Unfunded with Joan Westenberg

Unfunded is for tech rebels, a no-holds-barred podcast where founders and operators from the VC-free zone share their war stories. This is where bootstrap meets badassery, where we showcase the grit and ingenuity it takes to build and scale a startup on your own terms. If you're drawn to the underdog spirit and thrive on innovation outside the conventional funding pathways, join host, Joan Westenberg at rally point, Unfunded. Unfunded is a Day One ( https://dayone.fm/shows/unfunded ) show. Day One is the podcast network dedicated to founders, investors, and operators. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/

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Episodes

[TRAILER] In the Blink of A.I-Conversations with AI Innovators - In The Blink of A.I. with Georgie Healy

Episode Summary In the Blink of AI: Conversations with AI Innovators Join Georgie Healy on 'In the Blink of AI', your weekly guide to the dynamic world of artificial intelligence. Each episode features interviews with the founders of top AI startups, creative product builders, and industry leaders. With 20 years in engineering and technology, Georgie aims to distill complex AI concepts into engaging stories. The show covers business building, cutting-edge AI technology, and guests' approaches to...

Oct 27, 2024•2 min

Building a Profitable AI-Driven Design Platform Without VC Funding

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of the Unfunded podcast, host Joan Westenberg chats with Dan Anisse, co-founder of Relume, an AI-powered web design platform. Dan shares his journey from running an agency to building a profitable AI product, offering insights into the challenges and successes along the way. The conversation delves into how Dan and his team have managed to remain profitable while leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and maintaining a strong community of users without th...

Sep 12, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Cole Cornford Discusses Bootstrapping and Balancing Business with Family Life

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Unfunded podcast, host Joan Westenberg welcomes Cole Cornford, the founder of Galah Cyber. The discussion dives deep into the journey of building a successful cybersecurity business from the ground up and the unique dynamics involved in bootstrapping a company. Cole shares his experiences, challenges, and strategies, shedding light on the importance of maintaining a work-life balance amid the hectic demands of entrepreneurship. Cole discussed the inception...

Aug 29, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Resilience & Reinvention: Jess Ruhfus on Bootstrapping, Fundraising, and Navigating Modern Marketing

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Unfunded podcast, tech writer Joan Westenberg sits down with Jess Ruhfus, the brilliant mind behind Collabosaurus and the new venture, No.2. The discussion dives into Jess's entrepreneurial journey, the pitfalls and triumphs of bootstrapping start-ups, and the stark realities of seeking venture capital in the tech industry. Jess candidly shares her experiences, from launching Collabosaurus on a tight budget to facing the relentless grind of fundraising and...

Aug 15, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Optimising Crop Quality: Steve Scheding on Green Atlas, Automation, and Bootstrapping Success

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Unfunded podcast, host Joan Westenberg delves into the remarkable journey of Steve Scheding and Green Atlas. Steve discusses the core problem Green Atlas aims to solve in the horticultural space, emphasizing the significance of optimizing crop quality over quantity to boost grower profitability. Despite lacking a background in agriculture, Steve's expertise in automation led to the inception of Green Atlas as a solution derived from promising R&D in th...

Jul 18, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Bootstrapped founder overcomes challenges to grow successful retail SaaS company with Aaron Cowper

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Unfunded podcast, Joan Westenberg interviews Aaron Cowper, the founder of ShopGrok. Aaron shares his journey of bootstrapping his business, highlighting the challenges and triumphs faced along the way. From early struggles to winning significant contracts and navigating through personal setbacks, Aaron's story showcases the resilience and dedication required to build a successful business without external funding. Aaron delves into the importance of family...

Jul 04, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Sheree Rubinstein on Bootstrapping, Pivoting, and Building One Roof

Episode Summary: In this episode of Unfunded, host Joan Westenberg delves into a conversation with Sheree Rubinstein, the founder of One Roof. Sheree shares her journey from corporate law to founding a co-working space dedicated to women-led businesses and the subsequent pivot to a digital business membership platform post-Covid. The episode explores the challenges, successes, and insights gained from bootstrapping, fundraising, and making difficult decisions as a founder. Sheree's experience ex...

Jun 20, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Unlocking Startup Success: Lucy Lloyd founder of Mentorloop on Bootstrapping & VC Funding Challenges

Episode Summary: In this episode, Joan Westenberg interviews Lucy Lloyd, co-founder of Mentorloop, to delve into Lucy's entrepreneurial journey of building a successful startup. The conversation touches upon the inspiration behind founding Mentorloop, navigating the decision-making process around VC funding, and ultimately opting for a self-funded path. Lucy shares valuable insights on the challenges and pressures of VC funding, the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with investors,...

Jun 20, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Unfunded is for the underdogs and bootstrappers

Welcome to Unfunded, a show dedicated to telling the stories of founders who build impactful and independent businesses without relying on venture capital or external funding. Hosted by Joan Westenberg, a seasoned journalist and tech writer with over a decade of experience, the podcast delves into the human stories behind tech, economics, and business. Unfunded celebrates the DIY ethos and the determination of founders who launch and grow their businesses on their own terms. Each episode feature...

Jun 02, 2024•2 min

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