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You don’t always need to beat the biggest players. Sometimes the smarter move is finding the space they don’t own, and OWNING IT. Darren Gallop is the CEO of Carbide, a cybersecurity company helping organizations build stronger, more resilient security from the top down. His entrepreneurial path started far outside cybersecurity, from running a record label during the Napster era to later building software platforms used for major global events like Coachella and Burning Man. Along the way, Darren faced the kind of challenges that force a founder to rethink how they compete, including industry disruption, trademark battles, rebranding, and the pressure of going up against companies with far deeper pockets. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Kevin and Darren talk about what happens when chasing the biggest players stops making sense and a more focused path starts to emerge. They also dig into sustainable growth, finding a niche worth owning, the difference between real security and security theater, and how AI is changing the way software and cybersecurity work.  Whether you’re building in a crowded market, questioning the way you’ve been approaching growth, or trying to figure out where your business can truly stand apart, this conversation may change the way you think about competition. Key Takeaways: Embrace Rebranding Resilience. Unexpected pivots can become opportunities to reset and move forward.Recognize Niche Limitations. A niche can build a strong business without needing massive scale.Prioritize Substance Over Theater. Real value comes from doing the work, not just checking boxes.Adopt AI for Augmentation. Use AI to strengthen human thinking, not replace it.Resist Hyper-Growth Pressure. Slower, focused growth can create a healthier, more sustainable business.Listen to Customers Over Noise. Customer needs matter more than whatever the market is shouting about.Focus on Future Trajectory. Build for where the industry is going, not just where it is today. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Darren: Website: carbidesecure.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrengallop/Book Website: builttotrustbook.comClosing thought: “Skate to where the puck is going. For years, we felt like we were just playing catch-up with Silicon Valley companies with all the big checks. Now we’ve built the confidence and vision to stop chasing and actually innovate.”— Darren Gallup  Rating Request:If you enjoyed this conversation with Darren, please head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify to leave us a 5-star rating and review! Your support helps us keep the rising tide high and introduces more incredible startup stories to listeners worldwide. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free, back office support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2027! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

Scaling three companies as a solo founder sounds impossible until you see what Eric Levine has built with AI. Eric is the founder of Strategy Engine AI, ScubaZen, and Venice Threads Company. Before entrepreneurship, he worked at Meta, leading global strategy across Facebook and Instagram while helping improve operational efficiency. After four years, he left corporate life without a clear next step, right as generative AI was beginning to reshape how businesses could be built. With no technical background and no coding experience, Eric taught himself how to use tools like Claude Code and custom AI agents to create the infrastructure behind his companies. Today, he runs all three ventures as a one-person team from a co-working space in Venice Beach and shares what he is learning through Eric Grows Companies, where he helps founders build practical AI systems of their own. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Eric to talk about using AI as a strategic thought partner, taking ownership of web infrastructure for AI search and AEO, building with autonomous agents, and creating systems that allow a solo founder to scale without sacrificing personal peace. Key Takeaways Own Your Digital Foundation. More control over your website can improve how AI finds and cites your content.Use AI to Challenge You. The best tools question assumptions instead of simply agreeing.Prioritize Better Content. Human-refined, high-quality content is more likely to stay visible in AI search.Protect Your Peace. Build in a way that supports your well-being, not just growth.Create Daily Anchors. Fixed routines add structure to an otherwise flexible schedule.Build Systems That Keep Running. Automation reduces the amount of work that depends on you.Listen to the EpisodeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/ Connect with Joe DalyWebsite: https://ericgrows.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EricGrowsCompanies Closing Thought “Your inner self is going to know what the right answer is. It just takes the guts to follow it. Your happiness is in your control. It’s not anyone else’s responsibility. If you don’t take the leap, you may keep feeling that way forever.” — Eric Levine  Sponsor ShoutoutsNaviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.  Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

The most fulfilling kind of success has less to do with what you build for yourself and more to do with what you’re able to give to others. Our guest today is Joe Daly, founder of Daly Goods, a custom leather goods company rooted in Waco, Texas. Born in Minnesota, Joe met his wife in Missouri before eventually putting down roots in the Lone Star State. Behind his craftsmanship is a deep commitment to helping people give meaningful gifts while using his business to model radical, intentional generosity. In this episode, host Kevin Prewett sits down with Joe to trace his journey from managing complex operations and inventory to taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship. Joe shares how a simple leatherworking kit grew into a thriving brand, along with the operational challenges, pricing decisions, and patience required to build a physical product business centered on quality. Together, they explore the deeper purpose behind building a values-driven venture. Joe shares how shifting the focus from profit margins to serving others can redefine success, offering a refreshing perspective on business as a vehicle for generosity, stewardship, and lasting legacy. Key TakeawaysThe Ultimate Life Strategy. True fulfillment stems from active generosity, creating an impact that revenue alone can never achieve.Mastery Begins with Patience. Building a quality product requires embracing steep learning curves and committing to continuous refinement.Evolve Beyond Trial and Error. Scaling beyond a hobby demands transitioning from casual experimentation to repeatable systems and operational structure.Value Over Price Tag. Competing on price is a race to the bottom; focusing on craft and connection justifies premium positioning.Serve First, Sell Second. Reframing sales as genuine problem-solving builds deep customer loyalty that advertising cannot buy.Embrace Purposeful Stewardship. Treating a business as a platform for service fundamentally improves leadership, culture, and community impact.Listen to the EpisodeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/ Connect with Joe DalyWebsite: https://dalygoods.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalygoodsco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-daly-67b31928/ Closing Thought  "It really is more blessed to give than receive. Ff you want to live a good life, be generous. That's the ultimate 'life hack.' And it's not a hack—it's just true." — Joe Daly  Sponsor ShoutoutsNaviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.

Most businesses do not have a lead problem. They have a follow-up problem hiding in plain sight. For Aly Samaha, follow-up is not a desperate sales tactic. It is a system for recovering money that businesses have already earned but failed to capture. Over the last two years, his approach has helped bring in $2.37 million in cash from silent opportunities while working just one to two calls a day. His philosophy is simple: stop chasing more when there is already money sitting inside your pipeline. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Aly to break down the sales “hustle lie” and why high-ticket founders, coaches, and sales teams often overlook the warmest opportunities they already have. Aly explains how his background in startups, operations, and closing shaped his obsession with leaving zero stones unturned, and why smart follow-up begins before the call ever ends. Together, they unpack how to revive quiet prospects without sounding needy, pestering leads, or relying on aggressive sales tactics. Aly shares why good follow-up depends on clarity, proximity, and energy management, and how business owners can focus their attention on the few deals closest to the finish line instead of treating every prospect the same. The conversation is a practical reminder that sales is not just about more activity. It is about knowing where trust already exists, staying human in the follow-up, and building a system that turns neglected conversations into recovered revenue. Key TakeawaysReframe the Silence. A quiet lead is not always a lost deal. Sometimes the problem becomes urgent later, and the right follow-up keeps you close without pressuring the prospect.Work the Pipeline You Already Have. Before chasing new leads or increasing ad spend, look at the warm conversations, past calls, and stalled opportunities already sitting in your CRM. Follow Up Before the Call Ends. Strong follow-up starts by identifying the real objection on the sales call, so the next message feels relevant instead of random. Detach From the Outcome. When you focus on the process instead of forcing the close, you become more useful, less needy, and more trusted. Give Away Strategy, Sell Execution. Sharing frameworks, templates, and advice builds goodwill. The paid value comes from helping business owners implement the system. Prioritize the Closest Deals. Not every lead deserves the same energy. Focus your best attention on the prospects closest to the finish line, then use systems for the rest. Build Follow-Up Systems. Memory is not a revenue strategy. Clean pipelines, simple sequences, and consistent outreach keep warm leads from disappearing. Listen to the full conversation here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Aly SamahaFree 60-Min Pipeline Audit: http://alysamaha.com/kevin Website: alysamaha.comLinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/samsonsamahaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/samsonsamaha/ My guest Aly Samaha put his entire follow-up system in one place and made it free for you, every script and sequence behind $2.37M in recovered deals: https://alysamaha.com/kevin Closing Thought "Marry the process, but divorce yourself from the outcome. The best salespeople stay focused on what they can control, stay close without pressure, and build trust long before the deal is ready to close." — Aly Samaha Sponsor ShoutoutsNaviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025!Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.  Rising Tide Members: Special thanks to our supporters and community members who make this show possible. Learn how to join at risingtidestartups.com.

A layoff isn't always a setback. Sometimes it's the boost you need! After being laid off from a strategic advisory firm, Madilyn pulled her existing LLC off the shelf and made the decision to stop climbing the corporate ladder. With a master’s in marketing and years of experience working alongside business creators, she stepped into entrepreneurship with a clear focus: helping agency owners finally give their own brands the same strategic attention they give their clients. Today, Madilyn leads M & Co, a North Carolina brand strategy consultancy for marketing and creative agency owners. Acting as a “second brain,” she helps founders sharpen their positioning, clarify their messaging, and maintain a brand presence that reflects the quality of work they are already delivering for others. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Madilyn to unpack how she landed two clients within four months of launching, moved from theory-heavy business courses into real client work, worked through pricing imposter syndrome, and built a relationship-first outreach approach that feels more human than traditional cold calling. Key Takeaways Solve one problem exceptionally well. Clarity on your specific solution and niche beats trying to appeal to everyone. Relationships are your first marketing channel. Networks, testimonials, and case studies build credibility long before any formal campaign does. Treat the business like a business on day one. Real systems and a professional mindset early create momentum that compounds. Lead with value. Ungated resources and quick wins earn trust faster than pitching ever will. Comfort follows the scary decision, not the other way around. Clarity and confidence show up after you act, not before. Price for where you're going. Don't anchor your rates to an old corporate salary; build them around the business you're actually creating. Delegation is freedom. Clean SOPs get routine work off your plate so you can focus on growth. Listen to the Episode YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/ Connect with Madilyn Kent Website: https://mandco.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madilynkent/ Closing Thought "Take the jump. Take the leap. It is worth it. There will be struggles, but nothing in life comes without them. So do it." Sponsor Shoutouts Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

What if your customers like your software, but don’t have the time to use it? Farzad Rashidi learned this the hard way. Back in college, he cold emailed the founder of Visme, offered to work for free, and eventually became the company’s first marketing hire. He helped grow the bootstrapped platform to eight figures and learned one major lesson along the way: backlinks could drive serious organic growth, but the outreach process was painfully time-consuming. That insight eventually led him to co-found Respona, an outreach platform built to make the process easier. At first, the software gained traction. But over time, Farzad and his team ran into a frustrating problem. Customers did not leave because the product was bad. They left because they did not have the bandwidth to actually use it. In this episode of The Rising Tide Startups, Farzad shares how one conversation with an Australian client helped them rethink the entire business. That moment pushed Responda from DIY software into a productized service, and helped unlock 5x revenue growth in just twelve months. Key Takeaways: Action Produces Information. Taking any step forward yields the critical data points required to make the right move. Focus on Outcomes. Customers care about tangible results and deliverables, not just being handed a toolset they have to manage themselves. Build a Surround Sound Strategy. Modern AI search visibility requires replicating citations across authoritative lookalike publications. Position Yourself to Get Lucky. Proactive, direct initiative throws enough spaghetti at the wall until something sticks. Productize Your Services. Scale manual workflows by turning human operations into a standardized, predictable assembly line. Lower the Bar to Execution. With minimal technical overhead required today, launching an early project beats staying trapped in the idea stage. Seize Exponential Shifts. Capitalizing on moments when technology and user behaviors fundamentally change creates an immediate competitive edge.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Farzad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farzadrashidi/ Website: https://respona.com/ Closing Thought If you haven't started yet, that first project's goal is just to give you the data point to know what to do next. And so if you're going with that mindset of not being afraid of losing... what do you have to lose is a few hours of your time. — Farzad Rashidi Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.  Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

Escaping the cubicle starts with a simple shift: stop building someone else’s dream and start building your own. Julia Hurley is a top real estate broker, investor, NIL and business consultant, and founder of Just Homes Group Brokerage. She helps professionals move beyond the 9-to-5 grind by building smarter systems, stronger operations, and businesses designed for real freedom. Her own leap into real estate began with a mentorship moment over a decade ago. Since then, she’s become a multi-million-dollar producer with a clear belief: she’s a maker of dreams, not a 9-to-5er. In this episode, Julia shares how to move from a cubicle mindset into entrepreneurial ownership. She talks about facing the fear of starting, building systems around your lifestyle, finding mentors who push you, and creating a brand built to last through market shifts. Tune in for a practical conversation about freedom, resilience, and building a business on your own terms. Key Takeaways: Redefine Your Professional Identity. Real career freedom starts when you stop thinking like an employee and start building like an owner. Find Mentors Who Stretch You. Growth moves faster when you learn from people operating at a higher level, especially when you bring value to the relationship first. Build for Profit, Not Just Revenue. A strong business needs smart backend systems that protect margins and support long-term growth. Look for Local Opportunities. Some of the best advantages come from community needs, local market gaps, and regulations others overlook. Move From Learning to Action. Breaking into a competitive industry takes more than research. At some point, you have to execute. Build Relationships That Last. Long-term success comes from real connections with local stakeholders, not short-term, transactional networking.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Julia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliahurley/ Website: https://www.justhomesgroup.com/juliahurley/ Closing thought: "Approach every room with a giving mindset; that is how you earn an open door and a permanent seat at the table." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

Building a successful business doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, the better path is choosing a proven operating model, like a franchise.   Giuseppe Grammatico, founder of GG the Franchise Guide, helps professionals move from employee to business owner through honest self-reflection and strategic franchise selection. He pushes past the usual fast-food stereotypes and guides candidates through a deeper process, one focused on personal motivation, time freedom, risk tolerance, and long-term asset ownership.   His approach helps entrepreneurs choose the right business model early, whether they want to run the business day to day or take a more semi-passive role. Giuseppe also focuses on flexible, low-overhead B2B opportunities that reduce startup risk and create room for sustainable growth. For him, real due diligence means going beyond sales materials and speaking directly with existing operators.   In this episode, Giuseppe breaks down how to define your “why” before looking at business ideas, how to evaluate franchise models without falling for industry assumptions, and how to validate an opportunity before investing. Key Takeaways Define Your Introspective Why. Map out your personal motivations, lifestyle desires, and boundaries before looking at actual business ideas. Systems Over Total Independence. Choosing a proven operational framework minimizes structural startup risks while still granting full asset ownership. Evaluate the Management Blueprint. Decide early whether to operate as a hands-on manager or a semi-passive owner overseeing an established team. Shatter Industry Stereotypes. Business replication models span far beyond traditional fast-food sectors into flexible, low-overhead, and B2B markets. Validate via Peer Networks. Perform ultimate due diligence by interviewing existing operators to cross-reference corporate claims with real-world realities. Prioritize Future Exit Strategies. Build your business with clean data and seamless scalability so it remains profitable and independent of you. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Giuseppe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-grammatico/ Website: https://ggthefranchiseguide.com Closing thought: "Freedom favors the bold. Those bold enough to take action on their goals are the ones who realize the freedom boldness can deliver." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Let Podbrand Media do it for you - podbrandmedia.com!

If your pipeline feels stuck, you don't need more leads. You need to stop the bleeding first. Apryl Syed is the CEO of ApertureCodex and a fractional marketing executive known as the "messaging maven." She specializes in transforming underperforming revenue engines for B2B SaaS companies, pinpointing the leaks and breaks in their customer journey that quietly kill growth. In the past she's worked with brands like Xero, Calm, and LiquidIV. What makes Apryl's approach different? She's an award-winning choreographer and certified NLP practitioner turned marketing strategist, a combination that gives her an edge in crafting high-converting messages that are both precise and deeply human. By auditing your processes, systems, and people, she uncovers revenue hiding right where you least expect it, starting with quick wins through strategic LinkedIn social selling before scaling into larger plays. In this episode, we get into the tactical side of B2B growth: how to simplify your core message, why an outside perspective is often the only way to spot friction, and why fixing your current customer journey almost always outperforms throwing money at ads. You'll leave knowing exactly where to audit your pipeline first and how to turn stuck leads into consistent revenue, without touching your ad budget.   Key Takeaways: Prioritize Clarity Over Cleverness. Ensure your core value proposition can be explained in just a few simple words that your target audience immediately understands. Audit Your Customer Journey. Identify specific friction points where potential leads drop off to uncover revenue opportunities hiding in plain sight. Seek External Strategic Perspectives. Utilize outside experts to spot internal process gaps that those working within the business are often too close to see. Leverage Psychology in Messaging. Apply behavioral insights and neuro-linguistic principles to create marketing communications that resonate more deeply with human decision-making. Focus on Practical Implementation. Avoid theoretical marketing strategies in favor of tangible fixes that address current system, process, or people-related bottlenecks. Secure Quick Value Wins. Aim for immediate improvements that prove value and generate a pipeline before attempting to scale more complex, long-term strategies. Solve Problems Before Scaling. Fix existing operational and conversion issues within your current engine rather than trying to outspend them with new advertising. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with April Syed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprylsyed/  ApetureCodex:  https://www.apeturecodex.com/    Closing thought: "I think we all need an outside perspective... we're often too close to the problem to see the solution that's right in front of us." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.   Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

What if the most effective content system isn't more AI, but just one human conversation? Gal Ko is a seasoned marketing expert who serves as a marketing lecturer at Google AI Tech School and is the founder of BoldPMM and Podstar. His mission is to help founders escape the "content hamster wheel" of generic, AI-generated posts by leveraging strategic podcast guesting. By moving away from automated outreach and focusing on high-ROI human conversations, Gal helps leaders become respected industry voices who reach their ideal audience’s ears directly. His journey began at age 14, entering the business world early to support his family during a health crisis. This baptism by fire led him through years of product marketing for B2B tech companies, where he noticed a recurring problem: brilliant founders were exhausted by the pressure to produce daily content that failed to drive results. To solve this, he developed the REACH framework—a systematic, research-heavy approach to guesting that prioritizes deep connection and professional preparation over mass-messaging "numbers games." In this episode, we explore how to turn a single podcast appearance into a permanent content generation system. Gal breaks down how to overcome the fear of the microphone and why you don’t need a massive following to establish authority. Listeners will walk away with a clear roadmap for landing high-value guest spots that build genuine trust and long-term brand equity without the burnout of traditional social media marketing.   Key Takeaways: Stop the Content Hamster Wheel. Prioritize high-impact human conversations over the exhaustion of producing generic, automated social media posts. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity. Reaching an audience is about the specificity of your targeting, not the sheer volume of your outreach. Leverage Your Unique Transformation. You don’t need a massive following to be an industry voice; you only need a compelling lesson to share. Research Before Every Outreach. Save time and resources by deeply researching a platform’s themes and audience before initiating any contact. Personalize Your Initial Connection. Increase success rates by mentioning a "personal win" from a prospect's recent work to show genuine engagement. Utilize Professional Networking Platforms. Use sites like LinkedIn to bypass crowded email inboxes and build warmth through established professional profiles. Systematize Your Follow-Up Process. Ensure growth by maintaining a disciplined system for follow-ups so potential opportunities never fall through the cracks.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Gal Ko: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gal-ko/  Skool community:  https://www.skool.com/podstar  Website: https://podstar.me/   Closing thought: "All you have to have is a story, a lesson, a transformation to share with your audience, a message that helps your people."   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.   Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

Sometimes an AI can out-reason a senior analyst in the time it takes to brew coffee. Giuseppe Sette is President and Co-Founder of Reflexivity, an AI-driven investment platform built to bring institutional-grade reasoning to every investor. After managing billions as Co-CIO of Global Macro at Lombard Odier and holding senior roles at Brevan Howard and Davidson Kempner, he saw a structural problem in modern finance: even the most talented analysts were overwhelmed by the scale and speed of market data. That realization led him to build around a core principle he calls Reflexivity, the idea that intelligence must examine its own reasoning. Instead of simply retrieving or summarizing information, the system audits assumptions, models feedback loops, and pressure-tests conclusions before delivering insight. The goal is not just faster answers, but structured reasoning under uncertainty. In this episode, we explore the shift from search tools to true reasoning agents, what it means to build AI that thinks through its own logic, and why personal experience and conviction matter when launching a company in the middle of rapid technological change. Key Takeaways: Prioritize Personal Experience. Build around a problem you have personally faced and understand deeply. Embrace Technological Leverage. Use automation and advanced tools to offload low-level tasks, allowing you to focus on strategy and decision-making. Iterate Through Practical Use. Validate by watching how people use your product in real-world settings, not just in theory. Implement Self-Reflective Systems. Add double-checks and self-audits so efficiency never sacrifices accuracy. Define Clear Methodologies. Technology creates real impact when guided by a clear human framework. Recognize Exponential Shifts. Stay alert to moments when technology fundamentally changes your industry. Those shifts create opportunity. Bridge Generational Approaches. Blend proven traditional methods with modern tools to create an edge. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Giuseppe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/togglegs/  Reflexivity Website: https://reflexivity.com/en   Closing thought: Experiencing a problem firsthand and solving it goes a long way to help you create a venture that succeeds. If you have a professional experience where you felt the pain, that is the best place to start.  Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - We specialize in hosting a podcast for your company or brand.    Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation! Go to podbrandmedia.com for more info.

What happens when the longtime hosts steps into the spotlight himself? Kevin Prewett is the host of the Rising Tide Startups podcast and the founder of Podbrand Media. After nearly a decade behind the microphone interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs, he is stepping into a new chapter. What once lived alongside a long career in nonprofit leadership is now becoming his primary focus, helping founders and businesses use podcasting to build trust and tell real stories. Kevin’s path into podcasting began unexpectedly in January 2018. While working in the nonprofit sector and living across four countries on three continents, he started a podcast simply to stay close to the startup world and ask better questions. That curiosity grew into a viable business when a guest asked him to host their company podcast. Now, as he transitions out of nonprofit leadership, Kevin is doubling down on the work that never stopped pulling him in. In this episode, the roles reverse as guest host Steve Collins steps in as Kevin takes the hot seat. They reflect on Kevin’s transition from nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from years of founder conversations, and the patterns that separate those who push through the dips from those who fade.   Key Takeaways: Conversation Beats Scripts. The strongest insights surface when curiosity leads the conversation and follow-up questions replace rigid lists. Consistency Wins Long-Term. Most efforts fade early, but discipline over time is what carries ideas past the initial excitement. Relatability Builds Trust. Lessons land harder when they come from people still close enough to the struggle to feel real. Ideas Need Execution. Creativity only matters when paired with consistent ollow-through and the willingness to iterate. Discipline Outlasts Market Shifts. Long-term success comes less from timing and more from personal discipline. Mentorship Requires Honesty. The most valuable mentors have lived the work and are willing to tell you the truth. Character Scales. Trust, integrity, and reliability quietly shape reputations that grow alongside the business. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-prewett  Podbrand Media: Podbrandmedia.com   Closing thought: "You can be consistently disciplined with a bad idea and it won't work. But if you have an idea that has a market and potential, discipline is everything." - Kevin Prewett​   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

Consistency is Key.   Most people spend weeks overthinking their first LinkedIn post, waiting for the perfect idea or brand. Jessie Van Bruegel believes that the approach is backwards. As a content strategist and creator who’s posted daily on LinkedIn for nearly four years, he’s built a business helping experts productize their knowledge into scalable info offerings, backed by purple-branded visuals that are hard to miss. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, host Kevin Prewett talks with Jessie about quitting a tech unicorn job in Amsterdam during the pandemic and becoming one of LinkedIn’s most recognizable voices. After struggling to monetize on Twitter despite building 10,000 followers, Jessie committed to a 30-day LinkedIn streak in April 2022. He’s still going, and that consistency has helped drive millions in revenue for his clients. Jessie breaks down why the hook matters most, how he separates ideation from creation to keep content sustainable, and why “the things only you can say” will be the differentiator in 2026. He also shares his Monday scheduling routine, his authority-content formula, and what’s behind his lead magnet posts, including how 40% now hit 1,000+ comments. Plus, why he calls himself the “ultimate guinea pig,” testing AI workflows and YouTube growth before teaching what works. Key Takeaways: Say the Things Only You Can Say. Generic content is a commodity. Specificity, personal experience, and a unique perspective create markets where you have no competition. Focus on Inputs, Not Outputs. You can't control views, likes, or shares. You can control how often you post, how deeply you research, and how consistently you show up. Separate Ideation From Creation. Use different parts of your brain for different tasks. Collect ideas continuously, then schedule dedicated time to write and produce. The Hook Is Everything. If the first two lines don't create a curiosity gap, nobody reads the rest. Spend 80% of your effort on the hook and visual. Build Systems, Not Habits. Entrepreneurs aren't content creators—they're business owners. Marketing should be a scheduled task, not an all-day activity. Volume Negates Luck. Compress six months of work into three weeks. Post more, learn faster, and identify what works through rapid iteration. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Jessie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessievanbreugel/  Authority Figures: https://authority-figures.com/    Closing thought: "In 2026, if there's one content lesson I want to give everyone: say the things only you can say. If you remove your name and profile picture from a post and someone else can copy it word-for-word, it's not specific enough." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

Most employees talk about leaving the corporate world someday. Amber Goetz didn’t just talk about it, she actually did it. Her path there was anything but typical. Before building her SEO agency, she spent years as a programmer, TV host, and stunt driver, racing cars and motorcycles for commercials and television. Later, she walked away from a secure marketing job to rebuild her own agency on her own terms. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Amber shares why the slow pace and red tape of corporate life finally pushed her back into entrepreneurship. She runs The Active Media, an SEO and web development agency that helps businesses jump from being buried in search results to showing up where customers actually click and call. She explains how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini have changed how people search, why keyword-based pricing no longer works, and how she now builds campaigns around effort, aggressiveness, and real outcomes.​ Amber talks about how local service businesses can win against bigger brands by treating their Google Business Profile like a true storefront, and why clear communication and strong boundaries with clients keep her business from feeling like a job again. She also shares what living in southern Utah has taught her about people who actually act on big ideas, and her dream of launching a podcast featuring her clients and writing a book to help women grow their authority online.   Key Takeaways: Get clear on what you do best. Naming your core skill and obsessing over it is the first step out of the golden handcuffs.​ Update how you price SEO. Flat keyword packages no longer match how people search, so build offers around time, intensity, and results.​ Let data lead your decisions. Test, measure, and adjust campaigns based on performance instead of guessing what should work.​ Treat Google Business Profile like your storefront. Local businesses that keep it active and complete can outrank much bigger companies.​ Protect your boundaries. Saying no to clients who ignore your time and process keeps entrepreneurship from feeling like another corporate job.​ Define your ideal client early. Knowing exactly who you want on the other end of the phone shapes your messaging, pricing, and red flags.  Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Amber: The Active Media: theactivemedia.com Goetz Go: goetzgo.com   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

Most 20-somethings are still figuring out their first job. Noah Tidwell dropped out of college, bought a moving company, ran it for five years, sold it, and launched a new business helping home service owners automate their operations. All before most people finish grad school. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Noah shares how he discovered his real passion wasn't running a moving company but solving the operational headaches that kept him up at night. The inefficiencies, the manual processes, the time sucks that every blue collar business owner deals with but doesn't have time to fix. So he sold his company and built Solo Operator to do exactly that. Now he's helping small home service businesses get their time back by implementing systems, automations, and processes that actually work. Noah talks about the discipline it takes to focus on high leverage activities, why he hires fast and fires fast in the home service space, and his vision for Solo Operator Labs where he takes equity stakes in businesses instead of charging monthly retainers. He also shares lessons from his dad (who was a previous guest on this podcast), why nobody will ever care about your business as much as you do, and his dream of backpacking through Europe once he builds a business that runs without him. Key Takeaways: Focus on signal, not noise. Identify your highest leverage tasks each day and complete them before anything else. Do what you actually love. If you're dreading most of your work, it's time to pivot toward what energizes you, even if it means starting over. Nobody will care as much as you. You can't expect employees to have the same drive as a founder. Accept that and set realistic expectations. Partner for ownership, not just payment. Taking a piece of the business instead of charging fees aligns incentives and opens doors when cash is limited. Small businesses need systems to survive. Whether you want to grow or exit, having documented processes and automation in place isn't optional anymore. Build a business that runs without you. True freedom means being able to step away and know everything still works. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Noah: Solooperator: solooperator.co  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-tidwell-18645b2a2/ Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!