As we close out 2025, I keep coming back to one undeniable truth: this year moved fast. Faster than many even realized. Technology accelerated. Consumer expectations evolved. Leadership required more courage, clarity and community than ever before. And through all of it, Founders continued to do what Founders do best — rise.

In our final Founderology podcast episode of the year, Cherryh and I sat down to reflect on the moments that mattered, the shifts that shaped us and the momentum carrying us into a breakthrough 2026. Rather than recap every detail, we want to share the themes that stood out — the ones that will inspire every Founder to tune in and move into next year with purpose.

2025: The Year Founders Took Control

This was the year Founders stopped waiting for the industry to stabilize and started rewriting the rules.

Cherryh called 2025 "the year of augmentation" — a season when technology supported people and strengthened their work. We watched Founders use AI, smarter systems and predictive tools not to cut corners but to elevate teams, strengthen operations and reclaim hospitality.

I called it the year of AI or Die — not fear-based, simply factual. The Founders who embraced new tools gained speed, clarity and confidence. The ones who resisted were falling behind faster than ever before.

These were great positions we unpack— real insights from the real front line experiences.

The Founder Shift: From Doing It Alone to Growing Through Community

If one message defined our year, it was this: Founders win bigger when they stop building alone.

We saw it throughout our Founderology Collaboratives, the Founderology podcast and the Founderology Growth Summit community. Founders accelerating forward are partnering, collaborating and reaching new levels of momentum together.

Our conversation highlights how this shift changed the game for every Founder who embraced it and why it matters even more in 2026.

What emerged was powerful:

• A network that grows your net worth.
• A community that accelerates your company.
• A shared language only Founders understand to help each other grow.

Hospitality Returned to the Center — And It's Not Going Away

Cherryh and I both agreed: the future of restaurants is the experience economy.

Guests aren't choosing based on product or price alone. They are choosing based on their experience — they want and expect great service, food, beverage and an overall experience they value.

We discussed examples of brand reinventions, leadership gaps and the renewed importance of hospitality as a true strategic advantage. This is THE section for any Founder ready to reignite the team or reexamine the guest journey.

Where We're Going in 2026

Cherryh said it best: 2026 is the year technology and humanity work together.

I added that to make it all work it has to be the year to invest in leaders and leadership development — the leaders you have, the leaders you are developing and the next generation of leaders you need to groew.

We also share a few surprises in this episode, including emerging trends and the mindsets we believe will define the next wave of restaurant growth.

Why the Founderology Growth Summit is the Ultimate Launchpad for 2026

This is one area we will not stop talking about because of the massive value and impact of the Founder to-Founder experience. Our conclusion there is no better way to start your year than with 125 visionary restaurant Founders who share your drive.

This is the room where breakthroughs happen.

This is the room where clarity clicks.

This is the room where Founders stop going it alone.

In the episode, Cherryh and I highlight:

• Why this Summit delivers one of the highest ROIs a Founder can make.
• How the Investor Grade Assessment and Growth

Danielle Mahon, the Founder of seafood steam pot brand Topsail Steamer, joined host Kathleen Wood on a recent episode of the "Founderology" podcast to discuss the evolution of her company from a local storefront to a national franchise.

During the interview, Mahon detailed the philosophy behind her brand, which offers pre-prepared seafood steam pots designed for customers to cook and share at home. Mahon founded Topsail Steamer in 2017 on Topsail Island in Surf City, North Carolina. She launched the business to replicate the family tradition of the "Lowcountry boil," aiming to pioneer a new category in the food industry centered on shared experiences.

"Connection creates meaning and growth," Mahon told Wood during the broadcast.

The discussion covered Mahon's trajectory from a single location to a multi-channel brand. Following a notable appearance on ABC's "Shark Tank," the company expanded its reach through a partnership with the e-commerce platform Goldbelly, allowing the company to ship its signature pots nationwide. Mahon has since transitioned the business into a franchise model, offering opportunities to operators seeking a lifestyle-oriented business model.

Wood, a growth strategist and founder of the consultancy Kathleen Wood Partners, spoke with Mahon about the specific mindset required to scale a niche product. Mahon emphasized a leadership style focused on "disciplined optimism" and the ability to find opportunities within obstacles.

"Challenges arrive, and she responds with clarity," Wood noted regarding Mahon's approach. "Her leadership reflects a founder who pioneers a category with originality and vision."

During the episode, Mahon outlined several key lessons for entrepreneurs, including:

• Staying aligned with a core purpose to direct business strategy.
• Designing experiences that foster human connection.
• Filtering external advice through personal values.
• Thinking beyond the starting point to expand vision with confidence.

Mahon is scheduled to elaborate on these strategies as a featured keynote speaker at the Founderology Growth Summit, Feb. 2-4 in Boston. Her session will cover the specific operational plans guiding Topsail Steamer's expansion and her approach to rewriting the standard franchise playbook.

Register for the summit here.

The "Founderology" podcast features interviews with business leaders and entrepreneurs focused on growth strategies and organizational culture.

Zane Tarence enters this conversation like a force of nature — fast, sharp and fully dialed in. His pace alone tells you he has lived this work. His experience comes through every sentence with the confidence of someone who has built companies, sold companies and guided leaders through outcomes most people only imagine. His energy lifts the entire episode into a higher gear.

This is not slow insight — this is momentum.

Zane shares perspectives with the speed of someone who has spent decades in the trenches and still wakes up hungry for the next challenge. He moves quickly, and every Founder listening will feel that speed — because it mirrors the pace their own business demands.

This episode leans into the questions Founders carry quietly while leading loudly.

• The tension between growth and exhaustion.
• The desire to create real value rather than volume.
• The challenge of hiring and developing people who can scale with the business.
• The responsibility of raising performance without sacrificing the heart of the company.
• And the importance of becoming investment grade even when an exit is not the goal

These questions shape a Founder's future. This conversation puts power behind them.

Zane's perspective also reflects why Founders Advisors is such a powerful partner for the Founderology Growth Summit. Their commitment to Founders, their depth of experience and their ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable insight creates an environment where leaders accelerate faster. This episode is a preview of just one of many conversations that will continue in Austin —high-velocity, high-impact and designed to strengthen every Founder who walks into that room.

This is the rare episode you listen to more than once because the first time gives you clarity, the second time gives you strategy and the third time fires you up for action. It is that intense, that rich and that aligned with the realities Founders face every day.

If you are a Founder who wants to strengthen your business, elevate your leadership and align your strategy with the value you are building, this episode is a catalyst. It is focused. It is energizing. It is built for the leadership necessary today to build your business to breakthrough with value.

Built to Breakthrough continues to be the place where Founders get the clarity they deserve. This episode sets a new standard—and deserves the replays. Join me for this episode of Founderology and access the must-have insights that strengthen your path, expand your perspective and accelerate the future you are building.

To provide securities-related services, certain principals of Founders Advisors, LLC are licensed with Founders M&A Advisory, LLC, member of FINRA & SiPC. Founders M&A Advisory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders Advisors. Neither Founders Advisors nor Founders M&A Advisory provide investment advice.

Every Founder has a story — a spark that becomes the heartbeat of a brand. Some stories begin with a dream, others with a dish, and every now and then one begins with a taco that turns into a brand that is built to breakthrough.

In this episode of the Founderology Podcast, I talk with Roberto Espinosa — the visionary Founder of Tacodeli. What started as one small taco shop in Austin has grown into one of the most authentic and respected fast casual restaurant brands in the country.

From the very moment I walked into my first Tacodeli, I felt it — the energy, the flavor, and the authenticity.

I still crave Tacodeli's breakfast burrito, made with fresh scrambled eggs and Roberto's grandmother's mashed potato recipe. It is food rooted in authencity, love, and purpose — the same foundation every Founder needs when building something that lasts.

And then there is the story of the Doña Salsa — a recipe created by one of his earliest team members in an employee contest that became a cornerstone of Tacodeli's identity. It is not just a salsa. It is a story of honoring people, sharing success, and keeping community at the center of growth. Every Founder can learn from that level of authenticity and connection.

As Roberto and I talk, you will hear lessons about leading through purpose, growing through people, and staying true to your values as your business scales. His story is proof that greatness happens when vision and integrity grow together.

What Founders will gain from this episode

• It is a blueprint for authenticity. Roberto shares how staying rooted in his original vision became his greatest advantage as Tacodeli scaled.
• It redefines growth. We explore how sustainable success is not about speed but about building systems, culture, and partnerships that last.
• It celebrates Founder conviction. Roberto's unwavering belief in his purpose reveals how clarity fuels every breakthrough.
• It showcases the power of people. From his partnership with his team to honoring the creator of the Doña Salsa, this story demonstrates how empowering others drives growth.

It reminds every Founder why purpose matters. Whether you are building your first store or scaling your tenth, this episode reignites the belief that your purpose can be your greatest accelerator.

The next time you are in Austin, put a visit to Tacodeli at the top of your list. If are joining us for the Founderology Growth Summit, in Austin, February 2-4, 2026 then you are all set. Register today and take advantage of our early-bird special savings so you can order even more at Tacodeli.

Join me for this episode of Founderology, where we talk about tacos, truth, and the timeless power of staying authentic while building something extraordinary to breakthrough.

It's the answer every business owner wants to know and very rarely gets a direct answer about it — UNTIL NOW — at the Founderology Growth Summit, that answer becomes reality.

Founders want to grow, scale, and create lasting value. The challenge is knowing where the value of your business stands today — and what will elevate it to investment-grade strength.

I am so proud and honored to announce that Founders Advisors will be one of our leading sponsors at the Founderology Growth Summit, February 2-4, Austin. Through the leadership of Wayne Vacek, Managing Director of Founders Advisors, Founders gain the rare opportunity to see their business through the lens that investors, partners, and acquirers use to define excellence.

Wayne brings more than 25 years of experience guiding founder-led companies to build stronger systems, smarter growth, and higher value. His insights are practical, proven, and transformative for every Founder ready to accelerate their success.

From insight tompact

Wayne and the Founders Advisors team are introducing their proprietary Investor Grade Assessment exclusively at the Founderology Growth Summit. Every Founder attending the Summit will receive complimentary access to this powerful evaluation that measures performance across seventeen dimensions that define investment-grade readiness.

What Founders must know to increase their valuation

In this Founderology episode, Wayne shares:

• One metric every Founder must measure to drive growth
• Three critical areas that directly influence valuation.
• What are typical blind spots that cause value to be lost
• What separates businesses that attract investors from those that struggle to gain traction

Even the most seasoned leaders will uncover new perspectives through the Investor Grade Assessment — and how those insights become the foundation for long-term value creation. Founders will hear how leadership, financial discipline, and culture align to elevate both performance and worth. Every conversation with Wayne becomes a master class in founder-led excellence. His perspective reshapes how Founders think about readiness, strategy, and success.

From assessment to acceleration

During the Founderology Growth Summit, Founders Advisors will host a bonus Investor Grade Workshop exclusively for all attendees. This experience brings the assessment to life, helping Founders interpret their personalized results, identify high-impact priorities, and build a focused plan to raise value across every area of their business.

Founders will leave equipped with clarity, focus, and actionable priorities — knowing exactly how to transform their Investor Grade results into a growth and leadership roadmap for the year ahead.

To provide securities-related services, certain principals of Founders Advisors, LLC are licensed with Founders M&A Advisory, LLC, member of FINRA & SiPC. Founders M&A Advisory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders Advisors. Neither Founders Advisors nor Founders M&A Advisory provide investment advice.

Every Founder knows the spark that starts an idea and then the journey begins. In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we talk with Donna and Daniel Golik, Mother and Son Founders of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream – craveable, flash freezing made to order ice cream.

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream is the brainchild of ice-cream loving Daniel. So much loving that he spent 6 months in his garage, but 3,345,789 brain-freeze later, the almighty "nitrogen ice cream equation' was perfect and Chill-N was born. Today, Daniel and Donna are expanding Chill-N from its roots in South Florida and franchising across country and in the process redefining ice cream for all.

The Chill Behind the Brand

A brand that began with curiosity, grew through innovation, and continues to expand through purpose. Their conversation reveals what happens when vision becomes more than a plan on paper. It shows how belief, family, and focus can create something that resonates far beyond a storefront.

Daniel and Donna share the inside track on how they transformed experimentation into their growing enterprise. They share their lessons on building systems that work, creating culture that lasts, and leading with values that never waiver. Donna and Daniel also speak to the power of innovation and staying grounded while growth accelerates.

Growth Lessons Earned

Every Founder listening will recognize the moments they've lived themselves and hear how Daniel and Donna addressed:

• The challenge of starting small while thinking big
• The drive to create something new in a crowded space
• The constant balancing act between family and business
• The clarity that comes when purpose and performance align for growth

Chill-N to Breakthrough

Daniel and Donna's dialogue carries the rhythm of Founders who are in motion—refining, adjusting, and leading with intention. Their insights remind us that growth is both creative and operational, deeply personal and powerfully scalable.

Tune in to Founderology: Built to Breakthrough and hear how Donna and Daniel Golik are fueling delicious growth—one decision, one store, and one inspired vision at a time. It's about aligning your focus to keep moving forward and the wisdom to keep building stronger.

Built for Founders. Powered by Founders.

The Founderology Growth Summit is a breakthrough experience designed for Founders who are looking to scale. Every moment, from the first conversation to the final celebration, is crafted with one purpose: to accelerate the growth of visionary Founders and their businesses.

Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual.com and partner of the Founderology Growth Summit, says it best: “This is where Founders find their people and community for growth.”

This unique one of-a-kind experience is created by Founders, for Founders. Every speaker has built something from the ground up. Every journey is a real-world case study of resilience, risk, and reward. Every tool is practical, proven, and ready to be put into play the moment you leave. This is not about general ideas or theory. This is about real-life, real-proven action. The Founderology Growth Summit is where breakthrough happens.

Hard-Won Lessons from Founders Who Built Billion-Dollar Brands

Founders sharing the inside track for success, competitive advantages and shaving months and years of having to learn by yourself. The lessons are hard-won, earned in the trenches of startup chaos, expansion challenges, and global scale. Here is a highlight of a few Founders featured at the Founderology Growth Summit

Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Jim Bitticks of Dave’s Hot Chicken share how a $900 investment in parking-lot pop-up became a billion-dollar brand. Their story is real, inspiring and packed with lessons every Founder can apply to scale faster and smarter.

Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes, the powerhouse Founders behind Slutty Vegan and Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, open up about their strategies for how to turn purpose into power. And how their lessons in culture, vision, and relentless execution create movements.

Danielle Mohan, Founder of Topsail Steamerreveals what it takes to take a kitchen-table idea onto Shark Tank—and then beyond. She shares the journey of trail blazing a new segment and driving momentum to make it a national brand.

Evonne and Don Varady, Founders of Clean Eatz discuss their creative strategies to go from living in the closet of their first location to building a national brand with over 100 thriving locations.

These are not highlight reels presentations. These are authentic roadmaps, full of pivots, pressure, and perseverance. They remind every Founder in the room: you are not alone, and you are capable of more than you imagine.

Tools That Accelerate Growth

The Founderology Growth Summit is about equipping Founders with the tools to scale. One of the most powerful is the Founders Advisors - Investor Growth Assessment —a diagnostic tool valued at over $499.00 every Founder will receive as part of their registration.

This Investor-Grade Assessment shows how your business is valued by investors and identifies the exact levers you can pull to increase your valuation. Whether you’re preparing for funding, a major expansion, or building generational wealth, this assessment gives you clarity on where you stand and a roadmap for where to go.

Additionally, a special workshop will be provided to take a deep-dive on each Founders specific results. Founders will leave with the hard data and insights investors use to measure success. That is one of the most powerful tools for unlocking acceleration.

Your Network Increases Your Net Worth

Kathleen Wood, Founder of Kathleen Wood Partners and the driving force behind the Founderology Growth Summit, says: “When Founders come together, businesses grow faster, teams get stronger, and possibilities expand.”

For two and half-days, you are engaged with visionary Founders who share your drive, your challenges, and your commitment to growth. The relationships you build here go beyond networking—

I have been inspired by Derrick Hayes and Big Dave's Cheesesteaks starting as an Instagram follower and then as a customer. I actually drove from Tampa to Orlando to try his Classic Dave's Chicken — wow — was it worth the drive and the many more drives I will continue to make to Big Dave's. Hopefully, Tampa is on the list for new locations!

Derrick's vision, his grit, and his heart for community and family sets him apart as a Founder who isn't just building restaurants — he is building movements. He has transformed a promise to his late father into a national brand and a platform for purpose. His story is about resilience, responsibility and relentless belief in what's possible when you refuse to quit.

From a gas station start-up to a brand recognized most recently among Fast Casual's Top 10 Movers and Shakers, Derrick Hayes proves that purpose-driven leadership changes everything. He is building a franchise with national reach, creating generational impact, and inspiring Founders everywhere to think bigger.

Lessons from Derrick Hayes

In this episode of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, Derrick opens up about the decisions, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shaped his path. He shares how to lead through loss, how to stay authentic when the spotlight turns on you, and why purpose—not money—is the ultimate driver for growth.

Here are just a few of the powerful lessons Derrick delivers:

• How to condition yourself for the long game and run your own race.
• Why every Founder must know their numbers, their culture, and their vision.
• How to turn purpose into the fuel that powers your brand through the hardest of times.
• What it takes to build your own table instead of waiting for a seat at someone else's.
• One of my favorite is the 20% financial factor.

Leading with purpose, legacy

Derrick Hayes is a purpose-driven leader carrying forward the dreams of his family and the hopes of his community. He has redefined what a cheesesteak can represent: not just food, but opportunity, empowerment, and impact. This conversation is real, impactful, and full of hard-earned wisdom every Founder can use. Derrick's story is a roadmap for visionaries who are ready to rise, scale, and lead with purpose.

Listen to learn, lead, break through

Listening to this episode feels like sitting across from a Founder who has lived the grind, faced the naysayers and chose to keep building anyway. Derrick Hayes embodies what it means to lead with vision, build with heart and drive with purpose. This is a must-hear conversation for any Founder ready to unlock the lessons of purpose, perseverance, and power.