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

Can you really build cybersecurity so effective that it stops ransomware 100% of the time?

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Dennis Underwood, CEO of Cyber Crucible, to discuss kernel-level defense, hyper-automation, and what it takes to disrupt a crowded infosec market.

Dennis shares lessons from working in the intelligence community, building resilient security software, and selling proactively in a market that’s used to reacting. If you work in enterprise tech, SaaS, or cybersecurity, this one’s a must-listen.

Resources💼 Learn more about Cyber Crucible: https://www.cybercrucible.com📨 Want help growing your dev shop or SaaS company? Let's talk: https://BigNorthMarketing.com

Composer. Engineer. Studio Founder.

Jim Welch has worn all three hats—and built a thriving immersive tech studio while doing it.

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, Jim joins Chris Fanchi to talk about the evolution of DevHouse Agency, balancing client work with original IP, and how AR/VR is reshaping industries from oil and gas to education. He also opens up about team culture, AI in game dev, and the real bottleneck holding back his next level of growth.

If you're building in gaming, immersive media, or creative tech, this one's for you.

Charles Fu left a hedge fund to co-found GitRoll—an AI-powered platform that evaluates developers based on their actual GitHub contributions, not resumes. In this episode, he joins us to talk about viral growth loops, hiring in the AI era, and why “vibe coding” won’t cut it anymore. Whether you're building a dev team or trying to stand out as a developer, this episode will reshape how you think about recruiting in tech.

Resources🔗 Learn more about GitRoll: https://www.gitroll.io/💼 Want to scale your dev shop or SaaS company? Let’s talk: https://BigNorthMarketing.com/

What happens when you stop selling services and start selling outcomes?

Hamid Mahmood, CEO of Software Pro Digital and author of Seven-Figure Agency Mindset A to Z, joins Pitch, Build, Scale to share how he scaled multiple brands across software dev and performance marketing—without burning out.

We talk cashflow, retainers, AI disruption, client acquisition, and why niche focus wins. If you’re building an agency or consultancy, this episode is a roadmap for growth that sticks.

Resources🔗 Learn more at https://softwareprodigital.com/📘 Get Hamid’s Book: 7-Figure Agency Mindset A-Z (https://www.hamidthepro.com/7-figure-agency-mindset-a-z/)💼 Learn more about Big North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.com

What do you do when moving money legally becomes impossible?

Guillermo Fernandes went from private banker to founder of Blockpliance, a crypto compliance startup using AI to fight financial crime on the blockchain. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we dig into Guillermo’s path from global banking to building an intelligence tool used by governments, banks, and regulators around the world.

Learn how he built trust with institutions, dealt with crypto’s darkest use cases, and navigated a full acquisition—without raising venture capital.

🔗 ResourcesBlockpliance: https://blockpliance.comConnect with Guillermo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillermofernandes/Scale your revenue with Big North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.com/

Dave Erickson, Co-Founder of ScreamingBox, shares how he built a dev agency powered by senior engineers only—and why that decision transformed the way they deliver software.

We explore:

• The problem with most MVPs (and what to build instead)

• How AI is changing client expectations (but not always the solution)

• What developers and founders need to understand about business mechanics

• Lessons from 350+ projects across industries

If you're building tech to solve real business problems, this episode is a must-listen.

ResourcesExplore dev solutions with ScreamingBox: https://www.screamingbox.net/Grow your revenue with Big North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.com/

What separates AI buzzword hype from actual business transformation?

In this episode, Chris Fanchi talks with Ken Winell—former CTO of Tough Mudder and co-founder of Nexus Digital Group—about how companies can build practical AI roadmaps, drive adoption across teams, and stay competitive as technology evolves faster than ever.

From agents and verticalization to cultural buy-in and the near-future of AGI, this conversation is a must-listen for any founder, tech leader, or strategist building in the AI era.

Speak with Ken and his team at Nexus Digital: https://www.nexusdigitalgroup.com/Subscribe for more founder-driven insights on AI, SaaS, and tech innovation.Looking to grow your SaaS or dev agency revenue? Visit https://bignorthmarketing.com

Legacy code is everywhere—but few know how to modernize it without breaking everything.

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, Chris Fanchi talks with Ira Baxter, CEO of Semantic Designs, about the art and science of software transformation. From rewriting 10 million lines of COBOL to building transformation engines that rival compilers, Ira shares 40+ years of insight into why most modernization projects fail—and what it takes to succeed.

Whether you’re a software leader navigating legacy debt or just curious how massive systems evolve, this episode is packed with stories, strategies, and bold truths you won’t hear anywhere else.

From disaster relief to digital transformation.

Robin Eissler’s journey from coordinating crisis airlifts to founding a SaaS platform for booster clubs is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, host Chris Fanchi explores how Robin went from zero tech experience to launching BoosterHub - a volunteer-first operating system now used by hundreds of school organizations.

We talk MVP strategy, market pivots, feature prioritization, and what happens when your niche ends up bigger than expected. If you're building a tech platform for a nontraditional audience - or just love real founder stories - this one’s packed with insight.

🔗 Learn more at boosterhub.com
💡 Get a free SaaS or dev shop growth consult at bignorthmarketing.com

From managing a coffee shop to building an AI that screens hospitality hires in seconds—this is the journey of Rich Simmerman, co-founder of Cantaloupe AI.

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, Rich joins host Chris Fanchi to unpack how Cantaloupe is redefining first-round interviews using conversational AI. He shares the origin story, the resistance from the hospitality industry, and how his team is overcoming both technical and business challenges to scale a vertical SaaS company.

Whether you’re building in AI, selling to traditional industries, or navigating your first raise—there’s something here for you.

Subscribe, share, and stay ahead of the tech curve.

Learn more about Cantaloupe AI: https://trycantaloupe.com/

Get your free growth assessment from Chris at Big North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.com/