Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast

Ben Altman is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altman Advisors, a multi-family office he co-founded with his father in 2016 that serves high-net-worth families. The firm provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and legacy planning services. Under Ben's leadership, Altman Advisors has built a multi-generational client base, established a ten-year investment track record,...

Ghazenfer Mansoor is the Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a software company developing HIPAA-compliant web, mobile, and cloud-based healthcare software applications. As a seasoned advisor and investor in technology and healthcare, he has fulfilled roles as an architect, programmer, software engineer, user experience specialist, product developer, growth hacker, and chief technology officer....

CJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, a marketing agency focused on helping food and beverage brands grow through strategic digital campaigns, audience engagement, and data-informed marketing. CJ specializes in simplifying complex marketing, elevating brand awareness, customer acquisition, and loyalty for high-impact food brands like Sumo Citrus, Amy's Kitchen, and Baskin-Robb...

Eric Berman is the Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, a private global community that brings experienced entrepreneurs together for collaboration, strategic problem-solving, and business growth. He is also the Founder and CEO of Brandetize and Celebritize, companies focused on digital marketing and brand visibility for thought leaders, consumer brands, and influencers. Prior to...

Rick Gardiner is the Founder and CEO of iAffiliate Management, a leading performance marketing agency that helps DTC e-commerce brands increase revenue through strategic affiliate and partnership marketing. Under Rick's leadership, iAffiliate Management has worked with major brands, like Groupon, Hydro Flask, and Home Chef, helping clients fuel growth and build best-in-class affiliate programs ove...

Will Richardson is a Financial Advisor with Pacific Prosperity Partners under the Northwestern Mutual umbrella. He helps individuals and families navigate uncertainty through thoughtful, long-term financial planning. Having started his career during the 2008 financial crisis, Will brings firsthand experience guiding clients through market volatility and major life transitions. He is also the host...

Anna Rembold is the Founder and CEO of Metavent, a company that specializes in comprehensive corporate event operations and strategy, helping clients execute everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale events for up to 5,000 attendees. Under Anna's leadership, Metavent experienced rapid growth, reaching $4 million in annual revenue and earning a place as #403 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2019. ...

Taryn Bozzo is the CEO of AV Images, a California-based full-service audio-visual production company delivering high-impact event solutions for over 40 years. Under Taryn's leadership, AV Images has weathered significant industry shifts, including the pandemic, and continues to serve a national client base with multimillion-dollar revenues and a strong presence in the Las Vegas event market. Havin...

Vikram Seth is the Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl, where he provides AI-driven remote staffing and digital solutions to help businesses scale using top talent, particularly from Latin America. Under his leadership, his companies have helped US enterprises — including Fortune 500 clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Best Buy — hire tens of thousands of employees and improve their talent-asse...

Jordan Solender is the Founder of IT Select, where he serves as an IT Executive, helping organizations transform their technology procurement with faster, AI-driven models. Under his leadership, IT Select has expanded to serve clients in 38 states, streamlined procurement cycles from 120 days to as few as 30. For himself, Jordan achieved an eight-figure exit from a previous technology advisory fir...

Nicole Donnelly is the Founder and CEO of AI Smart Ventures, a company that helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence to work smarter and accelerate growth through hands-on training, consulting, and practical AI implementation. A serial entrepreneur, Nicole previously built a global baby brand from her kitchen table and has been a leader in AI-powered marketing since 2015, amassing over 8,...

Brandon Kordower is the Founder and CEO of AURA Accounting Solutions, a firm that provides fractional CFO and controller services to help marketing agencies scale profitably. With deep expertise in financial strategy, Brandon has guided clients through transformative growth journeys resulting in multiple eight-figure exits. His data-driven approach empowers agencies to make confident, strategic de...

Rachel Zhang is a color analyst and a Franchise Owner at House of Colour, a company that offers personalized color and style analysis to help clients build confident, flattering wardrobes. She is based in Westlake Village, California, and works with clients to identify their most harmonious "power colors." Before joining House of Colour, she spent over a decade in recruiting and held a role at Fac...

Valerie Fenchel is the Founding Attorney and CEO of Fenchel Family Law, a San Francisco-based firm that helps clients navigate divorce, custody, and other complex family law matters. She advises clients, crafts strategies, and collaborates with therapists, actuaries, and forensic accountants to resolve disputes. Valerie also serves as the Secretary of the Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco an...

Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a SaaS platform that helps small and growing businesses document, organize, and share their processes, roles, and training materials. Before launching Trainual, he built and sold a national video production company and led an operations consulting firm focused on business efficiency. Chris also hosts the Organize Chaos podcast and authored The Busin...

Alice Chen is a Partner at Pender Hastings Capital, a private equity firm specializing in niche, high-return land development investments in the US and Canada. She is also the Founder of Alice Chen Companies, a portfolio of ventures spanning international trade, financial services, consumer products, technology, and investment management. A former mergers and acquisitions attorney, Alice transitio...

Bruce Eckfeldt is the Founder of Eckfeldt & Associates, a coaching and advisory firm that helps entrepreneurs scale high-growth companies. He is a former architect turned tech CEO who successfully built and exited his own company, appearing multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list. Today, Bruce works with founders and leadership teams using Scaling Up, 3HAG, and agile methodologies to drive growth wit...

Ryder Meehan is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Upgrow, a performance-driven digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, paid media, and conversion optimization for B2B tech companies. With over 20 years of experience, he led digital marketing teams at Samsung, Microsoft, Razorfish, Fossil, and Tatcha. Ryder has managed more than $1 billion in Google Ads spend and has been featured in Forbes and Bu...

Brooke Kimbrough is the Agency Owner of Roots Surrogacy, a boutique agency that facilitates ethical, relationship-driven surrogacy journeys for intended parents and gestational carriers. A former surrogate, Brooke co-founded the agency in 2015 to create a personalized and compassionate experience grounded in transparency and mutual respect. With over a decade of experience in the field, she leads...

Shalini Lunia is the Co-founder of Cielo, a San Francisco-based platform that fosters authentic in-person connections through curated small group gatherings. She grew up in a ninth-generation family of jewelers and has lived in cities around the world. Shalini led ventures in industries ranging from jewelry to edible oils and real estate infrastructure. Her mission with Cielo is to help people ove...

Roman Slavinsky is the Director of Student Success at A+ Tutoring Inc. and the creator of an AI hiring tool developed to scale educator recruitment. A former science teacher, he founded A+ Tutoring in 2010 to support K–12 and college students. Seth Casden is the CEO and Co-founder of Hologenix, the company behind CELLIANT®, a mineral-infused infrared textile designed to enhance wellness and perfor...

Catherine Tyler is the Founder and CEO at Baer Reed Inc., a women‑owned business and legal process outsourcing firm that delivers secure, cost‑effective support to law firms, corporate legal departments, and regulated industries. A former litigation attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Cruncher and Winston & Strawn, she launched Baer Reed in 2010 after recognizing a need for high‑quality, scalable legal sup...

Cindy Free is the Owner and CEO of HR Annie Consulting, a firm specializing in human resources support, training, and compliance for small to midsize businesses. With over two decades of experience in HR leadership, Cindy helps companies build strong people strategies. She is known for her pragmatic approach to aligning culture and compliance. Wesley Naidoo is the Managing Director at Oasis Group,...

Zhubei is the Co-founder of Venture Education, a Beijing-based consultancy that provides market intelligence on K–12 education in China to organizations worldwide. Before co-founding Venture Education, she taught English to thousands of university volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Committee and coordinated between CCTV and its overseas partners. Adam Horowitz is the Principal of Lever Capita...

Ashley Du is the Founder of Meaningful Beginnings, a premium childcare provider in San Francisco offering licensed early education for children aged 0-5. She started the business in 2013 from her home after identifying a gap in high-quality, affordable childcare options. Under her leadership, the company has expanded into multiple centers and is known for its nurturing environment and Reggio Emili...