The Builders

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Peter Bonney, the CEO of Fastbreak, to explore how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are transforming enterprise solutions, specifically in the realm of Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. The discussion leads us into understanding how Fastbreak evolved from Peter's prior venture, Vendorful, to address the complexities of seller-side engagements. Peter shares the innovative steps Fastbreak has taken to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies in enhancing collaboration and efficiency for businesses dealing with intricate RFPs. Key Takeaways: Vision and Persistence: Fastbreak’s journey illustrates the importance of resilience and staying true to a long-term vision, even after initial hurdles. The Power of AI: The integration of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT enabled Fastbreak to refine and enhance their RFP response capabilities. Navigating Challenges: Peter highlights how they addressed key issues, such as AI hallucinations, by prioritizing accuracy and human oversight. Specialization is Key: By focusing on niche markets like health insurance and B2B SaaS, Fastbreak was able to develop tailored solutions that resonated with specific client needs. Human Collaboration: Despite the advancements in automation, Peter emphasizes the need for human involvement to guide workflows and maintain quality. Future Insights: Peter shares thoughts on the future of AI—from cost efficiencies to the increasing sophistication of niche AI tools. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how to leverage AI for complex workflows and the importance of balancing innovation with practical, human-centered strategies.

In this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen takes us behind the scenes of running a successful web design agency while simultaneously building a suite of WordPress plugins. Matt shares how he balances client demands with product development, turning internal needs into innovative tools for broader market application. With over six years of experience leading Unified Web Design, Matt reflects on the evolution of WordPress, embracing full-site editing, and navigating industry shifts to stay competitive. Learn how strategic resource management, a growth-focused team, and a passion for building have shaped his journey with Unified Plugins. If you're a business owner or agency leader contemplating your next big product idea but wondering how to make time for it, this episode offers a blueprint for sustainable innovation without losing focus on your core operations. Key Takeaways: Embracing Industry Changes: Why adopting new WordPress technologies like full-site editing can future-proof your business. Balancing Client Work and Internal Innovation: How to allocate team resources effectively and prioritize product building. Building with Purpose: The importance of creating tools that enhance both client projects and your internal workflows. Skill Development Through Product Creation: How internal projects can help developers grow, resulting in better client outcomes. Long-Term Vision: Investing in product development for future success—even when it’s not immediately profitable. Whether you're scaling your agency or considering building your own digital products, this episode is packed with insights and practical strategies for balancing it all.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen dives into an inspiring conversation with Dave Fano, founder and CEO of Teal, an AI-driven career platform transforming the job search landscape. Dave shares his fascinating journey from architecture to tech entrepreneurship, his pivotal experiences at WeWork, and the thoughtful strategies that guided the creation of Teal. Discover how delaying the building process allowed Dave to focus on learning, uncovering user pain points, and refining Teal’s mission to "level the playing field" for job seekers. He provides actionable insights into: Identifying pain points and testing ideas using no-code tools. Transitioning from self-funding to venture capital while leveraging trusted networks. Pivoting to AI-powered resume-building tools and adapting to market needs. The philosophy of balancing purpose with profitability. Dave also shares lessons learned in building startups, from embracing flexibility and iterative design to harmonizing personal values with commercial success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a builder at heart, or curious about the intersection of AI and career growth, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration and practical advice. Key Takeaways: The importance of optimizing for learning before creating solutions. How AI is revolutionizing job searching and career tools. The value of networking, iterative development, and doing good while doing well. Join us as we uncover the nuts and bolts of building a business with intention and innovation.

In this enlightening episode of The Builders Podcast, Nathan Warner joins Matt Levenhagen to share his journey from struggling as an online learner to becoming a pioneer in course design. Nathan breaks down the core reasons most online courses fail to engage learners and offers actionable insights to create impactful, high-completion courses. Listeners will discover how to harness human psychology, gamification, and streamlined content delivery to build courses people actually finish. Whether you're a seasoned course creator or just considering your first project, this episode provides the tools, mindset, and strategies to ensure your efforts translate into meaningful results for learners and your business. Key Takeaways: Human Motivation Is Everything: Understand how momentum and small wins drive learner success. Keep It Simple: You don’t need fancy tools—focus on a strong message and clear delivery. Engagement Over Information: Courses succeed when they are memorable, not just informative. Iterate and Learn: Start small, gather feedback, and improve as you go. Leverage Gamification: Use rewards and storytelling to captivate learners from start to finish. Plan Beyond the Course: Build trust during the course and create a clear path for learners to continue engaging with your brand. Explore the nuts and bolts of how Nathan cracked the code to higher course completion rates, and why his methods are transforming online education.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with Matt Raad, a seasoned entrepreneur and real estate expert, to explore how his offline real estate and bricks-and-mortar business experience translated into building wealth through buying, renovating, and selling digital “real estate” — websites. Matt shares how foundational lessons from running and systemizing physical businesses helped him master the online business landscape. From buying underperforming websites to turning them into profitable, cash-flowing assets, Matt walks us through his journey, strategies, and actionable insights. What You’ll Learn: How Matt applied real estate principles to digital assets. Why websites are the perfect low-risk “side hustle” for beginners. The importance of due diligence when buying online businesses. Strategies for identifying, renovating, and growing niche websites. How to build passive income through a portfolio of digital assets.

Join Matt Levenhagen as he uncovers the inspiring story of Kirsten Pedersen, whose life was dramatically altered by a car accident, leading her from medicine to building a successful catering business. Kirsten shares the powerful moment that ignited her passion for cooking—a jar of strawberry jam—and how she turned it into a culinary dream. This episode dives into the nuts and bolts of building food businesses, from finding your passion to scaling with food trucks and catering. Kirsten also shares insights into the importance of mentorship, focusing on strengths, and creating flexible foodpreneur paths without traditional culinary schooling. Key Takeaways: Resilience Builds Dreams: Life’s curveballs can lead to unexpected opportunities; Kirsten’s accident paved the way for her culinary journey. Start Small, Dream Big: A simple jar of strawberry jam sparked a thriving catering business. Building on Your Strengths: Focus on what you’re great at—whether it’s the product, marketing, or finances—and outsource the rest. Food Trucks Are Flexible and Creative: A food truck business offers incredible freedom, branding opportunities, and strategic partnerships to drive success. Mentorship Fast-Tracks Success: A mentor or structured program can save years of trial and error, offering practical blueprints for foodpreneurs.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, to discuss the intricacies of introducing new features to established products. Kicking off Season 2, the episode shifts focus to the building processes behind enduring digital products and the innovation required to seamlessly integrate new functionalities. Through engaging dialogue, the conversation highlights how small, intentional changes and iterative releases drive big impacts in software development. Nick elaborates on IdeaScale’s strategic approach to innovation management through software solutions, showcasing their success in balancing existing feature maintenance, major project developments, and quick, impactful updates. The episode uncovers the art and science behind user engagement, product optimization, and leveraging feedback systems. With vivid examples, including a simple feature redesign that drove a tenfold increase in user engagement, Nick shares actionable insights into product rollout strategies, user-centric design, and methods for measuring success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the tactical and operational layers of building software and driving innovation. Key Takeaways Three-Pronged Development Approach: Nick outlines IdeaScale’s method for balancing existing feature maintenance, large-scale projects, and small but impactful quality-of-life updates. Feedback-Driven Product Design: Emphasizing the role of dynamic feedback platforms in driving continuous improvement and enhancing user experiences. The Art of Feature Removal: Insights into identifying underused features through analytics and removing them to streamline software and improve usability. AB Testing vs. Serial AB Testing: A discussion on the differences between simultaneous and sequential testing to optimize product usability while addressing security and infrastructure needs. Scalable Innovation for Large Enterprises: How IdeaScale empowers organizations like Comcast, Pfizer, and the U.S. Coast Guard to crowdsource ideas, prioritize effectively, and implement impactful changes.

In this milestone 200th episode of The Builders podcast, Matt Levenhagen celebrates a remarkable journey of nearly four years on air. Emphasizing a season of evolution, Matt introduces exciting shifts as the podcast gears up for its second season. This introspective episode delves into a rich history of diverse topics, highlighting Matt's passion for interviewing builders from various fields—whether tech professionals, entrepreneurs, or coaches. The podcast's previous structure is set to evolve, focusing more on the art of building—the fundamentals behind crafting products, defining services, or scaling businesses. Matt shares insightful ideas about the refined scope for the upcoming season of The Builders. With a niche approach, the focus will home in on dissecting the intricacies of building solutions—be it features in software, physical products, or burgeoning services. The episode underlines the power of niching down to attract the right audience by promising listeners a more defined, value-packed experience in season two. Reflecting on past episodes, Matt articulates the growth he has experienced as a host and emphasizes the enriching relationships built through his engaging podcasting journey. Key Takeaways Podcast Evolution: The Builders is transitioning to a more focused format in season two, emphasizing the nitty-gritty of building various business components. Niching Down for Success: By narrowing content focus, the podcast aims to attract a dedicated audience interested in the foundational elements of entrepreneurship and development. Celebrating Milestones: At 200 episodes, Matt reflects on nearly four years of diverse content, ranging from tech insights to personal journeys of various entrepreneurs. Growth Through Engagement: Matt emphasizes the knowledge and network growth achieved through conversations with almost 100 guests on his podcast. Passion-Driven Content: A keen emphasis on how personal stories and past experiences shape business processes and decisions today.

In this episode of The Builders, Matt welcomes Edwin Carrion to discuss strategies for thriving in challenging economic climates. Edwin dives into the art of scaling businesses, creating systems, and leveraging mentorship to achieve sustainable success. Through personal anecdotes and actionable advice, Edwin explains how to view economic downturns as opportunities, the importance of robust processes, and why investing in marketing and mentorship can lead to growth—even in tough times. Listeners will walk away inspired to build businesses that thrive without their daily involvement, while fostering a meaningful legacy. Key Takeaways: Scaling as a Path to Freedom: Move from solopreneurship to building scalable systems so your business operates independently. Opportunities in Downturns: Economic recessions present unique chances to grow—think of it as "the U.S. on sale." Invest in Marketing: When others cut back, doubling your marketing can expand your market share and boost growth. Systematize for Success: Detailed processes are essential for error-free operations and scalability. Think like a pilot—use a checklist to ensure consistency. The Power of Mentorship: A great mentor accelerates growth, reduces mistakes, and opens doors to networks and opportunities. Balanced Success: Financial freedom is only one aspect—prioritize health, relationships, and personal development for holistic fulfillment.

In this engaging episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Eric Burns, founder of Flowers Capital, to dive into the journey of entrepreneurship and real estate investment. With a unique background in finance and firefighting, Eric shares his pivot toward real estate and the powerful lessons he's gathered along the way. Central to the conversation is the concept of "failing forward," where each failure becomes a crucial lesson that fosters resilience and sharper decision-making in business. Through his insights, Eric underscores the importance of partnerships, personal accountability, and adapting to challenges, providing listeners with a blueprint for building a sustainable and successful business. The discussion delves into Eric's progression from residential to commercial real estate, underscoring the importance of working with skilled operators and vetting partners to ensure successful investments. Eric and Matt explore the complexities of the syndication model, highlighting the necessity of conservative underwriting and thorough due diligence to thrive in today’s market. Addressing both current conditions and the evolving landscape of commercial real estate, Eric offers actionable insights on embracing change and turning challenges into opportunities. Through his stories and strategic lessons, listeners gain a rich perspective on the power of perseverance, community support, and consistently refining the customer experience to foster long-term success. Key Takeaways: Failing Forward: Embrace failures as valuable lessons that build resilience, refine strategy, and lead to wiser future decisions. Smart Partner Selection: Carefully select and vet potential partners by evaluating their track record, infrastructure, and compatibility with your business goals. Customer-Centric Focus: Cultivating a positive customer experience builds trust and long-term relationships, essential in real estate and beyond. Community and Networking: Leverage mastermind groups, networks, and accountability communities to accelerate learning, mindset growth, and entrepreneurial success. Strategic Narrowing: Focusing on high-impact areas optimizes resources and enhances the likelihood of long-term success in a competitive market.