

Idea to Startup
Brian Scordato | Tacklebox
A podcast for people working on startup ideas. We have 15-minute tactical episodes and occasional interviews with people who did the early things exceptionally well. We've helped launch hundreds of startups worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and these are the building blocks.
"This is, without a doubt, the best podcast for people trying to build startups out there."
"If you aren't listening to this podcast and you're considering building a business (or you're already building one), what are you doing?"
"Must listen for first-time entrepreneurs - excellent storyteller."
"This is, without a doubt, the best podcast for people trying to build startups out there."
"If you aren't listening to this podcast and you're considering building a business (or you're already building one), what are you doing?"
"Must listen for first-time entrepreneurs - excellent storyteller."
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 28, 2025 • 23min
A Four Part System to Generate Ideas (aka how to let your brain be a brain) - ITS Classic
Discover a four-part system designed to unlock your brain's creativity! The discussion uses engaging analogies, like a baseball training facility and a corked wine bottle, to illustrate how to identify problems and gather information. Learn how reflection and testing can elevate your brainstorming game. With a mix of structured techniques and spontaneous thinking, this guide equips listeners with actionable steps to generate innovative ideas and tackle challenges head-on.

Aug 21, 2025 • 21min
How to Build a "Skeptical Startup" - $8k per month in 10 hours per week (ITS Classic)
Today, we'll help you tackle the big question for entrepreneurs with startup ideas and jobs - when's it time to quit the job and focus on the startup full-time? You should think about this question the second you start working on an idea, and you should use the Skeptical Startup framework - a goal of $8k per month in 10 hours per week - as a guide. The Skeptical Startup framework is magical, and Brian will show how it'll help you focus with an example startup. TackleboxIdea to Startup NewsletterIdea to Startup BotFarnam Street - Surface AreaThe AlchemistNatalie Imbruglia - Torn00:30 When to Quit Your Job03:25 Life Expenses Excel Sheet04:05 The Skeptical Startup Framework06:25 The Idea: Home AV Improvements07:44 Smooth Jazz08:22 The Logistics of $8k11:26 An AV Marketplace12:46 Reduce the Surface Area15:27 The Search16:30 A Lead for the AV Startup19:16 The End - Your Goals19:26 A Goal Framework

6 snips
Aug 14, 2025 • 20min
Normal Brain vs. Entrepreneur Brain
Discover the fascinating contrast between the entrepreneur mindset and a conventional one. Learn how Normal Brain can hinder your startup, while Entrepreneur Brain empowers resilience and adaptability. The podcast dives into transforming overwhelming to-do lists into impactful actions and emphasizes the significance of customer feedback. It addresses the challenges of being underprepared and low on resources, showcasing strategies to navigate these hurdles effectively. Embrace creativity and calculated risks to foster growth!

Aug 7, 2025 • 21min
How to Get Two Months of Work Done in One Weekend
Unlock the secret to supercharging your productivity by harnessing a weekend sprint framework! Discover how to effectively tackle two months of work in just one weekend. The discussion dives into goal-setting, preparation, and the need for urgency through 'hooks.' Plus, learn from the successful launch of Habit Kangaroo and the vital role of collaboration in achieving success. Whether you're balancing work and family or pursuing side projects, this framework is designed for busy lives!

Jul 31, 2025 • 25min
A Startup Storytelling Framework for Non-Storytellers (top 1% classic)
Today, we'll help all the non-storytellers tell a compelling story about their business. We've got a framework that'll walk you through the ingredients of a compelling story, and a mise en place-inspired approach that'll help you get to story market fit. We've got some rules, some variables, some accelerants, and an example about a service that helps Airbnb hosts launch their own interior design businesses. TackleboxIdea to Startup NewsletterBuilding a Story BrandYour New Life Will Cost You Your Old OneWork Clean - The Life-Changing Power of Mise en PlaceHow to Write Essays that Spread00:30 Storytelling for your startup03:24 The Two Reasons for the Barefoot Son Story07:09 Smooth Jazz07:37 The Three Ruls of Good Storytelling for Entrepreneurs08:45 Rule 1: Good Stories Are About Speed10:44 Rule 2: You Don’t Matter11:39 Rule 3: A Good Story is Earned12:22 Mise En Place14:10 The Ingredients of Your Story17:09 The Accelerants19:24 Airbnb Interior Design23:23 The End: Montaigne

Jul 24, 2025 • 18min
How to Flounder Effectively
Most startup advice says you need to be "maniacally focused" on one thing. I disagree. You need to balance your focus with some good old fashioned floundering. This episode is about the balance - when to focus and when to flounder - and how to build each skill. We even built a framework to help you out - The Four Rules of Floundering. The Let's Actually Run Customer Interviews Workshop - a 10-day program that'll help you actually, finally, run proper customer interviews. This will kickstart your business. $150 through July 31 with code "EARLY"Flounder Mode 0:00 Let’s Run Customer Interviews Workshop01:12 Mailbag02:44 How to Flounder03:56 The Idea: Community Investment Circles07:11 When is it time to become “maniacally focused”?10:35 The Four Rules of Floundering15:26 Floundering’s real value: longevity

11 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 24min
How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market - A Mouse Pod (encore)
This engaging discussion highlights the art of standing out in a saturated market, using a mouse control business as a colorful case study. It shares four powerful lessons, including the need to match your funnel with customer emotions and leveraging unique offerings. Personalization emerges as a key theme, emphasizing how targeted strategies can help businesses thrive. With humorous anecdotes about unexpected household intruders, this talk combines practical advice with relatable storytelling, making it a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs.

5 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 23min
Stop Beating Yourself Up
Discover how to embrace your startup journey without the burden of self-criticism. Learn about the Eight Eccentricities of startups that many founders obsess over unnecessarily. Explore the concept of the 'beating yourself up equation' and uncover practical strategies to shift your mindset. The conversation humorously veers into baseball and even goldfish, making for an engaging listen. Get ready to navigate uncertainty and take the bold risks that your venture truly needs!

Jul 3, 2025 • 21min
How to Get Your First 1,000 Customers (Encore)
Today, we've got a classic, much-listened to episode on getting your first 1,000 customers. We contrast the approaches of two pizza companies - Push for Pizza and Slice - and see how each company's early growth approach led to their bigger strategy. You also get a much less polished Brian on the mic. My grunge era. Enjoy! TackleboxSliceFirst 1000 SubstackTacklebox + Self-Serve Product

4 snips
Jun 26, 2025 • 24min
The Four Questions that Kill Bad Differentiators (feat. The Rabbi, The Coffee Founder, and The Poison Ivy Guy)
Most founders struggle to identify their unique selling points, which can jeopardize their success. Discover two enlightening paths to uncover strong differentiators that resonate with customers. Enjoy humorous anecdotes, including wisdom from a Rabbi and tales from a decaf coffee entrepreneur. Learn about testing your differentiators and the harsh reality behind them. This conversation offers invaluable insights for any aspiring business owner who wants to avoid time-wasting distinctions and truly connect with their market.