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Mark Friedler is the CEO of Gigex Inc., an IT and services company helping companies procure the best technology solutions for their needs, saving time and costs. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded four companies, including Gigex, the first cloud game download service, and GameDaily, which became the largest consumer games site before its acquisition by AOL/Time Warner. Mark’s career spans pioneering roles in blockchain, esports, fintech, and enterprise cloud services, with contributions like launching IBM’s TrustYourSupplier network and co-founding CryptoMondaysSF, a global fintech and blockchain meetup group. He is also an avid cyclist who once rode from New York to Seattle and introduced Sweden to chocolate chip cookie stores.

Technology expenses are skyrocketing, often ranking as the top or second-highest business cost. As companies grapple with these financial burdens, the quest for effective technology cost management becomes crucial. How can businesses make smarter decisions to reduce these costs while still harnessing the power of technology?

Mark Friedler, a seasoned entrepreneur, shares practical strategies for tackling these challenges head-on. He emphasizes conducting a thorough technology audit to identify waste, right-sizing cloud usage, and adopting a hybrid model combining public and private clouds for cost optimization. Mark also highlights how leveraging AI for customer service can help you transform business operations, citing examples like omnichannel communication tools that improve user experience while cutting costs.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Mark Friedler, CEO of Gigex Inc., about technology cost management and identifying untapped business opportunities. The conversation explores Mark's journey from running a chocolate chip cookie business in Sweden to becoming a technology strategy consultant. He shares insights on blockchain, early internet innovations, surviving the dot-com crash, and the life-changing impact of a family crisis.

Tim Conkle is the CEO and Founder of The 20 MSP, an established IT Managed Services and Consulting Firm providing expert solutions to businesses. With over 30 years of entrepreneurial success, he has advised hundreds of Managed Service Providers (MSPs), developed a multimillion-dollar sales model, and led 36 acquisitions through a unique consolidation strategy that transforms operational efficiency. A visionary and leading expert on mergers and acquisitions, Tim’s innovative approach eliminates traditional integration challenges, allowing businesses to thrive under a unified model. He also serves as the President of the board of directors for Cytracom and is an active member of the Forbes Technology Council and Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO).

Building and scaling a successful business is challenging, especially in industries prone to inefficiencies and misaligned goals. Many MSPs struggle with growth due to fragmented systems, lack of standardization, and limited resources for creating seamless customer experiences. Additionally, the complexities of mergers and acquisitions often deter MSPs from pursuing growth opportunities, leaving many business owners without viable exit strategies.

Tim Conkle, a leading voice in the MSP space, tackles these challenges head-on by creating a groundbreaking model for MSP collaboration and acquisition. His strategy involves uniting MSPs under a shared platform with standardized tools, processes, and service delivery models, enabling businesses to streamline operations and prepare for acquisition. Tim’s flat-rate IT support model aligns directly with client goals, while his unique consolidation framework ensures seamless transitions during mergers. Tim attributes his success to his ability to dream big and unite aligned businesses while fostering a culture of empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Tim Conkle, Founder and CEO of The 20 MSP, about his innovative strategies for scaling MSPs. Tim shares insights on cultivating the right mindset for expansion, the advantages of pre-aligned acquisition targets, and harnessing the power of dreaming with one's eyes open. Business leaders looking to expand and leave a mark will find Tim’s journey a blueprint for leveraging vision and teamwork.

Dustin Riechmann is a serial entrepreneur, coach, and digital marketing expert. He specializes in coaching mission-driven solopreneurs to add six figures to their bottom line by telling the right stories on the right podcasts. Dustin is also a Partner at FireCreek Snacks, a fast-growing, better-for-you snack company with over $1M in annual sales, and the Founder of Engaged Marriage, which provides practical tips, tools, and training to help married couples pursue their dream marriage. 

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Dustin Riechmann, a serial entrepreneur, coach, and digital marketing expert, to talk about building solid relationships through podcasts. They also discuss Dustin's entrepreneurial journey, his five-step framework for appearing on podcasts, and how to get ROI and earn profits through a podcast.

Blake Hutchison is the CEO of Flippa, a leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses, stores, and digital properties. With a team spread across North America, Australia, and Europe, the company supports entrepreneurs and empowers individuals and companies to take control of their businesses. Before joining Flippa, Blake was the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Xero and the Chief Revenue Officer at Luxury Escapes, one of the world's fastest-growing online travel agencies.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Blake Hutchison, the CEO of Flippa, to talk about building and selling businesses by leveraging relationships. They also discuss the Tall Poppy Syndrome, the challenges Blake faced building a specialty food marketplace, and the history of Flippa.

Mike Abramowitz is an accomplished coach, author, speaker, and philanthropist. He helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs implement automation, delegation, and simple systems to transition from business operators to business owners. As a Strategist at Better Than Rich, Mike supports leaders by providing them with wisdom, mentorship, inspiration, education, and community. He has written nine books, has been featured in various media publications, and is the co-host of The Better Than Rich Show.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Mike Abramowitz, a coach, author, speaker, and philanthropist, to discuss how overwhelmed entrepreneurs can simplify their businesses through automation. They also discuss common barriers to delegation, how systemization has impacted Mike's business, and the challenges Mike faces working with entrepreneurs from different industries. Stay tuned.

Domenic Romano is the Founder and Managing Partner of Romano Law. The firm represents entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and creative professionals from industries, including business and entertainment. He is a corporate lawyer and entertainment attorney who advises his clients on business structure, litigation, licensing, employment disputes, and film finance, to name a few. In addition to his New York office, he has locations in South Florida and California. Before founding Romano Law 20 years ago, Domenic worked as a corporate lawyer at multiple New York City and Toronto firms. 

Domenic is a legal commentator on mainstream media, including NBC, CBS, CNN, Yahoo Finance, and Bloomberg TV. He’s also been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Independent, Time, and Entertainment Weekly. Additionally, he’s an active member of organizations like the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, where he served as president of the New York chapter.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Domenic Romano, Founder and Managing Partner of Romano Law, to discuss strategies for scaling a professional services firm. Domenic discusses the challenges of mixing law and entrepreneurship, how he transitioned from Big Law to his boutique practice, and why lawyers should embrace innovative technology. 

Chip Griffin is the Founder and CEO of Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA), where he helps PR, public affairs, and marketing agency owners grow and thrive in their industries. SAGA supports agencies by providing business news, insights, and consulting to help them improve their processes and increase profit margins. In 1997, Chip became the CEO of Townhall.com, a company that operated a policy-oriented web portal. He also co-founded CustomScoop, an early online news clipping service company, and launched his first blog in 1999.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Chip Griffin, the Founder and CEO of Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA), about building a PR and marketing agency. They also discuss the early days of podcasting, the types of challenges agencies face, and current growth opportunities in the agency world. 

Walker Deibel is a longtime acquisition entrepreneur with a passion for educating aspiring brokers and helping them navigate the intricacies of the business. He is an M&A Broker for online businesses with Quiet Light, where he works virtually with a group of nine other entrepreneurs to assist online companies in scoping potential acquisitions and closing transactions.

Walker is the Founder of Acquisition Lab, a membership program that delivers resources and tools valuable to any successful entrepreneur. He also authored Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game, which garnered praise at its release and became a crucial part of many university reading lists.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran welcomes Walker Deibel, Founder of Acquisition Lab, to discuss acquisition entrepreneurship. Walker breaks down the risks of acquiring a business, the fundamentals of getting an ROI on your purchase, and how to start a search for companies listed for sale. 

Andrew Sherman is a Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, where he serves as a legal and strategic advisor to leaders of Fortune 500 companies and founders of rapid growth, emerging businesses in the areas of business planning, corporate finance, M&A, and intellectual property harvesting. In 1988, he took part in the filing of incorporation documents for the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). 

Andrew is the author of over 20 books and is an Adjunct Professor of Law in the MBA program at the University of Maryland and at Georgetown Law School.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Andrew Sherman, a Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, about the founding of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and the value of supporting entrepreneurs. Andrew also discusses the leadership structure at EO, current trends in the M&A landscape, and his books.