Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business
Nikolas Hulewsky
Welcome to Nikonomics—the show for entrepreneurs and Wantrapreneurs, looking to make their first million.
I bring firsthand experience, having bought and sold over a dozen businesses, achieved multiple 7-figure exits, and generated over $100 million in revenue.
Each week, I blend humor with real insights from successful entrepreneurs, sharing growth strategies, deal insights, and unique business ideas you won’t find elsewhere.
Ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? Hit play and let’s get to work.
Follow me on Twitter @CoFoundersNik or YouTube @NikonomicsPodcast.
I bring firsthand experience, having bought and sold over a dozen businesses, achieved multiple 7-figure exits, and generated over $100 million in revenue.
Each week, I blend humor with real insights from successful entrepreneurs, sharing growth strategies, deal insights, and unique business ideas you won’t find elsewhere.
Ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? Hit play and let’s get to work.
Follow me on Twitter @CoFoundersNik or YouTube @NikonomicsPodcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 10, 2025 • 38min
202 - AI SERIES: 18 - Why Directories Are the New Gold Rush in Lead Generation with David Jaeger
David Jaeger, a dynamic entrepreneur in the digital agency and healthcare space, reveals how directories are revolutionizing lead generation. He argues these platforms are outpacing traditional agencies, especially as AI transforms the landscape. Jaeger shares insights on monetizing directories for massive revenue, utilizing AI to analyze customer feedback, and automating lead follow-up. He also unveils his new project, AutismCareFinder.com, highlighting its potential as a vehicle for client acquisition and service delivery in the mental health sector.
12 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 56min
201 - Use AI to Cut 20% of Labor—Then Hire $1,500 VAs to Scale with Parker Cox
Parker Cox, a savvy entrepreneur behind Avago and a property management success story, discusses the booming industry of overseas talent. He explains the current 'gold rush' in hiring global talent fueled by tech advancements like Zoom. Parker dives into different hiring models and reveals which types of businesses benefit most from offshore employees. He also tackles the misconceptions surrounding international contractors and the vital legal considerations. Tune in for insights on adapting recruitment strategies in a post-COVID landscape!
16 snips
Jul 7, 2025 • 59min
200 - Crucial Red Flags to Know When Buying and Selling Businesses with Clint Fiore
Clint Fiore, the founder of Bison Business and Dealonomy, shares his wealth of experience from over 500 M&A deals, totaling over $100 million. He discusses critical red flags buyers and sellers should be aware of, including the impact of aggressive tax avoidance on business valuation. The conversation highlights how seller motivation can skew perceptions of value and the importance of having a robust deal team. Clint also unveils Dealonomy's innovative approach to the brokerage model, designed to prioritize buyers while offering free services for sellers.
Jul 4, 2025 • 43min
199 - How to Capture After-Hours Leads with AI Call Agents with Austin Gray
Austin Gray, host of the Owner Ops Podcast and expert in AI implementation, shares his insights on integrating AI in business. He discusses the transformative impact of AI call agents for after-hours lead management, enabling businesses to capture leads effectively. Gray also highlights innovative tools like Browse AI for lead generation, and AI note-takers such as Otter AI to enhance information management. He emphasizes the massive potential for small businesses to leverage AI for significant sales gains and improved customer engagement.
4 snips
Jul 3, 2025 • 33min
198 - The Marketer's Playbook: Launching a Full Ad Funnel with AI with Matthew Mellinger
Matthew Mellinger, a marketer and SEO expert specializing in local SEO and SaaS products, shares innovative insights into building effective ad funnels with AI. He showcases how to create compelling landing pages and ad creatives in just 30 minutes using tools like Midjourney and Claude. The conversation dives into optimizing ads through split testing on Meta, emphasizing how even non-developers can launch a full campaign quickly. Plus, learn how an AI-generated pricing calculator can streamline user interaction and validate business ideas with minimal investment.
Jul 2, 2025 • 31min
197 - How AI Legal Battles Are Reshaping the Tech Landscape with Elizabeth Knopf
Join Elizabeth Knopf, an expert on AI and technology, as she navigates the tumultuous landscape of AI legal battles. She sheds light on the high-profile trademark dispute involving Johnny Ive and Sam Altman, dissecting the cutthroat tactics that drive tech leadership. The discussion highlights intense competition between LLMs like OpenAI and Claude, along with crucial fair use rulings shaping AI development. Elizabeth also previews Claude's innovative new features that streamline AI-generated content, enhancing usability and workflow automation.
5 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 60min
196 - His Cold DMs Got Him GaryVee, Rick Ross & Larry King with Casey Adams
In this engaging conversation, Casey Adams, a serial entrepreneur who founded Listener.com at just 17, shares his remarkable transition from a football injury to a podcasting powerhouse. He reveals his unique strategies for securing high-profile guests and discusses how podcasting acts as a business growth catalyst. Casey also highlights the emerging importance of AI analytics in understanding audience engagement and how founder-led content is reshaping marketing strategies in today’s digital landscape.
Jun 27, 2025 • 41min
195 - How to Overcome Money Trauma with Clifton Sellers
Clifton Sellers, an entrepreneur and founder of Legacy Builder, shares his inspiring journey from being buried in debt to running a thriving multi-million dollar content agency. He discusses the pivotal role of endurance and obsession in his success, revealing how he overcame money trauma that once held him back. Clifton highlights the importance of investing in coaches for rapid growth and underscores the value of core business principles like 'unreasonable hospitality' that shape a strong company culture.
Jun 26, 2025 • 46min
194 - AI SERIES: 17 - Directories Are Back: AI Makes Niche Goldmines Easier Than Ever with Kirill Zubovsky
In this conversation, Kirill Zubovsky, a startup expert with a decade of coding experience, reveals why niche directories are making a thrilling comeback thanks to AI. He demonstrates how tools like Grok and Appify can streamline the development of local service directories, like for plumbers. Kirill delves into the concept of AI SEO (AISCO) as the future of online visibility and discusses how multiple AIs can collaborate in 'agentic workflows' to automate project delivery. This insight is a game changer for aspiring entrepreneurs!
8 snips
Jun 25, 2025 • 34min
193 - AI Psychology and the Quirks of Digital Minds with Elizabeth Knopf
In this engaging discussion, AI expert Elizabeth Knopf dives into the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on small businesses. She shares insights from Andre Karpathy's concept of 'vibe coding,' which enables anyone to program with natural language. Elizabeth reveals that 57% of small businesses are adopting AI, focusing on top applications such as content creation and data analysis. The chat also explores how AI tools are automating complex tasks like presentation creation, addressing both excitement and anxiety surrounding this technological revolution.
