Summary

In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson have a conversation with the co-founder of Deep Wealth, Jeffrey Feldberg. Jeffrey’s journey began in a modest attic with a small e-learning startup in 1996 and has evolved into a masterclass in business exits.

Despite facing initial challenges, Jeffrey's company gained remarkable traction, leading to a substantial seven-figure buyout offer from a Fortune 10 company. Unyielding in his vision, Jeffrey declined the offer, choosing instead to immerse himself in the intricacies of business exits. Within a mere twenty-four months, his perseverance paid off, as he successfully orchestrated a nine-figure deal for his company.

Deep Wealth was born from this success. Jeffrey realized that exiting a business requires a unique set of skills distinct from those needed to grow or start one. His frustration with costly, inexperienced advisors propelled him to refine his strategies and develop an industry-agnostic, nine-step system for business exits. This framework is designed to guide entrepreneurs through the complex exit process, catering to diverse industries and age groups.

Beyond financial gain, Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of rewarding key team members and fostering a culture of gratitude and generosity within organizations. His belief in the transformative potential of successful business exits extends to broader societal impacts; he envisions a "virtuous cycle" where the wealth generated from exits is reinvested into the community, sparking further innovation and economic growth.

Deep Wealth stands as a beacon for entrepreneurs seeking to navigate their exits strategically and successfully. With Jeffrey Feldberg’s expert guidance, entrepreneurs can not only achieve their financial goals but also contribute to the enrichment of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:08) About Deep Wealth

(10:17) Advice on Receiving All Stock Offers

(13:33) Diving Into Deep Wealth’s Nine-Step System

(22:51) How Entrepreneurs Help Solve Problems

(29:42) Advice to Younger Self

(32:17) Closing Question

Links

Jeff Amerine

Caleb Talley

Harrison Kitson

Startup Junkie

Startup Junkie YouTube

Jeffrey Feldberg

Deep Wealth

Summary

In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Bryan Fittin, founder and CEO of Go Rogue Studio, to explore the story of his transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship.

Initiating his career within the corporate confines of Walmart’s vendor community, Bryan always harbored a passion for content creation. This passion ultimately gave birth to Go Rogue, a podcast dedicated to entrepreneurs transitioning from corporate settings. But his ambitions didn't stop there; inspired by Jeff Amerine's sage advice on product-market fit, Bryan courageously ventured into the entrepreneurial realm, launching Go Rogue Studios in 2019.

The pandemic turned out to be a pivotal moment for Bryan's video marketing business. As remote content production surged in demand, Go Rogue Studio, already adept at video podcasting, found itself ahead of the curve. Through Go Rogue Studio, Bryan and his team offer comprehensive content creation services, from video production to thought leadership, focusing on simplifying the process and enabling businesses to connect authentically with their audiences.

In this episode, Bryan emphasizes the importance of genuine human connection through content, the value of an abundance mindset in entrepreneurship, and overcoming personal barriers to success. Tune in to learn from Bryan’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey and discover actionable insights for your own business endeavors!

Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) Bryan’s Backstory

(08:20) About Go Rogue and Its Services

(11:00) Strategies for Being on Camera

(14:45) What Inspired Bryan’s Marketing Workshops

(19:57) Renting Go Rogue’s Studio

(23:11) Advice to Younger Self

(25:15) Closing Question

Links

Jeff Amerine

Daniel Koonce

Harrison Kitson

Startup Junkie

Startup Junkie YouTube

Bryan Fittin

Go Rogue Studio

Summary

En este episodio, Robert comparte su inspiradora trayectoria marcada por su fe, su familia y su pasión por el emprendimiento. Con una carrera diversa y un profundo compromiso con la comunidad latina, ofrece valiosos consejos sobre liderazgo, tendencias en negocios y lecciones aprendidas trabajando con emprendedores. Una conversación llena de inspiración y estrategias para crecer.

Show Notes

(00:05) Welcome & introduction.

(00:53) Who is Robert McGrew?

(02:14) What inspired you?

(06:39) A change in perspective. 

(08:15) Getting started.

(12:04) Top 40.

(12:55) On my own.

(19:11) Looking ahead.

(22:30) What’s in a name.

(27:24) Biggest challenge.

(31:15) Serving others.

(32:45) Leadership.

(36:40) Lessons learned.

(39:15) Back to the past.

Links

Ignacio Balderrama

Startup Junkie

Kiva Northwest Arkansas

Robert McGrew

McGrew Solutions Inc.

Summary

In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson are joined by co-founders, Joshua Hedeby and Moner Attwa, of Opportunity Hound by GovBidAI where Joshua serves as the CFO and Moner is the CEO. GovBidAI is an innovative platform designed to streamline the complex landscape of government contracts for small to mid-sized businesses and is revolutionizing the way these companies navigate the government sector.

GovBidAI’s mission is to demystify government contracts and make it easier for smaller businesses to access a market where thirty percent of federal spending is allocated to them. Joshua and Moner share their professional backgrounds in public accounting and finance, leading to their passion for supporting smaller enterprises in the government contracting space.

Additionally, GovBidAI provides a suite of tools, including the aptly named "AP Deep Dive" report and a proprietary search function that delves into government contract solicitations down to the document level. This innovation helps businesses quickly discern whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, saving time and valuable resources.

Throughout the episode, the conversation highlights the affordability of GovBidAI's services and the company’s future plans. It even teases upcoming features and vertical expansions, aimed at further simplifying government contracting. Listen today!

Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:46) GovBidAI’s Elevator Pitch

(02:53) Joshua’s and Moner’s Roles and Backgrounds

(06:19) The Problem GovBidAI is Solving

(13:42) GovBidAI’s Pricing Tiers

(19:35) How GovBidAI is Staying Above the Curve

(21:58) Advice to Younger Selves

(24:52) Closing Question

Links

Jeff Amerine

Daniel Koonce

Harrison Kitson

Startup Junkie

Startup Junkie YouTube

Joshua Hedeby

Moner Attwa

Opportunity Hound by GovBidAI

Summary

In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Nathan Rosenberg, founder and CEO of Farmblox. Founded from Nathan's dual expertise in farming and robotics, Farmblox is pioneering automation solutions designed specifically for the agricultural sector. Initially conceptualized as a project to grow crops inside forty-foot shipping containers, Farmblox has since pivoted to enhance and support existing farms. Today, it’s involved with over seventy farms across the U.S., focused on specialty crops like maple syrup farms, vineyards, and orchards.

Nathan explains that Farmblox operates akin to "Zapier for physical stuff on farms," enabling farmers to automate processes such as irrigation based on soil moisture and weather data. Through its innovative platform, Farmblox connects various sensors and devices, providing real-time data and alerts that can be monitored and managed from a farmer’s smartphone. This effectively saves farmers up to seventy-five percent of their time—a precious commodity in the world of agriculture.

The conversation also touched on the challenges and skepticism farmers face when adopting new technologies, with Nathan emphasizing the importance of demonstrating tangible benefits and simplifying technological integrations to meet farmers' unique needs without disrupting their traditional practices. Nathan's vision for Farmblox extends to reducing water usage by fifty percent in some of the most water-intensive agricultural areas in the U.S., and eventually expanding into European markets. The episode closes with Nathan sharing his entrepreneurial journey and the importance of timely investment and growth decisions. Tune in today!

Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) Nathan’s Backstory

(03:46) About Farmblox and Its Solutions

(05:40) The Gap Between Entrepreneurship and Farming

(07:01) Convincing Farmers to Utilize Automation

(9:31) Farmblox’s Strategy for Agriculture in the South

(13:38) Farmblox’s Future Plans

(16:23) What Winning Looks Like to Farmblox

(18:01) Farmblox’s Ideal Customer

(18:48) Farmblox’s Partnerships

(22:06) Foreseeing the Next Leap in Farming Technology

(23:25) Advice to Younger Self

(24:54) Closing Question

Links

Caleb Talley

Daniel Koonce

Harrison Kitson

Startup Junkie

Nathan Rosenberg

Farmblox

Summary:

Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!

On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and previous Startup Junkie Michael Iseman sit down with Philip Mudd, a former CNN correspondent and counterterrorism analyst. During Philip’s extensive and accomplished career, he was a valuable asset to the FBI, CIA, and the American nation as a whole and received numerous CIA awards for his expertise and diligence. Philip is also the author of three distinguished publications and is a member of multiple prestigious associations. Throughout this episode, Philip shares insight on how to present information to your boss (in his case, President George W. Bush), how to successfully navigate chaos, and why you need to have a “call mom” sentence for any project. 

Show Notes:

(1:03) Introduction to Philip

(1:58) From English Major to Senior Executive

(4:29) Leadership Basics

(8:34) Decision Advantage

(16:08) Addressing Vulnerabilities

(19:00) Navigating Crises

(28:00) Taking Responsibility When Things Go Wrong

(31:12) Hiring People More Experienced than You

(39:24) Voicing your Opinion to a Worldwide Audience

(44:44) Protecting Data

(48:51) Cyberattacks during Times of War

(55:14) Geopolitical Business Consequences

(1:06:50) Advice to Younger Self

Links:

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Michael Iseman

Philip Mudd

Startup Junkie 

Summary

En este episodio, exploramos el mundo de la consultoría y el outsourcing en Nicaragua a través de Castlewalk, una empresa innovadora fundada en 2021. Nuestros invitados, Allison Lacayo, Ricardo López y María Elena, comparten sus experiencias y desafíos al trabajar con empresas de EE.UU., destacando cómo Castlewalk personaliza sus servicios para adaptarse a cada cliente. Conversamos sobre el impacto de la externalización, las claves para mantener relaciones a largo plazo, y cómo Castlewalk ayuda a sus clientes a optimizar recursos y mejorar la eficiencia operativa.

Show Notes

(00:10) Welcome & introduction.

(00:39) What is Castlewalk?

(05:14) The journey begins.

(07:08) Human resources.

(09:16) Family’s sacrifice.

(13:18) All about the focus.

(16:40) The biggest challenge.

(22:01) Resilience.

(24:22) Never give up.

(29:08) Different entrepreneurship cultures.

(23:04) Networking.

(37:39) Vision for the future.

(40:01) Sound advice.

(41:41) Advice from the past.

Links

Ignacio Balderrama

Startup Junkie

Kiva Northwest Arkansas

Allison Lacayo

Ricardo Lopez

Castlewalk Group

Summary

In this special celebratory installment of Startup Junkies, we sit down for our four hundredth episode! Hosts Jeff Amerine, Jon Cadieux, Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Matthew Ward gather to reminisce about past ventures and share their experiences in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas. The episode marks a significant transition for the podcast, highlighting their first in-person international engagement with a South Korean accelerator cohort.

The discussion delves into the unique entrepreneurial energy in Northwest Arkansas, characterized by frequent networking events and a supportive community. As the hosts collectively reflect on their roles within Startup Junkie, they emphasize the multitasking nature of their small but dynamic team that managed to organize over two hundred events in 2023.

Additionally, several investments are highlighted, including Torch Dental, Privacy Hawk, and Persimmon, showcasing their success due to strategic timing and market needs. The team amusingly touches on controversial entrepreneurial ideas, including one about creating rain using a spray rig that required a wildly fluctuating budget and another about a contentious T-shirt website that attracted Secret Service scrutiny.

Throughout the episode, the team shares lighthearted anecdotes, including a humorous comparison between cryptocurrencies and the US dollar, missed investment opportunities in Tesla and Amazon, and analyzes entrepreneurial education versus real-world experience. Ultimately, the episode celebrates the evolution of both the podcast and the entrepreneurial landscape in Northwest Arkansas, marked by strong community ties, innovative ideas, and collective growth in the startup ecosystem.

Show Notes

(0:00) Introduction

(9:59) Recognizing Missed Opportunities

(12:51) Analyzing Failed Investments

(17:27) Economic Crisis Impacts

(23:34) Driving Global Investments

(32:20) Podcast Experience and Insights

(35:05) Transformative Growth Since 2020

(38:52) Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs

(43:06) Ensuring Ideas Don’t Become Obsolete with Time

(46:10) Closing Statements

Links

Jeff Amerine

Jon Cadieux

Caleb Talley

Daniel Koonce

Matthew Ward

Startup Junkie

Startup Junkie YouTube

NWA Workplaces

Bike Rack Brewing

Summary

In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley are joined by international guests Lena Goo of Maycoders from South Korea and Alex Benamou, a recent addition to the Korean company EMCT. 

First up, we have the inspiring Lena Goo from Maycoders, a K-beauty specialist company that's revolutionizing the beauty industry. Lena takes us on her entrepreneurial journey, starting from her days at Samsung to co-founding Maycoders. She explains how the company connects international clients with Korean manufacturers to source and create high-quality beauty products. Lena sheds light on the unique competitive culture of the Korean skincare industry, emphasizing the importance of innovation, affordability, and quality in staying ahead of the curve.

Our second guest is Alex Benamou from emCT, a startup focused on remote monitoring solutions for control panels. Despite being relatively new to the team and originally hailing from France, Alex has quickly become an integral part of this Korean company. He gives us an insider's look into EMCT's groundbreaking technology that simplifies facility management and tackles the pervasive issue of false alarms. Alex shares his experiences of cultural integration and the exciting journey of working in a startup that bridges global markets.

Throughout this episode, you'll hear how these startups are navigating the complexities of international business, leveraging technology for innovative solutions, and building robust networks across borders. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business professional, or simply someone fascinated by global market dynamics, this episode is brimming with valuable insights and inspiring stories.

Show Notes

[0:00] Introduction - Lena Goo

[02:30] The Company’s Origin Story

[04:05] Lena’s Background

[10:02] Business Culture in South Korea

[11:13] Advice from Lena 

[12:55] Introduction - Alex Benamou

[14:57] Transitioning to Startup Culture

[15:37] About emCT

[20:52] Arkansas Culture

[24:09] Advice to Younger Self

Links

Jeff Amerine

Caleb Talley

Daniel Koonce

Startup Junkie

Startup Junkie YouTube

Maycoders

Lena Goo

emCT Website

Alexandra Benamou Linkedin

En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, conversamos con Paola Lopez, una líder con más de 13 años de experiencia en educación superior, destacada por impulsar Latinx. Paola comparte cómo ha fomentado la colaboración entre estudiantes y desarrollado sus habilidades en gestión de crisis. Además, nos ofrece consejos para emprendedores sobre la importancia de construir conexiones comunitarias y superar desafíos en el camino al éxito. ¡No te pierdas esta charla inspiradora!

Host:

Ignacio Balderrama

Guest(s) Name and Company:

Paola Lopez | Serve2Perform and LatinXNA

Guest & Company Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolaclopez/

https://www.serve2perform.com/

https://www.latinxna.com/

https://www.startupjunkie.org

Show Notes

(00:05) Welcome & introduction.

(00:43) Paola’s story.

(03:18) Two languages.

(06:01) Big project.

(07:10) Finding your voice.

(11:17) Hispanic nuances.

(15:34) Big challenge.

(17:56) The big leap.

(21:36) Community impact.

(25:15) Advice from the past.

Quotes

“Siempre mi mamá era ‘eres puertorriqueña’ - Con eso siempre lleve la cultura a mis clases, a las diferentes ferias... Cada verano desde kínder hasta casi terminando mi escuela superior los pase en Puerto Rico.” -Paola Lopez (01:25)

“Aprendí inglés watching Sesame Street y Garfield, así aprendí inglés... La educación de los 90’s.” -Paola Lopez (01:52)

“El proyecto que fue un logro fue ese desarrollo y ese trabajo en la Universidad de Oklahoma por que fue teniendo la visión siendo una profesional bien joven, teniendo esa visión de decir ‘vamos a hacer lo que necesitamos que hacer no importa las barreras, las puertas que casi abren o casi están cerradas’ y persistiendo.” -Paola Lopez (06:01)

“Para un profesional joven es difícil encontrar tu voz y usar tu voz.” -Paola Lopez (07:10)

“Mi estudio son en servicios humanos, una combinación de psicología y psicología industrial y organizaciones.” -Paola Lopez (08:14)

“La belleza de ser latino es el matizado de ser latino.” -Paola Lopez (11:16)

“De brincar de educación alta hasta emprendedor y un startup, una comunidad diferente, he aprendido mucho en los últimos dos años.” -Paola Lopez (17:56)

“Usa tus librerías públicas, conéctate con la comunidad, yo sé que es difícil y que hay mucho miedo, pero hay gente que te quieren ayudar y te quieren apoyar, y específicamente en Northwest Arkansas, yo nunca he vivido en un área que tiene tanto y tantos resources para la comunidad y para seguir adelanta… No pierdas la visión, no pierdas la confianza, sigue adelante.” -Paola Lopez (22:01)

“Para la comunidad latina, como mi mamá dijo ‘eres puertorriqueña’, vallas a la escuela con ese orgullo, sea latino, tenga ese orgullo, no importa si sabes el lenguaje o no, eres latino, nadie te puede robar de eso y aquí estas por un propósito.” -Paola Lopez (24:37)