Everyone has an idea for your business. It’s true.  

But on this Founder Group Chat, we’ve got three people who are experts: Anne Fulenwider of Alloy Health, Hailey Swartz of Actual Veggies, and Will Bradley of Turtlebox Audio.  

Each of these founders is in a crowded field. But they’ve figured out how to stand apart — and grow. Listen as they share with Inc.’s Rebecca Deczynski how they cut through the noise and wound up on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies.  

Every founder wants their own niche. But committing to a unique idea and making it work takes a unique combination of courage, audacity, and business acumen.  

On this Founder Group Chat, we have a group of business leaders who have cut through the noise and found massive success. We’re back for another episode with Anne Fulenwider of Alloy Health, Hailey Swartz of Actual Veggies, and Will Bradley of Turtlebox Audio.  

All three have led their businesses onto the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. With Inc.’s Rebecca Deczynski moderating, these founders share how they took the path less traveled and made their good idea a successful one. 

Private equity and bakeries don’t tend to mix well. 

Sprinkles shuttered all of its locations in the wake of a private equity acquisition. Milk Bar and Crumbl closed many of their stores after PE entered the picture.  

But Magnolia Bakery is determined to change that pattern. It has a bold plan for expanding its global reach under RSE Venture’s ownership — without letting its quality slip. 

Inc. senior writer Jennifer Conrad has been hearing Magnolia’s strategy for doing private equity the right way, and she joins host Chloe Aiello on 1 Smart Business Story to explain.   

Plus, this week's Action Item: The art of the (social media) deal. 

What do Alloy Health, Actual Veggies, and Turtlebox Audio have in common?  

Well, it’s certainly not their industry. Could it be that they’re all on this year’s Inc. 5000 list? That’s true, but it’s not the only reason they’re on this episode of Founder Group Chat.  

Instead, it’s that each of these companies started in a highly personal way. Covering friendships to family to lived experiences, Anne Fulenwider, Hailey Swartz, and Will Bradley join Inc.’s Rebecca Deczynski to explain how they got their brands off the ground even with sometimes-heavy relationships in the mix.  

In this special custom episode, Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hoffman joins Dina Apostolou, CMO of Agentforce Sales at Salesforce, to explore the biggest lessons from this year’s exclusive Inc. 5000 CEO survey. As AI shifts from experimentation to everyday execution, the nation’s fastest-growing companies are using it to strengthen sales teams, improve forecasting, streamline customer engagement, and free employees to focus on higher-value work. Watch the video to discover why leading CEOs are investing in integrated AI, prioritizing culture alongside technology, and treating customer retention as a powerful engine for long-term growth.

What do Patagonia, American Girl, and LinkedIn have in common?  

All three started as small businesses but beat the odds to become household names.  

Along the way, each landed on the Inc. 5000, the list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. 

Inc. has published this list for over 40 years and it has included countless companies that started small and went onto massive success.  

On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. journalists Tim Crino, Rebecca Deczynski, and Jennifer Conrad chat over six of these household names: Patagonia, Under Armour, Clif Bar, American Girl, Fitbit, and LinkedIn.  

Listen or watch to learn what it takes to become a household name and make sure you’re following this feed to get continued coverage of the Inc. 5000.  

The THC products scattered across the country on restaurant menus and in gas stations and grocery stores are all legal because of a loophole.  

Now, Senator Mitch McConnell and the alcohol lobby are leading a group that is battling to close that loophole as the burgeoning hemp-derived THC industry fights for its very survival.  

These federally legal THC products have opened up a new range of treatments for a variety of health conditions, while providing an alternative to alcohol for folks looking to unwind with something healthier.  

On the other hand, “gas station weed” has reportedly sent scores of kids who got their hands on a less healthy, more potent hemp product to the emergency room.   

Journalist Alexander Zaitchik joins Inc. senior editor Leah Carroll on this episode of 1 Smart Business Story to give us the full story as both sides race against the clock — a deadline looms this fall.   

Plus, this week's Action Item: How to set your prices as a new consultant.  

Veterans gain a lot of valuable insight from their service that makes them stand out in the market. A lot of the time, it helps propel them in their careers and shapes them into great leaders and employees. However, not all of their skills and experiences easily translate in business.  

In this last episode for this batch of Founder Group Chat, veterans Tim Hsia of VetraFi, John Keh of Valtec, and Brad Genser of Farther share the military habits and mindsets that served them well, and the ones they had to unlearn or rethink. 

In honor of the dog days of summer, Inc. finance reporter Brian Contreras brings us a story on the pitfalls of private equity. Why is it summery? It focuses on a national swimming pool company! 

Together with host Chloe Aiello, Brian walks us through the fascinating rise and decline of Leslie’s Poolmart, once valued at $3.8 billion and now holding a market cap of about $13 million. 

On this edition of 1 Smart Business Story, you’ll learn:

Nearly all companies claim they recruit military veterans. But many of those companies don’t have staff trained to recruit those vets. At the same time, data shows that former military personnel face high levels of underemployment.   

How can we fix that? Well, on Founder Group Chat, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger gets some answers from leaders who know: Tim Hsai of VetraFi, John Keh of Valtech, and Brad Genser of Farther.  

All three are veterans themselves, and they make it a point to hire their peers. They’ll explain how and why on this episode of The Business Model.