The Marketing Boost

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost podcast, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week, we sit down with Rikky Moller, CEO of Once in a Wild, a San Antonio-based company that offers immersive, educational animal experiences right in your backyard. Hosts Leon and Pablo chat with Rikky about his journey from creative director in advertising to co-founding a mobile zoo that prioritizes education, conservation, and joy.

Hosts: 

Pablo Calvo:  Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin &  X: 

Guest:

Rikky Moller : LinkedIn & Once in a Wild

Find Us: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm

Episode Highlights:

1. The Spark Behind Once in a Wild
   • Rikky shares how he and his wife started rescuing animals and bringing them to birthday parties, which eventually grew into a full-fledged business after the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread job loss.
   • Once in a Wild began offering virtual programs, which led to contracts with local school districts, and now aims to expand with additional branches and a possible brick-and-mortar location.
2. A Unique Educational Approach
   • Once in a Wild creates TEKS-aligned programs for Texas schools, using hands-on animal interactions to teach students about science, conservation, and responsible pet ownership.
   • Kids are inspired to study biology and STEM subjects, meeting animals like the endangered axolotl, which they may recognize from popular video games like Minecraft.
3. Positive Impact Beyond Education
   • Through animal therapy, Once in a Wild provides healing and joy in hospitals and senior homes, where animal interactions can stimulate profound emotional responses, especially in children with disabilities.
   • Rikky discusses the therapeutic benefits of animals, emphasizing how animal interactions can improve motor skills, reduce anxiety, and promote calmness.
4. Building a Brand with Purpose
   • Rikky, with a background in creative direction, shares how he developed a brand that reflects the culture of San Antonio—a celebration of life rather than a safari-themed concept.
   • The brand design focuses on vibrant colors and joy, moving away from traditional “zoo” aesthetics to capture the essence of San Antonio’s unique spirit.
5. Animal Welfare and Responsible Ownership
   • Once in a Wild educates the public about responsible pet ownership, including the importance of proper training and appropriate pet care.
   • Rikky explains how minor actions, like spaying and neutering pets or understanding an animal’s needs, can help reduce San Antonio’s high euthanasia rates and improve animal welfare.
6. Business Model Insights
   • Rikky and his team have opted to keep Once in a Wild a for-profit entity rather than a nonprofit, allowing for greater flexibility in operations while maintaining a focus on education.
   • He shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: focus on capital management, embrace mentorship, and join accelerators like Goldman Sachs’ small business program, which has been pivotal for their growth

Introduction:

 In this episode of The Boost, Leon sits down with Marco, a participant in the "Pitch It to Win It" competition at San Antonio Startup Week. Marco shares his concept for a mindset-tracking app, aimed at helping users improve emotional awareness and decision-making. Inspired by his journey as a parent and his professional background in IT, Marco's app idea offers real-time emotional check-ins that help users connect their emotional state with their actions, reflecting on how feelings impact daily choices.

Hosts: 

Pablo Calvo:  Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin &  X

Guest:

Marco Antonio Cervantes 

Find Us: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm


Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction to Marco’s Concept:
   • Marco shares his idea for an app designed to track, analyze, and reflect on users' emotions to help them make better decisions and improve mental well-being. By simulating daily scenarios and linking emotions to decisions, the app provides insight into behavioral patterns without giving specific advice—allowing users to self-reflect.
2. Origins of the Idea: 
   • Marco discusses the inspiration behind the app, including his experiences in parenting, psychology, and managing work relationships. His goal is to create a tool that could be beneficial not only for individuals but also for therapists, coaches, and even businesses.
3. Navigating Emotional Complexity: 
   • Emphasizing that people experience more than one emotion at a time, Marco explains how the app could allow users to select and analyze multiple emotions for a comprehensive view of their mental state. The idea draws on principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and emotional intelligence frameworks.
4. Potential for Broader Impact: 
   • Leon and Marco discuss potential applications, from individual self-reflection to a B2B model where companies could integrate the tool for employee mental health tracking. The conversation touches on challenges and ideas for monetization, such as a freemium model and potential HIPAA considerations.
5. Building the Foundation: 
   • Marco is just getting started, but he's excited about the learning process. Leon offers insights on using San Antonio’s tech community resources to build a prototype, collect feedback, and potentially scale the concept.
6. San Antonio Startup Week Experience: 
   • Marco reflects on his experiences at Startup Week, attending insightful sessions, networking, and being inspired by other Latino entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emotional awareness and tracking can be as essential as physical health tracking.
2. The mental health app concept offers a powerful tool for self-reflection, family dynamics, workplace morale, and professional therapy support.
3. San Antonio’s startup scene is a thriving community where innovative ideas can take root and grow.

Summary:

In this episode, Marco dives deep into his vision of an app that captures and analyzes emotions to improve decision-making, both at work and in personal life. Inspired by his journey as a parent and his studies in psychology, Marco aims to build a tool that enhances emotional awareness

Introduction:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Boost Podcast! This week, we're thrilled to host a live discussion featuring key voices in San Antonio’s tech and entrepreneurial scene. Special thanks to our sponsor Geekdom and to everyone in the San Antonio startup ecosystem for their incredible support. Join Leon and Pablo are joined with two special guests as they dive deep into what makes San Antonio a unique and promising space for tech startups and entrepreneurs. 

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Lawrence Coffee: LinkedIn
• Zac Brown: LinkedIn

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key topics:

1. Community’s Role in Startups:
   • The group discusses the importance of community involvement, mentorship, and the collaborative spirit that make San Antonio stand out as a supportive city for startups.
2. Unique Challenges and Opportunities:
   • With its lower cost of living and community-driven programs, San Antonio is positioned uniquely among larger tech hubs like Austin and San Francisco. Zach shares insights on why he chose San Antonio as his startup’s base after moving from Phoenix.
3. Resilient Entrepreneurship:
   • Honesty about the entrepreneurial journey is vital, from celebrating small wins, like the first 33 cents earned by Nonprofits HQ, to sharing personal challenges.
4. The Importance of Free Resources:
   • San Antonio’s startup ecosystem is rich with free resources like those provided by Geekdom, Launch SA, and Tech Block, which help founders focus on growth without the upfront costs of other markets.

Episode Highlights:

1. Community and Mentorship: 
   • Hear how community leaders mentor new founders and foster a give-and-take culture that encourages everyone to contribute to the city’s growth.
2. Building San Antonio’s Startup Identity:
   • The panel shares how creating San Antonio-specific solutions is better than imitating larger markets, with programs like SA Startup Week, Venture Lab, and Geekdom as prime examples.
3. Entrepreneurship Challenges and Realities:
   • An open conversation on the harsh realities of entrepreneurship, from overcoming financial stress to the relentless pursuit of revenue.
4. Building a Supportive Ecosystem:
   • From creating supportive networks to organizing events, the panelists discuss ways San Antonio could foster future founders and business growth sustainably.

Conclusion:

San Antonio is on the rise as a tech hub, but it’s the people—the mentors, founders, and community members—who make it truly unique. This episode captures the spirit of this city’s collaborative journey towards a thriving startup ecosystem.

Introduction:

Join hosts Pablo and Leon as they sit down with Llyas Salahud-Din, founder of GrantApply, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week. In this episode, Elias shares his inspiring story from being a foster child to building a successful tech startup that empowers nonprofits. Recently crowned the winner of the $20,000 Geekdom pre-accelerator competition, Elias dives into the challenges of developing GrantApply, a software designed to streamline the grant-writing process for nonprofits, helping them secure funding more efficiently.

Hosts: 

Pablo Calvo:  Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin &  X: 

Guest:

Llyas Salahud-Din: LinkedIn
GrantAppli: Website

Find Us: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm


Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction to Grant Apply: 
   • Llyas describes how Grant Apply reduces the time needed for nonprofits to complete grant applications, allowing them to focus more on their core missions. With over 1.8 million nonprofits in the U.S. and thousands in San Antonio alone, this software meets a vital need by simplifying and enhancing the grant-writing process.
2. The Path to Startup Success: 
   • From a challenging start as a foster child to raising over $50 million in funds for nonprofits, Llyas explains how his experiences fueled his vision for Grant Apply. He discusses the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, including a challenging search for the right technical partner.
3. Personal Challenges and Resilience: 
   • Llyas opens up about the personal trials he faced while building Grant Apply, including the loss of his child during the startup process. Through it all, he remained committed to his vision, using resilience as a guiding force to overcome setbacks.
4. Growth and Impact Goals: 
   • With a recent cash prize win, Llyas is ready to scale Grant Apply by adding new features, investing in marketing, and expanding partnerships to ensure even greater impact for nonprofits.
5. Future Vision: 
   • Llyas dreams of expanding Grant Apply’s capabilities to support grant writing for federal and state grants, potentially moving into for-profit sectors where businesses also apply for grants.

Key Takeaways:

1. Building Strong Partnerships: 
   • Llyas shares how he overcame technical challenges by finding the right engineering partner. His story highlights the importance of teamwork and complementary skills in the startup journey.
2. Personal Branding & Storytelling: 
   • Pablo and Leon encourage Llyas to build a personal brand around his story, inspiring other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those interested in nonprofits and tech.
3. Commitment to Community Impact: 
   • Llyas talks passionately about giving back to San Antonio and supporting nonprofits on a budget, demonstrating how mission-driven technology can create real change.

Summary:

Llyas Salahud-Din takes listeners on a heartfelt journey through his personal and professional life. He discusses how his background in the nonprofit sector fueled his desire to support organizations in maximizing their impact, which led to the creation of Grant Apply. 

Introduction:

In this exciting episode of “The Boost Podcast”, hosts Leon and Pablo sit down with  Nick Honegger , Director of Marketing and Sales at Geekdom, to recap San Antonio Startup Week. The conversation covers highlights, takeaways, and the unique startup culture in San Antonio.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Nick Honegger: LinkedIn

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Episode Highlights:

1. San Antonio Startup Week: 
   • Nick shares insights into San Antonio Startup Week’s explosive success, breaking attendance records and emphasizing the potential of San Antonio as a startup hub. The event focused on community, investment, and support for local entrepreneurs.
2. "Invest in San Antonio" Theme
   • With a spotlight on funding opportunities within the city, the event encouraged entrepreneurs to consider San Antonio as a viable location for business growth. Key events included themes like diversity, Latinx, and innovation.
3. Pitch It to Win It: 
   • A new initiative where daily winners were awarded $1,000 for their best elevator pitches. The winning pitches were selected through audience engagement and finalized by a panel of judges. This fun competition helped promote community support for local businesses.
4. Funding Opportunities and the "Valley of Death”
   • Nick discusses a common hurdle for startups known as the "Valley of Death"—the challenging period between early-stage funding and larger investment rounds. San Antonio is working to address this gap, especially for startups needing mid-range funding.
5. The Importance of Community and Mentorship:
   • Throughout the episode, Nick underscores the importance of community connections and Geekdom’s support network, which helps founders navigate the unique challenges of entrepreneurship. Geekdom mentors provide startups with valuable resources, advice, and networking opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Diverse Startup Community: 
   • Geekdom’s emphasis on inclusivity brought together startups from Latin America, women-led ventures, and tech innovators, among others.
2. Valuable Connections: 
   • Events throughout the week connected founders with local mentors, industry players like H-E-B, and a supportive community willing to share insights and resources.
3. Investment Growth: 
   • With almost $200,000 in funding distributed during the week, the event highlighted San Antonio as an emerging hub for startup investment.

Summary:

In this special episode, hosts Leon and Pablo welcome  Nick Honegger , Director of Marketing at Geekdom, to discuss San Antonio Startup Week. Nick shares key insights from this exciting week filled with innovative pitches, networking events, and resources designed to empower local entrepreneurs. The conversation covers community highlights, successful pitches, and Geekdom’s ongoing efforts to drive investment in the San Antonio startup scene.

Introduction: 

Welcome to The Boost, hosted by Leon and Pablo, where we spotlight dynamic businesses and entrepreneurs in San Antonio. In this episode, we're thrilled to have Jay Rebaldo back for a second time! Jay, a successful realtor and entrepreneur, was previously featured in one of our most popular episodes. Today, we dive deep into the shifting real estate landscape, explore the new rules impacting real estate agents, and talk about Jay's inspiring entrepreneurial journey.

Hosts: 

Pablo Calvo:  LinkedIn

Leon Hitchens:  LinkedIn & X

Guest:

Jay Rebaldo: Facebook

Find Us: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key Topics Covered:

National Association of Realtors (NAR) Rule Changes:

• Jay explains the August 2024 changes, which impact how real estate agents and buyers negotiate agent compensation. Previously, agents were compensated by the seller, but now compensation must be negotiated directly between the buyer and the buyer’s agent. Jay shares how this shift brings greater transparency and accountability to the real estate market.

San Antonio Real Estate Trends:

• Jay dives into current market data, including the average days a home stays on the market (65 days), negotiation trends, and how sellers are adjusting list prices to keep their homes competitive. He also touches on how the market has evolved since the pandemic boom of 2021-2022.

Impact of Interest Rates on Buyer Behavior:

• With recent interest rate cuts, Jay breaks down how these changes are slowly increasing market activity and affecting both buyers and sellers. He provides insights on how interest rate trends could shape the market in the coming months.

The Economics of Home Buying:

• Jay shares the ripple effect that home purchases have on the economy, from home furnishings to car sales, explaining how a strong real estate market contributes to overall economic growth in San Antonio.

Jay’s Personal Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurial Success:

• Jay shares his transition from the corporate world to real estate, attributing his success to strong faith, family values, and dedication to doing the hard work behind the scenes. His story is a testament to how staying focused on your "why" can lead to success even during challenging times.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

• For those looking to take the leap into entrepreneurship, Jay offers invaluable advice: leave your ego behind, focus on serving others, and don’t be afraid of hard work. He stresses that success comes from staying authentic and true to your values.

Summary: 

In this insightful episode, Jay Rebaldo, a realtor with a year and a half of experience in the San Antonio market, discusses the recent changes to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) rules, how interest rates are influencing buyer and seller behaviors, and how the market is transitioning from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. Jay also shares his personal story of leaving the corporate world to start his own business, reflecting on the importance of balancing faith, family, and business.

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost, host Leon Hitchens sits down with Melissa Martini, the CEO and co-founder of Waste Away, an on-demand trash service based in San Antonio. Melissa shares how her company is revolutionizing waste disposal by providing an Uber-like service for trash pickup while creating job opportunities for local residents. They also dive into Melissa’s entrepreneurial journey, how her background in education and ministry informs her leadership style, and how the Geekdom community helped her build a successful business from the ground up.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Melissa Martini: Linkedin 
• Waste Away: https://www.wasteawaytx.com/ 

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key Discussion Points:

1. Introduction to Waste Away: 
   • Melissa explains the concept behind her company, which provides an on-demand trash pickup service using contracted drivers—essentially a "DoorDash for trash."
2. How the Idea Came About:
   • Melissa talks about the initial inspiration for Waste Away, co-founded with Cedric, and how they identified gaps in the trash and bulk pickup services offered by the city of San Antonio.
3. Challenges in the Trash Industry: 
   • Discussion on the oversaturated junk removal market, the limitations of existing trash services, and how Waste Away is filling the void by providing an accessible, on-demand solution.
4. Collaborations with the City: 
   • Melissa shares her experience working with the city of San Antonio, including meetings with the Solid Waste Management team and Reworks SA, who are exploring opportunities for bulk pickups and recycling services.
5. The Transition from B2C to B2B:
   • As Waste Away evolved, Melissa discovered new opportunities in the B2B space, particularly with small and medium-sized businesses struggling to manage recycling costs.
6. The Entrepreneurial Journey:
   • Melissa reflects on her transition from an elementary school PE teacher to entrepreneur, balancing business, education, and family, all while pursuing a doctoral degree.
7. The Importance of Community:
   • Melissa credits Geekdom's incubator program and the support from fellow entrepreneurs for Waste Away's early success, emphasizing how critical it is to have a strong network when starting a business.

Conclusion:

Melissa’s story of resilience, community support, and innovation is an inspiring reminder that entrepreneurship is more about the journey than the destination. Waste Away is not only solving an everyday problem but also creating positive change in the community. Melissa’s insights on balancing life’s many demands while growing a business are valuable lessons for all aspiring founders.

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost, Leon and Pablo dive deep into the ongoing drama within the WordPress community surrounding Matt Mullenweg, WP Engine, and the effects of private equity on open-source software. The controversy kicked off from some cryptic tweets by Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress, and escalated during his keynote at WordCamp, where he called WP Engine the "cancer of WordPress." The discussion spans the larger issues of open-source sustainability, private equity's impact on software development, and the future of WordPress itself.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key Points:

1. Matt Mullenweg’s Criticism of WP Engine and Private Equity:
   • Matt Mullenweg criticized WP Engine and private equity firms for undermining open-source projects, claiming they destroy the open-source spirit by prioritizing profits over community contributions.
2. WP Engine’s Response:
   • WP Engine denied these claims, emphasizing their role in supporting the WordPress community. However, tensions escalated, leading to WP Engine being cut off from the WordPress plugin repository, which prevents their customers from easily updating plugins.
3. Private Equity in WordPress:
   • The discussion broadened to the role of private equity in the WordPress ecosystem, drawing comparisons to the decline of other open-source projects when private equity took control. The concern is that WP Engine’s private equity backing could lead to the deterioration of the open-source community.
4. The Business Impact of WordPress on Small Businesses:
   • Pablo highlighted how WordPress has been crucial in helping small businesses thrive by providing a low-cost, open-source solution. He emphasized that WP Engine’s premium services, although costly, have benefited businesses by offering fast speeds and reliable support.
5. Potential Forking of WordPress:
   • A key concern discussed was the possibility of WP Engine forking WordPress (creating a separate version of the software). This could lead to a fragmented ecosystem, which might harm the open-source community and the long-standing collaborative nature of WordPress development.
6. Community Reaction:
   • The hosts expressed surprise at the WordPress community’s mixed response, with many not fully supporting Matt Mullenweg’s stance. The episode also touched on how WP Engine and other hosts have integrated themselves into the WordPress ecosystem, blurring the lines between what’s part of WordPress and what’s an external service.

Conclusions:

1. Open Source Sustainability:
   • The debate between profit-driven companies and open-source projects is ongoing. The hosts speculate that more legal battles are inevitable as Automattic (Matt Mullenweg’s company) tries to protect the integrity of WordPress from private equity-driven influences.
2. Business Impact on WP Engine Users:
   • WP Engine users may face disruptions, especially regarding plugin updates, but agencies and developers are already preparing to adapt by moving to alternative hosting solutions.
3. Future of WordPress:
   • The podcast concludes with a reflection on WordPress's future. Despite the drama, Leon and Pablo believe that Matt Mullenweg’s intentions are to pro

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost, hosts Leon and Pablo discuss the upcoming Geekdom Startup Week, which takes place October 14th to 18th. The focus is on near shoring, outsourcing, and business growth strategies. They explore the evolution of Near Shoring, its benefits, and the common challenges businesses face when managing international teams, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia. With over 20 years of experience in the field, the hosts share valuable lessons on managing remote teams, cultural considerations, and building efficient processes. 

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key Topics Discussed:

1. What is Near Shoring?
   • A detailed explanation of near shoring vs. offshoring, focusing on proximity and time zone alignment, especially for companies in regions like Texas.
2. Challenges of International Outsourcing:
   • Key difficulties of managing remote teams in different time zones, such as stress on resources, sickness, infrastructure issues, and cultural differences.
3. Importance of SOPs and Training:
   • Building and following SOPs and providing thorough training are essential for the success of international teams.
4. Latin America vs. Southeast Asia for Outsourcing:
   • A comparison of the pros and cons of hiring in Latin America and Southeast Asia, focusing on language, cultural differences, and infrastructure stability.
5. Outsourcing for Small Businesses:
   • Leon and Pablo emphasize that even small businesses, like dog walkers or solo entrepreneurs, can benefit from outsourcing with the right support and partners.

Conclusions:

This episode highlights the growing relevance of near shoring as more businesses look for ways to expand efficiently while minimizing risks associated with offshoring. Pablo’s decades of experience provide valuable lessons on navigating international hiring and the importance of adapting processes to meet local challenges. The podcast concludes by emphasizing that with the right partners and systems in place, companies of any size can benefit from outsourcing, streamlining operations, and boosting productivity.

Introduction: 

Join us on this exciting episode of "The Boost" as host Leon Hitchens sits down with Laura Ruiz-Roehrs, founder of Code Flight and the personal brand Suitcase Coder. Laura shares her transformative journey from being a personal assistant to becoming a successful coder and entrepreneur. Dive into the challenges and triumphs of switching careers, learning to code, and the creation of her startup, Code Flight.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Laura Ruiz-Roehrs : LinkedIn & Code Flight

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm 

Key Takeaways:

1. Laura’s Origin Story:
   • How she transitioned from an unfulfilling job as a personal assistant to a thriving career in coding.
   • The role of coding bootcamps in her journey and the sacrifices she made, including moving back in with her parents and emptying her savings.
2. The Concept of Code Flight:
   • The creation of Code Flight, a personalized learn-to-code platform that helps users identify their unique coding path.
   • The importance of tailoring coding education to individual goals and preferences.
3. The Importance of Self-Guided Learning:
   • Why Laura chose to make Code Flight self-guided, emphasizing flexibility, accessibility, and fostering genuine interest in coding.
4. Gamification and Future Plans:
   • Upcoming features for Code Flight, including plans to gamify the learning experience to make it more engaging and enjoyable.
5. Advice for Aspiring Coders:
   • Understanding your “why” before diving into coding.
   • Finding a supportive community and staying consistent in your learning journey.
   • Overcoming the misconception that it’s too late to start learning to code or change careers.

Conclusion:

Laura’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, curiosity, and the importance of aligning your career with your personal goals. Whether you're looking to make a career switch or just curious about coding, this episode provides valuable insights and inspiration. Tune in, take the Code Flight discovery quiz, and start your coding journey today!