Jan 21, 20261h 45mS1
<p>Silicon Valley runs on stories. Reality runs on systems.<br />Eric Simone has lived through multiple tech eras, from mainframes to the dot-com crash to modern IoT hype, and built ClearBlade while others chased...
business
WORK IN PROGRESS
Hosted by Wes Botman, Ian Piepenbrock · business · EN
About this Podcast:
WORK IN PROGRESS is a raw, unfiltered look at the grind of building and scaling in tech and services. Hosted by founders Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman, it’s for those in the trenches—still learning, still failing, still pushing.Each episode dives into the reality of running a business: the wins, the losses, and the lessons earned through hard work and constant experimentation. If you’re scaling, building, or just obsessed with the process, WORK IN PROGRESS delivers insights from founders in it, day in and day out.
Pitch Analysis
Required Pod Score for this podcast. PitchCentric checks your profile against host openness, topical fit, and audience signals before you generate a pitch.
Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
31%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
Sign up to generate a grounded pitch for WORK IN PROGRESS.
Signup to Generate a PitchQuestions about WORK IN PROGRESS
What is WORK IN PROGRESS about?
WORK IN PROGRESS is a raw, unfiltered look at the grind of building and scaling in tech and services. Hosted by founders Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman, it’s for those in the trenches, still learning, still failing, still pushing.
Who hosts WORK IN PROGRESS?
WORK IN PROGRESS is hosted by Wes Botman, Ian Piepenbrock. The show has published 24 episodes to date.
What has WORK IN PROGRESS covered recently?
Recent episodes include "Dot-Com Crash, the $63M Exit and Conquering Enterprise IoT (Eric Simone, ClearBlade CEO) - Episode 24" (21 January 2026, 105 minutes), "From Sugar to Systems: Productized Focus for Founders - Episode 23" (5 November 2025, 51 minutes), and "Building a Media-First SaaS Agency, Why We Love Texas and WTF is Waifu? ep. 22" (24 July 2025, 91 minutes).
How often does WORK IN PROGRESS publish?
WORK IN PROGRESS publishes roughly monthly, with episodes averaging 64 minutes across 24 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on WORK IN PROGRESS?
Booking probability for WORK IN PROGRESS is 31%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. WORK IN PROGRESS requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. WORK IN PROGRESS's contact route on record: verified email.
Who should pitch WORK IN PROGRESS?
The strongest fits for WORK IN PROGRESS are Business & Management Consulting and IT Services & Software Development. WORK IN PROGRESS has a business audience.
About the host
Wes Botman, Ian Piepenbrock hosts WORK IN PROGRESS, a business podcast with 24 episodes published.
Verified host email: ████████@████.comSign in to unlock →
Recent episodes
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
- Nov 5, 202551 minS1
<p>Founders don’t burn out from work alone. They burn out from running on stress, guesswork, and broken systems.</p><p><br></p><p>Ian and Wes start with the Ray Peat diet, then pivot into the operating systems that keep...
- Jul 24, 20251h 31mS0
<p>After a deal-closing trip to Dallas and Austin, Ian and Wes dive into cultural differences between the US and Europe, the boldness of American founders, and why Austin might be the ultimate tech base for their next...
May 19, 202541 minS1<p>From Amsterdam to Austin. From Bitterbal to Brisket. From Seed-stage to Unicorn.In this episode, Ian and Wes dive into what it really takes to scale a modern SaaS agency. They explore why “boring” businesses are...
Episode #20
How GDPR Crushed European Startups, Pre-Elon Twitter Stories and The Future of xAI and X ads - ep 20
Apr 17, 20251 hourS1<p>What happens when everything is going well, but you still feel off? In this episode, Ian and Wes open with an unfiltered conversation about burnout, energy swings, and the strange self-sabotage that kicks in when...
View More
Episode #19
From Pyramids to Burning Teslas: Conspiracies, Business Breakthroughs and Land Cruisers - Episode 19
Mar 30, 20251h 24mS1<p>Ian and Wes take you on a wild ride through Episode 19, unpacking pyramid power plant theories with nods to Graham Hancock, debating Bob Lazar’s alien whistleblowing saga, and wrestling with Europe’s Tesla vandalism...
Mar 6, 202539 minS1<p>In this episode, we dive into everything from scaling a business without killing the fun to automating workflows and filtering out 806 applicants. Ian breaks down Noco’s rapidly growing sales pipeline and how their...
Feb 19, 202551 minS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, we go deep on:</p><p><br></p><p>The software developer job collapse – AI is eating junior developer roles. Is the middle-class engineer disappearing?</p><p>AI-powered coding in...
Episode #16
The Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman Feud, USAID insanity and hiring for tech roles in 2025 - Episode 16
Feb 12, 202548 minS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes break down:Hiring in 2025 – Why the job market has changed, how AI is reshaping hiring, and why some candidates still show up unprepared.Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman – The...
Episode #15
Recruiting BANGER designers, Audience Building, Noco's CRO focus and the EU Worm Diet - Episode 15
Feb 10, 202541 minS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes tackle the hiring struggle in design, new AI-powered updates in Webflow, and a regulation allowing insect protein in food. A mix of practical insights, rants, and some...
Feb 1, 202559 minS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes cover a mix of personal milestones, business insights, and AI-driven industry shifts:</p> <p>Fatherhood and Life Changes – Ian shares the news of becoming a dad, and...
Episode #13
Vertical AI Kills SaaS, Crypto Clown Show and Trump's Techno Accelerationism Era Begins - Episode 13
Jan 22, 20251h 23mS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes navigate a mix of timely and timeless topics: - The Trump Inauguration: Reflections on policy shifts, executive orders, and their broader implications for society...
Episode #12
The Pendulum Swings: Zuckerberg Based(?), AI Agents, Content Strategy and Agency Future - Episode 12
Jan 15, 20251h 9mS1<p>In episode 12 of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes dive deep into the nuances of modern agencies, AI-driven workflows, and what it takes to create scalable, authentic content strategies. Reflecting on the constant...
Episode #11
AI Predictions for 2025, Human Excellence and Platform Agnosticism vs Brand Recognition - Episode 11
Jan 4, 202555 minS1<p>In episode 11 of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes ring in 2025 with an upgraded studio setup and reflections on where technology, creativity, and business are headed. From the shifting role of AI to the evolving...
Episode #10
Reflecting on 2024, building momentum for 2025 and addressing Europe's challenges - Episode 10
Dec 28, 20241h 9mS1<p>In this milestone 10th episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman reflect on a transformative 2024 and lay the groundwork for an ambitious 2025. From navigating personal losses to reshaping business...
Episode #9
RELENTLESS value delivery, CRINGE LinkedIn takes and why HUMAN AUTHENTICITY always wins - Episode 9
Dec 21, 20241h 10mS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes navigate the highs and lows of running productized agencies and building systems that never skip a beat. From dissecting LinkedIn's "gray mass of mediocrity" to...
Episode #8
European Accelerationism (eu/acc), OpenAI's $200/m o1 version and Wes' DTC hellscape - episode #8
Dec 14, 20241h 35mS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes dive into a rollercoaster of topics ranging from the challenges of running a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand to the systemic issues within Europe's tech landscape. Wes...
Episode #7
AI Agents will take over EVERYTHING: Here's what you need to know to stay ahead - Episode #7
Dec 7, 202454 minS1<p>In Episode #7 of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes dive into the emerging world of AI agents, their potential to revolutionize industries, and how they’re tinkering with tools like Lindy AI. They discuss practical...
Episode #6
The future of DESIGN & NO-CODE websites for B2B SaaS & tech with Jelle Bot (Noco) - Episode 6
Dec 4, 20241h 4mS1<p>In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian Piepenbrock and Jelle Bot explore the transformative future of no-code tools, the challenges of minimalist design in B2B SaaS, and how agencies can stay ahead in a...
Episode #5
Shifting the Overton Window, Andreessen x Joe Rogan and EU founders breaking free - Episode 5
Nov 30, 202457 minS1<p>In Episode 5 of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes dive into:</p> Shifting Overton Windows and its impact on entrepreneurial discourse. Marc Andreessen’s explosive Joe Rogan appearance and its implications. Challenges...
Recent guests
Recent guests on WORK IN PROGRESS. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Best industries to pitch WORK IN PROGRESS for
PitchCentric classifies WORK IN PROGRESS under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.
Similar Podcasts
Shows with the most semantically similar episode content. Pitch one, pitch all; producers cluster.
Podcasts like WORK IN PROGRESS
Is this podcast yours and you'd like to remove or correct details? Request removal or email privacy@pitchcentric.com.
Questions about the free trial? See the pricing FAQ