The Founder’s Path Podcast https://thefounderspath.podbean.com The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company is where real startup stories come to life. Hosted by Valerie Cobb, fractional Chief Revenue Officer and Founder of The Strategic Revenue Reset™, this podcast goes beyond the headlines to uncover what it really takes to build a business from the ground up.

Each week, Valerie sits down with bold, visionary founders who transformed raw ideas into thriving companies, with all the messy, powerful moments in between. From surprising pivots to breakthrough wins, these interviews pull back the curtain on entrepreneurship.

What makes The Founder’s Path different? It’s not just insights, it’s honest guidance for founders, startup teams, and dreamers ready to grow. Whether you’re scaling or just starting, these unfiltered conversations offer the roadmap you've been looking for. Listen in and follow the journey - from spark to company.

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:57:14 -0700 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en us Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Business:Entrepreneurship 1440 episodic Valerie Cobb Valerie Cobb No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/20754764/Screenshot_2025-08-11_at_81331_PMarvta.png The Founder’s Path Podcast https://thefounderspath.podbean.com 144 144 Why Founders Should Choose Joy First | Valerie Cobb + Dr. Seema Desai Why Founders Should Choose Joy First | Valerie Cobb + Dr. Seema Desai https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-founders-should-choose-joy-first-valerie-cobb-dr-seema-desai/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-founders-should-choose-joy-first-valerie-cobb-dr-seema-desai/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:57:14 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/ae267dd7-5461-3ee7-86ac-e5be669f76d9 What happens when a founder builds from fear, scarcity, comparison, or pressure? In this episode of The Founder’s Path Podcast, Valerie Cobb welcomes Dr. Seema Desai, a dentist-turned-keynote speaker, certified coach, author, and creator of The Joy First Method™. Seema shares her deeply personal founder journey from growing up as the daughter of Indian immigrant parents, becoming a dentist because it looked like the “successful” path, and eventually realizing that outward success did not equal inner peace. Together, Valerie and Seema discuss why founders often make decisions from a dysregulated nervous system, how comparison and FOMO create business noise, and why calm, clarity, compassion, and joy can lead to better business decisions. This episode is for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are tired of chasing every new tool, trend, metric, and expectation and want to reconnect with the real reason they started building in the first place.

]]> What happens when a founder builds from fear, scarcity, comparison, or pressure?

In this episode of The Founder’s Path Podcast, Valerie Cobb welcomes Dr. Seema Desai, a dentist-turned-keynote speaker, certified coach, author, and creator of The Joy First Method™.

Seema shares her deeply personal founder journey from growing up as the daughter of Indian immigrant parents, becoming a dentist because it looked like the “successful” path, and eventually realizing that outward success did not equal inner peace.

Together, Valerie and Seema discuss why founders often make decisions from a dysregulated nervous system, how comparison and FOMO create business noise, and why calm, clarity, compassion, and joy can lead to better business decisions.

This episode is for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are tired of chasing every new tool, trend, metric, and expectation and want to reconnect with the real reason they started building in the first place.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 3212 25 full Renee Reisch: Losing Her Voice, Finding Her Power | Valerie Cobb Renee Reisch: Losing Her Voice, Finding Her Power | Valerie Cobb https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/renee-reisch-losing-her-voice-finding-her-power-valerie-cobb/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/renee-reisch-losing-her-voice-finding-her-power-valerie-cobb/#comments Wed, 27 May 2026 07:07:37 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/3fbb847a-fc46-32ba-b1cd-01f005ae7315 Renee Reisch joins Valerie Cobb on The Founder’s Path to share the powerful story of losing her physical voice after years of overwork, people-pleasing, and not asking for help.

In this conversation, Renee explains how that painful season became the beginning of finding her authentic voice and creating The VOICE Blueprint, a framework that helps people move from vulnerability to empowerment.

Valerie and Renee discuss founder self-worth, boundaries, asking for help, pricing your value, the uncomfortable comfort zone, and why your voice matters in business and in life.

]]> Renee Reisch joins Valerie Cobb on The Founder’s Path to share the powerful story of losing her physical voice after years of overwork, people-pleasing, and not asking for help.

In this conversation, Renee explains how that painful season became the beginning of finding her authentic voice and creating The VOICE Blueprint, a framework that helps people move from vulnerability to empowerment.

Valerie and Renee discuss founder self-worth, boundaries, asking for help, pricing your value, the uncomfortable comfort zone, and why your voice matters in business and in life.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2441 24 full Validate Before You Build: Manufacturing Lessons for Founders | Valerie Cobb + Mark Norton Validate Before You Build: Manufacturing Lessons for Founders | Valerie Cobb + Mark Norton https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/validate-before-you-build-manufacturing-lessons-for-founders-valerie-cobb-mark-norton/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/validate-before-you-build-manufacturing-lessons-for-founders-valerie-cobb-mark-norton/#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 09:57:41 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/10c129de-b06f-3164-bb33-1371383b83e7 In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb talks with Mark Norton about what founders can learn from manufacturing, customer validation, pricing discipline, business development, and risk. Mark Norton brings more than four decades of experience in advanced manufacturing, business development, product development, market development, and strategic planning. As Executive Director and Board Chair of the Northwest I-90 Manufacturing Alliance, he works with manufacturers and regional partners to strengthen collaboration, workforce development, and growth across the Northwest I-90 Corridor. Valerie and Mark explore why a founder’s passion is not the same as a business plan, why customer feedback is not personal rejection, how to think about risk before making expensive decisions, and why price should reflect value rather than fear. You’ll hear practical insights on voice of the customer, stage-gate thinking, manufacturing ecosystems, B2B sales relationships, pricing strategy, and the emotional side of building something customers actually want.

]]> In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb talks with Mark Norton about what founders can learn from manufacturing, customer validation, pricing discipline, business development, and risk. Mark Norton brings more than four decades of experience in advanced manufacturing, business development, product development, market development, and strategic planning.

As Executive Director and Board Chair of the Northwest I-90 Manufacturing Alliance, he works with manufacturers and regional partners to strengthen collaboration, workforce development, and growth across the Northwest I-90 Corridor.

Valerie and Mark explore why a founder’s passion is not the same as a business plan, why customer feedback is not personal rejection, how to think about risk before making expensive decisions, and why price should reflect value rather than fear. You’ll hear practical insights on voice of the customer, stage-gate thinking, manufacturing ecosystems, B2B sales relationships, pricing strategy, and the emotional side of building something customers actually want.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 3331 23 full Are You Building a Business or Just Working a Job? Loren Baker with Valerie Cobb Are You Building a Business or Just Working a Job? Loren Baker with Valerie Cobb https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/are-you-building-a-business-or-just-working-a-job-loren-baker-with-valerie-cobb/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/are-you-building-a-business-or-just-working-a-job-loren-baker-with-valerie-cobb/#comments Wed, 13 May 2026 06:46:06 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/eca065ee-8099-387a-8616-334c968fef2b Are you building a business, or did you accidentally create another job for yourself? In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Loren Baker of Profectus Business Consulting to talk about the hard truths behind small business growth, profitability, customer pain, and founder clarity.

]]> Are you building a business, or did you accidentally create another job for yourself?

In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Loren Baker of Profectus Business Consulting to talk about the hard truths behind small business growth, profitability, customer pain, and founder clarity.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2754 22 full How to Find the Root Cause of Chronic Illness | The Founder’s Path Podcast ft. Dr. Tom Bolan How to Find the Root Cause of Chronic Illness | The Founder’s Path Podcast ft. Dr. Tom Bolan https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/how-to-find-the-root-cause-of-chronic-illness-the-founder-s-path-podcast-ft-dr-tom-bolan/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/how-to-find-the-root-cause-of-chronic-illness-the-founder-s-path-podcast-ft-dr-tom-bolan/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:11:34 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/3f697db9-76c4-35b2-a001-8493f6c2e5e6 What if your symptoms are only the warning signs—not the real problem? In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Dr. Tom Boland, a 44-year healthcare professional who spent 15 years battling Lyme disease, mold exposure, Epstein-Barr, and chronic illness himself. After losing his practice and spending years searching for answers, Dr. Boland built a “Recovery Roadmap” to help others uncover the root cause of their health issues instead of just masking symptoms. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why Western medicine often treats symptoms instead of causes - How chronic illness develops over years before symptoms appear - The importance of asking the right health questions - Why AI and ChatGPT can’t replace real healthcare guidance - How small habit changes create long-term health transformation - The emotional and financial cost of misdiagnosis

]]> What if your symptoms are only the warning signs—not the real problem? In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Dr. Tom Boland, a 44-year healthcare professional who spent 15 years battling Lyme disease, mold exposure, Epstein-Barr, and chronic illness himself. After losing his practice and spending years searching for answers, Dr. Boland built a “Recovery Roadmap” to help others uncover the root cause of their health issues instead of just masking symptoms. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why Western medicine often treats symptoms instead of causes - How chronic illness develops over years before symptoms appear - The importance of asking the right health questions - Why AI and ChatGPT can’t replace real healthcare guidance - How small habit changes create long-term health transformation - The emotional and financial cost of misdiagnosis

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 3350 21 full Why AI Won’t Save Your Startup (And What Actually Will) ft. Shane Stevens Why AI Won’t Save Your Startup (And What Actually Will) ft. Shane Stevens https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-ai-won-t-save-your-startup-and-what-actually-will-ft-shane-stevens/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-ai-won-t-save-your-startup-and-what-actually-will-ft-shane-stevens/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:47:49 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/24c1ea53-d5ba-3137-bc80-2bc4d6f729f0 Most founders are building AI-first businesses—and setting themselves up to fail. In this episode of the Founders Path podcast, Shane Stevens shares why chasing tools instead of outcomes is one of the biggest mistakes founders make today. With 30+ years of experience in private equity and software, Shane breaks down: - Why most tech stacks are bloated and ineffective - How to design your business for scale and acquisition - The real role of AI agents in modern companies - What the future of work actually looks like If you're a founder, operator, or building in AI—this is a must-watch.

]]> Most founders are building AI-first businesses—and setting themselves up to fail. In this episode of the Founders Path podcast, Shane Stevens shares why chasing tools instead of outcomes is one of the biggest mistakes founders make today. With 30+ years of experience in private equity and software, Shane breaks down: - Why most tech stacks are bloated and ineffective - How to design your business for scale and acquisition - The real role of AI agents in modern companies - What the future of work actually looks like If you're a founder, operator, or building in AI—this is a must-watch.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2584 20 full Why Most Products Fail (And How to Build One That Wins) | Valerie Cobb ft. Mark Gambale Why Most Products Fail (And How to Build One That Wins) | Valerie Cobb ft. Mark Gambale https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-most-products-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins-valerie-cobb-ft-mark-gambale/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-most-products-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins-valerie-cobb-ft-mark-gambale/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:35 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/4e984a5a-3463-3101-a058-2c7a51df72a7 What separates successful startups from those that fail? In this episode of The Founder’s Path – From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb sits down with Mark Gambale to break down the real drivers of startup success—product-market fit, monetization strategy, and how to build products customers actually pay for. Most founders believe building a great product is enough. It’s not. Mark shares hard-earned lessons from product development, near failures, and market wins, revealing why validation, paid pilots, and execution speed matter more than ideas. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or startup operator, this episode will change how you think about building and scaling a business.

]]> What separates successful startups from those that fail?

In this episode of The Founder’s Path – From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb sits down with Mark Gambale to break down the real drivers of startup success—product-market fit, monetization strategy, and how to build products customers actually pay for.

Most founders believe building a great product is enough. It’s not. Mark shares hard-earned lessons from product development, near failures, and market wins, revealing why validation, paid pilots, and execution speed matter more than ideas. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or startup operator, this episode will change how you think about building and scaling a business.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 3830 19 full How Founders Scale Smarter Without Hiring Full-Time | Valerie Cobb ft. Corey Spitzer How Founders Scale Smarter Without Hiring Full-Time | Valerie Cobb ft. Corey Spitzer https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/how-founders-scale-smarter-without-hiring-full-time-valerie-cobb-ft-corey-spitzer/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/how-founders-scale-smarter-without-hiring-full-time-valerie-cobb-ft-corey-spitzer/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:41:02 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/160ca85d-c2b5-3fd7-a936-5748563fbb1a In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Corey Spitzer, a fractional CTO, to break down how startups can grow smarter, move faster, and avoid costly mistakes - without overbuilding or overspending. Corey shares how working across multiple companies gives founders a massive advantage through faster decision-making, cross-industry insights, and strategic execution. If you're navigating early-stage growth, product decisions, or scaling your tech team, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

]]> In this episode of The Founder’s Path, Valerie Cobb sits down with Corey Spitzer, a fractional CTO, to break down how startups can grow smarter, move faster, and avoid costly mistakes - without overbuilding or overspending.

Corey shares how working across multiple companies gives founders a massive advantage through faster decision-making, cross-industry insights, and strategic execution. If you're navigating early-stage growth, product decisions, or scaling your tech team, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 3341 18 full Why Starting at the Bottom Builds Real Wealth | Leadership, Benefits & Long-Term Thinking ft. Matt Gusse Why Starting at the Bottom Builds Real Wealth | Leadership, Benefits & Long-Term Thinking ft. Matt Gusse https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-starting-at-the-bottom-builds-real-wealth-leadership-benefits-long-term-thinking-ft-matt-gusse/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-starting-at-the-bottom-builds-real-wealth-leadership-benefits-long-term-thinking-ft-matt-gusse/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:41:28 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/0c1685f8-f650-366e-a421-6f6819485699 In this episode, Valerie Cobb breaks down one of the biggest mindset gaps she sees in younger professionals and early-career adults today: the desire for instant success without understanding the systems that create long-term stability. Valerie shares the advice she wishes someone had given her earlier - why benefits matter, why experience compounds just like money, and why tools like a 401(k) can quietly become one of the most powerful wealth-building mechanisms when started young. This conversation goes beyond personal finance. It’s about: • Why entitlement blocks leadership growth • How patience and consistency outperform shortcuts • The difference between chasing money and building wealth • What schools often fail to teach about real-world success • How founders and leaders think in decades, not months Whether you’re a student, a young professional, a founder, or a leader mentoring the next generation, this episode challenges the idea that success is something you arrive at quickly, and replaces it with a framework that actually works.

]]> In this episode, Valerie Cobb breaks down one of the biggest mindset gaps she sees in younger professionals and early-career adults today: the desire for instant success without understanding the systems that create long-term stability.

Valerie shares the advice she wishes someone had given her earlier - why benefits matter, why experience compounds just like money, and why tools like a 401(k) can quietly become one of the most powerful wealth-building mechanisms when started young.

This conversation goes beyond personal finance. It’s about:
• Why entitlement blocks leadership growth
• How patience and consistency outperform shortcuts
• The difference between chasing money and building wealth
• What schools often fail to teach about real-world success
• How founders and leaders think in decades, not months

Whether you’re a student, a young professional, a founder, or a leader mentoring the next generation, this episode challenges the idea that success is something you arrive at quickly, and replaces it with a framework that actually works.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2098 17 full Founder to Exit to CEO: The Brutal Truth About Funding & Startup Survival ft. Bob Kruse Founder to Exit to CEO: The Brutal Truth About Funding & Startup Survival ft. Bob Kruse https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/founder-to-exit-to-ceo-the-brutal-truth-about-funding-startup-survival-ft-bob-kruse/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/founder-to-exit-to-ceo-the-brutal-truth-about-funding-startup-survival-ft-bob-kruse/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:01:32 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/de5ce2de-792d-31f3-969d-818de2dc2033 Bootstrapping or venture capital? It’s one of the most critical decisions a founder will ever make. In this episode of The Founder’s Path Podcast, we dive deep into what it really takes to build, exit, and lead again. Our guest has: • Co-founded and exited a cybersecurity company • Navigated institutional funding • Built product-market fit in a competitive space • Transitioned from founder to CEO This conversation unpacks: • Bootstrapping vs VC — when each makes sense • Product-led vs sales-led growth • Avoiding startup echo chambers • Why founders must be brutally self-reflective • The mindset required to survive criticism and scale If you’re building, raising capital, or leading a startup — this episode delivers real-world insight. #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #FounderJourney #Cybersecurity #VentureCapital

]]> Bootstrapping or venture capital? It’s one of the most critical decisions a founder will ever make.

In this episode of The Founder’s Path Podcast, we dive deep into what it really takes to build, exit, and lead again.

Our guest has:
• Co-founded and exited a cybersecurity company
• Navigated institutional funding
• Built product-market fit in a competitive space
• Transitioned from founder to CEO

This conversation unpacks:
• Bootstrapping vs VC — when each makes sense
• Product-led vs sales-led growth
• Avoiding startup echo chambers
• Why founders must be brutally self-reflective
• The mindset required to survive criticism and scale If you’re building, raising capital, or leading a startup — this episode delivers real-world insight.

#Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #FounderJourney #Cybersecurity #VentureCapital

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2378 16 full From Spark to Scale: How Founders Build, Break & Rebuild Profitable Companies ft. Paul Diagle From Spark to Scale: How Founders Build, Break & Rebuild Profitable Companies ft. Paul Diagle https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/paul-daigle/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/paul-daigle/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:31:09 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/c07c55c4-1ba4-3f0b-bbdb-a16c9c37c129 In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, host Valerie Cobb sits down with Paul Daigle, a seasoned founder, operator, and turnaround expert, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and sometimes walk away from companies. Paul shares real-world lessons from decades of entrepreneurship—starting businesses as a teenager, rolling up competitors, navigating SaaS and MSP growth models, fixing broken revenue engines, and knowing when to shut down ideas that no longer make sense.

]]> In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, host Valerie Cobb sits down with Paul Daigle, a seasoned founder, operator, and turnaround expert, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and sometimes walk away from companies. Paul shares real-world lessons from decades of entrepreneurship—starting businesses as a teenager, rolling up competitors, navigating SaaS and MSP growth models, fixing broken revenue engines, and knowing when to shut down ideas that no longer make sense.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2485 4 full From Startup Chaos to Successful Exit: Lessons from a Two-Time Founder ft. Aric Bandy From Startup Chaos to Successful Exit: Lessons from a Two-Time Founder ft. Aric Bandy https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/aric-brandy/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/aric-brandy/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:29:12 -0700 thefounderspath.podbean.com/693a3729-62bd-3746-901b-0305f5ca181d In this episode of The Founder’s Path with Valerie Cobb, Aric Bandy shares what it really takes to scale a company from early traction to a successful exit. From navigating non-linear growth to knowing when to sell, this conversation unpacks the realities founders face beyond the startup hype.

]]> In this episode of The Founder’s Path with Valerie Cobb, Aric Bandy shares what it really takes to scale a company from early traction to a successful exit. From navigating non-linear growth to knowing when to sell, this conversation unpacks the realities founders face beyond the startup hype.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2806 1 full The Founder's Path - The Hidden Risks & Rewards of Cybersecurity Startups ft. Clea Ostendorf The Founder's Path - The Hidden Risks & Rewards of Cybersecurity Startups ft. Clea Ostendorf https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/the-founders-path-the-hidden-risks-rewards-of-cybersecurity-startups/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/the-founders-path-the-hidden-risks-rewards-of-cybersecurity-startups/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:30:01 -0800 thefounderspath.podbean.com/b3c28065-7ede-305f-b28f-0869c1f891e0 Building a company from scratch is tough, but what about in the high-stakes world of cybersecurity? Host Valerie Cobb sits down with Clea Ostendorf, Co-founder and CEO of Wolfpack Security, to explore the unique challenges and triumphs of launching a professional services firm in a critical industry. Valerie guides the conversation through the intricacies of application security, the art of identifying market gaps, and the crucial lessons learned in their first year of business. Discover how Clea's team navigates client expectations, manages scope creep, and makes tough decisions around risk and liability to ensure profitability and growth. This episode is a must-listen for any founder looking to build a resilient and impactful business. 

]]> Building a company from scratch is tough, but what about in the high-stakes world of cybersecurity? Host Valerie Cobb sits down with Clea Ostendorf, Co-founder and CEO of Wolfpack Security, to explore the unique challenges and triumphs of launching a professional services firm in a critical industry. Valerie guides the conversation through the intricacies of application security, the art of identifying market gaps, and the crucial lessons learned in their first year of business. Discover how Clea's team navigates client expectations, manages scope creep, and makes tough decisions around risk and liability to ensure profitability and growth. This episode is a must-listen for any founder looking to build a resilient and impactful business. 

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 2286 15 full The Founder’s Path: Integrity, Authenticity & Cyber Risks Founders Overlook ft. Marlon Bermudez The Founder’s Path: Integrity, Authenticity & Cyber Risks Founders Overlook ft. Marlon Bermudez https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/the-founder-s-path-integrity-authenticity-cyber-risks-founders-overlook/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/the-founder-s-path-integrity-authenticity-cyber-risks-founders-overlook/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2025 08:48:10 -0800 thefounderspath.podbean.com/7834a5c7-1699-32ba-881f-7824ca29abe8 Building a company isn’t just about growth, it’s about integrity, authenticity, and protecting what you’re building. In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb sits down with cybersecurity leader and founder Marlon Bermudez to explore the often-overlooked realities founders face as they scale. This conversation goes far beyond technology. We unpack: - Why authenticity beats transactional sales (especially for introverted founders) - The role of core values and integrity in long-term business growth - The hidden cyber risks founders underestimate — especially with AI, shadow IT, and third-party tools - Why “set it and forget it” cybersecurity is a dangerous myth - How founders can stop playing small and build with alignment, not fear Marlon also shares lessons from building his company, launching The Authenticity Journey, and helping founders protect reputation, revenue, and trust in an AI-driven world. 

]]> Building a company isn’t just about growth, it’s about integrity, authenticity, and protecting what you’re building.

In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb sits down with cybersecurity leader and founder Marlon Bermudez to explore the often-overlooked realities founders face as they scale. This conversation goes far beyond technology.

We unpack:
- Why authenticity beats transactional sales (especially for introverted founders)
- The role of core values and integrity in long-term business growth
- The hidden cyber risks founders underestimate — especially with AI, shadow IT, and third-party tools
- Why “set it and forget it” cybersecurity is a dangerous myth
- How founders can stop playing small and build with alignment, not fear

Marlon also shares lessons from building his company, launching The Authenticity Journey, and helping founders protect reputation, revenue, and trust in an AI-driven world. 

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 1411 14 full Why Customers Really Buy? | The Founder’s Path Podcast ft. Stefan Avivson Why Customers Really Buy? | The Founder’s Path Podcast ft. Stefan Avivson https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-customers-really-buy-the-founder-s-path-podcast/ https://thefounderspath.podbean.com/e/why-customers-really-buy-the-founder-s-path-podcast/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:55:11 -0800 thefounderspath.podbean.com/76da9545-8ab6-3425-a592-4783cfc9ad6e Welcome to The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company. In this episode, Valerie Cobb sits down with Stefan “Mr Raw” Avivson – a 15-time founder with 5 exits and 2 bankruptcies – to talk about the brutal truth behind product-market fit, why 96% of founders don’t know why customers buy from them, and how to stop building your startup “in a cave.” If you’re an early-stage founder or thinking about how to start a business, this is your masterclass in talking to customers, avoiding multi-million dollar mistakes, and embracing failure as fuel. This is a startup founders podcast episode packed with real stories from entrepreneurs, lessons from founders, and business growth strategies you can use right now.

]]> Welcome to The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company.

In this episode, Valerie Cobb sits down with Stefan “Mr Raw” Avivson – a 15-time founder with 5 exits and 2 bankruptcies – to talk about the brutal truth behind product-market fit, why 96% of founders don’t know why customers buy from them, and how to stop building your startup “in a cave.”

If you’re an early-stage founder or thinking about how to start a business, this is your masterclass in talking to customers, avoiding multi-million dollar mistakes, and embracing failure as fuel. This is a startup founders podcast episode packed with real stories from entrepreneurs, lessons from founders, and business growth strategies you can use right now.

]]> Valerie Cobb false No 1032 13 full