Startup Stories - Mixergy

By Andrew WarnerSociety & Culture Business Education

Startup Stories - Mixergy episodes

May 13, 2016 #1304 How a founder’s mindset got Quest Nutrition to $400,000,000 – with Tom Bilyeu
Every ten days or so, I get a box of Quest Protein bars delivered to the office. For a long time, I just assumed the company behind it was some big manufacturing company, but I recently discovered it’s not that at all.
It’s actually three entrepreneurs who started the company in 2010, who grew it enormously fast, who are killing it with revenues, with exposure, and with customer fandom.
Today I’ve got Tom Bilyeu. He’s one of the founders of Quest Nutrition, a company and I’ve really gotten to admire the more I’ve read about them and prepared for this interview.
Tom Bilyeu is the founder of Quest Nutrition, the maker of the #1 protein bar, Quest Protein Chips, and Quest Protein Powder.
Sponsored by
Acuity Scheduling – Acuity Scheduling helps businesses offer and manage their appointments online. With this tool, you’ll be able to automate your client bookings, cancellations, reminders & even payments without sacrificing you soul. Plus, automated reminders and follow-ups eliminate your no-shows, and incentivize repeat bookings. Get an exclusive 45-day trial at AcuityScheduling.com/mixergy
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 1 min
May 11, 2016 #1303 Techniques for rapid growth – with George Revutsky
The person who you’re about to meet is someone who I got to know at a dinner recently. A past Mixergy interviewee put a dinner together of people who were doing growth for companies. And as I talked to today’s guest, I realized he’s really interesting. He’s got this process for doing growth.
He runs a company that does growth for his clients. He keeps dropping out of this company. It just keeps running on its own. He drops out and he does growth for other businesses.
So I brought him on here to talk about how he did it. George Revutsky is the founder of ROIworks, a consulting company that offers growth in a box to startups and fast-growing companies.
George Revutsky is the founder of ROIworks, a consulting company that offers growth in a box to startups and fast-growing companies.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
52 min
May 09, 2016 #1302 “How to Become the Leader Your Team is Waiting For” – with Jonathan Raymond
I get really excited about systems. In fact, we’ve done a series of interviews around systems because frankly I needed it. I needed to organize my company. I just wanted a process. When I was thinking about how to do it, I remembered back to my entrepreneurship class where Professor Craig Boyce handed every one of us a copy of “EMyth,” the book.
He said, “If you want to, read this book and it will show you how to organize your business.” I read it cover to cover. One thing that really stood out was if a blue suit works for you and that’s the way you communicate authority and people respect you with a blue suit, wear a blue suit every day. Obviously it wasn’t about how to get dressed, but that gives you a sense of how system-oriented that book left me thinking.
Well, I found that there’s a limit to systems. At some point you end up with what feels like a very bureaucratic company. Other times, it stifles creativity or challenges it. So, over the last few weeks, I’ve been talking to an entrepreneur who actually used to run EMyth, the company. He used to be the CEO. Now he’s got a new company.
His name is Jonathan Raymond. He is the founder of Refound, which teaches people how to become great people managers. He has this new way of changing the relationship that we have as entrepreneurs and business people with systems.
Jonathan Raymond is the founder of Refound, which teaches people how to become great people managers.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 2 min
May 06, 2016 #1301 How an introverted developer built software to grow relationships – with Zvi Band
I’ve got a buddy named Liston who does freelance work. He has to stay in touch with potential customers who are going to hire him to do copywriting and other marketing. Obviously just because you contact someone one day doesn’t mean they’re going to sign up. So he freaking loves Contactually, the company today’s guest cofounded.
He can’t stop showing me how it helps him stay in touch with people in a realistic way so he doesn’t drop off their radar. He’s the kind of person who gets really, really excited about Contactually because it increases his sales.
The ability to stay in touch the way that Liston has, that’s the heart of the software that we’re about to talk about. Today’s guest is Zvi Band. He’s the cofounder of Contactually, a relationship marketing platform that helps professionals stay in touch.
Zvi Band is the cofounder of Contactually, a relationship marketing platform that helps professionals stay in touch.
Sponsored by
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
Acuity Scheduling – Acuity Scheduling helps businesses offer and manage their appointments online. With this tool, you’ll be able to automate your client bookings, cancellations, reminders & even payments without sacrificing you soul. Plus, automated reminders and follow-ups eliminate your no-shows, and incentivize repeat bookings. Get an exclusive 45-day trial at AcuityScheduling.com/mixergy
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 13 min
May 04, 2016 #1300 Tired of Entrepreneurs Hating on Educators – with Katherine Roan
When I went to school, they weren’t encouraging us to learn about entrepreneurship. They almost made it sound like it was something dirty that we shouldn’t be covering. You guys might have heard me talk to other entrepreneurs who started out selling candy in school and got shut down. Or they started out selling toys in school and they got shut down.
I’ve bitched about this, frankly, for a while in interviews with people who came on to talk about much bigger topics–with guests whose companies were sold for hundreds of millions of dollars and I start off by asking them about selling candy in school and discovering how they got shut down. It’s one of my pet peeves. That’s why I bring it up.
The guest you’re meeting today has been listening and she must have gotten frustrated because on February 25th she shot me an email with a headline that said “Tired of Entrepreneurs Hating on Educators.”
She said, “Look, I want to know what you guys are so upset about. What’s going on with the school system that you don’t like?” So, today’s guest is Katherine Roan. She is a Math and Science teacher in Melbourne, Australia.
She’s basically told me that I’ve been a little bit too harsh. I don’t think I have, but I’m willing to be open to that thought. I invited her here to talk about the issue.
Katherine Roan is a Math and Science teacher in Melbourne, Australia.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 6 min
May 02, 2016 #1299 How to sell something other than your time – with Brian Casel
If you’ve been listening to Mixergy for long enough, you probably know today’s guest came on a while back to teach a course. Just before we recorded the course, he said, “Andrew, this is private but I sold my company.” But he swore me to secrecy and I take that stuff very seriously. I’ve just been waiting and waiting to be able to tell everyone.
Brian Casel is the founder of Restaurant Engine, which creates and manages websites for restaurants. This is a business that the guy created after he was doing freelance work, doing everything himself, and he said, “I have to build something that scales beyond me.”
Today Brian runs a new company called Audience Ops. It’s a done-for-you content marketing service that will grow your audience, your email list and your customer base. And they do it all for you. The company–now that he’s learned so much from his previous business–is doing three times what Restaurant Engine ever did on a monthly recurring revenue basis. We’ll talk about how he did that.
Brian Casel is the founder of Audience Ops, which offers done-for-you content marketing service.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 7 min
April 29, 2016 #1298 How a guy used hardcore couponing to build a lifestyle biz
When I met today’s guest on a podcasting cruise, he told me, “Andrew, I did this thing where I built up a business getting a lot of press.” I was curious. How does a guy that I’ve never heard of get so much press?
After he told me I said, “Dude, you’ve got to come on Mixergy and talk about how you built your business getting all this press.” So, that’s what we’re doing here today. I want to find out how he did it and how it helped him build a business.
Josh Elledge is the founder of SavingsAngel, a membership-based site that helps consumers cut their grocery bills in half.
Josh Elledge is the founder of SavingsAngel, a membership-based site that helps consumers cut their grocery bills in half.
Sponsored by
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
Acuity Scheduling – Acuity Scheduling helps businesses offer and manage their appointments online. With this tool, you’ll be able to automate your client bookings, cancellations, reminders & even payments without sacrificing you soul. Plus, automated reminders and follow-ups eliminate your no-shows, and incentivize repeat bookings. Get an exclusive 45-day trial at AcuityScheduling.com/mixergy
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 8 min
April 27, 2016 #1297 How to use SEO hacks to get proof of concept – with Joerg Kundrath
Joining me today is a Mixergy fan was working at Amazon and had this crazy idea—why not create a product and sell it on Amazon?
So he ran a test—which I think is really interesting—and when the test was successful he went for it.
He built the business and now Joerg Kundrath is the co-founder of KAVAJ, one of the biggest genuine leather case manufacturers for iPads and iPhones.
I invited him to Mixergy to talk about the test that told him that he was getting into the right business. I also want to find out how he even sourced these products.
I feel like it’s so much easier to create software than it is to figure out sourcing and manufacturing physical products. We’ll talk about that in this interview.
Joerg Kundrath is the co-founder of KAVAJ, one of the biggest genuine leather case manufacturers for iPads and iPhones.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 8 min
April 25, 2016 #1296 LeadPages founder on why you should be embarrassed by your first launch – with Clay Collins
Joining me today is Clay Collins. He’s a guy who, back in 2012, came on to say that listening to Mixergy interviews inspired him to go from creating information products to creating software.
At the time he only had two pieces of software that weren’t even connected into a company but he used the online marketing techniques he’s been teaching for years, including pre-selling, to grow the company.
At the time people thought pre-selling couldn’t work for sophisticated software companies. But Clay proved people wrong. You’ll find out how he did it in this interview.
Clay Collins is the founder of LeadPages, a collection of tools for capturing leads and turning them into customers.
Clay Collins is the founder of LeadPages, a collection of tools for capturing leads and turning them into customers.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 8 min
April 22, 2016 #1295 The leaner approach to testing before launching (from a proven outsider) – with Scott Burns
I hate to admit it but I feel like I have this mindset that focuses on the same types of companies over and over again.
Meanwhile, I know that there are these big companies that are growing in sectors that I don’t pay any attention to and because I don’t pay any attention to them I’m not learning anything from them.
My hunch is that the same thing is happening to my listeners and that’s why I invited today’s guest. I want to find out what he is doing to grow a business in a different part of the world that we don’t usually focus on.
Today’s guest is Scott Burns. Scott is the cofounder of GovDelivery, a platform for helping government communicate with the public.
Scott Burns is the CEO and Co-Founder of GovDelivery, a network which allows the public sector to connect with people all over the world.
Sponsored by
Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now.
HostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all.
HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
51 min