The Business Model by Inc.

The Tecovas story is almost like a Hallmark movie: Paul Hedrick, a Texan at heart, gets his Harvard degree and lands well-paid jobs with the likes of McKinsey and L Catterton. But he can’t stop looking down at his cowboy boots, so he leaves the corporate world and starts selling boots from the back of his SUV.   This decision wasn’t as quaint as it sounds, though. “I probably wouldn’t have gotten...

The best contemporary brands aren’t just brands. They’re communities, each with a distinct voice and feel.  Plus, there’s a whole world of influencers and celebrities that brings a new line of questions for founders: Who fits our brand best? How do we make real relationships and work together beyond one Instagram Reel?  On this episode of The Business Model by Inc., deputy editor Michelle Legro wr...

If you ask Inc.’s artificial intelligence reporter Ben Sherry, this year’s most successful founder isn’t a person at all. It’s Claude, Anthropic’s family of AI models.   Ben joined Inc. reporter Chloe Aiello for this week’s Circling Back to talk about why Anthropic stands out from the pack when it comes to enterprise AI. They discuss how Claude sets itself apart, how it has helped launch numerous ...

In 2026, brands must contend with a lot: AI slop. Copycats. A sea of influencers and content and competitors.   Breaking through to consumers has always been a struggle for every company, but the ever-changing media landscape makes it even tougher. So how can brands win in the year to come?   On this episode of The Business Model by Inc., deputy editor Michelle Legro kicks off a new Founder Group...

At age 81, why would Larry Ellison risk so much?   Show notes: For a moment earlier this year, Larry Ellison was the richest man in the world. Although the Oracle co-founder only briefly stole the top spot from Elon Musk, it was a high point in what was a huge — and risky — year for both Ellison and his legacy tech company.   Oracle’s stock price soared as it landed major deals with the biggest AI...

The mere idea of selling or exiting their businesses can bring out all kinds of reactions in founders. Some don’t want to even think about it. Others are putting a target sale price into their launch plans — the exit is the goal.   Wherever you fall on the exit-strategy spectrum, this Founder Group Chat has something for you.    On this episode, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey finishes his conversation with...

After fish are caught, they can suffer for hours. This makes them release stress hormones, which can lead to a rancid taste and shortened shelf life.   Shinkei Systems wants to change that. It is one of the many startups based in the burgeoning robotics capital of El Segundo, California.   Shinkei’s main offering is a robot fish-killer that processes the catch right on the boat using a technology...

You can’t scale a company alone. As you’re building, you’ll need to hire the right people for the job.    Those first hires are critical. But as your company grows, the initial staff aren’t necessarily the ones to take it to the next stage. Or are they? It’s a conundrum for founders.     Fortunately, this week’s Founder Group Chat contains real-life experience and advice. We continue with our trio...

It would’ve been easy to doubt Grüns. On the surface, it’s just another supplement brand joining the crowded marketplace of pills, powders, and gummies that come with major health claims.   But just two years into its existence, Grüns has hit a $500 million valuation — a figure more on par with that of AI companies than a new consumer brand. The company’s CEO says it’s already profitable, too, and...

A few years ago, Ariela Safira’s Zeera was set to launch a brick-and-mortar mental health concept in New York. The opening month was set to be April 2020.   As you might’ve guessed, things didn’t go as planned. Still, Ariela led her company through the hardships, a rebrand, and an acquisition.   It’s something of a storybook ending for a founder. But how did Ariela cope with the challenges? And ho...

Blockit promises that in just five minutes, it can learn as much about your schedule, habits, and preferences as a human could in months.   The tool is part of a growing field of new AI agents that want to offer the benefits of an executive assistant at a much lower price tag.   Technology reporter Claire Cameron was curious so she ran an experiment to take Blockit at its word and gave it a try fo...

As a founder, trying to scale your business can feel like walking on a knife’s edge. Go too fast or too early, you’ll fall off. Move too slowly and you’ll get left behind.   Every Friday on The Business Model, we’re hosting a Founder Group Chat. Each episode will feature a candid, in-depth conversation about one of the many pressing topics entrepreneurs are facing.  On this first group chat, our t...

The top 10 percent of earners account for half of consumer spending. To target those big spenders, brands are meeting them where they are: behind closed doors. Host Chloe Aiello talks with Inc. staff reporter Ali Donaldson about why brands are trying to get their products -- not on the shelves of major retailers, like Walmart, Target, or REI -- but behind the closed doors of private, members-only...

The Business Model by Inc. is the multi-episode-a-week podcast for small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and startup founders who want to start, run, and grow stronger companies. Each week we deliver a curated mix of business-trend analysis, actionable playbooks, and candid interviews with real founders—from Main Street businesses to cutting-edge startups.  In this video podcast, you’ll learn how...