Andrew Crapuchettes, Founder of RedBalloon, shares his inspiring journey from being ousted from his $50M company to creating a job board that champions merit-based hiring. He emphasizes the importance of aligning workplace values for business growth and innovation. The conversation dives into the power of authenticity and principled leadership in revolutionizing hiring practices. Andrew discusses how focusing on skill over slogans leads to stronger teams, providing a roadmap for cultivating a values-driven workplace culture.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Fired to Founding Red Balloon
Andrew started a labor market data business to help people make better career decisions with accurate data.
He was fired from a $50M company in 2020 for his Christian beliefs but quickly launched Red Balloon to support like-minded employers and employees.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Why Andrew Sold Early Businesses
Andrew sold early businesses to learn from experienced investors and generate cash, even though it meant losing majority ownership.
He now plans to retain control over Red Balloon to protect his mission and values.
insights INSIGHT
Power of Bold Differentiation
Having a strong opinion and distinct values can differentiate your business in a crowded market.
Niche down and be authentic to attract loyal customers and grow rapidly.
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Fired for his beliefs, Andrew Crapuchettes didn’t fold—he doubled down. After getting ousted from his own $50M company, he turned cancel culture into a catalyst and launched RedBalloon—a bold job board connecting freedom-minded employers with values-driven talent. In this episode, he shares how conviction, merit-based hiring, and principled leadership are reshaping the workplace:
What You’ll Learn:
Lead with Values, Win with Purpose — Discover how staying true to your beliefs can power real business growth.
Merit Over Mandates Works — Why hiring based on skill, not slogans, leads to stronger teams and culture.
From Canceled to Founder — How entrepreneurial grit turns adversity into innovation—and freedom.
Whether you’re navigating workplace pressure or rethinking your hiring strategy, this conversation offers a roadmap for building with courage, clarity, and conviction.
Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Andrew Crapuchettes 2:41 Early career and Silicon Valley 7:40 Sell or scale? 11:11 Lessons from cancellation 13:12 Scaling through values 15:25 Red Ballon: merit over mandates 21:26 Tactics for transparent hiring 24:30 Ask the right questions, the right way 27:03 Success metrics: NPS and family impact 30:36 How Andrew gives back 31:24 Closing thoughts 32:22 Contact information
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