Ops or Die!

Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar
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  • BUSINESS

Ops or Die is the no-fluff podcast where ScaleSpark’s Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar get real about the operations chaos that kills startups—and how to fix it. Hear unfiltered takes, practical tips, and interviews with founders, VCs, and ops pros who know what it takes to scale smart and stay alive.

Episodes

  1. JAN 6

    AI, Compliance & Why You Can't Ghost the Government

    In this episode of Ops or Die, hosts Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar sit down with Sean Flynn, Chief Legal Officer & Co-Founder, and Stacy DeLong, Director of Marketing at SingleFile, to talk about the least sexy topic in startups -and why ignoring it can literally kill your company. Compliance isn’t optional. It’s mandatory, recurring, and unforgiving. And no, AI can’t magically clean up the mess after you’ve missed filings, lost good standing, or accidentally dissolved your company on paper. In this episode, we unpack: Why “small-c compliance” is quietly one of the biggest existential risks to scaling companiesHow missed filings can block financings, void contracts, or get your company name takenThe real cost of fines, reinstatement, and lost momentum (spoiler: it’s not just money)Where AI actually helps—and where humans still have to step inWhy compliance chaos usually starts as “just one more thing” on someone’s job descriptionHow centralized systems, tech-enabled services, and expert oversight prevent avoidable disastersThis is a candid, real-world conversation about operations, risk, and why founders can’t afford to treat compliance as an afterthought—especially in a remote, multi-state, AI-powered world. Because operations isn’t sexy…until it saves your ass. Visit SingleFile at www.singlefile.ai, or call 1-800-391-9869. Stacy DeLong LinkedIn SingleFile LinkedIn ScaleSpark Website: www.scalespark.ai Katie Whitcraft LinkedIn Maria Pienaar LinkedIn

    58 min

  2. 11/12/2025

    Intangible Assets, Real Attitude: Paul Kallmes on IP Ops

    Ready to flip the script on how you think about intellectual property? In this episode of Ops Or Die, we dive into the world of IP with Paul Kallmes—yes, the guy who turns “paperwork” into power moves. Whether you’re a founder navigating patents, a COO wrestling with licensing, or just tired of hearing “IP strategy” tossed around like a buzzword, Paul brings the real talk. He’s sharing how to operationalize your IP: build systems, guard your innovation, and stop letting your ideas sit on the shelf collecting dust. You’ll learn: What true IP operations look like (and the ops traps to avoid).How to make your IP work for you—not the other way around.War stories from the frontline of patents, licensing, and commercialization.The sassy truth: if you’re not operationalizing IP, your competition might be making your mistakes into their next product.So buckle up. This isn’t your standard legal-talk episode. It’s about turning intangible assets into concrete business engine. And yes—there will be attitude. Because when your IP isn’t just “covered” but operational, someone’s going to ask, “How’d you do that?” Tune in and get ready to level up your IP game. Get in Touch: info@scalespark.ai Website: www.scalespark.ai Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapienaar/ Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewhitcraft/ Paul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkallmes/

    55 min

  3. 07/11/2025

    The Scaling Kill Switch: Operations with Tomika Anderson Smith

    Think ops is just paperwork? Cute. In this episode of Ops or Die, Tomika Anderson-Smith sets the record straight: operations isn’t overhead—it’s the engine that turns chaos into compounding growth. She spills what founders miss when they wait too long to get serious about ops, why nonprofits and startups are basically twins (minus the hype), and how weak systems can quietly wreck your company. If you’ve ever said “we’ll deal with that later,” this one’s your wake-up call. We talk about: - Why operations is the real growth engine hiding behind your product wins - What startups and nonprofits share (it's more than you think) - How invisible ops keeps your company running - and what happens when it fails - What founders risk by waiting too long to build business operations infrastructure - Why early operational investments prevent burnout, fraud and chaos later - How AI is reshaping Ops - and why it won't replace leaders but boost them If you're scaling fast (or hoping to), it's not optional listening. Links: Tomika Anderson-Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomikaandersonsmith/ ScaleSpark: https://www.scalespark.ai Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapienaar/ Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewhitcraft/ ScaleSpark email: info@scalespark.ai

    52 min

  4. 06/10/2025

    Dress Your Startup for Success: Why Branding is Your First Growth System

    Your brand isn’t your logo — it’s your startup’s first impression, emotional footprint, and a growth engine hiding in plain sight. In this episode, Maria and Katie sit down with brand strategist Esteban Arroba Del Castillo to talk about why even scrappy, pre-MVP startups need to show up with a clear voice, vibe, and visual identity. We get into: Why branding is a system, not just surface polishHow to craft a killer brand without torching your budgetWhat founders risk when they “launch naked”The trust-building link between branding and fundraisingHow to blend creative chaos with operational disciplineIf you're an early-stage founder trying to stand out (and not look like an AI-generated Apple clone), hit play. Links: Team & Tonic website: https://www.teamandtonic.com Esteban's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esteban-a/ Esteban's email: esteban@teamandtonic.com ScaleSpark: https://www.scalespark.ai Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapienaar/ Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewhitcraft/ ScaleSpark email: info@scalespark.ai Apple Think Different Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPX9v8F547k

    55 min

  5. 05/09/2025

    From Chaos to Clarity: The Punk Rock Guide to Business Ops

    Business Operations isn’t some boring back-office buzzword—it’s the backbone of your entire company. In this premiere episode, Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar tear into what business ops really means, why most startups are one chaotic spreadsheet away from imploding, and how ops is the not-so-secret weapon behind scale, sanity, and actual success. From tech stacks to team workflows, expense policies to culture hacks—we’re breaking it all down with zero fluff, plenty of fire, and stories that prove: if you don’t get your ops together, you’re just winging it. 💥 Whether you’re a founder, operator, or just someone who’s sick of business BS, this episode will change how you see the unsexy side of scaling. Spoiler alert: It’s the only part that actually works. See more on ScaleSpark at www.scalespark.ai Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewhitcraft/ Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapienaar/ Images:  Porter’s Value Chain model image courtesy of GetLucidity.com, from the article ‘Porter’s Value Chain: Your Map to Business Success’ (https://getlucidity.com/strategy-resources/guide-to-porters-value-chain/). Value Chain model image courtesy of Inchainge.com, from the article ‘Value Chain’ published June 7, 2023 (https://inchainge.com/knowledge/value-chain/).

    46 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Ops or Die is the no-fluff podcast where ScaleSpark’s Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar get real about the operations chaos that kills startups—and how to fix it. Hear unfiltered takes, practical tips, and interviews with founders, VCs, and ops pros who know what it takes to scale smart and stay alive.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Whitcraft and Maria Pienaar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 ScaleSpark
  • Show Website
    Ops or Die!