Starting Small

Emily Hosie spent over a decade inside some of the biggest names in off-price retail—Saks Off 5th, Holt Renfrew, and TJX—before launching REBEL, the first curated marketplace for open-box baby and home goods. After a year of being turned away by brands unwilling to admit the waste, REBEL secured major partners—and then a defining moment came. Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY filed for bankruptcy, and REBEL was tapped to proces...

Mike Lombardo didn’t come from food and bev. He was a college student, Army National Guard soldier, and drummer chasing big ideas. But when his high school swim teammate Kayvon began managing ulcerative colitis by mixing prebiotic tea, everything changed. The two co-founders started bottling it out of a brewery in New Jersey—selling to one Whole Foods, cold-brewing by hand, and making just $18K in their first year.

Then COVID hit, ...

Berk Bahceci left a career in antitrust law in Washington, D.C., to build something deeply personal. Born in Turkey and raised around olive groves, Berk saw a massive blind spot in the U.S. market: despite being one of the top producers in the world, Turkish olive oil had no brand recognition on American shelves. So, he built one from scratch. In this episode, Berk shares how he vertically integrated Heraclea—from grove to bottle—a...

From a nearly $50k debt to a multi-million dollar company, Blake Garrett, founder of Aceable, didn’t follow the usual path. In this episode, Blake shares how his background in accounting and ERP consulting led him to create Aceable, a company that’s reshaping how we learn essential skills like driving and real estate licensing.

What began with a simple idea—gamifying education—has grown into a must-have tool for millions across the...

In this episode of Starting Small, we’re joined by JW Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs, a booze-free craft cocktail company that’s changing the way people think about non-alcoholic drinks. JW started Curious Elixirs in 2015 while running a marketing agency, driven by a personal desire for complex cocktails without the hangover. He talks about how his fascination with cocktails and his experience in hospitality led him to create ...

In this episode of Starting Small, we’re joined by Charlie Weisman, founder of Staff, a brand that's redefining the most overlooked items in our homes. Staff started with a plunger—yes, a plunger—designed to be bold, colorful, and functional, a far cry from the bland utility items most of us keep hidden away. Charlie takes us back to the initial spark of inspiration during the pandemic, when he looked at his bathroom plunger and th...

In this episode of Starting Small, we chat with Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand that’s changing how women approach health. Lulu’s journey starts in China, moves through a tough transition to California, and ends up with her launching a company focused on personalized herbal care. After years of dealing with stress, hormonal issues, and a traditional corporate grind, Lulu turned to Chinese medicine to heal herself—and fro...

In this episode I'm joined by Bartosz Skwarczek of G2A. He started G2A in 2010 with a small team and a big idea—create the world’s largest digital marketplace for gaming products. What began in a small room in Poland with just six people has grown into a platform serving over 25 million customers in 180 countries. Today, G2A is the largest marketplace for digital goods, from games to software and gift cards.

Bartosz shares how he m...

In this episode I'm joined by Grace Lee Chan of Birdy Grey, the direct-to-consumer bridal brand that’s shaking up the wedding industry. Grace Lee Chen, co-founder of the brand, shares how she and her best friend Monica Ashauer launched Birdy Grey in 2017, turning a simple idea into a company that hit $80 million in revenue in just a few years. With no outside funding, they bootstrapped the business from the ground up, facing the ch...

In this episode I'm joined by Jim Keyes, the former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, to talk through his journey from humble beginnings to leading two of the most recognizable brands in the world. Jim opens up about how he worked multiple jobs—like flipping burgers at McDonald’s—to pay for school, made pivotal decisions in 7-Eleven’s growth, and led Blockbuster during its struggle against Netflix. He shares how his mindset shifted ...

In this episode, I'm joined by Chris & Jonathan Ronzio of Trainual, the leading SaaS platform transforming the way businesses onboard, train, and scale teams. Trainual streamlines essential processes by providing businesses with a digital playbook to standardize how work gets done. Whether teams are remote, in-office, or hybrid, Trainual ensures employees have the knowledge and resources they need to succeed, keeping everyone a...

In this episode I am joined by Susan Levine, founder of Career Group Companies. Susan didn’t just build a recruiting agency—she redefined the industry. What started as a one-woman operation has grown into Career Group Companies, a national firm placing talent everywhere from Fortune 500 boardrooms to Hollywood’s biggest power players. Whether it’s staffing A-list assistants for Kevin Costner and Maria Shriver or securing top execs ...

In this episode I am joined by Jacob and Victor Eriksson, founders of Boxbollen. What do Khloe Kardashian, Will Smith, and thousands of TikTok creators have in common? They’ve all been hooked on Boxbollen, the Swedish reflex-training game that went viral overnight. Founded by two brothers, Boxbollen turned a simple head-tracking ball into a global fitness and gaming sensation. From partnerships with top athletes to landing in milli...

In this episode I am joined by Suze Dowling, co-founder of Pattern Brands. Suze Dowling has spent her career shaping some of the most recognizable brands in DTC. From launching Warby Parker and Harry’s at Gin Lane to co-founding Pattern Brands, she’s helped build companies that don’t just scale—they last. Now, with $99M raised and seven acquisitions, Pattern is creating a portfolio of home brands designed for how we actually live. ...

In this episode I am joined by David Habib, founder of Yo Mama's. Tired of bland, preservative-packed sauces that caused him relentless heartburn, David took matters into his own hands. Trading spreadsheets for saucepans, he founded Yo Mama’s Foods in 2017 with a mission to create pasta sauces made from simple, honest ingredients—just like his mom would. Bootstrapped from his personal savings, David built a brand now found in over ...

In this episode I am joined by Mike Browne, founder of HEALiX Infrared. Mike shares his transformative journey from competitive hockey and professional psychology to launching a cutting-edge wellness brand. With a foundation built on years of expertise in fitness, nutrition, and mental health, Mike created HEALiX to bring advanced therapies like PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy) and red light therapy to a wider audience.

...

In this episode I am joined by Courtney Claghorn of SUGARED + BRONZED, the national leader in sugaring and spray tanning services with over 38 locations across five states. What began in Courtney’s Santa Monica apartment as a quest to create healthier, more aesthetic tanning options has grown into a self-care empire. Leaving a successful career in Fintech, Courtney combined her passion for natural beauty with her entrepreneurial sp...

In this episode I am joined by Priya of Hapny Home, a brand redefining hardware with its curated collection of solid brass pieces. Growing up immersed in the hardware business, Priya took the unconventional route of building her own brand instead of joining her father’s 40-year-old company. With an eye for detail and a commitment to quality, Priya has filled a gap in the market, crafting hardware that balances luxury and accessibil...

In this episode I am joined by Lillian Tung and Laura Schubert, lifelong friends and co-founders of Fur, pioneered the pubic hair and skin care category nearly a decade ago. Breaking taboos, they created a brand known for standout products like Fur Oil, a favorite of Emma Watson, and grew a loyal following, including over 12,000 professional estheticians. After landing a Shark Tank deal with Lori Greiner in 2019, Fur expanded its r...