The Startup Story

ABOUT THIS EPISODE My guest this week is David Sellinger, founder of Deep Sentinel. David’s startup resume is remarkable and includes such highlights as: * Being an early employee at Amazon working directly under Jeff Bezos and co-inventing Amazon Advertising which now generates BILLIONS of dollars in revenue * Co-founding the real estate brokerage RedFin (now a multi-billion company) * Revolutionizing the shopping experiences for major brands like Macy’s and Office Depot with his RichRelevance startup. * Inventing the next HUGE advancement in home security with Deep Sentinel. Deep Sentinel brings artificial intelligence to the home protection industry. With the Deep Sentinel the technology can identify threats in real time and once a threat is identified a live guard is engaged to notify and warn off the threat. The Deep Sentinel hardware is not just a camera but a sleek yet incredibly intimidating piece of technology that allows the Live Guards to engage while police are on their way. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: * How being raised by two immigrant parents shaped his ambition and value of opportunities * His learnings about organizational culture from the founding brothers of Dutch Bros. coffee. * Lessons learned from Jeff Bezos as it relates to data-informed decision making * About the next evolution in home security * How important it is to speak honestly about your mental health RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE FREE Access to Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/ [https://www.grindologymagazine.com/] ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory [https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory] Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5 [https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5] The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory] The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney [https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney] The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory [https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory] Deep Sentinel Website: https://www.deepsentinel.com/ [https://www.deepsentinel.com/] Deep Sentinel “STOPPED” YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPrVzjHFY6Acoy54iYvo21RW5xjpWNf8m [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPrVzjHFY6Acoy54iYvo21RW5xjpWNf8m] SHARE THE PODCAST The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE My guest this week is Clay Alexander, the inventor and founder of Ember. Ember is a temperature control brand that seeks to disrupt how the world eats, drinks and lives. Their very first product was a Travel Mug and was launched in 100 Starbucks locations. Since their launch they have expanded to other product lines. Clay has an incredible founder story that I hope more people discover because I think it brings encouragement and inspiration to so many. Let me be clear, when I say "encouragement" I am not talking about the type of fuzzy-feelings you get when you receive a Hallmark card. I'm talking about the actual meaning of the word "encourage", to place courage inside of. That is what Clay's story will deliver to you, courage to keep moving forward despite the obstacles or challenges you might be up against. See Clay grew up incredibly poor, in fact to use his words "dirt poor." Aside from his economic challenges he was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, and he still is. Yet despite all these challenges he has founded two amazing companies and invented numerous patented products, that I'm sure when the story is over will deliver well beyond $1-billion in revenue. I know this episode will quickly become one of your favorites but like all other founder episodes we need to start at the very beginning. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR * How Clay's upbringing was not one where entrepreneurship was an inevitable journey for him. In fact, everything about his upbringing would have pointed towards obtaining a steady 9-5 job to help simply put food on the table. * About how his creative and inventive mind was at work from a young age and how he even replicated the famous Inspector Gadget bicycle, including switches for smoke screens * The journey through college helped set the stage for him to refine his lighting expertise and led to his inventing the brightest LED bulb in the world * The steps he took to negotiate a licensing deal with GE for that very bulb he invented * How cold scrambled eggs became the catalyst for the first temperature controlled coffee mug on the planet * The reason why the Ember mug, iPhone, Macbook Pro, and Apple iPad all look so good together * Why any inventor or entrepreneur should never accept the answer of "No" as final and complete * Clay unpack the future of Ember and the various industries that will benefit from his many temperature control solution ideas RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Join Grindology: https://grindologymagazine.com/ [https://grindologymagazine.com/] ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory [https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory] Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5 [https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5] The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip [https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip] The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory] The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney [https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney] The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory [https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory] Ember website: https://ember.com/ [https://ember.com/] SHARE THE PODCAST The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE My guest this week is Michael Werner, founder and CEO of HomeX. Until 2003, Michael served as President and Vice Chariman for his family's 100 year old business, Werner Ladders. The Werner Company continues on today and is now a $1 billion dollar global brand…but Michael has moved on and launched a technology startup within a $500 billion market. HomeX is the first of its kind home services platform for both homeowners and service providers that is radically improving the complex and fragmented home services industry. One of the many things that peaked my curiosity about having Michael on the show was that I am just not a handy individual. Despite the fact that I could watch a YouTube video of how to change my garbage disposal I would much rather have an expert walk me through the process, or just do it for me. Well, that is one of the consumer solutions that HomeX is bringing to the marketplace, direct access to industry experts to guide you through the solution or enable you to hire the expert to come and take care of it for you. HomeX is truly changing the game for homeowners and service providers. And having just come off a $90 million dollar capital raise, things are about to get very interesting for Michael and the HomeX team. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: * The importance of reiventing an industry. * The nuance of leading a legacy brand. * Why global manufacturing is critical to business success. * The importance that small business plays to our economy and communities. RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/ [https://www.grindologymagazine.com/] ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5 [https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5] The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory] The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney [https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney] The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory [https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory] HomeX for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homex.lightning&utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homex.lightning&utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta] HomeX for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/app/homex-we-got-this/id1505761821?utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta [https://apps.apple.com/app/homex-we-got-this/id1505761821?utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta] Use the code "STARTUPSTORY25" to receive 25% off your first Remote Assist session. SHARE THE PODCAST The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Whenever I’m asked which episode of The Startup Story has been my favorite, I truly can’t give an answer. I enjoy every single episode because of how much value every entrepreneur brings to the table and how much I learn from them. However, if I were to be asked which episode stands out the most in my mind, it would have to be one of my earliest episodes: my interview with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz from Monkwood Studios. Out of all of the interviews I’ve held, I’ve only hosted two founders who were woodworkers. Brandon is one of them. His episode stands out because of how incredibly eclectic his entrepreneurial journey has been. Brandon was both extremely transparent and vulnerable about his story and amazing at telling it. He explains how both he and his startup, Monkwood Studios, got to where they are today. If you want to learn from a talented and hilarious entrepreneur, tune into this conversation with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: * How Brandon got into woodworking as a kid. * The mentor and friend that taught him how to build furniture. * Why he was inspired to go out on his own. * How much he failed and learned from his mistakes at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. * Why how you make something is more important than what you make. * Brandon’s experience doing ministry in London and building the unique startup of a church. * Why he became an entrepreneur by need, not by choice. * How he finally niched his business down and began specializing in wooden desks. * The connection he feels with the people who purchase his desks. * The risk all creative entrepreneurs have to take. RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/ [https://www.grindologymagazine.com/] ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5 [https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5] The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip [https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip] The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory] The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney [https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney] The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory [https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory] Brandon in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/ [https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/] Monkwood Studios: https://monkwoodstudio.com/ [https://monkwoodstudio.com/] SHARE THE PODCAST The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE This week we are featuring Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media. If her last name sounds familiar, it should. It’s also the last name of her little brother who had a startup about a book of faces or Facebook or something like that. Randi Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur, investor, best selling author, and Emmy-nominated tech media personality. She is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, with the mission of supporting current and future entrepreneurs through investment, mentorship, and media. Growing up she wanted to be a Broadway actress, yet while in college she had to pivot from that dream to pursue a career in advertising. But what I love about the stories of many of the founders this show highlights, is that we always find our way back to our passion, in one form or another. Like every Startup Story founder, we need to go back to the early days to find out what life was like for Randi before Facebook LIVE, before two best-selling books, and before receiving two Tony awards. You’ll soon hear how her beginning wasn’t all that different from others who have come before her. This is Randi’ Zuckerberg's startup story. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: * Her aspirations of becoming an actress and how those dreams got crushed early on * About creating her first ad campaign for the Special Olympics * The transition from working in an ad agency to working for Facebook and becoming the creator of Facebook LIVE * About the time she received a call from the producers of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages and the start of her Broadway career * How her experiences have taught her that none of us have just one calling and there are so many chapters and phases of our lives, each with different callings * Her realization that her best skills were on the production side of the entertainment and Broadway industry; and how she began to apply those skills as an entrepreneur * The founding of Zuckerberg Media and Randi’s hopes and ambitions for her venture RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/ [https://www.grindologymagazine.com/] ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory [https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory] Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5 [https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5] The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip [https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip] The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory] The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney [https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney] The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory [https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory] Zuckerberg Media: https://www.zuckerbergmedia.com/ [https://www.zuckerbergmedia.com/] Michael Littig, Zuckerberg Institute: https://www.thestartupstory.co/zuckerberginstitute [https://www.thestartupstory.co/zuckerberginstitute] SHARE THE PODCAST The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!