The First Customer
Ever wondered how to use your experience to start or grow a business?
The First Customer intimately dissects successful entrepreneurs journeys to their first customer. Learn from practical real-life examples of regular people transforming into superheroes by starting their own business.
Buckle up … the rocket is taking off!
Episodes
251 episodes
The First Customer - The Business of Making People Pay Attention with Co-founder Connor Snyder
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Connor Snyder, CEO and co-founder of Storyy.Connor shares how growing up around entrepreneurs shaped his outlook on business and why learning marketing—not chasing entrepreneurship—ultima...
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The First Customer - Solving Operational Problems Nobody Talks About with Founder Brad Gardner
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brad Gardner, Founder and CTO of Seven Hills Technology. Growing up in the Cincinnati area, Brad developed an early appreciation for practicality, hard work, and solving problems with...
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The First Customer - Mapping the World's Relationships with CEO and Co-Founder Drew Sechrist
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Drew Sechrist, CEO and co-founder of Connect The Dots.Drew shares how a small-town upbringing in Pennsylvania, lessons from his entrepreneur father, and an early seat at the table as emplo...
The First Customer - Why Great Software Starts With Psychology with CTO and Co-Founder Ryan Rusnak
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ryan Rusnak, CTO and co-founder of Airspace. Ryan shares how, as a psychology graduate with a passion for technology, he found his way into solving one of the most critical logistics ...
The First Customer - One Customer, Two Employees, and No Turning Back with John Weidenhammer
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview John Weidenhammer, founder and CEO of Weidenhammer, a company he started nearly five decades ago and grew into a global digital services organization. John shares how an unexpected op...
The First Customer - The Investor Every Founder Wishes They Had with Dan, Matt, and Jonathan
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the Proofpoint Capital founders Dan Goldsmith, Matt Wallach, and Jonathan Brassington. From Jonathan’s upbringing among traders in Guyana to Matt’s competitive lessons on the soccer f...
The First Customer - The Business Hidden Inside a Bucket of Slime with Christine Churchwell
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Christine Churchwell, Co-founder of SlimeZilla. Christine shares how a childhood fascination with slime turned into an unexpected family business built alongside her son and daughter...
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The First Customer - The Trap House to Tech Founder Story Nobody Saw Coming with Nick Halverson
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Nick Halverson, CTO and Co-founder of Hirebus.Growing up near Salt Lake City, Nick reflects on the freedom his parents gave him to think independently, the challenges that led him down a d...
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The First Customer - The Flywheel of Human Connection with Co-Founder Alex Hillman
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Alex Hillman, co-founder of Indy Hall.Alex reflects on growing up in small-town Pennsylvania, the entrepreneurial influence of his father, and how his mother introduced him to the power o...
The First Customer - The Hidden Systems Protecting 86 Million Kids with Co-Founder Martin Lukac
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Martin Lukac, co-founder and CTO of Nexleaf Analytics. Martin shares how his early work in wireless sensor networks during his PhD at University of California Los Angeles laid the fou...
The First Customer - Why Authentic Relationships Beat Spam Sales with CTO Ryan Johnson
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ryan Johnson, the CTO and VP of Engineering at Seek.Growing up on a farm in Central California, Ryan learned early lessons about hard work, authenticity, and service—values that later guid...
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The First Customer - How To Spot Winning Founders with Bo Motlagh and Frank Shultz
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bo Motlagh and Frank Shultz, co-founders of United Effects Ventures.Bo shares how his upbringing in a family of business owners instilled an early work ethic, while Frank reflects on lesso...
The First Customer - Protecting Clients in a Rapidly Changing Cyber World with Mike, Brian & Mike
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the leadership team behind Appalachia Technologies—partners Mike Romano and Brian Stone, along with president Mike Williams.Mike Romano talked about how the company first came together mo...
The First Customer - The Fast Lane of Small Business Lending with Founder Ryan Rosett
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ryan Rosett, Co-CEO and founder of Credibly.Ryan shares how growing up in a family of entrepreneurs in Detroit influenced his understanding of the ebbs and flows of small businesses and ta...
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The First Customer - The Mission That Outlasts the Win with CEO and Co-Founder Eric Gremminger
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Eric Gremminger, CEO and Co-founder of ERP Health.Eric reflects on his early life in Pennsylvania, the creative influence of his upbringing, and his first entrepreneurial venture blending ...
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The First Customer - The Quiet Revolution in Industrial Automation with Co-Founder Carl Gould
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Carl Gould, co-founder and CTO of Inductive Automation.Growing up in California’s Bay Area during the rise of the modern internet, Carl developed an early fascination with computers that e...
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The First Customer - Owning the Backend Instead of Renting It with Founder Matt Cullerton
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Matt Cullerton, founder of Mavric Tech and creator of Apso. Matt reflects on growing up in Reston, Virginia, early lessons from working in restaurants, and his first venture — an inde...
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The First Customer - Building Companies Without Losing the Plot with Co-Founder Dan Goldsmith
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview with Dan Goldsmith, co-founder and chairman of Tendo and co-founder of Proofpoint Capital. Dan shares stories from his Philadelphia roots, the early formation of his grit, and the min...
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The First Customer - Turning a Professional Low Point into Opportunity with Co-Founder Joel Reed
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joel Reed, CEO and founder of Open Arc.Joel starts to unpack the long, nonlinear journey of building a software consulting company that’s lasted more than 20 years. Joel shares how a...
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The First Customer - The Role of Genuine Connection in Tech Leadership with Calvin Hendryx-Parker
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Calvin Hendryx-Parker, CTO and co-founder of Six Feet Up.Calvin shares the origin story behind Six Feet Up’s unforgettable name—drawn from his family’s mortuary business—and how servant le...
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The First Customer - Understanding Player Development Through Motion Data with Founder Bill Near
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bill Near, Founder and CEO of Helios, a performance wearable helping hockey players and teams improve faster through motion-based data and video integration. Bill breaks down Helios’ firs...
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The First Customer - From Open Source to Enterprise Dominance with Testkube Co-founder Ole Lensmar
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ole Lensmar, co-founder and CTO of Testkube.Ole shares his unique perspective growing up across Germany, the US, and Sweden, and how those experiences shaped his adaptability and approach ...
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The First Customer - Lessons From a Career Too Big for a Business Card with Founder Det Ansinn
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Det Ansinn, the founder of Brick Simple LLC, serial entrepreneur with four successful exits, and current CEO of MedTech company Neuralert. Det shares his journey from pumping gas at t...
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The First Customer - From Frontline Experience to Enterprise Healthcare Impact with CEO Chris Molaro
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Chris Molaro, CEO and co-founder of NeuroFlow. Chris unpacks the personal and professional journey that takes him from growing up in Queens and Long Island to serving as an Army offic...
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The First Customer - Making Pipeline Problems Afraid to Exist with CEO Jeb Blount
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the legendary sales expert and bestselling author Jeb Blount. Jeb shares stories from his upbringing in small-town Georgia, where being the smallest kid in school taught him grit, hustle,...
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