Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Amar Elm, Baps Patil, a five-time award-winning designer and AI-powered product consultant, shares his journey from mentoring and mobile app development to founding his agency, Baps Patil. He discusses how his early contract work shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, leading him to build a global client base—including Google, L’Oreal, and Udacity—while leveraging AI to streamline design and development workflows. Baps also opens up about his transition to Finland, rebranding his business as Nui, and his vision for blending creative services with scalable AI subscriptions.

Baps dives into his unique approach to client acquisition, emphasizing the power of professional networks, mentorship communities, and strategic product launches (like his UX Design GPT) to attract high-value clients. He highlights the challenges of balancing business development, marketing, and client fulfillment as a solo founder, while sharing insights on how AI tools like Perplexity and Cursor help him deliver elite results with minimal overhead. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Baps offers a golden nugget: productize your expertise early to maximize revenue and freedom.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Amar Elm, Dr. Pamela Arnell, President and CEO of 22 Zero, shares her powerful journey from serving as a youth court officer to leading a nonprofit dedicated to healing veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families. Dr. Arnell reveals how 22 Zero’s peer-to-peer resilience training—rooted in NLP (neurolinguistic programming)—neutralizes trauma without reopening wounds, offering life-changing results in just 2-4 remote sessions. With groundbreaking studies published through Arizona State University and a mission funded solely by donations, 22 Zero provides these critical services at no cost, ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against PTSD and suicide.

Dr. Arnell opens up about the personal inspiration behind her work—her late husband, a 26-year veteran—and the urgent need to address the "22-a-day" veteran suicide crisis. She discusses innovative initiatives like the 22 Zero Heroes Untold Stories program, where veterans transform their healing journeys into songs, and the ambassador network spreading awareness. For listeners passionate about supporting this mission, Dr. Arnell emphasizes: trauma isn’t a life sentence, and healing is possible without sacrificing VA benefits or privacy.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Amar Elm, Keith A. Morrill, founder and CEO of AquaRev Water, shares his groundbreaking journey from electrical contractor to innovator in water conservation technology. Keith reveals how his patented hydrodynamic cavitation device not only transforms pool and spa water—reducing evaporation by 50% and slashing chlorine use—but also addresses the global water scarcity crisis. With NASA collaborations and NSF certifications, AquaRev Water is pioneering solutions that could save billions of gallons annually, while offering health benefits like oxygen-infused hydration and whole-home purification.

Keith dives into the urgent environmental stakes: from Nevada’s evaporating pools (losing 8 billion gallons yearly) to the hidden costs of chlorine and chloramines. He outlines AquaRev’s mission to lobby for tax credits, mirroring solar energy’s rise, and his vision to make water conservation accessible—from residential pools to commercial installations. For entrepreneurs, Keith’s story underscores the power of patenting innovation, leveraging certifications, and aligning with global sustainability goals to disrupt industries while solving critical planetary challenges.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Scott Moss, founder of M Sales Growth Advisors, to explore how he's revolutionizing sales operations for small and mid-sized businesses. With 30 years of experience in sales leadership—including stints at startups and corporate giants—Scott shares how he transformed a career setback during Covid into a thriving consultancy. His unique approach combines deep CRM strategy, buyer journey mapping, and fractional sales leadership to help complex B2B companies scale predictably. Scott reveals why his "boutique by design" model prioritizes quality over rapid growth, and how he balances hands-on client work with strategic vision for his own business.

Scott also dives into his philosophy of "value-first" relationship building, explaining why LinkedIn outreach should focus on insight rather than immediate sales. From his playbook-driven methodology to his plans for carefully scaling his team, he offers candid advice for entrepreneurs: "If you're thinking about starting your own venture—and you have the experience—don't wait. Surround yourself with smart advisors and go make it happen." Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies for operationalizing sales, building client trust, and maintaining fulfillment in both business and life.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Amar Elm, Larry Moss, founder of Azimuth Consulting, LLC, shares his inspiring journey from a 30-year career in the Intelligence Community to launching a strategic advisory firm. Larry discusses how personal challenges, including his son’s life-altering stroke, shaped his mission to help leaders and organizations navigate chaos through awareness, alignment, and accountability. He dives into his unique coaching framework, the importance of resilience, and how he tailors his services to small and mid-sized businesses in an ever-changing market.

Larry also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, from pivoting offerings to meet client needs to building scalable leadership development programs. He emphasizes the value of consistent conversations, authentic networking, and staying true to your vision—advice he offers to aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether discussing team coaching, executive development, or adapting to economic shifts, Larry’s insights blend practical strategy with profound personal wisdom.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Carnacion, we sit down with Matthew Rowe, co-founder of Aspire Training LLC, to explore how his company is revolutionizing leadership development through personalized virtual coaching. With 17 years of experience in corporate leadership, Matthew shares how he identified a critical gap in traditional training methods—while companies invest heavily in workshops and conferences, retention of leadership skills remains shockingly low. Aspire's solution? One-on-one virtual sessions that provide tailored guidance at an accessible price point, helping both emerging and established leaders develop emotional intelligence and practical skills in real-time.

Matthew dives into Aspire's unique "developmental profile" approach, where each client receives customized training based on their communication style, learning preferences, and specific challenges. He also shares why he believes AI will actually increase the value of human connection in leadership development, making Aspire's personalized model more relevant than ever. From leveraging existing networks for growth to his vision of building a sales team by year's end, Matthew offers candid insights on scaling a mission-driven business while staying true to his "why"—transforming workplaces by training leaders who truly connect with their teams.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Carnacion, we sit down with Ron Brumbarger, founder of Struinova, to explore how he's redefining corporate innovation through AI-driven consulting. Drawing from his experience building and exiting multiple companies (including Apprentice University and BitWise Solutions), Ron shares why he created Struinova to help mid-market businesses navigate what he calls the "innovation estuary"—that murky space between a company and its customers where breakthrough ideas emerge. He reveals how his unique "Innovation as a Service" model combines AI tools like MEMENTO (his proprietary framework) with hands-on training to help executives develop ambidextrous organizations capable of balancing today's demands with tomorrow's opportunities.

Ron also dives into Struinova's "teaching hospital" approach—where clients actively learn innovation mindsets while building portfolios of new products and services—and why he's betting on strategic partnerships over traditional marketing. From his contrarian take on guarantees ("We can't promise outcomes, but we promise our best effort") to his global ambitions (including a potential speaking gig in Berlin), Ron offers a masterclass in building resilience through innovation. His closing advice? "The best day to plant a tree was yesterday—the second-best day is today. Go get the shovel."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Nick Phillips, founder of Adapt Digital, to explore his transition from personal training to building a thriving coaching and consulting business. With deep roots in the fitness industry and a viral TikTok presence dating back to 2018, Nick shares how he leveraged social media to carve out his niche—helping personal trainers scale their businesses by booking 30+ appointments in 90 days. He dives into his hands-on coaching approach, the challenges of solopreneurship, and why he’s doubling down on LinkedIn as the future of personal branding and lead generation.

Nick also opens up about his vision for scaling beyond one-on-one coaching, including his work with startups and apps to optimize their social media strategies. He emphasizes the power of consistency, authenticity, and analytics in content creation, while offering candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: "Just go out and do it—there’s no set path." From outbound DM strategies to the role of AI in streamlining operations, Nick’s insights reveal how he’s future-proofing his business in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Carnacion, we sit down with Erich Mattei, CEO of Acrinos, to explore how he's revolutionizing optometry practice management through data-driven consulting. With a decade of experience in eye care sales and a passion for empowering independent optometrists, Erich shares his journey from observing practice owners' struggles to building a consultancy that helps doctors start, grow, and transition their businesses. He reveals how Acrinos is breaking the mold of traditional consulting by productizing their services—offering everything from off-the-shelf business plans to full-scale advisory—while staying true to their mission of making practice ownership "approachable, accessible, and profitable."

Erich also dives into Acrinos' stakeholder-centric growth strategy, leveraging partnerships with organizations like the American Optometric Association to create organic industry impact. From his "less is more" philosophy to the power of perseverance, he offers actionable advice for founders navigating high-growth phases. With Acrinos currently beta-testing a groundbreaking platform to modernize consulting, Erich paints a vision for the future—one where data and collaboration transform not just optometry, but healthcare entrepreneurship at large.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Carnacion, we sit down with Kevin Packer, CEO of Invest Tech Consulting, to explore how he's revolutionizing grant funding for tech innovators. With a unique background spanning marine biology and grant consulting, Kevin shares his journey from Israel to Argentina and how he helps AI, biotech, and renewable energy startups secure non-dilutive funding through programs like SBIR and international grants. He reveals the challenges of navigating shifting political landscapes (like recent U.S. grant freezes) and why he believes AI tools—while transformative—will never replace the human touch in strategic grant consulting.

Kevin also dives into his "slow-scaling" philosophy, balancing a flood of client demand with quality service, and how he’s leveraging partnerships with other consultancies to expand his reach. From his unexpected pivot into entrepreneurship to his pragmatic use of AI for decoding complex grant applications, Kevin offers candid advice: "Keep pushing—if others are succeeding in your industry, there’s always a way for you to break through too."