Rising Tide Startups

Rising Tide Startups is a unique, bi-weekly Business interview podcast, hosting some of today’s most exciting solopreneurs, startups founders and side hustlers from all over the globe.

Rising Tide Startups is a business podcast hosted by Rising Tide, with 369 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Rising Tide hosts Rising Tide Startups, a business show with 369 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Rising Tide Startups

  10.13 - Darren Gallop - Carbide

  Oct 1, 202642 min

  You don’t always need to beat the biggest players. Sometimes the smarter move is finding the space they don’t own, and OWNING IT. Darren Gallop is the CEO of Carbide, a cybersecurity company helping organizations build stronger, more resilient security from the top down. His entrepreneurial path started far outside cybersecurity, from running a record label during the Napster era to later building software platforms used for major global events like Coachella and Burning Man. Along the way, Darren faced the kind of challenges that force a founder to rethink how they compete, including industry disruption, trademark battles, rebranding, and the pressure of going up against companies with far deeper pockets. In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Kevin and Darren talk about what happens when chasing the biggest players stops making sense and a more focused path starts to emerge. They also dig into sustainable growth, finding a niche worth owning, the difference between real security and security theater, and how AI is changing the way software and cybersecurity work. Whether you’re building in a crowded market, questioning the way you’ve been approaching growth, or trying to figure out where your business can truly stand apart, this conversation may change the way you think about competition. Key Takeaways: Embrace Rebranding Resilience. Unexpected pivots can become opportunities to reset and move forward. Recognize Niche Limitations. A niche can build a strong business without needing massive scale. Prioritize Substance Over Theater. Real value comes from doing the work, not just checking boxes. Adopt AI for Augmentation. Use AI to strengthen human thinking, not replace it. Resist Hyper-Growth Pressure. Slower, focused growth can create a healthier, more sustainable business. Listen to Customers Over Noise. Customer needs matter more than whatever the market is shouting about. Focus on Future Trajectory. Build for where the industry is going, not just where it is today. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Darren: Website: carbidesecure.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrengallop/ Book Website: builttotrustbook.com Closing thought: “Skate to where the puck is going. For years, we felt like we were just playing catch-up with Silicon Valley companies with all the big checks. Now we’ve built the confidence and vision to stop chasing and actually innovate.”— Darren Gallup Rating Request: If you enjoyed this conversation with Darren, please head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify to leave us a 5-star rating and review! Your support helps us keep the rising tide high and introduces more incredible startup stories to listeners worldwide. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free, back office support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2027! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

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  Rising Tide Startups

  10.10 - Aly Samaha - The Follow Up King

  Aug 10, 202632 min

  Most businesses do not have a lead problem. They have a follow-up problem hiding in plain sight. For Aly Samaha, follow-up is not a desperate sales tactic. It is a system for recovering money that businesses have already earned but failed to capture. Over the last two years, his approach has helped bring in $2.37 million in cash from silent opportunities while working just one to two calls a day. His philosophy is simple: stop chasing more when there is already money sitting inside your pipeline. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Aly to break down the sales “hustle lie” and why high-ticket founders, coaches, and sales teams often overlook the warmest opportunities they already have. Aly explains how his background in startups, operations, and closing shaped his obsession with leaving zero stones unturned, and why smart follow-up begins before the call ever ends. Together, they unpack how to revive quiet prospects without sounding needy, pestering leads, or relying on aggressive sales tactics. Aly shares why good follow-up depends on clarity, proximity, and energy management, and how business owners can focus their attention on the few deals closest to the finish line instead of treating every prospect the same. The conversation is a practical reminder that sales is not just about more activity. It is about knowing where trust already exists, staying human in the follow-up, and building a system that turns neglected conversations into recovered revenue. Key Takeaways Reframe the Silence. A quiet lead is not always a lost deal. Sometimes the problem becomes urgent later, and the right follow-up keeps you close without pressuring the prospect. Work the Pipeline You Already Have. Before chasing new leads or increasing ad spend, look at the warm conversations, past calls, and stalled opportunities already sitting in your CRM. Follow Up Before the Call Ends. Strong follow-up starts by identifying the real objection on the sales call, so the next message feels relevant instead of random. Detach From the Outcome. When you focus on the process instead of forcing the close, you become more useful, less needy, and more trusted. Give Away Strategy, Sell Execution. Sharing frameworks, templates, and advice builds goodwill. The paid value comes from helping business owners implement the system. Prioritize the Closest Deals. Not every lead deserves the same energy. Focus your best attention on the prospects closest to the finish line, then use systems for the rest. Build Follow-Up Systems. Memory is not a revenue strategy. Clean pipelines, simple sequences, and consistent outreach keep warm leads from disappearing. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Aly Samaha Free 60-Min Pipeline Audit: http://alysamaha.com/kevin Website: alysamaha.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/samsonsamaha Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samsonsamaha/ Closing Thought "Marry the process, but divorce yourself from the outcome. The best salespeople stay focused on what they can control, stay close without pressure, and build trust long before the deal is ready to close." — Aly Samaha Sponsor Shoutouts Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Rising Tide Members: Special thanks to our supporters and community members who make this show possible. Learn how to join at risingtidestartups.com .

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  Rising Tide Startups

  10.09 – Madilyn Kent – M & Co

  Jul 9, 202631 min

  A layoff isn't always a setback. Sometimes it's the boost you need! After being laid off from a strategic advisory firm, Madilyn pulled her existing LLC off the shelf and made the decision to stop climbing the corporate ladder. With a master’s in marketing and years of experience working alongside business creators, she stepped into entrepreneurship with a clear focus: helping agency owners finally give their own brands the same strategic attention they give their clients. Today, Madilyn leads M & Co, a North Carolina brand strategy consultancy for marketing and creative agency owners. Acting as a “second brain,” she helps founders sharpen their positioning, clarify their messaging, and maintain a brand presence that reflects the quality of work they are already delivering for others. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Madilyn to unpack how she landed two clients within four months of launching, moved from theory-heavy business courses into real client work, worked through pricing imposter syndrome, and built a relationship-first outreach approach that feels more human than traditional cold calling. Key Takeaways Solve one problem exceptionally well. Clarity on your specific solution and niche beats trying to appeal to everyone. Relationships are your first marketing channel. Networks, testimonials, and case studies build credibility long before any formal campaign does. Treat the business like a business on day one. Real systems and a professional mindset early create momentum that compounds. Lead with value. Ungated resources and quick wins earn trust faster than pitching ever will. Comfort follows the scary decision, not the other way around. Clarity and confidence show up after you act, not before. Price for where you're going. Don't anchor your rates to an old corporate salary; build them around the business you're actually creating. Delegation is freedom. Clean SOPs get routine work off your plate so you can focus on growth. Listen to the Episode YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/ Connect with Madilyn Kent Website: https://mandco.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madilynkent/ Closing Thought "Take the jump. Take the leap. It is worth it. There will be struggles, but nothing in life comes without them. So do it." Sponsor Shoutouts Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

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  Rising Tide Startups

  10.06 – Giuseppe Grammatico – GG The Franchise Guide

  May 22, 202637 minS0

  Building a successful business doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, the better path is choosing a proven operating model, like a franchise.   Giuseppe Grammatico, founder of GG the Franchise Guide, helps professionals move from employee to business owner through honest self-reflection and strategic franchise selection. He pushes past the usual fast-food stereotypes and guides candidates through a deeper process, one focused on personal motivation, time freedom, risk tolerance, and long-term asset ownership.   His approach helps entrepreneurs choose the right business model early, whether they want to run the business day to day or take a more semi-passive role. Gius...

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  Rising Tide Startups

  10.05 – Apryl Syed – ApertureCodex

  Mar 26, 202636 minS0

  If your pipeline feels stuck, you don't need more leads. You need to stop the bleeding first. Apryl Syed is the CEO of ApertureCodex and a fractional marketing executive known as the "messaging maven." She specializes in transforming underperforming revenue engines for B2B SaaS companies, pinpointing the leaks and breaks in their customer journey that quietly kill growth. In the past she's worked with brands like Xero, Calm, and LiquidIV. What makes Apryl's approach different? She's an award-winning choreographer and certified NLP practitioner turned marketing strategist, a combination that gives her an edge in crafting high-converting messages that are...

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