Founders Future

 In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm speaks with Pooja Krishna, co-founder of Maroon Oak, a boutique executive search and talent advisory firm helping fast-growing startups scale through top-tier leadership hires. With a rich background spanning finance, day trading, and international markets, Pooja shares how her passion for technology and community building led to the creation of a skills-first platform that now specializes in placing talent across GTM, product, marketing, and strategy roles.

Pooja breaks down the unique challenges of hiring in early and mid-stage startups—why cross-functional expertise, hustle mindset, and scale-readiness are crucial—and how Maroon Oak guides founders through both strategic hiring and organizational growth. She also discusses her firm's dual focus on serving startups and empowering women-led ventures, plus the importance of referral-driven lead gen, content-based outreach, and long-term founder relationships.

This is a must-listen for startup leaders navigating the complex talent landscape with limited time and high stakes.

In this episode of Founders Future, Ammar Elm chats with Joseph Lewin, founder of Sell Through Social. Joseph reveals how launching live shows can fast-track your business growth by turning real conversations into revenue. 

He shares practical tips for overcoming fear, avoiding over-preparation, and how one client closed over $2 million directly through their live show. Perfect for founders ready to build authority and find product-market fit without the overwhelm. 

Tune in to learn how to turn authentic conversations into business growth and find product-market fit faster.

 In this episode of Founders Future, Amar Elm talks with Matt Chute, founder and CEO of Chute Media, a full-service marketing agency specializing in social media, branding, videography, and web design. Matt shares his entrepreneurial journey from flipping yard sale finds as a kid to building a thriving agency focused on helping growing businesses elevate their brand through creative storytelling and strategic digital marketing. Discover how Matt leverages authentic community events and a value-first approach to attract clients and build lasting relationships in a competitive market.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Stephen Webster, CEO of Wealthfleet Enterprises, to explore how solopreneurs can scale through smart systems, strategic partnerships, and AI.

With 30+ years of executive experience, Stephen shares his journey from corporate leadership to building a consulting firm that helps CEOs optimize talent and implement scalable operating systems. He dives into his recent shift toward outsourcing content creation for better LinkedIn traction, and how he’s using AI tools like ChatGPT to eliminate bias, enhance client prep, and unlock new growth pathways.

Stephen also shares his vision of reaching one million leaders through innovative delivery models—from tech-driven consulting to potential cohort programs. He wraps with a powerful mindset shift: “Is this a cost or an investment in my future self?”

A must-listen for founders, consultants, and anyone looking to scale smarter in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jay Encarnacion talks with Zainulabedin Shah, CEO and co-founder of Zeed, a data strategy and AI company transforming mid-sized businesses. Zainulabedin shares how he bridges the gap between business leaders and technical teams to deliver scalable, impactful AI solutions.

They discuss Zeed’s evolution from data strategy to full-service AI applications, his relationship-driven sales approach, and his use of AI-powered marketing to grow the business. He also opens up about being the current bottleneck to scaling and his deliberate growth plans for 2025, emphasizing education to help clients harness AI for long-term value.

Tune in for insights on building sustainable AI ventures and scaling thoughtfully in a rapidly evolving space.

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In this episode of Founders Future, host Karyn Vadnais sits down with Natalia Zhuravel, founder of Cherry On Top Marketing Agency. With over eight years of experience and more than 100 projects completed, Natalia shares her journey from immigrant beginnings to leading a powerhouse digital marketing agency generating $15 million in revenue.

 She discusses the unique challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face, common misconceptions about social media marketing, and how her agency evolved from simple social media management to delivering full branding and sales strategy packages. Natalia also reveals the importance of customer acquisition, word-of-mouth referrals, and building trust to fuel sustainable growth. 

Tune in to learn how authentic branding and strategic marketing can transform your business.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Kyle Paterson, founder of Enspire Brands, a New York-based personal branding agency working with high-profile executives and even billionaires. Kyle shares his journey from juggling multiple roles within his company—including cold calling, closing deals, and refining operational systems—to setting his sights on sustainable growth through streamlined lead generation and world-class content strategies.

Kyle opens up about the real challenges of scaling a service-based business, emphasizing the importance of creating a product that actually works before thinking about scaling it. He discusses why lead generation is his current bottleneck, how outbound efforts and content are working today, and what he would implement immediately if given unlimited resources (spoiler: it's paid advertising).

Kyle also gives a forward-looking take on how AI is transforming the personal branding landscape—not as a threat, but as a way to raise the bar and unlock creative excellence. He shares tools that have helped move the needle, like Instantly.ai, and offers a piece of advice every founder needs to hear: play to win, not just to avoid losing.

From mindset to execution, this episode is packed with insight for any entrepreneur looking to build a reputation-driven business in today’s fast-moving digital space.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Colin MacDonald, co-founder of Not Therapy, a groundbreaking coaching company redefining support for young adults during pivotal life transitions. Colin shares how he and co-founder Haley transformed their personal experiences into a peer-driven mentorship model that resonates with teens and young adults ages 16 to 22. Built entirely through inbound efforts like podcast guesting and conference speaking, Not Therapy offers structure, accountability, and emotional support in a way that complements—but doesn’t replicate—traditional therapy. Their mission? To help families shift dynamics and empower youth to thrive without being forced into a clinical setting.

Colin also dives into the impressive growth of Not Therapy, which has already hit multiple six figures in revenue and is scaling fast through group coaching programs, community-building, and curriculum designed for schools. He talks about the importance of culture as they hire new coaches, the challenge of removing himself and Haley as bottlenecks, and the broader vision of reaching 10,000 families in the next three years. If you're passionate about mental health innovation, scalable impact, and building purpose-led businesses without outside funding, this episode offers real insight and inspiration.

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In this episode of Founders Future, Jae Encarnacion chats with Tim Sprinkle, founder of Layup Content, about how he’s reshaping content marketing for financial services. Tim shares how his agency delivers results-driven storytelling, why personalization is the future of B2B content, and how he’s scaling by focusing on outcomes—not just output.

Learn how Layup Content thrives in a regulated space, grows through referrals, and embraces AI and automation to streamline delivery without losing the human touch.

A must-listen for founders and marketers navigating growth in complex industries.

In this episode of Founders Future, Stephan Ledain, founder of AdaptAI, dives into how his company combines technology and behavioral science to drive business transformation. He discusses the importance of trust-building with clients, customizing solutions, and scaling their services. Stephan also shares how they are creating an automated platform to make their expertise more accessible, while maintaining a high-touch experience for larger clients. Tune in for insights on scaling thoughtfully, the future of consulting, and the role of tech in transforming organizations.