PJ shares how growing up in the Catskills, working in technology consulting, moving to New York City, and navigating major life changes during the pandemic all shaped where he is today. The idea for Planke came from seeing firsthand how difficult it could be for fitness instructors to find the right opportunities and for studios to find the right people.

We talk about how Planke evolved from those early conversations, what PJ learned moving from consulting into building a product, and why the traditional hiring process does not always work well in the fitness world. PJ also shares the experience of moving from New York City to Austin and eventually back to Rochester, where he is now continuing to grow the company.

In this episode, Mike Brennan welcomes Ebuka Mgbenka to share his journey from growing up in Nigeria, developing a passion for building and engineering, to transitioning into software development and entrepreneurial ventures. He discusses the story behind founding Money Pigeon, which is designed to make international transactions seamless, trustworthy, and local-like especially within emerging markets like Nigeria. Ebuka highlights his experience with tech giants like Google, his fascination with AI and machine learning, and his early career in enterprise software and IoT at Bosch.We dive into Ebuka's insights on the evolving AI landscape, its future potential, and the ethical considerations around automation and jobs. He emphasizes the importance of creating useful AI tools and the role of regulation in shaping its impact. Ebuka recounts his experience during Startup Grind’s global pitch event in San Francisco, and the strategic vision of making cross-border spending as effortless as local transactions.Finally, Ebuka offers a vivid vignette of his food adventures in Chicago, the cultural differences he navigated, and how his experiences abroad continue to influence his vision. His story exemplifies how personal pain points can inspire scalable solutions, driven by curiosity, resilience, and a strong desire to solve real-world problems.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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Steve shares the early experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the lessons learned from building businesses, and how those experiences ultimately led to the creation of MOLI, Perdix's integrated software and hardware platform designed to help manufacturers improve visibility, efficiency, and operational performance.

Our conversation covers entrepreneurship, product development, manufacturing innovation, leadership, and the realities of building technology that solves real-world industrial challenges. Whether you're a founder, operator, or simply fascinated by how great businesses are built, Steve's story offers practical insights and a compelling look at the future of manufacturing technology.

Topics discussed:

• Early entrepreneurial beginnings
• Building and scaling technology businesses
• Lessons learned from years of entrepreneurship
• The origins of Perdix Software
• How MOLI helps optimize manufacturing operations
• The future of industrial technology and automation
• Advice for founders and innovators

Tom is bringing a unique caffeinated coffee bar to market, and honestly, he brings about as much energy as ten of the bars themselves. We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, his go-to-market strategy, and some of the lessons, setbacks, and unexpected challenges he's encountered while building the business and his career.

If you're interested in startups, product launches, or hearing what it really takes to bring a new consumer product to market, you'll enjoy this conversation.

Check out Moka Energy and grab some bars for yourself at MOKAEnergy.com.

Having worked together for nearly 20 years, Mike and Jon share the story behind their entrepreneurial journey, from early ventures and hard-earned lessons to the successes that shaped their careers. Along the way, they revisit a few epic failures, the challenges of building businesses with family, and the experiences that ultimately informed how they approach entrepreneurship today.

This is an honest conversation about resilience, partnership, risk-taking, and what happens when you keep showing up long enough to learn from both your wins and your mistakes.

Whether you're building a business, thinking about starting one, or simply enjoy founder stories, this episode offers a candid look at the realities behind the entrepreneurial journey.

Connor shares the early entrepreneurial journey that led him from web design and IT problem-solving to building Locke, including the core principles he has infused into the company, the lessons learned through trial and error, and the challenges of bringing a bold vision to life.

A conversation about identity, resilience, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

Check out Locke Identity: https://lockeidentity.com/