Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

In this episode, Nomiki Petrolla founder of Theanna, a groundbreaking platform empowering women tech founders, unpacks the realities of startup success few talk about. She reveals why crossing major business milestones remains elusive for most founders and how a combination of grit, knowing your product inside out, and embracing rejection can transform your journey. What’s inside: • The systemic challenges and gaps women founders face in tech and funding • How to own your product vision without losing control • “Rejection therapy” - why being comfortable with failure is a superpower • The obsession and rapid experimentation mindset every entrepreneur needs • Building a supportive community that fuels growth and accountability • How to validate ideas efficiently and avoid costly missteps • Balancing cutting-edge AI tools with genuine human connection • Practical wisdom from someone leading a women-first startup revolution If you’re on the path to scaling your business, breaking barriers, or fueling unstoppable growth, this episode offers a raw yet hopeful blueprint for owning your vision and reaching new heights. 📌 Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, women founders, startup enthusiasts, and changemakers committed to making an impact. Connect with Nomiki Petrolla(Guest): LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nomikipetrolla/ Website: https://theanna.io/v2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Trailer 0:58 - Intro 1:23 - Why do only 2% of VC funds go to women? What’s Ana’s mission to change that? 1:42 - What inspired you to build Ana? What was the defining moment? 5:00 - Why does a business fundamentals skill gap exist for women founders? 7:40 - What top 2–3 skills should women focus on when starting a business? 12:30 - What did day one of building Ana look like, from idea to first revenue? 17:35 - What goals or KPIs drive Ana’s growth journey? 18:22 - How do you measure the real impact, are members actually launching? 20:11 - What key skills do founders need at each stage, launch, grow, scale? 23:08 - Why do so many founders overbuild before validating their idea? 26:20 - How do you decide when to ship or scrap an idea within 48 hours? 27:54 - What’s the 60-second version of your six-step founder framework? 28:43 - How easily can founders turn your framework into action? 30:28 - Why do most productivity or milestone tools fail to feel personalized? 34:13 - What tool or system gives you back the most focus hours each week? 35:36 - What are your most-used tools for productivity and growth? 38:05 - What happens when everyone uses AI for cold outreach? 39:21 - Will authentic voices get drowned out in the AI outreach era? 40:07 - What kind of merch should Theanna create for its community? 44:20 - Beyond funding, what hidden barrier slows women founders the most? 45:41 - What mindset cues reveal if a founder will stay the course or quit early? 46:16 - How important is a risk-taking attitude in overcoming rejection and failure? 48:24 - What was your experience hitting 10K MRR and dealing with investors? 49:40 - How do you approach fundraising, safe notes, valuation, or waiting it out? 50:21 - What should founders understand about investor incentives and FOMO? 53:12 - If you could send a 60-second voice note to your past self, what would it say? 53:39 - What’s the first validation step for someone with an idea in their notes app? 53:57 - Fast forward 3 years, what headline do you want to read about yourself and Theanna? 54:21 - Who’s your dream podcast guest to interview next? #WomenInTech #FemaleFounders #WomenEntrepreneurs #StartupJourney #ProductLeadership #WomenWhoBuild #Entrepreneurship #TechInnovation

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Harry Morton, the founder of Lower Street and host of Moneywise, to uncover the emotional reality behind wealth, success, and the often-overlooked emptiness that follows an exit. Harry’s company produces podcasts for some of the world’s top brands. But his journey started with waiting tables at Buckingham Palace while bootstrapping his agency from zero. From sound engineering to building a multimillion-dollar podcast business, Harry shares his honest take on: - How to build a real podcast brand in an oversaturated space - What billionaires and millionaires really feel after success - The biggest mistake founders make after an exit - Why 70% of second startups fail — and how to avoid the trap - What founders should know before starting a podcast - The power of differentiation and authenticity in podcasting If you’ve ever wondered how to use podcasting strategically, or what success actually feels like once you’ve achieved it, this episode is a must-watch. 🔗 Connect with Harry Morton Website: https://lowerstreet.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrymorton/ About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ 0:00 - Trailer 0:40 - Intro 1:47 - The Hidden Truth About High Net-Worth Founders 5:19 - The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship Nobody Talks About 8:02 - Redefining Success: Why a Chill Life Might Be Better Than a Billion-Dollar Company 12:55 - From Idea to First Client: The Real Startup Timeline 15:36 - Moving from Small Clients to Enterprise Deals 16:44 - Building a Face for Enterprise Podcasts 18:12 - Why Big Brands Are Turning Into Media Companies 20:28 - Rethinking Podcast Sponsorships 22:34 - The Harsh Reality of Podcast Growth 26:34 - Getting Real with Guests Without Alienating Them 29:07 - Should SaaS Founders Start a Podcast? 35:17 - Why 80/20 Episodes Perform Better 37:16 - Evergreen vs. Topical Content: What Works Better? 38:23 - What’s Missing in the Podcasting Industry 42:56 - The Future of Podcast Distribution & Authentic Content

Most founders don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of money, energy, or clarity in the first six months. In this brutally honest episode, Albert Behr, Founder of Behr & Associates and a veteran with over 30 years experience in corporate strategy, strategic partner development and technology commercialization, Albert Behr brings the expertise to ensure funding, early adoption and swift market penetration for your technology. Albert Behr has helped launch and scale dozens of technology ventures across North America and Asia, driving partnerships, licensing deals, and multi-million-dollar exits. Whether you’re in your first startup cycle or planning your exit, this episode will challenge how you think about money, risk, and success. 00:00 Intro 02:00 Leaving corporate life for entrepreneurship 05:00 The 6-month deal with his wife 08:00 Why the first 6 months define everything 14:00 “Go f***ing make money” — how Albert learned his core rule 20:00 VC vs. licensing: what actually creates wealth 30:00 Healthy paranoia and staying in the game 45:00 Why America breeds fearless entrepreneurs 55:00 The #1 mistake founders keep repeating Follow Albert Behr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-behr-3ab460/ 🔗 behrassociates.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/

What does it actually take to build something from scratch, when no one’s watching, no one’s funding you, and the world’s falling apart? In this conversation, Christian Facey, the founder of Audiomob, breaks down the truth behind entrepreneurship, the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and the resilience it takes to survive when everything goes wrong. From losing revenue overnight during Covid to raising millions and leading a global team, he shares the hard lessons most founders only learn the painful way. It’s not about hustle quotes or quick exits, it’s about focus, failure, and finding your own way through the chaos. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something real, this one will hit home. Follow Christian Facey: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-facey/ Website(Audiomob): https://audiomob.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 – Trailer 01:48 – Intro 03:17 – Reflecting on five years and starting again. 05:28 – Why resilience defines successful founders. 07:14 – Staying focused amid constant distractions. 09:32 – Taking risks and embracing failure. 14:28 – The untold struggles behind startup success. 18:53 – Legal lessons from a real founder story. 22:15 – Why founders must understand finance basics. 26:01 – Always know what’s happening in your business. 26:42 – Why relying on contractors doesn’t scale. 29:02 – Learning to let go of failed ideas. 32:07 – How big clients can derail your product. 39:44 – Rebuilding company culture and managing change. 41:28 – Team reactions to cutting back perks. 42:31 – Spotting who’s passionate vs paycheck-driven. 46:01 – Hiring right by setting expectations early. 50:40 – Showing investors adaptability and insight. 54:10 – What he looks for when investing. 54:59 – The mindset shift behind massive growth. 56:11 – Lessons from mentors and mentees. 57:22 – Why fast execution beats big ideas. 58:40 – AudioMob’s potential in mobile gaming ads. #EntrepreneurJourney #StartupLife #FoundersStory #RealEntrepreneurship #BuildFromScratch #ResilientMindset #FocusAndFailure #HustleReality #BehindTheStartup #EntrepreneurMindset

In this episode of *Funds and Founders*, we sit down with a whiskey entrepreneur who has spent over a decade in the Scotch industry — building investment funds, luxury travel experiences, cask storage businesses, and more.From Scotch’s 600-year-old traditions to AI-driven forecasting tools, the whiskey industry is ripe for disruption.We cover:- The $6B Scotch export market & where the real money is- Why whiskey is a unique, high-value alternative asset- Tech & AI opportunities in distillation, warehousing, and customer engagement- How to break into traditional industries as an outsider- Building and exiting a whiskey private equity fundIf you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or simply a whiskey lover, this episode will change how you see the liquor business.📍 What You’ll Learn:- How forecasting works when your product takes 18+ years to make- Which markets (beyond the US) are booming for whiskey- Ways to attract a new generation of drinkers- The role of education & experience in luxury brandingTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & Guest Background00:46 – Projects in the Whiskey Industry01:33 – Scotch Whiskey Market Size & Growth03:08 – Why Forecasting is a 30-Year Game05:30 – Opportunities for Entrepreneurs & AI in Whiskey07:12 – How the Customer Experience is Changing08:48 – New Generation of Whiskey Drinkers09:45 – How Open Is the Industry to New Tech?10:53 – Building a Warehouse for Private Clients12:36 – Industry Adoption Curve: Big vs Small Players15:16 – Whiskey Trends in Global Markets (India, Taiwan, Middle East)20:12 – Go-to-Market for Selling to the Whiskey Industry24:07 – The Luxury Ladder & Aspirational Drinking25:28 – Whiskey Education as a Business Opportunity29:23 – Tastes, Palates & Evolving Preferences31:16 – The Power of Experiences in Luxury Branding33:33 – Speyside: The Napa Valley of Scotch35:30 – Building a Whiskey-Luxury Travel Vertical37:31 – Collecting, Investing & Niche Business Ideas in Whiskey39:10 – From Wine to Whiskey: Early Journey42:29 – Raising a $12M Whiskey Private Equity Fund45:47 – Legal & Fund Management Learnings48:42 – Finding the Right Team in Niche Industries50:31 – Fundraising Strategy & Deploying Capital53:01 – Turning Early Wins into More Investment56:08 – Exiting the Fund & Market Timing59:01 – Learning to Control the Exit Strategy01:03:13 – Why Whiskey is a Stable Alternative Asset01:05:08 – What Excites the Guest About the Next 5 Years in Whiskey01:06:48 – How to Work with Rare Whiskey Holdings01:07:26 – Expanding Your Business Horizons

Michael’s entrepreneurial journey started at 12 with a paper route and grew into building Thrive Pet Healthcare into a billion-dollar company. In this episode, he shares exactly how he scaled from one affordable vet clinic to 250+ locations, the mistakes and pivots along the way, and how he’s now tackling home services with the same playbook.We talk market opportunities, raising private equity, scaling operations fast, and the mindset needed to push through slow starts and build industry-leading businesses. Whether you’re building your first startup or scaling your 10th, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Watch the full episode  @FundsAndFounders  What you’ll learn:- How to spot and validate opportunities in massive markets- The business model behind affordable pet care- Scaling from zero to $1B top line in 5 years- Why acquisition can outpace building from scratch- Lessons on being relentless as a founderTimestamps0:00 – Intro & Michael’s first hustle at 123:25 – Early lessons from the paper route7:48 – Baseball card collecting & the value of collectibles11:40 – From M&A to starting Thrive Pet Healthcare15:28 – Identifying the affordable pet care gap21:02 – Building the first clinic: model, pricing & efficiency27:44 – Surviving a slow start & hitting profitability31:55 – Scaling to multiple locations & hiring the right team38:19 – Raising capital & accelerating growth42:56 – Inside the pet care market size & opportunity48:03 – From 20M to $1B revenue in 5 years54:32 – Challenges of scaling fast & integrating acquisitions1:00:50 – Industry consolidation & competing with giants1:05:24 – Why Michael moved into home services1:10:12 – Parallels between pets & HVAC (and the crazy costs)1:15:30 – AI opportunities in vet care & home services1:20:15 – Michael’s #1 lesson for founders: Be relentless1:24:07 – Where to connect with Michael

James Brewer went from being Import Yeti’s 3rd user to its co-founder—and helped scale it to 150K+ paying users and 2M monthly visitors. In this episode of Funds and Founders, he breaks down how import/export data can power sales, how to turn sweat equity into real ownership, and the systems that helped build a multi-million dollar bootstrapped SaaS.💡 Whether you're in logistics, SaaS, or trying to break into tech—this episode is packed with actionable frameworks on:- Sales with data- Startup equity- Scaling without VC- Automation stacks that save 10+ hours/week- And the power of never taking “no” as the final answer📬 Want to try Import Yeti’s premium tools? Watch the full episode  @FundsAndFounders  Timestamps:00:00 – James Brewer on retention and the surprising start of Import Yeti01:20 – From user #3 to co-founder: the cold email that changed everything03:10 – The pitch mistake that taught James how to actually sell05:00 – Using import/export data to close million-dollar clients07:00 – What makes global logistics shockingly inefficient09:00 – The sweat equity deal: how James negotiated his way in11:15 – Building trust without funding: early growth, first users, and retention13:30 – The automation stack that saves him 10+ hours/week15:45 – Why James still handles support tickets personally17:20 – Growth without VC: systems, obsession, and ownership19:50 – Customer feedback vs. product focus: what they say “no” to22:00 – How Import Yeti avoids getting outpaced by copycats23:30 – The three biggest use cases driving 2M monthly visits26:00 – Sales vs. product: how to balance short-term wins and long-term moat28:10 – Lessons from scaling a “boring” SaaS in a niche market30:00 – Founder conflicts, and why their partnership actually works33:00 – Most SaaS founders get sales wrong — here’s what to fix35:15 – How to earn founder-level equity even if you weren’t there day one37:30 – Final advice: Build something useful. Stay in the game. Get obsessed.39:30 – Where to find James + how to access Import Yeti’s premium features

Lucy Banks went from corporate banking to becoming a top 1% OnlyFans creator — and now runs a PR & marketing agency for adult creators. In this episode, she exposes the harsh truths about building in the creator economy, why most OnlyFans accounts fail, and what it really takes to scale in the adult space.We go deep into:- The business behind OnlyFans- Why creators need more than “just looks”- Payment platform struggles in sex tech- How Lucy made $1M+ on OnlyFans without going full-time- Building tech & startups in taboo marketsFollow Lucy:Instagram: [@imlucybanks](https://www.instagram.com/imlucybanks)Agency: [@millionbillionmedia](https://www.instagram.com/millionbillionmedia)LinkedIn: [Lucy Banks](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucybanksmbm/)Timestamps00:00 - Intro: Lucy Banks on Funds & Founders01:00 - What people get wrong about OnlyFans in 202503:30 - The myth: “Being hot = success”06:12 - Why 99% of creators make less than $300/month08:40 - OnlyFans approval process and creator struggles11:20 - Meet Million Billion Media — helping adult creators14:45 - Censorship, shadowbans & banned bank accounts18:40 - Why Stripe and Mailchimp block this industry21:00 - Is sex tech the next billion-dollar wave?25:12 - How to build a Stripe alternative for adult creators29:00 - Go-to-market in a censored industry (no ads allowed)34:35 - How to get creators to trust your startup38:10 - Rev share models, affiliate structures, creator feedback42:00 - Lucy’s story: From banking to OnlyFans46:00 - Making $1M+ on OnlyFans (without going all in)49:20 - What OnlyFans doesn’t do for creators52:05 - Break down of revenue streams: subs, tips, chats55:50 - Why OnlyFans still wins despite lacking features58:30 - Top 5 growth tactics for new creators01:07:30 - Closing thoughts & where to find Lucy

Newsletters are not dead, Dylan from Growth in Reverse breaks down how indie founders and B2B operators are building 5-figure audiences and monetizing with just email.He shares the underrated metric every newsletter creator should track, how to launch a newsletter from scratch, and why owning your distribution is your biggest unfair advantage.We also go deep on - Sponsorships - Paid ads - Personal vs Company branding - How to stay consistent even when life gets in the way.Whether you're just starting or scaling, this episode is a must-listen.Timestamps:00:00 - Quick intro & Dylan plugs01:30 - The most overlooked truth about newsletters02:55 - One North Star metric every founder should track05:00 - Why owning your distribution is non-negotiable06:45 - How to start a newsletter from zero08:30 - Educate, Inform, Entertain: The content trifecta09:40 - How to *sell* through newsletters without annoying your readers11:55 - When to start thinking about sponsorships13:45 - Monetizing early: ads, partnerships & paid growth17:00 - Newsletter commitment: Why 10+ editions matter20:05 - Favorite growth channels: Paid, organic, lead magnets24:00 - Facebook ad hack that landed 20+ subscribers before launch27:10 - Building your system: SOPs, templates & content blocks30:00 - Should you steal playbooks? How to filter growth tactics33:00 - Writing vs Talking: Choosing the right medium36:00 - Guest posts, collaborations & ownership issues38:05 - Smart ways to collect feedback from your audience42:10 - Building brand: Personal vs Company vs Thematic45:30 - When personal branding blocks startup acquisitions47:00 - Behind the scenes at Growth in Reverse50:00 - Final tips for founders building in public

What drives a founder to go back into the grind after a life-changing exit?In this episode, we sit down with Ganesh, a serial founder who bootstrapped his AI startup to millions in revenue, cracked the toughest enterprise clients like TCS and KPMG, and rebounded from losing 85% of revenue during COVID.We cover:- Why he didn’t raise VC early on- Building an assessment company without asking a single question- Selling into TCS, Indian Army & QSRs like Universal Studios- Losing millions in revenue overnight and still surviving- Exiting to a strategic buyer- Why he's back in stealth mode building a sales AI companyTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & how Ganesh and the host met00:21 – Why build another startup after a successful exit?01:06 – Spotting the opportunity with generative AI02:12 – Cisco days & the shift to entrepreneurship03:00 – Building culture at scale — the early inspiration04:29 – From network optimization to people analytics07:13 – Mistake: Building before validating10:03 – First break via Plug and Play, no customers yet11:08 – Breakthrough with DBS & positioning as a “cultural DNA” company12:13 – Landing TCS, Byju’s, KPMG for large-scale assessments13:25 – Pricing challenges in enterprise SaaS18:15 – First funding — how Mitsubishi Ventures found them20:32 – Crazy story of a 12-person Sunday 7AM investor meetingt26:00 – QSR boom: Universal Studios, restaurant chains, & rapid growth29:07 – COVID wiped out 85% of revenue overnight33:00 – Why founder salaries matters even in bootstrapped companies34:36 – Pivoting back to B2B — TCS saves the business38:48 – Rebuilding revenue, landing Byju’s, scaling again43:00 – Learn at Forbes, cultural learning styles, and the acquirer46:32 – Post-exit reflections on taxes, dilution & what he’d do differently51:10 – Starting again: the new stealth startup in AI Sales57:00 – Early adopters welcome: Join Ganesh’s next journey