Forward Obsessed

Changing The Game Of Alcohol Delivery With Lindsey Andrews

Lindsey 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 challenges of navigating the highly regulated alcohol industry and the importance of having a strong network of advisors and investors. Andrews also touches on the difficulties of fundraising as a first-time entrepreneur and a woman in a male-dominated industry.
 
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers. Andrews' journey is an excellent example of how to navigate the challenges of building a successful startup in a highly regulated industry. Her insights on fundraising, team building, and work-life balance are invaluable for anyone looking to start or grow a business. Additionally, her experience with the acquisition of Minibar and her decision to start a new venture provide a unique perspective on the different paths entrepreneurs can take after a successful exit.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:58) Lindsey Andrews' upbringing and early exposure to business
(00:07:07) Educational journey at Stanford and Wharton
(00:10:11) Early career experiences at Fresh Direct, Amazon, and Quidsi
(00:15:30) Aha moment and founding Minibar
(00:20:15) Navigating regulatory challenges in the alcohol delivery industry
(00:23:18) Fundraising challenges and lessons learned
(00:26:05) Building a strong team and leveraging outsourced talent
(00:30:39) Positioning and marketing strategies for Minibar
(00:35:41) Losing a term sheet and managing cash burn during difficult times
(00:42:44) Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood
(00:45:41) Growth and impact of COVID-19 on Minibar's business
(00:49:52) Decision to sell Minibar and the acquisition process
(00:53:38) Taking time off and deciding to start a new venture, Revito
(00:58:17) Inspiration behind Revido and challenges of building a new startup
(01:02:59) Fundraising for Revido and current challenges
(01:08:12) Lindsey's daughter's perception of her as an entrepreneur
(01:11:08) Conclusion and key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs and founders
Episode Links
 
⁠Minibar⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' on-demand alcohol delivery startup
⁠Revido⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' new venture focused on trusted recommendations
⁠Reserve Bar⁠ - The company that acquired Minibar in 2021
⁠Fresh Direct⁠ - Lindsey Andrews worked here prior to founding Minibar
Support & Connect
 
 
Forward Obsessed Website: ⁠www.forwardobsessed.com⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/⁠
TikTok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/⁠
 

The Future Of Venture Funding With Jason Kirby

Jason 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 his experience thriving in chaos and his ability to align teams towards a common goal.
 
Kirby's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges and setbacks. He emphasizes the value of learning from failure, building strong relationships, and staying committed to one's vision. His journey from photographer to successful tech founder and investor is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of startups, fundraising, and entrepreneurship. Kirby's firsthand accounts of navigating acquisitions, pivoting business models, and managing team dynamics provide invaluable lessons for founders, MBA students, and managers alike. His story serves as a reminder that success often comes from embracing chaos, learning from failure, and never giving up.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction and sponsorship messages(00:03:15) Jason Kirby's early entrepreneurial journey and photography business(00:10:32) Launching San Diego Photography Classes and the importance of asking questions(00:15:19) Transitioning from photographer to business person with Toggly marketplace(00:23:09) Raising capital for Togally and the importance of targeting the right investors(00:26:25) Almost getting acquired by Kodak and lessons learned(00:29:40) Joining Liquid Sky as Co-Founder and raising $12 million(00:36:17) Samsung's acquisition offer and the deal falling through(00:41:15) Pivoting Liquid Sky's business model and securing enterprise contracts(00:43:44) Getting acquired by Walmart and the stressful acquisition process(00:49:54) Becoming a Walmart employee and the shutdown of the gaming project(00:51:51) Consulting for Generation Esports and helping them scale(00:56:56) Raising funds for Generation Esports and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic(01:02:45) Leaving Generation Esports due to differences in vision(01:05:04) Founding Thunder.VC and building an AI-powered investment bank(01:09:16) Identifying people who thrive in chaos and the importance of perseverance
 
Episode Links
 
Thunder.VC: https://web.thunder.vc/Jason Kirby's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonkirbyJason Kirby's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (Book): Amazon LinkJason Kirby's podcast: Fundraising Demystified
 
Visit our sponsors:
Daas Good: ⁠www.daasgood.design⁠
Digital Surgeons: ⁠www.weareds.com⁠
 
Support & ConnectForward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/
 

Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone With Jess Lynch

Jess 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 intuition, problem-obsession, and genuinely caring for people.
 
The interview touches on many topics valuable to founders and business leaders. Jess emphasizes the importance of having a technical co-founder or trusted advisor early on. She shares recommendations for managing fear, getting comfortable with discomfort, and pushing past the limits of your comfort zone. Additional insights include lessons learned from fundraising, managing investor relationships, preparing for acquisition, and running an accelerator program.
 
A key theme is Jess' remarkable perseverance and her development of an innate sense for when to push forward versus when it's time to change course. Her story demonstrates that entrepreneurial success requires hard work and also an element of luck or good timing. Overall, Jess Lynch provides a wealth of practical knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in startups, venture capital, or leadership. This is a must-listen episode packed with forward-thinking wisdom.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:06) Early entrepreneurial interests and family backdrop(00:05:31) Brother's juvenile diabetes diagnosis inspires family lifestyle changes(00:07:16) Educational background at Babson College(00:10:59) Early career in forensic accounting at PwC(00:15:33) Leaving corporate career to pursue entrepreneurial path(00:18:22) Working on BP oil spill litigation(00:23:32) Finding the idea for Wishroute while at Babson MBA program(00:25:37) Launching Wishroute and early traction(00:27:34) Pandemic causes pivot from gyms to direct-to-consumer(00:30:58) Fundraising challenges as a female founder without technical background(00:32:04) Mental health during startup struggles and running out of cash(00:36:41) Large potential acquirer ends up building internally instead(00:42:26) Emotionally difficult decision to pursue acquisition of Wishroute(00:43:04) Warning signs when deal-making with large companies(00:44:51) Importance of letter of intent in M&A process(00:47:19) Securing acquisition despite numerous setbacks(00:49:20) Lifelong lessons in resilience from journey(00:50:07) Reluctance to jump back into startup founder role after acquisition(00:53:30) Currently supporting portfolio companies and investing in CT
 
Episode Links
 
Wishroute (founded by Jess Lynch): https://www.wishroute.com/
Raiz Capital (co-founded by Jess Lynch) https://raiz.vc/
Babson College: https://www.babson.edu/
Techstars: https://www.techstars.com/
Suggestic: https://suggestic.com/
Guidely: https://guidely.com/
Jessica  Lynch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicallynch/
Jessica Lynch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicallynch
Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/
The Lean Startup book - https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898
Brian Chesky episode on Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach
 
Support & ConnectForward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/
 

From Pioneering Facial Recognition to Apple Acquisition With Adi Eckhouse Barzilai

Adi 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 lessons from her entrepreneurial journey in the high-risk world of consumer tech startups. For young founders, she strongly advocates getting hands-on experience learning computer science to better grasp future opportunities. Adi also believes time working at a top corporation exposes priceless insights on how elite marketing, product development, and operational scale-up works behind the scenes.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:00) Adi's background and early entrepreneurial influences
(00:06:00) Studying computer science and working at Procter & Gamble
(00:10:00) Getting an MBA from Columbia Business School
(00:14:00) The importance of branding for startups
(00:17:00) Adi's thoughts on MBAs and issues of antisemitism on campus
(00:20:00) The hostage crisis in Gaza
(00:23:00) Defining what a brand is
(00:26:00) Why investing in brand matters for startups
(00:30:00) Pivoting RealFace from a consumer app to facial recognition
(00:35:00) The challenges of being a startup founder/CEO
(00:40:00) Having the entrepreneurial "bug" and the importance of co-founders
(00:45:00) Differentiating between tech and product companies
(00:48:00) The niche strategy behind RealFace's technology
(00:55:00) Connecting with Apple and maintaining secrecy
(01:00:00) Negotiating the acquisition deal with Apple
(01:05:00) The emotional rollercoaster of the startup journey
(01:10:00) Adi's feeling when the Apple acquisition closed
(01:15:00) Trying to launch a nonprofit after the exit
(01:20:00) Why Adi is passionate about education and empowering girls
Episode Links
Procter & Gamble (former employer): https://us.pg.com/
RealFace (Co-Founder and CEO): https://www.timesofisrael.com/apple-buys-israels-facial-recognition-firm-realface-report/
Adi’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adi-eckhouse-barzilai-8000928/
 
Support & ConnectForward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/

Betting On Blockchain: The Future Of Sports Betting With Alex Dubin

Alex 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 perseverance, he co-founded a sports data and analytics company focused on the exploding esports industry and was acquired within two years.
 
Alex then combined his passion for sports and his legal background to co-found BettorOff. With over 50 million sports bettors in the U.S. relying on questionable information sources, BettorOff verifies betting records and gives handicappers an equitable way to build reputation and community. The company wants to be the go-to source for sportsbook players and content creators in a niche Alex calls the “OnlyFans for sports betting”. He believes relentless pursuit of purpose and passion is key to thriving through the startup wilderness.
 
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:29) Early career and background
(00:04:48) College struggles and resilience
(00:07:01) Getting Miami Heat internship
(00:10:00) Learning from Coach Pat Riley
(00:14:44) Launching fantasy sports fund
(00:18:26) Leaving law firm
(00:22:45) Shutting down the fund
(00:24:37) Pivoting to sports data startup
(00:26:34) ESPN partnership
(00:30:56) Acquisition by SportsGrid
(00:35:27) Starting BettorOff
(00:41:03) Building remote teams
(00:44:31) Fundraising approach
(00:48:19) Previous startup exits
(00:50:07) Parent reactions
(00:52:15) Vision for BettorOff
(00:55:52) Handicapper transparency
(01:00:07) Sports betting portfolio model
(01:02:18) Social network aspects
(01:06:57) Remote work culture
(01:17:53) Monetization models
(01:20:10) Market viability
 
Episode Links
BettorOff: https://www.bettoroff.com/Miami Heat: https://www.nba.com/heat
Alex’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dubin-41834261/
Pat RIley Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Riley
Winning Time (TV SHow): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winning_Time:_The_Rise_of_the_Lakers_Dynasty
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/

Breaking Barriers For Women In Tech With Beverly Parenti

Beverly 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 Virtual Holdings and other startups, as well as cofounding the KickLabs accelerator, which successfully launched massive companies like Wish.com. Her current project is The Last Mile, which provides training in coding, web development, and other technical skills to prepare incarcerated individuals for careers in technology upon release. The organization has expanded to 8 states and gained support from leaders in business, government, and philanthropy. Parenti emphasizes the need to break generational cycles of incarceration and allow individuals to become productive members of society. Her journey and the work of The Last Mile showcase the power of purposeful work, compassion, and redemption.
 
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction of Beverly Parenti
(00:02:10) Parenti's childhood and entrepreneurial parents
(00:08:53) Launching the First Virtual Holdings payment system
(00:14:01) Moving to California and starting retail businesses
(00:21:34) Getting into tech/consulting in San Francisco
(00:25:57) Meeting Chris Redlitz and joining his startup
(00:30:34) Taking First Virtual Holdings public
(00:31:03) Leaving First Virtual Holdings and consulting
(00:33:48) Joining AdAuction.com with Chris Redlitz
(00:44:27) Starting KickLabs Accelerator
(00:51:02) KickLabs success stories like Wish.com
(00:55:50) Partnership with Chris Redlitz
(01:05:59) Cofounding The Last Mile nonprofit
(01:11:39) Expanding The Last Mile to reduce recidivism
 
Episode Links
 
Marketplace Consulting: https://www.marketplaceconsultinggroup.com/
The Last Mile: https://thelastmile.org/
The Last Mile Radio: https://thelastmileradio.org/
HBR Case Study on First Virtual Holdings: https://store.hbr.org/product/first-virtual-holdings-inc-a/98E007#:~:text=Source%3A%20Ivey%20Publishing-,First%20Virtual%20Holdings%2C%20Inc.,and%20services%20over%20the%20Internet.
 
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/

Best Of Forward Obsessed - 2023 Holiday Recap

This 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. Next Year, we will be taking the first 50 episodes of forward Obsessed and will distill this priceless entrepreneurial knowledge into a single book, one that we plan to get into your hands by next summer. Stay tuned :) 
Being Forward Obsessed means taking your learnings from the past and applying them to the endeavors of the future with unbending resolve, curiosity, and ambition. One thing we have learned is that we have the best fanbase ever - thanks to people like you, sharing our episodes and clips, we reached over 3 million people in 2024 across all our channels. 
As our year draws to a close, We are doing our yearly wrap, and we need your help, the audience, the listeners, who we do it for, to find the best clip. We have decided to award 5 of you a free Forward Obsessed T-shirt, one of the legendary “Progress, Pitfalls, and Pivots” mugs you see on every episode, and a signed copy of the Forward Obsessed book when it drops next year. In order to be eligible, you have to do the following: Pick out your favorite Forward Obsessed clip from our social media, share it to your instagram, share it to your instagram TikTok, share it to your instagram LinkedIn account, and Tag us so we can see it, and you will be in the running
From the entire team here at Digital Surgeons in New Haven Connecticut, we would like to thank you, the viewers and listeners, for your support, your feedback, your energy, and your genuine excitement that you shared with us in the last year. As a part of our end-of-year tradition, we decided to compile the top moment from every episode in the last year, as chosen by our viewers and listeners through their engagement. Like last year, It was tough to omit any piece of knowledge that our amazing guests brought to the table, as every episode presents a brilliant perspective on what it means to be an entrepreneur. I hope you enjoy these clips, take inspiration from these outstanding minds, and step into the new year refreshed and Forward Obsessed. 
Support & Connect
 
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

From Startup To Selling For Half A Billion With Ben Kartzman

Ben 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 the right team, and learning to balance optimism with realism as an entrepreneur. He also provides an inside look at acquisition negotiations and building rapport with potential buyers. For entrepreneurs and aspiring founders, this interview offers hard-won wisdom on persevering through difficult times, pivoting business models, and creating successful exits. Kartzman shows that with resilience, adaptability, and the right teammates, one can navigate the turbulent waters of the startup world to build substantial companies.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction of Guest: Ben Kartzman(00:04:43) Kartzman's Early Interest in Entrepreneurship(00:10:13) Kartzman's Experience During the Dot-Com Bubble(00:14:28) Pivoting to Consulting(00:18:18) Learning Entrepreneurial Skills Through Consulting(00:20:09) Key Lessons from Early Mentors(00:23:33) Working at a Startup While Having a Full-Time Job(00:27:03) Kartzman's Strong Work Ethic and Drive(00:29:03) Modeling Entrepreneurship and Work Ethic for His Kids(00:35:31) Founding SpongeCell and Early Pivots(00:39:04) Focusing on Revenue Instead of Fundraising(00:41:19) Making Difficult Decisions Like Layoffs(00:43:52) SpongeCell's Innovations in Ad Tech(00:45:26) The Dangers of Prematurely Scaling(00:49:55) Navigating Shifts in Market Dynamics(00:52:17) Thoughts on Middle Management(00:53:01) Acquisition Offers and Deciding to Remain Independent(01:00:39) Navigating Conflicts with Investors(01:04:40) Choosing the Right Acquirer(01:08:23) Traits to Look for in a Buyer(01:10:35) Was the FlashTalking Acquisition Serendipitous?(01:12:38) Joining FlashTalking Post-Acquisition(01:18:49) The Importance of Retaining Your Team Through Exits(01:19:33) Being COO of a Multi-Billion Dollar Company(01:21:49) Does Kartzman Miss Being a Startup CEO?(01:25:13) The State of Ad Tech Innovation Today
Episode Links
Mediaocean: https://www.mediaocean.com/
FlashTalking: https://www.flashtalking.com/
SpongeCell: https://www.spongecell.com/
Toga Builders: http://www.togabuilders.com/
Carnegie Mellon University: https://www.cmu.edu/
Seabridge: https://www.seabridgegold.com/
BridgeLine: https://www.bridgeline.com/
Accenture: https://www.accenture.com/
Union Square Ventures: https://www.usv.com/
Dissidia/Guidestar: https://www.guidestar.org/
Support & Connect
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeonsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeonsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

From The Bronx To A 9-Figure Exit With André Swanston

Andre 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 saw streaming media was going to transform the industry.
Despite the many systemic obstacles facing Black founders in fundraising and scaling startups, Andre managed to bootstrap early operations and eventually raise VC funding for Tru Optik. He built an exceptionally diverse leadership team that out-hustled the competition. Tru Optik focused on dominating the nascent connected TV space years before it became the center of digital media. Their technology and exclusive partnerships enabled them to accelerate rapidly when streaming demand exploded during the pandemic.
Now Andre has set his ambitious sights on bringing an MLS soccer team to Connecticut by 2026. He sees huge untapped potential in making it one of the most valuable soccer clubs globally, with the state's dense population, high income, passion for sports, and strategic location in the Northeast market. His bold goals, perseverance in the face of obstacles, and commitment to his team make Andre a standout founder story.
Episode Outline
(00:02:00) Andre's immigrant upbringing and early drive for education(00:05:38) Getting a scholarship to a prep school and grinding with independence(00:10:00) Dealing with stereotypes and recognizing common motivations(00:13:32) The evolution of his family's status over generations(00:15:37) Attempts at entrepreneurship with restaurants and nightlife promotions(00:21:28) Witnessing friends and clients pursuing startup investments(00:23:42) Recognizing streaming media as the future and assembling a founding team(00:28:41) His wife becoming a crucial partner in the business(00:32:04) Strategically building an exceptionally diverse team(00:34:01) Dominating the market by focusing early on connected TV(00:37:04) The systemic funding obstacles facing Black founders(00:39:30) Locking in partnerships and IPs years in advance of the streaming boom(00:42:16) Structuring an acquisition deal to reward the team's sacrifice(00:44:00) Weighing future fundraising potential vs securing a strategic win(00:46:47) Bold visions setting the stage for going after an MLS team(00:51:46) Assessing the untapped market potential in Connecticut
 
Episode Links
Andre’s LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreswanston/)
Andre’s Website (https://www.swanston.org/)
Andre’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/AndreSwanston)
TruOptik, Acquired by TransUnion) (https://www.transunion.com/)
 
Support & Connect
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Working Hard Is Not Enough With Jared James

Jared 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 skills like public speaking and relationship-building. Jared provides tactical advice for entrepreneurs looking to build visibility and connect directly with their audience. He stresses the power of social media, email marketing, and speaking engagements to reach potential customers. A key mindset shift he recommends is creating content with no expectation of immediate returns.
The interview covers topics like authentic self-expression, managing success, and navigating criticism. He also shares how he stays grounded through constant self-reflection.
 
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction to Jared James
(00:02:00) Jared's childhood and entrepreneurial beginnings
(00:07:15) Jared's experience working odd jobs and realizing he wanted more
(00:10:00) Jared getting into real estate and becoming number one agent in the country
(00:15:00) The difference between working hard and working smart
(00:20:00) Jared's uncle advising him to aim higher in life
(00:25:00) Jared transitioning into public speaking and building his personal brand
(00:30:00) Being your authentic self publicly vs. privately
(00:35:00) Responding to jokes/comments that offend some people
(00:40:00) The duality and insecurities within successful people
(00:45:00) Jared building direct relationships with his audience
(00:50:00) Jared's journey with writing books
(00:55:00) The role of feedback and criticism in becoming successful
(01:00:00) Jared being introverted and letting few people see his full personality
(01:05:00) Drawing boundaries on how much of yourself to share publicly
(01:10:00) Jared's portfolio of companies and entrepreneurial pursuits
(01:15:00) The real estate industry and reactions to lawsuits
(01:20:00) Jared's First Up real estate tech company
(01:25:00) Jared acquiring companies to solve problems he sees
(01:30:00) Jared leveraging everything in his life to do more with less
(01:35:00) Rejecting the fear of rejection and putting yourself out there
(01:40:00) Where to find Jared online
Episode Links
Connect with Jared: https://www.connectwithjared.com/
Website: https://www.jaredjamestoday.com/
Enjoy Success Today (Book): https://www.amazon.com/ENJOY-SUCCESS-TODAY-Thriving-Business/dp/160145855X
Get Out of Your Way (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-YOUR-Jared-James/dp/1633672786
Podcast Info
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
Support & Connect
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