Two brothers found ample room for growth in the billion-dollar water bottle industry. John and Jameson Fitzgerald left their finance careers to tackle a gap in the health tech market: hydration tracking. Their startup FLOZ transforms your beloved Stanley, Hydroflask, or Yeti into a smart device with a simple straw attachment. In this episode, Gary and Jill challenge the founders on everything from their IP protection strategy and influencer marketing plans to manufacturing hurdles and fundraising approach. The brothers reveal their impressive preparedness, sharing insider details about athlete partnerships, manufacturing visits to Mexico, and their strategic two-phase capital raise already underway. If you've ever wondered how hardware startups navigate the treacherous path from concept to commercialization – or if you're just curious about the next big thing in health tech – this episode pours out a masterclass in entrepreneurial preparation.

Learn more:

https://www.flozhydration.com/

https://www.instagram.com/flozhydration/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/floz-hydration

Cultured is an innovative subscription box service that brings global cultural experiences directly to customers' doorsteps. Join us as Charlotte shares her entrepreneurial journey from walking 20 miles a day conducting market research to launching a business that curates authentic cultural items from countries around the world. Gary and Jill help Charlotte tackle crucial challenges around logistics, pricing strategy, and scaling her business while maintaining quality and authenticity. This episode offers valuable insights into bootstrapping a startup, conducting grassroots market research, and the importance of understanding unit economics before scaling.

Learn more:

https://www.iamcultured.co

https://www.linkedin.com/company/iamcultured/

https://www.instagram.com/iamcultured.co/

When Anita O'Neal walked in with a plan to revolutionize small business budgeting, she didn't expect to walk out with a completely new perspective on her company's future. In this episode, listen as a straightforward financial services business transforms into a potentially scalable tech venture right before your eyes. Gary and Jill dig deep into Powerful People Plan's business model, challenging Anita's assumptions and uncovering hidden opportunities. From a pivot suggestion involving fractional CFOs to an eye-opening discussion about exit strategies, this episode showcases how one conversation can reshape an entrepreneur's entire trajectory. Whether you're wrestling with scaling challenges or plotting your own exit strategy, this episode delivers the wake-up call every founder needs.

Learn more:

www.linkedin.com/in/anita-oneal

www.powerfulpeopleplan.com

https://instagram.com/PowerfulPeoplePlan

https://www.facebook.com/PowerfulPeoplePlan

What happens when a former NFL player sets out to create basketball's answer to Topgolf? Derrick Mayes, who went from catching passes for the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks to becoming CEO of Jump Shot Live, shares his vision for revolutionizing basketball entertainment. Drawing from lessons learned watching his father's entrepreneurial journey and his own experiences in professional football, Mayes is building a groundbreaking concept that combines proprietary rotating hoop technology, immersive entertainment, and the pure love of basketball. With patent-pending innovations and partnerships with industry veterans from Topgolf, Jump Shot Live aims to transform how people experience the world's second most popular sport. Listen as Mayes reveals crucial insights about scaling a first-of-its-kind venture, the importance of starting small while thinking big, and how to build the right team of "birthers and rearers" to bring an innovative concept to life.

Learn More:

https://jumpshotlive.com/our-story

https://www.instagram.com/jumpshot.live/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jumpshotinc/

Meet Tammy Marshall, founder and CEO of La Lueur Health & Wellness, who's revolutionizing healthcare delivery in minority communities through a unique blend of primary care and med spa services. Her 45-foot medical bus nicknamed "Lady Bird" brings healthcare directly to underserved areas, while her brick-and-mortar location offers a welcoming environment that makes patients feel truly valued. In this enlightening conversation, Gary and Jill help Tammy explore scaling strategies as she transitions from hands-on practitioner to full-time CEO. The discussion reveals how authentic leadership, strategic thinking about revenue streams, and maintaining high standards while scaling can transform both healthcare delivery and business success. Tammy's journey showcases how combining mission-driven purpose with smart business acumen can create meaningful impact while building a sustainable enterprise.

Learn More

https://lalueurhw.com

https://www.instagram.com/la_lueur_hw

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Amanda Lewis, founder and CEO of Lewie, who's on a mission to transform oral care from a health necessity into a beauty essential. After 20 years as a practicing dentist, Dr. Lewis noticed a striking pattern: patients consistently prioritized cosmetic dental procedures over health-related ones. This observation sparked her entrepreneurial journey to create innovative oral care products that bridge the gap between health and beauty.

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Lewis shares her vision of making the smile the centerpiece of beauty routines, backed by her development of a patented flossing disc and a chemical-conscious whitening wand. Gary and Jill guide her through crucial strategic considerations, from positioning Lewie as a premium beauty brand to exploring mass market opportunities. The discussion reveals important insights about distribution challenges, the power of strategic partnerships, and the delicate balance between maintaining a premium image and achieving necessary scale.

Watch as our hosts help Dr. Lewis uncover potentially game-changing perspectives about her go-to-market strategy, including innovative approaches to hotel amenities, travel retail, and the possibility of dual-brand strategies. This episode offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of consumer packaged goods, especially those trying to disrupt established markets with innovative products.

Learn more about Lewie:

https://mylewie.com/

In this compelling episode, Laura Baldwin, Managing Partner of RevTech Ventures, brings her extensive investment experience to a candid discussion about the stark realities and real opportunities in funding female founders. Drawing from her decade-plus experience as an angel investor and her current role leading a $10 million fund focused on women-led retail technology ventures, Laura explores the paradox of superior returns from female-founded companies despite receiving only 2% of venture capital. Through probing questions from Gary and Jill, the conversation evolves into a strategic discussion about transforming fundraising approaches - shifting from individual investor cultivation to pursuing major institutional commitments. The episode offers unique insights into how traditional fundraising models might be reimagined to better serve both investors and female entrepreneurs, while highlighting the untapped potential in the intersection of retail technology and female leadership.

Learn more about RevTech Ventures and Golden Seeds

https://revtechventures.com/

https://goldenseeds.com/

Demi Oloyede, founder and CEO of Limpiar, shares her journey of building a tech-enabled cleaning services platform. What starts as a conversation about connecting cleaners with customers evolves into a masterclass on strategic focus and business model refinement. Gary and Jill help Demi navigate the challenges of managing a two-sided marketplace while avoiding the temptation to "boil the ocean."

The discussion reveals how Limpiar pivoted from individual contractors to small business partnerships, transformed their customer acquisition strategy, and leveraged HOA relationships to build a more sustainable business model. Through their platform, Limpiar is bringing transparency and trust to an industry traditionally plagued by uncertainty and inconsistency. Demi's candid insights about battling "shiny object syndrome" and the importance of establishing clear priorities resonate with entrepreneurs at any stage.

As the conversation unfolds, Gary and Jill guide Demi through crucial strategic considerations, from managing customer trust to scaling operations efficiently. The episode showcases how focusing on core customer segments and building strong relationships with property managers and HOAs can create a path to sustainable growth. Demi's innovative approach to lean operations and smart outsourcing provides a blueprint for entrepreneurs looking to build scalable businesses without overextending resources.

Whether you're running a marketplace business or struggling with strategic focus, this episode offers valuable lessons on the art of building a focused, scalable business model while maintaining the discipline to stay true to your core mission.

Learn more about Limpiar

https://limpiar.online/

https://instagram.com/Limpiaronline

https://www.linkedin.com/company/limpiaronline/

Dawn Myers, the visionary founder and CEO of Richualist, takes us on her extraordinary journey of creating a revolutionary hair styling device for textured hair, sharing the triumphs and challenges she faced along the way. From her early days of sketching ideas on legal pads to appearing on Shark Tank, Dawn's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation. Listeners will be inspired by Dawn's candid account of bootstrapping her company, including selling her house and liquidating her 401k to fund early prototypes. She openly discusses the unique hurdles she encountered as a Black woman in the tech and manufacturing world, offering valuable insights into navigating these spaces as an underrepresented founder.

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, looking to make waves in their industries. Dawn's journey with Richualist not only highlights the potential for innovation in the beauty tech space but also provides a roadmap for turning a personal pain point into a market-disrupting solution. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will challenge you to think differently about entrepreneurship, funding, and the power of perseverance.

Learn More about Richualist:

https://richualist.com/

https://instagram.com/getrichualist

https://www.tiktok.com/@get.richualist

https://www.linkedin.com/company/getrichualist/about/

Gary Kusin sits down with Johannes Luckemeier, the innovative mind behind Glydsphere. Johannes shares his journey from working in the German automotive industry to developing a groundbreaking aftermarket product that allows electric car owners to customize their vehicle's sound.

As Johannes stands at a critical juncture in his entrepreneurial journey, Gary offers invaluable insights on scaling the business, protecting intellectual property, and preparing for potential interest from major industry players. The conversation delves into the challenges of disrupting the global auto market and the importance of strategic thinking as the company grows.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of hardware and software development, especially those looking to make waves in established industries. Tune in to hear Gary's advice on transitioning from an engineering mindset to a CEO perspective, and how to plan for long-term success while managing day-to-day operations.

Learn more about Glydsphere:

https://invest.microventures.com/offerings/glydsphere

https://glydsphere.com/

https://www.instagram.com/glydsphere/