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Conversations on StartupsReflections on the SeriesWHEW. 36 Episodes. A marathon. From Partners to Funding, from Customer Needs to Design, to Standing Out. As we look back on almost two years of production we say, Holy crap, man, good thing we got 'er done before ChatGPT stole our idea. And now that we've laid down these tracks, and bared our souls to the world, we're looking for a slow burn as these episodes - our body of work - steadily rise to rest among the exalted creative works in the startup genre.If you enjoyed this first series, tell the world. Btw, you can...2023-05-1505 minConversations on Startups36 - Standing OutHere it is. The attention economy is alive and well and that's why we wanted to chew on some ideas around how to stand out in a world of plenty. Ideas that go beyond the obvious methods - ok, we forget some of the more obvious methods like being excellent on some dimension that customers value, or will come to value. Our bad. Instead of hitting the perfectly pitched baseballs, we decided to go for original and imaginative ideas. Some of those might cue you to a good idea. You never know. So, good for us. Oh, an...2023-05-1522 minConversations on Startups35 - On CrisesOut of crisis, comes opportunity. Sometimes. But better to avoid a crisis altogether if possible, and also better to have a plan (or even a first step of a plan) if you do face a crisis, as many entrepreneurs will. Prepare and predict. Do a pre-mortem. Mitigate risks. Activate your plan and if that fails, be nimble. Whatever you do, do the right thing to keep your customers, employees and those in the blast zone safe. Get that right and you may just save the business and live to fight another day. It's boot camp time so jump on...2023-05-0823 minConversations on Startups34 - The Right IdeaHow do you know if your business is the right idea for the market, for the times, for you? That's a critical judgement to make since you will be spending so much time on whatever business idea you decide to pursue, you might as well make it worth your while.Listen in as Doug and Glenn kick the can around on this essential choice. Let's call it, The Entrepreneur's Dilemma. They've given this some thought and worked hard so they're sure to deliver what you need, when and where you need it. How gre...2023-05-0122 minConversations on Startups33 - LocationLocation, location, location. It’s not just true for real estate, it's also true for Monopoly. And, it's a critical choice entrepreneur's like you will need to make.In this episode you'll meet an enterprising fellow named Elliot who managed to parlay what seemed like a non-starter of a location into paying off his mortgage with a groovy 3 day business venture, man. And it was completely legal - we think.Faced with choosing a location? Here's a recipe. Take an array of factors into account then weigh the benefits and the costs - in that or...2023-04-2424 minConversations on Startups32 - Startup MoviesWhat’s the best kind of learning? If your answer was The kind that’s fun, then you'll want to join Doug and Glenn as they talk about notable, and since they're movies and streamers, somewhat fun shows that have taken on the Startup genre, putting entrepreneurs in the hero seat. Movies like Tesla – no, not about the car, about the man - the inventor of A/C current. The Founder featuring the character of Roy Kroc. The Social Network. The Steve Jobs movie. Startup, the streaming series with Martin Freeman. The 2022 biopic, Elvis and even Michael J. Fox’s The Se...2023-04-1722 minConversations on Startups31 - Customer AcquisitionThink about this with your first customer. Does your first customer have the gravitas – the gravitational pull – to attract other customers to your business like the one George, whom you'll meet in this episode, got his velvet hooks into for his first customer? Seems like an apt metaphor for what you’re looking for. Something that grabs customers and brings them into your business from the get go, helps them get whatever job done that they need doing, and yet is soft enough to do no harm. So, come aboard with Doug and Glenn and enjoy the ride into space...2023-04-1020 minConversations on Startups30 - Customer ValueDoug and Glenn get a bit wonky in this one, so skip this episode if you don’t like math, especially division. As the saying goes, “never play poker with someone who says they don’t like math.” Do they say that? Doesn’t matter. What matters is what the customer says matters, and how they measure those things that matter, matters. Like the value of a beer. So, pull up a chair, get your headphones on and join us for math class. Trust us, it’ll be better than a class from a mad inventor who scalded, burned and made him...2023-04-0323 minConversations on Startups29 - Customer NeedsSee that? That’s an invisible bubble hanging over your target customer’s head – the cartoon kind of bubble that says what he or she’s really thinking about when you are trying to figure out his or her needs. And if you listen well and keep asking why (?) you might just find out what those needs are. And, if the customer you thought would love your business idea doesn’t - maybe he or she is the wrong customer – so keep looking. You never know who might be willing to pay you for packaging air. Conversations on Startups i...2023-03-2719 minConversations on Startups28 - Decision MakingSometimes letting go of what you think is valuable to the market is the best decision you can make. It can free you up to look at the world the way a customer looks at it. Doug and Glenn double down on gettin' real clear about the problem you are trying to solve, and then attacking it with some sort of simple process. As you’ll hear in this episode, getting the perspective right and combining data with human judgement has made the difference between a No Go and a Hey, Let's Go for folks who’ve made a dent...2023-03-2019 minConversations on Startups27 - Building CommunityEver heard of The Safer Way? No, The Safer Way is not a euphemism for the rhythm birth control method, it’s the original name of a now well-known grocery store whose community came together to help the founders get back on their feet after disaster struck. Pretty amazing - customers coming to your rescue. Imagine how meaningful that would have been to the founders in that situation. For some founders, fostering a community has been great for business and for some, simply more fun. So, pull up and chair, listen in and find out the name of our myst...2023-03-1322 minConversations on Startups26 - Rethink EverythingHow fast are we humans at change? Turns out, pretty fast. Did you know that companies adopted technology twenty-five times faster during the recent pandemic vs before? That feat proves we can be nimble when pressed. Adapting to change is a great muscle to flex even during smooth sailing, ‘cause more change is goin’ come. If you’re an existing business owner this episode might just get you to rethink everything – to look at the world as it is today – to look at it like a startup founder.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, autho...2023-03-0624 minConversations on Startups25 - Team MotivationWho would you pick to create a resource that has become a part of our digital, cultural fabric? Seventy non-employees or a tech stalwart with resources up the wazoo on the same mission? Join Doug and Glenn as they talk about that epic battle and about the critical role meaning, momentum and making sure each player on your team knows their role in winning your battles in this behemoth episode of Conversations on Startups. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business I...2023-02-2726 minConversations on Startups24 - MarketingMarketing is a big, big topic with many facets. In this episode Doug and Glenn talk about ramping up enthusiasm for your brand starting with the creation of a business name that work's its ass off for you. Ultimately your marketing investments in time, energy and dineros need to attract customers to your product or service, retain those customers, and turn them into ambassadors for your business. It's about creating a circulatory system of prosperity! Enjoy.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your...2023-02-2021 minConversations on Startups23 - PayThirty-five bucks for the most recognizable logo on the planet? Yep, that's what a famous founder Glenn talks about in this episode paid for his fledgling company's first logo. Not a bad deal. The kind of deal you should be looking for if you're the founder of a bootstrapped entity. But what about pay for you and your cofounders and for your early staff if you're a funded startup? Stocks? Cash? A mix? Listen in as Doug and Glenn take on the - often thorny - issue of pay.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by...2023-02-1320 minConversations on Startups22 - DesignWhat’s orange and silver, and seen all over? To find out, listen in as Glenn stumps Doug once again with his hints on the origins of a great business idea, an idea sparked by an unfortunate event that not only led to greater product safety in the re-design, but to an unmissable brand - except by Doug. Let’s roll. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series f...2023-02-0620 minConversations on Startups21 - PivotingWhat would you do if you woke up to a newspaper headline calling you the Merchant of Death? Would you re-think the course you were on and pivot to a new path? In this episode, Glenn relates the story of a person who did just that - a person whose pivot has inspired countless innovators and their ideas. But a pivot does not always work out and is not an easy call for an entrepreneur to make. Listen in as Doug and Glenn talk about some of the reasons to pivot and some of the reasons it can be...2023-01-3019 minConversations on Startups20 - Exit StrategiesSo, what's your exit strategy? Isn’t that kinda' like the question kids get from adults, you know the one, So, what are you going to do when you grow up? Are you going to start and run your business forever? Are you going to take it to a point and cash out? Do you really need to think about it up front or can you just do everything else right to start and grow your business and worry about whether and how to exit from it later? Doug and Glenn have a few thoughts on this and Glenn sh...2023-01-2319 minConversations on Startups19 - PitchingPitching to investors is like a fine art. Glenn likens it to sculpting. It takes time. It takes skill. And, it requires feedback from the people – the guys and gals with the money – to create something lasting. Pitch – learn- improve. Pitch again. That’s how one entrepreneur got things brewing for his little startup. So why not pour yourself a cup of coffee, relax, and join us? Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s G...2023-01-1619 minConversations on Startups18 - GrantsFree money. What entrepreneur does not want free money? The kind of money that does not need to be paid back. The kind of money that does not water down the stake you hold in your own venture. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Of course, no source of funding comes without obligation or without work. In the case of grants, you have to do research to find sources that line up with your business mission, you have to put together a compelling application, and you may have reporting obligations too. But still. Free. Did we mention, free? Conv...2023-01-0917 minConversations on Startups17 - FundraisingWhat would you do if you needed $10Million to fund a creative production and you were in the wake of a big shock to the folks with all the money? Listen in as Doug and Glenn swap stories on creative fundraising success stories while they survey the conventional landscape and how to navigate it. This is a big episode, so buckle up.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a ra...2023-01-0225 minConversations on StartupsChristmas Greetings!Doug and Glenn wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and thank you for listening to Conversations on Startups in 2022! Stay on the look out! Our next episode drops in one week, on January 2nd.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have changed the culture.Got a topic you’d like us to tack...2022-12-2600 minConversations on Startups16 - DistributionWould you take the time to write twenty business plans to figure out which industry to disrupt? Sounds like a lot of work but it turned out to be a prime move for the entrepreneur whose story Glenn shares in this episode on channel choice. How you’re going to get your great product or service idea out to your audience is a critical decision - so enter with caution – there could be some heavy homework assigned today!Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Yo...2022-12-1923 minConversations on Startups15 - AcceleratorsWho doesn’t want to go faster? How ‘bout faster and in the right direction? Listen in this weekend as Doug and Glenn talk about how to get both superpowers for your startup.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have changed the culture.Got a topic you’d like us to tackle in a future c...2022-12-1219 minConversations on Startups14 - Best Time Part 2When something pisses you off in your life, pay attention! That something – maybe an inconvenience, a sloppy product, or a crusty English tutor with a tweed jacket and elbow patches - may just lead you to a business idea. Any emotion, even grief, as Glenn shares in this episode, can inspire any one of us to create something meaningful.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over...2022-12-0514 minConversations on Startups13 - Best Time Part 1Thinking about starting a business? Now may be the best time.Why?Capital exists to fund the right idea for what’s happening nowCulture of supportGreat tools to get started Many businesses - from UBER, to Stripe, to NEST, to Electronic Arts – started in difficult or uncertain times, just as many businesses have been started during good times.Doug and Glenn are perennial optimists encouraging you to go ahead and try to bring your great idea to life. You’ll never know until you try.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by...2022-11-2815 minConversations on Startups12 - Bad BrandsEver heard of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes? Shock! Not many people have. Lessons can be learned from the mis-signing of this never-heard band by a record label on a travel budget. Join Doug and Glenn as they riff on this, play the latest Blockbuster DVD, and try to figure out which companies were hit with the Blade Runner curse. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series feat...2022-11-2122 minConversations on Startups11 - Great BrandsOnce upon a time all great brands were just a twinkle in an entrepreneur’s eye. In this episode, Doug and Glenn explore some great brands to see what might be learned and share some of their insights. Come on in! The listening’s fine.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have changed the culture.Got a...2022-11-1419 minConversations on Startups10 - Myths Part 2Turns out, there are many myths out there about being an entrepreneur like: starting a business is a sure-fire, get rich scheme. Surely not for everyone, but maybe for you! Tune in to hear which myths Doug and Glenn try to bust in this episode of Conversations on Startups.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have ch...2022-11-0714 minConversations on Startups9 - Myths Part 1There are lots and lots of myths around startups and founders, such as:- Starting a business is highly risky - NO, NOT ALWAYS- You have to be young to be an entrepreneur - NO- No one has ever thought of what I'm doing - NOIn this episode, Doug and Glenn blow past all the bluster. You won't want to "myth" this one!Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Cr...2022-10-3119 minConversations on Startups8 - Inventions Part 2Benefits, benefits, benefits. What would you do if you and your fellow founders invented textured wallpaper and nobody seemed to want it? Listen in as Glenn shares the story of how an invention that started out as wall décor became a cushion virtually everyone has had in their home at one time or another. Find your use case and invent a business. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a rad...2022-10-2417 minConversations on Startups7 - Inventions Part 1Inventing something novel is hard work and is a great way to create a new business. As you'll hear in this episode, a great invention is just the beginning. Listen in as Doug and Glenn share stories about inventions that have changed the culture, from heart surgery, to traffic safety, to packaged foods. Speaking of foods, Glenn paints a picture of one company so worried about cannibalizing it's core business that someone else came along and ate their lunch! As an entrepreneur, you want to be that someone.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas...2022-10-1721 minConversations on Startups6 - PassionWould you walk 65 kilometers (about 40 miles) on stilts to make an impression and earn funds to launch your business idea? Find out which team of founders did just that, and about the other flaming hoops they jumped through to not only launch their business, but to transform an industry. Oh, and Doug and Glenn take on the topic of Silicon Valley's Fake it 'till You Make It ethos and the fates of some high-profile entrepreneurs. This episode is about the steak AND the sizzle.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the...2022-10-1013 minConversations on Startups5 - SpendingWhen it comes to how entrepreneurs spend money, Doug and Glenn have seen it all - from capital efficient founders to spendthrifts. In this episode, inspiration comes in the stories of a man named Leonard from Saskatchewan, and a woman name Alli from California, both of whom were especially smart with their money as they started their businesses. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 ori...2022-10-0320 minConversations on Startups4 - Founding PartnersHow is having a partner to help bring your creative business idea to life like a business marriage? And who is Glenn referring to when praising his selling skills, saying, “He could talk a hungry dog off a meat truck.” Find out this and more including why having a commitment to a shared vision, complimentary skill sets, and trust are essential elements to look for in a founding partner.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart...2022-09-2622 minConversations on Startups3 - No MoneyYou have a great idea, but you don't have much money, what do you do? That never happens, does it? Glenn shares a story of how one trio of entrepreneurs came up with a creative solution to the problem of no money that is sure to whet your appetite. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have cha...2022-09-1918 minConversations on Startups2 - LuckIs it true that there’s a use case for inferior products? Glenn shares a sticky story about chance favoring a prepared inventor. Meanwhile, luck of another kind turns out to be more rewarding than a Harvard education for one of the world’s most savvy business persons. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have changed the cult...2022-09-1918 minConversations on Startups1 - PersistenceOur first episode!What is the one skill that every successful entrepreneur has? Persistence. The ability to keep going when the odds are stacked against you. In this episode, Glenn and Doug talk about how important being persistent is and share some great examples to inspire you.Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have chan...2022-09-1923 minConversations on StartupsWelcome to Conversations on StartupsConversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 origin stories of businesses, brands and inventions that have changed the culture.Got a topic you’d like us to tackle in a future conversation or a comment on a prior episode? If so, reach out to one of us. Glenn's email is: go@todaysgreatidea.com, and Doug's is: douglas@sparkclickgo.comWe hope you’re having...2022-09-1700 minConversations on StartupsTrailer - Conversations on StartupsSometimes funny, accidentally insightful, always welcoming and hopefully inspiring - each episode of Conversations on Startups focuses on a single topic along the startup journey. And the best part, you get to listen in on these conversations as Doug and Glenn, who collectively have seen and done a ton in business and the entrepreneurial world, hash it out. Conversations on Startups is brought to you by Douglas Ross, author of the book, Spark Click Go: How to Bring Your Creative Business Idea to Life, and Glenn Suart, of Today’s Great Idea, a radio series featuring over 300 ori...2022-09-1701 min