse. The book recently hit #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Substance Abuse, reaching a new audience that Ken is especially passionate about supporting. Ken is also the host of the Clicks and Bricks podcast, where he connects with entrepreneurs and thought leaders to explore the challenges and victories that come with building businesses and making an impact. He is deeply committed to fostering community and believes in the transformative power of sharing our stories. When he’s not building businesses or writing, you can find Ken coaching at BOX STL, where he helps young fighters learn the discipline, focus, and resilience that the sport of boxing provides. He firmly believes that boxing saved his life, and through it, he finds immense joy in mentoring the next generation. Ken is a proud father of two, and his passion for helping others extends to his family. He speaks openly about his experiences as the father of a neurodivergent son, an experience that has led him to embrace a life filled with patience, empathy, and gratitude. Above all, Ken Cox is someone who believes that our greatest strength lies in our willingness to face our struggles head-on, to keep imagining and believing in the possibility of a better future, and to help others do the same. His work—in business, in writing, and in coaching—is dedicated to empowering individuals to reclaim their lives and realize their potential.

July 7, 2025 – Building a Personal Brand Ben Heath, IBM’s Salima Lin and Gun Safety Josh Horowitz

Ben Heath – Paid Ads Expert | $150M+ in Managed Ad Spend
Ben Heath is one of the biggest names in the digital advertising industry, with the world’s largest Meta ads-focused YouTube channel and more than a million followers across his socials. Starting more than a decade ago, Ben has built one of the most sought-after social advertising agencies, with over 150 million dollars managed in ad spend, a 50+ person team, and thousands of clients all over the world. On weekends, Ben likes to enjoy his free time with his family, wife and two kids, dog and playing some football (soccer).Salima Lin – Managing Partner, Strategy, M&A, Transformation, and Thought Leadership at IBM Consulting
Salima Lin has more than 25 years of management consulting and leadership experience in developing and executing business and operating strategies, driving transformation, developing new business models and operationalizing process improvement. During her career, she has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies, primarily in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, managed care, and healthcare delivery. Her experience spans strategy development in the Americas, with strategy and transformation across industries and domains for IBM’s consulting business globally. She has a master’s degree in health policy and administration from Harvard, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and biology from Simon Fraser University.Joshua Horwitz – Dana Feitler Distinguished Professor of the Practice in Gun Violence Prevention and Advocacy; Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Joshua Horwitz, JD, is the Dana Feitler professor of the practice in gun violence prevention and advocacy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. He works to reduce gun violence by utilizing public health research and health equity analysis to build advocacy campaigns that meet critical opportunities in the policy development process. With over 30 years of experience, Horwitz is a key leader in firearm policy development and education. He and a small group of colleagues developed the extreme risk protection order (ERPO) policy, which is now law in 21 states and the District of Columbia. As a result, he is now the principal investigator of the national Johns Hopkins ERPO Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, a Department of Justice-funded training and technical assistance hub that provides support to states implementing extreme risk protection orders. Horwitz has also developed many policy translation reports, including the newly released “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy” and the original report from the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy, “Guns, Public Health, and Mental Illness: An Evidence-Based Approach,” which identified ERPOs as a needed policy tool. He has also testified before numerous state legislatures and the US Congress. Horwitz is the co-author of Guns, Democracy and the Insurrectionist Idea, published by the University of Michigan Press in 2009. He received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1985 and his JD from The George Washington University in 1988.

July 4, 2025 – America Rocks

America Rocks!!
The idea that you can do things in your garage, you can do thingsin your basement, you can start a process, a business out of yourhouse, is loved in America. We love to see people do that.
This special show highlights 50 reasons why America is still the greatest entrepreneurial country on Earth!

July 2, 2025 – Homelessness to 9-figure Stephen Scoggins and Water Entrepreneur Kevin Gast

Stephen Scoggins – From homelessness to Serial 9-Figure Entrepreneur
From homelessness to serial 9-figure entrepreneur, Stephen Scoggins is a successful entrepreneur, sought-after world-renowned speaker, leading national life & business strategist, investor, and best-selling author. As the founder of Unstoppable Solutions by Scoggins International Inc, Stephen has created an easy-to-follow, proven system that allows entrepreneurs to go from inception to creating profitable empires. To add to his impressive credibility, he has founded six companies, exiting three of which have netted the largest profit for an undisclosed sum in 2023. Named by the USA Today and Wall Street Times as “one of the fastest growing and top entrepreneurs in 2023,” Stephen is also the host of the hit podcast show “Build,” which has over 48 million views, 120,000+ subscribers, countless downloads, and growing. With a proven track record of scaling businesses to industry leaders, Stephen has dedicated his LIFE to providing proven solutions to help entrepreneurs, leaders, and motivated individuals become UNSTOPPABLE in everything they do. Stephen has taught entrepreneurs, artists, C-Suite professionals, entertainers, and tenacious go-getters from all walks of life how to become relentlessly unstoppable.Kevin Gast – Co-Founder, CEO, & Chairman of VVater
Kevin Gast is the Co-Founder, CEO, & Chairman of VVater, a pioneering next-generation water treatment company dedicated to leveraging advanced technologies to address global water challenges across numerous industries. With over 20+ years of executive leadership experience, Kevin has managed cross-functional and international teams in more than 30 countries, bringing innovative solutions to sectors such as real estate, utilities, wastewater, oil & gas, food & beverage, defense, and beyond. Kevin has also held various executive positions in the pharmaceutical, hotel, and property development industries, expanding his expertise across multiple sectors. As the Chairman of another international conglomerate operating in construction, civil engineering, property development, hospitality, real estate, and pharmaceuticals—he was involved with thousands of projects spanning the globe, from mechanical engineering, geosynthetics, civil engineering, aquatic facilities and construction to industrial design. Kevin is an entrepreneur at heart, an avid investor, philanthropist, technologist, and futurist committed to providing humankind with sustainable and innovative solutions while delivering exceptional value to customers, partners, and investors. Kevin Gast, CEO of VVater (pronounced “Water”) is leading a breakthrough in water treatment technology that has just earned the CES 2025 Best of Innovation Award — one of the most prestigious honors in consumer technology. Kevin can share the journey behind this technology, how it’s addressing urgent global water challenges and the critical need for innovation in an industry facing a $630 billion overhaul. With a focus on sustainability and accessibility, Kevin offers a compelling perspective on the future of clean water solutions and VVater’s mission to deliver water for humankind.

July 1, 2025 – Cleaning Toilets to 4x Inc 5000 Ricardo Regalado and Masse Marketing SEO Nile Frater

Ricardo Regalado – CEO/Founder of Route & Rozalado, Crain’s 40 under 40, Google for Startups 22, Morgan Stanley IVL 24, Inc 5000 4X
Ricardo Regalado, proud owner of Rozalado services. A family owned Facility services company based out of Chicago that is a single source solution for Facility service needs in the commercial sector. He is also Co-owner of RCM. He is also Founder/CEO of Route, a technology software/app that is a solution for the commercial cleaning and field service industry. Route is an Ecosystem of tech enabled tools and a marketplace where Cleaning business owners can build and grow their business as well as connect with their fellow cleaning community. Lastly I am also the founder and Host of Cleaning & Cocktails a podcast and live events brand for the cleaning industry that has an audience across 50 countries in the world. Ricardo started in the commercial cleaning industry 12 years ago and built the Rozalado brand 10 years ago with his wife, dad, cousin and family. I learned a ton performing all the cleaning myself for the first 4-5 years of the business, I wore every hat and learned every department which gave us a competitive advantage early on. Fast forward to today, Rozalado has over 600 direct employees, 22 which are family and 70 Affiliate partners with additional 400 team members, 6 companies, operates in 35+ states, offers over 20 services and has made the Inc 5000 Fastest growing companies 4 years in a row – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. Recently just made the Chicago Crain’s 40 under 40 prestigious class of 2021 as well as the Negocios Now Latino 40 under 40. Route was also the proud recipient of Google’s 1st Latino Tech founders cohort 2022. Route was just recently selected to the prestigious Morgan Stanley Inclusive ventures lab in New York.Nile Frater – Founder of Masse Marketing
Nile Frater is the founder of Masse, an innovative SEO agency that specializes in high-scale content campaigns for cutting-edge tech companies at Series A, B, C, and beyond. In just 12 months, Masse has grown from $0 to over $1.5 million in ARR, leveraging a unique human-AI hybrid approach to SEO. Nile’s journey in the tech world began with NoCode.Tech, a hub for the no-code movement that was acquired by A16z-backed Stacker in 2022. With a background in engineering and coding, Nile has consistently pushed the boundaries of SEO, focusing on delivering tangible business results for startups and tech companies. Before founding Masse, Nile held a senior position at Lloyds Banking Group in the UK, where he led various innovative projects, including recruiting 250 engineers and designers in a year and navigating the insurance division through the COVID-19 lockdowns. He also runs Concrete Capital, a micro PE fund that acquires small content and educational websites. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Nile now resides in Andorra and continues to be at the forefront of SEO and AI, helping startups scale quickly and efficiently.

June 30, 2025 - E&Y Winner & IPO Quang Pham and Thought Leadership Expert Rhea Wessel

Quang Pham – Founder and CEO of Cadrenal Therapeutics and Author of Underdog Nation: Zero In On Effort And Results For Success
Quang Pham – Founder and CEO of Cadrenal Therapeutics and Author of Underdog Nation: Zero In On Effort And Results For Success. Quang X. Pham is a biotech executive, war veteran, author, speaker and community leader with a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. He made history as the first Vietnamese American to earn naval aviator’s wings in the Marine Corps and lead an initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq. His inspiring American underdog journey, told in first person, is unlike any other. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quang and his family fled as refugees when he was 10, while his father, a Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilot, remained and was imprisoned for more than a decade. After earning a degree from UCLA, Quang served seven years on active duty, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia and in the Reserves. Following his military career, Quang transitioned into business, founding multiple pharmaceutical companies. In 2000, he launched MyDrugRep.com (which became Lathian Systems), an innovative online platform for physician marketing engagements, which was later acquired. In 2015, he founded Espero Pharmaceuticals and Jacksonville Pharmaceuticals. His leadership and entrepreneurial success earned him the Florida EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. Today Quang serves as Chairman and CEO, Cadrenal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVKD). Quang is also the author of the award-winning father-son memoir, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam (Penguin Random House, 2005). Committed to giving back, Quang has served on the boards of private companies, veteran charities and educational organizations. He lives Florida with his family, continuing to lead and inspire.Rhea Wessel – Writer and Founder at the The Institute for Thought Leadership and Author of Write Like a Thought Leader: How to Find a Constant Stream of Story Ideas to Position Yourself As the Go-To Expert in Your Niche
Rhea Wessel is an American writer and thought-leadership strategist who helps people grow their business by creating and publishing thought leadership. She advises and trains on ideation, messaging, AI writing and how to find and articulate your best ideas. As a journalist, she wrote thousands of stories on hundreds of topics and was published in outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BBC. As a writer for companies, she has penned and edited thousands more stories across 30 industries. Rhea founded and leads The Institute for Thought Leadership, a B2B training and consulting company that helps clients take their ideas to scale with thought-leadership publishing, research and programs. She is a columnist for Forbes.com about thought leadership in organizations.

June 27, 2025 – Rare Metals Entrepreneur Louis O’Connor and Author of 48 Books Dr. Judith Briles

Louis O’Conner – Founder of Strategic Metals Invest 
China has weaponized these rare earths economically… and withinthree to four to six months, you would see factories shutting down.
Louis O’Connor, Founder and Principal of Strategic Metals Invest, the only global supplier that enables private investors to directly own Strategic Metals—including Technology Metals, Rare Earth Metals, Green Metals, and Rare Earth Elements. With over 30 years of experience and clients in 70+ countries, Louis is at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry that’s making global headlines. China’s recent export bans on gallium and germanium, as well as geopolitical discussions on rare earths—such as Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine repay U.S. aid with critical minerals—are fueling intense competition for these essential resources. Yet, most investors remain unaware of how to access this high-value asset class. Louis is a sought-after expert in this space, having been featured on CNBC, Cashflow Ninja, and more. His insights reveal how strategic metals offer a unique hedge against inflation, a smart diversification strategy, and a crucial role in the global economy.Dr. Judith Briles – Publishing Consultant & Book Marketing Expert-Author Advocate-Speaker-known as The Book Shepherd-Founder of Authors’ Hall of Fame-Podcast Host- Author of 48 books
When you finish writing your book, you are no longer theChief Writing Officer—you become the Chief Marketing Officer.
Dr. Judith Briles, known as The Book Shepherd, is the author of 48 books and a trusted mentor to authors worldwide, helping them create and publish books they never regret. She leads a vibrant online community through her Publishing with The Book Shepherd Facebook group, where she shares daily insights and invites aspiring and established authors to ask questions, post updates, and share their “aha” moments. Her latest release in the publishing series is The Author’s Walk: Finding Your Voice to Create Publishing Success—a valuable guide for both aspiring authors and those looking to rediscover their creative spark. In the realm of fiction, Judith debuted her first novel in 2023 with The Secret Journey, co-authored with Brian Barnes. It is the first installment of a historical fiction trilogy, followed by The Secret Hamlet in 2024 and The Secret Rise, set to release in May 2025. Judith’s powerful memoir, When God Says NO: Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present, was released in 2021 and has since earned 15 national book awards, including Best Cover. Expanding her repertoire, she became a cookbook author in 2025 with Cooking with Judith—a collection of easy-peasy recipes designed for WOWlicious eating. Her books have been published in 17 countries and have generated over $500,000 in combined book sales and speaking fees. She has personally earned over 55 national book awards, with each of her books in the past decade achieving #1 New Release status and topping various category charts. Authors she has guided have collectively won over 500 book awards, a testament to her impact and expertise in the publishing world.

June 25, 2025 – Incredible Environmental Entrepreneur Dr. Steve Mayfield and Famous Screenwriter Turns Author Michael Lucker

Dr. Stephen Mayfield – CEO of Algenesis Materials and Former Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology at UCSD – CEO of Blue View Footwear
If not us, who? If not now, when? If we’re not the onesthinking about these problems, who’s going to?
Dr. Stephen Mayfield is the founder and CEO of Algenesis Materials, a company on a mission to reduce plastic pollution on the planet.  Steve was previously a Distinguished Professor of Biology and the Director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, at the University of California, San Diego. His research career focuses on the molecular genetics of green algae, and on the production of bio-products using algae as a production platform, especially bio-polymers.  Steve received BS degrees in Biochemistry and Plant Biology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from UC Berkeley.  Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Geneva Switzerland he returned to California as an assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute where he remained for 22 years becoming the Dean of Biology before joining UC San Diego in 2009.  In addition to running his research group and university research centers, Steve also founded Rincon Pharmaceutical in 2005, Sapphire Energy in 2007, Triton Health and Nutrition in 2013, and Algenesis Materials in 2016.Michael Lucker – Founder of ScreenwriterSchool and Author of Rule One
I wanted doctors to know what it was like to be in our shoes whenwe come to them in pain, and I was hoping that this book wouldremind them of the number one rule of health care — which is,of course, the Hippocratic Oath: do no harm.
Michael Lucker is a writer, director and producer with twenty years experience creating film, television, animation and digital media. He began his career writing and directing television commercials and working in production on series and specials for ABC, NBC, CBS and HBO. He was an assistant to Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment on feature films Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, Arachnophobia, Joe Vs. The Volcano, Always, Back To The Future II & III and Jurassic Park. He went onto serve in creative affairs at Hollywood Pictures where he worked on such movies as Crimson Tide, Terminal Velocity, Taking Care of Business and Straight Talk. Michael then embarked on a career as a screenwriter, helping pen more than twenty feature screenplays for Paramount, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox and Universal, including Vampire In Brooklyn, Home On The Range, Good Intentions and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 as best animated feature. He also served as screenwriter on the animated sequels to Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Emperor’s New Groove and 101 Dalmatians. He recently launched his own production company, Lucky Dog Filmworks, which now serves as his home for creating film, television and commercial content. A renowned instructor in screenwriting, Michael has lectured at Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Clark University, Savannah College of Art & Design, Art Institute of Atlanta, The Creative Circus, University of South Florida, Boston University and various writing organizations throughout the south. He presently serves as screenwriter mentor to the Atlanta Film Festival, founder of Screenwriter School, advisor to Emory Continuing Education’s Certificate of Screenwriting Program and professor of screenwriting in the esteemed Creative Writing Program at Emory University.

June 23, 2025 – Move to Millions Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon and Wikipedia Strategist Joshua Leach

Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon – CEO at Incredible One Enterprises & Author of Move to Millions: The Proven Framework to Become a Million Dollar CEO with Grace & Ease Instead of Hustle & Grind
Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon is an unstoppable force in business and personal growth, with an extraordinary story. Fifteen years ago, she was bankrupt. Today, she has built an 8-figure empire, helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses with ease. She is living proof that adversity can fuel success — equipped with powerful strategies and a track record that includes features in Forbes, TEDx, NBC, Fox News, and The Oprah Magazine, to name a few. Dr. Darnyelle is more than just a business expert — she’s an award-winning Inc. 5000 CEO, disruptor, innovator, and prolific thought leader whose insights inspire immediate action. As the iconic and incomparable CEO of Incredible One Enterprises, LLC, a multi-million-dollar coaching and consulting brand, she is best known for transforming the lives of her clients and live event attendees. She equips entrepreneurs to build businesses that serve them both financially and spiritually. In fact, over the last 10 years, her clients have generated more than $500 million in sales and over $365 million in revenue using her proven strategies. Through her award-winning Move to Millions® Method, Darnyelle helps business owners grow from six-figure years to six-figure quarters, months, weeks — and ultimately, six-figure days — all while deepening their connection to God and strengthening their faith. She is a 7-time best-selling author, the creator of five powerful business systems, and the host of The MOVE to Millions Podcast with Dr. Darnyelle J. Harmon. In 2023, she unveiled the book she was born to write: Move to Millions®.Joshua Leach – Wikipedia Strategist at Beutler Ink
Joshua Leach is a Wikipedia Strategist at Beutler Ink, where he guides clients through the complexities of creating Wikipedia articles and updating existing ones. He is the co-author of WikiWise, Beutler Ink’s newsletter about all things Wikipedia. An award-winning journalist, he holds a master’s degree in the craft and brings that rigor to each project he works on. One of the world’s biggest nerds, when Josh isn’t writing Wikipedia articles for pay, he’s probably doing it for fun. As a volunteer, he has written two of Wikipedia’s Featured articles and edited thousands more. When he’s not editing the world’s largest encyclopedia, Josh can be found covering high school sports as a freelance journalist or writing campaigns and scenarios for Monster of the Week and other tabletop roleplaying games.

SFS Minute 729: Lead Magnet

The things you need to do to start a new business and this week we are focusing on a marketing project that you need to start. Surprisingly soon.
I believe email marketing is one of the most effective strategies available. These are people who have visited your website and made the decision to follow what you're doing — which means they’re already interested and engaged. As a result, this group typically has a high retention rate and a strong likelihood of making a purchase. To take advantage of this, we need to start capturing email addresses. The best way to do that is by offering something of value in return — what's commonly known as a lead magnet. This could be a white paper, an eBook, or another useful resource that encourages visitors to subscribe.