In this episode of Founder2Founder, Chris Meade sits down with Kevin O'Leary, a successful entrepreneur and investor also known as "Mr. Wonderful”, appearing on shows such as Dragons' Den and Shark Tank. Kevin dives into the current landscape of advertising, explaining why he's pivoting his portfolio companies towards television through his new platform, WonderAds. He breaks down how TV has become a powerful yet under-utilized channel for brands looking to scale cost-effectively, offering a competitive edge over rising social media costs.

Kevin also discusses the critical components of successful brand scaling, the importance of mastering Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), and why multi-channel strategies are essential for long-term growth. He closes with valuable insights on entrepreneurship, including how to prioritize signal over noise, the art of listening, and the necessity of knowing when to pivot. Join Chris and Kevin as they uncover the strategies behind building resilient brands, leveraging television for growth, and the key principles every entrepreneur should know. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a fellow founder, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.

Chapters:
01:40 – Why TV Advertising is Making a Comeback
02:48 – Introducing WonderAds: TV for Emerging Brands
03:34 – Measuring Success on TV: CAC and ROAS
04:02 – Why Brands Give Up on TV Too Early
04:27 – Television’s Cost Efficiency vs. Social Media
04:52 – Mastering Customer Acquisition Costs
05:58 – The Importance of Personal Branding for Founders
07:08 – Building for Both Retail and Direct-to-Consumer
08:19 – Retail Rollouts: How to Secure and Succeed
10:35 – Signal vs. Noise: How to Focus Your Time
13:33 – The Art of Pivoting When Things Go Wrong
14:06 – Planning Liquidity Events and Exits
15:06 – Industries Ripe for Disruption: Healthy Snacks and Beverages
15:52 – Kevin’s Background in Photography and Film
16:52 – Embracing Discomfort: Why Founders Should Take Risks
17:39 – Lessons from Kevin's Mother: Integrity and Trust

Guest Links:
Website: https://kevinoleary.com
Instagram: @kevinolearytv

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In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Will Nitze, Founder & CEO of IQBAR, the leading brain-and-body nutrition startup in America. Will shares how his competitive spirit and obsession with winning drove him to build a thriving brand dedicated to brain food and cognitive nutrition. He reflects on his journey from playing competitive sports to attending Harvard, where he first realized that building something impactful was more important than just making money.

Will also discusses launching IQBAR through a successful Kickstarter campaign, scaling with major retailers, and maintaining a lean, efficient team. He opens up about running the business alongside his wife, the importance of horizontal mentorship, and how he plans to build for acquisition and legacy.

Chapters:
00:44 – The Opportunist Mindset: Learning from Sam Zell
03:06 – Building the Competitive Spirit Through Sports
08:26 – Harvard Experience and Finding Direction
12:25 – First Steps into Entrepreneurship
14:02 – Negotiating Half-Time Work for Full-Time Hustle
15:21 – Starting IQBAR: Building Brain Food from Scratch
19:31 – Kickstarter Strategies: Guerrilla Tactics and Validation
22:01 – Manufacturing at Scale and Finding Co-Packers
24:38 – The Importance of Horizontal Mentorship
27:46 – Scaling the Business with a Lean Team
30:25 – Expanding into Major Retailers and Hitting Volume
33:43 – Navigating Trends and Pivoting the Brand
36:40 – Maintaining Control While Scaling Fast
38:29 – Hiring the Right People and the Hub-and-Spoke Model
41:06 – Working In the Business, Not Just On It
46:40 – Running a Business with His Wife
49:05 – Moving to Miami and the Evolution of IQBAR
52:13 – Building for Acquisition and Legacy
1:06:01 – Overcoming Challenges: Tariffs, COVID, and Market Shifts
1:07:50 - Building a Personal Brand
1:11:04 - The ROI of Personal Branding
1:25:10 - The Emotional Impact of Exiting a Business
1:31:11 - The Role of Partnerships in Business Success
1:34:46 - Advice for Younger Entrepreneurs

Tune in to hear Will’s raw insights on scaling a consumer brand from the ground up, the sacrifices required, and the mindset needed to build something that lasts. Don't forget to subscribe, share with a fellow founder, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.

Guest Links:
Website: www.eatiqbar.com
Instagram: @iqbar
LinkedIn: Will Nitze
Twitter: @willnitze

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Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
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Linkedin

The Founders Club
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Instagram @‌TheFoundersClub

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In this episode of Founder2Founder, host Aaron Spivak sits down with Josh Goldstein. Josh was a high-level college baseball player and MBA student when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appear on reality TV changed everything. After the tragic and very public loss of his sister on national television, Josh turned unimaginable grief into powerful growth. Now, just a few years later, he’s built a seven-figure online fitness business empowering thousands of women, launched a supplement brand rooted in positivity, and created a personal brand focused on mindset, transformation, and authenticity.

This episode dives deep into what it means to find clarity through pain, the strategy behind monetizing real impact, and how trusting your gut can outwork any perfect plan. Josh opens up about going all-in on business, his unique approach to brand building, and the deeper mission driving every decision. Whether you're dealing with pressure, looking to turn a setback into a launchpad, or want to build with real intention, this conversation delivers. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a fellow founder, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.

Chapters
02:07 – Growing Up Around Sports and Early Lessons in Discipline
09:08 – Self-Confidence Through Sports, COVID’s Impact, and Falling in Love with Sales
12:30 – Saying Yes to Love Island
17:07 – Tragedy: Losing His Sister During Filming
20:22 – Returning Home and Navigating Grief
25:10 – Starting a Business With Meaning and Honouring Her Legacy
27:17 – Serving Women in Fitness and Emotional Connection to the Mission
30:45 – The “Other 23 Hours” Philosophy in Fitness
33:28 – Josh’s Fitness Program Structure and Growth
35:46 – Personal Transformation and What He’s Still Working On
41:26 – Public Figure Pressures and Dating After Reality TV
48:05 – Business Future: Exit, Scale, or Legacy
49:20 – Starting the Supplement Company Reevyv
51:25 – Impact on Family Dynamics and Healing Through Growth
56:22 – Motivation to Repay His Parents’ Sacrifices
58:12 – Journaling, Morning Routine, and Structure
1:04:21 – Mindset as the Foundation of Transformation
1:06:13 – Avoiding Hard Conversations and Their Cost
1:11:15 – The ROI of Investing in Yourself
1:14:32 – Advice to Younger Josh: Don’t Let Others Define You
1:16:27 – Environment, Loneliness, and Finding Your Circle
1:22:38 – Final Message: Don’t Take Life Too Seriously

Guest Links:
Instagram: @_josh.goldy_ @jgoldy_fit @reevyv_strips
Website: https://reevyv.com
https://www.joshgoldyfitness.com/quiz-l

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
Instagram @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Instagram @‌TheFoundersClub

Founder2Founder:
Instagram @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast