New York Launch Pod: A Podcast Highlighting New Start-Ups, Businesses, and Openings in the New York City Area (NY Launch Pod)

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 we speak to Michael about how he was able to adapt to the changing landscape of Covid-19 and switch gears by offering courses online and focusing on communication techniques for teleconferencing, navigating difficult conversations, and battling lockdown fatigue. Michael is even offering the course library for free for anyone who has been furloughed or laid off as a result of the pandemic. In this episode we talk about techniques for better remote communication, Michael's recent experience working with Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, how he has transformed his business during this difficult time and much more! For more information on GK Training and Communications visit: gktraining.com Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/GKtraininghydtr This episode has been sponsored by RezCue, the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act compliance software for landlords. For more information on RezCue visit: rezcueme.com

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 support the city he loves, he's started NY Forever to give back by leveraging his network, getting people involved and supporting organizations which are helping struggling New Yorkers in this unprecedented situation. Taking their motto from a New York Magazine cover from the 1970's, "We've Got to Help Ourselves", Jonathan has recruited top fashion brands like Public School, tech companies like SalesForce and prominent celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer to get involved and help promote volunteer and fundraising opportunities that are alleviating the dire circumstances many New Yorkers face. His goal is simple: to get half a million New Yorkers to sign the pledge at nyforever.nyc in order to receive updates that will connect them with practical ways in which they can help the city. In this episode we talk about the overwhelming support Jonathan has received from the New York business community, how NY Forever is giving back to the city, and much more! Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/nyforevertr For more about NY Forever and to sign the pledge visit: nyforever.nyc This episode has been sponsored by RezCue, the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act compliance software for landlords. For more information on RezCue visit: rezcueme.com

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 with a cocktail forward modern brand. By working with local suppliers and hitting the pavement to get Saint Luna stocked in a variety of New York City bars and restaurants, David has managed to take a traditional American liquor and modernize it for an elevated experience. In this episode we talk about the history of moonshine and why it has previously gone unnoticed in the liquor industry, how David came up with the idea for the brand, expanding an alcohol brand in the midst of Covid-19 and much more! Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/saintlunamoonshinetr For more on Saint Luna Moonshine visit: saintlunaspirits.com/

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 designers and non-profits to collaborate with, Social Goods turns political fashion into political action by donating a portion or at times 100% of revenue to organizations working on the ground. In this episode we talk about how consumerism can be channeled into support for grassroots organizations, how Social Goods chooses sleek designs for their products, and much more! Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/socialgoodstr For more on Social Goods visit: www.social-goods.com

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 forms and materials to clients once a decision has been made. Rob believed he could streamline and modernize this process with his company Realty Crunch which, in his own words, is “Pinterest meets text messaging for real estate agents”. Realty Crunch allows real estate agents to aggregate listings from all over the internet, streamline communication and collaboration with clients, and use a wide range of features including their smart form feature which allows agents to instantaneously send disclosure forms to clients. In this episode we talk about inefficiencies in the traditional buying and renting process, how Realty Crunch is simplifying and expediting deals, the cutting edge technology-driven software they offer and much more! Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/realtycrunchtr For more on Realty Crunch visit: realtycrunch.io

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 communities or because their fee models were not structured in favor of these clients. As a result, whether through payday lenders or traditional banks, these communities were paying a higher price to use necessary financial services and Wole set out to change that. MoCaFi is an online banking platform which provides a range of financial services to poorer communities that larger banks have neglected to serve by offering financial literacy education, credit building through rent and utility payments, and low fees and interest rates on small loans. In the future Wole hopes to reduce the wealth gap in these communities by bringing them into the traditional banking sector while providing efficient, low cost financial services.  In this episode we talk about the gaps in traditional banking services, the importance of banking to lifetime financial well being and how MoCaFi is solving these issues through a wide range of innovative technologies and services! At 2:52 we discuss the hole in the market that brick and mortar banks are not filling At 6:01 we talk about the longterm financial effects of being unbanked or underbanked At 9:48 Wole discusses how MoCaFi is solving the high-fee, high-cost business model of traditional banks and how the environment and rituals of a community keep people from participating in the traditional financial sector At 15:28 Wole describes how MoCaFi is approaching customer acquisition through the power of social media and celebrity And at 27:00 Wole talks about MoCaFi's sustainable business model and the difference between traditional banks and challenger banks and what that means in the context of the United State's regulatory framework. Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/mocafitr For more on MoCaFi visit: mocafi.com

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 market. At SecondMuse, Stacey heads M-Corps, an incubator funded by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority, which supports startups focused on solving climate issues in every step of their growth from funding to manufacturing. What's more, SecondMuse does require any stake in equity in order to work with them. In this episode we talk about New York City's possibilities as a manufacturing hub, the importance of energy technology companies in New York State, how SecondMuse builds these new economies by mentoring and supporting small innovative companies! For more on SecondMuse visit: www.secondmuse.com/ Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/SecondMusetr

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 time. Foundational uses data to group startups together by their business plans, the market they’re tapping, location and many other attributes that can then be analyzed and used to predict which investors will be most likely to express interest. What’s more, Foundational coaches startups so that their investment pitches are more likely to be successful and so that CEOs can focus on their companies rather than the full time job of attracting investment. In this episode we talk about how Foundational solves fundraising problems for startups through the use of their proprietary data, common mistakes startups make when attracting capital, how Foundational can give startups the tools needed for success, and a whole lot more! For more on Foundational visit: www.foundational.nyc/ Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/Foundationaltr

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 impact them financially. Realizing that many landlords were unaware of the new law or too busy to keep track of so many important deadlines, Hal used his legal and technological expertise to create RezCue, a software program that ensures that landlords, brokers and property managers alike know how to comply with the law by sending a sequence of emails and text messages ("Cues"). In this special episode, Hal and Martha discuss how the rental regulations can impact landlords, how his new software can save landlords, brokers, and property managers time and money, and a whole lot more! Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/RezCuetr For more information on RezCue please visit: rezcueme.com

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 student at the University of Rochester. One summer Hector came into contact with a coffee importer who was impressed by Hector’s business-savvy and drive. After learning about the coffee industry, Hector then returned to campus in the fall and created a business plan for Don Carvajal Cafe. Since then, Hector has continued to learn everything he can about the coffee industry through mentors and networking to building his business from the ground up. Today Hector is growing his business through pop-up events and visiting cafes and supermarkets to get the word out.   In this episode we talk about how Hector took an idea and turned it into a brand with a presence in all five boroughs and several states, how he taught himself what it takes to be successful in the coffee industry, and how he manages to provide a completely eco-friendly brand from the farms he works with to the packaging containing the best tasting coffee you will ever try! Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/doncarvajalcafetr Use code NYLAUNCH for 10% off your order at doncarvajalcafe.com!

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 more! For more on Fur visit: furyou.com Transcript available at: https://nylaun.ch/sharktankfurtr

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 Corporate Banking for HSBC managing approximately $2 Billion in revenue and teams across 72 countries. But through her experience in banking, Cate began to notice that many organizations hosting networking events and panels for women did not foster the sense of community or offer a space for daily social gatherings that allowed women to build the relationships that are important to success in the workplace. So to fill this gap in the market, Cate left banking and ambitiously self-funded Luminary to fill the gap in the market. Luminary offers a mix of formal and informal events, amenities including a gym, a "living room", and a window lined rooftop dubbed the "glass ceiling". In this episode we talk about the need for a women-led and women-owned space for career development, the sense of community that is so important to the brand, and Cate Luzio’s decision to build Luminary in New York! More on Luminary: http://luminary.nyc/ Transcript of the episode available at: nylaun.ch/Luminarytr Note about this episode: this interview was recorded prior to the Covid-19 outbreak Resources referenced during the introduction: How the CARES Act Applies to Businesses (Commercial Tenants) and Residential Real Estate: nylaun.ch/CARESAct Making Sense of Rent and Mortgage Obligations Amid Confusing Times: nylaun.ch/Mortgage Preserving Your Commercial Lease Through COVID-19: nylaun.ch/CommercialLease

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 celebrity chef Tom Colicchio who was blown away by her skills as a chef and implored her to start her own bakery. Since then, Mah-Ze-Dahr not only supplies JetBlue’s first class Mint program but has opened two businesses in New York City. In this episode we discuss the meaning of the Urdu word Mah-Ze-Dahr, how Umber developed her passion into a successful business, how Umber is looking to change the world through her delicious food and a whole lot more! For more information on Mah-Ze-Dahr visit: mahzedahrbakery.com/ Transcript available at: https://www.nylaunchpod.com/transcript-mahzedahr/

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 new products to market. In this episode we talk about how Fur continues to expand their market reach, the process of creating and releasing new products, and how attitudes have changed about Fur’s pubic hair and grooming products. For more on Fur check out: furyou.com Transcript available at: https://nylaun.ch/hydfurT

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 complete lack of consumer friendly methods for ordering or designing neon at a moderate price point. So she turned to her high school friend Lena who had the artistic experience and expertise to design custom pieces. After these pieces became popular, the two realized they had a business. NAME GLO has a variety of premade and custom designs you can create using their interactive online builder and by working with them directly to transform your unique idea into reality. In this episode we talk about how NAME GLO preempted the rebirth of neon, how their pieces are manufactured in their studio, and their brand new store that just opened on the Lower East Side! Use code NYLAUNCH for 10% of your order! Transcript available at: nylaun.ch/nameglotr For more on NAME GLO visit: name-glo.com/

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 variety of inventive flavors with “clean” ingredients, uncharacteristically eye-catching labels, and even donations to philanthropic causes Dreams Aren't This Good has been able to gain shelf space in a market dominated by major players. In this episode we discuss how Matt Bennett transformed a homemade recipe into a growing New York brand, what makes Dreams Aren’t This Good the most unique salsa company in stores now, and even get a sneak peek of several of their new products that will certainly change the salsa and chips experience forever. For more on Dreams Aren't This Good visit: dreamsarentthisgood.com Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/datgtr

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 any heating issue is immediately identified and corrected while also ensuring that every apartment is a comfortable temperature. If you’ve ever had your apartment windows open in February because the heat is too high while your neighbor next door is freezing, you can see why this is no small deal. In this episode we discuss how Heat Watch is solving some of the most complicated and expensive problems for building owners, the positive impact its having on the environment, and a whole lot more! For more on Heat Watch visit: heatwatch.com Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/heatwatchtr

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 customized perfectly to their face - at an affordable price. By combining 3D printing and facial recognition technology found in smartphones, Fitz creates custom fit eyeglasses in a variety of styles that are both extremely durable and fashionable. Fitz's app allows users (especially kids) to have fun by virtually trying on glasses, selecting their own style/color, measuring over 1,000 points on each face to ensure a perfect fit and even engraving their names. Fitz's innovative manufacturing process, combined with their glasses being made in the USA, means those customized eyeglasses are delivered to you quickly. In this episode we discuss how Heidi and Gabe were able to perfect their 3D printing and facial scanning technology, why they're so passionate about eyeglasses (especially for children), and what it means to disrupt the glasses buying experience. Use code FITZ-NYLAUNCH for 20% off your order! Go to: nylaun.ch/fitzpromo Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/Fitztr

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 styles in a range of colors and sizes including travel bags, satchels and totes. In this episode we discuss the inspiration behind the brand, their design process, Caraa’s unique place in the fashion industry and, at the end, a sneak peek at Caraa’s next big product.  For more on Caraa and to order your own bag visit:  caraasport.com Use code: NYLAUNCH for 10% off your order! Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/caraatr

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 continues to evolve to meet its customers’ desires, the changing nature of direct to consumer brands, and how they decided to open their first store right here in New York City. More on Mack Weldon at: www.mackweldon.com Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/hydmackweldontr

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 industry. In this episode we discuss how the brand came to be, the spur of the moment decision to open Sag Mercantile for the summer in conjunction with Fair Harbor in Sag Harbor, starting a company with your spouse, and a whole lot more. For more on Sunswell visit:  sunswell.co Transcript of this episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/sunswelltr

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 planning and assessment services. They work with all types of organizations to fulfill their missions, bridge the gap between values and practice, and develop the knowledge and resources necessary to make a lasting impact. With backgrounds in community organizing, program design, and facilitation, Hannah Weitzer and Alli Finn, Co-Founders of Seachange Collective, step onto the New York Launch Pod to discuss how they help guide organizations to effectively create and execute short-term changes and long-term plans rooted in social justice values and practice.   Check out Seachange Collective online at: www.seachangecollective.org Transcript of this episode available at: nylaun.ch/seachangecollectivetr

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-founder of Stojo certainly did, and luckily, he decided to do something about it. Stojo is a sleek, collapsible coffee cup that allows you to take your coffee on the go. The genius behind the design is that before and after each use, you can collapse the cup to “stow” it away without bulkiness or mess. It’s environmentally friendly, incredibly convenient, and designed with the urban professional in mind. To check out Stojo online and order your own check out: https://stojo.co/ and use code: NYLAUNCH for a limited time discount Transcript of this episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/stojotr

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 researcher  by training Dr. Gross thought he could design a better solution and developed his first product, the Alpha Beta Peel.  Since then Dr. Gross has developed a line of over 40 products which are uniquely formulated to address gaps in the marketplace.  Listen to the episode to discover how Dr. Gross develops these unique products, how he was able to break into and change the ethos of the beauty industry, and a few tips for better skin care this summer and beyond! Mor on Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare: https://drdennisgross.com/ Transcript of the episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/drgrosstr

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 has embarked on an ambitious plan to restore Bleecker Street, the once-vaunted retail corridor now plagued with high vacancy rates and declining sales, to its former glory.    As part of the revitalization plan, Brookfield has created a laboratory for new brands getting a foothold in brick and mortar and a rich offering of art installations and cultural programming. In this episode we have a live panel with Duncan McCuaig, Senior Vice President of Leasing at Brookfield Properties, who provides insight as to how landlords, large and small, can navigate the new age of retail, the genesis of the Love, Bleecker, and how to work with emerging brands; and  Dana Glaeser, Founder of Slightly Alabama, who provides the perspective of a tenant on Bleecker Street, why he was attracted to physical retail to grow his brand, and what techniques he is using to bring traffic to the store. ' This is episode is a panel discussion recorded in front of a live audience at Lincoln Center. Transcript available at: https://nylaun.ch/bleeckerpaneltr

 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 opposed to the days on end a flower can spend wilting on the shelf of a retail store. The result: a beautiful arrangement that lasts longer and is less expensive than traditional delivery methods.   Founded by sisters Christine (an award winning florist) and Caroline Strzalka, It’s By U brings the well known benefits of nature into the home and office, and has good reason to have you assemble the arrangement yourself. Listen to the episode to hear how this blossoming business is bringing new life to the flower industry! Thinking of an It’s By U gift?  Use code NYLAUNCH for 20% off. More on It’s By U: https://itsbyu.com/ Transcript of the episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/itsbyutr

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 called Question Roulette, ( iTunes | Google Play) people are prompted with typical business and personal questions.  The app transcribes the responses, monitors the pace of speech, and identifies how many “filler” words were used.  Michael also developed an app for the Oculus which helps train people to deliver more effective eye contact and speech through a variety of exercises.  The result, of course, is better and more effective communication in daily life.  Listen to the episode to learn about how to utilize technology in a way that will help your business and some tips to help you with public speaking. More on GK Training and Communication: http://gktrainingandcommunications.com/ Transcript of the episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/hyd5tr

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 Jetblack by voice or text to obtain product recommendations and often have the product delivered the same day, all at the cost of $50 per month. In the episode we discuss what Jenny sees in the new age of commerce, why she left Rent the Runway, and take a behind the scenes look at Jetblack! More on Jetblack: https://www.jetblack.com/ Transcript of the episode available at: https://nylaun.ch/jetblacktr

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 more people to wear bicycle helmets and re-invented a bicycle helmet from the ground up, using composite materials The result is a helmet that looks cool, is comfortable, and folds up to the size of a water bottle. And of course, almost everyone carries around a water bottle. Listen to the episode to hear how these 23 year old entrepreneurs started developing the product as undergraduate students at Virginia Tech, why other companies haven’t come up with a product like this, and a whole lot more. Want to buy a Park and Diamond helmet? Use the exclusive discount for New York Launch Pod listeners here (not an affiliate link): https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2417876/x/70846?secret_perk_token=d525a788 More on Park and Diamond: https://www.park-and-diamond.com/

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 boutique fitness studios in New York City and around the country, significant investments in the at home market from companies including Peloton and Aaptiv, and companies like ClassPass disrupting the marketplace.  In this episode, Helaine talks about how CityRow has succeeded in the increasingly crowded and cutthroat boutique fitness landscape, how navigating multiple locations in New York led CityRow to partner with Franworth for national expansion, and how she teamed up with WaterRower to launch CityRow Go, an at home experience for people who love rowing but can't get to a studio.  More on CityRow: https://www.cityrow.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/HYDCityRowTr

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 City together. Of course, you can't bring all 8.5 Million people together all at once, so Josh is starting in micro-communities. Unlike other companies that have been algorithmic predictors of parking availability or even tried to monetize public parking spaces, ParkYou! is based on the concept of sharing. Once a user indicates that they will be leaving a parking space another user will be matched if they are parking in the area at the same time as the first user is leaving. The secret sauce: in order to be able to receive a parking space, you need to have first offered up a space. As Josh says, "it's forced altruism". Listen to the episode to learn more about New York City parking and the extensive research Josh did before starting the Company and why the Company's mission is so important to Josh and how the start-up was destined to be born in Harlem. More on ParkYou!: https://www.park-you.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/parkyoutr

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 inclusive, all natural clean beauty brand. The company manufactures a variety of products including a signature oil, stubble cream, ingrown concentrate and silk scrub that are sold in major retailers such as including Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Goop. With an international distribution and a devoted following among customers that include Emma Watson, Fur now has a level of sales that might give you goosebumps. Of course the journey for Fur has not been an easy one. While the topic has become easier with time, body and pubic hair still remain taboo. Listen to the episode to hear how Fur navigates and educates on a topic that isn't always easy to talk about with customers, retailers and the public to create a product like no other! More on Fur: https://furyou.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/fur_tr

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 top of the line services that include physical therapy, nutrition, massage, yoga, acupuncture, aroma therapy, hypnotherapy, botox, cryotherapy and a whole lot more! Alexandra had the idea for a Himalyan Salt Room after having a wonderful experience in a salt cave.  After finding out that no one else had done anything similar in New York City she set out to bring an enhanced experience that caters to the New York market.  Being a hypnotherapist and life coach, Alexandra also knew the benefits of a shared space for independent wellness practitioners.  Thus Modrn Sanctuary was born. Alexandra has an incredible career and life journey and in the episode share her perspective of overcoming challenges including her fight with depression, finding how she was able to do what she loves, and where the wellness industry is headed. Exclusive for New York Launch Pod listeners: Use code NYLAUNCH for discount treatments in Modrn Sanctary's salt room, crystal bed, and somoadome meditation pod.  Book through: More on Modrn Sanctuary: https://www.modrnsanctuary.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/modnsanctuarytr Book your treatment at: ModrnSanctuary.com/ny-launch-pod

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 workout VHS tapes of the 1980’s, obé reinvents the classic in-home workout to fit the millennial mindset of the person who wants it all.  Top New York City fitness talent (including Megan Roup, Madelaine O'Connell, and the Rickey sisters - Alyssa Rickey and Sammy Rickey) are able to train obé members all over the world from a studio located in DUMBO (the aesthetic of which was inspired by the artists James Turrel and Dan Flavin).  As an online app, members can workout at home, on a business trip, on vacation, or anywhere in between so they never have to miss a live class, which start at 6:00am ET, or a favorite class available on demand at any time.  And at $27 per month, obé offers an unlimited suite of 28 minute workouts that include Strength, Power, Dance Cardio, Sculpt,  HIIT, and yoga. With high production values including bright colors, heart pounding beats, and instructors calling out members by name, obé has quickly become more than just a successful fitness platform, but also an engaged workout community with fans like Kelly Ripa, Daphne Oz, and Katie Lee. Listen to the episode as we go behind the scenes of obé and why Mark and Ashley decided to leave their high paying talent agency jobs to start the company, how they wake up so early, and a whole lot more. EXCLUSIVE FOR NEW YORK LAUNCH POD LISTENERS use code NYLAUNCH to get 50% off your first month in addition to a one week trial. More on obé: https://www.ourbodyelectric.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/obe_tr obé on Instagram: @obe_fitness  

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 heels and decided to start her company.  Thus Jibs Life and the #jibsjourney began. While the company is rooted in New York, the shoes are manufactured in Brazil under the supervision of someone Natalie refers to as the "Jimmy Choo" of sneakers.  With a recycled PVC sole and the finest authentic leathers, Jibs currently come in three styles (Classic, Slim, and High Top) in a cornucopia of colors. As the company has grown, Jibs has been able to focus on its core 25-35 demographic and build a community around its product line.  One collaboration with W Hotels led to the hotel chain calling Jibs their favorite "shift shoe" and supermodel Joan Smalls go-to Off-Duty sneaker. Go inside the competitive footwear and style industry as you listen to the episode to hear how Jibs has grown, the secret to its success, and the advantages and challenges of manufacturing in Brazil.   More on Jibs: https://jibslife.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/jibs Jibs on Instagram: @jibslife

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 made them, Ali and Lauren decided to start Fatty Sundays.  Ali quit her job and as a graphic designer and Lauren quit her job as an accountant. The two set out to create the most delicious and well-designed gourmet pretzels.  What makes a chocolate covered pretzel well designed?  Well, for one the pretzel isn’t completely covered in chocolate so you don’t have to get your hands dirty while eating it, according to Lauren. That, combined with delicious toppings, beautiful sprinkles and eye-catching packaging makes the Fatty Sundays experience one that has garnered incredible success.   What started as a company from a home kitchen has grown to the Union Square Holiday Market and now has a national distribution with a team of 10 employees in Brooklyn making several thousand pretzels a day across 12 flavors (and gluten free options). Listen to the episode to hear how the business has grown, what it’s like for the sisters to be working together, how the name Fatty Sundays came to be and a whole lot more! More on Fatty Sundays: https://fattysundays.com/ The Forem on Instagram: @FattySundays For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/FattySundaysTr

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 middle management are not necessarily the skills that are going to get her out and into leadership.  As a result, The Forem launched new curriculum called 'The Five Critical Skills' which teaches frameworks for negotiating confidently, fostering a network, building a personal brand, learning financial fluency, and mastering leadership. All geared towards advancing women. Since the responsibility of advancing women's careers shouldn't fall on women themselves, The Forem also offers corporate training to reduce unconscious bias and help companies recognize the extraordinary talent they already have within their ranks.  This is particularly important because according to, Alexis Krivkovich, partner at McKinsey, for every 100 women are promoted to an entry level manager 130 men are being promoted to the same position. Listen to the episode to learn how Alli leveraged 20 years in the technology industry and 11 years in leadership at Google to start The Forem, how The Forem is advancing women's careers and why Alli is so passionate about The Forem's mission.   More on The Forem: https://www.theforem.co/ The Forem on Instagram: @theforem.co For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/TheForemTr

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, Lisa was the first employee of WeWork so she knows the shared space business pretty well. One of the many ways in which Primary differentiates itself from the competition is by its focus on health and wellness. Each membership at Primary includes high end yoga, meditation, and boot camp classes, supervised by Brian, as Primary’s chief wellness officer who is also a former triathlon coach. The result: a successful business and a beautifully built out space that is both inspiring and zen. Primary is currently expanding at its first location in FiDi, has a second location near Penn Station under construction in the works, and plans to open more locations in New York City and beyond. While Lisa and Brian successfully raised capital and achieved full occupancy quickly it hasn’t always been easy. They have overcome challenges navigating the commercial real estate market in New York, a potentially fatal flaw in their financial model and working together as husband and wife. Listen to the podcast to go inside the coworking and shared office space business. Hear how Lisa’s professional networking was integral to establishing the business and recruiting members to Primary, how Brian formed values for the company that are essential to the brand, and a whole lot more! More on Primary: https://liveprimary.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/PrimaryTr

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 other issues, how companies are able to navigate such conflicts can determine whether they will keep and their best employees and allow them to thrive. Employees may not always feel comfortable approaching HR departments within companies as the first step when they have an issue, which can escalate workplace disputes and delay resolution. Enter Bravely. Using the Bravely app, people can easily schedule a phone session with a “Pro” who can provide guidance from a place of objectivity, and help them take the next step with their boss, colleague, direct report, or HR team. The goal is to get people talking about their issues sooner and more productively, which is why Bravely is a new way forward for employees dealing with tough topics like performance and coworker conflict. And this is big business. According to the most recent study on the matter, 26% of a manager’s time is spent helping direct reports manage conflict costing US companies over $359 billion per year. More on Bravely: https://www.workbravely.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: https://nylaun.ch/BravelyTr

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’ growth. How Andy has been able to create a culture of success that allows employees to thrive while keeping employee turnover extraordinarily low, what continues to make the sandwiches great, and where Untamed has plans to expand. Andy also reflects on the challenges of having multiple locations, retaining customers, and his own transition as an entrepreneur starting the business to his current responsibilities.   More on Untamed Sandwiches: https://www.untamedsandwiches.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: http://nylaun.ch/HYDUntamedTr

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 popular, the two decided to open the first Avocaderia in New York City, a restaurant where each dish includes avocado. Today the restaurant sells well over 1,000 avocados a week and has gained a large and loyal following among its target millennial audience.  But Alesandro and Francesco have their sights well beyond one restaurant location and want to establish a brand.  As a result, Avocaderia has partnered with companies including SoulCycle and Goop to reach the health conscious consumer and is now looking at additional locations. Listen to the episode to go behind the scenes of Avocaderia, why the co-founders decided to focus exclusively on avocados, how they come up with recipes and more about avocados and the people who love them than you ever thought possible. More on Avocaderia: http://www.avocaderia.com/ Avocaderia Instagram Feed: https://www.instagram.com/avocaderia/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: http://nylaun.ch/avocaderiaTr    

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. The result is that the waste is not placed into landfills and Action Environmental is able to resell the recycled materials in the global marketplace sending much of the material as far away as China. In this episode we go inside (literally) the $15 Million facility located at 132nd Street to see how the optical technology responsible for sorting the tons of recyclable materials each day works. We also delve into the world of New York City's garbage and the 20,000 tons of waste that are produced by New Yorkers each day. Listen to the episode to hear the business of waste management and recycling and learn why there are two separate garbage collection systems in New York City: the Department of Sanitation for residential purposes and companies like Action Environmental for commercial purposes. Hear why Action Environmental decided to invest so much in recycling and what the facility means to the company, New Yorkers, and the global economy.   More on Action Environmental: http://actioncarting.com/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: http://nylaun.ch/ActionEnvTr

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 recommendations in order to participate in the program. But it’s also the story about people who are underrepresented in the entrepreneurship community, and who don't get the flashy headlines (yet). We follow these students as they develop a business idea, earn revenue for the first time and overcome the unexpected challenges that come with entrepreneurship. By completing NFTE’s training, these students acquire business and life skills that will stay with them for the rest of their careers. To learn about NFTE, however, is more than to learn about what their students accomplish. There is a large community that supports the organization from companies that donate resources, individual professionals who donate their time to mentor, and alumni who return to the program to help in any way possible. The story of NFTE is also about how all these constituencies interact with one another and create an environment where everyone benefits. For more information about NFTE please visit: http://nfte.com/ For more information about the New York office of NFTE please visit http://nfte.com/offices/new-york-metro/ For a transcript of the episode please visit: http://nylaun.ch/NFTEtranscript

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 which keeps hair and skin hydrated and smooth and also repels allergens and dust mites. The pillowcase comes in a signature black hue to negate light and increase melatonin production. The pillow itself is made from light-weight memory foam, which self-adjusts to accommodate every sleep position. The NIGHT Pillow has received a lot of attention with a celebrity following that counts Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner as fans. More than that, the pillow is carried by traditional retailers including Bloomingdales and Bed Bath and Beyond. Kalle is a veteran of the sleep industry. Before founding NIGHT, Kalle worked in the bedding industry for ten years. Seeing a lack of innovation in the bedding space, Kalle decided to go out on her own and invent the best pillow possible. Listen to the episode to hear the process behind inventing the NIGHT Pillow and all the health and wellness benefits associated with it (including a few that may surprise you)! You'll learn how Kalle has been able to grow her business into what it is today. LISTENER GIFT: $20 OFF with code NYLAUNCH (not an affiliate code) More on Night: https://discovernight.com/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/NightTr  

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 the right people to join the Greats team has taken some time. In this episode Ryan talks about the successes and challenges behind his company's growth and the plans for the future of Greats.  Listen to the podcast to find out how the company will expand its brand through physical stores, how the brand collaborates with designers, and what Greats looks for in its employees.  Ryan also tells the story of how Barack Obama and Ryan Seacrest came to be fan of the sneakers and one competitor he is not afraid of.   More on Greats: https://www.greats.com/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/HYDGreatsTr

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 “weekend warriors” there are more injuries. Yitzchok is a professional physical therapist by trade and saw his patients unable to regularly receive treatment which made their recovery longer or impossible.  And once, a Fortune 500 CEO asked Yitzchok for physical therapy in his office and actually received treatment during a meeting--the idea for Theryon was born. Through Theryon's app and website, users are able to book appointments whenever they want and a physical therapist comes to them in their home, office, or anywhere else in New York City they wish to be seen.  And if some time frees up during the day, Theryon can accommodate same day appointments with the eventual goal of having a therapist to your door within one hour. Listen to the episode to hear about all the challenges in building the platform, how physical therapists are able to come to people’s homes to receive quality treatment, and why physical therapy is critical to anyone’s recovery. LISTENER GIFT:  Use Code NYLAUNCH  to receive $50 off your first physical therapy session through Theryon. (not an affiliate link) Special thank you to Samson Technologies as our sponsor for providing recording equipment and hosting us in their offices.   More on Theryon: https://www.theryon.com/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/theryonTr  

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 “alternative lender” but has carved out a niche by providing innovative solutions to students and schools alike. Climb Credit assesses a school's performance to ensure that students receive a positive return on their investment in the education, earning more after graduating than before they started school. This means that schools who inflate their employment figures, have low graduation rates, or do not provide a valuable education are ruled out after comprehensive due diligence. In addition, Climb Credit provides the schools a further incentive to provide a quality education because, as a student pays back a Climb Credit loan, the school receives more money. Listen to the episode to go inside the world of professional education. Find out how Climb Credit finds out what makes a good school versus a "fake university", what areas of professional education provide a positive return on investment and how Climb Credit is able to lend to everyone at an approved school. More on Climb Credit: https://climbcredit.com/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/HYDVol1Tr  

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 products that did not fit the needs of the real estate industry. Thus, MetaProp was born to solve that problem. Today, MetaProp has an advisory business that works with some of the largest landlords globally to help navigate real estate technology and has a venture capital fund as well as an accelerator which helps emerging companies navigate the real estate world. How difficult can navigating real estate organizations be? According to Zach when selling real estate software or hardware, a company often has to make four completely different sales within one organization, which includes the building engineer, the asset manager, the Chief Information Officer, and C-Suite executives. Each of the people within the real estate organization that a start-up is selling to may have a completely different motive for either purchasing or not purchasing the technology, and those motives might not even be the same between companies! Listen to the episode to hear how MetaProp has become the 'nexus' for real estate technology, how Zach found his way into real estate and real estate investing after launching his own company, and what the future holds for real estate technology.   More on MetaProp: http://www.metaprop.org/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/MetaPropTr

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 create a direct to consumer brand at a time when there weren’t that many around. Brooklinen sheets and bedding have been off to a roaring start.  Through a clever grassroots campaign in 2014, Vicki and Rich smashed their initial $50,000 goal on Kickstarter and raised $237,000.  Since then the Company has grown its revenue by a multiple of 10, in each of the past two years with annual sales now in excess of $25 Million and a growing product line that covers sheets, comforters, blankets, and of course linen sheets. Listen to the episode to hear what makes Brooklinen sheets different than the store department store brands, why people improperly focus on thread count and how the company markets sheets to people who can’t touch them before purchasing.  Hear how Vicki and Rich bootstrapped the company through incredible growth, what the Brooklyn brand means to them and even what it’s like being a husband and wife team. More on Brooklinen: https://www.brooklinen.com/ Transcript available here: http://nylaun.ch/BrooklinenTr    

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 point for a large constituency of people that was yet to have a comprehensive solution.  Realizing this, Susannah set off to establish Flip as the ‘go to’ marketplace for residential subletting. Flip users create a profile that links their credit score, employment information and even bank account to show that they are qualified to rent an apartment.  Similarly, renters can post photos and details of an apartment  and even create a “bounty” that encourages others to help find a subtenant on their behalf.  Once a match is made, a sublease is drawn up, rent payments are held in escrow, and the site provides an easy way to ask the Landlord for permission to sublet the apartment and show that a qualified renter will be in the space. The result: a dynamic marketplace that draws users looking for flexible housing.  And what started out as a marketplace for subletting has grown to attract people looking for roommates as well as landlords. Listen to the episode to hear how Susannah has grown the business, why she thinks Flip will win in the marketplace and how she has been able to make the once ‘shadow market’ of subletting easier and more user friendly.   More on Flip: https://flip.lease/   Transcript Available Here: http://nylaun.ch/FlipLeaseTR

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 common frustrations, Mack Weldon began re-inventing men’s essentials to make the best products.  Their underwear has waistbands inspired by cycling shorts so they don’t curl over, the undershirts have longer tails and higher armholes so they don’t untuck easily, and their fabrics are engineered to be softer and more breathable than cotton including a blend that includes silver to be antimicrobial and fight odor in a way that never washes out.  The brand itself is rooted in authenticity, consistency and innovation that has attracted accolades and a diverse audience, in addition to being a hit with the 25-45 year old urban, mass affluent market. Brian was a high powered business executive with two kids and another on the way as he was founding Mack Weldon - meeting his co-founder Michael Isaacman, a leader in the apparel industry shortly thereafter.  Each took big professional and personal risk launching this new venture.  The combination of their respective talents and efforts has led to a company that has more than doubled in size over the past year and a growing product line. Listen to the episode to hear exactly what makes Mack Weldon and their fabrics different, what it is like to be an entrepreneur after having a career and a family, and even more about the underwear business than you might haven even thought possible. More on Mack Weldon: https://www.mackweldon.com/ USE CODE: NYLAUNCH for 20% off your first order Transcript Available here: http://nylaun.ch/mackweldonTR Episode sponsor: https://simplyframed.com/ USE CODE: NYLAUNCH for 10% off your first order    

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 knows the space. He has been named to Business Insider's 100 Most Influential People in NY Tech five times and served on the founding board of the New York Tech Meetup. Whether you are interested in the start-up scene, venture capital, or want to know what goes through a venture capitalist's head, this is the episode for you! Listen to the episode to hear:   Why Charlie choose New York for his fund.  (4:56) Opportunities to invest in New York (7:28) The steps Charlie took to start his own fund (10:50) Charlie’s pitch to his initial investors (15:00) How Charlie finds his deals (18:21) How Charlie established himself in the start-up scene (20:20) What Charlie looks for in a Company  (23:1 0) What Charlie looks for in an entrepreneur and accepting pitches (27:47)   Brooklyn Bridge Venture’s investment in Orchard, our guest in Episode 8 ( 31:05) Amount of money Brooklyn Bridge Ventures invests in companies (35:36) Why companies take on a venture capitalist (37:51) Charlie’s involvement with portfolio companies (41:05 ) What does a typical month for Charlie look like? (42:38) Predictions for 2017 (47:00) More on Brooklyn Bridge Ventures: http://www.brooklynbridge.vc/ Transcript Available Here: http://nylaun.ch/brooklynbridgeTR 

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 solve this problem. On Kit, users create packages of their favorite products which are based on interest. People can then search by interest for various Kits from people who they trust and purchase the products directly from retailers including Amazon. Creators of Kits (who include Tim Ferris, Casey Neistat and Gary Vaynerchuk) are able to keep 100% of any affiliate revenues they generate. The premise behind Kit is not to make people accumulate more “stuff” but to get the best products for what they need. Camille calls Kit, “The modern day peer-to peer social version of helping people help each other be self-sufficient, enrich their lives, find the tools that they need. “ Listen to the episode to hear how Kit wants to be the social media on top of Amazon, how Kits are created, and how to find the best products to buy! We even made a few kits for the New York Launch Pod! You can find ours at kit.com/nylaunchpod More on Kit: www.kit.com Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/KitTranscript

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 of Science from Cornell University, an MBA from Harvard University and being selected as a Henry Crown Fellow as the Aspen Institute, Lisa found this inflection point to be quite challenging. Lisa was not alone in her feelings.  Today, we have the largest number of professional, educated women not firing on all cylinders.  According to Lisa, women are 51% of the workforce yet only 16% of upper management, with 90% of women experiencing workplace navigation issues.  In response to this problem, companies and women are left asking "where do we start?"  With a comprehensive and individually tailored platform, Landit provides a unique solution. Landit provides a 'playbook' that enables people to more successfully navigate the workplace by democratizing access to resources, tools and know-how. The platform elements such as executive coaching, personal profile building, matched opportunities, and other keys to success including building your board of advisors and personal brand.  By bundling all these resources together, Landit has blossomed into a turnkey way to make a major impact on individuals and companies alike. Listen to the episode to hear how Lisa was able to pull all the resources together, how Landit is transforming careers and workplaces, and how you can build a more fulfilling career. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/LandItTr More on Landit: https://landit.com/

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, healthy, clean and beautiful". Not surprisingly, Dimes opened up to wonderful reviews.  In addition to having great food, the New Yorker called Dimes the place where "the cool kids want to be".  Sabrina explains, “Dimes embodies the creatives that live in the neighborhood...a lot of crossover with fashion, art, and music".  As the business flourished, Alissa and Sabrina created a marketplace that sells Dimes branded apothecaries including a salt scrub, lip balm, and candle alongside the fresh food that goes into the restaurant. Listen to the episode to hear why Alissa and Sabrina chose Chinatown as the location for Dimes, how they actively engage the community, and the genesis of the name and brand Dimes.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/DimesTr   More on Dimes: http://www.dimesnyc.com/

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. With a Masters of Fine Arts from NYU, Michael started as a professional actor and discovered the link between a kinesthetic task (physical act) and learning habits for effective communication.   Michael now teaches communication at Columbia University Business School and his company has grown to twelve coaches with clients including Pfizer, Xerox, and The Boston Consulting Group. Listen to the episode to hear how you can communicate better including: (9:00) How to overcome self-consciousness and the “don’t school of feedback” (12:39) Why you have permission to be nervous in front of an audience (15:40) Do you need confidence for a presentation? (17:04) Right idea. Right Order. Right Words. (20:02) Getting your voice heard in group situations and claiming the conversation space (20:35) Gender differences in communication (28:40) Relating your ideas better to your listeners. Simpler, image-based words (32:30) Bringing more of yourself to the conversation (36:07) Navigating Questions and Questions & Answers (39:03) Talking Points as a double edged sword (41:24) Getting an audience to like you (45:10) Keys to a wedding toast or eulogy (46:35) How to find someone to emulate (48:29) Input vs. Output communication (51:07) The 5 P’s of vocal variety (53:00) Final Takeaways to be more in command of your language   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/GKTraniningTr More on GK Training and Communications: http://www.gktrainingandcommunications.com/

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 way to kickstart charity projects and make a lasting impact. Listen to the episode to hear how!   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/BarrelOnTR More on Barrel On: http://barrelon.com/    

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 popular than her traditional desserts. When sharing the recipes, however, most people did not have the necessary ingredients. It was at that moment that Cake in a Crate was born. Asha decided to forego her opera singing career and pursue her vision of bringing plant-based desserts to the public. Like Blue Apron or Plated, each Cake in a Crate comes beautifully packaged with pre-measured ingredients (that don’t expire for 3-6 months). Listen to the episode to hear how each recipe is carefully developed, why all the cakes look and taste so good, and how easy each Cake in a Crate is to make! For New York Launch Pod listeners, Cake in a Crate is offering 20% off all first time purchases with code NYLAUNCH! Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/CakeinaCrateTr More on Cake in a Crate: http://www.cakeinacrate.com/

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 windows have become more efficient. Consequently, rooms overheat and New Yorkers open their windows to freezing temperatures just to make a room temperature manageable. It is estimated that $1.2 dollars of fuel is wasted each year in New York City alone due to this problem. One night while Marshall was studying for his PhD in engineering at Columbia he could not tolerate the wild temperature fluctuations in his dorm room anymore. He set out to create a radiator cover that would solve the problem and the Cozy was born. The Cozy is a patent pending “smart” radiator cover that solves the overheating problem and adjusts the room to a constant temperature which can even be controlled by a smartphone app! Once a building installs the Cozy, a mesh network is created allowing the building to access a vast amount of data about its heating system resulting in up to a 40% reduction in heating costs. Listen to the episode to learn how radiators are being brought in the 21st century and what that will mean for all New Yorkers, Landlords and Tenants alike.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/radiatorlabsTr More on Radiator Labs: https://www.radiatorlabs.com/

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 correct, updated information was labor and cost intensive, taking months of work. Once the iPad was first released, however, Alexandra had the revelation to digitize the process and after a year of development, ArtBinder was born. ArtBinder allows its clients to seamlessly access (and search) the images and vital information (size, medium, year, etc.) of their inventory on mobile devices. Instead of spending inordinate amounts of money on labor, printing and shipping, for a small monthly fee galleries are able to take their whole inventory on the go and instantaneously share information with prospective clients. The result: lower costs and more sales. Leveraging her knowledge and experience in the art world, Alexandra was able to build a solution for galleries and quickly get a foothold in an industry that was resistant to technology. Six years later, ArtBinder has the biggest names in art using its product and has its sights set on becoming a full service solution for art galleries. Listen to the episode to go behind the scenes of the art world and hear how being headquartered in New York City among the many galleries in Chelsea has been an advantage to ArtBinder, and get an inside look at the company’s pathway to success as well as its future expansion plans. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/ArtBinderTr More on ArtBinder: http://artbinder.com/

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 her students’ attendance increased. Understanding that teachers are over-burdened and that each class represents over a 100 parents, the idea for Kinvolved was hatched. On her first day at the Wagner School at NYU Miriam met her Co-Founder, Alexandra Meis. Both Alex and Miriam were passionate about education and family involvement. While in graduate school the co-founders were able to understand the need for the product and made time to start the company with the first Beta launching in 2012. With Kinvolved’s app Kinvo, if a student is late or absent, a text message or email (in a number of different languages) is sent to that student’s parents allowing them to know what is happening in real time as opposed to traditional methods which let parents know at the end of the semester. The result: three in four teachers who use Kinvo have reported increased student attendance, with 93% reporting improved communication with families. What’s more, the app takes a fraction of the time to take the roll versus the traditional Scantron sheets that some schools still use allowing for more classroom instruction. Go behind the scenes of the start-up that has double bottom line of making money and carrying out a social mission to improve attendance in under-resourced communities, and hear about the challenges and opportunities of working in New York City public schools, the largest district in the United States.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/KinvolvedTr   More on Kinvolved: https://kinvolved.com/

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 the need for Arabic learning with a native speaking population. NaTakallam, which means we speak, was born at a Columbia University start-up competition and went on to finish in the semi-finals of a World Bank competition. NaTakallam partnered with NGOs in Beirut that help recruit Syrian conversation partners. The conversation partners are interviewed and vetted by the company and have conversations with their students over Skype. Once launched, NaTakallam was shared over 5,000 times and demand is growing, particularly among universities. The Syrian crisis has created over 4.8 Million refugees and internally displaced over 6.5 Million Syrians (source: OCHA). many of the refugees are unable to participate in their respective local economies, NaTakallam provides a sustainable source of income that is different from aid. Hear how NaTakallam has changed the lives of the displaced Syrians and teaching Arabic to students in a way that they can actually learn, what the company means to the conversation partners and just what the students and teachers talk about. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/NaTakallamTR More on NaTakallam: https://natakallam.com/

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, the parent company, is known for, Belvy and Aaron were able to transform Riis Park into a tourist destination that caught the eye of the New York Post as the number one item on its summer bucket list and the second best beach in America as rated by Yahoo! Travel. Rather than selling traditional food on the beach, Riis Park Beach Bazaar draws in visitors with an exciting mix of local food, vendors, free live music, and programming on a daily basis. With a unique location that captures the benefits of a beautiful beach and the vistas of Manhattan, New Yorkers have been flocking by car, bus, train, ferry, and bicycle. The result for the first season of the Riis Park Beach Bazaar was a 140% increase in attendance over the previous year. Belvy also talks about the forthcoming return of the Brooklyn Bazaar to the former Polonaise Terrace and the many exciting new features that his company is bringing to the former wedding venue. After starting at the DeKalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn and moving to Williamsburg then to Greenpoint this will be the fourth iteration of the popular Night Bazaar that utilizes the company’s recipe of live music, food, drink, vendors, and fun. In the episode, Belvy also talks about how the company has grown, how the Bazaar has been a springboard for its vendors, what it is like to be an independent concert venue in New York City and what it was like to lose the former space on Banker Street to BMW. Listen to the episode to get an inside look at what it is like to do business at the beach with the unpredictability of mother nature, and how Riis Park Beach Bazaar was able to gain the support of the local community by having a year round presence, and hear Belvy address criticism that his company is gentrifying the beach.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/rpbazaarTR More on Riis Park Beach Bazaar and Brooklyn Bazaar: http://riisparkbeachbazaar.com/  http://bkbazaar.com/

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 eyes on higher ambitions.   After navigating various laws and regulations and gaining support from the Town of East Hampton, the Montauk Brewing Company opened its doors at 62 South Erie Avenue, Montauk, New York in June 2012. With distribution across all of Long Island and as far as New York City the Montauk Brewing Company is a success and trying to keep up with demand.  The Taproom is stocked with 6 beers on rotation including the two year round brews of the Driftwood Ale and Session IPA and becomes a gathering place for the community and summer tourists alike with  weekly events including Breathe and Brews (yoga) and Bells and Brews (kettle bells).  Importantly the Montauk Brewing Company stays true to its roots and hosts a variety of fundraisers at the Taproom. Listen to the podcast to get a behind the scenes understanding of the laid back brand with the slogan “come as you are”, how it came up with its logo and branding that is uniquely Montauk, and what is like to do business year round in Montauk, New York.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/montaukbrewcoTr More on Montauk Brewing Company: http://www.montaukbrewingco.com/

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 year) Tom thought there had to be a better way to discover great shows since there was no centralized site. So Tom, an entrepreneur who is now on his 10th start-up, decided to build the platform himself and it is a ‘runaway hit’.  In the first 6 months, Show-Score has over 75,000 reviews from over 50,000 users which is more than 6x the number of reviews for shows on Facebook, TripAdvisor and Twitter, combined. The reviews themselves also have an innovative design where a user answers three quick questions and gives a rating from 1-100.  The reviews, which includes reviews from professional critics, are aggregated based on an algorithm that takes into account the user’s following on the site. The success of the platform has enabled Show-Score to allow users to discover new shows and allow smaller theater companies to list their shows and quickly find an audience.  With over 150 shows on a daily basis New York truly is the theater capital and Show-Score enables users to see shows they are bound to like and discover affordable shows on Broadway and ‘Beyond Broadway’. Listen to the podcast to delve into the world of the performing arts and hear how Show-Score came about, its innovative model to grow, and the user friendly features in the platform.  At the end, Tom even provides some hints about getting tickets to the hottest shows in New York. (Hamilton) Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/show-scoreTr More on Show-Score: http://www.show-score.com/

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 schools in order to grow the platform. With the tagline “People, Places, Parties & Nightlife” Guest of a Guest built its brand by fulfilling a cultural niche rather than using algorithms to gain traffic at volume.  As Rachelle explains the ethos behind the site, “we want to be your cool friend.”  With the best social calendar in the city, an array of interesting articles and millions of event photographs, Guest of a Guest is able to attract web traffic of an audience that wants to be at the forefront of new trends. Eschewing corporate fundraising, Guest of a Guest has remained fiercely independent and grown to 15 full time employees and 60 photographers.  On a daily basis, the site delivers engaging content to its target audience of 18-35 year olds, with an even male–female split that has made the platform attractive to premier brands including Dolce & Gabbana and Cointreau. Four years in the making, Guest of a Guest is now launching a wedding site with the goal of having 50 new wedding albums up per week.  The idea behind starting a wedding site is to be community focused and fill a void left by traditional media.  As Rachelle explains the wedding albums will gain a unique perspective on these major life events and the related editorial content and calendar will be engaging to the site’s audience. Listen to the episode to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Guest of a Guest, how the company has grown with its sights now set internationally, and how it stays competitive in the ever shifting landscape of digital media.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/GuestofaGuestTr More on Guest of a Guest: http://www.guestofaguest.com/

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. []

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.

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."

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 Dear Kate has grown its sales by 400% in EACH of the past two years and how the company's expansion into activewear started with its underwear-less yoga pants that reached its Kickstarter goal in less than one hour!  And find why Julie thinks 2015 is "the year of the period." Manufactured and headquartered in New York City, Dear Kate is driven by the philosophy to do what they think is right.  Hear how that philosophy has influenced decisions to use models for who they are and what they do- not simply how they look, naming campaigns after famous women, and offering sizes XXS to 3X in order to be size inclusive.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/dearkatet

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 sustainable ingredients, while also offering gluten free and low-carb options. Go behind the scenes of Ricky's efficient five day braising process  and his lifetime of research and development used for the recipes, how the sandwiches got their names (Carla Bruni, Sheemakers Bounty, The Butt), and how Untamed Sandwiches handles the daily crush of the midtown lunch business with aplomb. Find out how important it is for Andy and Ricky to  maintain a strong relationship with their local suppliers who focus on "doing things the right way" (grass fed meat, pasture raised pork), how they view their role in the sustainable foodchain, and Untamed Sandwiches' plans for the future.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/UntamedSandwicht More on Untamed Sandwiches: http://www.untamedsandwiches.com/

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 to open her own studio and bring rowing back in to the "limelight". From "sexy" water based rowers to foam rollers, CityRow is committed to being a forward thinking fitness studio that led to it being ahead of the rowing curve.  Listen to how Helaine first connected with Annie Mulgrew, CityRow's Director of Programming, to develop an interval based class that is suitable for all fitness levels and ages. Now over one year old, find out how CityRow first got its start at its Union Square location, what it learned from being in the Hamptons, and its plan for a signature flagship location on the Upper East Side.  Go inside the boutique fitness world and the challenge of educating consumers about rowing, but why with new fitness studios popping up, Helaine thinks CityRow has a formula for long lasting success. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/cityrowt More on CityRow: http://www.cityrow.com/

Ben Gordon and Matt Bachmann, co-founders of Wandering Bear Coffee Co.  step on to the fourth episode of the New York Launch Pod to discuss their delicious cold brewed iced coffee.  Matt and Ben each have a passion for cold brewed iced coffee, a process that Matt says “requires time, forethought, and planning” and which results in what Ben calls “an objectively better iced coffee”.  So when the two first saw each other drinking cold brewed iced coffee in a classroom at Columbia Business School they quickly developed a friendship that turned into their business. Wandering Bear has the mission of delivering great iced coffee to the home and office.  Find out how this led to Wandering Bear’s distribution method and the epiphany that resulted in its unique packaging that keeps the coffee fresh.  Discover how Matt and Ben were able to leverage their resources to build their company while in business school but the tests that doing so put on their time, as well as the challenges of brewing at scale that led them to throw their first brew down the drain. Matt and Ben are proud to call New York City the home of Wandering Bear Coffee.  Their beans are roasted in Brooklyn and the coffee brewed in Queens.  Listen to how Matt and Ben have been able to sell to Barry’s Bootcamp, Murray’s Cheese, and FreshDirect and why they believe their insights about the New York consumer will help them win in the Big Apple. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/wanderingbeart More on Wandering Bear: https://wanderingbearcoffee.com/

Bari Musacchio, Owner, and Matthew Gray, General Manager, of Baz Bagel & Restaurant step on to the third episode of the New York Launch Pod to go behind the scenes of one of New York’s quintessential foods: the bagel. Baz Bagel is a neighborhood restaurant in Nolita (181 Grand Street) with much more behind the scenes.  With the best blintzes, as named by New York Magazine and a full complement of delicious food, Baz Bagel does almost as much business outside its walls as it does inside.  Listen to what it took for Bari to come up the perfect bagel and how Baz Bagel took an initial press boost to now sell over 1200 hand rolled bagels each day all over the United States and the world. Baz Bagel is just over one year old.  Find out how Bari and Matthew first met and how the dynamic between them has helped to grow and sustain the restaurant, as well as establish a strong relationship with its neighborhood clientele as well as tourists.   Go inside what Bari and Matthew think is the toughest part of being in the restaurant business, their one word secret for keeping staff motivated, and their Bingo recipe for evening entertainment every two weeks.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/bazbagelt   More on Baz Bagel: http://bazbagel.com/

Mathew Farkash, co-founder of Blueprint Health, a New York City based health accelerator, joins the second episode of the New York Launch Pod to discuss the unique set of challenges that face health care start-ups.  Blueprint Health was recently named by Fast Company as one of the top ten most innovative companies in health care, an incredible accomplishment when Mathew and his co-founder Dr. Brad Weinberg teamed up to start one of the first health care specific accelerators.  Find out how Blueprint Health built, from scratch, the largest health care specific mentor community of any accelerator in the world and the benefits that provides to participants in Blueprint Health's program.  Listen to hear why Mathew believes New York City is the best place for health care start-ups and what Blueprint Heath looks for in entrepreneurs when it selects only 3% of companies from the hundreds that apply to its program.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/Blueprintt More on Blueprint Health: https://www.blueprinthealth.org/

Evan Hammer, co-founder of Smart Host, joins the New York Launch Pod in its first episode!  Smart Host is a one-year-old start-up based out of New York City that provides dynamic pricing recommendations for short-term vacation rental properties on sites such as Airbnb, HomeAway and FlipKey.  Vacation rentals are a multi-billion dollar industry and Smart Host thinks owners are losing out on a lot of revenue!  Whether it’s because property owners and managers are too busy or just don’t have enough data at their fingertips, Smart Host discovered that vacation rental prices are largely stagnant and in a short period of time in New York City the average hotel price varied by 124% while the average vacation rental price varied by only 18%.  Find out how Evan and his team set out to provide property owners and managers with more resources, founded their company in only three days, where the future of real estate data is going, and why Evan thinks his company has an advantage over the big players in the market.   Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/smarthostt More on Smart Host: https://smarthost.me/