The Launch Network

KEVIN WEST, CEO at Guided Knowledge
Kevin joined Guided Knowledge in January 2017, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the team with more than 25 years’ experience growing businesses and implementing complex management solutions designed to improve the bottom line.
Prior to joining the Group, Kevin was a strategic consultant at Ralph Lauren Corporation where he led key commercial projects, including launching their business in South America, engineering a $200M global SAP implementation based in New York City and Geneva as well as redeveloping the brand’s $100M e-commerce operations in New York.

Kevin previously held a series of executive leadership roles with companies including Vodafone, Kingfisher and Dell where he built an $87M book of business working the company’s top-5% of clients including J&J, Verizon, Vodafone, Towers Watson and others.

Kevin’s role is to lead the team as the Company moves from its R&D stage to commercialising its patent-pending technology.

The Inventors Launchpad Network – Is proud to present Go Big, Go Bold, Co-Hosted by J.D. Houvener, Registered USPTO Patent Attorney of Bold IP and Carmine Denisco, Managing Partner with Inventors Launchpad. His background in business and experience as an engineer and patent attorney empowers him to clearly communicate to a broad range of inventors about their immediate and long-term needs for patenting in order to protect assets, leverage opportunities, and limit liabilities. If you have any questions on the legal side of your invention then this podcast is sure to help!

www.boldip.com

This Podcast is brought to you by the Inventors Launchpad Network.

www.inventorslaunchpad.com     

Jim’s career in retail began at an early age with the family business – a fireplace and home hardware company. After graduating from college, Jim went home to help expand the business from a small successful operation into a multi-million dollar business and became one of the most recognized and respected store of its kind on Long Island. Jim stimulated new business, purchased products from all over the world, and ran the overall daily operations.

Jim decided it was time to grow and joined a start up firm that imported binoculars, telescopes, and optical products for children. His retail customers included a “who’s who” in retail such as Target, Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, Sears, Michael’s, Cabelas, Home Shopping Network, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Discovery Channel Stores, Costco, and many others. Jim employed nearly 20 people inside and had dozens of sales reps all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Ultimately, Jim helped expand the company from virtually no significant revenue to a leading brand in the industry that has sold more than 50 million dollars of product since the mid 1990′s. When Jim was ready for a new adventure, he left the company as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Jim decided he was ready for yet a bigger challenge and joined a leading premium incentive company as their National Key Accounts Manager. Jim represented major national brands for this $100 million a year premium incentive firm such as Toshiba, Sony, Nikon, Nautilus, Movado and others. The products were used to create various incentive programs for fortune 1,000 companies around the world.

Jim’s experience has reached far and wide working with various products, retailers, manufactures, and factories. He knew it was time to help those that had a product in mind or ready for production. His goal was to teach others the process without unnecessary expense, time and red tape. That is how DeCavi Corp was born.

As the founder of DeCavi Corp, Jim has helped thousands of inventors and start-ups learn how to get their products developed and sold to major retailers. Jim then merged his firm with the renowned Slingshot Product Development Group which employs a team of 35 engineers, designers, and marketing experts who help individual inventors and Fortune 500 firms alike. Both are recognized as leaders in the inventor product development and commercialization arena. Today, Jim continues to broaden his reach into the world of consumer products and has formed DeBetta Enterprises which is a private consultancy that coaches and advises inventors and entrepreneurs on everything from manufacturing to sales and marketing of consumer products. Jim also heads up the Retail Distribution arm of Kevin Harrington’s TV Goods corporation which today is fueled by the hit ABC reality show Shark Tank.

Jim is a Professional Member of the United Inventors Association, a member of the Georgia Inventor’s Association, Rocky Mountain Inventors Association, and was the former co-host of the Launch Hour – a popular radio program for inventors and entrepreneurs. He is also the author of The Business of Inventing and has written hundreds of articles for industry publications, newspapers, and websites such as Inventor’s Digest, Georgia Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Jim also appears as a guest speaker for leading trade and consumer organizations, speaks at international conferences, and hosts forum and blog discussions on prominent invention and entrepreneurial websites.

My name is Hasani X. I’m CEO of Rise of a Leader, a business performance coach/investor, professional speaker and most recently the founder of Lead Your Story.

I grew up in the streets of Oakland California, where I learned firsthand the power of STORY. How with my STORY I was able to develop an inner-belief, strength, and conviction when everything around me said the opposite. And the truth is, without this vision of possibility guiding me, I wouldn’t be here today.

In fact, back In 1983, after crying my eyes out backstage, I nervously gave a speech. To my surprise I received a standing ovation and after total strangers came up to me stuffing money into my hands and showing me crazy love.

I was only five years old and couldn’t explain any of it. But what I did know was that STORY had the power to change my life.

That said, even with my STORY, it wasn’t easy. I still had to fight and grind it out. I started my entrepreneurial journey at nine years old. I sold ninja stars, my mamma’s tacos, and whatever else I could.

When I was 12, my dad made me go to Toastmasters meeting. At the time It sucked and felt like cruel and unusual punishment. But it kept me on the path to speaking in public and delivering my STORY.

Eventually, I overcame the odds and became the first person in my family to go to college. And to give you context, my high-school started with about 500 freshmen, but only about 38 of us graduated.

During the late 90’s while in college at the University of Pennsylvania I founded a company called A.U.N (All You Need) Marketing. It was about the sheer hustle of getting clients everything they needed to promote their brand and STORY.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I upped my game and founded 4e Consulting, a business growth firm that combined gorilla marketing and strategic business consulting.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I was crushing it in business, happily married with two kids and life was all good. Then one day I received a call from my mom…

Hi Mom
“Hasani they killed him, he’s dead…”
Wait, what?
“Your brother is dead…”

My younger brother Ramin was shot and killed back in Oakland California. He lived the life that I was able somehow able to avoid. As I put the phone down stunned and heartbroken, my mind flashed back to our last conversation.

We were arguing over something, but it ended when he said…

“You were never there for me…
You weren’t the big brother I needed!”

At the time I shrugged him off because I wasn’t going to take the blame for his shit. I handled my business, he should be able to handle his (period).

But that day, starring in the mirror, I realized that I’d always been dedicated to doing what it took to succeed, but ran away when it came to leading others.

Being honest and RAW with myself I soon realized that I was comfortable doing just about anything but leading others. I thought…

Who was I to lead?
Who was I to say what’s right?
Who was I to say this is where we are going?

This realization pushed me to explore and experiment at the edges of personal growth and leadership. I knew that I had to develop a new STORY that went beyond personal success and into the realm of leading.

So I began facing my deepest fears by jumping out of planes, becoming a professional cage fighter (crazy story), mind hacking and exploring spiritual growth through 1,000’s of hours meditating, fasting weeks on end on nothing but water to studying with the worlds best minds on human psychology and performance to developing my own innovations in personal breakthrough science.

Over time I pushed into the personal development space through speaking and coaching leaders on how to building their businesses, life, and legacy (BLL). It was on this path that I finally found my true MISSION.

To build people and businesses.

Feeling the gratification of helping others to break through, I decided to go all in. I exited 4e Consulting, divested all other investment projects and founded Rise of a Leader as an out of the box leadership and team development company.

It was here that I created the Living Leadership Model. A model I’ve used working with presidents of publicly traded companies down to prisoners facing a life behind bars.

In short, anyone who would listen I helped them with my Breakthrough Performance Science. Because here’s the truth, success principles don’t care about who you are or where you come from. If you Lead It, Live It, and Love it, you’ll eventually breakthrough!

Having the good fortune of being able to sit and review my life I can that over the last 20 years, I’ve founded 2 successful marketing companies, a personal development company, helped to grow hundreds of businesses as a consultant, coached hundreds of leaders and teams, given over 1,000 presentations, speeches and workshops, all while being happily married for 17+ years, raising 3 kids, and being fulfilled and living on my terms.

In mapping out the next 20 years, I’ve decided that I finally want to combine my two passions for building businesses AND building people. So I founded Lead Your Story as a hybrid marketing company that helps businesses use STORY to drive leads, business growth, and build strong leadership.

I’m so eXcited about Lead Your Story, because I believe in the power of STORY. It saved my life and has been the root of all of my successes.

Further, I believe that STORY in the modern age is the most effective way to drive the success of business, leaders, and teams. Because with a powerful STORY you’ll attract perfect customers, recruit talented staff who believe in your cause, and FREE yourself as a business owner.

We are talking about going from trying to sell for a buck to finally sharing a STORY that you believe in. This is the type of FREEDOM that pays in business, life, and legacy building.

And who doesn’t want that?

Out… X

With over 70 years of experience serving the hardware and home improvement industry, the National Hardware Show continues to provide an unmatched experience for industry professionals with access to the latest innovations, retail trends & business solutions, face-to-face networking & more. The future of home improvement is here.

The Inventors Launchpad Network – Is proud to present Tuttle Innovation, Co-Hosted by Warren Tuttle and Carmine Denisco. Warren has served as President of the Board of Directors for the UIA since 2010, and is a prolific speaker at inventor clubs and industry tradeshows, where he shares his his extensive knowledge and expertise to help educate aspiring inventors, patent holders and product developers.  Warren wants to educate inventors using stories from the industries most influential people.

The Inventors Launchpad Network – Is proud to present Go Big, Go Bold, Co-Hosted by J.D. Houvener, Registered USPTO Patent Attorney of Bold IP and Carmine Denisco, Managing Partner with Inventors Launchpad. His background in business and experience as an engineer and patent attorney empowers him to clearly communicate to a broad range of inventors about their immediate and long-term needs for patenting in order to protect assets, leverage opportunities, and limit liabilities. If you have any questions on the legal side of your invention then this podcast is sure to help!

www.boldip.com

This Podcast is brought to you by the Inventors Launchpad Network.

www.inventorslaunchpad.com     

The Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference

The Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference provides collaborative, hands-on, interactive learning and networking opportunities to increase awareness of and facilitate accessto entrepreneurial development resources that inspire action and adds economic value through the military connected community.

• Access relevant resources that provide guided information on finances and mentorships, including the best programming and services for your business type and model.

• Learn how to identify relevant and valuable programs and services, and how to determine which programs are best for your professional development needs and learning style.

• Understand how to manage expectations of the mentoring relationships by learning how to gather relevant and useful information from mentors, and how to ask direct and applicable questions.

• Learn how to talk about your business in a clear and concise manner.

• Learn how to maximize your skills by identifying your business profile and applying your strengths to your business.

• Collaborate with other veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, programs and service providers that are best for your specific business needs.

• Discover relevant resources on business finances through workshops on how to be money-smart or better manage your personal and business finances.

• Communicate and share through multiple tools, networking interactions and feedback surveys regarding best practices and veteran entrepreneurs’ needs and successes.

• Tap into the growing community of resources that are helpful to military connected entrepreneurs through our private online community which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to match entrepreneurs with opportunities, locally and online that will help you start or grow your business based upon those resources that veteran entrepreneurs report are most helpful.

• Meet and interact with capital partners to access the funding you need to grow, improve and prosper.

• Meet face to face with diversity and procurement professionals representing open opportunities to expand your business through both corporate and government contracting.

• Interact with veteran friendly franchise executives with decades of experience, and choose from multiple concepts in dozens of industries that align with your unique business profile.

• Increase your understanding of franchise law, and learn about franchise financing and how to grow absentee businesses.

The Inventors Launchpad – Roadmap to Success Series is presented by Inventors Launchpad in beautiful Tampa Bay, FL and hosted by Carmine Denisco. Carmine is an accomplished Author, Entrepreneur, Inventor and Co-founder/Managing Partner of Inventors Launchpad. Along with his business partner Rick Valderrama has changed the face of the invention industry and look forward to helping inventors from all over the world move their ideas forward. For more information please visit www.inventorslaunchpad.com

Leila Nosrati, Principal, Master Toy Advisors

Leila Nosrati is an accomplished retail merchant with 16 years of experience managing several of the largest toy categories. Through her consulting firm, Master Toy Advisors, she uses her extensive product and industry knowledge and her passion for toys and character licenses to guide inventors, entrepreneurs, and product developers as they formulate their pitches and presentations to retail buyers. Most recently she has joined The Canadian Group as head of inventor relations & new product acquisitions. Leila received her MBA from Columbia Business School and her BA from UCLA. She was honored as the 2013 Wonder Woman of Toys in Retail.

If you invent products or have a start-up that's ready for retail, the Get Retail Ready podcast is THE place to hear stories and gain knowledge with the Get Retail Ready guy Jim DeBetta!   Jim is a renowned retail selling expert having sold over 100 million dollars worth of products to the world's leading retailers!  Knowing the ins and outs of preparing to and selling to major retailers takes knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm.   Join us each week to get the inside scoop on how to make YOUR invention a success!

www.weknowbusiness.info

The Inventors Launchpad – Roadmap to Success Series is presented by Inventors Launchpad in beautiful Tampa Bay, FL and hosted by Carmine Denisco. Carmine is an accomplished Author, Entrepreneur, Inventor and Co-founder/Managing Partner of Inventors Launchpad.  Along with his business partner Rick Valderrama has changed the face of the invention industry and look forward to helping inventors from all over the world move their ideas forward. For more information please visit www.inventorslaunchpad.com

The Inventors Launchpad Network – Is proud to present Tuttle Innovation, Co-Hosted by Warren Tuttle and Carmine Denisco. Warren has served as President of the Board of Directors for the UIA since 2010, and is a prolific speaker at inventor clubs and industry tradeshows, where he shares his his extensive knowledge and expertise to help educate aspiring inventors, patent holders and product developers.  Warren wants to educate inventors using stories from the industries most influential people.

John Lederer

As a tenured development executive with over 19 years of Trade Show Sales/Business Development B2B experience I am presently working on The National Hardware Show I am manage the following segments Paint & Accessories Section, Made in the USA Section, Outdoors, Tailgate & Recreation Section, NEW Ultimate Backyard & the Inventor's Spotlight. I've had the pleasure of creating the Outdoor Tailgate Section, Made in the USA Section & Inventor's Spotlight for the National Hardware Show. I also created the PGA Merchandise Show Inventor's Spotlight.

The Outdoors, Tailgate, Recreation Section is now the biggest featured area of the National Hardware Show. For the 2018 show cycle creating first ever in B2B space an Experiential Marketing platform called the Ultimate Backyard Global Backyard & BBQ Pavilion. This allows hands on approach to see products up close and will allow tremendous branding for those manufacturers involved.

Additionally, I have launched the Fantasy Football Fest which is catered to the NFL Fan who loves Fantasy Football, Tailgating, Sports Memorabilia & Video Gaming) B2C event in 2012.

The Inventors Launchpad – Roadmap to Success Series is presented by Inventors Launchpad in beautiful Tampa Bay, FL and hosted by Carmine Denisco. Carmine is an accomplished Author, Entrepreneur, Inventor and Co-founder/Managing Partner of Inventors Launchpad. Along with his business partner Rick Valderrama has changed the face of the invention industry and look forward to helping inventors from all over the world move their ideas forward. For more information please visit www.inventorslaunchpad.com