The First Customer

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tanya Isa, founder of KitSF.
 
Tanya recounts her extraordinary journey from leaving Ukraine to becoming the CEO of a thriving business in San Francisco. She highlights her ambitious nature from an early age, recalling her first small business venture selling newspapers at the age of 12. Tanya's entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to launch her first business in Donetsk, Ukraine, and later her successful Language Center.

Tanya encountered challenges in her transition to the U.S. market and highlighted the significant differences between the Ukrainian and American markets, emphasizing the size, mindset, and competition disparities. She also talks about the importance of networking, seeking mentors, and constantly learning, sharing her experience with Y Combinator Startup School as a valuable resource.

Let's cross the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to SanFo as we delve deeper into Tanya's unique story! 

Guest Info:
https://kitSF.com

Tanya Isa's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyasf/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Behdad Jamshidi, founder of CJAM Marketing.

Behdad walked us through his remarkable journey from a humble immigrant upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Behdad's parents' immigrant experience instilled in him a sense of determination and entrepreneurship even at a young age. His path wasn't a straight line; he initially pursued a traditional engineering career but always felt the urge to explore unconventional avenues, including personal training and software projects.

As Behdad's personal training venture evolved, he realized the need to help people on a larger scale. This set the stage for his transition into the world of digital marketing. Through a chance encounter with someone making substantial income from SEO for dentists, Behdad embarked on a journey of self-education in SEO, website development, and other marketing skills. Over time, he leveraged these skills to establish CJAM Marketing, which focuses on bridging the gap between businesses and marketing agencies, matching them with the right marketing partners.

Let's traverse Vancouver, Canada for Behdad's incredible entrepreneurial journey!

Guest Info
CJAM Marketing
http://www.cjammarketing.com


Behdad Jamshidi's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/behdadjamshidi/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brandon Barnum,  CEO of HOA.com.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Brandon shares his inspirational journey from a humble upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Growing up in a financially challenged environment, he was always drawn to the idea of financial success. Despite early challenges and limited resources, he worked hard and learned the art of generating referrals, significantly increasing his income.

Brandon emphasizes the importance of leveraging relationships and referrals in business, stressing the value of asking for help and connecting with influencers. He provides insights into his entrepreneurial experiences, including how to clarify your vision, focus on your value proposition, and prioritize relationship building. 

Buckle up and let's take a flight all the way to the Grand Canyon State and get to know more about this amazing guy, Brandon!

Guest Info
HOA.com
https://hoa.com

Brandon Barnum's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonbarnum/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview  Jon Brown, one of the masterminds behind Interlaced.io.

Jon shares his journey from growing up in a small town in Southern Maine to his involvement in the IT services industry. His career path took him through various experiences, from working as a graphic designer to teaching English overseas. It was during his time as an IT support specialist in Maryland that he realized his passion for IT services, leading him to start his own IT consulting business, Grove Technologies.

Jon grew his business, particularly during the two years leading up to the acquisition by Interlaced.io. He emphasized the importance of doubling down on service quality, refining contracts, establishing a referral program, and actively participating in the Apple-focused community. Jon successfully expanded his business and reached the financial goals that eventually led to the sale to Interlaced.io.

Join us once again in this insightful episode of The First Customer!

Guest Info
Interlaced.io
https://interlaced.io/

Jon Brown's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonbrown2/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Cathy Nesbitt, the CEO and founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters.

Cathy went from being a city dweller to an eco-entrepreneur in a small town. She recognized a significant environmental problem when the landfill for the greater Toronto area closed in 2002 so she came up with an innovative solution: indoor composting with worms. Despite the initial aversion people had towards worms in their homes, Cathy's passion for sustainability led her to educate and create a market for her eco-friendly solution.

Over the years, Cathy's dedication to her cause has had a ripple effect, inspiring students and changing perspectives on waste management.  Cathy's journey as a self-taught entrepreneur paved the way for solving environmental challenges and making the world a better place.

Let's travel all the way to Bradford, Ontario to get to know more about Cathy Nesbitt in this fun episode!


Guest Info:
Cathy's Crawly Composters
https://www.cathyscomposters.com/

Cathy Nesbitt's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this special episode, I was lucky enough to interview Reza Piri, CEO and founder of Productbot.AI. 

His background and early life in College Station, Texas, provided some insights into his upbringing and exposure to entrepreneurship, thanks to his father's successful ventures in the oil field services industry.

Transitioning from the oil field to IT, Reza highlighted that empathizing with customers and solving their pain points through AI was a key theme. He underlined the role of understanding customer perspectives, needs, and pain points, revealing how AI can transform product development and marketing. Reza also discussed AI's power in streamlining marketing and software development, enhancing company efficiency.

Let's all take a good rodeo ride on our way to Austin, Texas, and delve into Reza Piri's dynamic journey into the exciting future of AI!

Guest Info:
Productbot AI
https://productbot.ai

Reza Piri's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-piri-28669959/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Keith Scandone, CEO and co-founder of O3 World.

Keith grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia in Bucks County to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles. His journey to entrepreneurship wasn't typical, and he emphasized the value of resilience and thinking outside the box. During his time in Los Angeles, he explored various roles and it was through one of his experiences that he discovered his passion for producing and the creative freedom it provided compared to being in front of the camera.

After returning to the Philadelphia area, Keith took on roles in marketing, brand development, and web design. His diverse background allowed him to accumulate a broad skill set which led to co-founding O3 World, a digital product and customer experience consultancy.

Tune in and get ready to be inspired by Keith's unique insights and wonderful journey!

Guest Info:
O3 World
http://www.o3world.com

Keith Scandone's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-scandone/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Boy oh boy, I could not stress enough how special this guest is. In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Federico Toledo, the co-founder, and CEO of Abstracta, AKA the QA Doctor.

Federico is from Uruguay and shares how his upbringing in a close-knit community near the capital city played a pivotal role in his growth. He emphasizes the value of Uruguay's free university education, which allowed him to study computer science, paving the way for his future endeavors.

Federico also traces the origins of Abstracta, a company he co-founded with colleagues, initially focused on test automation. They faced early challenges as pioneers in the field, having to evangelize software testing and quality culture in the industry which eventually led to the establishment of a strong brand known for its expertise in quality and a range of services related to software testing, automation, accessibility, performance, and security. His passion for sharing knowledge is evident through his book and podcast building a personal brand and contributing to the growth of the testing community in Latin America.

Come and let's travel all the way to Uruguay for another great episode of The First Customer!

Guest Info:
Abstracta:
http://abstracta.us

Federico Toledo's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/federicotoledo/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Phinick, President and CEO of Let's Make It Rain.

Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark's path was set in motion when he relocated to Chicago in 1984. With a background in computer science and a unique perspective on technology, Mark found his niche in the world of sales, helping small companies grow into successful ventures.

Mark's passion for helping businesses use technology effectively shines through as he encounters challenges and opportunities in the field, emphasizing the importance of understanding how customers buy technology to overcome stalled deals and drive success.

Join us in this new episode as Mark reveals his "Why" - helping sellers and organizations increase their lot in life - and learn from his wealth of experience in the ever-evolving sales world!

Guest Info
Let's Make It Rain
https://letsmakeitrain.net/

Mark Phinick's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markphinick/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/