Advertise on podcast: Start Here

If you know anything about Nikkie Kent, it’s her bold energy and commitment to give 110% in everything she does. In this episode of Start Here, Nikkie talks about her days of being a young competitor to leading teams at the age of 26. She now runs Red Clover Venture Partners, investing in female founded businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resonant Link Medical is connecting with people in a completely new way…literally. CEO Omari Bouknight takes us into the world of wireless charging devices for medical implants, and how it’s changing the game for patients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachael Floreani, founder of Burlington Bio, speaks with us about the world of upcycled nutrition, which utilizes commonly discarded food that we often take for granted, and repurposing it into nutritious and affordable food to fight back against food insecurity.  Through the ups and downs, Rachael maintains her driven spirit to overcome life’s hardships, which she credits to the company she has built around support and care, and the incredible team she works with. Her background in teaching at University of Vermont fuels her passion for educating people and raising awareness for the business she has built from the ground up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Calfee has one goal, keep the power in the community and keep it human. In this episode of StartHere, Bill talks to us about how his time spent living on a boat helped guide him to start Myti. Myti’s online marketplace is made up of a collection of local Vermont businesses to make it easier to shop locally from home. Listen to founder Bill Calfee talk about how Myti serves local businesses and keeps power in the community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​This special edition of Start Here features Jon McNeill — 6x entrepreneur, former President of Tesla, and author of The Algorithm — who spoke at AI After Hours on the hypergrowth formula that transformed some of the world's most iconic companies. Jon shares frameworks behind the explosive growth at companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Lululemon, and General Motors, and what founders and leaders can take from those playbooks today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After selling his company, Neil Shah took a break and found his next startup while sitting by his woodstove. That moment led to Oru, a woodstove-monitoring system that embodies a beautiful lamp. The catch? Neil knew nothing about woodstoves. He turned to Reddit, learning from the community that would eventually become his first customers, with more than 1,700 people now on the waitlist. A software engineer turned hardware founder, Neil's story is a reminder that some of the best startups begin by solving a problem you experience yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“To be an entrepreneur, you have to be inherently lazy.” RJ Adler joins Start Here to give us the update on WheelPad, a manufacturer of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) based in Wilmington, Vermont. Aside from building ADU’s for families around the country, RJ talks about his experience coming from a large family of entrepreneurs, his early ventures as a student at Middlebury College, and why WheelPad is choosing to grow in Vermont. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michele Asch is the kind of leader who builds things… and then helps others do the same. As Chief People Officer at Twincraft Skincare, she's part of the team making Vermont a legitimate hub for skincare innovation, manufacturing premium products for over 150 brands across North America. Outside of Twincraft, Michele invests in startups by putting real capital behind Vermont founders who are building something that matters. This one's for anyone who believes Vermont is a place where innovation actually happens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there’s an entrepreneur to watch right now, it’s Kevin LeSage. He’s the founder of SearchLight, an analytics platform bringing a clear, unbiased view to return on ad spend and showing contractors which leads actually turn into booked jobs. He’s taken a different path to get here, choosing to learn inside other businesses before building his own. From marketing and corporate sales to business development and a family business foundation, Kevin brings a wide-angle view to what it takes to grow something that lasts. No matter your industry or stage, this episode is a reminder to stay close to the work, trust the data, and keep building with an expert team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason “J” Levinthal started making skis in his parents' garage at the age of 24. After founding a company, seeing it acquired, and realizing he wasn’t built to sit still, he launched J Skis, a direct-to-skier brand creating hand-crafted, limited-edition skis. With a background in brand marketing, J’s goal is to turn heads on the mountain and beyond, from brand partnerships to collaborations with musicians. He’s been through nearly every lesson that shapes a founder. Tune in, clip in, strap in. No matter how you ride, lock in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Wilbur is the founder of Wilbur, a luxury watch company. He joins the show to talk about what it really takes to break from the expected and build something entirely your own. After leading advanced design at Honda, Jason walked away to create what he calls “mechanized art”— a bold reimagining of luxury rooted in craftsmanship, rebellion, and individuality. Inspired by the counterculture of snowboarding and skateboarding, he shares a candid look at building a brand with edge, navigating the realities of high-cost hardware innovation, and embracing the “creative survival” mindset required to keep going. Don’t skip this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Jatlow is truly a queen. She is one of the owners of Fuse, a teen and young adult marketing agency helping brands reach the younger generation. Julie explains everything from working with the world’s biggest brands to strategies centered on youth culture, sports, and experiential marketing. There are so many good tips and stories in here. Take notes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sat down with our friend Chelsea Bardot Lewis, the Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). She’s steering VBSR into its next chapter by doubling down on in-person connection, pragmatic advocacy around housing, healthcare, workforce, and climate resilience, and building a stronger, more generous Vermont business ecosystem! We loved hearing her passion for the workforce in this state. This is one that e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e should listen to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sat down with our dear friend David Aronoff, managing partner at MCJ, one of the leading early-stage climate tech venture funds. David brings decades of venture experience, from building rocketship startups to investing at top firms like Greylock and Flybridge. What sets MCJ apart is its unconventional approach: no board seats, no led rounds, just relentless focus on portfolio support powered by a massive community of talent. With deep roots in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, a passion for durable companies, and a clear-eyed view on everything from AI bubbles to Vermont’s innovation ecosystem, David offers sharp insights for founders, investors, and anyone serious about climate solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we sit down with our friend Sam Holland, co-founder of Informal. Sam is a hardware builder at his core, but has a rare talent for making it feel inviting to all. He’s built everything from brain scanners to burrito holders, and brings that same creativity to the meetups he hosts. He also brings a healthy dose of humor to every conversation. If you’re exploring hardware or considering launching a hardware company…or oblivious to it all and want to give it a try, this episode is a great place to start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.