PHX Founders

In this episode of the PHX FWD Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Jeff to talk about the lessons he learned building companies, starting from a working class upbringing in Chicago.Jeff shares how early experiences like mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and knocking on doors shaped his mindset as a founder. Those early hustles taught him persistence, independence, and the importance of creating opportunity instead of waiting for it.The conversation also explores Jeff’s journey into technology and the founding of ORY, an identity and access management platform helping companies build modern software infrastructure.As AI agents and automated systems increasingly interact with applications, identity infrastructure is becoming one of the most important layers of the internet. Jeff explains why founders must obsess over the problem they are solving, how trust is built in enterprise software, and why understanding your customers’ industry is critical when building a company.What you'll learn:• Why great founders obsess over the problem, not the product • How Jeff’s early hustle shaped his entrepreneurial mindset • What ORY does and why identity infrastructure matters • Why understanding your customer’s industry is critical • The importance of being fact-driven when building a companyFollow PHX FWD for more founder stories and insights: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phx-fwd/Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the PHX FWD Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Jacob Carter, founder of Nurture Boss, to talk about building one of the leading AI platforms in the multifamily housing industry.Nurture Boss is an AI powered leasing assistant that helps apartment operators manage the entire renter journey from the first inquiry through lease renewal. By automating communication, scheduling, and follow-ups, the platform allows property managers to respond instantly and operate more efficiently.Jacob shares how the idea for Nurture Boss emerged, why multifamily housing was the right market to focus on, and what it takes to build a category-defining product. The conversation also explores lessons from Jacob’s earlier career at companies like Integrate and Infusionsoft, the importance of product quality, and why focus is critical when building a startup.They also discuss how AI is changing software, what founders often get wrong about product-market fit, and the mindset required to build and scale a successful company.What You’ll LearnWhat Nurture Boss does and how it helps apartment operatorsWhy AI leasing assistants are transforming the multifamily industryHow Jacob Carter went from software engineer to startup founderWhy product quality and focus are critical when building a companyLessons from working at Integrate and InfusionsoftHow AI is changing workflow automation and SaaS productsThe leadership mindset required to scale a startupFollow PHX FWD: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phx-fwd/Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the PHX FWD Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Naru, founder of STAX AI, to discuss the real journey to product-market fit.STAX AI didn’t originally start in the retirement industry. The company began as a broader AI document processing platform designed to serve multiple industries. But having too many potential customers turned out to be a major problem.Everything changed when the team made a difficult decision: focus on a single niche market and walk away from other opportunities.Naru shares how narrowing their market helped STAX AI find traction, why founders often struggle with focus, and how talking directly with customers shaped the company’s product strategy.The conversation also explores lessons from early startup experiments, the venture studio model, and how AI is transforming the way software products are built.What you'll learn:Why having too many customers can slow down a startupHow focusing on one niche helped STAX AI find product-market fitWhy founders sometimes need to walk away from customers to growLessons from building early startups and venture studiosHow customer conversations shape better productsWhy niche markets can become large opportunitiesHow AI is changing the way modern software products are builtListen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

What does it take to refound a company and rebuild its culture?In this episode of the PHX FWD Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Josh Turley, CEO of RTA Fleet, to talk about leadership, culture, and transforming a legacy company.Josh shares the story of how RTA evolved into what they now call The Fleet Success Company, along with lessons about trust, values, and building teams aligned around a clear mission.They also discuss the realities of leading a company through difficult moments including a time when the business struggled to make payroll.This conversation explores what it really takes to build companies that last.Follow PHX FWD https://www.linkedin.com/company/phx-fwd/Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the PHX Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Reid Hiatt founder of Tactic, to talk about what it takes to build and scale a startup.Reid shares the story behind Tactic and how the company helps organizations manage hybrid work, office space, and team coordination in a modern workplace. The conversation explores the realities of startup growth, navigating enterprise sales, and the lessons learned while building a company from the ground up.If you're a founder, operator, or entrepreneur interested in the journey of building a startup and selling to larger organizations, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has done it firsthand.You'll learn:How Reid started and built TacticThe challenges of scaling a startupLessons from navigating enterprise salesWhat founders should know about building modern workplace toolsInsights on growth, leadership, and startup resilienceConnect With Us:Website: https://phxfwd.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phx-fwd/Connect with Reid:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidhiatt/About Us:PHX FWD is a community focused on supporting founders, startups, and innovation in the Phoenix ecosystem.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sit down with Trevor Larson, Co-Founder and CEO of Nectar, to explore how employee recognition fuels engagement and retention in companies of all sizes. From humble entrepreneurial beginnings to leading one of the fastest-growing HR tech platforms, Trevor shares his insights on building a scalable business, navigating pivots, and recruiting top talent.Trevor walks us through his early side hustles, from painting citrus trees to eBay arbitrage, and how those experiences shaped his ability to sell—a critical skill for any founder. He reflects on his journey from a pre-dental student at Utah Valley University to launching and evolving Nectar into a leading culture-building platform.We dive into key topics, including:The role of sales in every aspect of a founder’s journey—from fundraising to hiring top talent.How persistence and resilience helped Trevor navigate early challenges and startup pivots.The lessons learned from early customer churn and how Nectar repositioned itself into a high-growth SaaS business.Scaling a team with top-tier talent—including how Trevor personally recruits executives and key hires.The importance of optionality in fundraising and why finding the right investment partners matters more than valuation alone.Trevor also shares invaluable insights on how companies can intentionally design their culture operating system to drive engagement, retention, and long-term success. Whether you're an early-stage founder or scaling a high-growth startup, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sit down with Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, to explore the critical role of culture in high-growth companies. With a career dedicated to building and sustaining company culture, Anita shares invaluable insights into how businesses can scale while maintaining their mission, values, and people-first mindset.Anita takes us through her unexpected journey into HR, from planning corporate events and working on a cruise ship to becoming a strategic leader in culture-building. She recounts her early experiences at Jokake Companies, where she learned the importance of putting people at the heart of an organization, and how that shaped her approach at Infusionsoft, Pluralsight, and now BambooHR.We dive into key topics, including:The difference between compliance-driven and culture-driven HR.How founders can intentionally design their company’s purpose, mission, and values.The importance of strategic hiring, especially in executive roles, and how the best founders recruit top talent.Navigating company transitions—going from founder-led to CEO-led, private ownership to private equity, and beyond.How to build strong employee engagement, even in hybrid and remote work environments.Anita also shares powerful stories of how companies can integrate employees' families into the culture, reinforcing a deep sense of belonging and commitment. Whether you're an early-stage founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable advice on leading with purpose, attracting the right people, and fostering a culture that stands the test of time.Don't miss this insightful conversation on the future of workplace culture and what it takes to build companies that thrive!Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sat down with Cayden Phipps and Kieran O’Brien, co-founders of ShopGenie, to discuss their journey of building an innovative SaaS company in the auto repair industry. ShopGenie is an all-in-one CRM platform that streamlines operations for independent auto repair shops through automated text reminders, online scheduling, digital marketing services, and more.Cayden and Kieran share their entrepreneurial backgrounds, from flipping sneakers and starting a wedding videography business to launching a barbecue cleaning service and a marketing agency. They recount their serendipitous meeting, driven by a cold email and a mutual passion for cars, and their evolution from marketing partners to building ShopGenie.The duo dives into their decision to transition from white-labeled software to developing a purpose-built solution, fueled by customer feedback and a passion for solving inefficiencies in the auto repair industry. They also highlight their high-growth journey, bootstrapping early stages, and achieving 6.6 million ARR in just over a year while maintaining an obsessive focus on customer service.Learn about the unique dynamics of their co-founder relationship, the power of healthy organizational tension, and how they've tackled challenges like scaling customer success, simplifying pricing, and balancing personal and professional priorities.Here’s what we dig into:How their upbringing shaped their entrepreneurial spirit.The transition from marketing services to SaaS product development.Key growth milestones, including their early guerrilla marketing strategies and scaling through customer-centric service.Insights into fostering a productive co-founder relationship and building a team that prioritizes customer obsession.Don't miss this inspiring episode filled with actionable insights for aspiring founders and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sat down with Kentaro Kawamori, CEO of Persefoni to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the impressive development of his company. Persefoni is an enterprise SaaS company focused on climate management and accounting, helping companies calculate and manage their carbon footprints. Kentaro shares his background, including his experience as CIO at Chesapeake Energy, where he discovered the need for better carbon accounting solutions. He discusses raising $175 million in funding, including a $100 million Series B round, and emphasizes the company's focus on R&D, investing 50-60% of resources into product development. Kentaro also highlights Persefoni's unique position in the market, serving almost 900 companies globally, with 60% of customers new to carbon accounting. Learn the various aspects of building a successful SaaS company, including the importance of maintaining founder control over product development and avoiding traditional corporate management practices.Here's what we dig into:Introduction to Persefoni and Company OverviewKentaro introduced Persefoni as an enterprise SaaS company with a climate management and accounting platform, helping companies calculate their carbon footprints and manage climate strategies. The company serves almost 900 clients globally, with 60% in North America, 20% in Europe, and 20% in APEC.Kentaro's Background and Early InfluencesKentaro shared his upbringing in Germany, playing competitive soccer, and his early career in IT and consulting, leading to his role as CIO at Chesapeake Energy, where he discovered the need for better carbon accounting solutions.Company Formation and Early DevelopmentKentaro discussed founding Persefoni in 2020 after a brief venture investing experience. He emphasized the company's focus on R&D, investing 50-60% of resources into product development, and maintaining a direct sales enterprise SaaS model.Funding Journey and Investor StrategyKentaro detailed the company's funding journey, starting with seed investment from Rice Investment Group, followed by Series A with NGP, and Series B with Prelude Ventures and TPG, raising a total of $175 million to date.Product Development and AI IntegrationKentaro discussed the launch of Persefoni Copilot, an AI-powered support tool, and the decision to include it in the base subscription. He emphasized the company's focus on building a system of record for carbon accounting and their plans to leverage AI capabilities as the data set scales.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Before Phoenix became one of the fastest growing tech markets in the country, we had a handful of visionary, ambitious founders building software companies. One of them is Clate Mask. He co-founded Infustionsoft, now Keap, at a time when no one was paying attention to the needs of small businesses, much less championing them. Keap is now one of the most prominent software companies in the Valley, serves thousands of customers all over the world, and Clate is one of the most experienced founders in our ecosystem. The best thing about Clate is his love for helping other founders. He freely shares advice, mentorship, and encouragement with everyone brave enough to start a software company. He's seen it all, and experienced every founder challenge (a few times over). He's even written a book about it, which he's recently updated and re-released. Gregg sat down with Clate to talk about his journey, and hear about his evolution to the kind of leader he is today. Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

When Rachel started working on a solution to the headache that is patient payments in healthcare, she knew she had a tall mountain to climb. And climbing is always easier when you have a partner on the adventure, which is why she sought out a co-founder for the journey. It wasn't long until she met Elizabeth, and the two of them make a great team. Together, they're taking on one of the biggest problems in healthcare.In this interview, Gregg uncovers how this dynamic duo met, how they're overcoming all the startup challenges with humor and grace, and how they've built a company that's scaling FAST.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Few things can prepare someone for being a founder. But poker might be one of the exceptions. In this interview with Bryce Deeney, founder and CEO of Equipifi, Gregg learned that paying millions of hands (yes, millions) is a great way to learn how to safely take risks and weigh odds. And learned about Bryce's humble beginnings that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit.This interview is full of insights on when to go fast, when to overthink before making a move, and when to fold your hand.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

When we think about the worst epidemics in this country, “loneliness” doesn’t usually top the list. But it should. 44 million Americans struggle with loneliness. And not just older Americans. For the first time in history, it's highest among young adults. Loneliness is a condition we all need to take seriously. And we need founders like Cindy Jordan, who have made it their life’s purpose to address this epidemic head on.Cindy's tackling a problem that impacts all of us, because we all know someone who suffers from loneliness. This interview touches on mental health, so if you’re struggling, please take care while listening. And if you're interested in receiving help, we’ve put information on Pyx Health in the show notes.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Anthony Kennada tells us his story of learning how to be resilient. He got bit by the startup bug early in his career, working for some of the fastest growing tech companies in Silicon Valley. Then decided that Phoenix was the best place to start his company, AudiencePlus.In this interview, we learn about what shaped Anthony into the founder he is today, what keeps him motivated, and why he has unprecedented ambition.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

We kick off Season 2 of the PHX Founders Podcast with one of the most successful founders in Arizona, Matthew Pitinsky, CEO of Parchment.Matthew found tremendous success with his first ed tech venture, Blackboard, where he was the founder and CEO. After going public, and exiting the company, Matthew couldn't shake another idea he had to enhance the student experience, which led him to Parchment.In this episode, we'll hear how Professor Pittinsky started his journey as an entrepreneur, and how he struck lightening twice.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In our final episode from S1 of the PHX Founders Podcast, we continue our conversation with Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, and we're also joined by his co-founder, CMO, and brother, Johnathan Ronzio. This episode is a testament to what it means to be a scrappy startup. When money is tight, creativity needs to flow. The humble beginning is when founders need to say "go for it" more times than they think possible. Of all the ideas you test, one or two might work. Especially if they include Mr. Wonderful.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Our conversation with Chris veered into some interesting places. From starting any business he could imagine as a kid, to learning to live with Type 1 Diabetes, to distance running in Antarctica. In Part 2 of our conversation, Chris continues to lay bare the gritty details of Trainual's early days. Every founder will appreciate his vulnerability and humor.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

It’s hard to be around Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, and not feel energized. He brings that excited, passionate energy everywhere he goes, and it’s infections. He’s also a workhorse, who never stops trying and learning. Which is why it’s not surprising that Trainual has become one of the fastest growing software companies in Phoenix. Everything about Trainual reflects Chris’s energy, tenacity, and creativity. In our conversation with Chris, we learned where that entrepreneurial spirit started, and how he became a successful founder by becoming great at bringing order or chaos.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Scarlett Spring is building a software company in a sector of healthcare that is notoriously underfunded and difficult to navigate. Or is it? Scarlett might know something about the future of personalized care and doesn’t mind the headwinds. She has enough belief in what her company is building to keep proving validity. She has enough experience know how to get through the roadblocks. And she has enough humility to keep learning.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

When you’re a seasoned healthcare executive, biotech founder, and prominent board member, starting a software company should feel easy, right? When you’re Scarlett Spring, founder and CEO of Taproot, it feels like any other new thing. Which is why she went back to the basics to learn. In our interview with Scarlett, we got a lesson in humility, and a reminder that no matter when you start a company, or how much experience you have, it’s always hard. We also heard her advice on how to make the hard stuff easier. This episode is for every founder who struggles. So…. Every founder.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In the first part of our conversation, we learned that Nirit faces the same challenges as every other software founder. Raising capital is hard, building a customer base is hard, building a team and culture is hard. But Nirit has a trick to keeping her company steady and her eye on the prize…. her obsession with metrics.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Nirit Rubenstein feels a deep responsibility to take care of others, but don’t think for a moment that means she’s a pushover. From training pilots in the Israeli Armed Forces, to building a new kind of credit improvement company that values people over corporations, she is relentless. Nirit is highly focused, obsessed with metrics, and deeply committed to improving the lives of others. In part 1 of our interview with her, we find out why.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode we learn more about how he got on a path to both engineering and entrepreneurship. Both start when he was a kid in a foreign country. He didn’t know the language, or the culture. But he had curious brothers, his dad’s TI calculator, and a desire to make friends. Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Enoch Ko, founder and CEO of Soraban, has a solid handle on process, iteration, and relentless learning. He’s also incredibly tenacious, a skill he developed as child when he immigrated not once, but twice. We’re going to hear how Enoch sparked his entrepreneurial spirit and learned how to connect with people in unconventional ways, starting with a T1 calculator.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Gabe Cooper talks about the endurance of growing Virtuous, a responsive giving platform. In part 2 of our interview, we dig into how he builds culture, community, and category. We also learn that Gabe's knack for endurance extends beyond the walls of his company.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Gabe Cooper talks about the endurance of growing Virtuous, a responsive giving platform. In part 1 of our interview, we learn about his funding journey, what's been really hard in scaling his company, and what's been really rewarding.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In the second part of our interview with Heidi, we talk about company culture, the shift from early to later-stage scale, and what  success looks like for her personally, including her impact work and giving. We also lean what Heidi's spirit animal is.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

If you’ve been in PHX for a while, you know the name Heidi Jannenga. She’s a little famous in this community, for co-founding one of the most successful software companies to come out PHX – WebPT. Hers is the quintessential story of a subject matter expert who simply wanted to solve a real problem she was experiencing. Over the last 17 years, that solution has grown to become THE platform every physical therapy business knows and uses. In Part 1 of our interview with Heidi, we find out what it looks like to go big, change lives for the better, and give back. Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

Gregg Scoresby and Aly Saxe introduce the PHX Founders podcast and test out their interview skills. Importantly, they establish that the bar is high for "best tacos" in Phoenix.Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.