Ask Brien Show

By Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForgeBusiness Entrepreneurship Management

Ask Brien Show episodes

July 29, 2023Scaling an All-Natural Deodorant Brand with Ira Kaganovsky, Founder of Freedom
This week we have Ira Kaganovsky, the visionary founder of Freedom Deodorant on the show. Ira takes us on a journey through the origin of Freedom and the process of turning the vision of a healthy aluminum free-deodorant into a reality.
Ira shares the challenges and success of getting Freedom products into stores, with a story about breaking into the prestigious Four Seasons Spa in Las Vegas.
Ira talks about business development, sales, and the art of pitching, emphasizing the significance of building trust with customers and crafting a robust sales team from the ground up.
One of the biggest obstacles faced during the startup phase—building a stellar team. With a keen eye for spotting entrepreneurial spirit, Ira shares the key qualities to seek when assembling a team.
Tune in today to gain valuable insights on how to implement crucial elements into your own business early on. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business professional, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and motivational stories. For a discount visit https://freedomdeodorant.com/ Use discount code: Brien25
IN THIS EPISODE:
05:42 Ira Kaganovsky Introduces Freedom Deodorant
6:47 Types of packaging for a health conscious company
00:07:22 Eco-friendly deodorant ensures long-lasting effectiveness without harmful chemicals
7:44 How Ira came up with the concept for the company. Toxic products.
10:11 Natural deodorants at the time didn’t work
11:38 Ira created her own natural deodorant at home. Friends liked her homemade recipe so much she decided to turn it into a business
15:00 Toxins in products, stress, environmental factors, detergents
17:44 Environmental factors and stress: potential links to women’s health, specifically breast cancer risk
19:00 Taking her new product to spas door to door, 14 out of 15 asked her to leave
20:50 Rapid expansion and success: from first client to 400 spas in three years
23:46 The challenges of selling consumer goods
26:27 Navigating venture capital
28:29 Gender bias in venture capital interviews
33:00 Pitching to raise capital
34:40 The value of entrepreneurial spirit In hiring

Key Takeaways
One of the biggest obstacles faced during the startup phase was building a stellar team. With a keen eye for spotting entrepreneurial spirit, Ira shares the key qualities to seek when assembling a team.
One of the best qualities Ira has found is entrepreneurial spirit.

BIO: When Ira’s 3 friends were diagnosed with Breast cancer and were told to switch to natural products Ira had the hardest time finding a natural deodorant that worked, smelled good or even looked good. So she created one that did all three! Freedom luxury natural deodorant can now be found in Four Seasons Spas and Canyon Ranch spas nationwide…have you found your Freedom?
LINKS MENTIONED:
https://freedomdeodorant.com/, Discount code: Brien25
Ask Brien Podcast
Freedom Deodorant Instagram

This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepzProviding the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
38 min
July 23, 2023Growing a Family Business The Healthy Way with Leslie Zinn, Arden’s Garden
Today we have Leslie Zinn from Arden’s Garden on the show. Leslie’s mom started Arden’s Garden and turned it into a family business. The passion behind getting cold pressed juice into everyone’s hands to improve their health was the main mission behind their business, but it got started in an unlikely way. Leslie talks about what it’s like working in a family business, how their company operates today, and also summarizes their product line. Tune in today to learn about expanding a company slowly and steady to create success.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[5:42] What was Leslie’s background prior to Arden’s Garden and what’s the story behind Arden’s Garden?
[8:58] What is the difference between cold pressed juice and juicers?
[11:22] How did they approach the first hair salon to sell juice?
[15:49] How does their company operate today?
[17:30] Have they ever thought about franchising?
[18:07] What are their product lines?
[20:31] What was it like to work in a family business?
[26:45] How is their company expanding?
[27:53] What does their product development look like?
[32:27] What was the biggest challenge that they had when going from 3 people to a full business?
[34:16] What is the company culture?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Small family business therapy is a real thing! Learning to work together professionally as a family can be tricky, but the therapy can help settle any disputes and ensure you are all on the same page.
Getting creative in your business when it isn’t going as well as you hoped is essential for having your business continue to grow. Get creative with your marketing, or who you are presenting your products to. Arden’s Garden went and sold their juice to hairdressers which would seem odd, but provided major success.
Having employees who are as passionate about your product or service as you are will help you business grow and keep you all working together as a team.

BIO:
Many years ago, Arden Zinn began making fresh juices out of her kitchen for herself, her family and her friends. She believed that fresh juice was the key to good health, and wanted to share that with the people close to her.
Back then, she would juice any fruit or vegetable available and deliver the juice to whomever wanted some. Most people drank the juice because they liked the taste, but Arden’s satisfaction came from knowing the health benefits they were receiving. Can you believe that from these beginnings a business was born?
LINKS MENTIONED:
Arden’s Garden Website
Arden’s Garden Instagram
Ask Brien Podcast
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
36 min
July 22, 2023The Importance of Business Development and Sales with Matt Pell of Beyond Pulse
This week we have Matt Pell, the CEO of Beyond Pulse on the show. Matt talks about how he came into the company and took over the CEO role from the founders, and what changes he made. He discusses why hiring him was such a definitive decision. Matt also talks about the importance of business development and sales. He has a large focus on building trust with Beyond Pulses customers and how to build a strong sales team. Tune in today to learn the key things to implement into your business early on.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[7:34] Matt provides us with his background in business prior to joining Beyond Pulse.
[9:32] What is Beyond Pulse?
[13:37] Where does the collected data go?
[16:53] What is the cost for the hardware and app for customers?
[19:20] What was the journey to the company prior to Matt joining, and why was Matt coming on as CEO definitive?
[23:50] Why do founders end up hiring a CEO?
[25:35] How important is it to get into the business development and sales space coming out of the gate?
[27:10] How do you go about hiring/building a sales team?
[29:20] Matt share’s a business motto that is a great way to look at customer service.
[32:20] What is the most important thing someone needs to have to be successful?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Don’t be afraid of failure, it is part of the process. You don’t want to get to the end of your life having regrets, so go all in and learn from any mistakes so you can keep growing.
Building trust with your customers is what keeps them coming back and referring others to you. If you don’t have their trust, you have nothing.
Think of selling your product as looking for partners who are going to help you with your product. They’ll give you valuable feedback and help you improve your product. This can make “selling” feel less stressful and overwhelming.

BIO:
Matt Pell is an experienced Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Sales, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Management, and Account Management. Strong professional with a Bachelor of Science focused in Marketing.
LINKS MENTIONED:
Beyond Pulse Website
Ask Brien Podcast
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
34 min
June 30, 2023Building a Successful Company with Chrissa McFarlane
Today we are talking with Chrissa McFarlane, the Founder and CEO of Patientory Inc. Chrissa started her business after working in the corporate world, and has some great insight in the shift between corporate and creating a startup. She tells us what Patientory is, how this digital health wallet can help patients connect with their doctors and how she built out the company. She gives some great tips on her marketing strategy and how she utilizes podcasts to get the word out about Patientory. Tune in today to learn more about building a successful company you’re passionate about.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[6:16] Chrissa explains what Patientory is and discusses her background.
[9:07] How did Chrissa fund Patientory and get it off the ground?
[11:16] Is data security a concern for users?
[12:26] Does Patientory connect with wearable health trackers?
[13:46] How does Patientory make money?
[14:23] What has been the biggest challenge in the data health space?
[15:42] What does Patientory’s team look like and where is it going in the future?
[17:11] What has been Chrissa’s biggest challenge while building a team?
[18:41] What differences has Chrissa experienced from working in corporate to a start up business?
[20:26] Is Chrissa fluent in Spanish? How has that benefitted her in her business?
[22:04] What is Chrissa’s marketing strategy? How has being a podcast guest helped with marketing?
[29:23] What does Chrissa think is the most important attribute of an entrepreneur?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Going from corporate work to creating a startup is a large shift that many don’t expect. The support, funding, growth, everything is smaller and as a CEO you have to be much more hands on through every aspect of the business.
Entrepreneurs must have perseverance to push through and keep going with their vision and business when times get tough. There will be things that come your way that you want to give up on, but pushing through and remembering why you started the business will help you have success.

BIO:
As the Founder and CEO of Patientory, Inc. Chrissa McFarlane publishes international healthcare research articles and actively writes for Forbes on emerging healthcare technological advances. In 2019, McFarlane authored her first book titled Future Women: Minority Female Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the Era of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency.
Devoted to fostering digital innovation in the healthcare industry, McFarlane served as co-chair of the Inaugural HIMSS18 Blockchain Workgroup, member of the; HIMSS Interoperability & Health Information Exchange Committee, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Access Network and the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer.
Chrissa has an array of professional experiences in the healthcare industry, specializing in technology transformation, delivering cost efficient services and products for corporate 500 enterprises/ startups achieving prestigious awards, McFarlane serves as an Influencer for the Inaugural Class of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Choose ATL campaign and Digital Influencer for HIMSS.
Specialties: Leadership, Program/Product Development, General Management, Healthcare Technology
LINKS MENTIONED:
Chrissa McFarlane Website
@patientory
Ask Brien Podcast
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
32 min
June 30, 2023Mastering Data Analytics with Mia Umanos, Click Voyant
On today’s show we have founder and CEO of Click Voyant, Mia Umanos join us. Mia talks about why data analytics are important and how learning your audience is key to success in a business. She discusses the use of Chat GPT, AI, and gathering data analytics and what to look for in order to take action on the feedback. Mia tells us how Click Voyant can help you get the specifics for your data analytics, plus provides a coupon code at the end for Ask Brien listeners! Tune in to learn how to reduce data analytic costs while boosting sales in your business.

IN THIS EPISODE:
[6:40] What is Mia’s background?
[9:04] How did Click Voyant get started?
[11:10] Why is data analytics important?
[13:51] What does Mia think about people thinking data is being manipulated.
[17:55] What is the one thing people don’t talk about when it comes to data analytics?
[19:15] Mia provides an example of taking raw data through AB testing and what is done with those results.
[23:52] What is the minimum amount of information they need to make an analysis?
[27:13] How does Click Voyant use AI?
[31:00] How easy is it to get results using Click Voyant?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
There’s a $200B gap in analytics talent right now. This means there are not enough people to do the work, which makes it very expensive. Plus the length of time to get that information is 12-18 months.
Exploring where your customers are on social media, what your ideal clients want, how to hit their pain points, that is the data analytics that you need, but a lot of consulting companies do not look into that information.
Chat GPT cannot give you the detailed information that pertains to your specific website, only general information. So if you ask it how to drive traffic to your website you won’t get specific for your individual website. However Click Voyant can help you get that information.

BIO:
Mia Umanos
Mia’s superpower is her instinct for user behavior.
Her optimization strategies have lifted revenue $4M in 90 days, created a sustained 40% increase in advertising revenue, taken a political candidate from 4th to 2nd place in 3 months, and won a Google News Initiative Grant. She is a 14-year veteran of analytics who grew up inside digital marketing agencies like Huge, Critical Mass, and Mirum.
During her sabbatical from digital marketing, Mia worked for 3 years for independent media to re-imagine what data could do on media sites to promote civil civic engagement.

LINKS MENTIONED:
Click Voyant Website
AskBrien Discount Code 20% off
Mia Umanos LinkedIn
Ask Brien Podcast
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
36 min
June 23, 2023Journey from Idea to Successful Business with Ira Kaganovsky and Freedom
Today we are talking with Ira Kaganovsky, creator of Freedom, a clean deodorant company. Ira shares her incredible journey through taking an idea and turning it into a successful product. She shares how she inquired about large brand partnerships with Four Seasons, Airlines, and other big name companies. Then our hosts dive into how important packaging and cash flow are to the success of a company, as well as the key steps to creating a business the right way. Tune in to hear Ira’s story and how Freedom came to be.

IN THIS EPISODE:
[2:25] What is the company Freedom?
[5:17] How do you make deodorant without a manufacturing shop?
[6:36] Does Freedom’s deodorant have alcohol or aluminum?
[10:23] How did Ira turn her idea into a company and how did she get some big brands to sell her products?
[15:35] Did everything just fall into place or were there challenges Ira faced?
[15:56] Ira shares about her breast cancer diagnosis due to high cortisol levels and high estrogen levels.
[19:13] The incredible story of using instincts to become an entrepreneur.
[24:36] How important is packaging?
[26:30] How important is cash flow and how does an entrepreneur get cash in order to scale?
[29:56] Where can people get information about the products available from Freedom?
[33:12] Are corporations expensive to start?
[34:18] What steps should people take when starting a company?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The pitch and the story has to connect to your audience. Connecting to them is what will drive people to purchase your product.
You can’t operate a business without cash. How you have access to cash is something that you’ll need to think about before you even launch a business. You don’t want to rack up personal debt on credit cards, so what other options are there to get cash/funding?
Legal Stepz is the place to go to learn about all types of businesses.

BIO:
Our why…
A few years ago, three of my friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. The ongoing theme from all their doctors was the importance of using natural products on the body, and especially to stay away from antiperspirants.
An unsettling fact that I hadn’t realized until that time, was that the antiperspirant most people use daily is actually classified as a drug per the FDA. I was eager to switch to natural products for myself.
So, I purchased my first natural deodorant, which did NOT go so well. I purchased my second one, third, then fourth and so on. When none of them worked for me, I decided to create one that did!
Am I a chemist? Nope – just a single mother of three lovely girls. I wanted to create a natural alternative to the typical not-so-good-for-you products that line the shelves of every store. For me, deodorant was just the first step.
Our products are all human-tested to ensure effectiveness, and are completely safe enough to eat! (Although they work much better than they taste…)
This is where I found my Freedom. The natural deodorant that really works! Be Healthy, Not Stinky!
LINKS MENTIONED:
Ask Brien Podcast
Freedom Deodorant Website
Freedom Deodorant Instagram
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
37 min
June 16, 2023Taking Risks and Learning From Mistakes with Sam Krichevsky and GeoJam
Today we are joined by Sam Krichevsky, the COO & Co-Founder of Geojam. Sam talks with us about the creation and launch aspects of their app, Geojam, and the lessons he has encountered during his entrepreneurial career. He talks about how Geojam has partnered with celebrities and what impact that has had on converting users to the app. Sam discusses how their company operates with three owners and the division of duties. Tune in to learn about failing fast while creating a successful business with the amazing tips Sam provides.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[5:47] What is Geojam and how does it work?
[11:12] What was Sam’s background prior to starting Geojam?
[14:55] Have a lot of people joined the Geojam app in the short amount of time it’s been available?
[18:35] Do their different products collaborate/live together or separately?
[19:38] What was Sam’s experience with failing fast?
[21:37] How did they bring in the tech experience for the app?
[23:02] How did they break apart the responsibilities across the three owners of the company?
[24:43] What other employees and roles do they have within the company?
[26:55] How did they grow their incredible list of celebrities and investors that are coming to the platform?
[28:40] Has the list of celebrities helped with the conversions to users?
[31:20] How does cryptocurrency tie in with Geojam?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
It’s easy to get caught up when starting a business and wanting to share all your great ideas. However launch it in steps, don’t put everything out at once. Especially for an app, users need to get comfortable using the base of a new app before every feature is thrown at them.
Entrepreneurship means wearing a variety of different hats and learning all kinds of new things that you may have never expected. Go into it with an open mind, see what you can learn, hire someone for the things that you aren’t passionate about, and enjoy the journey.
Take risks and learn from your mistakes. If you aren’t failing then you aren’t trying! The fastest way to success is to try, fail, learn from the failure, and keep going!

BIO:
Sam Krichevsky is a technology and music innovator, Co-Founder, and Chief Operating Officer of Geojam, a Social-Fi platform revolutionizing how people interact with social media and earn rewards for creating and sharing content.
Before Geojam, Krichevsky founded TanZ, a full-service live event production company, where he brought innovative ideas to life. He also served as a founding partner at LaunchHouse, a seed capital investment fund, where he developed LHX, a nationally recognized accelerator program that provides top entrepreneurial talent with mentorship, strategic business development resources, and seed funding.
Krichevsky is a seasoned strategist and startup expert actively involved in the music and entertainment industry. He is a member of the Recording Academy and the Forbes Business Council, and he currently serves as a board member and advisor to music, tech, and entertainment startups. With his vast experience and innovative ideas, Krichevsky is paving the way for the future of the fan economy with Geojam.
LINKS MENTIONED:
Ask Brien Podcast
Geojam Website
On all social media: @Geojamofficial
Sam’s profiles on all social media: @Geojamsam
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
36 min
June 09, 2023Profit Matters, But So Does the Right Partner with Ashley Ingle
Today we are joined by the owner of Profit Matters, Ashley Ingle. Ashley walks us through her experience of starting a business, losing a partner in business, and researching venture capital options. She discusses how AI has changed the way Profit Matters works and how she is looking to add more AI into her service based company. Ashley discusses the process of raising funds while running her day to day business operations and what complications can come up. Tune in to hear how Ashley manages her business in a male dominated industry and why she has been so successful.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[8:07] How did Ashley come up with the name “Profit Matters” for her business?
[8:50] What did Ashley do prior to starting Profit Matters?
[15:51] Does Profit Matter have an AI feature or is it all manual and being done by people?
[19:58] What made Ashley bring in a partner originally?
[22:36] Did Ashley and her partner have the provisions for exit in a legal document?
[24:31] What does the rest of the Profit Matters team look like?
[26:06] What areas in her team are they looking to experience growth?
[27:20] What is the process of raising funds while also working in the day to day operations of running a business?
[31:20] Have there been any struggles being a female in a male dominated industry?
[35:01] How did Ashley get her first client?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
When you are thinking of bringing in a partner, think about the long term relationship. Know that going into a business partnership is like going into a marriage. It may not work out, so have a plan of what will happen if the business needs to dissolve or if someone wants out of the partnership.
If you are a female in a male dominated industry, and you want to be treated equally, then you need to act like everyone else. Don’t except special treatment while also expecting to be treated like an equal.
Get curious about the people that you are going to hire. Ashley uses a predictive index/culture index personality test that identifies your workplace trait behavoirs to determine what role applicants would fit into best. This avoids the issue of hiring someone as a bookkeeper who will be unhappy in the long term, but would be an excellent sales person.

BIO:
I help ambitious business owners overcome financial challenges to increase product margins and project profitability.
I know how seemingly small things can turn into massive issues on the operations side if not managed correctly. All the smart work on the project planning side of the business can easily come undone if there are issues with systems and processes.
We have uniquely positioned ourselves to help construction and real estate companies navigate all aspects of operations and tax, to ensure they can maximize their profit. I do this using my proprietary P.R.O.F.I.T plan which I have developed exclusively for construction, real estate, and development companies.
LINKS MENTIONED:
Ask Brien Podcast
Ashley Ingle LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]
Profit Matters Website
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
37 min
June 02, 2023Market Research and Manufacturing with Rebecca Styn and Blind Tiger
Today we are joined by Rebecca Styn, the owner and creator of Blind Tiger. Rebecca talks with us about the shift her business had to experience during COVID and how she went from running a speakeasy style restaurant to shifting into a product line of alcohol free beverages. She talks to us about making this pivot and how they are growing this area of their business now. Rebecca gives some great tips on market research, marketing products, and getting into the manufacturing line of business. Tune in today to get some great tips on taking the leap into entrepreneurship!
IN THIS EPISODE:
[4:04] What is Blind Tiger? What types of products do they have?
[7:00] How has business shifted post-COVID?
[10:24] How does Blind Tiger keep their cocktails made with healthy ingredients?
[11:59] How did Rebecca get into the restaurant/manufacturing field?
[13:40] How did Rebecca navigate this new field?
[17:48] What are some of the mistakes she has made and what has she learned from them?
[21: 30] What was the initial response when the product launched and what did they need to change?
[22:18] What are the current products in the Blind Tiger line?
[28:56] What legal items did they need to go through with naming and business aspects?
[24:09] How did the inspiration around the SpeakEasy and prohibition beverages happen?
[26:30] What does Rebecca’s current team look like?
[27:45] What is the vision for the future of Blind Tiger?
[30:17] How are people finding out about Blind Tiger? What are their marketing efforts at?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
When you are passionate about something, go into it with open arms, expecting there to be mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and being ready to trust that what’s meant to be will happen.
Do market research before starting a new company. Are there people out there seeking your idea? This was a big help for success with Rebecca’s product once she got the idea to launch.
If something shifts the business that is making sales decline, look at your different options and pivot. During COVID Rebecca’s business would have shut down due to not being able to sell alcohol, so they pivoted to non-alcohol drinks which allowed them to expand and grow their business much more than it would have had they not pivoted.

BIO:
Blind Tiger’s founder story is rooted in the spirit of the Prohibition era, where people gathered at speakeasies to enjoy drinks that were otherwise banned. Rebecca Styn, founder of Erie, PA’s Room 33 Speakeasy, brought her passion for this time to life by creating a sophisticated cocktail experience that captures the defining flavors of the era, with or without the alcohol.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, the speakeasy was forced to provide only sans-alcohol drink options to-go, and the team rose to the challenge to create a top-notch spirit-free cocktail that mirrors the flavors of the original. As a result, Blind Tiger was born – an all-inclusive luxury drink that lets you feel part of the occasion with or without alcohol.
Named after the Prohibition-era speakeasies that had to keep a low profile to avoid detection, Blind Tiger is here to enhance the limited dry options offered to consumers. Our formulation uses natural ingredients to embody the flavor and depth that alcohol would customarily offer the drink. So whether you’re looking for a sophisticated alcohol-free drink at a bar, event, or just at home, or an easy classic cocktail – Blind Tiger has got you covered.
LINKS MENTIONED:
Ask Brien Podcast
Blind Tiger Website
Rebecca Styn’s LinkedIn
Rebecca’s Email: r[email protected]
This podcast is sponsored by:
LegalStepz
Providing the Easiest Way to Handle Legal Issues
Legal Stepz Website
Albany Farms Twisted Noodles
Domestically made Ramen Noodles
https://www.albanyfarms.com/twisted-noodles
Please contact Produce Your Podcast if you want to increase visibility, leads and sales for your business.
35 min
May 12, 2023Finding Investors and Setting Goals with Michael Brown CloudNine AI
Today we are joined by Michael Brown who is a co-founder of CloudNine AI. They are a company that gathers and stores healthcare information for researchers to utilize as they try to find connections and cures for diseases. Michael talks with us about the incredible work they are doing and how they have grown and scaled in the past three years. He talks about their planning cycles, team development, and the breakdown and relationship between him and his co-founder. Tune in today to hear about the mind-blowing work they are doing and the best ways to partner with investors.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[6:13] What is CloudNine AI?
[8:45] How can this private information be shared with researchers legally?
[11:13] How does the AI know if the information is confidential?
[13:34] How does CloudNine AI gather data that is stored in Excel sheets?
[15:42] How long is the process to get the data digitalized to where researchers can use it?
[17:24] How much data has been gathered in the last three years?
[18:21] What type of team does CloudNine AI have? How has it grown over time?
[20:36] How was the business impacted when the 3rd co-founder passed away?
[23:00] How does CloudNine AI manage its planning cycles?
[27:18] What does the focus on revenue look like? Do they have someone in charge of business development?
[29:29] How do they have conversations with investors about equity and having skin in the game with the company?
[31:28] How did they get their first company?
[32:09] What is the breakdown of roles between the two co-founders?
[32:56] Where will they be attending their next tradeshows?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
When looking for investors for your company, you have to constantly be talking to people and pitching your business.
If a business has a co-founder, it is critical to put together legal notes regarding what happens to the company if someone wants out, what happens if someone passes away, etc.
Minimize focus to the next 100 days with your goals. This helps you stay focused instead of getting too far ahead and skipping over important steps. Things can/will shift within those 100 days and may change direction, but at least you are focusing on a smaller amount of time. Then start planning out your 5-year, 10-year goals.

BIO:
Michael Brown is the Founder of CloudNine AI and CloudNine Healthcare AI. Democratizing AI with Human-Centered design provides untapped opportunities for enterprises to protect personal information while leveraging data for instant insights. By using data as a resource, the greater the value, the greater the need to apply measured governance – tracking, data protection, maintenance, and compliance with applicable obligations while the pace of change and innovation rapidly evolves.
Healthcare, Insurance, Agriculture, and Finance are among the industries that are governed by such a wide range of regulatory obligations around the treatment of personal information, while also needing to ingest, analyze, process, and retain the most sensitive information belonging to the leading companies in the world.
As the Founder and CEO, Michael has developed, implemented, and deploys our human-centered AI for enterprises positioning the organization to leverage the transformative opportunities that human-center design presents. In his role, Michael is responsible for the processes, tools, and controls necessary to meet the complex information handling requirements, enabling use while ensuring protection. Enabling the use of information while complying with regulatory obligations, protecting digital information, and PII
With over 25 years of experience assisting company innovations with business-enabling technologies while managing related risks. The experience helps focus on the management of information, technology, protection, and privacy risk/control frameworks, to ensure they are aligned with business strategies, processes, policies, and compliance requirements, and to make information privacy and confidentiality part of the organization’s culture.
Also, a dedicated philanthropist supporting a number of charities that focus on children, inclusion, economic equality, food security, and serving the last billion. Human-centered AI should Predict, Prevent & Cure Diseases. #aiforthe
LINKS MENTIONED:
Ask Brien Podcast
CloudNine AI Website
35 min

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