

From the Ground Up
Inc. Magazine
It takes audacity to start a company, grit to grow it, and community to survive the ordeal. From the Ground Up features frank and unfiltered conversations—with some of the most successful founders in the world—about navigating the role of the founder, the tips and tricks entrepreneurs need to know to be successful, and the secrets that nobody really tells you before you start a business.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 14, 2025 • 33min
How to Make Work Fun Again
For today's summer episode, we have another panel from this year's Founders House at SXSW at the Founders House, moderated by Inc. Editor-in-Chief Mike Hofman. He spoke with Shuman Ghosemajumder, co-founder and CEO of the AI cybersecurity startup Reken; Ben Goodwin, co-founder, CEO, and formulator of the prebiotic soda Olipop; and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of the fashion bag brand Dagne Dover. They discuss how to have fun at work again, plus how to manage building a cohesive company culture in a hybrid work schedule environment

Oct 9, 2025 • 32min
Beyond Barriers: One Business’s Mission to Revolutionize Accessible Travel and Build Inclusive Communities - FROM INC. STUDIO AND CHASE FOR BUSINESS
In this special episode of From the Ground Up, we sit down with Kelly Twichel, founder and CEO of Access Trax, to discuss how her portable mats are helping people with mobility challenges access beaches, parks, and outdoor spaces. Twichel will also share her journey from occupational therapist to entrepreneur, and how Access Trax is building inclusive communities through partnerships with local San Diego nonprofits, adaptive sports programs and local governments. Peter Jackson, Executive Director and Southern California Area Manager at Chase, also joins the conversation offering insights on how businesses can scale impact through inclusive design and community engagement.

Oct 8, 2025 • 5min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: Why Disciplined Growth Beats Chasing Every Opportunity
Lauren Asghari, founder and president of Alderson Loop, and Jose Herrera, the CEO and co-founder of Horatio, discuss being transparent about mistakes and challenges, and how that builds trust and keeps culture intact.

Oct 7, 2025 • 17min
An Inside Look at the Trends and Sales Strategies of Inc. 5000 CEOs
In this special custom episode, Inc. host and
moderator Abigail Basset joins Kris Billmaier, EVP and GM of Sales Cloud and Growth
Product at Salesforce, to discuss some of the most interesting trends and
insights from Inc.’s annual CEO survey. For the second year running Inc has
partnered with Salesforce to underwrite an exclusive survey of the CEOs of Inc.
5000 companies. In this thought-provoking conversation, you’ll learn how America’s
greatest sales teams are navigating the ongoing challenges, opportunities, and
transformations of today’s business landscape. Tune in to hear how the
fastest-growing companies in the U.S. are strategizing around game-changing
technologies like generative and agentic AI, adapting to a drastically shifting
workforce, and how they’re structuring their sales teams to fuel productivity
at scale.

Oct 2, 2025 • 34min
Business Beyond Pro Sports with Stephon Marbury & Cam Jurgens
As the summer comes to a close, we have a collection of panels from this year's Inc Founders House in Philadelphia dedicated to our fall schedule. In this segment, deputy digital editor Graham Winfrey talks to Philadelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens, founder of the beef jerky company Beef Jurgey, and former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury, who is the chief brand officer of the smart sunglasses company Chamelo Eyewear. Cam spoke about how he grew the jerky business, while Graham asked Stephon about his first business venture, the affordable Starbury sneakers. They both compare how their preparation and the obstacles they have overcome in their professional sports careers help them run their businesses.

Oct 1, 2025 • 5min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: You Are Not Your Business. Here’s Why That Matters
In this episode, Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Luma Brighter Learning, and Marisa Murgatroyd, Founder of Live Your Message, continue their conversation.
In this segment, they discuss learning how to separate yourself from your business, evolve your strategy, and give your company what it really needs to thrive.

Sep 24, 2025 • 5min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: Your Brand Voice Doesn’t Stand Out, You’re Doing It Wrong
Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Luma Brighter Learning, and
Marisa Murgatroyd, Founder of Live Your Message, talks about how to get your brand to attract attention.

Sep 22, 2025 • 35min
The Future of Capitalism: Tariffs, Growth & Market
At this year's Inc Founders House event in Philadelphia, Editor-in-Chief Mike Hoffman spoke with Joao Gomes, Senior Vice Dean of Research and Professor of Finance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, about the Future of Capitalism: Tariffs, Growth, and Markets. They delved into topics such as the consumer outlook, the decreasing trend of extravagant spending, the hiring slowdown in various job markets, the negative impact of Trump's tariffs, concerns regarding the supply chain, particularly from China, and the undervalued issue of immigration in the business community.

Sep 18, 2025 • 8min
Preparing for Tomorrow: Inc 5000 CEOs on AI, Culture, and Adaptability
In this custom episode from our partners at Insperity, Inc. Editorial Director Bonny Ghosh chats with Roger Nicholson, SVP of Service Operations at Insperity, about the results of the Inc. 5000 CEO Survey. The conversation reveals how today’s top business leaders are laser-focused on workplace culture, adaptability, and the integration of generative AI. With only 35% of CEOs believing their teams are AI-ready, the conversation turns to the urgent need for upskilling as a retention and competitiveness strategy. Nicholson emphasizes that the companies best positioned for the future will be those that invest not just in technology—but in their people.

Sep 15, 2025 • 35min
The Future of E-Commerce: Trends, Tech, and Tactics
For today’s episode, we have a panel from this year’s Inc’s Founders House in Philadelphia. Social media director, Andrea Hardalo and her fellow panelists: Woodie Hillyard, co-founder and CEO of the men’s personal care brand W, Arthur Leopold, co-founder and CEO of the ad platform called Agentio, and Alicia Yoon, founder and CEO of the Korean skin care beauty brand Peach & Lily, discuss the Future of E-Commerce. They chatted about the challenges of starting your business online, which trends are still relevant in their business strategies after the pandemic, and the difference in selling products on your website compared to selling them on social media.


