The Dirt

Zack Dugow, the Founder and CEO of Insticator, has mastered user engagement for publishers. He believes that the future of social media lies outside of the walled gardens of platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Insticator builds social communities for publishers to connect audiences on their sites by curating relevant content for their users. Much like Facebook’s algorithm pushes content they th...

Most content creators are very familiar with the never-ending game of email ping-pong to get content edited and approved. Niklas Dorn, a creative and ambitious entrepreneur, identified this problem and founded Filestage, a platform that streamlines content review and approval processes. With a passion for finding a more efficient and innovative way to enhance workflows, the Filestage team has deve...

With a degree in international studies and training in software development, Michael O’Rourke possesses a unique blend of skills and knowledge that has shaped his understanding of technology and its potential impact on the world. Michael is Co-Founder and CEO of Pocket Network, a Web3 middleware protocol that provides a decentralized infrastructure for blockchain node interaction.  Join Michael an...

For Ben Goldman, no challenge is insurmountable with a great work ethic and willingness to hustle. Having grown his own business, successfully exiting and becoming a leader in the acquiring company, you won’t want to miss out on his story. As the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Digital Partnerships at Anteriad, it’s Ben’s job to be an expert in understanding marketing, sales, str...

Jonathan Kazarian knows how beneficial events can be for businesses to reach their audience and improve brand awareness, but he also knows how stressful and time-consuming hosting these events can be. He saw a gap in the market for user-friendly and cost-effective event technology. That’s why Jonathan founded Accelevents, which has become a leading event technology platform with a user-friendly, c...

With the exponential growth of data in organizations, cyberattacks are becoming frequent and costing American companies millions and risking their reputations. Kevin Coppins, President and CEO of Spirion, knows just how much is at risk when it comes to employee data. When he stepped into his role as CEO, he made sure that the founder’s vision to “eliminate data breaches and the pain associated wit...

Workers share more data with their employers than with any other service. Whether it’s work history, educational experience,family structure, etc. employers have all of this information at their fingertips.  What if that data could be used to deliver a better experience for every employee? That’s the question that Kiran Menon asked when he founded Tydy, a People Ops Automation platform.  Kiran bel...

Whether it’s a new sport, a new language, or a new instrument, we can’t master a skill overnight. We learn by practicing and making mistakes along the way. That isn’t an option in the medical field because lives are at stake. That’s why Danny Goel, the founder and CEO of Precision OS, has created a simulation software that incorporates VR and AR to allow medical professionals to practice their ski...

The world is becoming more digital by the second, but not everyone is up to speed. Serial entrepreneur, Matias Marquez, helps brands connect with consumers with digital assets. His company, ethos, works with brands   to provide digital assets (i.e., NFTs) to customers that have real-world benefits.     Join Jim and Matias as they discuss bringing Web3 to consumer brands. They talk about digital as...

Companies, enterprises, entrepreneurs, and individuals face security threats every day, and Tony UcedaVelez has spent over 25 years understanding and dealing with those threats. During this time, he realized that the cybersecurity industry desperately needed a makeover. He created the company, VerSprite, to fill a void in security consulting where most firms continued to sell their services using...

A good partnership can accelerate building a successful business, and guest Todd Buelow knows firsthand just how advantageous they can be through their work at Dualboot, a 400-person software development company he and his two business partners founded. Join Todd and Jim as they discuss the advantages and challenges associated with partnerships and growing companies alongside others. From finding...

Lars Helgeson knows that the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) space is crowded, with Goliaths like SalesForce, Oracle, HubSpot, and Pipedrive taking up their well-established places. But, a strong believer in the underdog, he bootstrapped a multimillion-dollar business and carved out his own space in the CRM and marketing automation industry.  In this episode, Lars joins host Jim Barnish to...

Josh Holloway, founder and CEO of 7th Dimension, joins Jim Barnish on this episode to talk about all things growth. How do you navigate when your business plateaus and you feel stuck, whether that’s at $2 million, $5 million, or $10 million? Should you invest funds into organic growth through marketing and sales, or consider an acquisition? How do you ensure your company is in order to handle the...

“I can’t describe it, but I know it when I see it,” is pretty common when describing a company’s culture. But not so much for Bobby Mason, CEO of SPOC Automation. Bobby joins host Jim Barnish to talk about how his company has defined their “Lift Up” culture and how that culture has redefined what success means for their company. Listen in to see how lifting up in every aspect of the business - you...

Did you know that 75% of highschool students are not proficient in high school mathematics? There’s some problems we often think, “well that’s the government’s job to fix.” Education (and math education specifically) often falls into that category. But Dr. Aditya Nagrath had a different perspective. What if he solved that problem from the private sector, and built a sustainable, profitable busines...

Starting in banking that shifted to software development with MercuryWorks, Chris Karlo brings 20 years of entrepreneurial experience to this conversation with host Jim Barnish. They discuss how to make business and customer partnerships work well, why a happy team produces high quality products, and how to survive this and the next recession. 3 Key Takeaways A business partnership is like a marri...

Web 3.0 is a hot topic right now. What is it? And why is there so much skepticism and hype surrounding it? Serial entrepreneur and Web3 expert Sam Kamani joins host Jim Barnish on this episode to discuss why this is an opportunity for building in a new environment. Whether or not you’re familiar with blockchain technology, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies, you need to pay attention. 3 Key Takeaways Prob...

Do you feel the call to entrepreneurship? How do you know when to make that jump from the corporate ladder to defining your own career? From farm girl to vice president of technology in real estate investment management, Tami Jaffe made that leap, and is now helping others do the same.  Tune into her conversation with host Jim Barnish as they talk about why you need to stop asking yourself if you’...

Mutual friend of Tobias Günther ( see episode 24 ), longtime entrepreneur and founder of Partners in Clime, Yannick Frank joins Jim Barnish from Germany to discuss strategy, financing, and sustainability. They talk about bootstrapping versus venture capital for financing, how the startup culture in Germany has evolved over the last decade, and hear why Yannick’s daughter was the catalyst for his n...

Ken Pomella, founder and CEO of RevStar Consulting, joins Jim Barnish on this episode to discuss how he went from a side hustle for five years to finally taking the leap into a full business that has seen massive growth since that decision. They discuss operations and the value of Agile in project management and software development, the importance of always assessing your processes to stay on tar...

Dr. Rebecca White, author of her recent book See, Do, Repeat , brings years of experience and research on what it means to be an entrepreneur to this episode with host Jim Barnish. They discuss the heart of entrepreneurship, what it means to see opportunities, take action, and learn how to be resilient so you can “execute past your failures.”  3 Key Takeaways Learn to identify the right talent for...

Stop wasting time and resources building the perfect product prior to launching. Know your customer, listen to them, and build what they need. They will likely enjoy giving feedback and being part of building the product alongside you! Tune into this episode to hear Brad Kugler, cofounder of DirectMail 2.0, talk with host Jim Barnish about his founder’s journey moving from VHS sales to building a...

“As a founder you are the one who brings the idea to market and proves product-market fit. But at some point between then and the growth stage, you need to do some self-assessment.” You’ve brought a product to market that works, you’ve started building a team, and you’re entering the growth stage of your business. As a founder, it’s time for you to do some self reflection. What is your core skill...

As the future of work increasingly moves remote, how do you build and scale an organization that can operate successfully with limited interaction? Liam Martin, cofounder of Time Doctor and Staff.com, joins Jim Barnish to discuss all things remote work.  At the start of 2020 only about 5% of the workforce worked remotely (per Bureau of Labor Statistics ). The pandemic propelled the world forward i...

Money. You need it, and investors and financiers have it. So how do you raise capital without losing too much stake in your business? Lauren Cascio, founder of Gulp Data, joins Jim Barnish in this episode to talk about financing and the important distinctions between dilutive and non-dilutive financing. Join Jim and Lauren as they discuss which finance option is best for you at the stage you’re at...