Startups With Stu

Stuart Draper
  • 5.0 (8)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stu Draper, a serial entrepreneur, knows just how exhilarating it is to launch a startup to the moon. He is a 9-time Inc. 5000 honoree before age 40 with tens of millions generated in revenue from his startups and an angel investor in 8 businesses. He's also the co-author of the bestselling textbook Digital Marketing Essentials. Stu knows just what it takes to transform an innovative idea into a thriving business. Inspired by the creators of groundbreaking ventures, Startups With Stu is an illuminating podcast that dives into the trials and triumphs of startup founders and investors who have committed their lives to reaching financial freedom through entrepreneurship. Podcast guests will be seeking advice on how to overcome the obstacles they're facing. Expect motivating stories as Stu spotlights the hard-fought victories that reveal the inner workings of entrepreneurship. By demystifying the startup process, Startups With Stu aims to equip aspiring founders with the grit and know-how to transform visionary concepts into startup success. Startups With Stu is produced using PodUp podcasting software.

  1. MAR 11

    From Selling Potatoes to Scaling VIdAngel | Dallin Harmon | Episode 55

    Dallin Harmon grew up broke in Idaho selling potatoes door-to-door with his siblings. His brothers went on to build Harmon Brothers, Angel Studios, and Tuttle Twins. Dallin co-founded Cove Security, helped scale VidAngel under an employee-ownership model that tripled the business, and now coaches founders through Scale Me. In this episode, he shares the brutally honest moment he realized he'd never own what he built, why he walked away, and then coaches Stu live — uncovering a subconscious lie about recognition that most founders carry without knowing it. Dallin Harmon is the Harmon brother you haven't heard of — and his story might be the most relatable one for founders. While his brothers Neal, Jeffrey, Daniel, and Jordan were building Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom), Harmon Brothers (Squatty Potty, Purple), and Tuttle Twins, Dallin was carving his own path from an Idaho childhood where his family earned less than $10,000 a year. In this episode, Dallin shares how selling potatoes door-to-door as a kid built the resilience that carried him through co-founding Cove Security and scaling it during Covid from 9,000 to nearly 40,000 accounts in a single year. He opens up about the moment he and his brother Jordan realized they'd never have meaningful equity in the company they helped build — and why that honest conversation changed everything. Dallin then breaks down the employee-ownership model he helped implement at VidAngel, where the CEO kept only 25% and gave 75% back to employees. That model tripled revenue and earned VidAngel Best Place to Work in Utah three years running. The second half of the episode flips the format entirely. Dallin uses his coaching skills to walk Stu through a live session, digging into why founders struggle with focus, cheap dopamine, and social media addiction. What surfaces is a subconscious belief that recognition equals value — and Dallin's framework for identifying and naming the lies that drive self-sabotaging behavior. Whether you're a founder figuring out equity, struggling with focus, or just trying to understand what beliefs are quietly running your decisions, this episode delivers. Topics: Harmon Brothers family, Cove Security founding story, VidAngel employee ownership, co-founder equity, founder mindset, limiting beliefs, high performance coaching, dopamine and focus, Scale Me, startup lessons

  2. MAR 3

    He's Taking Down the Nicotine Pouch Industry With Nootropics | Spencer Johnson | Episode 54

    Spencer Johnson stood on a street corner with a cardboard sign looking for investors — and it actually worked. The founder of Neuro Pouch (nootropic pouches that replace nicotine with cognitive enhancers like lion's mane) shares how a health diagnosis became his business calling, how he landed his first angel investor through a LinkedIn post, and what it takes to survive the early startup grind. Stu gets into contracts, fundraising strategy, brutal founder honesty, and why building a team is the real unlock. This one's for anyone in the trenches right now.

  3. FEB 24

    He Built a $1 BILLION Trampoline Empire From Rock Bottom | Case Lawrence | Episode 53

    Case Lawrence built Sky Zone from nothing — no funding, no industry, no safety net. In this episode, the founder of the world's biggest trampoline park brand shares how he went from a failed real estate concept and near-bankruptcy to creating a $1B empire. We talk angel investing, equity splits, the sacred investor-entrepreneur relationship, and why watching your team win is the real payoff. His new book "Off the Ground" is available for preorder on Amazon.

  4. FEB 16

    Good Marketing Beats Good Business, And How to Fix That | Dennis Yu | Episode 52

    What if the best business doesn't win—the best marketer does? Dennis Yu, a former Yahoo search engineer and co-author of books that sold 800,000 copies, is on a mission to close that gap. Dennis isn't an SEO trying to trick search engines—he's a search engine engineer who built the systems SEOs try to game. His unique perspective reveals why good businesses fail while inferior competitors with better marketing thrive. In this episode: Google's E-E-A-T Framework: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust—and why the first "E" changed everything before ChatGPT launched Perceived authority vs. actual authority: Why you need both, and which one drives sales first The CNN story: How arguing with Mark Zuckerberg on live TV created instant perceived authority Yahoo engineer insights: Working alongside the inventor of PHP and what limiting beliefs look like at the highest levels Live ChatGPT demo: We ask AI to analyze Stu's authority in real-time (the results are fascinating) Why you don't have a knowledge panel: And how pre-revenue founders can get one through strategic content The #1 strategy for founders: Start a podcast—here's exactly how to turn 10 episodes into a book, ads, and Amazon #1 rankings Content repurposing system: The "Mexican food" metaphor—same ingredients (beans, cheese, rice), different forms (burrito, taco, enchilada) Brandon Agronoff case study: How a 14-year-old followed Dennis's advice and scaled to 300 VAs, $200K/month in ad spend, and nearly $1M/month in personalized sock sales The personalized socks hack: Why Dennis ships custom face socks to every podcast guest (and how it costs only $14 end-to-end) Servant leadership as personal branding: Why introverts can build massive authority without being "on stage" Dennis Yu's Core Philosophy: "I love seeing other people win. There are good people who work hard and deserve success, but someone with better marketing beats them. I want to eliminate that gap." Best for: Founders who are "good at what they do" but struggling with marketing Introverts who don't want to be "influencers" but need authority Anyone trying to understand how Google actually ranks content Entrepreneurs looking for low-cost, high-leverage content strategies Technical founders who need to build perceived authority Connect with Dennis Yu: Company: BlitzMetrics LinkedIn: Dennis Yu (most active) Stages spoken: 850+ globally Books: Co-author of #1 Amazon books on Facebook Ads and Google Ads with Perry Marshall Key Takeaway: You don't need to be a celebrity to build authority. You need strategic visibility with the right people, consistent proof of results, and a system to amplify both. Start a podcast, interview 10 authorities in your space, and let AI + content repurposing do the rest.

  5. FEB 12

    8 Kids, 2 Companies on Inc 5000, and a Divorce | Bubba Page | Episode 51

    What does it take to make the Inc 5000 list five times, raise eight kids, survive a divorce, and come out stronger? Bubba Page (real name: Brandt) knows—and his journey will challenge everything you think about entrepreneurship, faith, and family. In this episode: Why Bubba bootstrapped his first company (Launch Leads) to $500K/year without raising a dollar The brutal reality of venture-backed failure: How Techstars and VC money led to his hardest season The 9-10 Rule for influencer marketing: Why 90% of influencers won't work (and how to find the 10% who crush it) Working with your spouse: Ground rules for business partnerships in marriage (and why his didn't survive) The 50-week prayer experiment: How Bubba found God after feeling spiritually empty his entire life "Choose yourself for 12 months": The monk who changed his body, mind, and business Why he tells first-time founders: DON'T raise venture capital (even though he's now a VC) Building Influence VC: Writing $25K-$500K checks into startups through his syndicate The Page Company: Selling digital products to millions of followers (and the lessons from running it with his ex-wife) What investors REALLY look for: Relationship, traction, and market size—in that order Father of 8: How he shows up for his kids while running multiple businesses The hardest thing he's ever been through (hint: it wasn't the business failure) Best for: Founders considering whether to raise VC money Entrepreneurs working with their spouse Anyone struggling to balance faith, family, and business Marketers trying to crack the influencer code Founders who've faced failure and need to rebuild Bubba's Philosophy: "Things don't bring happiness. My family, my relationship with God, my relationships—that brings me true joy. You can have financial freedom and still feel empty. Fix that first." Connect with Bubba Page: Syndicate: Influence VC (on AngelList - free to join) Instagram: @bubbagpage LinkedIn: Bubba Page Business Bootcamp: 12-week program for entrepreneurs Key Takeaway: Being an entrepreneur is incredible—but dig deep enough and you'll find a wound driving you. Heal that wound, build your relationship with God, and the business success becomes a byproduct, not the purpose.

  6. FEB 9

    Working Mom Builds Marketing Agency Across 3 Continents | Bianca McDown Reber | Episode 50

    What happens when you say yes to a client project you have no idea how to do? Bianca McDown-Reber shares her journey from teaching herself to code in 60 days to building VoxxVoice, a thriving 17-person marketing and advertising agency that operates across three continents. In this episode: The difficult choice between two marriage proposals that taught her about high-stakes decisions Learning to code in 60 days to land her first client (with zero coding background) Two kidnapping experiences in South Sudan that changed her perspective on time Running a 17-person global agency while traveling to 29 countries with two kids Why she refuses to nap and what "chasing your potential" really means Her new book: "You're Not Just a Mom" - written in the trenches of motherhood Balancing marriage to a medical resident, motherhood, and business growth The "9-hour doom scroll" problem and how to audit your time Best for: Female founders navigating motherhood and business Entrepreneurs who feel stuck in the "early struggle" Anyone who needs a kick in the pants to stop waiting for perfect conditions Connect with Bianca: Company: VoxxVoice.com LinkedIn: [most active] Instagram: @[handle] Email: bianca@voxxvoice.com Book Pre-Order: "You're Not Just a Mom: It's Time to Find You and Your Purpose" (Available next month)

  7. FEB 3

    Startup Success: Lessons from a $20M+ Founder Turned VC | Tyler Richards | Episode 49

    The Science of Startup Success: Why 95% of Funded Startups Fail (And How to Be in the 5%) Think raising money will solve your startup problems? Think again. In this episode, Tyler Richards—serial exited entrepreneur, General Partner at Startup Ignition Ventures, and founder who scaled DevMountain to $10M in revenue and a successful exit—reveals why most venture-backed startups crash and burn, and exactly how to validate your business idea before wasting time and money. What You’ll Learn:  ✅ The Quibi disaster: How a $2 billion startup failed in just 7 months (and the lesson every founder needs to know)  ✅ The Lean Startup methodology: Tyler’s step-by-step scientific approach to building businesses that actually work  ✅ The Business Model Canvas framework: How to move from guesses to facts in all 9 critical areas of your business  ✅ Real case study: How one company made 7 pivots and sold for $100M after raising just $250K ✅ The riskiest assumption exercise: Identify what could kill your startup (before it does) About Tyler Richards:  Tyler Richards is General Partner at Startup Ignition Ventures, a pre-seed venture fund that actively mentors the startups it invests in. Tyler founded and scaled DevMountain to $10M in revenue before a successful exit in 2016. He now runs the Startup Ignition Bootcamp, which has helped over 1,200 companies validate and scale their ideas using lean startup methodology. Working alongside his father John Richards (who took InfoSpace public), Tyler leads investments in validated tech and software business models across Utah and the Mountain West. Named to Utah’s 2025 “40 Under 40” list. Connect with Tyler Richards: ∙ Startup Ignition: https://www.startupignition.com ∙ Startup Ignition Ventures: https://www.startupignition.vc Subscribe to Startups with Stu for weekly conversations with founders, investors, and entrepreneurs who are building real businesses the right way—no fluff, just actionable startup advice from people who’ve done it. Keywords: startup advice, lean startup, business validation, venture capital, entrepreneurship podcast, how to start a business, product market fit, business model canvas, startup funding, bootstrap startup, entrepreneur tips, Tyler Richards, Startup Ignition, Utah startups

  8. 09/03/2025

    Law Firm Panic Attack Leads to $26M Entertainment Empire Exit

    What happens when a $180,000 M&A attorney has a panic attack on the way to work and throws away his legal career for escape rooms? Raleigh Williams built Alcatraz Escape Games from zero to a $26 million exit across four entertainment brands in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. After leaving a prestigious law firm against his father's wishes, Raleigh spent two years in his in-laws' basement before creating an entertainment empire. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Raleigh's transformation from self-employed business owner to asset builder, including the brutal reality of being told his profitable business was "worth zero" by strategic buyers. Raleigh shares insights on the three stages of entrepreneurship, surviving COVID with $350,000 monthly rent obligations, and why he represented himself through nine transactions instead of using investment bankers. He reveals the mindset shifts required to build a sell-able business and his current work helping entrepreneurs through exitOS and his book "The Creator's Call." Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/ Follow Raleigh Williams:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raleigh-williams/ Book: The Creator's Call on Amazon Alcatraz Escape Games: https://alcatrazescapegames.com/  Website: https://exitos.io

See All (55)

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Stu Draper, a serial entrepreneur, knows just how exhilarating it is to launch a startup to the moon. He is a 9-time Inc. 5000 honoree before age 40 with tens of millions generated in revenue from his startups and an angel investor in 8 businesses. He's also the co-author of the bestselling textbook Digital Marketing Essentials. Stu knows just what it takes to transform an innovative idea into a thriving business. Inspired by the creators of groundbreaking ventures, Startups With Stu is an illuminating podcast that dives into the trials and triumphs of startup founders and investors who have committed their lives to reaching financial freedom through entrepreneurship. Podcast guests will be seeking advice on how to overcome the obstacles they're facing. Expect motivating stories as Stu spotlights the hard-fought victories that reveal the inner workings of entrepreneurship. By demystifying the startup process, Startups With Stu aims to equip aspiring founders with the grit and know-how to transform visionary concepts into startup success. Startups With Stu is produced using PodUp podcasting software.

Information

  • Creator
    Stuart Draper
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2026 Stuart Draper. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Startups With Stu

You Might Also Like