In this episode of Founders in Full, I talk with Mike Valente, founder and CEO of Renovation Sells, a fast-growing franchise business that helps homeowners prepare their homes for sale through smart, design-driven renovations.

Mike shares how he went from hauling beer on Wrigleyville rooftops to launching a remodeling business—and ultimately building a national brand by finding a niche and committing to it.

We dive into:

• The winding journey from inside sales to real estate, construction, and entrepreneurship
• How Renovation Sells turned quick, pre-sale upgrades into a scalable business model
• Why finding your niche isn’t always immediate—but it changes everything once you do
• The role branding and positioning played in validating their model and attracting franchisees
• What it takes to grow fast while protecting the brand and supporting a national network of owners

If you’re a founder, builder, or just figuring out how to scale the thing you’ve already started, this episode is packed with insights you’ll want to take notes on.

Learn more about Renovation Sells: https://www.renovationsells.com

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renovatetosell/

Connect with me (Dan Ritzke):

I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results.

👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/

👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/

Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder:

👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/