Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with David Daneshgar, founder of Whippy AI, to explore the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and what it takes to scale a business effectively. David shares lessons learned from his startup journey, emphasizing the critical role of sales processes, strong documentation, and strategic hiring.

The conversation covers funding insights, the evolving future of AI, and how to market effectively in today’s fast-moving environment. David also teases the upcoming launch of Whippy’s new VoIP platform and underlines the importance of building a strong company culture as a foundation for sustainable growth.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-daneshgar-a47474b/

Website: www.whippy.ai

Connect with me:

Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk speaks with Jonathan Silverstein, founder of Mobile1st, about the critical role of website optimization and data analytics in accelerating business growth. Jonathan delves into the challenges businesses face in today’s fast-changing digital marketing environment, offering practical insights on how to effectively engage decision-makers and increase revenue per visitor.

The discussion explores the importance of continuous optimization in e-commerce, the need for data-driven decision-making, and strategies for staying competitive by aligning with evolving customer expectations. The episode underscores that success in digital marketing requires adaptability, insight, and relentless pursuit of improvement.

Bio:

I help digital-first brands turn underperforming product experiences into high-performing growth engines.

As Co-Founder of Mobile1st, I lead a team of Digital Product Growth experts who drive profit through precision. We act as an embedded team, harnessing Business Intelligence, Customer Data Analytics, User Research, and Data-Driven Experimentation, to continually optimize your digital experience and unlock perpetual RPV growth.

The best part? We deliver outsized impact for the cost of roughly one FTE, often showing 10x ROI with minimal demands on your internal team.

We prioritize. We test. We implement winning variations.

And we show our work in the data.

We're a good fit if you're:

-A $10M–$100M eCommerce or specialty retail brand with a strong online sales channel

-A CMO, Head of Growth, or Director of eCom focused on profitable, scalable growth

-Short on in-house UX/analytics/experimentation firepower, but long on ambition

-Ready to optimize your site as a high-performing asset, not just a digital brochure

-Interested in measurable growth, not guesswork

I started on Wall Street, but found my calling in strategy and marketing. I’ve led brand strategy and client service for icons like Time Inc, AT&T, DreamWorks, and Southwest Airlines at top agencies including J. Walter Thompson, Deutsch, Inc, and GSD&M.

After selling my first agency (Greatest Common Factory), I went on to lead five digital media brands at Media General and Nexstar, where I fell in love with data-driven ROI. That passion led me to co-found Mobile1st in 2017.

I'm a disciple of Purpose-Based Branding (inspired by Jim Collins, Simon Sinek, Seth Godin) and believe clarity of purpose is the greatest growth engine.

Proud husband, father of two brilliant daughters, and forever student of what makes brands and people grow.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanasilverstein

Website: mobile1st.com

Email: jonathan@mobile1st.com

Connect with me:

Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk speaks with Hari Srinivasan, founder and CEO of iCover, about how technology is reshaping the life insurance landscape. They explore the innovative use of AI and predictive analytics to simplify underwriting and improve the overall buying experience.

Hari shares key insights on marketing strategies, the value of referrals in a trust-based industry, and the challenges of balancing automation with a personal touch. The conversation also looks ahead to iCover’s future plans, including product expansion and deeper consumer engagement, all while navigating the complexities of a highly regulated sector. The episode emphasizes the importance of making life insurance more accessible, affordable, and customer-friendly.

Bio:

Hari Srinivasan is the Founder & CEO of iCover, a Missouri-based InsurTech, that has designed the "Best Life Insurance Buying Experience". Before iCover, Hari successfully launched and exited i3 Tech, specializing in digital marketing and mobile app tech. Driven by a passion for innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, he actively advises Space Kidz, and mentors startups through the Nimoniks Foundation. Hari believes in leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, create value, and improve lives.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hari-s-42b92628/

Website: https://icoverinsure.com/

Connect with me:

Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/