Why do Comic-Con attendees provide better market research than focus groups, and how can trade shows become your product development laboratory?

Crowdfunding isn't just about money—it's about community validation and smart risk-taking. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Nathan Nalevanko (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-nalevanko-29014133), Senior Design and Tech Outreach Lead at Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/), about what makes for a successful campaign. Learn how to validate product-market fit through live community feedback, build lasting relationships with passionate backers, and navigate the challenges of bringing physical products to market. Whether you're testing your first idea or scaling your third product launch, Nathan breaks down the strategies that turn side hustles into million-dollar businesses.

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Why do Comic-Con attendees provide better market research than focus groups, and how can trade shows become your product development laboratory?

Building a toy business that sparks imagination while navigating supply chain challenges requires persistence, creativity, and direct customer feedback. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Jeff Lawber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflawber/), the creative force behind Marmals (https://www.marmals.com/), an adorable modular magnetic toy fostering imaginative play. Jeff shares his path from industrial designer to toy entrepreneur, revealing how he's built lasting relationships with over two dozen suppliers through Alibaba.com while maintaining his vision as a solopreneur. Learn how trade shows became his testing ground for innovation, why direct customer feedback drives product development, and how he weathered tariff challenges through creative problem-solving and domestic innovation.

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Disrupt or Be Disrupted: Future-proofing your Supply Chain with Kerim Kfuri
(https://b2b-breakthrough-podcast.castos.com/episodes/disrupt-or-be-disrupted-future-proofing-your-supply-chain)

Previous guests include Rudy Mawer, CEO of Mawer Capital; Tony Parker, four-time NBA champion and Founder and President of Infinity Nine Group; Mike McClary, CEO of Amazing.com; Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Media; Kia-Shun Voltz, Chief Executive Officer of ShampooTime; Matt Jones, Founder of The Crease Beast; and Julianna Dahbura, Founder of Deco Beauty.

Why are founders who avoid buzzwords and rhetorical questions 10x more likely to secure follow-up meetings with investors?

The difference isn't having the most innovative product or the slickest presentation—it's understanding the psychology behind investor decision-making and communicating with the confidence that comes from genuine preparation. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Kat Weaver (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katweaver/), founder of Power to Pitch (https://powertopitch.com), about mastering the art of fundraising through clear communication and confident pitching. From winning 22 of 23 pitches to helping founders raise over $50 million in grants and venture capital, Kat shares the psychology behind successful funding conversations and reveals why less than 2% of venture capital goes to US businesses, with only 2.9% of that reaching female founders. Learn how to overcome imposter syndrome, avoid common pitch mistakes, and navigate the challenging landscape of fundraising while building authentic investor relationships that extend far beyond the initial meeting.

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Why does treating "every production as the first time" prevent the kind of complacency that turns mass production into mass disaster?

Turning disruption into opportunity requires more than just quick thinking—it demands the right mindset, strategic preparation, and a willingness to embrace chaos as fuel for innovation. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Kerim Kfuri (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerimkfuri/), President and CEO of The Atlas Network (https://theatlasnetwork.com) and global supply chain strategist, about mastering the art of leading through uncertainty. With decades of experience helping businesses navigate everything from tariff disruptions to pandemic-induced shortages, Kerim reveals his three-step methodology for controlling the controllable factors while building resilience against the unforeseeable. Learn how to transform your biggest challenges into competitive advantages through strategic supplier relationships, proactive risk assessment, and the power of adaptable thinking.

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Kerim Kfuri is President and CEO of The Atlas Network, a global supply chain management company with over 20 years of experience helping businesses navigate disruptions across industries. Leading a network of close to 2,000 suppliers worldwide, Kerim has developed proven methodologies focused on risk mitigation, transparency, and visibility that have guided countless organizations through major global challenges including the pandemic, tariff conflicts, and supply chain volatility. As a supply chain optimist and thought leader, he believes that chaos creates the greatest opportunities for businesses willing to adapt and innovate.

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Previous guests include Rudy Mawer, CEO of Mawer Capital; Tony Parker, four-time NBA champion and Founder and President of Infinity Nine Group; Mike McClary, CEO of Amazing.com; Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Media; Kia-Shun Voltz, Chief Executive Officer of ShampooTime; Matt Jones, Founder of The Crease Beast; and Julianna Dahbura, Founder of Deco Beauty.

How did three people with no social media following turn handwritten notes and free samples into a multi-million dollar snacking empire?

Building a successful food brand in today's market requires more than just great products—it takes authentic storytelling, community building, and the courage to do things differently. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Jake Karls (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-karls-653106ba/), co-founder and “Chief Rainmaker” of Mid-Day Squares (https://www.middaysquares.com), about revolutionizing the snacking industry through documentary-style marketing and direct-to-consumer innovation. Learn how they built a loyal following by sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of entrepreneurship, scaled from handwritten notes to millions of customers, and created a brand that makes people feel like they're buying from friends.

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Jake Karls is the co-founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, a revolutionary snacking company that has disrupted the traditional food industry through authentic storytelling and community building. Known for his documentary-style approach to brand marketing, Jake has helped build Mid-Day Squares from three people with no social media following to a multi-million dollar business available across North America. With a background in event planning and brand building, Jake specializes in creating authentic connections between brands and consumers through vulnerability, transparency, and genuine human relationships that drive both loyalty and growth.

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What if the secret to breakthrough supplier innovation isn't telling them what to make, but asking them to solve your problem instead?

Building a brand that parents trust and kids love requires more than just great products—it takes thoughtful design, strategic partnerships, and an unboxing experience that creates lasting memories. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Jen Kennedy, founder and visionary behind HoneyBug, and Rachel Webb, the company's brilliant chief operating officer. Together, they share how they revolutionized family gifting by creating clean, effective, and thoughtfully designed products that solve real parenting pain points. Learn how they built lasting supplier relationships through Alibaba.com, developed their signature unboxing experience, and scaled from garage operations to a trusted marketplace featuring 500+ brands.

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Jen Kennedy is the founder and visionary behind HoneyBug, a company revolutionizing family essentials and gifting with clean, effective, and thoughtfully designed products. Coming from a corporate background in the restaurant industry, Jen identified a gap in the market for curated, high-quality baby and toddler gifts that take the guesswork out of thoughtful giving. Under her leadership, HoneyBug has grown from a garage operation to a trusted marketplace featuring over 500 domestic and international brands.

Rachel Webb serves as HoneyBug's Chief Operating Officer and logistical force, bringing her expertise in scaling operations and building supplier relationships. With a background in working with large-scale food suppliers, Rachel applies her process-oriented approach to help HoneyBug maintain quality standards while managing rapid growth and complex vendor relationships.

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Previous guests include Rudy Mawer, CEO of Mawer Capital; Tony Parker, four-time NBA champion and Founder and President of Infinity Nine Group; Mike McClary, CEO of Amazing.com; Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Media; Kia-Shun Voltz, Chief Executive Officer of ShampooTime; Matt Jones, Founder of The Crease Beast; and Julianna Dahbura, Founder of Deco Beauty.

Could catalog-based browsing transform how you discover new products for your business?

Sourcing globally isn't just about finding the lowest prices—it's about building resilient supply chains and smart business relationships. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Justin Liu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinliu/), U.S. Country Manager for Alibaba.com, about helping U.S. businesses navigate unpredictable times through diversified sourcing strategies. Learn how today's retailers and manufacturers can leverage both international suppliers and emerging U.S. brands to build stronger distribution networks. Whether you're a small business scaling up or a retailer diversifying your inventory, Justin offers practical insights on everything from catalog-based discovery to local stock opportunities.

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Justin Liu is the U.S. Country Manager for Alibaba.com, where he leads initiatives to improve buyer experiences for American businesses while helping U.S.-based suppliers expand their global distribution networks. With over a decade of experience in B2B marketplace development, Justin focuses on connecting retailers, manufacturers, and brand owners with qualified suppliers worldwide while addressing the unique needs of American small businesses navigating supply chain challenges..

Check out our three most downloaded episodes:

Previous guests include Rudy Mawer, CEO of Mawer Capital; Tony Parker, four-time NBA champion and Founder and President of Infinity Nine Group; Mike McClary, CEO of Amazing.com; Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Media; Kia-Shun Voltz, Chief Executive Officer of ShampooTime; Matt Jones, Founder of The Crease Beast; and Julianna Dahbura, Founder of Deco Beauty.

How can you tell if an overseas factory is legitimate without visiting in person?

Turning ideas into physical products isn't just about creativity—it's about strategic planning and finding the right manufacturing partners. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo talks with Brian Fried (@brianfriedinventor), serial inventor and Chief Inventor at Inventor Smart, about bridging the gap between great ideas and successful products. With 15 patents and 19 years coaching inventors, Brian reveals the common manufacturing misconceptions that keep great products from reaching the market and shares his proven system for vetting overseas factories without boarding a plane.

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Brian Fried is a serial inventor with 15 patents, an author of three books on inventing, and has appeared on QVC for three years. He runs the National Inventor Club and has created an app specifically for the inventor community. Brian helps inventors navigate the journey from concept to market through his coaching services at Inventor Smart and was recently named an Alibaba.com Ambassador.

Check out our three most downloaded episodes:

Previous guests include Rudy Mawer, CEO of Mawer Capital; Tony Parker, four-time NBA champion and Founder and President of Infinity Nine Group; Mike McClary, CEO of Amazing.com; Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Media; Kia-Shun Voltz, Chief Executive Officer of ShampooTime; Matt Jones, Founder of The Crease Beast; and Julianna Dahbura, Founder of Deco Beauty.

• How to leverage existing relationships and value to meaningful business partnerships
• The critical role of industrial designers in transforming product ideas 
• Why patience and persistence are essential in product development
• How to effectively vet and communicate with suppliers on Alibaba.com 
• The importance of separating ego from product development 
• How to build a scalable fulfillment strategy while maintaining quality control
• Why small, consistent steps forward is more effective than seeking overnight success
• The value of building a trusted supplier network through platforms like Alibaba.com
• The importance of relationship-building in manufacturing and business development
  
  

• How to Simplify your Sourcing on Alibaba.com: Insights from Ciara Cristo
• Kickstarter Confidential: Insider Tips from the CEO - Live at CoCreate
• Crowdfunding Success Secrets: LaunchBoom's Strategies for Product Ideation and Marketing with Will Ford

• How to time your patent applications to maximize protection and minimize costs
• Why provisional patents are a cost-effective first step for protecting your idea 
• How to leverage design patents for faster, more practical protection against copycats
• Why product quality and branding are as important as legal protection 
• How to work effectively with manufacturers while protecting your IP
• The strategic value of staying in "patent pending" status 
• Why investing in multiple international patents may not be cost-effective 

• How to Simplify your Sourcing on Alibaba.com: Insights from Ciara Cristo
• Kickstarter Confidential: Insider Tips from the CEO - Live at CoCreate
• Crowdfunding Success Secrets: LaunchBoom's Strategies for Product Ideation and Marketing with Will Ford