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Philadelphia author Joe Taylor Jr. interviews entrepreneurs and innovators about growing their companies, overcoming challenges, and finding the strength to bring new ideas to market.
29 JAN 2019 · Managing change isn’t always easy. For industrial engineer and climate change policy expert Shannon Binns, the need to manage change became apparent when he moved to fast-growing Charlotte, North Carolina and observed a major lack of planning in the city’s sustainable growth plans.
This observation inspired Shannon to start a journey of a thousand one-on-one conversations with locals about how the region was planning to handle a surge in population, business, and development. Sustain Charlotte was formed and the company quickly turned into the promise for a sustainable future in one of America’s fastest-growing metros. It’s the story of Sustain Charlotte on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3LyGNjG
Key Takeaways
[1:32] All about Charlotte, North Carolina through the eyes of Shannon Binns.
[4:33] Thinking about sustainability in one of America’s fastest-growing metros.
[7:47] Turning a hobby concept into a team-run organization on a mission.
[14:53] Funding a grant, membership, and consultation hybrid business model.
[17:34] Upholding the original vision of Sustain Charlotte while navigating the company’s growth.
[20:41] Natural demographic shifts that support the mission of Sustain Charlotte.
[23:06] Playing the consequence-free convener role for a wide variety of stakeholders.
[25:40] Conservation vs. sustainability and helping businesses understand the implications of both.
[28:37] Looking ahead to the smart-growth future of Sustain Charlotte.
[31:29] Starting up a similar effort in any community starts with one-on-one conversations.
15 JAN 2019 · Entrepreneurial inspiration can be found anywhere. Brothers Cody and Colton Tapoler found their inspiration at one of the happiest places on earth — Disney World. Combining Cody’s creative skills and Colton’s operational expertise, the brothers have created park-related merchandise that is more in line with their sensibilities and turned their love of pop culture and theme parks into a thriving fashion and lifestyle brand.
The Lost Bros is a fast-growing company and they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. From music and trip planning to their goal of partnering with Disney itself, there isn’t an end in sight to the success that these entrepreneurs have found. It’s the story of The Lost Bros on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3PzwizR
Key Takeaways
[1:34] Introducing the passion that evolved into a full-blown lifestyle business.
[6:09] Keeping ahead of the consumer demand for all things Disney.
[9:50] Leveraging the urgency that comes with carrying limited-quantity merchandise.
[11:53] Growing the Lost Boys team while honoring their core values.
[14:43] The creative process that turns concepts into marketable designs.
[19:07] Interacting with fans and keeping on good terms with the parks.
[22:40] Scaling to The Lost Bros means growing without an upper ceiling and not burning out.
[26:18] Must-see Disney attractions in 2019.
[28:55] Brothers building a business versus building a brand.
7 JAN 2019 · HEX Coffee is a hospitality company that doesn’t just serve coffee. By focusing on unique experiences that exceed customer expectations, Hex Coffee has grown to a brand that is roasting their own beans, managing a physical cafe, and shipping products across the country.
These three partners have positioned themselves in a place of growth and acceptance in the expanding Charlotte, North Carolina community. They admit that they’ve made plenty of mistakes and learned important lessons along their entrepreneurial path and they have tips on how to turn anyone into a lover of high-quality coffee. It’s the story of Hex Coffee on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3yWmqKR
Key Takeaways
[1:30] Introducing HEX Coffee and their journey from pop-up shop to roasting in their own space.
[7:32] Are Americans asking for more than ever from their relationship with coffee?
[9:47] Growing the skills and setting the milestones required to build a large-market coffee business.
[13:47] Defining roles, hiring staff, and sharing responsibilities within a growing company.
[20:16] All about the Coffee Shot.
[28:06] Carving out a niche in a growing community starts with forming a loyal customer base.
[30:20] Looking ahead to the future of HEX Coffee.
[34:17] Overcoming obstacles in order to keep moving forward.
[40:45] Developing a taste and a love for good coffee.
[44:20] Bringing people together is a dream come true at HEX Coffee.
25 DEC 2018 · A Philadelphia high school teacher working with autistic students realized that, with the right approach, she could help her students learn crucial work skills, get good jobs and gain their independence. Michele McKeone has created a business that helps educators prepare neuro-diverse students for a technology-driven, highly social workforce.
Michele joins me today to discuss the proven success and promising future of her forward-thinking, legislative-supported company. She has refined her own skill set of marketing and fundraising and is expanding the reach of her company across the country and around the world. It’s the story of Digitability on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3lw2gPO
Key Takeaways
[1:15] How Digitability prepares people with cognitive and behavioral needs for the workplace.
[2:33] Transitioning from technology student to educator to entrepreneur.
[6:12] Scaling from a classroom idea to a nationwide business model.
[8:45] Turning teacher feedback into a greater product.
[10:36] Designing an implementation model that fits with both students and customers.
[13:32] How Digitability enables the cultural and legislative shift of embracing diversity in the workplace.
[18:38] Changing the product pitch for teachers versus for investors.
[21:51] Financial success and scaling Digitability for future growth.
18 DEC 2018 · Samie and Ryan Roberts have created a business designed to solve the challenges couples face when planning their wedding day. Based in North Carolina, their company helps connect engaged couples with the vendors and inspiration that will make their wedding day perfect.
This husband and wife team join me today to talk about the post-wedding brainstorming session that inspired them to create Bustld. They share details about the team and technology behind the company, how they plan to scale to a national level, and why starting any new business is going to be one hundred times harder than you think it will be. It’s the story of Bustld on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3MAOrLD
11 DEC 2018 · Every journey in entrepreneurship includes at least one unexpected detour. But the unexpected changes in our paths sometimes lead us toward the greatest successes. AJ Bruno found himself faced with such a situation while scaling a rapidly growing startup company in Austin, Texas. The lessons he learned there turned one of the biggest challenges for his first company into the mission for his second company.
Today we’re talking about the business model that makes QuotaPath both unique and sustainable. AJ is confident that he has created a billion-dollar company and they are well on their way. It’s the story of QuotaPath on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3NwbcjV
Key Takeaways
[1:15] The challenge AJ faced in his first company that prompted the creation of QuotaPath.
[5:33] Evolving as a leader in various stages and roles with a rapidly-growing company.
[12:00] Building a second start-up company was shaped by lessons learned at the first one.
[14:49] Comparing contributing factors to the success of a product-led vs. sales-led company.
[18:20] How QuotaPath uses data-driven changes — and their instincts — to allow optimal implementation for their users.
[22:04] Protecting a start-up feature from being absorbed by more well-established companies.
[24:19] Building a team that is spread across the country means aligning everyone’s efforts.
[28:33] Managing the work-life balance for a young family and a young company.
[30:30] AJ’s vision for making QuotaPath a billion-dollar company.
20 NOV 2018 · Making a charitable donation online is now as simple as posting a hashtag comment on your favorite social media post, thanks to the innovative idea behind John Gossart’s startup company GoodWorld. GoodWorld has eliminated expensive processing fees and security hurdles and kept charitable donations where they belong — within the moment that inspired the generosity behind them.
John joins me today to discuss the ‘right idea at the right time’ concept behind GoodWorld. He shares the strategies that have kept them on equal playing grounds with big businesses and reminds us that starting any company comes with challenges that simply can’t be solved with hustle alone. It’s the story of GoodWorld on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3MCgD0X
Key Takeaways
[1:38] The journey that took John from military life to civilian life and entrepreneurship.
[4:25] The mission and execution of the GoodWorld donation movement.
[9:01] Thriving as a startup will require careful management and strategic navigation among big businesses.
[12:27] The contextual differentiation of GoodWorld that makes their idea so simple and so effective.
[15:14] An overview of the user experience for a GoodWorld customer.
[17:20] Using GoodWorld as a platform to increase awareness across multiple charities.
[19:26] Maintaining integrity with the charities and keeping the donations secure.
[23:36] Scaling this growing company and what John looks for in GoodWorld recruits.
[27:02] Balancing the entrepreneur lifestyle with personal life.
[29:19] Overcoming the challenges that every startup company is destined to face.
[34:00] Forecasting the future of GoodWorld.
13 NOV 2018 · Many entrepreneurial ideas for new companies are based on the latest technology, but not Pediatric Housecalls. They are redefining the patient experience and bringing back the old-fashioned way to practice medicine, but with a modern twist. This mobile Urgent Care practice takes their medical staff on the road, allowing patients to diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses without leaving the comfort of home.
I’m joined today by Pediatric Housecalls founder Sara DuMond, MD, FAAP. We take a look at the technology and the community that makes this company work. Sara shares how she can maintain a high-quality staff without ever working in the same office, and ways she has overcome the obstacles that come with building any new company. Sara has thrown conventional wisdom out the window, and as a result has turned her dream job into a thriving medical practice. It’s the story of Pediatric Housecalls on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/39IfoOX
Key Takeaways
[1:20] The concept of, and inspiration behind Pediatric Housecalls.
[5:43] What it took to form an all-mom staff that delivers high quality in-home medical care.
[8:48] How Pediatric Housecalls found their niche in the Charlotte medical community.
[11:00] The distinction of the patient experience with in-home medical care.
[15:05] Overcoming obstacles while disrupting the medical industry.
[18:01] Leveraging technology to make Pediatric Housecalls work outside the doctor’s office.
[20:32] Balancing all of the facets of a business starts with effective scheduling.
[23:12] Finding staff that shares Sara’s vision for quality modern-day in-home care business.
[28:56] Scaling a business for growth starts with perfecting the current process.
[31:16] How Sara has succeeded in making week-to-week scheduling work.
23 OCT 2018 · After recognizing how hard it is for fitness instructors to scale their business within the walls of a gym, FORTË founder Lauren Foundos built a platform that streams live videos from top trainers directly to students all over the world. FORTË now offers at-home access to boutique gyms all over the country, and the company has only just begun to realize Lauren’s vision for it. Her success proves that validating your business concept when you’re still small will allow you to scale to something big.
Lauren shares her tried-and-true methods for securing new partners, identifying and fulfilling her customers’ needs, and scaling a business in a way that allows incredible growth in the future. Her business tactics may not be the most traditional, but her success has proven that they definitely work. This is the story of FORTË with Lauren Foundos on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3wAHTak
Key Takeaways
[1:28] How this day-trader evolved into a virtual fitness class entrepreneur.
[3:48] Building the technology and marketing stack behind an idea like FORTË.
[6:30] What Lauren looks for in potential partners and talent.
[10:46] The technology and automation that make workouts feel fully immersive for viewers.
[14:50] Seeking investors and keeping a business profitable.
[16:30] Building a wide customer base starts with identifying their needs.
[18:52] Preventing burnout while growing an entrepreneurial idea.
[20:41] The best communication for gaining new customers may not be the most tactful.
[23:58] Looking to the future of streaming with 360 or VR technology.
[26:14] Lauren’s vision for the future of FORTË.
16 OCT 2018 · Finding the intersection between advertising, speaking engagements, and social and digital media can be a daunting task in today’s overloaded internet landscape. Rakia Reynolds is tackling the non-traditional media space at Skai Blue Media, a public relations company that provides business development, marketing, and message strategy to a wide variety of companies around the country.
Rakia has joined me to talk about what it takes to get your business noticed in today’s digital environment. She shares her experience with finding businesses that are willing to take a risk on a start-up, helping clients understanding the metrics of success in today’s online marketplace, and the importance of taking time to focus on your company’s brand, image, and future. Rakia also shares her vision to change the world, one digital media platform at a time, today on The Build.
To view full transcript and expanded show notes: https://bit.ly/3G3d15E
Key Takeaways
[1:23] Helping a client get noticed in an excessive media landscape without losing their focus.
[6:08] Rakia’s transition from editor to multimedia business owner.
[9:50] Finding businesses that are willing to take a risk on your start-up.
[11:06] Identifying your ideal client requires narrowing your focus.
[15:00] Various tools that can help clients measure their success.
[20:57] Helping clients understand the benefit of working with platforms they don’t understand.
[24:30] Why you need to focus on your brand just as much as you focus on your clients.
[28:36] Casting your organization for success and looking to the future.
[32:38] Rakia’s favorite elements of Skai Blue and her hopes for changing the world.
Philadelphia author Joe Taylor Jr. interviews entrepreneurs and innovators about growing their companies, overcoming challenges, and finding the strength to bring new ideas to market.
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