startupnation

For those of us in the entrepreneurial community trying to take a swing at creating and growing a successful new startup company, we know all too well how hard it is to raise the necessary early funding required to get a business off the ground.

On this morning's WJR Business beat, Jeff discusses grant and contest opportunities available to entrepreneurs in the state of Michigan who are looking for funding.

Tune in to learn more!

Where do the big ideas come from around which startup businesses originate? Well, certainly from the entrepreneurial community at large, and of course within businesses themselves large and small. Another significant source? University research labs.

The University of Michigan is the public university reporting the largest R&D expenditures in all fields.

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to learn more about the impact of this spending on R&D at universities like the University of Michigan.

The Super Bowl is a business juggernaut, driving nearly $14 billion in consumer spending, according to the National Retail Federation.

Beyond consumer spending on food, which averages around $75 per person, another big winner associated with the Super Bowl is advertising. Did you know the average 30-second spot in the big game costs around $5.5 million?

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to learn what advertising with a Super Bowl spot gets you.

On today’s episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff is joined by leading business coach and co-host, Jon Dwoskin. Together, they interview three entrepreneurs who have pitched their businesses on “Shark Tank.”

Today’s featured guests are Renaldo Webb, founder of Pet Plate; Tate Stock, founder of Chirp; and Meredith Jurica, CEO of Makeup Junkie bags. Together, they share their “Shark Tank” experiences and offer up tips to aspiring entrepreneurs for perfecting your pitch in order to secure a deal.

But first, Jeff and Jon kick off the show by announcing their new joint business coaching program, “Business Builders,” which will feature live weekly business coaching sessions, a private Facebook group for members, expert guest speakers and more!

“The goal and the intent is very clean,” Dwoskin said of the “Business Builders” program. “We want to make coaching affordable for everybody. We want to be a resource to help you grow your business.”

“Business Builders” will launch in mid-March 2021, at an investment of $100 per month or $997 for the year.

To sign up to receive updates, please visit jondwoskin.com/business-builders or reach out to Jeff directly at jeff@startupnation.com.

Next up, Jeff and Jon introduce each of today’s guests, starting with Meredith Jurica, CEO of Makeup Junkie Bags, a lay-flat, leak-proof cosmetic bag created using a design that previously didn’t exist in the makeup industry. Jurica shares the deal she made on “Shark Tank” with Lori Greiner ($200,000 for 15% of her company) in early 2019, and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.

Then, Jeff and Jon bring on Tate Stock, founder of Chirp, a company known for its Chirp Wheel, a device that helps to relieve back pain by stretching the muscles. Stock’s “Shark Tank” appearance aired in late October 2020, in which he struck a $900,000 deal for 2.5% of his company.

Lastly, Jeff and Jon introduce Renaldo Webb, founder of Pet Plate, a company that delivers nutritious dog food in convenient pre-portioned cups. While Webb did not receive a deal when he was on “Shark Tank” in 2016, he reflects on how he turned the obstacles that prevented him from securing a deal into the reasons Pet Plate has been so successful ever since.

Throughout the show, Jurica, Stock and Webb discuss the “Shark Tank” application process, share how aspiring entrepreneurs can increase their chances of getting a deal, and offer a look at the behind-the-scenes process that viewers at home don’t get to see.

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses a recently released study by Verizon, which highlights "The Corporate Jargon That Irks Americans the Most."

Topping the list as most favored office jargon? "Big picture."

Coming in very last on the list of least favored phrases? "Behind the 8 ball."

Tune in to this morning's Business Beat to learn more about Verizon's study on office jargon.

While the COVID crisis has decimated certain business sectors, it is accelerating many others right before our eyes. One of those sectors growing significantly? Multi-level marketing, or MLM.

Sixty three percent of companies reported to the Direct Selling Association, the industry's main trade group, that they've seen a positive impact on their U.S. revenues since the start of the pandemic.

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear more from Jeff.

We all know that the COVID pandemic has created a massive wave of job losses in the U.S. over the last year. So, with all of this economic hardship, one would reasonably assume that the rate of new business startups is at a standstill, right?

Wrong!

Over the past three months, more new businesses have been launched in the United States than in any other quarter in our history: Between June and September of 2010, nearly 1.4 million startups were founded. 

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear Jeff discuss this incredible wave of new businesses.

On this episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff is joined by guest co-host, Andrew Blake.

Blake is President of Blake’s Family of Companies and the founder of Blake’s Hard Cider, an independent, family-owned Michigan craft cidery located in Armada, Michigan.

When Blake returned to the family business after college, he knew he wanted to create a product that enriched the tradition and authenticity his family business was known for. Blake's Hard Cider was established in 2013 and has since brought in more than $100 million in sales.

During the show, Blake shares:

• The backstory of his family business, Blake Farms, and its evolution
• The importance of creating an experience for customers, not just a transaction
• How he came up with the idea for Blake's Hard Cider, and how he brought it to retail
• How Blake's Hard Cider has grown since its initial launch
• The importance of gathering feedback when launching a product
• How new entrepreneurs can establish partnerships with distributors
• The power of authenticity

Tune in to the full StartupNation Radio show with Andrew Blake!

Apple has just announced that it is opening its first U.S. Developer Academy in downtown Detroit.

According to a press release posted on the Apple website, the Detroit Academy is part of a hundred-million-dollar racial equality and justice initiative to help dismantle systematic barriers to opportunity and to combat injustices faced by communities of color.

The Detroit-based Apple Developer Academy is aimed at the black entrepreneur and developer community in the Detroit region, and is designed to empower young black entrepreneurs, creators and coders, helping them to cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly-growing iOS app economy.

Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University, Apple Developer Academy courses will be open to all learners across Detroit, regardless of their academic background or whether they have any previous coding experience.

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to learn more about the forthcoming Apple Developer Academy in Detroit!

As we know, the COVID crisis has dramatically increased the movement of businesses from a primary brick-and-mortar focus to the online world. There's no doubt that e-commerce is where the action is today.

Jason Junge, founder and CEO of PointerTop, a leading provider of online marketing and website sales conversion tools, shares how to best optimize your customer's user experience by making it convenient and efficient.

Tune in to today's WJR Business Beat to hear Junge's e-commerce tips.

This morning, we want to direct the attention of small business owners to the latest pandemic stimulus bill passed by Congress in late December. Its opened the doors for many small business owners to access new relief loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), money that can be used to pay employees and keep your lights on during these most challenging times.

To help break it down for us, we've tapped Benjamin Johnston, chief operating officer of Kapitus, a leader in small business financing.

During today's WJR Business Beat, Johnston highlights some of the key aspects of the new PPP program for us.

Like many businesses during the pandemic, Pinball Pete’s faced looming doom when the business could no longer pay its bills. Instead of calling it quits, Pinball Pete’s turned to its loyal customer base to save them, raising more than $90,000 from almost 2,000 donors in an online donation campaign launched on GoFund Me on Christmas Day.

The story, reported recently in the Detroit Free Press, goes to show you just how important it is to treat your customers right and deliver a highly valued product, service or experience to them. Simply put, make it a central focus to earn customer loyalty.

Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear the full story!

It's no surprise that 2020 was a monster year for mobile phone engagement, driven largely by the COVID crisis. Time spent on our mobile phones increased 25% over 2019, according to App Annie’s 2020 End of Year Mobile Report.

While all app categories in the report saw respective lifts in time users spent on them, here are the biggest gainers:

• Social media platforms up 20%
• Shopping platforms up 25
• Finance platforms up 25
• Games up 35
• Video streaming platforms up 40%

Overall, app growth was largely driven by a huge 200% surge in business app usage.

Which mobile apps ranked within the top three downloads this year?

Tune in to this morning's Business Beat to hear Jeff share the full report:

We're all too familiar with the struggles that entrepreneurs face today, and cinemas are among the hardest hit industries. 

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares a snippet of a conversation he recently had with Emagine Theatres CEO, Paul Glantz, on the future of the theater industry.

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares the Association of National Advertisers' term of the year for 2020.

Any guesses?

Tune in below to find out if you're right!

While we know that the pandemic has caused a drastic shift to e-commerce, we also know that brick-and-mortar businesses still depend on in-store sales to keep those cash registers ringing.

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff offers up a few tips on how to keep those customers coming in-store and spending.

• It is critical to keep the rapport and spirit of in-store staff upbeat
• Go the extra mile when it comes to safety and health guidelines
• Show your appreciation

Tune in to the segment to hear Jeff's tips.

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses the power of podcasting when it comes to your company's content marketing.

Did you know that, according to Omdia Tech's recent report on podcasting, global podcast ad revenue is forecast to reach $1.4 billion this year?

In the segment below, Jeff shares how to make podcasts work for your business (and drive more sales).

It's officially holiday shopping season! While most of us will be doing our holiday shopping online this year, before you hit that "buy" button online, consider your local merchants. 

Jeff discusses how new platform, Shop Mainstreet, can make holiday shopping easier than ever before.

As business owners, we are faced with the daunting challenge of keeping our staff and customers safe during this crisis. To help us understand how to do just that, John Ezzo, president and CEO of New Image Building Services, offers us his valuable insight and guidance.

Tune in to today's WJR Business Beat to hear John's expert tips!

As disruptive as the COVID-19 pandemic has been to society, the economy, and to most businesses, believe it or not, there are some positives to count as a result of this crisis.

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff reflects on specific innovative changes made within the automotive, banking and restaurant industries.