Fervent Four

Bay McLaughlin, Co-Founder at Brinc, joins the show to discuss his journey to becoming a venture capitalist, keys to building an innovative startup community, and his advice for Founders that are raising money.

Dr. Cynthia Romero, Director of the Brock Institute, joins the show to discuss the pandemic's impact on mental health, advice for how entrepreneurs can manage their mental health and wellness, and the role businesses play in supporting the mental health of their employees & surrounding communities.

Dennis Woodbury, CEO & Founder at eZverifi, joins the show to discuss all things eZverifi, his Start Peninsula experience, and the long-term vision for his startup.

Hear hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller chat with Dennis Woodbury, CEO and Founder at eZverifi. So how did a news story lead to one local man venturing out to start his own business? This week hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller sit down with Dennis Woodbury, CEO & Founder at eZverifi, to discuss all things eZverifi, aspiring Hampton Roads businesses and the risks involved when meeting strangers from online in-person. Tim Ryan is the Executive Director of StartWheel, an organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with resources in Hampton Roads. Learn more at: https://www.startwheel.org Zack Miller is a serial entrepreneur and recent author of his new book Anomaly, a guide on how to differentiate yourself and your business from the crowd. Learn more at: https://www.zackmillersays.com Enjoy what you hear? Listen to the Fervent Four Show LIVE every Thursday at 11AM. Live: https://www.startwheel.org/live/ Past Episodes: https://www.startwheel.org/fervent-fo... Show notes: 0:00 Introducing Dennis Woodbury + What is eZverifi? Learn more about eZverifi: https://www.ezverifi.com 12:57 The eZverifi Use Case 22:53 The long-term vision for eZverifi + Lessons Dennis has learned running a technology startup 29:07 Dennis' Start Peninsula experience + Building on customer/mentor feedback Learn more about Start Peninsula: https://www.startpeninsula.com 13NewsNow 'Start Peninsula' Segment: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/mon... 41:12 Dennis discusses the eZverifi marketing strategy + The value proposition of his service 47:10 The eZverifi business model and user experience process 53:38 eZverifi's relationship with TransUnion Learn more about TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com Attend the Start Peninsula Championship Pitch Event: https://bit.ly/StartPenCPNov21 About Dennis Woodbury and eZverifi "Dennis Woodbury is a serial entrepreneurial with a diverse problem-solving skillset and 40+ years of successes, including construction, business development, single and multifamily new & rehab investing. His current focus is on software and app development in the consumer protection space." "eZverifi is designed to serve millions of consumers, small businesses, and enterprise corporations that use platforms like Craigslist, eHarmony, Indeed, Uber, & Zillow everyday. Each of which has an increased risk without a reasonable solution. Until now...as a registered eZverifi member you are safeguarding against scams, fraud, identity theft, robberies and even fatalities. It's as simple as using an email address or mobile phone number to verify if the person you want to meet is legit. Together with our technology, we can make the online community safe!" Learn more at: https://www.ezverifi.com The Fervent Four Show: Did you know that only 4% of businesses hit $1M in revenue? Tim Ryan and Zack Miller are the creators of The Fervent Four Show, designed to help you get there. Check them out on Facebook Live every Thursday at 11 AM. Listen here: Live: https://www.startwheel.org/live/ Past Episodes: https://www.startwheel.org/fervent-fo... Social Media: Dennis Woodbury https://www.ezverifi.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ezve... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eZverifi/ Twitter: @eZverif (https://twitter.com/eZ_verif) Instagram: @ezverifi (https://www.instagram.com/ezverifi/) Additional Links: eZverifi Youtube Page - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXw... Tim Ryan https://www.startwheel.org Twitter (personal): @ryantnt (https://twitter.com/ryantnt) Twitter: @StartWheel (https://twitter.com/StartWheel) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/star... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartWheel Zack Miller https://www.zackmillersays.com Twitter: @zackmillersays (https://twitter.com/zackmillersays) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zackmillersays Thanks to our Sponsors: The Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center – http://www.hrsbdc.org/en/ StartWheel – https://www.startwheel.org

Eddie Montero, Franchise Owner/Operator at The UPS Store, joins the show to discuss why he chose the franchise business model, his lessons learned in the navy + how he applies them to entrepreneurship, and the importance of building a strong company culture.

Kala Fleming, Founder at Frontline Gig, joins the show to discuss her new startup + the need for green infrastructure, her journey to Hampton Roads, & why/where litter happens.

Jorge "JC" Colonnieves, Founder at JCFitsme, joins the show to discuss the "Aha!" moment that led him to start his business, operating a business while being active duty, and how to improve your fitness startup's brand.

Jesse Midgett, from the NASA Technology Transfer Program, joins the show to discuss a few of the ~430 NASA patents available for licensing, the future of commercial space travel, and his thoughts on the local startup community.

Nate Marcus, Founder & CEO at OccasionGenius, joins the show to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, pivoting his business in the wake of COVID-19, and how he has successfully raised over $6M+ in funding.

Erica McMannes, co-founder & COO at Instant Teams, joins the show to discuss the 6x growth of Instant Teams in the last 18 months, fundraising strategies, and what skills are needed most in today's job market.

Brandon Johnson, Owner of Vintner's Cellar Winery of Yorktown, joins the show to discuss why he purchased the Vintner's Cellar Winery, things to consider when acquiring a business, and the importance of optimism in entrepreneurship.