No Followers Podcast: for Inventors, Builders, Entrepreneurs

In This Episode: ** For every dollar you take, it should bring in $1.30 to $1.40.** There are tech companies that take a long time to get commercialized.** No model works for every business.** Early on the idea of raising money felt like the finish line.** First check, first client is the sexiest. ** Keep your day job.** Think of it as time blocking and hitting your milestones.** Is the runway equ...

In This Episode: ** I have problems with current valuations. Most companies will never realize those values.** The "Greater Fool" Model ruins future relationships.** You have to think long term.** It's about realism, follow the money.** Everyone wants the Netflix win. ** If you have a company that performs well year after year, that is a win.** Know the timeline and intentions of pot...

In this episode: * T's dog Tig has social anxiety.* Raising money is a tool to get to revenue.* We love traction. I don't like raising money until we have customers.* People have fallen in love with the raise.* First check, first client is our goal with a startup. * Build it and test it and go from there.* It is deconstructing the idea into something practical and applicable.

In This Episode.. Dyson Vacuums created 5,271 prototypes ** Focus on building a team that has the skills you do not ** People say instant success because they didn't see the 10-15 years it took to get there ** Sharing your failures ** 10 step programs to instant success are BS ** As much as we have a process, it is not a formula.

In This Episode: ** We have to break it to make it successful.** Viagra.** It takes hyper focus to get something started.** We live it with our products every day with the resources we have available.** We start with how I would use it as the inventor and move on to how would the customer use it. ** You have to reiterate and have product and market focus

In This Episode: * Bubble Wrap did not have instant traction.* It's not just "give it time", it's about co-occurring conditions.* The Wright Brothers.* Apple has done a great job at listening to customer feedback and iterating on their products.* Determine feature benefit match and product market fit. * There is no such thing as instant traction.* This is what you think, now go t...

In This Episode: * I don't believe any product is an instant traction product.* He's consulted so he thinks he knows what it takes to bring a product to market.* Unicorns aren't really unicorns. Valuations don't mean that you're making that money.* I'm so tired of having conversations where everyone has to win. There is always risk.* There is a big difference between consul...

In This Episode: Do you compensate with equity?* Our model is to never touch the cap table or equity early on.* Money is just money if it is not tied to other skills and networks.* Know what you bring to the table and what you don't.* A lawyer doesn't always make the best partner. * At some point in every business lifecycle you have to take a leap of faith.* Do a risk profile assessment.*...

In This Episode: * The most important part of your business is building the right team.* At the beginning, most people don't have a team.* Just go on "Shark Tank"'.* Bringing my flagship product to market has taken 6 years and we are not there yet.* As the idea holder, it is hard to let people into the fold. * You can't do everything yourself.* The perfect is the enemy of the good.* You need to te...

In This Episode * As inventors and entrepreneurs you need a thick skin.* It's a balance of having a thick enough skin and listening to the market.* We are telling you what you need to hear.* Events and Conferences.* We go to a lot of conferences just as networking opportunities. * There are realities and externalities in attending trade shows that must be accounted for.* Networking is about starti...

In This Episode: We Have 1 Metric * We are here to talk the real lingo of business.* What does it mean to move the needle? * We have 1 metric. Get a product to market that is selling.* Know what you bring to the table and what you don't. * The idea will never get to a business without real world testing. * Qualitative vs. Quantifiable metrics. * Not listening to the market is a recipe for disaster...

In This Episode: * We are talking about the future and retooling. * One of my goals was to pull the curtain back and see the reality of developing your product.* Guests didn't want to share their real stories and so it became the T and Bob show.* Now we are going to show how we take an idea through development to market.* I think the new format will reach more kinds of people and show them the...

In this Episode: We are talking about Mindset today. * I believe in "Devil's Advocate" as a model.* Imposter Syndrome vs. Dunning-Kruger.* These days I meet a lot more people who are Dunning-Kruger adjacent.* Making a billion in tech doesn't mean you know how to make a hard good. * Analysis Paralysis.* A lot of imposter syndrome comes from comparing yourself to your peers and men...

In this Episode * What is your go-to road food?* Hockey Puck Hamburger.* My ideal burger.* Hockey Puck Filet Mignon.* It's not blood, it's myoglobin. * I give clear directions to restaurants on how I like my steak cooked.* Dry Chicken with Sauce.* Cowboy Steak.* Your steak is one step away from a leather belt.* You might have an uninformed palate.* You like coffee more if you drink it blac...

In This Episode: * We recommend that every team assigns someone as the devil's advocate.* It's better to answer hard questions now in a pre-emptive way.* In a manufacturing sense, iron out the details now so it is not expensive later.* It stops the nemesis of business which is "group think".* Agreement is not always helpful. Sometimes pushback is needed.* It holds everyone accountable. We are not...

Research Part 2 * NAICS Codes.* What industry are you in?* This is publicly available information that anyone can use.* Motorcycle and bicycle manufacturing are a single industry under the NAICS codes.* What is your first step, macro research or the codes?* How big is your market?* Feasible, Marketable, Viable. * The code gives you the information on your industry.* I never should have said the wo...

In this episode: * Bourbon or Scotch?* T's conspiracy theory 1.* How do you approach research?* Not scholarly research. Granola Moms. * There is a big difference between scholarly research and secondhand research.* Research should be objective.* You are creating a methodology to remove your bias from the equation.* Instagram story about high fructose corn syrup in baby food.* Research isn'...

In this episode: SXSW 2025. What is South by SouthWest?* Philly hates Yankees fans.* The Philly Bike Expo.* It's good to get out in front of people and get real time feedback. * Learn how to read the room and observe people.* We start by figuring out what our booth set up is going to be and make sure we are on brand.* Have best practices for expos and figure out logistics.* I am not sales pitc...

In This Episode Is social media a net good or a net bad?* We don't teach our children how to use social media correctly.* The internet has opened up the whole world.* T's early Face Book story. * The eighth employee of Face Book.* My parents would be out of their depth trying to advise me about social media.* Social media has given a platform to idiots who look like geniuses.* You can be r...

In this episode.. Useless Paperwork. * What is a Letter of Intent or Interest?* The paper is only as good as the 2 people who sign it.* The best thing you can do is have good partners. * That's busy work that drives me insane.* How do I validate my product or idea to get to the next level?* Acquiring non-binding paperwork is a waste of time.* Know your market and how the customer will use your...

"JUST for FUN" Retrospective * Tushy.* T's English accent.* Do you dip your cookies in milk?* There is no such thing as a flushable wipe.* Italian cookies.* Drink the damn coffee and eat the cookies!* What one store bought cookie would you buy?* Rainbow cookies and Heaven Dreams.* The Pet Rock.* Couples Counseling.*Get out of here Long John Silver's.* Croissant vs. Hard Roll.* Do you think you are...

In This Episode: There is no secret formula.* It's hard work and takes a great team.* T reads conspiracy theories.* In my experience after 15 years, there is no secret formula.* What gets the job done is good strategy, a good team, a clear direction and flexibility.* They've done a great job of marketing the bs.* Positively negative.* There is no one size solution.* It's a journey. How...

In This Episode: A startup is not a business.* Do a process map.* If your whole business plan is to raise money, get a new plan.* First check, first client is our goal with a startup.* What is the best use of your resources?* It's easier to change the name than to change physics.* People don't understand mvp, prototype, alpha product or ready for manufacture.* It takes hyper focus to get s...

In This Episode: * You need to understand your cost structure. * Other incubators are not really free. Someone is paying and it's usually from tax dollars. * If the product is developed for free, you have no idea of future costs. * Where is the shared risk? * Most people who reach out expect everything to be free. * Nothing is ever really "free". * Our knowledge and work have value....

In This Episode: Specific not Pacific. (Sorry Mike Tyson) * How do you eat chips without ketchup? * Is ketchup a dip or a condiment? * Morsels of Manufacturing. * It all starts with an idea. * Sbarro Pizza. * We wanted an incubator that showed the real-world stages of getting a product to market. * Louis Vuitton. * If we don't tell you now, the market will tell you. * Zootcase. * We have 1 met...