Founder In Progress

In episode 94, we sit down with Hans — co-founder & CEO of Nufi — to unpack how trust infrastructure actually gets built in Mexico and across Latin America.

Hans breaks down what KYC and KYB really mean in practice, why compliance is the real “moat,” and how Nufi went from manual verification workflows that took weeks to a system that can return answers in minutes. We also go deep on why KYB is the “black pearl” — and how their in-house AI stack is changing the way banks, fintechs, and businesses verify companies, reduce risk, and move faster without cutting corners.

But this conversation goes beyond ops and product. Hans gets brutally honest about the entrepreneurial path: why “motivation comes and goes,” why you have to choose to show up, and what it looks like to keep executing through panic, depression, and setbacks — one step at a time.

This episode was shot in Monterrey, and yes — Nufi was on Shark Tank México (and got all five sharks to say yes).

LEARN MORE about Hans Villa

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nufi.mx/

- https://www.instagram.com/hansise/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansvilla/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/nufimx/

Website - https://www.nufi.mx/en

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Episode 93 features Andrés from Tierra Prieta, recorded in Monterrey, Mexico. Andrés breaks down biochar carbon credits, the realities of carbon removal, and why this approach works best when treated as a focused tool rather than a silver bullet.

In this conversation, we trace Andrés’ path from an engineering project turning spent coffee grounds into biodiesel… to discovering biochar through academic research… to building a real business that’s now scaling fast (35 employees, sold out for years). We also unpack the uncomfortable truths: additionality, MRV (measurement, reporting, verification), why credit quality matters, why most pyrolysis tech is overcomplicated, and why building the bio side first beats chasing credits first.

If you’re a founder or operator who wants to understand climate tech without the hype, this one’s for you.

LEARN MORE about Andrés Chapa

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tierra_prieta/?hl=en

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreschapa958/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tierra-prieta/about/

Website - https://www.tierraprieta.org/en

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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In this episode of Founders in Progress, we sit down with Jill Dewes, founder of Nice One, to talk about what happens when success no longer feels like success.

After more than 25 years in the agency world, Jill made a fast, intentional decision to step away from leadership and rebuild her career on her own terms. We unpack identity, burnout, decision-making, and the quiet pressure founders put on themselves to stay “important.”

This conversation explores why over-attachment to work can become unhealthy, how redefining success requires real trade-offs, and why being a founder doesn’t always mean scaling bigger—it can mean scaling truer. If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with work, struggled to let go of being needed, or felt the pull to reinvent yourself without permission, this episode will resonate.

LEARN MORE about Jill Dewes

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilldewes/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/niceoneyyc/about/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/niceoneyyc

Website - https://www.niceone.ca/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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Rich Waller has built companies, exited, and now helps operators scale with intention. In this episode, we go deep on what leadership actually requires when you step into ownership—vision, accountability, hiring, onboarding, and the discipline of working on the business instead of getting trapped in it.

Rich shares how joining Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) shaped his leadership journey, why goal-setting is a “muscle,” and how to build a team that can execute without constant founder involvement. We also unpack balance, time tracking, and the idea that your real priorities are proven by where your time goes—not what you say matters.

If you’re building a company (or thinking about it), this one is a practical masterclass in how to scale with clarity.

LEARN MORE about Rich Waller

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rich.waller/followers/mutualOnly

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-waller-icd-d-57390529/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wallerco-advisory/

Website - https://wallercoadvisory.ca/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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Episode 90 of Founder In Progress features EOS Implementer Chris Jones, sharing what it really takes to scale a business without burning out—or becoming the bottleneck.

Chris opens up about losing 70% of his business overnight, how mentorship helped him prepare a “Plan B” before crisis hit, and why implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) became the turning point that allowed him to rebuild and grow stronger. We also unpack what “Relentless AF” really means—not just nonstop intensity, but pairing drive + fun as a leadership advantage.

This conversation explores why founders unintentionally undermine their teams, how fear and ego slow growth, and what it takes to build real trust through clarity, accountability, and better decision-making. Chris also shares his perspective on balance, energy, and designing a life that supports long-term leadership.

LEARN MORE about Chris Jones

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/RelentlessChrisJones/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonesyyc/

- https://www.linkedin.com/company/eos-worldwide-llc/

Website - https://www.relentlesschrisjones.com/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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Roger Walco is MIT-trained, design-schooled, and shaped by nearly 30 years in the video game industry. He breaks down what actually makes great experiences feel magical. We talk about why taste beats tools, why the first moment of interaction matters more than features, and how strong team chemistry creates outcomes no amount of brute-force hiring can replace. From Bethesda and Fallout to a behind-the-scenes Ghostbusters game redesign, Roger shares lessons on immersion, storytelling, and building worlds people want to return to.

We also dive into the intersection of gaming, digital collectibles, blockchain, and NFTs. What went wrong, what players truly value, and where real, player-first utility could still exist. The conversation closes on craft, purpose, and leadership: knife making, furniture commissions, teaching, and why protecting small teams that can create meaningful work may be the most important job of a founder.

LEARN MORE about Roger Walco

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-walco-1142771/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rogerwalco/

Website - https://www.realitylens.us/

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Most “healthy” snacks promise a lot and deliver very little. In this episode, Peter shares the 30+ year journey behind Shār Snacks and how a lifetime of experiences growing up outdoors, obsessing over ingredients, and learning by doing shaped the brand. We unpack why trail mix is broken, how most food companies compromise on quality, and why you can actually taste the difference when ingredients are treated with care.

This conversation is about patience, craftsmanship, and building something people come back for. We talk about why “product is king” isn’t a cliché, the education gap that holds better food back, and what it really means to stay in business for the long run. If you’re building a product-led company or thinking about one this episode offers a grounded, founder-to-founder look at why quality beats hype every time.

LEARN MORE about Peter Rushford

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-rushford-34183b44/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharsnacks/

Website - https://sharsnacks.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shar.snacks/ - https://www.instagram.com/prushford/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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When an autoimmune diagnosis forced impossible choices, Leanne and Jesse didn’t just change their diet they changed their lives. What began as a deeply personal health journey turned into Whims Delight, a low-sugar, plant-based chocolate company redefining what indulgence can look like without sacrificing taste.

In this conversation, we unpack the real story behind building a modern CPG brand from scratch: navigating chronic illness, cutting sugar, competing with food conglomerates, fighting for shelf space, and refusing to compromise on flavor even when costs rise and capital tightens. Leanne and Jesse share how taste became their north star, why community mattered more than marketing, and how a chance meeting at a school picnic led to the product innovation that changed everything.

This episode is about more than chocolate. It’s about resilience, intentional growth, founder alignment, and building a business that pulls millions of pounds of sugar out of the food system one product at a time.

LEARN MORE about Jesse & Leanne

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whimsdelights

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Whimsdelight

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/whimsdelights/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannev/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebarruch/

Website - https://www.whimsdelights.com/en-ca

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Eric Dorris has been self-employed for over 30 years, beginning with a Handyman Connection franchise he built alongside his wife Jill before gradually pivoting into video production and long-form storytelling. A drummer at heart and an artist by nature, Eric reflects on how creativity shaped his entrepreneurial instincts, why artists are often drawn to self-employment, and what it truly takes to build a business with your spouse. He also shares how the video industry has evolved from expensive, highly technical productions to a world where anyone with an iPhone can create and how he adapted through each shift while staying grounded in craft and intention.

We also unpack the story behind Eric purchasing CatVideos.com in 1999 for just $10, the hard lessons he learned while trying to scale it, and why the right partners matter more than fast growth. The conversation moves beyond business into faith, purpose, and intentional living, including how Eric now chooses where to spend his time and energy. Finally, we look ahead to what’s next: his vision for turning Cat Videos into a positive, family-friendly platform that supports cats and shelters worldwide.

LEARN MORE about Eric

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/catvideos/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdorris/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/catvideos-com/about/

Website - https://www.catvideos.com/

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Dustin is the founder of Troov, a meetup app built to reduce screen time by helping people connect through real-world activities — hikes, co-working sessions, slow jogs, soccer games, and more. In this conversation, he breaks down how COVID sparked the idea, why being an engineer can actually hurt your MVP, and the brutal challenge of earning user attention when 100% of it is already monopolized by giants like Instagram. We dive into founder psychology — the mix of delusion, competence, and pain tolerance required to push through rock-bottom moments — along with the realities of taking friends-and-family money, moving between cities like Austin and SF, and trying to build authentic community in a world full of noise.

We also explore how AI now powers parts of Troov, from real-time moderation to proactive activity matching, and why the future of the company might look less like a standalone app and more like a platform licensed to communities that already have traction. Dustin talks openly about loneliness as a founder, unexpected pivots, the economics of consumer social, and what he wishes he had known before starting. If you care about building in public, consumer products, or the messy middle of entrepreneurship, this is a must-watch.

LEARN MORE about Dustin

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/somedustinmybin/ - https://www.instagram.com/troov.app/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-godevais-60232229/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/troov-app/

Website - https://troov.app/

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