The Founder Hour

Jonathan Neman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand that serves healthy food at scale. Jonathan and his co-founders and fellow Georgetown classmates Nathaniel Ru and Nicolas Jammet started Sweetgreen in 2007, opening their first location in Georgetown, DC, just three months out of college. The trio were disappointed with campus food options. Their vision is to...

Giada De Laurentiis is the Emmy award-winning television personality of Food Network’s Everyday Italian, Giada at Home, Giada’s Weekend Getaways, Giada In Paradise, Giada In Italy, Giada’s Holiday Handbook, Giada Entertains, Giada On The Beach, a judge on Food Network Star and Winner Cake All, a NBC Today Show contributor, and a successful restaurateur with restaurants GIADA and Pronto by Giada in...

Nick Green is Co-Founder & CEO of Thrive Market, a membership-based online platform that makes healthy living easy and accessible to all. Since launching in 2014, Thrive Market has grown to 1.3 million paying members and become a touchstone example of a mission-driven company at scale. In addition to offering the world’s best natural and organic products at affordable prices to its members, for ev...

Welcome to a riveting episode of The Founder Hour, where we explore the captivating journey of Seamus Blackley, the ingenious mind behind the creation of Xbox. Seamus takes us on a compelling odyssey through his personal story and entrepreneurial ventures. From his fascination with physics to an impactful career in video games, including a stint working with Steven Spielberg at Dreamworks, Seamus...

In this episode, we sit down with the visionary entrepreneur Chuck Templeton, the mastermind behind OpenTable. From his humble beginnings to revolutionizing the restaurant industry with OpenTable, Chuck's journey is a tale of innovation and determination. Tune in as we explore his inspiring story, discussing the challenges he overcame, the lessons he learned, and the impact he's made on the world...

Our guest today is Isaac Larian, the visionary founder of MGA Entertainment. MGA is home to some of the biggest brands in the toy space, including Bratz, Little Tikes, L.O.L. Surprise!, MGA’s Miniverse, and more. Join us as we embark on a journey through the fascinating life and entrepreneurial saga of a man who has not only shaped the toy industry but also overcome formidable odds to build an end...

Howard Marks is the co-founder of StartEngine, one of the leading equity crowdfunding platforms in the U.S., where everyday people can find and invest in early-growth companies and startups, as well as a variety of alternative assets and collectibles. StartEngine has helped more than 750 companies raise over $700 million.  Before co-founding StartEngine, Howard co-founded Activision and was the Ch...

Welcome to The Founder Hour, where we uncover the stories behind the world's most remarkable entrepreneurs. In this episode, we have the distinct honor of sitting down with a true pioneer of conscious business, John Mackey, the visionary founder of Whole Foods Market. Imagine a time when the term "organic" wasn't part of our daily lexicon, and health food stores were few and far between. John’s jo...

Welcome to another exciting episode of "The Founder Hour," the podcast where we dive deep into the stories and experiences of some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs and visionaries of our time. Today, we are thrilled to bring you a conversation with a true pioneer in the world of specialty coffee – the one and only James Freeman, the brilliant mind behind Blue Bottle Coffee. James’s journey from...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of "The Founder Hour.” Today, we have the distinct honor of hosting an entrepreneurial luminary whose journey has left an indelible mark on the business world. Our guest, Paul Orfalea, isn't just any entrepreneur; he's the brilliant mind behind Kinko's, a company that redefined the business services landscape. Paul founded Kinko's in 1970 with a simple idea...

Welcome to a special episode of The Founder Hour! Today, we have a guest whose story embodies the intersection of entrepreneurship and politics. Join us as we sit down with Doug Burgum, a tech entrepreneur turned Governor of North Dakota, as he shares his incredible journey from the tech world to the political arena. From mortgaging his family farm to invest in Great Plains Software, eventually se...

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating journey of Kym Gold, the entrepreneurial force behind True Religion and Style Union Home. Explore Kym's rise in the fashion world, as she co-founded True Religion, revolutionizing denim. Then, discover her pivot into interior design with Style Union Home, blending fashion and home decor seamlessly. * The Founder Hour is brought to you by Outer. Outer...

Michael Fuerstman is the co-founder and creative director behind the iconic Pendry Hotels. Before establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with at Pendry, Michael's journey was interwoven with the tale of Montage International. Alongside his father Alan, he played a pivotal role in the growth and success of Montage, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the...

Sophia Amoruso is a renowned entrepreneur, bestselling author, and an inspiration to many. She first gained recognition as the founder and CEO of Nasty Gal, an online retailer of trendy and vintage clothing, which started as a small eBay store and grew into a multimillion-dollar fashion empire. Her memoir, "#GIRLBOSS," became a New York Times bestseller, empowering entrepreneurs to fearlessly purs...

Bob Parsons is the founder of GoDaddy, the world's largest domain name registrar. He's a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran and a recipient of prestigious military honors including the Purple Heart Medal. Bob's entrepreneurial ventures span golf, motorcycles, real estate, marketing, and innovation. His passion for golf led to the creation of Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) in 2013. Alongside his wife...

Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO of Ellevest, a women’s-focused investment platform she launched in 2016. The company has over $1.5 billion in assets under management with a goal to close the gender investing gap in the U.S. by “redefining investing for women.” Prior to launching Ellevest, Sallie had a successful career on Wall Street, serving as the CEO of Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, and Sanford C. B...

Anne Wojcicki is an innovative biologist and the co-founder and CEO of personal genomics company 23andMe. In 2006, Anne saw a need for creating a way to generate more personalized information so that commercial and academic researchers could better understand and develop new drugs and diagnostics. The result was 23andMe, which provides genetic testing for individuals curious about their ancestry a...

Chriselle Lim is the founder of The Chriselle Factor, a YouTube channel and blog she started in 2011. Formerly a stylist and magazine editor, she started the blog as a passion project which evolved into a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content network followed by millions of people. Eventually, she would go on to launch Bümo, which brings licensed education-based childcare to the workplace, as wel...

Starting out in 1990 with just over $1,000 in the bank, Steve Madden followed his passion to create one of the most recognized brands in the world of footwear and fashion. Over the last 30 years, Steve has built his eponymous company into one that is worth over $3 billion. But, as some of you may already know, he almost lost it all at one point after spending 2.5 years in prison for his involvemen...

Miranda Kerr is an accomplished model and the founder and CEO of KORA Organics. Born and raised in Australia surrounded by family and farmland, she got her start in modeling at 13 and soon established herself as one of the most in-demand and influential faces in the world of fashion and beauty. In 2007, Victoria’s Secret signed Miranda as an Angel, making her the first and only Australian model ev...

Steve Case is one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs and a pioneer in making the Internet part of everyday life. Steve’s entrepreneurial career began in 1985 when he co-founded America Online (AOL). Under Steve’s leadership, AOL became the world’s largest and most valuable Internet company, helping to drive the worldwide adoption of a medium that has transformed business a...

Andrew Cherng is the co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group, the parent company of Panda Inn and Panda Express - the largest Asian dining concept in the United States. The brand has more than 2,500 locations worldwide and has been family-owned and operated since the early 1980s by Andrew and his wife, Peggy. We spoke with Andrew about his upbringing in Asia and moving to the United States...

Dave Finocchio is the co-founder and former CEO of Bleacher Report, a global digital media company delivering content at the intersection of sports and culture. He started the company with three of his childhood friends in 2005 and it went on to be acquired by TBS in 2012. Several years later, Dave stepped down from his role and most recently launched The Cool Down, a media platform that aims to b...

Ellen Latham is a highly trained physiologist with a lifelong passion for health and fitness. Her desire to be on the cutting edge of fitness inspired her to design “The Ultimate Workout,” which became the foundation for Orangetheory Fitness which she founded with her partners in 2010. Since then, Orangetheory, known for its coach-led group classes featuring heart-rate monitors, has surpassed $1 b...

Nancy Silverton is a world-renowned chef, baker, author, and co-owner of Mozza Restaurant Group which operates restaurants such as Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca, and Mozza2Go. Prior to founding Mozza, Nancy owned and operated La Brea Bakery and Campanile in Los Angeles after many years working under the likes of Wolfgang Puck, Michael McCarty, and other world-class chefs. In 2014, she...