Dorm Room to Board Room

Josh Belinsky, co-founder and CEO of Slate Milk, shares his entrepreneurial journey from his time at Northeastern University to becoming the head of a company that has raised over $21 million. He discusses the importance of having a co-founder, the impact of having the UFC as a partner, and how the brand was born out of a lactose intolerance and a love for chocolate milk. Josh also talks about his appearance on Shark Tank, where despite a tough ego experience, it brought valuable awareness for the brand. Finally, Josh shares his advice to aspiring entrepreneurs about starting a business and creating a personal board of advisors.

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On today's episode, Katie Diasti, Forbes 30 Under 30 winner and founder of Viv Period Care, shares her journey of transforming a class-project idea into a successful business, navigating fundraising and breaking ground in the period care industry. Viv is reimagining menstrual health with its toxin-free, sustainable and accessible product line, gaining significant traction in the market. Madi and Katie's conversation touches on the challenges faced by female founders, the importance of being passionate and persevering, as well as innovative marketing strategies, like leveraging TikTok for education and community-building.

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Keith Corso, the founder and CEO of BusRight, joins Madi on this episode to share his journey of starting a company while also being a student at Northeastern University. Keith talks about his experiences of starting BusRight, a school bus management platform. As his company grew, he faced numerous challenges, particularly when the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and halted BusRight's primary service. Instead of pivoting entirely, Corso creatively used his technology in different applications, garnering recognition and hardening the product for when schools reopened. From recounting the difficulties in fundraising to examining the dynamics of business relationships with investors, Keith provides a candid look into the life as a startup founder throughout this conversation.

01:26 Madi and Keith reminisce on being students together at Northeastern University

02:33 The Genesis of BusRight

04:15 The Challenges and Triumphs of Fundraising

05:20 The Impact of COVID-19 on BusRight

07:54 The Struggles and Successes of a Startup Journey

18:03 The Reality of Post-Series A

22:44 The Balancing Act of Being a Founder

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In this episode, Madi Rifkin chats with Rebecca Wong, the accomplished founder of Red Leader Tech. Started during her college days at Stanford, Red Leader Tech is a revolutionary deep-tech startup focused on 3D vision and Lidar processing. Among her achievements, Rebecca has successfully led her company to a $14 million Series A raise and was named Forbes 30 Under 30 for manufacturing and industry in 2023. The episode provides valuable insights into Rebecca's journey as a student-entrepreneur - balancing her education, introducing her company to the world, and gaining recognition from influential platforms like Forbes.

00:47 Guest Introduction: Rebecca Wong, Founder of Red Leader Tech

01:11 Rebecca's Journey: Founding a Company in College

01:35 The Genesis of Red Leader Tech

02:25 Deep Tech and Stanford Experience

03:31 The Co-Founder Relationship

06:37 The Early Days of Red Leader Tech

08:09 Fundraising Journey and Challenges

11:46 Transition from Seed to Series A

17:42 The Forbes 30 Under 30 Experience

20:47 Advice for College Founders

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This episode features Chase Robbins, a student founder and entrepreneur, who is the creator of Handle Delivery, a snack delivery business for students. Robbins shares his unique entrepreneurial journey, how he balanced his roles as a student and founder, his experience of paying his own seed capital, and the benefits and challenges he faced. As a founder, he discusses pivotal moments, including parking outside a 7-11 to test their inventory delivery system, and enduring rough neighborhood scenarios. Robbins emphasizes the importance of aligning your goalposts with something you have control over and preparing for potential failure. Chase also shares his perspective on venture capital and the importance of managing your expectations.

00:46 Meet the Guest: Chase Robbins, Founder of Handle Delivery

01:04 Chase's Entrepreneurial Journey: From Idea to Execution

01:35 Chase's Origin Story: Founding a Company as a Freshman

03:27 Balancing Act: Being a Student and a Founder

05:38 The Role of Universities in Entrepreneurial Journeys

07:17 The Challenges and Rewards of Founding a Company in College

09:25 The Importance of Networking and Leveraging Student Status

13:54 The Journey from Zero to One: Starting a Business

20:24 The Ups and Downs of Being a College Founder

25:15 Final Advice for Aspiring Student Entrepreneurs

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