In this episode of The Boost, Leon sits down with Maria, founder of Hess Street Foods, to explore how a generational recipe and deep cultural roots sparked a thriving culinary business. What started as a homemade chorizo recipe passed down from Maria’s grandmother evolved into a shelf-ready, clean-label chorizo paste now featured in 144+ H-E-B stores and Pullman Market.

Maria shares how she transitioned from making sausage to crafting a paste that retains flavor while offering flexibility and health-conscious benefits. She also breaks down her journey from kitchen experiments to Launch SA, adapting through failures, and earning a spot in H-E-B’s “Quest for Texas Best.

Host:

Leon Hitchens

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonhitchens/

X: https://x.com/Leonhitchens

Website: https://www.leonhitchens.com/

Guest:

Maria Flores, Founder of Hess Street Foods

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-flores210/

Find Us:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AHGT1Aoq9oAHZEHeORBpa

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-ledger/id1803475184

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm/the-marketing-boost/

What You’ll Learn

• The heritage behind Hess Street’s signature chorizo paste
• How Maria turned a family tradition into a modern food brand
• Challenges of launching a food product without a business background
• Why food nostalgia and health-conscious consumers drive brand loyalty
• Lessons from launching at farmers markets and pivoting from raw meat to shelf-stable products
• Strategies for bootstrapped marketing and defining brand identity
• How to stand firm on values—no shortcuts on quality
• Navigating retail and direct-to-consumer channels without compromising the mission
  
  
  

Resources & Mentions

• 🌐 https://hessstreetfoods.com/

Key Takeaways

“Flavor. Flavor. Flavor. That’s what it takes in food. But it’s not just about taste — it’s about honoring traditions and never compromising on quality.”
— Maria, Founder of Hess Street Foods

“Don’t let outside forces change your product unless it aligns with your values. That’s sacred.”
— Leon Hitchens

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review The Boost wherever you listen to podcasts! Have a founder story you want featured? Reach out!

Intruduction

In this episode of The Boost, Leon and Pablo sit down for an engaging discussion on AI, internationalization, and how businesses can leverage emerging technologies to scale effectively. They break down the impact of AI on business operations, customer interactions, and even the ethical implications of automation. The conversation also explores the growing trend of nearshoring and how companies are moving operations to and from the U.S. to stay competitive in global markets.

Hosts:

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Pablo Calvo: Linkedin

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website:https://theboost.fm

Key Topics Covered:

1. AI and Its Current Landscape

• The aftermath of the Super Bowl and OpenAI's ChatGPT commercial.
• The rise of "prompt engineers" and the industry of AI-driven productivity tools.
• The limitations of AI memory and the importance of threading prompts effectively.
• AI struggles with fundamental tasks and why human intervention is still crucial.

2. AI in Business Operations

• The common questions business owners ask about AI: Which one should I use? How do I integrate it?
• The use of AI for automating customer interactions and improving efficiency.
• The risks of poor AI implementation, citing cases like legal AI missteps and refund policy errors.
• The importance of AI agents in streamlining workflows but not fully replacing human oversight.

3. AI and Customer Experience

• The pros and cons of AI-powered customer support tools.
• The impact of AI on customer frustration when systems fail to escalate problems appropriately.
• The delicate balance between AI efficiency and maintaining strong customer relationships.
• The inevitability of AI becoming an integral part of everyday consumer interactions.

4. The Future of AI in Advertising & SEO

• The challenges of AI-driven advertising and how companies will monetize AI-generated content.
• The shift in search engine optimization (SEO) toward AI optimization.
• Google’s struggle to adapt its advertising model to the rise of AI-generated answers.
• How businesses can tailor AI responses to fit their niche needs.

5. Internationalization & Nearshoring Trends

• The increasing number of Latin American businesses expanding into the U.S.
• The role of AI in overcoming language barriers for business expansion.
• The impact of tariffs and political pressures on companies relocating operations.
• How businesses can integrate AI for seamless international operations, including translation and regulatory compliance.

6. AI & Multilingual Business Communication

• AI-powered transcription tools like Fathom that help facilitate bilingual business interactions.
• The growing demand for businesses to support multiple languages in customer service.
• The advantages of AI-driven translations for smoother cross-border operations.
• AI’s role in enabling companies to expand their customer base beyond domestic borders.

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost, host Leon welcomes back Zac, founder of NonprofitsHQ, for a candid discussion about the nonprofit tech landscape, the challenges of bootstrapping a startup, and the innovative solutions changing the way nonprofits operate. Eight months post-launch, Zac shares insights into how NonprofitsHQ is helping nonprofits amplify their impact through AI-driven grant sourcing, compliance tools, and an all-inclusive platform designed specifically for their unique needs.

Hosts:

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

Zac Brown: LinkedIn

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website:https://theboost.fm

Key Topics Covered:

1. The Journey of NonprofitsHQ
   • Launching in May 2024 and navigating the first eight months.
   • Addressing nonprofit-specific challenges like dwindling public donations and compliance needs.
2. AI and Grant Management:
   • How NonprofitsHQ leverages AI to automate grant sourcing and proposal drafting.
   • The importance of blending human expertise with AI to enhance productivity without sacrificing accuracy.
3. The Ethics of Nonprofit Tech:
   • The need for transparent pricing in nonprofit software.
   • Why NonprofitsHQ avoids the “nickel-and-dime” approach.
4. Community and Collaboration:
   • Building a community platform to connect nonprofit leaders and share resources.
   • How community feedback shapes product development and addresses real-world nonprofit challenges.
5. Advice for Founders and Builders in 2025:
   • The importance of talking to customers early and often.
   • Why starting simple—like launching a landing page—is better than waiting for perfection.
   • The value of building self-sustaining businesses rather than chasing venture capital.

What’s Next for NonprofitsHQ in 2025:

1. Expansion of AI-driven tools like virtual volunteers.
2. Launch of a dedicated community platform for nonprofit leaders.
3. A large-scale product announcement to unveil new features and partnerships.

Conclusion:

As 2025 begins, Zac’s story serves as a powerful reminder that creating meaningful impact requires innovation, hard work, and a deep understanding of your audience. NonprofitsHQ is setting a new standard in nonprofit tech by focusing on sustainability, ethical practices, and customer-driven solutions.

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost podcast, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week, we sit down with Rikky Moller, CEO of Once in a Wild, a San Antonio-based company that offers immersive, educational animal experiences right in your backyard. Hosts Leon and Pablo chat with Rikky about his journey from creative director in advertising to co-founding a mobile zoo that prioritizes education, conservation, and joy.

Hosts:

Pablo Calvo: Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X:

Guest:

Rikky Moller : LinkedIn & Once in a Wild

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm

Episode Highlights:

1. The Spark Behind Once in a Wild
   • Rikky shares how he and his wife started rescuing animals and bringing them to birthday parties, which eventually grew into a full-fledged business after the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread job loss.
   • Once in a Wild began offering virtual programs, which led to contracts with local school districts, and now aims to expand with additional branches and a possible brick-and-mortar location.
2. A Unique Educational Approach
   • Once in a Wild creates TEKS-aligned programs for Texas schools, using hands-on animal interactions to teach students about science, conservation, and responsible pet ownership.
   • Kids are inspired to study biology and STEM subjects, meeting animals like the endangered axolotl, which they may recognize from popular video games like Minecraft.
3. Positive Impact Beyond Education
   • Through animal therapy, Once in a Wild provides healing and joy in hospitals and senior homes, where animal interactions can stimulate profound emotional responses, especially in children with disabilities.
   • Rikky discusses the therapeutic benefits of animals, emphasizing how animal interactions can improve motor skills, reduce anxiety, and promote calmness.
4. Building a Brand with Purpose
   • Rikky, with a background in creative direction, shares how he developed a brand that reflects the culture of San Antonio—a celebration of life rather than a safari-themed concept.
   • The brand design focuses on vibrant colors and joy, moving away from traditional “zoo” aesthetics to capture the essence of San Antonio’s unique spirit.
5. Animal Welfare and Responsible Ownership
   • Once in a Wild educates the public about responsible pet ownership, including the importance of proper training and appropriate pet care.
   • Rikky explains how minor actions, like spaying and neutering pets or understanding an animal’s needs, can help reduce San Antonio’s high euthanasia rates and improve animal welfare.
6. Business Model Insights
   • Rikky and his team have opted to keep Once in a Wild a for-profit entity rather than a nonprofit, allowing for greater flexibility in operations while maintaining a focus on education.
   • He shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: focus on capital management, embrace mentorship, and join accelerators like Goldman Sachs’ small business program, which has been pivotal for their growth

Introduction:

In this episode of The Boost, Leon sits down with Marco, a participant in the "Pitch It to Win It" competition at San Antonio Startup Week. Marco shares his concept for a mindset-tracking app, aimed at helping users improve emotional awareness and decision-making. Inspired by his journey as a parent and his professional background in IT, Marco's app idea offers real-time emotional check-ins that help users connect their emotional state with their actions, reflecting on how feelings impact daily choices.

Hosts:

Pablo Calvo: Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

Marco Antonio Cervantes

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm


Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction to Marco’s Concept:
   • Marco shares his idea for an app designed to track, analyze, and reflect on users' emotions to help them make better decisions and improve mental well-being. By simulating daily scenarios and linking emotions to decisions, the app provides insight into behavioral patterns without giving specific advice—allowing users to self-reflect.
2. Origins of the Idea:
   • Marco discusses the inspiration behind the app, including his experiences in parenting, psychology, and managing work relationships. His goal is to create a tool that could be beneficial not only for individuals but also for therapists, coaches, and even businesses.
3. Navigating Emotional Complexity:
   • Emphasizing that people experience more than one emotion at a time, Marco explains how the app could allow users to select and analyze multiple emotions for a comprehensive view of their mental state. The idea draws on principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and emotional intelligence frameworks.
4. Potential for Broader Impact:
   • Leon and Marco discuss potential applications, from individual self-reflection to a B2B model where companies could integrate the tool for employee mental health tracking. The conversation touches on challenges and ideas for monetization, such as a freemium model and potential HIPAA considerations.
5. Building the Foundation:
   • Marco is just getting started, but he's excited about the learning process. Leon offers insights on using San Antonio’s tech community resources to build a prototype, collect feedback, and potentially scale the concept.
6. San Antonio Startup Week Experience:
   • Marco reflects on his experiences at Startup Week, attending insightful sessions, networking, and being inspired by other Latino entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emotional awareness and tracking can be as essential as physical health tracking.
2. The mental health app concept offers a powerful tool for self-reflection, family dynamics, workplace morale, and professional therapy support.
3. San Antonio’s startup scene is a thriving community where innovative ideas can take root and grow.

Summary:

In this episode, Marco dives deep into his vision of an app that captures and analyzes emotions to improve decision-making, both at work and in personal life. Inspired by his journey as a parent and his studies in psychology, Marco aims to build a tool that enhances emotional awareness

Introduction:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Boost Podcast! This week, we're thrilled to host a live discussion featuring key voices in San Antonio’s tech and entrepreneurial scene. Special thanks to our sponsor Geekdom and to everyone in the San Antonio startup ecosystem for their incredible support. Join Leon and Pablo are joined with two special guests as they dive deep into what makes San Antonio a unique and promising space for tech startups and entrepreneurs.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Lawrence Coffee: LinkedIn
• Zac Brown: LinkedIn

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm

Key topics:

1. Community’s Role in Startups:
   • The group discusses the importance of community involvement, mentorship, and the collaborative spirit that make San Antonio stand out as a supportive city for startups.
2. Unique Challenges and Opportunities:
   • With its lower cost of living and community-driven programs, San Antonio is positioned uniquely among larger tech hubs like Austin and San Francisco. Zach shares insights on why he chose San Antonio as his startup’s base after moving from Phoenix.
3. Resilient Entrepreneurship:
   • Honesty about the entrepreneurial journey is vital, from celebrating small wins, like the first 33 cents earned by Nonprofits HQ, to sharing personal challenges.
4. The Importance of Free Resources:
   • San Antonio’s startup ecosystem is rich with free resources like those provided by Geekdom, Launch SA, and Tech Block, which help founders focus on growth without the upfront costs of other markets.

Episode Highlights:

1. Community and Mentorship:
   • Hear how community leaders mentor new founders and foster a give-and-take culture that encourages everyone to contribute to the city’s growth.
2. Building San Antonio’s Startup Identity:
   • The panel shares how creating San Antonio-specific solutions is better than imitating larger markets, with programs like SA Startup Week, Venture Lab, and Geekdom as prime examples.
3. Entrepreneurship Challenges and Realities:
   • An open conversation on the harsh realities of entrepreneurship, from overcoming financial stress to the relentless pursuit of revenue.
4. Building a Supportive Ecosystem:
   • From creating supportive networks to organizing events, the panelists discuss ways San Antonio could foster future founders and business growth sustainably.

Conclusion:

San Antonio is on the rise as a tech hub, but it’s the people—the mentors, founders, and community members—who make it truly unique. This episode captures the spirit of this city’s collaborative journey towards a thriving startup ecosystem.

Introduction:

Join hosts Pablo and Leon as they sit down with Llyas Salahud-Din, founder of GrantApply, recorded live at San Antonio Startup Week. In this episode, Elias shares his inspiring story from being a foster child to building a successful tech startup that empowers nonprofits. Recently crowned the winner of the $20,000 Geekdom pre-accelerator competition, Elias dives into the challenges of developing GrantApply, a software designed to streamline the grant-writing process for nonprofits, helping them secure funding more efficiently.

Hosts:

Pablo Calvo: Linkedin

Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X:

Guest:

Llyas Salahud-Din: LinkedIn
GrantAppli: Website

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm


Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction to Grant Apply:
   • Llyas describes how Grant Apply reduces the time needed for nonprofits to complete grant applications, allowing them to focus more on their core missions. With over 1.8 million nonprofits in the U.S. and thousands in San Antonio alone, this software meets a vital need by simplifying and enhancing the grant-writing process.
2. The Path to Startup Success:
   • From a challenging start as a foster child to raising over $50 million in funds for nonprofits, Llyas explains how his experiences fueled his vision for Grant Apply. He discusses the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, including a challenging search for the right technical partner.
3. Personal Challenges and Resilience:
   • Llyas opens up about the personal trials he faced while building Grant Apply, including the loss of his child during the startup process. Through it all, he remained committed to his vision, using resilience as a guiding force to overcome setbacks.
4. Growth and Impact Goals:
   • With a recent cash prize win, Llyas is ready to scale Grant Apply by adding new features, investing in marketing, and expanding partnerships to ensure even greater impact for nonprofits.
5. Future Vision:
   • Llyas dreams of expanding Grant Apply’s capabilities to support grant writing for federal and state grants, potentially moving into for-profit sectors where businesses also apply for grants.

Key Takeaways:

1. Building Strong Partnerships:
   • Llyas shares how he overcame technical challenges by finding the right engineering partner. His story highlights the importance of teamwork and complementary skills in the startup journey.
2. Personal Branding & Storytelling:
   • Pablo and Leon encourage Llyas to build a personal brand around his story, inspiring other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those interested in nonprofits and tech.
3. Commitment to Community Impact:
   • Llyas talks passionately about giving back to San Antonio and supporting nonprofits on a budget, demonstrating how mission-driven technology can create real change.

Summary:

Llyas Salahud-Din takes listeners on a heartfelt journey through his personal and professional life. He discusses how his background in the nonprofit sector fueled his desire to support organizations in maximizing their impact, which led to the creation of Grant Apply.

Introduction:

In this exciting episode of “The Boost Podcast”, hosts Leon and Pablo sit down with Nick Honegger , Director of Marketing and Sales at Geekdom, to recap San Antonio Startup Week. The conversation covers highlights, takeaways, and the unique startup culture in San Antonio.

Hosts:

• Pablo Calvo: Linkedin
• Leon Hitchens: Linkedin & X

Guest:

• Nick Honegger: LinkedIn

Find Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel
• Website: https://theboost.fm

Episode Highlights:

1. San Antonio Startup Week:
   • Nick shares insights into San Antonio Startup Week’s explosive success, breaking attendance records and emphasizing the potential of San Antonio as a startup hub. The event focused on community, investment, and support for local entrepreneurs.
2. "Invest in San Antonio" Theme
   • With a spotlight on funding opportunities within the city, the event encouraged entrepreneurs to consider San Antonio as a viable location for business growth. Key events included themes like diversity, Latinx, and innovation.
3. Pitch It to Win It:
   • A new initiative where daily winners were awarded $1,000 for their best elevator pitches. The winning pitches were selected through audience engagement and finalized by a panel of judges. This fun competition helped promote community support for local businesses.
4. Funding Opportunities and the "Valley of Death”
   • Nick discusses a common hurdle for startups known as the "Valley of Death"—the challenging period between early-stage funding and larger investment rounds. San Antonio is working to address this gap, especially for startups needing mid-range funding.
5. The Importance of Community and Mentorship:
   • Throughout the episode, Nick underscores the importance of community connections and Geekdom’s support network, which helps founders navigate the unique challenges of entrepreneurship. Geekdom mentors provide startups with valuable resources, advice, and networking opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Diverse Startup Community:
   • Geekdom’s emphasis on inclusivity brought together startups from Latin America, women-led ventures, and tech innovators, among others.
2. Valuable Connections:
   • Events throughout the week connected founders with local mentors, industry players like H-E-B, and a supportive community willing to share insights and resources.
3. Investment Growth:
   • With almost $200,000 in funding distributed during the week, the event highlighted San Antonio as an emerging hub for startup investment.

Summary:

In this special episode, hosts Leon and Pablo welcome Nick Honegger , Director of Marketing at Geekdom, to discuss San Antonio Startup Week. Nick shares key insights from this exciting week filled with innovative pitches, networking events, and resources designed to empower local entrepreneurs. The conversation covers community highlights, successful pitches, and Geekdom’s ongoing efforts to drive investment in the San Antonio startup scene.