Zero to Umm...

Kyle Hudson

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Dive into the raw, unfiltered journey of startup founders and CEOs as they navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship. "Zero to Umm..." flips the script on typical success stories, focusing instead on the pivotal moments of uncertainty, fear, and adaptation that truly define a startup's path.

1D AGO

Michael Hoy - Atlas

🔗 Episode Stack: Link on Stacklist AI is moving so fast that it's hard to know what to pay attention to and what to tune out. In this episode, Michael Hoy (co-founder and CEO of Atlas) and I dig into what it feels like to build a company during the most disorienting moment in tech most of us have ever experienced. Michael shares the full Atlas origin story, from winning Product Hunt's product of the day, week, and month, to the humbling realization that 1,200 users didn't translate into a single paying customer. We talk about why the startup advice machine creates more noise than clarity, how AI is shifting from exciting to existential, and why the founders who win are the ones who learn to trust their own signal over everyone else's opinions. We also get into Michael's vision for where Atlas is headed: a trust layer for the coming agent-to-agent economy, and why that future might be closer than most people think. Topics we cover: Why this month felt like AI truly woke up.Building 12 projects in a week and what that means for everyone else. The gap between Product Hunt traction and real product-market fit. Education-based marketing that leads with curiosity, not fear. Doing things that don't scale on purpose. Michael's advice to founders: trust what you're feeling and shut out the noise.

1h 1m
FEB 17

Nicole Miranda - 6 Degree Soul

Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/4rYFAYM 8 years in corporate sales. One birthday trip to Hawaii. Quit mid-vacation. Became Miss Hawaii 2025. Built a retreat business. All in 24 months. Nicole Miranda's timeline sounds impossible. It's not. This episode is about what happens when you stop optimizing for other people's definitions of success and start trusting that you're on the right river. We covered: - The moment she quit her sales job - Manifesting Miss Hawaii with Dr. Joe Dispenza - Building Six Degree Soul (tours + retreats) - Upcoming events in Oahu (August) and Bali (October) - Why "follow your passion" misses the point For anyone stuck in a "good" job that's killing them.

41 min
JAN 7

Vlad Cazacu - Flowlie

Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/4qaixcK Summary In this episode I sit down with Vlad Cazacu, Founder and CEO of Flowlie, to talk about the long, winding path that led him from an immigrant kid obsessed with science magazines to building one of the most thoughtful fundraising tools I’ve used as a founder. We go way back. Before Flowlie was helping founders raise hundreds of millions of dollars, Vlad was running a textbook startup in college, turning down an acquisition offer because it did not feel big enough at the time. That early mix of curiosity, naivety, and ambition shows up again and again in his story. Vlad spent years on the investing side, working in venture capital and family offices, seeing thousands of deals and learning how capital actually moves. Flowlie did not start as a founder product at all. It began as an internal tool for investors, then pivoted after founders started asking a simple question: “Are we even a good fit for these investors?” We talk about the shoebox office in Miami, the moment Stripe lit up with their first paid users, why fundraising is mostly unnecessary overhead, and how AI should remove friction instead of adding noise. This is a true zero-to-something story, told while still very much in motion. Key moments we cover: Growing up in Romania and falling in love with building through curiosityBuilding and shutting down a college startup after turning down an acquisitionWriting a book before ChatGPT and how it unlocked a VC careerWhy Flowlie started as an investor tool and pivoted to foundersThe first Stripe notification that made everything feel realA future where founders only show up for investor meetings Key takeaways: Naivety is often a feature, not a bug, in early foundersFundraising is a system problem, not a confidence problemThe right tool removes emotional and cognitive overhead Chapters 00:00 The Naivety of Startup Beginnings 03:03 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 06:07 The Birth of Barter Out 09:01 The Influence of Family and Curiosity 12:04 Lessons from Early Ventures 14:55 Transitioning to Venture Capital 17:58 Building Flowlie: The Next Chapter 22:57 The Pivot to Founders' Needs 30:00 Building the Team and Culture 37:05 Funding Journey and Growth 38:13 Future Vision and AI Integration

1 min
12/15/2025

Stephen Messer - Collective[i]

Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/48R3vkY Don't miss this episode. I loved this conversation with Stephen Messer, who co-founded LinkShare with his sister in the late 90s and sold it to Rakuten after about 10 years. He's now building Collective[i], an AI platform that makes your professional network actually usable. Stephen walked me through the first four years of LinkShare when they lived in one apartment, rotated shifts on two computers, and he worked directly on the main server because they couldn't afford another machine. During their pitches they had to spend first hour explaining what the internet was before they could even talk about the business. Revenue didn't grow until year six or seven because they charged 2% per transaction and needed massive volume. One of my favorite stories: Michael Dell called him on a Sunday night and Stephen thought it was a prank for 30 minutes. That partnership changed everything. The first retailers all said "call us when you have affiliates," but direct marketers like Omaha Steaks understood the model from catalog days and signed up first. Stephen was honest about why the skills from one successful company don't always transfer to the next one, why venture capital from top-tier firms isn't always worth the price, and his one rule for founders: never live above the second floor because the emotional swings will make you want to jump out the window at some point. His take on most startup advice: ignore it and find your own style. Really appreciated Stephen's time and honesty about what building actually looks like.

1h 1m
11/27/2025

Tracy Lawrence - Chewse

Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/3XlwM1O I met Tracy in Hawaii when we were midway through our Blue Startups accelerator program. Tracy coaches founders, and also serves as a Mentor in the Blue Startups program. Tracy came in and told such authentic (both inspiring and difficult) founder stories. We connected after and was thrilled she agreed to join us on Zero to Umm to tell some of those stores.. and more. Tracy is the Co-founder and former CEO of Chewse, a corporate catering platform she launched from her dorm room, raised $40M for, and successfully sold in 2020. She now serves as an executive coach for founders, helping them navigate the intersection of leadership, mental health, and personal growth. No matter what stage of the journey you're in, there's something valuable for you in this episode. TakeawaysAuthenticity is crucial in fundraising.Building a startup is an emotional journey.Resilience is key to overcoming challenges.Staying true to oneself leads to success.The importance of a supportive team.Navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.The role of personal growth in business success.Balancing personal and professional life.The impact of mentorship and guidance.Embracing change and transformation.

56 min
10/15/2025

Caroline Clark - Arcade

Send us a text Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/3W1QAGR I had THE BEST conversation with Caroline Clark, Co-Founder and CEO of Arcade, about the journey from zero to building a product that's changing how teams create interactive demos. We talked about her path from consulting to product marketing at companies like Atlassian, and what led her to start Arcade. What stood out to me was her honesty about the hard parts of building a company. The burnout, the failed launches, the moments at 4:30 AM questioning everything. Some things that stuck with me: • Why the best market isn't always the obvious one • The real cost of being on the hook for marketing output (and why she built Arcade) • How a "failed" product launch became their most successful enterprise offering • The importance of staying close to what brings you joy when building If you're in the early stages of building something, Caroline's advice about being passionate and not getting too attached to one-off moments is worth hearing. She's built up what she calls a "lower bar for embarrassment" over time, which feels like an underrated founder skill. Chapters 00:46 - Introduction and Background 11:52 - Early Career and Transition to Marketing 25:21 - Joining Atlassian and Learning from Failures 34:12 - The Importance of Market Fit 45:44 - Venture Capital Insights and Growth Mindset 56:30 - Building Arcade: Challenges and Successes 1:09:18 - Future of Arcade and AI Investments 1:22:14 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

49 min
09/23/2025

Grady Teske - Rising Tides

Send us a text Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/48oXZao Summary In this episode, Grady Teske, founder of Rising Tides, shares his journey from helping multinational manufacturers to founding Rising Tides, a company focused on building distribution and marketing strategies. Grady discusses the importance of understanding one's core function and audience, and how aligning these elements can lead to success. He emphasizes the value of authenticity and human connection in business, and how automation and AI can enhance these relationships. Grady also reflects on the lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey, offering insights for aspiring founders on building effective systems and processes. Join Grady and Kyle Hudson as they explore the intricacies of scaling businesses and the power of distribution in today's market. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Scene 01:36 - The Importance of Authenticity in Media 04:13 - Grady's Journey to Entrepreneurship 10:19 - Building Rising Tides: The Evolution of a Business 15:29 - The Role of Distribution in Business Success 22:07 - Automation and the Future of Marketing 28:15 - Navigating Growth and Scaling Challenges 34:15 - The Power of Community and Connection 40:08 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 45:57 - Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Rising Tides

1h 2m
09/15/2025

Tara Viswanathan - Rupa Health

Send us a text Episode Stack: https://stackl.ist/4n1utvL Summary In this conversation, Tara shares her entrepreneurial journey, detailing the influences that shaped her spirit, the challenges faced while building Rupa, and the lessons learned along the way. From early inspirations to the complexities of team dynamics and the emotional aftermath of selling her company, Tara emphasizes the importance of resilience, gut instinct, and the continuous pursuit of growth in both personal and professional realms. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Context Setting 03:15 - Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit 09:19 - Career Beginnings and Lessons Learned 15:53 - The Birth of Rupa and Vision for Healthcare 21:03 - The Birth of a Non-Alcoholic Bar Idea 26:28 - Transformative Patient Stories and Evidence-Based Medicine 37:49 - Building Momentum and Overcoming Challenges 42:36 - Setting High Expectations and Team Dynamics 47:33 - Reflections on Selling Rupa Health

53 min

Dive into the raw, unfiltered journey of startup founders and CEOs as they navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship. "Zero to Umm..." flips the script on typical success stories, focusing instead on the pivotal moments of uncertainty, fear, and adaptation that truly define a startup's path.

Creator

Kyle Hudson
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

34
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Kyle Hudson
Show Website

Zero to Umm...