Founders Future

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Scott Nichols, the founder of Velocity Pitch Decks, to explore the power of storytelling in securing investor funding. Scott shares his unconventional journey from writing resumes to crafting high-impact pitch decks for startup founders. He dives into the similarities between resumes and pitch decks, emphasizing how both serve as marketing tools designed to open doors to conversations.

Scott discusses the challenges he faced in transitioning into the startup ecosystem, the importance of credibility, and how he built strategic partnerships to accelerate business growth. He also provides insights into how startups can refine their messaging, avoid common fundraising pitfalls, and communicate effectively with investors.

Looking ahead, Scott shares his thoughts on the evolving landscape of pitch decks, the role of AI in investor communication, and why human-to-human interaction remains irreplaceable in high-stakes fundraising. He closes with key advice for founders: talk to many people, listen, but stay focused on what truly matters.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Aye Kalenok, the founder and CEO of Kala Talent, to explore how her company is reshaping the recruitment experience for startups and SMBs. Aye shares the inspiration behind launching Kala Talent and how her team prioritizes both client and candidate experience to remove the stigma surrounding recruitment.

She discusses Kala Talent’s unique approach to matching companies with the right talent, focusing on deep client understanding, cultural fit, and transparency in hiring. Aye also reveals her growth strategies, including outbound marketing, referrals, and the importance of building trust in the hiring process.

Laura and Aye dive into the challenges of scaling a recruitment business, the role of sales in founder-led growth, and how Kala Talent is positioning itself for sustainable expansion in the coming years. This insightful conversation offers valuable takeaways for entrepreneurs looking to refine their hiring process and scale their businesses with the right team.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Oscar Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO of Sigma Lab Consulting. Oscar shares his journey from HIV-1 research to earning his MBA at Boston University and how he leveraged his scientific and business expertise to launch Sigma Lab Consulting in 2020.

Based in Boston, Sigma Lab Consulting helps biopharma leaders optimize R&D, streamline clinical operations, and enhance facility efficiency. Oscar discusses the challenges of building a consulting firm in a highly specialized industry, the key strategies that have driven Sigma Lab’s success, and his vision for scaling its impact.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Boris Hristov, founder of 356labs, a leading presentation agency. Boris shares his journey from the IT world to becoming a sought-after speaker and launching his own business, driven by a passion for impactful storytelling and visual communication. He delves into the challenges of building a company in an industry where many don’t realize they have a problem and the patience required to educate the market.

Boris also discusses the characteristics of forward-thinking clients who immediately see the value of high-quality presentations, as well as the importance of trust in delivering transformative work. As 356labs approaches its 10th anniversary, Boris reveals the agency’s exciting expansion plans, including the growth of Present to Succeed, the world's largest presentation skills event.

Finally, Boris shares his insights on AI’s role in shaping the future of presentations—highlighting its potential to enhance storytelling, audience analysis, and content development while emphasizing that design tools still have a long way to go. Whether you're an entrepreneur, speaker, or business leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on communication, differentiation, and the evolving landscape of presentations.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Jesús Ramirez, the creator of the Photoshop Training Channel, to explore his entrepreneurial journey. Jesús shares how his passion for design led him to leave a stable career in coding to build one of the most recognized Photoshop education platforms on YouTube.

He opens up about the pivotal moment when he took the leap, even turning down a doubled salary to pursue his dream. Jesús also discusses how he strategically grew his channel, adapting to audience needs and leveraging SEO to stand out in a saturated market. Looking ahead, he reveals his evolving focus on serving aspiring professional designers, navigating the impact of AI on the creative industry, and staying true to his mission.

Beyond business, Jesús shares a deeply personal story about a life-threatening health scare that reshaped his perspective on work-life balance, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage. His advice? Follow your passion, not the money, and build something you truly love.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Harold Nwariaku, partner at Procurement and Supply Chain Consultants, to discuss his transition from corporate leadership to independent consulting. Harold shares how he was "pushed" into entrepreneurship after years in procurement leadership roles at major global corporations. Rather than resisting, he embraced the opportunity, launching his own firm within a weekend.

Harold opens up about the challenges of starting out—how quickly professional networks shift when you leave a corporate role, and how he leveraged industry associations to maintain credibility and build new client relationships. He also reveals his strategy for competing against industry giants like Accenture: offering real-world expertise, personalized coaching, and flexible, hands-on solutions that big firms often don’t provide.

Looking ahead, Harold is focused on expanding into the U.S. market, bringing his unique mix of humor, storytelling, and practical experience to procurement and supply chain leaders. His final advice to founders? Keep experimenting—failure is inevitable, but you only need to get it right once to succeed.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Steph Gillies, founder of Destination Dream Job, to explore her unconventional path to entrepreneurship. With 32 jobs in 15 years, Steph shares how her diverse experiences and passion for career development led her to build a thriving business helping job seekers craft compelling career stories.

Steph opens up about the early challenges of launching her business, including the distractions of branding and the realization that relationship-building mattered far more than logos and colors. She also discusses the importance of LinkedIn in her growth strategy, the shift from solopreneurship to scaling a team, and the challenges of transitioning from a personal brand to an agency model.

Looking ahead, Steph highlights her focus on thought leadership, speaking engagements, and leveraging her expertise to expand her impact. She also shares insights into the evolving job search landscape, the role of AI in resume writing, and why authenticity remains the key differentiator in a competitive market.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Angelo Sisco, founder of Sisco Advisors, to uncover his entrepreneurial journey—from starting in the fitness industry to becoming a sought-after business coach. Angelo shares how he transitioned from coaching CrossFit gym owners to advising entrepreneurs across various industries, highlighting the universal principles of business success.

He dives into the challenges of breaking into new markets, how he proved his value early on, and the mindset shifts necessary for growth. Angelo also opens up about his 2025 priorities, including his leap into public speaking and launching a YouTube channel to scale his impact beyond one-on-one coaching.

One of the biggest takeaways? Focus. Angelo emphasizes the importance of committing to a goal, blocking out distractions, and learning to say “no” to opportunities that don’t align with your vision. Whether you're a founder looking to scale or an entrepreneur struggling with clarity, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Rachel Serwetz, the CEO and founder of Woken, a career exploration and coaching platform revolutionizing the way professionals navigate their careers. Rachel shares her journey from working in operations at Goldman Sachs and HR at Bridgewater Associates to identifying a critical gap in career development and launching Woken.

She discusses the challenges of building a business in the career coaching space, the importance of structured career exploration, and how Woken is helping individuals make informed career decisions. Rachel also provides insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, scaling a purpose-driven company, and her vision for the future of career development.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Samuel Konzem sits down with Mark de Grasse, founder and CEO of AI Branding Academy, to explore the transformative role of AI in branding and marketing. Mark shares his journey from content marketing and business development to launching AI-powered solutions for brand management.

They discuss the challenges of AI adoption, the skepticism around marketing professionals, and how AI is helping businesses streamline branding decisions. Mark emphasizes the importance of networking in an AI-driven world, the rise of AI-powered competitors, and how businesses must adapt to stay competitive. He also shares insights on AI applications that automate branding, eliminate decision-making inefficiencies, and empower marketing professionals with authority.

With an ambitious goal of helping 20,000 professionals integrate AI into their marketing strategies, Mark outlines the tools and methodologies AI Branding Academy offers to revolutionize branding. He also provides practical advice on the most impactful AI tools businesses can leverage today.