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In our 165th episode of Speaking of Start-Ups, we meet up IN PERSON to Chance Smith Co-Founder of GoghNow. We were able to utilize the great podcasting studio at Tabbris - which continues to be an awesome spot for entrepreneurs and the entire start-up ecosystem. In our podcast today, Chance and I were able to dive into the key elements of their business - GoghNow. GoghNow is the app that brings musicians to your private space at the tap of the button. Learning the ropes from stints at Red Ventures and through talent acquisitions, Chance is using his love of music and people to transform the spaces they frequent. As with any start-up, they’ve grown, pivoted, and grown some more.  Now they are positioned to explode out of the Charlotte market onto bigger scenes through their attention to detail, customer service, and “just a piece of the pie”. Key takeaways from episode 165: * How different jobs inspire and encourage different modes of personal and professional growth * Turning beats into a sales generating machine * Leveraging connections to grow your brand * How collaboration expands ideas and possibilities * Why travel broadens both your personal and business vision * How studying your customer avatar AND behavior helps spawn new business ideas * Using brand ambassadors to help scale * Understanding your strengths and weaknesses to best allocate time and energy * Handling the inevitable “no” * When to push into new territory to expand your business Whether you’re interested in hearing more of your favorite musician or learning where to find them next, you’ll want to hear how Chance and his team are making that happen.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

  In today’s 164th episode of Speaking of Start-Ups, we veer off the traditional path of interviewing founders and talk to one of the professionals that supports them on their quest to glory through financial literacy. Russell Kroeger is a partner at Upstart Wealth Management, and founder at Trayecto, a platform to help/educate other advisors of the complex financial world surrounding founders, their employees, and the decisions made that impact all of them. This is one of the most technical episodes we’ve had to date, but definitely worth the listen for those interested in broadening their understanding of equity compensation. Key takeaways from episode 164: * How the start-up space differs from a financial planning perspective * Educating founders and their key employees along the way * Building the framework to explain the complications of equity compensation * The psychological impact of mismanaging money and making prudent financial decisions * How to structure and manage equity from a founder’s perspective and the employees * What is a venture capitalist for people? * How facilitating self-discovery pays off financially * Why good questions help create a road map for success * How to find the right financial planner/partner for your journey Get your pen and paper ready to take notes for this highly informative episode. William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

  Welcome to episode 163 of Speaking of Start-ups where we interview William Ward, founder of Flexie. Flexie is a talent cultivation platform that helps companies source, hire, and retain quality young talent while giving the job seekers the availability to curate their working experience, build up a reliability score, and showcase their skills for future prospective employers. William is a survivor of modern civil war. He used his family’s thirst for knowledge and desire to help others to create Smile For Liberia, a program that’s aided over 2,000 of his homeland’s people as well as awarded over 200 scholarships to young Liberians. Learn how to keep moving forward no matter what life throws your way from this driven entrepreneur. Key takeaways from episode 163: * How solving other’s people’s problems helps solve your own * Why saving money before you get started is a great reliever of stress * Why the current employment landscape for young workers is broken and how to fix it * The benefits of partners in scaling a business * Using AI to do the things you don’t need to do and shouldn’t be * Why financial literacy is such a huge hurdle for young Americans * The importance of mentors and the impact they can have on your business * Importance of getting your idea to market, BUT ALSO being flexible enough to accept feedback and constructive criticism * Looking for multiple streams of income for your business * Why networking with other entrepreneurs is about cooperation not competition * Data Doesn’t Lie * The pluses and minuses of the Charlotte start-up ecosystem * William’s biggest life lessons from his entrepreneurial journey… so far Get ready for a ride across continents, cultures, and a truly inspiring story.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

In today’s episode of Speaking of Start-Ups we interview Justin Kelsey, a serial entrepreneur and Jack-Of-All trades kind of guy who likes to keep his mind and body busy. Justin is the CEO and founder of SwitchFrame, a new video testimonial creation engine that allows companies to simplify the video testimonial collection process using an AI teleprompter that teaches customers hot to record the perfect video. The service chops them up and spits them out to make the testimonials imbeddable and accessible to your whole team as an ad, social post, and more for the brand to use. In this episode you’ll about the passion that drives Justin in his business with SwitchFrame as well as how he's able to channel his energy into other projects that keep him at the top of his game. Key takeaways from episode 162: * How doing pro formas and working financial models helps make sure a business scales * Seeing opportunity everywhere * Being open to new experiences and embracing a “let’s see what happens” philosophy * Paying attention to your surroundings and using that to feed your intuition * Why passion keeps you going past the inevitable walls entrepreneurs face * The difference between the risk of working or someone else and entrepreneurial risk * How systematizing your business at the beginning helps scaling easier * How ADD/ADHD can be an advantage as an entrepreneur * Finding your team * Using referral and agency partnerships to build your business * Feedback! Feedback! Feedback * Window shopping your own business * And much more… Get your notepad and pen ready, and dive into today’s episode.     William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

In today’s episode we welcome Ahriana Edwards to Speaking of Start-Ups.  Ahriana is the founder of Vaila Shoes, Vaila short for available “because it’s about time ladies with extended shoe sizes have options available to them." Through her Vaila line, which is now being represented in Macy’s department stores, Ahriana focuses on footwear for the workplace and after hours. In this episode you’ll learn how Ahriana’s journey from a curious and artsy child helped shape her journey as a budding entrepreneur. Key takeaways from episode 161: * How acting at an early age helped shape her entrepreneur journey * How curiosity inspires not only companies, but all the aspects of bringing a company to life * How university hackathons helped her learn and embrace the entrepreneurial process * Why being a big fish at a smaller school helps get access to more opportunities * Leveraging the relationships built at a small institution * Why solving your own problems becomes a solution for others * Researching adjacent industries when you can find what you’re looking for in your own * Why it is so important to be super specific with the questions you ask your customers * Building inventory of physical products is about knowing your customer * You can’t say the right thing to the wrong person and you can’t say the wrong thing to the right person * When to let go of things you’re not passionate about in your business and bringing on the right team members to help you do so * Finding employees who feel your pain * And much more… Since the inception of her company in 2020, Ahriana has 10x’d her sales and revenue each. Listen to find out how this young woman is taking big strides in the footwear industry and solving problems for women worldwide.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.  

In today’s episode we welcome Jenny Farias to Speaking of Start-Ups.  Jenny is the co-founder of gWen, Growing Women Entrepreneurs Network. Jenny and her partner, Ashley Gautreaux, co-founded gWen in 2022. A year later their platform to elevate female founders has spread from Charlotte to Raleigh/Durham and now Atlanta, GA with the premise of accelerating growth for the underrepresented female founder. In this episode you’ll learn how her parents’ immigrant journey as well as marketing for Fortune 100 companies in New York and Miami inspired her to work with other women in the start-up space. Key takeaways from episode 160: * What’s the deal with Charlotte? * Hitting “the circuit” when arriving in a new city * Hurdles female founders face * Building a community from the ground up * Using the connector model to grow your brand * How gWen fits in the developing Charlotte ecosystem * Why adding a board early on has helped take things to the next level * Using smaller markets to springboard into larger opportunities * Keeping a level head during explosive growth Charlotte, NC is not at the top of the list or even on the radar for some folks when they think of the tech industry but listen to the end to find out what reeled Jenny into the area and now has gWen at the forefront of something really special. Jenny also runs her own marketing company, Brand x Humans, while Ashley is a partner with CreativeCo. William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.   Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

  Today, we welcome Sasha Surkin to Speaking of Start-Ups. Sasha is the founder of WeyeZE (pronounced Wise). Since her early teens, not that long ago considering this impressive founder is only 20 years old, she’s had the vision to transform the eye care industry. WeyeZE was born from the frustration of having to wait months… from initial appointment to getting her own pair of eyeglasses.  As a result, Sasha has dedicated herself to “revolutionize how humans see the world” by producing and selling self-correcting kits to create accessible vision care. These kits take customers from diagnostic to solution in 15 minutes. Key takeaways from episode 159: * Inspiring creativity in children at a young age. * How entrepreneurship is the perfect complement to a young mind. * Inspiring children through knowledge and ideas. * Viewing school as a mental playground to learn about others and their diverse perspectives. * The power of mentors. * Why poking holes in your idea/vision makes it stronger. * The power of a strong support system. * Embracing AND celebrating small wins. * Taking the time to get it right. * The importance of a target market. * How WeyeZE works and cuts the cost of getting eyeglasses by 90%. * The mindset Sasha is embracing to move her company forward. * And much more…. Stick around to the end to learn how a surfing trip gave Sasha perspective and another metaphor to use in any of her undoubtedly future podcast appearances on the whole entrepreneurial journey.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

In this, our 158th episode of Speaking of Start-Ups, we interview Michael and Leanne Burnett, founders of Burnett Risk Control International and the Burnett Index. Burnett Index is a compilation of worldwide data concerning sexual misconduct and sexual abuse claims.  This data has been used by Michael to provide various stakeholders with a data driven understanding of the cost of sexual misconduct and abuse claims.  It is their intent that this can be used to create the groundwork for a compassionate, cost-effective, and expeditious resolution of those claims. In this episode, we delve into the unfortunate history surrounding sexual abuse and the expertise Michael and Leanne have gained through an empathic and data driven approach to help victims heal while educating companies, governments, and non-profit institutions on the best ways to make sure these instances don’t happen in the first place. Key takeaways from episode 158: * Using empathy to help others heal in a professional manner * How to use numbers to get through the black and white nature of their representation * Understanding the power of words when communicating with others * The history of insurance and the escalation of sexual misconduct cases over time * How the insurance industry actually helps drives positive change in the world * The power of collaboration… how Michael and Leanne’s separate work helped shed light on the bigger picture and drive the creation of the Burnett Index * Building a business by solving pain * The “happy coincidences that happen along the way” one you choose your path * Secrets of a husband and wife team and how they make it work in their business and marriage * The people and institutions who benefit most using the Burnett Index * And much more…. Despite the ugly nature of sexual abuse and misconduct claims, we learn the ways that Michael and Leanne are doing their best to resolve these occurrences and, taken many steps further, proactively using the data of past transgressions in our society to push awareness, closure, and healing.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

  In today’s episode of Speaking of Start-Ups, we interview Gloria Folaron founder of Leantime, a software company adding a human touch to project manager through behavioral science and AI. In our hour together, we discuss Gloria’s journey from the RD to the world of technology and how her desire to help translates into the software industry. Key takeaways from episode 157: * Measuring purpose * With 70% of projects failing, learn the difference between “hard” and “soft” skills and how each impact a projects success rate. * How terminology undermines our understanding of simple processes. * The confidence that emerges as part of the start-up journey. * Overcoming capital challenges as a start-up. * The importance of timing, and more importantly, waiting for the right time to come your way. * Leveraging gamification to help the organization AND responsibly encourage employees. * The benefits of open-source technology. * Nurturing your community when deploying an open-source model. * How leading with value can benefit and hinder growth. * The importance of simplicity in the business and the end product. * Why productivity is a product of company culture. * How vulnerability precedes trust and the beauty of helping people feel validates. * And much more…. Ever wonder how Alpaca farming and glamping effect software development? Tune in to this exciting episode to learn more.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

Have you heard about the immigrant from India who moves to Belmont, NC, becomes a Clemson fan, and walks into a South Carolina Gamecock fan club bar to watch a football game? You’ll hear that story and more in our podcast this week with Anoop Menon, Founder and CEO of Confianz. Anoop was building custom solutions from open-sourced ERP platforms for small to medium businesses (SMBs) when he moved to America ten years ago with his business, Confianz. Along the way, Anoop chased many rabbits (i.e., new business ideas) before having to put guardrails up that kept him focused on Confianz unless a new idea hit specific key metrics. Stackbench, which caters to the law enforcement sector, did just that. And now Anoop has the team to help grow Confianz while he spends time building up Stackbench. Highlights from episode 156: * The importance of coaching for entrepreneurs * Cultural differences in business between India and the U.S. * Why being customer-focused is as important as your niche * Active listening is a highly coveted yet grossly underappreciated skill * The power of saying no when building your business * The importance of good market research when pitching new products in your company * Why having an open and honest dialogue with customers can be the best way to grow your business * How working for free can pay off huge in the long run * Importance of customer-testing before deployment * Why relationships, trust, and customer service trump everything else in business * When and how to use resellers to grow your business Check out this episode to hear about Anoop’s journey and the relationships, humor, and lessons he’s learned along the way.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed, and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, and listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding their individual circumstances.  Investments described herein may be speculative and involve a substantial loss risk. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.  

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Marsh, CEO and founder of Flywheel Coworking and Converge South. Peter journey started with cabinet making. After that, he leveraged his contacts in the furniture design space to get into building design. Partnering with his wife, who oversees the interior design aspect of their business, they spotted the co-working space movement early on. Using the couple’s aptitude for design, engineering, and spotting good opportunities, they built a co-working space that supports the budding entrepreneur in every step of the way. In doing so, they’ve gotten the communities these spaces call home involved to boost the start-up ecosystem and the community itself. Highlights from episode 155 include: * Spotting the trend of co-working early. * Secrets to co-working spaces. * How he used innovation out of desperation at Flywheel to benefit the entrepreneurs who use his buildings. * Why the proper infrastructure in the building AND in the community is making such a huge difference. * Peter’s key ingredients to his multi-faceted approach. * How Flywheel take a local crowdfunding approach to boost business and the community. * The Converge South Conference and the celebration for scalable investable entrepreneurship. Check out our first episode on the new Speaking of Start-Ups domain and learn how Peter used the collective mindset of co-working spaces to boost entrepreneurship and the communities where his buildings are located.     William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

  In this episode of the Charlotte Angel Connection, we talk with Heather McCullough of Society 54. During today’s podcast you’ll learn how Heather took a job and turned it into a business by paying attention to what she liked about her work. Heather’s marketing expertise and her drive to help lawyers keep their attention on billable hours built the successful platform now employing 11 remote workers spread across the U.S. Highlights from the episode include: Carving out company with passion Finding leaks in the buckets and using your knowledge to offer value Transitioning from employee to business owner Why gamifying fires up the competitive juices Adding technology to aid a coaching business Coaching vs technology for scaling a business Knowing when to expand Life in the day of an all-female team Challenges and benefits of remote working Funding challenges and benefits of being a female founder How entrepreneurship affects the family How travelling across the US in a camper van is like being and entrepreneur Heather’s impressive Georgia Bulldog bark Check out this episode to learn how Heather took a profession and turned it into a profitable business, creating an asset that her family is proud of, and her legal customers are grateful for. William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.