Pitch, Build, Scale - Startup Founder Stories in the Age of AI

How can technology give millions of everyday investors the clarity and confidence once reserved for the ultra-wealthy?In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with David Kon, CEO of Wealth Fluent, to explore how his team is transforming wealth management for the mass affluent - those who’ve long been overlooked by traditional financial institutions.David shares how his family-built fintech is empowering individuals and small advisory firms with tools for personalized, holistic wealth planning - far beyond static spreadsheets or outdated risk questionnaires.We unpack:- The underserved opportunity among 30M+ mass affluent U.S. households- The challenge of balancing privacy, compliance, and innovation in fintech- Why big finance’s business model creates resistance to disruptive tools- How AI, APIs, and lean infrastructure are reshaping investment advice- And David’s vision for building a community that makes financial literacy accessible and actionableTune in for a masterclass on innovating in one of the world’s most traditional industries - and learn how to rethink your own approach to wealth.Resources:Wealth Fluent: https://www.wealthfluent.comBig North Marketing: https://www.bignorthmarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Wealth Fluent and David Kon03:38 David Kon's Journey in Tech and Finance06:50 The Birth of Wealth Fluent09:44 Target Audience and Market Positioning12:56 Technology and Innovation in Wealth Management15:38 Balancing Privacy and Technology18:26 Future Trends in FinTech and AI21:36 Community and Financial Literacy Goals24:38 Challenges and Opportunities for Growth27:48 Vision for the Future of Wealth Fluent

What if you could cut IP legal review time from weeks to 15 minutes - and increase your odds of getting a patent approved?In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Malachi Hernandez, CEO of Ipelint, to explore how AI is transforming the future of intellectual property. We dive into Malachi’s journey from patent analyst to LegalTech founder, how Ipelint’s AI delivers defendable claims faster than traditional firms, and the surprising traction he's getting from both solo patent lawyers and massive global firms.We also explore the unique challenges of selling to legacy legal systems, why bootstrapping isn't a death sentence, and how strategic communication - not capital - is often the real bottleneck for early-stage startups.🎧 If you're building in AI, LegalTech, or just curious how to scale without millions in funding, this one’s for you.ResourcesIpelint: https://www.ipelint.comConnect with Malachi: http://www.linkedin.com/in/malachijhernandezBig North Marketing: https://www.bignorthmarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Malachi Hernandez and Ipelint02:55 The Journey into Tech and Entrepreneurship04:51 The Birth of Ipelint: Solving Personal Pain Points06:49 Understanding the Main Pain Points in IP08:46 Current Status and Growth Stage of Ipelint10:39 Target Customers and Client Acquisition Strategies11:48 The Role of AI in Ipelint's Operations15:55 Challenges and Opportunities in the Legal Tech Space17:41 Vision and Goals for the Future19:48 Funding Challenges and Bootstrapping21:48 Communication as a Key to Success24:46 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Is your dev agency still starting client projects from a blank page?In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we chat with Brandon Wilson, CEO at Steadynamic, about how AI is fundamentally reshaping the discovery process in custom software development.We explore how their team uses AI agents for rapid ideation, real-time prototyping, and multimodal collaboration—cutting through ambiguity and helping non-technical clients visualize what they actually want to build.You’ll learn:- Why AI is best used before the code is written- How visual collaboration speeds up alignment and trust- Why the biggest opportunity isn’t in the code—but in how we gather and interpret business needsWhether you're running a dev agency or a SaaS startup, this episode is a roadmap for using AI to reduce friction, increase speed, and deepen client insight.🎧 Subscribe to stay ahead of the curve.📚 Resources:Steadynamic: https://www.steadynamic.comGrow your revenue with Big North Marketing: https://www.bignorthmarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Steadynamic and Brandon Wilson01:32 Brandon's Journey in Tech and Digital Transformation04:06 The Unique Process at Steadynamic06:02 Client Engagement and Industry Focus08:58 Navigating Client Expectations and Technology Solutions11:33 Understanding Client Needs and Ideation14:54 AI's Role in Development and Prototyping21:19 Impact of Rapid Prototyping on Client Expectations24:22 Client Comfort with AI and Automation29:01 Future of Technology and Steadynamic's Goals

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Tino Go, Founder & CEO of Baru, to explore how under-utilized CNC machines and screen-to-machine technology are creating a virtual, local factory network—slashing up to 40% of traditional supply-chain costs and unlocking limitless customization for cabinetry and furniture.What You’ll Learn- The story behind Baru’s pivot from finance to manufacturing innovation- How on-demand, localized production eliminates distribution, warehousing, and obsolescence expenses- Strategies for onboarding large clients like Google and building repeat-buyer networks among contractors- The role of CAD/CAM and generative AI in the future of digital manufacturing👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on scaling tech businesses👍 Like if you’re ready to rethink your supply chain💬 Comment your biggest production-cost challenge belowResourcesLearn more about Baru and explore custom cabinets: https://hellobaru.comGet your tree growth consultation: https://BigNorthMarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Baru and Tino Go02:09 The Journey from Finance to Cabinetry04:24 Proof of Concept with Google06:00 Current Operations and Market Position09:11 Customization and Unique Selling Proposition11:34 Technology Enabling Local Manufacturing13:58 Trends in Micro Local Manufacturing16:58 Building Relationships with Designers19:11 Challenges in Growth and Capitalization21:53 Future Aspirations and AI Integration

What if your smartphone-sized ultrasound device could detect cancer in its earliest stages—without new hardware?In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, host Chris Fanchi sits down with Soner Hacıhaliloğlu, CEO of PONS, to explore how software-only AI is transforming diagnostic imaging and making early detection more accessible around the world.Soner shares the story of building a company at the intersection of medtech, AI, and social impact—how they launched during the pandemic, validated results with Mayo Clinic and African midwives, and are now scaling to become the data backbone of preventative care.From the challenges of regulation and reimbursement to the promise of AI in democratizing health access, this episode dives deep into a vision of care that’s fast, decentralized, and truly global.Resources🌐 Learn more about PONS: https://www.ponstech.co/📈 Work with Big North Marketing: https://www.BigNorthMarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Soner and PONS Technology03:33 Soner's Journey into Healthcare and Entrepreneurship06:27 The Impact of Ultrasound Technology on Early Detection09:38 Understanding PONS Technology and Its Applications12:34 Market Strategy and Business Model of PONS15:14 AI's Role in Healthcare Transformation18:23 Regulatory Challenges and AI in Healthcare21:25 Collaboration with Medical Device Companies24:35 Future Goals and Data Privacy in Healthcare27:26 Funding and Growth Challenges for PONS30:19 Final Thoughts and Future Vision

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That spark of imagination kids have? Wendy is turning it into their superpower.

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Lance Neuhauser, serial founder and CEO of Wendy—an AI-powered, choice-based storytelling platform built to guide how children read, create, and develop emotional intelligence in an AI-driven world.

Use the promo code MAGICMONTH to get one free month of access to the Wendy app. Visit https://trywendy.com

Lance shares how his journey from leading global ad tech companies to building a storytelling platform for kids was inspired by a powerful mix of family legacy, educational insight, and an urgent call to prepare kids for a radically different future.

We explore how Wendy blends safety-first AI design with child-driven creativity, why curiosity and narrative will define the jobs of the future, and how we can use today’s tools to build a more human tomorrow.

Whether you're a tech leader, a parent, or a product visionary, this is a must-listen on how to build transformational tech with soul.⛓️ ResourcesWendy: https://trywendy.comLance Neuhauser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanceneuhauserBig North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Wendy and Lance Neuhauser01:51 Lance's Journey into Technology and Entrepreneurship06:57 Inspiration Behind Wendy: The Importance of Storytelling13:39 The Role of AI in Children's Storytelling20:54 Preparing Kids for the Future: Skills for Tomorrow27:45 Data Privacy and Safety in Children's Apps35:17 Future Roadmap for Wendy and Educational Impact

Most dev teams can build software—but very few can guarantee it delivers business value.

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Dave Todaro, founder of Ascendle and author of The Epic Guide to Agile, to unpack what separates strategic software success from over-engineered failure.

We cover how Dave’s early programming days shaped his obsession with real-world impact, why most product timelines still fail despite modern tools, and how to make AI a productive coding assistant—not a liability.

You’ll hear hard-won lessons on agile delivery, client validation, pricing transparency, and building software with “no room for failure.” If you lead a dev shop or enterprise product team, this one’s a masterclass in modern software strategy.

Orchestral musician turned AI founder? Meet Martika Brianne Jones, CEO of BŪP, who’s redefining sales follow-up with automated empathy. From capturing leads at events to transforming B2B relationships with AI-personalized messaging, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, scaling, and storytelling in tech.

Resources:
BŪP: https://www.bup.ai
Big North Marketing: https://www.bignorthmarketing.com

Raghu Gollamudi has built and exited multiple SaaS companies—but his latest mission might be his boldest yet.

As CEO and Co-founder of Included, Raghu is tackling a massive gap in HR tech: transforming workforce data into real-time, actionable intelligence using AI. In this episode, he shares how Included is helping leaders make faster decisions, reduce attrition, and build more data-driven teams—without needing an entire people analytics department.

Tune in as we discuss:

• Why dashboards aren’t enough

• The real challenge with fragmented HR systems

• How Included became AI-native from day one

• What’s next for scaling people analytics

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🔗 Learn more: https://www.included.ai📩 Book a free growth consult: https://www.bignorthmarketing.com

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Eric Dunn—CEO of Plastix Marketing and Aesthetix CRM—to unpack how AI-powered automation is transforming patient engagement and marketing operations for medspas and cosmetic surgery clinics.

Eric shares the journey from running a niche digital agency to building a proprietary CRM platform—then layering on AI to fix the biggest bottleneck in the industry: follow-up failure. We dig into:

• Why most local businesses don’t need more leads—they need better systems

• The automations that are actually moving the needle for small clinics

• The leap from services to SaaS (and the critical lessons along the way)

• How to scale an agency without becoming the bottleneck

• The future of AI in hyper-niche verticals

Whether you're a SaaS founder, agency owner, or product builder, this episode is packed with real-world takeaways on solving real business problems with smart tech.

Resources:

• Aesthetix CRM: https://aesthetixcrm.com

• Plastix Marketing: https://plastixmarketing.com

• Work with us: https://BigNorthMarketing.com