Gritty Founder
Gritty Founder
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Top 10 Gritty Founder Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Gritty Founder episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Gritty Founder for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Gritty Founder episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
00073. How Dutch Bros Coffee Founder Travis Boersma Built a Mind-Blowing Coffee Company with over 300 Locations
Gritty Founder
11/15/19 • 64 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Travis Boersma talks about how he and his brother started Dutch Bros Coffee. Travis shares terrific advice on the importance of goal setting, designing your life, and finding a business partner.
Travis Boersma is the CEO and co-founder of Dutch Bros Coffee, the largest privately held drive-thru coffee company in the U.S. He is deeply involved in day-to-day operations but also invested in maintaining the culture that he and his late brother, co-founder Dane, both worked hard to nurture.
Some Questions Travis Answers:
What were the first initial steps you took to get traction? (19:49)
How did you come up with the idea to start with a pushcart? (22:00)
What were the initial customers saying about the product? (26:12)
At what point did you realize you need to add more locations? (30:07)
What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (38:38)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Travis’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:28)
How Travis came up with the idea for Dutch Bros Coffee and started the company with his brother (12:52)
How Travis and his brother grew the business (30:07)
The importance of goal setting (33:04)
Advice on designing your life (38:57)
The danger of becoming complacent (42:43)
Advice on finding a co-founder (48:39)
Connect with Travis Boersma:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Travis’s favorite quote:
“Success isn't owned, it's rented, and the rent is due every day.”
Travis’s book recommendation:
1 Listener
00052. How Andrea Loubier Co-Founded Mailbird and Built an Email Software Empire from the Tropical Island of Bali
Gritty Founder
10/25/19 • 58 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Andrea Loubier talks about how she built and grew Mailbird. Andrea shares valuable advice on finding cofounders, running a remote company, and creating work-life balance.
Andrea Loubier is the CEO of Mailbird and among the top tech leaders in Southeast Asia. She's passionate about the future of work, building a healthy relationship with technology.
Some Questions Andrea Answers:
How did you come up with the idea for Mailbird? (10:47)
- What’s the biggest change to the product since you started? (13:43)
- How did you meet your cofounders and decide to build a company together? (14:40)
- What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (20:39)
- When did you realize you were gritty? (22:18)
- Do you think grittiness and determination are in someone’s DNA or can they be developed? (23:02)
- If you could go back in time to when you just started Mailbird, what advice would you give yourself? (27:46)
- What is the entrepreneurial ecosystem like in Bali? (31:07)
- How do you manage work-life balance? (35:42)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Andrea’s background and how she became an entrepreneur (4:21)
- How Andrea started Mailbird (10:56)
- Advice when looking for cofounders (18:32)
- The importance of determination and finding a way to make it happen no matter what (20:51)
- Do the necessary research before executing (28:02)
- The importance of learning when to say no to things (28:44)
- Advice on prioritization and work-life balance, especially when working remotely (29:15)
- Tips on running a remote company (42:00)
- There are times when you need to make decisions based on a gut feeling and not just data (43:26)
- The importance of team culture and advice for hiring (45:57)
Connect with Andrea Loubier:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Andrea’s favorite quote:
“Balance is the ultimate goal.”
Andrea’s book recommendation:
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Dan Norris talks about how he built and sold WP Curve, wrote five books, and founded Black Hops Brewing.
Dan Norris is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning content marketer, international speaker, and the co-founder of WP Curve. Dan is also the co-founder of Black Hops Brewing, a craft beer brewery in Australia.
Some Questions Dan Answers:
How did you come up with the idea for WP Curve? (7:02)
- How did you build your audience for WP Curve? (15:02)
- What do you think is one of the most important ingredients for a founder to be successful? (20:06)
- After hearing other people tell you WP Curve was not a good idea, at what point did you know they were wrong? (22:35)
- How do you deal with failure? (28:09)
- What advice can you give someone who is thinking about an idea and they are in the early stages of it? (32:43)
- What is one thing you find to be true that most people would disagree with? (39:33)
- What are all the books you’ve written? (44:58)
- How do you take care of your well being as an entrepreneur? (47:47)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Dan’s journey as an entrepreneur and how he built WP Curve and Black Hops Brewing (4:34)
- The importance of taking full ownership as an entrepreneur (20:15)
- Don’t be afraid to shut down an idea and move on to something else (33:16)
- To take advice from yourself (42:20)
- You could do everything right, and things may still not go your way (49:04)
Connect with Dan Norris:
Twitter
Personal Website
Black Hops Brewing
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Dan’s favorite quote:
“It’s better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others.” ―Ricky Gervais
Dan’s book recommendations:
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
00042. How Wil Schroter Built and Grew Startups.com, the World's Largest Startup Launch Platform
Gritty Founder
10/15/19 • 59 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Wil Schroter talks about how he built Startups.com. Wil shares terrific advice on getting your product in front of customers as soon as possible, as well as insights into the acquisition process.
Wil Schroter is the Founder + CEO of Startups.com, the world's largest startup launch platform.
Some Questions Wil Answers:
How did you know starting a company was the right thing to do at the age of 19? (11:27)
- If you could go back in time before you started your first company, what advice would you give yourself? (16:52)
- What was the acquisition process like for the companies Startups.com has acquired? (31:04)
- What are the revenue streams for Startups.com? (42:49)
- What advice can you give to the founders who are listening? (52:31)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Wil’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started Startups.com (4:11)
- How Wil built and grew Startups.com through acquisitions (31:04)
- The story of how Startups.com acquired Zirtual (43:06)
- You never start off with the right idea (53:06)
- You can only plan so far. Just get your product out there. (56:18)
Connect with Wil Schroter:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Wil’s favorite quote:
“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” ―Wayne Gretzky
Wil’s book recommendations:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
00040. How John Doherty Bootstrapped Marketplace Credo After Being Laid off from a Six Figure Job
Gritty Founder
10/13/19 • 50 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, John Doherty talks about how he built and grew Credo. John shares advice on starting an agency, attracting clients, and developing the right business model.
John Doherty is the founder/CEO of Credo, a marketplace connecting businesses with vetted digital marketing firms. He lives in Denver with his wife, daughter, and dog.
Some Questions John Answers:
When did you get the idea to start something on your own? (9:53)
- What is Credo’s business model? (15:50)
- What has been the most important ingredient throughout this journey that has contributed to your success? (22:20)
- What have you done to market Credo? (24:57)
- What advice can you give for someone who is starting an agency? (30:02)
- How do you identify coaches that can help you as a founder? (38:41)
- Can you share a story that at the time felt like a negative experience, but looking back it was a blessing in disguise? (43:03)
- What’s your plan for the future of Credo? (46:09)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About John’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:18)
- How John started Credo (10:04)
- Build a brand that people know and trust (22:32)
- Marketing tips and strategies (25:08)
- Advice for attracting clients (30:14)
- Have a network of peers, coaches, and mentors (36:07)
- Thoughts on raising venture capital (41:16)
Connect with John Doherty:
Twitter
Personal Website
Credo
Also Mentioned on This Show...
John’s favorite quote:
“Why do people want to be rich and famous? Why not just be rich, being famous is a pain in the ass.” ―Naval Ravikant
John’s book recommendation:
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Paul Berberian talks about his journey building seven businesses over the course of his career. Paul shares valuable advice on staying future-focused, optimistic, and gritty.
Paul Berberian is the former CEO and co-founder of Raindance Communications, a web and phone conferencing services company acquired by West Corporation in 2006. Before founding Raindance, he was co-founder and CEO of LINK-VTC, a video teleconferencing company, which was sold in 1995 to Frontier Communications. Paul is a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy.
Some Questions Paul Answers:
When did you decide you wanted to start a company? (7:39)
- What was your first tech company? (11:08)
- What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (36:41)
- What is one thing that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (40:18)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Paul’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:30)
- How Paul built and sold his first tech business, LINK-VTC (12:21)
- The story of how Paul and his co-founders took Raindance Communications public (30:28)
- Founders need to be future-focused and optimistic, but also realistic about what has been created (36:58)
- Thoughts on why people have trouble following their dreams (42:56)
Connect with Paul Berberian:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Paul’s favorite quote:
“You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.” —Paul’s father
Paul’s book recommendation:
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
More resources:
Reboot by Jerry Colonna
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Garrett Dimon talks about how he built and sold Sifter. Garrett shares terrific advice on the importance of listening to customers as well as some tips for selling your business.
Garrett spent eight years building Sifter before selling it while dealing with health issues that led to a left below-knee amputation. Now he's turning his experience into a site to help other amputees be more active.
Some Questions Garrett Answers:
At what point did you think you wanted to start a company? (8:18)
- How big was the team for Sifter? (13:01)
- What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder who is starting out? (14:54)
- When things were not going well and you wanted to quit, what would you tell yourself to keep going? (16:11)
- If you could go back in time, what advice would you tell yourself? (24:13)
- What is some advice you can give to a SaaS founder in the early stages of their business? (30:45)
- How did you feel when someone showed interest in buying Sifter? (34:14)
- What is one piece of advice for founders who are trying to sell their business? (41:00)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Garrett’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:34)
- How Garrett built Sifter (8:22)
- The importance of perseverance and sticking with it (15:00)
- Listen to customers and be open to feedback (24:29)
- Talk to customers in person as soon as possible and forever (30:57)
- About the process of selling a business (34:53)
- Trust your gut when deciding to sell your business (41:08)
Connect with Garrett Dimon:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Garrett’s favorite quote:
“Everything takes longer than it does.”
Garrett’s book recommendations:
Christopher Alexander
Edward R. Tufte
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Amiad Soto talks about how he built Guesty. Amiad shares advice on having perseverance, being optimistic, hiring, and the importance of taking care of your health as a founder.
Amiad Soto is co-founder and CEO of Guesty, one of the world’s largest property management platforms for short-term rentals that simplifies and automates all aspects of the property management process.
After launching the disruptor in 2013 with his identical twin brother, Amiad grew Guesty from a Y Combinator funded startup to an international enterprise headquartered in Tel Aviv with 10 global offices and 280+ employees worldwide.
Some Questions Amiad Answers:
What kind of businesses did you start before Guesty? (9:22)
- How did you come up with the idea for Guesty? (12:11)
- Do you remember how you got your first customer? (17:11)
- Was there ever a low point where you guys felt like Guesty wasn’t going to work out? (20:02)
- What advice would you give to a founder who is facing a tough time? (22:11)
- What do you think is the most important ingredient for an entrepreneur? (24:32)
- How do you get over the fear of starting? (27:36)
- If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (31:50)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Amiad’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20)
- How Amiad started Guesty (12:13)
- Don’t start a company unless you are 100% passionate about what you are doing (22:19)
- Be optimistic, but also be able to assess risk in the right way (22:43)
- Just get the job done (24:45)
- Your team is more important than an idea (25:35)
- The importance of taking care of your health (32:33)
Connect with Amiad Soto:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Amiad’s favorite quote:
“Buckle up. It’s going to be a long ride.”
Amiad’s book recommendation:
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
10/20/19 • 59 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, John Higley talks about how he started EQO. John shares why zebra mussels are a huge problem and what his team is building to prevent them from spreading.
Founder of EQO, John honed his skills in cancer research. Now he's using that technology to protect and save the environment.
Some Questions John Answers:
What are zebra mussels? (7:02)
- What happens when zebra mussels are out of control? (7:57)
- What is the big vision for EQO? (18:36)
- Can you turn this into a billion dollar company? (30:49)
- You built a solid company with product-market fit and paying clients, why did you decide to raise money? (37:38)
- What drives you as an entrepreneur? (40:28)
- What do you look for in a candidate you are interviewing? (46:57)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About John’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started EQO (4:15)
- What zebra mussels are and why you should care about them (7:11)
- How EQO services work (25:39)
- Be coachable and humble enough to listen to other people (42:36)
- Never work with friends (44:24)
- Hire carefully. There is no room for drama in an early stage company. (47:03)
- There is no such thing as a self-made person (52:38)
Connect with John Higley:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
John’s favorite quote:
“All truth is simple ... is that not doubly a lie?” ―Friedrich Nietzsche
John’s book recommendation:
Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin
00055. How Emmanuel Straschnov Co-Founded Bubble, a Programming Tool That Makes Code Obsolete
Gritty Founder
10/28/19 • 52 min
On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Emmanuel Straschnov talks about how he built and grew Bubble. Emmanuel shares valuable advice on launching a product, working with cofounders, and building a team.
Emmanuel Straschnov is founder of Bubble, a visual programming software. People have used it to get into YC or raised multi-million dollar rounds. Emmanuel studied at Ecole Polytechnique and received his MBA from Harvard.
Some Questions Emmanuel Answers:
How did you get the entrepreneurial bug? (6:03)
- Describe the initial few months building Bubble. How did you get traction? (9:40)
- What was the first version of Bubble? (17:06)
- Who are your competitors? (18:26)
- What is the largest application that currently runs on Bubble? (20:21)
- What are some limitations of Bubble? (22:53)
- What do you think has been the most important ingredient for your success as a founder? (28:28)
- If you could go back in time before you started Bubble, what advice would you give yourself? (39:33)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Emmanuel’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:25) - How Emmanuel got the idea for Bubble (7:15) - The story of how Emmanuel met his cofounder (8:06) - How Emmanuel and his cofounder started Bubble (9:52) - Be thoughtful about when and how you launch your product (15:11) - The importance of having persistence as a founder (28:42) - Advice on finding and working with a cofounder (31:12) - Hire slowly and other advice on building a team (34:31) - Don’t make decisions out of insecurity (40:46)
Connect with Emmanuel Straschnov:
Also Mentioned on This Show...
Emmanuel’s favorite quote:
“Existence precedes essence.” ―Jean‐Paul Sartre
Emmanuel’s book recommendation:
Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre
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FAQ
How many episodes does Gritty Founder have?
Gritty Founder currently has 74 episodes available.
What topics does Gritty Founder cover?
The podcast is about Business Podcast, Venture Capital, Founder, Entrepreneur, Capitalism, Income, Startup, Podcasts, Business and Careers.
What is the most popular episode on Gritty Founder?
The episode title '00073. How Dutch Bros Coffee Founder Travis Boersma Built a Mind-Blowing Coffee Company with over 300 Locations' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Gritty Founder?
The average episode length on Gritty Founder is 49 minutes.
How often are episodes of Gritty Founder released?
Episodes of Gritty Founder are typically released every day.
When was the first episode of Gritty Founder?
The first episode of Gritty Founder was released on Sep 4, 2019.
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