Today on Startup to Storefront, we’re sitting down with Brian Nolan, a lifelong entrepreneur and the co-owner of Darren & Phillip, a purpose-driven pet brand known for its premium matching apparel for dogs and their humans.

Before launching Darren & Phillip in the U.S., Brian co-founded and led multiple successful ventures, including BookOutdoors, acquired by Hipcamp, and Sellbrite, acquired by GoDaddy. He holds a business degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business and is also a proud member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Darren & Phillip began in Australia in 2016 and in 2024 Brian and his wife Cris brought the brand to the U.S. Now based in Denver, Colorado, Darren & Phillip continues its mission to bring comfort to dogs and joy to the people who love them. Every purchase helps rescue dogs get adopted into safe, loving homes through donations to non-profit rescue organizations around the world.

Brian’s story is one of building businesses with both purpose and passion, and today we’ll dive into how he’s turning matching pajamas into a global movement.

Today’s guests are Kimberly Lau and Linda Young, co-founders of Project ReWear, a sustainable kids’ clothing brand proving that profitability and purpose can go hand in hand.

Kim spent 24 years in wealth management. Linda built her career in fashion retail and thrifting. Coming from different industries, they joined forces to fix what fast fashion broke. Together, they saw bins overflowing with barely worn clothes and families overwhelmed by the waste, and knew there had to be a better way.

So they started Project ReWear, a mission-first marketplace where every item has purpose and every shopper helps drive change. They are not here to sell hangers. They are here to shift habits.

Today, Project ReWear is a thriving preloved children’s clothing retailer with a boutique in Thousand Oaks, a growing e-commerce presence, and a loyal community of conscious consumers. Through Project Landfill, they rescue high-quality clothing from thrift stores, estate sales, and excess inventory to keep garments in circulation and out of landfills. With their #LAStrong initiative, they are transforming upcycled fashion into wildfire relief, proving business can be a force for good.

In this episode, Kimberly and Linda share how to spot market gaps, balance profitability with purpose, and scale a mission-driven brand in a competitive industry. We talk about the realities of career reinvention, what it takes to run an inventory-based business, and why the future of retail lies in the circular economy.

Today on Startup to Storefront, we are diving into one of the most overlooked growth channels for restaurants and local businesses: Google Maps.

Most business owners do not realize how much their Google Business Profile impacts foot traffic, reservations, and real-world sales. While many focus on social media and ads, the smartest brands are dominating Google Maps and seeing real results.

Joining us is Evan Oder, founder of Map Labs, the number one Google Maps marketing software for multi-location businesses. Evan has helped thousands of brands climb to the top of search results without spending big on ads.

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How to enhance your Google listings using AI and SEO without trying to trick Google

• The future of search and how Google Maps and ChatGPT are reshaping discovery

• Why stunning photos on your Google Business Profile can attract real customers

• Why Google Maps is becoming the future of local search for restaurants and small businesses

• How Google’s ranking factors prioritize engagement, and why it is key for your SEO strategy

As a special bonus, Evan is offering a 3-month free trial of Map Labs software and a complimentary Google Business Profile audit. You can access the offer through the link in bio.

If you own a restaurant, manage a local business, or want to understand the future of digital discovery, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Today’s guest is Aaron Gatti, founder of Brami, the fastest growing pasta brand in the U.S.

Aaron’s story begins on a small farm in southern Italy, where he spent childhood summers with his grandparents. Not by choice, but because his parents couldn’t afford childcare back in the States. It was there he discovered the lupini bean, a Mediterranean superfood once used to fuel Roman warriors and the same ingredient his grandmother credits for helping her survive World War II.

Years later, that inspiration became Brami, a pasta made in the mountains of Molise, Italy, using just two ingredients: durum wheat semolina and lupini bean flour. No shortcuts, no over-processing — just premium Italian tradition with modern nutritional benefits.

While most alternative pastas in the U.S. are ultra-processed and nutritionally empty, Brami stands out by going back to the source. With a vertically integrated supply chain, they control everything from milling to storage, delivering quality you can taste and trust.

The result? Brami has grown 1,404 percent year over year and is now sold in over 5,000 stores nationwide, outpacing legacy brands like Goodles, Rummo, and Rao’s.

On this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• Why better for you pasta doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, and how Brami lets you taste Italy every day • The secret to a healthy, one pot Italian meal that’s as easy as it is nutritious • What makes Italian food feel so satisfying, and how Brami captures that with a twist • How the lupini bean went from family secret to venture backed superfood • How Brami scaled in retail and increased sales by 40 percent at Whole Foods

On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, we sit down with Iggy Rodriguez, whose career spans the intersection of sports, entertainment, and business.

From leading partnerships at the LA Dodgers and Therabody to helping scale VIP platforms like Velocity Black and Kapow, Iggy has spent years negotiating deals with teams, leagues, and luxury brands. Now, as Senior Director at OneTeam Partners, he helps brands tap into athlete name, image, and likeness across the NFLPA, MLBPA, MLSPA, and more.

On this episode you’ll learn:

• What it really takes to get on and stay on The Bachelor and Bachelorette

• How casting for reality TV works behind the scenes and what producers aren’t telling you

• The emotional cost of chasing fame and attention online

• Why your dating life changes after national TV

• How Iggy’s career path evolved from sports partnerships to licensing powerhouse

Plus, Iggy shares how he gives back — fostering dogs in LA and mentoring Special Olympics athletes.

We’re sitting down with Daniel Bennett, a Los Angeles based digital creator and Head of Creative at his own media agency. Daniel has led social strategy for some of the biggest names in entertainment and gaming, including Grammy-winning artists like Diplo and Dillon Francis, as well as global brands like Call of Duty. But what really sets Daniel apart is his ability to blend storytelling and strategy in a way that resonates deeply with today’s audiences.

While he’s made his mark behind the scenes of major campaigns, Daniel has also built a personal brand that’s taken off. His relatable content about the chaos of your twenties — from the awkwardness of dating to the ups and downs of friendship — has struck a nerve, earning him over 200,000 followers in just 60 days. His growth has been rooted in one key principle: consistency.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to build a sustainable creative career in the ever-evolving digital landscape. We explore how the role of a social media manager has become as vital as a lawyer or a CFO, how Daniel transitioned from agency work to building a brand of his own, and what it takes to stay ahead in the creator economy.

On this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• How consistency became Daniel’s secret weapon for growth

• What it actually takes to hit 200K followers in 60 days

• Why creators and brands alike need to rethink how they view social media roles

• How Daniel took lessons from agency life and applied them to his consulting work

• What’s coming next in the future of content creation and why storytelling still wins

From the Track to the Tumbler: How Off Hours Is Redefining Bourbon for the Modern Drinker This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re diving into the story behind Off Hours Bourbon, the brand that’s rewriting the bourbon playbook. No smoky rooms, no old school gatekeeping, just a fresh take on a timeless spirit. Founded by Jake Ireland, Off Hours blends California cool with Midwest roots, creating a whiskey that’s approachable, design forward, and made for today’s consumer. With national retail expansion, a growing following, and standout partnerships including their new collaboration with La Colombe, Off Hours is setting a new standard in spirits. We break down the brand’s rise, their mixology competition for bartenders across the country, and the strategy behind appealing to a new wave of bourbon drinkers.

On this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Gen Z is shifting the alcohol industry and how legacy brands are struggling to keep up

How Off Hours and La Colombe are teaming up for a nationwide bartender competition

What it takes to build a bourbon brand that actually resonates with a younger audience

Why Off Hours leans into downtime, personal moments, and a more modern take on whiskey culture

What makes high proof bourbon and rye different and how to taste them

How Whole Foods style thinking is shaping female focused bourbon strategies

This Week on Startup to Storefront: Caroline D’Amore aka Pizza Girl from growing up in her family’s iconic pizza restaurants to launching her own organic sauce line, Caroline D’Amore has always been surrounded by dough and hustle. In this episode, Caroline shares how she turned the nickname Pizza Girl into a nationally recognized brand.

From selling out her countertop pizza ovens in just two weeks to opening her first “pink and mortar” store in Venice Beach, she’s redefining what it means to build a modern food empire with bold branding, fearless storytelling, and a whole lot of marinara.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

How Caroline went from reality TV to real business

The viral product that changed everything overnight

Why Pizza Girl is about more than just food

Her mission to put women back at the center of the culinary conversation. 

From the outside, Steve Martocci is a serial entrepreneur who’s helped shape the digital world as we know it, co-founding GroupMe, Blade, and Splice. But behind all the success, Steve faced a more personal challenge: his health. Years of struggling with his weight and overall well-being led him to make a life-changing decision in 2010. One that sparked not only a personal transformation but the foundation for his most meaningful company to date: SuppCo. SuppCo is a first of its kind health tech platform aiming to simplify and revolutionize the supplement industry. With an overwhelming number of products, conflicting advice, and no real regulation, most people are left confused about what to take, when, and why. SuppCo solves this by offering science-backed, personalized stacks that empower people to take control of their health, the same way Steve did over a decade ago.

🎙 On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, you’ll learn:

💡 How Steve built and sold industry defining companies like GroupMe, Blade, and Splice fast

⚖️ Why the supplement industry’s lack of regulation is fueling massive, unchecked growth

 📈 What made SuppCo’s launch strategy so bold it forced people to either love it or hate it

🏋️‍♂️ How functional medicine helped Steve lose weight, improve his happiness, and rebuild from the inside out

📲 What’s behind SuppCo’s unprecedented app engagement and how user feedback drives real time innovation

🌍 Why users of all kinds are connecting with SuppCo’s mission and loving the product

🔁 How real time feedback became the key to Version 2’s successful launch

🎧 Stream the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ryan Vesler, founder of HOMAGE, joins Startup to Storefront to share the story behind one of the most beloved vintage-inspired sportswear brands in the game. From an accidental cease-and-desist email with Larry Bird that turned into HOMAGE’s first licensing deal, to partnerships with the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and exclusive collaborations with Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, Ryan Reynolds, and Rob McElhenney - Ryan breaks down how HOMAGE built an emotional connection with fans and investors alike.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Ryan turned his love for Ohio State into the legendary Archie Griffin T-shirt

• Why trading cards became a core inspiration for HOMAGE’s nostalgic aesthetic

• The inside story behind HOMAGE’s collaboration with Travis & Jason Kelce on New Heights

Follow along as Ryan shares how authenticity, emotion, and storytelling have helped HOMAGE become a cult favorite for sports fans everywhere.