INspired INsider Podcast

Kevin McArdle is the Founder and CEO of SureSwift Capital, a private equity firm that buys and builds SaaS companies. SureSwift gives dream exits to SaaS Founders and through their uniquely entrepreneurial approach, they have acquired–and grown–over 30 companies in five and a half years. A few of their companies include ChargeStripe, Mailparser, MySiteAuditor, and many more. Before founding SureSwift, Kevin worked at Cerner Corporation, a global healthcare IT firm. In his 15 year tenure at Cerner, Kevin held positions in sales, sales leadership, operations, general management, and client management, eventually becoming one of the youngest Vice Presidents in the company’s 35-year history. In this episode… Are you a bootstrapped SaaS founder working hard and looking forward to your dream exit? Kevin McArdle's SureSwift Capital is on the lookout for companies like yours—but there's a catch: your company needs to be a good fit for his company in order for him to help you get your dream exit. But what are the requirements that you need to meet in order to qualify for SureSwift’s dream exit? And what if, instead of selling your company, you want it to grow even more? On this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast as Dr. Jeremy Weisz goes behind the scenes of private equity firm, SureSwift Capital, with its founder, Kevin McArdle. They talk about Kevin's foray into entrepreneurship and how he grew his company, the idea behind SureSwift Capital’s interest in bootstrapped SaaS companies, the acquisition process that companies go through, and the requirements for them to help companies get the exit that they dream of. Stay tuned.

Andrew Youderian is the Founder of eCommerceFuel, an amazing community where eCommerce store owners can help each other grow their stores and build deeper relationships. After a few years in the investment banking world, Andrew decided he'd had enough and decided to quit and start his first eCommerce business. He has sold numerous eCommerce stores over the years, which have collectively generated millions of dollars, and he has experience bootstrapping stores, seven-figure business exits, and SEO community building. In this episode… Imagine building the world's largest community of top business owners in your niche. Can you imagine how valuable and helpful that would be? This type of community gives members immediate access to actionable knowledge and helps them build trusting relationships. But there's only one problem: developing and running a community like this is almost unheard of, especially when you think about how to make it so effective and impactful to its members. The good news is Andrew Youderian of eCommerceFuel was able to do just this. And an even better news is that he’s more than excited to share how he built a community of ace eCommerce founders. He says that maintaining a substantial presence online, making connections, and networking will give you the boost you need to get you started. But as in all things, there are a lot more details that you need to be aware of if you want to create a community that will be worth everyone’s while. On this episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with eCommerceFuel Founder, Andrew Youderian, about what it takes to create a vibrant community for eComm business owners. Andrew also shares the story behind the founding of the eCommerceFuel community, the core values that drive it, and how the community has helped eCommerce brands. 

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and was a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his own boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast since 2012 where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, from Peter Diamandis and Adam Grant to Gary Vaynerchuk and Marie Forleo. John is also the co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their client generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… How important is your network to you? Most likely, you know just how valuable connections can be—particularly if you’re doing business. But unfortunately not many people are able to capitalize on these connections alive because of one thing: they don’t know how. Your network thrives on a give-and-take environment and one of the best ways that you can do that is through a podcast. The question is, how can you utilize having a podcast to grow your network and more importantly, how do you create amazing content for your podcast? Listen to this episode Inspired Insider Podcast as Dr. Jeremy Weisz chats with his Rise25 co-founder, John Corcoran, about how to create great content for a podcast. They discuss what makes a content unforgettable, the importance of doing research about your guests prior to your interview, and why stories are always an amazing source of content. Stay tuned.

Jimmy Zollo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Collaborata, a Chicago-based company serving the insights and marketing-research space. Collaborata helps companies find, shape, and buy expert-led multi-client research projects. It helps companies get expert market research that can help a company grow and innovate, and they connect research clients and suppliers to market research. They are the first-ever platform that allows brands to share research costs and insights, and they have been featured in Business Insider, BuiltInChicago, Greenbook, Market Research World. Jimmy is also the Co-Founder of Joe & Bella, a service that provides older adults with the full array of products they need, and they offer their services for residents of care communities, their families, and caregivers.  Previously Jimmy helped drive the initial growth of Grubhub, one of Chicago's most successful tech startups ever. He helped develop Grubhub's industry-leading restaurant network, traveling across the country to launch new markets and grow existing ones. Before Jimmy focused on tech, he worked in the sports industry, having worked for the Chicago Sky, then the Bulls, selling his favorite sport in his favorite city. In this episode… While sitting in a meeting where the new rules on how Grubhub would operate after completing a successful IPO, Jimmy Zollo knew it was time to move on to do something different. He had worked hard at helping Grubhub expand into new cities but Jimmy wanted to remain in the startup ecosystem and had always wanted to build something of his own. So he dived into the entrepreneurial deep blue sea and founded Collaborata.  Ten months down the line, no client, no paycheck, it looked like Jimmy’s Collaborata was going to fail. But after multiple iterations, they struck gold and were able to bring on marquee clients such as the NBA, Reebok, and Ford to collaborate on a project and share data. That breakthrough became the start of many significant research collaborations enabled by Collaborata. Join Dr. Jeremy Weisz and Jimmy Zollo, the Co-Founder and CEO of Collaborata, on this episode of Inspired Insider Podcast. They talk about Jimmy’s entrepreneurial journey, why he started Collaborata, and how they enable big competitive corporations to collaborate in research projects and democratize data for growth and innovation. They also talk about Jimmy’s other company, Joe and Bella, and how both of Jimmy’s companies best serve their clients. Stay tuned.

Lance Graulich is the Founder and CEO of ION Franchising, an industry-leading franchise, consulting, and development group. They represent over 650 franchise brands and business opportunities within 90 different categories.  Lance helps prospective entrepreneurs find their perfect franchise free of charge and he also helps independent business owners create a franchise system. He started in a family business on Wall Street after receiving his economics degree. He joined TGI Friday's franchise in Arizona as a key executive and was vital in the rapid growth of the over $225 million organization.  Lance was a multi-unit, multi-state franchisee of Wingstop and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. He has created countless startup brands and is one of the industry-leading donut experts. He is the Founder of the doughnut chain Pinkbox Doughnut in Las Vegas. As a business start-up expert with more than 25 years of experience, Lance has served as President of various franchise advisory councils and boards advising emerging franchise brands. He has also helped a multitude of companies grow efficiently and effectively, and he routinely provides advisory services to private equity firms covering the restaurant industry. In this episode… Are you interested in starting a new business but have no idea on how to begin? Are you looking to expand your brand to other areas but don’t want the associated cost? If these are questions that you want answered ASAP, you should consider resourcing up and hiring two people who can help you get those questions answered: an attorney and an accountant. The only caveat is that there are many misconceptions about franchising especially if you’re asking for advice from the wrong people. But connecting with experts such as Lance Graulich, who is a serial franchisee and a certified business startup expert, helps you avoid three very possible scenarios: ruining your brand, missing out on a great business opportunity, or getting hit with the double whammy in one fell swoop. Make sure to tune in to this episode of Inspired Insider as Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he chats with Lance Graulich, the Founder and CEO of ION Franchising, about the challenges and opportunities that come with franchising. They'll discuss how to leverage franchising to expand your brand, how Lance became a successful franchisee, the work he does with some remarkable brands that he represents, and how he can help you become a franchise owner even with a $50,000 budget.

Robert Wallace is a speaker, author, and a consultant with over 40 years of business experience spanning engineering, energy, and IT. He has a true rags-to-riches story that began in the Baltimore Projects amidst poverty and racial segregation before overcoming obstacles to establish three companies: BITHGROUP Technologies, Bithenergy, and EntreTeach.  Robert shares his innovative strategies for success in his books and workshops, which includes one of his books, Black Wealth: Your Road to Small Business Success. He partners with many different types of clients across a range of industries and some of his clients include Bank of America, Dartmouth College, IBM, Salvation Army, NIH, Toyota, Verizon, University of Pennsylvania, and many more. In this episode… "Why does America hate us so much?" That was the depressing question young Robert Wallace asked his father when he watched the news about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. As an adult and as a parent today, how do you answer that question? Robert’s father was able to talk to him and his siblings about racial inequality which shaped his perspective about it and made him see that not everyone was truly bad. But sadly, many years later, racial inequality still persists, and the recent events at the Capitol Building lend credence to it. But what impact does racial inequality have in you as a person and in your business? And how can addressing the appalling silence on racial inequality help you determine the direction that might want to have for your business? And more importantly, what can you learn from Robert's experiences of racial inequality and how he turned it around to succeed in life and business?  Listen to this episode of Inspired Insider as Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks to Robert Wallace, Founder of BITHGROUP Technologies, about the appalling silence on racial inequality. Robert talks about his experiences of racial inequality in the United States and how he has seen it persist through the years. He also shares the lessons he's learned and the mindset that shaped his success in education and entrepreneurship, and his favorite story from his book, Black Wealth: Your Road to Small Business Success.

Haley Kwait Zollo is Principal at Starting Line, a Chicago-based, thematic early-stage venture capital fund focused on investing in consumer services and products that are cheaper and better. They’ve invested in companies like Cameo, Catch Co, SpotHero, and many more.  Before joining Startling Line, Haley was VP of Strategy and Business Operations at Mac & Mia and was Manager of strategy and analytics at Trunk Club. She began her career as a Transaction Services Associate at KPMG. In this episode… Building a business in today's highly digitalized world is a double-edged sword because there's a lot of data created that can make or break a business. The misanalysis of data or analyzing the incorrect data can lead to poorly informed decision making that can hurt your business. But on the flip side, using the data and measuring KPIs the right way will drive important decisions that can multiply your business's growth. However, the million-dollar problem is how do you know which metrics to measure and how do you identify which KPIs move the needle for your business? On this episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Haley Kwait Zollo, Principal at Starting Line, about the importance of making informed decisions in business. They discuss Haley's background in analytics, her foray into the VC world, the data and KPIs digital brands should be analyzing, and Haley's advice to early-stage startups on how to have non-linear growth. Stay tuned.

Rudy Mawer is the CEO and Founder of ROI Machines. ROI Machines is a digital marketing agency that helps companies get tens of thousands of leads with paid ads by setting up everything that a company needs from funnel design, development, copywriting much more. They help multiple 7 to 8 figure businesses generate over $150 million per year. Rudy is also the CEO of Pier1, an online retail and home store chain specializing in imported home furnishings and decor. Pier1 is part of the Retail E-commerce Venture's holdings, where Rudy is an investor and advisor. Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr run Retail E-commerce Ventures and their holdings include Pier1, RadioShack, Dressbarn, Stein Mart, Franklin Mint, Linens 'n Things, and many more.  Before founding ROI Machines, Rudy was an elite sports nutritionist and trainer. He worked with Hollywood celebrities, elite athletes, NBA players, WWE, gold medalists, and more. In this episode… How do you rebuild a brand that has made a billion dollars in revenue and went bankrupt? How do you rebuild the trust with partners and vendors with backlogs of unpaid invoices? That’s the scary and chaotic state Pier1 was in before Rudy Mawer took over its operations after Retail E-commerce Ventures acquired it.  Rudy has since gone on to put Pier1 and brands like RadioShack and Linens ‘N Things on a steady growth trajectory while still running his own digital marketing agency that generates over 150 million $ per year for top businesses. Impressive, isn’t it? In this episode of Inspired Insider Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews the CEO and Founder of ROI Machines, Rudy Mawer, to discuss how he rebuilds and grows big brands that have gone bankrupt. Rudy also talks about the mindset behind his success with elite clients, the metrics that matters when growing and rebuilding a big brand, what makes an ad convert, and how he built a 60-person digital agency that’s capable of running on its own. Stay tuned.

Ray Edwards is a famous copywriter, best-selling author, and keynote speaker. His direct response campaigns have resulted in an estimated $100 million in sales, and he has worked with high-profile clients such as Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor Hansen. Ray is currently a copywriting consultant and the Founder of the Copywriting Academy Coaching Program and the Ray Edwards Copywriting Agency. He is also the host of the top-ranked podcast, The Ray Edwards Show.  In this episode… What is the secret to writing a compelling and unforgettable story—for direct response marketing campaigns and beyond? According to copywriter Ray Edwards, the best possible story is the true story.  While many marketers and business owners shy away from storytelling that makes them feel vulnerable or uncomfortable, Ray insists that the most powerful stories are the ones that are personal and emotional. That’s because they strike a chord with your audience, inviting them to create a connection with you and your brand. For example, the hardest story for Ray to tell was about his Parkinson’s disease. However, when he finally embraced his discomfort and posted the story on his professional website, he received an astounding and positive response. As it turns out, this was just the story that people were waiting for.  Sit down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz and copywriting legend Ray Edwards in this episode of the Inspired Insider podcast as they talk about how to tell a story that leaves a lasting impression on your target audience. Ray opens up about the many valuable lessons he has learned throughout his career, his journey toward embracing vulnerability in life and in business, and the storytelling strategies that he believes are the most powerful (hint: always tell your truth).

Ron Popeil is a unique inventor and a legend of sales infomercials and direct response marketing. Over the last 40 years, Ron’s products have pulled in more than $2 billion in sales. He has created innumerable products and infomercials, such as the Showtime Rotisserie, the Chop-O-Matic, the Veg-O-Matic, and many more.  Ron is still going strong with his latest product, the 5-in-1 fryer which can cook a 15 pound turkey in 46 minutes. In this episode… Do you want to know how to craft top-notch marketing campaigns that are persuasive and profitable? Are you looking for the secrets behind some of the biggest infomercials in TV history? If so, you’re in the right place! Ron Popeil had an early start in direct marketing. Growing up, Ron spent a great deal of time selling products and services to large crowds of people on Maxwell Street. Through that experience, Ron learned the best strategies and hacks for selling products--fast. So, when Ron found an opportunity to sell on TV through infomercials, he knew just what to say to win over hoards of customers.  In this episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Ron Popeil, inventor and expert direct marketer, to discuss Ron's background and experience with infomercials and direct response marketing. Listen in as Jeremy and Ron talk about Ron’s most successful campaigns (and the strategies behind them), Ron’s thoughts on pitching products, and the craziest inventions Ron has seen in his 40 years as a direct marketing aficionado. Stay tuned!