The First Customer
Ever wondered how to use your experience to start or grow a business?
The First Customer intimately dissects successful entrepreneurs journeys to their first customer. Learn from practical real-life examples of regular people transforming into superheroes by starting their own business.
Buckle up … the rocket is taking off!
Episodes
175 episodes
The First Customer - Embracing the Wild Ride of Breaking Barriers with Founder Donnie Boivin
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Donnie Boivin, Founder and CEO of Success Champions Network.Donnie grew up in a blue-collar family, and never considered starting a business until he was in his 40s. Inspired by thought l...
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Season 1
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Episode 176
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23:17
The First Customer - The Power of Subscription Models in E-Commerce with Co-founder Baird Hall
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Baird Hall, co-founder of Churnkey. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Baird didn’t start his first company until he was 27, though he feels he could have begun earlier. His first v...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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23:23
The First Customer - How to Find Your Authentic Voice in A Crowded Market with CEO Lynn Whitbeck
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Lynn Whitbeck, Founder and CEO of Petite2Queen.Lynn grew up in a mid-sized town, and her experience in the Girl Scouts, where she spearheaded a cookie-selling strategy with a shy friend, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 174
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22:36
The First Customer - The Transition from Services to Product-focused Business with CTO Len Covello
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Len Covello, CTO and Co-founder of Engage People. Len discusses his early influences, including growing up in Toronto and being inspired by his father, who was an entrepreneur in the cate...
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Season 1
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Episode 173
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24:20
The First Customer - How To Ace Your Business Strategy with Co-Founder Andrew Watson
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Andrew Watson, Co-Founder of Igloo Media. Andrew recounts his upbringing in Italy and England, and how his initial aspirations as a tennis player eventually led him to entrepreneurship in...
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Season 1
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Episode 172
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16:39
The First Customer - Building A Legacy In Ice Cream with Founder Sanket Karamchandani
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sanket Karamchandani, Founder of Miss Neeta's Ice Cream Parlor. Sanket shared his entrepreneurial journey from a childhood dream inspired by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to becoming a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 171
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19:18
The First Customer - Raising the Bar in Digital Journalism with Co-founder and CEO Christopher Wink
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very, very, special friend, Christopher Wink, Co-founder and CEO of Technical.ly.Chris discussed his upbringing in a rural corner of Northwest New Jersey, which lacked exposure to techn...
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Season 1
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Episode 170
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33:49
The First Customer - Leveraging AI to Transform and Innovate Business Models with CEO Jeff Bruno
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jeff Bruno, CEO and Co-founder of B.Modelr. Jeff shares his entrepreneurial journey, which began in Philadelphia, and how his passion for small business finance led him to create his frac...
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Season 1
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Episode 169
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24:53
The First Customer - From West Coast Setbacks to Mobile App Stardom with CEO Jedidiah Weller
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very special friend, Jedidiah Weller, the CEO and Founder of Open Forge and Startup Wars. Jedidiah shares his entrepreneurial journey, beginning in rural Pennsylvania, where he grew up ...
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Season 1
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Episode 168
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33:52
The First Customer - Elevating Athlete Brands Through Game-Changing Moves with Founder Jack Adler
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jack Adler, CEO and Founder of Out2Win Sports. Jack shares his journey from growing up in Bluebell and Villanova to his time at Syracuse University, where he founded Out2Win Sports in 202...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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17:44
The First Customer - The Importance of Taking Risks and Making Mistakes with CEO Leopold van Oosten
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Leopold van Oosten, the CEO and Founder of Amsterdam Standard. Leopold recounts his entrepreneurial journey, which began in a small, unremarkable town in the Netherlands. Initially studyi...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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19:12
The First Customer - How To Become A Market Maven with Expert In You CEO Ann Carden
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ann Carden, CEO and Founder of Expert In You.Ann delved into her entrepreneurial journey, which began in Missouri, influenced by her father, an entrepreneur. Ann's early ventures started ...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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24:50
The First Customer - Redefining Strategic Consulting for a Changing World with Founder Tomé Duarte
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tomé Duarte, the Fractional CTO and Founder of Penguin Objective.Tomé shares how he started the year strong with a record-setting Q1, crediting his meticulous use of spreadsheets for mana...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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22:36
The First Customer - Optimizing Success By Blending Process and Creativity with Jennifer Cresswell
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jennifer Cresswell, Founder of Thoughtgro. Jennifer grew up in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area and having a background in industrial engineering from Cornell, Jennifer's drive to improv...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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20:17
The First Customer - Unleashing the New Era in Content Creation with Founder Tim Branyan
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tim Branyan, founder of TrueFanz.Tim grew up in Kokomo, Indiana and explained how his early life, including the influence of his comedian father and his curiosity, shaped his entrepreneur...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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23:02
The First Customer - Shifting Tech Landscapes through Digital Drift with CEO and Founder Jim Keeney
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jim Keeney, founder and CEO of Dapt Tech.Jim explains that the entrepreneurial drive is fueled by a desire to build things and solve problems, which began for him in childhood. He talks a...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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25:54
The First Customer - Orchestrating Mental Health Masterplan with CTO and Co-founder Mark Allen
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Allen, Co-founder and CTO of Cobalt Innovations Inc. Mark grew up in Bluebell, Pennsylvania. He credited his wife’s influence for igniting his entrepreneurial spirit. Initially ...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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23:31
The First Customer - Breaking the Healthcare Mold with CEO and Co-Founder Timothy Poore
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Timothy Poore, the CEO and Co-founder of ATP Healthcare. Timothy shared insights into his journey as an entrepreneur, reflecting on how his upbringing, particularly his parents' busi...
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Season 1
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Episode 159
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19:46
The First Customer - Creating a Roadmap To Meaningful Metrics with Founder Catherine Griffin
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Catherine Griffin, Founder of Impactable.Catherine recounts how her experiences leading a fund and accelerator in Philadelphia, which focused on social entrepreneurship and global innovat...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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23:30
The First Customer - The Formula For Infinite Business Growth with Founder Natalie Doyle Oldfield
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Natalie Doyle Oldfield, CEO and founder of Success Through Trust Inc.Natalie grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and shares that she was inspired by her parents' strong work ethic and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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22:44
The First Customer - The Mastermind of Market Viability with CEO and Founder Marc Portney
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marc Portney, CEO and Founder of Globalsource Infrastructure Partners. Marc spent his early days in Queens, New York, where he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit by shining shoes for poc...
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Season 1
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Episode 156
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24:07
The First Customer - How to rewrite the rules of AI Communication with Co-founder Monik Pamecha
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Monik Pamecha, CEO and Co-founder of Toma.Monik grew up in Bombay and was influenced by his hardworking father. This environment fostered an early interest in technology, leading him to c...
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Season 1
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Episode 155
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23:20
The First Customer - Building Knowledge Empires with Guru CEO and Co-Founder Rick Nucci
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a very, very special guest, Rick Nucci, CEO and co-founder of Guru.Rick, highly regarded in the Philadelphia tech scene, reflected on a memorable moment at the Founder Factory event, wher...
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Season 1
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Episode 154
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35:06
The First Customer - In The Eye of An Innovator with Princeton Identity Founder Bobby Varma
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bobby Varma, CEO and founder of Princeton Identity. Bobby shared her journey from her early life in India to her entrepreneurial ventures in the U.S. She highlighted how her father's love...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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26:28
The First Customer - Shark Tank Series: Fresh Smiles from Grit with Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell, co-founders and co-CEOs of FunkkOFF, a company that creates innovative oral care products. Joelle, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in fina...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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25:50
