Founder In Progress

In Episode 99, filmed in Monterrey, Mexico, we sit down with Juan, founder of Kali Coffee, to explore how his journey takes coffee from the farms of Chiapas to supermarkets, cafés, and beyond. We unpack the reality of Mexico’s coffee market — where 80–85% of consumption is still instant — and the shift happening as independent cafés surge across cities like Monterrey. Juan breaks down Kali Coffee’...

In episode 98, filmed in Monterrey, Mexico, we sit down with Daniel — a five-time founder and exited entrepreneur — to break down one of the biggest hidden problems in LATAM’s business ecosystem: the exit gap. Why do only ~2% of businesses in Mexico successfully exit, compared to 10–20% in the U.S. and other developed markets? Is it culture? Liquidity? Lack of access to buyers? Or simply that foun...

In Episode 97, Lucia shares how Harbor has spent over 30 years helping companies make faster, smarter, and more informed decisions. From macroeconomic forecasting to real-time inflation analysis, she breaks down why reliable, timely data is only half the equation — and why the human factor still matters more than ever in the age of AI. We dive into the reality of forecasting in uncertain environme...

In Episode 96, filmed in Monterrey, Mexico, we sit down with Ricardo — architect turned founder of Monte Coyote, one of the city’s leading specialty coffee brands. He shares how his background in architecture and hospitality design prepared him to build a café rooted in flow, storytelling, and customer experience. We talk about scaling from an expected 30–40 cups a day to 500–700, why “opening day...

In Episode 95, filmed in Monterrey, Mexico, we sit down with Rodrigo, a builder who followed a small opportunity that turned into real momentum. What started as a simple eSIM experiment for family and friends quickly became a fast-scaling business serving 10,000+ customers, built on a rare balance of deep automation and high-touch customer support. In this conversation, Rodrigo breaks down why cus...

In episode 94, we sit down with Hans — co-founder & CEO of Nufi — to unpack how trust infrastructure actually gets built in Mexico and across Latin America. Hans breaks down what KYC and KYB really mean in practice, why compliance is the real “moat,” and how Nufi went from manual verification workflows that took weeks to a system that can return answers in minutes. We also go deep on why KYB i...

Episode 93 features Andrés from Tierra Prieta, recorded in Monterrey, Mexico. Andrés breaks down biochar carbon credits, the realities of carbon removal, and why this approach works best when treated as a focused tool rather than a silver bullet. In this conversation, we trace Andrés’ path from an engineering project turning spent coffee grounds into biodiesel… to discovering biochar through acade...

In this episode of Founders in Progress, we sit down with Jill Dewes, founder of Nice One, to talk about what happens when success no longer feels like success. After more than 25 years in the agency world, Jill made a fast, intentional decision to step away from leadership and rebuild her career on her own terms. We unpack identity, burnout, decision-making, and the quiet pressure founders put on...

Rich Waller has built companies, exited, and now helps operators scale with intention. In this episode, we go deep on what leadership actually requires when you step into ownership—vision, accountability, hiring, onboarding, and the discipline of working on the business instead of getting trapped in it. Rich shares how joining Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) shaped his leadership journey, why goa...

Episode 90 of Founder In Progress features EOS Implementer Chris Jones, sharing what it really takes to scale a business without burning out—or becoming the bottleneck. Chris opens up about losing 70% of his business overnight, how mentorship helped him prepare a “Plan B” before crisis hit, and why implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) became the turning point that allowed him to reb...

Roger Walco is MIT-trained, design-schooled, and shaped by nearly 30 years in the video game industry. He breaks down what actually makes great experiences feel magical. We talk about why taste beats tools, why the first moment of interaction matters more than features, and how strong team chemistry creates outcomes no amount of brute-force hiring can replace. From Bethesda and Fallout to a behind...

Most “healthy” snacks promise a lot and deliver very little. In this episode, Peter shares the 30+ year journey behind Shār Snacks and how a lifetime of experiences growing up outdoors, obsessing over ingredients, and learning by doing shaped the brand. We unpack why trail mix is broken, how most food companies compromise on quality, and why you can actually taste the difference when ingredients a...

When an autoimmune diagnosis forced impossible choices, Leanne and Jesse didn’t just change their diet they changed their lives. What began as a deeply personal health journey turned into Whims Delight, a low-sugar, plant-based chocolate company redefining what indulgence can look like without sacrificing taste. In this conversation, we unpack the real story behind building a modern CPG brand from...

Eric Dorris has been self-employed for over 30 years, beginning with a Handyman Connection franchise he built alongside his wife Jill before gradually pivoting into video production and long-form storytelling. A drummer at heart and an artist by nature, Eric reflects on how creativity shaped his entrepreneurial instincts, why artists are often drawn to self-employment, and what it truly takes to b...

Dustin is the founder of Troov, a meetup app built to reduce screen time by helping people connect through real-world activities — hikes, co-working sessions, slow jogs, soccer games, and more. In this conversation, he breaks down how COVID sparked the idea, why being an engineer can actually hurt your MVP, and the brutal challenge of earning user attention when 100% of it is already monopolized b...

From corporate strategy to canned cocktails, this episode dives into Jacob’s journey from American Airlines and Princess Cruises to founding Bold Move Beverages and creating Cold Brews—his vision for “America’s boozy coffee.” He shares how growing up around entrepreneurial parents, falling in love with coffee after college, and craving a drink that could “energize and socialize” pushed him to leav...

In this episode, we sit down with Tara, founder and CEO of Splice Software, to explore her 19-year mission of proving that data, when handled responsibly, can be used for good. Tara breaks down what trust-led personalization actually looks like, why preference design matters, and how secure, localized AI can strengthen—not replace—human connection. She shares the early influence of growing up arou...

Meet Samantha, founder of Fresh Ideas Club and strategy-first marketer who cares more about building fandom than pumping out campaigns. In this episode, we sit down at her Calgary ceramics studio to talk about the overlap between craft and brand building, why happy mistakes matter, and how a 13-year ceramics practice shaped the way she sees story, patience, and permanence in marketing. Sam shares...

From a small kitchen in Syria to grocery aisles across Texas, Farrah and Yassin’s story is one of resilience and purpose. What began with a few handwritten recipes in a black notebook became Afia Foods — a frozen-food brand built on authenticity, family, and culture. Starting at local farmers’ markets, they sold out week after week before building their own manufacturing line to protect quality an...

From throwing underground events in Normandy to running a cross-continental creative agency — this is Eva Wolf’s journey of instinct, risk, and reinvention. Eva didn’t plan to be an entrepreneur. A neighbour asked her to host a party; within a year she was running 20 events and working with the city. Then COVID hit and her entire business model collapsed overnight. Instead of stopping, she rebuilt...

From college intern to agency owner, Kristin shares her remarkable journey leading ECPR Texas, one of Austin’s most respected PR and digital firms. What started as an internship turned into a decades-long career defined by mentorship, risk-taking, and learning how to lead with empathy. In this honest and inspiring conversation, Kristin opens up about the realities of business ownership — from buyi...

Entrepreneur and data veteran Ed Vincent (Founder & CEO, Festival Pass) joins us to unpack a 20-year journey that bridges finance, technology, and live experiences. From investment banking and e-commerce to building analytics platforms for TV and film—and later helping scale MoviePass—Ed’s path reveals how data and storytelling can reshape industries. We dive into unit economics, how credit-ba...

After growing up in his father’s small pharmacy in Calgary, Arif knew entrepreneurship was in his DNA — he just didn’t know what form it would take. Years later, that foundation of hard work and service would fuel the creation of Qopia Financial, one of Alberta’s fastest-growing advisory firms. In this conversation, Arif shares how early lessons in customer care shaped his leadership philosophy, w...

After decades leading Fortune 500 tech companies, Joel thought retirement would be fulfilling—until he realized he hated it. Searching for purpose led him to co-found Human, a company tackling cardiovascular health, the world’s #1 health issue. In this conversation, Joel shares why building with purpose feels different than chasing profit, the lessons he brought from scaling Dell, and how Human ea...

Casey is a father, musician, and biotech founder who turned heartbreak into hope. After years as a touring artist—and the ups and downs that came with it—his world shifted when his daughter Rose was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. Faced with the words, “There’s nothing we can do,” Casey refused to accept the status quo. Drawing on grit from his music career and the hard lessons of loss, sob...