Startup Stories - Mixergy

The awkwardness you’ll hear at the end of this interview is completely my fault, but I stand by the questions I asked. I do wish, however, that I wasn’t so abrasive. Adam Robinson is the co-founder of The Princeton Review which offers test preparation for standardized tests. He currently runs Robinson Global Strategies, a global macro advisor to hedge funds and family offices. 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 is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I’m involved in the tech world and I have never heard of today’s guest or his company. I was a little doubtful when I saw my team’s research. I said, “How can a company this big exist and I haven’t heard about them?” He’s had no outside funding as far as I can tell. We’ll get into those details too. Today’s guest is Josh Kent, the founder of SunFrog, an online t-shirt platform. Josh Kent is the founder of SunFrog, an online t-shirt platform. Sponsored byFormstack – Formstack is a versatile online form solution that streamlines processes for capturing and managing information. Easily create and use online forms to automate repetitive business processes and gain rich insights. With Formstack, embed forms directly onto your site and social media profiles to capture leads, as well as use online forms to collect payments, gather feedback, and streamline internal workflows. 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

You’d think after 1,500 interviews I’d understand where all the interesting businesses are, where all the revenue is, but I still don’t. I’m still surprised by pockets of opportunity. Today’s guest is a perfect example. Joining me is Kristel Kruustuk. She’s the founder of Testlio, which tests your products to uncover issues before your customers do. The part that surprises me is there’s a marketplace of testers. I’m surprised the demand for testers is so big it’s one of the hottest, fastest growing areas of IT. So we’re going to find out how she discovered this business, where she’s getting customers, how she’s managing a marketplace of testers and more importantly what you can learn from her experience to grow your own business. Kristel Kruustuk is the founder of Testlio, which tests your products to uncover issues before your customers do. Sponsored byFormstack – Formstack is a versatile online form solution that streamlines processes for capturing and managing information. Easily create and use online forms to automate repetitive business processes and gain rich insights. With Formstack, embed forms directly onto your site and social media profiles to capture leads, as well as use online forms to collect payments, gather feedback, and streamline internal workflows. Pipedrive is a sales management tool for small teams with big ambitions. It visualizes one’s sales pipeline and helps to make sure important activities and conversations won’t get dropped. Salespeople really like it because it’s easy to use and intuitive. Managers like it because they don’t need to nag their team to use their CRM. It also sports built-in forecasting, integrations with other software such as Google Apps, MailChimp and Zapier and a powerful API. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

If you’re an entrepreneur listening, chances are you’ve checked out some of the freelance sites looking for help with your website or app. In my case, I was looking for a researcher to get more info on my guests. You might have had the same experience that I did—the results I got back were crap. Today’s guest recognized that problem and came up with a brand new freelancer marketplace, one where he and his team pre-screens so users don’t have a crappy experience. Nathan Hirsch is the founder of Freeeup, which connects businesses with the top 1% of freelancers in eCommerce, digital marketing, virtual assistance, and web development. Nathan Hirsch is the founder of Freeeup, which connects businesses with the top 1% of freelancers in eCommerce, digital marketing, virtual assistance, and web development. Sponsored byFormstack – Formstack is a versatile online form solution that streamlines processes for capturing and managing information. Easily create and use online forms to automate repetitive business processes and gain rich insights. With Formstack, embed forms directly onto your site and social media profiles to capture leads, as well as use online forms to collect payments, gather feedback, and streamline internal workflows. 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 guests have had a runaway success with a journal, a freaking journal! Technology that has existed forever. Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer are the cofounders of BestSelf, which develops physical products for high achievers and entrepreneurs. I’ll let them tell you how much revenue they’ve made. They’ve expanded and expanded, and today they even have software, a Chrome extension that’s coming out. It’s called Win the Day. When you open up a new tab on your Chrome browser, imagine seeing a clear goal you have for the day and the three things you need to do to achieve that goal. Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer are the cofounders of BestSelf, which develops physical products for high achievers and entrepreneurs. 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. Pipedrive is a sales management tool for small teams with big ambitions. It visualizes one’s sales pipeline and helps to make sure important activities and conversations won’t get dropped. Salespeople really like it because it’s easy to use and intuitive. Managers like it because they don’t need to nag their team to use their CRM. It also sports built-in forecasting, integrations with other software such as Google Apps, MailChimp and Zapier and a powerful API. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Joining me is an avid listener who, like me, noticed that eBay is great but eBay listings are ugly. They’re not just ugly; they’re a bit confusing. Well, today’s guest said it doesn’t have to be that way. He came up with a tool that allows anyone who sells on eBay to actually make their listing look good, make it easy for their potential customers to find the things they’re looking for and increase sales. I invited him here to talk about how he did it and to find out what revenue you can get by fixing what I think is one of eBay’s biggest problems. Victor Levitin is the cofounder of CrazyLister which helps you create professional eBay listings in minutes. Victor Levitin is the cofounder of CrazyLister which helps you create professional eBay listings in minutes. 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’m about to do an interview with a founder whose company you don’t know, but I assure you it’s a massively successful site. Once you get to know this company, you’re going to realize that you’ve actually seen a lot of the stories that they’ve broken but probably didn’t realize it. Today’s guest is Fred Mwangaguhunga. The company is MediaTakeOut, an online gossip site. I want to understand if content can really be profitable in a world where it’s tough to get anyone to come to your site because everyone seems to be on social networks. Fred Mwangaguhunga is the founder of MediaTakeOut, an online gossip site. 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 took all the ideas that have made tech companies into phenomenal, fast-growing businesses–things like minimum viable product and customer development–and he applied them to the food industry. He created a brand that I see in stores all the time. Jon Sebastiani is the founder of KRAVE, a high-end gourmet jerky. We’re going to talk to him about how he came up with the idea and how he used the Lean Startup methods and other software company ideas to grow it. I also want to find out why he sold it and what he’s up to today. His new company is called Smashmallow, America’s first snackable marshmallow made from the best all-natural ingredients. Jon Sebastiani is the founder of KRAVE, a high-end gourmet jerky. 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 is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I’ve been emailing back and forth with a Mixergy fan who said his revenues were over $10M. But he told me in private how much pain he was in because the systems that ran his business weren’t working like they should have. Mario Nawfal is the founder of Athena Group, a collection of companies that sells things like juicers and hover boards. I want to find out how he got his start and how he built a collection of products to sell online. Mario Nawfal is the founder of Athena Group, a collection of companies that sells things like juicers and hover boards. 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 is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I usually interview entrepreneurs about how they built their businesses but today I have something a little different. If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to understand the inner entrepreneur, this will be a good interview. In this episode Sherry Walling, a clinical psychologist, interviews me for her podcast ZenFounder. We talk about my mental health and happiness, what motivates me, how I grew up, and why I am the person I am. ZenFounder is a podcast where Sherry talks about startup family life: how to work well, how to stay healthy, and how to be in relationships that are healthy and happy. Sherry Walling is a clinical psychologist and creator of ZenFounder, a podcast where she talks about startup family life: how to work well, how to stay healthy, and how to be in relationships that are healthy and happy. 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. Pipedrive is a sales management tool for small teams with big ambitions. It visualizes one’s sales pipeline and helps to make sure important activities and conversations won’t get dropped. Salespeople really like it because it’s easy to use and intuitive. Managers like it because they don’t need to nag their team to use their CRM. It also sports built-in forecasting, integrations with other software such as Google Apps, MailChimp and Zapier and a powerful API. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

I hate when I go to restaurants and I get one of those little plastic things that vibrates when my table is ready. I hate them because they don’t fit in my pocket, and I have to stand outside like a schmuck holding this thing in my hand. So when I heard that someone allowed restaurant goers like me to get a text when their spot was available I installed the app and I’ve had it on my phone ever since. Today I’m excited to get to know the guy behind the company because it is way bigger than just the app. Robb Myer is the founder of Nowait which allows restaurants to manage the way that they interact with customers who want to get a seat at their restaurant. Nowait was actually sold to Yelp not long ago. We’ll find out how Robb came up with the idea, evolved it, and why the company was sold to Yelp. Robb Myer is the founder of Nowait which allows restaurants to manage the way that they interact with customers who want to get a seat at their restaurant. 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 is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

David Rogenmoser finally had a profitable business. PayFunnels, which allowed businesses to offer hassle free, fast, online payments. How did he do it? And, more strangely, why did he sell it take a risk on a new company, Proof? Proof allows you to boost your website conversions with intelligent social proof. David Rogenmoser is the founder of Proof which boosts your website conversions with intelligent social proof. Sponsored byHostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. Toptal – 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. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

What if you could build on your customer relationships simply by offering more attractive and functional email receipts? Adii Pienaar is the founder of Conversio which is an all-in-one marketing dashboard for eCommerce stores. Conversio helps eCommerce sites improve their relationships with customers through improved marketing techniques and functional email receipts. Adii Pienaar is the founder of Conversio which is an all-in-one marketing dashboard for eCommerce stores. Sponsored byHostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. Toptal – 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. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

How did a review site grow so fast that it will hit $18M seven years after launching? Elizabeth Scherle and Aydin Acar are the founders of Influenster which is an app that has millions of product reviews that allow people to like learn and talk about products. Influenster had $11M in revenue in 2016 and is on the fast-track towards $18M for 2017. Elizabeth Scherle and Aydin Acar are the founders of Influenster which is an app that has millions of product reviews that allow people to like learn and talk about products. Sponsored byHostGator is your one-stop shop for all things web hosting. From design and marketing services to easy-to-use website builders, they are with you every step of the way. Thanks to their 24/7 – 365 days a year live support – which you can get via chat, phone and email – any and all questions you have can be answered in no time at all. HostGator offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, an easy to use control panel, one click WordPress installs and more. Toptal – 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. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

For years, I wanted to ask Jason Calacanis a few things. Like, how is it that after his company, Mahalo, took a ton of painful hits he still kept acting like each new idea he had was sure to be the one? Was it an act? Or something innate about the guy? Or, if he’s an Angel who can help guide startups to huge success, then why didn’t his companies ever have that level of success? What I love about Jason is that he digs these kinds of questions. (He waved me off before the interview when I tried to tell him the direction I planned to take.) So when I interviewed him about his book, Angel, I spent over an hour asking. Jason Calacanis is a serial entrepreneur, podcaster and angel investor. He recently published the book, Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups-Timeless Advice from an Angel Investor Who Turned $100,000 into $100,000,000 Sponsored byFireside Conference – Fireside Conference is an all-inclusive, immersive, off-the-grid and off-the-record cottage-style weekend featuring the brightest minds in our business, startup, investor and media communities. Apply to be part of the exclusive Mixergy cabin. There are very limited spots available. Toptal – 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. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint