Dr. Shalabh Gupta, is a physician turned entrepreneur who's built multiple biotech startups focused on cancer and kidney disease treatments. Shalabh brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship, applying lessons from his medical background to the high stakes world of life sciences startups. 


In this episode, we explore the real motivations behind starting a company and why fame and fortune should never be your primary drivers. Shalabh shares how his experiences in the ICU shaped his approach to risk and failure, and reveals the leadership principles that have helped him build successful teams.

Roberto Cipriani, the founder of Paper, elucidates the transformative journey of his educational technology company, which aims to democratize access to tutoring across North America. Launched initially as Grade Slam in early 2014, the company evolved through a rebranding in 2020, recognizing the inadequacies of its original name. Cipriani's commitment to providing affordable educational support stems from his own academic experiences and the desire to offer the same support he received to those in need.

The salient point of this podcast conversation with Ashlee Turner is the profound importance of listening to customers and addressing their needs, which has been pivotal to her entrepreneurial journey and the creation of her innovative product, Pocket Panty. Throughout our dialogue, Ashlee elucidates her experiences as an entrepreneur, beginning from her early ventures to her current focus on providing women with practical solutions to their intimate needs. The conversation delves into the various challenges she faced, including the lessons learned from her initial failure in the candy business

In our engaging discourse, we delve into the profound insights of Alessandro Grampa, a distinguished serial entrepreneur who embodies the essence of resilience and adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of startups. Alessandro elucidates the pivotal notion that entrepreneurship transcends mere career choices, evolving into a comprehensive lifestyle commitment marked by profound personal dedication and understanding. He candidly shares his transformative journey through the challenges of ADHD and depression, revealing how these adversities catalyzed his exploration of biohacking and meditation

Zara Haji Hashemi's journey from Iran to the United States is emblematic of resilience and innovation, and serves as the focal point of our discourse. In this episode, we delve into her profound commitment to transforming women's healthcare through artificial intelligence, particularly as the founder of Cybele Health. Zara elucidates on her academic endeavors, including her PhD in AI and healthcare, and her impactful tenure at Apple

Krenar Komoni, the founder and CEO of Tive, joins us to elucidate the transformative impact of real-time tracking technology on supply chain visibility. His journey from an immigrant in Kosovo to a successful entrepreneur in Massachusetts exemplifies the resilience and determination inherent in the immigrant founder experience. Throughout our discussion, Krenar recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial path including the near-bankruptcy of Tive with only $20,000 left in the bank and the profound influence of his mother's courage as a war reporter

In this episode of "Designing Successful Startups," host Jothy Rosenberg interviews Sarah Porter, founder of MedDefend. Sarah shares her personal journey from being misdiagnosed for five years (visiting over 35 specialists) to creating an AI-powered platform that helps patients with chronic conditions get properly diagnosed. She explains her battle with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which affects the autonomic nervous system, and how this experience inspired her to create technology that empowers patients and educates healthcare providers. The episode highlights how MedDefend uses AI to analyze patient data, create diagnosis roadmaps, and provide nurse coaching to help patients navigate the healthcare system more effectively. Sarah's startup journey includes raising funds through Techstars and angel investors while working to reduce the average seven-year diagnosis time for chronic conditions.

In this episode of "Designing Successful Startups," host Jothy Rosenberg interviews Håkan Andersson, a Swedish entrepreneur now based in New York. Håkan shares his journey with Establish, a logistics consulting firm he originally built, sold, and then bought back when it was failing. Rather than using traditional consulting approaches, Håkan implemented a radical transparency model - making their methodologies completely visible online, simplifying their service offerings from 70+ to just four core services, and letting customers find them rather than chasing leads. This approach helped him rebuild the company after being "airdropped" into New York with no network. Håkan also discusses surviving COVID when their entire pipeline disappeared in 10 days, the importance of maintaining a cash buffer, and his family history including his grandfather's legendary party that burned down their 500-year-old family farm. The episode highlights the value of transparency, focused offerings, and financial resilience in business.

In this episode of "Designing Successful Startups," host Jothy Rosenberg interviews Jesse Fittipaldi, an entrepreneur from Eugene, Oregon. Jesse shares his journey with Arcimoto, an electric vehicle startup that created an innovative three-wheeled EV designed for an autonomous future. He discusses securing initial investment from banker Bill Hambrecht, raising $19.5 million through a regulation A IPO, and the challenges of disrupting the automotive industry with a fraction of the usual budget. Now leading a biotech startup focused on neurological disease treatments, Jesse remains driven by his core purpose: making the world better. The episode highlights the importance of purpose-driven innovation, community impact, and resourceful thinking in entrepreneurship.

The primary focus of our discussion with Ken revolves around the mission of Bioforge, which seeks to revolutionize the manufacturing processes of precision biological medicines, particularly cell and gene therapies. Ken articulates the vision of making these groundbreaking treatments more affordable and accessible, addressing the unsustainable costs that currently range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per treatment. Throughout our conversation, we explore the intricate dynamics of innovation and the translational journey from scientific discovery to practical applications that can significantly enhance people's lives. 

Jeffrey Van Dyk elucidates the pivotal concept of "innovating the invisible," which serves as the cornerstone of his professional endeavors. Through his extensive experience, he aids entrepreneurs in articulating their visionary ideas and formulating market strategies that resonate with unmet needs in their industries. This episode explores the categorization of entrepreneurs into four distinct types—replicators, synthesizers, innovators, and visionaries—each contributing uniquely to the entrepreneurial landscape.

The conversation with Sam Morris elucidates the profound journey of adaptation and resilience that arises in the face of life-altering challenges. Following a catastrophic spinal cord injury that rendered him paraplegic, Sam shares his experience of navigating the complex interplay between acceptance and the instinct to fight against perceived limitations. He emphasizes that true strength lies not in battling one's circumstances, but in embracing them.

Gwenael “Gwen” Hannema is a mechanical engineer by training and a MedTech entrepreneur at heart. As the founder of OrthoSens, he is on a mission to revolutionize post-surgical recovery by "making implants talk." His company develops smart sensors and the SensApp platform to provide continuous, real-time insights into orthopedic recovery, empowering surgeons with dynamic data and engaging patients in their own healing journey.

Roger Espasa, the esteemed founder and CEO of Semi Dynamics, engaged in a profound discourse on the intricacies of innovation within the realm of high-performance computing and machine learning. Central to our conversation was the notion that the journey of entrepreneurship is fraught with challenges, yet it is the persistent pursuit of completion and excellence that defines success. Espasa articulated his personal motivations for founding Semi Dynamics, stemming from experiences in larger corporations where pivotal projects were often abandoned, leaving him with a profound sense of frustration

David and Jothy reminisce about their long-standing friendship and their shared experiences in the tech industry, with a particular focus on their time at Borland. The conversation delves into the importance of strong teams and customer relationships in developing quality software. They reflect on their individual career paths, highlighting key moments that shaped their understanding of technology and management. Jothy shares his journey through various startups, emphasizing the value of grit and resilience in the face of challenges.

Analisa Gooden, founder and CEO of Catch and Release, discusses her innovative approach to licensing content from the internet, addressing the complexities of intellectual property in the digital age. Her company aims to create a seamless licensing layer that connects content creators with brands, ensuring that creators are fairly compensated while brands can utilize authentic content for their marketing campaigns. Gooden shares her personal journey, from her early experiences with entrepreneurship to navigating the challenges of transitioning from a service-based model to a product-focused company.

Vivjan Myrto, founder and managing partner at Hyperplane, shares his extraordinary journey from growing up in Albania under a harsh communist regime to navigating significant health challenges, including a battle with cancer, which ultimately shaped his resilient entrepreneurial spirit. He reflects on the lessons learned from surviving societal upheavals and how they instilled a deep determination to persevere and innovate. Vivjan emphasizes the importance of grit and adaptability in the startup world, highlighting that success often comes from being reactive to the present rather than overly focused on long-term predictions.

Join Jothy Rosenberg as he speaks with Jeremy Toeman, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and innovator, about the challenges and opportunities in video marketing today. Jeremy highlights a striking statistic: 70% of businesses are not utilizing video marketing, which underscores a significant gap in the industry. He shares insights from his journey, including his experiences with startups like Sling Media, emphasizing the importance of transparency and building strong relationships with co-founders and friends to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. The conversation delves into the intersection of technology and media, exploring how video tools can empower non-professionals to participate in video-first marketing.

Charlotte Sika, founder and CEO of I Am Cultured, joins Jothy Rosenberg to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of cultural awareness through curated experiences. Charlotte believes that anyone can achieve their goals if they are open to learning, willing to face failure, and ready to get back up again. She shares her unique perspective on courage as a habit, emphasizing that it grows stronger with each challenge faced. Originally from Nigeria, Charlotte’s diverse background and experiences have shaped her approach to business,

Stories are the driving force behind change and transformation, as emphasized by our guest, Lior Arussy, a leading authority in customer experience and transformation. In a captivating discussion with host Jothy Rosenberg, Lior shares his insights on how storytelling can mobilize people in ways that mere facts and figures cannot. He reflects on his journey from Israel to the United States, highlighting the grit and determination cultivated in a challenging environment.