In this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with Will Haire, CEO and co-founder of BellaVix, to unpack his journey from working in the power industry to launching a successful e-commerce marketing agency. Will shares how he transitioned from a comfortable six-figure job into the chaotic but rewarding world of entrepreneurship, all while side hustling with his wife and eventually building a business around his true passion: marketing.

We dive deep into the strategies that helped him grow BellaVix, the lessons he learned from an early startup setback, and the game-changing importance of contracts and mentorship in the business world. Whether you're just beginning your startup journey or looking for insider marketing advice to level up your brand, Will's insights are gold.

Timeline Summary:

[1:44] - Will shares his background and the leap from a secure job to startup life

[5:55] - How a side hustle in e-commerce led to BellaVix

[10:27] - Lessons from losing equity: why contracts matter

[15:48] - The realities of e-commerce and scaling through services

[20:15] - Why startup founders should lean into what they know

[26:30] - Building campaigns: Will's marketing strategies for products vs. services

[35:42] - SEO for the Chat GPT era and content as a lead engine

[40:11] - The single most valuable investment Will recommends for new entrepreneurs

Links & Resources:

• Website: https://www.bellavix.com/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willhaire/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a fellow innovator or entrepreneur. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dean van Zyl, CEO of EISH Management Consulting, wh. Dean walks us through a remarkable entrepreneurial journey, from humble beginnings in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), through sweeping floors in a furniture workshop, to founding 17 startups across continents (some that soared, some that tanked). We peel back the layers on resilience, failure, and growth. Together, we unravel the power of market validation, mentorship, cultural humility, and operational systems. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling globally, Dean’s insights deliver both practical tools and emotional clarity.

[1:00] – Intro: Welcome to the Patent Hacks Podcast and intro to today’s guest, Dean Zyl.

[2:00] – Dean’s background: From missteps and getting fired to sweeping floors and launching his first business as a teenager.

[5:30] – Accidental entrepreneurship: How selling raw materials to competitors sparked a new path (and eventual success, and bankruptcy).

[8:20] – Multiple startups: Dean shares that he’s launched 17 ventures, some successful, some forced to close, and what each taught him.

[11:45] – The value of failure: “Failures are where my best lessons came from,” Dean shares his take on resilience and personal growth.

[16:10] – Going global: How Dean’s upbringing in Eswatini and South Africa shaped his ability to navigate culture and business across continents.

[19:50] – Cultural humility: Why assuming others are less intelligent because of language or differences is a critical misstep.

[23:30] – Systems matter: The importance of putting scalable, clear systems in place, especially as you grow and go remote.

[26:10] – Raising capital in the U.S.: What Dean learned about fundraising, pitch decks, networks, and “betting on the jockey, not the horse.

[29:50] – Market validation: Before building your product, validate the idea with real customers, avoid emotional biases and false assumptions.

[33:15] – Building market dominance: Don't just be first; execute better. Learn from competitors’ weak spots.

[36:20] – Consulting red flags and green lights: Dean looks for clarity of direction, delegation, systems efficiency, and aligned teams.

[40:10] – Evolving beliefs: Early on, Dean blamed external circumstances—but learned that as leader, responsibility always begins with you.

[43:30] – Advice for founders: Get a mentor, ask the hard questions, launch imperfectly, and keep putting yourself out there.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanvanzyl/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

If you found today’s episode valuable, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could rate, follow, share, and review the Patent Hacks Podcast. It helps us reach more aspiring founders and innovators like you, plus, it keeps the conversation growing. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time.

In this captivating episode, I sit down with Kirsten Velasco to explore the intersection of invention, innovation, and cannabis industry challenges. Kirsten shares her journey of designing practical yet promotional accessories, VapenProp and Grip & Clip, that not only safeguard cannabis devices but also amplify brand presence in an industry restricted by conventional marketing methods. Expect candid insights around the cost dynamics of patenting, staying agile with product pivots, and why accessibility and emotional messaging are critical in the cannabis space. This is a conversation filled with inspiration, pragmatism, and real-world takeaways for entrepreneurs navigating niche markets.

• [00:02:00] – Origins of Innovation: Kirsten explains how personal “necessity is the mother of invention” and how real-world problems drive her ideas.
• [00:06:30] – Patent Process Realities: She contrasts high-priced attorneys in big cities versus cost-effective suburban options, and the pragmatic advantage of being “patent‑pending” rather than fully protected.
• [00:12:15] – ROI of Patents: Discussion about how patents become strategic assets for funding, exits, licensing—even acting as deterrents instead of litigation tools.
• [00:18:45] – Cannabis Industry Dynamics: Kirsten reflects on how limited marketing channels in cannabis spur creative solutions and how ancillary products like hers offer lower-risk, more scalable opportunities.
• [00:23:00] – Positioning Products for Use & Branding: The evolution of the puzzle-piece VapenProp and Grip & Clip demonstrates usability, customizability, and manufacturing decisions anchored in user context.
• [00:30:20] – Leveraging Accessories as Brand Tools: Why physical, usable items hold more emotional and strategic weight than typical swag—especially when traditional advertising is off the table for cannabis brands.
• [00:36:10] – Educating & Advocating: Kirsten recounts her grassroots work in dispensaries, her background in public speaking (Toastmasters), and how empathy shapes her approach to cannabis consumers.
• [00:41:30] – Staying Grounded Across Roles: She reflects on navigating the contrasts between innovation, advocacy, marketing, and surviving C-suite volatility in the cannabis industry.
• [00:47:20] – Final Advice: Emphasis on building real-world networks (“your net worth is your net work”) and designing products that are intuitively understood in a few seconds.
• [00:50:00] – Where to Find Kirsten: Guests can connect via CEO@vapenprop.com or explore her whimsical design offerings—and place orders—at vapenprop.com.

• Kirsten Velasco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenvelascocannabisadvocate/
• Kirsten Velasco Website: https://vapenprop.com/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Thanks for listening to this inspirational and insight-rich...