The StartupSac Podcast

In this episode of The StartupSac Podcast, host Josh David Miller, aka JDM sits down with Mitchell Arredondo, the COO and co-founder of Edge, to talk about transforming franchise businesses through employee-driven growth.

Mitchell shares the journey of Edge, from its early days as a Google Form MVP to becoming a B2B SaaS platformserving 5,000 retail locations with 130,000 employees and generating $11 million in ARR. He dives into the challenges of scaling a tech-driven business, the importance of hiring subject-matter experts, and how incentivizing frontline employees can drive key business initiatives.

This conversation explores the future of workforce engagement, the role of automation in improving customer experience, and what it takes to scale a high-growth SaaS startup. Plus, hear how Mitchell and his team navigated funding, expansion, and the transition from startup to growth stage.

📌 Want to connect with Mitchell and Edge?

🌐 Website: StartEdge.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Edge LinkedIn

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Join host Josh David Miller (JDM) as he sits down with Marc Krichman, CEO and co-founder of 811Spotter, a construction technology startup based in Sacramento, CA. Marc shares how 811Spotter is revolutionizing construction safety and efficiency by tackling one of the industry's thorniest compliance challenges: 811 tickets---the legally required documentation for digging projects.

🔹 Key Takeaways

• How to validate a startup idea through real-world pain points and strong customer reactions.
• Why “archaic”, overlooked industries can be goldmines for innovation.
• The importance of transitioning from founder-led to scalable operations.
• How local startup communities can accelerate growth---even in industries that serve a national market.

🎧 Listen now to hear Marc's insights and lessons from scaling 811Spotter!

🚀 Want to follow Marc and 811Spotter?

• Website: 811Spotter.com
• LinkedIn: Marc Krichman

For more insights into Sacramento's startup ecosystem, visit StartupSac.com.

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In this episode of The StartupSac Podcast, host Josh David Miller (JDM) sits down with Reneta Jenik, the founder and CEO of Foodom, to talk about revolutionizing home-cooked meals through an innovative personal chef marketplace.

Reneta shares her journey from a corporate executive at Intel to launching Foodom, a platform connecting families with local chefs for affordable, home-cooked meals tailored to their dietary needs. She dives into the challenges of scaling a tech-driven marketplace, securing Medicaid and HSA/FSA approvals for "food as medicine," and how Foodom is addressing chronic health conditions through medically tailored meals.

This conversation explores the future of personalized nutrition, the role of technology in transforming the food industry, and what it takes to build a successful two-sided marketplace. Plus, hear how Reneta navigated investor skepticism, viral social media moments, and the unexpected realities of working with chefs in customers' homes.

📌 Want to connect with Reneta and Foodom?

•  🌐 Website: myfoodom.com
• 🔗 LinkedIn: Reneta Jenik
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For more information and insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, be sure to visit startupsac.com.

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Join host Josh David Miller (JDM) as he sits down with Brad Niles, Co-founder and CEO of ARIZ Precision Medicine, a biotech company developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based treatments to target the genetic drivers of cancer.

Brad shares how his personal experiences with cancer inspired him to innovate new therapies, leading to the launch of ARIZ. They explore the journey of taking a deep-tech startup from idea to clinical trials, the capital-intensive nature of biotech, and how precision medicine is changing the future of oncology.

They also discuss:

• 🔬 How RNA interference (RNAi) technology is transforming cancer treatment
• 💡 The challenges of drug discovery and bringing a therapy from preclinical research to human trials
• 💰 The funding strategies for deep-tech startups, including raising a Series A and securing partnerships
• 🤝 The role of big pharma collaborations in advancing novel cancer therapies
• 🎯 Why targeting the genetic drivers of cancer instead of organ-specific tumors could be a game-changer

For anyone interested in biotech startups, precision medicine, or the future of cancer treatment, this episode is a must-listen!

• 🌐 ARIZBio.com \ 🔗 LinkedIn - ARIZ Precision Medicine \ 🔗 LinkedIn - Brad Niles
• 
  

For more information and insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, be sure to visit StartupSac.com.

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In this episode, Josh David Miller (JDM) sits down with Manvir Sandhu, founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Zennify. Discover how this Sacramento-based consulting firm is leveraging AI, enterprise data, and CRM to revolutionize industries like financial services, healthcare, and energy.

Manvir shares the inspiring story of Zennify's founding, born out of a humanitarian project in Haiti, and its evolution into a leader in tech consulting for regulated industries. Tune in to hear about the challenges and opportunities of adopting AI, the critical role of executive buy-in, and predictions for the future of enterprise data solutions.

• How Zennify originated as a nonprofit initiative to address vaccine spoilage in Haiti.
• The role of AI in making enterprise data actionable for decision-makers.
• Why executive sponsorship is essential for successful tech transformations.
• Challenges of cloud migration in regulated industries.
• Predictions for AI adoption and enterprise innovation in 2025.

• Zennify.com

• For more insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, visit StartupSac.

1. Never miss an episode to help us grow. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

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In this episode of the StartupSac Podcast, host Josh David Miller, (aka JDM), sits down with Lisa Watts, CEO of CREE8, to explore how her company is transforming cloud-based media workflows for creative teams around the globe. Lisa shares how CREE8 simplifies the complex infrastructure challenges faced by remote media teams, making high-speed collaboration effortless. From film and television production to live sports broadcasting, learn how CREE8 is empowering creatives to collaborate seamlessly without technical barriers.

Highlights:

• How CREE8 simplifies cloud-based workflows for global creative teams.
• The technical challenges of managing massive media files remotely.
• Real-world scenarios: Live sports broadcasting, post-production, and more.
• The benefits of working with a venture studio for startup success.
• Insights on solving genuine pain points versus selling "vitamin" solutions.

For more information and insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, be sure to visit startupsac.com.

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In this episode, our host Josh David Miller (aka JDM) sits down with Scott Holman, a former firefighter, paramedic, and Marine Corps veteran turned entrepreneur. Scott shares how his experiences in public service inspired him to create Red Line Safety, a company developing cutting-edge wearable technology designed to keep firefighters safe in the field.

Scott explains how Red Line Safety's devices monitor location, environmental conditions, toxic gas exposure, and vital signs in real-time. This data enhances situational awareness for incident commanders and helps reduce risks for firefighters during dangerous operations​.

Key Highlights:

• Origin Story: How witnessing colleagues' injuries and fatalities motivated Scott to develop Red Line Safety​.
• Technology Overview: Insights into Red Line's advanced wearable device and real-time dashboard for incident management​.
• Data Innovation: How biometrics and environmental data can help prevent firefighter injuries and fatalities​.
• Challenges of Hardware: The tough road of developing, testing, and scaling hardware solutions​.
• Success Stories: A powerful account of how Red Line's tech potentially saved a young firefighter's life during beta testing​.

Resources and Links:

• Visit Red Line Safety to learn more about their mission and technology.
• Follow Scott Holman on LinkedIn.
• Support Red Line Safety through their Wefunder campaign.
• For more entrepreneurship insights in Sacramento, visit StartupSac.

🎧 Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review. Your support helps us share more inspiring stories from the startup community!

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In this episode of the StartupSac Podcast, Josh David Miller (aka JDM) sits down with Derek Chase, founder and CEO of OnSight, to explore the fascinating world of robotics and renewable energy. Derek shares his journey from running a large solar maintenance company to founding a groundbreaking robotics startup, revolutionizing how solar farms are maintained. Discover how OnSight leverages cutting-edge robotics and AI to solve critical problems in the solar industry while creating significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Derek discusses the origins of OnSight, the challenges of building deep-tech startups, and the role of competitive drive in entrepreneurship. From navigating the complexities of autonomous navigation to the development of the Owlcam, a revolutionary outdoor fire and smoke detection system, this conversation is packed with insights into innovation, persistence, and the future of renewable energy technology.

Key highlights include:

• The transition from solar maintenance to robotics innovation.
• OnSight's "robot-as-a-service" model, delivering 3X cost savings compared to traditional methods.
• How Derek built a high-performing team, including PhD engineers from NASA.
• The impact of market timing and technological advances on OnSight’s success.
• Exciting future possibilities for computer vision and data-driven improvements in solar technology.

Derek also shares invaluable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of market timing, persistence, and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to grow your startup.

For more information about Derek Chase and OnSight, connect on LinkedIn.

For additional insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, visit StartupSac.com.

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In this episode of the StartupSac Podcast, host Josh David Miller, aka JDM, sits down with Liz Connolly, co-founder of Trifecta, a meal delivery company dedicated to tackling the obesity epidemic by making healthy eating accessible and convenient. Liz shares Trifecta's journey, from launching the company with her brother to securing Series B funding, achieving remarkable growth, and navigating the operational challenges that come with rapid scaling in the fresh food industry.

Liz discusses the strategies that fueled Trifecta's success, including the decision to integrate a fitness app to foster healthy habits and enhance customer experience. She also explores the entrepreneurial transition she's making as she steps back from day-to-day operations at Trifecta and launches her new venture, Katsu, focused on professional development through tailored growth plans. Tune in to hear Liz's insights on finding product-market fit, the timing of growth investments, and her dedication to empowering others through learning.

For more insights into entrepreneurship in Sacramento, be sure to visit StartupSac.com.

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In this episode of the StartupSac Podcast, JDM chats with Kathryn Cook, CEO and co-founder of NuCicer, to explore how her startup is transforming the food system by "reinventing the chickpea." With a background in materials science engineering, Kathryn discusses how NuCicer uses predictive breeding and genetic diversity to enhance chickpeas---boosting their protein content by up to 75%, improving flavors, and solving production challenges for food brands.

Kathryn also opens up about the rewards and discomfort of being a technical founder, offering insights on customer discovery, the realities of fundraising, and what it takes to navigate the deep tech startup landscape.

Key topics in this episode:

• What it means to "reinvent" a staple crop like the chickpea  
• NuCicer's journey from research to commercial scale production  
• Challenges of predictive breeding and working with wild genetic strains  
• The importance of customer discovery for deep tech startups  
• Kathryn's approach to fundraising, securing $11 million in venture capital  
• Lessons learned from building a company at the intersection of agriculture, food, and technology

Join us for a great discussion on building a mission-driven agtech company that aims to reshape the food industry and bring nutritious, sustainable solutions to market.

For more information about entrepreneurship in Sacramento, be sure to visit StartupSac.

Where to find NuCicer and Kathryn Cook:  

• NuCicer on LinkedIn  
• Kathryn Cook on LinkedIn: Kathryn Cook

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