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Scaling with Heart — Kika Escobar Bascur on 2X/3X Growth, Shopify, and the Power of Connection

The Jason Cavness Experience

Release Date: 06/28/2025

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The Jason Cavness Experience

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More Episodes

Francisca “Kika” Escobar Bascur is redefining how brands grow across borders. As founder of The Kickass Company and Sell With Kika, she’s helped more than 250,000 entrepreneurs master eCommerce, scale through Shopify, and expand into international markets. From Santiago to Seattle, Kika’s story shows that scaling isn’t just about metrics — it’s about connection, courage, and customer understanding.

Episode Highlights
• How Kika built The Kickass Company and scaled businesses across Latin America and the U.S.
• Lessons from Shopify partnerships and eCommerce ecosystem growth
• Why “knowing your customer” remains the foundation of every successful brand
• Balancing business, travel, and mindset as a global entrepreneur
• How Chile’s startup and investment ecosystem is evolving

Call to Action (CTAs)
Full archive and show notes: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com
Invest in CavnessHR: https://wefunder.com/cavnesshr
Download 7 free startup eBooks: https://www.buildcavnesshr.com/ebooks
Join the Builders Club: https://www.buildcavnesshr.com/buildersclub

Guest Bio (Condensed)
Francisca “Kika” Escobar Bascur is the founder of The Kickass Company and Sell With Kika, helping brands build eCommerce businesses that actually work — not just in theory. She co-founded Loadingplay, collaborated with Shopify on market development in Chile, and trained more than 250,000 professionals across Latin America. A TEDx speaker and MBA instructor, Kika bridges technology, storytelling, and strategy to empower entrepreneurs globally.

Guest Links
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar%C3%ADa-francisca-escobar-bascur/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kikaescobarbascur/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@kikaescobarbascur
Company Website – https://thekickass.cl/
Company Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thekickass_co/

Kika’s Advice
“Screw it, let’s do it. Take action instead of overthinking — the worst-case scenario usually isn’t that bad. Shift from the ‘gap’ to the ‘gain’: measure how far you’ve come, not how far you still have to go. Every success or setback is an opportunity to learn, grow, and reframe your mindset.”


Sponsors

Breeze Docs – AI-powered RFP platform helping SMBs reduce completion times by up to 80%.
Mention The Jason Cavness Experience for a free upgrade from Breeze Solo to Breeze AI+ ($6,000 value).
Upgrade link: https://www.breezedocs.ai/rfp-response-software-jason-caveness

CavnessHR: Seattle’s Got Tech – Join us July 30 at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce to see live demos, meet founders, and connect with Seattle’s tech scene.
RSVP: https://lu.ma/v8ihldrg


Topics Discussed (for Libsyn Notes)
• Building The Kickass Company and scaling Shopify-based brands
• Choosing sales channels and defining KPIs in eCommerce
• The art of selling and customer-centric marketing
• Public speaking, mindset, and overcoming fear
• AI in eCommerce and personalization strategies
• Women’s entrepreneurship and community building
• Chilean startups, culture, and investor landscape
• Work-life balance and daily performance habits
• Business advice for U.S. companies expanding to Latin America
• Social media growth and future plans