The Business Game

The Business Game

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The Business Game episodes

  • Gen Z AI Founder: Global Sourcing and Raising Millions in Funding

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    AI Just Made Global Sourcing 10x Easier. Here’s How (With SourceReady CEO Ricky Ho)

    Global sourcing is confusing, expensive, and stacked against small businesses — but AI is starting to change that.

    In this episode of The Business Game, we sit down with Ricky Ho, CEO and co-founder of SourceReady, to unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming the way products are sourced, manufacturers are discovered, and suppliers are evaluated.

    Ricky shares insights from building and selling a previous supply-chain startup (after raising $22M in venture capital), and explains how SourceReady uses customs data, automation, and AI agents to uncover real factories and eliminate the endless back-and-forth that founders hate.

    We talk about why sourcing is often a bigger barrier than marketing, how AI compares thousands of suppliers faster than any human team, and why the future of global trade still needs humans in the loop.

    This conversation also dives into leadership, fundraising lessons, product-market fit, and why business should be viewed as an infinite game — not something you “win” once.


    Sponsor

    Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com



    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!



    Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamepodcast.com

    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________


    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.





    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    55 min
  • Award-Winning AI Founder: Make AI Work For You

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    Most AI Is Useless - Here’s How Businesses Actually Win With It: Bart Puszko (Blue Seas AI) joins us to cut through the noise and share what actually works when applying AI inside a business.

    AI is moving fast but most businesses are chasing the wrong things.

    In this episode of The Business Game, we’re joined by Bart Puszko, founder of Blue Seas AI, to cut through the hype and explain how businesses should actually be using AI. Bart shares why most AI tools are just rebranded versions of ChatGPT, why AI won’t fix broken systems, and how poor implementation can hurt brands and revenue.

    We dive into real client stories, AI failures, automation wins, and the mindset founders need to adopt to use AI effectively without burning time, money, or trust. If you want a practical, grounded view of AI for business, this conversation is a must-listen.


    Sponsor

    Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com


    _________________________________________________________________________________________________


    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!


    _________________________________________________________________________________________________


    Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamepodcast.com

    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!


    _________________________________________________________________________________________________


    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.





    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    51 min
  • Marketing CEO: Intent Marketing Is The Future

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    Ads are everywhere, and people hate them. But what if advertising didn’t have to be annoying?

    Phil Ohren, co-founder of Intender, joins The Business Game to explain why modern advertising feels broken, and how founders can rebuild marketing around how people actually behave. Phil shares his framework of Intent, Interest, and Interruption, why mass marketing is having a midlife crisis, and how brands should shift budgets toward the audiences most likely to act.

    We also dive into why organic reach is dying, how ad frequency can turn brand love into brand hate, and why earned media + PR may become a major advantage as AI changes search and buying behavior. If you’re relying heavily on paid ads, or trying to scale without burning your audience out, this episode is a must.


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    Sponsor

    Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________


    Want to clip long-form content into shorts in one click? Receive 25 % off OpusClip, the same tool we use to turn episodes into shareable clips. support the show and save:: https://www.opus.pro/?via=93d640 


    The Business Game is proud to be an official OpusClip affiliate. 





    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    1 hr 1 min
  • Shortcuts: Cash Flow Secrets Every Founder Must Know

    Send us Fan Mail

    Cash flow can make or break your business. In this episode of The Business Game Podcast, a panel of experienced founders share practical advice on money management, profitability, and sustainable growth.

    The conversation focuses on real world lessons around staying lean in the early stages, knowing your numbers, avoiding unnecessary expenses, managing debt, and making smarter financial decisions as a business owner.

    You will learn:

    •  How to protect cash flow when starting and scaling
    •  Why simplicity and focus drive profitability
    •  How to read and use financial statements
    •  Why bookkeeping is a strategic advantage, not an admin task
    •  How subscription tools quietly drain your business
    •  How to review expenses and cut waste
    •  Why minimizing debt increases long term cash flow
    •  How founders should think about investing and financial security

    This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs, small business owners, startup founders, and anyone responsible for managing business finances.


    Sponsor
    Thanks to Trafftrak for sponsoring today's episode. They keep businesses on track so your schedule never hits a red light!
    Head to trafftrak.com to get started without adding stress.

    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details  easier than ever! 

    Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!

    Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    15 min
  • Toy Maker Turned CEO: Building A Manufacturing Empire

    Send us Fan Mail

    When David Socha was broke and outbid at the last minute, one integrity-driven decision turned disaster into over $1M in free advertising and ultimately saved the company.

    David Socha has been in business for over 30 years, building Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company into a global plush powerhouse. In this conversation, David shares the early near-collapse that became a breakthrough, when a competitor outbid him for a radio personality and his business fell off a cliff. What happened next (a lesson in integrity) changed everything.

    David also unpacks the hardest modern bottleneck: COVID, when revenue dropped more than 80%, forcing a full rebuild and a shift to a 100-year legacy plan. 

    If you’re building in a fast-moving market, this episode is a masterclass in persistence, leadership, and long-term strategy. 


    📍Connect with David:

    LinkedIn: David Socha

    Website: plush.com


    Sponsor

    Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________

    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamepodcast.com
    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________

    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    49 min
  • Military Intelligence Expert: The Tech Wave Bigger Than AI Is Coming

    Send us Fan Mail

    The Industrial AI Advantage Nobody Explains is the conversation every fintech leader needs right now, because the next wave is not just AI, it is what happens when security, compliance, and real world impact collide.

    Arthur Miller is a fintech leader with a rare background. He started in military intelligence and national defense research, then moved into the private sector to build and scale secure systems, including real time payments across thousands of financial institutions. Now, as founder and CEO of Fiqis, Arthur is focused on micro lending, AI, post quantum encryption, and making core banking integrations more secure and seamless.

    In this episode, Arthur explains why compliance is the minimum bar, how to lead technical teams without crushing innovation, and why AI is an enhancer, not a replacement. He also shares what is changing in cybersecurity as attackers use AI, and why quantum computing could become the next major wave in fintech.


    Key topics:

    • Security lessons from defense that fintech leaders can apply today
    • Building technical teams with autonomy, trust, and psychological safety
    • AI in software delivery and why the new standard is speed plus verification
    • AI driven attack vectors and how the good guys stay ahead
    • Post quantum security and what quantum computing means for encryption
    • How to evaluate new technology without getting distracted by hype
    • Leadership under pressure and staying human while delivering results


    Connect with Arthur

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-miller-64b32165/

    Website: www.fiqis.com 


    Sponsor

    Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com

    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!


    Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamepodcast.com

    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!


    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.



    KEYWORDS/TAGS

    industrial ai, fintech ai, fintech security, post quantum encryption, quantum computing, ai in cybersecurity, ai compliance, financial institutions, real time payments, zelle engineering, secure software development, enterprise architecture, ai for developers, technology leadership, building engineering teams, innovation vs compliance, vendor evaluation, closed loop ai, ai attack vectors, cybersecurity strategy, fintech trends 2025, startup leadership, engineering culture, psychological safety, remote engineering teams, micro lending, peer to peer lending, core banking integrations, thebusinessgame, businesspodcast  


    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    44 min
  • She Stopped Chasing Viral and Her Clients EXPLODED (FLASHBACK EPISODE)

    Send us Fan Mail

    She stopped chasing viral trends - and that’s when the real growth began.

    Join us for this unmissable flashback episode of The Business Game featuring Kennedy Logan, founder of Soboard Socials, as she breaks down the real strategies behind sustainable social media growth.

    In this powerful conversation, Kennedy shares proven techniques to help you:

    * Skyrocket brand awareness without burning out

    * Build genuine trust with your audience

    * Drive real conversions (not just likes)

    * Create content that actually connects

    * Understand and use the social media funnel effectively

    Leverage platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn for both B2B and B2C growth

    We also dive into:

    * The biggest mistakes brands make on social media

    * Why Instagram Stories are a secret weapon for trust-building

    * How to balance short-form vs long-form content

    * Why authenticity beats virality every time

    If you're a business owner, marketer, founder, or creator who wants smarter growth (not just more posts), this episode is for you.

    Connect with Soboard Socials:
    Website: soboardsocials.com.au
    Email: [email protected] 
    Website: soboardsocials.com.au 
    Instagram: soboardsocials

    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!

    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    48 min
  • Shark Tank Alum: Turning Household Chores Into a Multi-Million Dollar Business

    Send us Fan Mail

    The Unsexy Business That Went Viral on Shark Tank, proves you do not need a trendy industry to build a scalable company, you need systems, clarity, and the courage to keep going when it gets messy. 

    Susan Toft, founder and CEO of The Laundry Lady, sharing how she scaled a simple service into a platform powered business with nearly 500 contractors across Australia and New Zealand and a growing presence in Canada.

    Susan walks through the real bottlenecks behind growth including building the right tech while bootstrapping, surviving major life disruptions, and learning how to delegate before the business could truly scale. She also explains why Shark Tank became marketing gold and how she reframed the story from laundry service to scalable platform so investors could understand the opportunity.

    If you are building a service business, hiring contractors, or trying to scale while staying true to your values, this episode is packed with practical lessons on systems, leadership, and sustainable growth.

    _________

    Want to clip long-form content into shorts in one click? Receive 25 % off OpusClip, the same tool we use to turn episodes into shareable clips. support the show and save: https://www.opus.pro/?via=93d640 The Business Game is proud to be an official OpusClip affiliate. 

    _________

    Thanks to Tala Offshore for sponsoring this episode. For all your remote staffing needs, visit www.talaoffshore.com 

    _________

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    48 min
  • The “Industrial AI” Advantage Nobody Explains

    Send us Fan Mail

    The “Industrial AI” Advantage Nobody Explains, Dave Howden explains why casual AI use is not enough and how businesses create real advantage by pairing AI with their IP.

    In this episode of The Business Game, Dave Howden from SupaHuman AI shares a clear, strategy-led view of industrial AI and how organizations are using it to reduce cost, increase speed, and improve quality at the same time.

    We discuss why most AI adoption fails, where the biggest opportunities exist for mid-market businesses, and why leadership and strategy matter more than tools.

    Key takeaways:

    • Consumer AI versus industrial AI
    • Why IP is the real source of advantage
    • Real examples of productivity gains
    • The leadership challenge behind AI adoption
    • The future of knowledge work in an AI-driven world


    Connect with Dave Howden - SupaHuman AI:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supahuman-ai 
    Website: supahuman.com 

    _________

    We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today! 

    _________

    Thanks to Trafftrak for sponsoring todays episode. They keep businesses on track so your schedule never hits a red light! Head to trafftrak.com to get started 

    _________

    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    49 min
  • From $200K a Year to $5M a MONTH (Here’s What Changed)

    Send us Fan Mail

    Justin Lund shares the exact mindset and delegation shifts that took him from $200K a year to $5M in profit per month, without burning out or working more hours.

    Justin Lund joins The Business Game to break down the identity shifts founders must make to scale without getting trapped inside their business.

    We dive into Justin’s Freedom Flywheel—a framework for sustainable growth built on doing less, leveraging systems, and delegating in the right sequence. Justin also explains “drift” (how entrepreneurs can be busy yet not truly building), the red flags your business is becoming a prison, and the costly lessons that come from avoiding the numbers.

    What you’ll learn:

    • Why most entrepreneurs delegate out of order
    • The telltale signs you’ve built a business you can’t leave
    • How “drift” shows up even when you’re grinding nonstop
    • The mindset + systems shifts that unlock real leverage

    Justin’s definition of winning? Freedom.

    Connect with Justin Lund - Propel:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-lund-propel/
    Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsjustinlund/ 

    _________

    Want to clip long-form content into shorts in one click? Receive 25 % off OpusClip, the same tool we use to turn episodes into shareable clips. support the show and save: https://www.opus.pro/?via=93d640 The Business Game is proud to be an official OpusClip affiliate. 

    _________

    Thanks to Tala Offshore for sponsoring this episode. For all your remote staffing needs, visit www.talaoffshore.com 

    _________


    This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.

    Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.

    For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
    Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com

    It's time to Level Up!

    We’ll see you at the next level. 

    51 min

About The Business Game

From the publisher's feed

The Business Game


The Business Game is not another highlight reel of overnight success. It is a structured, honest breakdown of what it really takes to build, scale, and…