In this episode of the Peaking Podcast, Bryan Mikolaitis interviews Fernando Young, CEO and co-founder of Beluga Labs, an operating system for the creator economy. Fernando shares his entrepreneurial journey, from meeting his co-founder at Harvard to navigating the challenges of building a startup. He discusses the importance of understanding the creator economy, the impact of AI on content creation, and the lessons learned from his experiences at Y Combinator. The conversation also touches on the future of Beluga Labs and the trends shaping the creator landscape.

Takeaways

Beluga Labs aims to be the operating system for the creator economy.Fernando's entrepreneurial journey began at Harvard with his co-founder.Sociology helped Fernando understand human connection in business.Experience at Meta provided valuable insights into diverse industries.The importance of building a strong relationship with early customers.Balancing speed and quality is crucial in product development.The creator economy is evolving with more creators diversifying their revenue streams.AI is set to change the landscape of content creation significantly.Success in content creation is not solely based on follower count.Betting on oneself is essential for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Sound Bites

"I always wanted to start a company.""We had a hundred percent conversion rate.""Bet on yourself."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Beluga Labs and Fernando Young01:14 The Journey of Entrepreneurship Begins03:40 Educational Background and Early Career Insights06:40 The Path to Entrepreneurship: A Family Legacy08:52 Valuable Lessons from Family and Early Experiences10:42 Balancing Speed and Quality in Product Development13:26 Pivoting Ideas: The Birth of Beluga Labs17:48 Understanding the Creator Economy20:20 The Y Combinator Experience23:24 Building a Strong Founding Team26:28 Current Team and Future Hiring Plans27:24 Trends in the Creator Economy30:40 The Impact of AI on Content Creation33:14 Content Creation: Success Factors and Market Dynamics36:16 The Sales Cycle in Creator Partnerships38:32 Favorite Creators and Their Influence41:01 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs43:32 Future Plans for Beluga Labs

In this conversation, David discusses his journey from venture capital to founding GigXR, a company focused on mixed reality solutions for medical training. He shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare technology space, the evolution of medical training through simulation, and the importance of building a platform that democratizes access to immersive learning. David emphasizes the need for market education and the role of AI in enhancing medical training, while also reflecting on leadership lessons learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

Takeaways

• David's transition from VC to founding GigXR was driven by a desire to create impactful technology.
• GigXR aims to revolutionize medical training through mixed reality solutions.
• The company focuses on democratizing access to simulation training in healthcare.
• David emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and educating potential customers.
• The platform approach allows for a broader range of applications and content.
• Real-world applications of GigXR have shown positive outcomes in medical education.
• Navigating a corporate spin-out provided valuable assets and research for GigXR.
• Technical challenges in mixed reality development require specialized skills and knowledge.
• AI integration is crucial for enhancing patient care training in mixed reality.
• Leadership lessons include knowing when to pivot or persist in business.

Sound Bites

• "We have to educate the market."
• "Knowing when to call it is crucial."
• "The world wants you to succeed."

In this conversation, Colin Williams shares his journey from a traditional law career to becoming an entrepreneur and founder of New Era ADR. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned from his experiences in litigation, the transition to tech, and the importance of mental health in the entrepreneurial journey. Colin emphasizes the need for founders to trust their instincts, seek help, and celebrate small successes while navigating the complexities of building a startup. He also reflects on the acquisition of his previous company by Etsy and the mindset shifts that come with growth and success.

Takeaways

Colin transitioned from a traditional law career to tech to address flaws in litigation.
His 'aha moment' came from witnessing the inefficiencies in the legal process.
Trusting your gut is crucial when making career decisions.
Cold calling can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Revenue generation should be a primary focus for startups.
Celebrate small successes to maintain motivation.
Imposter syndrome is common among entrepreneurs; it's important to push through it.
Asking for help is vital for both mental health and business success.
Planning for potential legal issues early can prevent future problems.
The acquisition process can be emotionally challenging but is a significant learning experience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Colin Williams and His Journey03:02 Transition from Law to Tech06:03 The Aha Moment: Realizing the Flaws in Litigation09:00 The Path to New Era: Inspiration and Planning12:00 Navigating Career Changes and Overcoming Fear13:58 Early Days in Entrepreneurship and Learning from Mistakes17:07 The Importance of Networking and Cold Outreach20:04 Lessons Learned from Leadership and Business Growth24:02 Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship and Future Goals26:41 Navigating Leadership Transitions29:41 The Emotional Toll of Acquisition32:57 Jumping into Entrepreneurship35:12 The Reality of Startup Challenges39:41 The Importance of Sales in Startups41:03 Mindset Shifts in Entrepreneurship43:59 Seeking Help and Mental Health Awareness45:18 Future Aspirations and Growth Strategies

Summary

In this conversation, Wyatt Carr interviews Justin DiRaddo, founder of SeekLab, discussing his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of building a recruitment platform, and the impact of AI on the staffing industry. Justin shares insights on navigating advice, the importance of revenue and margins, and the future of recruitment technology. The discussion also touches on personal growth, company culture, and the significance of maintaining relationships in the recruiting business.

Summary

In this episode, Wyatt Carr interviews Nikki Kaushik, co-founder and CPO of Quantic, who shares her inspiring journey from India to the US and her experiences in the tech and restaurant industries. The conversation delves into the challenges of building a cloud-based point of sale system for restaurants, the importance of customer support, and the role of AI in transforming restaurant operations. Nikki emphasizes the significance of learning from customers and competition, and discusses the dynamics of running a family business while looking forward to future innovations and expansions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:53 Immigration and Opportunities in the U.S.

05:41 Transitioning from Software to Restaurant Business

09:37 Building a Point of Sale System

12:40 Rebuilding and Rebranding Quantik

17:21 Partnerships and White Labeling Solutions

21:24 Competitive Landscape and AI Integration

26:13 Customer Support and User Experience

27:06 The Importance of Customer Support

29:22 Integrating Support and Product Development

31:17 Expanding Internationally: Challenges and Strategies

32:38 Work-Life Balance in a Family Business

35:34 Finding Passion in Work

37:25 The Next Generation in Business

39:37 Working Together as a Family

40:54 Future Plans and Retirement Perspectives

42:34 Learning from Competition

44:13 Hosting the First Quantic Conference

46:47 Exciting New Product Launches

On the latest episode of Peaking, Wyatt sat down with Julia, CEO of Kapwing, to dive into the wild ride of transforming an idea into a fast-growing startup.

Julia left a stable PM role at Google to chase a vision: make video editing accessible and fast for everyone — creators, teams, marketers, and beyond.

“Done is better than perfect.”

That’s been her mantra through:✅ Pivoting Kapwing from a meme generator into a full-fledged video editing suite✅ Navigating the highs (and rejection-filled lows) of fundraising✅ Embracing AI to reshape how video content gets created and shared✅ Choosing quantity over perfect polish when building a brand presence✅ Learning that every conversation — even the hard ones — is a chance to grow

If you’re a founder, creator, or just fascinated by how startups actually get built, this episode is packed with insights:

• Why storytelling matters more than pitch decks

• How AI is transforming video creation workflows

• The changing landscape of SEO in the era of generative search

• What Julia looks for when hiring rockstar team members

• And a sneak peek at Kapwing’s next big product, K2

In this episode, Cihan Atkin, founder of Cinex and the innovative Venue+ platform, discusses his entrepreneurial journey as a first-generation immigrant and the vision behind Venue+. The platform aims to redefine how audiences experience movies and live events from home, focusing on inclusivity for independent filmmakers and diverse audiences. Cihan shares insights on market research, the role of AI in content creation, and the challenges of customer acquisition in a saturated streaming market. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration within the industry and the potential for Venue+ to enhance the overall entertainment experience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Basketball Nostalgia

05:35 Market Research and Consumer Demand

08:40 Bridging the Gap in Movie Distribution

14:40 The Future of Content Creation with AI

18:00 The Digital Exhibition Platform

22:39 Cihan's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

25:53 Device Development and Market Strategy

30:49 Innovative Payment Solutions in Entertainment

32:26 Entrepreneurial Journey: From Hands-On to Tech

33:27 Influences of Family on Entrepreneurial Spirit

35:00 The American Dream and Immigrant Success

37:00 Challenges of the Second Generation

38:02 Resilience of First-Generation Immigrants

39:05 Lessons Learned in Entrepreneurship

40:55 Vision for the Future of Content Consumption

43:09 Navigating Investor Relationships

47:11 Customer Acquisition Challenges

51:27 Expanding Audience Reach in Live Events

53:02 Innovative Pay-Per-View Solutions

54:39 Harnessing AI for Business Growth

In this episode of the Peaking Podcast, Bryan Mikolaitis hosts Mark Abrams and Jake Leskovar, who share their entrepreneurial journeys, the innovative technology behind Tree3 and XP Flow, and insights into affiliate marketing. They discuss the challenges of building a startup, the importance of team culture, and strategies for funding and growth. Mark emphasizes the need for persistence and passion in entrepreneurship, while Jake highlights the role of AI in simplifying affiliate management.00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Backgrounds02:47 Mark Abrams: From Politics to Entrepreneurship06:07 The Birth of Tree3 and Its Innovative Technology09:07 Aha Moments and Partnerships: The Disney Connection11:59 The Evolution of XP Flow and Its Purpose15:01 AI in Affiliate Marketing: Streamlining Connections17:53 Real-World Applications and Success Stories21:00 Getting Started with Affiliate Programs23:59 Challenges and Insights in Building XP Flow26:51 Building an AI-Driven System31:36 Challenges in Development and Funding37:08 The Art of Selling and Fundraising42:35 Team Dynamics and Company Culture46:06 Leveraging AI Tools for Success50:46 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Summary

In this conversation, Bob Witkow shares his journey as a founder in the medical technology space, particularly focusing on his company Emet Surgical. He discusses his transition from a successful sales manager to a startup founder, the challenges and pivots faced in developing their product, and the importance of asking questions in the innovation process. Bob emphasizes the significance of building a strong advisory board, the unique approach to their software solution, and the impact of their technology on surgical precision. He also reflects on the personal motivations driving his work, including his experiences with cancer, and shares insights on company building, hiring, and navigating international markets.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bob Witkow and Denver's Ecosystem

02:51 The Origin Story of A Med Surgical

06:02 The Pivot from Hardware to Software

09:10 Building the Software Solution

12:09 The Enhanced Surgical Precision System

15:04 Challenges and Innovations in Surgery

17:54 Company Building Philosophy and Strategies

20:51 Recent Wins and Future Goals

23:44 Hiring and Team Dynamics

26:47 International Market Insights

29:35 Personal Peaks and Motivations

In this episode of the Peaking Podcast, Bryan Mikolaitis interviews Nora Shiels, founder of Bridal Bliss and co-founder of Rock Paper Coin. Nora shares her journey from growing up in a family of Iraqi immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the wedding industry. She discusses the challenges of starting a software company without a technical background, the importance of building a positive company culture, and the lessons learned from her experiences as a business owner. Nora also touches on the balance between work and family life, the funding journey for her business, and the potential incorporation of AI tools in the future.TakeawaysWinning a business plan competition led to the creation of Bridal Bliss.Rock Paper Coin was developed to solve inefficiencies in wedding planning software.The go-to-market strategy focused on wedding planners as key influencers.Mistakes are valuable learning experiences in entrepreneurship.Balancing work and family is a priority for Nora.A positive company culture is essential for team morale.Funding has evolved from bootstrapping to seeking VC investments.AI tools are being considered for future enhancements of Rock Paper Coin.Imposter syndrome is a common struggle, but self-belief is crucial.Sound Bites"We were considered industry experts by then.""I still own the wedding planning company.""We have about 50% planners on the platform.""You have to give yourself some grace."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Nora Shiels and Her Journey02:37 The Birth of Rock Paper Coin11:32 Developing the MVP and Go-to-Market Strategy18:29 Lessons Learned as a Business Owner20:32 Balancing Work and Family Life23:02 Building a Positive Company Culture25:21 Funding Journey and Future Plans28:35 Incorporating AI and Tools for Efficiency31:41 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Staying Positive