The Midnight Founders Podcast

Starting a company always takes longer, costs more, and throws challenges you never saw coming. But what do you do when you lose 95% of your revenue overnight? Noah Eyre, co-founder of Alegra Learning and Joy School English, shares the highs and lows of building an EdTech company from scratch. Tune in for a conversation on: The hidden costs of entrepreneurship: Noah was prepared for challenges, but the time and money it took to build a company still caught him off guard. Working with family—without ruining relationships: How to successfully co-found a business with family, plus why fostering a culture where disagreement is encouraged leads to better decisions. Rebuilding after a 95% revenue loss: When COVID wiped out nearly all of their international business overnight, Noah and his team had to pivot fast. Here’s how they survived. -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

The difference between a thriving business and a failing one often comes down to fixing small problems before they snowball. Mike Hawker, Managing Partner at CoDev, knows this firsthand. From scaling companies to running dozens of ultramarathons, he’s learned that success—whether in business or endurance sports—comes down to preparation, resilience, and pacing yourself. In this episode, he shares: The ‘hot spot’ rule: Minor inefficiencies in your business are like blisters in a race—ignore them, and they’ll take you out later. How to spot and fix small issues before they become major failures. The right mentor can change everything. Mike shares how a simple ask turned into a years-long mentorship that shaped his career. Remote work isn’t always the answer. Why companies should rethink their approach to global teams and how to support employees beyond just a paycheck. -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

How do you know if your startup is worth fighting for—or if you're just throwing money into a sinking ship? Joe Grover, Managing Partner at Ampleō, Fractional CMO, and Venture Investor, has seen both sides—leading high-growth ventures and watching businesses collapse under their own weight. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on the toughest lessons founders learn the hard way. Grit vs. knowing when to quit: Why “never quit” can be bad advice, and how to tell if your business model is actually broken. Marketing that actually works: Joe shares hard-won lessons on building brand trust, cutting through the noise, and why 10-20% of your marketing budget should always be reserved for experimentation. The hyper-optimism trap: Why founders overestimate demand, underestimate costs, and how bad assumptions kill startups.     -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

What does it take to transform a red wagon of baked goods into Utah’s largest catering company? Mary Crafts proves that success has no age limit, and fear is just another mountain to climb. In this episode, Mary shares: How she turned her passion for food and service into the award-winning business, Culinary Crafts. The mindset shifts that helped her overcome fear and imposter syndrome. The unexpected opportunities that shaped her entrepreneurial journey—and how saying “yes” changed everything. -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Carrie Hill, Chief Architect of CHill Consulting Agency, takes us on her journey to entrepreneurship—from discovering her innate talent for storytelling to building a boutique PR firm. As a publicist, brand manager, and content creator, Carrie shares how she uses her expertise to elevate her clients' brands through authentic and impactful narratives. Tune in for a conversation around: How PR stands apart from marketing and sales by creating genuine human connections through the “why” behind the “what.” The power of earned media versus paid media, and how authentic storytelling builds trust and long-term engagement. The story behind Empowered, an eight-week program Carrie co-founded to help single mothers transition from welfare to sustainable careers. -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Disrupting an industry isn’t just about groundbreaking tech—it’s about understanding the people and systems that drive it. In this episode, we talk with Ubair Javaid and Sebastian Schepis, the visionaries behind Nomyx, who are redefining how traditional finance embraces distributed ledger technology. Tune in as we explore: How Nomyx bridges the gap between tradition and innovation with seamless compliance solutions Why tokenizing real-world assets is revolutionizing liquidity and financial operations What it takes to drive adoption in cautious industries—and how persistence pays off -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Entrepreneurship often involves solving problems no one else dares to tackle. In this episode, Glen Mella, Chief Revenue Officer of OliverIQ and former COO of the smart home pioneer Control4, shares how he’s creating the next evolution of smart living. From scaling startups to IPOs, Glen reflects on his experiences building businesses that transform everyday lives. Tune in for a conversation around: Why the smart home is AI's most critical interface—and how Glen's team is making "one app to rule them all"; Why founders are always in fundraising mode, whether they realize it or not; The key elements that make or break a founding team, including complementary skills, trust, and honest forecasting. — The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

The path of entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward. In this episode, Shideler Bennett, Co-founder of Initiator and a franchisee of Crumbl, pulls back the curtain on his journey from zero to nine franchise locations in just 18 months. Shideler dives into building a business while navigating massive debt, personal sacrifices, and unexpected market opportunities. Tune in for a conversation around: The psychological challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship, including working without pay and putting family financial stability on the line while maintaining hope and vision; Strategic approaches to franchise expansion, including how to mitigate risks and capitalize on emerging market opportunities; The power of partnership, creative financing, and maintaining relationships through business challenges. -- The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Balancing a family, building a career, and leading a city as dynamic as Provo is no small feat—but Mayor Michelle Kaufusi makes it look effortless. In this episode, we sit down with Mayor Kaufusi and Keith Morey, Provo’s Economic Development Director, to uncover the vision, leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset driving Provo to national recognition. Tune in to explore: How Provo’s innovative projects and startup-friendly ecosystem are transforming it into an entrepreneurial powerhouse Leadership lessons from Mayor Kaufusi; how her upbringing shaped a culture of empathy, empowerment, and forward-thinking innovation as Provo’s first woman mayor The four pillars of Mayor Kaufusi’s administration and her commitment to building a welcoming, safe, economically vibrant, and future-ready city — The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

This week, we’re joined by Shawn Finnegan, co-founder of Tax Hive and partner with Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, to explore how his journey from startup struggles to building a thriving business shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. Tune in to learn: Tax-saving strategies every entrepreneur should know, like the "Augusta Rule" and leveraging family payrolls How Shawn overcame losing $1.5 million, missed payroll, and rebuilt his business through partnerships and relationships The importance of aligning the right investors with your mission—and how to know when to take the leap or continue bootstrapping Check out Tax Hive's FREE business blueprint here. — The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault.