The Startup Junkies Podcast

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sat down with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, founder of LIVSN Designs, a Bentonville-based outdoor apparel company with a mission to create high-quality, versatile clothing for outdoor enthusiasts who value experiences over possessions. Andrew’s vision for LIVSN is clear: make products that last, fit into multiple situa...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , host Daniel Koonce sits down with Tyler Flagg, founder and CEO of Flying Company, to discuss his mission to transform private aviation and put Bentonville, Arkansas, on the map as an emerging aviation tech hub. Tyler shares his unique journey from failed child actor to fourteen-year Air Force pilot and squadron commander, and ultimately, tech ent...

Summary In this episode of the Fuel Podcast , Grace Gill sits down with Amit Hasak, CEO of Transship Corp, to dive into the challenges and innovations reshaping the logistics and supply chain industry. As a seasoned supply chain logistics professional, Amit recounts his two-decade journey running a cold storage warehouse in Chicago. His deep involvement with exporters of perishable goods gave him...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sit down with Patrick Pulliam and Thomas Burkholder, founders of the NWA Patio Community, to explore the power of building meaningful connections through local social events. The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into both Patrick and Thomas’s origin stories—unconventional journeys into real estate and e...

Summary En este inspirador episodio de Querido Emprendedor , Ignacio Balderrama conversa con Diego Angarita, un gerente de producto en Walmart con una trayectoria única que combina emprendimiento, trabajo en organizaciones sin fines de lucro y una profunda conexión con la comunidad latina.   Diego relata su labor en Massachusetts con jóvenes puertorriqueños, donde fomentó el respeto por la cultura...

Summary En este inspirador episodio de "Querido Emprendedor", tenemos de invitada a Nicole Guerrero, una joven boliviana que desde los 21 años ha liderado una revolución social y ambiental en Bolivia. Nicole es la fundadora del Banco de Alimentos de Bolivia, una organización que transforma el desperdicio de alimentos en esperanza para miles de personas en situación de vulnerabilidad. Nicole ha log...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sit down for an engaging conversation with Daniel Schroeder and Brent Reader, co-founders of Peanut Pupper, a startup helping anxious dogs with their CBD products.  The conversation explores how Peanut Pupper began, what sets it apart, and how its founders are committed to more than just business success. Ther...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Jeff Amerine are joined by Yulia Batalina and Paolo Piraino, co-founders of adwinesor, a company offering curated wine experiences in NWA. With a shared passion for innovation and problem-solving, Paolo and Yulia have positioned adwinesor as a promising player in the intelligent advertising space. During the conversation,...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , host Caleb Talley and Grace Gill are joined by Permjot Valia, co-founder of Nava Develop Inc., who offers listeners a masterclass in entrepreneurship and investment. Permjot, known for his keen business acumen and international venture capital experience, shares his unique perspectives on what it takes to build successful companies and thrive in...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , host Daniel Koonce sits down with Lori Hull, founder and president of Spectrum Independence Living, better known as SpIndL. Lori shares her inspiring journey as a parent of a young adult with autism, the struggles she’s faced finding support services, and her determination to create real change in her Arkansas community. SpIndL was founded to hel...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine welcome Marshall Saviers, CEO and President of Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners, for an in-depth conversation about commercial real estate, entrepreneurial timing, and building community in Northwest Arkansas. Marshall’s journey is rooted in real estate, inspired by his family's legacy an...

Summary En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, Ignacio Balderrama conversa con Laura Arce, apicultora de Costa Rica. Laura estudió apicultura tropical en la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, donde aprendió el cuidado, manejo y beneficios de las abejas y sus productos, como miel, propóleos, polen, jalea real y veneno, todos con propiedades saludables. Destaca la comunicación única de las abejas...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine are joined by Steve Toth, CEO of Crestline Leaders, a company helping high-capacity leaders move their enterprises forward. Steve’s entrepreneurial journey is as hands-on as it gets. He chronicled his early days rebuilding Volkswagen motors before discussing his role in co-founding Tango Press,...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , the team welcomes Keiji Tsuchiya, founder of CaminoSake, for a fascinating conversation about bringing Japanese craft sake and its rich culture to new audiences in Northwest Arkansas and beyond. Keiji’s journey is anything but ordinary. With roots in Kobe, Japan, and a background spanning venture capital and the foodtech sector, he has a unique v...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , program director of ARise, Kris Adams, joins hosts Daniel Koonce, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine to shine a spotlight on the ARise program—a dynamic support system for tech and tech-enabled startups in Arkansas. ARise, short for Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs, delivers a unique approach by offering long-term support beyond the s...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine sit down with Brandon Watts, founder of B. Watts Collective and the nonprofit Kidz N Cameras,  to dive into Brandon’s unconventional journey from a traditional college education to forging his creative path as a commercial photographer and entrepreneur in Northwest Arkansas. Brandon shares how h...

Summary In this week’s episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce, Caleb Talley, and Jeff Amerine dive deep into the topics of screen time, digital distraction, and addictive technologies with Ian McCready, founder of selfctrl. Ian’s journey is as relatable as it is eye-opening—once addicted to video games himself, he now leads a nonprofit aimed at helping kids and parents reclaim their time...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley welcomed back Leo Orpin, co-founder of Black Apple, as the cidery approaches its tenth anniversary. Leo shared the remarkable journey of building Arkansas’s first (and still only) cidery, revealing how the brand’s steady, strategic growth and willingness to “fail fast” have fueled its success. From humble be...

Summary En este episodio de de Querido Emprendedor ! tenemos una conversación profunda y conmovedora con José Cartagena Ortiz, educador puertorriqueño y experto en diseño instruccional. José comparte su trayectoria desde su infancia en Puerto Rico, hasta su proceso de adaptación en Estados Unidos, enfrentando choques culturales, retos personales y profesionales. Hablamos sobre la importancia de po...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Harrison Kitson sit down with Gopi Chandran and Shannon Williams from AssistNow, a rapidly growing IT services and consulting firm specializing in Workday, ERP systems, and AI integration. Gopi shares the story of founding AssistNow four years ago, bootstrapping the company from its early days after decades of experience...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , host Daniel Koonce sits down with artist and entrepreneur Susan Edgmon and curator Allen Paulose to explore the intersection of art, business, and community in Northwest Arkansas. Susan shares her remarkable journey—how a life-changing car accident led her from being a business owner to becoming a professional artist, teacher, and inventor, all...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sit down with Daniel Marques, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of Skin Check, to discuss his unique entrepreneurial journey and the innovative technology his team is bringing to digital healthcare. The episode opens with Daniel’s refreshingly candid take on entering the startup and medtech world with little pr...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sit down with Ali Al Jabry, founder of Kwema—a company dedicated to improving workplace safety. Ali, whose journey began in Kenya and took him across Latin America and the U.S., shares the story behind Kwema and how his personal experiences led him to entrepreneurship. Kwema’s flagship product is a smart bad...

Summary ¡Bienvenidos a otro episodio de Querido Emprendedor ! En esta inspiradora conversación, nuestra invitada Itzel Velazquez comparte su trayectoria como una líder apasionada, involucrada activamente en varios comités y organizaciones latinas y latinoamericanas. Itzel habla sobre la importancia de crear conexiones, mantenerse motivada y apoyar a la comunidad latina, destacando especialmente el...

Summary In this engaging episode of Startup Junkies , hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley are joined by Lee Porter, founder and owner of Ozark Green Roofs. Lee shares the inspiring story behind her journey to starting a green roof company in Arkansas, rooted in her passion for landscape architecture and sustainability that began in college. After realizing there were no green roof companies in th...