This Is Small Business

On Episode 5 of This Is Small Business, Andrea sits down with Back To The Roots co-founders Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora to discuss their story of growing from college classmates with a quirky idea to sprout mushrooms out of coffee grounds, into a multi-million dollar garden supply company with a mission to help reconnect a new generation back to food and where it comes from. They produce and distribute easy & fun grow kits to help you get started, or a line of packet seeds if you want to really get your hands dirty. To ground it out, Andrea follows up with Chuck Templeton from S2G Ventures, best known as the founder and former CEO of OpenTable, a long-time entrepreneur who has a deep passion for helping early-stage and emerging entrepreneurs and companies scale their businesses. Chuck is now in league with Back To The Roots as they really start to hit their stride, making the jump from boot-strapping entrepreneurs to a booming medium-sized business. So come listen-in as Andrea gathers some great pointers for her small business playbook on what it takes to grow your creative adventure into a full-on venture!

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On Episode 18 of This is Small Business and the third of our This is Small Business: Minisodes series, Andrea dives into why it's so hard for us to take time off, even when we know we need it. She speaks with Professor of Psychology and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Art Markman about why vacations are a crucial part of your business and how to set up your business in a way that allows you to take some much needed time off.
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By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are 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 deep into the world of Buy it Now and the entrepreneurs who are building their businesses one pitch at a time. Every Thursday, we follow up with the winner of the previous night’s episode of Buy It Now on Prime Video. You'll hear directly from the entrepreneurs who took the stage, revealing the backstories, challenges, and business strategies that turned their dreams into reality.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an avid fan of the Buy It Now show, "Behind the Buy" offers behind-the-scenes stories that will inspire you to take the next step in your own business journey. From the intense preparation to the thrill of winning, we explore every angle of what it takes to pitch, win, and build a thriving business. Discover how each Buy It Now winner plans to use their prize to scale their business and how you can apply these lessons to your own entrepreneurial path.

Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video.

Meet 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, and the pivotal moment that led Chris to pitch his product on the Prime Video show, "Buy It Now.”

In this episode, you’ll discover:

(03:10) Chris discusses his day job as an engineer and how it has shaped his problem-solving mindset.

(03:35) A long flight next to large passengers sparks Chris's idea for Armbie.

(04:09) Chris reflects on how discomfort led to his engineering brain devising a solution.

(04:15) Using a scarf, Chris creates the initial version of Armbie, emphasizing simplicity and portability.

(04:46) The lengthy process of perfecting the prototype involved hours of experimenting with fabrics and sizes.

(06:05) Life challenges, including a separation, test Chris's resolve but do not extinguish his passion for Armbie.

(07:27) During COVID, Chris realizes he has the time and resources to finally pursue his business idea.

(09:16) After applying to various entrepreneurial shows, Chris receives encouragement and interest in Armbie.

(10:17) The importance of practice and finding the right balance in his pitch becomes clear to Chris.

(12:10) Chris’s pitch garners 46 green lights from the audience, showing significant interest despite initial skepticism about the product's appearance.

(15:14) Positive feedback from judges, despite concerns over price, highlights the innovation of Chris's product.

(16:40) Chris celebrates winning a $20,000 cash prize, marking a significant milestone after years of hard work.

(17:30) Following his success on the show, Chris receives news that two of his patents are approved, adding to his momentum.

(18:58) Chris shares his belief that grit and perseverance are key to success in entrepreneurship.

If there's one thing we’ve learned over the many episodes of this show, it’s that owning and operating your own business is hard. You have to overcome challenges you didn’t even know existed.

Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or you’re wondering if you should stick it out? We have Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, scholar, speaker and consultant, who studies the science of maximizing human potential, to guide us through. “I do think for every market need, for every human desire, there is an entrepreneur who is inspired and equipped to meet that need and to help for people to connect with that desire”

And Pamela Wirth, of Hello Health, will share what she’s learned on her path to entrepreneurship. Learn from an expert and those who have been there!

In this episode you’ll hear:

(03:49) Why connecting with others is one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur

(05:23) What qualities you need to be an entrepreneur

(08:17) If you can't go all in on your business because you need the financial security of a 9 to 5, how else can you start your business journey?

(10:24) How do you start a business if you have too much on your plate?

(12:56) An entrepreneur is also a leader, so what qualities do you need to be a great leader?

(15:38) What are some hurdles that entrepreneurs might have to overcome when they're thinking about starting a business?

(18:45) What are some of the qualities you need to help you get through the tough times?