Founderology

Every Founder has a story — a spark that becomes the heartbeat of a brand. Some stories begin with a dream, others with a dish, and every now and then one begins with a taco that turns into a brand that is built to breakthrough.

In this episode of the Founderology Podcast, I talk with Roberto Espinosa — the visionary Founder of Tacodeli. What started as one small taco shop in Austin has grown into one of the most authentic and respected fast casual restaurant brands in the country.

From the very moment I walked into my first Tacodeli, I felt it — the energy, the flavor, and the authenticity.

I still crave Tacodeli's breakfast burrito, made with fresh scrambled eggs and Roberto's grandmother's mashed potato recipe. It is food rooted in authencity, love, and purpose — the same foundation every Founder needs when building something that lasts.

And then there is the story of the Doña Salsa — a recipe created by one of his earliest team members in an employee contest that became a cornerstone of Tacodeli's identity. It is not just a salsa. It is a story of honoring people, sharing success, and keeping community at the center of growth. Every Founder can learn from that level of authenticity and connection.

As Roberto and I talk, you will hear lessons about leading through purpose, growing through people, and staying true to your values as your business scales. His story is proof that greatness happens when vision and integrity grow together.

What Founders will gain from this episode

• It is a blueprint for authenticity. Roberto shares how staying rooted in his original vision became his greatest advantage as Tacodeli scaled.
• It redefines growth. We explore how sustainable success is not about speed but about building systems, culture, and partnerships that last.
• It celebrates Founder conviction. Roberto's unwavering belief in his purpose reveals how clarity fuels every breakthrough.
• It showcases the power of people. From his partnership with his team to honoring the creator of the Doña Salsa, this story demonstrates how empowering others drives growth.

It reminds every Founder why purpose matters. Whether you are building your first store or scaling your tenth, this episode reignites the belief that your purpose can be your greatest accelerator.

The next time you are in Austin, put a visit to Tacodeli at the top of your list. If are joining us for the Founderology Growth Summit, in Austin, February 2-4, 2026 then you are all set. Register today and take advantage of our early-bird special savings so you can order even more at Tacodeli.

Join me for this episode of Founderology, where we talk about tacos, truth, and the timeless power of staying authentic while building something extraordinary to breakthrough.

It's the answer every business owner wants to know and very rarely gets a direct answer about it — UNTIL NOW — at the Founderology Growth Summit, that answer becomes reality.

Founders want to grow, scale, and create lasting value. The challenge is knowing where the value of your business stands today — and what will elevate it to investment-grade strength.

I am so proud and honored to announce that Founders Advisors will be one of our leading sponsors at the Founderology Growth Summit, February 2-4, Austin. Through the leadership of Wayne Vacek, Managing Director of Founders Advisors, Founders gain the rare opportunity to see their business through the lens that investors, partners, and acquirers use to define excellence.

Wayne brings more than 25 years of experience guiding founder-led companies to build stronger systems, smarter growth, and higher value. His insights are practical, proven, and transformative for every Founder ready to accelerate their success.

From insight tompact

Wayne and the Founders Advisors team are introducing their proprietary Investor Grade Assessment exclusively at the Founderology Growth Summit. Every Founder attending the Summit will receive complimentary access to this powerful evaluation that measures performance across seventeen dimensions that define investment-grade readiness.

What Founders must know to increase their valuation

In this Founderology episode, Wayne shares:

• One metric every Founder must measure to drive growth
• Three critical areas that directly influence valuation.
• What are typical blind spots that cause value to be lost
• What separates businesses that attract investors from those that struggle to gain traction

Even the most seasoned leaders will uncover new perspectives through the Investor Grade Assessment — and how those insights become the foundation for long-term value creation. Founders will hear how leadership, financial discipline, and culture align to elevate both performance and worth. Every conversation with Wayne becomes a master class in founder-led excellence. His perspective reshapes how Founders think about readiness, strategy, and success.

From assessment to acceleration

During the Founderology Growth Summit, Founders Advisors will host a bonus Investor Grade Workshop exclusively for all attendees. This experience brings the assessment to life, helping Founders interpret their personalized results, identify high-impact priorities, and build a focused plan to raise value across every area of their business.

Founders will leave equipped with clarity, focus, and actionable priorities — knowing exactly how to transform their Investor Grade results into a growth and leadership roadmap for the year ahead.

To provide securities-related services, certain principals of Founders Advisors, LLC are licensed with Founders M&A Advisory, LLC, member of FINRA & SiPC. Founders M&A Advisory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders Advisors. Neither Founders Advisors nor Founders M&A Advisory provide investment advice. 

Every Founder knows the spark that starts an idea and then the journey begins. In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we talk with Donna and Daniel Golik, Mother and Son Founders of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream – craveable, flash freezing made to order ice cream.

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream is the brainchild of ice-cream loving Daniel. So much loving that he spent 6 months in his garage, but 3,345,789 brain-freeze later, the almighty "nitrogen ice cream equation' was perfect and Chill-N was born. Today, Daniel and Donna are expanding Chill-N from its roots in South Florida and franchising across country and in the process redefining ice cream for all.

The Chill Behind the Brand

A brand that began with curiosity, grew through innovation, and continues to expand through purpose. Their conversation reveals what happens when vision becomes more than a plan on paper. It shows how belief, family, and focus can create something that resonates far beyond a storefront.

Daniel and Donna share the inside track on how they transformed experimentation into their growing enterprise. They share their lessons on building systems that work, creating culture that lasts, and leading with values that never waiver. Donna and Daniel also speak to the power of innovation and staying grounded while growth accelerates.

Growth Lessons Earned

Every Founder listening will recognize the moments they've lived themselves and hear how Daniel and Donna addressed:

• The challenge of starting small while thinking big
• The drive to create something new in a crowded space
• The constant balancing act between family and business
• The clarity that comes when purpose and performance align for growth

Chill-N to Breakthrough

Daniel and Donna's dialogue carries the rhythm of Founders who are in motion—refining, adjusting, and leading with intention. Their insights remind us that growth is both creative and operational, deeply personal and powerfully scalable.

Tune in to Founderology: Built to Breakthrough and hear how Donna and Daniel Golik are fueling delicious growth—one decision, one store, and one inspired vision at a time. It's about aligning your focus to keep moving forward and the wisdom to keep building stronger.

Built for Founders. Powered by Founders.

The Founderology Growth Summit is a breakthrough experience designed for Founders who are looking to scale. Every moment, from the first conversation to the final celebration, is crafted with one purpose: to accelerate the growth of visionary Founders and their businesses.

Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual.com and partner of the Founderology Growth Summit, says it best: “This is where Founders find their people and community for growth.”

This unique one of-a-kind experience is created by Founders, for Founders. Every speaker has built something from the ground up. Every journey is a real-world case study of resilience, risk, and reward. Every tool is practical, proven, and ready to be put into play the moment you leave. This is not about general ideas or theory. This is about real-life, real-proven action. The Founderology Growth Summit is where breakthrough happens.

Hard-Won Lessons from Founders Who Built Billion-Dollar Brands

Founders sharing the inside track for success, competitive advantages and shaving months and years of having to learn by yourself.  The lessons are hard-won, earned in the trenches of startup chaos, expansion challenges, and global scale.  Here is a highlight of a few Founders featured at the Founderology Growth Summit

Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Jim Bitticks of Dave’s Hot Chicken share how a $900 investment in parking-lot pop-up became a billion-dollar brand. Their story is real, inspiring and packed with lessons every Founder can apply to scale faster and smarter.

Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes, the powerhouse Founders behind Slutty Vegan and Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, open up about their strategies for how to turn purpose into power. And how their lessons in culture, vision, and relentless execution create movements.

Danielle Mohan, Founder of Topsail Steamerreveals what it takes to take a kitchen-table idea onto Shark Tank—and then beyond. She shares the journey of trail blazing a new segment and driving momentum to make it a national brand.

Evonne and Don Varady, Founders of Clean Eatz discuss their creative strategies to go from living in the closet of their first location to building a national brand with over 100 thriving locations. 

These are not highlight reels presentations. These are authentic roadmaps, full of pivots, pressure, and perseverance. They remind every Founder in the room: you are not alone, and you are capable of more than you imagine.

Tools That Accelerate Growth

The Founderology Growth Summit is about equipping Founders with the tools to scale. One of the most powerful is the Founders Advisors - Investor Growth Assessment —a diagnostic tool valued at over $499.00 every Founder will receive as part of their registration.

This Investor-Grade Assessment shows how your business is valued by investors and identifies the exact levers you can pull to increase your valuation. Whether you’re preparing for funding, a major expansion, or building generational wealth, this assessment gives you clarity on where you stand and a roadmap for where to go. 

Additionally, a special workshop will be provided to take a deep-dive on each Founders specific results. Founders will leave with the hard data and insights investors use to measure success. That is one of the most powerful tools for unlocking acceleration.

Your Network Increases Your Net Worth

Kathleen Wood, Founder of Kathleen Wood Partners and the driving force behind the Founderology Growth Summit, says: “When Founders come together, businesses grow faster, teams get stronger, and possibilities expand.”

For two and half-days, you are engaged with visionary Founders who share your drive, your challenges, and your commitment to growth. The relationships you build here go beyond networking—

I have been inspired by Derrick Hayes and Big Dave's Cheesesteaks starting as an Instagram follower and then as a customer. I actually drove from Tampa to Orlando to try his Classic Dave's Chicken — wow — was it worth the drive and the many more drives I will continue to make to Big Dave's. Hopefully, Tampa is on the list for new locations!

Derrick's vision, his grit, and his heart for community and family sets him apart as a Founder who isn't just building restaurants — he is building movements. He has transformed a promise to his late father into a national brand and a platform for purpose. His story is about resilience, responsibility and relentless belief in what's possible when you refuse to quit.

From a gas station start-up to a brand recognized most recently among Fast Casual's Top 10 Movers and Shakers, Derrick Hayes proves that purpose-driven leadership changes everything. He is building a franchise with national reach, creating generational impact, and inspiring Founders everywhere to think bigger.

Lessons from Derrick Hayes

In this episode of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, Derrick opens up about the decisions, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shaped his path. He shares how to lead through loss, how to stay authentic when the spotlight turns on you, and why purpose—not money—is the ultimate driver for growth.

Here are just a few of the powerful lessons Derrick delivers:

• How to condition yourself for the long game and run your own race.
• Why every Founder must know their numbers, their culture, and their vision.
• How to turn purpose into the fuel that powers your brand through the hardest of times.
• What it takes to build your own table instead of waiting for a seat at someone else's.
• One of my favorite is the 20% financial factor.

Leading with purpose, legacy

Derrick Hayes is a purpose-driven leader carrying forward the dreams of his family and the hopes of his community. He has redefined what a cheesesteak can represent: not just food, but opportunity, empowerment, and impact. This conversation is real, impactful, and full of hard-earned wisdom every Founder can use. Derrick's story is a roadmap for visionaries who are ready to rise, scale, and lead with purpose.

Listen to learn, lead, break through

Listening to this episode feels like sitting across from a Founder who has lived the grind, faced the naysayers and chose to keep building anyway. Derrick Hayes embodies what it means to lead with vision, build with heart and drive with purpose. This is a must-hear conversation for any Founder ready to unlock the lessons of purpose, perseverance, and power.

How do you take a Maine lobster roll—yes, the classic, buttery, delicious kind—and build a brand that stretches from the East Coast to the heart of Milan, Italy?

That's the kind of breakthrough story we love to feature at Founderology: Built to Breakthrough. And it's exactly what unfolds in this powerful episode with Dan Beck, Founder of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls.

Dan's story is not built on flash or shortcuts. It's built on vision, values, and a deep understanding of operations. He took one small store and turned it into a 40-plus unit brand without losing control, without compromising quality, and without sacrificing what makes the brand special.

This episode is a front-row seat to a Founder who's proving that you can grow a brand with soul—and take it globally. Here are just a few highlights from our discussion on the growth of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls.

Scaling Smart

Dan Beck built his brand unit by unit, not headline by headline. From the start, profitability, not press, was the priority. Learn how he scaled intentionally, choosing strategic growth over fast expansion.

Franchising with Integrity

Dan's approach to franchising wasn't transactional. It was transformational. He focused on partnerships, not just locations. Dan shares how he developed a franchise system rooted in trust, support and shared standards.

From Maine to Milan

International expansion wasn't part of the initial plan. That's what makes the Milan story even more remarkable. It happened through connection, belief in the brand, and the readiness to embrace new opportunity. Dan provides great insights on how he navigated EU regulations while staying true to Mason's quality standards.

Funding with Purpose

Dan didn't chase capital. He waited for alignment. When the time came, he looked for more than a check—he looked for value. Learn why strategic supply partnerships created win-win financial outcomes.

Founder-Led – Growth Focused

This is what Founder-led looks like; Dan's story is more than a success story. It's the journey about being committed to growing for all the right reasons.

• Are you building a business that reflects your vision?
• Are your growth decisions aligned with your values?
• Are you expanding without losing what made you unique in the first place?

If you're a Founder ready to grow with intention, expand with clarity, and stay grounded in what works, this episode is for you. Tune in now and be inspired by the possibilities and potential of the brand you are building to breakthrough!

I have been a fan and follower of Pinky Cole Hayes and Slutty Vegan since her first opening in Atlanta. Her entrepreneurial drive is unmatched. She has built a brand that reimagines vegan food, empowers her community and sets a new standard for Founder-led success.

I recently visited her latest opening in Tampa and enjoyed a Chik'N Head sandwich with crispy hot fries. Pinky Cole Hayes is the embodiment of the Founder spirit. If you need inspiration on your good days, your hard days, and every day in between, follow her on Instagram. When you are near one of her locations, go.

Pinky built Slutty Vegan from a shared kitchen to a $100 million brand. She has appeared on the covers of Forbes, Time 100 and Inc. In 2025, she faced $20 million in debt, filed for an ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors), and in just 43 days, she bought back her company. With that bold move, she restructured leadership, rebuilt her systems, and launched Slutty Vegan 2.0 with sharper strategy, stronger teams and unstoppable energy.

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky shares her "PhD. lessons" and mindset that fueled her comeback. She opens up about the decisions that saved her company, how she aligned her team for growth, and what it takes to lead when everything is on the line.

Honest Lessons No One Wants to Talk About

Pinky Cole Hayes delivers lessons that cut straight to the realities of building and scaling a company. She shares the moves that turned a financial crisis into a foundation for growth and the leadership strategies that continue to drive her success. Founders will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to lead with clarity, grit, and precision.

Phd. Lessons" from Pinky

• How Pinky used ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors) as a strategic move to save and reclaim her company
• The leadership shifts and team restructuring that powered Slutty Vegan 2.0 and positioned it for scale
• The mindset and execution strategies that turn failure into a foundation for growth
• The non-negotiable principles of leading with vision, focus, and relentless drive.

Pinky speaks to the heart of what it means to be a Founder. She knows the weight of leading when everything is on the line. She understands the courage it takes to make impossible decisions and the relentless drive required to bring a vision back to life.

This conversation is direct and real for anyone who has built something from nothing, fought for every inch of progress, and faced the fear of losing it all. Pinky's journey is a powerful reminder that Founders are built to rise, built to adapt and built to break through the toughest chapters.

Connect with Your Founder Power

Listening to this episode feels like sitting across from a Founder who has walked through fire and emerged stronger, smarter, and more determined. It hits every emotion Founders know — the pressure, the sacrifice, the grit, and the moment when you decide to keep going, knowing it's about your calling, not just your business.

What do late-night drinks, a lobster roll, and a cross-country cousin connection have to do with building a national brand?

Everything.

In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, Sabin Lomac—co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster—shares how one wild night idea with his cousin Jim Tselikis, turned into a Shark Tank deal, 100+ locations, international expansion, and a brand that still runs on family, hustle, and heart.

No experience. No roadmap. Just two Founders who committed to figuring it out and stayed focused to make it happen.

This conversation is for every Founder who's working the dream and managing the ups and the downs. Sabin talks openly about the early days—balancing multiple jobs, building the first truck, and learning the business from the ground up.

Here's what stood out:

• They didn't wait for the perfect moment—they started where they were.
• They didn't overexplain the idea—they protected it until it was real.
• They didn't pretend to have all the answers—they asked better questions.

And the moment they opened their first truck? Lines around the block—and a message from Shark Tank on the first night they were open. Here's a taste of what you'll get:

• The real story behind how a food truck in a random LA parking lot sparked national buzz overnight.
• Why keeping their idea quiet for a year was the smartest move they made.
• How Sabin's "just go" mindset created a culture of fearless leadership—and what you can learn from it.
• What Barbara Corcoran told them that changed their entire trajectory (and why they almost ignored it).
• The single trait Sabin says separates successful founders from everyone else—and it's not what you think.

If you've been stuck in the middle—overthinking, second-guessing, or wondering if it's all worth it—Sabin's story will remind you exactly why you started.

Tune into Founderology now.

The only real difference between an idea and a breakthrough—is doing something about it.

How far would you go to escape a life that's crushing your spirit? Would you:

• Walk away from a steady paycheck?
• Sell your house?
• Move across the country with a newborn?
• Start a restaurant… with no sign, no money, and no guarantees?

One Founder — Joe Fontana, Founder of Fry the Coop — did all four.

And what happened next? You'll have to hear it to believe it.

On this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we sit down with Joe Fontana, who went from being stuck in a cubicle to running one of the most craveable fried chicken brands in the country. This isn't a story about restaurants — it's a Founder's journey in grit, reinvention, and making big moves when the odds say "don't."

You'll find yourself asking:

• What if the thing I can't stop thinking about… is the thing I'm meant to build?
• What if I don't need more money — just more courage?
• What if betting on myself is safer than staying stuck?

The episode is all about what happens before the breakthrough — the rejection, the bootstrapping, the risk that nearly broke everything… and building something even better.

So many Founders are in that exact place:

• Questioning their next move.
• Running on fumes.
• Wondering if the vision they believe in is worth the struggle.

This episode is for you.

You'll hear how one spark — a single sandwich — ignited a business that now spans double-digit locations and is still growing. More importantly, you'll hear our discussion on what it really takes to build when no one is watching. When no one believes. When even you aren't sure.

And just maybe, you'll remember:

The difference between where you are and where you want to be might be one crazy idea you refuse to give up on.

Don't miss this Founderology episode, it might just remind you how much power you still have — even in the messiest part of the journey.

What if your breakthrough starts today?
Press play. Let's find out.

What if the key to scaling a great brand was reconnecting with your roots?

This week on Founderology, I sat down with powerhouse entrepreneur Daniella Senior — the Founder and CEO of Colada Shop, Bresca, Serenata and Zumo. You'll hear Daniella share how her journey began at just 13 years old, when she launched a holiday bakery business out of her parents' home in the Dominican Republic. That business didn't just take off — it funded her college education at the Culinary Institute of America.

Today, Daniella leads some of the most celebrated restaurants in Washington, D.C. and is on a mission to expand her beloved Colada Shop brand nationwide.

Here's here are just a few highlights from my conversation with Daniella:

• How early hustle fuels long-term growth. Listen as Daniella shares how a high school bakery taught her the fundamentals of entrepreneurship — from operations to marketing to managing a team — and how that experience shaped the visionary leader she is today.
• Why focus is a Founder's secret weapon. Despite leading multiple award-winning restaurants, Daniella explains why she's intentionally focusing her energy on scaling Colada Shop — and how that discipline is driving her next phase of growth.
• How to design experiences that make people feel something. Daniella shares her philosophy behind the four pillars of Colada Shop: coffee, cooking, cocktails and Cubanism — the spirit of hospitality that welcomes every guest like family. She reminds us: when you create connection, customers return.
• Why some of the boldest moves happen in the toughest times. Hear how Daniella leaned into expansion during the pandemic, trusted her instincts, and made decisions that positioned her brand for lasting growth — even when the world was telling her to slow down.
• How staying connected keeps the vision alive. From jumping behind the bar to adjusting layouts on the fly, Daniella talks about the power of founder visibility — and why the details still matter, no matter how big the brand gets.

Daniella's story is a powerful reminder that the path to scaling isn't linear — yet it is possible with purpose, clarity and courage. If you're a Founder ready to turn vision into velocity, this episode is packed with wisdom, strategy and inspiration.