Startups With Stu
Stu Draper, a serial entrepreneur, knows just how exhilarating it is to launch a startup to the moon. He is a 9-time Inc. 5000 honoree before age 40 with tens of millions generated in revenue from his startups and an angel investor in 8 businesses. He's also the co-author of the bestselling textbook Digital Marketing Essentials. Stu knows just what it takes to transform an innovative idea into a thriving business. Inspired by the creators of groundbreaking ventures, Startups With Stu is an illuminating podcast that dives into the trials and triumphs of startup founders and investors who have committed their lives to reaching financial freedom through entrepreneurship. Podcast guests will be seeking advice on how to overcome the obstacles they're facing. Expect motivating stories as Stu spotlights the hard-fought victories that reveal the inner workings of entrepreneurship. By demystifying the startup process, Startups With Stu aims to equip aspiring founders with the grit and know-how to transform visionary concepts into startup success. Startups With Stu is produced using PodUp podcasting software.
Episodes
Standing alone in her parents' kitchen making a quesadilla, Whitney Rigby heard a male voice tell her to "create magnetic hair extensions" - and nobody else was home. Nine years later, that supernatural moment has transformed into the world's first magnetic hair extension company, with investors begging to get in and trade shows selling out instantly. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Whitney reveals how she went from aspir...
Xan Marcucci rejected a $500,000 corporate offer to start Confetti Recruiting as a summer project while caring for her young children. What began with a surprise $20,000 commission check evolved into a thriving...
While most entrepreneurs struggle with expensive lead generation, 24-year-old Derek Bock discovered a ...
"I magically carve out hours for my day. So some days I have to start at 4...
In a recent episode of Startups with Stu, host Stuart Draper, Join us as we explore the innovative journey of Subitt.io, a startup that's transforming how small businesses implement subscription models to drive...
Learn how SBA loans can transform your business dreams as Craig Sherle, VP of SBA Lending at Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) with 25 years of small business lending experience, explains exactly how to get financing when other lenders reject you. These government-backed loans (covering 75-85% of the risk) have helped numerous employees become owners - like the restaurant manager who purchased multiple franchise locations and c...
In this episode, we sit down with James Reber who transformed his frustration with torn rugby jerseys into a thriving custom sports apparel business. Starting with just 50 misspelled rugby balls, James now celebrates breaking six figures in Q1 2025—more than his entire previous year's revenue. He shares the exact moment he received his first $72 check and why he still keeps it as a reminder of his entrepreneurial journey. When ...
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What happens when three executives who built a million-dollar EdTech company reunite to share their ...
McKay Francis never planned to battle the SEC or catch Grant Cardone's attention when he launched Ca...
From creating America's #1 cake mix to writing a $25,000 check that launched an educational empire—Corey Smith's unexpected journey unfolds in this episode of Startups with Stu. When Stuart Draper lost his third job in a row, it was Corey's unwavering belief that transformed a desperate situation into Stukent, a company that would eventually impact over a million students worldwide. But before becoming an angel investor, Corey ...
From eight-figure exit to nearly $1 million in debt in less than a year! Serial entrepreneur John Ramp...
From turning down multi-million dollar Wall Street recruitment bonuses to building a billion-dollar wealth management firm, Chad Willardson's entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional. In this captivating episode of Startups with Stu, Chad reveals how he walked away from a $1.4M salary at Merrill Lynch to start Pacific Capital, taking a 70% pay cut to pursue his vision of serving entrepreneurs differentl...
The gaming industry surpasses music, movies, and sports combined in market size, yet Luke Richey envisions something bigger than profits alone. As founder of America's oldest augmented reality company Gravity Jack, he's crafting a revolutionary gaming experience backed by legendary Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and protected by a powerful patent portfolio. After building games that generated $35M+ monthly revenue, R...
What's the smartest way to turn $10,000 in savings into a business that gives you true time and financial freedom? In this episode of Startups with Stu, Ethan Clark reveals his journey from real estate investing to co-founding Idaho Falls Junk Removal, while plotting an ambitious exit strategy that could multiply his company's value. Host Stuart Draper breaks down the counterintuitive truth about real estate versus...
What happens when you combine the urgent need for expert voices with publishers' insatiable demand for authentic content? Brett Farmiloe, founder of Featured.com, shares how he transformed this market gap into a thriving platform that now powers content for industry giants like Fast Company, Forbes, and HubSpot. In this episode, Brett reveals the strategic pivot that led him from running a 500-client digital market...
"You're not a marketing genius. You don't even have a job. You do yoga all the time." These were the words Curtis Matsko's girlfriend hurled at him when he boldly declared he was going to quit his job and start a hundred-million-dollar company selling leather journals. Her response? "That's the stupidest idea ever." Fast forward to today, and Curtis Matsko didn't just prove her wrong - he built a $200 million global le...
In this week's episode of Startups with Stu, discover what happens when you combine the hype of custom sneakers with B2B marketing. Matt Williams reveals how his company DSCMFRT is transforming corporate gifting and social media engagement by turning Nike and Adidas sneakers into viral marketing assets. From crafting money-themed Air Jordans to creating region-specific designs for real estate firms, Matt shares how...
What happens when you trade a cushy Target supply chain job for a risky startup role with no salary for five months? For Brandon Winter, former CRO of Stukent and founder of Fundraise Genius, it led to helping build Stukent from zero to serving over a million students across 80 countries. Going behind the scenes of Stukent's meteoric rise, Brandon reveals how Stukent grew from a makeshift warehouse office (complete...
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