Rising Tide Startups

Rising Tide

Rising Tide Startups is a unique, bi-weekly Business interview podcast, hosting some of today’s most exciting solopreneurs, startups founders and side hustlers from all over the globe.

  1. FEB 24

    10.03 – Giuseppe Sette – Reflexivity

    Sometimes an AI can out-reason a senior analyst in the time it takes to brew coffee. Giuseppe Sette is President and Co-Founder of Reflexivity, an AI-driven investment platform built to bring institutional-grade reasoning to every investor. After managing billions as Co-CIO of Global Macro at Lombard Odier and holding senior roles at Brevan Howard and Davidson Kempner, he saw a structural problem in modern finance: even the most talented analysts were overwhelmed by the scale and speed of market data. That realization led him to build around a core principle he calls Reflexivity, the idea that intelligence must examine its own reasoning. Instead of simply retrieving or summarizing information, the system audits assumptions, models feedback loops, and pressure-tests conclusions before delivering insight. The goal is not just faster answers, but structured reasoning under uncertainty. In this episode, we explore the shift from search tools to true reasoning agents, what it means to build AI that thinks through its own logic, and why personal experience and conviction matter when launching a company in the middle of rapid technological change. Key Takeaways: Prioritize Personal Experience. Build around a problem you have personally faced and understand deeply. Embrace Technological Leverage. Use automation and advanced tools to offload low-level tasks, allowing you to focus on strategy and decision-making. Iterate Through Practical Use. Validate by watching how people use your product in real-world settings, not just in theory. Implement Self-Reflective Systems. Add double-checks and self-audits so efficiency never sacrifices accuracy. Define Clear Methodologies. Technology creates real impact when guided by a clear human framework. Recognize Exponential Shifts. Stay alert to moments when technology fundamentally changes your industry. Those shifts create opportunity. Bridge Generational Approaches. Blend proven traditional methods with modern tools to create an edge. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Giuseppe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/togglegs/  Reflexivity Website: https://reflexivity.com/en   Closing thought: Experiencing a problem firsthand and solving it goes a long way to help you create a venture that succeeds. If you have a professional experience where you felt the pain, that is the best place to start.  Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - We specialize in hosting a podcast for your company or brand.    Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation! Go to podbrandmedia.com for more info.

    34 min
  2. JAN 30

    10.02 – Kevin Prewett – Podbrand Media

    What happens when the longtime hosts steps into the spotlight himself? Kevin Prewett is the host of the Rising Tide Startups podcast and the founder of Podbrand Media. After nearly a decade behind the microphone interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs, he is stepping into a new chapter. What once lived alongside a long career in nonprofit leadership is now becoming his primary focus, helping founders and businesses use podcasting to build trust and tell real stories. Kevin’s path into podcasting began unexpectedly in January 2018. While working in the nonprofit sector and living across four countries on three continents, he started a podcast simply to stay close to the startup world and ask better questions. That curiosity grew into a viable business when a guest asked him to host their company podcast. Now, as he transitions out of nonprofit leadership, Kevin is doubling down on the work that never stopped pulling him in. In this episode, the roles reverse as guest host Steve Collins steps in as Kevin takes the hot seat. They reflect on Kevin’s transition from nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from years of founder conversations, and the patterns that separate those who push through the dips from those who fade.   Key Takeaways: Conversation Beats Scripts. The strongest insights surface when curiosity leads the conversation and follow-up questions replace rigid lists. Consistency Wins Long-Term. Most efforts fade early, but discipline over time is what carries ideas past the initial excitement. Relatability Builds Trust. Lessons land harder when they come from people still close enough to the struggle to feel real. Ideas Need Execution. Creativity only matters when paired with consistent ollow-through and the willingness to iterate. Discipline Outlasts Market Shifts. Long-term success comes less from timing and more from personal discipline. Mentorship Requires Honesty. The most valuable mentors have lived the work and are willing to tell you the truth. Character Scales. Trust, integrity, and reliability quietly shape reputations that grow alongside the business. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-prewett  Podbrand Media: Podbrandmedia.com   Closing thought: "You can be consistently disciplined with a bad idea and it won't work. But if you have an idea that has a market and potential, discipline is everything." - Kevin Prewett​   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

    29 min
  3. JAN 19

    10.01 – Jesse van Breugel – Authority Figures and Linkedin Expert

    Consistency is Key.   Most people spend weeks overthinking their first LinkedIn post, waiting for the perfect idea or brand. Jessie Van Bruegel believes that the approach is backwards. As a content strategist and creator who’s posted daily on LinkedIn for nearly four years, he’s built a business helping experts productize their knowledge into scalable info offerings, backed by purple-branded visuals that are hard to miss. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, host Kevin Prewett talks with Jessie about quitting a tech unicorn job in Amsterdam during the pandemic and becoming one of LinkedIn’s most recognizable voices. After struggling to monetize on Twitter despite building 10,000 followers, Jessie committed to a 30-day LinkedIn streak in April 2022. He’s still going, and that consistency has helped drive millions in revenue for his clients. Jessie breaks down why the hook matters most, how he separates ideation from creation to keep content sustainable, and why “the things only you can say” will be the differentiator in 2026. He also shares his Monday scheduling routine, his authority-content formula, and what’s behind his lead magnet posts, including how 40% now hit 1,000+ comments. Plus, why he calls himself the “ultimate guinea pig,” testing AI workflows and YouTube growth before teaching what works. Key Takeaways: Say the Things Only You Can Say. Generic content is a commodity. Specificity, personal experience, and a unique perspective create markets where you have no competition. Focus on Inputs, Not Outputs. You can't control views, likes, or shares. You can control how often you post, how deeply you research, and how consistently you show up. Separate Ideation From Creation. Use different parts of your brain for different tasks. Collect ideas continuously, then schedule dedicated time to write and produce. The Hook Is Everything. If the first two lines don't create a curiosity gap, nobody reads the rest. Spend 80% of your effort on the hook and visual. Build Systems, Not Habits. Entrepreneurs aren't content creators—they're business owners. Marketing should be a scheduled task, not an all-day activity. Volume Negates Luck. Compress six months of work into three weeks. Post more, learn faster, and identify what works through rapid iteration. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Jessie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessievanbreugel/  Authority Figures: https://authority-figures.com/    Closing thought: "In 2026, if there's one content lesson I want to give everyone: say the things only you can say. If you remove your name and profile picture from a post and someone else can copy it word-for-word, it's not specific enough." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

    39 min
  4. 12/19/2025

    9.17 – Amber Goetz – The Active Media

    Most employees talk about leaving the corporate world someday. Amber Goetz didn’t just talk about it, she actually did it. Her path there was anything but typical. Before building her SEO agency, she spent years as a programmer, TV host, and stunt driver, racing cars and motorcycles for commercials and television. Later, she walked away from a secure marketing job to rebuild her own agency on her own terms. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Amber shares why the slow pace and red tape of corporate life finally pushed her back into entrepreneurship. She runs The Active Media, an SEO and web development agency that helps businesses jump from being buried in search results to showing up where customers actually click and call. She explains how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini have changed how people search, why keyword-based pricing no longer works, and how she now builds campaigns around effort, aggressiveness, and real outcomes.​ Amber talks about how local service businesses can win against bigger brands by treating their Google Business Profile like a true storefront, and why clear communication and strong boundaries with clients keep her business from feeling like a job again. She also shares what living in southern Utah has taught her about people who actually act on big ideas, and her dream of launching a podcast featuring her clients and writing a book to help women grow their authority online.   Key Takeaways: Get clear on what you do best. Naming your core skill and obsessing over it is the first step out of the golden handcuffs.​ Update how you price SEO. Flat keyword packages no longer match how people search, so build offers around time, intensity, and results.​ Let data lead your decisions. Test, measure, and adjust campaigns based on performance instead of guessing what should work.​ Treat Google Business Profile like your storefront. Local businesses that keep it active and complete can outrank much bigger companies.​ Protect your boundaries. Saying no to clients who ignore your time and process keeps entrepreneurship from feeling like another corporate job.​ Define your ideal client early. Knowing exactly who you want on the other end of the phone shapes your messaging, pricing, and red flags.  Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Amber: The Active Media: theactivemedia.com Goetz Go: goetzgo.com   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

    37 min
  5. 12/08/2025

    9.16 – Noah Tidwell – Solo Operator

    Most 20-somethings are still figuring out their first job. Noah Tidwell dropped out of college, bought a moving company, ran it for five years, sold it, and launched a new business helping home service owners automate their operations. All before most people finish grad school. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Noah shares how he discovered his real passion wasn't running a moving company but solving the operational headaches that kept him up at night. The inefficiencies, the manual processes, the time sucks that every blue collar business owner deals with but doesn't have time to fix. So he sold his company and built Solo Operator to do exactly that. Now he's helping small home service businesses get their time back by implementing systems, automations, and processes that actually work. Noah talks about the discipline it takes to focus on high leverage activities, why he hires fast and fires fast in the home service space, and his vision for Solo Operator Labs where he takes equity stakes in businesses instead of charging monthly retainers. He also shares lessons from his dad (who was a previous guest on this podcast), why nobody will ever care about your business as much as you do, and his dream of backpacking through Europe once he builds a business that runs without him. Key Takeaways: Focus on signal, not noise. Identify your highest leverage tasks each day and complete them before anything else. Do what you actually love. If you're dreading most of your work, it's time to pivot toward what energizes you, even if it means starting over. Nobody will care as much as you. You can't expect employees to have the same drive as a founder. Accept that and set realistic expectations. Partner for ownership, not just payment. Taking a piece of the business instead of charging fees aligns incentives and opens doors when cash is limited. Small businesses need systems to survive. Whether you want to grow or exit, having documented processes and automation in place isn't optional anymore. Build a business that runs without you. True freedom means being able to step away and know everything still works. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Noah: Solooperator: solooperator.co  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-tidwell-18645b2a2/ Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

    30 min
  6. 11/14/2025

    9.15 – Joris Delanoue – Fairmint

    What if equity could move as fast as code? Most founders spend thousands on lawyers, cap table management, and outdated infrastructure just to raise money and distribute equity. Joris Delanoue thinks that's ridiculous. As co-founder and CEO of Fairmint, he's building the rails to move private equity onto the blockchain, turning cap tables into smart contracts and making ownership as easy to transfer as sending an email. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Joris shares his journey from being a serial entrepreneur in France to a blockchain pioneer in Silicon Valley. After selling multiple companies and experiencing the pain of locked-up investments and cap tables that were impossible to manage, he moved to the US with one goal: to fix capitalism. What started as an idea for a startup exchange using SPVs evolved into Fairmint, a platform that's already moved over $1 billion in equity onto the blockchain. Joris breaks down why blockchain is the superior technology for securities, how Fairmint is deintermediating traditional finance without sacrificing compliance, and why privacy features like zero-knowledge proofs are unlocking trillions of dollars in institutional capital. He also discusses the shift from infrastructure as CapEx to OpEx, and how transfer agents are suddenly the most sought-after role in finance. Additionally, he shares his belief that entrepreneurship changes the world faster than politics ever will. Key Takeaways: Blockchain is a superior infrastructure for equity. Just like cloud computing replaced private servers, blockchain will replace traditional financial rails because it's faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Cap tables should be smart contracts. Moving equity onto the blockchain eliminates intermediaries, reduces costs, and makes ownership programmable and liquid. Compliance is a feature, not a bug. Being an SEC-registered transfer agent means investors don't lose their assets if they lose their private keys. You can always recover securities with proper ID. Infrastructure can become a profit center. With the right tokenomics, what used to be operational expenses can now generate revenue instead of costing money. Equity should be accessible to everyone. Employees, contractors, partners, and community members who contribute value should be able to participate in the financial upside. Entrepreneurship beats politics. As a founder, you can impact billions of people through what you build, the values you embed, and the vision you execute.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Joris: Fairmint: https://www.fairmint.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delanoue/ Closing thought: "The worst thing you can do is not know what to do and start chasing rabbits. Sometimes it's just better to do nothing." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

    47 min
  7. 10/31/2025

    9.14 – Petra Zink – Impaccct

    Sometimes a setback does more than stop you; it reroutes you. Petra Zink is a Brand & Business Growth Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and Author who helps executives and founders turn their reputation into scalable revenue. She's the founder of impaCCCt and The360Talent.Co, host of the Trusted Authority™ Podcast, and author of Trusted Authority: From Unknown to Known. Originally from Austria, Petra has been living in Australia for 16 years after coming for a six-month stay. Her journey started after being put on a performance improvement plan instead of getting the promotion she expected. Petra developed the impaCCCt framework based on a simple observation: when she asked recruitment candidates what they wanted, they all said "I want to make an impact," but few could explain what that actually looked like. Petra turned that insight into a challenge: how do you turn something so abstract into a process anyone can follow? The result was her impaCCCt framework, built around three pillars—Clarify, Communicate, and Commercialize. Petra also shares why foundation work is essential, how she condensed her program into an intensive full-day immersion, and why working out loud with experiments beats playing it safe.  Key Takeaways: Your Beliefs Plus Your Behavior Build Your Brand. If you don't believe you're good enough, you won't take the actions to reshape how you're seen. Get Reps In Before Seeking Perfection. Start with small experiments rather than waiting for the perfect business model. The Three O's of Credibility Matter.  Build your own credibility. Tap into other people's credibility through association. Create on-the-go credibility by working out loud. Foundation Work Is Unsexy But Essential. Positioning yourself takes time and isn't visible, but without it, your marketing assets mean nothing. Speed Creates Better Results. The faster you get assets out there, the quicker you get feedback to refine what works. Work Out Loud With Stretch Goals. Set ambitious experiments and document the journey publicly so people can help you. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Petra: LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/petrazink impaCCCt: https://www.impaccct.com/ Trusted Authority™ Podcast: https://www.impaccct.com/trusted-authority-the-podcast Closing thought: "People often think they have to have the perfect idea or the perfect business model to get started. You’ll never start perfect, because there’s always something new to learn." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - Every company or brand needs its own podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

    32 min
  8. 10/10/2025

    9.13 – Agnė Marija Mokrikaitė – Linkedin Expert

    What if one random podcast episode on a Tuesday completely changed your career trajectory? Agne Maria Moa is a content strategist at Notus, one of Europe's leading personal branding agencies, where she helps founders build their LinkedIn presence. Her journey started when she accidentally listened to a podcast by Rory Vaden about how personal brands impact sales. The next day, she posted her first piece of content. While still a university student in Lithuania, Agne worked unpaid for six months at an early-stage agency while her peers worked as baristas. Agne takes a different approach that goes beyond chasing virality. She's learned that breakthrough comes from pushing through when you have zero engagement and nobody's responding. She starts with deep interviews to understand clients' backgrounds and goals before creating anything. Rather than copying what works for others, she helps founders figure out what makes them unique and builds strategies around their personal experiences. This conversation gets into building a personal brand from scratch. Agne shares how she dealt with impostor syndrome as a student with no experience, why she did things differently when everyone questioned her, and how focusing on value attracted opportunities.  Key Takeaways: Do Something Different to Build Success. Building an extraordinary life means doing what others aren't doing, even when it feels uncomfortable. Push Through the Uncomfortable Period. Breakthrough happens after you gain momentum, but you have to keep posting when nobody's engaging. Strategy Before Content. Understand your goals, target audience, and what makes you unique before creating posts or chasing engagement. Personal Stories Beat Tactical Advice. Content that ties personal experience to insights performs significantly better than generic how-to posts. Don't Chase Virality at the Expense of Positioning. High engagement doesn't matter if it positions you wrong or attracts people who won't become clients. Test Different Content Pillars. Mix tactical advice, personal stories, industry insights, and aspirational content to find what resonates. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Agne: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnemokrikaite/ Calendly: https://calendly.com/agne-mokrikaite/30min   Closing thought: "In order to be successful in life, you need to do something completely different to what other people are doing." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

    39 min
5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Rising Tide Startups is a unique, bi-weekly Business interview podcast, hosting some of today’s most exciting solopreneurs, startups founders and side hustlers from all over the globe.