Startups With Stu

At 21, Todd Kuhn signed a $120,000-a-year lease. Everyone thought he was mad. Twenty years and two exits later, he's never taken a dollar from a bank or an investor.Todd Kuhn is an Australian founder who built and sold two fitness businesses — the first a multi-location gym group, the second a 20-studio boutique Pilates chain acquired by an ASX-listed company. Now he's building Core Lab, bringing premium Pilates equipment to the US market, and doing it the same way he's always done it: bootstrap first, scale smart, exit with a plan.What he covers:→ Signing a $120,000/year lease at age 21 — and everyone telling him he was mad→ Running Pilates mat classes in 40 scout halls and town halls across the city (400 students per term)→ Amassing $150,000 cash in six months before ever opening a physical studio→ A 5-day mastermind in Hawaii that got him off 95% of his own classes and changed the whole trajectory→ Going from 1 studio to 10 in three years, then 20 just before Covid hit→ Selling to an ASX-listed company — and watching every one of his locations convert to Club Pilates→ His grandfather building the original Pilates equipment by hand in a garage under his house→ Flying to China 4-5 times a year, walking into factories with no translator, using sign language to get the product right→ Why he's never taken a bank loan or outside investment across two full business cycles→ The "minimize startup costs, maximize profitability" principle he applies to every studio he opens→ Why delegation is the one thing he'd tell his younger self to do faster→ Launching a new Dallas studio with Australian franchisees who followed him to the US🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com📌 CHAPTERS00:00 – Todd's background: rugby recruit to business founder03:30 – Leaving corporate after six months and pivoting to fitness06:00 – 40 locations in scout halls and $150K cash before opening a studio09:00 – Signing the $120K lease at age 21: "just have a go"12:00 – Exiting Pure Health Clubs in 2012 and starting over smaller15:30 – The Hawaii mastermind that unlocked the scale-up19:00 – 10 locations in 3 years, 20 before Covid, then the exit23:00 – Being acquired by an ASX company and watching the brand become Club Pilates26:30 – Building Core Lab: equipment, method, training academy30:00 – Why he's never taken outside money — and what he thinks about it now34:00 – His grandfather, a friend with a welder, and the origin of Core Lab's equipment38:00 – Flying to China 4-5x a year with no translator to source parts41:30 – Advice for aspiring founders: persistence, vision, and giving away hats45:00 – The Dallas launch and what's next#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #fitness #pilates #bootstrapped #businessexit #australianfounder #corelabusa #smallbusiness

Stu wired his whole career chasing recognition. He didn't know it until a live coaching session on camera revealed the exact lie running underneath everything.Dallin Harmon left a high-paying angel investing role to coach founders full-time — and in this episode, he does it live with Stu. What came up wasn't what either of them expected.What he covers:→ Discovering the subconscious belief: "The only way to be valued is to be seen and recognized by the world's standards"→ The day Stu's big payday hit his bank account — and his family already had Saturday plans→ Calling CFO Mike Andrus and screaming at the top of their lungs on the phone (ten years of work, finally done)→ Why reframing thoughts almost never creates permanent change — and what actually does→ Two truths that changed Dallin's life: every belief that drives you to suffering is a lie, and your best moments are who you really are→ Stu's daughter's four-year health battle, spending 40 days in the hospital, and the moment he snapped at the mold specialist→ Three emotional memories used to rewire a belief live on air — including Stu's dad hugging him after a wrestling match→ Sending a son off on a mission at the airport and why that moment hit harder than any business win→ The Chad Willard quote that landed differently after the coaching: "I don't inhale the compliments, so I don't spiral over the criticism"→ Why Dallin says he learned more about himself in 3 years of coaching than in the previous 3 decades combined→ The difference between "useful" and "powerful" — and why Stu's drive got him far but couldn't take him further🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com📌 CHAPTERS00:00 – How Dallin went from building companies to coaching them02:30 – The cost of building with stress, shame, and overwhelm for a decade05:00 – "You can have it all — you just have to reclaim your time from suffering"08:00 – The mold specialist story: Stu's worst self, caught live13:00 – Two truths that change how you see every hard moment18:30 – Uncovering the lie Stu didn't know he believed24:00 – Shocking the brain out of a false belief28:30 – Three emotional memories used to rewire the belief live36:00 – The payday, the normal Saturday, and the wake-up call42:00 – Chad Willard quote + the shift in how Stu will operate now#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #mindset #coaching #selfawareness #founders #personaldevelopment #leadership #businesspodcast

She showed up to a city she'd never been to, knew exactly one person, talked 30 restaurants into joining her event, went on live TV twice, and then coded a backup solution by herself two hours before the launch party when her developer bailed. The app didn't grow the way she wanted. She didn't quit.Lee Balcomb is the founder of Healthy Anywhere — a hyper-curated restaurant app that functions like having a holistic nutritionist, food writer, and data analyst on call, helping health-conscious travelers find meals that actually match their standards. She's been building it full-time since 2018, and the original idea? That came to her in January 2003.What she covers:→ Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama on Little Caesars pizza, two-liter Cokes, and Krispy Kreme crullers — and being bloated and foggy as a kid because of it→ Moving to California in her 20s and discovering vegetables that come from the ground, not cans — and never feeling better→ Getting stranded in a barren Philadelphia apartment at 1am with nothing to eat — the exact moment in January 2003 that sparked the entire business→ Locking herself in the house before a trip to Spain just to build a 78-restaurant spreadsheet with 14 columns covering wild fish, organic veggies, leafy greens, and healthy fats→ Quitting a job she loved in 2018 after private equity bought the company and killed the culture — and needing six months just to decompress before she could build→ Reading 60 books in a year, getting a holistic nutrition certification, and completing sustainable food systems studies at UC Berkeley to earn the "street cred" to build the scoring system→ Nearly blowing up the entire pipeline by bringing on an AI contractor who quietly wrecked the data — and not discovering how bad it was until weeks later→ Organizing the CEO's Healthy Week in Colorado Springs — a city she'd never visited — getting 30 restaurants to participate and over $2,000 in prizes, only to have her developer bail four days before launch→ Coding her own QR/PHP solution solo until two hours before the launch party just so the event could run→ Going on live TV twice, getting customers to drive down from Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins — and hearing from a woman who attended five restaurants in one weekend: "Who do you need? Because imagine what you could do with support."→ The advice from an 84-year-old Silicon Valley angel investor: "No matter what happens, this is already been a phenomenal success."→ Why she's bootstrapping and hasn't raised money — and why she believes she has to earn the right to keep building first→ "It's not what I'm building. Ultimately, it's who I am becoming."🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com📌 CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro + How Lee and Stu connected at Laguna Beach[~02:00] – What is the Healthy Anywhere app?[~05:00] – The origin story: Philadelphia airport, 1am, nothing to eat (January 2003)[~09:00] – The 78-restaurant spreadsheet with 14 columns (a weekend in D.C.)[~12:00] – Why she left her job in 2018 and what happened next[~16:00] – 60 books, a nutrition certification, and UC Berkeley[~20:00] – The AI contractor who quietly wrecked the pipeline[~24:00] – CEO's Healthy Week: 30 restaurants, Colorado Springs, developer bails 4 days out[~31:00] – Coding the launch solo, two hours before the party[~36:00] – Why she's bootstrapping and what she needs before she'd ever raise[~41:00] – The 84-year-old angel investor's advice that she still reflects on[~45:00] – "It's not what I'm building. It's who I'm becoming."[~48:00] – Family, Jason, and what spousal support actually looks like#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #healthyfood #bootstrapped #womenfounder #appbuilder #healthyanywhere #startuplife #solofounder

Rob Polecki was an elected official in Idaho when he took his 4-year-old son into a dirty airport bathroom and couldn't find a single hands-free way to clean the toilet seat. Everything else in the restroom was touchless. Just not the part that mattered most.That moment in 2015 turned into Washi — a self-sanitizing commercial toilet seat Rob has been building, bootstrapping, and fighting for ever since. He cashed out $100K+ from his government 401K, raised over $1M from angels one check at a time, made it to the final round of Shark Tank, spent a year in licensing talks with Georgia Pacific (only to get ghosted), and is now launching a home version via Kickstarter in May 2026.What he covers:→ Taking his 4-year-old to a dirty Salt Lake City airport bathroom — and walking out with a business idea→ Carrying a toilet bowl through the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas to audition for Shark Tank→ Making it to the final round of Shark Tank before getting cut — and why he calls it the best thing that happened to him→ Cashing out over $100K from his government 401K to go all-in on the company→ Spending an entire year in engineering discussions with Georgia Pacific (the largest restroom company in the US), only to be told "go launch it yourself and we'll buy it later"→ Raising $500K in a friends-and-family round from Pocatello, Idaho, then going angel by angel for $50K–$200K at a time→ Firing his internal sales team and switching to distributors after years of slow B2B cycles→ Landing Delta Sky Clubs, major gas station chains in the Midwest, and convention centers in the South→ Why airports in Wyoming took 9 months from first meeting to closed deal→ Launching the home version of Washi with a Kickstarter in May 2026 — and why B2C changes everything→ What James Dyson's story meant to him every time he almost quit→ Why having other people's money in the company means there's no Plan B🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #sharktank #bootstrapped #hardwareStartup #invention #washi #toiletseat #startupswithstu

The franchising consultant they paid $100,000 to get their paperwork done turned out to be embezzlingmoney and having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The company collapsed. Eight monthsof work, gone. The other four companies they'd been working with also went under. Adam Newman'sresponse was to keep going — and eventually sell for $31 million.Adam Newman is the co-founder of Monkey Bar Storage (originally Gorgeous Garage), a garageorganization company his father Jared started in a two-car garage in Boise with a shelf he welded himself.Adam built it into a 120-location dealer network, hit $31M in revenue the year they sold, and walked awaywith an eight-figure exit. He sat down with Stu at a live Startups with Stu retreat near YellowstoneNational Park to break down exactly how they did it.What he covers:→ Jared Newman building the first shelf system to organize his own garage — then a neighbor's backyard party of 20+ employees accidentally becoming their first marketing campaign→ Year 1 revenue of $46,000 with $48,000 in costs — and how a year's worth of severance pay kept the lights on→ Doubling revenue three years in a row without a single dollar of advertising, purely on word of mouth→ Taking out a $25,000 SBA loan (with two old pickup trucks and two laptops as their only assets) to start a Salt Lake City dealership — and doing $160,000 in their first partial year→ Getting robbed by a franchise consultant who embezzled $100,000 of their money, then being saved by the president of the national franchising association — who flew out privately to Rexburg to meet with them→ How a single sales rep named Reg Allen took them from 8 locations to 47 locations in two years→ Taking over every dealer's website, marketing, photography, and content — and why that made dealers never want to leave→ Designing their own overhead rack system by putting Jared "in a box" with tight parameters — and beating competitors on dimensional shipping weight to cut costs→ Growing the Amazon and third-party marketplace channel from 1 unit sold to a $1 million annual channel in two years→ Adding a cabinet line after one dealer proved it doubled ticket prices from $2–4K to $9–10K→ Revenue milestones: $5M (2010/11), $9M (2012), $16M (2015/16), $24M (2019), $31M the year they sold→ The secret sauce: what Jared did at every install that made customers remember him — not the product — and how it became a systemized revenue driver across 120 locations🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com📌 CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: Adam Newman and how he met Stu 21 years ago04:00 – Jared Newman: farm kid, welder, and the shelf he built to organize his own garage09:00 – Year 1: $46K revenue, $48K costs, and the backyard party that changed everything14:00 – Three years of doubling with zero advertising — and the numbers that convinced Adam to go all in19:00 – The $25K SBA loan, the Salt Lake dealership, and $160K in the first partial year24:00 – Expanding to four locations, the 2007 housing crash, and the franchising question29:00 – The $100K franchise consultant who embezzled everything — and the national president who flew to Rexburg to help35:00 – Building the dealer model: from loose and chaotic to 120 locations with full marketing control40:00 – Reg Allen: the sales rep who sold 20 dealerships in year one, then 47 in year two44:00 – Designing their own overhead rack by boxing Jared in with impossible constraints49:00 – The $1 million Amazon channel, the cabinet line, and doubling average ticket price54:00 – Revenue timeline: $5M to $31M and the eight-figure exit58:00 – The secret sauce: what Jared did at every install that no competitor thought to copy#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #exitstrategy #dealermodel #garagebusiness #smallbusiness #ecommerce #franchising #8figureexit

She sent an unscripted, badly lit, walking-outside selfie video to the CEO of Caterpillar — one of thelargest companies on earth. Her client laughed at her. Told her it was unprofessional. She did it anyway.Seven minutes later, Paul emailed back. That email is now framed on her wall.Bianca McDownriver is a Texas-based entrepreneur, freestyle rapper, and founder of Box Voice, an11-year marketing agency that works with everyone from stormwater compliance companies to Mr. Beast'steam. She sat down with Stu at a live Startups with Stu retreat in Highland Park, Idaho — after spendingseven minutes the night before cooling off in a lake with 16 inches of ice underneath her.What she covers:→ Teaching piano in high school because she refused to ask her parents for money — ever→ Upselling car wash customers from a $39 wash to a $200 detail as a teenager, and realizing she was born to sell→ Starting a supplement brand called Driven at BYU Idaho, burning through her savings, and watching her business partner spend their shared cash on an engagement ring→ Throwing freestyle rap battle parties at BYU Idaho — hundreds of students paying $10 to watch college kids rap — and scaling it to block parties with thousands of attendees and stage acts from Utah→ Making real money not from door fees but from apartment complex sponsorships — charging them for a table in front of students every semester→ Running two businesses and five internships simultaneously while still getting a degree→ Why she built Box Voice by saying yes to every industry — ERP, CRM, termite control, security monitoring, publishing — and why the "find your niche" advice is wrong for her→ The unscripted $49/month video tool (Hippo Video) that out-converts every polished campaign she's ever run→ Why she wears a nearly $4,000 purse to first client meetings — and the Google ex-employee who studied body language and said yes because of it→ The body language moves that close deals: palms out, open stance, and why crossing your arms silently kills your pitch→ T-boning a drunk driver at 65 mph at age 18 in Farmington, New Mexico — and the three thoughts that flashed through her mind before she knew she'd survive→ Why she can say right now, without hesitation, that if she died tomorrow she would have zero regrets🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com #entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #womenfounder #marketingagency #salestips #bodylangage #BYUIdaho #livewithurgency #smallbusiness

How Raleigh Williams Sold His Business for $26M | Episode 59He had a panic attack on the gym floor 30 days into his dream law firm job — and called his wife thinking he was having a heart attack. Turns out his body already knew what his brain hadn't caught up to yet: he was in the wrong life.Raleigh Williams went from panic attacks at a prestigious law firm to building Williams Entertainment Group — escape rooms, trampoline parks, and entertainment concepts — then selling it all across nine transactions for $26 million. Now he runs Exit OS (a business brokerage for SMB founders) and Fierce Health and Fierce Longevity (telehealth and peptide clinics). He sat down with Stu live at the Startups with Stu retreat in Saint George, Utah to break it all down.What he covers:→ Having a panic attack 30 days into a prestigious law firm job — hoping it was a heart attack because a panic attack felt worse → Trying and failing at faceless Instagram accounts, tax liens, and becoming a real estate agent before finding the right idea → Reading a MarketWatch article about escape rooms and doing the back-of-napkin math that same night→ Paying a European escape room $5,000 to license their puzzle sequences as a starting point → Running a Harry Potter-themed room ("Horcrux Hysteria") in violation of Warner Bros. IP for four years before getting a cease and desist → Discovering that revenue correlated directly with number of rooms — not marketing spend → Selling the entire business across nine transactions for $26 million (including real estate) when he realized he'd mentally checked out → The four levers that determine your business's sale multiple: growth rate, operations, clean accounting, and defensibility → Why founders should know their exit multiple from Day 1 — and what it means if your take-home salary times four is your retirement number → GLP-1 peptides (Retatrutide), BPC-157 "Wolverine stacks," and how peptides helped him get in better shape at 36 than ever before → His wife's two bouts of cancer — and how navigating the medical system pushed him into building Fierce Longevity → "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek" — the quote he carries with him everywhere🔗 CONNECT WITH RALEIGH WILLIAMS Instagram: @raleigh_williams 🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stu Website: https://startupswithstu.com#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #escaperoombusiness #businessexit #exitstrategy #peptides #glp1 #smallbusiness #startupswithstu

She didn't know what entrepreneurship was two years before starting her company.She grew up in Taiwan, her dad worked in a factory, and when she landed her first U.S. job offer she went home and Googled "contractor" — and genuinely thought they wanted her to be a plumber.Anya Cheng spent 15 years at Meta, eBay, Target, and McDonald's before launching Taelor AI, a subscription service that uses AI to pick and rent clothes for busy men. She raised $2.3M at a $7M valuation, and her investors now include the YouTube founder, Google Gradient Capital, and Morgan Stanley's managing director.What she covers:→ Starting a media club in a Taiwanese high school that banned new clubs — by reading the full handbook and collecting 500+ signatures→ Arriving in the U.S. barely speaking English and getting rejected from every campus recruiter during the 2008 recession→ Couch-surfing New York City for two months to network her way into a job — with no money and no contacts→ Calling a Taiwanese magazine to get free conference access as a "media representative" so she could afford to attend→ Googling "contractor" after landing her first U.S. job offer and thinking they wanted her to be a plumber→ Launching Taelor AI with a $10 Shopify site that had nothing on it except an email signup box→ Ignoring their first customer for a month because she thought he was a scammer — then shipping him clothes from a department store sale→ Raising $1M from Northwestern and Chicago Booth alumni WhatsApp groups before ever talking to a single VC→ Getting a warm intro to Bowling Capital through a founder she forgot she was supposed to be networking with→ Winning a startup competition hosted by Northwestern — held at a University of Chicago event — and using the rivalry to get press coverage→ That press coverage landed her on a local ABC morning show, which she used to convince a fashion trade publication to run her story, which got her first brand partner→ Growing from 1 brand partner to 150+ fashion brands (Mizzen+Main, Johnston Murphy, Bonobos, Cuts, Rhone) without buying inventory upfront→ Selling data back to fashion brands to help them predict demand and cut the $30 billion in unsold clothing that goes to landfill each year→ Why she rallied "minority investors" after learning only 1.8% of VC funding goes to female founders — and how that strategy built her entire cap table🔗 CONNECT WITH ANYA CHENGWebsite: https://taelor.style🔗 CONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com#entrepreneur #startups #founderstory #womenfounder #fashiontech #AIstartup #venturecapital #immigrantfounder #startupfunding #siliconvalley

The guy sold longboards, princess dresses, tungsten rings, and hoverboards out of the same warehouse. Then he built the largest ninja warrior gym in the world.Wally Roskelly has been on American Ninja Warrior three times, took first place Masters gold at the World Ninja Games, and has started more businesses than most people have had jobs. He sat down with Stu at a live retreat recording to talk about all of it — the wins, the near-million-dollar hoverboard disaster, and why he says he'll never sell his gym even at breakeven. What he covers:→ Quitting an $11/hour insurance gig to start his own agency (same product, completely different feeling)→ How he spotted a supply-and-demand gap in longboards and turned a bedroom full of 100 boards into a fulfillment operation with 250 drop shippers→ Wiring $7,000 to a stranger in China for princess dresses. They sold out in two days.→ Ordering $450K worth of hoverboards, watching the second container get stopped at the California port, and making about $4,000 total on the deal→ Getting on Ninja Warrior (90,000 applicants, 600 spots) and building a backyard course that turned into a real gym→ 4,000 people showing up on opening day of a gym that didn't have a single ad running→ His obsessive market research process — including months of sitting in competitors' parking lots counting foot traffic→ Why community and belonging drive retention better than any marketing you could run→ 1,003 pull-ups in 5 hours at age 45 (nearly double David Goggins' pace)→ The adoption story he rarely tells publiclyCONNECT WITH WALLYInstagram: @wallyroskellyCONNECT WITH STUInstagram: @stuWebsite: https://startupswithstu.com

James Clarke is the kind of entrepreneur you don't hear about on podcasts — not because he hasn't built at scale, but because he's not chasing the spotlight. Growing up in Rexburg, Idaho, James watched his uncle and aunt build Diet Center, a diet franchise business that became the predecessor to Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem. But what inspired him most wasn't the helicopter in the backyard — it was the generosity. New lockers for the high school. Donations with a US senator present. That shaped his definition of success before he ever started a company.James went on to build ClearLink, a performance marketing company he scaled to eight figures of profitability before selling. He used the proceeds to immediately invest in two companies: Contour, an action camera company that went head-to-head with GoPro, and PetIQ, which he chaired from a $1 million investment to a $2 billion exit. He's now running Clark Capital Partners, a family office focused on growth equity — buying businesses doing $1-5M EBITDA and helping them scale.In this episode, recorded live at the Startup Solstice retreat in Island Park, Idaho, James gets into the real lessons: why he came back to ClearLink years later and found a completely different company, how AI and Google's algorithm wiped out their EBITDA recovery mid-stride, why he keeps a check in his pocket for the right pitch meeting, and the hard truth that your worst problems in business always have a first and last name.He also draws a sharp line between business players and business creators — people who love having lunches and talking versus people who execute. And he challenges founders on mentor relationships: listen selectively, because even billion-dollar advice can steer you wrong if you follow it blindly instead of incorporating it into your own strategy.Topics: Clark Capital Partners, ClearLink, PetIQ IPO, Contour vs GoPro, growth equity investing, family office, startup retreats, founder mentorship, Idaho entrepreneurs, hiring and firing, Extra Space Storage, business exits

Dallin Harmon grew up broke in Idaho selling potatoes door-to-door with his siblings. His brothers went on to build Harmon Brothers, Angel Studios, and Tuttle Twins. Dallin co-founded Cove Security, helped scale VidAngel under an employee-ownership model that tripled the business, and now coaches founders through Scale Me. In this episode, he shares the brutally honest moment he realized he'd never own what he built, why he walked away, and then coaches Stu live — uncovering a subconscious lie about recognition that most founders carry without knowing it. Dallin Harmon is the Harmon brother you haven't heard of — and his story might be the most relatable one for founders. While his brothers Neal, Jeffrey, Daniel, and Jordan were building Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom), Harmon Brothers (Squatty Potty, Purple), and Tuttle Twins, Dallin was carving his own path from an Idaho childhood where his family earned less than $10,000 a year.In this episode, Dallin shares how selling potatoes door-to-door as a kid built the resilience that carried him through co-founding Cove Security and scaling it during Covid from 9,000 to nearly 40,000 accounts in a single year. He opens up about the moment he and his brother Jordan realized they'd never have meaningful equity in the company they helped build — and why that honest conversation changed everything.Dallin then breaks down the employee-ownership model he helped implement at VidAngel, where the CEO kept only 25% and gave 75% back to employees. That model tripled revenue and earned VidAngel Best Place to Work in Utah three years running.The second half of the episode flips the format entirely. Dallin uses his coaching skills to walk Stu through a live session, digging into why founders struggle with focus, cheap dopamine, and social media addiction. What surfaces is a subconscious belief that recognition equals value — and Dallin's framework for identifying and naming the lies that drive self-sabotaging behavior.Whether you're a founder figuring out equity, struggling with focus, or just trying to understand what beliefs are quietly running your decisions, this episode delivers.Topics: Harmon Brothers family, Cove Security founding story, VidAngel employee ownership, co-founder equity, founder mindset, limiting beliefs, high performance coaching, dopamine and focus, Scale Me, startup lessons

Spencer Johnson stood on a street corner with a cardboard sign looking for investors — and it actually worked. The founder of Neuro Pouch (nootropic pouches that replace nicotine with cognitive enhancers like lion's mane) shares how a health diagnosis became his business calling, how he landed his first angel investor through a LinkedIn post, and what it takes to survive the early startup grind. Stu gets into contracts, fundraising strategy, brutal founder honesty, and why building a team is the real unlock. This one's for anyone in the trenches right now.

Case Lawrence built Sky Zone from nothing — no funding, no industry, no safety net. In this episode, the founder of the world's biggest trampoline park brand shares how he went from a failed real estate concept and near-bankruptcy to creating a $1B empire. We talk angel investing, equity splits, the sacred investor-entrepreneur relationship, and why watching your team win is the real payoff. His new book "Off the Ground" is available for preorder on Amazon.

What if the best business doesn't win—the best marketer does? Dennis Yu, a former Yahoo search engineer and co-author of books that sold 800,000 copies, is on a mission to close that gap.Dennis isn't an SEO trying to trick search engines—he's a search engine engineer who built the systems SEOs try to game. His unique perspective reveals why good businesses fail while inferior competitors with better marketing thrive.In this episode:Google's E-E-A-T Framework: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust—and why the first "E" changed everything before ChatGPT launchedPerceived authority vs. actual authority: Why you need both, and which one drives sales firstThe CNN story: How arguing with Mark Zuckerberg on live TV created instant perceived authorityYahoo engineer insights: Working alongside the inventor of PHP and what limiting beliefs look like at the highest levelsLive ChatGPT demo: We ask AI to analyze Stu's authority in real-time (the results are fascinating)Why you don't have a knowledge panel: And how pre-revenue founders can get one through strategic contentThe #1 strategy for founders: Start a podcast—here's exactly how to turn 10 episodes into a book, ads, and Amazon #1 rankingsContent repurposing system: The "Mexican food" metaphor—same ingredients (beans, cheese, rice), different forms (burrito, taco, enchilada)Brandon Agronoff case study: How a 14-year-old followed Dennis's advice and scaled to 300 VAs, $200K/month in ad spend, and nearly $1M/month in personalized sock salesThe personalized socks hack: Why Dennis ships custom face socks to every podcast guest (and how it costs only $14 end-to-end)Servant leadership as personal branding: Why introverts can build massive authority without being "on stage"Dennis Yu's Core Philosophy: "I love seeing other people win. There are good people who work hard and deserve success, but someone with better marketing beats them. I want to eliminate that gap."Best for:Founders who are "good at what they do" but struggling with marketingIntroverts who don't want to be "influencers" but need authorityAnyone trying to understand how Google actually ranks contentEntrepreneurs looking for low-cost, high-leverage content strategiesTechnical founders who need to build perceived authorityConnect with Dennis Yu:Company: BlitzMetricsLinkedIn: Dennis Yu (most active)Stages spoken: 850+ globallyBooks: Co-author of #1 Amazon books on Facebook Ads and Google Ads with Perry MarshallKey Takeaway: You don't need to be a celebrity to build authority. You need strategic visibility with the right people, consistent proof of results, and a system to amplify both. Start a podcast, interview 10 authorities in your space, and let AI + content repurposing do the rest.

What does it take to make the Inc 5000 list five times, raise eight kids, survive a divorce, and come out stronger? Bubba Page (real name: Brandt) knows—and his journey will challenge everything you think about entrepreneurship, faith, and family.In this episode:Why Bubba bootstrapped his first company (Launch Leads) to $500K/year without raising a dollarThe brutal reality of venture-backed failure: How Techstars and VC money led to his hardest seasonThe 9-10 Rule for influencer marketing: Why 90% of influencers won't work (and how to find the 10% who crush it)Working with your spouse: Ground rules for business partnerships in marriage (and why his didn't survive)The 50-week prayer experiment: How Bubba found God after feeling spiritually empty his entire life"Choose yourself for 12 months": The monk who changed his body, mind, and businessWhy he tells first-time founders: DON'T raise venture capital (even though he's now a VC)Building Influence VC: Writing $25K-$500K checks into startups through his syndicateThe Page Company: Selling digital products to millions of followers (and the lessons from running it with his ex-wife)What investors REALLY look for: Relationship, traction, and market size—in that orderFather of 8: How he shows up for his kids while running multiple businessesThe hardest thing he's ever been through (hint: it wasn't the business failure)Best for:Founders considering whether to raise VC moneyEntrepreneurs working with their spouseAnyone struggling to balance faith, family, and businessMarketers trying to crack the influencer codeFounders who've faced failure and need to rebuildBubba's Philosophy: "Things don't bring happiness. My family, my relationship with God, my relationships—that brings me true joy. You can have financial freedom and still feel empty. Fix that first."Connect with Bubba Page:Syndicate: Influence VC (on AngelList - free to join)Instagram: @bubbagpageLinkedIn: Bubba PageBusiness Bootcamp: 12-week program for entrepreneursKey Takeaway: Being an entrepreneur is incredible—but dig deep enough and you'll find a wound driving you. Heal that wound, build your relationship with God, and the business success becomes a byproduct, not the purpose.

What happens when you say yes to a client project you have no idea how to do? Bianca McDown-Reber shares her journey from teaching herself to code in 60 days to building VoxxVoice, a thriving 17-person marketing and advertising agency that operates across three continents.In this episode:The difficult choice between two marriage proposals that taught her about high-stakes decisionsLearning to code in 60 days to land her first client (with zero coding background)Two kidnapping experiences in South Sudan that changed her perspective on timeRunning a 17-person global agency while traveling to 29 countries with two kidsWhy she refuses to nap and what "chasing your potential" really meansHer new book: "You're Not Just a Mom" - written in the trenches of motherhoodBalancing marriage to a medical resident, motherhood, and business growthThe "9-hour doom scroll" problem and how to audit your timeBest for:Female founders navigating motherhood and businessEntrepreneurs who feel stuck in the "early struggle"Anyone who needs a kick in the pants to stop waiting for perfect conditionsConnect with Bianca:Company: VoxxVoice.comLinkedIn: [most active]Instagram: @[handle]Email: [email protected] Pre-Order: "You're Not Just a Mom: It's Time to Find You and Your Purpose" (Available next month)

The Science of Startup Success: Why 95% of Funded Startups Fail (And How to Be in the 5%) Think raising money will solve your startup problems? Think again. In this episode, Tyler Richards—serial exited entrepreneur, General Partner at Startup Ignition Ventures, and founder who scaled DevMountain to $10M in revenue and a successful exit—reveals why most venture-backed startups crash and burn, and exactly how to validate your business idea before wasting time and money. What You’ll Learn:  ✅ The Quibi disaster: How a $2 billion startup failed in just 7 months (and the lesson every founder needs to know)  ✅ The Lean Startup methodology: Tyler’s step-by-step scientific approach to building businesses that actually work  ✅ The Business Model Canvas framework: How to move from guesses to facts in all 9 critical areas of your business  ✅ Real case study: How one company made 7 pivots and sold for $100M after raising just $250K ✅ The riskiest assumption exercise: Identify what could kill your startup (before it does)About Tyler Richards:  Tyler Richards is General Partner at Startup Ignition Ventures, a pre-seed venture fund that actively mentors the startups it invests in. Tyler founded and scaled DevMountain to $10M in revenue before a successful exit in 2016. He now runs the Startup Ignition Bootcamp, which has helped over 1,200 companies validate and scale their ideas using lean startup methodology. Working alongside his father John Richards (who took InfoSpace public), Tyler leads investments in validated tech and software business models across Utah and the Mountain West. Named to Utah’s 2025 “40 Under 40” list. Connect with Tyler Richards: ∙ Startup Ignition: https://www.startupignition.com ∙ Startup Ignition Ventures: https://www.startupignition.vcSubscribe to Startups with Stu for weekly conversations with founders, investors, and entrepreneurs who are building real businesses the right way—no fluff, just actionable startup advice from people who’ve done it. Keywords: startup advice, lean startup, business validation, venture capital, entrepreneurship podcast, how to start a business, product market fit, business model canvas, startup funding, bootstrap startup, entrepreneur tips, Tyler Richards, Startup Ignition, Utah startups

What happens when a $180,000 M&A attorney has a panic attack on the way to work and throws away his legal career for escape rooms? Raleigh Williams built Alcatraz Escape Games from zero to a $26 million exit across four entertainment brands in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. After leaving a prestigious law firm against his father's wishes, Raleigh spent two years in his in-laws' basement before creating an entertainment empire. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Raleigh's transformation from self-employed business owner to asset builder, including the brutal reality of being told his profitable business was "worth zero" by strategic buyers. Raleigh shares insights on the three stages of entrepreneurship, surviving COVID with $350,000 monthly rent obligations, and why he represented himself through nine transactions instead of using investment bankers. He reveals the mindset shifts required to build a sell-able business and his current work helping entrepreneurs through exitOS and his book "The Creator's Call."Follow Startups with Stu:Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/Follow Raleigh Williams: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raleigh-williams/Book: The Creator's Call on AmazonAlcatraz Escape Games: https://alcatrazescapegames.com/ Website: https://exitos.io

What happens when a former security company CEO discovers a protein bar so good his kids beg for it daily? Jason Christensen went from teaching business students to building Blue Unicorn, a protein bar brand growing 25% month-over-month with 50% subscription sales. After selling his first company to private equity and spending five years as a BYU professor, Jason stumbled into the food industry when he tasted Dr. Luke Tolley's "unicorn" creation - a fluffy protein bar with impossible nutrition that actually tastes like dessert. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper dives into Jason's transition from service-based business to consumer products, including the nightmare of promising 3,000 bars before knowing how to make them and the expensive lessons of manufacturing mistakes. Jason shares insights on building subscription-based food businesses, leveraging university partnerships for talent, and the emotional decision to leave comfortable retirement for the startup grind. He reveals why parents hide Blue Unicorn bars from their kids and his strategy for geographic retail expansion across western states.Follow Startups with Stu:Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/Follow Stuart Draper:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/Follow Jason Christensen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-christensen-9808b9/Follow Luke Tolley:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-tolley-4900a26/Follow Blue Unicorn:Website: https://www.blueunicorn.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueunicornofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueunicornmagic/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blueunicornofficial

What happens when a successful NYC model loses everything, battles depression, and discovers her life purpose through a rescue horse? Natalia Graf-Anders transformed her darkest moment into a multi-million dollar equestrian empire that's revolutionizing how women see themselves in riding apparel. After years of modeling and corporate sales left her empty and dependent on Adderall, Natalia moved back home with nothing but found healing through horses. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Natalia's journey from three products in her apartment to building Sync Equestrian into a business targeting $5-6 million this year, up from $2.1 million last year. Natalia reveals her psychology-based advertising strategies, the manifestation practices that fuel her success, and her approach to building an empowerment-focused brand that sets trends instead of following them. She shares insights on nervous system training for money mindset, the importance of trusting business intuition, and scaling from solo founder to leading a team while maintaining authentic brand messaging.Follow Startups with Stu:Website:https://startupswithstu.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStuInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/Follow Stuart Draper:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/Follow Natalia Graf-Anders:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nataliaornatascha/Follow Sync Equestrian:Website:https://syncequestrian.com/https://www.sync-academy.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/syncequestrian/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/syncequestrian

What if you could legally exclude up to $10 million from taxes when selling your startup? Richard Levychin from Galleros Robinson breaks down the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Section 1202 tax code that most founders overlook until it's too late. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Richard explains how proper entity structure and timing can save entrepreneurs millions during exit events, sharing real cases where clients turned $100K investments into $9 million payouts. Stuart Draper explores the critical setup requirements, five year holding periods, and conversion strategies for LLCs and S-Corps looking to qualify. From Delaware C-Corporation benefits to advanced tax mitigation techniques rated on a 1 to 10 risk scale, this conversation delivers actionable insights for companies in their growth stage. Richard also reveals common due diligence pitfalls that kill deals and why having the right advisory team makes the difference between keeping your wealth and losing it to Uncle Sam. Follow Richard Levychin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-levychin-cpa-cgma-b22386/ Follow Startups with Stu:Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What separates fundable startups from those that never attract angel investment? Akbar Jaffer, angel investor and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Grand Canyon University, has evaluated hundreds of startups through his nine-company founding experience at Snapfish, ZorroSign, and other ventures. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Akbar reveals his systematic 6-point investment criteria that determines whether he writes a check or walks away. Stuart explores Akbar's methodology for assessing market position, founder expertise, and team composition, plus his requirement that founders have skin-in-the-game through personal financial investment. Akbar explains his preference for three-founder teams over solo entrepreneurs or larger groups, shares examples of world-changing startups that attracted his investment, and discusses the scaling potential indicators that signal strong exit opportunities for angel investors. Follow Akbar Jaffer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akbarjaffer/ Website: https://marketing-qa.com/ Snapfish: https://www.snapfish.com/home Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/  Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

Ryan Petersen transforms startup planning by using ChatGPT as his business development partner for Swintros, a new job platform technology. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper watches as Ryan generates a complete business plan in real time using just one simple prompt to ChatGPT 4.0. The AI instantly creates executive summaries, market analysis, financial projections, and go-to-market strategies based on previous conversations Ryan had with the system. Stuart and Ryan show live adjustments to pricing models and financial forecasts, revealing exactly what's possible when you feed AI the right information upfront. Ryan shares his approach to working with AI rather than against it, emphasizing that tools like ChatGPT excel at business validation and identifying gaps entrepreneurs might miss. Building a startup in 2025 has never been more accessible, and this episode proves that comprehensive business planning no longer requires extensive spreadsheet knowledge or market research skills. Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What happens when chips on your shoulder fuel two successful exits but leave you empty at the finish line? Tom Telford sold his institutional finance companies for eight figures by age 37, only to discover his anger-driven motivation vanished the moment he achieved financial freedom. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Tom Telford, shares his transformation from proving doubters wrong to building LEVO  Mind Care with three women partners focused on the biological side of mental health treatment. Stuart Draper explores Tom's disciplined goal-setting approach that turned a struggling student with ADHD into a serial entrepreneur, his strategic pivot from banking to credit unions during the 2008 crisis, and the prayer-based mentorship philosophy that connected him with industry giants. Tom reveals the biopsychosocial model of mental health care, explains why physical assessment often precedes therapy, and discusses his mission to become the most generous mental health business owner ever while elevating women leaders in healthcare. Follow Tom Telford:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-telford-2168514/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommystackroom/ Company Website: https://levomind.com/ Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What happens when a small-town hairdresser discovers her clients need more than just a haircut? Tami Hymas built five successful businesses in rural Idaho, but her biggest venture yet tackles childhood emotional wellness through cartoon characters that help kids identify and process their feelings. In this episode of StartUps with Stu, Tami shares her journey from salon owner to startup founder, revealing how she invested $500,000 to create the InUPowers program now being tested in juvenile detention centers and schools. Stuart Draper dives deep into Tami's mission-driven approach, exploring the challenges of scaling an education technology business beyond local markets. From government contracts to classroom management tools, this conversation unpacks the reality of building a business that aims to heal young minds while generating sustainable revenue. Tami's story demonstrates that sometimes the most unexpected entrepreneurs create the most needed solutions.

StartFragment StartFragment StartFragment StartFragment What does it take to build a $56 million company after losing everything twice? Jeremy Barker, founder of Murphy Door, shares his incredible journey from making his first $20 million at 21, going bankrupt, and living in his car for exactly one year to building the Kleenex brand of hidden doors. In this episode, Jeremy reveals how he created an entirely new product category from scratch while working as a full-time firefighter, turning a simple hardware concept into a monopoly business that's projected to hit $109 million by 2027. He breaks down the mental shift that saved his life during his darkest moments, why he chose domestic manufacturing over cheap imports, and his contrarian approach to scaling without taking investor money. Jeremy also unveils Pure Brand, his revolutionary customer-to-customer sales platform that converts prospects at 47% compared to traditional website conversion rates of 0.24%. His hard-earned wisdom about resilience, the dangers of early success, and building authentic value over flashy signaling makes this essential listening for any entrepreneur facing setbacks or looking to create a category-defining business. Connect with Jeremy Barker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-barker-02007648/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbarker482/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyBarker482 Follow Murphy Door: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-murphy-door/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphydoor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@murphydoor Twitter/X: https://x.com/murphydoor

What started as a $500 college fund goal turned into a frozen custard empire spanning multiple states. Jessica Mortensen shares her unexpected journey from buying a college student's yellow trailer business for $40,000 to building Karie Anne's Frozen Desserts into a thriving franchise operation. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Jessica reveals the pivotal moments that transformed her "summer side gig" mindset into a serious growth strategy, including the leap from eight seasonal trailers to year-round brick-and-mortar locations. She breaks down the harsh realities of franchising - from the massive upfront costs to finding franchisees who won't let high schoolers run their operations unsupervised. Jessica opens up about the internal struggle between her competitive drive and family priorities, sharing why she's considering either bringing on a strategic partner or leveraging debt to reach her next growth phase. Her transparent approach to business challenges, combined with practical insights about managing seasonal cash flow and building systems that work across multiple locations, makes this essential listening for anyone considering franchising or building a family business. Jessica's story proves that sometimes the best business opportunities come disguised as small investments that "feel right."Connect with Jessica Mortensen:LinkedIn: @jessica-mortensenInstagram: @karieannesdessertsWebsite: karieannes.com

Standing alone in her parents' kitchen making a quesadilla, Whitney Rigby heard a male voice tell her to "create magnetic hair extensions" - and nobody else was home. Nine years later, that supernatural moment has transformed into the world's first magnetic hair extension company, with investors begging to get in and trade shows selling out instantly. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Whitney reveals how she went from aspiring celebrity hairstylist to bootstrapped entrepreneur while raising four kids, including the wild chain of "coincidences" that led a multi-million dollar CEO to mentor her after her father-in-law randomly installed blinds at his house. Host Stuart Draper dives deep into the strategic decisions that matter most - why Whitney turned down Shark Tank when pregnant, how she survived her husband losing his job twice during development, and the real reason it took six years to perfect a product that seemed simple. The conversation gets tactical when Stuart breaks down exactly why Whitney needs to raise money now, the difference between debt and equity financing, and how inventory challenges are actually the best problem to have. For entrepreneurs wondering how to balance family life with startup dreams, this episode offers a blueprint for building something meaningful without sacrificing what matters most.

Xan Marcucci rejected a $500,000 corporate offer to start Confetti Recruiting as a summer project while caring for her young children. What began with a surprise $20,000 commission check evolved into a thriving business aligned with her family priorities. Xan shares an unconventional perspective, suggesting aspiring entrepreneurs gain corporate experience first and explaining her choice to prioritize flexibility over aggressive growth. She talks about balancing her natural competitiveness with family needs, the wisdom behind bootstrapping, and the advantages of partnership with someone who has different risk tolerance. Sales professionals considering entrepreneurship will appreciate her straightforward assessment of business ownership challenges. Xan presents success as personal freedom and family time rather than maximizing revenue, offering listeners a refreshing alternative to typical startup narratives.

While most entrepreneurs struggle with expensive lead generation, 24-year-old Derek Bock discovered a networking strategy that costs nothing but delivers warm leads directly to your inbox. Starting with social media work for a Nebraska gym during COVID, Bock has built multiple ventures and now runs The Doers Podcast, which he strategically uses as his primary business development tool. Bock shares why he chose the lifestyle entrepreneur path over chasing unicorn status, how he generates qualified prospects through strategic conversations, and why he believes podcasting outperforms traditional marketing channels. Having networked his way from college athlete to serial founder, he breaks down the exact framework that transforms podcast guests into business opportunities. Bock also reveals his system for managing 30+ fleshed-out business ideas while maintaining laser focus on current ventures. This episode delivers actionable insights for young founders seeking sustainable growth without venture capital pressure, plus the networking blueprint that can accelerate any entrepreneur's trajectory regardless of age or experience level. Connect with Derek Bock: Instagram: @ thederekbock Gmail: [email protected] LinkedIn: Derek Bock

"I magically carve out hours for my day. So some days I have to start at 4 a.m." This is how Akvile DeFazio, who fled Lithuania during the Cold War with just a wooden crate, manages to run a thriving social media advertising agency while raising a kindergartner. In a decade of business, she's achieved something almost unheard of: she's never been fired by a single client. Starting with zero sales experience and crippling stage fright, Akvile transformed herself from a timid freelancer into a confident agency owner who keynotes major conferences. Her secret? A revolutionary approach that shifted her business model during COVID, turning consulting into 60% of her revenue stream while working fewer hours than traditional account management. After shadowing a mentor who handed over half her clients, Akvile discovered that building genuine relationships trumps aggressive sales tactics every time. She reveals her exact blueprint for creating a lifestyle business that generates serious revenue without requiring a large team, plus the unconventional parental coverage program that allowed her to take real maternity leave as a founder. This episode is a goldmine for anyone wanting to build a sustainable, profitable business while maintaining work-life balance and never compromising on family time.

In a recent episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper, Join us as we explore the innovative journey of Subitt.io, a startup that's transforming how small businesses implement subscription models to drive customer retention. Founder Nick Hepworth shares his insights on building a platform that makes subscription services accessible to mom-and-pop shops, discussing the challenges of educating both businesses and customers while navigating the complex world of local commerce. From his beginnings in Mississippi to managing 50 businesses with 1600 MRR, Hepworth reveals the strategic decisions that led to early traction. The conversation delves into the importance of focusing on success stories rather than scale, the art of building trust with small business owners, and the critical balance between growth and profitability. This deep dive offers valuable lessons for any entrepreneur looking to disrupt traditional business models and create meaningful impact in local communities.

Learn how SBA loans can transform your business dreams as Craig Sherle, VP of SBA Lending at Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) with 25 years of small business lending experience, explains exactly how to get financing when other lenders reject you. These government-backed loans (covering 75-85% of the risk) have helped numerous employees become owners - like the restaurant manager who purchased multiple franchise locations and continues expanding. Craig shares specific requirements lenders evaluate, why buying an existing business increases your approval odds, and which free local resources will strengthen your application. With the "silver wave" of Baby Boomer business owners retiring, unprecedented buying opportunities are emerging across America. This episode gives you the practical financial knowledge to join the ranks of successful buyers in what was recently named among the top 5 entrepreneurial paths to wealth building.

In this episode, we sit down with James Reber who transformed his frustration with torn rugby jerseys into a thriving custom sports apparel business. Starting with just 50 misspelled rugby balls, James now celebrates breaking six figures in Q1 2025—more than his entire previous year's revenue. He shares the exact moment he received his first $72 check and why he still keeps it as a reminder of his entrepreneurial journey. When unexpected layoffs pushed him to go all-in on his side hustle, James found success by focusing on high-quality products and exceptional customer service for niche sports markets. Listen as he explains his strategy for transitioning from a part-time venture to a full-time business with big ambitions, including his vision for a potential $25 million exit. This conversation offers practical insights about manufacturing challenges, family support, and building an effective team of six contractors who are expanding Rebellion Sports across the country.

Meet Mak Grgic, founder of Notey's World, who's tackling a universal challenge: 90% of people who try learning guitar eventually quit. In this investment pitch, Mak showcases how his Techstars-backed startup transforms musical instruments into actual game controllers, creating an addictive learning experience that's seeing unprecedented user retention—67% at day 90 compared to the industry's measly 2%. With $207,000 in first-year revenue and school partnerships already spanning multiple states, Notey's custom AI technology adapts to each student's specific learning gaps. Parents are witnessing months of progress in just weeks as children suddenly can't wait to practice. The platform's proprietary automatic level generator can transform any song into a personalized game world, complete with notes that control jumping blimps and characters avoiding obstacles. With Grammy artists like Stewart Copeland from The Police signing on as affiliates, Mak explains why this $8 million valuation seed round might be your chance to join the reinvention of music education.

What happens when three executives who built a million-dollar EdTech company reunite to share their unfiltered startup journey? In this 30th episode of Startups with Stu, founder Stuart Draper and his former executive team Trevor Erickson and Brandon Winter pull back the curtain on their meteoric rise from working out of their homes to becoming a global education powerhouse. The trio tackles head-on questions about validating business ideas, managing side hustles while growing a company, and knowing when you've finally broken through the "will we fail?" ceiling. They share specific strategies they used to position their product as "first in the world" and how they leveraged this unique advantage to fuel explosive growth. Stuart reveals his fundraising mistakes that actually turned into blessings, while Brandon explains why college students selling to professors became their secret weapon. This rare conversation between founders who succeeded together offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage - from spotting market opportunities to building a team that embraces an entrepreneurial mindset.

McKay Francis never planned to battle the SEC or catch Grant Cardone's attention when he launched Casa Shares, the investing platform letting broke college students buy real estate for just $10 per share. This episode of Startups with Stu unveils how Casa Shares secured a game-changing federal exemption allowing non-millionaires to invest in property, something 90% of Americans couldn't legally do before. McKay shares his transformation from late-night side-hustler to founder raising $2.5 million while rejecting venture capital offers that would have meant "working until 2am under their rules." His mission began after watching dentists turn $500,000 salaries into "tens of millions" through real estate investments while average Americans got locked out. Now Casa Shares users earn quarterly dividends, property appreciation, and tax benefits without needing $300,000 starter funds. With property values doubling in recent years, McKay explains why investors should build their "snowball effect" portfolio starting at 18 instead of the typical age 46, potentially turning small investments into millions through earlier compounding.

From creating America's #1 cake mix to writing a $25,000 check that launched an educational empire—Corey Smith's unexpected journey unfolds in this episode of Startups with Stu. When Stuart Draper lost his third job in a row, it was Corey's unwavering belief that transformed a desperate situation into Stukent, a company that would eventually impact over a million students worldwide. But before becoming an angel investor, Corey walked away from his six-figure Boston career to save his father's struggling pharmacy in rural Idaho, dragging his California-raised wife Cindy into a life she never imagined. The Smiths reveal the hidden tensions of family business ownership, the brutal truth about equity distribution, and what happens when 87% of your investments fail. As Southeast Idaho's entrepreneurial scene evolves, Corey delivers a stark warning about integrity that every founder needs to hear: "Trustworthiness is a rare commodity." This conversation exposes both the triumphs and scars of building businesses that matter in places where most people say it can't be done.

From eight-figure exit to nearly $1 million in debt in less than a year! Serial entrepreneur John Rampton joins Stuart Draper on Startups with Stu to share his journey from childhood candy stand owner to multi-million dollar success. John reveals how writing for major publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur helped launch his businesses, and details the painful collapse of his company organize.com after Amazon shut them down and left him financially devastated. After hitting rock bottom—begging for gas money and facing eviction—John's fortunes turned when a random connection from his past led to work that sustained him while rebuilding. Through personal stories, including losing 65 pounds through a monk's unconventional four-year plan, John emphasizes the importance of taking care of yourself first before helping others in your "circles of influence." His current venture, Calendar.com, handles scheduling for major healthcare providers worldwide with just eight employees, demonstrating his ability to build efficient, profitable businesses.

From turning down multi-million dollar Wall Street recruitment bonuses to building a billion-dollar wealth management firm, Chad Willardson's entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional. In this captivating episode of Startups with Stu, Chad reveals how he walked away from a $1.4M salary at Merrill Lynch to start Pacific Capital, taking a 70% pay cut to pursue his vision of serving entrepreneurs differently. He shares the fascinating story of surprising his wife with a private jet purchase (and her unexpected reaction), and explains why he turns down high-profile clients like NBA players to stay true to his entrepreneurial niche. Chad breaks down why he believes the "hustle culture" is a lie, revealing how he built a thriving business while maintaining an 8 AM-3 PM workday for his team and prioritizing family life. Drawing from his experience managing $1.45 billion in assets, Chad offers counter-intuitive wisdom about wealth building, arguing that diversification isn't always the answer. This episode is packed with invaluable insights for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses while building meaningful lives.

The gaming industry surpasses music, movies, and sports combined in market size, yet Luke Richey envisions something bigger than profits alone. As founder of America's oldest augmented reality company Gravity Jack, he's crafting a revolutionary gaming experience backed by legendary Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and protected by a powerful patent portfolio. After building games that generated $35M+ monthly revenue, Richey is rejecting the "dopamine for dollars" model to create experiences that forge real-world connections and preserve 7,000+ endangered languages. His vision has already secured $550K of a $3.5M raise at a $23.4M valuation. Through stories of wrestling championships, startup victories, and spiritual transformation, Richey showcases how gaming can become a force for genuine human connection and social change. This episode offers founders a masterclass in building companies that deliver both exceptional returns and meaningful global impact, while revealing the untapped potential of gaming as a catalyst for social good.

What's the smartest way to turn $10,000 in savings into a business that gives you true time and financial freedom? In this episode of Startups with Stu, Ethan Clark reveals his journey from real estate investing to co-founding Idaho Falls Junk Removal, while plotting an ambitious exit strategy that could multiply his company's value. Host Stuart Draper breaks down the counterintuitive truth about real estate versus service businesses - why a demolition company could potentially grow faster than property investments, and how to structure deals that let the business pay for itself. Through real-world insights, you'll learn why hunting for distressed business owners in their mid-60s could be your ticket to entrepreneurial success, and how creative financing can help you acquire a $300,000 business with just $10,000 down. The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Stuart explains why subscription models could transform a simple service business into a highly valuable asset, potentially tripling its sale price. For entrepreneurs looking to build wealth without being chained to their business, this episode offers a masterclass in strategic thinking - from finding the right opportunities to engineering your own exit, all while maintaining the freedom to spend time with family.

What happens when you combine the urgent need for expert voices with publishers' insatiable demand for authentic content? Brett Farmiloe, founder of Featured.com, shares how he transformed this market gap into a thriving platform that now powers content for industry giants like Fast Company, Forbes, and HubSpot. In this episode, Brett reveals the strategic pivot that led him from running a 500-client digital marketing agency to building a two-sided marketplace that's doubling year after year. He breaks down the chicken-and-egg challenge of marketplace businesses, explaining how focusing on the "hard side" - securing top-tier publishers - became their key to scaling. From validating their product with zero publishing partners to now serving over 1,000 prominent media outlets, Brett shares invaluable insights about product-led growth, staying lean with a team of seven, and why sometimes the best partnerships are the ones you keep close to the vest. His practical wisdom about unlocking expertise at scale and navigating the AI content revolution makes this episode essential listening for founders building marketplace businesses or anyone looking to establish themselves as an industry expert.

"You're not a marketing genius. You don't even have a job. You do yoga all the time." These were the words Curtis Matsko's girlfriend hurled at him when he boldly declared he was going to quit his job and start a hundred-million-dollar company selling leather journals. Her response? "That's the stupidest idea ever." Fast forward to today, and Curtis Matsko didn't just prove her wrong - he built a $200 million global leather goods empire that sells one product every three seconds on Black Friday. From hustling at art festivals to building a 600,000 square foot international operation, Matsko's journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial audacity and marketing genius. What happens when you ignore everyone who says your idea is crazy and instead bet everything on your vision? By treating marketing as his primary product and breaking through every limitation, Curtis reveals the unconventional strategies that transformed Portland Leather Goods from a garage startup to a rapidly expanding brand. With raw honesty and infectious energy, he shares critical lessons about surrounding yourself with motivated people, breaking through your own expectations, and why data should always serve decision-making. This isn't just another startup story - it's a blueprint for turning seemingly impossible dreams into world-changing businesses. If you're an entrepreneur looking for real-world inspiration and tactical insights, this episode will light a fire under your ambitions.

In this week's episode of Startups with Stu, discover what happens when you combine the hype of custom sneakers with B2B marketing. Matt Williams reveals how his company DSCMFRT is transforming corporate gifting and social media engagement by turning Nike and Adidas sneakers into viral marketing assets. From crafting money-themed Air Jordans to creating region-specific designs for real estate firms, Matt shares how a traditional sneaker customization business evolved into a B2B success story that's generating 40+ hours of LinkedIn video views from 30-second content. With fascinating stories of corporate shoe designs and viral unboxing moments, Matt breaks down his innovative approach to turning mundane business logos into conversation-starting footwear that employees actually want to wear. His journey reveals an unconventional path to building recurring revenue streams, transitioning from one-off shoe sales to full-scale social media management and LinkedIn advertising services. For entrepreneurs looking to stand out in crowded B2B spaces and marketers seeking fresh engagement strategies, this episode offers a masterclass in turning physical products into digital marketing gold.

What happens when you trade a cushy Target supply chain job for a risky startup role with no salary for five months? For Brandon Winter, former CRO of Stukent and founder of Fundraise Genius, it led to helping build Stukent from zero to serving over a million students across 80 countries. Going behind the scenes of Stukent's meteoric rise, Brandon reveals how Stukent grew from a makeshift warehouse office (complete with a porta-potty!) into an ed-tech powerhouse that revolutionized digital marketing education. Through stories of shared hotel rooms in Singapore and intense strategy meetings, Brandon breaks down the delicate balance of building a sales culture that drives astronomical growth while maintaining team cohesion. Get an insider's look at how early-stage compensation negotiations work, why having a mission bigger than money attracts top talent, and what it takes to transition from "player-coach" to true sales leadership. For founders looking to build high-performing sales teams and professionals considering the leap into startups, this episode offers an unfiltered look at both the grind and glory of startup life.

Every morning, Stukent's first CTO Mike "Turbo" Farmer would burst into the warehouse-turned-office shouting "TURBO!" – bringing energy and fun to a startup racing against impossible deadlines. As the sole technical leader, Mike powered through Christmas coding sessions to rebuild Stukent's entire platform, ultimately helping create software that would impact students at over 300 universities. Through stories of late-night debugging sessions, heated strategy meetings, and the pressure of being the company's only engineer, Mike breaks down what it really takes to build mission-critical educational software from scratch. The conversation explores the delicate balance of technical decisions in a non-technical founding team, the importance of stock option understanding for early employees, and how celebrating small wins helped the team push through their toughest challenges. For founders looking to build strong technical partnerships and engineers considering joining early-stage startups, this episode offers invaluable insights into the human side of startup engineering leadership.

We showed up to conferences and we had humans all over our booth. So many humans that our neighbours were complaining" - this is how Trevor Erikson describes Stukent's early disruptive entry into the academic publishing space, where he served as the company's first hire and CMO. From pioneering personalized marketing campaigns (including tracking down professors' favorite candy bars from around the world) to scaling email strategies that helped grow Stukent to tens of millions in valuation, Trevor reveals the innovative tactics that transformed a basement startup into an educational technology leader serving over a million students. His experience juggling side hustles while building companies offers a real playbook for both marketers and founders. Now at Deviant Ink, he's proving that mixing digital innovation with passion markets is a winning formula. For entrepreneurs looking to scale through authentic marketing, this episode shows why personal touches and real connections beat conventional marketing every time.  

"I was living in my parents' basement making $15 an hour when suddenly Merrill Lynch paperwork showed up saying I was worth $3 million" - this is how Dan Handy describes his first major exit, but it was just the beginning of his remarkable journey in technology entrepreneurship. From pioneering the freemium model in web hosting to scaling Bluehost to $65 million in revenue without raising external capital, Dan reveals the innovative strategies that powered his success, including a game-changing partnership with WordPress and a revolutionary approach to affiliate marketing. His candid discussion about making pivotal decisions provides a masterclass in startup leadership, while his current ventures in golf technology demonstrate why the most promising opportunities often emerge from combining technological innovation with non-technical industries. For entrepreneurs seeking to bootstrap their way to success, this episode illuminates why effective cash flow management and strategic partnerships frequently matter more than having the perfect idea.  

"The only thing harder than starting a hemp food business in 1998 was doing it as a guy with a ponytail," jokes Mike Fata, who turned his personal health transformation into a revolutionary business that would forever change the hemp food industry. Starting Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods with just $50,000 in first-year sales, Mike persevered through a decade of unprofitability, regulatory battles with the DEA, and countless skeptics who laughed at his vision. His determination paid off when he sold the company for $419 million to Tilray in 2019. Now wearing his signature "GROW" hat, Mike shares raw insights about building a $100M company while reaching only 2% of his target market, proving that success often comes to those who simply stay in the game longer than everyone else. This episode is packed with practical wisdom about raising capital (turning his mom's $5,000 investment into an $80,000 return), finding your authentic story, and why he chooses to keep working despite his massive exit. For entrepreneurs wondering if they have what it takes, Mike's journey shows that success often comes down to one thing: Stick-to-itiveness. Connect with Mike:  LinkedIn: Mike Fata  Book: "Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur"