Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast

Chad Nikkel is a Business Guide at Next Level Growth, a firm that helps entrepreneurs and leadership teams scale their companies while maintaining a work-life balance. With over 25 years of experience, he has founded and scaled 11 businesses, including facilitating seven acquisitions and four high-value exits. Ashley Richards is the Founder and CEO of E Squared Marketing, a digital marketing agenc...

Genevieve Barter is the President of Palmeira Home + Health, a leading home healthcare provider delivering personalized skilled nursing and therapy services to patients in the comfort of their homes across multiple states. After more than eight years working in home health, she acquired the company she loved to close the gap between small caregivers and large, impersonal providers. Under her leade...

Michael Hsu is the Founder and CEO of MEASURE × HACK, a financial literacy and business performance company that helps entrepreneurs understand and manage their money through systems and metrics. He is also the Founder and CEO of DeepSky, a leading CFO consulting and outsourced accounting firm.  Lisa Riley is the Owner and President of multiple Tulsa-area Pinot's Palette studios, part of a US pain...

Ashish Patel is the Founder and CEO of Simpat Tech, a custom software development consultancy. With a background in engineering and product management, he has scaled the company to become a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in Application Development. Ashish is also the Owner and Manager of Austin .NET User Group.  In this episode… Starting a business often entails facing uncertainty about when to...

Stephanie Waldrop is the Principal of Employee Benefits International, a firm that designs data-driven, cost-effective employee benefits for midsize and large employers. With 25-plus years in the insurance industry, she brings deep expertise in strategic planning, compliance, and client-focused service. Chris Schalleur is the CEO of Christo IT, a Philadelphia-based company providing managed IT, cy...

Michelle Bomberger is the Founder and CEO of Equinox Business Law Group, a firm that provides fixed-cost, strategic legal services tailored to the needs of small and midsize businesses. She's a former Ernst & Young consultant and award-winning entrepreneur recognized for her innovative legal approach. Michael Sacher is a Partner at WestPoint Financial Group, a firm that offers personalized financi...

Alice Li is the Founder and CEO of First Day, a wellness company that offers science-backed gummy multivitamins designed to support the health of families, particularly children and women. Motivated by her family's experiences during the Great Chinese Famine, Alice established First Day in 2019 to address nutritional gaps and prevent "nutritional trauma" in future generations. A Yale University gr...

Tyler Lane is the Founder and CEO of Session Interactive, a Denver-based digital marketing consultancy specializing in SEO, analytics, paid search, and content strategy for mid-market and enterprise brands. With over 11 years of experience in digital marketing, Tyler leads a team of seasoned professionals who deliver data-driven solutions to help clients achieve measurable growth. Under his leader...

Noah Rosenfarb is the Founder of Wealthrive, a boutique advisory firm that helps high-net-worth entrepreneurs optimize tax strategies, build predictable income streams, and design lives that are rich beyond money. A third-generation CPA, Noah has sold eight companies, taken one public, and completed over 50 real estate investments valued at nearly $1 billion. He is also the author of EXIT: Healthy...

Scott Kabat is the Founding Partner and CEO of 621 Consulting, which provides fractional marketing leadership to help companies accelerate growth and navigate strategic transitions. With a team of over 500 seasoned marketers, 621 Consulting offers services, including go-to-market planning, demand generation, revenue operations, and brand positioning. Before founding 621, Scott held executive roles...

Zahoor Kareem is the Co-founder of K&L Capital, a private investment firm that acquires and grows small to midsized non-tech businesses. With a background spanning logistics, franchising, and business services, Zahoor focuses on building sustainable companies that thrive beyond their original owners. Over the years, he has led multiple successful acquisitions and divestitures, bringing operational...

Rick Rappe is the President and Owner of RPM Direct Marketing, a Seattle-based agency specializing in direct mail marketing services, including lead generation, acquisition, loyalty, and win-back programs. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Rick has developed and managed some of the largest and most successful direct-marketing-driven sales channels in the country. Under his leadersh...

Chris Farkas is the President of EmergencyKits.com, a company that provides high-quality emergency preparedness kits and supplies for individuals, families, schools, businesses, government organizations, first responders, and the US Military. In January 2025, as Manager of Second Mountain Holdings, LLC, Chris led the acquisition of EmergencyKits.com, aiming to support its growth and innovation in...

Olga Svitelska is the Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Wunderdogs, a brand consultancy that partners with companies to elevate their creative strategies through comprehensive approaches in strategy, design, and technology. Since joining Wunderdogs, Olga has played a pivotal role in guiding the company's collaborations with over 140 start-ups and 30 venture capital firms, all aiming...

Mike Gunderson is the President of Gundir, an award-winning direct marketing agency specializing in traditional offline channels, particularly direct mail. Since 2003, Gundir has been helping businesses drive new leads and close more sales. In addition to Gundir, Mike is the Founder and CEO of PostReminder, a direct response platform that merges traditional direct mail with digital engagement thro...

Eric Evans is the CEO of HyperTarget Marketing, a performance marketing agency specializing in generating leads for industry sectors such as legal, insurance, and financial services. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of Pipes. AI, an AI-powered sales engagement platform that automates and optimizes lead follow-up processes. With a background in performance marketing and technology development, Eri...

Eric Toscano is the Founder & CEO of Tenant Law Group, a California law firm dedicated exclusively to representing renters who have been harassed, discriminated against, or illegally evicted. Under his leadership, the firm has grown into one of the largest tenant rights law firms in the United States. Eric brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial and legal experience to his role and has been recogn...

Eric Crews is the Founder and CEO of Crews & co., a management consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses increase revenue, profitability, and salable value. With decades of entrepreneurial experience, he is an EOS Implementer®, helping companies implement a business operating system into their organizations. In 2021, Eric launched the Growth Method℠, a proprietary business operating system d...

Jonathan (Jon) Bunten is the Co-founder and CEO of RecorGroup, a consumer goods brokerage agency that connects consumer goods manufacturers with retailers. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Finance from The College of Idaho and has a diverse background in finance, trade marketing, and sales with major manufacturers like Smuckers. Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Jon served 14 years in t...

Roger Einstoss is the Co-founder and CEO of Braintly, a company that connects US businesses with top engineering talent from Latin America. With over 12 years of experience in tech talent acquisition, he has helped companies like Volkswagen and T-Mobile build remote engineering teams. Roger specializes in bridging the gap between businesses and skilled developers, offering solutions in staff augme...

Devin Koch is the Founder and Chairman of Teamswell, a company specializing in nearshoring talent solutions to help businesses scale by hiring skilled professionals in nearby time zones. He is also the CEO of Oasis Broadband, a provider of wireless internet services for rural and underserved communities. With decades of experience in entrepreneurship, Devin has built and managed technology, consul...

Eric Evans is the CEO of HyperTarget Marketing, a performance marketing agency specializing in generating leads for industry sectors such as legal, insurance, and financial services. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of Pipes. AI, an AI-powered sales engagement platform that automates and optimizes lead follow-up processes. With a background in performance marketing and technology development, Eri...

Dan Gramann is the Co-founder of Cultivate Advisors, a business growth advisory firm that helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses, increase profitability, and prepare for eventual exits. Under his leadership, Cultivate Advisors has grown to work with businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises, across diverse industries. With experience launching and leading hundreds of fr...

Jim Lutz is the Founder and President of Vaya Adventures, a company specializing in tailor-made travel experiences to destinations around the world. After starting his career as a lawyer, Jim transitioned into entrepreneurship, combining his passion for travel and deep knowledge of Latin America to build a thriving business. Since its founding in 2004, Vaya Adventures has expanded to offer custom...

Rob Murray is the CEO and Co-founder of Intrigue Media, a Certified B Corp marketing agency that services landscaping companies across the US and Canada. Intrigue helps companies build a strong digital presence, generate consistent leads, and promote long-term growth. Under Rob's leadership, Intrigue has serviced over 1,000 clients since its inception in 2006. Rob has a background in marketing fro...