Pitch, Build, Scale - Startup Founder Stories in the Age of AI

What if you could increase B2B conversions by 50%—without driving a single extra visitor? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we speak with Geoff Rego, the founder of Hushly and a true pioneer in MarTech. Geoff previously founded Market2Lead (acquired by Oracle) and is now redefining how modern buyers engage with B2B websites. Geoff shares how Hushly leverages zero-party data, AI-powered conte...

What if your company could automate RFP responses without changing your workflow—and finally put an end to the RFP bottleneck draining weeks from your team? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , we sit down with Ben Lewis, CEO of Ensis and a seasoned tech entrepreneur whose past ventures include Tapjoy and Karma (acquired by Facebook). Ben shares how Ensis is revolutionizing enterprise proposal...

AI adoption doesn't have to be confusing—or cold. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Brandon Wong, Founder & CEO of Demystify AI, to unpack how his team is bridging the gap between cutting-edge automation and the very human challenges facing small service-based businesses. Brandon shares the journey from building a custom chatbot agency to launching their SaaS product...

Explore the future of live video with Doug Petkanics, founder of Livepeer. In this episode of "Pitch, Build, Scale", Doug shares his journey from early startups to building Livepeer’s decentralized video infrastructure, which slashes streaming costs and empowers developers to escape cloud monopolies. We dig into Daydream, Livepeer’s real-time AI video tool that transforms livestreams on...

Tony Chan turned a pain point into a profitable SaaS with CloudForecast, a tool helping engineering teams make sense of AWS costs and save big. In this episode, Tony shares insights on bootstrapping, identifying ideal customers, cold outreach strategies that work, the evolution of cloud economics, and why sustainable growth beats hypergrowth for many startups. We also dig into how economic cycles...

How can technology give millions of everyday investors the clarity and confidence once reserved for the ultra-wealthy? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with David Kon, CEO of Wealth Fluent, to explore how his team is transforming wealth management for the mass affluent - those who’ve long been overlooked by traditional financial institutions. David shares how his family-built fi...

What if you could cut IP legal review time from weeks to 15 minutes - and increase your odds of getting a patent approved? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Malachi Hernandez, CEO of Ipelint, to explore how AI is transforming the future of intellectual property. We dive into Malachi’s journey from patent analyst to LegalTech founder, how Ipelint’s AI delivers defendable clai...

Is your dev agency still starting client projects from a blank page? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we chat with Brandon Wilson, CEO at Steadynamic, about how AI is fundamentally reshaping the discovery process in custom software development. We explore how their team uses AI agents for rapid ideation, real-time prototyping, and multimodal collaboration—cutting through ambiguity and helpi...

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Tino Go, Founder & CEO of Baru, to explore how under-utilized CNC machines and screen-to-machine technology are creating a virtual, local factory network—slashing up to 40% of traditional supply-chain costs and unlocking limitless customization for cabinetry and furniture. What You’ll Learn- The story behind Baru’s pivot from finance to...

What if your smartphone-sized ultrasound device could detect cancer in its earliest stages—without new hardware? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, host Chris Fanchi sits down with Soner Hacıhaliloğlu, CEO of PONS, to explore how software-only AI is transforming diagnostic imaging and making early detection more accessible around the world. Soner shares the story of building a company at the...

That spark of imagination kids have? Wendy is turning it into their superpower. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, we sit down with Lance Neuhauser, serial founder and CEO of Wendy—an AI-powered, choice-based storytelling platform built to guide how children read, create, and develop emotional intelligence in an AI-driven world. Use the promo code MAGICMONTH to get one free month of access to...

Most dev teams can build software—but very few can guarantee it delivers business value. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , we sit down with Dave Todaro, founder of Ascendle and author of The Epic Guide to Agile , to unpack what separates strategic software success from over-engineered failure. We cover how Dave’s early programming days shaped his obsession with real-world impact, why most p...

Orchestral musician turned AI founder? Meet Martika Brianne Jones, CEO of BŪP, who’s redefining sales follow-up with automated empathy. From capturing leads at events to transforming B2B relationships with AI-personalized messaging, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, scaling, and storytelling in tech. Resources: BŪP: https://www.bup.ai Big North Marketing: https://www.bignorthmark...

Raghu Gollamudi has built and exited multiple SaaS companies—but his latest mission might be his boldest yet. As CEO and Co-founder of Included, Raghu is tackling a massive gap in HR tech: transforming workforce data into real-time, actionable intelligence using AI. In this episode, he shares how Included is helping leaders make faster decisions, reduce attrition, and build more data-driven teams—...

In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , we sit down with Eric Dunn—CEO of Plastix Marketing and Aesthetix CRM—to unpack how AI-powered automation is transforming patient engagement and marketing operations for medspas and cosmetic surgery clinics. Eric shares the journey from running a niche digital agency to building a proprietary CRM platform—then layering on AI to fix the biggest bottleneck in...

Can you really build cybersecurity so effective that it stops ransomware 100% of the time? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , we sit down with Dennis Underwood, CEO of Cyber Crucible, to discuss kernel-level defense, hyper-automation, and what it takes to disrupt a crowded infosec market. Dennis shares lessons from working in the intelligence community, building resilient security software,...

Composer. Engineer. Studio Founder. Jim Welch has worn all three hats—and built a thriving immersive tech studio while doing it. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , Jim joins Chris Fanchi to talk about the evolution of DevHouse Agency, balancing client work with original IP, and how AR/VR is reshaping industries from oil and gas to education. He also opens up about team culture, AI in game de...

What happens when you stop selling services and start selling outcomes? Hamid Mahmood, CEO of Software Pro Digital and author of Seven-Figure Agency Mindset A to Z , joins Pitch, Build, Scale to share how he scaled multiple brands across software dev and performance marketing—without burning out. We talk cashflow, retainers, AI disruption, client acquisition, and why niche focus wins. If you’re bu...

What do you do when moving money legally becomes impossible? Guillermo Fernandes went from private banker to founder of Blockpliance, a crypto compliance startup using AI to fight financial crime on the blockchain. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , we dig into Guillermo’s path from global banking to building an intelligence tool used by governments, banks, and regulators around the world. L...

Dave Erickson, Co-Founder of ScreamingBox, shares how he built a dev agency powered by senior engineers only—and why that decision transformed the way they deliver software. We explore: The problem with most MVPs (and what to build instead) How AI is changing client expectations (but not always the solution) What developers and founders need to understand about business mechanics Lessons from 350+...

What separates AI buzzword hype from actual business transformation? In this episode, Chris Fanchi talks with Ken Winell—former CTO of Tough Mudder and co-founder of Nexus Digital Group—about how companies can build practical AI roadmaps, drive adoption across teams, and stay competitive as technology evolves faster than ever. From agents and verticalization to cultural buy-in and the near-future...

Legacy code is everywhere—but few know how to modernize it without breaking everything. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , Chris Fanchi talks with Ira Baxter , CEO of Semantic Designs, about the art and science of software transformation. From rewriting 10 million lines of COBOL to building transformation engines that rival compilers, Ira shares 40+ years of insight into why most modernizati...

From disaster relief to digital transformation. Robin Eissler’s journey from coordinating crisis airlifts to founding a SaaS platform for booster clubs is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , host Chris Fanchi explores how Robin went from zero tech experience to launching BoosterHub - a volunteer-first operating system now used by hundreds of school organizations. We tal...

From managing a coffee shop to building an AI that screens hospitality hires in seconds—this is the journey of Rich Simmerman, co-founder of Cantaloupe AI. In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , Rich joins host Chris Fanchi to unpack how Cantaloupe is redefining first-round interviews using conversational AI. He shares the origin story, the resistance from the hospitality industry, and how his t...

What does it take to launch and scale an AI startup inside the highly regulated worlds of healthcare and finance? In this episode of Pitch, Build, Scale , host Chris Fanchi sits down with Michael Brown , founder of CloudNine AI , to explore how his team is pioneering augmented intelligence for enterprises navigating complex data, compliance, and regulation. We talk real-world challenges—from wrang...