Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Sarah Loretta, a former nonprofit worker turned digital architect. Sarah shares her journey from making $40K at a nonprofit to building a successful digital systems business through Notion templates and consulting.Learn how Sarah:- Started freelancing with no website or business plan- Landed 40 clients in her first 6 months through strategic networking- Turned a $47 Notion template into $120K+ in revenue- Built her entire client base through referrals with zero marketing- Leverages tool certifications and partnerships for business growth- Transitioned from design work to high-ticket systems consultingWhether you're a freelancer looking to scale or an entrepreneur building systems, Sarah's insights on creating multiple revenue streams and building valuable partnerships are not to be missed!Watch the full episode  @FundsAndFounders  Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Where to Find Sarah1:00 - Early Entrepreneurial Journey4:13 - Landing First 40 Clients in 6 Months7:46 - Video Production & Freelance Work11:34 - First Big Website Project ($1,800)15:07 - Taking the Leap from 9-520:48 - Journey from Design to Business Operations29:32 - Finding & Monetizing Notion41:03 - Building Multiple Revenue Streams46:54 - Template Business Success ($120K+)59:06 - Current Pricing Model & Strategy1:02:41 - Tech Stack & Tools Breakdown1:06:54 - Three Essential Resources for Beginners1:09:42 - Interesting Recent Learning1:13:13 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-up#entrepreneur #business #startup #podcast #marketing #notion #sale #tools #aspirations #founder #freelancing

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Joshua Rosario, founder of J.Rozario, also has a luxury custom shoe brand. Joshua shares his journey from a shoe enthusiast with over 500 pairs to launching his own high-end shoe company.Learn how Joshua:- Turned his passion for quality footwear into a business- Navigates the challenges of educating customers about craftsmanship- Uses innovative hand-painting techniques to create unique designs- Leverages e-commerce and custom 3D configurators to sell bespoke shoes- Balances craftsmanship with scalability in a luxury brandWhether you're a fashion enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, Joshua's insights on building a luxury brand and educating consumers are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Joshua's background2:00 - Early entrepreneurial experiences and learning about human behavior7:22 - The journey from shoe enthusiast to brand founder12:45 - Explaining the J.Rosario brand and custom shoe process17:30 - Challenges of educating customers about shoe quality22:05 - The technology and craftsmanship behind J.Rosario shoes27:40 - Marketing strategies and early sales experiences32:15 - Balancing quality, craftsmanship, and scalability37:50 - Tech stack and tools for running an e-commerce business42:30 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs47:15 - Lessons learned from mentorship52:00 - The importance of hunger alignment in business56:45 - Closing thoughts and where to find J.Rosario online#entrepreneur #business #startup #podcast #marketing #ecommerce #sale #scalability #aspirations #founder

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Becca, co-founder and COO of Workweek, a rapidly growing B2B media company. Becca shares her journey from customer success roles to building a multi-million dollar media business. Learn how Becca:- Transitioned from The Hustle to co-founding Workweek- Built a portfolio of niche B2B media brands- Leverages the "knowledge expert paradox" to create valuable content- Manages remote teams and builds company culture- Balances work and personal life as a founderWhether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to scale your media business, Becca's insights on content creation, audience building, and business growth are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Becca's background1:06 - The start of Becca's entrepreneurial journey2:19 - Transitioning from employee to founder mindset4:09 - Building a strong co-founder relationship5:51 - Managing conflicts and decision-making as co-founders8:28 - From idea to launch: The birth of Workweek12:02 - The "knowledge expert paradox" in B2B media14:51 - Building and scaling niche B2B media brands18:42 - Strategies for content creation and distribution22:34 - The importance of authenticity in content26:44 - Team building and remote work culture31:35 - Insights on newsletter growth and audience building37:35 - The role of personal branding for founders41:26 - Balancing work and personal life as an entrepreneur45:54 - Tech stack and tools for running a media business50:51 - Resources for aspiring entrepreneurs56:38 - Exciting developments and future plans for Workweek59:30 - Closing thoughts and how to connect with Becca#MediaStartup #ContentCreation #B2BMarketing #Entrepreneurship #WorkweekMedia #podcast #startup #founder

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Brennan Bliss, CEO of Propellic, a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO for the travel industry. Brennan shares his journey from building websites as a teenager to running a multi-million dollar agency. Learn how Brennan:- Started his entrepreneurial journey at 13 years old- Scaled his agency to 25 team members- Niched down to focus on the travel industry- Manages a remote team and builds company culture- Balances work and personal life as a CEOWhether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to scale your existing business, Brennan's insights on agency growth, hiring, and financial management are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Brennan's background2:20 - Early entrepreneurial experiences and website building5:34 - Lessons learned from early financial mistakes10:22 - The journey from web design to SEO agency15:19 - Niching down to focus on the travel industry22:02 - Team building and managing a remote workforce26:44 - The process of scaling and hiring for an agency32:57 - Insights on the travel industry and marketing strategies41:26 - Long-term goals and future of Propellic46:36 - Marketing tests and LinkedIn conversation ads49:36 - Tech stack and tools for running an agency54:13 - AI applications in agency workflows56:32 - Book recommendations and resources for entrepreneurs59:45 - The cost of mis-hires and importance of a good hiring process1:02:42 - Balancing work and personal life as an entrepreneur1:06:07 - Closing thoughts and how to connect with Brennan#AgencyGrowth #DigitalMarketing #SEO #TravelIndustry #Entrepreneurship

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Tomer, a former structural engineer turned serial entrepreneur. Tomer shares his journey from designing skyscrapers to building multiple successful businesses, including an e-commerce brand, a virtual staffing agency, and an innovative product company. Learn how Tomer:- Transitioned from a 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship- Built a 7-figure e-commerce business- Successfully launched a product on Kickstarter- Developed and scaled a virtual staffing agency- Balances multiple businesses and projectsWhether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to scale your existing business, Tomer's insights on product development, e-commerce, and business growth are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Tomer's background3:06 - The importance of business models in entrepreneurship7:52 - Transition from engineering to e-commerce12:02 - Insights on private labeling and wholesale18:42 - The birth of Sableflow and product development process26:28 - Balancing business relationships with family and friends31:16 - From concept to finished product: The Sableflow journey37:05 - Kickstarter campaign strategies and lessons learned42:39 - The transition to Effortless Hire and virtual staffing46:10 - Common mistakes business owners make with virtual assistants49:29 - Misconceptions about offshore hiring52:27 - The importance of hiring before creating SOPs55:24 - Three valuable resources for entrepreneurs59:20 - Startup tech stack and tools1:01:24 - Favorite entrepreneurial stories and lessons1:06:13 - Closing thoughts and where to find tomer's businesses

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Jon, former CEO of Hyperlinks Media and current organizer of Tiny Talks in Austin. Jon shares his journey from starting an SEO blog in high school to building and selling a successful digital marketing agency, and eventually launching a community-driven event series. Learn how Jon:- Built a 7-figure SEO agency from his dorm room- Pivoted to content marketing and affiliate sites- Knew when it was time to exit his business- Started Tiny Talks and grew it to 200+ attendees- Balances passion projects with financial successWhether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to scale your existing business, Jon's insights on SEO, content marketing, and community building are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Jon's background2:31 - Starting an SEO business in high school7:17 - Scaling the agency and hiring employees12:03 - Pivoting to content marketing and affiliate sites18:42 - Deciding when to exit the business22:34 - The origin of Tiny Talks27:41 - Memorable Tiny Talks stories32:25 - The importance of in-person connection37:29 - Running Tiny Talks as a passion project41:33 - Advice on finding your niche45:22 - Book recommendations for entrepreneurs49:51 - Event planning tips from "The 2-Hour Cocktail Party"54:26 - Closing thoughts and where to find Tiny Talks#podcast #digitalmarketing #seo #contentmarketing #communityservice #community #entrepreneur #business

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeIn this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Ryan Atkinson, CEO and co-founder of Spacebar Visuals. Ryan shares his journey from working at an aquatic center to becoming a growth specialist at HubSpot, and eventually launching his own successful video production agency.Learn how Ryan:- Started multiple podcasts to network with entrepreneurs- Built a 6-figure agency in less than a year- Uses cold outreach to land high-value clients- Manages a remote team and builds company culture- Balances multiple projects and businessesWhether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to scale your existing business, Ryan's insights on sales, marketing, and agency growth are not to be missed!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Ryan's background3:45 - The power of podcasting for networking and personal growth7:22 - Transitioning from side hustle to full-time business10:15 - Building an agency vs. creating a SaaS product14:30 - Client acquisition strategies and outbound marketing19:05 - Email marketing tactics and closing deals23:40 - Pricing strategies and maintaining margins28:15 - The challenges of running a service-based business32:45 - Tech stack and tools for running an agency35:20 - Book recommendations for entrepreneurs38:30 - The importance of rereading books42:33 - Why Ryan moved to Austin and who should consider it46:37 - Exciting future technologies (AI video generation)48:47 - Podcast post-production and marketing tips53:42 - Closing thoughts and where to find Ryan online

Catalin Briciu, Co-founder and CEO of Linnify, shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights from previous startups. He discusses the importance of finding the right product-market fit and offers a structured approach to validating business ideas. Catalin highlights common pitfalls founders face and the delicate balance of personal versus company branding. He also emphasizes the crucial role of support systems and effective communication in managing expectations and scaling businesses. Tune in for a mix of wisdom and practical advice!

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribeJoin us as we sit down with Hunter Burkey, Partner at Next Level Valet and CEO of Next Level Security. Hunter shares his incredible journey from living in his car to building two successful businesses in Austin, TX.👉Hunter's early struggles and how he turned his life around👉The birth of Next Level Valet and its rapid growth👉Expanding into security services during COVID-19👉Challenges of scaling a business and managing 300+ employees👉Innovative employee engagement strategies👉The importance of adaptability in entrepreneurshipWatch the full episode on  @FundsAndFounders  #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #AustinStartups #ValetService #SecurityBusiness0:00 - Introduction of Hunter Burkey and his current roles0:35 - Brief mention of failed business attempts1:10 - Hunter's experience being homeless and living in his car9:10 - Discussion about failed businesses and lessons learned17:06 - Addressing fears and challenges in the early days of the business19:07 - Major setback: losing a significant client and nearly shutting down30:40 - Handling the challenge of parking 2300 cars per night35:48 - Current size of the valet company (approximately 150 employees)41:20 - Insight into company culture and employee communication42:37 - Transition from valet services to starting a security company47:30 - Introduction to Formula One events through valet connections49:23 - Hunter's involvement with the F1 travel team50:53 - Construction Security55:08 - Scaling the company1:00:00 - Closing remarks

In this captivating episode of Funds and Founders, Nikhil, CTO and co-founder of Hylio, shares the inspiring journey of building an innovative drone company. From their initial focus on drone delivery to pivoting into agricultural applications, Nikhil reveals the challenges and triumphs of creating cutting-edge drone technology. Tune in to discover:- The evolution of Hylio from a drone delivery concept to a leader in agricultural drone solutions- Overcoming technical and regulatory hurdles in the drone industry- The importance of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship- Insights into scaling hardware production and navigating complex sales processes- The role of co-founders and support systems in startup successWatch the full episode on funds and founders.