School for Startups Radio

October 2, 2024 – Lovesac CEO Shawn D. Nelson and Five Year You Andrew Dewar

Shawn D. Nelson – Founder of Lovesac and Author of Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story
Shawn Nelson founded Lovesac in 1998 and is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a member of the Board of Directors. Shawn is the lead designer of the Company’s patented products and leads sourcing, creative, design, public relations, investor relations and culture. In 2005, Shawn won Richard Branson’s “The Rebel Billionaire” on Fox and continues to participate in ongoing TV appearances. Raising VC funding and eventually Private Equity financing to drive growth, Lovesac became the fastest growing furniture retailer in the U.S. in 2013 and again in 2019, mostly on sales of Shawn’s patented invention. Shawn has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Design and Management and is a graduate-level instructor at Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City.  He has a new podcast called “Let Me Save You 25 Years.”Andrew Dewar – Founder of the Five Year You
Andrew Dewar teaches the transformative power of self-discovery, growth, and what it truly means to choose happiness. Andrew is a serial entrepreneur, former Certified Professional accountant, and Certified Advanced DNA ThetaHealer. His dedication to financial freedom led to national recognition when he achieved the remarkable feat of paying off his mortgage in just six years. He co-founded a personal development company called Five Year You with the ultimate goal is to help one million people become their best selves in five years. Andrew offers more than his financial acumen, however. He’s a personal development enthusiast and a resilient soul who has triumphed over numerous obstacles. This has led him to be a passionate advocate for the power of self-improvement. Andrew’s journey has seen him engage in profound inner work to conquer personal traumas, explore various therapeutic approaches, and amass a treasure trove of insights that he now shares with unwavering kindness and vulnerability. Andrew’s story is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery, growth, and what it truly means to choose happiness. His experiences have not only equipped him with the knowledge and strength to guide others but also instilled in him a deep sense of empathy for all human beings on their unique paths of self-improvement.

September 30, 2024 - SCORE Super Show! Free Entrepreneur Consulting

Small business owners nationwide have a chance to compete in a Shark-Tank style competition and win up to $20,000 while gaining national exposure and access to invaluable mentorship as part of SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition. Entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and industries are invited to apply to showcase their businesses in this Shark-Tank style competition by delivering a compelling pitch for this event and prospective customers and investors. Since 1964, SCORE has helped over 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit their businesses. As the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, SCORE has 10,000 volunteers serving all 50 U.S. states and territories who provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education. To honor this 60-year legacy, SCORE will be hosting in-person pitch events in Philadelphia, PA (Aug. 28), Des Moines, IA (Sept. 12), Los Angeles, CA (Sept. 26), and Houston, TX (Oct. 3rd), as well as a virtual national contest (Sept. 17, 18, and 19). Participants in each pitch event may win up to $20,000, while receiving invaluable mentorship and guidance from SCORE mentors – all at no cost. For more information about the competitions, please visit this page.Andrea Russell, CEO of A’s Aprons LLC, and her SCORE mentor, Fatima Fisher
Andrea Russell – CEO of A’s Aprons LLC
Welcome to the home of the vibrant, reversible, multi-pocket apron! At A’s Aprons, we take pride in our quirky designs, high-quality materials, and attention to detail. Our aprons are designed with the modern customer in mind, and we aim to provide a seamless and hassle-free experience in choosing and using our products. Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook, our aprons are sure to make your cooking and baking experiences more colorful and comfortable. Browse our collection to find the perfect apron for you.Fatima Fisher – SCORE Mentor
The real question is where do you want to go! She has owned, operated, or been employed by a small business in America since I was 16. I say America because I have lived in Texas, California and now my naitive home, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have a vast background in mentoring startup entrepenures in Texas for the past decade and I served on several committees for the restructuring and rebranding of the Dallas in the early 2000s. Wherever you are in the fullfillment of that dream, I can help and point you in the right direction.Bridget Weston – SCORE CEO
Bridget Weston is CEO of SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides free mentoring and education to current and aspiring small business owners through its network of 10,000 volunteers. Since its founding in 1964, SCORE has helped 17 million entrepreneurs to start, grow or successfully exit their businesses. A respected thought leader in the small business landscape, Bridget has served as a small business expert in Congressional hearings and is regularly featured in media outlets such as CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg Business. A Philadelphia native, she holds a Bachelor of Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University. Bridget joined SCORE in 2010 in a field marketing role and gained a firsthand understanding of all facets of SCORE operations through her work in marketing, change management, technology and strategic planning. Today, Bridget resides in Falls Church, VA, and loves her role as mom to her son Alex, especially cheering him on at his various sporting events.

September 27, 2024 – Outward Mindset Mitch Warner and Patent AI Sharon Shofner-Meyer, J.D.

Mitch Warner – Managing Partner of Arbinger Institute and Author of The Outward Mindset
Mitch Warner is a bestselling author and Arbinger managing partner with a background in healthcare and organizational turnaround. Mitch is the co-author of Arbinger’s latest bestselling books, The Outward Mindset, The Anatomy of Peace, and Leadership and Self-Deception with a 4th edition releasing on August 27th. He writes frequently on the practical effects of mindset at the individual and organizational levels as well as the role of leadership in transforming organizational culture and results. He is an expert on mindset and culture change, leadership, strategy, performance management, organizational turnaround, and conflict resolution. Mitch is a sought-after speaker to organizations across a range of industries, bringing his practical experience to bear for leaders of corporations, governments, and organizations across the globe. Specific clients include NASA, Citrix, Aflac, the U.S. Army and Air Force, the Treasury Executive Institute, and Intermountain Healthcare. Mitch carries his first-hand perspective as a proven leader into his speeches and facilitation, dynamically bringing Arbinger’s concepts and tools to life through his powerful stories and hands-on experience. His audiences leave inspired to improve and equipped with a practical roadmap to effect immediate change. In his role as managing partner, Mitch directs the development of Arbinger’s intellectual property, training and consulting programs, and highly customized largescale organizational change initiatives. He has been instrumental in Arbinger’s rapid growth, including its expanding international presence in nearly 30 countries.Sharon Shofner-Meyer, J.D – President at DorothyAI – Patent and Trademark AI
Sharon Shofner-Meyer, J.D., serves as the President at DorothyAI and Managing Director at Fovea IP, bringing 25 years of experience in technology, with the past decade focused on developing technology solutions for the IP industry. As a C-suite executive and strategist, Sharon excels in driving marketing, sales, and operational strategies. She possesses deep expertise in the tech, legal, and SaaS industries, specializing in business turnarounds and financial restoration. In her role as President of Three10 Legal (dba DorothyAI), Sharon steers business strategy and oversees sales and marketing efforts. She champions the creation and execution of a comprehensive messaging strategy that spans the entire customer journey, optimizing reach and resonance through marketing process automation and strategic content dissemination. Throughout her career, Sharon has held executive positions at Novum IP, Thomson Reuters, and LookingGlass Juries, among others.

September 26, 2024 – Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott and Check My Ads Claire Atkin

Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.Claire Atkin – Co-founder and CEO of Check My Ads
Claire Atkin, co-founder and CEO of Check My Ads, embodies the spirit of innovation and resilience that your listeners value. Her journey in establishing a nonprofit that not only challenges but actively reforms the digital advertising sphere could offer profound insights and inspiration to your audience of entrepreneurs and business owners who would like to learn about the pros and cons of going into the nonprofit world or establishing one themselves. Check My Ads is committed to pioneering new policies that enhance brand safety and protect digital landscapes from disinformation. By advocating for clearer regulations and empowering advertisers with the knowledge and tools to ensure their ad spend does not fund harmful content, Claire and her team are setting new standards for accountability and transparency in the digital advertising world. We believe a conversation with Claire would greatly enrich your program, offering tangible takeaways on starting a nonprofit, driving change against odds, and the nuances of navigating the complex intersections of technology and business ethics. Check My Ads has been featured in New York Magazine, CNN, Forbes, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, MSNBC, Mashable, Tech Crunch, and Claire has previously spoken at SXSW, been a guest on The Lincoln Project, and MSNBC’s The 11th Hour just to name a few.

September 25, 2024 – Pocket FM Rohan Nayak and The Five Talents Barry Conchie & Sarah Dalton

Rohan Nayak – Co-Founder at Pocket FM
Rohan Nayak
Rohan Nayak is Co-Founder at Pocket FM. Founded in 2018, Pocket FM was built with a vision to redefine the entertainment space by pioneering the audio-series category. We pride ourselves in embedding the storytelling elements with a layer of content personalisation in the longer format that resulted in the emergence of “binge listening” as a consumption habit. Today, we have emerged as the preferred digital audio destination for a refined storytelling experience with the audio-series format, riding on our diverse and engaging content. With our unique storytelling approach, we have breathed new life into audio storytelling, reviving it as a mainstream entertainment format and unearthing unique and unheard stories across the world for our listeners. Today, we are building the most extensive repository of audio content on our platform. With over 100 million listeners community, spending an average of over 110 minutes every day, the platform has witnessed over 45 billion minutes of streaming in 2022. Pocket FM is a Series D-stage company that has raised US$196.5 million in multiple rounds and is backed by some marquee investors like Lightspeed, Stepstone, Times Internet, Tanglin Venture Partners, Goodwater Capital, Naver and others.
Baray Conchie and Sarah Dalton – Authors of The Five Talents That Really Matter: How Great Leaders Drive Extraordinary Performance
Baray Conchie and Sarah Dalton
Barry Conchie is the founder and president of Conchie Associates. He is an expert in psycho-metric talent assessments, leadership research and development, team building and succession planning. Barry consults with company boards, chief executive officers and leadership teams across the globe. He researches leadership effectiveness and decision-making heuristics from his home outside Boulder, Colorado. Sarah Dalton is a partner at Conchie Associates. She provides leaders and teams with the tools to evaluate their effectiveness and develop their leadership strengths. Sarah completed her master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Colorado State University. She is based in Denver, Colorado. They are the authors of The Five Talents That Really Matter: How Great Leaders Drive Extraordinary Performance, Strengths-Based Leadership book demystifies the aura and complexity surrounding high performing leaders through original research and interviews with high-performing global leaders.

September 23, 2024 - Owl Vans John Willenborg and Bigfoot Capital Brian Parks

John Willenborg – Founder of Owl Vans – American Made Accessories for Adventure Vans
Owl Vans is one of the leading adventure van accessory companies, that recently has made a significant milestone in its journey of innovation and growth. CEO John Willenborg is a seasoned entrepreneur and former contestant on NBC’s “The Apprentice,” the company has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship and pioneering design, reshaping the landscape of adventure van customization. The adventure van industry has witnessed unprecedented growth, driven by the allure of van life, particularly amplified through social media platforms under the hashtag #vanlife. Notably, the adventure industry company has played a pivotal role in shaping this trend, emerging as the number one adventure van accessories company globally. The company has also set its sights on achieving $100 million in revenue within five years. As Owl Vans continues its expansion trajectory, John remains steadfast in his commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the adventure van industry. With plans to establish additional locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe within the next 12 months, the adventure industry company is set to solidify its position as the undisputed leader in adventure van accessories worldwide.Brian Parks – Co-Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital – Bank for Software Growth
Brian Parks is Co-Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital. They started Bigfoot in 2017 to push back against what we viewed to be an overly pervasive and often reckless format for building and capitalizing software businesses, that of growth at all costs and the associated hyperfunding to pursue it. Brian brings decades of expertise in both financial services and SaaS. Prior to Bigfoot Capital, he has honed his skills in various positions across companies, most notably as the co-founder of Brandfolder. Founded on the principles of stability, support, and partnership, Brian and Bigfoot Capital strive to be a lifeline for SaaS companies, improving their operational health to empower and drive growth. As a founder himself, Brian taps into his own experiences of growth, struggle, and resiliency to guide founders on a path of autonomy in how their companies achieve success.

September 20, 2024 – $1.7 Billion in Sales Joe Ingram and Sell Like a Spy Jeremy Hurewitz

Joe Ingram – Automotive Sales Training Specialist
Joe Ingram is a renowned sales expert and consultant with over 30 years of experience with over 1.7 billion in sales. He is known as the Sales Genius; he has revolutionized sales techniques and strategies, delivering exceptional results for clients in many industries. Joe’s unique talent lies in simplifying complex ideas and strategies, making them easily understandable for professionals at all experience levels. His engaging “edutainment” approach blends humor and real-life scenarios to enhance comprehension and engagement.Jeremy Hurewitz – Founder of Sell Like a Spy and Author of Sell Like A Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage
Jeremy Hurewitz spent the first decade of his career overseas building the media association Project Syndicate while based out of Prague and Shanghai. He spearheaded a business development strategy that saw the association grow from a few dozen member newspapers in mostly Eastern Europe, to a truly global association of over 300 newspapers in over 100 countries. Jeremy grew the staff, established a publishing and analytics practice, and helped grow the editorial offerings from two series to several dozen. During Jeremy’s time abroad he also worked as a freelance journalist writing on a variety of topics for dozens of publications around the world. Jeremy continues to write regularly with recent articles appearing in Bloomberg, USA Today, and The Hill. Upon returning to the U.S. after his time overseas, Jeremy settled in New York City and worked for several well-known global consulting firms in the world of corporate security. These companies are staffed by former intelligence officers and Jeremy worked closely with these former spies. He came to notice how good these individuals were at connecting with clients, how quickly they were able to establish rapport and put people at ease and get them to open up. In addition to former spies, his colleagues included former members of the FBI and the law enforcement community, the Secret Service, the military, the State Department, and other government agencies. Jeremy learned unique and impactful skills from all these former government employees, and he began utilizing the methods he picked up. He quickly noticed the tangible difference it made in his salesmanship and his ability to connect with clients. By practicing the same methods that government officials use to develop relationships and overcome a range of challenges, Jeremy was able to achieve some of the biggest and most meaningful sales of his career. Jeremy has synthesized these lessons from government service into the Sell Like a Spy program and works with clients to share these strategies to help them improve their ability to connect with targets, develop creative approaches to close deals, and overcome challenges.

September 19, 2024 – Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott and Better Conversations Chuck Wisner

Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.Chuck Wisner – Leadership Advisor, Speaker, Coach and Author of The Art of Conscious Conversations
Chuck Wisner is the author of The Art of Conscious Conversations, Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact. He is a coach and speaker focusing on the lost art of conversations. His theories of the why, how, and what of conversations deeply dive into their DNA and introduce new tools and practices that transform how we can think about and be in them more successfully. He has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor to leaders, their teams, and their families in high-profile companies, including Google, Rivian, Apple, Tesla, DTE Energy, Harvard Business School, Ford, and Chrysler. Before starting Wisner Consulting, Chuck was a senior affiliated mediator with the Harvard Mediation Program, certified in the Mastering the Art of Professional Coaching, and a coach affiliated with MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning. Prior to Chuck’s career as a leadership advisor, his first career was in music as a percussionist and his second career was as an architect in Boston for twenty years.

September 18, 2024 – Lobos 1707 Diego Osorio and MindTravel Live Events Murray Hidary

Diego Osorio – Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Lobos 1707 – Building a Tequila Brand
Diego Osorio is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Lobos 1707, a tequila brand launched in 2020. Growing up in Madrid and London, Diego spent his formative years developing a love for theatre, taking on roles in high school plays before enrolling in business school. After a brief career in finance, he pivoted his course, returning to the entertainment industry to follow his passion for the creative arts. Osorio utilized his creative drive to launch his acting career in Spain, securing roles in theater projects such as Juegos Para Marido y Mujer, among many others. He was awarded the Best New Coming Actor Award at the Madrid Fashion Film Festival for his performance in Escape from Mondays. In 2012, Osorio moved to New York City and attended the prestigious New York Film Academy and Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Working under the tutelage of acting coach Bob Krakower, he expanded his craft and was cast in television and film projects such as HotSpot: A Guide to Finding Love, Bronx SIU, Drug Mule, and Roshambo, to name a few. During this time, he discovered the story of his namesake great-great grandfather’s legacy as a Spanish Viceroy King, who transported Pedro Ximénez Sherry barrels from Spain to Mexico beginning in 1707. Once the sherry depleted, they filled the empty barrels with an agave spirit (now known as tequila), allowing the tequila to barrel age during their journey home. Diego made it his mission to replicate the traditional agave-based recipe enjoyed by his forefathers for centuries. In order to do this and commemorate the history of his aristocratic family, he brought together his family’s sherry winemaker and a Jalisco-based Master Distiller to create a recipe that marries both cultures, representing the heritage of old and new world flavors simultaneously. He drew from his design and filmmaking background to create a visually compelling brand that encompasses the Lobos 1707 story. With Lobos 1707, Diego has created a brand that encourages unity, legacy, and authenticity, and represents the endangered subspecies of humans who are intentional, audacious, and balance the art of being unapologetically genuine while still caring for the greater good of the pack. Diego currently resides in Miami. In addition to serving as the creative visionary for Lobos 1707 Tequila, he is also an emerging documentarian who has produced and directed several film projects focused on environmental and immigration issues, including Black Lives Matter, Canners and Local Legends, amongst others. Diego is an avid polo player, co-founder of the non-profit ONE MILE ONE SMILE, travel addict, adventure-seeker, sports enthusiast, music aficionado and designer.Murray Hidary – Founder of MindTravel
Murray Hidary’s MindTravel is an immersive experience where music and mindfulness meet. Through music, the language of emotion, creator and composer Murray seeks to open the heart to healing and transformation with his evocative, live-piano compositions. Recently, the music of MindTravel has also served to bring awareness and a call to action on issues like social justice and climate change. Hidary has brought MindTravel to iconic theaters and spectacular outdoor venues in over 100 cities the world over. From the deserts of the Middle East to the first-ever piano concert on the continent of Antarctica, Hidary seeks to bridge gaps in understanding through the universal language of music. Murray Hidary is also an entrepreneur and tech pioneer and in the early days of the Internet co-founded and built companies including EarthWeb, Dice Inc, Vista Research and eBillity. Today, he is focused on the human experience and, through MindTravel, helps people better connect with themselves and one another.

September 16, 2024 – Rev AI Transcription Jason Chicola and Software Engineer Entrepreneur Andrew Duncan

Jason Chicola – Founder and CEO of Rev
Jason Chicola is the founder and CEO of Rev, the leading AI speech-to-text service providing transcripts, captions and subtitles with 99%+ accuracy. With the goal to ensure that every voice is understood, Rev is the only speech-to-text provider that facilitates collaboration between humans and AI to achieve the highest accuracy, reduced bias and increased accessibility. Prior to starting Rev, Jason was the 3rd employee at oDesk (now Upwork). Jason was also an investment professional with H.I.G. Capital and an associate with Globespan Capital Partners. Earlier in his career, he was a business analyst at McKinsey & Co. Jason was really smart.  He got on the inside of the VC world, waited for a great play, join it, and then leveraged those skill and connections to start a VC funded company of his own. Rev has raised $4.5m from Globespan Capital.Andrew Duncan – Founder of Duncan Labs
Andrew Duncan is the founder of Duncan Labs, a boutique software engineering firm. Andrew is a highly driven technology executive with a combination of strategic insight, business expertise, financial skills, and deep technology experience, with a record of success in the leadership of application development, vendor management and consulting initiatives for major companies and high-growth startups. Duncan Labs focuses on providing custom software delivery and strategic technical advisory services for small to mid-sized companies and startups looking to launch or enhance products and services or increase the efficiency of their technical teams.