Startup Stories - Mixergy

By Andrew WarnerSociety & Culture Business Education

Startup Stories - Mixergy episodes

May 04, 2018 #1593 Case Study: Building to sell
A few years ago I interviewed today’s guest about his martial arts business Science of Skill.
And I’m going to be honest with you, I thought the site just looked OK. But Dan Faggella, the founder, told me privately how I didn’t understand marketing automation at all. He actually came back to Mixergy to teach a course on it.
He opened my eyes to how much marketing automation can transform a business. What I didn’t know at the time was that he wanted to sell Science of Skill as he was building it. He tried and he failed.
But he tried again and he had success. I want to find out how he did it.
Dan Faggella founded the Science of Skill eCommerce company, and sold it for over $1MM to fund TechEmergence (Emerj), an artificial intelligence research platform.
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 8 min
May 02, 2018 #1592 How opportunity works and where to find it.
Today’s guest started out as a long-haired musician. He then became a real estate guy and then moved on to where he really got his reputation, the dating-advice space. I feel like he conquered it, became one of the biggest names in the space. His name is Eben Pagan and he now teaches people about entrepreneurship.
His latest book, “Opportunity”, is about what opportunity is, how it works, and where to find it. I invited him here to tell the story of how he got a start in business. I want to find out how he came from a really tough background to building up a business using the ideas in this book to do it.
Eben Pagan is an entrepreneur, author and investor, best known for teaching dating advice.
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 10 min
April 30, 2018 #1591 How does a guy who has no attachment to money make so much money?
Today’s guest is someone who said, “I have no attachment to money.” And still, when I look at his revenue online, he’s doing tens of millions of dollars in revenue, and he did it by bootstrapping his company.
So how does a guy who says he has no attachment to money make so much money? Robert Gryn is the founder of Codewise, which specializes in advertising technology. They have two big software brands. The first is called Voluum. It’s an ad performance tracker. And the second is called Zeropark. It’s an ad buying network.
I’m going to find out how he built up this business and I almost feel like almost rip him apart.
Robert Gryn is the founder of Codewise, which specializes in advertising technology.
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
51 min
April 27, 2018 #1590 NetGenesis, Yesware, JumpCloud founder on what makes a business worth starting
When a PR agency contacted me and said, “Hey, Andrew, do you want to interview the author of a new startup book?” I said, “No.” To be honest, I didn’t even look at. And they said, “Wait, this is the startup playbook by two authors. One of them is Rajat Bhargava.” I said, “Wait a minute, that’s the guy behind Yesware. This is not just a guy who has one idea for a business. This is guy who has started multiple businesses.”
And even though today’s guest is super successful, when he tried to raise money for his current business, he kept getting turned down for a reason we’ll talk about later. I’m going to find out how he built up this business and so much more.
Rajat Bhargava is currently the founder of JumpCloud, which securely connects people to their IT resources.
Rajat Bhargava is the founder of JumpCloud, which securely connects people to their IT resources.
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
59 min
April 25, 2018 #1589 If you had a successful business, would you take on another one?
(To see how Brennan’s software customizes a site, check out this link.)
When I hear an entrepreneur whose business is doing well is shifting his focus, I get curious. I think, what the hell are you doing? You finally hit it, things are working, people respect you for it, why would you shift it? That’s what today’s guest has done. It’s courageous and I want to understand why he did it.
Brennan Dunn is the Founder of RightMessage, software that changes the messaging on your website based on who’s on your site.
In this interview he’s going to talk to me about what I’m doing wrong at Mixergy. I’ll also ask him about what’s going on with his previous company.
Brennan Dunn is the Founder of RightMessage, software that changes the messaging on your website based on who’s on your site.
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 6 min
April 23, 2018 #1588 How BenchPrep brought technology to standardized test prep
Before Mixergy, I was a student like many of you. And in my car on the way to school, I would listen to SAT word recordings. I loved it. The problem is those books are such a pain in the butt to carry around. And I hate to sound like somebody who’d care about this stuff. But you look a little bit lame carrying a bunch of standardized test prep books.
Today’s guest had a similar view of the world. He said, “Why are all these books being lugged around? They’re so antiquated. There’s a better way. There’s technology. It’s been invented. Come on, get with it.” And he created a company.
Ujjwal Gupta is the founder of BenchPrep, a comprehensive learner success platform. He’s the guy responsible for creating a lot of the software that the ACT and other organizations are using. They’re white labeling it and using it for their students. I want to find out how he did it.
Ujjwal Gupta is the founder of BenchPrep, a comprehensive learner success platform.
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
59 min
April 20, 2018 #1587 The risk and reward of chat as a platform
I’ve been noticing that there’s a new platform and the new platform is chat (see more practical use cases here). And today’s guest is a guy who said, “This is the perfect platform for what I have in mind,” which is a way for two people to connect with each other based on their interest or proximity.
I’ll him tell us how many people he has using his software. I’m also going to embarrass him by asking him to tell me about what his revenue is and spoiler alert, I think he’s going to be resistant.
Prashant Pitti is the Founder of NearGroup as a chatbot that connects people on the basis of their interest or location. We’re going to talk about how he built up this business whether chat as a platform has any legs.
Prashant Pitti is the Founder of NearGroup as a chatbot that connects people on the basis of their interest or location.
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 8 min
April 18, 2018 #1586 Terracycle founder on why purpose isn’t enough for social entrepreneurship
You might recognize today’s guest because he was on Mixergy back in the early days of Mixergy Interviews. I learned so much from that interview.
One of the best lessons was when he said, “Everybody says to work your way up to the big guys. Screw that. I want to go after Walmart, because once you get the big guy, everyone else wants to work with you.”
I’m looking forward to learning even more from him. Tom Szaky is the founder of TerraCycle, a company whose a mission is to eliminate even the idea of waste by recycling the non-recyclable.
Tom Szaky is the founder of TerraCycle, a company whose a mission is to eliminate even the idea of waste by recycling the non-recyclable.
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 6 min
April 16, 2018 #1585 How smart brands are using better data to personalize their message
Today’s guest is a hustler. I could find research online to show it, but instead I’m going to tell you a story that he doesn’t know that I know about.
He’s a guy who recognized that there’s a lot noise in the ad world. He came up with a great solution for it.
Eric Frankel asked the question: What if all ads weren’t the same to all people? What if they were so personalized that they understood that I like V-neck t-shirts or button-down t-shirts? What if they took it a step further and said, “Andrew, I know you like V-necks. Here’s a really good deal on a V-neck T-shirt.”
That’s the level of personalization that he is championing with his company AdGreetz. I invited him here to talk about how he did it.
Eric Frankel is the founder of AdGreetz, a cloud-based SaaS platform that empowers brands to dynamically deploy millions of “smart”, hyper-relevant, data-driven, personalized video and display ads and messages on 18 channels.
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
54 min
April 13, 2018 #1584 How a certified Infusionsoft consultant bootstrapped his own membership software
I’m excited to have today’s guest on because I kept hearing about the membership software he created. As someone who has a membership site myself, I should have had him on a long time ago.
Micah Mitchell is the founder of Memberium which allows anyone to build powerful, automated membership sites with WordPress and Infusionsoft.
I’m going to ask him how he came up with the idea, how he bootstrapped it by doing work for other people as a consultant.
Micah Mitchell is the founder of Memberium which allows anyone to build powerful, automated membership sites with WordPress and Infusionsoft.
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 10 min