In this exciting episode of Founders in LA, Natasha McCrea and Sheila Jackson, fresh from TechStars LA Demo Day, share their inspiring journey as founders of Jackson McCrea Whiskey. Breaking stereotypes, they're disrupting the male-dominated whiskey industry with a whiskey made by and for women. They shed light on the historical role of women in whiskey-making and their passion for empowering women. From their Hollywood backgrounds to launching a revolutionary brand, they discuss the evolution of their dream. Tune in to hear how they're creating a platform for women to show up unapologetically in the world of whiskey.

In this episode of the Founders in LA podcast, host Ethan Cole welcomes Lee Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Dyrt, a company revolutionizing the management of food waste in commercial businesses. Lee shares how Dyrt processes food waste close to the source, eliminating diesel emissions and reducing the need for large dumpsters and trucks. They discuss the immense amount of food waste generated in restaurants and event venues, highlighting the need for a more sustainable solution. Ethan and Lee delve into Lee's background, from growing up in a middle-class family to his farming experiences and his time at companies like Segway and Bird. They explore the lack of innovation in waste management and the increasing problem of landfills. Lee explains how Dyrt is applying principles from sustainability companies to bring composting technology to the last mile. They also touch on the LA experience of not recognizing famous people. To learn more about Dyrt, visit www.dyrt.co.

Part 2 of my conversation with Sumeet Rana, founder and CEO of Prodhub. Sumeet explains that Prodhub.ai is a platform built on the belief that digital applications contain common repeatable patterns. However, Product Managers often spend significant time writing requirements for these patterns, leading to duplication of effort. Sumeet draws a parallel with software engineering and the creation of libraries, highlighting the lack of a similar solution for Product Managers. Prodhub.ai aims to be the "GitHub for product," offering a repository of product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. It helps Product Managers save time by reusing existing requirements, reducing technical debt, and preventing duplication within organizations. Sumeet shares his motivation for founding Prodhub.ai, driven by the desire to enable Product Managers to focus on strategic aspects and customer problems.

Part 2 of my conversation with Daniel Shaw. In this episode, we dive into the world of early stage startups and explore the significance of branding in their journey to success. We discuss the debate around branding's importance, especially in the VC startup world focused on traction numbers. Daniel also shares insights into some of the challenges he is facing at Autumn.co, including his learnings from building a two-sided marketplace and where they are going from here.

Aarik Gulaya, Co-Founder and CEO of Safa.ai, shares how his passion for marketing and how a non-traditional path led him to create Safa.ai, a platform automating document review and generation for software engineers. His unique approach, drawing parallels between car engines and software systems, underscores the challenges of growing software complexity and the critical role of documentation. From discussing his unconventional journey into the tech industry, to highlighting the importance of effective communication in product design, Aarik offers rich insights and a a fresh perspective on product design and business development.