#35: Aaron Foss - How to Turn Everyday Problems Into Businesses That Scale

Aaron Foss is a serial entrepreneur who has built five companies, including Nomorobo, the service that has stopped billions of unwanted robocalls and spam texts. Nomorobo was acquired by Applause Group in August 2023. Before that, Aaron participated in Techstars NYC with SideTour, which Groupon acquired in 2013. He has testified before Congress three times and has been featured by outlets including The New York Times, Wired, CNN, CNBC, and Fox News.In this conversation, Aaron explains how to identify problems worth solving, distinguish progress from real traction, and know when to narrow your focus from a wide flashlight into a laser. We also discuss why entrepreneurs should fall in love with the problem instead of chasing trends, how constraints can improve creativity, what he looks for in founders, and why his work with Defy Ventures has become such an important part of his life. Aaron also shares lessons from building and selling companies, along with the books and negotiation tools that helped him along the way. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact.Join the newsletter:https://substack.com/@stevesegerWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35Connect with Steve on LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesegerConnect with Aaron and explore his work:https://go.aaronfoss.com/linktreeLearn more about Defy Ventures:https://www.defyventures.org/Never Split the Difference Negotiation Cheat Sheet:https://medium.com/yanda/negotiation-cheat-sheet-31c73031956a00:00 From Tech Kid to Serial Problem Solver03:41 The Wing Dipper and Learning Through Real Feedback07:48 Techstars, Focus, and the Road to Nomorobo14:53 Retiring at 45 to Coach Entrepreneurs16:19 Start With the Problem, Then Narrow the Beam21:23 Constraints, Forcing Functions, and Learning by Doing29:24 Fall in Love With the Problem, Not Your Passion35:19 Every Interview Is a Pitch, and Experience Beats a Resume41:30 Defy Ventures and Entrepreneurship After Incarceration48:18 Progress vs. Traction: The Proof Investors Need54:43 Mistakes, Book Recommendations, and Founder Green/Flags01:05:27 Final Wisdom: Keep It Simple