The Founder’s Path Podcast

From Spark to Scale: How Founders Build, Break & Rebuild Profitable Companies ft. Paul Diagle

In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, host Valerie Cobb sits down with Paul Daigle, a seasoned founder, operator, and turnaround expert, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and sometimes walk away from companies. Paul shares real-world lessons from decades of entrepreneurship—starting businesses as a teenager, rolling up competitors, navigating SaaS and MSP growth models, fixing broken revenue engines, and knowing when to shut down ideas that no longer make sense.

From Startup Chaos to Successful Exit: Lessons from a Two-Time Founder ft. Aric Bandy

In this episode of The Founder’s Path with Valerie Cobb, Aric Bandy shares what it really takes to scale a company from early traction to a successful exit. From navigating non-linear growth to knowing when to sell, this conversation unpacks the realities founders face beyond the startup hype.

The Founder's Path - The Hidden Risks & Rewards of Cybersecurity Startups ft. Clea Ostendorf

Building a company from scratch is tough, but what about in the high-stakes world of cybersecurity? Host Valerie Cobb sits down with Clea Ostendorf, Co-founder and CEO of Wolfpack Security, to explore the unique challenges and triumphs of launching a professional services firm in a critical industry. Valerie guides the conversation through the intricacies of application security, the art of identifying market gaps, and the crucial lessons learned in their first year of business. Discover how Clea's team navigates client expectations, manages scope creep, and makes tough decisions around risk and liability to ensure profitability and growth. This episode is a must-listen for any founder looking to build a resilient and impactful business. 

The Founder’s Path: Integrity, Authenticity & Cyber Risks Founders Overlook ft. Marlon Bermudez

Building a company isn’t just about growth, it’s about integrity, authenticity, and protecting what you’re building. In this episode of The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company, Valerie Cobb sits down with cybersecurity leader and founder Marlon Bermudez to explore the often-overlooked realities founders face as they scale. This conversation goes far beyond technology. We unpack: - Why authenticity beats transactional sales (especially for introverted founders) - The role of core values and integrity in long-term business growth - The hidden cyber risks founders underestimate — especially with AI, shadow IT, and third-party tools - Why “set it and forget it” cybersecurity is a dangerous myth - How founders can stop playing small and build with alignment, not fear Marlon also shares lessons from building his company, launching The Authenticity Journey, and helping founders protect reputation, revenue, and trust in an AI-driven world. 

Why Customers Really Buy? | The Founder’s Path Podcast ft. Stefan Avivson

Welcome to The Founder’s Path: From Spark to Company. In this episode, Valerie Cobb sits down with Stefan “Mr Raw” Avivson – a 15-time founder with 5 exits and 2 bankruptcies – to talk about the brutal truth behind product-market fit, why 96% of founders don’t know why customers buy from them, and how to stop building your startup “in a cave.” If you’re an early-stage founder or thinking about how to start a business, this is your masterclass in talking to customers, avoiding multi-million dollar mistakes, and embracing failure as fuel. This is a startup founders podcast episode packed with real stories from entrepreneurs, lessons from founders, and business growth strategies you can use right now.