Episodios

  • Garrett Gee: The Secret $54M Snapchat Sale, Bucket List Family, Shark Tank, Raising VC

    Garrett Gee: The Secret $54M Snapchat Sale, Bucket List Family, Shark Tank, Raising VC
    Jul 17 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, we're joined by the legendary Garrett Gee for a surprise interview! Garrett, the co-founder of Scan and father of The Bucket List Family, shares his incredible journey from being a college student who didn't know what "entrepreneur" meant to selling his app to Snapchat for $54 million. He unpacks the entire wild ride: the lightning-fast negotiation with Evan Spiegel, the truth about his Shark Tank appearance, the lessons learned from pitching on Sand Hill Road, and the pivotal moment with Jack Dorsey that changed his life's direction. Garrett also reveals the origin story of The Bucket List Family and what he's building next.

    (00:00:00) The $54 Million Snapchat Acquisition Story
    (00:02:05) The Surprise: Garrett Gee is the real guest!
    (00:04:47) Introducing Garrett Gee: Co-founder of Scan & The Bucket List Family
    (00:08:34) Icebreaker: Entrepreneurial This or That
    (00:23:23) Garrett's Origin: "What does an entrepreneur mean?"
    (00:26:08) The Birth of Scan & Juggling 20 Business Ideas
    (00:30:37) Why Scan Rose to the Top of the App Store
    (00:35:25) How Evan Spiegel Discovered Scan
    (00:38:26) Raising Money on Sand Hill Road & Getting Bad Advice
    (00:43:40) Pitching Troy Carter & Meeting Lady Gaga
    (00:49:17) The Meeting with Jack Dorsey That Changed Everything
    (00:52:06) Why They Raised $7M From Europe Instead of Silicon Valley
    (00:55:35) The Shark Tank Experience & "Hacking" the Show
    (01:01:22) Negotiating with Evan Spiegel: The $40M to $54M Story
    (01:09:28) Turning Down an Extra $10M for a College Soccer Season
    (01:12:29) The Sony Email Hack That Leaked the Secret Acquisition
    (01:18:01) The True Origin Story of The Bucket List Family
    (01:26:15) What's Next: An Animated Series and Private Island Resorts
    (01:30:11) Final Words: "The Apprentice has become the master"

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    1 h y 35 m
  • Adam Edmunds: $4B Entrata CEO on Podium's Growth, Allegiance Sale to MaritzCX, SaaS & GTM Metrics

    Adam Edmunds: $4B Entrata CEO on Podium's Growth, Allegiance Sale to MaritzCX, SaaS & GTM Metrics
    Jul 10 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, we're joined by Adam Edmunds, the CEO of the $4B real estate tech powerhouse, Entrata. Adam shares his incredible journey from a student entrepreneur who didn't know what a cap table was to a seasoned operator leading multi-billion dollar companies. He dives deep into the "secret sauce" behind Podium's explosive growth from $1M to $100M ARR in just four years, the critical importance of being "maniacally obsessed" with go-to-market metrics, and the differences between founder-led and operator-led success. Adam also opens up about the personal toll of hyper-growth, his burnout and departure from Podium, and the crucial lessons he learned about identity, relationships, and finding fulfillment in the journey, not just the outcome.

    (00:00:00) The Secret Sauce of Podium's Hyper-Growth
    (00:02:37) Introducing Adam Edmunds, CEO of Entrata
    (00:04:52) Startup Hot Takes: Is AI Coming for 50% of Jobs?
    (00:07:54) Hot Take: Do Serious Founders Need to Sacrifice Work-Life Balance?
    (00:10:04) Hot Take: Should Founders Stay in the Weeds to Succeed?
    (00:15:45) How John Met a Young Adam at BYU
    (00:19:47) Faking it 'Til You Make It to Land Your First Customers
    (00:24:48) The Story of Silent Whistle and Allegiance
    (00:29:29) Cracking the Code on Enterprise vs. SMB Sales
    (00:31:29) Why Did Podium's Go-to-Market Just Work?
    (00:36:55) Why Every Founder Must Be a Go-to-Market Metric Assassin
    (00:40:00) The Founder/Operator Dynamic Between Adam and Eric Farr
    (00:41:53) "I'm Gonna Be Rich and Dead": Burnout and Leaving Podium
    (00:45:17) The Journey to Becoming CEO of Entrata
    (00:49:14) Your Net Worth is Not Your Self-Worth
    (00:51:13) Why the Journey is Better Than the Achievement
    (00:56:06) Taking Over a 2,500-Person Bootstrap Business
    (00:58:29) Raising $500M+ for a "Stealth" Unicorn
    (01:02:11) Building a Generational Business at Entrata
    (01:04:21) Adam's Advice to His 23-Year-Old Self
    (01:07:53) Why Your Employees Don't Have to Care as Much as You Do

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    1 h y 10 m
  • Phil Kirkeiner: $150k to $7M with an Offshore Sales Team | Startup Scaling, SaaS, Remote Teams, CEO

    Phil Kirkeiner: $150k to $7M with an Offshore Sales Team | Startup Scaling, SaaS, Remote Teams, CEO
    Jul 3 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, John and Tyler Richards are joined by Phil Kirkeiner, the CEO of Baton ( https://www.batonleads.com/ ), a rapidly growing referral platform for the home services industry. Phil, a former student of John's, shares his incredible journey from being a music major and accountant to a successful entrepreneur.

    We dive deep into the origin story of Baton, born from a problem Phil discovered while working at a pest control company. Phil discusses the tough decisions he's made, including going with an offshore sales team and how it led to more sales. He also reveals his unique strategy for scaling by building a 50-person remote team in the Philippines, sharing actionable tips for hiring and management.
    This episode is packed with insights on founder-market fit, the power of being teachable, and the mindset required to grow a company from $150k to a projected $7 million in revenue.

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    (00:00:00) Going with an Offshore Sales Team & Getting More Sales
    (00:01:16) Welcome to the Startup Ignition Podcast
    (00:02:21) From John's Student to CEO of Baton
    (00:03:05) Phil's Journey: From Drummer to Accountant to Entrepreneur
    (00:05:45) Icebreaker: This or That with Phil
    (00:08:38) How John Knew Phil Would Be a Success
    (00:11:07) The Superpower of Being Teachable
    (00:13:59) Phil's First Business: EveryBankBonus.com
    (00:19:34) The Problem: Dead Leads in Pest Control
    (00:24:29) Validating the Idea for Baton at Pest World
    (00:28:37) The Best Way to Dispel Fear is Action
    (00:30:28) How the Startup Ignition Boot Camp Provided a Clear Roadmap
    (00:33:11) Finding the Right Co-Founder in Cody
    (00:37:09) From $150k Revenue to Raising the First Round
    (00:39:00) How Baton's Referral Platform Works
    (00:43:38) The Mindset Behind Explosive Revenue Growth
    (00:47:42) The Hardest Challenge: Overcoming Being a People Pleaser
    (00:51:24) Why They Went With an Offshore Sales Team
    (00:54:18) The "Founder Problem": Why Startups Prematurely Hire Sales Teams
    (00:56:08) Building a 50-Person Remote Team in the Philippines
    (00:59:31) How to Successfully Hire and Manage a Remote Workforce
    (01:03:36) The Impact: Changing Lives in the Philippines
    (01:05:45) Phil's Final Advice: Just Start and Talk to Customers

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    1 h y 9 m
  • Scott Johnson: Bootstrapping to a $1.5B Adobe Acquisition, Workfront, Motivosity, Product-Market Fit

    Scott Johnson: Bootstrapping to a $1.5B Adobe Acquisition, Workfront, Motivosity, Product-Market Fit
    Jun 19 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, hosts John and Tyler Richards sit down with Scott Johnson, the visionary founder behind Workfront (acquired by Adobe for $1.5 billion) and his current venture, Motivosity. Scott shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, from bootstrapping Workfront (formerly @task) for over six years to navigating the dot-com bust and the 2008 financial crisis. He offers a transparent look at the challenges of scaling, including the difficult moment he was asked to step down as CEO, and how that experience ultimately inspired the creation of Motivosity. This conversation is packed with invaluable wisdom on achieving product-market fit, the critical importance of guarding equity, and balancing the intense demands of a startup with family life.

    (00:00:00) The Importance of Product-Market Fit & Guarding Equity
    (00:01:53) Introducing Scott Johnson: Founder of Workfront & Motivosity
    (00:05:45) Rapid Fire Icebreaker Questions
    (00:13:34) Scott's Early Career: From Near Eastern Studies to Tech
    (00:16:27) The Genesis of @task (Workfront)
    (00:20:31) Bootstrapping for 6.5 Years Through the Dot-Com Bust
    (00:24:35) Why and How Workfront Took Its First Investment
    (00:28:15) A Near-Miss Funding Round During the 2008 Crash
    (00:34:45) The Story of Stepping Down as CEO
    (00:40:19) The Founding of Motivosity: Turning a Painful Experience into a New Venture
    (00:45:11) How Motivosity Empowers Employees and Builds Culture
    (00:49:43) Why @task Rebranded to Workfront
    (00:51:50) The Core Mechanics of the Motivosity Platform
    (00:53:51) The Measurable Impact of Motivosity on Company Metrics
    (00:55:30) Advice for Founders: Don't Scale Until You Have Product-Market Fit
    (00:59:49) How to Balance an Intense Startup Schedule with Family Life
    (01:02:14) Final Advice: Be Generous with Cash, Not Equity
    (01:02:43) The Dangers of Dilution vs. a Founder-Friendly Exit


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    1 h y 5 m
  • Andrew Smith: From Tech to Restaurants, Problem Hunter Building a Food Empire, Scaling & Investing

    Andrew Smith: From Tech to Restaurants, Problem Hunter Building a Food Empire, Scaling & Investing
    Jun 13 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, hosts John and Tyler sit down with Andrew Smith, the managing partner of Savory Fund and a serial entrepreneur defined as a true "problem hunter." Andrew shares his incredible journey, starting in the tech world during the dot-com boom with a revolutionary streaming media company. He details the highs of a near-IPO and the crushing lows of the bubble bursting, and how he pivoted to create two more successful tech companies by solving problems he encountered in his own life. The conversation then shifts to his unexpected entry into the restaurant industry, sparked by his wife's dream, and how the resilience of their first Kneaders franchise during the 2008 financial crisis revealed a massive opportunity. Andrew explains how he applied sophisticated, tech-style management to the food sector, scaling his operations from a single restaurant to a massive portfolio, eventually leading to the creation of the private equity firm Savory Fund.

    (00:00:00) The Dark Nights of a True Entrepreneur
    (00:02:11) Introducing Andrew Smith: Operator, Investor, and Problem Hunter
    (00:04:03) Icebreaker: A Food & Tech Brand Blitz
    (00:09:02) First Venture: Putting Jaguar Commercials on the Internet in 1998
    (00:13:53) The Dot-Com Bubble Bursts: Missing the IPO Window
    (00:17:42) Building and Selling Two More Tech Companies
    (00:20:46) A Leap of Faith: “I want to open a restaurant.”
    (00:23:25) Surviving the 2008 Crash and Discovering the Power of Food
    (00:28:26) Scaling Up: From One Kneaders to 50 Locations
    (00:30:57) Owning the IP: The Shift from Franchisee to Franchisor
    (00:34:15) Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Restaurant Operator
    (00:36:19) Why Companies That Survive Recessions Emerge Stronger
    (00:38:33) Why 2024 Was a Harder Year Than 2020
    (00:43:54) The Birth of Savory Fund on a Racetrack
    (00:47:31) Why Now is the Best Time to Invest
    (00:50:33) Applying Tech Sophistication to a "Mom and Pop" Industry
    (00:51:33) What Makes a Promising Brand Worth Investing In
    (00:54:13) The One That Got Away: A Missed Opportunity with Crumbl
    (00:56:24) A Lesson for Every Founder: Good Times and Bad Times Will Pass
    (01:01:04) Final Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
    (01:02:39) The Danger of Skipping Steps

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    1 h y 5 m
  • "This Is a DEAL KILLER": VC's Pre-Seed Due Diligence Checklist, Cap Table, Rule 83B, Founder Equity

    "This Is a DEAL KILLER": VC's Pre-Seed Due Diligence Checklist, Cap Table, Rule 83B, Founder Equity
    Jun 5 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, hosts John and Tyler Richards dive deep into the world of pre-seed due diligence. They outline the critical checklist they use as venture capitalists to evaluate early-stage companies, providing invaluable insights for founders preparing to fundraise. The discussion covers essential legal and financial structures, including the importance of a C-corp for QSBS benefits, the deal-killing implications of messing up the Rule 83B election, and how to maintain a "clean" cap table. They reveal common red flags like 50/50 founder splits, undocumented equity promises, and misaligned deal terms. Beyond the paperwork, they emphasize the necessity of rigorous business model validation and a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, explaining why a lack of proof is an immediate deal-killer.

    (00:00:00) The common mistakes that make a pre-seed company uninvestable
    (00:00:46) The Rule 83B test: How to know if you have the right startup attorney
    (00:01:00) Why raising too much money at too high a valuation is a nefarious problem
    (00:03:04) What's the one book every entrepreneur should read?
    (00:04:24) Favorite productivity tools and the rise of AI as a co-pilot
    (00:07:19) An OG take: Is AI making us lazy, or is it just the new calculator?
    (00:10:17) The most memorable pitch: One great example and one disastrous one
    (00:15:04) The one piece of advice John and Tyler would give their younger selves
    (00:16:48) Learning not to be intimidated by the "titans of industry"
    (00:18:29) What's next on the adventure bucket list?
    (00:20:13) A challenge: 100k followers and the team goes to the Masters
    (00:25:20) Breaking down the pre-seed due diligence process for investors and founders
    (00:27:31) Why a C-Corp and the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exemption are crucial
    (00:32:22) The critical importance of the Rule 83B election and founder vesting
    (00:38:54) What is a "messed up cap table" and what are the biggest red flags?
    (00:41:17) Why 50/50 founder splits are a deal-breaker for investors
    (00:43:29) The problem with non-operational shareholders on the cap table
    (00:45:33) Why debt must be handled before an equity investment
    (00:48:10) Proving your business model: Why validation efforts are non-negotiable
    (00:51:50) The #1 reason a deal gets killed: Lack of proof of validation
    (00:52:59) How to properly analyze and present your competitive landscape
    (00:55:28) How misaligned deal terms and valuation can kill an otherwise great deal
    (00:58:34) The dangers of raising too much money too early
    (01:02:43) Why alignment between founders and investors is the key to building a great business

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    #PreSeed
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    1 h y 5 m
  • Travis Cook: The AI Software Revolution, Building a Top Dev Shop, Blockchain, Startup Investing

    Travis Cook: The AI Software Revolution, Building a Top Dev Shop, Blockchain, Startup Investing
    May 30 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, hosts John and Tyler are joined by seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and mentor Travis Cook. They dive into Travis's journey, starting with his early days as a Java developer in 1996, co-founding Solution Stream, a pioneering custom software development shop that significantly impacted Utah's tech scene. The conversation explores his experiences as CEO of Apigo (now Taskfire) and President of Nerd United, a blockchain-focused venture. Travis shares deep insights into the evolution of software engineering with the advent of AI, the pros and cons of service-based versus product-based businesses, the tumultuous world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, and his current ventures in AI applications and startup investing. The discussion also touches on the future of work, the impact of AI on hiring, and valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

    (00:00:00) The future of software engineering with AI
    (00:01:35) Introducing guest Travis Cook: entrepreneur, investor, mentor
    (00:04:23) Icebreaker game: Startup Instincts
    (00:09:14) Travis Cook's journey: From Atari to co-founding Solution Stream
    (00:15:04) Navigating the dot-com bust with Solution Stream
    (00:17:20) Scaling Solution Stream: From startups to enterprise clients
    (00:23:26) Exiting Solution Stream: Valuing service vs. product businesses
    (00:28:37) Advice for founders: Service business vs. product startup
    (00:30:33) Experience with Apigo (Taskfire): A B2C product journey
    (00:33:57) Nerd United: Building a blockchain economy and hiring 300+ engineers
    (00:38:07) Understanding blockchain, decentralization, and Bitcoin
    (00:41:30) Challenges with the SEC and the crypto regulatory landscape
    (00:45:44) The current state of Nerd United and the product-first philosophy
    (00:46:36) Travis Cook's outlook on crypto, blockchain, and DeFi's future
    (00:49:15) Venture capitalist sentiment on crypto and blockchain investments
    (00:52:08) AI's impact on software development: 1 person doing the work of 10
    (00:53:51) How dev shops like Solution Stream adapt to AI
    (00:55:37) The broader societal shifts: From Information Age to AI Age
    (00:59:13) Speculating on the future of work for those displaced by AI
    (01:02:41) Travis Cook's current focus: Investing, AI projects, and coaching
    (01:06:59) Travis's top two tips for new entrepreneurs

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    1 h y 11 m
  • Craig Earnshaw: Destructive Founder Splits & Pitching Investors Confidently, Angel Investing, Exits

    Craig Earnshaw: Destructive Founder Splits & Pitching Investors Confidently, Angel Investing, Exits
    May 15 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, hosts Tyler and John Richards sit down with Utah startup legend, Craig Earnshaw. Craig shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, from his early days as a programmer to founding, selling, rebuying, and re-selling his software company, LifeLK Corporation, including a dramatic experience during the dot-com bust with GE and ChannelPoint. He discusses his transition into angel investing, becoming a founding member of Park City Angels, and his influential role as an adjunct professor at BYU. Craig dives deep into his investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of investing at the earliest stages, the critical role of the founding team (and why equal partnerships often fail), the necessity of true product-market fit, and the art of managing expectations. He also shares invaluable insights from his iconic investments like Property Solutions (Entrata) and Podium, and offers powerful advice for founders on raising capital and navigating the startup world.(00:00:00) Welcoming Utah Startup Legend Craig Earnshaw(00:02:30) Icebreaker: One-Word Answers on Startups & Investing(00:10:30) Craig's Origin Story: From CS Grad to Founding LifeLink Corporation(00:17:09) The GE Investment & Navigating the ChannelPoint Dot-Com Saga(00:24:20) Reclaiming His Company: Owning 100% of LifeLink(00:27:22) A Mission Call and Selling LifeLink from Brazil(00:32:44) The Decision Not to Start Another Company Post-Exit(00:35:00) Becoming an Angel Investor & Teaching at BYU(00:42:26) Craig's First Major Angel Deal: Property Solutions (Entrata)(00:46:33) Investment Strategy: Holding Long-Term (Entrata, Podium) & When to Exit(00:51:09) The Perils of Over-Raising and Inflated Early Valuations(00:54:16) Craig's Advice: Raise as Little as Possible, As Late as Possible(01:00:20) Evaluating Investments: The Critical Importance of the Team & No Equal Partners(01:03:25) The Entrepreneurial Superpower: Learning to Manage Expectations(01:07:14) A Mindset Shift: Founders are Solving Investors' Problems(01:10:08) Unpacking True Product-Market Fit and the Dangers of Churn(01:12:21) Craig's Legacy and Impact on the Utah Angel Investing SceneJoin our online academy for free:https://startupignition.com/academyApply to be a guest on the pod:https://startup-ignition-podcast.paperform.co/Follow John & Tyler:https://x.com/trich_https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrichards/Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@StartupIgnitionFollow on X:https://x.com/startupignitionFollow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/startupignition/Follow on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@startupignitionFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/school/6458758/admin/dashboard/Follow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/startupignition/#AngelInvesting#StartupUtah#CraigEarnshaw#EntrepreneurJourney#VentureCapital#StartupFounder#BusinessGrowth#InvestmentStrategy#ProductMarketFit#BYUFounders#TechStartups#ExitStrategy#Mentorship#StartupAdvice#EarlyStageInvesting#UtahTech#SoftwareBusiness#DotComBubble#FounderStories#StartupIgnition
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