Startup Stories - Mixergy

Today I have a founder whose business model I’m really excited about. I’m not into cooking and I don’t understand people who really are, but this solution he came up with is something I can get excited about. John Pleasants is the founder of Brava, a next generation cooking solution company. John Pleasants is the founder of Brava, a next generation cooking solution company. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I remember when I first got my iPhone, one of the coolest apps to try was called Shazam. With Shazam, if there was music playing somewhere and you wanted to know what song it was, the app would tell you. Back then, I think it would even link you over to buy the song and it was like magic. It showed you the power of the iPhone. Joining me is one of the co-founders of the company Shazam. I wanted to have him here to understand how they came up with the idea, how they built it up, and what it was like when it was sold to Apple. Philip Inghelbrecht is Founder of Shazam which is one of the most-used apps in the world that was sold to Apple in 2018. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

One thing I’ve noticed over recent years is more and more entrepreneurs selling physical products. And if you’ve heard any of my interviews with those founders, you know that it’s really tough to find a manufacturer for your products. Well, joining me is an entrepreneur who thought he could come up with a better way. He looked around and said, “What if there was an eHarmony for the manufacturing industry? Someone who would take a creative with an idea and match them up with the qualified manufacturer.” So that’s what he created. Michael Lizanich is the founder of Manufacturefy. They use artificial intelligence to connect manufacturers with products across all industries around the world. I invited him here to talk about how he came up with this idea, how the idea is doing, how he’s getting manufacturing companies, how he’s vetting them, all that stuff. Michael Lizanich is the founder of Manufacturefy, a platform that intelligently connects manufacturers directly with products. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. HostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me is a Mixergy listener who built a company and sold it. He is now running a company that’s super intriguing to me. I want to ask him how he came up with this idea because he was kicking around a bunch of ideas. Gaurav Sharma is the founder of JustCall, a Cloud phone system that works with your CRM and Helpdesk. We’re going to find out how he built it Gaurav Sharma is the founder of JustCall, a Cloud phone system that works with your CRM and Helpdesk. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

The idea of plugins for WordPress being a business has been around for a while now. Joining me is an entrepreneur who’s been in this space. He’s got plugins that had been downloaded millions of times, that has generated solid revenue. But he said, “You know, the future is not just letting people have all the ingredients in building a website. I want to give everyone the whole package. I will host a website for them. I will make sure that WordPress works well for them. And I will give them the plugins that they need. And he did it by creating a nice drag-and-drop builder that actually competes with some of the more modern drag-and-drop experiences that have come after WordPress for publishing websites. That is the business model that he created. I invited him here to talk about how he did it. Armen Saghatelian is the co-Founder of 10Web.io which is an all-in-one WordPress Website Builder. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me today is Chris Martinez. He is the founder of DUDE. They work with digital agencies to give them the people and processes that will help them make take on more projects and scale profitably. If you’ve got an agency and you want somebody to actually do the work for you because you can scale up yourself, you pay a monthly fee or you hire one of his people and they will do the work for you. Just keep sending the tasks over and they will keep knocking them out for you. I want to find out how he built it up. Chris Martinez is the co-founder of DUDEAgency.io which works with digital agencies to give them the people and process to help them scale profitably. Sponsored byHostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me is one of the co-founders of Skype, formerly known as Skyper. Ahti Heinla is, among other things, the co-founder of Kazaa, which I remember as one of the first ways of getting music and movies. I’m excited to have him here but the thing that he’s probably more excited to talk about is the cool little robot that I saw outside the office here at LIFT99. It’s part of his latest company, Starship Technologies. we’ll talk about that and more in this interview. Ahti Heinla is the cofounder of Skype, which specializes in providing video chat and voice calls. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ClickFunnels – Anyone in my audience who goes to clickfunnels.com/mixergy will get a couple of things that I’m excited about. Number one is a free trial so you can actually try it and use it. Number two, you’ll get the funnels that we created to build our business. Use it as a template which you can improve for your business. Go to ClickFunnels.com/mixergy to get started. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me direct from Israel is the CEO and founder of Israel’s largest publicly traded company, a billionaire who’s self-made. He did it by helping companies protect themselves. Gil Shwed is the co-founder and CEO of Check Point. They are the world’s largest pure play cyber security company. I invited him here to talk about how he built his business. Gil Shwed is the co-founder of Check Point, a pure-play cybersecurity company. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

We’re going to find out about an entrepreneur who has done so well for so long but has gotten screwed a little bit. Cody McLain is the founder of SupportNinja which offers support as a service. You know how much of a pain in the butt it is for you to manage your customer support email? And as your company grows, it becomes even harder and harder. Well, Cody said, “You know what? What if I just do it? I know it’s one of the hardest parts of business. I think I could do it.” SupportNinja is an omnichannel provider of customer care, back office support solutions. We’re going to find out about this business. We’re also going to find out a little bit about his life before foster care and what happened to his parents. Cody McLain is the founder of SupportNinja which offers support as a service. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me today is a woman who sold wines in Manhattan. Then she decided to import wine herself. But she ran into a problem. Instead of closing down she figured out how to make things easier for people who wanted to do what she was trying to do. Alexi Cashen is co-founder of Elenteny Imports which provides logistical and administrative back office services for international importing, national compliance and direct-to-trade distribution sales. Alexi Cashen is co-founder of Elenteny Imports which provides logistical and administrative back office services for international importing, national compliance and direct-to-trade distribution sales. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. HostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

When I arrived in Estonia it was clear to me that I was in Bolt country. The logo was on cars everywhere and even on taxis! Joining me today is the founder of that company. Markus Villig is the founder of Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, an Estonian transportation network. I want to find out how he did it. Markus Villig is the founder of Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, an Estonian transportation network. Sponsored byHostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me is an entrepreneur who’s in the cryptocurrency space. It is a space that’s been full of potential and opportunity, and I wonder if there are profits and real businesses being built there. Well, today’s guest created what has been called the QuickBooks of cryptocurrency. His name is Alon Muroch. He is the founder of Blox. Blox allows professionals to do crypto accounting, tracking, and management. I invited him here to talk about how well the business is doing today but also how we got here, and what the vision is for the future. Alon Muroc is the founder of Blox, which allows professionals to do crypto accounting, tracking, and management. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I thought that once online travel booking became a thing that needing to hire a travel advisor or travel agent would just be a thing of the past, but it’s not. Today’s guest discovered that not only are people still doing this but that they’re often independent contractors. And they were struggling with a problem. Well, today’s guest realized what that problem was, and she created a company that solved it. Meredith Hill is the founder whose company we’re going to find out about today. The company is called Gifted Travel Network. They are a travel host agency created to support travel advisors and their brands. So why would travel advisors need someone like her? We’ll find out. Meredith Hill is the founder of Gifted Travel Network, a travel host agency created to support travel advisors and their brands. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. ActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Today’s guest is somebody who was actually trying to create a much simpler business and then ended up with one that was a much bigger vision than he expected. Eric Simone is the founder of ClearBlade, an edge computing software company that enables enterprise to engineer and run secure, real-time scalable Internet of Things applications. Eric is actually working on real problems that in many ways are going to seem less exciting to people but have a bigger impact on the world. I want to talk about how he did it. Eric Simone is the founder of ClearBlade, an edge computing software company that enables enterprise to engineer and run secure, real-time scalable Internet of Things applications. Sponsored byToptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. HostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I’m here in Estonia because I feel like we’ve gotten too comfortable in America. Everyone seems to just be focused on the four or five companies that seem to control everything. I want to learn from a place that supports entrepreneurship and technology at such a critical level. Kaarel Kotkas is the founder of Veriff which helps banks, marketplaces, and other online businesses start trusting relationships with customers. Kaarel Kotkas is the founder of Veriff which helps banks, marketplaces, and other online businesses start trusting relationships with customers. Sponsored byActiveCampaign – Improve your marketing & sales processes by upgrading to an automated platform. Start sending follow-up that adapts to your customers’ behavior so you are sending the perfect message at the perfect time. You’ll have happier customers and higher conversions. See why over 150,000 marketers use ActiveCampaign to create intelligent marketing that gets better results. If you’re with one of their confusing competitors and you want something new, you owe it to your business to check out ActiveCampaign. Bubble – You don’t need to be a coder to build software. Bubble is a code-free programming language that lets you build and host web applications without engineers. Anyone who wants to try it right now is going to get 40% discount for the first three months. Go to Bubble.is/mixergy to sign up and start using it immediately. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint