Best Connor Tomkies Podcasts (2025)

1
Scaling Startups to Zebras, Unicorns & Decacorns with Barry Stamos 43:55

4d ago43:55

43:55

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Barry Stamos, a post-exit founder and investor focused on bold, world-changing companies. Barry shares his journey from corporate consultant to tech founder, detailing his early struggles, successful exits, and how he now supports other entrepreneurs through Supernova, a collective of …

1
18 - Bootstrapped, Scaled, Sold— Now What? Connor Tomkies on the Hidden Cost of Success 29:45

7d ago29:45

29:45

What happens after you exit a company you built from the ground up? In this episode of Innovator Insights, we talk to Connor Tomkies—founder of DelegateIt, Embark Vet, and Support Ninja (an Inc. 500 company). After bootstrapping and selling Support Ninja, Connor found himself in an unexpected identity shift. Instead of slowing down, he pivoted—laun…

1
He Built 52 Hotels and Advised AirBnb with Chip Conley 50:24

18d ago50:24

50:24

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode Connor sits down with hospitality legend and Modern Elder Academy founder, Chip Conley. From building Joie de Vivre into one of the largest boutique hotel brands in the U.S., to mentoring the Airbnb founders through their explosive growth, Chip shares the behind-the-scenes stories that …

1
From Dot-Com to Giant Exits with Author and Entrepreneur Lewis Schiff 38:35

1M ago38:35

38:35

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode guest Lewis Schiff—a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and former dot-com founder—shares his journey from early entrepreneurial days to successful exits and strategic angel investing. Lewis dives into his experiences in the dot-com era, explains how technology is transforming traditional i…

1
Failing Fast, Winning Big, and Giant Fire Blankets with Mike Lloyd 48:11

2M ago48:11

48:11

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Mike Lloyd, a seasoned entrepreneur who built and exited Corvus, a cyber insurance company, for nine figures. Mike shares his journey from Virginia Military Institute to MIT and Harvard, diving into the lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he pivoted to massive success…

1
17 - The Aggregator Bubble Burst—Here's Who's Actually Buying Online Businesses Now 39:06

2M ago39:06

39:06

What does it take to successfully sell your online business—and why should you plan your exit from the very start? In this episode, we sit down with Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa, the world's leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses. Blake shares his entrepreneurial journey—from bootstrapping newsletters and specialty marketpla…

1
From College Dorm to Wall Street IPO with Purpose Built's Miles Lasater 31:49

2M ago31:49

31:49

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ Episode Description: Connor sits down with Miles Lasater, founder of Purpose Built and co-founder of multiple successful companies, including HireOne, which went public in 2010. Miles shares insights on scaling a business from college startup to IPO, hiring a CEO as a young founder, and the challenges …

1
16 - Market Validation Masterclass: Lessons from Justin Chen of PickFu 37:34

2M ago37:34

37:34

Is there a better way to validate your next big idea than showing it to real customers—before you go all in? In this episode, we sit down with Justin Chen, co-founder and CEO of PickFu, the user-testing platform empowering thousands of entrepreneurs to make data-driven decisions on everything from book covers to brand packaging. Justin takes us beh…

1
The Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing with Justin Donald 35:56

2M ago35:56

35:56

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Justin Donald, the "Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing," shares insights into his journey as a post-exit entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. He discusses his early business exits, the power of strategic investing, and the philosophy behind The Lifestyle Investor. Connor and Justin dive i…

1
15 - From a Near-Death Crash to Spine-Tech Pioneer: The Alyssa Huffman Story 43:08

3M ago43:08

43:08

What does it really take to revolutionize spine surgery? Sometimes, it’s more than a brilliant concept—it’s about surviving the impossible. In this episode, we sit with Alyssa Huffman, the visionary CEO behind ALLUMIN8 and Ortho Med Solutions. Alyssa shares her journey from overcoming a traumatic brain injury and personal setbacks to spearheading “…

1
14 - From Startup Dreams to Hard Truths: What Selling a Business Really Feels Like 42:00

3M ago42:00

42:00

What really happens when you sell your startup? It's not always champagne and private jets. In this episode, Adam Rosen shares his raw and unfiltered journey as an entrepreneur. From starting a business straight out of college to navigating the emotional and financial highs and lows of selling his company. Discover the unexpected challenges of buil…

1
Owning a Soccer Team, Building Community, and Mission Companies with Intello's Barak Kaufman 38:15

6M ago38:15

38:15

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Connor sits down with Barak Kaufman, founder of Post Exit Founders, to discuss life after exiting a company and the next steps for founders. They explore the three types of post-exit founders, dive into Barak's investment in a soccer team rivaling Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham, and talk about the challenges …

1
13 - Engineering Change: Shaping the Future of Innovation with DefenderShield's Daniel DeBaun 37:40

7M ago37:40

37:40

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Engineer, Founder, and Chairman of the Board at DefenderShield, Daniel DeBaun. Daniel shares his journey from a traditional engineering career in telecommunications and aerospace to entrepreneurship in electromagnetic radiation (EMF) protection. He discusses the inception of Defender Shield, sparked by pe…

1
Career Risk, Baseball, and Pooling with Pando's Charlie Olson 31:04

7M ago31:04

31:04

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, we dive into a groundbreaking concept with Charlie Olson, CEO of Pando. Charlie explains how his company helps individuals in high-risk careers like professional athletes and entrepreneurs pool their incomes, creating a supportive and incentivized community that shares both successes and setbacks. Lea…

1
Bringing the Fun Back to Start-Ups with DesignMyNight's Nick Telson-Sillett 36:36

7M ago36:36

36:36

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Nick Telson-Sillett shares his journey from founding "Design My Night" to exiting for over £35 million. Nick talks about the challenges of scaling a company in a competitive market, the importance of financial freedom, and how to navigate earn-outs. He also discusses his ventures in angel investing …

1
12 - Chris Laudadio with Versadesk - Navigating the Challenges of Self-Funding and Customer-Centric Innovation 37:03

7M ago37:03

37:03

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the CEO of Versadesk, Chris Laudadio. Chris shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early days in real estate and fitness equipment sales to founding Versadesk, a company specializing in ergonomic office furniture. Chris covers the challenges of U.S. manufacturing, the importance of customer fee…

1
The Hidden Levers of a 9-Figure Exit with Praveen Ghanta 33:04

7M ago33:04

33:04

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, entrepreneur Praveen Ghanta shares the unconventional story behind his bootstrapped exit, including a nine-figure success with Hidden Levers. Praveen dives into his philosophy on bootstrapping versus raising capital, the power of fractional work, and what he’s focusing on now with his new ventures. Tu…

1
11 - Toine Habets with Bubbly-Doo - Building Relationships: The Key to Success in Licensing and Brand Partnerships 43:29

7M ago43:29

43:29

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Founder of Bubbly-Doo, Toine Habets. Toine is a personalized children's product company. Toine shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from university projects to building a multimillion-dollar business. The discussion covers the inception of Bubbly-Doo, the challenges in achieving product-market fit…

1
Scaling Billion Dollar Dreams and Redefining Success with Gil Eyal 26:38

8M ago26:38

26:38

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Gil Eyal returns to discuss the unpredictable nature of success in the world of social media and business investment. They dive deep into the challenges of investing in consumer products, the importance of identifying businesses with billion-dollar potential, and the pitfalls of the dating app industr…

1
Matchmaking for Dogs: The Story of All Paws, Snap Interactive and more with Darrell Lerner 27:55

8M ago27:55

27:55

Join Connor Tomkies in this exciting episode of the Made It Podcast as he chats with Darrell Lerner, the man behind All Paws and Snap Interactive. Discover how Darrell transitioned from revolutionizing online dating to creating a successful platform connecting dogs with their forever homes. Listen as Darrell shares the unconventional journey of fou…

1
Hot Takes and Padel Breaks: Benji Markoff’s Return 45:53

9M ago45:53

45:53

Join us for a captivating conversation with Benji Markoff, a returning guest who initially appeared in Episode 3. In this episode, Benji opens up about his latest venture, Padel United Sports Club. He discusses the intricacies of launching a high-end social wellness club focused on the fast-growing sport of Padel. Discover how Benji is building a v…

1
10 - Ari Hirsch with InstaSteam - The Hilarious Journey of a Clothing Steamer Entrepreneur 29:47

9M ago29:47

29:47

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Founder and CEO of InstaSteam, Ari Hirsch. Ari shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the creation of InstaSteam; the world's first electricity-free clothing steamer. He discusses the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of resilience, and the strategies employed to grow hi…

1
The Metrics Maestro: Alex White on Rocking the Music & Tax Industries 58:00

9M ago58:00

58:00

In this episode we sit down with Alexander White, the co-founder of Next Big Sound. Alexander shares his journey from launching a music data business during his senior year at Northwestern to its acquisition by Pandora for a remarkable 10x revenue multiple. Discover how Alexander's passion for data led him to his next venture, focusing on uncoverin…

1
Breaking the Rules: Vadim Rogovskiy's Global Tech Journey and Rebel Capital Dreams 39:40

10M ago39:40

39:40

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Connor sits down with Vadim Rogovskiy, a successful entrepreneur who sold his first company in 2014 and has since been involved in various ventures, including the innovative AR company 3DLOOK. Vadim shares his journey from early entrepreneurial efforts in Ukraine, dealing with the challenges of in-g…

1
9 - Craig Wolfe with CelebriDucks - Handling Business Setbacks with a Positive Mindset 36:00

10M ago36:00

36:00

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the President of CelebriDucks, Craig Wolfe. Craig's journey from publishing artwork for major companies to creating CelebriDucks is a testament to the power of innovative thinking and perseverance. Living in Penn Valley, California, Craig has always run his businesses from home, emphasizing the importance of …

1
Making Unsexy... Sexy with Atlas Authority Founder Boris Berenberg 37:06

10M ago37:06

37:06

Boris shares his journey from working at Atlassian to founding his own company Atlas Authority, navigating the challenges of being a solo founder, and eventually exiting the business. Dive into their discussion about unsexy business ideas, the importance of shared context in startups, and Boris's candid insights on his entrepreneurial experiences. …

1
Solving for Joy, The Power of Hustle, and More with Hustle Fund's Eric Bahn 47:25

10M ago47:25

47:25

Eric Bahn, co-founder of Hustle Fund, discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and investor. He shares insights on building genuine communities, identifying true "hustlers", and redefining wealth and success. Eric opens up about his family's story, working with his wife and sister, and the importance of vulnerability in leadership. He also discusse…

1
8 - Ben Weiss with LegendsNLeaders - The Evolution of Consumer Products: Navigating the Digital Revolution 27:10

10M ago27:10

27:10

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Host of LegendsNLeaders, Ben Weiss. Ben grew up in Florida and Arizona, where consumer products and the groundbreaking innovations of tech giants like Steve Jobs deeply inspired him. His family's involvement in consumer products and entrepreneurship further fueled his aspirations, setting the stage for hi…

1
The Return of a Legend: Andrew Warner on Podcasts, Communities, and Post-Exit 42:04

11M ago42:04

42:04

Andrew Warner, founder of Mixergy, returns to the pod to share his insights on the post-exit journey of entrepreneurs. The two discuss the importance of finding meaning and purpose after selling a business, the value of shadowing successful entrepreneurs, and the potential of building a community for post-exit founders. With a focus on personal gro…

1
Bouncy Balls, Building Companies, and Big Exits... Dan Reich's Entrepreneurial Journey 44:14

11M ago44:14

44:14

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Dan Reich shares his remarkable journey of building and exiting multiple companies across various industries. From his early ventures in high school to co-founding Spinback, which was acquired by Buddy Media and later Salesforce, Dan's experiences highlight valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, partnerships, and…

1
7 - Hindi Zeidman with The Ollie World - Building a Business with Purpose 37:49

11M ago37:49

37:49

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the CEO and Founder of The Ollie World, Hindi Zeidman. Hindi's path to entrepreneurship was unconventional. As a single mom by choice living in Southern California, she faced the daunting task of balancing her personal life with her entrepreneurial ambitions. Hindi grew up in an entrepreneurial family, which …

1
Find Your Purpose, and Co-Founder Cuddling with Noah Abelson-Gertler 38:18

11M ago38:18

38:18

In this candid interview, Noah Abelson, founder of ShareRoot, shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting up in a garage to taking his company public. He discusses the challenges of pivoting, fundraising, and navigating co-founder relationships, as well as the emotional toll of life after a successful exit. Noah also shares his passion for mak…

1
Morning Brew, Creator Economy, and Plungers with Alex Lieberman 46:01

11M ago46:01

46:01

Alex Lieberman, co-founder of Morning Brew and host of the Founders Journal podcast, takes us on a whirlwind journey through his post-exit adventures. From getting a full-body MRI to launching a quirky backyard game, Alex candidly shares the highs and lows of life after a successful startup. He delves into Morning Brew's evolving content strategy, …

1
6 - Ravi Sawhney with RKS Design - Exploring the Evolution of Psycho-Aesthetic Design in Product Innovation 40:59

11M ago40:59

40:59

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the CEO and Founder of RKS Design, Ravi Sawhney. Ravi's journey begins in the San Fernando Valley, where his early passion for design led him to work as a model maker at just 19. His talent quickly propelled him to a position at Xerox, where he was part of the pioneering team that developed the first touchscr…

1
Protect Yourself During M&A with Thunder's Jason Kirby 48:08

12M ago48:08

48:08

Jason Kirby shares hard-earned wisdom with Connor, from exiting his company to Walmart, after a failed acquisition by Samsung. Jason explains key lessons for founders in the acquisition process, like getting your own legal counsel and maintaining multiple options. He also details his new venture Thunder, an investment bank aiming to provide founder…

1
Revamping the Health Industry, Redox's Luke Bonney 40:05

12M ago40:05

40:05

In this episode, we sit down with Luke Bonney, co-founder of Redox, a healthcare tech company that raised $95 million. Join us as Luke shares his journey from med school dropout to successful entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of building a startup, the importance of strong co-founder relationships, and the future of healthcare technology. Tun…

1
5 - Kevin Lavelle with Mizzen+Main - The Importance of Market Validation with Harbor 43:21

12M ago43:21

43:21

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Co-Founder and CEO of Harbor, Founder and Chairman of the Board at Mizzen+Main, Kevin Lavelle. Kevin's story begins in sunny Florida, where he grew up before moving to Dallas, Texas, for college. Dallas became his home, where he now lives with his wife and two kids. Outside of his business ventures, Kevin…

1
Lil Wayne, Leo DiCaprio, and Influencer Marketing with Gil Eyal 47:45

12M ago47:45

47:45

From celebrity crashes to influencer insights, lessons from a marketing pioneer. Join Connor Tomkies as he sits down with Gil Eyal, a serial entrepreneur who's seen it all in the world of influencer marketing. Discover the ups and downs of Gil's journey, from working with A-listers like Lil Wayne and Leonardo DiCaprio to navigating the ever-changin…

1
4 - David Hathaway with SunSail Shades - Overcoming Challenges and Finding Success in Building a Beach Shade Business 31:57

12M ago31:57

31:57

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Founder and CEO of SunSail Shades, David Hathaway. The inspiration for SunSail Shades struck David during a family vacation in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. There, he encountered a beach shade called a kaboom shade. The design intrigued him, but he couldn't find anything like it online. Sensing an oppor…

1
From Nightclubs to Buying Santa Monica Pier: Shane Neman & EZ Texting 29:57

1y ago29:57

29:57

Entrepreneur Shane Neman shares his incredible journey from founding Junebug, a nightclub software and events company, to building EZ Texting, a pioneering mass texting platform. Discover how Shane spotted opportunities, pivoted when necessary, and bootstrapped his way to success. He also shares insights into his current ventures, including an inve…

1
3 - Travis Rosbach with Hydroflask - Navigating the Future of Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship 46:57

1y ago46:57

46:57

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Founder of Rosbach Consulting, Travis Rosbach. Before Travis became an entrepreneurial sensation, his life was a series of high-octane jobs that would make any thrill-seeker envious. As a dive master, scuba dive instructor, boat captain, and even an airline pilot, Travis' background is as diverse as it is…

1
The Best Businesses are Not Sexy with Adam Spector of Levy 45:51

1y ago45:51

45:51

Serial entrepreneur Adam Spector shares his journey of building and exiting multiple startups, including his current venture, Levy, which revolutionizes back-office support. In this engaging episode, Adam discusses the lessons he's learned from navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, the importance of solving real problems, and his outlook on…

1
2 - Kevin Brodwick with ThinkBaby and ThinkSport - Bridging Science and Consumer Products: An Unconventional Entrepreneurial Journey 56:16

1y ago56:16

56:16

Your host, Henrik Johansson, talks with the Founder of GoAtomico and GoBrixy, Kevin Brodwick. Kevin's first venture was a small software company named Akiddo, which pivoted to business fraud detection. Despite its potential, the company faced significant challenges, including a critical loss of talent to Apple Computers, leading to its closure. How…

1
Beyond the Backpack: Classtag's Vlada Lotkina on Disrupting EdTech 38:15

1y ago38:15

38:15

Join along as I sit down with the incredibly inspiring Vlada Lotkina, the brain behind ClassTag, for a journey filled with dreams, determination, and the drive to make a difference in the world of education. From her early days in Ukraine to creating waves in the U.S. tech scene, Vlada's story isn't just about building a successful platform; it's a…

1
1 - Turning Your Ideas Into Impact with Gembah's Henrik Johansson 13:18

1y ago13:18

13:18

In the inaugural episode of Innovator Insights: From Idea to Impact, Josh Elledge speaks to the founder and CEO of Gembah and the host and creator of the show, Henrik Johansson. Henrik discusses his Swedish roots and entrepreneurial journey in the US, detailing how Gembah assists brands in efficient product development. He highlights their marketpl…

1
Sweat Equity to Sauna Sessions: Disrupting Insurance and Beyond with Benji Markoff 55:40

1y ago55:40

55:40

We dive into the journey of Benji Markoff, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the insurance industry with his startup, Founder Shield. Benji shares his rollercoaster experience from the early days of grueling work and personal challenges to achieving a monumental exit. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of resilience, innovation…

1
From Basement to Buyout: Aaron White's Remarkable Dual Exit 40:08

1y ago40:08

40:08

LISTENER NOTE: My Second Million asa title was always intended as a cheeky joke around the fantastic pod "My First Million" but now on April Fools we've decided to pivot as so many founder do, to the "Made It with Connor Tomkies" podcast. We can't wait for the guests we have coming up and we're excited to share more episodes. Stay tuned for more ep…

1
From Swag to Riches: How Jeremy Parker Disrupted the Promo Industry and Beyond 42:55

1y ago42:55

42:55

Connor dives deep with Jeremy Parker, the innovative mind behind Swag.com. They explore Jeremy's dynamic journey from aspiring filmmaker to successful entrepreneur. Jeremy shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path, revealing how he navigated through failures and pivots to build and sell swag.com, transforming the promotional products in…

1
The Evolution of Influence: Mixergy's Andrew Warner on Earning His 2nd Million and Future Trends 33:09

1y ago33:09

33:09

In this episode host Connor Tomkies sits down with the seasoned entrepreneur, podcaster, and founder of Mixergy, Andrew Warner, to explore the intricacies of entrepreneurship in the digital age. They delve into the critical role of becoming a micro-influencer as an entrepreneur, share personal journeys of business successes and lessons learned from…

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Connor Tomkies Podcasts

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