Startup Stories - Mixergy

By Andrew WarnerSociety & Culture Business Education

Startup Stories - Mixergy episodes

January 31, 2020 #1886 The unbelievable story behind California Closets
Today’s guest was working for a company called California Closets which was an unbelievable entrepreneurial story. It was created by a 17 years old kid who ended up on Oprah talking about how successful he was.
He ultimately sold the company to Williams-Sonoma and I remember reading a bunch of articles about how it didn’t do so well for them.
Well, today’s guest ended up buying it from Williams-Sonoma and turning the company around.
We’ll hear that story in this interview.
Anthony Vidergauz was CEO of California Closets which provides custom closets and home storage systems.
Sponsored by
Toptal – Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on demand. Toptal serves thousands of clients, including Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups, delivering expertise and world-class solutions at an unparalleled success rate. With elite freelancers in over 100 countries, Toptal connects the world’s top talent with leading companies in days, not weeks. Plus, every new engagement begins with a no-risk trial period, so clients only pay if satisfied with the work. Get started hiring with Toptal today.
HostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 29, 2020 #1885 Software that improves user experience (and grows your email list)
When I first started Mixergy, digital marketers were using pop-ups on their sites. It might have created a bad user experience but it did lead to more email subscribers.
Well. today’s guest says you can still get those results without using 2004 tactics. You can be proud of the way you collect email addresses and have it actually improve the user experience.
Mogens Moller is the co-founder at Sleeknote, a tool to guide visitors on online stores to become leads and customers with personalized and targeted onsite messages.
I invited him here to talk about how he came up with the idea and what he did when a competitor popped up in the space.
Mogens Moller is the co-founder at Sleeknote, a tool to guide visitors on online stores to become leads and customers with personalized and targeted onsite messages.
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 – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 27, 2020 #1884 Selling for $85M pre-launch? Here’s the story
I am so excited to talk to today’s guest.
Brad Chisum is the founder of Lumedyne Tech, a company that built MEMS sensors that are found in cell phones and used in research for driverless cars. Sold to Google in 2015 for $85M. His new company is Launch Factory.
I want to hear about the day he signed the term sheet with Google and the unique way he is launching companies today.
Brad Chisum is the founder of Lumedyne Tech, a company that built MEMS sensors that are found in cell phones and used in research for driverless cars. Sold to Google in 2015 for $85M. His new company is Launch Factory.
Sponsored by
HostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website.
Setapp – Setapp for Teams is a leading platform offering over 150 Mac apps in one pack. Get rid of the license fuss and save time for business equipping your team with all the key tools from a single account. Sign up, invite your teammates, and you are all set. Mixergy listeners get an extended 60-day free trial by going to Setapp.com/mixergy
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 24, 2020 #1883 The $100M enterprise tech we should be talking about
I’m someone who wakes up every day and reads tech news. Yet somehow I had no idea about the company my guest today has built. And it’s a unicorn!
It’s not being covered in the news. They are doing phenomenally well. I want to find out how. Jaspreet Singh is founder of Druva which offers Cloud Data Protection & Information Management.
Jaspreet Singh is founder of Druva which offers Cloud Data Protection & Information Management.
Sponsored by
Toptal – Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on demand. Toptal serves thousands of clients, including Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups, delivering expertise and world-class solutions at an unparalleled success rate. With elite freelancers in over 100 countries, Toptal connects the world’s top talent with leading companies in days, not weeks. Plus, every new engagement begins with a no-risk trial period, so clients only pay if satisfied with the work. Get started hiring with Toptal today.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 22, 2020 #1882 How an Amazon book flipper turned software founder
Today’s guest is a Mixergy listener who I invited to share his story.
Caleb Roth is someone who might not think of himself as an entrepreneur—in fact, he went pretty high up the corporate ladder at Johnson & Johnson.
But all along he was doing things on the side. Finally, he took the risk of going all-in on his side project and we’ll find out what happened in this interview.
Caleb Roth is the founder of eFLIP Software and ScoutIQ. eFLIP helps Amazon booksellers scale their businesses in the U.S. and abroad.
Caleb Roth is the founder of eFLIP Software and ScoutIQ. eFLIP helps Amazon booksellers scale their businesses in the U.S. and abroad.
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.
Setapp – Setapp for Teams is a leading platform offering over 150 Mac apps in one pack. Get rid of the license fuss and save time for business equipping your team with all the key tools from a single account. Sign up, invite your teammates, and you are all set. Mixergy listeners get an extended 60-day free trial by going to Setapp.com/mixergy
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 20, 2020 #1881 If you’re building an industry marketplace, listen to this
I’ve been fascinated by marketplace sites, partially because they’re so tough to create. And partially because I wonder how they still exist in the world today. You would think that people could just go to Google, search for what they’re looking for.
Well, today’s guest started a marketplace and it’s working.
John Doherty is the founder of Credo which allows you to find and hire the best SEO, PPC, Facebook ads or other digital marketing providers.
John Doherty is the founder of Credo which allows you to find and hire the best SEO, PPC, Facebook ads or other digital marketing providers.
Sponsored by
ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 17, 2020 #1880 New York City upstarts with Michael Dorf
I was excited to have today’s guest on because I remember being a kid in New York City and hearing about The Knitting Factory, a place where all the cool kids hung out.
Well, Michael Dorf is the founder of that company. I wash surprised to learn about his second business that is doing even better. We’ll talk about that in this interview.
Michael is also the founder of City Winery, New York’s first winery, restaurant, music venue and a private event space.
Michael Dorf is the founder of City Winery, New York’s first winery, restaurant, music venue and a private event space.
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.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 15, 2020 #1879 How to get into an agency mindset (and learn to love the chaos)
Many people I talk to hate running agencies. They can’t scale them up and they can’t wait to create software that will allow them to stop the agency model.
Well today’s guest found a way to make the agency model work long term. I want to find out how he did it. Johnathan Dane is the founder of KlientBoost, a creative pay-per-click and landing page/conversion rate optimization agency.
Johnathan Dane is the founder of KlientBoost, a creative pay-per-click and landing page/conversion rate optimization agency.
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.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 13, 2020 #1878 Superhuman: Creating an app people can’t stop talking about
Today’s guest has got the app that Silicon Valley can’t freaking stop yapping about. There are few apps that people will not stop talking about. He’s got one that has been high on that list for years now.
I want to find out how he built it. Rahul Vohra is the founder of Superhuman, an e-mail service for professionals and power users.
Rahul Vohra is the founder of Superhuman, an e-mail service for professionals and power users.
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.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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January 10, 2020 #1877 How do you know an idea is worth pursuing?
Joining me is a listener who has been a part of the Mixergy community since 2008. He is someone who worked for Mozilla and discovered a pain point there.
But when he applied to YC with a solution, he didn’t get in. We’ll talk about what happened that day in this interview. And also about what he changed in his pitch after that painful experience.
Greg Koberger is the founder of ReadMe which gives teams the tools they need to create and manage beautiful documentation with ease, monitor their APIs and connect with their users in more personal ways.
Greg Koberger is the founder of ReadMe which gives teams the tools they need to create and manage beautiful documentation with ease, monitor their APIs and connect with their users in more personal ways.
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.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
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