The episode features an interview with Shegan Otulana, a successful entrepreneur who came to the US from Nigeria in 1998. The discussion focuses on entrepreneurship, product development, and business resilience. Shegan shares his journey from delivering pizzas during college to selling his company Theranest for $1.25 billion. He now runs Harmony Venture Labs (HVL), a venture studio, and Copysmith AI, a generative AI software company. Throughout the interview, Shegan discusses his approach to evaluating business ideas, the importance of timing in business success, his hiring practices, and provides insights into identifying market opportunities. He emphasizes the significance of curiosity, humility, and continuous learning in entrepreneurship.

(00:53) - Guest Introduction

- Introduction of Shegan Otulana

- Background on his journey from Nigeria to Birmingham, Alabama

- His successful $1.25 billion company exit

(02:28) - Early Entrepreneurial Experience

- Discussion of Shegan's early business ventures

- Childhood business experiences in Nigeria

- Philosophy on freedom and entrepreneurship

(05:59) - Early Business Failures and Timing

- Discussion of early product attempts since 2003

- Importance of market timing in business success

- Examples of products that were ahead of their time

(10:22) - Harmony Venture Labs (HVL)

- Overview of HVL's mission and operations

- Discussion of Copysmith AI and other ventures

- Approach to innovation and product development

(13:35) - Idea Evaluation and Business Development

- Criteria for good business ideas

- Discussion of market timing and trends

- Importance of multiple supporting elements for success

(29:27) - Team Building and Hiring

- Discussion of hiring practices

- Important qualities in team members

- Approach to evaluating potential hires

(44:41) - Market Opportunities

- Discussion of underserved markets

- Analysis of generational shifts

- Identification of potential business opportunities

(50:54) - Closing Advice

- Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

- Importance of relationships

- Final thoughts and podcast wrap-up

In this episode of Bounce, Mollie Cox and Claire Flowers interview Cori Fain-Forrest, CEO and Founder of Moxi. The discussion centers around Cori's journey from childcare worker to tech entrepreneur, and her creation of Moxi, a membership-based childcare center that combines traditional childcare with modern amenities. Cori shares her experience with the childcare crisis, which led her to create Moxi. She details the challenges of starting the business, including fundraising difficulties, finding suitable locations, and making personal sacrifices. The conversation covers Moxi's innovative approach to childcare, which includes flexible scheduling through an app, co-working spaces, fitness facilities, and other parent-focused amenities. Cori also discusses the technical challenges of developing the app, her approach to user research, and the importance of listening to customer needs. The interview provides insights into the personal and professional challenges of founding a startup while being a new parent.

(00:53) - Introduction of guest Cori Fain-Forrest, founder of Moxi

(02:04) - Cori's background and career journey

(03:43) - Explanation of Moxi's business model and services

(04:58) - Cori's experience in economic development and transition to tech

(07:00) - Discussion of career transition and motherhood as catalyst

(09:55) - Personal experience with childcare crisis

(13:52) - Impact of childcare crisis on families

(17:13) - Development of Moxi and personal sacrifices made

(30:00) - Discussion of Moxi's amenities and services

(40:00) - Product development and user research approach

(50:00) - Closing discussion and wrap-up

Mollie and Claire chat with Jeremy Miller, host of 'Beyond UX Design' podcast and co-founder of Edgecase. The discussion covers Jeremy's career journey from economics student at LSU to UX designer, including his transition through web design, advertising, and eventually UX design. Key topics discussed include the challenges of giving career advice in the current job market, the importance of soft skills and relationships in UX design, and Jeremy's experience with recent layoffs from GE. The conversation also touches on the overemphasis on design tools like Figma in the UX community, the value of taking different career paths to enter UX, and Jeremy's upcoming book about going beyond traditional UX roles.

01:08: Introduction of guest Jeremy Miller and his background

02:26: Jeremy's early career story and transition into design

10:12: Discussion about career advice and job market changes

15:09: Conversation about critical thinking and career expectations

30:00: Discussion about team dynamics and roles in software development

42:00: Conversation about tools (particularly Figma) and their role in UX design

50:00: Discussion about design tools evolution and security concerns