Forward Obsessed

Tanay Kothari, CEO and co-founder of Wispr Flow, shares his journey from a coding prodigy in Delhi to innovating voice AI in Silicon Valley. He discusses the evolution of voice technology and the importance of design over engineering. Tanay reveals challenges of building startups, including fundraising and team dynamics. He also delves into the generational shift towards voice interaction, emphasizing its potential to redefine communication. Expect insights on entrepreneurial resilience and the future of tech from a true product enthusiast!

What does it take to scale a business from a $20,000 launch to over $100 million in revenue? In this episode of Forward Obsessed, entrepreneur Sean Busch takes us through his incredible journey—from a small-town kid flipping car parts in high school to founding and selling the household cleaning brand Puracy. Along the way, Sean shares how he leveraged Amazon’s early days, built a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, and navigated the challenges of big-box retail.   Sean opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the moment he was fired just before Christmas, the brutal cash-flow struggles of expanding into Target and Walmart, and the pivotal decision to exit his company. He also shares key lessons on craftsmanship vs. commerce, the importance of customer obsession, and why having the right CFO can make or break your business. Now, with his newest venture, Dad Mode, Sean is applying everything he learned to build another game-changing brand. Whether you're a founder, a business leader, or just someone fascinated by the journey of building something from the ground up, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights.   🔎 Find Out More About Sean Busch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantbusch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stb416/ Dad Mode: https://godadmode.com/ Puracy: https://puracy.com/   Chapters 00:00 - A First for Forward Obsessed 03:15 - Sean’s Early Hustles & Entrepreneurial Roots 10:45 - From Car Detailing to Medical Sales 18:30 - The Leap Into E-Commerce & Building Puracy 25:50 - Cracking the Amazon Playbook 32:15 - Scaling to Retail: The Target & Walmart Challenge 40:05 - Surviving Cash Flow Nightmares 48:20 - The Emotional Toll of Entrepreneurship 55:10 - The Exit: Selling Puracy 1:02:30 - Lessons Learned & Advice for Founders 1:10:00 - Sean’s Next Venture: Dad Mode   🔗 Other Links & Resources The Honest Company by Jessica Alba (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609619110 The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887898 Amazon FBA: https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon Singer Automotive: https://singervehicledesign.com/ Seven Generation (CPG): https://www.seventhgeneration.com/   🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/   #entrepreneurship #startups #businessgrowth

Mike Lloyd’s entrepreneurial story began with a simple childhood side hustle—burning CDs for friends in his small Michigan hometown. That spark of ingenuity set him on a journey from studying at MIT and Harvard to launching and scaling companies that reshaped industries. In this episode of Forward Obsessed, Mike delves into the pivotal moments that defined his path, sharing the highs and lows of his journey. He opens up about the painful lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he transformed those experiences into a winning formula for success. Mike reveals the critical importance of mastering distribution, his obsession with solving meaningful problems, and how COVID and Bitcoin propelled his cyber insurance company to the forefront of the industry. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply love a compelling story of resilience and growth, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable wisdom. 🔎 Find Out More About Mike Lloyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelloyd Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeLloyd Corvus Insurance: https://www.corvusinsurance.com Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Mike Lloyd 04:10 - Small-Town Beginnings: Burned CDs & the Hacker Spirit 08:45 - Learning Early Business Lessons 13:00 - From Soccer Dreams to VMI and MIT 19:30 - Why Engineering Shapes Problem-Solvers 24:15 - The Shift from Academia to Startups 29:00 - First-Time Founder Failures and Hard Lessons 35:20 - Obsessing Over Distribution: A Game-Changer 39:40 - Building Corvus Insurance with Phil Edmondson 44:15 - The Role of Brokers in Insurance Distribution 50:00 - Finding Product-Market Fit in Cyber Insurance 55:30 - COVID as a Catalyst for Cyber Insurance Growth 01:03:15 - Bitcoin’s Role in Cybersecurity’s Evolution 01:08:20 - Fundraising Tips for Entrepreneurs 01:14:45 - Partnering with Travelers: A Behind-the-Scenes Look 01:22:30 - Lessons in Failure, Resilience, and Letting Go 01:30:00 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Parents 🔗 Other Links & Resources: Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062292986 The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062273205 Measure What Matters by John Doerr: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525536221 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/ #entrepreneurship #startups #forwardobsessed