Founder Views

AI search is changing how buyers discover products. But most founders are either ignoring it, or getting sold misinformation.In this episode, Jon Mest (https://chatrank.ai/ and https://justreachout.io/) breaks down what actually drives “AI visibility” and how he’s building two bootstrapped companies in a market that’s shifting weekly.We get into the real execution behind:Why “pump out 1,000 blog posts” is bad strategy in AI searchWhat AI models struggle with (and the on-page fixes that matter right now)The off-page signals that influence AI recommendations (reviews, Reddit, YouTube, real human sentiment)How Jon sells a $500/mo product without spray-and-pray outboundPartnerships vs affiliates, what worked and what completely failed (PartnerStack experiment)Why podcasts are underrated for both backlinks and AI citationsJon’s “rotate AI tools weekly” habit to stay sharp across modelsWhy bootstrapping beats VC for most SaaS right now (and when he’d reconsider)If you’re a SaaS founder trying to understand what’s r

Brad Mills is a Bitcoin OG (in since 2011), entrepreneur, and angel investor. In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to think long-term in Bitcoin, how he invests without selling, and why “AI agents + Bitcoin” might be the first truly mainstream crypto use case.We get into real founder stuff too: leadership failures, scaling mistakes, decision fatigue, and how Brad rebuilt his habits using a “proof of work” mindset.What we cover:Brad’s first “business” at 8 years old, and the Facebook app that hit massive scaleThe moment he realized “buy and hold Bitcoin” outperformed his highest-effort businessesBorrowing against Bitcoin: why LTV discipline matters and how people get wiped outWhy gold confiscation (6102) is not the same risk model as Bitcoin custody todayQuantum risk: what’s real, what’s noise, and how upgrades likely happenWhy AI agents choosing Bitcoin is a bigger deal than retail adoption“Citadel mind and body”: applying Bitcoin-style consistency to health and relationshipsBooks that a

Kyle Hosick spent 25 years building a successful agency business. Referral-only. No ads. No hype.Then he did something most operators never do.He stopped hiding his side projects and went all in on building a brand in public.In this episode, Kyle breaks down the real path from agency stability to New York Fashion Week, and what actually changed when he removed fear and stopped playing defense.We get into:Why “being more yourself” can be the ultimate growth strategyHow Kyle uses a “25 right decisions in the right order” framework to build momentumWhen patience is a competitive advantage (and when speed still matters)How he views AI as leverage without turning everything into generic slopWhat it takes to get into retail, manufacture overseas, and prepare for celebrity seedingHow a strong operator plus a strong distribution partner can sell out a cohort fastThis is not a pivot story.It’s an expansion story about conviction, restraint, and stacking the right decisions in the right order.The ArenaThe Arena is a pr

Six years after his first appearance on Founder Views, Luca is back with the real story of how AI forced a full business model and go-to-market shift.Customerly went from a seat-based, product-led support platform for small SaaS teams to an AI-first customer service engine selling into mid-market and enterprise, where volume and ROI are obvious.In this episode we get into:The AI pivot: why they refused to build “old-school chatbots,” and how ChatGPT changed what was possibleQuality metrics that matter: error rate, confidence thresholds, escalation triggers, and why AI CSAT can be higher than humansWhat actually trains a good AI agent: knowledge base structure, what not to upload, and how hallucinations happen in the real worldAutomation outcomes: average ticket closure rates, what drives 80%+ vs 40–50%, and how teams improve over timeEnterprise GTM shift: moving from product-led to sales-led, filtering signups, longer cycles, bigger ACVOutbound reality: why the agency failed, what changed when they built outb

How do you take a niche SaaS product from zero to $150k MRR in under two years — without venture capital?In this episode of Founder Views, Kosta Panagoulias sits down with Nadav Boaz, co-founder of VoiceDrop, to break down exactly how they scaled fast by combining cold email mastery, SEO execution, and ruthless operational discipline.This isn’t theory. Nadav shares what actually worked — and what didn’t — across dozens of past businesses before VoiceDrop finally clicked.We cover:How VoiceDrop reached $150k MRR with a lean, remote teamThe exact 3 growth channels they double down on (and why)How cold email is used strategically — not spammySEO tactics that helped them rank #1 and show up in AI searchWhy pre-authorizing trial users increased conversions from 12% → 50%Managing churn in a high-ticket SaaSWhy “usage” matters more than loginsLessons from running (and failing) dozens of businesses before successIf you’re a SaaS founder focused on execution, leverage, and real growth, this episode delivers.Chapters /

Gladys Jeannette is a real estate investor and Broker in El Salvador. I've been wanting to speak to someone on the ground in El Salvador for quite some time, and Gladys is the perfect person to get an insider's look into the changes happening in the country.We dive deep into the life in El Salvador, real estate investing in the country, including which areas to keep an eye out for, how bitcoin is driving change, safety, and the way of life in the country.If you've been keeping an eye on El Salvador, curious about the changes happening in the country, real estate, or bitcoin, this is the perfect episode for you.

Adam Niman (BSc, CLU) is a seasoned life insurance professional with over a decade of experience in the field. His focus is exclusively on insurance, and he advocates for keeping insurance and investments separate.I first heard Adam on one of my favourite podcasts (see link below), talking about why the infinite banking concept is flawed. He raised some pretty eye-opening concerns and perspectives that stirred up some waves in the infinite banking circles.Since first hearing Adam on that podcast, we've since had several conversations, and wanted to have him on the podcast. I definitely think his insights and message is worth sharing.If you're familiar with infinite banking, have a policy, or thinking about getting setup, this is an episode you definitely want to hear.Download Adam's ebook "Fortune or Fiction" here: https://fortuneorfiction.ca/

➡️ The most important lessons from growing and selling a bootstrapped SaaS company, from a non-technical entrepreneur: https://www.hardknocksaas.com/ (use HUSTLE40 for 40% off).Matheus Riolfi is the founder and CEO of tint.ai, a company that provides embeddable insurance to tech platforms and marketplaces. Unlike most founders I speak to that are bootstrapped - Matheus followed a different journey. Launching in 2018, Matheus led his company through YC (Y Combinator), and most recently closed a $25 million Series A round.We cover several topics, including:- Why he chose to get funding, rather than bootstrap- How Tint maintains a positive workplace culture as a fully remote team- How his role as CEO continues to evolve- The most important skills a new founder should possess- Much moreFollow Matheus Riolfi on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mriolfi/Check out Tint: https://www.tint.ai/

** The most important lessons from growing and selling a bootstrapped SaaS company, from a non-technical entrepreneur: https://www.hardknocksaas.com/ (use HUSTLE40 for 40% off).Stefan Smulders is one of the best marketers I've spoken to. In 2019, he founded expandio.io, and was able to generate $1 million in run rate in the first six months after launch!Continuing to leverage creative and effective marketing strategies on social media, Stefan is leading Expandi to hit $10 million in revenue by the end of 2023.This was a fascinating conversation, and I encourage any startup founder or anyone in marketing to give it a listen. We touch on several topics, including:- Learning and growing from past business failures- How Expandi hit $1 million run-rate in the first six months- Leveraging your personal brand to grow your business- The psychology of sales- Effective growth channels used to reach $10 million revenue- Much moreFollow Stefan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmuldersStefanDownload the e-book "From Zero t

The person I credit to introducing me to the Infinite Banking Concept, is none other than Chris Naugle.After hearing this episode, you'll quickly understand why Chris is considered "America's # 1 Money Mentor". He is truly a master of money.Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is currently founder of The Money School™, and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.We dive into so many important money and financial topics, including:- The reasons why Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and other banks are collapsing- Financial opportunities that everyone can be taking advantage of today- How to become your own banker (literally) using the Infinite Banking Concept- How Chris is personally leveraging his Infinite Banking Policies to make investments and earn income- Ways to protect yourself from financial collapse- How to be free and independent from a corrupted financial systemFollow Chris on YouTube: @TheChrisNaugle

This was a fun conversation. Two bootstrapped entrepreneurs talking shop, growth and business - unfiltered.Hoyin Cheung is the founder and CEO of Remo.co, a company that helps teams build and grow relationships, virtually.I've been eager to learn more about the virtual reality space, and how invested companies actually are in implementing this technology. So when the opportunity arose to speak to Hoyin, I jumped on it.Very impressively, as a solo founder, Hoyin bootstrapped Remo to over $4M+ in revenue, with a team of 25 people. Some of the biggest organizations in the world have used Remo, including Harvard University, IBM and Shopify.We touch on several topics in this episode including:- Connecting with team members working remotely- How companies are leveraging virtual reality- Trends in the VR space- The social behaviour challenge to VR adoption- Tactical ways Remo has been able to scale- Challenges of growing a company during times of high inflation and economic uncertainty- Future of VRCheck out Remo: h

Adam is the founder and CEO of Bitcoin Well, a publicly traded Canadian company that allows people to buy and sell bitcoin.My goal with this episode was to educate the average person about everything they need to know about buying and storing bitcoin. Although we did cover that in a lot of detail, we naturally got into other topics as well, including:- The custody of money- How Adam deals with getting banned from having bank accounts- Threats and concerns for bitcoin companies- Freedom and sovereignty This was the second time having Adam on the podcast, and certainly not the last. Check out our first conversation here: https://youtu.be/VSwaAZtCp8cThe safest and fastest way to buy bitcoin in Canada: bitcoinwell.com/app/signup?referral=kostapanaFollow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamobrien_

Recently, I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about the economy, bitcoin, and the history of monetary systems.After stumbling on one of Julian’s informative 60 second videos on Modern Monetary Theory, it was only fitting that I reach out him to chat on the podcast. Julian Figueroa is a Canadian entrepreneur, filmmaker and bitcoin investor.This was one of the most fun, engaging and insightful conversations I’ve had in a while. Although the conversation could have lasted a lot longer, we covered several topics, including: The creation of the existing monetary systems and its problems The dilemma which the US faces as the global reserve currency Whether the USD is actually a “safe haven” asset How money scarcity could be a positive for societies around the world  What has to occur for a bitcoin standard to take shape CBDC’s and the risk they pose to freedom Why Julian purchased 5 acres on an island off Vancouver, off the grid  Follow Julian on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KineticFinanceFollow Julian on Twi

Ever since I learned about the Infinite Banking Concept, I've been trying to inform as many people as possible about it.No matter what your financial situation is, every single person can benefit from this concept.I spoke with Hayden Padalino, an Authorized IBC Practitioner from Ontario, Canada. My goal was to touch on the fundamentals of the Infinite Banking Concept, and hopefully encourage people to look into it further.Some topics of discussion include:- How your money is not in your control if it's in the bank- How to use IBC during tax time- Alternatives to RRSP contributions- Why whole life policies are a safe way to store your money- How to access money from your policy- Practical ways to use your policy in every day lifeLearn more about IBCanada Group here: https://ibcanadagroup.com/

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Senator Leo Housakos. Leo was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in 2008.Leo is Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, which is overseeing Bill C-11, a very controversial act that will grant the federal government overreaching power and control over the online content that Canadians consume.We talk in great detail about the concerns of Bill C-11, and the impacts it would have on Canadians, as well as the following other topics:- The reasons why C-11 is flawed and dangerous for all Canadians- Dangers of censoring voices with C-11- Why government leaders are purposely creating more division between Canadians- The $54 million ArriveCan disaster, and wasted spending in government- Why it's time for new leadership in CanadaFollow Senator Leo Housakos on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenatorHousakos

Matthew Diemer is a former Democratic Congressional Nominee, in Ohio’s 7th district. Other than being involved in politics, he’s also an advocate and proponent for bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology.I commend Matthew for having such an open and transparent dialogue about many important topics that many people in politics usually shy away from.There are several topics we discuss in detail, including:- How blockchain technology can help improve online privacy- Ideas on how bitcoin should be regulated- Government control and the monetary supply- How bitcoin could be a solution to this unsustainable monetary system- The dangers of CBDC in society- Why people should not take freedoms for granted- Growing division in society and potential solutionsLearn more about Matthew Diemer: diemerforcongress.com

This is a conversation with Charles Fry, a software-focused entrepreneur who has launched and grown successful companies in e-commerce, logistics and IT services. He owns Code Éxitos, a resource-based service that helps entrepreneurs develop software and other tech products.I'm currently in the process of developing my second SaaS startup as a non-technical founder. However, this is the first time being directly involved in the entire development process, from start to finish.So, in this conversation, I pick the brain of Charles about everything a non-technical founder needs to know and understand about developing a SaaS product, including:- What's required after you've mapped out your idea- The first hires you need to make to start building your product- The pros/cons of Specialized Developers vs Full-Stack Developers- The most popular languages developers are using today- How to think about server infrastructure and what to consider- Recommendations and suggestions on how to hire developersLearn more about

Get access to Hard Knock SaaS here: https://www.hardknocksaas.com/For those who know, I’m in the process of building up my second bootstrapped SaaS (first one was recently acquired). Although I’m still relatively early in the process, I’ve been thinking about future tools and apps to run the business. This is where I stumbled on Outseta.Outseta is an all-in-one software that combines all of the fundamental and necessary tools to run a SaaS company - payment processing, CRM, email marketing and customer support.I thought the product looked great and sounded extremely valuable to new SaaS companies, so I reached out to Geoff Roberts, one of the founders.This was a really fun, open and transparent conversation. Anyone running a SaaS startup will find this extremely valuable. We covered several topics, including:- The struggles and grind in the first years of growing Outseta- How Outseta got it’s first 100 clients- The difficulties of marketing a product that can serve a broad audience- The fundamental tools that

The Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) is one of the very few subjects that I’m eager to share with as many people as possible. This was a very all-encompassing conversation with Michael Sidhu, a veteran with 26 years in the financial industry, and an IBC Practitioner. If you’re concerned about the monetary system, debasement of currencies, and believe you should be in control of your wealth, this will be a great conversation listen to. We speak about several topics pertaining to IBC and the economy, including:- What’s wrong with the current monetary system- How IBC mitigates your exposure to inflation and uncertain market conditions - The difference between insurance companies and banks- How insurance companies invest their capital- Why bitcoin is a good hedge against the debasement of currency- How individuals and businesses can leverage their policies for tax advantages Learn more about the Infinite Banking Concept at https://ibcanadagroup.com/

Benjamin J. Dichter was the official spokesperson and one of the organizers for the Freedom Convoy, a movement that shook up the entire world in the winter of 2022.The Freedom Convoy was a protest organized by truckers in Canada, and morphed into a global movement of millions of people around the world, fighting back against overreaching government mandates.BJ is the author of “Honking for Freedom”, a book that provides an inside look into what really happened inside the Freedom Convoy.In this conversation, we cover topics including:- The motivations to get involved in the Freedom Convoy- Dealing with the global spotlight and mainstream media- Reasons for increased desire in government control- Central Bank Digital Currencies, and the impacts- How the people can take back control from bureaucrats Order “Honking for Freedom”: https://honkingforfreedom.com/Follow BJ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BJdichter