The Business Model by Inc.

One Smart Business Story: How Whatnot’s Winning With Live Shopping

Unlike their Asian counterparts, American retailers have tried their hands at live shopping to no avail. That is until Whatnot took a swing at it. Spoiler alert: Live shopping is working for the $11.5 billion startup.    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger sits down with Inc. senior writer Jennifer Conrad to unpack Whatnot’s magic, why live shopping is resonating with its fandom, and its plans for a sustainable future.

Founder Group Chat: Get Ahead of Your Competitors

Standing out in an oversaturated market is a tough challenge to overcome for entrepreneurs. Luckily, these founders have some tips on just how to do that. On this Founder Group Chat, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey sat down with three experts:  * Ron Holloway, co-founder and co-CEO of Woofbowl [https://www.mywoofbowl.com/]  * LeAnn Darland, co-founder and co-CEO of TALEA Beer Co. [https://www.taleabeer.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooGrwW69Fd5B_qY1cymWcOnud4dnv-QG2EKWPcgUvUHDdA4lwQC]   * Gabi Lewis, co-founder and co-CEO of Magic Spoon. [https://magicspoon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAx6uW3QFZgFr4S0uZEgC6JcbjgX2gFdCQw2WVCKtKDrD_xEj9]  They share their insights on how they pivot their businesses to overcome any challenge that comes their way and stay ahead of their competitors.

One Smart Business Story: Can Sweetgreen Win You Back With $10 Wraps?

In the 2010s, Sweetgreen was all the rage with Millennials who loved its fast casual but health-conscious approach to their office lunch. But since then, the world has changed. More young people are working from home and not taking those coveted breaks away from the office to reset and recharge with a $20 salad bowl.     In a recent piece for Inc. magazine, journalist and screenwriter Mickey Rapkin writes that the company previously admitted to struggling to connect with people aged 25 to 35, its exact target audience.    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. staff reporter Chloe Aiello sat down with Rapkin for a conversation about Sweetgreen’s losing favor with its customer base, its new leadership team, and what wraps have to do with its comeback.

Founder Group Chat: The Keys to Growth

As a founder, you want to see your company grow and succeed. But how fast do you want to grow your company? How fast is too fast? And how do you maintain quality at scale?     Fortunately, on this Founder Group Chat, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey chatted with three experts who know how to overcome certain challenges when it comes to expanding their businesses:  * Ron Holloway, co-founder and co-CEO of Woofbowl [https://www.mywoofbowl.com/]  * LeAnn Darland, co-founder and co-CEO of TALEA Beer Co. [https://www.taleabeer.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooGrwW69Fd5B_qY1cymWcOnud4dnv-QG2EKWPcgUvUHDdA4lwQC]   * Gabi Lewis, co-founder and co-CEO of Magic Spoon. [https://magicspoon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAx6uW3QFZgFr4S0uZEgC6JcbjgX2gFdCQw2WVCKtKDrD_xEj9]

The Business Model: Why 3.5 Million SMEs Are Cautiously Optimistic

In today’s economic climate, business leaders, particularly those of small and medium-size businesses, are rightfully cautious. However, despite inflation, ongoing war, and other factors, Sharon Miller, Bank of America’s president of Business Banking, says this of BoA’s client base:    “As we enter 2026, balance sheets were stable and profitability had actually risen from a year ago. So, when you look at what’s happening in our client base—and we serve 3.5 million small and medium-size companies in the U.S.—what we’re seeing is certainly cautious optimism, but we are seeing growth in our local communities.”    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. senior staff writer Melissa Angell recently sat down with Miller for a conversation about borrowing, the business of banking, and the role of AI.