Startup Hustle

Jessica Powell, the Executive Director of KC Collective joins Matt D. once again this time to discuss how startup founders can leverage their startup’s growth through collective collaboration.  KC Collective is a Kansas City-based organization built by startup founders for startup founders. They provide a collaborative community for startup founders in scaling their businesses. They pro...

If you have pets or you’re in the animal industry, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a smart collar that will help take care of them. Presenting to you Scollar, a revolutionary smart collar. In this episode, Matt D. is joined by Scollar, Inc.’s CEO and Co-Founder, Lisa Tamayo. Scollar is a full-stack, open platform that manages every aspect of animal care, from cats to c...

Hip hop has never been this healthy AND educational. Thanks to Roy Scott, CEO and Founder of Healthy Hip Hop, an ed-tech startup that sends a powerful message to children about health, fitness, literacy and financial freedom using the hip hop genre. Roy is back to share some of the latest developments in H3, the success he has achieved in the education space and their partnership with Atlanta Tech...

Amazon has taken the concept of trading to a whole new level. It’s continuously evolving as an online market, integrating new features and continuing its momentum as a digital advertising business. And with its meteoric rise comes more opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.  In this episode Matt and Matt sit down with returning guest Andrew Morgans. And...

Cards Against Humanity swept the country by storm. It was an instant hit for a lot of Americans. It was a fun party card game that became everyone’s pastime. Friends, families, and colleagues gathered and had fun. Joel Johnson, an entrepreneur, was also taken by Cards Against Humanity. But once the hype subsided, the game just became boring. That's why he came up with Mixtape: The Game. In t...

What comes to mind when you hear “Walt Disney World”? You probably think of Donald Duck, Disney princesses, fairy tales, and of course Mickey Mouse. All of these, would not be present today if not for one person, Walt Disney. Before he became one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, this man experienced failures and challenges. In this podcast, The Matts sit and talk abou...

The threat of cyber-attacks is becoming more frequent and sophisticated each year. Leaving the unsuspecting users more vulnerable than ever. In this episode, the Matts welcome their new guest, Eric Foster President of CYDERES, a managed cybersecurity consulting company in Kansas City. CYDERES is a human-led, machine-driven security-as-a-service startup built through Fishtech Group, a digital-era c...

Sitting idle means losing money. In this episode, Matt sits down with President and Founder of Idle Smart. Jeff, understands the concept of providing a time-saving and cost-efficient solution on the ground level. His company caters primarily to fleets to conserve time and energy. It’s common for fleets of any type of vehicle to go idle, and doing so would add unnecessary fuel consumption, an...

In this episode, Matt DeCoursey talks with James Gardner, the founder and CEO of The Hummus Co. Gardner used to work for a gourmet store and was asked by its owner to make hummus. As he was trying out different blends, he could not successfully seem to nail down the right flavor, so he came up with his own recipe. His little experiment became a hit. Sometime later he decided it was time to move ba...

It’s difficult to stand out in a highly-congested and competitive industry, given the number of competitors. This is why brand cohesiveness is crucial to a company’s success. How do you leave a mark on today’s selling platforms?   Today Matt is joined by returning guest Aaron Fulk, from Lillian James Creative, and business partner Eze Redwood, as they talk about experience b...

Imagine a time where you can travel from one city to another at more than 700 miles per hour without the inconvenience of going to the airport. The Hyperloop is a technology that aims to do just that. It is said that this is more sustainable than aviation and undoubtedly faster than high-speed trains. But can this concept ever become a reality? In this episode, the Matts talk with Ryan Weber on th...

Wouldn't it be fantastic if you could save an average of 22% on your indirect spend through the power of group purchasing and get exclusively negotiated discounts on in-demand products and services, regardless of the size of your business? Today’s guest Anthony Clervi, president and CEO of UNA Purchasing Solutions discusses with the Matts how their GPO model goes beyond simply providing disc...

Choosing the right insurance can be a nerve-racking game. There is that constant possibility that business owners either under- or over-insure their companies. The former leaves you vulnerable while the latter extends your already tight budget. So, if you want to spend less time and effort chasing down the right option for your insurance needs, then you better tune in to this episode. In this podc...

Exosomes, what are they and why do they exist? Well, if you haven’t heard what exosomes are, then you are not alone. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles first discovered 30 years ago. It was since implicated in cell-cell communication and the transmission of disease states. It was also explored as a means of drug discovery. So how are these extracellular vesicles important? Exosome therapies...

In this episode, the Matts continue their journey on the wonders of CBD and hemp with their guests Heather and Kyle Steppe of KC Hemp Co. Heather’s passion for the hemp industry stemmed from her desire to keep her twin children off pharmaceuticals when they showed signs of ADHD and anxiety. Looking for alternatives, she decided to use CBD. The Steppes started the business about a year ago. They sa...

With all of the available options on medical marijuana, many are choosing to explore methods of medication beyond the traditional pipe or paper. Today, a considerable number of states in the US have legalized marijuana. And you’ll notice that cannabis edibles are growing more and more popular. Who would have thought that cannabis can make so many delicious products? They are now made into sweets l...

One of the hardest parts of people dealing with chronic pain and behavioral disorders is going through the frustrating, process of diagnosis and treatment for the pain. That is why some medical practitioners use opiate modalities to dull the pain, but this method could lead to more serious problems. Unfortunately, this results in patients losing their trust in their medical professionals. In this...

Having a child with special needs is unique and beautiful but also complex and demanding. As parents, we want to give our child the best progressive therapy. We want to be involved and in charge of our child’s developmental therapy journey. In this podcast episode, the Matts talk with, Kaitlin Doyle, CEO and founder of TheraWe Connect. Doyle is a licensed pediatric occupational therapist wit...

Superman, Batman, Iron man, Wonder Woman, Spider-man, and all the other comic characters, their superhero stories are part of so many childhoods. Comic books are not just entertainment they can help kids and adults alike through hard times with uplifting stories, or act a way to pique a child's interest in reading. Superheroes push us to be better in our own lives, and Kansas has a new hero to loo...

You stand in front of a large number of people—many of which you don’t know. You arrive at a podium and speak confidently about a topic you know like the back of your hand. That, my friend, is public speaking! It is an act of communicating information before a large audience with the intention to inform, influence or entertain a group of listeners. But how do you become a successful pu...

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a collection of tens of thousands of events, activities and competitions each November that inspire millions to explore their potential as an entrepreneur while fostering connections and increasing collaboration within their ecosystems. Matt and Matt sit down for a live podcast at Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City. In this episode they let the audience dri...

Hiring the right staff is critical to the success of your event. No matter what your crew size is, running an event is going to be a challenge. Fortunately, today's guest makes finding that team a whole lot easier.  In this episode, Matt DeCoursey talks with guest Erika Klotz, CEO and founder of PopBookings. Erika Klotz’s business caters to the gig economy where temporary positions are...

A 401(k) retirement plan is a tax-advantaged, defined-contribution retirement account offered by a lot of employers to their employees. This retirement plan lets workers save and invest a part of their paycheck before taxes are taken out, and taxes aren’t paid until the money is withdrawn from the account. Most people with retirement savings expect things to go well. However, several wrong t...

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension that can seriously affect your body and mind. When under stress, taking control of your feelings can be hard at times, especially when coupled with a heavy load of responsibilities, it often becomes too much to handle. Seeing a doctor or taking medicine can be a solution, but what if there is a tool that can de-stress you using our own mind? Mat...

Drones have now penetrated the world of consumer technology. With the rising popularity of drones, tech companies are creating more practical uses for them. Many companies are utilizing the capacities of these machines to solve critical problems. The Matts enter the world of drones with their guest PJ Piper, CEO of Aware Vehicles. Piper is an accomplished serial entrepreneur, board member and inve...