Inspired with Alexa von Tobel
Inspired Capital
Inspired with Alexa von Tobel dives headfirst into conversations with the most ambitious people on the planet. Host Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital, gets under the hood of guests’ ambitions, from pivotal childhood moments to the critical advice that shaped their life paths. What does it take to be a true visionary, one who stares down monumental challenges with grit and resilience? Learn directly from those builders and problem-solvers whose determination is shaping a brighter, more inspired future.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 29, 2019 • 33min
How to Maximize Every Minute, with Susan Tynan of Framebridge
Susan started Framebridge out of a personal paint point: she tried to frame a series of National Parks posters and realized the process was both confusing and expensive. With $82 million in funding and a major facility in Kentucky, Framebridge has fundamentally transformed the experience for consumers across the country. Susan shares why she always does the hard thing first, the challenge of managing seasonal spikes in business, and how she doesn't waste time on guilt as a working parent.
May 22, 2019 • 35min
How to Build Trust with Consumers, with Eddy Lu of GOAT
Eddy Lu, Co-founder of GOAT, talks about how GOAT authenticates products, the online vs. retail sales dynamic, and the experience of acquiring a sneaker pioneer as a new upstart. The podcast delves into GOAT's inception, growth, strategic partnerships, dedication to authenticity, and the founder's entrepreneurial journey.
May 15, 2019 • 35min
How to Achieve Product-Market Fit, with Shan-Lyn Ma of Zola
Shan-Lyn Ma is transforming the wedding business. After graduating from Stanford Business School and joining Gilt as their first product person, Shan launched Zola in 2013—and has already helped over half a million couples. Shan shares why product is so important to every business, how to get smart (and actionable!) consumer feedback, and the real story behind Zola's creative name.
May 8, 2019 • 35min
How to Stay Ahead of the Competition, with Philip Krim of Casper
Mattress shopping never sparked joy — until Casper came around. Philip and his coworkers have upended the industry and now have a $1.1 billion dollar valuation. Philip shares his vision for the future of sleep, how to scale a brand (both digitally and in retail experiences), how he thinks about the competition, and tells us about the synchronous run-in at a co-working space that led to Casper.
May 1, 2019 • 37min
How to Build a Subscription Business, with Jessica Lessin of The Information
After working for 8 years as a Wall Street Journal reporter, Jessica set out to build a new content model - a subscription business founded on a simple premise: create articles worth paying for. Jessica shares why she became an entrepreneur, how she learned to make decisions quickly, and how content consumption will evolve over the next decade.
Apr 24, 2019 • 35min
How to Make it Work with a Cofounder, with Lindsay Ullman of Umbrella
Umbrella is on a unique mission: the startup is aiming to help people 65+ stay in their homes longer. The demographic they serve is not only one of the fastest-growing, it's also an audience that avidly uses tech. Lindsay shares what excites her about the market opportunity, how product testing uncovered key wins, and most importantly, how she makes it work with her cofounder, Sam Gerstenzang.
Apr 17, 2019 • 44min
Why Hospitality Matters, according to Danny Meyer of Union Square Hospitality Group
Chances are, you've experienced Danny Meyer's brilliance. He's the founder behind Union Square Hospitality Group, which holds a remarkable 28 James Beard awards and is responsible for Shake Shack, which now has over 250 locations worldwide. Meyer opens up about what he looks for in new hires, how he took the leap into the food world, and shares his scariest moment to date (spoiler: getting punched in the face by a diner).
Apr 3, 2019 • 27min
Brynn Putnam, MIRROR
Brynn Putnam is no stranger to building businesses. In 2010, she started Refine Method, the award-winning boutique fitness studio. Now, she's the Founder & CEO of MIRROR, tapping into the $14 billion dollar home fitness market with a connected fitness system that streams classes to users in-home, all via (you guessed it) a mirror. Putnam shares how she came up with the idea and built her first prototype, the surprising range of users who love the platform, and how her professional dancing career makes her a stronger CEO.
Mar 27, 2019 • 39min
Howie Liu, Airtable
Howie Liu, founder of Airtable, shares his journey of building a billion-dollar platform and his aspiration to become the next great tech company. He discusses Airtable's mission of empowering human creativity and building the right culture, the importance of self-awareness and constant learning in hiring, the value of humility and lessons from selling a company, his background and upbringing, and their goal of being a pioneering company focused on human empowerment.
Mar 20, 2019 • 30min
Jimmy Chen, Propel
Founder of Propel, Jimmy Chen, is working to build anti-poverty software. With their first product Fresh EBT, Propel is using technology to transform the experience of using food stamps for millions of Americans. Chen explains how he’s building Propel at the intersection of social good and profit, his above-and-beyond approach to gathering user feedback, and how he plans to expand his team.
