Purpose-Led Growth: How this Startup Built Revenue & Social Impact

Where innovation meets purpose—HOPE Hydration is proving that sustainability can be both smart and scalable. In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate sits down with HOPE Hydration co-founders Jorge Richardson and Cristina Gnecco, the visionary team behind smart water refill stations designed to make clean drinking water universally accessible—and free. HOPE Hydration is pioneering a model where advertising funds sustainability, turning water stations into connected platforms that benefit both cities and brands. The company recently raised a $20M Series A, marking a major step in their mission to bring smart hydration to urban centers worldwide.We discuss:How AI has helped to fuel HOPE Hydration’s successTheir creative strategies for driving consumer adoptionWhat it means to operate as a certified B CorpHow they stay true to their mission while delivering value to investorsTune in to hear how Jorge and Cristina are blending technology, trust, and purpose to make every refill count—and build a movement toward a more sustainable, hydrated future. And if you’d like a HydroStation in your area, they’d love to hear from you!----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 🔗 Learn more about HOPE Hydration at https://www.hopehydration.com/

(00:00:00) How to Build High-Performing Teams at Every Stage of Your Startup (00:00:17) Introduction (00:01:00) Lidiya’s Background (00:01:44) Focus of Build It Labs (00:02:54) Three Components of Operations (00:04:12) The Importance of Getting “People” Right (00:05:10) Hiring Across Startup Stages (00:08:00) Early-Stage Hiring Challenges (00:10:13) Hiring Pitfalls and Structured Interviewing (00:14:42) Combining Data and Intuition (00:16:05) Defining Success Up Front (00:19:18) Tactical Interview Tips (00:22:29) The Roundtable Decision Process (00:25:55) Final Words of Wisdom for Founders In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Lidiya Becker, a seasoned operator and founder of Build It Labs, who’s helped countless startups navigate the challenges of rapid growth. She’s been in the trenches and knows what it really takes to build operational processes and teams that can scale effectively.Our conversation focuses on teams, and Lidiya walks through her Purpose, People, and Process framework—a simple but powerful way for startups to grow sustainably and build high-performing teams. She also shares must-hear advice on avoiding the hiring mistakes so many founders make, like failing to define the ideal candidate before interviews begin or skipping a rigorous interview process.We discuss:Who to hire at each growth stage of your startupHow to approach interviews as an investigation, not a vibe checkLidiya’s “Hell Yes” rule for hiringIf you’re a founder gearing up to scale or preparing for your next mission-critical hire, you won’t want to miss this conversation.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 🔗 Learn more about Build It Labs: builditlabs.comChapters:00:17 – Introduction01:00 – Lidiya’s Background01:44 – Focus of Build It Labs02:54 – Three Components of Operations04:12 – The Importance of Getting “People” Right05:10 – Hiring Across Startup Stages08:00 – Early-Stage Hiring Challenges10:13 – Hiring Pitfalls and Structured Interviewing14:42 – Combining Data and Intuition16:05 – Defining Success Up Front19:18 – Tactical Interview Tips22:29 – The Roundtable Decision Process25:55 – Conclusion & How to Connect

What does it take to build a biotech startup tackling one of the toughest challenges in women’s health? In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, Founder and CEO of AOA, whose company is pioneering a novel approach to detecting early-stage ovarian cancer.Oriana shares her journey to founding AOA, the mission-critical lessons she learned from scaling her team too fast, and why she believes “doing the hard things the right way” is the key to long-term success.She offers candid insights on:Her incremental approach to fundraising as a first-time founderThe realities of hiring and why not everyone is a good fit for startup lifeHow scaling consciously can save your startup from chaosWhat it took to recover when rapid growth nearly broke the companyIf you’ve ever questioned what it really takes to turn an idea into a thriving company, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about growth, grit, and what it means to build something that lasts.Chapters:00:18 – Welcome and Introduction00:51 – Oriana’s Career Background03:00 – Inspiration for AOA Dx and Ovarian Cancer Diagnostics05:00 – From Concept to Funding07:54 – Current Stage of AOA Dx08:12 – Challenges Along the Way09:41 – People-First Philosophy12:44 – Building a Robust Hiring Process14:07 – Balancing Learners and Guides in a Startup15:56 – Scaling Consciously18:16 – Organizational Systems and Operational Infrastructure21:02 – Final Words of Wisdom for Founders23:02 – Where to Find AOA Dx----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! Learn more about AOA, visit: https://aoadx.com/

On this episode of Startup Success, Kate sits down with Itamar Novick, Founder and General Partner of Recursive Ventures, who has been named one of Business Insider’s Top 100 Global Seed Investors for five years running. Unlike many VCs, Itamar brings a unique operator’s perspective, having helped scale Life360 from pre-seed to IPO and been part of multiple major exits. He reflects on what he’s learned from 25 years in the startup ecosystem, from the failures of his first company to his early bet on AI way back in 2012. And while Recursive Ventures is “all in” on AI, Itamar candidly shares his concerns about its potential risks to society.We discuss:What he looks for when investing in a startupHis use of “anti-patterns” to teach founders how to avoid failureWhat it takes to build an AI company that will survive the long haulItamar’s top advice for founders: jump on the wave first, embrace disruption, pivot quickly, and keep adapting. Founders who last aren’t the ones who play it safe. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! Learn more about Recursive Ventures here, Itamar’s Blog here, and Itamar’s LinkedIn here.

Most founders know they need marketing to build their business—but few know where to start.In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate sits down with Jacqueline Basulto, Founder & CEO of SeedX, a full-service digital marketing agency helping startups scale with clarity and strategy.Jacqueline shares her path to launching SeedX, and how she’s grown the company to a 65-person team supporting clients across industries. Together, they dive into the fundamentals every founder needs to know about building a strong digital presence.We cover a lot in a short time, including: How AI and “no-click marketing” are reshaping customer acquisitionWhy your website is your #1 asset—even in the age of AIThe smart way to use email marketing to stand out from your competitorsModern marketing tactics that leverage AIIt’s the kind of conversation you’ll want to bookmark and come back to whenever you need a quick marketing refresher. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! Learn more about SeedX at seedx.us and at LinkedIn 

With Q3 behind us, the headlines continue to be pessimistic—but Steve Lord,  Burkland's COO and Head of Knowledge Share, says the story is more complicated and less alarming.Steve joins us at the close of each quarter for an update on the startup ecosystem. This quarterly episode is another must-listen, providing a much-needed reality check, insights into the current state of the economy, and guidance on what founders need to know about the venture capital landscape as we approach the end of 2025.We cover:The real story behind the Fed’s recent rate cut—and what’s nextWhy the U.S. economy is stronger than headlines suggestThe lagging impact of interest rates and tariffsWhat founders should NOT do in this fundraising environmentSmart bets for raising capital right nowHow to adapt your pitch deck to today’s market realitiesDon’t buy into the hype that venture is broken. Steve reminds us that this industry is inherently cyclical. What feels like a slowdown today is part of a larger pattern. Founders who recognize macro trends, prepare early for their next raise, and aren’t afraid to communicate with their investors will be best positioned for the upswing ahead.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!Learn more about Burkland at burklandassociates.com.

Ivan Montoya is a venture capitalist with a fresh perspective on the typical VC–founder relationship. He and his firm, NuMundo Ventures, take an unusually hands-on approach with pre-seed and seed-stage founders—providing a level of support typically reserved for Series A and B stage startups.They often form close bonds with founders even before investing, actively helping with fundraising, pitch decks, go-to-market strategy, and everything in between.On this episode of Startup Success, we explore how Ivan’s trajectory from startup operator to angel investor to VC shaped his approach to backing founders, and how he’s helping the next generation of LatAm entrepreneurs achieve remarkable growth and gain traction in the US.We discuss:How to make your startup stand out at an early stageThe power of working with the right VC partnerLatAm’s startup boom and why their ecosystem is ripe for disruptionWhether you’re a founder, investor, or part of the global startup community, this episode takes you inside an emerging tech scene and reveals a new blueprint for the VC-founder relationship.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!Learn more about NuMundo Ventures here: https://numundoventures.com/

Materials development touches all startups—driving technological progress and innovation across every industry.  In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate Adams sits down with Joseph Krause, Co-Founder & CEO of Radical AI, a groundbreaking startup that's accelerating the discovery of new materials by using AI to transform the traditionally slow and costly R&D process.Fresh off a $55M seed raise, Joseph shares his inspiring startup journey and reveals the secret to building a fast-moving, mission-driven team. Joseph’s top advice for founders: build a ridiculous bias to action into everything you do!Tune in to hear:Radical AI’s plan to remove barriers to innovationHow they deliberately designed a culture that drives them forwardThe payoff of their relentless focus on iterationThis episode is a fascinating listen for any founder as Joseph lays out Radical AI's approach to building a truly revolutionary startup. Plus, if you’re curious about how AI could dramatically change materials development, this interview won't disappoint!----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

In this episode, host Kate Adams sits down with Julia Austin—Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, startup advisor, executive coach, and author of After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup. With decades of experience leading teams at Akamai, VMware, and DigitalOcean, Julia brings tactical wisdom and deep empathy to the messy, high-stakes realities of startup life.Together, they unpack what really happens after the check clears: from managing investor relationships and board dynamics to building operationally sound companies that can scale. Drawing on frameworks from her book and real-world examples, Julia gives founders clear guidance on how to stay in the driver’s seat—even in the face of strong investor opinions.Highlights includeHow and when to communicate with your investors after the "check clears"Productive ways to disagree with your investors and still build trustStrategies to get the most value out of your board member’s network & expertiseThe gap most startup books miss—and how After the Idea fills itJulia also lays out a strong case for why figuring out the “culture and people stuff” is essential to a startup’s survival. Whether you’re working towards product market fit, building a team, or navigating early-stage chaos, this is your crash course in leading with intention, not reaction.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! Purchase your copy of After the Idea here!

In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Ian Bateman, co-founder and CEO of Highscore, a startup on a mission to bring more games to more people—especially long-neglected Mac users—by enabling PC games to work on any device.Ian shares his startup journey—from building a tech startup in college that led to a successful acquisition, to turning his lifelong frustration as a Mac gamer into the inspiration for his current startup, Highscore. With a lean five-person team, a thriving Discord community of users, and a deeply personal connection to the problem they’re solving, Ian offers an honest and energizing look into early-stage startup life.We explore:Highscore’s early pivot that resulted in a win for users and investors The inner workings of their Alpha launch powered by an active user feedback loopHow complementary co-founders can supercharge a startupIan’s take on the gaming industryWhether you're a founder, a gamer, or just love a good startup story, this episode will leave you inspired by what’s possible when passion meets product-market fit.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 🔗 Learn more at highscore.com or join the conversation on Discord: discord.gg/highscore📱 Follow High Score on Twitter/X: @highscore