In this episode of the Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs was joined by CEO Stacey Yudin of NEP Services, a leader in the communications space that is providing nonprofits and other organizations with best-in-class software. Named one to watch by Fast Company, NEP Services has helped clients raise $65 million for their communities and $7 million for the “Help a Hero” crowdfunding campaign. The discussion dove into what NEP Services is doing and facets of the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Nonprofits, much like startups, find themselves scrounging for resources. Not only are pickings slim, but the sector is notorious for its slow adaptation of technology. Yudin observed this fact and formed NEP Services, in part, to fill the game.

Jens Petter Wilhelmsen, CEO of Ohdoki, a sex tech company, discusses the challenges and importance of sex tech. He shares the journey of bringing their product, Handy, to market and the ups and downs they faced along the way.

Despite the difficulties, they persevered and successfully raised capital.

Wilhelmsen emphasizes the need for persistence and a solid business case when approaching investors.

“Persistency and follow the strategy that you set out” have been his watchwords. He also highlights the importance of sex tech in enabling sexual intimacy and connections, especially for individuals with physical or cognitive limitations. Odoki focuses on building trust and maintaining high-quality products through encryption and security measures.

Alex Back, CEO of Couch.com, had a problem. He sold too many couches.

In this episode of Keep Going we talk about what happens when you find sudden and overwhelming success and how hard it is to turn down business.

Being an entrepreneur requires sacrifices, said Back, but the passion and drive to create something meaningful can outweigh the challenges.

Listen in as he shares the troubles he faced when his previous furniture brand sold too much furniture through a deal with Costco, leading to supply chain issues and customer dissatisfaction.

Alex also provides advice for entrepreneurs entering the hard goods market and emphasizes the importance of gathering information and being patient. He discusses the ease of decision-making with experience and the difficulty of maintaining discipline and avoiding fallback options. Lastly, he reflects on the sacrifices and rewards of being an entrepreneur.

Want to pitch your company on the Startup Show? Email spencer@gritdaily.com or contact me directly.

On this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs was joined by Tim Kravchunovsky, the CEO and founder of Chirp Wireless, who discussed his company’s innovative approach to Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Chirp Wireless is at the forefront of developing a versatile, unified network that aims to change the way IoT applications integrate into various sectors, from agriculture and automotive to urban development.

The core of Chirp’s technology revolves around a unique type of IoT antenna that customers can install anywhere and everywhere. These antennas provide extensive network coverage, both long and short range, ensuring that connected IoT devices maintain a stable connection regardless of their proximity to urban centers or rural locations. This system mimics cellular network connectivity, where a seamless transition between network cells allows for uninterrupted service as users move through different areas.

In this amazing episode, Dr. Neill Epperson discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and creative individuals, including depression, imposter syndrome, and a general sense of inability. She emphasizes the importance of finding one's North Star and aligning one's goals and passions with their chosen path.

"I just decided that I just was not going to accept failure," she said. The result? She became the Robert Freedman Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine-Anschutz Medical Campus and Executive Director of the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center.

Dr. Epperson shares her personal journey of overcoming failure and offers advice on how to navigate setbacks and reevaluate one's path. She also highlights the significance of seeking treatment for depression and the role of different treatments in rewiring the brain. Our conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of personal growth and making a positive impact on society.

Our theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/)

On this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, I sat down with Vitaly Golomb, the founder of Sofie Labs, who is bringing a fresh perspective to the future of work with his latest venture. Building on his extensive experience in corporate ventures at HP and insights gained from the evolution of chatbots and AI, Golomb has embarked on a mission to redefine customer relationship management (CRM) through the lens of advanced automation technologies.

Have a great story to tell? Want to be on the show? Email john@biggs.cc with the subject line Keep Going and I’ll schedule you. Thanks!

Nic Beique, founder and CEO of Helcim, shares the challenges his company faced in the payments industry and how they overcame them. They initially struggled to find a manufacturing partner and had their hardware supplier acquired by Stripe, leaving them without a source for their card readers.

However, they persevered and found a new partner and began to thrive. Beique emphasizes the importance of focusing on underserved businesses, such as healthcare and professional services, and providing them with transparent pricing and excellent customer service. He also highlights the value of honesty and transparency in building customer loyalty.

Our theme music is by Policy AKA Mark Buchwald. (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/policy/)

Want to pitch your company on the Startup Show? Email spencer@gritdaily.com or contact me directly.

In this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs delved into the innovative world of space re-entry vehicles with Justin Fiaschetti, the CEO and co-founder of Inversion. Fiaschetti’s company is pioneering the development of space capsules designed to store cargo in low Earth orbit and deliver it anywhere on Earth in under an hour. The aim is to transform the transportation industry by leveraging space technology for rapid, precise deliveries.

Inversion’s capsules are equipped with solar panels and communication radios, allowing them to operate autonomously once in orbit. These capsules can be launched using rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and remain in space until they receive coordinates to return to a specified location on Earth.

There is an upcoming October mission featuring a subscale vehicle named Ray that will test these capabilities. Primarily, Ray will demonstrate the ability to deorbit and land precisely, proving the feasibility of Inversion’s concept.