Lil Roberts on Growing Up Poor to Building Xendoo, a World Class Company. Lessons Learned.

Glass Eater: Lil Roberts on Grit, Growth, and Reshaping Accounting at XendooLil Roberts, founder and CEO of Xendoo, shares her journey from a childhood marked by poverty, an abusive home, and losing three brothers before she turned 22, through eight businesses including a manufacturing exit, to winning pitch competitions in front of Jason Calacanis and Steve Case, appearing on CNBC's premiere episode of The Job Interview, surviving COVID by pivoting her marketing budget in real time, and completing a landmark acquisition of BotKeeper's AI assets that is set to reshape the accounting industry.Key Insights You'll Learn:Built and exited multiple manufacturing businesses before recognizing that print was being decimated by technology and deliberately choosing to be on the technology side of the next industry she enteredChose accounting over legal and insurance because 92% of small business owners run their businesses from their bank account and 85% of those fail due to cash flow, not profitabilityWon Emerge Americas pitch competition in front of Jason Calacanis and Pitbull, then joined Calacanis's incubator and later secured investment from Steve Case, with no prior venture experienceAppeared on the premiere episode of CNBC's The Job Interview in 2017, two months after Xendoo generated its first dollar of revenueWhen the board pushed for 30% salary cuts during COVID, refused and instead shifted marketing budget toward trade services and e-commerce clients, growing 30% while a major competitor with $90 million raised shut downHurricane destroyed a third of the roof on a 13,000 square foot manufacturing facility and 54 of 55 employees showed up the next day, with competitors allowing her team to run overnight shifts in their facilitiesAcquired BotKeeper's AI assets and co-founders out of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a once-in-a-lifetime deal that positions Xendoo to serve both small business owners and the 152,000 CPA firms across AmericaThe three tax mistakes costing small business owners thousands annually are staying as a single member LLC past profitability, not keeping monthly books, and missing major deductions like Section 179 which allows up to $2.5 million in immediate depreciationHires exclusively for heart-led people who run into burning buildings and lifelong learners, determined through interview questions about weekends, core values, and how candidates approach everyday errandsNever expected to live past 24 after losing three older brothers by that age, and when she did, had to completely reimagine what her life was forLil's Key Mentors:Jason Calacanis: Opened doors to venture world.Steve Case: Investor who brought credibility and network.EO South Florida: Peer accountability community.Manufacturing Team: Proof of culture when 54 of 55 showed up after a hurricane.BotKeeper Co‑Founders: Brought AI tech and industry relationships.Don't miss this conversation about what it takes to rebuild a life and a business from nothing, why the accounting industry is ripe for disruption, and what a glass eater looks like when she actually runs through the glass.Connect with Lil Roberts:Website: Xendoo.comEmail (personal): [email protected] (new customers): [email protected]📄 Transcript Available: Lil Roberts on Growing Up Poor to Building Xendoo, a World Class Company. Lessons Learned.📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com