Failing to Success Chad Kaleky

Company StatsCapital raised: Over $22 Million, including angel investors and grants ($9 Million).Employees: 6 (35 during technology development)Founded: 2012
Episode Highlights✅ Innovation in grant acquisition by developing groundbreaking technology.
✅ Microbiome's critical role in human health and disease prevention.
✅ Revolutionary approach to microbiome mining with large-scale technology.
Episode SummaryIn this episode of "Failing to Success," we welcome Ross Youngs, founder of Biosortia, to discuss the innovative process of raising grants and the transformative technology in microbiome mining. Ross reveals how Biosortia has secured around $9 million in grants and over $22 million in total capital. He explains the critical role of the microbiome in human health, noting that we have more microbial cells than human cells. Biosortia's groundbreaking technology enables large-scale extraction and analysis of untapped microbes, paving the way for significant advancements in therapeutics, agriculture, and more. This technology could revolutionize our understanding and application of microbiome science.
Notable Questions We AskedQ: How much money have you raised in grants for your business?
A: Around $9 million.
Q: What is the total capital raised for Biosortia?
A: Over $22 million, including angel investors and grants.
Q: How do you raise such significant grant funding?
A: By developing innovative technology that catches the attention of granting agencies looking to support next-generation technologies.
Q: What is microbiome mining?
A: It's the process of extracting and analyzing microbes at a large scale and quality to discover untapped molecules and enzymes that have vast potential applications.
Q: How do microbes impact human health?
A: Microbes outnumber human cells and genes, playing a crucial role in disease courses, inflammation, and overall health, making them vital for therapeutic opportunities.
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ross Youngs and Biosortia
00:16 The Financial Journey: Grants and Capital Raised
00:56 Exploring the Microbiome: Untapped Microbes and Technology
03:34 The Revolutionary Approach to Microbiome Mining
04:59 The Impact of Microbiome on Human Health and Beyond
05:57 Scaling Up: The Future of Microbiome Mining
08:16 Closing Remarks and How to Learn More
#Microbiome #Innovation #Biotechnology #GrantFunding #HealthTech #DrugDiscovery #Sustainability #MicrobialEcology #Startups #ResearchAndDevelopment

Company StatsRevenue: $10 Million Patents Held: 3
Episode Highlights✅ Customer discovery and validation are crucial for successful inventions.
✅ Filing patents requires hands-on work and strategic narrow focus.
✅ Sustainability and reliable sourcing are key concerns in the electrification transition.
Episode SummaryIn this episode of "Failing to Success," we delve into the journey of Cory Hewett, a prolific inventor and entrepreneur in the electrification sector. Cory shares insights on generating over $10 million in revenue from his inventions and the importance of rigorous customer discovery in validating business ideas. He emphasizes a hands-on approach to filing patents, highlighting the strategic decision to focus narrowly to ensure defensibility. Corey also explores the significance of sustainable and reliable sourcing of materials for electric vehicles, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in the electrification transition. His journey from vending machine challenges to groundbreaking patents offers valuable lessons for aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs.
Notable Questions We Asked:Q: How much revenue have your products generated?
A: Comfortably over $10 million in total revenue.
Q: What is your process for taking an idea and deciding it's worth pursuing commercially?
A: The biggest factor is customer success; validating that people need and want the invention.
Q: How hands-on are you with filing patents?
A: Very hands-on; initially did most of the work ourselves due to limited funds and later worked with a great attorney.
Q: What was the unique challenge your inventions addressed?
A: Creating a device that could last a decade on a single battery charge and communicate with any iPhone without user setup.
Q: How do you approach sustainability in the electrification transition?
A: Focus on reliable sourcing of materials, considering environmental and geopolitical factors to ensure sustainable production.
Chapters00:00 Intro
00:09 Company Stats
00:28 Decoding the Invention Process
01:47 Navigating Patent Challenges
02:49 Innovations in Electrification and Technology
04:51 Exploring Electric Vehicles and Material Science
07:37 Venturing into New Business Horizons
09:07 Connecting and Sharing Insights
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#Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CustomerDiscovery #PatentStrategy #Electrification...

Episode Highlights✅ Evaluate AI tech companies by examining technology, innovation, scalability, and market opportunity.✅ Emphasize ethical AI, avoiding hype, and focusing on core human values in development.✅ Look for strong teams and business models, ensuring monetization and scalability potential.
Episode SummaryIn this episode, our panel discusses crucial factors in AI tech investment, focusing on technology, innovation, scalability, and market opportunities. Emphasizing ethical AI development and avoiding hype, the conversation highlights the importance of integrating core human values into AI. The panelists also stress the need for strong teams and viable business models, ensuring monetization and scalability. The discussion covers common pitfalls, risk management strategies, and promising opportunities in the AI sector, particularly in healthcare, education, and robotics.
The conversation delves into the importance of thorough due diligence and portfolio diversification in AI investments. The panelists share insights on how to leverage AI-driven tools for investment processes and the significance of adapting to market trends. They also explore the potential of AI in transforming various industries, including healthcare, education, and private equity, emphasizing the balance between technological advancement and maintaining human values.
Notable Questions We AskedQ: How do you assess an AI tech company before making an investment?
A: Evaluating AI tech companies involves examining technology, innovation, differentiators, scalability, and market opportunities. It's crucial to look at the team's passion and the business model's monetization potential.
Q: What are the key factors for successful AI startups?
A: Successful AI startups need a strong team with relevant experience, a scalable business model, ethical AI practices, and a clear path to dominate a niche market. Regulatory compliance and risk management are also essential.
Q: What are some common pitfalls in AI investments?
A: Common pitfalls include over-reliance on hype, weak business models, inexperienced teams, and lack of regulatory compliance. It's vital to avoid buzzwords without clear differentiation and ensure data privacy and ethical considerations are addressed.
Q: What are the most promising opportunities in the AI sector right now?
A: The most promising opportunities lie in healthcare, education, and robotics. AI-driven innovations in these fields can significantly improve quality of life, with potential applications ranging from personalized education to advanced medical treatments and automated industrial processes.
Q: How do you manage risk when investing in AI startups?
A: Risk management in AI investments involves thorough due diligence, using AI tools for the investment process, and diversifying portfolios across subsectors. It's crucial to stay updated with market trends, regulatory changes, and ensure robust ethical practices and data security measures.
PanelistsSam Sammane
https://www.sammane.com/
Susan Lindeque
https://www.avestix.com/our-team
Jacques Ludik
https://jacquesludik.com/about/
Chapters00:00 Intro
00:27 Key Factors in AI Tech Investment
02:19 The Importance of Team and Business Model
03:28 Ethical AI and Avoiding Hype
04:25 Red Flags in AI Startups
09:30 Managing Investment Risks in AI
14:22 Promising Opportunities

Company StatsActivations: 45 million Nift activationsEmployees: 40+Founded: 2015
Episode Highlights✅ Build a culture organically, matching the right people to your organization's needs.✅ Maintain core elements of excitement and hard work to drive growth and revenue.✅ Culture evolves; treat your team well and believe in long-term goals.
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Preston Junger, co-founder of Mile Square Labs and VP of Restaurant Solutions at Nift, shares insights on building a successful company culture. He emphasizes the importance of organic culture development, matching the right people to the organization's needs, and maintaining excitement and hard work. Preston also discusses the evolution of culture, highlighting the need to treat team members well and believe in long-term goals.
Preston delves into his journey post-Yelp, explaining how his experiences led to the founding of Mile Square Labs. He outlines the challenges he faced and how these inspired him to help early-stage companies build their go-to-market strategies. Through Nift, Preston explains how the company replaces traditional advertising with gifting moments, benefiting both e-commerce and restaurant groups by acquiring new customers.
Notable Questions We AskedQ: How do you build a successful company culture?
A: Culture should develop organically, matching the right people to the organization's needs, and maintaining excitement and hard work to drive growth and revenue.
Q: What is the role of culture in a company's success?
A: Culture is crucial for aligning the team with long-term goals, fostering a sense of shared purpose, and ensuring sustainable growth.
Q: How does Nift help restaurants acquire new customers?
A: Nift uses a two-sided marketplace to provide gifting moments that replace traditional advertising, helping restaurants gain new customers through surprise and delight moments.
Q: What challenges did you face after leaving Yelp?
A: Transitioning from Yelp to consulting, I faced the challenge of finding a role that matched my passion and expertise, leading to the founding of Mile Square Labs to support early-stage companies.
Q: How does Mile Square Labs support early-stage companies?
A: Mile Square Labs helps early-stage companies build go-to-market strategies, providing a strong foundation for growth and realistic expectations for key hires.
Chapters00:00 Intro
00:14 Company Stats
00:39 Nift and Its Impact
01:20 Building a Strong Company Culture
03:20 How Nift Supports Restaurants
06:02 Preston's Journey Post-Yelp
09:30 Founding Mile Square Labs
11:22 Connect with Preston
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Company Stats:Revenue: $1.5 million ARREmployees: 11Founded: September 2019
Episode Highlights:✅ Ryan Estes leverages personal experiences to shape KitCaster’s services, ensuring the offerings mirror client needs.✅ WildCast introduces host-bred ads, enhancing podcast marketing by fostering genuine host-audience connections.✅ The Bell Fast System at KitCaster strategically anticipates 10 client interactions to optimize conversions, achieving up to 17% success.
Episode Summary:In this episode, Ryan Estes, founder of KitCaster and Wildcast, delves into the mechanics behind his companies’ successes. KitCaster, with a revenue of about $1.5 million and 11 employees, specializes in securing podcast spots for prominent business figures, utilizing Estes's unique 'Bell Fast' marketing system to ensure a high conversion rate of up to 17%. Launched in 2019, KitCaster has effectively served around 800 clients. Wildcast, started in 2023, focuses on host-bred podcast advertising, offering a more personalized and effective approach to podcast ads compared to traditional methods. Estes's entrepreneurial journey is marked by his ability to adapt and innovate in the evolving landscape of digital marketing and media.
Notable Questions We Asked:Q: Can you share how KitCaster reached its current annual run rate?
A: KitCaster is at about a 1.5 million annual run rate, largely due to our effective marketing strategies and understanding our client profiles deeply.
Q: What were the key factors in founding KitCaster and then WildCast?
A: KitCaster was founded in September 2019 and WildCast in August 2023, driven by the need for specialized marketing in podcasting and adapting to new challenges and opportunities in media.
Q: How do you manage to attract high-quality clients at KitCaster?
A: We use a strategy called the Bell Fast system, which involves anticipating 10 touches with a prospective client to nurture them through the sales funnel effectively.
Q: What conversion rates do you experience with your marketing strategy?
A: The conversion rate varies between 10 and 20%, with recent trends around 17%, demonstrating effective targeting and client engagement.
Q: Could you describe the transition from your previous ventures to KitCaster and WildCast?
A: The transition involved leveraging experiences from past businesses, focusing on what worked, and applying these lessons to newer, more focused ventures in podcast advertising.
Chapters:00:00 Intro
00:15 Company Stats
01:51 The Bell Fast Marketing System
04:37 Podcast Advertising with Wildcast
07:47 Ryan's Entrepreneurial Journey
11:02 Contact Ryan Estes
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Company Stats:Clients: 500 global clients in 38 countries.Users: Over 2.1 million participants globally.Employees: 65Founded: 2009
Episode Highlights✅ Alejandro Rivas-Micoud navigates the complexities of global enterprise sales with innovative strategies, fostering significant growth.✅ Userlytics thrives by offering detailed insights, transitioning from a startup to a prominent player with a substantial client base.✅ Persistence and adaptation are key as Userlytics maneuvers through early-stage challenges to establish a robust market presence.
Episode Summary:Alejandro Rivas-Micoud, founder of Userlytics, shares his journey of establishing and growing a company that transcends traditional analytics by explaining user behaviors in depth. Founded in 2009, Userlytics has a client base nearing 500 enterprises globally and a robust participant panel of over 2.1 million users. Alejandro discusses the strategic shifts from his previous ventures, the challenges of penetrating the global enterprise market, and the unique insights gained from each entrepreneurial endeavor. His experience underscores the importance of resilience, precise market targeting, and leveraging feedback to refine service offerings.
Notable Questions We Asked:Q: How did you navigate the transition from a startup to a global enterprise provider?
A: Navigating the transition involved continuously refining our service offerings based on critical feedback from early enterprise clients, allowing us to enhance our product and better meet market demands.
Q: What were the major lessons learned from your previous business ventures that influenced the foundation of Userlytics?
A: Previous ventures taught me the importance of adaptability and listening to the market. These lessons were crucial in shaping Userlytics' approach to providing actionable insights into user behavior.
Q: Can you describe a pivotal moment when Userlytics began to gain significant traction in the market?
A: A key contract signing, despite initial doubts about continuing the business, marked a turning point, leading to sustained growth and confirming the market's need for our in-depth user analytics.
Q: How do you approach selling to enterprises across different global markets?
A: Approaching global enterprises requires understanding regional business cultures. In the U.S., startups are welcomed for innovation, while abroad, enterprises may require seeing U.S. clients first before engaging.
Q: What strategies have proven effective in gaining the trust of large enterprises?
A: Establishing trust with large enterprises involves showcasing proven track records, leveraging existing high-profile clients, and providing critical feedback to continuously improve our offerings.
Chapters:00:00 Intro
00:08 Company Stats
00:50 Selling to Enterprises
04:43 The Startup Journey
09:47 Contact Userlytics
#Userlytics #EnterpriseSales #GlobalBusiness #StartupGrowth #UserExperience #TechStartups #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #MarketInsight #InnovationLeadership