From Spark to New Venture
From Spark to New Venture is a student-driven podcast from the University of Mary Washington (UMW), where undergraduates share the stories of entrepreneurs and their journeys from idea to venture. Each episode uncovers the sparks of inspiration, the challenges they faced, and the mindsets that helped them overcome obstacles in their journey. The goal of this podcast is to inspire students to learn entrepreneurial mindsets and bring them into everyday lives, taking action and learning from every step along the way.
From Spark to New Venture
Jeff Small--Lost In the Sauce
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Nick Werderman and Evan Brooks sat down with local entrepreneur Jeff Small, the owner of Sammy T’s Pizza, a Fredericksburg favorite that was originally launched under the name YMMAS. After facing challenges with brand awareness, Jeff made the tough decision to rebrand an experience that taught him valuable lessons about marketing, community engagement, and adaptability.
In this episode, Jeff shares his entrepreneurial journey, opening up about the realities of starting and sustaining a small business in a competitive market. He discusses the ups and downs of ownership, the importance of staying connected to your customers, and how setbacks can become opportunities for growth. Whether you’re a student, aspiring entrepreneur, or local business supporter, this conversation offers genuine insight into the perseverance and creativity it takes to bring a business dream to life.