In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Dan Abel Jr., the Chief Chocolate Officer of Bissinger’s Chocolate.

Dan shares how his family grew up immersed in the candy business—starting from a small family-run operation in 1981 to acquiring and leading the iconic Bissinger’s brand today. Dan walks us through their unique family dynamic, how each sibling found their place in the business, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of a chocolate kitchen—from caramel science to flavor innovation and why making candy is as much art as it is chemistry.

Dan also dives into the story behind Bissinger’s newest luxury product, the 1668 Collection, a meticulously designed line of shell-molded confections inspired by the brand’s royal French heritage. With flavors like cinnamon pear caramel and blood orange truffles, Dan describes how he personally locked himself in the R&D lab to bring this vision to life. Dan also touches on seasonal creativity, overlooked fruits like pears, why certain candies have stood the test of time, and what makes Bissinger’s chocolate different from the rest. It’s a delicious blend of tradition, innovation, and entrepreneurial storytelling—perfect for anyone curious about the business of chocolate.

Step inside the kitchen of Bissinger’s as Dan Abel Jr. shares the flavors, stories, and craftsmanship that define the brand in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
http://www.bissingers.com


Dan Abel Jr.'s LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-abel-jr-15541765/

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
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In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Dakin, President and CEO of Keriton.

Adam’s entrepreneurial journey starts with selling hats and t-shirts in college before building multiple venture-backed startups and leading health tech investments at DreamIt Ventures. When Keriton’s investors seek new leadership, Adam steps in with a plan to stabilize finances, restructure the team, bring sales and marketing in-house, and close key enterprise healthcare deals. His approach pays off, securing major wins like a 32-hospital Intermountain Healthcare partnership that doubles the company’s size. Adam reflects on the challenges of selling into complex healthcare systems, the importance of trust and customization in enterprise sales, and why patient safety leaves no room for “good enough” in medical software.

Adam explains the critical safety issues hospitals face when tracking and delivering the correct mother’s milk or formula to vulnerable infants. A single mix-up can lead to disease transmission, allergic reactions, or other severe complications, triggering months of testing and follow-up. Keriton’s platform eliminates these risks by tracking every bottle’s location, contents, ownership, and expiration date, preventing misfeeds and expired milk from reaching patients. Adam shares how his personal experience with a child in the NICU and hearing passionate feedback from nurses deepened his commitment to the mission.

Explore Adam Daikin’s mission to merge business savvy with infant safety in this episode of The First Customer!

Guest Info:
Keriton
https://www.keriton.com


Adam Daikin's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamdakin/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Paul Byrne, President of Razoyo, a Texas-based custom software development company.

Paul shared how growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Wichita, Kansas—where his mom ran a fabric shop and his dad tinkered with tech ventures—planted the seeds for his own journey. We discussed how the concept of entrepreneurship has evolved from packing circuit boards around kitchen tables to building viral businesses on TikTok, like his daughter recently did. Paul also highlighted how today's lower barriers to entry create exciting possibilities for aspiring founders, especially those balancing family and other commitments.

Paul also walked us through the early days of Razoyo, from helping transform a data-entry business to landing eBay as one of their first clients. He explained how the company now specializes in rescuing struggling software systems, refining prototypes, and building scalable custom applications. Referrals and platform partnerships drive most of Razoyo’s business, and Paul emphasized the importance of nurturing relationships with strategic partners over time. He also shared advice for entrepreneurs on choosing a niche—even in unfamiliar industries—by being curious, asking the right questions, and embracing discomfort.

Discover Paul Byrne’s story of quiet grit, clever pivots, and building Razoyo from the ground up in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Razoyo
http://razoyo.com

Paul Byrne's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pwbyrne/

Want to be a guest on The First Customer? Send Jay Aigner a message on PodMatch here.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/