What happens when a $180,000 M&A attorney has a panic attack on the way to work and throws away his legal career for escape rooms? Raleigh Williams built Alcatraz Escape Games from zero to a $26 million exit across four entertainment brands in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. After leaving a prestigious law firm against his father's wishes, Raleigh spent two years in his in-laws' basement before creating an entertainment empire. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Raleigh's transformation from self-employed business owner to asset builder, including the brutal reality of being told his profitable business was "worth zero" by strategic buyers. Raleigh shares insights on the three stages of entrepreneurship, surviving COVID with $350,000 monthly rent obligations, and why he represented himself through nine transactions instead of using investment bankers. He reveals the mindset shifts required to build a sell-able business and his current work helping entrepreneurs through exitOS and his book "The Creator's Call." Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/ Follow Raleigh Williams: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raleigh-williams/ Book: The Creator's Call on Amazon Alcatraz Escape Games: https://alcatrazescapegames.com/ Website: https://exitos.io

What happens when a former security company CEO discovers a protein bar so good his kids beg for it daily? Jason Christensen went from teaching business students to building Blue Unicorn, a protein bar brand growing 25% month-over-month with 50% subscription sales. After selling his first company to private equity and spending five years as a BYU professor, Jason stumbled into the food industry when he tasted Dr. Luke Tolley's "unicorn" creation - a fluffy protein bar with impossible nutrition that actually tastes like dessert. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper dives into Jason's transition from service-based business to consumer products, including the nightmare of promising 3,000 bars before knowing how to make them and the expensive lessons of manufacturing mistakes. Jason shares insights on building subscription-based food businesses, leveraging university partnerships for talent, and the emotional decision to leave comfortable retirement for the startup grind. He reveals why parents hide Blue Unicorn bars from their kids and his strategy for geographic retail expansion across western states. Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/ Follow Jason Christensen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-christensen-9808b9/ Follow Luke Tolley: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-tolley-4900a26/ Follow Blue Unicorn: Website: https://www.blueunicorn.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueunicornofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueunicornmagic/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blueunicornofficial

What happens when a successful NYC model loses everything, battles depression, and discovers her life purpose through a rescue horse? Natalia Graf-Anders transformed her darkest moment into a multi-million dollar equestrian empire that's revolutionizing how women see themselves in riding apparel. After years of modeling and corporate sales left her empty and dependent on Adderall, Natalia moved back home with nothing but found healing through horses. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper explores Natalia's journey from three products in her apartment to building Sync Equestrian into a business targeting $5-6 million this year, up from $2.1 million last year. Natalia reveals her psychology-based advertising strategies, the manifestation practices that fuel her success, and her approach to building an empowerment-focused brand that sets trends instead of following them. She shares insights on nervous system training for money mindset, the importance of trusting business intuition, and scaling from solo founder to leading a team while maintaining authentic brand messaging. Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/ Follow Natalia Graf-Anders: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliaornatascha/ Follow Sync Equestrian: Website: https://syncequestrian.com/ https://www.sync-academy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syncequestrian/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/syncequestrian

What if you could legally exclude up to $10 million from taxes when selling your startup? Richard Levychin from Galleros Robinson breaks down the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Section 1202 tax code that most founders overlook until it's too late. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Richard explains how proper entity structure and timing can save entrepreneurs millions during exit events, sharing real cases where clients turned $100K investments into $9 million payouts. Stuart Draper explores the critical setup requirements, five year holding periods, and conversion strategies for LLCs and S-Corps looking to qualify. From Delaware C-Corporation benefits to advanced tax mitigation techniques rated on a 1 to 10 risk scale, this conversation delivers actionable insights for companies in their growth stage. Richard also reveals common due diligence pitfalls that kill deals and why having the right advisory team makes the difference between keeping your wealth and losing it to Uncle Sam. Follow Richard Levychin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-levychin-cpa-cgma-b22386/ Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://www.startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What separates fundable startups from those that never attract angel investment? Akbar Jaffer, angel investor and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Grand Canyon University, has evaluated hundreds of startups through his nine-company founding experience at Snapfish, ZorroSign, and other ventures. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Akbar reveals his systematic 6-point investment criteria that determines whether he writes a check or walks away. Stuart explores Akbar's methodology for assessing market position, founder expertise, and team composition, plus his requirement that founders have skin-in-the-game through personal financial investment. Akbar explains his preference for three-founder teams over solo entrepreneurs or larger groups, shares examples of world-changing startups that attracted his investment, and discusses the scaling potential indicators that signal strong exit opportunities for angel investors. Follow Akbar Jaffer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akbarjaffer/ Website: https://marketing-qa.com/ Snapfish: https://www.snapfish.com/home Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

Ryan Petersen transforms startup planning by using ChatGPT as his business development partner for Swintros, a new job platform technology. In this episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper watches as Ryan generates a complete business plan in real time using just one simple prompt to ChatGPT 4.0. The AI instantly creates executive summaries, market analysis, financial projections, and go-to-market strategies based on previous conversations Ryan had with the system. Stuart and Ryan show live adjustments to pricing models and financial forecasts, revealing exactly what's possible when you feed AI the right information upfront. Ryan shares his approach to working with AI rather than against it, emphasizing that tools like ChatGPT excel at business validation and identifying gaps entrepreneurs might miss. Building a startup in 2025 has never been more accessible, and this episode proves that comprehensive business planning no longer requires extensive spreadsheet knowledge or market research skills. Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What happens when chips on your shoulder fuel two successful exits but leave you empty at the finish line? Tom Telford sold his institutional finance companies for eight figures by age 37, only to discover his anger-driven motivation vanished the moment he achieved financial freedom. In this episode of Startups with Stu with host Stuart Draper, Tom Telford, shares his transformation from proving doubters wrong to building LÉVO Mind Care with three women partners focused on the biological side of mental health treatment. Stuart Draper explores Tom's disciplined goal-setting approach that turned a struggling student with ADHD into a serial entrepreneur, his strategic pivot from banking to credit unions during the 2008 crisis, and the prayer-based mentorship philosophy that connected him with industry giants. Tom reveals the biopsychosocial model of mental health care, explains why physical assessment often precedes therapy, and discusses his mission to become the most generous mental health business owner ever while elevating women leaders in healthcare. Follow Tom Telford: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-telford-2168514/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommystackroom/ Company Website: https://levomind.com/ Follow Startups with Stu: Website: https://startupswithstu.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupsWithStu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StartupswithStu/ Follow Stuart Draper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draperstu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draperstu/

What happens when a small-town hairdresser discovers her clients need more than just a haircut? Tami Hymas built five successful businesses in rural Idaho, but her biggest venture yet tackles childhood emotional wellness through cartoon characters that help kids identify and process their feelings. In this episode of StartUps with Stu, Tami shares her journey from salon owner to startup founder, revealing how she invested $500,000 to create the InUPowers program now being tested in juvenile detention centers and schools. Stuart Draper dives deep into Tami's mission-driven approach, exploring the challenges of scaling an education technology business beyond local markets. From government contracts to classroom management tools, this conversation unpacks the reality of building a business that aims to heal young minds while generating sustainable revenue. Tami's story demonstrates that sometimes the most unexpected entrepreneurs create the most needed solutions.

What does it take to build a $56 million company after losing everything twice? Jeremy Barker, founder of Murphy Door, shares his incredible journey from making his first $20 million at 21, going bankrupt, and living in his car for exactly one year to building the Kleenex brand of hidden doors. In this episode, Jeremy reveals how he created an entirely new product category from scratch while working as a full-time firefighter, turning a simple hardware concept into a monopoly business that's projected to hit $109 million by 2027. He breaks down the mental shift that saved his life during his darkest moments, why he chose domestic manufacturing over cheap imports, and his contrarian approach to scaling without taking investor money. Jeremy also unveils Pure Brand, his revolutionary customer-to-customer sales platform that converts prospects at 47% compared to traditional website conversion rates of 0.24%. His hard-earned wisdom about resilience, the dangers of early success, and building authentic value over flashy signaling makes this essential listening for any entrepreneur facing setbacks or looking to create a category-defining business. Connect with Jeremy Barker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-barker-02007648/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbarker482/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyBarker482 Follow Murphy Door: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-murphy-door/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphydoor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@murphydoor Twitter/X: https://x.com/murphydoor

What started as a $500 college fund goal turned into a frozen custard empire spanning multiple states. Jessica Mortensen shares her unexpected journey from buying a college student's yellow trailer business for $40,000 to building Karie Anne's Frozen Desserts into a thriving franchise operation. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Jessica reveals the pivotal moments that transformed her "summer side gig" mindset into a serious growth strategy, including the leap from eight seasonal trailers to year-round brick-and-mortar locations. She breaks down the harsh realities of franchising - from the massive upfront costs to finding franchisees who won't let high schoolers run their operations unsupervised. Jessica opens up about the internal struggle between her competitive drive and family priorities, sharing why she's considering either bringing on a strategic partner or leveraging debt to reach her next growth phase. Her transparent approach to business challenges, combined with practical insights about managing seasonal cash flow and building systems that work across multiple locations, makes this essential listening for anyone considering franchising or building a family business. Jessica's story proves that sometimes the best business opportunities come disguised as small investments that "feel right." Connect with Jessica Mortensen: LinkedIn: @jessica-mortensen Instagram: @karieannesdesserts Website: karieannes.com

Standing alone in her parents' kitchen making a quesadilla, Whitney Rigby heard a male voice tell her to "create magnetic hair extensions" - and nobody else was home. Nine years later, that supernatural moment has transformed into the world's first magnetic hair extension company, with investors begging to get in and trade shows selling out instantly. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Whitney reveals how she went from aspiring celebrity hairstylist to bootstrapped entrepreneur while raising four kids, including the wild chain of "coincidences" that led a multi-million dollar CEO to mentor her after her father-in-law randomly installed blinds at his house. Host Stuart Draper dives deep into the strategic decisions that matter most - why Whitney turned down Shark Tank when pregnant, how she survived her husband losing his job twice during development, and the real reason it took six years to perfect a product that seemed simple. The conversation gets tactical when Stuart breaks down exactly why Whitney needs to raise money now, the difference between debt and equity financing, and how inventory challenges are actually the best problem to have. For entrepreneurs wondering how to balance family life with startup dreams, this episode offers a blueprint for building something meaningful without sacrificing what matters most.

Xan Marcucci rejected a $500,000 corporate offer to start Confetti Recruiting as a summer project while caring for her young children. What began with a surprise $20,000 commission check evolved into a thriving business aligned with her family priorities. Xan shares an unconventional perspective, suggesting aspiring entrepreneurs gain corporate experience first and explaining her choice to prioritize flexibility over aggressive growth. She talks about balancing her natural competitiveness with family needs, the wisdom behind bootstrapping, and the advantages of partnership with someone who has different risk tolerance. Sales professionals considering entrepreneurship will appreciate her straightforward assessment of business ownership challenges. Xan presents success as personal freedom and family time rather than maximizing revenue, offering listeners a refreshing alternative to typical startup narratives.

While most entrepreneurs struggle with expensive lead generation, 24-year-old Derek Bock discovered a networking strategy that costs nothing but delivers warm leads directly to your inbox. Starting with social media work for a Nebraska gym during COVID, Bock has built multiple ventures and now runs The Doers Podcast, which he strategically uses as his primary business development tool. Bock shares why he chose the lifestyle entrepreneur path over chasing unicorn status, how he generates qualified prospects through strategic conversations, and why he believes podcasting outperforms traditional marketing channels. Having networked his way from college athlete to serial founder, he breaks down the exact framework that transforms podcast guests into business opportunities. Bock also reveals his system for managing 30+ fleshed-out business ideas while maintaining laser focus on current ventures. This episode delivers actionable insights for young founders seeking sustainable growth without venture capital pressure, plus the networking blueprint that can accelerate any entrepreneur's trajectory regardless of age or experience level. Connect with Derek Bock: Instagram: @thederekbock Gmail: dereknbock@gmail.com LinkedIn: Derek Bock

"I magically carve out hours for my day. So some days I have to start at 4 a.m." This is how Akvile DeFazio, who fled Lithuania during the Cold War with just a wooden crate, manages to run a thriving social media advertising agency while raising a kindergartner. In a decade of business, she's achieved something almost unheard of: she's never been fired by a single client. Starting with zero sales experience and crippling stage fright, Akvile transformed herself from a timid freelancer into a confident agency owner who keynotes major conferences. Her secret? A revolutionary approach that shifted her business model during COVID, turning consulting into 60% of her revenue stream while working fewer hours than traditional account management. After shadowing a mentor who handed over half her clients, Akvile discovered that building genuine relationships trumps aggressive sales tactics every time. She reveals her exact blueprint for creating a lifestyle business that generates serious revenue without requiring a large team, plus the unconventional parental coverage program that allowed her to take real maternity leave as a founder. This episode is a goldmine for anyone wanting to build a sustainable, profitable business while maintaining work-life balance and never compromising on family time.

In a recent episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper, Join us as we explore the innovative journey of Subitt.io, a startup that's transforming how small businesses implement subscription models to drive customer retention. Founder Nick Hepworth shares his insights on building a platform that makes subscription services accessible to mom-and-pop shops, discussing the challenges of educating both businesses and customers while navigating the complex world of local commerce. From his beginnings in Mississippi to managing 50 businesses with 1600 MRR, Hepworth reveals the strategic decisions that led to early traction. The conversation delves into the importance of focusing on success stories rather than scale, the art of building trust with small business owners, and the critical balance between growth and profitability. This deep dive offers valuable lessons for any entrepreneur looking to disrupt traditional business models and create meaningful impact in local communities.

Learn how SBA loans can transform your business dreams as Craig Sherle, VP of SBA Lending at Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) with 25 years of small business lending experience, explains exactly how to get financing when other lenders reject you. These government-backed loans (covering 75-85% of the risk) have helped numerous employees become owners - like the restaurant manager who purchased multiple franchise locations and continues expanding. Craig shares specific requirements lenders evaluate, why buying an existing business increases your approval odds, and which free local resources will strengthen your application. With the "silver wave" of Baby Boomer business owners retiring, unprecedented buying opportunities are emerging across America. This episode gives you the practical financial knowledge to join the ranks of successful buyers in what was recently named among the top 5 entrepreneurial paths to wealth building.

In this episode, we sit down with James Reber who transformed his frustration with torn rugby jerseys into a thriving custom sports apparel business. Starting with just 50 misspelled rugby balls, James now celebrates breaking six figures in Q1 2025—more than his entire previous year's revenue. He shares the exact moment he received his first $72 check and why he still keeps it as a reminder of his entrepreneurial journey. When unexpected layoffs pushed him to go all-in on his side hustle, James found success by focusing on high-quality products and exceptional customer service for niche sports markets. Listen as he explains his strategy for transitioning from a part-time venture to a full-time business with big ambitions, including his vision for a potential $25 million exit. This conversation offers practical insights about manufacturing challenges, family support, and building an effective team of six contractors who are expanding Rebellion Sports across the country.

Meet Mak Grgic, founder of Notey's World, who's tackling a universal challenge: 90% of people who try learning guitar eventually quit. In this investment pitch, Mak showcases how his Techstars-backed startup transforms musical instruments into actual game controllers, creating an addictive learning experience that's seeing unprecedented user retention—67% at day 90 compared to the industry's measly 2%. With $207,000 in first-year revenue and school partnerships already spanning multiple states, Notey's custom AI technology adapts to each student's specific learning gaps. Parents are witnessing months of progress in just weeks as children suddenly can't wait to practice. The platform's proprietary automatic level generator can transform any song into a personalized game world, complete with notes that control jumping blimps and characters avoiding obstacles. With Grammy artists like Stewart Copeland from The Police signing on as affiliates, Mak explains why this $8 million valuation seed round might be your chance to join the reinvention of music education.

What happens when three executives who built a million-dollar EdTech company reunite to share their unfiltered startup journey? In this 30th episode of Startups with Stu, founder Stuart Draper and his former executive team Trevor Erickson and Brandon Winter pull back the curtain on their meteoric rise from working out of their homes to becoming a global education powerhouse. The trio tackles head-on questions about validating business ideas, managing side hustles while growing a company, and knowing when you've finally broken through the "will we fail?" ceiling. They share specific strategies they used to position their product as "first in the world" and how they leveraged this unique advantage to fuel explosive growth. Stuart reveals his fundraising mistakes that actually turned into blessings, while Brandon explains why college students selling to professors became their secret weapon. This rare conversation between founders who succeeded together offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage - from spotting market opportunities to building a team that embraces an entrepreneurial mindset.

McKay Francis never planned to battle the SEC or catch Grant Cardone's attention when he launched Casa Shares, the investing platform letting broke college students buy real estate for just $10 per share. This episode of Startups with Stu unveils how Casa Shares secured a game-changing federal exemption allowing non-millionaires to invest in property, something 90% of Americans couldn't legally do before. McKay shares his transformation from late-night side-hustler to founder raising $2.5 million while rejecting venture capital offers that would have meant "working until 2am under their rules." His mission began after watching dentists turn $500,000 salaries into "tens of millions" through real estate investments while average Americans got locked out. Now Casa Shares users earn quarterly dividends, property appreciation, and tax benefits without needing $300,000 starter funds. With property values doubling in recent years, McKay explains why investors should build their "snowball effect" portfolio starting at 18 instead of the typical age 46, potentially turning small investments into millions through earlier compounding.