Jeff Gillis, founder of WineLikes, turned his lifelong passion for wine into a tech startup designed to change how people discover their next bottle. After years in the hospitality industry, Jeff realized the demanding lifestyle no longer fit the parent he wanted to be. Inspired to build something different, he created WineLikes, a social app that connects wine lovers, makes recommendations easier, and helps people enjoy wine without the overwhelm. In this episode, Jeff shares how he built the app, the role of technology in modern wine culture, and how he balances entrepreneurship with family life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

5:12 Building the app

9:50 Balancing life and work

15:46 Running social media for the company

17:17 Technology and apps

24:00 Advice for others in the industry

25:29 Advice for other entrepreneurs

28:21 Closing and contact