Raw and Real Entrepreneurship Susan Sly

Ever wondered how a kid selling coloring books door-to-door could end up co-founding one of the hottest plant-based protein drink brands? In this Raw and Real Entrepreneurship episode, Susan Sly sits down with Chris Hunter, the unstoppable force behind KOIA. From hustling coloring book pictures in Youngstown, Ohio, to navigating the chaos of Four Loko, to breaking into major retailers like Starbucks with KOIA, Chris's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

Chris opens up about his early entrepreneurial sparks, the financial hurdles he faced, and the resilience it took to turn his side hustles into full-blown successes. We dive deep into his innovative approach to parenting, raising kids who are already budding entrepreneurs, and the critical role of mentorship and sustainable business practices in his journey.

But it's not all smooth sailing. Chris shares his raw and real experiences of dealing with regulatory crackdowns, managing towering debts, and the therapeutic process of writing his book. This episode is packed with insights on authenticity, perseverance, and learning from every misstep.

Whether you're an established entrepreneur or just dipping your toes into the business world, Chris Hunter's story is a powerful reminder that with grit, hustle, and a bit of chaos management, you can turn your wildest dreams into reality. Tune in for a dose of real-talk entrepreneurship that's as inspiring as it is enlightening.

About Chris: Chris Hunter is a powerhouse in the beverage industry, known for his innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. He's the mastermind behind several hit beverage brands, including Four Loko, Koia, and Not Your Father's Root Beer. As the co-founder of Koia, Chris has driven the company to $100M in annual sales, securing spots in Whole Foods, Sprouts, 7-Eleven, and Starbucks. His memoir, Blackout Punch, reveals the gripping story of his journey and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Connect with Chris:
Website https://drinkkoia.com
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hunter-890a2315/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/koia/

About Susan: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.

Connect With Susan
X @Susanslylive
LinkedIn @susansly
Website https://susansly.com/
Website https://thepause.ai/

In this raw and riveting episode of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship Podcast, Susan Sly sits down with Nick Fogle, the resilient founder of Churnkey, to unpack the gritty truth of turning financial chaos into entrepreneurial gold. Their conversation dives deep into the whirlwind journey from crippling student loans to groundbreaking business success, offering a masterclass in transforming burdens into opportunities.

Nick peels back the curtain on how he juggled a staggering $250k in student debt while kickstarting his law firm and, later, diving headlong into the tech world. From mowing lawns to coding innovative software, Nick's path is anything but conventional. He shares how understanding the hard numbers and embracing creative risks propelled him from a broke lawyer to a tech maven at a publicly traded company.

Susan and Nick discuss the relentless challenges of entrepreneurship, from battling high churn rates to mastering work-life balance while raising a family. They reveal personal strategies for coping with stress, emphasizing the game-changing role of therapy and the power of investing in oneself despite financial strain.

Whether you're buried in debt, struggling to scale your business, or need real-world wisdom, this episode is your guide to harnessing adversity. Tune in to hear how Nick's journey of self-discovery and bold moves led him to survive and thrive, selling his company for a mid-seven-figure sum and setting the stage for his next big venture. Discover the unfiltered truths about debt, risk-taking, and the entrepreneurial spirit that refuses to quit.

About Nick Fogle: Nick, the Founder and CEO of Churnkey, has an inspiring journey from a struggling attorney buried in student debt to a successful entrepreneur. Overcoming adversity, he taught himself to code while driving a shuttle bus for minimum wage and eventually rose to lead engineer at a publicly traded software company. Nick's relentless dedication led to the creation of Wavve, a SaaS business, which he later sold for a mid-7 figure sum in 2021. Drawing from his experiences, he launched Churnkey, leveraging his expertise in retention strategies to revolutionize customer retention solutions. Nick's remarkable story exemplifies resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Connect With Nick:
LinkedIn @nickfogle
Website https://churnkey.co/

About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.

Connect With Susan
X @Susanslylive
LinkedIn @susansly
Website https://susansly.com/

Join Susan Sly, Raw and Real Entrepreneurship host, as she interviews Kevin Bibelhausen, the mastermind behind Fruition Capital and Heritage Fabrics. This isn't your typical business chat; it's a deep dive into the mechanics of buying and selling businesses, focusing on the crucial role of cash flow and profitability.

Kevin opens up about his unlikely path from opera singing to dominating the business acquisition game. He breaks down the nuts and bolts of navigating business purchases with minimal initial know-how, from deciphering balance sheets to wrangling SBA loans and rallying investors. He shares his strategic maneuvers in investment, targeting growth-stage companies, and how to cultivate investor relationships to boost business growth skillfully.

The conversation also gets honest about the mental grind and emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, giving you a candid look at the personal challenges of raising capital and juggling multiple business ventures. 

This episode is packed with critical insights into the strategies, pitfalls, and triumphs of navigating the business landscape while keeping your personal and professional growth at full throttle. 

About Kevin Bibelhausen
Kevin Bibelhausen is an investor, business owner, and consultant specializing in digital strategy & operations. He's a sought-after conference speaker, podcast guest, and author, passionate about professionalizing SMB acquisitions. Kevin founded Fruition Capital, which invests in SMB acquisition deals. With an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, he brings over a decade of experience in corporate technology and operations leadership. Kevin's journey from a near-fatal health challenge to small business ownership reflects his dedication to entrepreneurship. 

Connect With Kevin
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bibelhausen/
X https://twitter.com/bibelhausen
Website https://bibelhausen.com/
Website https://heritagefabrics.com

About Susan Sly
Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.

Connect With Susan
X @Susanslylive
LinkedIn @susansly
Website https://susansly.com/

In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to be a founder in the tech industry, challenging the notion that deep coding skills are a prerequisite for creating successful tech products.

From her journey as an Award-Winning AI entrepreneur and her education at MIT, Susan shares four practical strategies for taking a Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) to market. She discusses the importance of validating market demand early and highlights how a hybrid in-house and external development model balances cost-effectiveness and control. Susan emphasizes the value of outsourcing to development shops while cautioning against potential pitfalls such as project delays and loss of control.

Throughout the episode, Susan draws on her experiences in AI, stressing the need for entrepreneurs to understand the technical landscape and environment essential for AI solutions to thrive. She recounts her own journey in computer vision and generative AI, underlining how curiosity, continuous learning, and a grasp of ethical concerns are crucial for success. Susan offers guidance for navigating this complex field, advocating for self-education through courses, and surrounding oneself with a supportive team of experts.

Whether scribbling down business ideas on your lunch break or gearing up for your next big venture, this episode will fuel your entrepreneurial fire and equip you with the knowledge to step boldly into the tech scene.


About Susan:
Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.

Connect With Susan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susansly/
X: @susanslylive
Facebook: @susanslylive
Instagram: @susansly

Join Susan Sly in this dynamic episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, featuring renowned public speaking expert and bestselling author Terri Sjodin. With over two decades of experience electrifying audiences and consulting for top corporations, CEOs, and Members of the U.S. Congress, Terri brings her sassy, fresh, and insightful expertise directly to you.

In this episode, explore the powerful strategies from Terri's latest book, "Presentation Ready: Improve Your Sales Presentation Outcomes and Avoid the Twelve Most Common Mistakes." Learn how these tactics can help entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls, crafting polished and persuasive pitches that resonate deeply with any audience.

Discover how Terri redefines persuasive pitching with Monroe's Motivated Sequence, providing listeners with a transformative step-by-step framework to revolutionize their presentation skills. 

Learn how to empower yourself and enhance your presentation delivery with Terri's practical and actionable advice. Her exercises, like video scrimmages, are designed to refine your approach and boost your confidence.

This episode is a masterclass in speaking, selling, and succeeding. Whether you're preparing for your next big pitch or looking to revitalize your business strategies, Susan and Terri provide the insights and inspiration you need to succeed.
About Terri Sjodin
Terri L. Sjodin is the founder of Sjodin Communications. For over 25 years she has served as a speaker and consultant. Sjodin was inducted into the National Speakers Association CPAE Speakers Halls of Fame..  Terri is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning speaker, a popular LinkedIn Learning Instructor, and a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, appearing on The Today Show, Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, and many industry podcasts.

Connect With Terri
Website https://www.sjodincommunications.com/
LinkedIn @terrisjodin
Book https://www.sjodincommunications.com/presentationready/

About Susan Sly
Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.

Connect With Susan
X @Susanslylive
LinkedIn @susansly
Website https://susansly.com/

Join Susan Sly and Jeffrey Hayzlett, Founder of C-Suite Network, on Raw and Real Entrepreneurship for a dynamic conversation on entrepreneurial success. Jeffrey was the CMO of Kodak before leaving to launch his global media empire. A serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, innovator, and well-known media personality, Jeffrey has literally written the book on how to create results.

In this episode, Jeffrey shares practical insights on the difference between achievers and those who fail to gain traction. Jeffrey shares his tips on getting into action, maintaining tenacity, and overcoming obstacles in entrepreneurship.

Susan and Jeffrey discuss Kodak's failure to adapt and how this trap can affect any entrepreneur.

The conversation touches on the timely topic of AI's impact and the pressing need for ethical guidelines, providing forward-looking perspectives on technology.

Susan adds personal stories of resilience and growth, advocating for authenticity and vulnerability in leadership.

Tune in for a captivating dialogue on entrepreneurship, innovation, AI, and personal growth.

About Jeffrey
Jeffrey Hayzlett is a renowned global business celebrity, best-selling author of four business books, including "The Hero Factor," and Chairman of C-Suite Network. He hosts primetime TV shows like "C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett" and "Executive Perspectives" and his business podcast "All Business" on C-Suite Radio. Hayzlett is a top keynote speaker and expert cited in major publications like Forbes and SUCCESS, and he has appeared on networks like Bloomberg and MSNBC. He's known for his strategic leadership, marketing expertise, and mentorship in the C-Suite.

Connect with Jeffrey
Website https://hayzlett.com/
LinkedIn @hayzlett
X @JeffreyHayzlett
Podcast https://t.co/JDY9JRcOEx
C-Suite Network https://c-suitenetwork.com/

About Susan Sly
Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey.
 
Connect With Susan
X @Susanslylive
X @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Website https://susansly.com/