Starting Small

What started on a Denver apartment stovetop has turned into an eight-figure clean haircare brand trusted by tastemakers and barbers alike. In this episode, Boone Whiteside and Ben Medalie share how they built Highland from DIY experiments into a business that redefines performance, health, and sustainability in haircare. From mixing pomades in a KitchenAid to landing in 150+ barbershops and salons...

In this episode I'm joined by Justin Fenchel, co-founder and CEO of BeatBox Beverages , one of the fastest-growing RTD (Ready-To-Drink) brands in the U.S., redefining how consumers experience flavored cocktails. BeatBox went from an MBA project to a $245M projected brand in 2025, winning over Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and more recently, partnering with Shaquille O’Neal, who not only invested but co...

Michael Fisher was making gummy worms in his kitchen during COVID when he realized candy hadn’t been reimagined for today’s consumer. With no food science background, he started experimenting—less sugar, no artificial dyes, and all the nostalgia of sour gummies. That tinkering turned into Rotten, a candy brand with its own world, characters, and cult following. From a Kickstarter launch in 2023 to...

After a career in venture capital and running e-commerce at The Wonderful Company, Jordan Bass set out to reinvent the occasion of “cracking a cold one.” In 2020, he co-founded HOP WTR—a sparkling water infused with hops, adaptogens, and nootropics—crafted to deliver the refreshment of a beer without the booze, calories, or regret. Launching DTC first, Bass and his team quickly proved demand, then...

In less than two years, Neha Kumar has helped build Full Glass Wine Co. into one of the fastest-scaling wine companies in the U.S., completing 7 acquisitions and growing to $200M in revenue in just 17 months. With beloved brands like Winc, Wine Access, Wine Insiders, and Cameron Hughes under its umbrella, the company is redefining how consumers discover and enjoy wine. In this episode, Neha shares...

After building a career in AI and tech, FX Rouxel set out to solve a massive problem: how to grow real food at home—without soil, land, or waste. He launched Gardyn, a direct-to-consumer hydroponic system that lets anyone grow fresh produce indoors with minimal effort and zero green thumb. Since launch, Gardyn users have grown over 3.5 million pounds of food, saved 60 million gallons of water, and...

Co-founders Karl Pfluger, Paul Anderson, and Arlyn Davich teamed up with actor Cole Hauser to acquire a 25-year-old roastery in San Angelo, TX. Since launching in October 2023, they’ve served 250,000+ customers, claimed 10,000+ five-star reviews, and donated over 60,000 cups to veterans, first responders, teachers, and nurses. By September 2024, they secured their first national rollout, appearing...

After 22 years at Bose, N.B. Patil left with the IP behind their discontinued Sleepbuds—and turned it into the most funded sleep product in Indiegogo history. He co-founded Ozlo with no brand, no marketing engine, and no team—just conviction that this product still had life. They raised $10M, shipped to 40+ countries, won Best of CES, and built a loyal customer base that actively shapes the produc...

In this episode, I'm joined by Cameron Forbes of Forbes Functions, a full-service event planning agency known for creating stylish, story-driven events for top brands, creators, and private clientsCameron launched Forbes Functions during the pandemic as a creative side hustle while working in finance. Now 26, she’s become one of the most in-demand event producers in the luxury space, known for des...

Emily Hosie spent over a decade inside some of the biggest names in off-price retail—Saks Off 5th, Holt Renfrew, and TJX—before launching REBEL, the first curated marketplace for open-box baby and home goods. After a year of being turned away by brands unwilling to admit the waste, REBEL secured major partners—and then a defining moment came. Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY filed for bankrup...

Mike Lombardo didn’t come from food and bev. He was a college student, Army National Guard soldier, and drummer chasing big ideas. But when his high school swim teammate Kayvon began managing ulcerative colitis by mixing prebiotic tea, everything changed. The two co-founders started bottling it out of a brewery in New Jersey—selling to one Whole Foods, cold-brewing by hand, and making just $18K in...

Berk Bahceci left a career in antitrust law in Washington, D.C., to build something deeply personal. Born in Turkey and raised around olive groves, Berk saw a massive blind spot in the U.S. market: despite being one of the top producers in the world, Turkish olive oil had no brand recognition on American shelves. So, he built one from scratch. In this episode, Berk shares how he vertically integra...

From a nearly $50k debt to a multi-million dollar company, Blake Garrett, founder of Aceable, didn’t follow the usual path. In this episode, Blake shares how his background in accounting and ERP consulting led him to create Aceable, a company that’s reshaping how we learn essential skills like driving and real estate licensing. What began with a simple idea—gamifying education—has grown into a mus...

In this episode of Starting Small, we’re joined by JW Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs, a booze-free craft cocktail company that’s changing the way people think about non-alcoholic drinks. JW started Curious Elixirs in 2015 while running a marketing agency, driven by a personal desire for complex cocktails without the hangover. He talks about how his fascination with cocktails and his experienc...

In this episode of Starting Small, we’re joined by Charlie Weisman, founder of Staff, a brand that's redefining the most overlooked items in our homes. Staff started with a plunger—yes, a plunger—designed to be bold, colorful, and functional, a far cry from the bland utility items most of us keep hidden away. Charlie takes us back to the initial spark of inspiration during the pandemic, when he lo...

In this episode of Starting Small, we chat with Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand that’s changing how women approach health. Lulu’s journey starts in China, moves through a tough transition to California, and ends up with her launching a company focused on personalized herbal care. After years of dealing with stress, hormonal issues, and a traditional corporate grind, Lulu turned to Chine...

In this episode I'm joined by Bartosz Skwarczek of G2A. He started G2A in 2010 with a small team and a big idea—create the world’s largest digital marketplace for gaming products. What began in a small room in Poland with just six people has grown into a platform serving over 25 million customers in 180 countries. Today, G2A is the largest marketplace for digital goods, from games to software and...

In this episode I'm joined by Grace Lee Chan of Birdy Grey, the direct-to-consumer bridal brand that’s shaking up the wedding industry. Grace Lee Chen, co-founder of the brand, shares how she and her best friend Monica Ashauer launched Birdy Grey in 2017, turning a simple idea into a company that hit $80 million in revenue in just a few years. With no outside funding, they bootstrapped the busines...

In this episode I'm joined by Jim Keyes, the former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, to talk through his journey from humble beginnings to leading two of the most recognizable brands in the world. Jim opens up about how he worked multiple jobs—like flipping burgers at McDonald’s—to pay for school, made pivotal decisions in 7-Eleven’s growth, and led Blockbuster during its struggle against Netflix....

In this episode, I'm joined by Chris & Jonathan Ronzio of Trainual, the leading SaaS platform transforming the way businesses onboard, train, and scale teams. Trainual streamlines essential processes by providing businesses with a digital playbook to standardize how work gets done. Whether teams are remote, in-office, or hybrid, Trainual ensures employees have the knowledge and resources they...

In this episode I am joined by Susan Levine, founder of Career Group Companies. Susan didn’t just build a recruiting agency—she redefined the industry. What started as a one-woman operation has grown into Career Group Companies, a national firm placing talent everywhere from Fortune 500 boardrooms to Hollywood’s biggest power players. Whether it’s staffing A-list assistants for Kevin Costner and M...

In this episode I am joined by Jacob and Victor Eriksson, founders of Boxbollen. What do Khloe Kardashian, Will Smith, and thousands of TikTok creators have in common? They’ve all been hooked on Boxbollen, the Swedish reflex-training game that went viral overnight. Founded by two brothers, Boxbollen turned a simple head-tracking ball into a global fitness and gaming sensation. From partnerships wi...

In this episode I am joined by Suze Dowling, co-founder of Pattern Brands. Suze Dowling has spent her career shaping some of the most recognizable brands in DTC. From launching Warby Parker and Harry’s at Gin Lane to co-founding Pattern Brands, she’s helped build companies that don’t just scale—they last. Now, with $99M raised and seven acquisitions, Pattern is creating a portfolio of home brands...

In this episode I am joined by David Habib, founder of Yo Mama's. Tired of bland, preservative-packed sauces that caused him relentless heartburn, David took matters into his own hands. Trading spreadsheets for saucepans, he founded Yo Mama’s Foods in 2017 with a mission to create pasta sauces made from simple, honest ingredients—just like his mom would. Bootstrapped from his personal savings, Dav...

In this episode I am joined by Mike Browne, founder of HEALiX Infrared. Mike shares his transformative journey from competitive hockey and professional psychology to launching a cutting-edge wellness brand. With a foundation built on years of expertise in fitness, nutrition, and mental health, Mike created HEALiX to bring advanced therapies like PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy) and red...