In this conversation, Flaviu and Matt discuss their entrepreneurial journey, including the challenges they faced while building and selling their company, the health issues that impacted their work, and the lessons learned about company culture and navigating exits. They also touch on Matt's transition to a new venture in the consumer space and share practical life hacks for organization and productivity.

Chapters

04:31 The Journey of Building a Company

08:36 Health Challenges and Their Impact

13:04 Lessons Learned from Startup Experiences

17:24 Navigating Success and Market Timing

25:58 Validating Business Ideas Through Customer Engagement

27:41 The Challenges of Customer Feedback and Market Research

30:41 Navigating Funding and Accelerator Programs

33:05 Lessons Learned from Exiting a Startup

34:55 Transitioning from B2B to B2C: A New Venture

42:45 Life Hacks and Personal Insights

Join us as Brandon Dawkins, a former Spotify product manager turned NYC dating coach, shares his unexpected journey from corporate life to founding Beyond Nice, a coaching service revolutionizing love for nice guys. With a CPA background, a passion for community, and a fresh take on dating, Brandon delivers a story brimming with humor, hustle, and heart.

In this episode, Brandon unpacks his pivot from layoffs in December 2023 to launching Beyond Nice, helping singles dodge the friend zone and find confidence. He spills on quirky first dates—like Taylor’s cargo-shorts fiasco turned taco triumph—and his own path from shy athlete to dating guru. Whether you’re into love hacks, career shifts, or entrepreneurial grit, Brandon’s tale offers raw insights and big laughs.

🔑 KEY HIGHLIGHTS

FROM SPOTIFY TO BEYOND NICE

Brandon Dawkins traces his leap from product management at Spotify to founding Beyond Nice, a dating coaching service born after a life-changing layoff in December 2023.

DATING MEETS CREATIVITY

Learn how Brandon’s “spin the wheel” happy hour hack—picking random Upper West Side spots like Jake’s Dilemma—turns dates into fun, pressure-free adventures.

FIRST DATE FLASHBACKS

Discover Taylor’s sweaty, keto-confused first date with his now-wife, Brandon’s raincoat-to-romance meet-cute, and a wild $8K first-date flop in a tasty icebreaker.

CORPORATE TO COACH INSANITY

Brandon reveals his post-layoff soul-searching—traveling New Zealand to Korea—showing the grit that fuels his mission to help nice guys shine.

AI-POWERED BIZ HACK

Taylor shares Replit, an AI tool that built a competitor-tracking form in an hour, proving tech’s role in his entrepreneurial toolkit.

GUIDANCE FOR LOVE SEEKERS

Brandon advises clients to warm up like athletes—think music or goofy smiles—to switch from work mode to date mode and own their vibe.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Learn More About Beyond Nice: beyond-nice.com

Connect with Brandon Dawkins on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-dawkins

Podcast Website: foundersecretspod.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: @foundersecretspod

TikTok: @foundersecrets

Twitter: @founder_secrets

LinkedIn: Founder Secrets Podcast

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/4h59tyer

Spotify: tinyurl.com/4wjb26v8

⚡ SPONSORED BY DASH

Simplify your success with Dash! From CRM management to social media, bookkeeping, and more, Dash provides top tier remote talent solutions so you can focus on growing your business. Learn more: hirewithdash.com

🔔 DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE!

Enjoyed this episode? LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations with world-changing founders.

Join us as Alan Lin, a design veteran turned food innovator, shares his wild journey from China’s booming creative scene to launching Liquid Salad, a health food disruptor that hit the market on March 24, 2025. With 12 years of experience design, a knack for turning chaos into opportunity, and a fresh take on greens powder, Allen delivers a story packed with entrepreneurial hustle, cultural flair, and a dash of absurdity.

In this episode, Alan unravels his path from studying abroad in Beijing to thriving in China’s “champagne and cocaine” era, only to pivot into founding Liquid Salad—a daily fruit-and-veggie boost that’s as stylish as it is smart. He spills on designing a standout pouch, surviving a 2008 encyclopedia sales gig, and rethinking healthy eating. Whether you’re into startups, food innovation, or epic reinvention tales, Alan’s adventure offers raw insights and unexpected laughs.

🔑 KEY HIGHLIGHTS

FROM CHINA TO LIQUID SALAD

Alan Lin traces his leap from 12 years in China’s design world—think Apple Store vibes— to launching Liquid Salad, a prebiotic-packed alternative to greens powder, on March 24,

2025.

DESIGN MEETS FOOD

Learn how Alan’s experience designing holistic brand experiences (Lincoln showrooms!) shaped Liquid Salad’s stunning pouch, aiming to inspire healthy eating through art, not just nutrition.

SALAD SECRETS UNPACKED

Discover Alan’s perfect salad (chicken, romaine, salsa), Flaviu’s Sweetgreen pick, and Taylor’s Goop Caesar obsession in a tasty icebreaker that sets the tone.

ENCYCLOPEDIA SALES INSANITY

Alan reveals his 2008 door-to-door grind—begging for basements, living off peanut butter—showing the sales grit that fuels his founder mindset.

AI-POWERED CALORIE HACK

Alan shares his go-to app, CalAI, an AI calorie tracker that nails macros from a photo, proving tech’s role in his entrepreneurial toolkit.

GUIDANCE FOR FOOD FOUNDERS

Alan advises aspiring innovators to blend creativity with utility, test how people use your product, and lean into what inspires—fashion, not just food.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Learn More About Liquid Salad: drinkliquidplus.com

Connect with Alan Lin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanlin98

Podcast Website: foundersecretspod.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: @foundersecretspod

TikTok: @foundersecrets

Twitter: @founder_secrets

LinkedIn: Founder Secrets Podcast

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/4h59tyer

Spotify: tinyurl.com/4wjb26v8

⚡ SPONSORED BY DASH

Simplify your success with Dash! From CRM management to social media, bookkeeping, and more, Dash provides top-tier remote talent solutions so you can focus on growing

your business. Learn more: hirewithdash.com

🔔 DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE!

Enjoyed this episode? LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations with world-changing founders.