Startup of the Year Podcast

Startup of the Year Podcast raises the bar for startups around the world by providing further insight on the emerging companies featured in our Daily Dealflow newsletter, and by highlighting newsworthy stories and global trends affecting the startup ecosystem.

#0139 - PR Storytelling with Sarah Evans, Head of PR at Zen Media 06/17/2025

#0139 - PR Storytelling with Sarah Evans, Head of PR at Zen Media On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (), is joined by Sarah Evans, who is a Partner and Head of PR at Zen Media. She is also a professional moderator and tech host. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. As part of the Established Network, we also host the Monthly Innovation Circle, with some great featured speakers and we’ll continue hosting these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: Watch the episode on the Established YouTube Channel at: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs Connect with us on Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/37041670

#0138 - Isaiah McPeak, The CEO of Green Pants Studios, Stops By to Talk About What it Takes to be a Startup Leader 04/30/2025

#0138 - Isaiah McPeak, The CEO of Green Pants Studios, Stops By to Talk About What it Takes to be a Startup Leader On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (), is joined by Isaiah McPeak, the CEO of Green Pants Studios (). He is a master at helping people sharpen their ideas, communicate more effectively, and launch winning products. He is an author, debater, product strategist, and startup leader. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. As part of the Established Network, we also host the Monthly Innovation Circle, with some great featured speakers and we’ll continue hosting these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs Connect with us on Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/36377685

#0137 - Josh Baer From Capital Factory Joins To Discuss Innovation in Austin 04/23/2025

#0137 - Josh Baer From Capital Factory Joins To Discuss Innovation in Austin On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Joshua Baer, the Founder & CEO of Capital Factory, Austin’s premier startup hub connecting founders with mentors, investors, and talent. The interview took place in front of a live audience down in Austin at the Established House. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. As part of the Established Network, we also host the Monthly Innovation Circle, with some great featured speakers and we’ll continue hosting these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs Connect with us on Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/36279325

#0136 - Bestselling Author, Amy Jo Martin, Joins Us To Chat About Working With Huge Brands 04/15/2025

#0136 - Bestselling Author, Amy Jo Martin, Joins Us To Chat About Working With Huge Brands On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Amy Jo Martin, who is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder who has worked with some of the biggest brands and athletes in the world, and she’s all about helping people design lives they love. The interview took place in front of a live audience down in Austin at the Established House. Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. As part of the Established Network, we also host the Monthly Innovation Circle, with some great featured speakers and we’ll continue hosting these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs Connect with us on Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/36152485

#0135 - Jenny Fielding on "Venture Everywhere" and Investing in Global Startups 03/19/2025

#0135 - Jenny Fielding on "Venture Everywhere" and Investing in Global Startups On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Jenny Fielding. Jenny Fielding is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, an early-stage fund that has invested in over 300 companies across the globe. Take a look at Jenny’s website here: She is also the former Managing Director of Techstars and has mentored hundreds of founders through her work as an investor and entrepreneur. Jenny recently authored "Venture Everywhere," a book that explores global entrepreneurship, the importance of investing in diverse ecosystems, and the mindset required to succeed as a startup founder. Her experience spans across industries, and she has been instrumental in supporting the next generation of innovators. You can order your copy here: https://amzn.to/3FyWYQX We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: www.established.us Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs Connect with us on Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/35779195

#0134 - Robert Quinn of MakeSense Discusses Haptic Innovation and Scaling Mission-Driven Technology 01/28/2025

#0134 - Robert Quinn of MakeSense Discusses Haptic Innovation and Scaling Mission-Driven Technology On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Robert Quinn. Robert Quinn is the founder of MakeSense Technology, a company pioneering haptic solutions that address visual problems through innovative, non-audio/visual communication technologies. The technology stems from over a decade of research in haptics, led by a team from some of the world's most renowned institutions. Robert also serves as an honorary visiting researcher at the Manipulation and Touch Laboratory, Intelligent Systems and Networks Research Group, Imperial College London, where he continues to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in haptic technology. Watch the podcast on our YouTube channel: We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/35046060

#0133 - Briana Warner of Atlantic Sea Farms Discusses Sustainable Aquaculture and Scaling Socially Responsible Businesses 12/23/2024

#0132 - Rachel Holt of Construct Capital Talks About Investing in the Future of Transportation and the Built World 11/26/2024

#0131 - AIN Ventures Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Sherman Williams Shares His Experience in the Venture Capital World - Startup of the Year Podcast 11/05/2024

#0131 - AIN Ventures Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Sherman Williams Shares His Experience in the Venture Capital World - Startup of the Year Podcast On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Sherman Williams, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at AIN Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage focused venture fund that invests in dual-use technology and veteran-led startups. Frank and Shermann discuss all things investing - from the importance of non-dilutive funding to the accelerating energy transition occurring around the globe. Watch the podcast on our YouTube channel: We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: …… Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Check out Startup of the Year at: The program includes in-person and virtual events, including our annual SXSW startup pitch and competition. All of this culminates at our Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced and has an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/33792817

#0130 - Dan Berger From Assemble Talks About Productive Corporate Offsite Retreats - Startup of the Year Podcast 10/31/2024

#0130 - Dan Berger From Assemble Talks About Productive Corporate Offsite Retreats - Startup of the Year Podcast On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (), is joined by Dan Berger. Dan Berger is an entrepreneur with a strong track record in the event planning industry. He is the Founder of Assemble, a boutique chain of corporate retreat centers designed to enhance team collaboration and productivity. Previously, Dan founded Social Tables, an event-planning software company that made waves in the industry and was acquired by Cvent for $100 million in 2018. He is also the author of the upcoming book, “The Quest — The Definitive Guide to Finding Belonging.” Watch the podcast on our YouTube channel: We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: …… Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Check out Startup of the Year at: The program includes in-person and virtual events, including our annual SXSW startup pitch and competition. All of this culminates at our Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced and has an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/33704052

#0129 - Founder & CEO at Little Words Project, Adriana Carrig - Startup of the Year Podcast 10/16/2024

#0129 - Founder & CEO at Little Words Project, Adriana Carrig - Startup of the Year Podcast On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber () is joined by Adriana Carrig, Founder & CEO at Little Words Project, a bracelet sharing company that invites female entrepreneurs into a collaborative and uplifting digital community. Frank and Adriana discuss sisterhood, inclusive and compassionate business environments, and the value of community when creating a career. Watch the podcast on our YouTube channel: We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/33487017

#0128 - Allyson Kapin, General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, Talks About Bias in Tech and Investing 09/30/2024

#0128 - Allyson Kapin, General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, Talks About Bias in Tech and Investing On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (), is joined by Allyson Kapin. Allyson Kapin, the Founder of Women Who Tech, Co-Founder of Rad Campaign, and a General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, leads grassroots movements to bolster diversity in the tech and startup sectors; she is an active investor in tech startups, especially women-led and BIPOC startups. Her work draws global attention to significant gender bias in tech and venture capital by shaking up the culture and economy, making it exceedingly difficult for women to launch and scale startups. Her fund W Fund and nonprofit Women Who Tech provides capital and advises startups building the most innovative tech companies, ultimately closing the funding gap for good. We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: …… Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Check out Startup of the Year at: The program includes in-person and virtual events, including our annual SXSW startup pitch and competition. All of this culminates at our Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced and has an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/33267072

#0127 - Aubrie Pagano, General Partner at Alpaca VC, Discusses Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, and Her Investment Philosophy 08/29/2024

#0127 - Aubrie Pagano, General Partner at Alpaca VC, Discusses Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, and Her Investment Philosophy On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (), is joined by Aubrie Pagano. Aubrie Pagano is a General Partner at Alpaca VC, a venture capital firm investing in the people, products, and platforms reimagining the real world. Before joining Alpaca VC, Aubrie co-founded Bow & Drape, a fashion-tech startup that was acquired by Winn Brands in 2019. She is passionate about supporting founders and shares her journey from being a startup founder to becoming a venture capitalist. This interview covers what it takes to transition from entrepreneurship to venture capital, the challenges and opportunities in choosing where to invest, and how to maintain a balance between personal and professional life. We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: …… Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Check out Startup of the Year at: The program includes in-person and virtual events, including our annual SXSW startup pitch and competition. All of this culminates at our Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced and has an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/32790942

#0126 - Rohit Bhargava, Founder of the Non-Obvious Company, and Natalia Talkowska, Founder of Natalka Design, Discuss Self Promotion in Today's Digital World 08/08/2024

#0126 - Rohit Bhargava, Founder of the Non-Obvious Company, and Natalia Talkowska, Founder of Natalka Design, Discuss Self Promotion in Today's Digital World On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber () is joined by Natalia Talkowska and Rohit Bhargava. Natalia Talkowska is the Founder of Natalka Design, a high-stake visual consultancy that provides communication tools to enable leaders to communicate and engage with their audiences so that they can take action. Rohit Bhargava is the Founder and Chief Trend Curator of the Non-Obvious Company, a network of experts that aims to help leaders, organizations, and individuals develop habits to see what others miss. This interview covers what it takes to think outside of the box and to see conventional practices and techniques in a new light. The group discusses marketing, identity, networking, and more. We invite you all to join our Startup of the Year community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes in-person and virtual events, including our annual SXSW startup pitch and competition. All of this culminates at our Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced and has an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/32500932

#0125 - OtO Founder and CEO Ali Sabti Discusses the Growth and Development of the Automated Lawn Care Industry 07/31/2024

#0125 - OtO Founder and CEO Ali Sabti Discusses the Growth and Development of the Automated Lawn Care Industry On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber () is joined by Ali Sabti, CEO of automated lawn servicing company OtO (). We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/32367362

#0124 - Aron Kansal of SimpleTix and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures 07/16/2024

#0124 - Aron Kansal of SimpleTix and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber () is joined by Aron Kansal of SimpleTix () and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures (). Aron Kansal is the founder of SimpleTix, an online ticketing product for attractions, festivals, concerts, museums, and more. They have all the functionality of Eventbrite with a no-contract policy, instant payouts, and a very intuitive user experience. Aron is a Startup of the Year Alumni from our days as Tech Cocktail / Tech.Co, as SimpleTix showcased at our winter mixer in Washington, D.C. in February of 2012. SimpleTix was recently acquired by Occom Ventures, a private equity fund led by Vikram Bodas, Ian Whitney and Bo Gibson. The firm purchased a majority stake in the company. We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/32160757

#0123 - CEO of TheLi.st, Ann Shoket, Discusses Networking and Community for Women Entrepreneurs 06/07/2024

#0123 - CEO of TheLi.st, Ann Shoket, Discusses Networking and Community for Women Entrepreneurs On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber () is joined by Ann Shoket, Founder of New Power Media and CEO of TheLi.st, a private community of innovators and entrepreneurs devoted to helping each other network, succeed, and thrive in a competitive environment. In this interview, Ann discusses loneliness, the role networking holds in today's competitive environment, and the importance of creating a highly curated, highly valuable community for female entrepreneurs. We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/31651187

#0122 - Indiegogo CEO Becky Center discusses the growth and development of Indiegogo 05/16/2024

#0122 - Indiegogo CEO Becky Center discusses the growth and development of Indiegogo On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Becky Center, CEO of crowdfunding behemoth Indiegogo. In this interview, we discuss the growth and development of Indiegogo, the expansion of crowdfunding, and how to handle partnerships, success, and failure in an ever-changing economy. We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/31334572

#0121 - GameStop CEO, Author, and Entrepreneur Gary Kusin Discusses His New Book “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from GameStop to Laura Mercier” 04/30/2024

#0121 - GameStop CEO, Author, and Entrepreneur Gary Kusin Discusses His New Book “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from GameStop to Laura Mercier” On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Gary Kusin, Co-Founder of GameStop and Laura Mercier Cosmetics, former President and CEO of Kinkos, and author of his new book “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from Gamestop to Laura Mercier.” Be sure to check out Kusin’s new book, “Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from Gamestop to Laura Mercier.” You can order it here: . We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminates at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/31057533

#0120 - Beyond the Buzzwords: How AI Can Be Leveraged to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems 04/26/2024

#0120 - Beyond the Buzzwords: How AI Can Be Leveraged to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber () introduces a panel of entrepreneurial experts as they discuss the emergence of AI and how to utilize this new tool in support of entrepreneurial endeavors. This panel, which took place at the Established House at SXSW 2024, and features insight from: Sherrod Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecomap Technologies Nicola Corzine, Founding CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Ryan Groves, CEO and Founder of Slyngshot, a platform that helps new and aspiring entrepreneurs launch their big ideas Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development / Office of Investment and Innovation at the US Small Business Administration We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/31002898

#0119 - Serial Entrepreneur Paulo Andrez Chats About His New Book “Zero Risk Startup” 04/17/2024

#0119 - Serial Entrepreneur Paulo Andrez Chats About His New Book “Zero Risk Startup” On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber () interviews serial entrepreneur and unicorn investor, speaker, and author, Paulo Andrez as we’ll talk about his new book, Zero Risk Startup which comes out in May 2024. Get your copy of the book here: We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/30865633

#0118 - Investor Extraordinaire Arlan Hamilton Explores Her New Book “Your First Million” 04/04/2024

#0118 - Investor Extraordinaire Arlan Hamilton Explores Her New Book “Your First Million” On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Arlan Hamilton that took place at the Established house at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Arlan is the Founder and Managing Partner at Backstage Capital and the author of her new book “Your First Million.” What’s amazing is she launched a $20M+ fund from scratch while she was homeless. She has invested in 200+ companies led by underrepresented, underestimated founders. She is the author of the bestselling book, It’s About Damn Time, and the host of the popular visual podcast, Your First Million. Check this all out at Arlan’s website: Arlan is also hosting a large event April 9th to 12th in Los Angeles. Aspiring or current entrepreneurs, investors, job seekers, and hiring managers are encouraged to check out Your First Million LIVE in LA, which is an event designed to amplify underestimated voices and talent. During the event, you’ll receive the tools, resources, and connections to empower you to thrive as you work towards Your First Million! We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/30680553

#0117 - Exploring Hands-Free Tech with Corten Singer of Augmental 02/21/2024

#0117 - Exploring Hands-Free Tech with Corten Singer of Augmental On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Corten Singer from Augmental, the winner of the CTA Foundation Pitch competition at CES 2024. Corten is the cofounder of Augmental, which just recently launched the MouthPad, a bluetooth-enabled intraoral interface for hands-free control of your computer, smartphone, and tablet. Learn more at: We also chat about the excitement around our upcoming event at SXSW. Join us as we host a day of events for innovators and startups at the Established House on March 10th, 2024. More details . We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/30053723

#0116 - Startups and Mental Health with Rich Belsky From Crevo 12/20/2023

#0116 - Startups and Mental Health with Rich Belsky From Crevo On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview from Rich Belsky, who recently founded Crevo - . Crevo is an entrepreneurial wellness consultancy focused primarily on early-stage startup founders and CEOs, solopreneurs, and corporate leaders. Crevo combines tactical, strategic guidance with mindset and energy management training to help leaders identify, avoid, and manage breakdowns and challenging environments. We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/29169278

#0115 - Investor Discussion: Halcyon Fund & StartFast Ventures 09/19/2023

#0115 - Investor Discussion: Halcyon Fund & StartFast Ventures On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an investor discussion was led by our own Established Co-CEO Jen Consalvo at a pitch event we hosted online a few months ago. The panel included Dahna Goldstein, who is the Chief Investment Officer of Halcyon and Co-Managing Director of the Halcyon Fund. Phoebe Van Duinen was also on the panel, and she is the Principal and Investment Manager at Halcyon and is responsible for the end-to-end process of social impact investing through their three capital vehicles, VC Fund, Angel Network, and Microloan Fund. Lastly, Olivia Goldstein also participated in the chat. Olivia is the Vice President at StartFast Ventures. We also again shine a light on an amazing company in our ecosystem. Today, that company is Keepers, which is an all-in-one app providing full housekeeping management. They are saving short-term rental hosts time by integrating directly with their Airbnb and VRBO calendars so that as soon as a reservation is created, a job notification is sent to all housekeeper users. Learn more about them at: We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Checkout Startup of the Year at: The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/28085408

#0114 - Dr. Richard Munassi Discusses The Tampa Bay Wave Accelerator Program 08/10/2023

#0114 - Dr. Richard Munassi Discusses The Tampa Bay Wave Accelerator Program On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Dr. Richard Munassi that took place at SXSW. Dr. Munassi is a serial entrepreneur, the co-founder of Blackfin Technology Partners, and co-founder of Medzoomer. Discussing his latest venture as the Director of the Tampa Bay Wave Accelerator program, Munassi highlights his four-year journey towards creating this non-profit incubator, its top notch program and various communities and cohorts. We also again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Boon, which is disrupting the recruiting industry by democratizing it through referrals. To learn more, visit: We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Checkout Startup of the Year at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/27714894

#0113 - Mike Evans Returns to Discuss His New Memoir "Hangry: A Startup Journey" About Co-Founding GrubHub 07/11/2023

#0113 - Mike Evans Returns to Discuss His New Memoir "Hangry: A Startup Journey" About Co-Founding GrubHub On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Mike Evans that took place at SXSW. Mike is the Co-Founder of GrubHub, as well as the founder of Fixer, a Chicago-based company building the "right now" handyman service. Mike’s latest book venture, "Hangry: A Startup Journey", is an exciting memoir about his co-founding of GrubHub and his journey as an entrepreneur. You can grab yourself a copy today at mikeevans.com We also want to mention that for the first time since 2019, SBA’s America’s Seed Fund Road Tour will take to the road for an in-person experience. From July 17-21, the bus will stop in five Midwest states, connecting innovators with the largest source of seed funding in the country. Each Road Tour stop facilitates programming and One-on-One in-person meetings between innovators and federal agency representatives to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund. Established will be there, and if you are in the region, we hope you are, too! We encourage you to register to attend and to share this special in-person opportunity with your connections, networks, and ecosystem. America’s Seed Fund Road Tour | Midwest Tour Stops: Monday, July 17 | Oklahoma City, OK Tuesday, July 18 | Wichita, KS Wednesday, July 19 | Kansas City, MO Thursday, July 20 | Lincoln, NE Friday, July 21 | Des Moines, IA For more information, visit We also again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Atlantic Sea Farms, which is revolutionizing the US seaweed industry while making our customers, our planet, and our coastal economies healthier by creating craveable and innovative products from sustainably farmed sea greens. To learn more, visit We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us Checkout Startup of the Year at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/27433470

#0112 - Rohit Bhargava From the Non-Obvious Company Chats About New Book "The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade" 05/22/2023

#0112 - Rohit Bhargava From the Non-Obvious Company Chats About New Book "The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade" On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Rohit Bhargava that took place at SXSW. Rohit is the Founder and Chief trend curator of the Non-Obvious Company, where he is a forward thinking storyteller, author and keynote speaker. Most recently, Rohit Co-authored "The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade" alongside colleague Henry Coutinho-Mason. Focusing on the stories of up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Rohit’s book brings attention to monumental changes that are on the horizon, how it impacts us today and the opportunities that lie within this future normal. You can find “The Future Normal” and all 9 of Rohit’s best selling books at in addition to his top speaking topics, blog and newsletter! We again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is HID SIPS, which is on a mission to make sure no one wakes up without water again. Designing products with accessibility in mind, HID SIPS is making the lives of those who struggle to get out of bed easier, including those with health conditions, snoring, taking medicine or simply having a dry mouth. To learn more, visit Lastly, we hear about adding mushrooms like Reishi, Lion's Mane, and a few others to morning drinks. Recently, we were contacted by Restorative Botanicals and offered a sample of their product, My BrainShroom. We’ve been trying out their gummies, which contain Lion's Mane and other substances that are supposed to help stimulate the brain and are supposed to aid in the growth of new brain cells, improve depression and anxiety, and support gut, heart, and immune health. Learn more here: We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Checkout Startup of the Year at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - and Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/26916885

#0111 - Hope Shimabuku From the USPTO Chats About Intellectual Property Resources 05/09/2023

#0111 - Hope Shimabuku From the USPTO Chats About Intellectual Property Resources On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Hope Shimabuku that took place at SXSW. Hope is the Regional Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where she carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the Texas regional office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Hope ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. We also again mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, 2023. The SBA will host the second America’s Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding. America’s Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: Lastly, we again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Stack Homes, which builds luxury modular dwellings designed for the imaginative and conscious home buyer while responding to the environmental and housing crises. They are sustainable, uniquely stackable, timely and built-to-order. Offering industry-leading designs and customer-centric white glove service throughout the process, Stack Homes is revolutionizing the residential construction industry. To learn more visit We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Checkout Startup of the Year at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - and Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/26787012

#0110 - Kathryn Finney Talks About Her Book “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy” 04/27/2023

#0110 - Kathryn Finney Talks About Her Book “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy” On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Kathryn Finney that took place at SXSW. Kathryn is a longtime community contributor and she is the Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture fund that invests in scalable businesses led by Black founders using innovation to build and promote healthy communities. She had a new book published last summer titled, “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy,” that made the Wall Street Journal bestsellers list in its first week of release. Check out the book today at: We also again mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, the SBA will host the second America’s Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding. America’s Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: Lastly, we again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is PayBee, which is an all-in-one fundraising events platform built for nonprofits hosting events in any format. Paybee’s event features provide you the ability to streamline your fundraising event planning, executing and follow-up using cutting edge technology tools. Go to to learn more! We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: Checkout Startup of the Year at: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: *** helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - and Facebook - /episode/index/show/startupoftheyear/id/26674782

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