New York Launch Pod: A Podcast Highlighting New Start-Ups, Businesses, and Openings in the New York City Area (NY Launch Pod)
Hal Coopersmith, Bull Path Media Inc. (@NYLaunchPod)
2016 NEW YORK PRESS CLUB AWARD FOR BEST PODCAST!
Highlighting start-ups, disruptors, innovators, and other nontraditional businesses in the New York City area, the New York Launch Pod is a monthly podcast featuring conversations with a diverse group of entrepreneurs, who share their experiences and insights building new businesses in and around the Big Apple. From business strategy, to dealing with logistical and financial obstacles, to the sometimes painful growth process, the podcast covers key issues facing entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Hosted by Hal Coopersmith, a practicing attorney in New York City, the podcast is designed to address the unique opportunities...
Episode 91: Yotam Cohen, CEO & Co-Founder Founder of Daisy Property Management
Yotam Cohen, the visionary founder of Daisy Property Management, steps on to the New York Launch Pod. Prepare to be inspired as Yotam shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he is reshaping the landscape of real estate operations through innovative technology.
In this insightful conversation, Yotam introduces us to the transformative power of Daisy Property Management. Discover how their state-of-the-art platform leverages cutting-edge technology to streamline and optimize property management
How You Doin’? Vol 15: JoAnna Hartzmark, Founder of Revelle
JoAnna Hartzmark, steps back on the New York Launch Pod to discuss the growth of Revelle. Revelle is a groundbreaking platform reshaping the way women shop for jeans. In this engaging conversation, JoAnna takes us through the incredible journey of Revelle’s transformation over the past year.
Discover how Revelle is tackling the age-old problem of finding clothes that fit perfectly without the frustrations of inconsistent size charts and multiple returns. JoAnna shares how Revelle’s algorithmic t
How You Doin’? Vol 14: Tximista Lizarazu, Co-Founder and CEO of Fraîche
Tximista Lizarazu, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fraîche steps back on to the New York Launch Pod. Since the last time Tximista was on the podcast, a lot has changed for Fraîche . Fraîche is an innovative vending machine that delivers fresh food to offices, catering to companies as they return to the office and seek to attract talent. Tximista explains that Fraîche has experienced tremendous growth, multiplying their revenue by ten in just nine months. They have achieved this with a small sales team
Episode 91: Drew Fabrikant, Co-Founder and CEO of Scout
Looking to find the ideal customer? Scout helps with just that by engaging you with your ideal customers 10x faster using AI. With a focus on real estate transactions, Scout has a database of over 300M profiles and can automate an entire outreach in just seconds. For individuals and businesses, this can not only save valuable time but also helps increase productivity. Find out how Drew Fabrikant and his team at Scout are saving their clients time, increasing their productivity, and increasing t
Episode 90: Zach Colonder, Co-Founder and CEO of Grazzee
In this day and age who wouldn’t like the benefit of not having to stand in a line at the bank to draw money or risk that your building’s service staff might not receive their holiday tip? Zach Colonder realized this gap in the market and thought of a way to make this process better and simpler by creating Grazzee and now tipping has never being more convenient. Find out how Zach thought of this business opportunity, how he is overcoming the challenges of gaining traction in the market and how t
Episode 89: Marco Shalma, Co-Founder and CEO of MASC Hospitality Group
Night markets are exciting local events that showcase local vendors.But they weren’t always that way. Our guest in this episode, MarcoShalma, speaks about how he started the Bronx Night Market, from whathe considered a side gig into a full time company, MASC HospitalityGroup.Find out how Marco overcame the challenges of the pandemic, andhow he created a night market in the Yankee Stadium, parking lot, anda whole lot more.
Episode 88: Tximista Lizarazu, Co-Founder and CEO of Fraîche
Let’s face it, food in the office isn’t that great. When you are in the office, the lunch repetoir is familiar salads and sandwiches, having to pick up food or paying for delivery fees. Our guest in this episode, Tximista Lizarazu, thought that the same old song needed to change. He came up with Fraiche an innovative vending machine that brings top quality local New York City restaurants straight into the office without having to pay or wait for delivery. After facing challengs during Covid,
Episode 87: Rebroadcast of Jonathan Rosen, Co-Founder of NY Forever.
Jonathan Rosen, Co-Founder of NY Forever, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his celebrity studded and corporate sponsored non-profit initiative which is encouraging New Yorkers to commit to New York City, support our front line workers and give what you can to keep the city strong.
As the successful founder of a PR company, BerlinRosen, and a New Yorker for over 20 years, Jonathan has seen the way the city has been hurting since the Covid-19 pandemic started last year. In order to s
Episode 86: Lindsay Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Super
Lindsay Liu, Founder of Super, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her new property management platform. Lindsay was on the board of her own Co-Op and was frustrated by the way the building was operating (and not because of the people).
Lindsay’s building was using a hodgepodge of software (if any), sending out physical mailings, and keeping track of important building documents on Lindsay’s own personal Google Drive. Lindsay did some research and found out that her building wasn’t
How You Doin’? Vol 13: Ben Gordon and Matt Bachmann, Co-Founders of Wandering Bear Coffee
Ben Gordon and Matt Bachmann, co-founders of Wandering Bear Coffee Co. step back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their cold brewed coffee brand. We first spoke to Ben and Matt in our fourth episode and in the 7 years since we spoke with them their brand has grown exponentially and taken on significant investment. But it hasn’t been easy. Wandering Bear had to pivot during the pandemic to cater to consumers rather than large corporate tenants. Find out how on this episode of How You
Episode 85: Katya Sverdlov, Co-Founder of JelikaLite
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), autism rates are growing. By one estimate, autism now affects 1 in 44 children. Families who have children with autism have been looking for an effective therapy, often without success. Enter JelikaLite. Katya Sverdlov wanted a better treatment for autistic children so she teamed up with Dr. Eugenia Steingold to create a therapeutic wearable device that combines non-invasive brain stimulation with infrared light, EEG sensors
Episode 84: Craig Karger, Founder of Wrist Enthusiast
In this episode we go behind wristwatches, wristwatch culture and the wristwatch business with Craig Carger, Founder of Wrist Enthusiast. But Wrist Enthusiast isn’t just the name of Craig’s blog and Instagram page, it’s a way of life for Craig. Craig’s passion around watches led him to start an Instagram page that currently has over 300,000 followers and a blog with an engaged and active readership. Now Craig has a voice in the watch industry itself. But what started as a side hustle hasn’t b
Episode 83: JoAnna Hartzmark, Founder of Revelle
Why is it so hard to find a pair of jeans that fit properly? That’s the question that JoAnna Hartzmark, Founder of Revelle set out to solve. The result: a data driven platform that pairs women with brands that will fit well. Best part of all, it’s free for the users.
Different brands are cut to different shapes, which are usually based from a “fit model“ and conformed to a linear standard. Now with many brands in existence, there was no easy way to find the right shape. Enter Revelle.
Liste
Episode 82: Tyler Burnett, Co-Founder of Wally
Going to the dentist isn’t fun…and that’s not necessarily because of what the dentist is doing to your teeth. Dentists haven’t historically been a patient centered experience. The process has been opaque and difficult. Our guest, Tyler Burnett, Co-Founder of Wally wanted to change that (which may or may not have been related to being falsely diagnosed with eight cavities).
In this episode we talk about what dentists have been doing wrong, how Wally wants to build a better experience, and much m
How You Doin’? Vol 12: David Suk, Co-Founder and CEO of Saint Luna Moonshine
In this episode of How You Doin’? we catch up with David Suk, Co-Founder and CEO of Saint Luna moonshine. We first spoke with David in January of 2020 and since then David has taken aggressive steps to grow his brand and business. Listen to the episode to find out more!
Episode 81: Rebroadcast of 2017 Episode A Summer Inside NFTE
Rebroadcast of Episode 39: A Summer Inside NFTE, original airdate December 28, 2017.
This summer we took an inside look at the New York office of the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship, also known as NFTE. NFTE is a non-profit organization providing educational entrepreneurship training to high school students from low-income, urban communities.
This podcast is the story of high school students throughout their journey through an eight-week intensive training course over the summer. They ar
How You Doin’? Vol 11: Matt Bennett, Founder of Dreams Aren’t This Good
What’s it like to grow a salsa brand? We check back in with Matt Bennett, Founder of Dreams Aren’t This Good Salsa. We first spoke to Matt in 2019 when he was just starting off. Since then, Matt has developed a proprietary chip bag, several new flavors, and began selling on Amazon. However, things haven’t been easy and we hear from Matt about his challenges in growing the brand and raising money.
Episode 80: Elia Wolberger, Founder of Feed Your Sister
New Yorkers are eating all wrong! That’s according to Elia Wolberger, Founder of Feed Your Sister. Elia is a private chef who saw New Yorkers had more in their pantries than they thought, yet still had high delivery and grocery bills. The solution according to Elia is Plan, Prep, Plate.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be hard, but a lot of New Yorkers just don’t know how to do it effectively. In this episode we speak about what New Yorkers can do to eat more healthfully and lower their food cos
How You Doin’? Vol 10: Hannah Weitzer and BC of Seachange Collective
Social justice is in the news these days. Whether it’s resulting from the pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement, or issues related to access, social justice is on the forefront of the minds of a lot of New Yorkers.Who better to check in with than Seachange Collective, our guest in Episode 56.
Seachange Collective has grown since we first spoke to them in 2019. In this episode, we speak about what social justice issues Seachange Collective is tackling, the organizations they are working with,
Episode 79: Mario Vivas, Founder of Criollas
What’s it like to start a restaurant in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City? What about if that restaurant was in a subway station when ridership was at an all time low. Is it crazy enough to work?
In this episode we speak to Mario Vivas, the Founder of Criollas, a restaurant located in the Turnstyle underground marketplace in Columbus Circle. Mario immigrated from Argentina in 2012 to New York City in order to reinvent himself. Mario never thought he would open a restaurant
Episode 78: Andrew Cabasso, Co-Founder of Postaga | The Platform that Obtains Leads and Makes Marketing Easy
Andrew Cabasso, Founder of Postaga, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his outreach company that can identify relevant marketing opportunities for any business by crawling the internet for appropriate blogs and podcasts and connecting you with real humans on the other end.
Promoting your business through media outreach and optimizing your website on Google Search is an extremely time and resource intensive endeavor. Before Postaga, to receive publicity, you would have to research r
How You Doin’? Vol 9: Aaron Luo, Co-Founder of Caraa | The Luxury Handbag Company for the Modern Woman
Aaron Luo, Co-Founder of Caraa, returns to the New York Launch Pod to discuss how he’s pivoted his luxury handbag company and developed new products during the Covid-19 pandemic including the Wall Street Journal’s top rated mask.
In Episode 58, we spoke to Aaron about the motivation behind the Caraa brand and how they develop handbags, gym bags and baby bags for the modern woman who needs something both stylish and practical. Once the pandemic hit, Aaron and his partner Carmen Chen Wu realized
Episode 74: Maria Luisa Mendiola, Founder of MIGA Swimwear | The Swimwear Company Making Apparel for People with Disfigurement and Chronic Health Issues
Maria Luisa Mendiola, Founder of MIGA Swimwear, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her swimwear company which has specialized designs for people with disfigurement or other chronic health issues.
Growing up with a disfigurement herself, Maria understood the need to feel comfortable at the beach or pool. While studying for a masters at Central St. Martins in the United Kingdom, Maria came up with the idea of building a brand that destigmatizes disfigurement and chronic health issues. T
Episode 76: Scott Reich, Co-Founder of Believe in a Cure | The Non-Profit Foundation Working to Find a Cure for FOXG1 Syndrome
Scott Reich, Co-Founder of Believe in a Cure, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his non-profit foundation that is looking for a cure for FOXG1 Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder which has affected his son Eli.
Scott began his foundation when his Eli was recently diagnosed with FOXG1 Syndrome, a neurological disorder that will prevent him from ever speaking or walking. Despite the devastation this caused Scott and his wife Ilissa, they decided that they were going to fight this d
Episode 75: Maya Komerov, Founder of ShopIN.nyc | The Localized E-Commerce Platform Taking on Amazon and Supporting New York City Communities
Maya Komerov, Founder of ShopIN.nyc, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her same day delivery e-commerce platform that allows you to shop from stores in your neighborhood all from the comfort of your home.
With the rise of commerce giants like Amazon, traditional brick and mortar retailers have suffered declining sales year after year. Despite most New Yorker’s wish to shop local and support their communities, local retailers have found it hard to compete on price and convenience and,
How You Doin'? Vol 8: Michael Chad Hoeppner, Founder of GK Training and Communications | Michael Returns to Discuss How His Public Speaking Company Has Pivoted Direction During the Pandemic
Michael Chad Hoeppner, Founder of GK Training and Communications, returns to the New York Launch Pod for his third appearance to discuss how he’s pivoted his company and adapted to new methods of communication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Episode 28 and How You Doin’ Volume 5 we spoke to Michael about the techniques he used to teach high powered executives and political candidates. Before the pandemic, most of GK Training and Communications’ business was conducted in-person. In this episode
Episode 74: Jonathan Rosen, Co-Founder of NY Forever | The Initiative Helping New York and New Yorkers Recover from the Pandemic and Come Back Stronger Than Ever
Jonathan Rosen, Co-Founder of NY Forever, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his celebrity studded and corporate sponsored non-profit initiative which is encouraging New Yorkers to commit to New York City, support our front line workers and give what you can to keep the city strong.
As the successful founder of a PR company, BerlinRosen, and a New Yorker for over 20 years, Jonathan has seen the way the city has been hurting since the Covid-19 pandemic started last year. In order to s
Episode 73: David Suk, Co-Founder and CEO of Saint Luna Moonshine | The Spirits Company Revolutionizing a Traditional American Liquor
David Suk, Co-Founder and CEO of Saint Luna Moonshine, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his new moonshine brand which promises to popularize a traditional American liquor and a variety of new cocktails.
While David was the COO of a baby blanket company, Aden + Anais, he started talking to one of his co-workers whose passion was distilling moonshine. Soon they both realized that moonshine was the only liquor that had not yet experienced a premiumization and set out to change that wi
Episode 72: Kate Sokolov and Lisa Sokolov, Co-Founders of Social Goods, the Online Store that Turns Political Fashion into Political Action
Kate Sokolov and Lisa Sokolov, sisters and Co-Founders of Social Goods, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their online retail store that offers statement making gifts which incorporate donations to the causes they represent.
Before starting Social Goods, Lisa worked in fashion while Kate was active in non-profits and political causes, together the sisters and Co-Founders set out to create a brand that combined their expertise into a socially-conscious way to shop. By handpicking desi
Episode 71: Rob Pachter, Co-Founder of Realty Crunch | The Real Estate Software for Brokers Simplifying Communication and Making Deals Happen
Rob Pachter, Co-Founder of Realty Crunch, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his collaboration platform for brokers and clients dedicated to facilitating and providing efficiency to real estate transactions.
While trying to purchase properties several years ago Rob identified several pain points in the broker/client experience including the difficulty of aggregating properties across multiple platforms, communicating effectively between clients and brokers and creating and sending for
Episode 70: Wole Coaxum, Founder and CEO of MoCaFi | The Challenger Bank Serving the Unbanked and Underbanked
Wole Coaxum, founder of MoCaFi, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his challenger bank and project management company dedicated to serving the unbanked and underbanked and providing essential financial services in marginalized communities.
As former managing director at JPMorgan and head of business banking sales at Chase, Wole recognized that many people were using payday lenders and check cashers instead of traditional banks, either because banks did not have branches in these commu
Episode 69: Stacey Weismiller of SecondMuse | A startup incubator and impact firm dedicated to designing, developing and implementing entrepreneurial programs
Stacey Weismiller of SecondMuse steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her startup incubator and impact firm dedicated to designing, developing and implementing entrepreneurial programs specifically geared to hardware manufacturing in New York City.
SecondMuse identifies opportunities in a wide variety of unconventional sectors, including hardware manufacturing and climate technology, which benefit the city as a whole and then develops and mentors startups to fill those gaps in the marke
Episode 68: Harlan Milkove, Managing Partner of Foundational | The company that uses a data driven approach to prepare startups for venture capital fundraising
Harlan Milkove, Managing Partner of Foundational, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his company that uses a data driven approach to prepare startups for venture capital fundraising.
After founding several successful companies, Harlan realized that his venture capital expertise and technical know how could solve a problem that many founders face: learning how to efficiently prepare for new rounds of fundraising and target potential investors while still running a company at the same t
Episode 67: Hal Coopersmith, Founder of RezCue | The first residential lease management software that helps landlords and brokers keep track of important deadlines
In a special episode of the New York Launch Pod Hal Coopersmith discusses his intelligent residential lease management and compliance software called RezCue, and who else to interview Hal Coopersmith, the longtime host of the New York Launch Pod, than his mother, Martha Coopersmith. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Last summer New York State enacted the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSPTA) which created more requirements for residential landlords, many of which could imp
Episode 66: Hector Castillo Carvajal, Founder of Don Carvajal Cafe | An eco-friendly coffee company committed to great taste and sustainability
Hector Castillo Carvajal, Founder of Don Carvajal Cafe, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his delicious eco-friendly coffee company. Don Carvajal Cafe offers a sustainable approach to the coffee industry by using exclusively compostable materials, contracting directly with farmers that Hector personally vets, and implementing new processes that help to protect the environment while roasting the beans to perfection.
Hector was inspired to start Don Carvajal Cafe while he was still a s
Special Episode: Getting a Deal on Shark Tank: Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, Co-Founders of Fur, Talk About Their Experience on ABC’s Shark Tank and Getting a Deal with Lori Greiner
Fresh off of a successful appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, we speak to Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, co-founders of Fur. After multiple offers, Laura and Lillian accepted an offer from Lori Greiner of $500,000 for 8% equity in the company and a $50,000 donation towards promoting body positivity.
Listen to our special behind the scenes Shark Tank follow-up episode to hear how Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung prepared for their appearance, what it was like negotiating with sharks and a whole lot
Episode 64: Cate Luzio, Founder of Luminary | A women focused coworking and networking space in the heart of Manhattan
Cate Luzio, Founder of Luminary, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her woman-focused collaboration hub right in the heart of Manhattan. Luminary offers a unique co-working and networking space for women of all professions to build their careers through hosted events, notable speakers, and a variety of amenities that are all designed make the Luminary space feel like a second home.
Before starting Luminary, Cate was the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Multinational Corpora
Episode 63: Umber Ahmad, Founder of Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery | The West Village bakery dedicated to sustainability, hospitality and community
Umber Ahmad, founder of Mah-Ze-Dahr, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her bakery located in the West Village that is expanding to new locations in New York City and the Washington D.C. metro area. Mah-Ze-Dahr prides itself on the quality of its baked goods, its sustainable approach to food, and its commitment to hospitality, all in the effort to create a heritage brand.
Before founding Mah-Ze-Dahr, Umber worked in finance while baking “on the side”. Through her work, she met celebri
How You Doin'? Vol 7: Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, Co-Founders of Fur | The celebrity endorsed body hair care brand
Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, Co-Founders of Fur, step back onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their company’s exponential growth and success in the self-care industry.
Back in Episode 49, we learned how Fur is changing the conversation around body hair care and meeting the needs of men and women who want all-natural products in their daily routine. Since then, Fur has doubled their sales, tripled their retail presence (including with national retailer ULTA Beauty) and brought several ne
Episode 62: Lena Imamura and Sas Simon, Co-Founders of NAME GLO | The custom neon design studio that lets customers commission unique artwork for every special moment in their lives
Lena Imamura and Sas Simon, Co-Founders of NAME GLO, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their custom neon design studio that lets customers commission unique artwork for every special moment in their lives while also providing pre-made artisan items for sale.
Lena and Sas didn’t set out to start a business that would light millenials’ Instagram accounts on fire. Instead the idea for NAME GLO began when Sas was searching for a neon to celebrate her nephew’s birth. Sas soon discovered a
Episode 61: Matt Bennett, Founder of Dreams Aren't This Good | The delicious new salsa company spicing up the market with homemade recipes and designs
Matt Bennett, founder of Dreams Aren’t This Good, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his delicious new salsa company that’s spicing up the market with fresh tasting homemade recipes and sleek modern designs.
Matt founded the company with the insight that the $1.3 billion dollar salsa industry has remained largely unchanged, even while consumer preferences for other foods has been changing drastically. By offering consumers what he describes as “the full salsa experience” through a var
Episode 60: Lee Hoffman, Co-Founder of Heat Watch | The boiler-based technology company which is helping building owners save 20-30% on their fuel costs and reducing the city’s carbon footprint
Lee Hoffman, co-founder of Heat Watch, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss his boiler based technology company which is helping building owners save 20-30% on their fuel costs, reducing the city’s carbon footprint and making apartments more comfortable too!
Heat Watch works by monitoring and calibrating boilers to make sure they’re being used efficiently through machine learning technology. With sensors in every apartment and a personal monitoring system, Heat Watch makes sure that an
Episode 59: Heidi Hertel, Founder and Gabriel Schlumberger, CEO of Fitz Frames | The revolutionary 3D-printed eyewear company
Heidi Hertel, founder and Gabriel Schlumberger, CEO of Fitz Frames, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their revolutionary eyeglass company that promises to make shopping for glasses fun and headache free for kids and adults.
Despite recent innovations, eyeglasses have been manufactured the same way for years. And while standardized styles and sizes may work for some people, they don’t work for others, especially children. However, Fitz has developed a way for everyone to have eyewear
Episode 58: Aaron Luo and Carmen Chen Wu, Co-Founders of Caraa | The luxury handbag company, which sells accessories for the modern woman
Aaron Luo and Carmen Chen Wu, Co-Founders of Caraa, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their luxury handbag company, which sells accessories for the modern woman. Caraa blends quality design with functionality to create bags that look good while still meeting the needs of an active lifestyle.
Originally designed as the all purpose go everywhere gym bag, Caraa’s early success inspired them to apply their formula to a variety of everyday needs. They now sell over fifteen different style
How You Doin'? Vol 6: Brian Berger, Co-Founder of Mack Weldon | Brian Berger talks about opening a store in Hudson Yards, adding clothing lines, and continued growth of the brand
Brian Berger, Co-Founder of Mack Weldon, steps back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his company’s continued growth and success.
Back in Episode 33, we learned how Mack Weldon’s focus on unique fabrics, customer satisfaction, and innovative styles revolutionized the men’s essentials category. Since then, Mack Weldon has added several new clothing lines, opened a store in Hudson Yards, and increased their advertising presence.
Listen to this episode to find out about how Mack Weldon conti
Episode 57: Carrie O'Brien & Craig O'Brien, Co-Founders of Sunswell | The Hamptons-inspired clothing brand started by a husband and wife duo
Carrie O’Brien and Craig O’Brien the husband and wife and Co-Founders of Sunswell, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss their Hamptons-inspired clothing brand, that offers items designed to look good anywhere and keep you cool at the same time. Sunswell’s high quality performance fabrics and classic designs can be worn anywhere from a day at the beach to dinner at night.
Craig O’Brien is the former VP of Men’s Design at Vineyard Vines so he knows a thing or two about the clothing indust
Episode 56: Hannah Weitzer & Alli Finn, Co-Founders of Seachange Collective | The organization that helps businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies fulfill their social justice missions
Social justice has become something of a buzzword lately with topics including diversity, equality, and fair representation at the forefront of people’s minds. However, many businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies don’t always have the time or abilities to confront these issues head on. That’s where Seachange Collective comes in.
Seachange Collective is a women-led and WBE-certified organization which conducts customized and contextualized workshops, social justice audits, and strategic
Episode 55: Jurrien Swarts Co-Founder of Stojo | The collapsible and reusable coffee cup
Each year over 16 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away, oftentimes only moments after someone finishes a coffee.When you think about how much paper and plastic there are in 16 BILLION coffee cups you might start recognizin
Each year over 16 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away, oftentimes only moments after someone finishes a coffee. When you think about how much paper and plastic there are in 16 BILLION coffee cups you might start recognizing a problem. Jurrien Swarts co-fo
Episode 54: Dr. Dennis Gross, Founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare | The story of the dermatologist who created a disruptive line of skin care products
Dr. Dennis Gross steps on to the New York Launch Pod to
discuss the founding of the Dr. Dennis Gross line of skin care products.
There was not much innovation in the world of skin care
products in the late 90’s. According dermatologist,
Dr. Dennis Gross, the skincare industry relied heavily on the use of glycolic
acid which had a harsh effect on the skin.
The beauty industry even centered its marketing around how these harsh
products were helpful to the skin. However,
as a chemist and researc
Live @ Lincoln Center: Inside Brookfield’s Bold Plan To Revitalize Bleecker Street with Duncan McCuaig, SVP of Leasing at Brookfield Properties and Dana Glaeser, Founder of Slightly Alabama
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the retail apocalypse due in part to noteworthy bankruptcies, massive store closings, and the unprecedented number of store vacancies across New York City.
Real estate giant Brookfield Property Partners made headlines in 2018 when the firm acquired seven storefronts on vacancy-ravaged Bleecker Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village for $31.5M at a time when experts predicted a further worsening of the retail climate. Since then, Brookfield ha
Episode 53: Christine Strzalka and Caroline Strzalka, Co-Founders of It's By U | Do it yourself subscription flowers
Flowers make people happy. But in the United States, there’s been a “lost” generation of people who haven’t had flowers in their homes. Maybe it’s because flowers are too expensive, they don’t last long, or are simply just a chore to bring home.
Enter It’s By U, a subscription flower service where you assemble the flower arrangement at home. By shipping fair-trade flowers direct from Ecuador, It’s By U is able to deliver premium flowers to customers in 5 days from the day they were cut as o
How You Doin' Vol 5: Micael Chad Hoepnner, Founder of GK Training and Communications on injecting technology in his business to help you communicate more effectively
Michael Chad Hoeppner, Founder of GK Training and Communications, steps back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss how he’s been able to grow his company through the use of technology.
Back in Episode 28, we learned a lot of the public speaking techniques that Michael teaches to presidential candidates and high powered executives. But there are only so many hours in a day that any person can teach. So for his business, Michael developed ways to train students on the go.In a smartphone app c
Episode 52: Jenny Fleiss, Co-Founder of Jetblack | Rent the Runway Co-Founder speaks about her move to Jetblack and future of retail
Jenny Fleiss, Co-Founder of Rent the Runway, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her newest project as Co-Founder of Jetblack.
Jetblack is a personal shopping service with the financial backing of Walmart, and Co-Founded by Jenny and Marc Lore (Jet, Quidsi/ diapers.com). Designed with the busy consumer in mind, Jetblack uses a combination of experts, algorithms and artificial intelligence to winnow down the sea of shopping options on the internet. Consumers are able to message Jet
Episode 51: David Hall and Jordan Klein, Co-Founders of Park and Diamond | The collapsible bicycle helmet the size of a water bottle
Bicycle sharing programs and other alternative forms of transportation are becoming more popular in urban areas, but one thing you don’t see is a lot of people wearing helmets. Why? Because bicycle helmets are big, clunky, and no one wants to carry them around.
David Hall and Jordan Klein, Co-Founders of Park and Diamond, thought a lot about this problem after David’s sister Rachel was in a bicycle accident and wasn’t wearing a helmet. So David and Jordan sought a solution that would enable
How You Doin’? Vol 4 Helaine Knapp, Founder of CityRow: Boutique Fitness Rowing Studio with CityRow Go at home, national expansion with Franworth, and growing New York City presence
Helaine Knapp, Founder of CityRow, steps back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the growth of her boutique fitness studio.
Since we first spoke to Helaine in 2015 on Episode 5, a lot has changed with CityRow and the boutique fitness world. CityRow has added a signature studio on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, introduced an at home product called CityRow Go, and is in the midst of a national expansion.
There is also more competition in the boutique fitness world. Today, there are more
Episode 50: Josh Futterman, Founder of ParkYou!: The sharing platform designed to solve New York City's street parking problem
It is no secret that parking in New York City is a miserable experience. Everyone knows this, but especially Josh Futterman. He’s been driving and parking in New York City for 34 years. Spending a lot of time battling New York City traffic and circling the blocks looking for an elusive parking spot, Josh thought there had to be a better way. So Josh decided to start a company to solve the problem and ParkYou! was born.
Josh’s idea is centered around the concept of bringing drivers in New York
Episode 49: Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, Co-Founders of Fur | The celebrity-endorsed body hair grooming brand
What’s it like to invent a beauty category? In 2014, Laura Schubert had the idea that not everyone wanted to remove their body and pubic hair. Maybe they wanted to groom it. But how to approach this taboo subject? The answer was head on. Laura was undeterred despite being rejected multiple times when looking for a chemist to develop the product. A lot of the people Laura initially called abruptly hung up because they thought her idea was a joke.
In 2016, Fur went from idea to reality as an inclu
Episode 48: Alexandra Janelli, Founder of Modrn Sanctuary | The wellness center bring together independent practitioners to offer top of the line health and beauty services
Alexandra Janelli, Founder of Modrn Sanctuary steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her wellness center located at 12 W 27th Street.
Modrn Sanctuary offers health, wellness, and beauty services in a 5,000 square foot space featuring 15 treatment rooms centered around a salt room that features Himalyan Salt that is over 200 million years old. What’s different about Modrn Sanctuary? The business model includes independent practitioners coming together in a shared environment to offer to
Episode 47: Ashley Mills and Mark Mullet Co-Founders of obé | The online fitness platform and community with a celebrity following
Ashley Mills and Mark Mullet, the Co-Founders of obé fitness, step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their online fitness platform and community.
As consumers of boutique fitness classes in New York City, Mark and Ashley saw an opportunity to democratize their experience and make it accessible to anyone looking to get in a great workout. From there, obé was born, an app that brings high quality boutique fitness classes inside a consumer’s home at an accessible price point.
Inspired by the
Episode 46: Natalie Kathleen, Founder of Jibs | The ultimate summer shoe-sneaker that is made in Brazil
Natalie Kathleen, Founder of Jibs, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her unique perforated leather sneaker-shoes for men, women and kids.
Three years ago at a dinner party, Natalie serendipitously came across a shoe created in Brazil. One of Natalie’s friends introduced her to this quixotic design modeled after a traditional Brazilian beach shoe. After wearing these shoes for a few days on the hot NYC summer streets and receiving a lot of attention, Natalie threw aside her high hee
Episode 45: Ali Borowick and Lauren Borowick, Co-Founders of Fatty Sundays | The chocolate covered pretzels with delicious toppings, beautiful sprinkles and eye-catching packaging
Ali Borowick and Lauren Borowick the sibling Co-Founders of Fatty Sundays step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their delicious, gourmet chocolate covered pretzels.
Inspired by their mother’s recipes, Ali and Lauren set out on a journey to bring their favorite snacks, the chocolate covered pretzel, to the world. The sisters first started developing their own recipes and giving out samples to friends and family. Realizing that their creations were disappearing just as quickly as they
Episode 44: Alli Young, Founder of The Forem | The accelerator for women's careers
Alli Young, Founder of The Forem, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her accelerator designed to get women further, faster in their careers.
By connecting professional women to coaches and experts, The Forem provides hands on support and advice through workshops and one-to-one training. Through The Forem training, women at all levels and tenure develop critical skills for career advancement or for starting and scaling a business. According to Alli the skills that get women into mi
Episode 43: Lisa Skye Hain and Brian Hain, Co-Founders of Primary | The coworking and shared office space started by WeWork's first employee
Lisa Skye Hain and Brian Hain the husband and wife co-founders of Primary step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their coworking and shared office space located at 26 Broadway in Manhattan.
Coworking and shared office space is big business. According to Lisa the industry itself has grown between 300% and 400% over the past 8 years. Now players including WeWork, Alley, Industrious, Regus, and the Wing are competing for a larger share of business. So what is Lisa and Brian’s advantage? Well
Episode 42: Sarah Sheehan and Toby Hervey, Co-Founders of Bravely | The Platform for off the record confidential employment coaching
Sarah Sheehan and Toby Hervey, co-founders of Bravely, step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their platform that connects employees with professional coaches outside of their workplace to encourage better conversations and healthier organizations.
Workplace culture has an increased emphasis in today’s business world. No matter how hard companies try to create a supportive environment, conflict is inevitable. Whether it is abut a raise, promotion, management issue or a whole host of oth
How You Doin’? Vol 3 Andy Jacobi, Co-Founder of Untamed Sandwiches | Reflecting on the Growth of New York City's Braised Meat Sandwich Stores
Andy Jacobi, Co-Founder of Untamed Sandwiches, steps back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the growth of his braised meat sandwich shops. Since we first spoke to Andy in July 2015 for Episode 6, a lot has changed. Untamed Sandwiches now has three locations (Bryant Park, DUMBO, and Midtown East) and 40 employees.
Untamed Sandwiches is now going toe to toe with big name competitors in the casual food space in New York. In this episode we go inside the secrets behind Untamed Sandwiches’ gro
Episode 41: Alessandro Biggi and Francesco Brachetti, Co-Founders of Avocaderia | New York City's first Avocado Bar and Alumni of ABC's Shark Tank
Before they appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank, Alessandro Biggi and Francesco Brachetti stepped on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss Avocaderia “the world’s first Avocado Bar” located in Industry City in Brooklyn.
About one year ago, the thirty year old Italian co-founders were in search of healthy and tasty food and fell in love with the avocado. They then experimented with recipes and grew a following of their concoctions on Instagram. Realizing they had created delicious food and become popu
Episode 40: Ron Bergamini, CEO of Action Environmental | The largest private garbage company with the most sophisticated recycling center
Ron Bergamini, CEO of Action Environmental, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss one of the most sophisticated recycling facilities in the world which is located in the Bronx, New York.
Action Environmental is the largest private waste and recycling services provider in New York City and invested heavily to build New York City's largest recycling facility. According to Ron, the state of the art facility processes 400-500 tons of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum each day.
Episode 39: A Summer Inside the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) | The non-profit organization providing educational entrepreneurship training to high school students from low-income, urban communities.
This summer we took an inside look at the New York office of the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship, also known as NFTE. NFTE is a non-profit organization providing educational entrepreneurship training to high school students from low-income, urban communities.
This podcast is the story of high school students throughout their journey through an eight-week intensive training course over the summer. They are bright students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch and require teacher recommend
Episode 38: Kalle Simpson, Co-Founder of NIGHT | The silk pillow with a celebrity following for better sleep at night
Kalle Simpson, founder of NIGHT, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her $150 pillow. Is this price tag crazy? Kalle says no, and she’s here to tell you why. In fact, Kalle thinks you should rethink your strategy if you are sleeping on a $20 pillow.
The NIGHT Pillow is meticulously designed to focus on beauty and wellness benefits while providing optimal sleep conditions, which justifies its cost and creates a unique place in the market. The pillowcase is made from couture quality silk
How You Doin'? Vol. 2: Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats | The Brooklyn-Based Sneaker Company
Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats, steps back on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the growth of his vertically integrated Brooklyn based sneaker company.
Since we first spoke to Ryan in March 2016, his company has more than doubled in revenue, the headcount of the employees has doubled, opened their first retail location and expanded their offerings with a women’s line of footwear. However, it has not been easy. There is increased competition in the online footwear marketplace and finding
Episode 37: Yitzchok Kolodny and David Kupfer, Co-Founders of Theryon | The App for Physical Therapy on Demand in Your Home or Office
Yitzchok Kolodny and David Kupfer, co-founders of Theryon, step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their new platform for physical therapy on demand in your home or office.
In a special episode, recorded at the offices of Samson Technologies, Yitzchok and David discuss why physical therapy on demand is important for busy and active New Yorkers. With a bevy of fitness options, races, and competitions, New Yorkers are more active than ever. And with more activity, especially among these “
HYD Vol 1: Angela Ceresnie COO Climb Credit | The Lending Start-Up Making Education More Accessible
ANNOUNCING NEW SERIES: HOW YOU DOIN'?
Angela Ceresnie, COO of Climb Credit, steps BACK onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her newest start-up, which tries to make skills-based, high-quality education more accessible.
We first spoke to Angela in Episode 8. As a Co-Founder of Orchard, Angela discussed the "new lending ecosystem," where start-ups were lending in areas that traditional banks weren’t. These start-ups were then selling those loans to investors. Climb Credit is one such “alterna
Episode 36: Zachary Aarons Co-Founder and Partner of MetaProp | New York City's Real Estate Technology Accelerator, Venture Fund, and Advisory
Zachary Aarons, Co-Founder and Partner of MetaProp, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his real estate technology accelerator, venture fund, and advisory business– all wrapped into one.
Founded in 2015, Zach and his Co-Founders, Aaron Block and Clelia Peters, realized that entrepreneurs and real estate executives were not connecting with each other. Real estate executives were not able to share their biggest pain points with entrepreneurs and as a result entrepreneurs were designing
Episode 35: Vicki Fulop, Co-Founder of Brooklinen | The Brooklyn based direct to consumer linen and bedding company
Vicki Fulop, Co-Founder of Brooklinen, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her Brooklyn based, direct to consumer bedding company.
Several years ago Vicki and her co-founder and husband Rich, were staying at a hotel and sleeping on incredibly comfortable sheets. When the two wanted to purchase the sheets, they were shocked that at the expensive price. After thoroughly researching the textile industry, Vicki and Rich saw the high mark-ups from traditional retailers and set off to cre
Episode 34: Susannah Vila, Co-Founder of Flip | The flexible housing marketplace for subletting
Susannah Vila, Co-Founder of Flip, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her marketplace for flexible housing that helps people sublet their apartments.
Finding an apartment for less than a year is a difficult task. Sites like Craigslist can be unorganized, inconsistent, and difficult to navigate. Similarly, for the person looking to sublet an apartment there was no great way to vet a prospective subtenant to ensure he or she would pay the rent on time. This was a significant pain p
Episode 33: Brian Berger, Co-Founder of Mack Weldon | The company reinventing Men's underwear and Men's essentials through great product design
Brian Berger, Co-Founder of Mack Weldon, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his men’s underwear and essentials company.
Frustrated by the experience of purchasing underwear in department stores and the feeling that brands were simply changing their products for the sake of changing them, Brian thought about creating a better customer experience as well as a better product. And after speaking to a whole bunch of guys about their underwear, Brian knew he was not alone.
Based upon commo
Episode 32: Charlie O'Donnell, Founder and Sole Partner of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures | The Venture Capital Fund that invests exclusively in New York City startups
Charlie O’Donnell, Founder and Sole Partner of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his Venture Capital fund and give a behind the scenes look at the venture capital world.
Brooklyn Bridge Ventures invests exclusively in New York City companies with Charlie managing $23 million across two funds, leading or co-leading investments of around $350,000 in companies that have yet to raise $750,000 in capital.
Having worked in venture capital since 2001, Charlie know
Episode 31: Camille Hearst, Co-Founder of Kit | The online social shopping platform for people to recommend the products they love
Camille Hearst, founder of Kit, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her Tne platform for people to recommend the products they love to use.
Everyone has been there. If you start a new activity, interest or hobby, you try to search on Amazon for the best products. Do you get the one with the best reviews or the best seller? You can spend an endless amount of time trying to figure out what is the best product and by the end you aren’t sure if you have everything you need. Kit seeks to
Episode 30: Lisa Skeete Tatum, Founder of LandIt | The online platform to help women increase their success and engagement in the workplace
Lisa Skeete Tatum, Founder and CEO of Landit, steps onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss her online platform to help women increase their success and engagement in the workplace while also helping companies develop and retain their female employees.
Lisa first formulated the idea for Landit based on her own career “inflection point” after over a decade as a venture capitalist, Lisa found herself feeling a little “stuck” as she was deciding what her next chapter would be. Even with a Bachelor
Episode 29: Alissa Wagner and Sabrina De Sousa, Co-Founders of Dimes | The fantastic and cool restaurant, marketplace, and deli in Chinatown
Alissa Wagner and Sabrina De Sousa, the Co-Founders of Dimes, step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their restaurant, marketplace, and deli in Chinatown.
Dimes first opened its doors in September 2013 as a huge success. After the first day of business Alissa and Sabrina were on the phone to get more staff for the restaurant. The concept is based on design elements that Alissa and Sabrina love and food the two would want to eat. As Alissa says, Dimes serves food that is “balanced, healt
Episode 28: Michael Chad Hoeppner, Founder of GK Training and Communications | The techniques everyone can use to communicate and speak better
Michael Chad Hoeppner, Founder of GK Training and Communications, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the founding of his business at the height of the recession in 2009 and how to communicate effectively.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur giving a pitch, speaking in a conference room, or having a conversation with friends and family, EVERYONE can learn how to speak better. In this episode, Michael goes over the techniques that his company teaches and that everyone can instantly apply.
W
Episode 27: Eric Kane, Founder of Barrel On | Making online shopping a more sustainable and charitable experience
Eric Kane, Founder of Barrel On, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss how his online marketplace is working to make shopping a more sustainable, more impactful experience.
Originally founded as a barrel refurbishing company, Barrel On transformed into a marketplace for environmentally friendly brands that give back. Every time you shop on Barrel On your purchases transparently raise money for reputable non-profit organizations.
Eric believes that Barrel On is becoming a sustainable wa
Episode 26: Asha Carroll, Founder of Cake in a Crate | The DELICIOUS vegan, gluten-free, desert that you bake at home
Asha Carroll, Founder of Cake in a Crate, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her vegan, gluten-free, processed sugar-free dessert baking kit. And before you think anything else — it tastes delicious!
Asha is a self-proclaimed dessert enthusiast, who, after moving to New York City, started baking a lot. After indulging in all her deserts, Asha decided to pursue more ‘alternative’ recipes and found that her vegan, gluten-free creations were not only more healthful, but also more popula
Episode 25: Marshall Cox, Founder of Radiator Labs | The smart radiator cover preventing overheating and tackling the $1.2 billion in NYC's wasted fuel each year
Marshall Cox, Founder of Radiator Labs, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the first ever smart radiator cover that allows users to control the temperature in their room.
It seems as though every New Yorker has sweated in a room that has been overheated by a radiator. Radiators are ubiquitous in older buildings and Marshall estimates that there are approximately 10 million radiators in New York City alone. The problem: radiator technology has barely advanced since World War II, yet w
Episode 24: Alexandra Chemla, Founder of ArtBinder | The digital platform for art galleries and collectors to quickly access their inventory for presentations or sales
Alexandra Chemla, Founder of ArtBinder, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her digital platform that allows art galleries and collectors to quickly access their art inventory for presentations or sales.
In 2010, Alexandra was working as a gallery assistant at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise assembling three ring binders with photographs and information of artwork in advance of Art Basel Switzerland. With the gallery’s many art pieces, ensuring that each of the thirty large binders contained
Episode 23: Miriam Altman, Co-Founder of Kinvolved | The company that elevates student attendance in schools and provides text message alerts to family members about absenteeism or lateness
Miriam Altman, co-founder of Kinvolved, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the founding of her company that elevates student attendance in schools and provides text message alerts to family members about absenteeism or lateness.
As a teacher in a New York City public school for three years, Miriam saw first-hand that classroom attendance was inconsistent and the problems with chronic absenteeism and lateness. However, once Miriam started establishing a relationship with the parents h
Episode 22: Aline Sara, Co-Founder of NaTakallam | The online platform that connects Arabic learners around the world with displaced Syrians (and Syrian Refugees) for language practice
Aline Sara, Founder of NaTakallam steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her online platform that connects Arabic learners around the world with displaced Syrians for language practice.
Aline first came up with the idea of when she wanted to work on her Arabic after finishing her Master’s Degree in International Affairs at Columbia and found that the price for individual tutoring was expensive. Aline, who is Lebanese, saw the over one million displaced Syrians in Lebanon and connected th
Episode 21: Belvy Klein, Co-Founder of Riis Park Beach Bazaar and Brooklyn Night Bazaar | Bringing music, food, drink, vendors, and fun to the beach and at its famous night market
SUMMER SPECIAL! Belvy Klein, Co-Founder of Riis Park Beach Bazaar and Brooklyn Night Bazaar, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss what it’s like to bring music, food, drink, vendors, and fun to the beach and at its famous night market.
After winning a request for proposal (RFP) late spring of 2015, Belvy Klein and his co-founder Aaron Broudo did not have a lot of time to invigorate the sleepy Rockaway Beach with life. But armed with the out-of-the-box thinking that Brooklyn Bazaar LLC,
Episode 20: Vaughan Cutillo, Co-Founder of Montauk Brewing Company | The brewery and tap room located in Montauk, New York
SUMMER SPECIAL! Vaughan Cutillo, Co-Founder of Montauk Brewing Company, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his brewery and tap room located on the easternmost point of New York State: Montauk.
Montauk Brewing Company was founded in the summer of 2012 by three friends: Eric Moss, Joe Sullivan and Vaughan Cutillo, who all grew up in Montauk. The company traces its genesis to 2009 when the three co-founders were home-brewing five gallons of beer at a time in a basement yet had their ey
Episode 19: Tom Melcher, Founder of Show-Score | The rating service for live theater
Tom Melcher, Founder of Show-Score, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his rating service for live theater.
Like Rotten Tomatoes for movies, TripAdvisor for travel or Goodreads for Books, Show-Score empowers theater fans to rate and review shows and organizes the reviews in a crisp and straightforward manner including a score from 1-100. Tom, an avid theater enthusiast, first conceived the idea when he moved to New York. After seeing more than 5 shows a week (and more than 250 in a
Episode 18: Rachelle Hruska, Founder of Guest of a Guest | The Digital Media Platform for People, Places, Parties & Nightlife
Rachelle Hruska, Founder of Guest of a Guest, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss the founding of her digital media platform and its recent expansion into weddings.
Guest of Guest traces its genesis to 2007, when Rachelle was taking photos at various events on a Treo phone and posting them on her blog. What began as a form of self-expression gained a following of influential people and the site organically blossomed into a business that caused Rachelle to forego business and medical
Episode 17: Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon, Co-Founders of Squire | The app for scheduling and paying for men’s haircuts and SAAS platform for barbershops
Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their app called Squire which is solution for scheduling and paying for men’s haircuts as well as their SAAS platform for barbershops to manage scheduling and marketing to customers.
In 2015, Dave and Songe discovered that it was difficult and annoying to schedule a haircut. Songe in particular had the realization while waiting an hour for his barber while working as a corporate attorney. After surveying 300 people, Dave
Episode 16: Ariana Mouyiaris, Creative Director and Co-Founder of MAKE | The first for-benefit brand in the beauty industry
Ariana Mouyiaris, Creative Director and Co-Founder of MAKE, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her new beauty brand.
MAKE is the first for-benefit brand in the beauty industry where ten (10%) percent of sales (not profits) are donated to the We See Beauty Foundation. Before MAKE launched in February 2013, Ariana did not think the world needed another beauty brand, yet saw an opportunity in the marketplace to deliver high quality products with a different kind of messaging.
The brand
Episode 15: Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats | The vertically integrated sneaker brand born in Brooklyn
Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his Brooklyn based sneaker company.
Greats is vertically integrated so that the company manufactures and sells directly to consumers. Without relying on retailers, Greats is able to sell at a lower price than “legacy brands” and cut traditional twelve month development cycles in half, all while making a premium product. The shoes themselves are based off traditional silhouettes with creative color and material cha
Episode 14: Roseanne Stanzione, Founder of LaneHoney | Bringing pricing transparency to the trucking and shipping industry
Roseanne Stanzione, founder of LaneHoney, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her platform to bring transparency to the trucking industry by creating an efficient open digital supply network and publishing live spot market prices between truckers and shippers.
Episode 13: Clinton Grusd, Founder, and Ally Vaughn, Strategic Advisor of Wermz | The App for Personalized News
Clinton Grusd, Founder, and Ally Vaughn, Strategic Advisor, step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their app, Wermz, which delivers personalized news to smartphones.
Wermz is a platform which delivers content based on people’s interests. It uses algorithms to determine what is actually news (a more difficult question than you might think!) and what news is relevant to each person based on his or her interests.
Episode 12: Kenneth Shinozuka, Founder of SafeWander | 17 year-old entrepreneur and Google Science Fair Award Winner Invents a device to help caregivers monitor dementia and Alzheimer’s patients
Kenneth Shinozuka the 17 year-old founder of SafeWander steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his new product to help caregivers monitor dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. SafeWander detects when these patients wander or fall with an innovative way to provide smart phone alerts based off of a ‘one twist’ motion sensor that is securely worn by the patient.
Kenneth, currently a senior in high school at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, first began developing the SafeWander system at ag
Episode 11: Mike Rothman, Co-Founder of Fatherly | The Digital Destination for Gen X and Millenial Parents
Mike Rothman, co-founder and CEO of Fatherly, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his digital destination for young parents (not necessarily only fathers). Realizing that parenting content was not optimized for today’s consumer both in the way it was distributed and in the way ideas, attitudes and behaviors have shifted over time, Mike and his co-founder Simon Isaacs, created a parenting experience for young generation X’ers and Millenials.
Mike, one of the first employees at Thrilli
Episode 10: Doug Hayes, Founder of Junto Health | An innovative shared research model to tackle big problems in healthcare
Doug Hayes, founder of Junto Health, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss a new way to innovate and solve problems in the health care industry. Named and modeled after “The Junto,” a group founded by Benjamin Franklin for mutual improvement among its members, Junto Health uses a shared research model to tackle obstacles endemic to major stakeholders in the health care industry. Junto Health is the first open innovation program in digital health, driving evolution up to twice as fast
Episode 9: Gillian Zoe Segal, Author of Getting There: A Book of Mentors | A book featuring an ‘A List’ of 30 successful luminaries including Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, Kathy Ireland and Sara Blakely
Gillian Zoe Segal steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss her book “Getting There: A Book of Mentors”. In the book, Gillian interviews an ‘A List’ of 30 successful luminaries who are all at the top of their field. Subjects including Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, Kathy Ireland and Sara Blakely discuss their career journeys in essays that cover not only their successes but also their obstacles and set backs.
“Almost everyone in the book is an entrepreneur” says Gillian. Hear the comm
Episode 8: Angela Ceresnie and David Snitkof, Co-Founders of Orchard Platform | The platform that connects institutional investors and loan originators
Angela Ceresnie and David Snitkof, co-founders of Orchard Platform step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their technology platform that as David describes it “brings together large institutional investors as well as loan originators to transact in an efficient and data-driven and scalable way.”
The lending landscape is being disrupted. Where some forms of lending have once been a tedious, time consuming process taking approximately 30 hours to complete an application, new lenders such
Episode 7: Julie Sygiel, Founder of Dear Kate | A women's apparel and lingerie company that makes functional underwear for women
Julie Sygiel, founder of Dear Kate, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to talk about what Julie calls the “ultimate underwear for women”.
Dear Kate is a women’s apparel and lingerie company that makes functional underwear for women. One day Julie asked herself why no one was making better underwear if every woman has a “horror story during that time of the month”. So Julie set out and spent two years developing the now patent pending UNDERLUX technology and Dear Kate was born.
Listen to how D
Episode 6: Andy Jacobi and Ricky King, Co-Founders of Untamed Sandwiches | Braised meat sandwiches made from sustainable ingredients
Andy Jacobi and Ricky King the founders of Untamed Sandwiches step on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss their delicious braised meat sandwiches.
Combining the quality and ambiance of a farm-to-table sit down restaurant with the efficiency and convenience that busy office workers demand, Untamed Sandwiches was a welcome addition to midtown when it first opened 18 months ago. Located by Bryant Park at 43 West 39 Street, Untamed Sandwiches specializes in braised meat sandwiches made from susta
Episode 5: Helaine Knapp, Founder of CityRow | The boutique fitness studio with rowing classes
Helaine Knapp, founder of CityRow, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss one of the newest and hottest boutique fitness studios in Manhattan.
It took an injury for Helaine to discover the benefits of rowing and how it was both low impact and worked 84% of her muscles. Once she did, however, Helaine could not get enough! While there were many boutique fitness classes in New York City at the time, there were none dedicated to rowing. So Helaine decided leave her job at another start-up t