Episodios

  • From Joyent to Federated: Building Cloud Innovation, Losing His Company, and Disrupting Big Tech with David Young

    From Joyent to Federated: Building Cloud Innovation, Losing His Company, and Disrupting Big Tech with David Young
    May 1 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with David Young—founder of Federated Computer and the visionary behind Joyent, the cloud infrastructure company that powered Twitter and Tumblr before its $170M acquisition by Samsung. David shares an unfiltered account of building innovative cloud technology, losing his company due to personal struggles, and rebuilding his life through endurance sports and a renewed entrepreneurial mission. Now, with Federated, he is challenging Big Tech’s dominance by helping startups protect their data, cut software costs, and scale with open-source solutions. Susan and David explore the future of open source, cloud innovation, startup resilience, and what it truly takes for founders to recover, rebuild, and lead on their own terms. Whether you are a founder, investor, or navigating your next chapter, this episode will challenge, inspire, and equip you with the mindset and tools to rise stronger than ever. About David Young: David Young is a pioneer in cloud computing and the founder of Joyent, the company behind early infrastructure powering Twitter, LinkedIn, and Tumblr. He helped invent technologies like Node.js and cloud-based virtual machines. Now, as founder of Federated Computer, he’s focused on open-source solutions that help startups scale securely and break free from Big Tech. Connect with David: Website https://www.federated.computer/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaulyoung/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website ⁠https://susansly.com⁠ Website ⁠https://thepause.ai/⁠ LinkedIn ⁠@susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 m
  • From The Bachelor to Brand Builder: Kirpa Sudick on Turning Personal Growth into a Scalable Business

    From The Bachelor to Brand Builder: Kirpa Sudick on Turning Personal Growth into a Scalable Business
    Apr 21 2025
    What happens when visibility doesn’t automatically lead to a business? For Kirpa Sudick — former contestant on The Bachelor Season 23 — the next step was clear: build a brand rooted in purpose and long-term value. In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly speaks with Kirpa about how she transitioned from public figure to business owner, scaling a coaching brand with authenticity, content strategy, and operational discipline. They explore how to build trust in a noisy market, the role of AI in supporting productivity, and why emotional clarity matters for sustainable growth. If you’re building a business around your message, this episode offers clear, tactical insights for creating momentum and staying aligned as you scale. About Kirpa Sudick: Kirpa Sudick is a spiritual content creator, intuitive guide, and manifestation coach helping others break free from limiting beliefs and step into their highest selves. With a background in transformational work and a deep understanding of consciousness, she blends humor, relatability, and profound insights to make spirituality accessible and empowering. Through her content on TikTok and Instagram, she shares wisdom on intuition, manifestation, and breaking free from the matrix, inspiring thousands to rewrite their realities. Her mission is to help others embody their power, trust the unseen, and manifest effortlessly—while keeping it real, fun, and expansive. Connect with Kirpa: Instagram: @kirpasudick TikTok: @kirpa_sudick About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 m
  • How Sircles Raised $1M in 6 Days and Is Flipping the Review Model, with Founder John Worthington

    How Sircles Raised $1M in 6 Days and Is Flipping the Review Model, with Founder John Worthington
    Apr 14 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with John Worthington, founder of Sircles —a social recommendation app that raised over $1M in just six days on WeFunder and is on a mission to disrupt the Yelp model. They get candid about the real cost of building a startup, leading through chaos, and the emotional resilience required to scale. John shares his personal ‘why,’ how Sircles is creating a platform rooted in trust—not reviews—and why a community-first ethos is their greatest strategic advantage. If you’re raising capital, facing founder fatigue, or building something from the ground up, this is your strategic pause. About John Worthington: John Worthington is a serial entrepreneur who’s built and scaled multiple businesses from the ground up. He’s the founder and CEO of Sircles, one of the most successful crowdfunded startups in tech without VC backing. His “Riding the Escalator” strategy has redefined how startups grow, turning investors into loyal users and brand advocates. Connect with John: Website: https://sircles.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sircles/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 m
  • The Realities of Startups, Pitching & AI’s Next Wave with Hikari Senju, Founder of Omneky

    The Realities of Startups, Pitching & AI’s Next Wave with Hikari Senju, Founder of Omneky
    Mar 6 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, host Susan Sly sits down with Hikari Senju, Founder of Omneky, to discuss his journey from a creative childhood to scaling innovative startups. Hikari dives into his early entrepreneurial experiences, the rise of generative AI, and how AI is transforming advertising. He also reveals the challenges of raising capital—having pitched to hundreds of investors—the power of networking, and how introverts can thrive in business. Susan and Hikari break down the realities of acquisitions, the importance of finding the right investors, and the vision behind Omneky. This episode is packed with real-world insights on building, funding, and scaling a business in the AI era. About Hikari Senju: Hikari Senju is a computer science graduate from Harvard University with a passion for technology and design. He founded his first startup, QuickHelp, an on-demand tutoring app, which he later sold to Yup.com and became their Head of Growth. During his time at Yup.com, Senju observed inefficiencies in content spending and the potential of AI in advertising, which inspired him to establish Omneky in 2018. Senju’s background in computer science, entrepreneurship, and his experience with AI technologies led him to create Omneky, an AI platform that generates, analyzes, and optimizes personalized ad creatives at scale. Connect with Hikari: Website https://www.omneky.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikari-senju-63780199/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 m
  • AI Startups, Fundraising & The Pivot That Changed Everything with Susan Groeneveld, Founder of Sylvester.ai

    AI Startups, Fundraising & The Pivot That Changed Everything with Susan Groeneveld, Founder of Sylvester.ai
    Feb 27 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with Susan Groeneveld, Founder of Sylvester.ai, to discuss the bold pivot that reshaped her AI startup. Initially launched as a B2C pet health platform, Susan made the strategic decision to shift to B2B, securing key contracts to expand into veterinary clinics and successfully raising funding in today’s tough investment climate. Susan G shares practical insights on raising venture capital, the unique challenges female founders face, and how to attract the right investors. She also dives into AI’s impact on pet health, the power of strategic pivots, and why founders must think bigger to scale successfully. If you're an entrepreneur navigating AI, health tech, or pet care, this episode is filled with actionable strategies to help you scale, secure funding, and build a high-growth business. About Susan Groeneveld: Susan Groeneveld is a serial entrepreneur specializing in agriculture, animal health, and AI-driven technology. With 25 years of experience, she has led commercialization for global companies, co-founded an award-winning marketing agency, and launched Sylvester.ai, an AI platform transforming pet health. A 2023 top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in Women in AI, Susan is a leader in innovation, scaling startups, and tackling global challenges in agriculture and veterinary care. Connect with Susan Groeneveld: Website https://www.sylvester.ai/ LinkedIn @susangroeneveldab Instagram @sylvester_tech/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 m
  • AI Disruption, Female Founders, & Raising Capital with Melinda Wittstock, Founder of Podopolo

    AI Disruption, Female Founders, & Raising Capital with Melinda Wittstock, Founder of Podopolo
    Feb 4 2025
    AI is shaking up industries, but what does it mean for female founders in today’s challenging funding environment? In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with five-time entrepreneur Melinda Wittstock—AI innovator, venture partner, and CEO of Podopolo. They break down the impact of AI disruptors like DeepSeek, the funding freeze on U.S. grants, and why women-led startups deliver higher returns yet still struggle for capital. Melinda shares raw insights on hiring, scaling, and staying scrappy in tough times. If you’re a founder navigating today’s startup landscape, this episode is a must-listen. About Melinda Wittstock: Melinda Wittstock is a 5-time entrepreneur, AI innovator, and Founder and CEO of Podopolo, the AI and blockchain-powered podcast platform revolutionizing discovery, engagement, and monetization. Honored as 2024’s “AI Pioneer of the Year,” she also invests in women-led startups as a venture partner at Zero Limits Capital. A former award-winning journalist for the BBC, Times of London, and CNBC, she created a BBC TV show reaching 20 million viewers and was praised by Steve Jobs for her interviewing skills. Melinda hosts Wings of Inspired Business, empowering female founders to succeed without tradeoffs. Connect with Melinda: Website: https://melindawittstock.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 m
  • How Kaylee Lieffers Disrupted the Beauty Industry with Blanka’s Zero-Inventory Model

    How Kaylee Lieffers Disrupted the Beauty Industry with Blanka’s Zero-Inventory Model
    Jan 23 2025
    Kaylee Lieffers, Co-Founder and CEO of Blanka, shares how she built a top Shopify beauty app that helps entrepreneurs launch private-label brands—without holding inventory. From bootstrapping and startup struggles to funding, hiring, and overcoming imposter syndrome, Kaylee reveals key lessons in scaling a tech business. A must-listen for founders, startup leaders, and e-commerce entrepreneurs! About Kaylee Lieffers: Kaylee's journey is a compelling narrative of transition and entrepreneurship. Formerly immersed in the world of management consulting, she took a bold leap into the startup realm, venturing into the competitive landscape of e-commerce. Her personal experiences navigating the challenges of launching her own business eventually led her to co-found Blanka. In less than two years, Blanka became one of the top performing apps in the Shopify App Store, won BC Tech’s Startup of the Year, and today has helped over 25,000 entrepreneurs start their businesses. Her unwavering commitment to innovation and empowering other entrepreneurs has earned her a number of awards including Top 30 Under 30 and Top Female Founders to Watch in Canada. Kaylee has generously provided a special discount for our listeners! Use code RAWANDREAL to get 10% off your first sample order with Blanka! Connect with Kaylee: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleelieffers/ Website: https://blankabrand.com/ Tiktok: @blanka_brand Instagram: @/blankabrand/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • The Future of Content Creation and AI with Cody Schneider, Co-Founder of Swell AI

    The Future of Content Creation and AI with Cody Schneider, Co-Founder of Swell AI
    Jan 22 2025
    In this Raw and Real Entrepreneurship episode, host Susan Sly sits down with Cody Schneider, Co-Founder of Swell AI. Together, they explore the dynamic landscape of startups, highlighting the rising trend of remote work and the power of global talent pools. Cody shares invaluable insights on scaling companies through innovative strategies like podcasting, live courses, and social media, emphasizing the critical role of community building. Explore the transformative impact of AI on media and marketing, as Susan and Cody discuss practical marketing strategies and the significance of leveraging expert knowledge and brand voice. Cody reveals his tried-and-tested methods for achieving page one of Google overnight and provides a glimpse into the evolving content creation process powered by AI. Learn from real-world examples, including success stories of tech startups leveraging AI tools and remote teams to drive exponential growth. Cody discusses the success of AI-powered platforms in content marketing and the potential ban of TikTok. For entrepreneurs seeking to harness the power of AI, create impactful content, and navigate the ever-evolving startup world with confidence and strategic foresight, this episode is an indispensable resource. It offers timely insights and practical strategies that can help entrepreneurs stay ahead in today's dynamic business environment. About Cody: Cody Schneider is a serial entrepreneur and innovator in AI-powered content marketing. As Founder of Draft Horse AI and Swell AI, he has helped numerous companies exponentially grow their businesses by leveraging AI to automate content production workflows. Named one of Business.com's Top 25 Marketers to Watch, Cody gained his experience helping scale startups from the ground up through strategic content strategies. Connect with Cody Website: swellai.com LinkedIn: @codyxschneider About Susan: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, sought after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Dive deep into the essence of success with Susan Sly, and redefine your entrepreneurial journey. Connect With Susan Website: https://susansly.com Website: https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn: @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h
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