Jeff shares a moment where he nearly missed his company going public. Looking back, he realized how important it is for founders to stay curious and pay attention to the signals pointing toward the next big thing. In this clip, Jeff reflects on that near miss and why being drawn…
Gregg points out a common pattern he sees with founders: they often have too many ideas. While creativity is valuable, trying to pursue everything at once can dilute focus and slow progress. In this clip, Gregg explains why narrowing down to one clear problem and committing to solving it is…
Jeff reflects on the mistakes he made early on and how those lessons ultimately shaped his next venture. Instead of viewing failure as the end, he treated it as feedback, learning what worked, what didn’t, and what needed to change. In this clip, Jeff explains how those early lessons helped…
Before building ORY, Jeff joined his first startup and experienced firsthand how challenging the early stages of company building can be. From navigating uncertainty to figuring out what actually works, those early lessons shaped the way he approaches building companies today. In this clip, Jeff reflects on what he learned…
Jeff and Gregg explain that one of the most valuable skills for founders is knowing when to walk away from an idea, even when the technology looks promising. Just because something is technically impressive doesn’t mean it solves a real problem that users want. In this clip, they talk about…
Jeff explains that one of the most important metrics for any software company isn’t just growth, it’s retention. You can acquire customers, raise capital, and generate early excitement, but if customers don’t stay, the business won’t last. In this clip, Jeff talks about why keeping customers successful and engaged is…
One of the most important lessons in building a company is understanding exactly who you’re selling to. Jeff explains that founders need to deeply understand their customer, what they care about, what problems they’re trying to solve, and how they make decisions. When you truly understand your buyer, your product,…
With AI transforming sales and automation becoming more common, Jeff believes one thing will remain true: there will always be a place for human BDRs. Technology can help scale outreach and surface opportunities, but real relationships, trust, and nuanced conversations still require people. In this clip, Jeff explains why the…
One of the biggest lessons Jeff learned was the importance of listening closely to your earliest customers. In the early days, he realized they needed to focus more on concerns of the people actually buying the product, not just what they thought the roadmap should be. By prioritizing early adopters…
Early in his career, Jeff worked as an associate and quickly realized something important. You don’t get to stay in one lane. Sales, marketing, product, finance, he worked all of it. That experience gave him a full picture of how a business actually works and shaped the way he approaches…
Jacob Carter grew up around entrepreneurship starting early with mowing lawns and knocking on doors, and painting orange trees.Those experiences taught him persistence, independence, and how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them. In this clip, Jacob reflects on how those early lessons shaped the mindset he carries today…
If you want to build a great product, you have to understand your customer’s world. Jacob Carter explains why founders should learn the language, terminology, and daily workflows of the industries they serve. When you speak your customer’s language, you uncover better insights and build solutions that actually fit their…
In this episode of the PHX FWD Founder Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Jeff Kukowski (ORY) to talk about the journey from early hustle to building infrastructure for the next generation of the internet. Jeff shares how growing up in a working-class family in Chicago shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.…
At the end of the day, a founder’s primary job is simple: Don’t run out of money. Jacob Carter explains why cash management and survival are the foundation of every successful startup. No matter how great the product or vision is, if the company runs out of capital, the journey…
Founders can’t operate only at a high level. Jacob Carter explains why leaders need to understand the details of how the business actually works from product and operations to customer experience. When founders know the details, they can make better decisions, spot problems earlier, and build stronger companies. Follow PHX…
Great leaders don’t avoid hard conversations,they face them head on. Jacob Carter talks about why being direct with your team is essential for building trust and moving a company forward. Clear communication, honest feedback, and transparency help teams solve problems faster and stay aligned on what matters most. Follow PHX…
Most AI today is designed to complete specific tasks. But the real opportunity is building agents that focus on outcomes instead. In this clip, Jacob Carter explains the difference between task oriented AI and outcome oriented AI and why the shift toward outcome driven systems could fundamentally change how businesses…
Great founders don’t make decisions based on opinions, they rely on data. Jacob and Gregg explain why being fact driven is critical when building a company, especially when emotions, pressure, and strong opinions can cloud judgment. In this clip, he talks about why the best leaders step back, look at…
Gregg asks Jacob Carter about the mindset founders need if they truly want to win. In this clip, they discuss why building a category defining company requires ambition, focus, and the willingness to think much bigger than just building a product. Follow PHX FWD for more founder stories and insights:…
One of the biggest mistakes founders make is falling in love with their solution too early. Jacob Carter explains why the real advantage comes from deeply understanding the problem first. When founders obsess over the problem, they build products that actually matter and that customers are willing to pay for.…
In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, Gregg Scoresby sits down with Jacob Carter, founder of Nurture Boss, to talk about building one of the leading AI companies in multifamily housing. Nurture Boss is an AI powered virtual leasing assistant that automates the prospect and resident lifecycle for apartment…
Before building STAX AI, Naru grew up moving between countries including India, China, and Canada. Constantly adapting to new places taught him independence, resilience, and how to quickly connect with people. In this clip, Naru reflects on how his global upbringing shaped the mindset that eventually led him to entrepreneurship.…
