We Live to Build

This is the "6 T's", the secret framework 500 Startups uses for funding startups. In this interview, 500 Startups' Head of APAC Business Development, Ee Ling Lim, pulls back the curtain on exactly how one of the world's most active VCs evaluates companies. The 6 T's are: Trend, Traction, Total Addressable Market, Technology, Team, and Terms. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder prepar...

This is the real story of how my literary agent demanded 20000 followers on each social platform before she'd sell my book. In this interview, 30-year personal branding expert Stacey Cohen reveals the non-negotiable value of having a strong personal brand and social proof in today's market. This conversation is a masterclass in building a brand that opens doors. You'll learn the crucial "360-degre...

Dimitry Farberov is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Analyst at the Miracle Mile Advisors LLC, which is a registered investment advisor. Check out the company: https://miraclemileadvisors.com Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory 👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanwei...

Did you know that some of your customers are costing you money? In this interview, customer data expert Allison Hartsoe reveals the concept of "lead customers", a segment of your audience that can actively drain your profits, and you don't even know it. This conversation is a masterclass in understanding your customer base through data. You'll learn how to calculate Customer Lifetime Value (CLV),...

This is a founder's fundraising strategy on how to get a warm intro to any investor. In this interview, Froged CEO Emily Lomban, who just closed a €500k seed round, explains why warm intros are a "fast track" to getting an investor's attention. She breaks down the hierarchy of introductions, from the best (another investor who has had a successful exit with them) to the worst (a cold email). This...

Thinking about building a business in the EU? It's harder than you think. In this interview, EU-based founder Mike Dragan explains why the European Union is not one unified market. He reveals that "people still tend to buy local" and cultural barriers between countries like France and Germany make expansion incredibly difficult for new startups. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder co...

This is the story of how I was bullied and fired by my female boss after 14 years of loyal service at a government law firm. In this raw and vulnerable interview, founder Susan Blanchet shares how a supportive work environment turned toxic after a new boss arrived, leading to months of bullying and an unjust firing without cause. This conversation is a must-watch for any professional who has faced...

Everyone says "word of mouth" is the best marketing. But why "word of mouth" doesn't work for my niche business is a question elopement photographer Sam Starns had to answer. In this interview, she explains why referrals have a very low booking rate for her specialized business and how she built a 500% year-over-year growth engine using SEO and content instead. This conversation is a must-watch fo...

This is an SEO expert's warning: don't build your website on their land. In this interview, 15-year web design veteran Kevin Geary explains why using proprietary platforms like Wix or Squarespace is one of the biggest mistakes a serious business can make. He reveals why you don't actually own your website on these platforms and how it can cripple your ability to scale in the future. This conversat...

This is the story of why I'm scared to post this video. As a founder, I'm afraid of being judged for my past, but talking about mental health is too important to stay silent. In this episode, I share my story with addiction and speak with expert Karl Shallowhorn about why so many entrepreneurs are prone to substance abuse. This is a crucial conversation for any founder who uses alcohol or other su...

Dr. Graeser is the Founder/CEO of KISS Platform, which not only provides services as a patent agency, but also provides a suite of AI-based tools that assist in competitive intelligence. Are you making the one startup mistake that destroys your international patents? According to US Patent Agent Dr. D'vorah Graeser, many founders don't realize that publishing their idea before filing for a patent...

Is it really possible to send $1000000 for a $3 fee? With the power of Bitcoin, it is. In this interview, blockchain expert Justin Renken explains how cryptocurrencies can drastically lower transaction fees for businesses, especially for international payments like remittances. Because the network has no borders and the fees are not percentage-based, it's possible to send huge sums of money for a...

This is the story of a brutal business failure: the day I fired 33 employees in a single meeting. In this brutally honest interview, serial entrepreneur Adam Robinson shares the painful lesson he learned about the vanity metric of headcount and the dangers of scaling too quickly. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder who feels the pressure to grow fast. You'll learn Adam's new philosop...

How can hiding under my mom's bed as a child teach you your biggest business flaw as a founder? In this deeply vulnerable interview, entrepreneur Jason Todd shares how his childhood tendency to retreat from conflict shaped his leadership style for years. This conversation is a masterclass in founder psychology. You'll learn why you must expect and embrace "heated disagreements" to find the best so...

"My business became more profitable after I fired myself as CEO". In this brutally honest interview, serial entrepreneur Eric Vardon shares the story of how he and his co-founder stepped away from day-to-day operations at their 8-figure agency, Arcane. He realized that what he loved was building the business, not the day-to-day management of HR, processes, and executive meetings. This conversation...

Is there a simple 2-client-a-year plan to a $15 million business? According to 29-year business growth expert Ryll Burgin-Doyle, the answer is yes. In this interview, she shares a real case study of a construction company where she discovered that adding just two builders of a certain size each year would grow their business to $15 million. This conversation is a masterclass in creating a powerful...

Mark Cuban called me a "scam" on Shark Thank just 18 seconds into my pitch on Shark Tank. In this raw, behind-the-scenes interview, founder Ryan Naylor shares the full story of his Shark Tank experience, from the moment an executive producer gave him last-second advice that changed everything, to the brutal on-air rejection and the shocking online harassment that targeted his family afterward. Thi...

This is a masterclass on how to use psychology to build a million-dollar team. Business owner and psychology expert Jenny Gustafson explains why understanding what makes your team "tick" is the key to creating a sustainable, profitable, and happy company culture. This conversation is a practical guide for founders on how to apply psychological principles to their leadership style. You'll learn how...

Is your profit margin a lie? This interview explains here's why: you might be making a 20% profit margin and think you're succeeding, but if your competitors' average is 40%, you're actually failing without even knowing it. Growth strategist Michelle Diamond reveals the critical mistake founders make by not looking outside their own business to assess their performance. This conversation is a mast...

This is the unbelievable story of how we took down a Chinese mafia ring and saved hundreds of lives in the process. In this interview, Cypheme CEO Hugo Garcia-Cotte reveals how his anti-counterfeiting startup discovered that 45% of an anti-cancer medicine in China was fake, putting thousands of patients at risk of death with every dose. This is a real-life spy thriller. You'll learn how Hugo's tea...

This is a masterclass on how to build a "recession-proof" portfolio of 7+ figure businesses. Serial entrepreneur Stephen Halasnik, who has built 6 successful companies, reveals his strategy for creating counter-cyclical businesses that thrive in any economy. He explains how his financing company, funeral funding business, and commercial real estate holdings balance each other out during economic d...

How do you use time zones to run your startup 24/7? In this interview, Shop Lit Live CEO Toby Zhang explains how he turned the challenge of managing global teams in the US and China into a massive competitive advantage. By leveraging the time difference, his engineering team in Shanghai can fix bugs and push features overnight while the US team sleeps, creating a non-stop development cycle. This c...

Is there a "useless feature" that's quietly hurting your business? In this interview, startup consultant Pieter VanIperen explains how founders get attached to features that lose money and add no real value, just to "keep the customers happy". He shares a story of a client with 100,000 customers and a feature that only two of them used. This conversation is a masterclass in business minimalism. We...

"My sales grew 3000%. A month later, my business was shut down." This is the unbelievable founder story of Yuri Cataldo. His multi-million dollar bottled water company, Indigo H2O, was forced to close at its peak of success after a "Cease and Desist" letter from a state agency destroyed it overnight. They believed his startup was a "large international conglomerate" trying to avoid taxes simply be...

What is the truth about venture capital? For most founders, it's that you shouldn't even try to get it. This conversation with Silicon Valley veteran Greg Zen explains why 95% of startups shouldn't bother chasing VC funding, reminding founders that less than 5% of companies actually receive it. This is a must-watch for any entrepreneur debating whether to bootstrap or raise money. We discuss the r...