Aiden Leon was on the finance track at the University of Utah until a guest speaker's story about walking away from accounting to build a hundred million dollar firm changed everything. In this episode, Aiden tells us how a bad haircut during COVID turned into Leon's Barbershop, a mobile barbershop now operating on campus, why he turned down the safe route his peers were taking, how a single mentor at his university negotiated him a better contract than the school originally offered, and why he believes students have nothing to lose right now that they will never get back. We also get into his plan to scale to over two hundred colleges, what it actually takes to cold call universities into saying yes, and the exact mindset shift that turns a no into a yes.

The conversation delves into the strategies for building credibility on social media, humanizing the business, the impact of controversial content, the importance of vulnerability, and the credibility of influencers and creators. It also explores the significance of long-form content and provides action points for building credibility.

Takeaways

• Building credibility requires consistency and authenticity.
• Vulnerability and strategic sharing of failures can enhance trust and credibility.

Build in public or stay quiet and grind? We went back and forth on this one. Tune in and let us know where you land. Drop your take in the comments.

If you are building alone right now, this one is for you. We talk about why isolation kills early startups and exactly who you need in your corner before you hit a wall. Doing everything alone is not strength. It is a slow burn. This episode is about building the right people around you before it costs you everything.

The safest advice you are getting as a student founder might be the thing holding you back the most. We said what most people will not.

If you are sitting on a startup idea and not sure if it is worth building, this one is for you. We cover how to pressure test your idea fast and find out if real demand actually exists.

This week on First Pitch we sat down with Brody, founder of Shredder, a ski based social app built by a college student who just saw a gap and went for it. If you are building something niche, this episode is for you.

Being broke, unknown, and in school is not a disadvantage. It is your greatest edge. Episode 3 breaks down why.

Imposter syndrome is part of the process. We talk about why every builder goes through it and how to push through before the world knows your name. Drop this in a friend's DMs if they need to hear it.

Welcome to First Pitch, the show built for founders before they're famous.

This is where up-and-coming entrepreneurs get a platform to share their story, present their ideas, and document the earliest stages of building something meaningful. If you've ever wanted to witness a company from its very first pitch, you're in the right place.

Our mission is to highlight the next generation of entrepreneurs and explore the intersection of health, wealth, and faith in the journey of building a business.

Through interviews, founder spotlights, and raw unfiltered conversations, we create a space where builders are seen, ideas are shared, and future leaders are discovered.

This is Episode 1. Subscribe to follow the journey and witness companies from their very first pitch. You are watching something from the very beginning.