PODCAST · education
City Entrepreneur
by Zik Nwanganga
City Entrepreneur Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that shares the real stories of ecosystem growth;told by the founders, funders, and leaders driving meaningful change in underdog cities.We amplify what’s working, what’s next, and who’s making it happen.
Episodes
-
Billy Cadaing Turned 30% Odds, 550 Credit Score into 7 Figure Business| City Entrepreneur S1E6 Uncut
Billy Cadaing has been running 17th Street Automotive in Virginia Beach since 1985. What most people who pull into his shop do not know is that he spent two years in a hospital bed fighting cancer with a 30% chance of survival. He did not just survive. He came back and built one of the top 10...
-
She Cleaned the Restaurant First Then She Bought One: Cynthia Terry| City Entrepreneur VB S1E5 Uncut
Cynthia Terry spent over 20 years cooking in someone else's kitchen before she decided to build her own. From managing fresh foods at Harris Teeter across multiple locations to running Hampton Roads restaurants, she was putting in the work long before she took the leap. In 2023 she opened Black...
-
What People Who Live Past 100 Do Differently: Derak Green| City Entrepreneur VB S1E4 Uncut
Derak breaks down what he found out about living heathy and living longer. Seven years ago Derak Green watched ALS take his father. That loss changed everything about how he lived, moved, and ate. What started as a personal health journey became Cooking With the Greens, a food brand built on the...
-
The Truth About Probate and How To Prove Ownership: Anita Lumpkin | City Entrepreneur VB S1E3 Uncut
Most Black families don't find out their inheritance is gone until it's already too late. Lost records. Erased history. A legal system that was never designed to work in your favor. The result? Generational wealth that disappears before it ever reaches the next generation.On this episode of City...
-
Ryan Turner: The Business Lessons That Only Come After You Start | City Entrepreneur VB S1E2 Uncut
Ryan Turner breaks down the exact moments that shattered his belief in corporate security and forced him to launch his own venture, The Snoball Shop.The turning point came when Ryan witnessed seven of his coworkers get abruptly fired on the same day. It was a stark realization that if an employer...
-
Dapper Luq: Everything You Know About Style and Success Is Wrong| City Entrepreneur VB S1E1 Uncut
Luqman Haskett built Dapper Luq from a blog into a custom fashion brand with a global footprint. He's a Virginia Beach veteran who has taken his collections to Algeria, Ghana, Rwanda and Europe and he did it without chasing clout or cutting corners. We spent 45 minutes talking about what that...
-
What Entrepreneurs Are Building Companies In KC | City Entrepreneur 2025 Finale S3E12
The final episode of Season 3 of City Entrepreneur in KC.
-
The Untold Story of the Kansas Farm Boy: Toby Rush (Ideem) | City Entrepreneur S3E11
Toby Rush grew up on a Kansas farm, built a startup that nearly ran out of cash, and turned it into a $100 million facial recognition exit before Face ID. In this episode, he shares the real story behind EyeVerify’s deal with Alibaba, what he learned from almost losing everything, and how he’s…
more -
The Hidden Truth About Housing in Kansas City: Terrell Jolly | City Entrepreneur S3E10
Check out kcsourcelink.org for business resources. Connect with Terrell Jolly http://terrelljolly.com/
-
KCSourceLink Is Shaping KC’s Entrepreneurial Future (GEWKC): Becca Castro | City Entrepreneur S3E9
Becca Castro, Director of KCSourceLink, shares how being overlooked in corporate America shaped the way she leads today. From studying five different majors to exploring teaching and art, she found her voice through creativity and curiosity—not titles. In this episode of City Entrepreneur, Becca...
-
Is America Helping or Hurting Entrepreneurs? Victor Hwang’s 50-State Journey| City Entrepreneur S3E8
Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, drove through all 50 states to see what entrepreneurship really looks like across America. Growing up with immigrant parents, Victor saw opportunity differently — and on this road trip, he found out that most stereotypes about “red states” and “blue…
more -
How SendBack Is Fixing The Broken Return System: Shaniqua Jones-Williams| City Entrepreneur S3E7
Shaniqua Jones-Williams built SendBack after her DIY wedding left her drowning in returns. Instead of waiting in lines, boxing items, and dealing with shipping labels, she imagined a service that comes to your door, repackages everything, and sends it back for you. In this episode of City...
-
EB Systems Tech Could Transform How Cities Host Global Events: Jon Ruiz| City Entrepreneur S3E6
When a $30K hotline told him it was the only way to launch his idea, Jon Ruis taught himself to code and built EB Systems from his dorm room. Ten years later, his Bluetooth beacon technology is tackling city-wide challenges — from managing crowds and traffic to helping local businesses thrive...
-
Why I Couldn't Stay in KC As a Founder | Jonaie Johnson| City Entrepreneur S3E5
Jonaie Johnson, founder of Interplay, built a smart dog crate startup in Kansas City, pitched it on global stages in Paris, joined Techstars, and is now moving to Chicago. In this episode of City Entrepreneur, she talks about the grind of building hardware, what’s missing in KC’s startup scene…
more -
How Salubata Is Solving Plastic Waste With Recycled Shoes: Yewande Akinse| City Entrepreneur S3E4
Salubata is a Nigerian-born startup turning plastic waste into customizable, recycled shoes. In this episode of City Entrepreneur, co-founder Yewande Akinse shares how the journey began in Nigeria, expanded to Paris through a global accelerator, and landed in Kansas City with Techstars backing....
-
How Cybership Handled a Taylor Swift–Driven Viral Spike: Jeff Annaraj| City Entrepreneur S3E3
3PL Playbook: Triage, Inventory & Scaling After a Celebrity Viral MomentJeff, founder of Cybership — a fulfillment & logistics partner for DTC brands — tells the unvarnished story of what happens when a client goes viral. He explains how Cybership absorbed the demand spike after a Taylor Swift...
-
How Gonzalo Erdozain Built a Lean StartUp For Pet Owners and Vets| City Entrepreneur S3E2
Gonzalo, founder of Scout, walks through the real steps that turned an ugly MVP into a paying veterinary clinic — and the hard lessons that came with being an early startup. This is tactical: product scope, demo approaches, first sales plays, the small product decisions that drove adoption, and…
more -
Bob Regnier Talks Investing, Raising Capital and Building Legacy in KC| City Entrepreneur S3E1
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we sit down with Bob Regnier, a visionary leader and founder of Bank of Blue Valley, to discuss his journey in transforming Kansas City’s banking landscape. We speak to the Kansas City start up Ecosystem and Growing the page! Bob shares insights on...
-
From Hustling to Scaling: How the UPLIFT Program Transforms Entrepreneurs | Steven Anthony | S2E20
What does it take to go from hustling to scaling a thriving business? In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we travel to Virginia Beach to sit down with Steven Anthony, CEO of Anthony Global Holdings, and explore the transformative impact of the UPLIFT Program. The UPLIFT Program is a Virginia...
-
How to Build a Mobile Business: James Thomas(Brain Freeze)| City Entrepreneur S2E9
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we dive into the inspiring journey of Brain Freeze, a mobile frozen daiquiri business that once made $5,000 in a single day. Learn how James Thomas built this thriving venture from the ground up, and discover actionable tips on how you can replicate this...
-
How I Learned English & Used Credit to Fund Nvsion KC | Grace Ahn| City Entrepreneur S2E19
In this inspiring episode of City Entrepreneur, we meet Grace Ahn, founder of NvisionKC, who shares her remarkable journey from arriving in the United States with only $200 and limited English skills to building a million-dollar business. Grace’s story is one of resilience, self-teaching, and...
-
From Small Business to Successful Franchise | Isaac Collins(Yogurtini) | City Entrepreneur S2E18
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, Isaac Collins, founder of Yogurtini and Streamline Profits Academy, shares his journey from starting a small business to building a franchise, while navigating the unique challenges of being a Black entrepreneur. Isaac opens up about the mental toll of...
-
Gun Laws or Social Media: What’s Fueling Missouri’s Crime? | Melesa Johnson| City Entrepreneur S2E17
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, Melesa Johnson, Kansas City’s Director of Public Safety and current candidate for Jackson County Prosecutor, addresses Missouri’s rising crime rates and her mission to tackle insecurity. Is youth violence fueled by weak gun laws, social media, or parenting?...
-
Building My First Startup While Pregnant | Dr. Brandy Archie (AskSamie)| City Entrepreneur S2E16
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, Dr. Brandy Archie, founder of AskSamie, shares expert advice on how to pitch your startup and build a scalable, sellable business. Learn the key principles to delivering a successful pitch, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how to create a company with the…
more -
Startup Legal Structures: Avoid Costly Mistakes | Chris Simpson (Polsinelli)|City Entrepreneur S2E15
In this episode of City Entrepreneur (S2E15), host Zik Nwanganga sits down with Chris Simpson, an attorney from Polsinelli, to provide essential legal advice for founders and entrepreneurs. The episode dives into crucial topics like choosing the right legal structure (LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp),...
-
Fighting For Justice & Truth; Komal Kaur (Eye Of An Immigrant)| City Entrepreneur S2E14
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we sit down with the inspiring founder of Eye of an Immigrant, a nonprofit that helps immigrants navigate the challenges of building a new life in the U.S. We discuss the hardships immigrants face in finding success and the incredible resilience that drives...
-
It Takes More Than A Good Idea To Build A Business| Dan Smith (PHKC)| City Entrepreneur S2E13
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we sit down with Dan Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC, to uncover the hard truths about what it really takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Dan dives deep into the mindset shifts and sacrifices that set the most successful entrepreneurs apart from…
more -
How to Scale or Sale: 3 Expert Tips with Serial Entrepreneur Eze Redwood | City Ent. S2E12
In this episode of City Entrepreneur (S2E12), we sit down with serial entrepreneur Eze Redwood to explore the critical decision every business owner faces: Should you scale your business or sell it? Eze shares three expert tips to help entrepreneurs make the right choice, based on his own...
-
How To Invest In Real Estate With Grant Funding| Donald Maxwell- City Entrepreneur S2E10| Donald Maxwell - City Entrepreneur S2E10
In this compelling episode of City Entrepreneur, host Zik Nwanganga interviews Donald Maxwell, the “Godfather of Development” in Kansas City. Mr. Maxwell has transformed the landscape of the Black community by investing over $100 million in real estate projects. He owns multiple buildings,...
-
The Future of Shipping: Inside Heft IQ’s Logistics Solution: Learie Hercules| City Entrepreneur S2E8
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we sit down with Learie Hercules, the founder of Heft IQ, to explore how AI is revolutionizing supply chain and logistics. Heft IQ’s advanced analytics platform is designed to be the Operating System for Supply Chain & Logistics, enabling real-time...
-
How an Ex-Chiefs Player Secured Business Loans Using Cyphr: Jannae Gammage| City Entrepreneur S2E7
In this exciting episode, we sit down with an ex-Kansas City Chiefs NFL player who has successfully transitioned into the world of business. Discover how Cyphr, a cutting-edge fintech company, revolutionized his journey by making business loans fast and easy. Join us as we delve into: The unique...
-
Inside the $1.5M NASA-Backed Space Project: Blake Herren |City Entrepreneur S2E6
This upcoming episode is featuring Blake Herren. A Co-Founder/CEO of Raven Space Systems, a pioneering Kansas City company that has raised over $1.5 million for their revolutionary work in 3D printing space return capsules. Blake and his team are transforming space missions with innovative…
more -
Disrupting Healthcare with a $1M Needle Innovation: Nick Love |City Entrepreneur S2E5
Meet Nick Love, MD, MBA, the CEO/Co-Founder of Love Lifesciences LLC, who has raised over $1 million for their revolutionary Unipen injection technology. Nick and Bradley Hopper, CTO/Co-Founder, are transforming the patient injection experience, aiming to boost medication adherence while reducing...
-
The Reality of Being a Single Mom Entrepreneur with 3 Kids: Rosana Polanco |City Entrepreneur S2E4
Welcome to the reality side of City Entrepreneur! 🌟Ever wondered what it’s like to be a single mom with three kids running two small businesses and a nonprofit? 🤯 Join us this Saturday at 1 PM for an inspiring deep dive into the life of Rosana Polanco, the powerhouse behind Micro Campers…
more -
How to Turn iPad Kids into 6-Figure Coders: Triumfia Houmbie Fulks & Sedric Hibler| CodeAlgo| City Entrepreneur S2E3
In this episode of City Entrepreneur, we explore how Triumfia Houmbie and Sedric Hibler, co-founders of CodeAlgo, are transforming the educational landscape. Discover their innovative approach to turning today's "iPad kids" into tomorrow's high-earning coders. Learn about their journey, the...
-
How I Raised $3 Million Dollars In One Year: Joshua I. Lewis(Kin Seltzer) | City Entrepreneur S2E2
In this episode, I sit down with Joshua I Lewis, the visionary behind Updown Nightlife App & Kin Seltzer. Discover how Joshua transitioned from creating a nightlife app to launching a successful seltzer brand. He shares his insights on leveraging networks, raising over $3 million, and getting Kin...
-
How It All Started: Zik Nwanganga (Firedup Studios) | City Entrepreneur S2E1
Welcome to the premiere episode of City Entrepreneur! In this series, we champion underserved minority and female founders, innovators, and investors, celebrating their successes and learning from their challenges. In Episode 1, meet your host, Zik Nwanganga, a Nigerian immigrant who arrived in…
more -
Victor Hwang: You Have The Right To Start A Business |Ep.17| City Entrepreneur
In our season finale, I dive deep with Victor to dissect the policies he's championing across states, aiming to level the playing field for entrepreneurs. 🌐💼 Plus, we explore the growth trends in KC, uncovering golden opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs.
-
Steven Anthony (AGHoldings): Hurricane Katrina Survivor to Investor |Ep.16| City Entrepreneur
🌟 In this compelling episode of "Unleashing Resilience," we delve into the extraordinary story of an investor who faced the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, losing everything and left with just a shoebox of hope. 🌀 Join us as we trace his awe-inspiring journey of rebuilding from scratch, defying the...
-
Alex Villalobos-McAnderson: The Magic of Self-Healing & Deep Connection |Ep.15-City| Entrepreneur
Join us on this transformational journey to unlock your inner potential and find true self-connection. 🌟 #healingjourney #selfconnection #transformation " Alex shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how being in tune with nature helps her excel in her daily life. Don't miss this insightful...
-
Taylor Burris(AI Hub KC): A Hub For Kansas City Creatives|Ep.14| City Entrepreneur
Visit www.theaihubkc.org for more information Visit our website @ firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Sherry Lumpkins(Bluesymphony): Being A Black Woman In Tech |Ep.13| City Entrepreneur
Visit bluesymphony.com for more information Visit our website @ firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Roy Scott(Healthy Hiphop): What Every Founder Needs To Know About Pitching|Ep.12| City Entrepreneur
Download Healthy Hiphop on the App Store and Google Playstore Visit our website @ firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
King Deewight: Turning My Passion for Content Creatin Into A Business|Ep.11| City Entrepreneur
Follow King Dwight on social media @kingdeewight Visit our website @ firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Lydia D.: America Needs To Revisit The Importance Of Community |Ep.10| City Entrepreneur
Visit https://enter-wellness.com/ for more info
-
Brandon Calloway(GIFT): Bridging The Wealth Gap Of The Black Community in KC|Ep.9| City Entrepreneur
For more info visit https://www.kansascitygift.org/ and firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Lauren Conaway: Innovate Her KC Serves Women Owned Businesses in KC |Ep.8| City Entrepreneur
Firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Emmet Pierson Jr.: Creating Black Wealth in Kansas City |Ep.7| City Entrepreneur
visit firedupstudiosfilm.com
-
Kevin McGinnis: Building The First Innovation District In KC |Ep.6| City Entrepreneur
On this episode City Entrepreneur, we meet Kevin McGinnis, President/CEO of Keystone Innovation District; the first ecosystem for Kansas City Entrepreneurs. Kevin shares the entrepreneurship journey that led him to create a hub for all entrepreneurs in KC to collaborate. Follow us on all social...
-
Dr. Shelly Cooper: How My Dad's Passing Inspired Me To Start A Telehealth Scheduling Platform | Ep. 1| City Entrepreneur
Dr. Shelly Cooper is the founder ComeOnNow! A revenue-generating app that replaces no-show medical appointments with telehealth visits. On the show, she shares what inspired her to start the company. She also talks about her journey as an entrepreneur in the Midwest. Further in our conversation,...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
City Entrepreneur Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that shares the real stories of ecosystem growth;told by the founders, funders, and leaders driving meaningful change in underdog cities.We amplify what’s working, what’s next, and who’s making it happen.
HOSTED BY
Zik Nwanganga
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does City Entrepreneur have?
City Entrepreneur currently has 161 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is City Entrepreneur about?
City Entrepreneur Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that shares the real stories of ecosystem growth;told by the founders, funders, and leaders driving meaningful change in underdog cities.We amplify what’s working, what’s next, and who’s making it happen.
How often does City Entrepreneur release new episodes?
City Entrepreneur publishes regularly with 161 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to City Entrepreneur?
You can listen to City Entrepreneur on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts City Entrepreneur?
City Entrepreneur is created and hosted by Zik Nwanganga.
URL copied to clipboard!