Starting Small

In this episode I am joined by Courtney Claghorn of SUGARED + BRONZED, the national leader in sugaring and spray tanning services with over 38 locations across five states. What began in Courtney’s Santa Monica apartment as a quest to create healthier, more aesthetic tanning options has grown into a self-care empire. Leaving a successful career in Fintech, Courtney combined her passion for natural...

In this episode I am joined by Priya of Hapny Home, a brand redefining hardware with its curated collection of solid brass pieces. Growing up immersed in the hardware business, Priya took the unconventional route of building her own brand instead of joining her father’s 40-year-old company. With an eye for detail and a commitment to quality, Priya has filled a gap in the market, crafting hardware...

In this episode I am joined by Lillian Tung and Laura Schubert, lifelong friends and co-founders of Fur, pioneered the pubic hair and skin care category nearly a decade ago. Breaking taboos, they created a brand known for standout products like Fur Oil, a favorite of Emma Watson, and grew a loyal following, including over 12,000 professional estheticians. After landing a Shark Tank deal with Lori...

In this episode I am joined by David Heacock, Founder of Filterbuy. David took a bold leap from a seven-figure career at Goldman Sachs to save his family’s business in Talladega, Alabama. Without prior involvement, he purchased the company from his grandfather and rebuilt it into Filterbuy, the leading indoor air quality brand. Through self-funding and a commitment to U.S. manufacturing, David sca...

In this episode I am joined by Amy Zalneraitis, co-founder of We Feed Raw, the fastest-growing DTC raw dog food company. Amy shares the deeply personal story of carrying on her late sister Alissa’s mission to revolutionize pet health through biologically appropriate nutrition. Recognized as the premier raw dog food delivery service by Forbes, People Magazine, and Popular Science, We Feed Raw is se...

In this episode I am joined by Ryan Close, Founder & CEO of Bartesian, behind the revolutionary at-home cocktail machine that has transformed home entertaining. Officially launched in 2019, Bartesian skyrocketed to over $100M in DTC sales in under three years, with millions of cocktails served monthly. Ryan delves into the brand’s journey from its innovative concept to its retail expansion int...

In this episode I am joined by Alex Watson, co-founder of Renais—a premium gin crafted from upcycled grape skins sourced from his family's renowned vineyard in Chablis, France. Built alongside his sister, Emma Watson, Renais blends innovation with tradition to redefine sustainability in spirits. Alex shares the challenges of creating a brand that honors their family heritage, milestones like their...

In this episode I am joined by Ryan Vesler, founder of Homage, building a brand that transforms nostalgia into iconic apparel, celebrating pop culture, sports history, and the moments that bring us together. Since its inception, Homage has become a cult favorite, known for its vintage-inspired designs and premium quality. With partnerships spanning major sports leagues and cultural icons, Ryan sha...

In this episode I am joined by Woodie Hillyard, Co-Founder and CEO of W, co-founded by Jake Paul, a disruptive personal care brand redefining men’s grooming. Launched nationally in Walmart in June 2024, W broke records by becoming Walmart’s best launch in its Emerging Brands category, surpassing seven figures in its first month. With influencer-driven campaigns and accessible pricing, W is revolut...

In this episode I am joined by Priyanka Jain, founder and CEO of Evvy, transforming women’s health by building the largest dataset on the vaginal microbiome to address and close the gender health gap through precise, data-driven diagnostics. With its innovative testing, Evvy empowers women with deeper health insights and sets a higher standard of care that is empathetic, personalized, and research...

In this episode I am joined by Tim Fung, founder and CEO of Airtasker, the platform that connects people with skilled local taskers to get more done. Tim shares Airtasker’s journey, from launching in Australia in 2012 to expanding into the UK in 2018 and most recently, the US in 2023. Now with 3 million taskers and 4.3 million tasks completed worldwide, Airtasker has seen remarkable growth, includ...

In this episode I am joined by Renata Black, founder of EBY, a brand committed to both innovation in intimate apparel and women’s empowerment worldwide. Renata shares how EBY began as more than a clothing line, pioneering a subscription model that has now sold over 1 million products. With each purchase, EBY funds microloans for women entrepreneurs, creating a ripple effect of support. Partnering...

In this episode I am joined by Luke Milton, former professional Australian rugby player and founder of Training Mate, the fitness brand that blends HIIT with mental well-being and social connection. Luke’s approach, inspired by the Australian concept of 'mateship,' has attracted celebrity clients like Khloe Kardashian and Rebel Wilson. With 6 studios in Los Angeles, 2 in Dallas, and 4 more opening...

In this episode I am joined by Shirah Benarde, co-founder of NightCap, who created the drink spiking prevention tool at just 16 after a friend’s harrowing experience. By 17, she landed one of the fastest deals on Shark Tank, partnering with Lori Greiner. NightCap has since sold over 500,000 units in more than 40 countries, amassed a 600K social media following, and won TIME Magazine's Best Inventi...

In this episode I am joined by Dragons' Den judge Maria Hatzistefanis, CEO and Founder of Rodial, a high-end skincare and beauty brand. Launched in 1999, Rodial quickly gained attention for its science-driven approach to luxury beauty, focusing on targeted skincare solutions such as anti-aging, firming, and brightening. Maria’s vision was to create products that blend innovation with visible resul...

In this episode I am joined by Rachel Sanders, CEO and Founder of Rootine, science-backed, personalized health solutions like fast-acting adaptogen drink mixes and smart multivitamins, designed to improve sleep, stress, focus, and overall wellness. Make sure to check out Rootine at: https://rootine.co   Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://st...

In this episode I am joined by Kevin McCarthy, CEO of UNREAL Snacks, making addicting chocolate snacks without the unnecessary sugar. Over the last 10 years, UNREAL has grown into a national brand available in over 35k locations, including Whole Foods Market, Costco, Sprouts, Kroger, Publix (and too many regional markets to name), as well as online at Thrive Market, Amazon and www.unrealsnacks.com...

In this episode I am joined by Jason Karp, Founder and CEO of HumanCo, a next-generation family of trusted brands that make your favorite foods better. Jason’s health and wellness journey began in his early twenties after being diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases and an incurable, degenerative eye disease that threatened to leave him blind by the age of 30. Against all odds, and through a f...

In this episode I am joined by Anshul Rathi, Founder and CEO of Certify, a healthcare provider management company that takes an API-first approach to fixing a broken system -- essentially Certify reduces the time it takes for health systems and health plans to onboard doctors, nurses, etc. from months to minutes. Make sure to check out Certify at: https://www.certifyos.com   Sign up for Starting S...

In this episode I am joined by Alex Douzet, co-founder and CEO of Pumpkin®, the highest-rated pet insurance provider on Google as of January 2024, and one of the fastest growing pet insurance and wellness brands in the U.S. Alex is a serial entrepreneur and three time founder with a 20-year career of disrupting industries, scaling businesses, and building ‘people-first’ companies where employees g...

In this episode I am joined by Simon Sacal, CEO of Solely, a vertically integrated clean fruit snack company that diverts over 1.6 million pounds of fruit waste a month. Solely is the fastest-growing natural fruit snack brand in the U.S., with consumers purchasing nearly $100 million worth of products in the last five years. Simon transformed Solely from a small operation in Mexico to a thriving b...

In this episode I am joined by Rob Schutz , Co-Founder of Ro and Snagged.com. Rob started TWO +$1B companies and now spends his time hunting premium domains. Rob is also the co-founder of Ro(man), the DTC health company last valued at $7B, and employee #7 + former VP of Growth at Bark(box), where he helped grow the company from $0 to a $100M in run rate. Rob started Snagged to help entrepreneurs,...

In this episode I am joined by Roy Nesi, Founder of ROAR Organic, delivering Complete Hydration products with replenishing electrolytes packed into every bottle. Roly Nesi founded ROAR Organic in 2014. His goal was to create a great-tasting sports beverage that was also a lifestyle brand for active people. After an exhausting year distributing bottles from the back of a van, Roly pivoted from a sp...

In this episode I am joined by Dr. Dionne Baker, Founder of DeeBee's Organics, all-natural SuperFruit Freezie Pops & fruit-filled treats. With a Ph. D. in maternal-fetal toxicology, her research focused on the effects of chemical exposure during pregnancy on fetal development. When her youngest child struggled to find snacks he could enjoy like other kids, Dionne was inspired to create fun, jo...

In this episode I am joined by Kathryn Bricken, Founder of Doughlicious, award-winning gluten-free, dairy-free, & vegan, ready to bake cookie dough & gelato bites. From an early age, Kathryn Bricken had a passion for baking and understood how food had a way of bringing people together and making memories. Kathryn moved to London with her family and started baking American-style cookies for...