Startup Stories - Mixergy

By Andrew WarnerSociety & Culture Business Education

Startup Stories - Mixergy episodes

May 28, 2018 #1603 Case Study: Building your business on someone else’s platform
Today’s guest is someone who built his business on someone else’s platform.
A lot of people are hesitant to build businesses like that. But it’s working for today’s guest and I want to understand his model.
Devin Zander is the founder of SMAR7 Apps, which makes tools that help Shopify store owners boost their sales and automate their stores.
Devin Zander is the founder of SMAR7 Apps, which makes tools that help Shopify store owners boost their sales and automate their stores.
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
1 hr 22 min
May 25, 2018 #1602 The modern fast food founder
When I was a kid, one of the first industries that got me excited was restaurants. I remember driving down the highway and seeing all these fast food restaurants and at some point, I realized there was an entrepreneur behind them. There was somebody who put all those fast food restaurants everywhere.
But by the time I got to college, there was a sense that all these restaurants that could be made have been made. At that point the belief was, if you are going to start a restaurant chain, it might be like a five-restaurant chain. That was it. Especially in pizza, it was all done. Right? And then we discovered that it wasn’t.
Today’s guest is the founder of, among other things, MOD Pizza. His name is Scott Svenson. I invited him here to talk about his background, how he came up with the idea for MOD Pizza and how he grew it so lightning fast.
Scott Svenson is a co-founder of MOD Pizza which offers made-to-order pizza in self-service settings.
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
1 hr 13 min
May 23, 2018 #1601 You should pay attention to the schlep like this founder
And when you find out about today’s guest company, you probably are going to say, “Oh, why do I need to even know about this? This doesn’t seem that interesting.” And you won’t be the first.
But here’s the thing: Anyone who sells online should find out about his company. Paul Graham, the founder of Y Combinator said, “We have schlep blindness.” The idea that when things are really tough, we don’t pay attention to them because we believe that’s the way it has to be. But the schlep is where the opportunity lies. Where there isn’t competition but there is a deep need for somebody to come in and solve that schlep problem.”
Today’s guest did it and we’re going to find out how he did it.
Nicholas Daniel-Richards is the founder of ShipHero, a cloud-based warehouse and order management system.
Nicholas Daniel-Richards is the founder of ShipHero, a cloud-based warehouse and order management system.
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.
ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results.
If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign.
More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint
Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint
1 hr 1 min
May 21, 2018 #1600 What big media taught Lin Dai about how to run a startup
Today’s guest is an entrepreneur who came from a part of the world and in a time when entrepreneurship was actually not encouraged. In fact in some ways it was an insult to say that you were entrepreneurial and capitalist minded.
Throughout the years he kind of got closer and closer to being an entrepreneur and then he hit on this idea through a co-founder. You guys are going to think the idea is absolutely brilliant.
The app that he came up with is called Hooch. You pay them ten bucks a month and they let you have one drink every single day at some high-end bars in your area. It’s doing phenomenally well. But he had a hard start, especially because it’s alcohol and investors don’t want to get close to alcohol.
I’m going to find out how he came up with this idea, how he got his first users, how he’s expanding beyond this, where his revenues are, and why he was scared of entrepreneurship.
Lin Dai is the founder of Hooch, a subscription-based app that gets you one “free” drink every day of the month.
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
1 hr 17 min
May 18, 2018 #1599 Case Study: Selling on Amazon
Today’s guest is making millions by buying from Walmart and selling on Amazon. I grilled him before this interview started to see if this was a real business and turns out that it is.
He’s selling online really well so I invited him here to find out what’s working for him.
Ryan Grant is the founder of Online Selling Experiment, where he teaches how to sell online.
Ryan Grant is the founder of Online Selling Experiment, where he teaches how to sell online.
Sponsored by
ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results.
If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign.
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
1 hr 8 min
May 16, 2018 #1598 The accidental $250B trampoline park company
When I looked at the list of upcoming guests for this month and I saw that we had someone who ran a trampoline business I said, “Trampoline?”
It turns out this is a story of a guy who created something in the real world that works like businesses have always worked, except much bigger. And that’s why my team wanted me to interview him. They said, “Wait until you see the numbers, Andrew. It’s a pretty impressive business here.”
Today’s guest is Jeff Platt. He is the founder of Sky Zone, a chain of family entertainment centers that are trampoline based.
Jeff Platt is the founder of Sky Zone, a chain of family entertainment centers.
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
52 min
May 14, 2018 #1597 How a former lawyer built Thinkific
I watched today’s guest from a distance as he grew his business. And I watched a revolution happening. People were starting to shift towards publishing more of their content on sites like Medium but also on sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Today’s guest saw that and said, “I’m jumping in.” I want to find out about the business behind this concept.
The founder you’re about to meet is Greg Smith. He is the founder of Thinkific, software that enables individuals and businesses to create, market, sell, and deliver online courses on their own websites. They don’t have to host it, they don’t have to manage it, they don’t have to take care of the software behind it. I invited him here to talk about how he came up with this idea.
Greg Smith is the founder of Thinkific, software that enables individuals and businesses to create, market, sell, and deliver online courses on their own websites.
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
55 min
May 11, 2018 #1596 LIVE and incredibly personal
Last year, I was invited to something called Fireside Conf, a retreat with no Internet, no distractions for entrepreneurs.
While I was there I interviewed the conference founder’s cousin, Jeff Pulver.
They never sent me the recording and I thought it was because my questions were rude and way too personal.
Well, they’ve just given me a copy and I’m so proud of it that I’m publishing it now.
Jeff Pulver sold his business for tens of millions of dollars and didn’t end up as happy as he thought. We’ll get into why in this interview.
Jeff Pulver is the co-founder of Free World Dialup, Vonage, MoNage, Alchemist, and Zula.
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
52 min
May 08, 2018 #1595 How a Tinder Hack inspired a networking startup for women
Today’s guest started out as a reporter when a Tinder hack led to a business idea for connecting women.
She’s a pro at getting media attention and I want to learn how she does it.
Pamela Newenham is the cofounder of GirlCrew, a platform for women to make new friends.
Pamela Newenham is the cofounder of GirlCrew, a platform for women to make new friends.
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
1 hr 1 min
May 07, 2018 #1594 Brandon Evans is heart-led. Andrew Warner is heartless.
I invited Brandon Evans back on Mixergy to talk about how losing his company & his wife led him down what he might call a “heart-led path.” In the process I think we all realized a few things about me.
Brandon Evans Brandon Evans is the co-founder of 1heart whose mission is to foster a new generation of companies and leaders who create from their heart, aligned to their purpose, collectively elevating the consciousness of the planet as one tribe.
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
1 hr 1 min