Getting a Patent can be a complicated and expensive process, but it can protect your idea as you work on bringing it to market. Just ask Becca Davison, the CEO of UnbuckleMe, who got a patent early on in her small business journey. Becca explains how she came up with UnbuckleMe, why she decided to patent her idea early on, and what that process looked like for someone who was new to entrepreneurship. You’ll also hear from Colleen Chien, a professor at Berkeley Law School and the founder of the P...
Apr 02, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 51
Accidents happen, we make missteps, sometimes our brands are tarnished. So how do we prepare for the inevitable and mitigate impact? Indya ‘Icy’ Wright , the Founder and CEO of Artiste House , a PR firm that prioritizes diversity, inclusivity, and representation, has some answers. According to Wright, “all we can do is try to minimize the results of what happened, rectify it, and if things go well, move forward.” In this episode you’ll hear: (02:35) How do you figure out what your story is? (05:...
Mar 26, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 50
If there's one thing we’ve learned over the many episodes of this show, it’s that owning and operating your own business is hard. You have to overcome challenges you didn’t even know existed. Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or you’re wondering if you should stick it out? We have Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, scholar, speaker and consultant, who studies the science of maximizing human potential, to guide us through. “I do think for every market need, for every human desire, there is an entrepren...
Mar 19, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 49
Money is such an integral part of your business. So when the time comes and you need to secure more, where do you start? Who do you turn to? We’ve got Iman Cotton, a loans officer with CDC Small Business Finance to guide us through it. Iman says that a good place to start is by thinking, “something that sounds too good to be true, probably is.” Learn how to best prepare you and your business for a loan. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:39) How do you find a good lender? (03:29) What documents do...
Mar 12, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 48
Being a woman in business can come with its challenges but with the right tools – it can become a journey of empowerment and growth. Just ask Katy Luxem , the CEO and founder of Big Dill Pickleball, who stands out in the sporting goods industry with her products. She’ll share the story behind why she started Big Dill Pickleball, some insights on how to succeed in ecommerce, and how she dealt with being a female founder in a male-dominated industry. You’ll also hear from Deepa Purushothaman , the...
Mar 05, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 47
Having a solid network can help you meet the right people that will help you grow your business. Just ask Robbie Samuels , Author, Business Coach, Biz Book Publishing Hub Founder and networking expert who got his first few clients by tapping into his network. Robbie shares all his networking secrets so you can know how to get the most out of any networking event and break away from the transactional feeling that comes with it. “I believe that our network is an untapped resource,” he says. “And i...
Feb 27, 2024•12 min•Season 4Ep. 46
Social media can help you connect with your audience authentically and foster meaningful growth. Just ask Sahra Nguyen , the founder and CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply , who uses storytelling to keep her audience engaged. Sahra explains how she figured out what content her audience wants and what performs best on each platform. You’ll also hear from Kat Norton , the CEO of Miss Excel , who went viral on social media and used her online presence to successfully start her business. Kat digs deeper in...
Feb 20, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 45
Building a brand around your culture and history can help you stand out and create a loyal customer base. Just ask Teri Johnson , the CEO of Harlem Candle Co , whose scented candles are inspired by influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance. Teri opens up about how, in sharing stories from this moment in Black history, she was able to build a brand that people wanted to talk about, share and celebrate. "Storytelling is everything about the candle," she says. "People connect to it and they can...
Feb 13, 2024•13 min
Ever wondered how to keep a seasonal business profitable year-round? Charlie Weiss, owner of Jummy , an organic hot cocoa company has it figured out. Find out how you can leverage slow periods for business growth and why customer loyalty is essential to your success during the high and low seasons. And because this is our last episode this season, you’ll also get to hear from experts from previous episodes who’ll be expanding on some of the tips Charlie points out, like making sure you stay up t...
Dec 19, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Can your business meet eco-friendly regulations while thriving in a competitive market? Greg and Will Owens, the Co-Founders of Liberty Tabletop (who claim to be one of the most environmentally friendly flatware manufacturers on earth) will show you how. From using reusable materials to reducing carbon footprint, learn what it takes to grow your business as you implement environmentally responsible practices. — (02:42) Greg and Will discuss their flatware company's eco-friendly features and redu...
Dec 12, 2023•11 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Are you wondering if you could use AI or technology to ease your workload? The answer is yes and we’ll show you how. Kevin Meyer, Co-Founder & CEO of Crunch Tech Inc. , explains how he uses automation and AI to run his business more efficiently. And Michelle Weise, the CEO of Rise & Design, digs deeper into how you can future-proof your business and the importance of communication in an increasingly tech-oriented community. — (5:42) Can everything be automated? Kevin discusses the limita...
Dec 05, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Entering a new market can be challenging, especially if it’s an international one. But Max Gurevich, President of Warm Home Designs , has learned all the do’s and don’ts after successfully entering the Canadian and Mexican markets via Amazon. From making sure you switch up your marketing strategy to better suit the new market and trusting your customer feedback, to taking on the fear of a new language, Max has a wealth of helpful tips to share. This episode is brought to you by Amazon Ads. Amazo...
Nov 28, 2023•11 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Trying to figure out how to make money while giving back through your business? Learn what it takes to grow your business when the foundation of your business model is social responsibility. Andrew Glantz, the Founder & CEO of GiftAMeal, explains how he managed to make a profit out of a business centered on giving back to the community. And Heather Cameron, a social entrepreneur and Michael B Kauffman Professor of Practice at the Washington University in St. Louis, tells us how to successful...
Nov 21, 2023•24 min
Are you sure you’re reaching the right customer? If you're not sure, you might not be leveraging customer research. Roshni Wijayasinha, Founder & CEO of Prosh Marketing, explains how to use customer research as a marketing strategy and the importance of timing when targeting the right customer. — (02:19) Roshni talks about the three ways you can reach your customer: brand awareness, conducting customer research, and utilizing digital tools. (03:50) Why timing is crucial in finding the right ...
Nov 14, 2023•10 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Are you interested in starting a crowdfunding campaign? Or maybe you’re wondering if you should pull money out of your savings to start your business? Learn the pros and cons of bootstrapping & crowdfunding and what it takes to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign with Josh Lipinski, the founder of Breakwater Supply , and Tess Estandarte, Director of Product Marketing at Rainfactory. This episode is brought to you by Amazon Business. Amazon Business provides a wide product selection, bu...
Nov 07, 2023•21 min
Have you been struggling with securing funding? The issue might be your cash flow. Ambro Blackwell, a best-selling author and VP and senior business banking relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase, explains what cash flow is and how to strategically plan it in a way that sets you up for success. — (04:14) How to use your cash flow to figure out and mitigate what problems you might run into. (08:18) Andrea goes over why cash flow is vital for securing funding, the key sections that are typically ...
Oct 31, 2023•10 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Are you looking forward to exiting your company? Take a glimpse into what happens during and after exiting a business. Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital and the ex-CEO and founder of PartPic, tells us how PartPic got acquired by Amazon and what she would’ve done differently. And Danyel Surrency Jones, the head of Amazon's Black Business Accelerator program and co-founder and ex-CEO of POWERHANDZ, explains why she made the move to Amazon and offers some helpful entrepreneuri...
Oct 24, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 38
How do you keep customers coming back for more? By being attentive to their needs and priorities. Learn customer-centred ideas to integrate into your business from the best. Mitzi Rivas, CEO and Founder of Livie & Luca , is all about customer service and she’s got the customer retention rate to prove it. And John DiJulius, the founder, Chief Revolution Officer, and President of the DiJulius group, gives us some great tips on how to provide great customer service no matter where you are in yo...
Oct 17, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Should I work with a manufacturer or do the manufacturing myself? That’s a question every small business owner starts thinking about as they grow. Sean Brownlee, the CEO of Ravenox , has made the choice to acquire a manufacturer for his business and is gonna let us know all the benefits that come with it. — (03:42) The benefits of becoming a manufacturer (04:56) How to manage inventory — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the reco...
Oct 10, 2023•10 min•Season 3Ep. 36
How do you show customers that your product is different - and better - than competitors'? Aaron and Whitney Cordovez, Cofounders of Zulay Kitchen , talk about how they differentiated their brand in the crowded "kitchen gadget" category. And Rita Gunther McGrath, a best-selling author and professor at Columbia University Business School, shares her five-step discovery-driven planning process to help you succeed. Learn how to find out what really matters to your customer, and what to think about ...
Oct 03, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 35
How much is my product worth - and what is my customer willing to pay? Every entrepreneur asks these questions at some point in their small business journey. Mark Stiving, Chief Pricing Educator of Impact Pricing, joins Andrea with insights on: (2:00) How to think about pricing your product or service. (02:58) How to figure out how much your customer is willing to pay. (04:46) Should you start pricing your products at a higher price? (06:04) How to grow a subscription model and why it's benefici...
Sep 26, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Every step you need to take to get your book in front of an audience - learn the process of publishing with Naibe Reynoso , a journalist and the founder of Con Todo Press. And Jane Friedman, a publishing industry expert, shares her secrets to ensuring your book is as discoverable as possible. — (05:32) What are the steps to publishing a book? (13:21) What's the ISBN and how do I get one for my book? (18:12) Considerations an aspiring author should make if they want to make a profitable business ...
Sep 19, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Are you ready to make your first hire? Learn how to find the right fit, and why retention is so critical. Keirsten A. Greggs, the Founder & Principal Talent Acquisition Consultant of TRAP Recruiter, tells Andrea what small business owners should consider at this important stage of growth. — (02:22) Considerations small business owners should make when they hire. (05:24) How to find the right fit when evaluating applicants. (07:08) Andrea lists the key takeaways from the episode. — Click HERE...
Sep 12, 2023•9 min•Season 3Ep. 32
What happens if you don't protect your IP, and is it worth all the paperwork? Jeannell Darden, CEO of Moisture Love , shares her story of battling trademark and copyright issues, and how she overcame it. Learn when and how to start the process, what to consider when rebranding, how to avoid trademark disputes, whether you should register your logo, and where to find legal support for small businesses. Cynthia Dahl, Practice Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, off...
Sep 05, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Are you preparing to launch your first product? Andrea learns how to prepare your MVP (minimum viable product), and how to know when you're ready to go, with Trinity Mouzon Wofford, co-founder and CEO of Golde . Trinity also gives us a look into all the behind-the-scenes work she put into their brand as she prepared to launch. — (05:56) How distinctive packaging and vibrant colors helped Trinity's brand stand out in a crowded marketplace (07:58) Copying big businesses' marketing tactics doesn't ...
Aug 29, 2023•13 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Are you struggling to identify your target market? Or maybe you’re wondering where you can find your ideal customer? Andrea breaks down the customer journey into five simple steps with Amber Murray, founder of Fidget Stickers . Once we've figured out who our ideal customer is, Darian Kovacs, founder of Jelly Digital Marketing, tells us how to reach them. Stick around to hear Andrea's key takeaways at the end of the episode. — (05:51) Amber breaks down the five phases of the customer journey: awa...
Aug 29, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Are you an aspiring or early-stage entrepreneur with a product to sell? Learn how to grow your small business from a diverse group of entrepreneurs and experts. By the end of this season, you'll understand how to: → define your target market → secure funding → set prices → protect your intellectual property → position your product → expand to new markets → hire for success → secure a supply chain → differentiate with stellar customer service This is Small Business is an original podcast from Ama...
Aug 22, 2023•2 min
Join us as we dive deep into the aftermath of the competition and catch up with our teams to hear about their experiences and discover what lies ahead. Did any of the participants secure investors or unearth new opportunities? Are they venturing into other competitions for greater financial rewards, or have they decided to take a break from the high-pressure world of pitching? We’ll also reconnect with some familiar faces: Brad Burke, one of the organizers, and Mitra Miller, one of the esteemed ...
Aug 08, 2023•34 min•Ep. 8
In Episode 7 of " This is Small Business: Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert bring you to the thrilling final day of the Rice Business Plan Competition . As anticipation reaches its peak, they reveal the teams that have advanced beyond the semi-finals and emerged as winners. Andrea and Mitch also highlight all the improvements made by each team within this short timeframe and engage in conversations with the teams that won and lost to uncover the invaluable lessons learned...
Aug 01, 2023•23 min•Ep. 7
In Episode 6 of " This is Small Business: Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert guide you through the first round of eliminations at the Rice Business Plan Competition where the teams compete for a spot in the semi-finals. As the pressure intensifies, each team strives to make significant improvements in order to stand a better chance of winning. They work tirelessly, tweaking their strategies, and refining and honing their pitches to perfection. It's a race against time as t...
Jul 25, 2023•32 min•Ep. 6
