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 and rewards of building "missionary" companies. Barak also shares insights on navigating the "idea maze" and the importance of aligning passion...

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. Learn how Pando has transformed the landscape of career risk management and what the future holds for this innovative business model. Join Our...

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 through Horseplay Ventures and his efforts to support the LGBTQ+ founder community. Tune in for insights on business growth, exit strategies, and...

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. Tune in for an insightful conversation on growing a company with limited resources and timing your exit for maximum gain. Join Our Community:...

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 industry. With a mix of humor and insight, Gil and Connor explore the highs and lows of entrepreneurial ventures, leaving listeners with valuable lessons...

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 founding Snap Interactive, leveraging Facebook's app platform, and the unexpected challenges of taking a company public. Learn how his passion for...

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 vibrant community, the strategic decisions behind membership offerings, and his vision for combining sports with wellness modalities like...

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 uncovering and optimizing tax incentives and credits for businesses. Tune in for insights on entrepreneurship, the music industry's data revolution, and the...

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-game advertising, to his pivot into augmented reality and computer vision technology. Learn about his insights into the startup ecosystem, the...

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. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and unique...

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 discusses Hustle Fund's unique investment approach and their flagship event Camp Hustle which aims to build meaningful connections. This candid...

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 growth and the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs after an exit, this podcast offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to navigate the next...

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 the importance of pursuing passion projects. He also discusses his current approach to building companies and investing through his informal...

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 making a positive impact and his personal mission to help others heal strained family relationships. Filled with valuable insights and lessons...

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, the future of marketing, and the challenges of finding product-market fit with his new venture, StoryArb. Filled with relatable stories and...

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 founders with the M&A and fundraising guidance he wished he had. The two discuss the rise of eSports in schools, navigating the stresses of being an...

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. Tune in for valuable insights and lessons learned from a founder who's been in the trenches. 00:00:00 - Intro00:05:07 - The Power of a Big, Bold...

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-changing landscape of social media. Packed with valuable insights on leveraging celebrity partnerships, adapting to data restrictions, and the future of...

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 investment in humanoid robotics and the acquisition of the iconic Santa Monica Pier. 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:00 - Junebug's Origins00:04:05 - Launching...

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 the future of work in an era of AI and globalization. He also shares insights on running a VC-backed vs. bootstrapped company, the challenges of...

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 about bridging gaps, overcoming the naysayers, and transforming challenges into triumphs. We're not just sharing her success story; we're diving...

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, and the unexpected paths of entrepreneurship, as well as a peek into his next venture, revolutionizing wellness and beyond. [00:00:00]...

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 episodes of "Made It with Connor Tomkies"  Dive into an enlightening conversation with Aaron White, a tech visionary who recently sold two...

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 industry along the way. This episode offers a unique look into the strategies, mindset, and resilience required to turn visionary ideas into...