On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Sarah Evans, who is a Partner and Head of PR at Zen Media. She is also a professional moderator and tech host. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. https://es...
Jun 17, 2025•27 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Isaiah McPeak, the CEO of Green Pants Studios ( www.greenpantsstudio.com ). He is a master at helping people sharpen their ideas, communicate more effectively, and launch winning products. He is an author, debater, product strategist, and startup leader. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs),...
Apr 30, 2025•16 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Joshua Baer, the Founder & CEO of Capital Factory, Austin’s premier startup hub connecting founders with mentors, investors, and talent. The interview took place in front of a live audience down in Austin at the Established House. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovator...
Apr 23, 2025•19 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Amy Jo Martin, who is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder who has worked with some of the biggest brands and athletes in the world, and she’s all about helping people design lives they love. The interview took place in front of a live audience down in Austin at the Established House. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams,...
Apr 15, 2025•26 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Jenny Fielding. Jenny Fielding is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, an early-stage fund that has invested in over 300 companies across the globe. Take a look at Jenny’s website here: https://www.jennyfielding.com She is also the former Managing Director of Techstars and has mentored hundreds of founders through he...
Mar 19, 2025•46 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Robert Quinn. Robert Quinn is the founder of MakeSense Technology, a company pioneering haptic solutions that address visual problems through innovative, non-audio/visual communication technologies. The technology stems from over a decade of research in haptics, led by a team from some of the world's most renowned institutions. Robert also...
Jan 28, 2025•53 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Briana Warner. Briana Warner is the CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms, a company dedicated to cultivating sustainable seaweed farming along the coast of Maine. Under her leadership, the company has become a pioneer in producing kelp-based products that benefit local communities, improve ocean health, and offer a sustainable alternative to traditio...
Dec 23, 2024•57 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Rachel Holt. Rachel Holt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Construct Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investing in the future of transportation, mobility, supply chain, and the built world. She has a proven track record in venture capital and innovation, focusing on building and scaling companies in industries undergoin...
Nov 26, 2024•58 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Sherman Williams, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at AIN Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage focused venture fund that invests in dual-use technology and veteran-led startups. Frank and Shermann discuss all things investing - from the importance of non-dilutive funding to the accelerating energy transition occurring around the globe. Watch ...
Nov 05, 2024•14 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Dan Berger. Dan Berger is an entrepreneur with a strong track record in the event planning industry. He is the Founder of Assemble, a boutique chain of corporate retreat centers designed to enhance team collaboration and productivity. Previously, Dan founded Social Tables, an event-planning software company that made waves in the industr...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 1 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Adriana Carrig, Founder & CEO at Little Words Project, a bracelet sharing company that invites female entrepreneurs into a collaborative and uplifting digital community. Frank and Adriana discuss sisterhood, inclusive and compassionate business environments, and the value of community when creating a career. Watch the podcast on our Y...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Allyson Kapin. Allyson Kapin, the Founder of Women Who Tech, Co-Founder of Rad Campaign, and a General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, leads grassroots movements to bolster diversity in the tech and startup sectors; she is an active investor in tech startups, especially women-led and BIPOC startups. Her work draws global attention to s...
Sep 30, 2024•43 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Aubrie Pagano. Aubrie Pagano is a General Partner at Alpaca VC, a venture capital firm investing in the people, products, and platforms reimagining the real world. Before joining Alpaca VC, Aubrie co-founded Bow & Drape, a fashion-tech startup that was acquired by Winn Brands in 2019. She is passionate about supporting founders and s...
Aug 29, 2024•46 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Natalia Talkowska and Rohit Bhargava. Natalia Talkowska is the Founder of Natalka Design, a high-stake visual consultancy that provides communication tools to enable leaders to communicate and engage with their audiences so that they can take action. Rohit Bhargava is the Founder and Chief Trend Curator of the Non-Obvious Company, a netwo...
Aug 08, 2024•21 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Ali Sabti, CEO of automated lawn servicing company OtO ( https://otolawn.com ). We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to th...
Jul 31, 2024•45 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Aron Kansal of SimpleTix ( www.simpletix.com/ ) and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures ( www.occomventures.com/ ). Aron Kansal is the founder of SimpleTix, an online ticketing product for attractions, festivals, concerts, museums, and more. They have all the functionality of Eventbrite with a no-contract policy, instant payouts, and a very intuitiv...
Jul 16, 2024•38 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Ann Shoket, Founder of New Power Media and CEO of TheLi.st, a private community of innovators and entrepreneurs devoted to helping each other network, succeed, and thrive in a competitive environment. In this interview, Ann discusses loneliness, the role networking holds in today's competitive environment, and the importance of creating a...
Jun 07, 2024•15 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Becky Center, CEO of crowdfunding behemoth Indiegogo. In this interview, we discuss the growth and development of Indiegogo, the expansion of crowdfunding, and how to handle partnerships, success, and failure in an ever-changing economy. We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you ne...
May 16, 2024•26 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Gary Kusin, Co-Founder of GameStop and Laura Mercier Cosmetics, former President and CEO of Kinkos, and author of his new book “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from Gamestop to Laura Mercier.” Be sure to check out Kusin’s new book, “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from Gamestop to Laura Mercier.” You can order it here: www.G...
Apr 30, 2024•45 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) introduces a panel of entrepreneurial experts as they discuss the emergence of AI and how to utilize this new tool in support of entrepreneurial endeavors. This panel, which took place at the Established House at SXSW 2024, and features insight from: Sherrod Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecomap Technologies Nicola Corzine, Founding CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial C...
Apr 26, 2024•56 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber ( http://linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) interviews serial entrepreneur and unicorn investor, speaker, and author, Paulo Andrez as we’ll talk about his new book, Zero Risk Startup which comes out in May 2024. Get your copy of the book here: https://amzn.to/4aoRJgZ We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join Thank you fo...
Apr 17, 2024•36 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Arlan Hamilton that took place at the Established house at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Arlan is the Founder and Managing Partner at Backstage Capital and the author of her new book “Your First Million.” What’s amazing is she launched a $20M+ fund from scratch while she was homeless. She has invested in 200+ companies led by underrepresented, underestimated founders. She is the author of the bestselling book, It’s About Damn...
Apr 04, 2024•30 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Corten Singer from Augmental, the winner of the CTA Foundation Pitch competition at CES 2024. Corten is the cofounder of Augmental, which just recently launched the MouthPad, a bluetooth-enabled intraoral interface for hands-free control of your computer, smartphone, and tablet. Learn more at: www.augmental.tech We also chat about the excitement around our upcoming event at SXSW. Join us as we host a day of events for ...
Feb 21, 2024•35 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview from Rich Belsky, who recently founded Crevo - www.crevo.com . Crevo is an entrepreneurial wellness consultancy focused primarily on early-stage startup founders and CEOs, solopreneurs, and corporate leaders. Crevo combines tactical, strategic guidance with mindset and energy management training to help leaders identify, avoid, and manage breakdowns and challenging environments. We invite you all to join our community today...
Dec 20, 2023•50 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an investor discussion was led by our own Established Co-CEO Jen Consalvo at a pitch event we hosted online a few months ago. The panel included Dahna Goldstein, who is the Chief Investment Officer of Halcyon and Co-Managing Director of the Halcyon Fund. Phoebe Van Duinen was also on the panel, and she is the Principal and Investment Manager at Halcyon and is responsible for the end-to-end process of social impact investing through thei...
Sep 19, 2023•28 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Dr. Richard Munassi that took place at SXSW. Dr. Munassi is a serial entrepreneur, the co-founder of Blackfin Technology Partners, and co-founder of Medzoomer. Discussing his latest venture as the Director of the Tampa Bay Wave Accelerator program, Munassi highlights his four-year journey towards creating this non-profit incubator, its top notch program and various communities and cohorts. We also again shine a spotlig...
Aug 10, 2023•13 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Mike Evans that took place at SXSW. Mike is the Co-Founder of GrubHub, as well as the founder of Fixer, a Chicago-based company building the "right now" handyman service. Mike’s latest book venture, "Hangry: A Startup Journey", is an exciting memoir about his co-founding of GrubHub and his journey as an entrepreneur. You can grab yourself a copy today at mikeevans.com We also want to mention that for the first time sin...
Jul 11, 2023•29 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Rohit Bhargava that took place at SXSW. Rohit is the Founder and Chief trend curator of the Non-Obvious Company, where he is a forward thinking storyteller, author and keynote speaker. Most recently, Rohit Co-authored "The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade" alongside colleague Henry Coutinho-Mason. Focusing on the stories of up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Rohit’s book brings attention to...
May 22, 2023•22 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Hope Shimabuku that took place at SXSW. Hope is the Regional Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where she carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the Texas regional office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Hope ensures the USPTO...
May 09, 2023•22 min
On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Kathryn Finney that took place at SXSW. Kathryn is a longtime community contributor and she is the Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture fund that invests in scalable businesses led by Black founders using innovation to build and promote healthy communities. She had a new book published last summer titled, “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a ...
Apr 27, 2023•29 min
