Catholic Founders

Please help us out by participating in our reader survey!We have heard a lot about the parable of the sower. But do we understand why Jesus only shared the meaning of the parable with His disciples? And why He intentionally speaks in parables? The gospel reading from the 29th of Jan, 2025 (new calendar) is Mark, 4:1-20 — in it, we hear the parable of the sower, delivered from a boat to the vast crowd. Then afterwards while Jesus is with his disciples, he explains it to them. As well as explaining why he speaks in parables. This got me thinking that maybe the way to understanding Jesus better is through becoming a disciple of Him first. In modern times, everyone wants to know the why before making a choice — they need all the data. Taking something on faith is only something naive people would do. But that’s now how the story of the disciples went. They were drawn to Jesus to follow Him despite not fully understanding all of His teachings. But through that discipleship, they had the opportunity to be close with Him. And in that closeness, they were taught the true meaning behind all of Jesus’ teachings. Today’s podcast is a short reflection on that and a call to Catholic Entrepreneurs everywhere to make that same commitment. To actively choose to become disciples of Jesus, so that we may learn His teachings more intimately, and as a result share them more widely given our station in life. That’s all for today. See you next time! God Bless and Happy Building! Silas MähnerHousekeeping:* LMK your thoughts on the episode. (comment below)* If you like the length of these shorter episodes, let me know. * Share the episode with someone else. * If not already, subscribe to get future updates * Enjoying our work? “Upgrade to Paid” today (top right corner) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Entrepreneurs are fundamentally people of action. Catholics fundamentally believe that God has a specific calling. So what do we get when we put these things together? There tends to exist, a conflict between our will and God’s will. But there shouldn’t be! We know that we must follow God’s will. The problem is it’s often really hard to know what God’s will actually is for us. Understanding what God is calling us to is the first step we must take in this journey. But how can we come to a confident understanding of what that is? The answer is simple; Prayer. Prayer is the way we talk to God. Prayer is our conversation tool with God. Imagine being married and never discussing anything with your wife. Or imagine only sharing a few words, usually of petition, 2 times a day. How could you ever know what she wants and how she’s doing? How would you have ever gotten to know her in the first place. Sadly, this is how many of us treat God. We show up briefly, usually asking for something. We don’t often seek to hear His unique message for us. We are just in and out. This is what we are here to discuss today. We are blessed to be able to discuss this today with someone very appropriate for the role — Alessandro DiSanto, the Co-Founder of the #1 Prayer App in the World, Hallow.In today’s conversation… * (4:04) Alessandro tells us how his prayer life looked leading up to the founding of Hallow * (7:14) How to discern the call to entrepreneurship * (11:27) The three foundational components of prayer, Silence, Confession, and Fasting * (18:38) Why we should see prayer as a tool kit with different tools for different circumstances, and what those tools are (Lectio Divina, The Examen, Reading the Lives of the Saints, and Aspirations) * (25:00) Then he shares with us how Hallow integrates prayer into their daily operations and big decision-making * (32:30) How they stay humble even in their success * (36:30) And we finish by discussing knowing when to quit * (40:40) Recap of what we learned * (43:45) Teasing the next episode There is so much value in this episode so take out a pen and paper to take notes. Be actionable — as you listen pick one thing that you’ll implement in your routine. Don’t be greedy — once you get one down, you can always listen back and get more ideas of what to do next. Be accountable — comment below with the action you’re planning to take. We’ll check in with you in a week to see how you’re doing (no seriously, we will). 💭Be collaborative — share this episode with a founder buddy of yours so you can help sharpen each other and grow in holiness together as you build your companies. Be included — if you’re new here, subscribe to get every new episode, and the special show notes, delivered into your inbox. Be involved — if you want a community of Catholic Founders to be part of, become a paid subscriber today. You’ll get access to the group chat, where we support each other in various ways throughout our business journeys (hiring, service provider recommendations, feedback, ideation, accountability, resources, and much more). We all know that entrepreneurship is tough — it’s even tougher if you don’t have a community of people who share your values and are striving towards the same goal. If this is for you, upgrade to paid today by clicking “Upgrade to Paid” on the top left. Thank you for the generosity of your time today! Housekeeping* Where to listen:* If you prefer to consume the podcast on your favorite audio player, click the relevant link below, or go to your favorite podcast app, and search “Catholic Founders” — you should find us. * NOTE: you will not get all of the show notes on these other platforms as they have a much more limited character count for their show notes sections. * Apple Podcasts (please leave 5 stars and a written review — it helps massively! Just think, by doing that, you could lead to one more person seeing this and transforming their life and business, which could then go on to affect thousands of people directly and even more indirectly… sounds like a good use of 5 minutes if you ask me).* Spotify (once you’ve listened to a few episodes they allow you to rate - please do) * YouTube (still working on this - stay tuned) * Format: * Not all episodes will be as highly produced as today’s but we will aim to have some like this where it’s done in a guide type of way. Most of our episodes will be interviews with leading Catholic Founders. * Along with each episode, there will be a Key Lessons post — essentially, the written TLDR version of the discussion — we’ll do our best to put these out the same day as the episode. This will be a feature only fully available to Paid Members of the community (any paid tier).* In addition to these written versions of the show, I’ll be putting out some of my own personal reflections, internal notes, and even audio note reflections. This content will only be available to Founding Members (the highest-paid tier). * Founding Members Benefits:* Internal reflections (written and audio) * Access to exclusive events (usually online) and dinners throughout the year * Occasional coaching calls * Plus whatever else we feel compelled to start doing along the way 😄 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Three things: * We’re launching the Catholic Founders podcast — here is the trailer. Stay tuned, the first episode is a banger. * Ask 1: Help us rank on Apple Podcasts for our launch * Ask 2: Share this with a Catholic entrepreneur, or aspiring Catholic Entrepreneur #1 — Launch! So… check out the teaser we’ve created for the upcoming Catholic Founders episode. Share this with your networks — let’s make some noise. TLDR: the world has a lot of Catholic content, but very little content on how to tangibly integrate our Catholic Faith into our work. There is some for professionals but none specifically for entrepreneurs. — This project aims to be that resource. And we’ll do it for both founders, investors, and total noobs. We are all on this journey to sainthood via entrepreneurship in the world but not of the world. #2 — Ask 1To help us rank on the audio platforms, we need you to give us a 5-star rating on Apple podcasts. I know everyone says this but come on! Help a brother out 🥹Click this link 👉 20 seconds to give us 5 stars on Apple PodcastsThen scroll down and give it 5 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐#3 — Ask 2Share this show with 2 Catholics — one who is already a business owner or entrepreneur… and the other who is someone you know who wants to become an entrepreneur and is unsure how to get started. Getting this from a known connection with a reason to follow drastically increases the odds we’ll land and keep them. Okay, that’s all for today - stay tuned for the episode with Alessandro DiSanto of Hallow, coming soon. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.catholicfounders.comHey everyone! We’ve got an audio post for you today — I’ve found I much prefer creating content in audio format so let me know what you think. If you prefer to read, you can check out the transcript. I’ve also got a blog version of this below. Have a Blessed Feast of the Epiphany! To support our work, upgrade to paid today. You’ll get access to our Catholic Founders Mastermind and special insights into who we’ll be interviewing on the pod ahead of time. The Magi and the Call to Action: Lessons from the EpiphanyHappy Epiphany! This feast day, marking the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, offers profound lessons about faith and action—lessons that resonate deeply for Catholics today. Let’s explore the rich history of the Magi and the powerful example they set for us.Who Were the Magi?The Magi, often depicted as three kings, were likely a group of highly educated scholars dedicated to studying the stars and the ancient scriptures (what we know as the Old Testament). Unlike the modern idea of astrology, their star-reading was rooted in divine revelation. It is believed that after the fall of man, God taught man how to read the stars in order to maintain hope in the coming of the redeemer. These Magi were likely some of the only remaining people who understood how to read the stars in this way. It’s likely they were a continuation from the advisors of King David’s time, who studied the heavens as a way to anticipate the Messiah’s arrival.This knowledge led the Magi to recognize the time was near. They acted decisively, embarking on a journey spanning hundreds of miles with unwavering trust. Contrary to popular imagery, their caravan was not three men on camels but likely a large entourage, equipped for the long, arduous trip to Bethlehem.The Magi’s Example: Knowledge Demands ActionWhat makes the Magi’s story so compelling is their response. Their understanding of Scripture and the stars didn’t end as intellectual assent. They let their knowledge propel them into action—a journey filled with sacrifice and uncertainty. Their purpose was singular: to adore the Messiah.This invites a critical question for us: Does our faith lead to action? Do we turn our knowledge of God into a lived response, one that honors Him in our daily lives? The Magi’s journey is a model of justice—giving God His due by recognizing His kingship and acting accordingly.What’s Holding You Back?God created you for a specific purpose, at this moment in history, to share in His love and to serve His kingdom. If we truly grasp what God has done for us—creating us, sustaining us, and redeeming us through Christ—our only response must be action. Yet, how often do we settle for the minimum: Mass on Sundays, confession every few months?The Magi’s story challenges us to step up. Faith isn’t passive. It’s a commitment to daily conversion, learning, loving, and serving. Start small if you need to, but start. Let your belief become a belief of action.A Call to Live Like the MagiPray for the grace to be like the Magi—to turn your knowledge of God into a life of devotion and service. Recognize that Sunday worship and sporadic acts of faith are just the beginning. God is asking for your whole heart, your whole life. Are you ready to give it?If this reflection resonated with you, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode where I explore these themes in more detail. Together, let’s strive for the second level of belief—the belief that transforms and inspires action. God bless you and your journey!In preparation for the launch of the Catholic Founders Podcast — I’m asking people to share the publication with at least one Catholic Entrepreneur — current or aspiring. Help us out by sharing today.

Welcome back, everyone! Today I’m recapping Thursday's events and learnings from Sent. Let’s dive in.Morning Mass & PrayerThe day started with Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and Adoration. The sermon stood out, particularly because the priest had spent seven years working in the tech industry before entering the priesthood—he even co-founded a tech company back in the '90s.The key takeaway from his sermon was this powerful insight: “Prayer is a time multiplier.” He explained that when we make time for prayer, God rewards us by helping us through things like better traffic or canceled meetings that weren’t necessary. It was an inspiring reminder to prioritize prayer in our busy lives.Breakout SessionsOnce we returned to the hotel, we had three breakout sessions to choose from:* Catholic Leadership* A Journey to Space (featuring an astronaut’s story)* The Need for FaithTech (which I attended)This FaithTech panel was moderated by Andrew DeBerry from Google X and included Erich, the CTO of Hallow, Jamie, the founder of Exodus 90, and Sondre Rasch, the founder of SafetyWing. Here are some of my key takeaways:* Jamie emphasized the importance of taking time to contemplate the direction of your tech or company—essentially, another way of thinking about Product-Market Fit.* Sondre had a critical reminder: Ensure that what you're doing isn't harmful. It sounds simple, but it's easy to overlook. He also highlighted the importance of thinking through whether your success will bring about true good.* Erich made a great point about avoiding technologies that become vices. Hallow doesn’t focus on time spent on the app because they don’t want it to become addictive—even if it’s centered on prayer. Too much app use, even for a good cause, can become unhealthy.Finally, the panel discussed the necessity of finding value-aligned investors who won’t pressure you to compromise your Catholic values. They shared some valuable examples from their own journeys.Scaling Startups: Beyond SurvivalThe next panel was on scaling startups, featuring Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, Thomas Lehrman, co-founder of GLG, and Tim Connors from Pivot North Capital. The panel was moderated by Zaz Floreani from FirstMile Ventures.This was a powerful discussion, and Alex Jones’ story about their first fundraising round really struck a chord. They were almost out of personal funds, having been rejected by about 70 investors. With only a few more left to pitch, Alex prayed, essentially saying, "God, if you want this to succeed, You’re going to have to make it happen. If You want it to fail, I’ll leave that up to You."Shortly after that prayer, they secured the entire round from the next investor. His big takeaway? “We are called to bring the loaves, and God will do the multiplying.” It’s a beautiful metaphor for giving your best and trusting God with the outcome.Pitch CompetitionLater in the day, there was a pitch competition. The winning team was Presidio Healthcare, led by Dan and Bob. The competition was fun to watch, and the biggest takeaway was the importance of strong stage presence. It makes all the difference in getting your message across.Final Dinner & NetworkingAfter catching up with a friend from Praxis, we ended the day with an awards dinner. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, and I’m grateful I arrived late and had to search for a table—ended up being a blessing in disguise.The most insightful moment from the dinner was my conversation with Jeff Schieffelbein. He reminded me of the importance of setting goals, even when you're striving to live according to God's will. He also emphasized the significance of good parenting, a topic I plan to write more about in the future.That’s it for now! I’ll have a full recap of the entire event, along with my overall highlights, ready for you by the end of the week.Thank you, and God bless! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Hey y'all! I wanted to share what I’ve been learning at the SENT Summit.What is SENT?SENT Summit is an event organized by SENT Ventures, a community of Catholic CEOs and founders who have achieved some traction in their ventures. They focus heavily on venture-scalable companies. The conference is open to non-members as well, and I’m attending as a non-member this year.The ScheduleThe summit kicked off on Tuesday evening with a cocktail reception and runs until Friday midday. Today (Wednesday) was the official start of the main conference.We began with Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, and Adoration—though I was late for Mass because I grabbed coffee with a friend beforehand.Building Like the SaintsThe first talk of the day was by John Canon, who shared his journey and the vision behind SENT. His biggest point to us was; Many saints were founders in their own right, often starting religious orders. We can still learn from their example. John studied this in his thesis and developed a six-part framework on how saints "build." The first principle? Seek God First. Probably not surprising to y’all, but a critical foundation.Talk by Tom Monaghan, Founder of Domino's PizzaNext, we heard from Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza. He shared his story and the lessons learned along the way, including his founding of Ave Maria University and Legatus Institute. I’ll probably write a separate post about his talk later because it was incredibly inspiring.My main takeaway for now: his deep commitment to aligning his success with his faith.Panel: Building a Saintly CultureAfter that, we had a panel on building a saintly culture in organizations. The panelists had experience running organizations with anywhere from 10,000 to 70,000 employees.Biggest takeaway: Leadership sets the tone for culture. If you want to change the culture, you must first change yourself and ensure other leaders are also committed to that transformation.Breakout SessionsFollowing lunch, I joined a breakout session on the future of evangelization through media. The panel was moderated by a deacon who formerly worked at Disney, and the panelists included:* Michael Warsaw, CEO of EWTN* Lorenzo James Henrie, Partner at Novo Media Group (and actor in Fear the Walking Dead, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and Agents of SHIELD)* Bill Abbott, CEO of Great American Media and former CEO of Crown Media (parent company of Hallmark)My key takeaways were: * To help faith-based media thrive, the Christian community must unite and promote these films more effectively. Successful viewership leads to more funding and, ultimately, greater influence.* Catholic and Christian media must improve their production quality to appeal to broader audiences, including those outside the “faith-based” genre, if we want to positively influence the moral compass of future generations.Small Group SessionsLater, we broke into small group discussions. Our group had about 10 people, and the main themes were:* Developing trust in God’s will for our businesses. It was interesting that many people, as they explained their challenges, seemed to find the answers within themselves by simply articulating their situation.* The importance of asking for help. It’s something we all struggle with, yet when people ask for help, they gained clarity. The challenge here seems to be recognizing that asking for help more often is a strength, not a weakness.We wrapped up with small group dinners, which led to more lively discussions.Meeting LegendsOverall, it’s been a great experience so far. I’ve met some incredible people, like Jamie Baxter (founder of Exodus 90), Jeff Schiefelbein (co-host of The Beatidudes podcast), Michael Warsaw (CEO of EWTN), Alessandro Disanto from Hallow, and John Heinen from Catholic Gentlemen.I’m excited about the rest of the conference and will continue to keep you posted! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe