How do you build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, David talks with Betsy Fore, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tiny Organics and Founding Partner of Velveteen Ventures. Betsy shares her remarkable journey from toy inventor to serial entrepreneur and impact investor, becoming the first Native American woman to raise a Series A along the way.

She opens up about co-creating Tiny Organics alongside 100 founding families, facing setbacks like her unaired Shark Tank appearance, and learning to redefine success through purpose and presence. Betsy also reflects on the lessons that shaped her new book, Built on Purpose, blending practical entrepreneurship with spiritual grounding and a values-driven approach to leadership.

Now, through her venture fund and nonprofit, Betsy is focused on investing in solutions that uplift communities, children, and the planet, showing that business can be both profitable and deeply purposeful.

Takeaways:

• Unforgettable Beginnings and Tiny Organics' Success: Betsy's tale begins with her concept of engaging 100 founding families, transforming them into co-creators of Tiny Organics and fostering community-driven innovation.
• Embracing Challenges and the Road Less Traveled: Betsy's first entrepreneurial venture, a Fitbit-like product for dogs, taught her the significance of understanding consumer behavior and product-market fit.
• A Unique Shark Tank Experience and Fundraising Insights: Navigating numerous challenges, including a memorable Shark Tank experience, Betsy shares insights into the traditional venture fundraising path and the nuances of raising capital, particularly as a Native American woman.
• Discovering Purpose Beyond Business: Betsy's inspiration for her debut book, Built On Purpose, stemmed from a desire to demystify the practice of manifestation and align it with business creation.
• Melding Investment with Impact: Through Velveteen Ventures, Betsy shifts her focus towards using her skills to benefit her community and the broader planet. Her investments in healthcare, climate, and solutions for children.

Quote of the Show:

• “The most important relationship a founder can have isn’t with investors or customers. It’s with themselves." - Betsy Fore

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyfore/
• Website: https://www.tinyorganics.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #TinyOrganics #VelveteenVentures

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:26 Building Tiny Organics with Founding Families

07:47 From Tiny Organics to National Recognition

08:34 Lessons from a Previous Venture

13:51 Shark Tank Experience

19:18 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape

25:07 Securing Initial Funding and Building a Strong Advisory Board

26:15 Realizing the Importance of Giving Back

27:55 Founding Natives Rising and Healing Through NLP

29:20 Investing in Underrepresented Founders

31:39 Writing 'Built on Purpose' and the Power of Manifestation

35:38 Inspiring Stories from Native American Founders

38:21 Launching a Venture Fund with a Purpose

41:26 From Rural Illinois to International Success

49:35 The Importance of Self-Compassion for Founders

50:35 Outro

How do you scale exceptional customer support without losing the human touch?

In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Assembled, to explore this very challenge. What started as a simple scheduling tool has evolved into an AI-powered customer support platform trusted by leading companies like DoorDash and Salesforce.

Ryan opens up about the realities of scaling a fast-growing company, balancing innovation with culture, leading through learning, and keeping mission and execution at the heart of everything. His insights offer a playbook for founders and leaders aiming to build resilient, adaptable organizations.

Takeaways:

• Understanding the Challenge of Scaling Support: Ryan Wang shares insights into the evolution of Assembled, beginning with a fundamental question: how to scale great customer support without losing efficiency..
• Wearing Multiple Hats: Ryan emphasizes the importance of diving into different roles within a company. For founders, this means deeply engaging with various functions, learning from their challenges, and understanding what excellence looks like.
• The Art of Networking: The conversation highlights the importance of connecting with top industry leaders to learn and seek guidance. Founders should prioritize genuine learning over mere networking, making it easy for mentors to share their expertise.
• Adaptability and Product Evolution: Assembled’s journey reflects the necessity of being adaptable. Ryan discusses the creation of a "new products" team to innovate without disrupting the existing structure, showcasing a strategic approach to product development.
• Facing Cultural Challenges: The transition to AI tools and methods posed cultural challenges at Assembled. Ryan acknowledges how these changes can strain company culture, advising that clear communication and integrating efforts can prevent breaking the company culture.
• Mission and Execution: Ryan and David discuss how a strong mission and purpose can act as a modern moat for companies

Quote of the Show:

• “As CEO, your job is to hold the line, even when it breaks hearts, because someone has to protect the long-term vision." - Ryan Wang

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanywang/
• Website: https://www.assembled.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Assembled

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:22 Deep Dive into Leadership and Management

04:25 Networking with Industry Leaders

09:12 Balancing Multiple Roles as CEO

15:31 Transition to CEO Role

23:33 Evolution of Assembled's Product

29:13 Running Through Y Combinator

30:28 Demo Days and Team Dynamics

32:16 Staying on Top of Rapid Changes

35:53 The Concept of Moat in Business

40:22 Adapting to AI and Cultural Challenges

45:09 Future Vision for Assembled

47:42 Personal Background and Influences

52:45 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

55:15 Outro

Do you know how essential a support system is for a CEO? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David discusses the often overlooked, yet critical support necessary for CEO success.

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #OctoberCEOPulse

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:53 The Importance of a CEO Support System

03:57 Key Components of a CEO Support System

05:10 The Role of Co-Founders and Key Executives

07:33 The Value of Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff

09:24 Leveraging Board Members and Advisors

14:38 The Importance of Therapists and Personal Relationships

19:16 The Power of CEO Peer Networks

21:27 Outro

What can founders learn from an entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies while reshaping an entire city’s startup ecosystem?

In this episode, David Cummings, Founder and CEO of Atlanta Ventures, reflects on his journey building ten companies, including Pardot, which sold to ExactTarget for $95 million, and investing in some of Atlanta’s most successful startups like Calendly and SalesLoft. He shares the guiding principles that shaped his entrepreneurial path, from building a culture-first company to navigating the realities of bootstrapping, scaling, and liquidity events.

David also opens up about his role in transforming Atlanta’s tech landscape through Atlanta Tech Village and his ambitious project to redevelop South Downtown into a vibrant startup district. Along the way, he offers candid advice for founders on leadership, resilience, and blending work with life in a sustainable way.

• Visionary Leadership: Cummings underscores the importance of having a clear and opinionated vision. The strategy of creating a product that provides "the most bang for the buck" without falling into the trap of building every requested feature was crucial to Pardot’s success.
• Bootstrapping Success: Despite the odds against fundraising in a nascent market, Cummings attributes his company’s success to resilient bootstrapping. This allowed him to maintain control and leverage opportunities like strategic acquisitions without compromising his vision.
• Cultivating Culture: A major highlight from Cummings' leadership was the deliberate cultivation of a workplace culture that prioritizes being positive, self-starting, and supportive.
• Balancing Ambitions and Personal Life: As an advocate for the "work-life blend," Cummings emphasizes that while early-stage startups demand an intense commitment, sustaining a balanced life is about integrating passion for work with personal commitments.
• A Tech Renaissance in Atlanta: Cummings' latest venture involves the redevelopment of a historic part of Atlanta into a vibrant startup district. This ambitious project aims to transform south downtown Atlanta into a living ecosystem for innovation and growth, reinforcing Atlanta’s position as a world-class city with a thriving entrepreneurial community.

Quote of the Show:

• “All the entrepreneur styles are different. But for me personally, I'm that shock absorber style. I recognize that things can be great and things can be bad, and just modulate it for the team." - David Cummings

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcummings/
• Website: https://www.atlantaventures.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AtlantaVentures

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:44 Early Challenges and Successes at Pardot

02:24 Building a Strong Company Culture

03:02 Product Vision and Customer Focus

05:55 Transition from Doer to Leader

12:49 Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising

20:34 The ExactTarget Acquisition

31:08 Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Liquidity

36:52 Understanding Startup Valuations

38:09 Building a Winning Team at Pardot

41:17 Investing in Founders with the Right Attributes

43:29 The Atlanta Tech Village Journey

51:44 Revitalizing Downtown Atlanta

01:00:56 David's Entrepreneurial Beginnings

01:06:57 Balancing Entrepreneurship and Family

01:10:36 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

01:12:50 Outro

THE FIRST EPISODE OF INVESTORS UNFILTERED!

What do venture capitalists really look for in founders, and how can CEOs build strong, lasting relationships with their investors? In this episode, Chip Hazard, Co-Founder and General Partner at Flybridge, offers an inside look at how VCs think about evaluating founders, funding opportunities, and long-term partnerships. He shares the traits that consistently stand out and explains how these factors matter as much as business metrics, especially in the early stages.

Chip also unpacks the evolution of fundraising, from vision-driven early rounds to later stages where metrics and revenue quality become critical. He reflects on the dynamics of board relationships, the importance of clear alignment on strategy, and why constructive feedback and ongoing communication are vital to scaling effectively.

Takeaways:

• Ambition is Key: Chip emphasizes the importance of passion and ambition in founders. He's looking for those with domain expertise and unconventional thinking.
• Alignment on Strategy: For founders, aligning on strategy with investors is crucial. Chip notes that understanding an investor’s vision for the company can prevent conflicts and foster a positive partnership.
• Ongoing Communication: Chip discusses the importance of consistent communication between founders and investors, particularly in the early stages. Regular check-ins on strategy, challenges, and progress help maintain alignment and support.
• Insightful Board Interactions: The role of a board is to offer perspective and support strategic decision-making. Chip highlights that effective board meetings should align on strategy and not create unnecessary work for the company.
• Balancing Metrics and Vision: As companies evolve from pre-seed to later stages, the focus shifts from purely vision and team to include metrics and financial performance.
• The Value of Constructive Feedback: Constructive, honest feedback is essential. Chip stresses that a good VC relationship involves recognizing challenges, offering guidance, and maintaining trust without dictating to the founder.

Quote of the Show:

• “ Startups win on speed. They don’t have anything else other than the ability to execute fast." - Chip Hazard

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiphazard/
• Website: https://www.flybridge.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Flybridge

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:11 The Key Traits of Successful Founders

04:09 Assessing Founders Beyond the Pitch

06:04 Stages of Investment and What VCs Look For

15:36 Working with Founders Post-Investment

22:08 The Importance of External Perspectives

25:52 Challenges in Board Dynamics

30:37 Aligning with Venture Capitalists

37:55 Geographical Differences in Startups

40:13 Reflections and Regrets in Venture Capital

43:18 The Passion for Investing

45:47 Outro

What does it take to reinvent an entire industry that’s been rooted in tradition for decades? In this episode, Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist, shares his journey from corporate consulting to transforming the floral business.

Michael explains how he grew a single 3,000-square-foot location into a $9 million operation by modernizing systems, cutting inefficiencies from the supply chain, and infusing emotion into every part of the customer experience. He also reflects on the challenges of scaling in a traditional industry, the decision to franchise, and the importance of mentorship, high standards, and culture in building a business that lasts.

Takeaways:

• Develop a Strong Brand Identity: A major part of Jacobson’s strategy was creating branding that emphasizes emotional connection, redefining flowers as essential expressions of love rather than luxury items.
• Listen to Your Employees: Before anything else, Jacobson prioritized understanding the needs of the staff already working in the flower shop. Their insights provided critical low-hanging fruit, such as switching outdated and costly phone systems, which paved the way for larger innovations.
• Direct-to-Source Supply Chain: By eliminating unnecessary intermediaries in the supply chain, French Florist improved both the quality and cost-efficiency of their products. Direct relationships with flower farms allowed the business to offer fresher flowers with longer shelf life at competitive prices.
• Prioritize Customer Experience: French Florist’s focus on exceeding customer expectations through personalized service has been crucial. They constantly seek ways to enhance customer satisfaction, such as offering unique video card messages to accompany floral deliveries.
• Strategic Hiring and Internal Culture: Hiring talented individuals who align with the company’s values and culture has been a priority. Jacobson emphasizes unconventional and thoughtful interview processes to ensure new hires share the company’s vision and drive.

Quote of the Show:

• “ If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is one of my least favorite sayings. If there’s a better way, I want to find it." - Michael Jacobson

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrichardjacobson/
• Website: https://www.frenchflorist.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #FrenchFlorist

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:38 Transformative Leadership and Infusing Emotion

03:22 Building a Culture of Love and Excellence

08:25 Hiring for Values and Unconventional Interviews

14:51 The Origin Story of French Florist

19:19 Initial Challenges and Early Improvements

24:36 Revolutionizing the Floral Industry with Technology

31:43 Revenue Growth and Optimization

33:15 Supply Chain Innovations

35:15 Direct Importing from Farms

37:36 Challenges in the Floral Industry

40:28 Franchising and Expansion

48:18 Personal Reflections and Motivation

1:01:01 Outro

How can CEOs stay adaptable while leading through pivots, growth, and constant change? In this episode, Scott Voigt, Founder and CEO of Fullstory, shares his journey from a failed first product to creating the leading digital analytics platform used by thousands of companies worldwide.

Scott dives into the tough realities of leadership, from making difficult people decisions to evolving as a CEO as the company scales. He opens up about the power of storytelling in fundraising and leadership, the importance of mental well-being, and the lessons he’s learned from being an early builder in Atlanta’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Takeaways:

• The Power of Storytelling: Scott Voigt emphasizes the significance of storytelling in his role as CEO. It's not just about what you say but how you say it. Through effective storytelling, he energizes and aligns his team, creating a shared vision and purpose.
• Hiring and Building a Strong Team: Voigt discusses the challenges of hiring and the importance of finding the right fit. He stresses the necessity of moving people out quickly if they are not a good fit, even though it can be difficult.
• Navigating Investor Relations: Scott’s journey of securing funding for Fullstory involved both challenges and triumphs. He shares the importance of being strategic and deliberate in choosing investors and board members.
• The Journey of Fullstory's Market Fit: Voigt candidly reflects on the evolution of Fullstory's product-market fit. Initially, as the team worked on a different product, they faced numerous rejections. However, the pivot to Fullstory's current offering brought about an immediate and undeniable product-market fit.
• Overcoming Internal Challenges: Discussing exits, Voigt argues that the company's mission should transcend any individual's role, ensuring continued alignment and progress regardless of internal changes.

Quote of the Show:

• “When your spidey sense tells you something isn’t working with a person, make the change fast. It only gets harder the longer you wait." - Scott Voigt

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmvoigt/
• Website: https://www.fullstory.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Fullstory

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:36 The Biggest Impactful Decision at Fullstory

03:35 The Challenges and Lessons of Letting People Go

08:38 Hiring Philosophy and Interview Techniques

18:56 The Importance of Storytelling as a CEO

24:54 Fundraising Journey and Product Pivot

33:38 Reflecting on the Early Struggles

37:14 The Importance of Team Chemistry

43:28 Navigating the Atlanta Tech Scene

48:20 Biggest Challenges and Lessons Learned

51:01 Future Vision for Fullstory

57:15 Personal Reflections and Advice

01:07:53 Outro

How do you scale a global company while transforming an industry as traditional as law?

In this episode, Max Junestrand, Co-Founder and CEO of Legora, shares how he’s building the world’s first truly collaborative AI platform for legal services.

Max reflects on his unconventional path from engineer to entrepreneur, what it took to win over law firms as an outsider, and why ambition and adaptability matter more than experience in fast-scaling environments. He also opens up about navigating hypergrowth, hiring with intention, and the cultural values that drive Legora’s mission to reshape how legal work gets done.

Takeaways:

• Pioneering Global Expansion: Max's approach to expansion defies conventional paths. Instead of focusing solely on local markets like many Swedish companies, Max boldly decided to expand globally.
• The Power of Collaboration: Max stresses the importance of a shared mission between stakeholders and service providers, focusing on delivering unparalleled value and continuous improvement in legal services.
• Hiring and Culture Building: Max places a strong emphasis on ambition and cultural fit when hiring, believing these attributes are crucial for scaling a company. He maintains personal involvement in the interview process to ensure new hires align with the company’s high standards and growth trajectory.
• Learning and Growing from the YC Experience: Max’s experience with Y Combinator (YC) was transformative. Despite the complexities of maintaining operations during this period, the experience underscored the importance of mentorship and networking.
• Pushing the Envelope: Max underscores the importance of maintaining a proactive stance in innovation. By consistently exploring new pathways and pushing boundaries, he ensures the company remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Quote of the Show:

• “ There's a real value in actually being the second mover, and the value comes from two things... You get to see what is the right path and what is the wrong path." - Max Junestrand

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxjunestrand/
• Website: https://legora.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Legora

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:41 Founding and Early Challenges

02:42 Sales Strategy and Growth

06:40 Building a Strong Team

13:55 Global Expansion

29:43 Expanding Beyond Local Markets

31:13 Challenges of Going Global

33:40 Product Development and Iteration

37:08 Competing with Industry Giants

42:43 YC Experience and Early Challenges

49:52 Personal Background and Motivation

1:00:48 Outro