Dorm Room Fund invests in student-run companies and helps college entrepreneurs balance academics with business. DRF’s CeCe Cheng and Deborah Li talk with Chris Fralic, partner at First Round Capital, and discuss why great ideas often happen on campus and how student startups can succeed. Moderated by Kelly Hoey.
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Dorm Room Fund Podcasts
What if the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, investors, and product visionaries held office hours just for student founders? What would you ask? What stories would they tell? What lessons would product builders teach the next generation of game-changers? We had the same questions. So we asked them. This is Office Hours with Dorm Room Fund. To learn more about DRF and apply to be considered for an investment, visit our website: www.dormroomfund.com.
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Before Katrina Lake was the CEO of a public company, she was a student at Harvard Business School learning the craft. Before Peter Thiel built Paypal and eventually his capital empire, he was a lawyer and studied philosophy. Before Charles Hudson become a venture capitalist, managing his own fund at Precursor ventures, he started off as a product management intern in college. A common bind between all these people is that many have gone down a similar path, yet only a few break out like they ...
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Step into the exciting world of entrepreneurship with This Is Small Business! Join us on an adventure as we dive deep into the riveting tales of triumph and tenacity of small business owners. This Is Small Business speaks with business owners from all over as they go through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and we uncover the secret sauce behind building a thriving business. Tune in to hear from a dynamic array of guests, each with their own captivating backgrounds and unique perspecti ...
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Why Failing the Right Way Fuels Innovation
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26:23What if failure wasn’t the end but the beginning? Dr. Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School professor and author of The Fearless Organization and The Right Kind of Wrong, says that failure is not proof you’re falling behind – it’s proof you’ve taken a risk. And if you set it up right, it can actually be the key to progress. In this season finale o…
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How Risk Helped Adia Howard Carry Her Family Business Forward
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22:49What would you do if family duty came calling – along with a big ol’ guilt trip? For Adia Howard, the COO of her family business RA Cosmetics, it meant leaving behind her steady career as an occupational therapist to dive into the unknown world of entrepreneurship. Andrea Marquez sits down with Adia to talk about how she’s not only redefining leade…
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The Secret to Managing Risk Like a Successful Entrepreneur
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21:51Entrepreneurship will always involve risk so how do you learn to control it instead of fear it? Dr. Lois Shelton, Professor of Management at the Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University Northridge, joins host Andrea Marquez to break down why the most successful founders aren’t thrill-seekers. They’re calculated deci…
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How Zoya Biglary Became the Internet’s Fruit Peeler to Fund her Business
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33:41What if the thing that keeps your business alive isn’t a perfect plan but your ability to pivot, stay curious, and take risks along the way? Zoya Biglary, the founder of Fysh Foods, didn’t set out to become the internet’s fruit peeler but when her savings started to run out and her product needed a lifeline, she turned to the one thing she always r…
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When Risk Never Ends: How One Founder Learned to Scale and Manage Uncertainty
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20:52What if the key to growth isn’t playing it safe – but learning how to manage risk when things start going sideways? That’s been the story for John Trimble, founder and CEO of Hot Crispy Oil. He didn’t set out to start a condiment company. But when the pandemic forced his family’s 44-year-old restaurant to close, John took a homemade chili oil recip…
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Don’t Dig in the Desert: How to Find Flow, Take Smart Risks, and Lead Like a CEO
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29:24What if risk isn’t about jumping off a cliff — but learning how to build the bridge as you go? That’s exactly what Lauren Goldstein, the Founder and CEO of Golden Key Partnership, had to figure out after walking away from a decade in medicine with no backup plan. Host Andrea Marquez explores how to take smaller, intentional risks that actually move…
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The Business of Reinvention: Why Experimenting is Kim Kerton’s Superpower
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30:06What if the riskiest move isn’t going all in but walking away when something no longer fits? Kim Kerton didn’t leave her media career with a clear plan. She left because she knew something wasn’t right. What followed was a search for a business idea that took her through yoga, ceramics, and creative experiments in remote Tasmania, all of which even…
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Scaling a Business while Staying Authentic: How Fly by Jing Rewrote Narratives
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29:55What if the riskiest ingredient in your recipe for success was your own story? Jing Gao walked away from a secure tech career with no safety net to rediscover her Sichuan roots through food. She launched a fast-casual restaurant in Shanghai, apprenticed under a Michelin-caliber chef, and transformed a home-kitchen supper club into a crowdfunded CPG…
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Betting It All to Scale: How Volcanica Coffee Left Comfort Behind
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26:24What happens when you risk a profitable side hustle for the chance to scale? Maurice Contreras, the founder of Volcanica coffee, spent 15 years building a side hustle and then bet a big portion of his retirement savings and personal funds (plus zero-interest credit cards) to build a 14,000 sq ft roastery after his son pushed him to think bigger. Ho…
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How a Serial Entrepreneur Launched a Business from His Dorm Room
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30:58What do you do when your only options are a job you don’t want or a business that doesn’t exist yet? Angus Willows, the founder of Kangaroo Hanger, chose the harder path — and made it work. As a college student with a 3D printer under his bed, he designed a better hanger, taught himself how to file a patent, launched a second business to fund it an…
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How a College Student Turned a Class Project into a Scalable Business
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30:32What if the riskiest part of your business was just saying what it is out loud? Katie Diasti didn’t plan to start a company about periods – especially not one she’d pitch to rooms full of confused, uncomfortable investors. But when a college class project opened her eyes to just how outdated and wasteful the period care aisle was, she couldn’t unse…
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Redefining Risk: A New Way to Make Bold Moves
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25:32What if the real barrier to your success isn’t risk but uncertainty? Dr. Matt Rutherford, John de Pope Chair in Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University, joins host Andrea Marquez to redefine risk for founders and show you how to make every risk you take more manageable. You’ll get to hear the six types of entrepreneurial risk, learn why disti…
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How a Small Business Turned One Celebrity Moment into Long-Term Growth
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31:26What happens when your viral moment finally comes — and you’re not ready for it? Aliett Buttleman, co-founder of Fazit, only had 300 TikTok followers when she said her goal was to get Taylor Swift to wear her product. And she made it happen. But that moment wasn’t luck. It was the result of two scrappy founders, a small but strategically allocated …
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From Bee Stings to Big Wins: How One Teen Turned a Backyard Hive into a Thriving Business
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28:00What were you doing when you were 12? Blake Shook, the founder of Desert Creek Honey, was wrangling swarms of bees and selling honey – all before middle school let out. What began as a childhood hobby sparked a decades-long entrepreneurial journey that led to the creation of a multi-million honey empire with over 120 employees. But before reaching …
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How an Accidental Entrepreneur Went from No Orders to Sold Out Overnight
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24:55What if your business took off before you were ready? No team. No investors. Just a homemade product and a sudden wave of demand. That’s exactly what happened to Adria Marshall, founder of Ecoslay. When her flaxseed hair gel went viral overnight, she had to decide: shut it down or take the risk and build something bigger. Host Andrea Marquez unpack…
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Turning Rejection into Momentum: How One Mom Started a Multimillion CPG Brand
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29:37When Partake Foods founder Denise Woodard’s daughter had a life-threatening allergic reaction, everything changed. That moment inspired Denise to launch an allergy-friendly snack company that’s now worth millions and serves thousands of families across the U.S. But starting a food business from scratch with no baking experience and no outside fundi…
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How Two Friends Quit Their Jobs to Build a Brand That Disrupted the Eyewear Industry
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28:36What do you do when your glasses don’t fit well – and the eyewear industry doesn’t see the problem? For best friends Tracy Green and Nancey Harris, co-founders of Vontélle Eyewear, the answer was bold: start their own company. In the season six premiere of This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez kicks off her personal mission to become more of …
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Small Business Bytes: How UGC Can Help Your Business Stand Out
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6:05What if your customers could become your best marketers? In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez dives into the power of user-generated content (UGC) and why UGC is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. You’ll learn how UGC builds trust, loyalty, and engagement with your audience, discover simpl…
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Small Business Bytes: How to Pitch Your Business Like a Pro
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7:43Your pitch is more than just words – it’s your first impression, your story, and your chance to stand out. But how do you pack all that into just 60 seconds or less? In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez walks you through how to craft an elevator pitch that grabs attention, tells a compelling story,…
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Small Business Bytes: How to Tell Your Business Story and Drive Customer Loyalty
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8:19People don’t just buy products – they buy stories. So how do you tell yours in a way that sticks, connects, and builds loyalty? In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez explains how you can write a brand story that does more than just sell – it builds a loyal customer base. You’ll learn how to craft yo…
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Small Business Bytes: How to Overcome Perfection and Start Doing
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9:47Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. It’s the voice that whispers, ‘Just one more tweak,’ while your competitors are already out there, learning and growing. In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez dives into why waiting for perfection can sabotage your success – and what you can do to break free a…
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Discover how your deeper purpose can be a practical tool for long-term planning and overcoming challenges. In the first minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez dives into the #1 thing every business needs to work on to be able to thrive: your why. Get inspired from past guests like Sean Brownlee of Ravenox, w…
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Ready to take the leap? This is the home for bold risk-takers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
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2:52What’s the boldest risk you’ve ever taken? For entrepreneurs, risk is the heart of the journey. In our newest season of This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez takes you behind the scenes with founders who’ve turned "maybe one day" into "let’s do this!" Join Andrea as she digs into the stories of fearless entrepreneurs who’ve made life-changing…
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Sleeping Under the Stars with Haven Tents
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21:04In the season finale of This is Small Business: Behind the Buy, we follow Derek Tillotson, founder of Haven Tents, and his journey from world traveler to entrepreneur. His game-changing hammock blends the comfort of a bed with the freedom of camping. What started as a family adventure evolved into a crowdfunding success! You can watch Haven Tent's …
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From Leash to Spleash: How a Mother-Daughter Duo Redefined Pet Care
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17:03Meet Kerry Cooke and her daughter Kat, the founders of Spleash—a multi-functional dog leash holder that hydrates, cools, and cleans your pet on the go. Kerry and Kat share the emotional journey behind their product, born from a need to care for their own dogs during tough times. They reveal the challenges they faced, from sketching the first design…
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From Blisters to Breakthrough: Behind Shezza Socks' Viral Success
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19:06Tiffany Gil, the CEO and inventor behind Shezza Socks, creates foam-padded socks designed to prevent blisters. Tiffany's journey to entrepreneurship started as a high schooler struggling with painful blisters from new shoes. After years of refining her idea and overcoming challenges—like securing funding by winning a cross-country lawnmower race—Ti…
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Stay Dry In Style: Waterproof Headwear Reimagined
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19:57Meet Khadijah Robinson, the founder and CEO of Aqua Waterproof Headwear, a line of waterproof turbans and head wraps. Khadijah's journey began with a personal challenge: trying to protect her hair extensions while snorkelling on vacation. Frustrated by the lack of suitable products, she created her own solution—waterproof headwear that is both styl…
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Beyond the Needle: Redefining Relief with Painless Picasso
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17:15Jaime Salcedo, the founder of Painless Picasso, a numbing cream designed to alleviate pain during tattooing, piercing, waxing, and laser treatments shares his entrepreneurial story. From his beginnings as a tattoo artist to creating a product that challenges the norm in the beauty industry, Jaime shares the highs and lows of building a business fro…
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Comfort in Every Bite: A Pet Feeder Born from Love
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17:58Meet Debra Mastic, the founder of Fluff Trough, a pet feeder designed to enhance mealtime comfort for our furry friends. Debra shares her heartfelt journey, inspired by her beloved pug, Porkchop, who struggled during mealtime. From the challenges of launching a business to overcoming personal obstacles, including a cancer diagnosis, Debra’s story i…
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Mixing It Up: Turning a Smoothie Mishap into the Whiskee Straw
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18:40Meet Anissa Pfeifer, the CEO and inventor of the Whiskee Straw, a unique straw with a whisk at the bottom designed to mix drinks like smoothies and coffee. Anissa shares the emotional journey behind creating her product, from the early struggles of running a small boutique to the breakthrough moment when she invented the Whiskee Straw. With her bus…
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Comfort on the Go: Redefining Relaxation at New Heights
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17:10Meet Chris Osse, the founder of Armbie, a unique dual-arm support sling designed for comfort during long flights. Chris shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, revealing the challenges and triumphs he faced while bringing his innovative product to market. Join us as we explore the passion behind Armbie, the lessons learned along the way, …
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A Taste of Tradition: Infusing Heritage in Every Sip
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17:58Kayla Castañeda, founder of Agua Bonita, brings a refreshing twist to the traditional Mexican drink, aguas frescas, blending heritage and innovation in every sip. With a rich personal story rooted in her family's heritage, Kayla's mission is to share an elevated version of this beloved beverage. After navigating challenges like job loss during the …
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Turning Tactics into Teaching: A Veteran’s Journey to Gamifying Science
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12:36From a chaotic childhood to joining the military at 17, this entrepreneur discovered the therapeutic power of science and gamified it. In this special Veteran's Day episode of This is Small Business, John Coveyou, founder and CEO of Genius Games, a science-based board game company that has sold over half a million units worldwide, shares his journe…
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Knock Their Socks Off: A Fresh Solution to a Stinky Problem
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19:00Matthew Tesvich, the CEO of Skunk Skin turned his personal battle with stinky feet into a thriving business with his innovative odorless socks. Hear about his experience on "Buy It Now," where he impressed judges like Jamie Siminoff, and learn the key lessons he gathered on entrepreneurship, marketing, and overcoming challenges. You can watch Skunk…
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Cooking up Dreams: A King’s Entrepreneurial Adventure
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16:04Meet Keith Lorren, a.k.a. The Spice King on Buy It Now. With his aromatic cooking seasonings, he swooned a panel of industry judges, complete with a live cooking demo and an original song. We delve into how his vibrant personality and unique approach won him a spot in the Buy It Now store and a $20,000 prize. Tune in for an inspiring story of perse…
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Catch and Release: A Family’s Blueprint for Business Success
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20:10“Stumble, stumble forward.” That’s the key advice of Scott and Paige Putnam, founders of Swat n Scoop, and winners of Prime Video's Buy It Now. This father-daughter entrepreneurial duo share the origins of their innovative product, which began with a scream— the kind every parent knows all too well. With a blend of humour and heart, they discuss th…
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Every Entrepreneurs Dream: ‘Your Product Is a Life Saver!’
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24:18A tragedy near-miss turned this healthcare professional into an entrepreneur. Her toddler was crying, but no sound was coming out: a clear sign of choking for any medical professional. Felicia Jackson's nightmare scenario inspired a product that is literally saving lives: CPR Wrap. Host, Andrea Marquez explores the backstory and journey of Felicia’…
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Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Stories That Inspire
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19:57A behind-the-scenes look into Emmy Award-nominated entrepreneurship show "Start Up" on PBS. Gary Bredow and Jenny Feterovich explore the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship and the journey that led them to creating their successful show Start Up. Gary reflects on his childhood experiences that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, while Jenny s…
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TISB: Behind the Buy – The Official Companion Podcast of Buy It Now from Prime Video
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2:56Are you an entrepreneur looking to turn your big idea into a successful business? Welcome to "This is Small Business: Behind the Buy", the official companion podcast to the Buy it Now show from Amazon Prime Video. Hosted by Andrea Marquez from This is Small Business, and featuring Jamie Siminoff, creator of Ring, this special season of TISB dives d…
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Leveraging Third-Party Logistics: The Ups and Downs of Starting a Remote Business
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11:35Can you still start a business if you’ve got no space or time to create, store, and pack your products at home? Just ask Marilyn Yang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Popadelics, who managed to do just that by starting her business remotely using third party logistics. She shares the ins and outs of outsourcing your operations as a startup, some of the e…
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Stand Out in a Competitive Market: How Ads Can Help You Get Noticed
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12:39How can the right ad strategy help your business stand out in a crowded market? Just ask Kyle Goguen and Garrett Gosselin, the co-founders of CRBN Pickleball, who transformed their passion for pickleball into a thriving brand by leveraging the power of Amazon Ads. Discover how the right advertising helped them showcase their unique brand identity a…
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Unlocking Business Grants: Strategies for Securing Funding
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17:44Ever wondered how to get a cash injection for your business without giving up equity or taking on debt? Just ask Elise Lambkin, the founder of Lil Sippers, who landed a game-changing for-profit grant that helped propel her business forward. Elise breaks down the entire process of applying for the Amazon Business Small Business Grant, from finding t…
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Bonus: How AI-generated content can help you level up
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43:02What if you could revolutionize your Amazon business with cutting-edge AI tools? Join us as we uncover the latest advancements from the Amazon Accelerate event in Seattle, with exclusive insights from Andrea Marquez of Amazon’s This Is Small Business podcast. We dive into the game-changing world of AI-generated A+ content, as well as the exciting d…
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Want to build an award-winning business that not only thrives but also makes a real difference? Just ask Justin Forsett, former NFL player and CEO and co-founder of Hustle Clean, who turned his side hustle to a successful community-focused brand! In a live recording, we catch up with Justin, winner of the Amazon Force for Good Award. He reveals how…
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Four Keys to Business Growth: Capital, Confidence, Community, and Congress
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11:05Ever wondered how being part of an entrepreneurial community can be the game-changer your business needs? Just ask Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners aka NAWBO, who believes that surrounding yourself with a good network can propel your business to the next level. To celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month, w…
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From Concept to Reality: Building and Validating Your Business Idea
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25:31How do you transform an everyday problem into a product that people want to buy? Just ask Ray Philips, the CEO of SoapSox, who turned children’s bath-time struggles into a product that resonated with so many people. Ray shares how he validated his idea and navigated the bumps throughout his entrepreneurial journey. And if you're still in the brains…
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How Culture Can Lead to Unique Business Opportunities
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20:22Want to know how your culture can give your business an edge? Just ask Mayra Luz Colon, the founder of Healthy Rican, who fused her Puerto Rican roots with her passion for healthy living to create a successful line of mom-approved seasonings. Mayra shares how she overcame imposter-syndrome, connected with her community, and pivoted from coaching to…
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How Influencer Marketing Can Help You Grow Your Business
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13:43Ever wondered how to make influencer marketing a game-changer for your small business? Just ask Brittany Hennessy, the bestselling author of "INFLUENCER: Building Your Personal Brand In The Age of Social Media." Brittany reveals how small businesses can leverage the power of influencers to enhance their brand, reach new audiences, and drive sales. …
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How to Master Your Pre-Launch Strategy with Jay Clouse
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13:03Want to make sure everyone knows about your product before it launches? Just ask Jay Clouse, the founder of Creator Science, who was able to generate six figure sales within the first few days of launching his product, Creatore HQ, all thanks to a carefully thought out pre-launch strategy. Jay shares his approach to building anticipation through co…
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Growth Secrets for Food Entrepreneurs: Expanding from Farmer's Markets to E-Commerce
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25:44Wondering if your small business is ready to scale and how to smoothly transition into e-commerce? Just ask Val Fishbain, co-founder of Spread the Love Foods, who successfully took her business from the local farmer’s market to the online world, all while staying true to her community roots. Val shares her experience selling at farmer’s markets, wh…
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