Download the App!
show episodes
 
Top 5% Ranked Podcast! True stories of entrepreneurs falling forward and tripping over the finish line. Join us as we sit down to hear their real life experiences of triumph over adversity. Our host Chad Kaleky interviews our guests to learn about their journey. From Tech Startups to Small Businesses to Fortune 500 Companies, we’ll hear how they turned their failures into success. Business Inquiries: chad@ftspod.com
  continue reading
 
Loading …
show series
 
✅ Economic pessimism is rising, yet history shows steady growth and prosperity for nearly 300 years. ✅ Small businesses drive the U.S. economy, accounting for half of the country's employment and contributing to job volatility. ✅ The rise of individual empowerment through technology allows more people to contribute to economic growth, increasing hu…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Top 5 national lender Employees: 4,000+ across 270 branch locations. Founded: 2010 Episode Highlights ✅ Sales is still about building relationships, even in a digital-first world. ✅ Companies win by serving customers the way they want to be served, whether in-person or online. ✅ Owning technology infrastructure creates differentiation…
  continue reading
 
✅ Resilience in cybersecurity is about preparing for incidents and ensuring business continuity despite challenges. ✅ Effective incident response requires defined roles, responsibilities, and constant practice through simulations and tabletop exercises. ✅ Cybersecurity is evolving to focus on data integrity and availability, with resilience becomin…
  continue reading
 
✅ Racing sponsorship is about more than just a logo; it’s about creating impactful partnerships that drive business value. ✅ Successful racing teams rely on diversity, creativity, and strategic business development to stand out and grow. ✅ Personal and professional setbacks are part of the journey; resilience and taking risks can turn failures into…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: $220 million Employees: 1,400+ Founded: 1996 Episode Highlights ✅ Embracing a data-first approach is crucial for successful digital transformations and leveraging AI effectively. ✅ Cleaning and preparing data early prevents costly mistakes and ensures accurate outcomes in AI and digital projects. ✅ Building a data-driven cult…
  continue reading
 
✅ AI is here to stay, and its use in enterprise applications will soon expand to consumer technologies, making daily life easier. ✅ The more AI is exposed to tasks, the smarter it becomes, leading to better performance in both consumer and enterprise settings. ✅ Surrounding yourself with people who think differently helps you grow as a professional…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: $125 million Employees: 50 Founded: 1989 Franchise Model: Started unit franchising in 1991 and master franchising in 1999 Franchisees: 48 master franchises across the U.S. and Canada, over 1,800 unit franchises Episode Highlights ✅ Technology plays a vital role in delivering exceptional customer service and reducing cancellat…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Year Founded: 2017 Revenue: $14 million in 2023 Employees: 250+ Episode Highlights ✅ Resilience in business is built by overcoming personal and professional challenges, helping entrepreneurs grow stronger. ✅ Board members need industry expertise and leadership authority to land board positions and add strategic value. ✅ Building visib…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2016 Total Assets Invested: $15 million Employees: 10+ Episode Highlights ✅ Building generational wealth requires long-term strategies, not short-term gains. ✅ Diversifying your portfolio with real estate, gold, stocks, and alternative investments strengthens financial security. ✅ Tokenized real estate offers an affordable en…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 1987 Clients Served: 20,000+ Employees: 16+ Episode Highlights ✅ Franchising offers a structured roadmap that helps reduce the risks of starting a business from scratch. ✅ Successful franchisees challenge franchisors with new ideas while staying aligned with the franchise's core operations. ✅ Multi-unit ownership can be essen…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Capital Raised: $12.3 Million Employees: 100+ Founded: December 2012 Episode Highlights ✅ Kathryn emphasizes that building a positive, transparent company culture is key to long-term success and employee retention. ✅ Iteration is now part of the DNA at Work Truck Solutions, driving constant innovation and improvement within the compan…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Annual Revenue: Over $35 million and growing through acquisitions and optimization. Employees: Approximately 215 across six to seven global offices. Founded: MSH was founded in early 2011. Episode Highlights ✅ Streamlining the hiring process is critical to attracting top talent and creating a great candidate experience. ✅ Company cult…
  continue reading
 
Episode Highlights ✅ Data is the "oil of the 21st century," empowering businesses to make smarter, data-driven decisions instead of relying on instinct. ✅ Heimdall saw massive user growth in Nigeria and Brazil after analyzing user data, showcasing the power of data to shape product development. ✅ Many industries, especially manufacturing, are ripe …
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Donations: Over $38 million donated through the platform to more than 5,000 nonprofits. Community: Around 78,000 people actively participating. Employees: 8 full-time employees, plus a network of consultants and part-timers. Founded: March 2020. Episode Highlights ✅ Grapevine has facilitated over $38 million in donations through its p…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: Currently approaching $25 million annually. Employees: 200 team members. Founded: Railsware was founded in 2007 Episode Highlights ✅ Railsware's approach to client retention focuses on problem-solving over apologies, ensuring long-term satisfaction. ✅ By taking ownership of operational challenges, Railsware has turned mistake…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Total Capital Invested: Around $37 million over the last 11 years. Years of Entrepreneurship: 21 years Founded: 2023 Episode Highlights ✅ 6% of startups that go through YC become unicorns, making it the best incubator in the world. ✅ Successful startup founders must possess relentless optimism to navigate the challenges and setbacks t…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue of Lamborghini Sarasota: Just shy of $10 billion. Total Employees in the Group: Over 7,400. Year Lamborghini Sarasota was Founded: 2009. Year Dunamis Premium Spirits was Founded: 2021. Episode Highlights ✅ Building a premium brand requires a meticulous process, combining old-world craftsmanship with new-world technology to ens…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Documents Processed Annually: Over 4 million. Clients Served Annually: Over 400,000. Employees: 108 full-time employees, over 600 linguistic professionals. Year Founded: 2012. Episode Highlights ✅ Efficient systems and processes are key to scaling a service-based business without compromising quality or burning out employees. ✅ The 80…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Capital Raised: Just over $60 million. Number of Employees: 146. Year Founded: 2015. Episode Highlights ✅ Connectbase simplifies the connectivity industry by providing a comprehensive platform that helps providers buy and sell connectivity with ease. ✅ The connectivity industry involves over 50,000 providers worldwide, all working tog…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 1985 Revenue: $67 million, up 30% from last year Employees: 35 employees, achieving $2 million in sales per employee Episode Highlights ✅ Transitioning from a beauty distributor to a manufacturing-focused business allowed TNG Worldwide to thrive, even during challenging times. ✅ Leveraging Amazon's platform has been a game-ch…
  continue reading
 
✅ Take the leap when you're ready, and don't look back: Once you decide to leave a corporate role, it's crucial to stick to your decision and not return, even if offered more incentives. ✅ Prepare for the unexpected in entrepreneurship: As an entrepreneur, always plan for unforeseen challenges like financial difficulties, operational setbacks, or l…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: Mizzen+Main has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the years, continuing to grow at double digits even in 2024. Capital Raised: Harbor has raised a $3.7 million seed round, with pre-orders and first shipments launched in the summer of 2024. Employees: Mizzen+Main has over 100 employees, while Harbor has…
  continue reading
 
✅ Data centers are transitioning from traditional air cooling to advanced liquid cooling systems, significantly improving energy efficiency. ✅ Implementing liquid cooling in existing data centers is a complex and costly endeavor, requiring meticulous planning and adaptation of current infrastructure. ✅ The Open Compute Project Foundation fosters co…
  continue reading
 
✅ Automate cross-marketplace listings with SkuTrue to save time and effort, eliminating the need for manual data entry. ✅ Web scraping technology combined with AI allows SkuTrue to provide detailed product data for seamless marketplace integration. ✅ SkuTrue is designed for small businesses, offering them enterprise-level tools to compete effective…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: November 2020 Revenue: $3 million ARR, growing at 20% monthly Capital Raised: $20 million Employees: 70 employees across 30 countries, representing 32 nationalities Episode Highlights ✅ BforeAI uses predictive technology to block cyberattacks up to three weeks before they occur, offering a unique preemptive defense. ✅ The com…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2018 Revenue: $5 million Employees: 35+ employees Episode Highlights ✅ True leaders embrace failure as a learning experience to evolve and grow. ✅ Building a successful business requires constant adaptation and a willingness to pivot. ✅ Community-based approaches in healthcare foster strong relationships with patients and pro…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2020 Employees: 25 Episode Highlights ✅ AI deep fake attacks highlight the need for stronger online identity verification. ✅ Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for securing online accounts. ✅ Cybersecurity is crucial for all businesses, regardless of size or industry. Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down w…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: April 2021 Revenue: $3.6 million annually Employees: 13 Episode Highlights ✅ Bootstrapping a business fosters creativity and deep market understanding. ✅ Listening, practicing empathy, and solving problems are key to creating value. ✅ FlowChat's success is built on direct market feedback and continuous improvement. Episode Su…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2017 Revenue: $25 million annually Capital Raised: $32 million Employees: 63 Episode Highlights ✅ Startups must often challenge industry norms to innovate and succeed. ✅ A single wrong hire in a key role can jeopardize the entire organization. ✅ Scaling in healthcare technology involves navigating complex RFP processes and in…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: Over $1 million in annualized recurring revenue Capital Raised: Over $1 million in pre-seed venture capital Employees: 6 Founded: Early 2023 Episode Highlights ✅ LOMA delivers local marketing solutions tailored for franchises and multi-location stores. ✅ Building software for enterprises requires obsessiveness about deliverin…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: July 2023 Capital Raised: $2 million in seed financing Employees: 12 (half in the US, half around the world) Episode Highlights ✅ AI-driven training platforms make personalized learning affordable for small to medium-sized companies. ✅ AI accelerates employee readiness, reducing onboarding time from months to weeks. ✅ Persona…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2006 Employees: 100+ Episode Highlights ✅ AI serves as a tool to augment intelligence, improving productivity and efficiency. ✅ Effective AI integration involves using it for data analysis, research, and marketing, while maintaining human elements in content creation. ✅ Success in the AI industry requires continuous learning …
  continue reading
 
✅ Fair and competitive compensation is essential for motivating salespeople and aligning with organizational strategy. ✅ Salespeople have diverse personalities; understanding this helps in effective compensation and motivation. ✅ Effective sales compensation involves understanding market size, win rate, and translating these into appropriate compen…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2020 Funding Raised: $10 million Employees: 33 and hiring quickly Episode Highlights ✅ Fathom uses AI to simplify meeting tasks, enhancing productivity and efficiency. ✅ The company achieved virality through a free product model and strategic partnerships. ✅ Fathom’s AI technology automates note-taking, CRM updates, and follo…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 1954 Revenue: Market cap grew from $1 million to $300 million Employees: 12 Episode Highlights ✅ DLMI focuses on security tokens to democratize investment opportunities. ✅ The company aims to bring liquidity into commercial real estate through innovative financial mechanisms. ✅ A strong, experienced team supports DLMI's visio…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: January 2022 Capital Raised: $8 Million Employees: 8 Episode Highlights ✅ Unify runs a contributor program to build an open-source community around AI models. ✅ The company focuses on providing control over speed, quality, and cost for LLM applications. ✅ Delegating ownership and responsibilities to team members fosters bette…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 1881 Revenue: $10 million+ Employees: 40+ Episode Highlights ✅ E. E. Ward focuses on customer experience to differentiate itself in the competitive moving industry. ✅ The company has navigated economic challenges by sticking to its core business of household goods moving and office relocations. ✅ E. E. Ward's legacy as the ol…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 1998 (roots tracing back to the 1920s as the Western Union Telephone Answering Service) Revenue: $65-$70 million annually Employees: Approximately 1,500 Episode Highlights ✅ AnswerNet has successfully integrated multiple acquisitions to expand its services and client base. ✅ Gary Pudles highlights that employees in the call c…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: Program in 1963, nonprofit organization in 1975 Revenue: $31 million Employees: 45 Voyagers: Operates two voyages per year, in fall and spring Episode Highlights ✅ Semester at Sea generates $31 million in revenue annually. ✅ The organization operates with a high fixed cost model, primarily driven by ship operations. ✅ Scott M…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2019 Users: More than 200,000 users, with over 7,000 on the paid tier Employees: 12 Episode Highlights ✅ Hexact automates data collection and analysis, saving businesses valuable time. ✅ Stepan Aslanyan leverages 20 years of entrepreneurial experience to drive Hexact's success. ✅ Hexact's platform integrates with GPT, enhanci…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Founded: 2017 Revenue: $11.5 million Employees: 200+ Episode Highlights ✅ HypeAuditor ends 2023 with $11.5 million in revenue, showing significant growth. ✅ Influencer marketing requires products that appear natural on social media for effective promotion. ✅ Successful influencer campaigns often involve a mix of micro, mid-sized, and …
  continue reading
 
Episode Highlights: ✅ Joe Eisner transitions from Amazon to founding Ronin Advisors, focusing on direct customer engagement. ✅ Guerrilla marketing tactics, like hosting partner events, prove highly effective for customer and partner engagement. ✅ Learning from past failures, Joe identifies timing as crucial for the success of innovative solutions. …
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Capital Raised $5.5 million Episode Highlights ✅ The construction industry faces a workforce crisis with 41% retiring in the next seven years. ✅ Learning from failure is crucial for success; success can be a misleading teacher. ✅ Building a synchronized, complementary team is essential for startup success. Episode Summary In this epis…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: $50 Million+ Employees: 1,000+ Founded: 1900 Episode Highlights ✅ Vummidi Bangaru Jewelers has over 1,000 employees and $50 million in revenue. ✅ The company is expanding from India to the U.S., starting with a flagship showroom in Texas. ✅ Transitioning cultural approaches from India to the U.S. market has been a unique and …
  continue reading
 
Company Stats: Founded: 2007 Revenue: Just under 20 million Employees: Under 40 Episode Highlights: ✅ We started DevHub in 2007, now generating just under 20 million in revenue with fewer than 40 employees. ✅ Licensing our software to media companies was a game-changer, leading to significant growth. ✅ Focusing on franchise markets reveals the impo…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Capital raised: Over $22 Million, including angel investors and grants ($9 Million). Employees: 6 (35 during technology development) Founded: 2012 Episode Highlights ✅ Innovation in grant acquisition by developing groundbreaking technology. ✅ Microbiome's critical role in human health and disease prevention. ✅ Revolutionary approach t…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Revenue: $10 Million Patents Held: 3 Episode Highlights ✅ Customer discovery and validation are crucial for successful inventions. ✅ Filing patents requires hands-on work and strategic narrow focus. ✅ Sustainability and reliable sourcing are key concerns in the electrification transition. Episode Summary In this episode of "Failing to…
  continue reading
 
Episode Highlights ✅ Evaluate AI tech companies by examining technology, innovation, scalability, and market opportunity. ✅ Emphasize ethical AI, avoiding hype, and focusing on core human values in development. ✅ Look for strong teams and business models, ensuring monetization and scalability potential. Episode Summary In this episode, our panel di…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats Activations: 45 million Nift activations Employees: 40+ Founded: 2015 Episode Highlights ✅ Build a culture organically, matching the right people to your organization's needs. ✅ Maintain core elements of excitement and hard work to drive growth and revenue. ✅ Culture evolves; treat your team well and believe in long-term goals. Episod…
  continue reading
 
Company Stats: Revenue: $1.5 million ARR Employees: 11 Founded: September 2019 Episode Highlights: ✅ Ryan Estes leverages personal experiences to shape KitCaster’s services, ensuring the offerings mirror client needs. ✅ WildCast introduces host-bred ads, enhancing podcast marketing by fostering genuine host-audience connections. ✅ The Bell Fast Sys…
  continue reading
 
Loading …

Quick Reference Guide