The Business Model by Inc.

Alpha-gal syndrome is scary stuff. Simply consuming pork or beef can send affected people into an anaphylactic shock, potentially killing them.  

Even consuming cross-contaminated food or, say, a pill containing beef or pork byproducts is enough to do the trick. 

The alpha-gal allergy comes from the bite of a lone star tick. Once common only across the South and the Midwest, these critters’ range is expanding across the nation — bringing alpha-gal along, too. 

Some researchers estimate there are as many as 450,000 cases and climbing. For founders, this is a tremendous opportunity to step in. The fear of alpha-gal has meant a boon for pest prevention businesses, tick-preventing clothes, and more.  

Inc.’s Ali Donaldson joins host Chloe Aiello on this 1 Smart Business Story to take us into the burgeoning alpha-gal economy.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:  

Fiona Ashley, VP and head of spend product marketing at SAP Concur, explains what separates AI experimentation from measurable impact.

Founders at the hottest startups are increasingly facing a vexing question: Who owns equity in our company?  

As companies stay private longer than they used to, early investors and employees are finding plenty of hungry investors offering cash for their equity.  

This can be a legit exchange with agreement from all sides. But it can also lead to murkier transactions, a Wild West for scammers. 

Inc. staff writer Brian Conteras joins host Ali Donaldson to take us into the world of secondary stock sales on this episode of 1 Smart Business Story.  

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

Media is a minefield. From Substacks and livestreams to podcasts and newspapers (where they still exist), it’s a lot for founders to juggle.  

Fortunately, a team from Inc. surveyed more than 100 PR and communications professionals to come up with a new-media power ranking.  

What press stops are worth doing? And for what type of business leader? What’s the role of legacy media?  

On this episode of 1 Smart Business Story, host Chloe Aiello gets the scoop from David Lidsky, head of editorial strategy at Fast Company and Inc.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:  

The peptide craze has taken hold with entrepreneurs and executives hoping to further optimize their performance in all aspects of life — and maybe live forever, while they’re at it.  

Their interest in peptides is more than personal, though. Many founders see tremendous opportunity in startups focused on getting peptides into the mainstream and even corporate wellness packages.  

Meanwhile, many of the drugs are caught in a regulatory gray area that peptide pushers hope Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services, can clear up. 

Inc. senior writer Sam Blum dove into the brave new world of peptides and joined 1 Smart Business Story host Ali Donaldson to share his findings.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:  

It’s not a sports drink or an energy drink — it’s a lifestyle electrolyte.  

That’s the pitch from Leisure Hydration, one of the newest entrants in the soft drink game.  

Alex and Steve Michaelsen, brothers from Los Angeles, are determined not to become one of the hydration industry’s many zombie brands.  

They even told Inc.’s Ali Donaldson that they think they’ve hatched a billion-dollar brand. Ali joins 1 Smart Business Story host Chloe Aiello to break it all down.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:  

Just a couple years ago, The Onion was on the verge of extinction. Revenue had dipped into the six figures, and only a handful of writers and editors remained. 

Enter the unlikely duo of tech executive Jeff Lawson and journalist Ben Collins, who met while bidding to acquire the satire outlet.  

Their partnership is leading The Onion back to its glory days, with equally unlikely business moves leading the charge: The resurrection of a print newspaper and the acquisition of right-wing conspiracist platform Infowars. 

It’s a lot to understand, but Inc. senior writer Sam Blum is up to the task. He joins 1 Smart Business Story host Chloe Aiello to break it all down.  

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

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.