Made It with Connor Tomkies

Serial entrepreneur Adam Spector shares his journey of building and exiting multiple startups, including his current venture, Levy, which revolutionizes back-office support. In this engaging episode, Adam discusses the lessons he's learned from navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, the importance of solving real problems, and his outlook on the future of work in an era of AI and globalization. He also shares insights on running a VC-backed vs. bootstrapped company, the challenges of attribution in personalization, and the increasing accessibility of entrepreneurship. Tune in for a candid conversation filled with valuable advice for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey.

00:00:34 - Adam's Background
00:01:17 - Starting Levy
00:02:36 - Solving Real Problems
00:07:10 - Running a Startup
00:09:10 - Growing the Business
00:10:37 - Spinning Out Levy
00:13:37 - Adam's Four Startups
00:19:16 - Missed Acquisition
00:23:35 - Building & Selling Lift Igniter
00:28:32 - VC vs. Bootstrapped
00:32:26 - Future of Work Outlook
00:40:06 - AI in Outsourcing
00:41:16 - Accessible Entrepreneurship
00:42:46 - Reflections on Success

Adam Spector's Stuff

Adam's Business:  https://www.levy.company/

X: https://x.com/aspec00?s=20

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamspector2

My Stuff

Podcast: MadeItPod.com

Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/

X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/

Join along as I sit down with the incredibly inspiring Vlada Lotkina, the brain behind ClassTag, for a journey filled with dreams, determination, and the drive to make a difference in the world of education. From her early days in Ukraine to creating waves in the U.S. tech scene, Vlada's story isn't just about building a successful platform; it's about bridging gaps, overcoming the naysayers, and transforming challenges into triumphs. We're not just sharing her success story; we're diving into the essence of what it means to pursue your passions, stand up after setbacks, and forge your path in the world. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or someone who loves a good story of hope and hard work, you won't want to miss this.

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:03] Founding ClassTag
[00:03:04] Vlada's Entrepreneur Background
[00:06:04] Navigating business during the war in Ukraine
[00:09:56] Selling ClassTag
[00:12:47] Reflecting on the Exit
[00:15:39] After the Exit
[00:17:28] Supporting Immigrant Founders
[00:23:33] Scaling ClassTag to 5 million users
[00:27:44] Impact of COVID on ClassTag's Growth
[00:31:21] Parenting and Entrepreneurship
[00:37:22] Wrap-up

Vlada Lotkina's Stuff

Website: https://www.elev8orlab.com/

X: https://twitter.com/vlotkina

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlada-lotkina

My Stuff

Podcast: MadeItPod.com

Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/

X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/

We dive into the journey of Benji Markoff, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the insurance industry with his startup, Founder Shield. Benji shares his rollercoaster experience from the early days of grueling work and personal challenges to achieving a monumental exit. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of resilience, innovation, and the unexpected paths of entrepreneurship, as well as a peek into his next venture, revolutionizing wellness and beyond.

[00:00:00] Opening
[00:01:01] Intro
[00:06:09] Founding Founder Shield
[00:13:29] The Acquisition Gauntlet
[00:20:28] Keys to Startup Success
[00:27:59] Life After Exit
[00:33:51] Establishing a Family Office
[00:40:31] Investing in Tangible Businesses
[00:44:03] Discovering Padel Sport
[00:51:32] Creating a Social Wellness Club
[00:56:09] Outro

Benji's Stuff:

Website: https://www.sja58.com/

Padel United Sports Club: https://www.padelunitedsportsclub.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjimarkoff/

My Stuff:

Podcast: MadeItPod.com

Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/

X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/

LISTENER NOTE: My Second Million asa title was always intended as a cheeky joke around the fantastic pod "My First Million" but now on April Fools we've decided to pivot as so many founder do, to the "Made It with Connor Tomkies" podcast. We can't wait for the guests we have coming up and we're excited to share more episodes. Stay tuned for more episodes of "Made It with Connor Tomkies" 

Dive into an enlightening conversation with Aaron White, a tech visionary who recently sold two companies, ProfitWell and Blissfully, in a remarkable dual exit. In this episode, Aaron opens up about the rollercoaster journey of entrepreneurship, from confronting massive industry pushback to experiencing the life-changing moments of selling his ventures. Tune in to uncover the real challenges and triumphs behind building and selling a startup, and what life holds on the other side of success.

Aaron's Stuff

Aaron's Blog: https://www.singularity.vc/
X: https://x.com/aaronwhite?s=20
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronmwhite/

My Stuff

Podcast: www.mysecondmillionpodcast.com

Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/

X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/

Connor dives deep with Jeremy Parker, the innovative mind behind Swag.com. They explore Jeremy's dynamic journey from aspiring filmmaker to successful entrepreneur. Jeremy shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path, revealing how he navigated through failures and pivots to build and sell swag.com, transforming the promotional products industry along the way. This episode offers a unique look into the strategies, mindset, and resilience required to turn visionary ideas into profitable ventures.

00:00:00 Chapter 1: The Entrepreneurial Journey
00:03:18 Chapter 2: Innovating in Promotional Products
00:08:23 Chapter 3: Acquisition Insights
00:13:51 Chapter 4: The Birth of Swag.com
00:19:53 Chapter 5: Strategies for B2B Success
00:25:34 Chapter 6: Launching SwagSpace
00:31:17 Chapter 7: Post-Exit Reflections

Jeremy's Stuff

Website: https://swag.com/

X: https://x.com/yocanikickit?s=20

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyianparker/

My Stuff

Podcast: www.mysecondmillionpodcast.com

Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/

X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/

In this episode host Connor Tomkies sits down with the seasoned entrepreneur, podcaster, and founder of Mixergy, Andrew Warner, to explore the intricacies of entrepreneurship in the digital age. They delve into the critical role of becoming a micro-influencer as an entrepreneur, share personal journeys of business successes and lessons learned from failures, and discuss the strategic advantages of outsourcing and harnessing international talent. The conversation also touches on future trends, including the potential of service-based business models and the significance of content creation and influencer marketing in scaling businesses.

[00:00:00] Chapter 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurial Influence
[00:03:17] Chapter 2: The First Million: Strategies and Paranoia
[00:08:11] Chapter 3: Evolution of Email Marketing and Co-Reg
[00:10:47] Chapter 4: From Failed Ventures to Dog Genetics Success
[00:13:32] Chapter 5: Building and Scaling Support Ninja
[00:17:08] Chapter 6: Future Ideas and International Hiring
[00:20:07] Chapter 7: The Ongoing Journey of Mixergy
[00:23:38] Chapter 8: Service-Based Business Success Stories
[00:26:21] Chapter 9: Assembling Your Marketing Department
[00:29:12] Chapter 10: The Importance of Being a Public Founder
[00:31:24] Chapter 11: Entrepreneurial Investments and Founder.org
[00:32:51] Chapter 12: Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Andrew's Stuff

PodCast Site: https://podflow.com/
Andrew's Site: https://mixergy.com/
Andrew's X: https://x.com/AndrewWarner?s=20
Andrew's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Asking-Questions-High-Impact-Interviews/dp/1737676540

My Stuff

Podcast: www.mysecondmillionpodcast.com
Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/
X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/