In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Chris Anderson, founder of Elevate Media Group. Chris's story is unique among entrepreneurs; he didn't have the typical childhood lemonade stand or early business ventures. Instead, he grew up in a small Indiana town and developed a desire to live a different life, which eventually evolved into entrepreneurship. When life took unexpected turns for Chris, he realized the importance of seizing opportunities. This led him to start his own p...
Oct 04, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode. I was lucky enough to interview the fantastic Nicole Lipkin, CEO and founder of HeyKiddo. Nicole's early experience not only influenced her work ethic but also instilled resilience and problem-solving skills, as her parents encouraged her to learn from failures when she and her brother were given the opportunity to start a toy-selling business. Fast forward to today, Nicole is an accomplished clinical and organizational psychologist who successfully built and scaled a psych...
Oct 02, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Robert Indries, CEO and Founder of Robert Indries Holdings. Robert shared a profound personal story that catalyzed a significant shift in his business approach. He recounted the pivotal moment when facing financial hardship which served as a powerful wake-up call to transform his business practices. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of his journey towards financial success, and within a short period, he achieved remarkable milestones, bec...
Sep 29, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 54
This week I was lucky enough to interview a very cool and articulate guy named Roy Osing. Roy is the author of the book "Be Different or Be Dead". One of the highlights of Roy's illustrious career was driving a company to billion-dollar annual sales. Roy documented his journey in a book - not the ordinary how-to textbook type - but instead, focused on the unique strategies he employed to achieve this extraordinary feat. Let's fly all the way to Vancouver and explore Roy Osing...
Sep 27, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 53
This episode's so special that we're releasing it early! Patrick Faga, CEO and Founder of FirstWork is a really incredible young entrepreneur. He created an app-based educational platform designed to enhance learners develop their verbal skills at an early stage. Patrick was born and raised in Washington DC. And even when studying, grew to wonder how people's brains impact their behavior. Patrick's curious mind led him to create an environment that encourages people to align ...
Sep 25, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this week's new episode, I had the chance to interview the fantastic Darleen Priday, CEO and Founder of DP Consults, a business consulting and service focused on giving confidence to the clients in order for them to sell the business effectively. What sets Darleen apart is her unique approach to business development, which has not only proven wildly successful for her but has also transformed the lives of her clients. Hop on and let's fly to Orlando, Florida, and catch this short bu...
Sep 20, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Boy oh boy are you all in for a treat this week! I got to spend some quality time with Alex Sanfilippo, the brilliant founder and CEO of PodPros, a software company meticulously crafted for independent podcasters -- myself included! PodPros offers various solutions like PodMatch, PodcastSOP, Podcast Lottery, PodAwards, and Best Podcasts -- all of which are designed to improve every podcaster's end-to-end experience. Alex proves you can build an empire by focusing on delivering value and enj...
Sep 18, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 50
John Cecilian Jr., CEO and Founder of Cecilian Partners, radiates pure entrepreneurial energy. A people-first business owner born in Chicago, John worked his way across a ton of big brands like Micahel Kors, QuikSilver, Under Armour, Clutch, and Vineyard Vines. He learned what it means to deliver value and bring new technology to existing markets. With a passion for customer experience transformation, John shares his experiences from learning the ropes in retail to managing shareholder relations...
Sep 15, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 49
What a great time it was getting to know the great Bryan Farris, the CEO and Founder of Goldfish Code! A full-fledged California boy from the Bay Area, Bryan was constantly hearing of the success of the growing tech industry. He cut his teeth as a software engineer before founding Goldfish Code with his vision for next-generation technology and digital transformation. With an extreme focus on user experience, Bryan and his team use a patented approach to delivering digital products that aren’t j...
Sep 13, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this week's episode, I had the chance to interview the visionary financial maestro, Bruce Weinstein, who wears the dual hats of CEO and Founder of Weinstein Wealth Insurance Solutions and the dynamic host of the renowned "Ask the Planman" podcast. As an orchestrator of financial harmony, Bruce helps guide people through the labyrinth of wealth management and insurance solutions. Bruce's podcast, "Ask the Planman," serves as a beacon of knowledge in a sea of finan...
Sep 11, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Tim Dodd is an enterprise cloud sales extraordinaire and mastermind behind JTD Group. Growing up in Delaware, Tim's story is one of relentless ambition and a passion for helping businesses flourish. His roots at the University of Delaware laid the foundation for his career, but it was his first gig as a sales rep that ignited the spark within him. Tim discovered his knack for transforming small enterprises into thriving giants, a skill that would later define his path to success. Fast forwa...
Sep 08, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Ring the bell! In this episode of The First Customer podcast, I was lucky enough to interview the Zen master himself, Scott Berman. Scott has been an NBA statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers for 35 years. He’s also the co-founder of The Panther Group — a cannabis merchant bank and advisory firm that focuses on venture funding and has a track record of successful exits in technology, healthcare, software, data, and ad tech. Hop on I-95 and head down to the Wells Fargo Center for an informative...
Sep 06, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 45
A very special episode today with my pal, Jon Mercer, the president and co-founder of Startup Bucks. It's an organization that helps startups in and beyond Bucks County, Pennsylvania. One of my favorite local folks with a smile that lights up any room -- Jon has a background in IT informatics which landed him a job at Johnson & Johnson, and from there, ignited his passion for supporting and connecting the startup ecosystem. Jon turned his focus toward venture funding and economic develo...
Aug 31, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 44
For this week's episode, I was lucky enough to sit down with a digital nomad -- Chris Roche, CEO of Catalyst Consulting. He shared some really great insights on digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Chris shared how he started his career in digital marketing and what inspired him to start his own company. He also talks about the key challenges he faced while he built his agency and how he overcame them. Make sure to tune in to this episode and get the biggest takeaway from this very inspi...
Aug 29, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode of the The First Customer podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jake Henry, the CEO and founder of Lectra, a wearables company that aims to revolutionize health care. Jake shared his personal story of how his mom’s osteoarthritis and his own hip problems inspired him to create a brand that focuses on prevention rather than treatment. He also tackled how luck and persistence paved the way to his success and how important it is to love what you do so that it wouldn’t feel lik...
Aug 24, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Brenden Kumarasamy is the incredibly likable and impressively passionate CEO and founder of MasterTalk. He grew up in Montreal, Canada and initially wasn't interested in building a business but rather just looked for the fastest way to make money and became an accountant. From making videos in his mom's basement, Brenden's life changed when he met his leadership coach, who introduced him to the world of entrepreneurship and personal development. He realized that he had a passion a...
Aug 22, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, we will be talking to Brian Magrann, the co-founder of Boilerplate.co. Originally from Philadelphia suburbs and went to Penn State, Brian started his career as an auditor and then got to work in a federal government where he did consulting. He eventually worked in a start-up distribution type of company where he identified a pain point related to tracking documentation requests. I love how he went from being a process improvement consultant to founding a software company which f...
Aug 17, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode, I am lucky enough to be joined by a multi awarded leader and professional speaker Victoria Pelletier, founder of Unstoppable You. Victoria is a C-Suite transformational leader, a keynote speaker, a Board Director and at the same time a mom, wife, fitness fanatic, foodie, wine lover, you name it! But what stands her out is her strong passion for making a difference to the society, excelling wherever she sets her heart on. Be sure to watch this episode and learn how to be the Unst...
Aug 15, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 39
A very special episode of The First Customer podcast with Shruti Pandey, a freelancer QA Engineer AND Podcast host ... that sounds familiar! Shruti walks us through her journey to stepping out of the corporate grind and into the world of freedom with consulting and freelancing. Her story is full of passion, pride, and love for her family and her personal time. Let's take the long flight over to Mumbai together and talk to a fantastic human-being in this weeks episode ... a MUST listen! Chec...
Aug 11, 2023•33 min
Today's episode is with the great Bo Motlagh, CEO & Founder of United Effects. Bo shares his early exposure to tech and his transition from architecture to the software development world. He explains the inspiration behind United Effects, which focuses on streamlining authentication and data integration for businesses. Bo discusses his journey, the company's evolution, pricing strategy, and customer engagement, revealing how networking, customer feedback, and adaptability have shap...
Aug 08, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Marcel Petitpas is a driven entrepreneur who embarked on his business journey with a fervent passion for building companies. However, his early ventures faced significant challenges as he navigated different industries, trying to find the right product-market fit. Despite initial setbacks, Marcel's resilience and determination led him to co-found Parakeeto, a company that assists creative and digital services firms in streamlining their operations. With a focus on pre-selling and customer v...
Aug 03, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Michel Nematnejad is the founder of Mila Labs. As a skilled software engineer, he started his journey as a freelancer on Upwork, providing services to clients worldwide. Michel found success by focusing on niche markets and showcasing his expertise. This led to landing his first significant client, which boosted his confidence and opened doors for future projects. As a business owner, Michel learned the importance of balancing technical skills with sales and marketing. He acknowledged that while...
Aug 01, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode of The First Customer podcast, host Jay Aigner interviews Neeraj Vir, the managing partner of Amalgam Inc. Neeraj shares his journey from being born and raised in New Delhi, India, to eventually landing in the United States in the early 2000s. He talks about his background in technology and his career growth from a developer to an executive in the information technology space. Neeraj also discusses the impetus behind starting Amalgam and the challenges he faced as an immigrant en...
Jul 27, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Renee, the spirited co-founder of the CAPE Movement, started her journey in Southeastern PA. She honed her skills in personal development and wellness before launching an initiative aimed at facilitating individual growth. Armed with years of experience and a profound passion for nurturing self-improvement, Renee co-founded the CAPE Movement, a platform committed to providing individuals with the tools and inspiration necessary to realize their dreams and enhance personal and professional compet...
Jul 25, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Frommm Wessssst Philadelphia, Ezra Cohen, raised in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, initially pursued a career in animation inspired by the Dire Straits' video "Money for Nothing." He attended the University of the Arts where he delved into various artistic mediums but found his true passion in metal sculpture, particularly artisanal blacksmithing. However, after graduation, a lack of resources and studio space led him and his friend to shift their focus towards graphic design. They est...
Jul 19, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Today we bring you the intriguing journey of Kevin King, the CEO, and founder of Effective Solutions. Born from the dorm rooms of American University, Kevin's venture arose during the inception of the internet era, paving the way for a 25-year-long entrepreneurial voyage that witnessed multiple pivots, strategic partnerships, and growth. Our conversation delves into the excitement and challenges of the early days, the evolution from web design to a multifaceted digital entity, and how the c...
Jul 18, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this week's episode, we sit down with Marcus Blair, the dynamic engineer-turned-entrepreneur who is making waves in the tech industry. As the CEO and Founder of Omega Digital Solutions, Marcus used his extensive engineering experience to bridge the technology gap between large corporations and smaller businesses. His thrilling journey from corporate to entrepreneurial life serves as an exciting roadmap for aspiring business founders. Marcus delves into the nuances of founding Omega Digit...
Jul 13, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Atlanta born-and-raised CTO and Co-founder Hesom Parhizkar cut his teeth in electrical engineering before making the switch over to computer science and the rest was history. His sharpened his skills in strategy, architecture, design and development for more than two decades then co-founded an innovative company, AdvizorPro, that provides their clients direct access to high-quality financial advisors, registered reps, and agents. Upgrade to business class this week because we're taking a qu...
Jul 11, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Jake Stein grew up in North Jersey and had the itch for entrepreneurialism early in life. He started creating businesses ("hair-brained schemes") in high school and that interest and passion for business never went away. He learned about venture capitalism in college, dove into that world headfirst, then came out again looking to create more businesses of his own. Do yourself a favor and look up "Startup Entrepreneur Rap Video" on YouTube to see what kind of guy we're ta...
Jul 06, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Joe started his journey in Minneapolis, Minnesota and discovered a passion for language at an early age. Then he saw C3P0 and decided to make a universal translator a reality. He's a serial entrepreneur and IT Transformation Architect with a broad technical foundation in AI, Natural Language Processing, applications/solutions, integration, data and infrastructure and cloud implementation. Oh, and he's also fluent in Japanese and European languages. Toss on your headphones and settle in...
Jul 04, 2023•31 min•Ep. 27
