Invst Guru

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Tom Lix , CEO and founder of Cleveland Whiskey , for a fascinating conversation about how technology is revolutionizing one of the world’s oldest industries. From basement experiments that blew up hundreds of mason jars to patented production systems now scaling internationally, Tom breaks down the real story behind Cleveland...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Chaz Berman , serial entrepreneur and CEO of Grower’s Secret , to explore one of the most ambitious developments in sustainable agriculture today. Berman—who previously took MyPoints public at a $2.5B market cap—shares how his team spent eight years testing more than 30 materials to create a patented organic nitrogen fertilize...

n this episode of Invst Guru, we explore the inspiring story behind GGirls Closet , a groundbreaking Colorado-based thrift brand centered on sustainability, community impact, and youth education. Founder Patricia Gillmore has built a for-profit model that supports nonprofits, Title I schools, and local families—while reshaping how people think about secondhand fashion. You’ll hear how GGirls Close...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Nick Apostolopoulos , founder of 619 Spirits , San Diego’s original craft distillery. Nick shares his incredible journey from a career in software development to launching a local vodka brand, navigating California’s complex alcohol laws, and transforming 619 Spirits from a small distillery into a full-scale restaurant and bar...

On this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel interviews Mitch Raponi , the CEO and Co-Founder of Emerrx BioPharma , a startup developing next-generation drug delivery solutions for emergency medicine. Mitch explains how their flagship product, MRX-101 , uses a novel dual-chamber intranasal device that delivers naloxone with near-IV speed — a critical advancement in overdose reversal te...

In this Invst Guru episode, Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with Samreen Arshad , founder of Samreen’s Vanity , about her mission to bring South Asian representation to the forefront of the beauty industry. Samreen opens up about her journey from the automotive world in Detroit to becoming a beauty founder and influencer . She explains how her brand stands apart by focusing on multi-use products , quali...

In this episode of Invst Guru , Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with Christian Braun , founder and CEO of HobbyDB , the community-powered platform cataloging every collectible ever made. With 3,000 volunteers and 780,000 members, HobbyDB combines the depth of Wikipedia with the precision of an eBay price guide—creating a living, searchable record of humanity’s collectibles. Christian reveals how HobbyDB...

When dog owner and finance professional Sandy Stinson got tired of spending Saturdays cleaning her backyard, she invented PooPail — a two-in-one pet waste system that lets owners clean and store pet waste with ease. What started as a personal solution became a viral crowdfunding success, generating $560,000 in 30 days on Kickstarter. In this Invst Guru episode, host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel dives deep...

In this episode of Invst Guru , Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with D. Alexis Samuels , CEO and founder of Finlitx , about a bold new frontier in financial education. Finlitx is creating fully immersive, 4D “flying theater” experiences and the world’s first Museum of Financial Literacy , designed to make learning about money as exciting as a theme park ride — and as impactful as a life lesson. Through...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with Shaikh Tofazzel Hossain , founder and CEO of InfiniCell Energy , about the breakthrough aluminum-ion battery technology that could change how the world stores and uses energy. Dr. Hossain, a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, reveals how InfiniCell’s proprietary chemistry achieves ultra-fast charging , non-flammable perform...

In this inspiring episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Maya Palatnik and Neta Golani , co-founders of Tahiro , the company behind Brain Protect — a breakthrough supplement designed to prevent neurodegeneration before it starts. From personal stories of family members battling dementia to years of research in nanotechnology and neuroscience, Maya and Neta share how they b...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel speaks with Dr. Jacques Jospitre , psychiatrist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of SohoMD , a pioneering mental health company blending AI technology and functional medicine to transform psychiatric care. Dr. Jospitre reveals how SohoMD’s integrative approach goes beyond symptom management to uncover the root causes of mental health issues —co...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Erin Norman , CEO and founder of The Share Project , a groundbreaking platform reshaping how films are made, funded, and shared. After two decades in the film industry — from assisting A-list stars like Jamie Foxx to producing independent films on Apple TV and Peacock — Erin saw firsthand how Hollywood’s system left most creat...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Damian Meak , founder of Yawdie — the Jamaican-inspired fast-casual restaurant shaking up the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry. Damian shares how his Jamaican roots inspired him to create what he calls “ the Jamaican Shake Shack — Shake Shack with flavor. ” From humble beginnings in Flatbush, Brooklyn to expanding into...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Trung Pham , founder and CEO of RYSE , to explore how his company is transforming the smart home industry—one window at a time. RYSE builds intelligent, retrofit IoT devices that automate existing blinds, curtains, and shades —no replacement required. Trung shares how a personal frustration sparked a billion-dollar idea, leadi...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Bobby DeMars , founder and CEO of Blind Barrels — the first and only double-blind whiskey tasting experience changing how people discover and enjoy craft spirits. 🍀 In This Episode: How Blind Barrels became the world’s first double-blind whiskey subscription Why gamification and data are reshaping the tasting experience The j...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Michael Machat , founder of Vampire Corp , the company behind the legendary Vampire® and Dracula® brands in wine, spirits, coffee, and chocolate. What began as a spark of imagination after reading Dracula has become a 30-year journey of brand building, legal mastery, and entrepreneurial persistence. Michael shares how he turne...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with filmmaker Marine Assaiante , producer of A Dream for Amy — a new female-led vampire horror feature film raising funds on Wefunder . From indie film financing to horror distribution strategy, Marine shares how her team turned a chilling metaphor for narcissistic parenting into a gripping cinematic story — and how everyday inves...

In this powerful episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel welcomes Sona Shah , CEO and co-founder of Neopenda — a groundbreaking medtech startup tackling one of the world’s most urgent problems: preventable newborn deaths. After witnessing healthcare inequities firsthand in Kenya, Sona left her career in engineering to create a wearable vital signs monitor designed specifically for low-res...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Adam Zec , CEO and Co-Founder of MyStandard , a groundbreaking Web3 platform that’s reshaping how people own, share, and profit from their personal data. Adam shares how MyStandard empowers individuals to take control of their digital identities—turning data into a personal asset instead of a corporate product. Built on blockc...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with Michele Harrington , co-founder of Thin Blue Wine , a boutique winery in Paso Robles, California, that’s redefining what it means to build a purpose-driven brand. A Marine Corps veteran and lifelong entrepreneur, Michele shares the inspiring journey behind Thin Blue Wine — a winery built to celebrate and support law enforcement, f...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Dr. Sanjay Prasad , founder and CEO of SurgiQuality , to uncover how artificial intelligence and data-driven insights are reshaping the world of surgery. After 30 years as a practicing surgeon in Washington D.C., Dr. Prasad saw firsthand how broken the healthcare referral system had become — with nearly 1 in 3 surgeries deemed...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with Shaun Jafarian , CEO and founder of CounterDrone , to unpack the groundbreaking technology turning drones into truly autonomous systems. CounterDrone builds drone-agnostic docking stations —smart “homes for flying robots”—that allow drones to launch, land, and recharge automatically with zero human involvement. These modular s...

What does it take to make a $500K indie film look like a $10M Hollywood production? 🎥 In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel sits down with filmmaker Micah Groenevelt of Starfish Film to explore how modern creators are revolutionizing the movie industry. From crowdfunding on WeFunder to mastering guerrilla filmmaking , Micah shares the insider strategies behind Starfish , a Colo...

In this episode of Invst Guru , host Jeff “Fuzzy” Wenzel talks with Callen McGibbon , founder and CEO of RepHealth , a company transforming how we understand the physical impact of jobs on workers’ bodies and minds. RepHealth uses 3D body scanning, self-reporting, and blood analysis to map how careers affect health over time — helping unions protect workers, improve workplace safety, and reduce lo...