Alpha Edge: The Entrepreneur’s Launchpad

d

AI has been promised to small business owners for years, but most people still have no clear path to actually use it. They jump on ChatGPT, try a few tools, and get nowhere. That ends now. Loren Dougherty and Raymond Beckham — operators who've built and run nine companies across security, IT, software, vending, and more — introduce Throughway. AI: an AI services company built specifically for loca...

In this episode of the Yardbros Podcast, we sit down with Jordan for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. Jordan opens up about his journey into entrepreneurship — the spark that started it all, the long days no one sees, and the lessons he had to learn the hard way. We get into the realities of hiring and building a team you can trust, the mist...

In this episode of the Alpha Edge Podcast, we sit down with Jim Mercurio, a seasoned stadium operations and safety executive with nearly three decades of experience with the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium. Jim takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to run large-scale events like the Super Bowl—from managing high-pressure environments to leading massive teams and ensuring safety...

In this episode, we break down how smart vending machines and phone charging stations are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs. We dive into: • How to start a vending machine business• How passive income works with vending• The rise of charging station rentals• Real insights from building VendBoss• What you need to get started This is one of the fastest-growing automated business models ri...

Responsiveness is respect. The busiest, most successful people in business don’t disappear — they communicate. They close loops. They don’t leave people guessing, spiraling, or chasing clarity. In this episode, we cover: Why silence kills momentum in business How slow or nonexistent responses damage trust, deals, and culture What real operators do differently when it comes to communication Clear d...

Bradd Fisher: The Tough Road to Business — Grit, Failure & Building What Lasts Entrepreneurship isn’t built overnight — it’s forged through pressure, setbacks, and hard decisions. In this episode of the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge , we sit down with Bradd Fisher , founder of Profound Technologies and formerly of RSD and ICD Systems , to unpack the real journey behind building a successful business....

In this episode of the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge , Loren breaks down four game-changing pillars of entrepreneurship: knowing when to take your side hustle full-time, learning when to work for free vs. when to charge your worth, shifting from selling to serving, and the biggest lessons learned from scaling multiple businesses. You’ll hear the real triggers that pushed Loren to go all in, the mindset be...

In this episode, Loren sits down with Larry Waters, founder of Electrify My Home, to break down how he built a thriving business in the fast-growing home electrification industry. Larry shares his journey, the challenges of scaling a technical trade, how to educate customers in a new market, and what it really takes to lead a company through rapid growth. Packed with strategy and real talk for ent...

Starting a business isn’t about logos, websites, or waiting for the perfect timing. It’s about getting clear on what you want to build, pushing through fear, and taking real action before you feel ready. In Episode 2 of The Alpha Edge CEO Lounge , Loren Dougherty sits down with himself in a powerful, honest dialogue about what truly happens before you launch a business. This is a raw look behind t...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge — the show built for doers, builders, and entrepreneurs who are ready to level up. In this kickoff episode, host Loren Dougherty lays out exactly what this podcast will be, how each episode will flow, and what you can expect as a listener who’s hungry for real leadership and real strategy. Loren also takes you behind the curtain of his...