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startups

Starting a company is an act of unreasonable optimism. The founders in this section know that firsthand. They’ve built startups across every industry. Some that worked, some that pivoted, and some that taught very expensive lessons. All of it is here.

These interviews cover the full startup arc. The spark of an idea. The terrifying moment you actually commit to it. The scramble for funding, customers, and some version of product-market fit that doesn’t feel like a hallucination. Then the scaling part, which introduces a whole new set of problems nobody warned you about.

What’s useful about these conversations is the range. Solo founders. Co-founder duos. People who raised venture capital and people who think venture capital is a trap. Bootstrap devotees and serial fundraisers. There’s no single right way to build a startup, and reading enough of these interviews makes that abundantly clear.

You’ll find practical insights on lean methodology, customer acquisition, team building, and the art of staying alive long enough to figure out what works. Also the emotional side, because startups are emotional. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or hasn’t started one yet.

Ben Lerer – Co-Founder and CEO of Thrillist.com

Thrillist Co-founder and CEO, Ben Lerer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. Immediately following, the native New Yorker returned to his home city to work with hotelier Andre…

Meet Ben Lerer – Co-Founder and CEO of Thrillist.com

Howard Bender – Founder and President of Coco Myles

Howard Bender is the founder and president of Coco Myles, a website that allows women to design their own custom dress by choosing from a variety of different fabrics, tops,…

Meet Howard Bender – Founder and President of Coco Myles

Peter Mandeno and Lizzie Shupak – Founders of the Global Lifestyle Project

The two Global Lifestylers, Peter Mandeno and Lizzie Shupak, from New Zealand and the UK respectively, have spent their careers generating ideas and bringing them to life. As a Creative…

Meet Peter Mandeno and Lizzie Shupak – Founders of the Global Lifestyle Project

Stefan Pretty – Founder of SocialWhispers.com

Stefan was born and privately educated in Scotland. With a very strong interest in computers, he has made websites since he was only 12 years old. Along with computers and…

Meet Stefan Pretty – Founder of SocialWhispers.com

Scott Gerber – Author of “Never Get a ‘Real’ Job”

Scott Gerber is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, media personality, public speaker and the most-syndicated young entrepreneurship columnist in the world. He is the founder and CEO of Gerber Enterprises,…

Meet Scott Gerber – Author of “Never Get a ‘Real’ Job”

Rob Symington: Co-founder of Escape the City

Rob Symington is one half of the team behind a new website called www.escapethecity.org.They are on a mission to liberate talented professionals from unfulfilling corporate jobs. He is interested in…

Meet Rob Symington: Co-founder of Escape the City

Dave Brown – CEO of Coastal Cigars

Dave Brown is the CEO of Coastal Cigars, a luxury cigar distributor to casinos, golf courses, hotels, and resorts, as well as a leading source for cigar rolling events across…

Meet Dave Brown – CEO of Coastal Cigars

Matt Sherman – Founder and CTO of Alikewise

Matt Sherman is the co-founder (with Matt Masina) and CTO of Alikewise, a dating site based on book tastes. Matt has been working on the web since the early 90’s,…

Meet Matt Sherman – Founder and CTO of Alikewise

Jon Cook – Co-founder and CEO of HowRandom.com

Joe Cook is the Co-founder and CEO of HowRandom, Co-founder & CEO of Veribu, Investor in Jason Damato (artist @ Universal Motown), a Pepperdine Alum, and a Hilton Head Island,…

Meet Jon Cook – Co-founder and CEO of HowRandom.com

Jon Reifschneider – Founder and CEO of 31Projects

Jon Reifschneider is founder and CEO of 31Projects, an online platform that connects companies with talented students through short-term projects and crowdsourcing-style competitions. Prior to founding 31Projects, Jon assisted in…

Meet Jon Reifschneider – Founder and CEO of 31Projects

Pete Lafferty – Co-founder of Libero Ferrero

Pete Lafferty spent five years in financial services and two years in market research before starting Libero Ferrero, a high-end men’s accessories label, with his two brothers Matt and Adam…

Meet Pete Lafferty – Co-founder of Libero Ferrero

Tammy Mastroberte – Founder of Elevated Existence Magazine

Growing up in an Italian Catholic family, Tammy Mastroberte always had a belief in a higher power. But at the age of 22, the sudden death of her mother three…

Meet Tammy Mastroberte – Founder of Elevated Existence Magazine

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