The Marketing Boost

🎙️ Quick Summary Ryan Beltran joins the show to discuss ChainCraft, a platform merging AI and blockchain to make game creation and digital asset ownership frictionless. By treating blockchain as background infrastructure rather than a tech barrier, ChainCraft enables indie developers to build robust games, collaborate easily, and safely monetize in-game assets. Hosts:  Leon Hitchens LinkedIn:  htt...

🎙️ Overview Vincent Oliver joins Leon to explain why the "AI Agent" craze is often a trap for small businesses. They discuss the shift toward Marketing Engineering, where AI is used to build cheap, reliable custom code rather than expensive, unpredictable autonomous agents. Hosts:  Leon Hitchens LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonhitchens/ X: https://x.com/Leonhitchens Website: h...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Marketing Boost, Leon sits down with longtime friend Jon Garcia, the creator behind the viral TikTok account StrikingEye. After leaving an eight-year career at Geekdom and facing personal loss, Jon turned to content creation to find his purpose. He shares how he grew to 10,000 followers in just two months by telling the "lost and lesser-known stories&quo...

Matthew Kanakidis didn't set out to build a tech empire; he just wanted a place to live. After getting scammed while looking for an apartment at UTSA, he realized the leasing industry was stuck in the Stone Age. Today, as the CEO of RentBamboo, Matthew is replacing "annoying templates" with AI Agents that close leases in minutes. In this episode, we break down how he went from cold-...

▶️ In this episode of the Marketing Boost, we sit down with Franklin Morris, founder and CEO of KeepTabz, an AI-powered competitive intelligence platform. Franklin shares his journey from being a VP of Marketing at a venture-scaled business to launching his own startup. We dive deep into why competitive intelligence is no longer just for "the big guys" and how AI is changing the way we p...

Zac Brown returns to the show to discuss the bold transition from Nonprofits HQ to GiveKit. While the original name was SEO-friendly, it lacked brand recall and was difficult for customers to communicate. Zac explains how they executed a complete name and identity change in just two weeks, and why "moving fast and breaking things" remains a valid strategy for growing companies. Host:  Le...

Episode Summary:   In this episode of The Marketing Boost , host Leon Hitchens sits down with John, founder of PacAPit, to dive deep into the journey of turning a simple riverside idea into a patented, flat-packing fire pit loved by overlanders, scouts, and outdoor enthusiasts. John shares his path from working at Apple and in the tech sector, to opening a restaurant, and finally to becoming an in...

In this episode of The Boost , Leon sits down with Maria, founder of Hess Street Foods, to explore how a generational recipe and deep cultural roots sparked a thriving culinary business. What started as a homemade chorizo recipe passed down from Maria’s grandmother evolved into a shelf-ready, clean-label chorizo paste now featured in 144+ H-E-B stores and Pullman Market. Maria shares how she trans...

Intruduction In this episode of The Boost , Leon and Pablo sit down for an engaging discussion on AI, internationalization, and how businesses can leverage emerging technologies to scale effectively. They break down the impact of AI on business operations, customer interactions, and even the ethical implications of automation. The conversation also explores the growing trend of nearshoring and how...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost , host Leon welcomes back Zac, founder of NonprofitsHQ, for a candid discussion about the nonprofit tech landscape, the challenges of bootstrapping a startup, and the innovative solutions changing the way nonprofits operate. Eight months post-launch, Zac shares insights into how NonprofitsHQ is helping nonprofits amplify their impact through AI-driven gra...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost podcast, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week, we sit down with Rikky Moller, CEO of Once in a Wild, a San Antonio-based company that offers immersive, educational animal experiences right in your backyard. Hosts Leon and Pablo chat with Rikky about his journey from creative director in advertising to co-founding a mobile zoo that prioritizes educati...

Introduction:  In this episode of The Boost , Leon sits down with Marco, a participant in the "Pitch It to Win It" competition at San Antonio Startup Week. Marco shares his concept for a mindset-tracking app, aimed at helping users improve emotional awareness and decision-making. Inspired by his journey as a parent and his professional background in IT, Marco's app idea offers real-...

Introduction: Welcome to the latest episode of the Boost Podcast! This week, we're thrilled to host a live discussion featuring key voices in San Antonio’s tech and entrepreneurial scene. Special thanks to our sponsor Geekdom and to everyone in the San Antonio startup ecosystem for their incredible support. Join Leon and Pablo are joined with two special guests as they dive deep into what mak...

Introduction: Join hosts Pablo and Leon as they sit down with Llyas Salahud-Din, founder of GrantApply, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week. In this episode, Elias shares his inspiring story from being a foster child to building a successful tech startup that empowers nonprofits. Recently crowned the winner of the $20,000 Geekdom pre-accelerator competition, Elias dives into the challenges o...

Introduction: In this exciting episode of “The Boost Podcast”, hosts Leon and Pablo sit down with  Nick Honegger , Director of Marketing and Sales at Geekdom, to recap San Antonio Startup Week. The conversation covers highlights, takeaways, and the unique startup culture in San Antonio. Hosts: Pablo Calvo: Linkedin Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X Guest: Nick Honegger: LinkedIn Find Us: YouTube:  ...

Introduction:  Welcome to The Boost , hosted by Leon and Pablo, where we spotlight dynamic businesses and entrepreneurs in San Antonio. In this episode, we're thrilled to have Jay Rebaldo back for a second time! Jay, a successful realtor and entrepreneur, was previously featured in one of our most popular episodes. Today, we dive deep into the shifting real estate landscape, explore the new r...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost , host Leon Hitchens sits down with Melissa Martini, the CEO and co-founder of Waste Away, an on-demand trash service based in San Antonio. Melissa shares how her company is revolutionizing waste disposal by providing an Uber-like service for trash pickup while creating job opportunities for local residents. They also dive into Melissa’s entrepreneurial j...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost , Leon and Pablo dive deep into the ongoing drama within the WordPress community surrounding Matt Mullenweg, WP Engine, and the effects of private equity on open-source software. The controversy kicked off from some cryptic tweets by Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress, and escalated during his keynote at WordCamp, where he called WP Engine the "can...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost, hosts Leon and Pablo discuss the upcoming Geekdom Startup Week, which takes place October 14th to 18th. The focus is on near shoring, outsourcing, and business growth strategies. They explore the evolution of Near Shoring, its benefits, and the common challenges businesses face when managing international teams, particularly in Latin America and Southeas...

Introduction:  Join us on this exciting episode of "The Boost" as host Leon Hitchens sits down with Laura Ruiz-Roehrs, founder of Code Flight and the personal brand Suitcase Coder. Laura shares her transformative journey from being a personal assistant to becoming a successful coder and entrepreneur. Dive into the challenges and triumphs of switching careers, learning to code, and the cr...

Introduction: In this episode of The Boost, Leon and Pablo sit down with JR, the innovative CEO and founder of Webssey. Webssey is a pioneering social finance application that allows users to invest in individuals using blockchain technology. JR shares his unique journey from a small town in South Texas to becoming a tech entrepreneur, driven by his passion for video games and coding. Hosts: Pablo...

Introduction: In this episode, Pablo and Leon sit down with President of ColdCALR Ray Cantu to discuss how AI revolutionizes sales training. Ray shares insights into the rapid technological advancements at ColdCALR, the importance of sales skills in entrepreneurship, and how their AI-driven simulations are helping professionals improve their sales techniques. Ray also provides a behind-the-scenes...

Introduction:  In this insightful episode of "The Boost," host Pablo Calvo welcomes Franklin Morris, VP of Marketing at Alloy AI, to discuss the evolving dynamics of the tech and marketing landscapes, particularly in the context of post-pandemic adjustments and the strategic choice of San Antonio over Austin for technology professionals. Franklin shares his journey through the tech world...

Host Leon welcomes Zach and Alberto from Nonprofits HQ to discuss their journey in the nonprofit sector, the challenges they faced starting up, their move to San Antonio, and their mission to improve nonprofit operations through technology. Introductions: Zach and Alberto: Co-founders of Nonprofits HQ Hosts: Pablo Calvo: Linkedin Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X Find Us:  YouTube: https://www.youtu...

Join Pablo and Leon as they discuss their experiences with Geekdom, the dynamic entrepreneurial hub of San Antonio. They share a retrospective on their journey from casual visitors to engaged members with office space, the power of mentorship, and the broader impact of Geekdom in fostering a diverse and inclusive startup ecosystem. Listen in as they unpack the post-COVID business shift to a hybrid...