Ask Brien Show

By Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForgeBusiness Entrepreneurship Management

Ask Brien Show episodes

November 05, 2021Lincode.ai With Rajesh Lyengar
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and special co-host Alex Grossman, speak with Rajesh Lyengar about co-founding Lincode.ai, an AI based company that partners with manufacturing companies. For the last four years, Lincode has been solving manufacturing companies’ largest problem: quality management. Brien and Alex, speak with Rajesh about the success of Lincode, how its inception differs from other companies, and how exactly the AI technology works.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:00] Rajesh Lyengar explains the background of Lincode
[11:57] The current market for Lincode
[15:14] Who are Lincode’s competitors?
[16:00] Why use AI over already existing technology?
[20:11] How did this business opportunity come about?
[22:30] What is the business model and sales approach moving forward?
[27:11] Who was Lincode’s first customer?
[29:44] What did the capital investment look like initially?
[30:58] The timeline for creating and launching Lincode

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Unlike other companies who create a product first then seek to understand how to sell it, Lincode sought to understand its customers biggest challenge and then created a product to solve it.
One of the biggest challenges for manufacturers is quality control and automation. Lincode addresses this issue with AI-based business systems that help manufacturers achieve greater accuracy and efficiency.

LINKS MENTIONED:
https://www.lincode.ai/
Rajesh LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeshkiyengar/
BIO:
Rajesh Lyengar has three successful ventures and 19+ years of experience in IT, manufacturing Industry. Rajesh has also developed a patent-pending Secure OS for IIoT.
Rajesh is the founder of Lincode, which enables manufacturers to improve the speed, accuracy, and data tracking capabilities of their quality inspection systems at scale.
36 min
October 29, 2021EVtrip With Kirill Starodubov
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge speak with Kirill Starodubov about co-founding his company, EVtrip. EVtrip seeks to provide a unique and convenient way for a residential market interested in electric vehicles. Brien and Traci speak with Kirill about the “aha” moment behind the idea, the future of electric vehicles and growth strategies for EVtrip.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[06:00] Kirill Starodubov introduced and his background
[08:29] Is EVtrip a product or service?
[12:00] How does this new product enhance the battery life of electric cars?
[13:39] Who is the primary target market?
[15:29] How is the software connected to the car?
[17:20] Who is the largest competitor?
[18:30] What does the team behind EVtrip look like?
[21:10] What are the business development strategies for EVtrip?
[24:00] Plans to scale the business
[27:00] What was the “aha moment” behind EVtrip?
[29:00] Rate of return and charging efficiencies

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Electric cars are projected to become the future of vehicle manufacturing in the next fifteen years.
The goal of EVtrip is to provide a quick and convenient way to charge people’s electrical vehicles.
EVtrip’s main target market right now is residential customers who don’t own the space necessary for a charging station.

Links Mentioned:
https://evtrip.net
BIO:
Kirill Starodubov is the co-founder of EVtrip. EVtrip boasts the “Smartest Electric Vehicle Charger” that manages energy flows from your grid and renewable energy sources to reduce effective charging time up to 4x times faster.
34 min
October 22, 2021Varty.io With Adam Young
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge speak with Adam Young about his up and coming company, Varty.io and how it connects people together online. Adam shares how Varty.io is a fresh take on traditional online social networking and allows for authentic relationships to be formed. They discuss the nuances of the platform and innovative business development strategies.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:00] Adam Young introduced and shares his professional background
[5:00] Adam explains how his company, Varty, works
[15:00] How does Varty make money?
[17:00] Adam explains how Varty is the next level of online social networking
[19:30] How does Varty differ from virtual reality technology?
[25:00] What is the strategy for marketing this type of product?
[26:30] Where did the name “Varty” come from?
[27:40] If investor funding was available how would it be utilized?
[30:00] What is Varty’s primary marketing outreach?
[31:00] Adam shares his biggest challenge and success as an entrepreneur

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Online social networking is meant to enhance your social life. Varty does that but without the negative aspects of current online social platforms.
Most social platforms are missing the authentic, serendipitous aspects of connecting people – Varty was made with those elements in mind.
There are unique challenges and solutions associated with developing and marketing a virtual experience like Varty.

Links Mentioned:
Varty.ioLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/startavarty
BIO:
BIO – Adam Young
Adam Young is the founder of Varty.io, a live social network where users can make meaningful connections by video chatting online. Varty.io utilizes spatialized video chat for better group dynamics.
35 min
October 15, 2021 Cloud A.I With Handoyo Sutanto and Simon Loo
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge talk with Lyrid co-founders Handoyo S and Simon Loo. Lyrid is a cloud computing platform that automates expensive and complex cloud deployment, making the cloud more accessible and cheaper for companies to scale globally. Handoyo and Simon share the origins of Lyrid, how it differentiates itself from its competitors, the importance of curiosity in their team members, and the growth potential for their company. Tune in to hear how Lyrid is everything that brings businesses to a global platform.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:11] How Simon Loo and Handoyo S. met and co-founded Lyrid.
[06:23] Using Lyrid to connect with a global audience and how it’s different from a Content Delivery Network.
[10:33] The ideal end-user for Lyrid and how it sets itself apart from its competition.
[17:40] Building the perfect team and what characteristics Simon and Handoyo are looking for.
[25:08] Experimenting with digital marketing and growth potential.
[31:51] Finding passionate and dedicated people to support the growth of Lyrid.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The ideal end-user for Lyrid is anyone who wants to develop in the cloud and scale their business globally.
Lyrid allows its customers to focus on the development without changing their code to deploy in different regions and adapting to their needs automatically.
Curiosity and willingness to learn are key traits in prospective Lyrid team members.
With the cloud market growing at about 35% year after year, Lyrid is on track to increase its revenue by nearly $2 million in 2022.
LINKS MENTIONED:
Website: https://lyrid.io
Contact: [email protected]
Hadoyo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/handoyos/
Simon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonloo/
BIO:
Handoyo
I am an engineer, technologist, mentor, and entrepreneur at heart. Love to learn, read, build, test, and deploy almost every technology that I can get my hands on.
At Lyrid, we help businesses unlock their potential when they deploy applications in the cloud by leveraging the power of the global cloud distribution. To focus on their growth and applications rather than the operations.
Simon
Simon is a member/investor of Cove Fund and Tech Coast Angel. He volunteers as TA for UCI’s Consulting Projects for Entrepreneurs to put into practice concepts, skills, and tools to analyse relevant administrative issues in a startup.
Simon graduated in 2017 UCI FEMBA program with honor as the academic achievements of top 10% of students in the top 5% of business schools and certificated in Innovation and Entrepreneurship focusing on business development and sales management. Two-time 1st place winner of the 2016 & 2017 Business Plan Competition in UCI business school and failed 3 startups before Lyrid.
Simon is a member of the board of director of Beall Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and a member of Paul Merage School of Business Dean’s Leadership Circle. He worked in Fortune 500 companies as a regional sales manager managing technical sales and developing business strategies.
37 min
October 08, 2021Mediating Business With Judith Weigle
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge speak with Judith Weigle about divorce mediation and how it can apply to businesses. Judith shares about the many facets of divorce and explains key elements of an amicable divorce, like prenups, keeping personal and business finances separate, and prioritizing communication with employees. With 20 plus years experience, Judith is known as the Amicable Divorce Expert and has negotiated and mediated thousands of divorce settlements.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[05:30] Judith introduced as the Amicable Divorce Expert
[07:15] Judith discusses interesting facets of celebrity divorces
[10:30] Aspects of divorce law when there is no prenuptial agreement involved
[17:21] When is a prenup necessary for small business owners?
[21:00] Discussing how divorces affect the brand of a business
[24:30] How to have an amicable divorce
[28:00] How to professionally communicate your divorce with business investors and employees

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Prenups are not just important for celebrity couples. Any couple, no matter how big or small the net worth, will benefit from a prenup.
When there is no prenup in place, a divorce will be more financially complicated, especially for smaller businesses. In those cases, it is extremely important to keep personal and business finances separate.
In order to have an amicable divorce, you must prioritize the grieving stages of divorce before you legally file for a divorce.
Communication is one of the most critical pieces of having an amicable divorce.
As a business owner or co-owner with your spouse, it is key to inform employees of the divorce and set boundaries in order to maintain a professional working environment for the business.

Links Mentioned:
Divorceresourceinc.com
Theamicabledivorceexpert.com
BIO:
Amicable Divorce Expert, Judith Weigle shares her insights and experiences in the world of Divorce as a negotiator and communication specialist, helping thousands do the near impossible: Amicable Divorces.
Judith is one of those rare individuals who can make you laugh while you’re going through a painful experience. Her ability to see through and reach a negotiated settlement is unparalleled in the field of divorce mediation. She is the host of the Amicable Divorce Expert podcast and is an award-winning divorce mediator and paralegal.
Divorce Resource, Inc was established in 1991 by Judith and offers coaching and legal services related to divorce, legal separation, paternity, domestic partnerships and child & spousal support modification.
Judith’s Philosophy: Be Honest, Speak from the Heart, Take Responsibility for Your Actions.
33 min
October 01, 2021Non-Profit Tech With Nick Lynch
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge speak with Nick Lynch as they discuss digital marketing for non-profits. Brien and Traci talk with Nick about marketing and how he leads his company. Nick is one of the founders and CEO of the company, Collidescope, a social media analytics and measurement platform that allows brands, global causes and social media influencers to better collaborate and measure their influence and impact.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:00] Nick discusses being a childhood cancer survivor and how it inspired him to begin social impact marketing and founding his company, Collidescope
[07:00] Brands and non-profits are aligning themselves together for active marketing campaigns
[10:00] Nick discusses the incentive of a strong relationship between brands and non-profits that helps them utilize marketing strategies to help each other
[15:00] Creating automations and measuring data to determine how efficient marketing tactics are
[20:00] How Covid-19 sparked Collidescope, helping non-profits become more digitally savvy
[28:00] Nick speaks about partnering with global organizations that will help them make strategic partnerships and PR relationships at smaller levels
[34:00] The obstacles and challenges that entrepreneurs face and Nick’s advice on how to overcome them

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Collidescope’s main objective is to build partnerships that have a positive impact for both influencers and non-profits, and ensure their work together is productive and collaborative.
Collidescope is focused on building a platform that builds a bridge between the brand and the non-profit, so that they can communicate as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Utilizing technology in the non-profit space is one of Collidescope’s biggest challenges. However, focusing on this challenge is helping them create a bigger impact on fundraising and outreach.

LINKS MENTIONED:
Website – https://collidescopeio.org/
LinkedIn –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaslynch/
BIO:
Senior product and business operations executive with experience managing, building and executing product development strategy, developing business relationships, growing revenue, and executing initiatives in the social, digital, influencer (creator economy), traditional and online media industries for multiple start-up, growth stage, and blue chip companies. Strategic thinker focused on identifying businesses, processes and people with growth potential, and providing actionable solutions and leadership that drive success.
Digital media & advertising solutions expert in cross channel branding and DR initiatives. Expertise in programmatic media, rich media + DCO, and cross-device content monetization. Extensive product knowledge in video, mobile, social, influencer marketing, connected TV, Native, ad serving, RTB, programmatic media buying, addressable TV, OTT, programmatic TV, DMP, and audience targeting solutions.
Domain expertise across MarTech, AdTech, Charity Tech, & MusicTech.
Conversational in Spanish & Chinese
39 min
September 17, 2021 SEO and Marketing With Eric Seropyan
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge talk with Eric Seropyan about SEO and marketing. Traci and Brien start off the show by talking with Eric on his career and how he became a successful SEO marketing expert. Eric talks about a bevy of topics regarding SEO and even getting businesses to become more optimized.
Later in the show, Brien, Eric, and Traci talk more about businesses utilizing SEO in a better output. Listen in as Brien, Eric, and Traci talk about SEO, optimization, and marketing.
To View Podcast Click Here!
33 min
September 10, 2021 Trademarking and Top Ten
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci DeForge talk with about top ten’s and trademarking. Brien and Traci start off the show by talking about some trademarking and counterfeiting top ten lists. Brien and Traci give some advice and have some fun doing these lists.
Later in the show, Brien and Traci talk about the top ten counterfeiting goods. Listen in as Brien and Traci talk about counterfeiting, pirated goods, and trademarking.
To View Podcast Click Here!
15 min
September 03, 2021 Retail Business With Mandy Brewer & Paul McNabb
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Alex Grossman talk with their guests, Mandy Brewer and Paul McNabb. Brien and Alex start off the show by talking with Mandy and Paul on the topic of retail business. Brien and Paul go over Paul’s expertise in the retail business with being with Sam’s Club and Walmart. Alex comes in after to discuss with Mandy on what she contributed with retail as well.
Later in the show, Brien, Alex, Mandy, and Paul talk more about retail and eCommerce. Listen in as Brien, Alex, Mandy, and Paul go over retail, business, and eCommerce.
To View Podcast Click Here!
34 min
August 27, 2021 Exploring and Photos With Justin Myers
On this episode of the Ask Brien Show, our hosts Brien Johnson and Traci Deforge talk with their guest, Justin Myers on his career. Brien and Traci start off the show by talking with Justin about him being an entrepreneur and him working from place to place, until he founded his own company. Justin happens to be the CEO and Founder of Explorest, a company that deals with tourist photos and sight seeing pictures.
Later in the show, Brien, Traci, and Justin go more in depth on Explorest and how it really functions. Listen in as Brien, Traci, and Justin talk about photos, apps, and Explorest. For more information on Justin and his company, Explorest, you can view it by downloading it on the App Store for Apple and Android’s.
To View Podcast Click Here!
37 min

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