Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Harrison Kitson connect with Anya Cheng, the founder of Taelor, a men's clothing service that uses AI technology. The discussion starts with Anya detailing her journey from working in big tech companies like Meta and eBay to founding Taelor, inspired by her own wardrobe challenges while being a leader in those organizations. Taelor simplifies fashion for men who dislike shopping, using AI to select outfits based on users' prefere...
Mar 10, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, we dive into the electrifying world of lithium, renewable energy innovations, and its impact on the economy. Hosts Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine are joined by guests Florence Meaders, program manager of the Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster (LRIC) and Matt Newman and Aviram Hadash from Brightmerge, who explore the profound potential of the Smackover Formation in South Arkansas and the revolutionary technologies shaping the future. One key highlight o...
Feb 24, 2025•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio, nos adentramos en el apasionante mundo de la estuquería en Bolivia de la mano del líder de Cayara SRL, Guillermo Torrez. Conversamos sobre los mayores desafíos del sector de la cal y el estuco, los secretos que pocos conocen y cómo equilibrar tradición, innovación y compromiso con el medioambiente. ¡Una charla para conocer cómo se forja el éxito en un rubro tan único como vital! Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:56) Who is Guillermo Torrez? (01:10) Family b...
Feb 20, 2025•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley and Daniel Koonce are joined by Phill Shellhammer and Zoe Rose Maddox from the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) to discuss the newly launched Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator and how it’s changing the entrepreneurial landscape in northwest Arkansas and beyond. Phil kicks off the conversation by highlighting the foundational role GORP has played since October 2021 in nurturing early-stage startups in the outdoor recreat...
Feb 10, 2025•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En el reciente episodio de nuestro podcast, tuvimos el honor de conversar con Andy Choque, gerente general de Banacorp S.R.L. y miembro de la mesa directiva de la Unión de Bananeros (UNIBAN) en Bolivia. Andy nos compartió detalles sobre la vida cotidiana de los productores de banano en la región del Chapare, Cochabamba. Desde las primeras horas del día, los agricultores se dedican al cuidado meticuloso de las plantaciones, asegurando que cada planta reciba la atención necesaria para prod...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Anna Buckley, the dynamic founder of PICNiC. Balancing a full-time job and a burgeoning side hustle, Anna embodies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship. Based in Washington, D.C., by way of Arkansas, Anna brings innovative solutions to classic designs, filling gaps in the market and elevating everyday dining experiences. PICNiC, launched in March, was born from Anna’s desire to creat...
Jan 06, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Harrison Kitson have a conversation with the co-founder of Deep Wealth, Jeffrey Feldberg. Jeffrey’s journey began in a modest attic with a small e-learning startup in 1996 and has evolved into a masterclass in business exits. Despite facing initial challenges, Jeffrey's company gained remarkable traction, leading to a substantial seven-figure buyout offer from a Fortune 10 company. Unyielding in his vision, Jeffrey...
Dec 30, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Bryan Fittin, founder and CEO of Go Rogue Studio, to explore the story of his transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Initiating his career within the corporate confines of Walmart’s vendor community, Bryan always harbored a passion for content creation. This passion ultimately gave birth to Go Rogue, a podcast dedicated to entrepreneurs transitioning from corporate settin...
Dec 23, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio, Robert comparte su inspiradora trayectoria marcada por su fe, su familia y su pasión por el emprendimiento. Con una carrera diversa y un profundo compromiso con la comunidad latina, ofrece valiosos consejos sobre liderazgo, tendencias en negocios y lecciones aprendidas trabajando con emprendedores. Una conversación llena de inspiración y estrategias para crecer. Show Notes (00:05) Welcome & introduction. (00:53) Who is Robert McGrew? (02:14) What inspired you? (06:39) A...
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson are joined by co-founders, Joshua Hedeby and Moner Attwa, of Opportunity Hound by GovBidAI where Joshua serves as the CFO and Moner is the CEO. GovBidAI is an innovative platform designed to streamline the complex landscape of government contracts for small to mid-sized businesses and is revolutionizing the way these companies navigate the government sector. GovBidAI’s mission is to demystify gover...
Dec 16, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Harrison Kitson sit down with Nathan Rosenberg, founder and CEO of Farmblox. Founded from Nathan's dual expertise in farming and robotics, Farmblox is pioneering automation solutions designed specifically for the agricultural sector. Initially conceptualized as a project to grow crops inside forty-foot shipping containers, Farmblox has since pivoted to enhance and support existing farms. Today, it’s involved with ...
Dec 02, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and previous Startup Junkie Michael Iseman sit down with Philip Mudd, a former CNN correspondent and counterterrorism analyst. During Philip’s extensive and accomplished career, he was a valuable asset to the FBI, CIA, and the American nation as a whole and received numerous CIA awards for his expertise and diligence. Philip is also the author of three distinguished publications and i...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio, exploramos el mundo de la consultoría y el outsourcing en Nicaragua a través de Castlewalk, una empresa innovadora fundada en 2021. Nuestros invitados, Allison Lacayo, Ricardo López y María Elena, comparten sus experiencias y desafíos al trabajar con empresas de EE.UU., destacando cómo Castlewalk personaliza sus servicios para adaptarse a cada cliente. Conversamos sobre el impacto de la externalización, las claves para mantener relaciones a largo plazo, y cómo Castlewal...
Nov 14, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this special celebratory installment of Startup Junkies, we sit down for our four hundredth episode! Hosts Jeff Amerine, Jon Cadieux, Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Matthew Ward gather to reminisce about past ventures and share their experiences in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas. The episode marks a significant transition for the podcast, highlighting their first in-person international engagement with a South Korean accelerator cohort. The discussion delves int...
Nov 11, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley are joined by international guests Lena Goo of Maycoders from South Korea and Alex Benamou, a recent addition to the Korean company EMCT. First up, we have the inspiring Lena Goo from Maycoders, a K-beauty specialist company that's revolutionizing the beauty industry. Lena takes us on her entrepreneurial journey, starting from her days at Samsung to co-founding Maycoders. She explains how the company connects intern...
Nov 04, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, conversamos con Paola Lopez, una líder con más de 13 años de experiencia en educación superior, destacada por impulsar Latinx. Paola comparte cómo ha fomentado la colaboración entre estudiantes y desarrollado sus habilidades en gestión de crisis. Además, nos ofrece consejos para emprendedores sobre la importancia de construir conexiones comunitarias y superar desafíos en el camino al éxito. ¡No te pierdas esta charla inspiradora! Host: Ignacio Balderrama ...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Matthew Ward and Victoria welcome Katie Linder-Jesse, the innovative mind behind Small Bay Solutions. Small Bay Solutions supports tenant businesses and aims to drastically reduce the failure rates of small enterprises. Situated in Northwest Arkansas, the facility comprises 33,000 square feet of climate-controlled, new construction units designed to be customizable for various types of businesses. Katie elaborates on how Small Bay Solutions disti...
Oct 28, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this special episode of Startup Junkies, we’re recording live from Startup Crawl 2024 where we sat down with a variety of guest entrepreneurs and their innovative ventures. Louis Lee, CMO of Wonderful Platform, discussed its pioneering work in senior care technology. Wonderful Platform’s companion robot, Avadin, addresses elderly loneliness and depression through personalized AI-driven interactions. Jangwon J Lee’s company, DeepSales, tackles the unique sales challenges in Asia. By bu...
Oct 21, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine sit down with Lane Patterson, founder of HIGHWAY Ventures, a startup studio that incubates and launches mobility companies in Northwest Arkansas. Unlike conventional venture studios that build minimum viable products, HIGHWAY Ventures focuses on leveraging federally funded technologies from various research labs to solve existing problems and create market-ready companies. HIGHWAY Ventures’ unique mod...
Oct 14, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio de Querido Emprendedor, conversamos con Brittany Yvonne Johnson, fundadora de Ambivert Books, un emprendimiento dedicado a los libros, enfocado en la comunidad hispanohablante. Durante la charla, Brittany nos comparte su experiencia como emprendedora, los retos de lanzar un negocio, y su historia personal. Además, hablamos de cómo su pasión por la literatura y la conexión comunitaria han impulsado sus proyectos, y de qué manera ha logrado crear espacios para que personas...
Oct 10, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, the focus is on navigating banking challenges using technology, featuring Joe Ehrhardt, CEO of Teslar Software. Host Caleb Talley, alongside co-hosts Daniel Koonce and Jeff Amerine, delves into the significance of ethical business practices and the integral role of technology in modernizing community banks. Teslar Software is a forward-thinking technology company out of Springdale, Arkansas with a focus on software solutions for financial institutions....
Oct 07, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast With Startup Crawl 2024 being right around the corner, we wanted to rerelease last year's Startup Crawl episode. Get a sneak peek at what to expect at this year's event! Summary On this special episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson head to Startup Crawl, where they interview several entrepreneurs participating in this year’s event. The night celebrated entrepreneurship in the Heartland with food trucks, local craft beer, live music, and entrepreneur...
Sep 30, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, we sit down with guests Don Huffner and Scott King to explore the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurial ecosystems in Northwest Arkansas. Don Huffner is an investment professional with RZC Investments, where his keen eye for sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and monitoring investments drives success. With a rich background that includes private equity investments at 1K1V and roles in investment banking at Barclays and management consulting at Accenture...
Sep 23, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Jeff Amerine, and Daniel Koonce are joined by Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of The Women's Foundation of Arkansas (WFA). Founded in 1998, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has been working to understand the diverse needs and realities facing women and girls so it can respond through purposeful action and engaged philanthropy. The foundation's initiatives, such as the Women’s Economic Mobility Hub, support Black women entrepreneurs by...
Sep 16, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio de Startup Junkies en Español, conversamos con George Ramirez, dueño, CEO y fundador de HEXA Insurance Agency LLC. George comparte su experiencia como emprendedor latino y los retos que ha enfrentado al iniciar y hacer crecer su negocio. Discutimos la importancia de enfocarse en un nicho específico y cómo identificarlo, además de cómo aprovechar las relaciones para impulsar el crecimiento. También hablamos sobre la relevancia de estar en los lugares adecuados y rodearse ...
Sep 12, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Claudia Scott and Daniel Koonce are joined by Stephanie Sirianni and Caitlin Livingston, co-founders of The Wellnest Shop, a brand that brings you the best in authentic health and healing, and products to support self, family and home. Founded in 2022, The Wellnest Shop stands as a beacon of holistic wellness and community support, providing a range of services like workshops, events, and a wellness home program. The Wellnest Shop also has an in-...
Aug 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio, el Dr. Adam Arroyos, CEO y fundador de Serve2Perform, comparte su inspiradora trayectoria y los desafíos que ha enfrentado como emprendedor exitoso. Conoceremos qué lo motivó a escribir 'PerformanceGPA®', las influencias que han marcado su camino y lo que lo impulsa a seguir sirviendo a nuestra comunidad. También hablamos sobre los desafíos más comunes que enfrentan los negocios latinos al comenzar y los muchos recursos disponibles en Estados Unidos. Adam ofrece valioso...
Aug 22, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Caleb Talley, and Daniel Koonce sit down with Tom Gordon, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a restaurant setting itself apart by offering high-quality chicken products and embodying southern hospitality. Founded in 2003, Slim Chickens has expanded to two-hundred and eighty-four restaurants globally, including franchises in the United Kingdom and forthcoming ventures in Germany. Slim Chickens thrives thanks to it...
Aug 19, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary En este episodio de nuestro podcast, tenemos el placer de conversar con Federico Deciga, dueño de Deciga’s Lab. Federico comparte con nosotros su inspiradora trayectoria en el mundo de las finanzas, desde sus comienzos y las influencias que lo llevaron a seguir esta carrera, hasta su transformación al negocio de la comida. A lo largo de nuestra charla, Federico nos habla de los desafíos que ha enfrentado y las estrategias exitosas que ha implementado. Además, nos ofrece una visión person...
Aug 08, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this virtual episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine chat with serial entrepreneur and founder of Growth Readiness, Todd Westra, about what it means to be “growth ready.” Drawing from his experience interviewing two-hundred and fifty CEOs in thirteen weeks, Westra identifies recurring themes in business growth, particularly the importance of people, processes, and tools. He uses the analogy of SpaceX rockets to explain the difference between lau...
Aug 05, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast