Steven Schwartz - Co-founder of Whop, Building a $1.6B Fin-Tech Company at 26

Today on my show I sat down with Steven Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Whop, the platform on a mission to deliver everyone a sustainable income. What started as a $75 sneaker bot sold in Facebook groups has grown into a global marketplace that recently closed a $200 million round at a $1.6 billion valuation, with nearly 40,000 people earning over $270 million every single month on the platform.We got into the early days of sleeping on couches in Boston, turning down an acquisition offer, and the 5am voice memo that changed everything. Steven breaks down why they partnered with Tether to open up financial networks for unbanked regions across the globe, how Whop has evolved from sneaker bots to content rewards and beyond, and why 70% of his entire team are former founders themselves.We also got into building aggressively in the AI era, why he left New York for Palo Alto, three month sprints over five year plans, and much more.Learn more about WhopConnect with Steven on X

Today on The Casey Adams Show I sat down with Zack Abbott, the cofounder and CEO of ZBiotics, the company that brought the world's first genetically engineered probiotics to market. Zack has a PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley, where he double-majored in immunology and classical art and archaeology. After 12 months holed up in his Berkeley lab, often sleeping next to his lab bench, Zack emerged with the prototype of the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. ZBiotics launched its first product in 2019, Pre-Alcohol, a probiotic engineered to break down the toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism responsible for rough mornings after drinking. In this conversation we get into the science behind ZBiotics, what it took to build an entirely new category, how Zack thinks about consumer trust around GMOs, and his vision for the future of biotechnology in everyday products.Learn more about ZBiotics

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Joel Kocher, founder and CEO of Humann. Before launching Humann, Joel served as President of Worldwide Marketing, Sales and Service at Dell, where he joined in 1987 when the company was doing $100M in revenue and helped scale it to $3.6B by 1994, becoming the #2 executive behind Michael Dell.In this conversation, we get into Joel's journey from architecting Dell's explosive growth to founding Humann, why nitric oxide is the super molecule behind cardiovascular health and longevity, his legendary showdown with Steve Jobs at Power Computing, healthspan vs. lifespan, why paranoia is a survival tool in business, and how he balances endurance training and family with building companies.Follow Joel KocherLearn more about Humann

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Taylor Offer, the founder of Atrios, to discuss his journey from building and selling a $50M+ company to tackling one of the biggest challenges in business today: how companies actually grow in an AI-first world.Taylor breaks down why distribution is the most underrated edge in business, how he spotted arbitrage opportunities before anyone else was paying attention, and what coming out of stealth taught him about building for the next decade. He also shares the story behind Atrios, what he learned going through a16z Speedrun, why warm introductions outperform cold outbound at scale, and how AI is fundamentally changing the way go-to-market teams operate.Learn more about Atrios: https://www.atrios.com/Connect with Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayloroffer/

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Jim Groff and Paul Weinberg, the founders of Dokkio, to discuss their journey through the tech ecosystem — from being part of Apple’s first acquisition to building a company designed to solve one of today’s biggest challenges: scattered information.Jim and Paul break down why context is essential for understanding private data, how AI is reshaping the way companies operate, and the real risks of AI hallucinations in both consumer and enterprise environments. They also share the story behind Dokkio’s creation, the importance of a unified view of information, and what founders should focus on when positioning their companies for acquisition.Learn more about Dokkio: https://www.dokkio.com/Takeaways:• How Jim and Paul ended up part of Apple’s first acquisition• Why they built Dokkio to solve the problem of scattered information• The importance of context when working with private or sensitive data• How AI hallucinations happen and the risks they create• The future of AI in business and information management• What founders should focus on when positioning for acquisition• Why user feedback is central to Dokkio’s product roadmap

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Greg Glenday, the CEO of Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company. In this conversation, we discuss the future of podcasting and how the industry has matured, the role of consolidation and how Acast approaches it, and the growing importance of omni channel campaigns, among other key topics.Greg’s career spans more than two decades in media and advertising. He began in radio at Clear Channel, now known as iHeartMedia, served as Global Chief Revenue Officer at Shazam where he helped lead the company through its acquisition by Apple, and later became CEO of Lightbox before taking on his current role at Acast.Learn more about Acast at acast.com. Follow Greg on LinkedIn.

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Bernt Bornich, the Founder and CEO of 1X Technologies, a Norwegian-American robotics and AI company pioneering the development of general-purpose humanoid robots for home environments.Bernt shares the incredible journey behind building 1X—from its origins as Halodi Robotics in Norway to becoming a global leader in robotics innovation. We discuss how his team is bridging the gap between artificial intelligence and physical robotics, the evolution from industrial and healthcare robots to humanoid assistants, and what it truly takes to build machines designed to work safely alongside humans.We also dive into 1X’s groundbreaking work supported by investors like OpenAI’s Startup Fund, EQT Ventures, and Samsung NEXT, and how their vision is shaping a future where humanoid robots enhance everyday life.Learn more about 1X Technologies and follow Bernt Bornich on X for updates on the future of robotics.

Today on The Casey Adams Show, Casey sits down with Ryan Steelberg, CEO and co-founder of Veritone, for an in-depth conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and the evolution of artificial intelligence. Ryan has spent more than two decades building and scaling technology companies, raising over $180 million in capital and creating more than $3 billion in shareholder value.He shares his journey from co-founding AdForce and 2CAN Media in the early days of digital advertising, to selling dMarc Broadcasting to Google for $1.2 billion, and now leading Veritone as one of the most influential AI technology companies in the world. Ryan breaks down how AI is transforming media, data management, and the public sector, and why adaptability, optimism, and strategic partnerships are essential to long-term success.This episode dives deep into the business of AI, leadership at scale, and what it truly takes to build companies that define entire industries. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or builder in the tech space, Ryan’s story is a masterclass in vision, execution, and resilience.Learn more about Veritone: https://www.veritone.com/Connect with Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansteelberg/

Today on The Casey Adams Show, I sat down with Julia Hartz, the Co-founder and CEO of Eventbrite. Julia is one of only 21 women who have co-founded a company, taken it public, and still lead as CEO, an extraordinary accomplishment in the business world.Before founding Eventbrite in 2006, Julia began her career in television as a development executive at MTV and FX Networks, contributing to hit shows like Friends and Jackass. In 2016, she became CEO and helped take Eventbrite public in 2018, leading the company to become one of the world’s leading platforms for ticketing and live experiences. Outside of Eventbrite, Julia serves on the board of directors for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the University of California, San Francisco, and is an active investor in companies like Minted, Chairish, and Color Genomics.In this episode, we dive into Julia’s journey from idea to IPO and explore the realities of entrepreneurship, from the early days of bootstrapping Eventbrite to scaling it into a global platform. We also discuss the challenges of leadership, building company culture, and how she navigated one of the most pivotal moments in 2020 when the live events industry came to a halt.Learn more about EventbriteFollow Julia Hartz:- LinkedIn- InstagramFollow Casey Adams:- InstagramLearn more about Listener.com

This episode is sponsored by Adobe in partnership with Coursera. Through the Adobe Digital Academy, they’re offering free certificates in AI, design, marketing, and storytelling—skills that matter in today’s world. Whether you’re a founder, creator, or someone looking to grow, these courses are practical, flexible, and built for how we learn today. #AdobePartnerStart learning at https://adobe.ly/413JKTXMichael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist, joins the show to share how he transformed his uncle’s struggling flower shop into a $9.5M+ floral powerhouse and is now leading its national franchise expansion. He breaks down the role of proprietary technology, scaling systems, and creating a values-first brand in a traditionally overlooked industry. Michael also opens up about entrepreneurship, the emotional side of customer loyalty, and the lessons learned from reinventing a family business into a modern, thriving brand. Learn more about French FloristChapters00:00 Introduction to French Florist and Michael's Journey01:07 Acquisition of the Family Business04:36 Identifying Opportunities in the Floral Industry09:02 Challenges and Innovations in the Floral Business11:01 The Importance of Customer Experience16:29 Shifting Consumer Behavior Towards Flowers23:14 Navigating Supply Chain Challenges26:28 Growth Strategies and Revenue Generation32:26 Franchise Model and Community Building38:45 Personal Reflections and Future Vision