Forward Obsessed Pete Sena and David Salinas

Aaron Lyles is the Founder and CEO of CommonAlly, a company that builds two-sided marketplaces to connect organizations with hard-to-reach communities in a way that empowers people and gives them agency over their data. Aaron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started a snowboarding magazine in high school despite challenges with ADHD. This experience taught him the value of passion, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. After college, Aaron founded a photography firm called Pixel Lab, which later evolved into a video production collective called Multiple Mammals.
 
The idea for CommonAlly was born out of Aaron's desire to create a more empathetic and less polarized world, especially for his young daughter, in the midst of the tumultuous 2016 election. He raised money from friends, family and dev firms to build the platform. Recently, CommonAlly was acquired by Small Great Ventures, allowing Aaron to continue pursuing his vision with the necessary resources and support. Throughout the interview, Aaron shares valuable insights and candid stories about the challenges of entrepreneurship, from difficult co-founder splits to navigating the acquisition process.
 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mission-driven entrepreneurship and the real-world challenges and triumphs of building a startup. Aaron's story offers an honest and inspiring look at the entrepreneurial journey, with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and staying true to one's values in the face of adversity. Aspiring founders and business leaders will come away with practical insights and wisdom they can apply to their own ventures.
 
Episode Outline
 
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:47) Growing up with ADHD in the 80s and learning to navigate life differently
(00:05:12) Starting a snowboarding magazine in high school 
(00:07:54) Overcoming academic struggles and getting into Emerson College
(00:10:21) Founding Pixel Lab photography business and evolving into Multiple Mammals 
(00:17:07) Inspiration for starting CommonAlly during the 2016 election to combat polarization
(00:20:39) Challenges of being a solo founder and the importance of having the right partners
(00:25:34) Building a creative collective model with Multiple Mammals 
(00:31:02) Pivoting CommonAlly's business model to focus on a two-sided marketplace 
(00:37:29) Navigating the acquisition process with Small Great Ventures 
(00:47:11) The role of AI in enhancing CommonAlly's offerings 
(00:48:42) Lessons learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
(00:52:36) Fundraising challenges and the importance of strategic partnerships for growth
(00:57:15) The evolution of CommonAlly's services 
(01:02:54) The significance of CommonAlly's acquisition and the continuation of Aaron's vision
(01:06:09) The importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship and staying true to one's values
(01:11:42) Closing thoughts and how to connect with CommonAlly for potential partnerships
 
Episode Links
CommonAlly (current company): https://www.commonally.com/Multiple Mammals (previous company): https://www.multiplemammals.com/Small Great Ventures (acquired CommonAlly): https://www.smallgreat.co/Emerson College (attended): https://emerson.edu/
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Kat Hantas is the co-founder of 21 Seeds, an infused tequila brand that was acquired by Diageo for $160 Million after just three years in business, being the largest exit ever by a female-founded spirits brand. Previously, Kat had a 15-year career in the film industry, working at Creative Artists Agency and as an independent producer developing horror and music-driven films.
 
In this interview, Kat shares her entrepreneurial journey, from starting her first business right out of college to pivoting to a film career focused on specific niches to launching 21 Seeds to solve her own pain points around finding an easy-to-drink, low-calorie alternative to wine and cocktails. 21 Seeds differentiated itself by targeting a specific customer - women and moms - with an elevated, all-natural infused tequila. The brand took off quickly, landing national distribution in under two years.
 
Kat shares candid insights useful for entrepreneurs and business leaders, including the importance of focusing relentlessly on a specific customer, hiring people with complementary skills, building a culture of respect and results, and understanding the operational drivers in your business. This is a must-listen interview for anyone interested in consumer products, branding, entrepreneurship, and learning from a founder who defied the odds to build a category-creating brand and successful exit in record time.
 
 
Episode Outline
Here is a concise outline of the key topics discussed in the interview, with timestamps:
(00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Kat Hantas' background (00:04:13) Kat's childhood in Peru and moving to the US with her mother(00:11:07) Impact of seeing her mother's work ethic and hustle (00:14:39) Early entrepreneurial ventures and lessons learned (00:22:06) Working in the film industry after college (00:38:49) Challenges and ultimate failure of the movie "Taking Five" (00:48:26) Stepping back from work to focus on family and early motherhood(00:54:20) Health issues leading to switch from wine to infused tequila (01:03:08) Recognizing the market opportunity for elevated infused tequila (01:13:06) Launching 21 Seeds with her sister and co-founder in 2019 (01:15:58) Choosing Diageo as the acquirer for 21 Seeds (01:21:58) The intensive due diligence process leading up to acquisition (01:24:10) The emotional impact of the exit and concern for the team (01:30:40) Advice for building an excellent team with separate swim lanes(01:34:40) Dealing with copycats and the importance of speed to market(01:38:13) Reflections on the 21 Seeds journey and future plans
 
Episode Links
 
21Seeds (company co-founded by Kat Hantas): www.21Seeds.com21Seeds Instagram: www.instagram.com/21seedsKat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathantas/Kat’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-hantas-ba0621163/
 
 
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Peter Thum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Muse, an AI-powered website builder and collaboration platform. He was previously the Founder of Ethos Water, which he successfully sold to Starbucks in 2005. Thum has also founded Fonderie 47, a company that transforms AK-47 assault rifles from African war zones into high-end jewelry and accessories, and Liberty United, which employs a similar model to reduce gun violence in the United States.
 
In this interview, Thum shares invaluable insights and experiences from his entrepreneurial journey, particularly the challenges and triumphs of building Ethos Water from a $10,000 startup to a major acquisition by Starbucks. He discusses the importance of bootstrapping, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to one's mission, even in the face of adversity. Thum also highlights the significance of strategic partnerships, as exemplified by his collaboration with Howard Schultz, which amplified the impact of Ethos Water and brought clean water access to millions of people in developing countries.
 
For young entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Thum's journey illustrates the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the potential for businesses to drive positive social change. His experiences serve as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of building a mission-driven business while simultaneously making a meaningful impact on the world.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Peter Thum's background
(00:05:17) Peter's childhood in Korea and parents' careers
(00:09:39) Impact of losing his father at age 14
(00:14:01) Playing college football and being a team captain
(00:20:47) Early career at Gallo Winery and desire to move to Germany
(00:27:56) Decision to attend Kellogg School of Management
(00:32:39) Working at McKinsey & Company after business school
(00:44:43) Inspiration for Ethos Water during McKinsey projects
(01:03:21) Bootstrapping and launching Ethos Water
(01:18:27) Getting Ethos Water into Whole Foods and Starbucks
(01:32:13) Selling Ethos Water to Starbucks
(01:43:40) The social impact of Ethos Water with Starbucks' reach
(01:50:45) Founding Foundry 47 to transform AK-47s into luxury items
(01:56:03) Creating Liberty United to reduce gun violence in the US
(01:58:58) Co-founding Muse, an AI-powered no-code platform
(02:05:01) Muse's vision to democratize tech for all skill levels

Episode Links
 
Ethos WaterStarbucksFonderie 47 (founded by Peter Thum)Liberty United (founded by Peter Thum)Muse (current company, co-founded by Peter Thum)McKinsey & Company (former employer)Gallo Winery (former employer)Kellogg School of Management (alma mater)
 
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Lindsey Andrews is the founder of Minibar, an on-demand alcohol delivery service that was acquired by Reserve Bar in 2021. Andrews is now the Founder and CEO of Revido, an app designed to revolutionize the way we review and recommend products and services. 
 
Andrews' entrepreneurial journey began when she and her co-founder recognized the need for a convenient alcohol delivery service during their "takeout tuesdays," leading to founding the online alcohol delivery service, MiniBar. Throughout the interview, Andrews shares valuable insights and experiences from her entrepreneurial journey that led to Minibar’s acquisition. She discusses the challenges of navigating the highly regulated alcohol industry and the importance of having a strong network of advisors and investors. Andrews also touches on the difficulties of fundraising as a first-time entrepreneur and a woman in a male-dominated industry.
 
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers. Andrews' journey is an excellent example of how to navigate the challenges of building a successful startup in a highly regulated industry. Her insights on fundraising, team building, and work-life balance are invaluable for anyone looking to start or grow a business. Additionally, her experience with the acquisition of Minibar and her decision to start a new venture provide a unique perspective on the different paths entrepreneurs can take after a successful exit.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:58) Lindsey Andrews' upbringing and early exposure to business
(00:07:07) Educational journey at Stanford and Wharton
(00:10:11) Early career experiences at Fresh Direct, Amazon, and Quidsi
(00:15:30) Aha moment and founding Minibar
(00:20:15) Navigating regulatory challenges in the alcohol delivery industry
(00:23:18) Fundraising challenges and lessons learned
(00:26:05) Building a strong team and leveraging outsourced talent
(00:30:39) Positioning and marketing strategies for Minibar
(00:35:41) Losing a term sheet and managing cash burn during difficult times
(00:42:44) Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood
(00:45:41) Growth and impact of COVID-19 on Minibar's business
(00:49:52) Decision to sell Minibar and the acquisition process
(00:53:38) Taking time off and deciding to start a new venture, Revito
(00:58:17) Inspiration behind Revido and challenges of building a new startup
(01:02:59) Fundraising for Revido and current challenges
(01:08:12) Lindsey's daughter's perception of her as an entrepreneur
(01:11:08) Conclusion and key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs and founders
Episode Links
 
⁠Minibar⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' on-demand alcohol delivery startup
⁠Revido⁠ - Lindsey Andrews' new venture focused on trusted recommendations
⁠Reserve Bar⁠ - The company that acquired Minibar in 2021
⁠Fresh Direct⁠ - Lindsey Andrews worked here prior to founding Minibar
Support & Connect
 
 
Forward Obsessed Website: ⁠www.forwardobsessed.com⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/⁠
TikTok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessed⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/⁠
 

Jason Kirby is the Founder of Thunder.VC, an AI-powered investment bank that helps startups navigate the fundraising process. Previously, he was the Co-Founder and President of Liquid Sky, a cloud gaming company acquired by Walmart in 2018, and the President and COO of Generation Esports, an esports platform for schools that raised $11 million in funding.
 
Throughout the interview, Kirby shares valuable insights and lessons learned, such as the importance of setting deal terms before diving into due diligence, focusing on customer acquisition instead of fundraising, and the challenges of managing investor expectations. He also discusses his experience thriving in chaos and his ability to align teams towards a common goal.
 
Kirby's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges and setbacks. He emphasizes the value of learning from failure, building strong relationships, and staying committed to one's vision. His journey from photographer to successful tech founder and investor is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of startups, fundraising, and entrepreneurship. Kirby's firsthand accounts of navigating acquisitions, pivoting business models, and managing team dynamics provide invaluable lessons for founders, MBA students, and managers alike. His story serves as a reminder that success often comes from embracing chaos, learning from failure, and never giving up.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction and sponsorship messages(00:03:15) Jason Kirby's early entrepreneurial journey and photography business(00:10:32) Launching San Diego Photography Classes and the importance of asking questions(00:15:19) Transitioning from photographer to business person with Toggly marketplace(00:23:09) Raising capital for Togally and the importance of targeting the right investors(00:26:25) Almost getting acquired by Kodak and lessons learned(00:29:40) Joining Liquid Sky as Co-Founder and raising $12 million(00:36:17) Samsung's acquisition offer and the deal falling through(00:41:15) Pivoting Liquid Sky's business model and securing enterprise contracts(00:43:44) Getting acquired by Walmart and the stressful acquisition process(00:49:54) Becoming a Walmart employee and the shutdown of the gaming project(00:51:51) Consulting for Generation Esports and helping them scale(00:56:56) Raising funds for Generation Esports and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic(01:02:45) Leaving Generation Esports due to differences in vision(01:05:04) Founding Thunder.VC and building an AI-powered investment bank(01:09:16) Identifying people who thrive in chaos and the importance of perseverance
 
Episode Links
 
Thunder.VC: https://web.thunder.vc/Jason Kirby's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonkirbyJason Kirby's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (Book): Amazon LinkJason Kirby's podcast: Fundraising Demystified
 
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Support & ConnectForward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forwardobsessedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/
 

Jess Lynch is currently the Cofounder and Founding Partner at Raiz Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm using data and community to reimagine startup investing. She was previously the Cofounder and CEO of Wishroute, a scalable behavior change platform that was acquired in 2022.
 
Throughout her journey, Jess has demonstrated remarkable resilience and leadership. This includes overcoming challenges like running out of cash and weathering the pandemic's impact on Wishroute's initial customers. She successfully led her company through an M&A process despite a difficult experience with one large potential acquirer. Jess credits her success to intuition, problem-obsession, and genuinely caring for people.
 
The interview touches on many topics valuable to founders and business leaders. Jess emphasizes the importance of having a technical co-founder or trusted advisor early on. She shares recommendations for managing fear, getting comfortable with discomfort, and pushing past the limits of your comfort zone. Additional insights include lessons learned from fundraising, managing investor relationships, preparing for acquisition, and running an accelerator program.
 
A key theme is Jess' remarkable perseverance and her development of an innate sense for when to push forward versus when it's time to change course. Her story demonstrates that entrepreneurial success requires hard work and also an element of luck or good timing. Overall, Jess Lynch provides a wealth of practical knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in startups, venture capital, or leadership. This is a must-listen episode packed with forward-thinking wisdom.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:06) Early entrepreneurial interests and family backdrop(00:05:31) Brother's juvenile diabetes diagnosis inspires family lifestyle changes(00:07:16) Educational background at Babson College(00:10:59) Early career in forensic accounting at PwC(00:15:33) Leaving corporate career to pursue entrepreneurial path(00:18:22) Working on BP oil spill litigation(00:23:32) Finding the idea for Wishroute while at Babson MBA program(00:25:37) Launching Wishroute and early traction(00:27:34) Pandemic causes pivot from gyms to direct-to-consumer(00:30:58) Fundraising challenges as a female founder without technical background(00:32:04) Mental health during startup struggles and running out of cash(00:36:41) Large potential acquirer ends up building internally instead(00:42:26) Emotionally difficult decision to pursue acquisition of Wishroute(00:43:04) Warning signs when deal-making with large companies(00:44:51) Importance of letter of intent in M&A process(00:47:19) Securing acquisition despite numerous setbacks(00:49:20) Lifelong lessons in resilience from journey(00:50:07) Reluctance to jump back into startup founder role after acquisition(00:53:30) Currently supporting portfolio companies and investing in CT
 
Episode Links
 
Wishroute (founded by Jess Lynch): https://www.wishroute.com/
Raiz Capital (co-founded by Jess Lynch) https://raiz.vc/
Babson College: https://www.babson.edu/
Techstars: https://www.techstars.com/
Suggestic: https://suggestic.com/
Guidely: https://guidely.com/
Jessica  Lynch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicallynch/
Jessica Lynch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicallynch
Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/
The Lean Startup book - https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898
Brian Chesky episode on Lenny's newsletter - https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach
 
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