Building Better Biotech with Kevin Rocco

Forward Obsessed

#Entrepreneur #Business #Marketing #Pete Sena and David Salinas #David Salinas #Pete Sena #Founder CEO

19:15

Can AI compress the years long research time of a PhD into seconds? Research scientist Max Jaderberg explores how “AI analogs” simulate real-world lab work with staggering speed and scale, unlocking new insights on protein folding and drug discovery. Drawing on his experience working on Isomorphic Labs' and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 — an AI model for predicting the structure of molecules — Jaderberg explains how this new technology frees up researchers' time and resources to better understand the real, messy world and tackle the next frontiers of science, medicine and more. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch . Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links: TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

3 years ago 1:16:45

MP4•Episode home

Kevin Rocco was the Founder and CEO of Biorez, a Biotechnology company that invented a regenerative and absorbable ligament brace called the Biobrace. Biorez was acquired by Conmed in 2022 for $250 Million dollars, and Kevin is now working as VP of Bioinductive Technologies at Conmed.

In this interview, get the fresh perspective of a founder that went through every pitfall and pivot imaginable, and how he was able to successfully sell his business at the peak of its valuation. Learn about Kevin’s perspective on engineering innovation within teams, how to “hack” getting a PhD, his learnings from raising money, convincing investors to pivot, and how he turned his lack of experience into an essential asset.

OUTLINE:

(00:00) - Intro
(3:00) - Origin Story
(4:00) - Large Companies Struggle To Innovate
(5:58) - Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Avoid Taking Risks
(9:19) - How To Build An Innovation Engine
(15:28) - How I Hacked Getting A PhD
(20:20) - Your Life Doesn’t Have To Stay On A Traditional Track
(23:15) - Being Number Two At A Startup
(28:00) - Experiencing Failure In A Startup
(31:00) - Learning To Raise Money
(36:34) - Your Story Is Your Strategy
(41:20) - The Big Pivot
(43:53) - Can Inexperience Drive Success?
(48:25) - Learn From Competitors To Beat Them
(52:41) - Venture Capital Incentivizes Businesses To Burn Money
(58:00) - Raising Money Always Sucks
(1:06:20) - All Deals Take Six Months, and Deals Never Happen
(1:10:00) - Tips For Entrepreneurs

EPISODE LINKS:

Biorez: https://biorez.com/
Conmed: https://www.conmed.com/en-us/
Kevin Rocco on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinrocco/

HIS FAVORITE BOOK:

Jim Collins, “Good To Great”: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

63 episodes

Building Better Biotech with Kevin Rocco

Forward Obsessed

published 3 years ago

MP4•Episode home

OUTLINE:

(00:00) - Intro
(3:00) - Origin Story
(4:00) - Large Companies Struggle To Innovate
(5:58) - Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Avoid Taking Risks
(9:19) - How To Build An Innovation Engine
(15:28) - How I Hacked Getting A PhD
(20:20) - Your Life Doesn’t Have To Stay On A Traditional Track
(23:15) - Being Number Two At A Startup
(28:00) - Experiencing Failure In A Startup
(31:00) - Learning To Raise Money
(36:34) - Your Story Is Your Strategy
(41:20) - The Big Pivot
(43:53) - Can Inexperience Drive Success?
(48:25) - Learn From Competitors To Beat Them
(52:41) - Venture Capital Incentivizes Businesses To Burn Money
(58:00) - Raising Money Always Sucks
(1:06:20) - All Deals Take Six Months, and Deals Never Happen
(1:10:00) - Tips For Entrepreneurs

EPISODE LINKS:

Biorez: https://biorez.com/
Conmed: https://www.conmed.com/en-us/
Kevin Rocco on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinrocco/

HIS FAVORITE BOOK:

Jim Collins, “Good To Great”: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

63 episodes

#Entrepreneur #Business #Marketing #Pete Sena and David Salinas #David Salinas #Pete Sena #Founder CEO

All episodes

Forward Obsessed

1
Tanay Kothari: Building the Next Generation of Personal AI // #63 1:07:47

17 weeks ago1:07:47

1:07:47

What if your voice could replace your keyboard—and be smarter than Siri ever dreamed of? Meet Tanay Kothari, the CEO and co-founder of Wispr Flow, a voice-first AI company redefining how we interact with technology. From teaching himself to code at age nine to building and selling a company fresh out of Stanford, Tanay’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial obsession, resilience, and product-driven thinking. In this episode, Tanay shares how his childhood dream of building Jarvis (yes, Iron Man’s assistant) led him to develop one of the most exciting voice AI tools today. We dive into the difference between good engineering and great design, why most voice assistants fail, and what it really takes to lead teams and raise capital in Silicon Valley. If you're into startups, AI, or just love hearing from product-obsessed founders, this one's a must-listen. ✨ Listeners of Forward Obsessed can sign up for 1 FREE month of Flow: https://ref.flowvoice.ai/pete 🔎 Find Out More About Tanay Kothari and Wispr Flow: https://x.com/tankots https://www.linkedin.com/in/tankots/ https://ref.wisprflow.ai/fopod https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisprflow https://x.com/WisprFlow Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Tanay Kothari 04:17 - Entrepreneurial Roots: Tanay’s Parents and Early Hustles 08:00 - Simples Inc: A 12-Year-Old Builds His First Company 10:10 - Going Viral with Convert.cc and Google’s Cease & Desist 18:39 - Journey to Stanford and Embracing Silicon Valley 25:06 - Learning to Lead: From Engineer to Team Manager 33:22 - The Hardest Part of Scaling: Managing People 38:12 - Deep Values Alignment: Early Co-Founder Conversations 45:36 - What Makes Wispr Flow Different from Every Other Voice Tool 50:45 - How Wispr Flow Fixes Transcription Accuracy 54:57 - Product Hunt Success: Tips for a Top Launch 59:47 - The Future of Voice Interfaces and Contextual AI 🔗 Other Links & Resources: The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062367544 The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465050654 Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553208845 DISC Leadership Framework: https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/ #ai #entrepreneurship #founderstory…

Forward Obsessed

1
Sean Busch: Lessons from Bootstrapping to Big-Box Retail // #62 1:25:47

20 weeks ago1:25:47

1:25:47

What does it take to scale a business from a $20,000 launch to over $100 million in revenue? In this episode of Forward Obsessed, entrepreneur Sean Busch takes us through his incredible journey—from a small-town kid flipping car parts in high school to founding and selling the household cleaning brand Puracy. Along the way, Sean shares how he leveraged Amazon’s early days, built a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, and navigated the challenges of big-box retail. Sean opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the moment he was fired just before Christmas, the brutal cash-flow struggles of expanding into Target and Walmart, and the pivotal decision to exit his company. He also shares key lessons on craftsmanship vs. commerce, the importance of customer obsession, and why having the right CFO can make or break your business. Now, with his newest venture, Dad Mode, Sean is applying everything he learned to build another game-changing brand. Whether you're a founder, a business leader, or just someone fascinated by the journey of building something from the ground up, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights. 🔎 Find Out More About Sean Busch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantbusch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stb416/ Dad Mode: https://godadmode.com/ Puracy: https://puracy.com/ Chapters 00:00 - A First for Forward Obsessed 03:15 - Sean’s Early Hustles & Entrepreneurial Roots 10:45 - From Car Detailing to Medical Sales 18:30 - The Leap Into E-Commerce & Building Puracy 25:50 - Cracking the Amazon Playbook 32:15 - Scaling to Retail: The Target & Walmart Challenge 40:05 - Surviving Cash Flow Nightmares 48:20 - The Emotional Toll of Entrepreneurship 55:10 - The Exit: Selling Puracy 1:02:30 - Lessons Learned & Advice for Founders 1:10:00 - Sean’s Next Venture: Dad Mode 🔗 Other Links & Resources The Honest Company by Jessica Alba (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609619110 The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887898 Amazon FBA: https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon Singer Automotive: https://singervehicledesign.com/ Seven Generation (CPG): https://www.seventhgeneration.com/ 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/ #entrepreneurship #startups #businessgrowth…

Forward Obsessed

1
Mike Lloyd: Building Resilience, Distribution, and Cyber Insurance Innovation // #61 1:43:11

25 weeks ago1:43:11

1:43:11

Mike Lloyd’s entrepreneurial story began with a simple childhood side hustle—burning CDs for friends in his small Michigan hometown. That spark of ingenuity set him on a journey from studying at MIT and Harvard to launching and scaling companies that reshaped industries. In this episode of Forward Obsessed, Mike delves into the pivotal moments that defined his path, sharing the highs and lows of his journey. He opens up about the painful lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he transformed those experiences into a winning formula for success. Mike reveals the critical importance of mastering distribution, his obsession with solving meaningful problems, and how COVID and Bitcoin propelled his cyber insurance company to the forefront of the industry. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply love a compelling story of resilience and growth, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable wisdom. 🔎 Find Out More About Mike Lloyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelloyd Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeLloyd Corvus Insurance: https://www.corvusinsurance.com Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Mike Lloyd 04:10 - Small-Town Beginnings: Burned CDs & the Hacker Spirit 08:45 - Learning Early Business Lessons 13:00 - From Soccer Dreams to VMI and MIT 19:30 - Why Engineering Shapes Problem-Solvers 24:15 - The Shift from Academia to Startups 29:00 - First-Time Founder Failures and Hard Lessons 35:20 - Obsessing Over Distribution: A Game-Changer 39:40 - Building Corvus Insurance with Phil Edmondson 44:15 - The Role of Brokers in Insurance Distribution 50:00 - Finding Product-Market Fit in Cyber Insurance 55:30 - COVID as a Catalyst for Cyber Insurance Growth 01:03:15 - Bitcoin’s Role in Cybersecurity’s Evolution 01:08:20 - Fundraising Tips for Entrepreneurs 01:14:45 - Partnering with Travelers: A Behind-the-Scenes Look 01:22:30 - Lessons in Failure, Resilience, and Letting Go 01:30:00 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Parents 🔗 Other Links & Resources: Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062292986 The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062273205 Measure What Matters by John Doerr: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525536221 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/ #entrepreneurship #startups #forwardobsessed…

Forward Obsessed

1
Anthony Ng Monica: From Bootstrapping to Breakthroughs in E-Commerce // #60 1:45:09

34 weeks ago1:45:09

1:45:09

In this episode of Forward Obsessed, we sit down with Anthony Ng Monica, a visionary entrepreneur whose journey from humble beginnings to leading an internationally recognized e-commerce technology company is nothing short of inspiring. Anthony shares his early entrepreneurial ventures, from pirating software to funding his education by cold-calling businesses. He candidly discusses the lessons learned while building Swogo, a cutting-edge product recommendation engine that has transformed how global retailers drive cross-sell and upsell opportunities. Join us as Anthony unpacks the critical pivots that defined Swogo’s path to success—from its early B2C focus to becoming a B2B powerhouse and ultimately innovating with AI-driven product bundling. Learn how his cultural heritage, family dynamics, and relentless focus on learning shaped his business acumen. Whether you’re scaling your own venture or looking for strategies to pivot and grow, Anthony’s story is filled with practical advice and game-changing insights. 🔎 Find Out More About Anthony Ng Monica LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyngmonica/ Daily Body Coach: https://www.dailybodycoach.com/ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Anthony Ng Monica 04:10 - Growing Up Between Cultures: Macau, Portugal, and the UK 08:45 - The Spark for Entrepreneurship: Early Influences 14:30 - Breaking into Business: Cold Calling and Selling Websites 20:20 - Launching Swogo: The Early Days of Product Recommendations 25:15 - The Pivot: Transitioning from B2C to B2B 32:45 - The Big Breakthrough: Solving E-commerce Cross-Selling Challenges 41:10 - Overcoming Challenges: Five Co-Founders and Scaling the Business 50:00 - Lessons from a Global Journey: Focus, Learning, and Resilience 56:30 - Working with Global Clients: Breaking into Major Markets 1:04:20 - Leveraging Accelerator Programs for Growth 1:10:50 - Long-Term Vision and the Future of E-commerce 🔗 Other Links & Resources Good to Great (book) by Jim Collins: https://a.co/d/eDIM5so Swogo: https://www.swogo.com/ 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/ #entrepreneurship #ecommerce #startuplife…

Forward Obsessed

1
We Are Taking A Summer Break 12:26

1 year ago12:26

12:26

As we approach the summer, the Forward Obsessed podcast is taking a brief but much needed break from creating new entrepreneurial content for you, our incredible listeners. We're grateful for the remarkable guests who have made season three a success, and we have some amazing stuff coming down the pipeline. During this hiatus, we invite you to stay engaged with us: visit our YouTube channel, subscribe, leave comments, and share your favorite episodes. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us shape future content - Don't forget to visit www.forwardobsessed.com to share your favorite moments and suggestions for future guests. We're committed to exploring all facets of entrepreneurship, and your support keeps us in this podcasting game. We also have an important announcement: this is the final episode with our executive producer, Robert Roche. Since day one, Robert has been instrumental in every facet of the production process, from finding guests, to the full production of the episode, clips, and articles, all the way through answering your questions and comments on our social channels. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and hope to collaborate again in the future. Robert, thank you for your dedication, creativity, and passion. Your presence will be greatly missed. From Robert: Please stay in touch! If you ever have a question about podcasting or content management, find Robert P. Roche III on Linkedin. Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

Forward Obsessed

1
Sam Parr: Founder Of The Hustle, Hampton And My First Million Podcast 1:22:43

1 year ago1:22:43

1:22:43

Sam Parr, the founder of The Hustle and the host of the My First Million podcast, shares his entrepreneurial journey from his humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to building and selling successful companies. Parr's early hustles, including selling whiskey online and running a hot dog stand, laid the foundation for his future endeavors. Despite a setback with Airbnb, Parr persevered and started a roommate matching business, which he eventually sold to Apartment List. Parr's success with The Hustle, growing the company's newsletter to over 1.5 million subscribers, is a testament to his skills in hiring passionate people and his ability to "brute force" a company to success. He offers valuable insights on the emotional challenges of selling a company and the importance of focus and perseverance in building a successful business. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers, as it provides practical advice and inspiration from someone who has successfully navigated the ups and downs of the startup world. Parr's candid discussion of his experiences, from cold calling to angel investing and growing a podcast, offers a wealth of knowledge for those looking to build and scale their own ventures. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction of Sam Parr (00:01:28) Sam Parr's background and early entrepreneurial ventures (00:10:00) Building and selling a roommate matching company (00:14:02) Starting The Hustle and growing the newsletter (00:22:36) Hiring strategies and building a strong company culture (00:29:00) The emotional journey of selling The Hustle to HubSpot (00:35:00) Life after the acquisition and starting a new company, Hampton (00:40:45) Branding, positioning, and pricing strategies (00:44:49) The art of the cold call and its importance in business (00:50:00) Angel investing experiences and lessons learned (00:55:00) Building a community with Hampton and differentiating from competitors (01:02:04) The power of personal branding and visibility (01:07:31) Hiring and working with CEOs (01:13:57) The impact of fatherhood on entrepreneurship and personal growth (01:17:31) Strategies for growing a successful podcast Episode Links The Hustle (company): https://thehustle.co/ My First Million (podcast): https://www.mfmpod.com/ Hampton (company): https://joinhampton.com/ Sam's List (website) - https://samslist.co/ The Game (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738 Glengarry Glen Ross (movie): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross_(film) Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

Forward Obsessed

1
Hacking A Startup From Idea To Exit With Ben Lamson 1:45:46

1 year ago1:45:46

1:45:46

Ben Lamson is the Head Of Revenue at Paperspace, a GPU cloud and software stack for machine learning and artificial intelligence developers, which was recently acquired by Digital Ocean. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of WeDidIt, a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits that was acquired by a private equity firm. Lamson's entrepreneurial journey began in his early twenties, inspired by his parents, who were both successful small business owners despite not having college degrees. Growing up in a close-knit family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Lamson learned the value of hard work and determination from a young age. In college, Lamson pursued his passion for wrestling, becoming a Division I athlete at American University. Lamson's career in sales began at Meltwater Group, where he met his future co-founder, Sisu Suh. Together, they left Meltwater to start WeDidIt, hacking their way through the startup process by entering business plan competitions, winning grants, and participating in accelerator programs. Through their scrappy efforts, they raised a total of $3.5 million for WeDidIt before successfully exiting to a private equity firm. After the acquisition, Lamson joined Paperspace as the Revenue Leader, where he implemented a product-led growth strategy that resulted in a 350% revenue increase in just 12 months. His success caught the attention of Digital Ocean, who acquired Paperspace in 2023. Throughout the interview, Lamson shares valuable insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as the importance of being curious, asking the right questions, and constantly learning. He emphasizes the value of resilience and grit, drawing parallels between the challenges of wrestling and the struggles of building a startup. Lamson also discusses the future of generative AI and its potential impact on various industries. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sales, product-led growth, and the future of AI. Lamson's inspiring journey from college wrestler to successful startup founder and revenue leader is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and continuous learning. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction (00:07:49) Discovery of wrestling passion and its impact (00:17:21) Service industry experience and lessons learned (00:21:58) Starting a tech company with a co-founder from Meltwater (00:26:29) Idea evolution and the aha moment for WeDidIt (00:28:46) Hacking the startup journey through accelerators and competitions (00:31:18) Raising funds and extending runway through odd jobs (00:40:45) Joining Paperspace and implementing product-led growth strategy (00:54:33) Paperspace acquisition by Digital Ocean (00:56:20) The experience of a successful exit (01:02:22) Advice for non-technical professionals entering the tech industry (01:04:00) Importance of curiosity in personal and professional growth (01:09:58) Mental models for success in wrestling and sales (01:12:35) Importance of repetition and constant refinement (01:14:17) Turning unhappy customers into happy ones (01:16:08) Transitioning from sales to product-led growth (01:20:55) Navigating the stressful acquisition process with Paperspace (01:24:30) Balancing ego and humility in leadership (01:26:36) Hacking the fundraising process through alternative methods (01:30:11) The moment the wire hit after the successful exit (01:33:54) Staying at Paperspace post-acquisition and future plans (01:38:02) Coolest use cases of AI seen in the past month (01:41:56) Concerns about big players in the AI space and the need for regulation Episode Links Paperspace: https://www.paperspace.com/ Digital Ocean: https://www.digitalocean.com/ Meltwater Group: https://www.meltwater.com/en Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminlamson/ Jason Lemkin on having a mentor budget for VPs of sales: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-your-vps-have-mentor-budget-jason-m-lemkin-2c/?trk=public_post Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

Forward Obsessed

1
Transforming Data Ownership Into A Connective Force With Aaron Lyles 1:18:56

1 year ago1:18:56

1:18:56

Aaron Lyles is the Founder and CEO of CommonAlly, a company that builds two-sided marketplaces to connect organizations with hard-to-reach communities in a way that empowers people and gives them agency over their data. Aaron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started a snowboarding magazine in high school despite challenges with ADHD. This experience taught him the value of passion, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. After college, Aaron founded a photography firm called Pixel Lab, which later evolved into a video production collective called Multiple Mammals. The idea for CommonAlly was born out of Aaron's desire to create a more empathetic and less polarized world, especially for his young daughter, in the midst of the tumultuous 2016 election. He raised money from friends, family and dev firms to build the platform. Recently, CommonAlly was acquired by Small Great Ventures, allowing Aaron to continue pursuing his vision with the necessary resources and support. Throughout the interview, Aaron shares valuable insights and candid stories about the challenges of entrepreneurship, from difficult co-founder splits to navigating the acquisition process. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mission-driven entrepreneurship and the real-world challenges and triumphs of building a startup. Aaron's story offers an honest and inspiring look at the entrepreneurial journey, with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and staying true to one's values in the face of adversity. Aspiring founders and business leaders will come away with practical insights and wisdom they can apply to their own ventures. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction (00:03:47) Growing up with ADHD in the 80s and learning to navigate life differently (00:05:12) Starting a snowboarding magazine in high school (00:07:54) Overcoming academic struggles and getting into Emerson College (00:10:21) Founding Pixel Lab photography business and evolving into Multiple Mammals (00:17:07) Inspiration for starting CommonAlly during the 2016 election to combat polarization (00:20:39) Challenges of being a solo founder and the importance of having the right partners (00:25:34) Building a creative collective model with Multiple Mammals (00:31:02) Pivoting CommonAlly's business model to focus on a two-sided marketplace (00:37:29) Navigating the acquisition process with Small Great Ventures (00:47:11) The role of AI in enhancing CommonAlly's offerings (00:48:42) Lessons learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs (00:52:36) Fundraising challenges and the importance of strategic partnerships for growth (00:57:15) The evolution of CommonAlly's services (01:02:54) The significance of CommonAlly's acquisition and the continuation of Aaron's vision (01:06:09) The importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship and staying true to one's values (01:11:42) Closing thoughts and how to connect with CommonAlly for potential partnerships Episode Links CommonAlly (current company): https://www.commonally.com/ Multiple Mammals (previous company): https://www.multiplemammals.com/ Small Great Ventures (acquired CommonAlly): https://www.smallgreat.co/ Emerson College (attended): https://emerson.edu/ Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

Forward Obsessed

1
Founding 21Seeds Tequila With Kat Hantas 1:32:48

1 year ago1:32:48

1:32:48

Kat Hantas is the co-founder of 21 Seeds, an infused tequila brand that was acquired by Diageo for $160 Million after just three years in business, being the largest exit ever by a female-founded spirits brand. Previously, Kat had a 15-year career in the film industry, working at Creative Artists Agency and as an independent producer developing horror and music-driven films. In this interview, Kat shares her entrepreneurial journey, from starting her first business right out of college to pivoting to a film career focused on specific niches to launching 21 Seeds to solve her own pain points around finding an easy-to-drink, low-calorie alternative to wine and cocktails. 21 Seeds differentiated itself by targeting a specific customer - women and moms - with an elevated, all-natural infused tequila. The brand took off quickly, landing national distribution in under two years. Kat shares candid insights useful for entrepreneurs and business leaders, including the importance of focusing relentlessly on a specific customer, hiring people with complementary skills, building a culture of respect and results, and understanding the operational drivers in your business. This is a must-listen interview for anyone interested in consumer products, branding, entrepreneurship, and learning from a founder who defied the odds to build a category-creating brand and successful exit in record time. Episode Outline Here is a concise outline of the key topics discussed in the interview, with timestamps: (00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Kat Hantas' background (00:04:13) Kat's childhood in Peru and moving to the US with her mother (00:11:07) Impact of seeing her mother's work ethic and hustle (00:14:39) Early entrepreneurial ventures and lessons learned (00:22:06) Working in the film industry after college (00:38:49) Challenges and ultimate failure of the movie "Taking Five" (00:48:26) Stepping back from work to focus on family and early motherhood (00:54:20) Health issues leading to switch from wine to infused tequila (01:03:08) Recognizing the market opportunity for elevated infused tequila (01:13:06) Launching 21 Seeds with her sister and co-founder in 2019 (01:15:58) Choosing Diageo as the acquirer for 21 Seeds (01:21:58) The intensive due diligence process leading up to acquisition (01:24:10) The emotional impact of the exit and concern for the team (01:30:40) Advice for building an excellent team with separate swim lanes (01:34:40) Dealing with copycats and the importance of speed to market (01:38:13) Reflections on the 21 Seeds journey and future plans Episode Links 21Seeds (company co-founded by Kat Hantas): www.21Seeds.com 21Seeds Instagram: www.instagram.com/21seeds Kat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathantas/ Kat’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-hantas-ba0621163/ Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

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From Startup To Selling To Starbucks With Peter Thum 2:09:56

1 year ago2:09:56

2:09:56

Peter Thum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Muse, an AI-powered website builder and collaboration platform. He was previously the Founder of Ethos Water, which he successfully sold to Starbucks in 2005. Thum has also founded Fonderie 47, a company that transforms AK-47 assault rifles from African war zones into high-end jewelry and accessories, and Liberty United, which employs a similar model to reduce gun violence in the United States. In this interview, Thum shares invaluable insights and experiences from his entrepreneurial journey, particularly the challenges and triumphs of building Ethos Water from a $10,000 startup to a major acquisition by Starbucks. He discusses the importance of bootstrapping, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to one's mission, even in the face of adversity. Thum also highlights the significance of strategic partnerships, as exemplified by his collaboration with Howard Schultz, which amplified the impact of Ethos Water and brought clean water access to millions of people in developing countries. For young entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Thum's journey illustrates the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the potential for businesses to drive positive social change. His experiences serve as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of building a mission-driven business while simultaneously making a meaningful impact on the world. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Peter Thum's background (00:05:17) Peter's childhood in Korea and parents' careers (00:09:39) Impact of losing his father at age 14 (00:14:01) Playing college football and being a team captain (00:20:47) Early career at Gallo Winery and desire to move to Germany (00:27:56) Decision to attend Kellogg School of Management (00:32:39) Working at McKinsey & Company after business school (00:44:43) Inspiration for Ethos Water during McKinsey projects (01:03:21) Bootstrapping and launching Ethos Water (01:18:27) Getting Ethos Water into Whole Foods and Starbucks (01:32:13) Selling Ethos Water to Starbucks (01:43:40) The social impact of Ethos Water with Starbucks' reach (01:50:45) Founding Foundry 47 to transform AK-47s into luxury items (01:56:03) Creating Liberty United to reduce gun violence in the US (01:58:58) Co-founding Muse, an AI-powered no-code platform (02:05:01) Muse's vision to democratize tech for all skill levels Episode Links Ethos Water Starbucks Fonderie 47 (founded by Peter Thum) Liberty United (founded by Peter Thum) Muse (current company, co-founded by Peter Thum) McKinsey & Company (former employer) Gallo Winery (former employer) Kellogg School of Management (alma mater) Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

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Changing The Game Of Alcohol Delivery With Lindsey Andrews 1:32:22

1 year ago1:32:22

1:32:22

Lindsey Andrews is the founder of Minibar, an on-demand alcohol delivery service that was acquired by Reserve Bar in 2021. Andrews is now the Founder and CEO of Revido, an app designed to revolutionize the way we review and recommend products and services. Andrews' entrepreneurial journey began when she and her co-founder recognized the need for a convenient alcohol delivery service during their "takeout tuesdays," leading to founding the online alcohol delivery service, MiniBar. Throughout the interview, Andrews shares valuable insights and experiences from her entrepreneurial journey that led to Minibar’s acquisition. She discusses the challenges of navigating the highly regulated alcohol industry and the importance of having a strong network of advisors and investors. Andrews also touches on the difficulties of fundraising as a first-time entrepreneur and a woman in a male-dominated industry. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers. Andrews' journey is an excellent example of how to navigate the challenges of building a successful startup in a highly regulated industry. Her insights on fundraising, team building, and work-life balance are invaluable for anyone looking to start or grow a business. Additionally, her experience with the acquisition of Minibar and her decision to start a new venture provide a unique perspective on the different paths entrepreneurs can take after a successful exit. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:58) Lindsey Andrews' upbringing and early exposure to business (00:07:07) Educational journey at Stanford and Wharton (00:10:11) Early career experiences at Fresh Direct, Amazon, and Quidsi (00:15:30) Aha moment and founding Minibar (00:20:15) Navigating regulatory challenges in the alcohol delivery industry (00:23:18) Fundraising challenges and lessons learned (00:26:05) Building a strong team and leveraging outsourced talent (00:30:39) Positioning and marketing strategies for Minibar (00:35:41) Losing a term sheet and managing cash burn during difficult times (00:42:44) Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood (00:45:41) Growth and impact of COVID-19 on Minibar's business (00:49:52) Decision to sell Minibar and the acquisition process (00:53:38) Taking time off and deciding to start a new venture, Revito (00:58:17) Inspiration behind Revido and challenges of building a new startup (01:02:59) Fundraising for Revido and current challenges (01:08:12) Lindsey's daughter's perception of her as an entrepreneur (01:11:08) Conclusion and key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs and founders Episode Links ⁠Minibar⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' on-demand alcohol delivery startup ⁠Revido⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' new venture focused on trusted recommendations ⁠Reserve Bar⁠ - The company that acquired Minibar in 2021 ⁠Fresh Direct⁠ - Lindsey Andrews worked here prior to founding Minibar Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: ⁠www.forwardobsessed.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/⁠ TikTok: ⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/⁠…

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The Future Of Venture Funding With Jason Kirby 1:52:56

1 year ago1:52:56

1:52:56

Jason Kirby is the Founder of Thunder.VC, an AI-powered investment bank that helps startups navigate the fundraising process. Previously, he was the Co-Founder and President of Liquid Sky, a cloud gaming company acquired by Walmart in 2018, and the President and COO of Generation Esports, an esports platform for schools that raised $11 million in funding. Throughout the interview, Kirby shares valuable insights and lessons learned, such as the importance of setting deal terms before diving into due diligence, focusing on customer acquisition instead of fundraising, and the challenges of managing investor expectations. He also discusses his experience thriving in chaos and his ability to align teams towards a common goal. Kirby's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges and setbacks. He emphasizes the value of learning from failure, building strong relationships, and staying committed to one's vision. His journey from photographer to successful tech founder and investor is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of startups, fundraising, and entrepreneurship. Kirby's firsthand accounts of navigating acquisitions, pivoting business models, and managing team dynamics provide invaluable lessons for founders, MBA students, and managers alike. His story serves as a reminder that success often comes from embracing chaos, learning from failure, and never giving up. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction and sponsorship messages (00:03:15) Jason Kirby's early entrepreneurial journey and photography business (00:10:32) Launching San Diego Photography Classes and the importance of asking questions (00:15:19) Transitioning from photographer to business person with Toggly marketplace (00:23:09) Raising capital for Togally and the importance of targeting the right investors (00:26:25) Almost getting acquired by Kodak and lessons learned (00:29:40) Joining Liquid Sky as Co-Founder and raising $12 million (00:36:17) Samsung's acquisition offer and the deal falling through (00:41:15) Pivoting Liquid Sky's business model and securing enterprise contracts (00:43:44) Getting acquired by Walmart and the stressful acquisition process (00:49:54) Becoming a Walmart employee and the shutdown of the gaming project (00:51:51) Consulting for Generation Esports and helping them scale (00:56:56) Raising funds for Generation Esports and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic (01:02:45) Leaving Generation Esports due to differences in vision (01:05:04) Founding Thunder.VC and building an AI-powered investment bank (01:09:16) Identifying people who thrive in chaos and the importance of perseverance Episode Links Thunder.VC: https://web.thunder.vc/ Jason Kirby's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonkirby Jason Kirby's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (Book): Amazon Link Jason Kirby's podcast: Fundraising Demystified Visit our sponsors: Daas Good: ⁠www.daasgood.design⁠ Digital Surgeons: ⁠www.weareds.com⁠ Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

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Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone With Jess Lynch 1:14:01

1 year ago1:14:01

1:14:01

Jess Lynch is currently the Cofounder and Founding Partner at Raiz Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm using data and community to reimagine startup investing. She was previously the Cofounder and CEO of Wishroute, a scalable behavior change platform that was acquired in 2022. Throughout her journey, Jess has demonstrated remarkable resilience and leadership. This includes overcoming challenges like running out of cash and weathering the pandemic's impact on Wishroute's initial customers. She successfully led her company through an M&A process despite a difficult experience with one large potential acquirer. Jess credits her success to intuition, problem-obsession, and genuinely caring for people. The interview touches on many topics valuable to founders and business leaders. Jess emphasizes the importance of having a technical co-founder or trusted advisor early on. She shares recommendations for managing fear, getting comfortable with discomfort, and pushing past the limits of your comfort zone. Additional insights include lessons learned from fundraising, managing investor relationships, preparing for acquisition, and running an accelerator program. A key theme is Jess' remarkable perseverance and her development of an innate sense for when to push forward versus when it's time to change course. Her story demonstrates that entrepreneurial success requires hard work and also an element of luck or good timing. Overall, Jess Lynch provides a wealth of practical knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in startups, venture capital, or leadership. This is a must-listen episode packed with forward-thinking wisdom. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:06) Early entrepreneurial interests and family backdrop (00:05:31) Brother's juvenile diabetes diagnosis inspires family lifestyle changes (00:07:16) Educational background at Babson College (00:10:59) Early career in forensic accounting at PwC (00:15:33) Leaving corporate career to pursue entrepreneurial path (00:18:22) Working on BP oil spill litigation (00:23:32) Finding the idea for Wishroute while at Babson MBA program (00:25:37) Launching Wishroute and early traction (00:27:34) Pandemic causes pivot from gyms to direct-to-consumer (00:30:58) Fundraising challenges as a female founder without technical background (00:32:04) Mental health during startup struggles and running out of cash (00:36:41) Large potential acquirer ends up building internally instead (00:42:26) Emotionally difficult decision to pursue acquisition of Wishroute (00:43:04) Warning signs when deal-making with large companies (00:44:51) Importance of letter of intent in M&A process (00:47:19) Securing acquisition despite numerous setbacks (00:49:20) Lifelong lessons in resilience from journey (00:50:07) Reluctance to jump back into startup founder role after acquisition (00:53:30) Currently supporting portfolio companies and investing in CT Episode Links Wishroute (founded by Jess Lynch): https://www.wishroute.com/ Raiz Capital (co-founded by Jess Lynch) https://raiz.vc/ Babson College : https://www.babson.edu/ Techstars : https://www.techstars.com/ Suggestic : https://suggestic.com/ Guidely : https://guidely.com/ Jessica Lynch on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicallynch/ Jessica Lynch on TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicallynch Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/ The Lean Startup book - https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Brian Chesky episode on Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

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From Pioneering Facial Recognition to Apple Acquisition With Adi Eckhouse Barzilai 1:33:52

1 year ago1:33:52

1:33:52

Adi Eckhouse Barzilai is the Co-Founder and CEO of RealFace, a facial recognition software company that was acquired by Apple Inc. She was previously in brand management at Procter & Gamble. As founder of RealFace, Adi helped pioneer mobile facial recognition capabilities that later became integral to Apple’s FaceID unlock feature. RealFace provided the core IP and engineering talent behind making robust facial authentication seamless for iPhone users worldwide. After multiple pivots and surviving high-stakes fundraising stresses familiar to most early-stage founders, Adi successfully negotiated an acquisition deal with Apple. Throughout a wide-ranging interview, Adi shares hard-won lessons from her entrepreneurial journey in the high-risk world of consumer tech startups. For young founders, she strongly advocates getting hands-on experience learning computer science to better grasp future opportunities. Adi also believes time working at a top corporation exposes priceless insights on how elite marketing, product development, and operational scale-up works behind the scenes. Episode Outline (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:00) Adi's background and early entrepreneurial influences (00:06:00) Studying computer science and working at Procter & Gamble (00:10:00) Getting an MBA from Columbia Business School (00:14:00) The importance of branding for startups (00:17:00) Adi's thoughts on MBAs and issues of antisemitism on campus (00:20:00) The hostage crisis in Gaza (00:23:00) Defining what a brand is (00:26:00) Why investing in brand matters for startups (00:30:00) Pivoting RealFace from a consumer app to facial recognition (00:35:00) The challenges of being a startup founder/CEO (00:40:00) Having the entrepreneurial "bug" and the importance of co-founders (00:45:00) Differentiating between tech and product companies (00:48:00) The niche strategy behind RealFace's technology (00:55:00) Connecting with Apple and maintaining secrecy (01:00:00) Negotiating the acquisition deal with Apple (01:05:00) The emotional rollercoaster of the startup journey (01:10:00) Adi's feeling when the Apple acquisition closed (01:15:00) Trying to launch a nonprofit after the exit (01:20:00) Why Adi is passionate about education and empowering girls Episode Links Procter & Gamble (former employer): https://us.pg.com/ RealFace (Co-Founder and CEO): https://www.timesofisrael.com/apple-buys-israels-facial-recognition-firm-realface-report/ Adi’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adi-eckhouse-barzilai-8000928/ Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/…

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Betting On Blockchain: The Future Of Sports Betting With Alex Dubin 1:41:37

2 years ago1:41:37