Curve Ahead Podcast

Curve Ahead Podcast

By Brian WilesBusiness
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Curve Ahead Podcast episodes

  • Building a Web-First B2B Agency

    Rebecca Dutcher, founder of Red66 Marketing, joins Curve Ahead to share how she's grown her web-first agency by 150% since 2020 while increasing profitability with a smaller team. After 15 years in agencies, Rebecca launched Red66 to help B2B companies build smarter digital marketing foundations and has scaled to a 13-person team in just eight years. In this episode, discover why websites remain the foundation of effective B2B marketing, how AI is changing content creation and search behavior, and why short-form video and authentic brand visibility are essential in today's buyer's journey. Rebecca also reveals how she's used EOS and people-first leadership to build sustainability without sacrificing culture or profitability. Whether you're running lean or building a team, this episode offers valuable insights from a marketing leader who's stayed ahead of digital trends

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    30 min
  • From Legal to Engineering: How Manuel Harnisch is Navigating AI's Impact on Software Compliance

    Manuel Harnisch, VP of Technology Services and Support at Fossa, shares his journey from Germany to scaling US tech startups. Discover how Fossa shifted their sales strategy from legal buyers to engineers, what this says about the future of software purchasing, and why AI is both an opportunity and liability in modern development. Manuel also shares his personal transformation story, losing 100 pounds and becoming a trail runner after 2020. Whether you're navigating startup growth, managing technical teams, or trying to stay compliant in a fast-moving AI world, this episode delivers valuable insights for technical leaders.

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    31 min
  • Building Credibility Through Strategic Partnerships

    Join host Brian Wiles as he interviews Jed Corenthal, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Phenix Real-Time Solutions. From his early days as a musician at Sony's Columbia Records to leading marketing at the NFL and launching successful tech startups, Jed shares valuable insights on identifying emerging trends, building business credibility through key partnerships, and bridging the gap between marketing and sales. Learn how real-time streaming technology is transforming audience engagement and why even a few seconds of latency can make or break user experience in today's multi-screen world.

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    29 min
  • Building a $9M IT Business: Growth, Acquisitions & Knowing When to Refocus

    In this episode of Curve Ahead, host Brian speaks with Jeff Borello, co-founder of Andromeda Technology Solutions, about growing his IT managed service provider from a side hustle to a 37-person, $9 million operation over 30 years. Jeff shares candid insights about the challenges of growth through acquisition, the importance of complementary partnerships, and why sometimes the best growth strategy is returning to your core offering. Whether you're running a service-based business or considering an expansion strategy, Jeff's three decades of experience offers valuable lessons on sustainable growth, customer service excellence, and knowing when to say no to maintain focus

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    27 min
  • From Failure to Growth: How a 5-Time Entrepreneur Applied Startup Lessons to Corporate Success

    On today's episode of Curve Ahead, Kirk Fackre, VP of Sales at iCorps Technologies and self-proclaimed "recovering entrepreneur," shares how his five startup experiences shaped his approach to growing established businesses. Discover why hyper-personalization beats automation in sales outreach, how AI serves as both opportunity and threat in the security landscape, and why internal mentorship and employee retention create compounding value for both clients and companies. If you're balancing growth ambitions with security concerns or trying to cut through the noise in digital marketing, this episode delivers actionable insights from someone who's seen both sides of the business spectrum.

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    29 min
  • SEO as Real Estate - Building Digital Neighborhoods with Inc. 5000 Agency Founder

    In this illuminating episode of Curve Ahead, host Brian welcomes Danny Gavin, founder of Optage digital marketing agency that landed on the Inc. 5000 list. From his early days coding websites in the late 90s to building a thriving 30-person agency, Danny shares the journey that led to his remarkable success.

    Danny reveals his unique perspective on SEO, comparing it to long-term real estate investment and explaining how each Google search page represents a different "neighborhood" with varying entry requirements. Whether you're struggling with search optimization or wondering how to build a company culture that scales without losing its heart, this episode delivers actionable insights.

    Learn why open communication was critical to maintaining Optage's culture during rapid growth, how Danny uses client conversion data to measure marketing success, and why diversifying your marketing channels is more important than ever in today's changing digital landscape.

    Curve Ahead is a production of Autozy, where we help businesses amplify their voices, share compelling stories, and achieve measurable growth through expertly crafted podcasts.

    00:00 - Introduction and welcome
    01:24 - Danny's background: From South Africa to digital marketing
    03:17 - E-commerce evolution: From 10-page contracts to one-click buying
    05:30 - The impact of leadership positivity on organizational culture
    09:17 - Optage's services: Lead generation and marketing performance
    11:30 - The importance of connecting marketing results to client CRMs
    14:00 - Achieving Inc. 5000 recognition and managing growth
    16:08 - Finding help: The Clubhouse connection that changed everything
    19:42 - Open communication: Keeping culture intact during rapid scaling
    24:09 - SEO explained: The digital neighborhood concept
    26:45 - Content requirements: Matching what's already ranking
    29:13 - SEO as real estate investment: A long-term strategic approach
    32:27 - Diversifying marketing channels beyond single platforms
    33:59 - Danny's projects: Digital Marketing Mentor podcast and Odeo Academy

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    36 min
  • Funding Your Business Without Giving Up Equity

    In this episode of Curve Ahead, Brian Wiles interviews Michael Praver, founder and CFO of Funding Funding, about how entrepreneurs can secure funding without sacrificing ownership.

    Why debt financing can be smarter than equity
    How to stack loans effectively (without hurting your credit)
    The Loan Navigator process and how it works
    Common mistakes founders make when raising capital
    Timing your funding to avoid running out of cash

    If you’re a small business owner, startup founder, or solopreneur, this episode is packed with actionable funding strategies you need to grow your business on your terms!

    #BusinessFunding #StartupLoans #DebtFinancing #Entrepreneurship #CurveAheadPodcast

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    35 min
  • The Power of Niching Down

    In this illuminating episode of Curve Ahead, host Brian welcomes Lucho Silva Ball, CEO and co-founder of Digifiance, a HubSpot Elite Partner agency. From humble beginnings in a studio apartment to achieving HubSpot's highest partner status, Lucho shares his entrepreneurial journey and the pivotal decision to specialize exclusively in HubSpot that transformed his business.


    Listen as Lucho reveals candid insights about content strategy in the age of AI, why generic content no longer works, and how focusing on a specific niche dramatically improves operational efficiency. Whether you're building a business, considering specialization, or refining your content strategy, this episode offers practical wisdom about perseverance, discipline, and the power of authentic expertise.


    Curve Ahead is a production of Autozy, where we help businesses amplify their voices, share compelling stories, and achieve measurable growth through expertly crafted podcasts.

    Send us Fan Mail

    37 min
  • From Selling Tank Tops to Digital Marketing Success: Bobby Machado on Finding Your Perfect Niche

    On this episode of Curve Ahead, host Brian welcomes Bobby Machado, CEO and founder of Signa Marketing and co-founder of Sector 7 Apps. Bobby shares his entrepreneurial journey from childhood ventures to managing million-dollar ad campaigns for car dealerships. Discover why the path to business success is never a straight line and how finding your perfect niche transforms you from "an option" to "a necessity" in the marketplace. Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to refine your existing business, Bobby offers practical insights on specialization, pivoting when necessary, and leveraging AI in today's evolving digital landscape.

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    35 min
  • The Evolution of Marketing & Business Growth with Rick Jaffe, Founder of EPS Communications

    What marketing strategies have stood the test of time, and how can businesses adapt to the digital age without losing their foundation?

    In this episode of Curve Ahead, host Brian Wiles sits down with Rick Jaffe, founder of EPS Communications, to discuss:

    ✅ How marketing evolved from direct mail to digital & AI-driven strategies
    ✅ Why relationship-building & listening are still the key to success
    ✅ The role of short-form video & social media in modern branding
    ✅ How technology has changed creativity, advertising, and design
    ✅ Leadership insights from building & scaling a business over 30+ years


    #MarketingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #DigitalMarketing #AIinMarketing

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    29 min

About Curve Ahead Podcast

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Curve Ahead interviews founders, owners, and CXOs of small to medium-sized companies. The podcast explores how these leaders developed their business ideas, the problems they are solving, and their…