Startup Stories with Silicon Florist

Menus haven't fundamentally changed since they first appeared in France 200 years ago—and PDF QR codes didn't make them any better. Now, this Emmy winning founder is looking for ways to improve the ancient document.

Dru Holley, cofounder of MenuMingle, discusses how "menu anxiety" affects 1 in 3 diners (and 9 out of 10 Gen Z diners), why flat text menus hurt restaurant profit margins, and what it really takes to transition from creative storytelling into tech entrepreneurship.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - What is "menu anxiety"? (1 in 3 diners & Gen Z)

00:40 - Why menu anxiety is a P&L problem for restaurants

01:05 - The Vancouver waterfront epiphany & 200-year-old menus

02:18 - What is MenuMingle: Visual, contextual menus that sell

02:45 - The leap: Transitioning from Emmy-winning filmmaking to tech

03:32 - Founder advice: Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint

04:22 - Surviving the grind: Quitting drinking, wellness & peer mentorship

05:40 - How to support MenuMingle & wrap-up

https://menumingle.com

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…

- https://patreon.com/turoczy

- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy

- Portland Oregon startup news on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portland-oregon-startup-news-silicon-florist/id1711294699

- Portland Oregon startup news Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2cmLDH8wrPdNMS2qtTnhcy?si=H627wrGOTvStxxKWRlRGLQ

- Startup Stories on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tk7bbzaNYowGouI9ucKC3

- Startup Stories on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/startup-stories-with-silicon-florist/id1849468494

- The Long Con on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-con/id1810923457

- The Long Con on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/48oglyT5JNKxVH5lnWTYKA

- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social

- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/

- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------

For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------

Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0).

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

Peter Kirwan, co-founder and CEO of mebot ai, joins me on Startup Stories to discuss the evolution of AI digital twins, what it takes to scale human presence, and the gritty realities of entrepreneurship in the age of rapid AI acceleration.

We dive into how mebot pivoted from early VR experiments into identity-bound digital twins that can collaborate 24/7, why building software moats has completely changed, and Peter’s candid advice on the personal trade-offs every founder must face.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Meet Peter Kirwan, Co-founder & CEO of mebot ai

00:23 - How identity-bound digital twins work

01:14 - The evolution and pivot of mebot ai

02:40 - Overcoming the uncanny valley in AI

04:46 - Advice for new founders: The impact on relationships

05:53 - Why too many companies are getting started

07:12 - Features vs. products vs. companies

08:00 - Finding defensibility when software is commoditized

09:28 - Managing founder burnout and intensity

11:04 - Where mebot is headed and how to give feedback

https://mebot.ai

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…

- https://patreon.com/turoczy

- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy

- Portland Oregon startup news on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portland-oregon-startup-news-silicon-florist/id1711294699

- Portland Oregon startup news Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2cmLDH8wrPdNMS2qtTnhcy?si=H627wrGOTvStxxKWRlRGLQ

- Startup Stories on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tk7bbzaNYowGouI9ucKC3

- Startup Stories on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/startup-stories-with-silicon-florist/id1849468494

- The Long Con on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-con/id1810923457

- The Long Con on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/48oglyT5JNKxVH5lnWTYKA

- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social

- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/

- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------

For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------

Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0).

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

In this episode of Startup Stories, Rick Turoczy sits down with Tarek, the founder of Prdikt, an AI co-pilot designed to help product managers bridge the gap between requirements and execution. With over two decades of experience in program management, Tarek shares his insights on "failing fast," the importance of strong advisors, and how AI tools are becoming essential thought partners in the modern startup ecosystem.

Whether you're an aspiring founder or a seasoned product leader, Tar's advice on starting before you're ready and iterating toward a minimum viable product is a must-listen.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

00:38 - Identifying the pain point

01:44 - The importance of product management

02:21 - Advice for new founders: Start before you're ready

03:45 - Essential resources: Advisors and AI tools

05:19 - How to support prdikt and provide feedback

https://www.prdikt.com/

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…

- https://patreon.com/turoczy

- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy

- Portland Oregon startup news on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portland-oregon-startup-news-silicon-florist/id1711294699

- Portland Oregon startup news Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2cmLDH8wrPdNMS2qtTnhcy?si=H627wrGOTvStxxKWRlRGLQ

- Startup Stories on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tk7bbzaNYowGouI9ucKC3

- Startup Stories on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/startup-stories-with-silicon-florist/id1849468494

- The Long Con on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-con/id1810923457

- The Long Con on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/48oglyT5JNKxVH5lnWTYKA

- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social

- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/

- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------

For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------

Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0).

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

Angel Medina, the founder of TODOS Media and cofounder of Republica & Co, joins me to discuss her journey from the culinary world to building a cinematic media platform. Angelina shares how her background in Mexican culture and high-end hospitality informed her approach to storytelling and why she believes the future for creators lies in owning their content and controlling their own distribution.

We dive deep into the "doing the work" mentality, the sacrifice required to build something world-class, and her unique "cheap hack" for resetting your brain when you’re feeling burnt out or stuck.

https://www.watchtodos.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Meet Angel Medina: Founder of TODOS Media & Republica & Co

00:35 - Why TODOS Media focuses on micro-series and cinematic content

01:19 - Moving to Substack: Why creators need to control their masters

02:25 - The Renaissance Man: Transitioning from coffee to restaurants to media

03:45 - Building credibility: Achieving New York Times & Bon Appétit accolades

06:15 - "I'm not a chef": Using cultural intuition to build award-winning concepts

08:15 - Advice for entrepreneurs: Are you ready to "do the work"?

09:22 - Why your vision must be clear to the world

10:50 - The "Repeat Song" hack: Resetting your brain through walks and music

13:15 - Supporting BIPOC and women creatives in hospitality

14:55 - Final call: Come eat and let us tell you a story

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…

- https://patreon.com/turoczy

- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy

- Portland Oregon startup news on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portland-oregon-startup-news-silicon-florist/id1711294699

- Portland Oregon startup news Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2cmLDH8wrPdNMS2qtTnhcy?si=H627wrGOTvStxxKWRlRGLQ

- Startup Stories on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tk7bbzaNYowGouI9ucKC3

- Startup Stories on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/startup-stories-with-silicon-florist/id1849468494

- The Long Con on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-con/id1810923457

- The Long Con on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/48oglyT5JNKxVH5lnWTYKA

- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social

- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/

- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------

For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------

Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0).

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

Patrick is the CEO and cofounder of ViddyScribe — one-click audio description in 52 languages, plus a realtime version for live YouTube — and we go from his LA video-agency days to why he moved to Portland and fell into accessibility. There's some genuinely good founder advice in here (keep your company as small as possible for as long as possible — a lesson he learned the hard way, comparing an early five-person hackathon startup to "a polyamorous marriage with four people I just met"), why he still thinks in-person beats everything even in an AI world, and his real ask: he wants to build WITH the blind community and the professional audio describers, not against them. Stick around for the charity he plugs at the end.

LINKS:

ViddyScribe — https://viddyscribe.com

Patrick Burton (LinkedIn) — https://www.linkedin.com/in/spacedog/

Hull Foundation & Learning Center — https://hulflc.org

Building a startup mindset is essential for navigating the uncertainty of launching a new venture. Learn how self-belief impacts success.

Regan Delaney, founder of Capfora, joins us to discuss the role of optimism in the startup world. This conversation focuses on the psychological demands placed on entrepreneurs and why maintaining confidence is a core component of the business process. We break down the realities of facing constant unknowns while trying to build something from scratch.

By viewing problem solving as a manageable process rather than a threat, founders can sustain their momentum over the long term. This discussion offers practical insight for anyone currently struggling with the pressure of early-stage growth or those looking to strengthen their founder mental health.

Subscribe for weekly founder strategy breakdowns, and comment below on how you maintain your optimism when business challenges arise.

https://capfora.ai

Transcribbit is an application designed to support students by transcribing lectures and allowing for more accessible teacher-student communication. Born out of the digital learning era, Transcribbit brings the flexibility of online learning into the physical classroom.

https://www.transcribbit.com/

Every parent knows the moment: your kid comes home with a scrap of paper — a drawing, a name, a phone number — that basically says "let's hang out," and you're standing there thinking, I don't know this kid, I don't know these parents, I don't know anything. That exact scene is why Jeremy "Fresh" Roberts built funnr — a way for parents to actually schedule and coordinate playdates for their kids without the guesswork.

https://funnr.co

Lee Harding calls Proxylity "a weird little company here in Portland that does serverless UDP" — and by the end of this conversation, you'll understand why that's a bigger deal than it sounds. The web runs on HTTP, the tooling around it is great, and building a new web API has never been easier or lower-risk. But a lot of applications don't actually fit that mold. Teams reach for HTTP anyway — because it's there — and then quietly spend years building the same undifferentiated workarounds everyone else is building.

https://proxylity.com/