Made It with Connor Tomkies

This episode is sponsored by Daily Body Coach Anthony Ng Monica started his first business at age 12, exited a global e-commerce SaaS company after more than a decade, and now helps post-exit founders use health as a competitive advantage. In this episode, Anthony breaks down what it really takes to build, pivot, sell, and start again—this time with health, longevity, and energy at the center. Con...

This episode is sponsored by Daily Body Coach Blake Hutchinson, CEO of Flippa, joins Connor Tomkies to unpack how Flippa became a global marketplace for buying and selling digital businesses, from SaaS and e-commerce to YouTube channels and newsletters. Blake shares his path from founder and growth operator to leading Flippa through seven consecutive years of growth, and explains why “small” onlin...

Episode Description: In this episode of Made It , Connor Tomkies sits down with Arjun Mahadevan, founder and CEO of Doola, to unpack the journey from idea to company formation—and everything in between. Arjun shares how Doola has helped over 10,000 founders get started, the mindset shift required to go from -1 to 0, and why the first sale matters more than forming an LLC. They dive deep into AI ad...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ RT Custer turned a passion for nostalgia into two thriving American watch brands: Vortic Watch Co., which transforms antique pocket watches into wristwatches, and the ambitious Colorado Watch Co., aiming to bring American watchmaking back at scale. In this episode, RT shares how he went from a $40K Kickstarter to a federal courtroom battle with the Sw...

Entrepreneur and investor Nick Huber joins Connor Tomkies and Alex Lieberman to break down how he built a $100M+ empire starting with sweaty, unsexy businesses like student storage. They discuss his new book The Sweaty Startup, the trap of chasing big ideas too early, and why momentum, urgency, and simplicity often beat innovation. From self-storage to buying a $50M company, Nick shares tactical a...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Barry Stamos, a post-exit founder and investor focused on bold, world-changing companies. Barry shares his journey from corporate consultant to tech founder, detailing his early struggles, successful exits, and how he now supports other entrepreneurs through Supernova, a collective of exited founders backing groundbreaking startups. W...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode Connor sits down with hospitality legend and Modern Elder Academy founder, Chip Conley. From building Joie de Vivre into one of the largest boutique hotel brands in the U.S., to mentoring the Airbnb founders through their explosive growth, Chip shares the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped his career and personal transformation. He...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode guest Lewis Schiff—a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and former dot-com founder—shares his journey from early entrepreneurial days to successful exits and strategic angel investing. Lewis dives into his experiences in the dot-com era, explains how technology is transforming traditional industries, and reveals insights on building wealth...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Mike Lloyd, a seasoned entrepreneur who built and exited Corvus, a cyber insurance company, for nine figures. Mike shares his journey from Virginia Military Institute to MIT and Harvard, diving into the lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he pivoted to massive success. He also discusses his latest ventures, including...

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ Episode Description: Connor sits down with Miles Lasater, founder of Purpose Built and co-founder of multiple successful companies, including HireOne, which went public in 2010. Miles shares insights on scaling a business from college startup to IPO, hiring a CEO as a young founder, and the challenges of breaking into difficult markets like higher edu...

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Justin Donald, the "Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing," shares insights into his journey as a post-exit entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. He discusses his early business exits, the power of strategic investing, and the philosophy behind The Lifestyle Investor . Connor and Justin dive into identifying emerging trends, the importance o...

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Connor sits down with Barak Kaufman, founder of Post Exit Founders, to discuss life after exiting a company and the next steps for founders. They explore the three types of post-exit founders, dive into Barak's investment in a soccer team rivaling Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham, and talk about the challenges and rewards of building "missionary" companies. Ba...

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, we dive into a groundbreaking concept with Charlie Olson, CEO of Pando. Charlie explains how his company helps individuals in high-risk careers like professional athletes and entrepreneurs pool their incomes, creating a supportive and incentivized community that shares both successes and setbacks. Learn how Pando has transformed the landscape of care...

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Nick Telson-Sillett shares his journey from founding "Design My Night" to exiting for over £35 million. Nick talks about the challenges of scaling a company in a competitive market, the importance of financial freedom, and how to navigate earn-outs. He also discusses his ventures in angel investing through Horseplay Ventures and his efforts to supp...

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, entrepreneur Praveen Ghanta shares the unconventional story behind his bootstrapped exit, including a nine-figure success with Hidden Levers. Praveen dives into his philosophy on bootstrapping versus raising capital, the power of fractional work, and what he’s focusing on now with his new ventures. Tune in for an insightful conversation on growing a...

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies , Gil Eyal returns to discuss the unpredictable nature of success in the world of social media and business investment. They dive deep into the challenges of investing in consumer products, the importance of identifying businesses with billion-dollar potential, and the pitfalls of the dating app industry. With a mix of humor and insight, Gil and Conno...

Join Connor Tomkies in this exciting episode of the Made It Podcast as he chats with Darrell Lerner, the man behind All Paws and Snap Interactive. Discover how Darrell transitioned from revolutionizing online dating to creating a successful platform connecting dogs with their forever homes. Listen as Darrell shares the unconventional journey of founding Snap Interactive, leveraging Facebook's app...

Join us for a captivating conversation with Benji Markoff, a returning guest who initially appeared in Episode 3. In this episode, Benji opens up about his latest venture, Padel United Sports Club. He discusses the intricacies of launching a high-end social wellness club focused on the fast-growing sport of Padel. Discover how Benji is building a vibrant community, the strategic decisions behind m...

In this episode we sit down with Alexander White, the co-founder of Next Big Sound. Alexander shares his journey from launching a music data business during his senior year at Northwestern to its acquisition by Pandora for a remarkable 10x revenue multiple. Discover how Alexander's passion for data led him to his next venture, focusing on uncovering and optimizing tax incentives and credits for bu...

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Connor sits down with Vadim Rogovskiy, a successful entrepreneur who sold his first company in 2014 and has since been involved in various ventures, including the innovative AR company 3DLOOK. Vadim shares his journey from early entrepreneurial efforts in Ukraine, dealing with the challenges of in-game advertising, to his pivot into augmented reali...

Boris shares his journey from working at Atlassian to founding his own company Atlas Authority, navigating the challenges of being a solo founder, and eventually exiting the business. Dive into their discussion about unsexy business ideas, the importance of shared context in startups, and Boris's candid insights on his entrepreneurial experiences. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seaso...

Eric Bahn, co-founder of Hustle Fund, discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and investor. He shares insights on building genuine communities, identifying true "hustlers", and redefining wealth and success. Eric opens up about his family's story, working with his wife and sister, and the importance of vulnerability in leadership. He also discusses Hustle Fund's unique investment approach and the...

Andrew Warner, founder of Mixergy, returns to the pod to share his insights on the post-exit journey of entrepreneurs. The two discuss the importance of finding meaning and purpose after selling a business, the value of shadowing successful entrepreneurs, and the potential of building a community for post-exit founders. With a focus on personal growth and the unique challenges faced by entrepreneu...

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Dan Reich shares his remarkable journey of building and exiting multiple companies across various industries. From his early ventures in high school to co-founding Spinback, which was acquired by Buddy Media and later Salesforce, Dan's experiences highlight valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, partnerships, and the importance of pursuing passion projects. He a...

In this candid interview, Noah Abelson, founder of ShareRoot, shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting up in a garage to taking his company public. He discusses the challenges of pivoting, fundraising, and navigating co-founder relationships, as well as the emotional toll of life after a successful exit. Noah also shares his passion for making a positive impact and his personal mission to...