Founders in Full
Founders in Full is a podcast about what it really takes to build a business—from early ideas to the brand you see today.
Hosted by Dan Ritzke, marketing consultant and founder of Third Act Marketing, each episode features honest conversations with founders who’ve built successful companies on their own terms. Some run lean, scrappy teams. Others are scaling fast. But all of them have one thing in common: they invested in their brand and marketing to get there.
This isn’t about theory or hype. It’s about real founders making real decisions—defining their brand, reaching the right audience, and figuring out what actually works.
If you're building something of your own, you'll walk away with stories, strategies, and takeaways you can put to work.
Founders in Full
Episode 4: Kristian Altuve - Dance Motion Marketing
In this episode of Founders in Full, I talk with Kristian Altuve, co-founder of Dance Motion Marketing, a growing agency that helps dance studios across the country fill their classes and grow their businesses through done-for-you marketing.
Kristian shares how he went from corporate consulting to freelancing in video production—and how hitting rock bottom eventually led to building a company that now serves over 120 studios every month.
We dive into:
- The messy early years of freelancing, burnout, and trying to figure out how to make it work
- How one retainer client became the lightbulb moment that changed everything
- Why niching down (even when it feels risky) can be the key to real traction
- How curiosity, not credentials, helped him evolve from videographer to full-service strategist
- The behind-the-scenes systems that made it possible to scale from 6 to 100+ clients
If you’re in the early stages of building something—or trying to scale a service-based business—this episode is full of honest lessons and hard-earned insight.
Learn more about Dance Motion Marketing: https://www.dancemotionmarketing.com
Connect with Kristian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristianaltuve/
About Dan and Third Act Marketing:
I'm Dan Ritzke, founder of Third Act Marketing. I work with founders and growing businesses to help them get clear on their brand, build smart marketing strategies, and turn big ideas into real momentum.
If the conversations on Founders in Full got you thinking about your own marketing — your story, your positioning, your growth strategy — let’s connect.
👉 Learn more at: https://www.thirdactmarketing.com
👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritzke
Want to be on the podcast — or know a Founder with a story to tell and insights to share?
Founders in Full features real, honest conversations with founders about the highs, lows, and lessons of building a business. If you’d be a great guest (or know someone with a story worth sharing), I’d love to hear from you.
👉 Nominate a guest or apply to be on the show at https://www.thirdactmarketing.com/podcast