Starting a small business is difficult. On top of that, many entrepreneurs feel like they have to go it alone. That’s where a platform like Alignable comes in to help small business owners find the advice and resources they need from a community of like-minded peers.

In this episode, Alignable co-founder and CEO, Eric Groves discusses the value of networking and how small business owners can leverage their community for support and those all-important referrals. He discusses how small business owners can approach networking with authenticity and why it’s so important to genuinely connect with others to boost business growth. 

Learn more about Alignable here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlignableNetwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alignable

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignable

Forest Flager is the co-founder and CEO of Parspec, a software solution that makes it easy for construction companies to source and procure materials and products for their projects through an e-commerce platform. Parspec is still in its early startup stages, having launched in early 2021. The company’s mission is to modernize what is still a highly manual sales and purchasing process, but their vision is to make it easier for companies to purchase more sustainable products and make an impact on housing affordability. 

In this episode, Forest talks about the unique value proposition of Parspec’s solution and its potential to disrupt (and improve) the way construction interacts with the supply chain. He discusses the challenges he and his team have faced bringing their product to market and securing funding from venture capitalists. 

Follow Forest’s startup journey on LinkedIn

Learn more about Parspec here: https://parspec.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hello_parspec 

Neal Cobb is the co-founder and Vice President of Customer Success at Skipcart, an innovative scaleup that combines software with fleet logistics for on-demand deliveries across the grocery, retail, and restaurant industries. The company launched in 2018 as a scrappy startup that happened to land their first account with a major national grocer. 

In the years since, Neal and his team have positioned their company as a disruptive force in the delivery space, punching above their weight to compete with the likes of Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Doordash.  

In this episode, Neal shares how Skipcart faced the challenges that come with rapid scaling. He discusses how the company weathered major shifts in the gig economy alongside increased demand for delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing key insights about how to keep your doors open despite volatility as you grow. 

Connect with Neal on LinkedIn

Learn more about Skipcart here: https://www.skipcart.com/

Instagram: @skipcart

Facebook: @skipcart

Zach Richter is a real estate investor who purchases and rents multi-family properties across the United States. His journey began with a broken water main and a dilapidated building in the Arizona desert. Several years and several properties later, Zach now operates many multi-family buildings through his business, Norstar Listings. 

In this episode, Zach talks about the current state of the real estate market and what it takes to get started in property investing. He also discusses the ups and downs of operating rental properties and some of the financial and managerial challenges he’s faced along the way. 

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn.

Explore Norstar Listings here.

Have you ever wished you could play out your favorite racing video game in real life? For Joshua Nelson, founder and CEO at Emotional Ideas Inc., a love of gaming and a dream of shaping the future of the amusement industry lead to building an ambitious tech startup with a unique product. His brainchild, Battle Racing, combines traditional go-karting with augmented reality software that provides an interactive experience for drivers. 

In this episode, Joshua shares how his unshakable passion and vision have enabled him to overcome the challenges of being a young founder introducing a never-before-seen product to market. He discusses the roadblocks he’s faced as a black man in tech and shares tips about how he raised his seed round of investment. He also gives advice on building a team and proving that you’re the best person to make your most inventive ideas a (scalable) reality. 

Follow Joshua’s startup journey on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Emotional Ideas Inc. and Battle Racing on their website.

Instagram - ​​https://www.instagram.com/emotionalideasinc/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Emotionalideasinc 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/Emotional_ideas

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/emotional-ideas-inc/ 

Entrepreneur Jerry Sanders started his e-commerce business, Midsouth Coffee and Tea Co., out of frustration with his usual morning coffee run. Long lines at local coffee shops and the closure of his favorite café prompted him to figure out how to get that barista-grade cup of jo at home. With many people working remotely during the pandemic, Jerry’s direct-to-consumer model took off faster than he was expecting. 

In this episode, Jerry shares how he started his business and successfully met the challenges of finding customers in a crowded market. He also talks about what it takes to quickly scale a business when you’re not an expert in every department and why building relationships needs to be at the core of your growth strategy. 

Get coffee and tea from Midsouth Coffee and Tea Co. here: https://midsouthcoffeeandtea.com/ 

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midsouthcoffeeandtea/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/midsouthcofftea

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-sanders-789180a3/ 

Kaylin Marcotte is the founder and CEO of Jiggy, a jigsaw puzzle company that turns independent artists’ work into puzzles made for winding down and relaxing. Kaylin wanted to create puzzles that could live on as art after completion. This unique approach coupled with a commitment to low-waste packaging set her products apart in the market and earned the brand loyal fans, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, Kaylin talks about her entrepreneurial journey from hobbyist to founder and imparts wisdom from her time as a marketing director and a management consultant. She discusses the nuances and challenges of running a product-based business and shares insights about the product development and marketing strategies that have helped Jiggy grow into a beloved brand. 

Follow Kaylin’s entrepreneurial journey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylin-marcotte/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylinmarcotte/

Keep up with Jiggy on Instagram @jiggypuzzles

Check out Jiggy puzzles here: https://jiggypuzzles.com/

Alejandra Melo owns and operates R&M Cleaning Service in Austin, Texas with her family. Alejandra and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City in 2015 and launched the business two years later. Having been at the helm of several businesses in Mexico  — including a restaurant and a recycling company — Alejandra was ready for the next evolution of her entrepreneurial journey in the States.

In this episode, Alejandra is joined by her daughter, Frida, who manages the business alongside her mom. The two talk about how they handle the challenges that come with running a successful service-based business that employs multiple contractors and how they managed serious issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss their family’s history of entrepreneurship and reflect on the process of building a thriving business from the ground up in a new country.

Find R&M Cleaning Service on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rymcleaningservice

Connect with Alejandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-melo-07227736

Stacey Toews is the co-founder of Level Ground Trading, a coffee company that’s as serious about farmer welfare and environmental responsibility as they are about serving up an exceptional cup of jo. Stacey’s approach to a distributed leadership model and focus on creating a workplace where it’s safe to be vulnerable has helped Level Ground attract and retain exceptional talent. The company’s culture has also been a core differentiator that’s kept the company going strong in an increasingly saturated market. 

On the podcast, Stacey discusses the company’s 25-year history and the challenges (and triumphs) of building a team of people who espouse Level Ground’s heart-centered core values: keep it real, always improve, uplift everyone, and love the planet. 

Learn more about Level Ground Trading or find their Fairtrade certified, organic beans near you at https://levelground.com/ 

Social: 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/LevelGroundTrading

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/levelgroundtrading/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level-ground-trading/ 

Serial entrepreneur Kristin Luck is the founder and current managing partner of ScaleHouse, a consulting agency for scaleups, and the president of ESOMAR, a global organization that promotes the value of data, research, and insights in effective business decision-making.

Kristin and her team at ScaleHouse help businesses of all sizes reach their growth goals. In this episode, Kristin shares hard-won wisdom about scaling and provides tips and insights for other founders looking to grow rapidly — and sustainably. With decades of experience growing her own companies to successful exits and supporting organizations across every industry with their scaling strategy, Kristin’s knowledge is an invaluable resource for any entrepreneur who’s ready to get growing. 

Connect with Kristin on Twitter @kristinluck or LinkedIn.

Learn more about ScaleHouse here: https://www.scalehouse.consulting/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/scale_house?lang=en