How Flywheel Started Turning with Bill Tucker

If you’ve listened to On The Fly! this season, you’ve heard his name come up again and again. From founders to coaches to investors, so many stories begin with the same phrase: “Bill told me…” or “Bill connected me to…”In this season-closing episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Bill Tucker—the visionary who helped shape Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub and, in doing so, helped launch hundreds of founders, careers, and community-changing ideas.Bill shares the origin story of Flywheel, from early conversations about social enterprise in the mid-2000s, to winning the RFP that formally launched the hub, to the hard truth that Flywheel’s original business model simply wasn’t sustainable. 💡 Listen to hear more about:How Flywheel came to life—and why it almost didn’t survive its early yearsWhy access to talent, customers, and capital matters for every startupThe shift from “building companies” to equipping foundersWhat success really looks like...How Bill thinks about legacy, wisdom, and giving back in his “third act”Rather than pointing to a single “most successful” company, Bill reframes success through the people who’ve gone on to build again, pivot, lead, and mentor others. His philosophy is simple and enduring: bet on the jockey (the founder), not the horse (the company).This episode is a love letter to founders, coaches, and anyone who believes lasting impact is built through relationships, shared learning, and a willingness to step out of the spotlight so others can shine.At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we exist to help founders turn purpose into sustainable businesses—through coaching, capital, and community. Whether you’re launching your first venture or looking to give back with your time, talent, or treasure, there’s a place for you in the Flywheel ecosystem. Learn more at flywheelcincinnati.org.On The Fly! will take a little break and be back with new episodes later this year.