Business Ninjas by WeLevel

WeLevel | WriteForMe

Welcome to Business Ninjas, the podcast where we interview top business leaders and entrepreneurs who share their secrets to success. Learn from the masters and apply their insights to grow your own business. Join us as we explore the strategies and tactics used by today's most successful companies. Tune in now and become a business ninja yourself. 🤺🚀

  1. How Growth Equity Really Works for Founder-Led Companies

    28/01

    How Growth Equity Really Works for Founder-Led Companies

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andy Steuer sits down with Isabelle Tashima, Investor at Volition Capital, for a behind-the-scenes look at growth equity investing. Isabelle walks through her path into private equity, what a day in the life of an investor actually looks like, and how Volition partners with founder-led companies that are ready to scale. Together, they unpack what investors look for beyond revenue numbers—team dynamics, capital efficiency, and long-term vision—and how founders can better prepare for growth-stage funding conversations. 💡 Backing Proven Founders with Patient Growth Capital Volition Capital specializes in growth equity investments in capital-efficient, founder-owned technology and tech-enabled services companies. Rather than pushing premature exits, Volition takes a long-term, flexible approach—helping founders accelerate growth while maintaining control. Isabelle explains how the firm evaluates opportunities, supports portfolio companies post-investment, and differentiates itself by aligning incentives with founders. With a focus on sustainable scaling, disciplined execution, and partnership-driven investing, Volition Capital has become a trusted name for entrepreneurs looking to grow without losing autonomy. 🔗 Learn more about Volition Capital: https://www.volitioncapital.com/ 💼 Connect with Volition Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volition-capital/ 👤 Connect with Isabelle Tashima: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-tashima-780065135/ Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    37 min
  2. 30 Years of Enabling Manufacturing Efficiency | Kristin McLane of CIMx Software | Business Ninjas Podcast

    07/11/2025

    30 Years of Enabling Manufacturing Efficiency | Kristin McLane of CIMx Software | Business Ninjas Podcast

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew Lippman sits down with Kristin McLane, President of CIMx Software, to talk about three decades of transforming how manufacturers build, track, and deliver products. Since 1996, CIMx has been helping manufacturers modernize production processes, eliminate paper-based workflows, and gain visibility across the shop floor with their advanced Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions. Kristin shares how CIMx empowers manufacturers to gain full control of production data, reduce waste, and boost throughput through real-time insights. By focusing on adaptability and customer support, CIMx has become the trusted partner for complex manufacturing operations—from aerospace and defense to medical devices and electronics. The company’s flagship platform, Quantum, bridges the gap between production and performance, helping teams make better decisions faster. If your business is ready to streamline operations, enhance traceability, and future-proof your manufacturing, this conversation is a must-listen. 🔗 Learn more about CIMx Software: https://www.cimx.com/ 💼 Connect with CIMx Software on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cimx/ 👤 Connect with Kristin McLane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinmclane/ ----- Do you want to be interviewed for your business?  Schedule time with us, and we'll create a podcast like this for your business: https://www.WriteForMe.io/ ----- https://www.facebook.com/writeforme.io https://www.instagram.com/writeforme.io/ https://twitter.com/writeformeio https://www.linkedin.com/company/writeforme/ https://www.pinterest.com/andysteuer/ Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    28 min
  3. Inside Seltzer Licensing: A 26-Year Playbook for Brand Growth

    24/09/2025

    Inside Seltzer Licensing: A 26-Year Playbook for Brand Growth

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Stu Seltzer, President of Seltzer Licensing Group. Stu shares his journey from working at Yves Saint Laurent and Warner Brothers to founding his own licensing agency more than 25 years ago. They dive into how brand licensing helps companies—from global CPGs to nonprofits and entertainment brands—unlock growth through partnerships, collaborations, and royalties. Stu also talks about his new book, Brand Licensing for Dummies, and what it means to be inducted into the Licensing International Hall of Fame. 💡 Turning IP Into Revenue and Opportunity Seltzer Licensing Group helps brands like Scotts Miracle-Gro, Dove, Airheads, Zippo, and even American Ninja Warrior grow by strategically extending their IP into new categories and products. Their unique process starts with a research-driven licensing plan—an 80+ page roadmap answering where a brand can extend and how much revenue to expect. From licensing Dunder Mifflin copy paper with The Office, to launching American Ninja Warrior Adventure Parks, to helping nonprofits like the American Red Cross, Seltzer Licensing Group proves licensing is more than merch—it’s a business model that drives real growth. 🔗 Learn more about Seltzer Licensing Group  💼 Connect with Seltzer Licensing Group on LinkedIn  👤 Connect with Stu Seltzer on LinkedIn  Get the Book: Licensing for Dummies  Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    23 min
  4. Beyond Capital: Assessing the Human Side of Startups

    23/09/2025

    Beyond Capital: Assessing the Human Side of Startups

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Logan Yonavjak, Co-Founder and CEO of the Founder Readiness Institute. Logan shares how her two decades in impact investing, natural capital, and startup financing led her to launch a groundbreaking new tool: the Founder Readiness Level. Unlike typical assessments, this framework measures a founder’s ability to handle complexity, pivot under pressure, and grow as a leader—giving early-stage investors and founders a clearer picture of “people risk” in startups. 💡 Standardizing Founder Assessment to Improve Startup Success The Founder Readiness Institute sits at the intersection of psychology, leadership, and venture investing. Their assessments go beyond more traditionally static traits like extroversion or conscientiousness, instead evaluating coachability, resilience, systems thinking, and vertical development. With follow-on coaching and support, the tool helps uncover both risks and overlooked opportunities—reducing investor bias while empowering founders with actionable feedback. Backed by research, a co-founder trained in psychology and data science, and plans for academic partnerships, the Institute aims to make “founder readiness” as essential as technology readiness in the investment process. 🔗 Learn more about Founder Readiness Institute  💼 Connect with Founder Readiness Institute on LinkedIn 👤 Connect with Logan Yonavjak on LinkedIn Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    22 min
  5. MedEvolve Is Fixing Healthcare’s Revenue Leak

    10/09/2025

    MedEvolve Is Fixing Healthcare’s Revenue Leak

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with Matt Seefeld, EVP at MedEvolve. Matt shares his journey from consulting to healthcare entrepreneurship and how MedEvolve helps medical providers survive and thrive in today’s margin-crushing environment. From skyrocketing costs and declining reimbursements to the complexity of revenue cycle management, Matt breaks down the realities of running a healthcare practice in 2025—and why automation alone won’t save the industry. 💡 Data + Accountability = Real Healthcare ROI MedEvolve stands out by turning billing chaos into clarity. Their platform layers on top of any billing system to track staff effectiveness, reduce wasted touches, and uncover margin improvements that traditional systems miss. With clients ranging from surgical specialties to rural hospitals and BPOs, MedEvolve helps providers recoup millions by fixing denials before they happen, streamlining workflows, and holding teams accountable with real-time analytics. Unlike hype-driven “humanless” AI solutions, MedEvolve leverages generative AI responsibly, backed by novel datasets and human expertise—because in healthcare, mistakes are too costly to leave unchecked. 🔗 Learn more about MedEvolve 💼 Connect on LinkedIn  👤 Connect with Matt Seefeld  Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    44 min
  6. 125 Years of Excellence in Precast Manufacturing & Infrastructure

    09/09/2025

    125 Years of Excellence in Precast Manufacturing & Infrastructure

    In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Daniel Murray, President and CEO of Roman Stone. Founded in 1903, Roman Stone has been at the forefront of precast concrete manufacturing for more than a century. Daniel shares how his 30+ years of experience in precast shaped his leadership—and how Roman Stone is scaling from a New York legacy brand into a national player. From underground infrastructure and shoreline resiliency to data centers and carbon-negative concrete, the company is proving that innovation and tradition can coexist to solve today’s toughest challenges. 💡 Faster Builds, Greener Futures, Stronger Communities Roman Stone specializes in precast concrete infrastructure—helping municipalities, utilities, and private companies move water, electricity, and protect coastlines. Their precast solutions shrink construction timelines by weeks, cut labor needs, and deliver consistent quality with rigorous QC standards. What sets them apart is a customer-first mindset: solving complex engineering problems within 48 hours, building stormwater filtration systems, and offering mobile on-site manufacturing to cut costs and carbon footprints. With new national product launches tailored for data center markets and the development of carbon-negative concrete, Roman Stone is writing the next chapter in sustainable infrastructure—without forgetting the quality and trust that earned them a 65-year contract with Con Edison. 🔗 Learn more about Roman Stone: Roman Stone website  Roman Stone on LinkedIn 👤 Connect with Daniel Murray on LinkedIn Want to be featured on our Business Ninjas podcast? Go to WeLevel.net and schedule a time with us and we'll make it happen. See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

    20 min

Sobre

Welcome to Business Ninjas, the podcast where we interview top business leaders and entrepreneurs who share their secrets to success. Learn from the masters and apply their insights to grow your own business. Join us as we explore the strategies and tactics used by today's most successful companies. Tune in now and become a business ninja yourself. 🤺🚀