Shows
Forward ObsessedTanay Kothari: Building the Next Generation of Personal AI // #63What if your voice could replace your keyboard—and be smarter than Siri ever dreamed of? Meet Tanay Kothari, the CEO and co-founder of Wispr Flow, a voice-first AI company redefining how we interact with technology. From teaching himself to code at age nine to building and selling a company fresh out of Stanford, Tanay’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial obsession, resilience, and product-driven thinking.
In this episode, Tanay shares how his childhood dream of building Jarvis (yes, Iron Man’s assistant) led him to develop one of the most exciting voice AI tools t...2025-04-031h 07Forward ObsessedSean Busch: Lessons from Bootstrapping to Big-Box Retail // #62What does it take to scale a business from a $20,000 launch to over $100 million in revenue? In this episode of Forward Obsessed, entrepreneur Sean Busch takes us through his incredible journey—from a small-town kid flipping car parts in high school to founding and selling the household cleaning brand Puracy. Along the way, Sean shares how he leveraged Amazon’s early days, built a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, and navigated the challenges of big-box retail.
Sean opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the moment he was fired just before Christmas, the brutal cash-flow strug...2025-03-071h 25Forward ObsessedMike Lloyd: Building Resilience, Distribution, and Cyber Insurance Innovation // #61Mike Lloyd’s entrepreneurial story began with a simple childhood side hustle—burning CDs for friends in his small Michigan hometown. That spark of ingenuity set him on a journey from studying at MIT and Harvard to launching and scaling companies that reshaped industries. In this episode of Forward Obsessed, Mike delves into the pivotal moments that defined his path, sharing the highs and lows of his journey.
He opens up about the painful lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he transformed those experiences into a winning formula for success. Mike reveals the critical impo...2025-02-041h 43Forward ObsessedAnthony Ng Monica: From Bootstrapping to Breakthroughs in E-Commerce // #60In this episode of Forward Obsessed, we sit down with Anthony Ng Monica, a visionary entrepreneur whose journey from humble beginnings to leading an internationally recognized e-commerce technology company is nothing short of inspiring. Anthony shares his early entrepreneurial ventures, from pirating software to funding his education by cold-calling businesses. He candidly discusses the lessons learned while building Swogo, a cutting-edge product recommendation engine that has transformed how global retailers drive cross-sell and upsell opportunities.
Join us as Anthony unpacks the critical pivots that defined Swogo’s path to success—from its early B2C focus to beco...2024-12-051h 45Forward ObsessedWe Are Taking A Summer BreakAs we approach the summer, the Forward Obsessed podcast is taking a brief but much needed break from creating new entrepreneurial content for you, our incredible listeners. We're grateful for the remarkable guests who have made season three a success, and we have some amazing stuff coming down the pipeline. During this hiatus, we invite you to stay engaged with us: visit our YouTube channel, subscribe, leave comments, and share your favorite episodes. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us shape future content - Don't forget to visit www.forwardobsessed.com to share your favorite moments and suggestions for...2024-06-1312 minForward ObsessedSam Parr: Founder Of The Hustle, Hampton And My First Million PodcastSam Parr, the founder of The Hustle and the host of the My First Million podcast, shares his entrepreneurial journey from his humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to building and selling successful companies. Parr's early hustles, including selling whiskey online and running a hot dog stand, laid the foundation for his future endeavors. Despite a setback with Airbnb, Parr persevered and started a roommate matching business, which he eventually sold to Apartment List.
Parr's success with The Hustle, growing the company's newsletter to over 1.5 million subscribers, is a testament to his skills in hiring p...2024-05-301h 22Forward ObsessedHacking A Startup From Idea To Exit With Ben LamsonBen Lamson is the Head Of Revenue at Paperspace, a GPU cloud and software stack for machine learning and artificial intelligence developers, which was recently acquired by Digital Ocean. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of WeDidIt, a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits that was acquired by a private equity firm. Lamson's entrepreneurial journey began in his early twenties, inspired by his parents, who were both successful small business owners despite not having college degrees. Growing up in a close-knit family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Lamson learned the value of hard work and determination from a young age. In college...2024-05-161h 45
The PaybackThe Payback ft. Curtis Mayfield, Public Enemy, Ian Pooley & Eek-A-MouseHouse, funk, soul, bass and beats for open-minded listeners with an old-skool state of mind, presented by DJ D'Francisco.
Contact: fdisco@hotmail.com / @frankiedisco54
Catch the pod live every Friday afternoon on www.musicboxradio.co.uk 3-5 UK time, as a podcast or at www.mixcloud.com/francisco
Tracklist:
Potatohead People - Keepin It Kool ft Kendra Diaz
DJ Vadim ft Sena - How Fast It Grows
Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love
Dan Gio & Little Lion Sound - Champion Sound
Eek-A-Mouse - Wa Do Dem2024-05-061h 59Forward ObsessedTransforming Data Ownership Into A Connective Force With Aaron LylesAaron Lyles is the Founder and CEO of CommonAlly, a company that builds two-sided marketplaces to connect organizations with hard-to-reach communities in a way that empowers people and gives them agency over their data. Aaron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started a snowboarding magazine in high school despite challenges with ADHD. This experience taught him the value of passion, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. After college, Aaron founded a photography firm called Pixel Lab, which later evolved into a video production collective called Multiple Mammals.
The idea for CommonAlly was born out o...2024-05-021h 18Forward ObsessedFounding 21Seeds Tequila With Kat HantasKat Hantas is the co-founder of 21 Seeds, an infused tequila brand that was acquired by Diageo for $160 Million after just three years in business, being the largest exit ever by a female-founded spirits brand. Previously, Kat had a 15-year career in the film industry, working at Creative Artists Agency and as an independent producer developing horror and music-driven films.
In this interview, Kat shares her entrepreneurial journey, from starting her first business right out of college to pivoting to a film career focused on specific niches to launching 21 Seeds to solve her own pain points a...2024-04-181h 32
The PaybackThe Payback ft. Curtis Mayfield, Public Enemy, Underground Resistance & Sons of KenHouse, funk, soul, bass and beats for open-minded listeners with an old-skool state of mind, presented by DJ D'Francisco.
Contact: fdisco@hotmail.com / @frankiedisco54
Catch the pod live every Friday afternoon on www.musicboxradio.co.uk 3-5 UK time, as a podcast or at www.mixcloud.com/francisco
Tracklist:
Potatohead People - Keepin It Kool ft Kendra Diaz
DJ Vadim ft Sena - How Fast It Grows
Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love
Dan Gio & Little Lion Sound - Champion Sound
Eek-A-Mouse - Wa Do Dem2024-04-082h 00Forward ObsessedFrom Startup To Selling To Starbucks With Peter ThumPeter Thum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Muse, an AI-powered website builder and collaboration platform. He was previously the Founder of Ethos Water, which he successfully sold to Starbucks in 2005. Thum has also founded Fonderie 47, a company that transforms AK-47 assault rifles from African war zones into high-end jewelry and accessories, and Liberty United, which employs a similar model to reduce gun violence in the United States.
In this interview, Thum shares invaluable insights and experiences from his entrepreneurial journey, particularly the challenges and triumphs of building Ethos Water from a $10,000 startup to a m...2024-04-042h 09Forward ObsessedChanging The Game Of Alcohol Delivery With Lindsey AndrewsLindsey Andrews is the founder of Minibar, an on-demand alcohol delivery service that was acquired by Reserve Bar in 2021. Andrews is now the Founder and CEO of Revido, an app designed to revolutionize the way we review and recommend products and services.
Andrews' entrepreneurial journey began when she and her co-founder recognized the need for a convenient alcohol delivery service during their "takeout tuesdays," leading to founding the online alcohol delivery service, MiniBar. Throughout the interview, Andrews shares valuable insights and experiences from her entrepreneurial journey that led to Minibar’s acquisition. She discusses the chal...2024-03-211h 32Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Venture Funding With Jason KirbyJason Kirby is the Founder of Thunder.VC, an AI-powered investment bank that helps startups navigate the fundraising process. Previously, he was the Co-Founder and President of Liquid Sky, a cloud gaming company acquired by Walmart in 2018, and the President and COO of Generation Esports, an esports platform for schools that raised $11 million in funding.
Throughout the interview, Kirby shares valuable insights and lessons learned, such as the importance of setting deal terms before diving into due diligence, focusing on customer acquisition instead of fundraising, and the challenges of managing investor expectations. He also discusses h...2024-03-071h 52Forward ObsessedLife Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone With Jess LynchJess Lynch is currently the Cofounder and Founding Partner at Raiz Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm using data and community to reimagine startup investing. She was previously the Cofounder and CEO of Wishroute, a scalable behavior change platform that was acquired in 2022.
Throughout her journey, Jess has demonstrated remarkable resilience and leadership. This includes overcoming challenges like running out of cash and weathering the pandemic's impact on Wishroute's initial customers. She successfully led her company through an M&A process despite a difficult experience with one large potential acquirer. Jess credits her success to i...2024-02-221h 14Forward ObsessedFrom Pioneering Facial Recognition to Apple Acquisition With Adi Eckhouse BarzilaiAdi Eckhouse Barzilai is the Co-Founder and CEO of RealFace, a facial recognition software company that was acquired by Apple Inc. She was previously in brand management at Procter & Gamble. As founder of RealFace, Adi helped pioneer mobile facial recognition capabilities that later became integral to Apple’s FaceID unlock feature. RealFace provided the core IP and engineering talent behind making robust facial authentication seamless for iPhone users worldwide. After multiple pivots and surviving high-stakes fundraising stresses familiar to most early-stage founders, Adi successfully negotiated an acquisition deal with Apple.
Throughout a wide-ranging interview, Adi shares hard-won le...2024-02-081h 33Forward ObsessedBetting On Blockchain: The Future Of Sports Betting With Alex DubinAlex Dubin is the Founder and CEO of BettorOff, a sports betting platform designed to bring transparency and integrity to bettors through blockchain technology. After a few early career twists and turns, Alex Dubin leveraged a chance meeting in a poker game to pivot into sports betting just as daily fantasy sports (DFS) was taking off. He helped set up an investment fund that delivered over 70% returns by deploying algorithms and analytics to beat platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel. However, regulatory changes aimed at these DFS market leaders ultimately crushed Alex’s fund after an impressive 23 month run. Showing pe...2024-01-251h 41Forward ObsessedBreaking Barriers For Women In Tech With Beverly ParentiBeverly Parenti is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cofounder of The Last Mile, a nonprofit providing technology training to incarcerated individuals. She has founded and cofounded several other successful companies, including First Virtual Holdings, one of the first online payment systems, which went public in the 1990s.
In the interview, Parenti stresses the importance of grit, resilience, choosing the right partners, and providing second chances. She recounts the origins of her entrepreneurial spirit from her parents, both survivors of the holocaust, along with the incredible story of her father escaping the Nazis. She discusses cofounding First V...2024-01-111h 24Forward ObsessedBest Of Forward Obsessed - 2023 Holiday RecapThis year, we had 25 incredible interviews. 25 deep dives into the rollercoaster experience of building a company - taking an aha moment, nurturing it into a tangible idea for a business, building a team, getting funding, growing, failing, pivoting, growing again, failing again, exploding, and then - who knows. Every story is different - and yet, our team has been able to tease out some of the throughlines from all of these stories, the fundamental truths of entrepreneurship. We are taking everything we are learning, and we are creating a book - the ultimate field guide to building a business. N...2023-12-2833 minForward ObsessedFrom Startup To Selling For Half A Billion With Ben KartzmanBen Kartzman is the COO of Mediaocean, a multi-billion dollar ad tech company. He was previously the CEO and co-founder of SpongeCell, an ad tech startup that was acquired by FlashTalking. Kartzman has successfully navigated multiple acquisitions and integrations throughout his career in ad tech.
In this interview, Kartzman outlines his journey from college soccer player to serial entrepreneur. He shares stories and lessons learned from the rise and fall of several startups, including gritting through the dot-com crash and having to lay off employees during the 2008 financial crisis. Kartzman stresses the importance of autonomy, transparency, building...2023-12-141h 39Forward ObsessedFrom The Bronx To A 9-Figure Exit With André SwanstonAndre Swanston is the former CEO and Co-Founder of Tru Optik, a data and analytics company focused on connected TV (CTV) and streaming media. Tru Optik was acquired by TransUnion for over $100 million when Andre was under 40 years old.
Andre has an incredible backstory, growing up in the Bronx as the son of immigrants from St. Kitts and Nevis. He attended a prestigious boarding school on scholarship, which opened up opportunities but also required tremendous personal sacrifice and perseverance. After dabbling in restaurants, nightlife promotion and financial services, Andre had the vision to create TruOptik when he...2023-11-301h 08Forward ObsessedWorking Hard Is Not Enough With Jared JamesJared James is an entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and author who was previously the #1 ranked realtor in the country. He has built numerous successful companies across industries like real estate, marketing, technology, and business coaching, and is an accomplished public speaker.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Jared shares insights from his journey starting with formative childhood experiences that ignited his entrepreneurial drive from a young age. He talks about the mindset shifts that propelled his success, including learning to run a business rather than just working hard, focusing on avoiding failure rather than chasing validation, and leveraging sk...2023-11-161h 40Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Pain Management With Arun NijhawanArun Nijhawan is the co-founder and CEO of Menda Health, a startup using therapy to provide drug and surgery-free treatment for chronic pain. He was previously co-founder of FillMyFork, a startup focused on healthy eating that was acquired by FoodSmart. Nijhawan studied astrophysics in college before moving to Silicon Valley to participate in the prestigious Alchemist accelerator program run by billionaire VC Tim Draper. He overcame significant health challenges starting from a young age, including lifelong kidney disease that required a transplant at age 18 and years of debilitating chronic back pain.
In this wide-ranging interview, Nijhawan shares h...2023-11-021h 26Forward ObsessedResilience, Love, And Never Giving Up With Alan LazowskiAlan Lazowski is the founder and CEO of LAZ Parking, the largest privately held parking company in the United States. Alan has grown LAZ Parking from being a valet parking attendant to running over 3,600 locations and 1.5 million parking spaces across 41 states. The company manages over $2 billion in annual revenue.
The interview focuses heavily on stories from Alan's family background. Alan's parents are both Holocaust survivors from Poland; Alan’s father was only 11 years old when the Nazis invaded his village. Through an incredible story of perseverance, Alan’s father survived the ordeal and came to America to build...2023-10-191h 09Forward ObsessedSurviving The River And Building The Bridge With Wiley CerilliWiley Cerilli is a serial entrepreneur and founder of companies like Seamless Web, SinglePlatform, and Good Uncle. He was previously the VP and General Manager of Constant Contact after they acquired his company SinglePlatform for $100 million. Throughout his career, Cerilli has experienced immense personal and professional growth, including overcoming the tragic loss of his father at a young age.
The interview covers Cerilli's inspirational journey, from losing his father while in high school and becoming "CEO" of his family, to the lessons he learned from successful exits at Seamless Web and SinglePlatform. He provides tactical advice for...2023-10-051h 31Forward ObsessedHow To End Prison Recidivism With Chris RedlitzChris Redlitz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Last Mile, leading a national movement across our country to provide in-prison technology education and post-incarceration mentorship to justice-involved people across the United States. Chris had previously sold a chain of running stores called Second Sole, founded and sold AdAuction.Com, co-founded Kicklabs, and co-founded Transmedia Capital, a fund and incubator that has helped launch and grow 38 tech companies to massive exits.
After spending his young-adult years on adventures around the world, including a 3-person sailing trip to Hawaii with no digital navigation equipment, Chris...2023-09-211h 30Forward ObsessedHarnessing The Power Of “Swing” With Eric RosowEric Rosow is the CEO and Co-founder of Diameter Health. He was previously the Founder and CEO of Premise Corporation and has extensive experience in healthcare technology and entrepreneurship. Under his leadership, Diameter Health’s innovative technology has been adopted by major health systems across the country, and was acquired by Availity in 2022.
In this episode, Rosow shares insights and entrepreneurial stories from across the healthcare landscape. He discusses his journey as a founder, starting with his early days at Hartford Hospital where he identified a need for better data management in healthcare. This led to the cr...2023-09-071h 09Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Networking With Yasha FilippenkoYasha Filippenko is exiting founder of Sailplay, a B2C marketing automation platform, and the founder of Intch, a professional social networking platform. Born in Kazakhstan and later moving to Russia, Yasha specialized in mathematics, a path that eventually led him into the realm of technology. His tech career kicked off at Yandex, Russia's largest search engine, providing him with invaluable industry insights and experiences. Yasha then moved on to launch his first company, navigating through a series of challenges before successfully exiting. His entrepreneurial journey didn't stop there; after a stint at a venture capital firm where he...2023-08-241h 36Forward ObsessedUnleashing the Power of Video With Lucas LoefflerExplore the fast-paced world of video marketing and user generated content with Lucas Loeffler, exiting founder of QuickFrame. In this interview, Lucas talks about his early years as a party-planner and rule-bender, his rapid rise and fall in the world of football, and re-discovering his identity after losing the ability to play his favorite sport. Lucas talks about why he turned down a six-figure dream job out of college, what inspired him to become an entrepreneur, and how he discovered the concept for a multi-million dollar company while pranking people on Craigslist. This interview dives deep into the world o...2023-08-101h 30Forward ObsessedFrom Addiction To Acquisition With Ryan ShankRyan Shank is the exited founder of PhoneWagon, the founder of Cameo Ventures, and the founder of ShareWillow.
In this interview, dive into Ryan’s incredible entrepreneurial journey as he takes you through his early aha moments, bumpy periods of rapid growth, struggling with addiction, and finally getting his company acquired. Ryan opens up about his struggles with addiction and self-doubt, the pressure he faced as a founder, and the journey of finding balance in his life. He highlights the importance of seeking accountability, structure, and support systems. Ryan's story serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and fo...2023-07-271h 41Forward ObsessedResilience, Innovation, And Finding Your Purpose With Gioel MolinariGioel Molinari is the Founder of Autostrada, a boutique automotive club and showroom in Westport, CT. He was previously the exiting Founder of ClariFi and President of Butterfly Network, a medical device company that is democratizing healthcare by making medical imaging as accessible as a stethoscope.
In this episode, David Salinas and Pete Sena sit down with entrepreneur and leader Gioel Molinari to discuss various topics relating to entrepreneurship, leadership skills, and growing companies. Gioel shares his diverse journey, ranging from being a partner at Bridgewater, to starting from scratch while dealing with depression, to building...2023-07-132h 03Forward ObsessedCo-Founding JetBlue With John OwenJohn Owen is the Co-founder and formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jetblue Airlines. John is currently an Angel Investor, Venture Partner, and advisor for multiple brands.
In this episode of Forward Obsessed, David and Pete speak with John Owen, co-founder of JetBlue, about his experiences in starting one of the largest airlines in the United States. Starting with his early experiences at Southwest Airlines, John discusses the importance of creating a positive company culture and hiring employees who fit that culture. Learn about the value of hiring for attitude and th...2023-06-291h 43Forward ObsessedMailChimp And The Future Of Email With Neil BaintonNeil Bainton is the Co-Creator and COO of Mailchimp, and is currently an investor, advisor, and photographer.
On this episode of Forward Obsessed, Neil Bainton discusses his unique career journey, starting with learning Russian during the Cold War and actually moving to Russia at the end of the Cold War to work for DuPont. Neil recalls Russia as an “entrepreneurial black slate,” transitioning to work for Pepsi, creating successful (and sometimes fervent) promotional campaigns in Russia. Neil talks about the challenges of doing business in Russia, returning to the US to participate in the dotcom boom, and reca...2023-06-151h 16Forward ObsessedThe Future Of AI Language Models With Steve Shwartz
Steve Shwartz is an award winning author, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and one of the foundational engineers behind AI technologies like natural language processing.
On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive deep into the profitable (and tumultuous) world of Artificial Intelligence and AI Language Models. Our guest is Steve Schwartz, an accomplished AI engineer, author, investor, and entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies and novel AI technologies. Steve shares his incredible story of developing AI language models in the 80’s, his insights on the current state of AI, and analyzes the tools and...2023-06-011h 56Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Marketing With Michael KalmanMichael Kalman is the Chief Strategy Officer for PersonalRX, Advisory Board Member for iCleanse, and was previously the founder and CEO of MediaCrossing, a digital marketing agency which sold to Kubient in 2021.
Kalman is a media and digital marketing expert who has been in the industry since 1990. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, learn about how a group of people started a trading desk to offer programmatic digital media to middle-market clients, and how their focus on good governance and hiring the right professionals led to a successful sale of the company. Hear about the importance of h...2023-05-181h 53Forward ObsessedThe Art Of Never Giving Up With Larry JaneskyLarry Janesky is the CEO and Founder of Basement Systems, Contractor Nation, The School Of Entrepreneurship, and owns over 30 businesses across the United States. Larry is also one of the most accomplished desert motorcycle racers in the world, and has competed and won the Baja 1000 Desert race multiple times.
On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive into the importance of focusing our attention on positive and constructive things that align with our goals. We discuss how negative news and media can be detrimental to our well-being and how to combat it. Larry shares their personal childhood...2023-05-041h 50Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Conversational Marketing With David CancelDavid Cancel is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Drift, the world's first conversational marketing and sales technology company. David is a Bronx native who dropped out of college to pursue his career in tech. He has been part of six exits, including HubSpot, where he was the CTO responsible for revolutionizing their products and taking the company from a $100 million valuation to a public company worth $12 billion. He also founded Drift, which is currently the first company to focus on conversational marketing and AI, and recently acquired at a valuation of $1 Billion. His philosophy and dedication to his...2023-04-202h 04Forward ObsessedThe Entrepreneur’s Epilogue And Defining Success With A.J WassersteinA.J Wasserstein is Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management, and was previously the Founder and CEO of ArchivesOne, a document storage company that sold to Iron Mountain after 17 years of operation and growth.
School is in session with A.J as he recounts his experiences with choosing an industry for its ideal economic characteristics, using “programmatic acquisitions” to steadily grow into a national brand, and experiencing a sense of loss when he sold his company after 17 years. Learn about the unique world of Search Fund Entrepreneurship, why passion for th...2023-04-061h 35Forward ObsessedCreative Science and Entrepreneurship With Dr. Ranjit BindraRanjit Bindra is a serial Biotech entrepreneur and Professor of Medicine at Yale University. He is Cofounder of Cybrexa, Alphina, and B3 Therapeutics, and is the Cofounder and CEO of Modifi Bio.
Dive into the world of a “creative scientist” turned entrepreneur as Ranjit recounts his early years in an entrepreneurial household, developing a passion for science and biology, and finding his personal mission to fight cancer when his father died before he graduated from Med school. Learn about what it takes to make the perfect pitch deck, how to build a team with great chemis...2023-03-231h 49Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Modern With John Edelman
John Edelman is the President and CEO of Heller, an American modern design company that makes and sells indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories. John was previously the CEO of Design Within Reach, which was sold to Herman Miller in 2014.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(4:09) - Early years in an entrepreneurial home
(8:13) - Advice for starting a new company
(11:00) - The Importance Of Taste
(14:20) - Learning to love modern design
(18:30) - The art of the flip
(22:27) - Getting a visit from Andy Warhol
(24:35) - The power of window displays
(27:33) - Tips for running a family business
(29:47) - Changing the strategy at Edelman Leather
(33:25...2023-03-091h 36Forward ObsessedFounding Junkluggers With Josh CohenJosh Cohen is Founder and President of Junkluggers, one of the largest franchised junk removal services in the world. Step into the world of making trash into treasure as Josh recounts having his “aha-moment” around a fire with some friends in Australia, starting a company with Bar Mitzvah money and a pickup truck called “Old Rusty,” and the winding road to selling his business in 2022. Josh talks about building a robust culture, the risks of growing a company too quickly, tips on how to franchise your business, and finding strength to dig out of the lowest point in your career. ...2023-02-231h 22Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Cannabis Beverages With Matt Melander
Matt Melander was the Founder, President, and CFO at LEVIA, a cannabis beverage company that has become one of the largest brands in the cannabis edibles industry. After selling his company in 2022, Matt is now focusing on transforming the cannabis industry and developing innovative cannabinoid products.
In this episode, step into Matt’s past as he relates the inspirational story of his grandfather, who built a company that survived losing a third of their workforce in 9/11 and fought to support every family through the tragedy. Learn about the deep morals and values that Matt has used to guide his life, fro...2023-02-091h 09Forward ObsessedFrom Mom To Exiting Entrepreneur With Claudia ReuterClaudia Reuter is Director of The Roberts Innovation Fund at Yale Ventures, author of "Yes, You Can Do This!", and host of the Podcast, “The 43 Percent”. Claudia was previously the founder of SchoolChapters, which was acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014. She was then the General Manager of Americas East for Techstars, one of the largest startup accelerator programs in the world.
In this episode, Claudia describes what almost half of Americans experience in their lives - dropping out of the workforce for their family. Hear her own story of having children, attempting in vain to re...2023-01-261h 05Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Biotech With Kevin RakinKevin Rakin is the co-founder of HighCape Capital, a growth equity firm that finances and assists innovative life sciences companies transition from the initial stages of their business cycle into successful, thriving organizations.
In this episode, we’ll take you through Kevin’s journey and how he founded multiple biotech companies and took them to IPO and acquisition.
We’ll take a look at the exploding industry of Biotech and its fast-paced startup culture that clashes with the bureaucracy of some of the biggest businesses in the world. You’ll learn about topics li...2023-01-121h 08Forward ObsessedBest Of Forward Obsessed - 2022 Holiday RecapWhat a year it has been. 20 episodes, 20 brilliant minds sharing the vast spectrum of the entrepreneurial experience. We heard about “back of the napkin” aha moments, tooth and nail bootstrapping, overcoming every form of adversity, the hardest failures and the sweetest victories. We learned priceless lessons about building partnerships, scrappy fundraising, trusting others, learning to lead, pursuing curiosity, and finding that most elusive concept of all - a true purpose that guides every action in life. To our guests, we have only deep gratitude, for their unique knowledge, and for helping us to make Forward Obsessed into what it is t...2022-12-2922 minForward ObsessedBuilding Better Biotech with Kevin RoccoKevin Rocco was the Founder and CEO of Biorez, a Biotechnology company that invented a regenerative and absorbable ligament brace called the Biobrace. Biorez was acquired by Conmed in 2022 for $250 Million dollars, and Kevin is now working as VP of Bioinductive Technologies at Conmed.
In this interview, get the fresh perspective of a founder that went through every pitfall and pivot imaginable, and how he was able to successfully sell his business at the peak of its valuation. Learn about Kevin’s perspective on engineering innovation within teams, how to “hack” getting a PhD, his learning...2022-12-151h 16Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Sustainability With Al SubbloieAl Subbloie is president and CEO of Budderfly, the fastest growing Energy Efficiency as a Service company in the United States.
In this episode, learn about the importance of macro-dynamics when starting a business, why fear holds most entrepreneurs back, and whether grinding hard is better than having talent. Listen to Al’s philosophy about turning a loss into a win, finding pleasure in your work, and being disciplined about curiosity.
OUTLINE:
Here's the timestamps for the episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(5:00) - Cutting My Teeth At Anderson Consulting
(6:40) - Fear...2022-12-011h 09Forward ObsessedCo-Founding Honest Tea With Barry NalebuffBarry Nalebuff is Co-Founder of Honest tea, Kombrewcha, Real Made Foods, and Just Ice Tea. Barry is also a professor at Yale School Of Management, and has authored multiple award-winning books.
In this episode, learn how Barry co-founded multiple successful food and beverage products using real economic principles. Class is in-session: Dive into concepts like declining margins of utility, arbitrage, games of inversion and symmetry, and negotiation tactics like “splitting the pie.” Don’t forget to take notes as Barry explains how these concepts helped him build a successful business that sold for $43 Million.
2022-11-171h 02Forward ObsessedBuying Weed From Women With Meg SandersMeg Sanders is CEO of Canna Provisions, a chain of cannabis dispensaries in New England. She worked directly with the governor of Colorado to develop its cannabis laws, then personally led the charge by opening one of the state’s first dispensaries. Meg is now one of the biggest forces in the new Massachusetts cannabis cultivation and consumer sales fields.
Tune in to explore the ups and downs of the Cannabis industry, the importance of compliance, and what it means to be an ‘accidental entrepreneur.’ In this episode you’ll learn about what quiet quitting is, how com...2022-11-031h 02Forward ObsessedBuilding Purpose Built Ventures with Miles LasaterMiles Lasater is the CEO and Founding Partner of Purpose Built Ventures. In this episode, hear from Miles on why learning to sell at a young age is so important to learn entrepreneurship, and how you can manage your time more effectively to create new habits. Miles dives into the pitfalls behind taking a company public, the real role of a start-up investor, and what it means to be a “purpose built venture.”
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:00) - Early college years
(3:50) - Working in food service gives transferable skills
(8:45) - Starting his first business, “Help With Hom...2022-10-201h 14Forward ObsessedLeading An Entrepreneurial State With Governor Ned LamontNed Lamont is the Governor of the State of Connecticut. In this episode, learn about the governor’s early years as he transitioned from running a local newspaper to founding Campus Televideo, a telecoms company that was acquired by Apogee in 2015. Hear about his pivot into politics, and how he measures success as Governor of the State of Connecticut. Governor Lamont shares his personal experiences as he led the state through the pandemic, delving into how he designed a strategy that helped Connecticut have one of the best outcomes in the country. In the end of the episode, Governor La...2022-10-0623 minForward ObsessedBuilding An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem With Matt McCooeMatt McCooe is the CEO of Connecticut Innovations, a strategic venture capital firm and leading source of financing for Connecticut's technology, consumer, and life sciences companies.
In this episode, learn what it takes to get funded by one of the top VCs in Connecticut. Explore what breakthrough entrepreneurs all have in common, which heuristics are used by VCs when they choose a project, and whether delusions of grandeur are helpful when establishing a business.
OUTLINE:
Here's the timestamps for the episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(1:41) - What is a “state ventur...2022-09-221h 15Forward ObsessedBootstrapping A Billion Dollar Company From A Dorm Room With Austin McChordAustin McChord is the CEO of Casana, a healthcare technology start-up dedicated to improving the health and wellness of patients via at-home health monitoring. Austin was previously the founder and CEO of Datto incorporated, exited that company in a $1.5 Billion acquisition, and is the Founder of Norwalk Havoc Combat Robotics.
In this episode, explore Austin’s incredible journey from getting terrible grades at Rochester Institute of Technology, to founding and exiting a company valued at $1.5 Billion. Learn about incrementally building a new company, what selling your business really feels like, why every interaction that a lead...2022-09-081h 11
Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Inventing Products With Chris AllenChris Allen is the CEO of iCleanse, which is known for their UV-C rapid disinfection devices that clean cell phones. He was previously the Founder and CEO of iDevices, which was acquired by Hubbell Incorporated in 2017.
In this episode, dive into the difficult path of inventing a new product and taking it to a global market. Learn about how Chris Allen was able to get his new iGrill device into Apple retail stores, and what it was like to be a leader with no business background at the top of a rapidly growing company.. Hear how...2022-08-2556 minForward ObsessedThe Future of Building Creative Companies with Jenny LawtonJenny Lawton is the Executive Vice President of Bolster, a marketplace to connect high-growth companies with executive talent. Previously, Jenny was the Chief Innovation Officer and COO of Techstars, she was also the CEO of MakerBot Industries, a global leader in desktop 3D printing.
In this episode, learn what it takes to navigate the process of an acquisition, when to sell your company, why self-care is critical in leadership, how to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem, why having a mentor is essential, and more.
OUTLINE:
Here's the timestamps for the episode:
(00:30) - I...2022-08-111h 25Forward ObsessedThe Future Of Leading Innovation with Josh GeballeDive into the world of innovation and crisis management with Josh Geballe, Associate Provost for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Yale University. Josh was previously the COO for the State of Connecticut under Governor Ned Lamont. During Josh’s tenure as COO, he oversaw Connecticut’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this episode, Josh reveals his method for making effective changes in governmental organizations, explores how a crisis can facilitate innovation, and describes the kind of leadership skills needed to inspire your team through difficult times. Additionally, Josh talks about what it takes for start-ups to succeed...2022-07-281h 03Forward ObsessedThe Future of Inbound Marketing with Bob RuffoloDive into the rapidly growing world of Inbound Marketing with Bob Ruffolo, Founder and CEO of IMPACT, a company focused on helping people find success with inbound marketing through education, events, and agency services. After building his first website in 7th grade, Bob realized he had a talent for web design and a knack for helping people with marketing their business.
Bob started as a freelance Web Designer, then transitioned to creating IMPACT from the ground up. Bob built IMPACT as an inbound marketing firm, but over time transitioned the company’s model into a co...2022-07-141h 03Forward ObsessedThe Future of Civic Engagement with Ben BerkowitzDive into the technology that helps governments solve problems with Ben Berkowitz, founder of the civic engagement SaaS SeeClickFix. When it comes to city affairs, Ben has always been an actively engaged citizen of New Haven, CT. One day, while trying to report some graffiti in his neighborhood to an unresponsive phone voicemail, Ben realized there had to be a better way to communicate problems to the local government. That is the origin of how Ben founded SeeClickFix, a civic engagement software that allows citizens to report issues to local governments through an app. In the last 15 years over 9...2022-06-301h 14Forward ObsessedThe Future of Combat Robotics with Kelly BidermanDive into the gritty, fast-paced world of combat robotics with Kelly Biderman, CEO of the Norwalk Havoc Robotics League.
Get an inside look on the world of combat robotics, a sport for which dedicated fans will travel hundreds of miles, or watch 13 hours of a livestream, to see hand-made robots fight… and possibly explode. In this interview, Kelly celebrates the incredibly talented builders, the dedicated and diverse fanbase, and describes what her hopes for the future of combat robotics looks like.
Explore Kelly’s past in media, including being Chief of Staff to...2022-06-161h 15Forward ObsessedThe Future of Beer with Alisa “Lady Lager” Bowens-MercadoJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of craft brewing with Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Founder, CEO, and Brewmaster at Rhythm Brewing Company.
Learn about Alisa’s journey founding one of the nation’s first breweries that is owned and run by a woman of color. From a young age, Alisa was inspired by her grandmothers who both drank lagers and encouraged Alisa to “find her rhythm” in life. In this interview, we explore what it means to find your rhythm, discuss why building a brand is like telling a story, and learn about Alisa’s most import...2022-06-021h 09
Forward Obsessed#6 - The Future of Beer with Alisa “Lady Lager” Bowens-MercadoJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of craft brewing with Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Founder, CEO, and Brewmaster at Rhythm Brewing Company.Learn about Alisa’s journey founding one of the nation’s first breweries that is owned and run by a woman of color. From a young age, Alisa was inspired by her grandmothers who both drank lagers and encouraged Alisa to “find her rhythm” in life. In this interview, we explore what it means to find your rhythm, discuss why building a brand is like telling a story, and learn about Alisa’s most imp...2022-06-021h 09Forward ObsessedThe Future of Data Storytelling with Andy Greenawalt
Join Pete and David as they dive into the world of data analytics with Andy Greenawalt, Founder and CEO of Storyhub.
In a world where every company claims to be data-driven, very few decisions are actually ever made using that data Andy has created a new way to decentralize and translate the complicated language of data analytics like no one else.
In this interview, learn about Andy's early successes, a happy accident that made one of his companies into a reality, and why having a truly bad day puts every other day into real context.
With Andy as your guide, wad...2022-05-191h 13
Forward Obsessed#5 - The Future of Data Storytelling with Andy GreenawaltJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of data analytics with Andy Greenawalt, Founder and CEO of Storyhub.In a world where every company claims to be data-driven, very few decisions are actually ever made using that data Andy has created a new way to decentralize and translate the complicated language of data analytics like no one else.In this interview, learn about Andy's early successes, a happy accident that made one of his companies into a reality, and why having a truly bad day puts every other day into...2022-05-191h 13Forward ObsessedThe Future of FinTech with Matthew MurphyJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of FinTech & Entrepreneurship with Matthew Murphy, Early Stage Investor and General Partner at Montage Ventures.
Matthew took advantage of a sudden opportunity in his early 20's to join the rapidly growing FinTech startup, E-Trade, a decision that changed the trajectory of his life and career in the most unexpected way. We dive into some of Matthew’s incredible highs and difficult lows, discussing the resilience and work ethic it took to create a series of start-ups in a volatile industry, FinTech.
Learn about the art of th...2022-05-0556 min
Forward Obsessed#4 - The Future of FinTech with Matthew MurphyJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of FinTech & Entrepreneurship with Matthew Murphy, Early Stage Investor and General Partner at Montage Ventures.Matthew took advantage of a sudden opportunity in his early 20's to join the rapidly growing FinTech startup, E-Trade, a decision that changed the trajectory of his life and career in the most unexpected way. We dive into some of Matthew’s incredible highs and difficult lows, discussing the resilience and work ethic it took to create a series of start-ups in a volatile industry, FinTech.2022-05-0556 min
Forward Obsessed#3 - The Future of Information Technology with Ari SantiagoJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of technology and entrepreneurship with Founder and CEO of Compass MSP, Ari Santiago.Ari’s story is truly inspirational, from his childhood days of when he started his first business selling bubble gum, to becoming paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 13 due to a skiing accident. The journey of overcoming adversity led to Ari’s passion in computers, which solidified the foundation of his career in information technology at the age of 14.Despite these setbacks, Ari’s entrepreneurial instincts and his un...2022-04-211h 00Forward ObsessedThe Future of Information Technology with Ari SantiagoJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of technology and entrepreneurship with Founder and CEO of Compass MSP, Ari Santiago.
Ari’s story is truly inspirational, from his childhood days of when he started his first business selling bubble gum, to becoming paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 13 due to a skiing accident. The journey of overcoming adversity led to Ari’s passion in computers, which solidified the foundation of his career in information technology at the age of 14.
Despite these setbacks, Ari’s entrepreneurial instincts and his unflappable spirit...2022-04-211h 00
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)Finding The Meaning Of IkigaiPeter Sena is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Pete is a design-led entrepreneur who loves to partner with future-forward founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to unlock new possibilities and growth. At nine years old, Pete was the kind of kid who found taking computers apart and putting them back together fun. A digital native on steroids, “Pete the Geek” started coding at 13, consulted for global companies in high school, and launched Digital Surgeons from his dorm room. Digital Surgeons, a forward-obsessed brand experience consultancy. But what is being forward-obsessed all about. He choo...2022-04-2055 min
Forward Obsessed#2 - The Future of Tequila with Kat HantasJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of infused tequila with Founder and CEO of 21 Seeds, Kat Hantas. Kat explains her entrepreneurial journey of working in the television and film industry, transitioning to becoming a full-time mother, then discovering a massive product opportunity in the tequila industry through her own life experiences.Learn about Kat's journey & origin story of founding 21 Seeds. This conversation outlines Kat’s methods of observation and market research that allowed her to find an unserved demographic in the alcohol industry. She also shares her perspective on...2022-04-071h 05Forward ObsessedThe Future of Tequila with Kat HantasJoin Pete and David as they dive into the world of infused tequila with Founder and CEO of 21 Seeds, Kat Hantas. Kat explains her entrepreneurial journey of working in the television and film industry, transitioning to becoming a full-time mother, then discovering a massive product opportunity in the tequila industry through her own life experiences.
Learn about Kat's journey & origin story of founding 21 Seeds. This conversation outlines Kat’s methods of observation and market research that allowed her to find an unserved demographic in the alcohol industry. She also shares her perspective on building a team and rais...2022-04-071h 05
Forward Obsessed#1 - The Future of Thrift Shopping with Topper LucianiJoin Pete and David as they dive into the twists and turns of the direct-to-consumer thrift clothing industry with Topper Luciani, founder of Goodfair. Learn about how the rising popularity of thrift shopping has unveiled the harmful effects of the clothing industry that fast fashion has created for our society and planet. Topper dives into why he's dedicated his life (and created Goodfair) to save the planet through thrifting.Learn about Topper's journey, from buying and reselling used ties on Ebay, to building the skills of a savvy entrepreneur in the clothing industry. Topper’s successes and...2022-03-231h 05Forward ObsessedThe Future of Thrift Shopping with Topper LucianiJoin Pete and David as they dive into the twists and turns of the direct-to-consumer thrift clothing industry with Topper Luciani, founder of Goodfair. Learn about how the rising popularity of thrift shopping has unveiled the harmful effects of the clothing industry that fast fashion has created for our society and planet. Topper dives into why he's dedicated his life (and created Goodfair) to save the planet through thrifting.
Learn about Topper's journey, from buying and reselling used ties on Ebay, to building the skills of a savvy entrepreneur in the clothing industry. Topper’s successes and fai...2022-03-221h 05
Select+CT PodcastEpisode 12 - Building a Digital Media CompanyHost: David DesRoches, Quinnipiac University
Guests: David Salinas, Co-Founder of Digital Surgeons and Innovation District in New Haven / Pete Sena, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Surgeons
"Select+CT" is a Digital Media Connecticut (DMCT) podcast series dedicated to Connecticut's Digital Media industry!
Though this is a Connecticut inclined podcast, I found that the contents of this episode (episode 12, season 1), can apply to anyone in any state. David Salinas, Co-Founder of Digital Surgeons and Innovation District in New Haven / Pete Sena, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Surgeons, spoke with host David DesRoches, Quinnipiac University a...2020-10-2730 min
The Polymath PolyCast with Dustin PolyInnovatorSeason 2 Finale - What is the PolyCast? [Fireside Polycast]Alright welcome to the Final episode of the season! 😭I am so excited to share with you the rare regular sized PolyCast episode as the finale.In this episode I wrap up the season a bit on what has happened, and what is planned for next season.You may have noticed the icon image for the Polycast changed recently to a more gold text aesthetic. The PolyInnovator colors are red and grey, with a bit of gold, but I felt it was time to make the show have a bit more ... shine... so gol...2020-08-2822 min
Mi365 Daily Intentions030 The Magic Of Thinking And Acting BIG - Episode 4 - How To Have Unstoppable StickabilityHow To Have Unstoppable Stickability, is the final instalment of my 4 part podcast series. I will look at how you all have the potential to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. There is magic within you! Don’t believe me? Then just spend a few moments contemplating your mind and body. Consider all that is going on – oxygen moving from the air, to the lungs, the blood, to the brain; your body alive and vital; your brain keeping it all working; your mind coming up with...2020-01-2724 minMi365 Daily Intentions030 The Magic Of Thinking And Acting BIG - Episode 4 - How To Have Unstoppable StickabilityHow To Have Unstoppable Stickability, is the final instalment of my 4 part podcast series. I will look at how you all have the potential to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. There is magic within you! Don’t believe me? Then just spend a few moments contemplating your mind and body. Consider all that is going on – oxygen moving from the air, to the lungs, the blood, to the brain; your body alive and vital; your brain keeping it all working; your mind coming up with...2020-01-2724 min
The Hard Way With Joe De SenaPete Cossaboon and Nelson Diaz | The Dash Between Birth and Death DatesNot wanting to spend his life on the sidelines, blind athlete Pete Cossaboon started participating in Spartan events. He sought out and found a way to achieve this seemingly impossible goal. Nelson Diaz has dedicated himself to facilitating the implausible achievements of adaptive athletes through compassion and action. The events only have meaning and purpose to the degree that they can be applied to life at large and to what extent the athletes can use them to tell their unique story to the world. Lessons: - Any new situation, when confronted, evolves from fear to adaptation.2017-01-0330 min