Founder Secrets with Taylor and Flaviu

The greatest podcast in history is coming to a close. In this final episode, Flaviu and Taylor reflect on over 120 episodes of lessons learned, revealing the surprising insights they wish they'd known from the start - and how these lessons can transform your approach to building, growing, and even quitting. You'll discover how in-person connections often outperform virtual interviews, why the most...

Join us as we delve into the world of entrepreneurship with Laurel Mintz, a powerhouse at the intersection of marketing and venture capital. As the founder and CEO of Elevate My Brand, Laurel has spent the last 16 years leading award-winning campaigns for iconic names like Verizon, Paw Patrol, Sprinklr, and Squishmallows. Her expertise in helping brands break through the noise and drive measurable...

Maya Ayed moved from Tunisia to the US at 17, got diagnosed with SIBO, and found an unexpected fix: a tablespoon of real olive oil every morning. That personal turning point turned into Alya, a DTC subscription brand built from a family olive farm—and a crash course in how broken (and fake) the olive oil supply chain gets once “big food” and middlemen enter the picture. In this episode, Maya break...

Join us as Ash Straughn, founder of SAM, shares how a career built across JP Morgan, Postmates, and Cody shaped her into one of the most operationally sharp founders in today’s startup ecosystem. What began with discovering she didn’t belong inside massive institutions evolved into mastering complex logistics, scaling operations at breakneck speed, and now building an AI-powered hiring platform de...

Join us as Sarah Fleischer, co-founder and CEO of tozero, shares how she is building one of Europe’s most innovative deep tech companies focused on lithium-ion battery recycling and critical materials recovery. From her early beginnings in the space industry to launching a company designed to reduce global dependence on imported materials, Sarah opens up about the mission, science, and scale behin...

Join us as Agustin Linenberg, Co-founder and CEO of AeroLab, shares how he turned a small design studio in Buenos Aires into a global product agency trusted by top startups and venture-backed teams. From Dribbble-fueled serendipity to landing Silicon Valley clients, Agustin breaks down the reality of scaling a service business, staying relevant in a rapidly changing industry, and rebuilding his ro...

Join us as Dan Van Tran, CTO of Collectors, shares how a childhood spent reverse-engineering games on a TI-82 turned into a career leading one of the world’s most influential collectibles companies. What started with curiosity, constraint, and a $140 calculator he hoped his parents wouldn’t notice eventually shaped an engineering mindset that powered massive transformation. In this episode, Dan op...

Join us as Debbie Kiederer, founder of Chalk Dust Consulting, shares her journey from leading digital innovation inside Estée Lauder to building one of the earliest remote-first digital agencies long before remote work was mainstream. With decades of experience in luxury beauty, e-commerce, localization, leadership, and organizational transformation, Debbie brings a rare perspective that blends co...

Join us as Chris Bailey, hardware founder and creator of GearBrake, shares how he turned a homemade Arduino prototype in an Altoids tin into a venture backed motorcycle safety product, and what really happened when the company hit technical and financial walls. What started as a side project for safer riding evolved into a global hardware business with distribution in major catalogs and dealership...

Join us as Varun Bansal , founder and CEO of eLtru , shares how he left a 15-year career in finance to build a furniture company rooted in precision, transparency, and trust. What started as a personal leap into manufacturing has evolved into a fast-growing business redefining how office and home furniture is designed, produced, and delivered. In this episode, Varun opens up about what it really t...

Join us as Andrei Papancea, Co-Founder and CEO of NLX, shares how his company is redefining conversational AI for the real world. With deep experience building voice and chat applications for global enterprises, Andrei reveals how NLX empowers teams to create AI-driven conversations that are practical, scalable, and grounded in business logic. In this episode, Andrei opens up about his journey fro...

Join us as Panos and Antonis, two young founders from Greece, share their bold mission to reinvent online giving through Givelink, a donation platform that transforms every euro or dollar into tangible, trackable impact. Straight out of university and driven by frustration with Europe’s slow startup mindset, they built a transparent system where donors can see exactly what their money delivers, fr...

In this episode of Founder Secrets , Nathaniel Hill - founder of Broadway Plus - shares how he built one of Broadway’s most innovative businesses. From managing Hamilton in its early days to connecting global audiences with Broadway stars, Nathaniel turned his love of theater into a thriving multi-million-dollar company. He breaks down how Broadway businesses operate, why most shows lose money, an...

In this candid episode of Founder Secrets, host Taylor sits down with Jennifer Williams, the founder behind the beloved custom pet replica company, Cuddle Clones. Jennifer shares the rollercoaster journey of creating a brand that resonated deeply with pet owners, starting from a rough prototype to generating millions in revenue and a successful sale in 2021. Learn how the team dealt with manufactu...

Join us on this episode of Founder Secrets as we dive into the incredible journey of Chad Coulter, founder of the rapidly expanding breakfast concept, Biscuit Belly! Chad shares his story of leaving a career in pharmacy to build a restaurant empire from scratch. Discover the secrets to Biscuit Belly's success, the challenges of franchising, and invaluable advice for any entrepreneur looking to...

In this episode of Founder Secrets , Collin Hart (ERE Healthcare Real Estate) reveals how doctors secretly build wealth through real estate. From hidden investment strategies to why companies like Starbucks rent instead of own , Collin shares the insider knowledge that every entrepreneur and investor needs. You’ll also hear his productivity hacks , why discipline beats motivation , and how finding...

In this episode of Founder Secrets , Principal Engineer at Microsoft Jeff Harrington takes us through his career journey — from early coding experiments to building the restaurant-tech startup Cardoona , and eventually returning to the corporate world. Jeff shares candid insights on fundraising challenges, breaking into relationship-heavy industries, and how AI agents are changing the future of so...

In this engaging conversation, Arian Radmand shares his experiences with technology, particularly focusing on his journey with IgnitePost and CoachUp. He discusses the evolution of IgnitePost, the importance of handwritten communication in a digital world, and the challenges of funding and profitability. Arian emphasizes the significance of personal connections in business and how IgnitePost diffe...

Jon Matzner shares his journey from government work to entrepreneurship, discussing the importance of building a global team and the innovative membership model of his company, Sagan. He emphasizes the challenges of scaling small businesses, particularly in the home services sector, and the role of AI and automation in transforming traditional business practices. Matzner also highlights the signif...

In this episode, Kyle Matthys shares his journey as a young entrepreneur passionate about sustainability and community building. He discusses his work with Triibe.us, a nonprofit supporting youth-led initiatives in climate action, and his role at Turtle.com, a 102-year-old energy company focusing on sustainability. Kyle emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and funding for young nonp...

In this episode of Founder Secrets, Zach Getrost shares his unique perspective on education, entrepreneurship, and the outbound email landscape. He discusses his journey from early ventures in robotics to mastering outbound strategies for businesses. The conversation delves into the startup ecosystem in Charlotte, common mistakes founders make in outbound efforts, and the importance of mentorship....

Joe Germanotta (Lady Gaga's father) shares his journey from childhood food memories to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the restaurant and technology sectors. He discusses the evolution of his businesses, including the creation of Wi-Fi services for hotels and the challenges of running a restaurant post-COVID. Joe emphasizes the importance of creating unique dining experiences, supporting eme...

In this conversation, Flaviu and Matt discuss their entrepreneurial journey, including the challenges they faced while building and selling their company, the health issues that impacted their work, and the lessons learned about company culture and navigating exits. They also touch on Matt's transition to a new venture in the consumer space and share practical life hacks for organization and produ...

Join us as Brandon Dawkins, a former Spotify product manager turned NYC dating coach, shares his unexpected journey from corporate life to founding Beyond Nice, a coaching service revolutionizing love for nice guys. With a CPA background, a passion for community, and a fresh take on dating, Brandon delivers a story brimming with humor, hustle, and heart. In this episode, Brandon unpacks his pivot...

Join us as Alan Lin, a design veteran turned food innovator, shares his wild journey from China’s booming creative scene to launching Liquid Salad, a health food disruptor that hit the market on March 24, 2025. With 12 years of experience design, a knack for turning chaos into opportunity, and a fresh take on greens powder, Allen delivers a story packed with entrepreneurial hustle, cultural flair,...