The Shades of Entrepreneurship™

Ever wondered how cold email can be a powerful tool for testing markets and products? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Charles Cormier, Founder of Charles Cormier Coaching and CEO of Top Leads Cold Email. Charles shares his approach to building a business empire by experimenting with different markets and products, emphasizing how to achieve product-...

Have you ever wanted to go camping but didn’t know where to start? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Lestarya Molloy, Founder and CEO of Fridie Outdoors, to discuss her mission of making camping accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Lestarya shares how the Fridie Outdoors app helps people gain the skills and knowledge they need for a successful...

What does it take to turn a passion for coffee into a thriving business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Eugene Jung, Founder of Skuat Coffee Roasters, to explore his journey as an entrepreneur in the competitive world of specialty coffee. Eugene shares the lessons he’s learned about the importance of capital, the need to adapt to changing cir...

What if technology could provide comfort and companionship where it’s needed most? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Tom Stevens, Co-Founder and CEO of TomBots, the company behind Jenny, a fully interactive robotic emotional support animal. Tom shares how his mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s inspired him to develop Jenny as a substitute for li...

What drives an entrepreneur to turn personal experiences into impactful solutions? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Peter Mann, Founder of Oransi, a leading U.S. designer of air purification products. Peter, a serial entrepreneur and former Dell executive, shares his journey of founding and selling multiple businesses before creating Oransi. Mo...

What happens when you turn a personal frustration into a scalable business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Angie Johnston, Founder of VidChops, a video editing service born from Angie’s own struggles with editing. Angie shares how he leveraged online communities like Reddit to connect with clients, transform his challenges into opportunities,...

How do you navigate leadership in a male-dominated industry while growing a tech-driven business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Cindy Fossouo, Founder and CEO of Information Systems Builder. Cindy shares her journey of leading a marketing and tech company, the challenges of securing capital from venture capitalists, and the strategies she us...

What does it take for physicians to thrive as entrepreneurs? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, Chairman and Director of the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Azizzadeh shares his insights on navigating the healthcare industry as a physician-entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of understanding business fun...

What happens when an entrepreneur applies startup thinking to multiple industries? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Kevin Surace, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Appvance.ai. Kevin shares his journey navigating the worlds of AI, cybersecurity, personalized performance technologies, and even film and musical production. By leveraging an...

How does a math major turn early career struggles into a thriving business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Ryan Hanley, Founder and President of Rogue Risk. Ryan shares his journey from entering the insurance industry with little guidance to discovering the power of digital media and innovative strategies. By embracing new tools and approache...

What does it take to build a thriving startup ecosystem? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Stephen Green, Founder of Pitch Black and Executive Director of Business for a Better Portland. Stephen shares his passion for supporting the Portland community and his dedication to mentoring startups and entrepreneurs. He discusses the value of being act...

How can a card game teach strategic thinking, risk management, and networking? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Erin Lydon, President of Poker Power. Erin shares how Poker Power originally focused on teaching high school girls poker to help them develop critical skills for life and business. When the pandemic disrupted their model, Erin and her...

How do you turn creativity into a thriving fashion brand? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Jezarely Miguel, Founder and Designer of Matiz. Jezarely shares her journey of launching Matiz, from gaining initial followers at local markets and events to strategically targeting key markets and collaborating with other designers to grow her brand. She...

How do you turn unexpected circumstances into a thriving business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Thomas Angel, Co-Founder of Altitude Beverage, a non-alcoholic beverage brand born during the pandemic. Thomas shares his journey from initial idea to product launch, highlighting the challenges of pitching and selling to unfamiliar customers. He...

How do you take entrepreneurial lessons from multiple industries and apply them to building a company that keeps organizations aligned? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with George Huff, Founder and CEO of Opal. George shares his journey from Alaska to Portland, Oregon, tracing his path through early ventures, including a music label and running hi...

What does it take to evolve an idea into a successful tech platform? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Esau Ramos, Founder and CEO of BIG App. Esau shares the journey of building BIG App, from the initial concept of launching a mobile app to realizing the importance of a robust website platform. Along the way, he emphasizes the lessons learned...

What does it take to turn a passion for design into a thriving product business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Precious Hannah, Founder of Misters OK's Essentials. Precious shares her journey from product designer to entrepreneur, creating a candle brand that blends creativity, functionality, and high-quality craftsmanship. She dives in...

How do you turn a passion for natural products into a thriving lifestyle brand? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Chad Price, CEO of Life Grows Green. Chad, a seasoned entrepreneur, shares lessons from his past ventures, including Kettlebell Kings, and discusses how he’s applying that experience to his current company. Life Grows Green focuses...

What does it take to excel at building brands, apps, and customer experiences in competitive industries? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Sam Barati, Director of Customer Success at Tapcart, a leading mobile app platform for Shopify merchants. Sam shares his entrepreneurial journey, including building the brand for a drone racing company and n...

How does a small food business thrive in a market dominated by large corporations? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Nikki Guerrero, Founder of Hot Mama Salsa, to explore her journey navigating the competitive food industry with creativity, community, and determination. Nikki shares the unique challenges of running a small business, her grassro...

What does it take to turn a summer job into a thriving business? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Nick Lopez, Founder of LIME Painting, to discuss his journey from a 19-year-old painting homes to building a company that is redefining industry standards. Nick’s story began with a simple goal: fund his tuition and living expenses. Over the years...

Raising capital and scaling a startup is a process—one that requires strategy, authenticity, and persistence. On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Will Sacks, Founder of Kindara and Fulcrum Venture Accelerator, to explore the art and science of launching socially-minded startups and raising pre-seed and seed-stage funding. With a background in eng...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines—but how can entrepreneurs actually harness it? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Thomas “AI Nerd” Helfrich, CEO of InstantlyRelevant.com, the pioneering marketing platform designed to give founders a competitive edge. Thomas shares his journey as an entrepreneur, exploring how AI can be lever...

How do you find the right talent in highly specialized industries like dermatology, plastic surgery, and med spas? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Jonathan McLean, Founder of McLean Aesthetics, to discuss the art and strategy of niche recruiting. Jonathan shares his journey from earning degrees in human resources to founding a recruiting firm...

How can wearable technology unlock human potential and elevate performance? On this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™ , host Gabriel Flores sits down with Dr. Erik Korem, Founder and CEO of AIM7, to explore the cutting-edge intersection of science, technology, and human achievement. Dr. Korem, an applied performance scientist, has dedicated his career to understanding human performance an...