Startup Hustle

Nest, Google Home and Amazon Echo are all key components to making your house smarter but how can a house be smart? In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Matt and Matt are joined by the founder and CEO of Homebase.ai, Blake Miller. Miller addresses the problems of IoT, or an Internet of Things, for startups and what kind of companies should use IoT. An Internet of Things is a network of interrelated devices that are able to communicate with each other without the need for human interaction. Miller's company, Homebase.ai, aims to create a wholly integrated living environment by providing a smarter living experience for students and a more profitable management system for property managers. IoTs have the potential of increasing a company's return on investment by automating, typically, human-driven functions and providing more information and feedback.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Homebase: Homebase.ai Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

How do you raise capital for your startup? Who should you ask for money? Where can you find people willing to invest? In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Matt and Matt sit down with the CEO and co-founder of Venture360 and LIQUIFI, Rachael Qualls. Qualls is an accomplished entrepreneur and investor, who has an eye for innovation. Her company, Venture360, provides multiple forms of management services such as portfolio and fund management. LIQUIFI is Venture360's newest product. It allows clients to build private markets for trading private stock with individualized parameters. She often describes LIQUIFI's service as building one's own private stock exchange! She says that one of the best ways to raise capital is to treat it like sales. The process of raising capital mirrors sales in that you are selling your idea and company to potential investors.  Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Venture 360: https://venture360.co/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Small businesses with great potential need all the help they can get to succeed and a good place to start is by looking for venture capital. In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Matt and Matt sit down with Thad Langford, a founding partner in Flyover Capital. They discuss the do's and don'ts of venture capital and what you need to know in order to help your business succeed in its early stages. Flyover Capital provides early stage investment for businesses with great potential. Flyover Capital has invested and helped accelerate over 16 companies spanning across 9 states with a focus on Middle America, or the flyover states. Flyover Capital typically looks for businesses with a great team, a passion for what they are doing and a killer product. Venture capital is not the right fit for everyone and only about a tenth of businesses experiencing great success, while others just manage and others simply fail.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Flyover Capital: http://www.flyovercapital.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Athletes have a certain drive that pushes them to go above and beyond and reach astonishing goals. This passion is an invaluable tool that helps them achieve their dreams but that same drive can also tear them down. Matt and Matt are joined by Chris Smith, founder of Athlete Network, to talk about the struggles of being an athlete, who is transitioning into a post-athletic world. Listen in as they discuss what tools Athletes have at their disposal to thrive in this world. Smith founded Athlete Network 10 years ago with the hope of helping athletes thrive and use their mindset to their advantage in their post-athletic life. Athlete Network helps connect athletes together in an environment that promotes success with an athletic mindset without being in the athletic world. Sometimes it is difficult to get things off the ground and it doesn't hurt to have some help along the way.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Athlete Network: athletenetwork.com Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

The level of competition for startups is fierce and you need all the help you can get in order to come out on top. Accelerators are one way for you to launch your product off the ground. Matt and Matt sit down with Don Peterson, founder and former CEO of Infusion Express, and Jim Malle, business development officer at Economic Development Corporation Kansas City, to talk about LaunchKC, an accelerator program for fintech, cleantech and healthcare businesses. Once on the accelerator program with Launch KC, startups will have access to a rich amount of resources and services that will help them improve their product. LaunchKC focuses on providing a great consumer experience through payment reform and predictive analytics. This can help to increase communication between consumers and providers.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ LaunchKC: https://www.launchkc.org/ Nueterra Capital: https://www.nueterra.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Is Chipotle a franchise or just a string of businesses owned by one company? Co-owner of The Smoothie Shop and Supplements and the co-founder and CEO of Diffactory, Kevin Oldham sits down with Matt and Matt to discuss the successes and struggles of being a franchise. Starting a franchise must always start with the burning question: Is my franchise worthy? Oldham talks about the most common mistakes that people make when they want to start a franchise and he starts off by dispelling the myths surrounding what a franchise can be and teaching you how to avoid those mistakes that can cause your franchise to fail. In order to find success in the demanding world of franchising, you have to find out what replicable processes you need to use. By using a structured formula for franchising, you can turn the art of franchising into a science.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Diffactory: https://www.diffactory.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Classic analytics answers many questions regarding consumers, but it often fails to answer the question: why do consumers buy what they buy? Matt and Matt get a chance to sit down with the CEO of Proof Positioning, Grant Gooding. Proof Positioning dives deeper than classical analytics by using neuroscience to discover the emotional data behind consumer decision making. Gooding explains the problems with traditional business analytics and how they can improve in order to keep up with the ever-changing market through emotional data. Emotional data is the next step to figuring out all the whys you need to know to help your business grow.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Proof Positioning: https://proofpositioning.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Luke Thompson, owner of KC Soda Co. and Mass Street Soda, accompanies Matt and Matt to talk about the history behind his sodapop shop.   In 2014, Thompson opened Mass Street Soda in Lawrence, Kansas because he was inspired by a craft soda store in California and another one in Oklahoma. Although he initially began working in E-Commerce and Finance, he has had a long history with craft sodas, which has helped him see the potential in selling specialty retail soda. One year after Thompson opened Mass Street Soda, he was able to open KC Soda Co. in the Legends Outlet mall, but quickly moved to the City Market in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.   KC Soda Co. boasts having over 1,800 varieties of sodas that are rotated throughout the year and keep about 900 varieties in stock at any given time.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ KC Soda Co.: http://www.kcsoda.com/ Mass Street Soda: http://www.massstreetsoda.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Do you ever remember being in a class in high school and thinking: when will I ever use this? In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Corey Mohn, executive director of Blue Valley CAPS, joins Matt and Matt to talk about providing the best education possible to all students regardless of how they learn.   CAPS is a new approach to teaching at the high school level that has been recognized on the national level. It is for high school juniors and seniors, who are looking for hands-on experience in the field they are interested in. There are no restrictions on who can join the CAPS program in Blue Valley. This program is two hours long every day and it is a priority of the program to work around the students' school schedule.   Programs like this didn't really exist 30 years ago and now high school students, who would typically struggle in a normal classroom environment, are being given more tools to succeed. This program is investing in our world's future by helping students in the now.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ CAPS: https://bvcaps.yourcapsnetwork.org/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Okay, let's be real. Who doesn't like food trucks? They are literal meals that move on wheels. CEO and Founder of Custom Trailer Pros, Justin Prestidge, accompany Matt and Matt, in this episode of the Startup Hustle, to talk about the difficulties of starting and running a food truck. Statistically speaking, most restaurants fail within the first 3 years of being open, which means that it is a challenge to get open and stay open. Custom Trailer Pros aims to provide the best service it can by crafting a trailer for your company's specific needs. However, even with all the right building blocks, there will still be a chance to fail. Prestidge mentions that one of the most common problems in starting a food truck is the changing of the health codes. They change frequently and can have your restaurant shut down very quickly. But, you can lower the risk of other controllable factors by keeping the necessities and learning from past mistakes. Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Custom Trailer Pros: https://www.customtrailerpros.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Banks don't always understand the needs of most startups. So, when NBKC bank went from only offering partnerships to having a full-on accelerator program, you could imagine the opportunities that opened up. Matt and Matt are joined by, managing director at Fountain City Fintech, Zach Anderson Pettit in an interesting discussion on the purpose of being a partnership accelerator rather than just an accelerator. NBKC bank's program is unique in that it is the bank behind the fintech rather than being partnered with a fintech. By being a partner-accelerator, NBKC bank is able to offer incentives such as doing a partnership in less than 6 months and offering investments. In order to have a successful partnership, it is crucial to have a relationship with your bank if you want to have a larger fintech company. NBKC bank recognizes that a partnership needs to be more than just financial support. It needs to be a relationship with a thriving environment for your startup to grow.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Fountain City Fintech: http://www.fountaincityfintech.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

A couple of years ago, the idea of CBD stores being everywhere was an idea many seemed to shutter at. Now, the stigma has lessened and many have become more comfortable with the idea of these stores. Matt and Matt sit down the founders of HempHaven, Jay Humfeld and Danielle Friedrich, in this episode of the Startup Hustle and listen in as they discuss how they got started and what they are planning on for the future. In the CBD industry, there are only 3 FTC compliant franchise systems and one of them is HempHaven, which is based in Kansas City-based. Friedrich talks about their franchise system and what steps they plan on taking in order to reach their dream of expansion. Friedrich and Humfeld currently own 9 stores with 3 in Kansas and other locations in Iowa, Wisconsin and Florida. If you liked the story you heard and want to find more check out our Instagram and our other episodes @startuphustlepodcast.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Hemp Haven: https://hemplifeonline.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Starting a business from the ground up is difficult and can often take longer to make a sizeable profit than you'd like. In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Matt and Matt are accompanied by, Co-Founders of Growth Acceleration Services, Doug Burris and Dan O'Reilly. Growth Acceleration Services operates on the idea of accelerating the revenue growth of early-stage technology companies. They also provide sales consulting and recruiting services. Listen up as they discuss the importance of understanding your sales process and the value in properly training your sales team. Burris and O'Reilly tell us about how you can grow and develop as a salesperson and why you should find others who are just as interested in what you do as you are.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Growth Acceleration Services: http://www.growthxlservices.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

I don't know about you but I would love to buy a sports arena, especially if I only had to pay $1! Matt and Matt are joined by CEO and co-founder of Foutch Brothers, LLC, Steve Foutch. In this episode of the Startup Hustle, Foutch addresses the challenges that he encountered while trying to begin renovations on the former Kemper Arena. He also answers the question of what it can cost and what the point of buying an arena is. He explains that there are tons of venues across North America that are sadly withering away because of the lack of use. The Foutch Brothers decided to tackle this issue by repurposing the Kemper Arena and turn it into a state-of-the-art sports hub, which can accommodate over 9,000 people and fit four collegiate basketball courts inside. The goal in mind with repurposing the Kemper Arena is to help emerging athletes reach their potential in an amazing facility.  Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ Hy-vee Arena: https://hyveearena.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle

Connecting eager investors with early-stage companies is the goal of Darcy Howe, founder of the KCRise Fund. Listen in on this episode of Startup Hustle as she talks to Matt and Matt about the success she has seen in small companies. Howe doesn't stop there and talks about the struggles of doing business with large companies and why those same companies so often lack innovation. Matt and Matt learn about the up-and-coming innovation district being led by former Pinsight Media CEO, Kevin McGinnis and the plans he has to make Kansas City, a city for growth and opportunity.   Learn more about:   Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Stackify: https://stackify.com/ KC Rise Fund: https://kcrisefund.com/ Gigabook: https://gigabook.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuphustlepodcast/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXy14X95mzCpGSHyDvvoVg Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@startuphustle