This week we speak with Tae’Lor Lake, Founder of Trophy Details. Tae’Lor shares her journey as a young entrepreneur and the innovative approach she brings to the mobile car wash industry. With a focus on convenience, Trophy Details provides high-quality detailing services directly to clients, freeing them from the hassle of traditional car washes. Tae’Lor discusses the inspiration behind her business, which emerged from her fascination with processes and systems and her personal experiences in the car wash sector.

Listen as we explore the importance of community support and the need for local entrepreneurship programs that help entrepreneurs succeed.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(00:06) Meet Tae’Lor Lake

(00:36) The Convenience of Mobile Detailing

(02:27) Inspiration Behind the Business

(05:42) Overcoming Challenges and Finding Success

(11:55) Building a Community and Support Network

(31:28) Tech Innovation: Developing the Trophy Details App

(36:23) Funding and Growth Strategies

(43:12) Tae’Lor's Vision for the Future

RESOURCES

Trophy Details: https://www.trophydetails.com/s/appointments

CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Susan Ford sits down with Cat Edmonds, Co-Founder of Connect 574, an organization aiming to boost social connections in the South Bend region. Cat discusses the origins of Connect 574, born out of a recognizably common issue for many adults: making friends and finding activities to engage with locally. The platform offers monthly events and digital tools ensuring newcomers, and locals alike, can develop social networks in South Bend.

Listen as Susan and Cat discuss how Connect 574 fosters community and combats loneliness through engaging events, leveraging technology, and partnering with corporations to enhance social engagement.

QUOTES

• "If we want South Bend to be a thriving place to live, work, and play, people have to have friends.” -Cat Edmonds [01:35]

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Building Community Connections in South Bend

(05:20) Building a Passion Project with an Entrepreneurial Operating System

(08:33) Creating Connections Through Structured Social Events

(16:44) Kat Edmonds' Journey From Camp Fun to Startup Moxie

(20:27) Developing Connect 574's Platform for Long-Term Engagement

(25:03) Implementing EOS Concepts for Startup Success

(32:52) Funding Strategies for Early-Stage Startups

(35:44) Corporate Partnerships and Social Engagement for Employee Retention

RESOURCES

Connect 574: https://connect574.com/

CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford sit down with Griffin Eaton, the visionary behind Juke—an innovative platform likened to a modern jukebox for live music. Griffin shares the origins of Juke, revealing how a personal need for song requests at a live music event evolved into a thriving business venture. He shares the initial challenges and opportunities in South Bend, leading to the eventual relocation to Nashville, pursuing deeper industry connections. He also discusses expanding Juke's features, including fan interactivity at live events and breaking into sports.

Listen as Marty, Susan, and Griffin talk about the supportive South Bend community and give advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

• "I don't know anything about being a musician. So I started talking to them, and it seemed like there was a need, there was changing economics with streaming, right? I was like, well, it looks like a market, a little piece of technology sitting between the artist and the fan could solve both issues for them and issues for fans.” -Griffin Eaton [06:29]
• "The worst vice is advice. I like that line. The thing I kept doing was just telling people about the idea, telling people where I was and working on it and just doing it, just taking the next step in my previous ideas I'd had of a startup and working on different things. ” -Griffin Eaton [37:11]

TIMESTAMPS

(00:01) Exploring Juke: A Modern Take on the Classic Jukebox

(07:13) From Side Hustle to Startup: Griffin Eaton's Entrepreneurial Journey

(16:45) Innovative Fan Engagement with Juke at Concerts and Sports Events

(23:49) From South Bend to Nashville: Building Music Industry Connections

(27:31) Creating a Self-Sustaining Live Music Ecosystem Through Collaboration

(29:48) Building a Thriving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in South Bend

(42:26) Empowering Artists and Enhancing Concert Experiences with Juke

RESOURCES

Griffin Eaton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffin-juke/

CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/