#0141 - Mike - Moments in History NFT Project

The Startup to Storefront team has been taking a deep dive into that world over the past few months, and as such we are sharing our findings with you, so that you may become better informed. Our guest today is Mike Szopinski, a part of the team behind the Moments in History NFT. This particular NFT community has a goal of uniting history novices and buffs, reflecting on moments throughout our global history that have shaped our lives today.

Listen in as we cover everything from the pros and cons of designing an NFT by committee, how to teach a new audience to use Discord, and how a coma changed his career path.

#0140 - immi - Kevin Lee

We’ve all encountered instant foods. The trend of convenience took over American society after World War II and dominated the consumer market with a big assist from the microwave oven. You could eat instant oatmeal in the morning, a cup of noodles for lunch, and a TV dinner at night, all ready to eat with the touch of a few buttons on your microwave. Eventually, consumers realized that the trade-off of convenience for nutrition was not in their best interest. And thus the better-for-you market was born. There are many brands within this new market that have shunned the “instant” label, not wanting to be associated with the unhealthy connotations that the label brings with it. Our guest today is Kevin Lee, co-founder of immi, a brand that has innovated its way into becoming a healthier instant ramen option.

Listen in as we cover everything from not knowing how to ask for help (and why that’s a cultural problem), why starting a company has involved equal parts personal and professional development, and why you shouldn’t overthink which social media platform you use to reach your audience.

#0139 - Aura Bora - Paul Voge (as seen on Shark Tank)

The past decade has seen a meteoric rise in the popularity of sparkling water. The convenience of at-home soda streams gave way to La Croix, which in turn gave way to White Claw. Carbonated water isn’t exactly new; in fact, it’s much older than you’d likely guess. It was first invented in 1767 by suspending a bowl of water above a beer vat. The beverage has come a long way since then, highlighted by both small tweaks and huge leaps forward. Our guest today is Paul Voge, co-founder of Aura Bora. In today’s consumer market, there are staples like Lays’ chips, Skippy peanut butter, or La Croix sparkling water. Before long, a new brand comes along with the intent to disrupt the market, like Kettle chips or Justin’s peanut butter. Paul created Aura Bora to be that sparkling water category disruptor. Since creating it, he’s gained some notable fans, including Robert Herjavec, who closed a deal with Aura Bora on Shark Tank early last year.

Listen in as we cover everything from how Paul told a white lie to get on the shelves of Whole Foods, why the Shark Tank audience is a perfect representation of the country, and why you should never drink essential oils.

#0138 - NFT's - what to look for before investing

With all the talk about NFT’s, people are rushing to get in and test their luck on being early to the next Bored Ape Yacht Club. Our team recently hosted a public Space on Twitter to open up open what our team is learning within the various projects we’ve invested in. We’ll help you identify the red flags and the green flags in an effort to help you learn what to look for when placing your next bet.

NFT investing is similar to startup investing but it’s done at rocket speed which can make for a fun, rewarding, anxiety-ridden ride.

Our thumbnail includes an NFT from the Nudie Community! We call her ‘Star.’

#0137 - Twice - Cody Levine

What do these three things have in common: brushing your teeth, flossing, and Lenny Kravitz? They’re all key components in Twice, the oral hygiene brand that believes a good smile has the power to change lives. Our guest today is Cody Levine, who co-founded the company with his brother Julian and yes, Lenny Kravitz. The two brothers grew up in a household that prioritized proper oral hygiene, but that isn’t exactly surprising given that their father is a dentist. But they didn’t initially set out to continue down the same trail as their dad. Cody and Julian set out on their own different career paths in advertising and finance, respectively. On occasion, they would join their dad on dental missions to impoverished areas around the world. It was the impact that they had on those communities that led them to start Twice and make healthy smiles more accessible to everyone.

Listen in as we cover everything from why using toothpaste with sulfates can lead to canker sores, why you should never sell toothpaste direct to consumers, and why early charcoal toothpaste was like taking sandpaper to your teeth.

#0136 - Daring - Ross Mackay

Today’s guest is Ross Mackay, co-founder of Daring, the plant-based chicken currently taking over your local grocery store. Maybe you’re a carnivore. Maybe you’re a vegan. Maybe you’re even—as Ross would say—plant curious. No matter who you are, the three most important criteria you’re likely to consider when buying food are taste, texture, and price. And Ross has managed to create a plant-based chicken that emphatically checks all the boxes. Because if you’re going to change the dining habits of your average American, you’ve got to come up with a pretty damn appealing alternative.

Listen in as we cover everything from why the Scottish government told him there’s no market for his product, his not-so-secret recipe that he cooks for investors, and why the average consumer has a lack of trust in plant-based meat.

#0135 - Haley Russell - Chippin

Today we talk with Haley Russell, founder of the dog food company Chippin. If you’ve ever bought dog food, chances are the ingredients included something like beef or chicken. Fine for your dog to eat, but when you scale the production those food groups become entirely unsustainable. On the other side of the equation is the invasive species known as silver carp. This fish has been slowly making its way north up the Mississippi River toward the Great Lakes. To put it lightly, it would be a massive problem if silver carp make it into Lake Michigan. Haley was able to kill two birds with one stone by substituting silver carp in the place of beef or chicken in her dog food. Our furry friends will still get all the nutrients they need in a much more sustainable fashion.

Listen in as we cover everything from running a cricket farm, tapping into the Dogecoin craze, and why the standards for pet food and baby food are similar.

#0134 - Keithan and Quiante - Candi (as seen on Shark Tank)

Today’s guests are Keithan and Quiante Hedrick, the husband and wife duo behind Candi. Candi is a platform that allows you to video chat with celebrities in real-time and was born out of the ashes of their first joint venture, Instaspeakers. The failure of Instaspeakers, while difficult, showed them what to focus their money and energy towards with Candi. And the success of apps like Cameo showed that there was a very real market for personal connections with celebrities. We filmed this episode three days prior to Candi’s debut on Shark Tank, so while they weren’t able to discuss the specifics, we made sure to cover their preparation for the inevitable Shark Tank bump.

Listen in as we cover everything from the importance of surveying the market before starting a business, why celebs tend to overprice themselves, and why Kevin Hart probably wouldn’t be the best fit for a service like Candi.

#0133 - Kevin Mendoza - Crypto Collective

Welcome back as we begin Season 4 of the show! Today’s guest is Kevin Mendoza, founder of Crypto Collective and today we are—in fact—talking about all things crypto. By now you’ve likely heard everyone from your friends to that drunk guy in the bar talk about cryptocurrency and NFTs. Maybe you know a little, maybe you’re somewhat of an expert. Maybe you’re even a little bit skeptical. The point is that this digital infrastructure is having a very real impact on the world around us and we would all do well to learn more. Luckily enough for you, this is a great episode for expanding upon whatever foundational knowledge you already have. We cover everything from centralized to decentralized finance and riff ideas of how to join in and capitalize on a booming NFT marketplace. Because no matter if you’re looking to join the Bored Ape Yacht Club or have no idea what that is, this is the place to be.

#0132 - Jill Bauman - Imagine LA

Today’s guest is Jill Bauman, head of Imagine LA, a nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of family homelessness and poverty. Her organization is certainly not the first to attempt to tackle these problems, and she’s realistic about the need for other organizations to do their part as well. But Imagine LA is having a real impact on the lives of over 200 families in the greater Los Angeles area, helping what are often families led by a single parent get back on their feet when it comes to financial and emotional stability.

Listen in as we cover everything from why domestic violence is a huge driver of family homelessness, how she plans to scale Imagine LA to different parts of the state, and her plans to build livable mixed communities with houses and retail shops to alleviate the housing crisis we’re currently experiencing.

#0131 - Carmen Dianne & Kara Still - Prosperity Market

Today’s guests are Carmen Dianne and Kara Still, founders of Prosperity Market. Last year, as the world was dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the racial reckoning spurred on by the murder of George Floyd, Carmen felt inspired to do something about it. She partnered up with Kara and the two of them set out to create a market that would feature black farmers and businesses, also while providing low-income areas of LA with access to fresh produce and healthy food. The idea was solid, but there were bumps in the road that were unforeseen, such as difficulty in finding black farmers. The progress may not be as fast as Carmen would like, but little by little they are making their presence known all over Los Angeles County and making a big impact in the communities they visit.

Listen in as we cover everything from why they legally can’t call themselves a farmer’s market, how they’ve been able to grow largely through direct donations on their website, and why they’re currently building two businesses; the one they’re in now and the one they’ll be in five years from now.

#0130 - Brad & Zach Gilbert - Tennis Legend/Author

Today’s guests are the father and son duo Brad and Zach Gilbert. To say that tennis is a Gilbert family hobby would be like saying that the Kennedy family dabbles in politics. Brad was a former professional tennis player who was ranked as high as number 4 in the world and won a bronze medal at the '88 Olympics to boot. After his playing career was over he went into coaching, molding the next generation of elite players such as Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray. Zach grew up courtside at televised tournaments, so it’s no surprise that he also took to tennis, eventually becoming an NCAA Division 1 tennis player for Cal-Berkeley. Our conversation today is centered on all things tennis but the lessons here are universal.

Listen in as we cover everything from how to manage expectations and outside pressure, why Brad had such a difficult time coaching Zach, and the importance of being honest about your weaknesses.

#0129 - Leah O'Malley & Tori Robinson - Boys Lie

Today’s guests are Leah O’Malley and Tori Robinson, lifelong friends and co-founders of the clothing brand Boys Lie. It’s probably safe to assume that a fair share of us have experienced heartbreak, and in Leah and Tori’s case, they turned their heartbreak into a mantra. That mantra would become the eventual inspiration to launch something bigger than the two of them; to connect with a world of women who had also gone through a bad breakup. They decided on a makeup line. The problem was that the makeup line didn’t connect as they had intended. But the two women were far from finished, and they pivoted to manufacturing streetwear. And with this new venture, they finally found their audience and connected in a BIG way.

Listen in as we cover everything from how they’ve had their own trouble with paparazzi, why they’ll anonymously answer support emails from time to time, and why you should never go into business with your best friend.

#0128 - James Beshara - Magic Mind/Tilt (acquired by AirBnB)

Today’s guest is James Beshara, founder of Magic Mind, a productivity drink designed to replace your morning cup of coffee for good. James’ story is about so much more than Magic Mind though, as he’s started a few other companies and invested in a few others as well. One of the companies he started was bought by AirBnB, which on the surface seems like a major win! Until you learn that he had to sell it in a fire sale. James is very open about both his successes and his failures, and it’s this kind of honesty that led him to start his own podcast where he dives into all of the challenges facing business leaders all over the world. This episode is a truly fascinating conversation in which we take a high-level look at what it really means to be an entrepreneur in today’s world.

Listen in as we cover everything from the difference between the fear of missing out and the fear of being involved, why he’s long on AirBnB, and why spiritually, everyone should be a freelancer.