Keep Going

Startup Show: How to sell electric vehicles to muscle car fans

In the heart of Signal Hill, California, a quiet revolution is taking place in the world of electric vehicles (EVs). Spearheaded by twin brothers Nikita Bridan and Iliya Bridan, Oilstainlab is a design consultancy that is pivoting to become a pioneering force of change in the future of mobility. Transitioning from offering design services to some of the biggest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the auto industry to manufacturing their own bespoke electric vehicles, the brothers are driven by a deep belief in the potential of their vision. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Keep Going: How to hack luck

Sami Inkinen, CEO and co-founder of Virta Health, discusses their mission to solve the biggest health epidemic of our generation: type 2 diabetes and obesity. He shares the challenges they faced in convincing the medical community and investors that their approach of reversing these diseases through nutrition was possible. Sami emphasizes the importance of earning credibility by delivering on promises and staying resilient in the face of skepticism. He also talks about the decisions they made during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned from navigating uncertain times. Overall, the conversation highlights the significance of staying in the game, having backup plans, and seizing opportunities."We are on a mission to solve the biggest health epidemic of our generation, and that is type 2 diabetes and obesity,” he said.Listen in as we explore the concept of luck in the world of startups and what it takes to earn your luck.Our theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Startup Show: This company connects your computer to your brain

In this episode of Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with Dr. Christoph Guger, the founder and CEO of g.tec medical engineering, a company that has been at the forefront of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for the past quarter-century. BCI devices, which translate brain activity into control signals for external devices, have evolved from experimental tools to powerful medical applications that are changing the lives of patients around the world. g.tec has pioneered innovations that not only help patients regain lost functions but push the boundaries of what technology can achieve by tapping directly into the human mind.BCIs were initially developed to aid patients with severe physical limitations, such as those suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), by providing them with a means of communication when traditional methods failed. Early applications allowed users to control cursors on a screen, offering a lifeline to those who were otherwise locked inside their bodies, unable to speak or move. Over the years, the technology has expanded dramatically.One of g.tec’s most notable products in the space is Recoverix, a BCI-based rehabilitation tool for stroke patients. After a stroke, patients often face severe mobility challenges, with many left unable to use their hands or legs effectively. Recoverix addresses this by using EEG electrodes to monitor brain activity while patients imagine moving their paralyzed limbs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Keep Going: How to find your passion

Jessica Pely, CEO and founder of Loyee, discusses her experience starting a business in Germany and then moving to the US. Loyi is a go-to-market tool that helps companies find their best customers through AI technology. Pely talks about the challenges of raising funds and the importance of having a passion for your business. She also shares advice for entrepreneurs starting out in Germany and emphasizes the need to take risks and focus on the bigger and faster-growing markets.00:00 Introduction and Background01:16 Loyee: Helping Companies Find Their Best Customers07:59 The Challenges of Fundraising09:43 Moving from Germany to the US13:02 Advice for Entrepreneurs Starting Out in GermanyOur theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Startup Show: How do you break into an entrenched industry? This founder has some ideas

In this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with FLYR CEO Alex Mans, who has emerged as a pivotal player in transforming an industry deeply entrenched in outdated systems. Which industry is that? The airline industry!The conversation delved into FLYR’s journey under Mans’ leadership, exploring its mission to revolutionize airline infrastructure, the significant challenges faced by both the company and CEO, and the personal insights from Mans that illustrate the resilience and strategic acumen behind the company’s rapid growth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Keep Going: How to heal while building a business

Natanya Wachtel, founder of the New Solutions Network, discusses the intersection of wellness, technology, and psychedelics. She shares her personal journey of leaving the corporate world to pursue a career that helps people heal. Natanya emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health and expanding the toolset for healing, including the use of psychedelics and other integrative wellness practices. She also explores the challenges entrepreneurs face in expressing their failures and the need to redefine success. Natanya provides insights on managing ego, supporting employees, and normalizing conversations around mental health."Feeling like a failure because not everything works out or will continue to not work out for me as well. And that was an ego death that you need to kind of go through,” she said.Our theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Keep Going: How to run a billion dollar restaurant business during a pandemic

In this episode of Keep Going Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks, discusses the concept of a platform company in the restaurant industry. WOWorks operates six different restaurant brands and functions as a franchisor, allowing entrepreneurs to start their own businesses using their brands. The focus of their brands is on clean ingredients and healthier food options. Roddy shares the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they shifted their focus to supporting their franchisees. He also emphasizes the importance of setting goals and prioritizing tasks to achieve long-term growth.Our theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

Startup Show: How HumAIns created a human-like chatbot

In this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with Nissan Yaron, the CEO of Inpris, the creator of HumAIns. The company, which is working on an advanced integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily technologies, has found particular success in the automotive sector but is now aiming to expand.Initially focused on enhancing car infotainment systems through AI, HumAIns has expanded its vision to a broader range of applications, propelling the company into the forefront of AI-driven autonomous systems and agents.The origins of HumAIns trace back to its early days working on in-car assistance. The company developed a system combining voice assistants and finger gestures to interact with cars’ infotainment systems more safely and effectively, a development that was particularly crucial because traditional interfaces like touchscreens and smartphones tend to pose safety risks while driving.However, the major breakthrough for HumAIns came later, with the adoption of OpenAI’s GPT-3 technology in 2021. After gaining early access to GPT-3, HumAIns adeptly utilized this large language model (LLM) to revolutionize how AI could operate within an infotainment interface. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

The Startup Show: An AI startup that can help your kids pack for camp? Yes, please.

In this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with Meghan Joyce, the co-founder and CEO of Duckbill AI. The conversation dove into the tech company’s hybrid approach that combines AI with human oversight to create a personal assistant service that is effective and accessible. This is particularly important as the boundaries between work and personal life are increasingly blurred.Want to try out the service now? The team has given us a promo code BIGGS for 50% off 2 months off your first two months with Duckbill PLUS you'll be expedited off the waitlist. Check it out!Personalized Assistance Tailored to Modern NeedsModern life, with its dual-income households and complex personal and professional responsibilities, demands more than what traditional digital assistants offer. That is the gap Duckbill aims to fill by providing a service that not only anticipates the needs of its users but also actively manages those needs with minimal input required from them.Duckbill accomplishes this by integrating seamlessly with users’ lives, connecting to personal calendars, analyzing routines, and even incorporating data about family members to offer proactive assistance. This could include:* Scheduling healthcare appointments.* Ensuring all preparations are made for a child’s summer camp.* Managing home maintenance schedules. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com

The Startup Show: This entrepreneur supports non-profits and unions

In this episode of the Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs was joined by CEO Stacey Yudin of NEP Services, a leader in the communications space that is providing nonprofits and other organizations with best-in-class software. Named one to watch by Fast Company, NEP Services has helped clients raise $65 million for their communities and $7 million for the “Help a Hero” crowdfunding campaign. The discussion dove into what NEP Services is doing and facets of the nonprofit sector as a whole.Nonprofits, much like startups, find themselves scrounging for resources. Not only are pickings slim, but the sector is notorious for its slow adaptation of technology. Yudin observed this fact and formed NEP Services, in part, to fill the game. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupstrats.substack.com