EPISODE 9

Megan Berry—architect, pop-up pioneer, and Mentors Fund partner—shows DTC founders how to move from clicks to bricks without torching cash. She explains her 8-foot-by-50-square-foot kiosk “permit hack,” the KPIs (unaided brand awareness, repeat engagement, dwell-time hot spots) that justify a multimillion-dollar flagship, and why post-COVID stores should feel like friction-free showrooms, not inventory caves. The talk digs into festival activations, cadence-matched merchandising, omni-channel partnerships that now include hotels and Pilates studios, AI-powered journey tracking, and practical founder advice on conserving runway while staying crazy-creative.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Permit Hack & Pop-Up Spark

06:46 – KPIs That Green-Light a Flagship

12:51 – Post-COVID, Low-Friction Store Design

19:17 – Omnichannel Expansion & Partnerships

26:25 – AI, Cash Efficiency & Founder Advice

LINKS

Connect with Megan Berry

LinkedIn

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LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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EPISODE 8

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Ritwik Pavan joins Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton to explore the rise of AI-first product design and its profound implications on consumer hardware, smart cities, and modular construction. They discuss the essential strategies founders need to adopt, including the importance of hyper-personalization, overcoming challenges in training data, untapped opportunities in lifestyle and public safety sectors, and why AI is turning hardware into recurring revenue businesses.

CHAPTERS

00:34 – What It Means to Build AI-First

03:53 – Ritwik’s Journey and AI Consumer Innovations

08:41 – Smart Cities, AI, and the Future of Urban Life

17:08 – Modular Construction and AI’s Role in Housing

22:20 – Underrated Opportunities: Lifestyle and Public Safety

LINKS

Connect with Ritwik Pavan

Hardware Harold • LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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LinkedIn • X/Twitter

EPISODE 7

In this episode, seasoned marketing leader Peter Farago shares zero-to-one marketing insights for early-stage startups, emphasizing empathy, iterative messaging, and organic inbound strategies. Drawing on experiences from Flurry, Acompli, and RunLLM, Peter highlights the importance of a clear value proposition, building brand credibility, and leveraging customer feedback loops. He also addresses AI’s evolving role in marketing, reassuring listeners that AI won’t replace jobs but will reshape how marketers operate. Packed with tangible advice, this conversation offers a roadmap for founders seeking to refine their product, storytelling, and growth approach in crowded markets.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introducing Peter Farago and the Power of Empathy

01:34 – Zero-to-One Marketing Fundamentals

08:03 – Lessons from Acompli’s Early Growth

16:42 – Leveraging Customer Feedback and Iteration

29:04 – AI’s Evolving Role in Marketing

LINKS

Connect with Peter Farago

runllm.com • LinkedIn • X/Twitter • Podcast

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Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn • X/Twitter

Connect with Jason

LinkedIn • X/Twitter