From Concept to Reality: Building and Validating Your Business Idea

How do you transform an everyday problem into a product that people want to buy? Just ask Ray Philips, the CEO of SoapSox, who turned children’s bath-time struggles into a product that resonated with so many people. Ray shares how he validated his idea and navigated the bumps throughout his entrepreneurial journey. And if you're still in the brainstorming stage, Morgan DeBaun, the CEO of Blavity, has you covered with her DRIP method, a decision-making framework designed to help you turn your ideas into actionable steps. Whether you're stuck in the ideation phase or just need a motivational pick-me-up to ride the wild rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, this episode will give you the confidence and clarity to turn your next big idea into reality.Learn how to leverage constructive criticism, stay balanced through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and push past the doubt to start or build your business. In this episode, you’ll hear: (3:00) How Ray Philips turned a bath-time challenge into a business, and what made him launch his entrepreneurial journey.(5:12) Morgan DeBaun breaks down her powerful DRIP decision-making framework which can help you come up with ideas and turn them into real, validated business opportunities.(8:32) How to refine your product using feedback that matters—and more importantly, how to filter out the noise that could throw you off track.(10:48) Ray talks about funding his business and Morgan shares how to handle the inevitable highs and lows of entrepreneurship while keeping your vision alive.(14:26) Setbacks are part of the journey. Here’s what to do when your first big obstacle hits—and how Ray and Morgan turned their first major setbacks into fuel for success.(17:31) How Ray pushed through tough times and scored a coveted spot on Shark Tank, and what it took to get there.(21:36) If you’re battling self-doubt, stick around—this advice might be the boost you need to keep chasing your entrepreneurial dreams.

Want to know how your culture can give your business an edge? Just ask Mayra Luz Colon, the founder of Healthy Rican, who fused her Puerto Rican roots with her passion for healthy living to create a successful line of mom-approved seasonings. Mayra shares how she overcame imposter-syndrome, connected with her community, and pivoted from coaching to creating a product that resonated with so many people. You’ll also hear from Ramiro Cavazos, CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), who’ll dive into how Hispanic-owned businesses are shaping the future of entrepreneurship despite the challenges they face and how the USHCC is helping entrepreneurs get access to more capital, contracts and connections, and the tools and resources they need to grow their businesses.In this special Hispanic Heritage Month episode, you’ll discover the importance of staying connected to your roots, how to build a strong community around your brand, and why empowering Hispanic-owned businesses benefits everyone.In this episode you’ll hear:(02:06) How a health issue inspired Mayra to start her business(04:27) Why Mayra pivoted to a product based business(06:06) How to get customer feedback and build a supportive community(8:52) The growth and impact of Hispanic businesses and what makes them stand out(10:15) How the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is helping Latino entrepreneurs overcome the challenges they face by focusing on the 3 C’s: access to capital, building connections, and capacity building(14:50) Why supporting Hispanic-owned businesses benefits everyone(16:13) How resilience and being open to pivoting can help you build a successful business

Ever wondered how to make influencer marketing a game-changer for your small business? Just ask Brittany Hennessy, the bestselling author of "INFLUENCER: Building Your Personal Brand In The Age of Social Media." Brittany reveals how small businesses can leverage the power of influencers to enhance their brand, reach new audiences, and drive sales. Whether you're new to the influencer marketing scene or looking to refine your approach, Brittany's insights can help you navigate the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing.Discover strategies for working with influencers, from understanding the different types of influencer marketing to finding a good match for your brand and maximizing conversions.In this episode, you’ll learn: (2:07) How starting a blog launched Brittany into the world of influencer marketing and led to her first brand trip.(4:05) Three powerful ways to boost your brand through influencer marketing: content creation, community engagement, and driving conversions.(6:25) How you can make influencer marketing work for your small business if you’re on a tight budget.(7:49) Why picking the right influencer that aligns with your brand and goals is crucial for a successful campaign.(9:10) Practical tips on how to find the perfect influencer that could take your business to the next level.(10:53) How to reach out to influencers in a way that’ll make them excited to collaborate with you and build valuable partnerships.

Want to make sure everyone knows about your product before it launches? Just ask Jay Clouse, the founder of Creator Science, who was able to generate six figure sales within the first few days of launching his product, Creatore HQ, all thanks to a carefully thought out pre-launch strategy. Jay shares his approach to building anticipation through consistent communication and engagement with his audience and why you should be planning your launch months before your product hits the market. Learn how to leverage your audience, what incentives to offer, and how to build an engaged audience that wants to buy your upcoming product.In this episode, you’ll hear: (1:44) Why you should be talking about your product months before it launches.(3:24) How you could see who might be interested in your upcoming product and reach them(4:58) Jay breaks platforms down into two categories: Discovery platforms and relationship platforms. Learn the difference between both types and how to use them to build an engaged audience that will buy your product when it launches!(6:49) How consistently posting can build trust(8:29) Should you have a discount or a special incentive when you first launch? (9:24) How to keep the momentum after you launch

Wondering if your small business is ready to scale and how to smoothly transition into e-commerce? Just ask Val Fishbain, co-founder of Spread the Love Foods, who successfully took her business from the local farmer’s market to the online world, all while staying true to her community roots. Val shares her experience selling at farmer’s markets, what it took to make the leap to e-commerce, and the importance of giving back as her business grew. You’ll also hear from Viridiana Ponce, a business consultant and food industry expert, who dives into how to leverage farmer’s markets to enhance your business and the crucial steps for expanding beyond your local market while staying connected to your community.Learn the essential steps for scaling up like maintaining product quality, engaging with your community, and conducting market research to confidently take your business online.In this episode, you’ll hear: (2:28) How Val’s thoughtful wedding favor quickly turned into a full-blown business.(4:22) Thinking of starting a food business from home? Learn the preparation and licenses to make sure you do it right!(5:41) Val’s first experience selling her products at a farmer’s market.(9:34) The benefits that come with starting at a farmer’s market.(10:44) How tracking sales at a farmer’s market can help you get funding.(11:40) When should you consider expanding? Viridiana lists what you should be looking for to make sure you’re ready for that next step. (15:02) Three essential strategies for a successful transition to e-commerce.(18:58) How giving back through your business can help your business grow and succeed.

Ever wondered how podcasting can help you grow your business? Just ask Hala Taha, the host of the Young and Profiting (YAP) podcast and the founder of YAP Media Network and YAP Media, who knows all the podcasting secrets that’ll help you get big. Hala aka the Podcast Princess shares her own entrepreneurial journey and reveals the secrets behind her rapid growth, including how she harnessed LinkedIn for visibility and used creative strategies to break through the podcasting noise. Learn how to start your podcast, different monetization options, and why you should be advertising your business on podcasts. In this episode, you’ll learn:  (01:38) How Hala went from a corporate marketing role to founding a leading podcast network in just two years.(03:20) Hala’s game-changing LinkedIn tactics that increased her podcast’s visibility and engagement.(05:04) How Hala used her LinkedIn presence to grow on other platforms.(06:40) How Hala leveraged her podcast as a lead generation tool and built a successful social media agency from it.(08:48) Why podcasting can help you grow your business.(10:20) The three key components for a successful podcast: being searchable, designing an eye-catching cover, and utilizing platforms like TikTok and YouTube.(11:28) How to advertise your business on other podcasts.

Starting a business on a tight budget might sound tough, but it can be more beneficial than you might think. Just ask Alice Kim, founder of Elizabeth Mott, who turned a small budget into a flourishing business. Alice explains how she reduced costs by building a strong network, coming up with creative solutions, and the importance of buying enough time to build the momentum you need to get your business noticed. You’ll also hear from Caroline Castrillon, founder of the Corporate Escape Artist, who’ll share budget-friendly ways to understand your target audience and do market research.Learn how you can make your business thrive with limited funds and turn your small budget into a big success!In this episode you’ll hear: (1:08) How Alice Kim launched Elizabeth Mott on a shoestring budget.(3:57) How Alice tapped into her network to cut costs and find creative solutions.(5:05) How to tackle research and development without breaking the bank.(6:47) Five budget-friendly tips for effective market research.(8:48) Why having a co-founder or a solid support system can make all the difference.(9:25) The benefits of being resourceful and scrappy.(12:10) Why focusing on the journey is just as important as reaching your end goal.(14:19) Why prioritizing your tasks can help you navigate the startup hustle.(15:38) How being scrappy can give you the time and space to get your business off the ground.

Want to learn how to turn your cultural heritage into a successful business idea? Just ask Conchita Pleasant, the founder and CEO of Nefertiti's Secrets, who looked at Ancient Egyptian remedies to create a hair care line. Conchita opens up about the struggles of battling breast cancer and how it led her to start her business. Learn how to conduct effective market research through direct feedback, the importance of pivoting, and how to turn obstacles into opportunities and empower yourself and others along the way.In this episode, you’ll hear: (01:22) How Conchita’s breast cancer diagnosis became a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey.(05:10) How Conchita utilized feedback to improve her formula.(07:15) How Conchita started to mass produce her product. (09:04) How Conchita’s brand aims to uplift customers and the significance of history to her and her customers. (11:14) How you can replicate Conchita’s success by drawing inspiration from your past. 

Ready to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey or looking for a refresher on some essential tips? Join us as we dive into key insights from Season 4 that will help you start, build, and grow your business. To kick off Season 5, we're revisiting some of the most valuable advice from experts and successful small business owners like Amy Porterfield, Kat Norton, Jenna Kutcher, and more. Whether it's mastering your mindset, pinpointing your target audience, networking like a pro, or cracking the social media code, we've got you covered.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:(02:05) Cultivate a Success-Oriented Mindset(03:02) Network Effectively for Business Growth(04:24) Define and Reach Your Target Audience(06:13) Build a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy(07:44) Leverage the Power of Email Lists(09:55) Implement Effective Social Media Strategies(13:36) Stay Persistent and Keep Moving Forward

Every entrepreneur needs a community - people who inspire us with their stories and share practical advice to help us make a decision or take the next step (or leap!). This is Small Business is that community. We hear from a diverse group of small business owners about how they found success, and the challenges they faced along the way.Not only will you feel inspired, you'll get tips you can apply to your own business right now. Whether you're trying to grow your business through social media, find a manufacturer to bring your idea to life, or figure out how to price your product - we got you!Hosted by Andrea Marquez, an aspiring small business owner, This is Small Business brings a diverse group of entrepreneurs and experts together to help you along your journey.New episodes are out every week. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. You won't want to miss an episode!