MerchantCircle co-founder Wayne Yamamoto started an internet media company that helps small businesses use the internet as an effective marketing channel to drive more customers and more revenue through their physical storefronts. They offer blogging and other tools to help business owners interact with, better understand and target customers. By current estimates, there are 14-25 million small businesses in the US and less than 3% are online. MerchantCircle aims to compete against the Yellow Pages for a slice of the estimated $97 Billion dollar local advertising market. Stay tuned for a glimpse into this exciting emerging market.

Barbara Carey made over $1 million on her first venture, a Halloween disguise called “Who am I?” She has brought over 100 products to market, launched seven companies, been awarded a dozen patents, and generated $47 million in sales on a $6,000 investment. Her story is the American dream. Her new book Carey Formula shares her secrets for success.??ᬨ‚ĆIt?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s a roadmap for bringing new ideas and products to market. Her ten-year-old son followed her formula and grew a multi-million dollar product line from an initial investment of $300. He was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year as a teenager, becoming the youngest person ever to win this award. Listen in to hear how she became one of America?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s most extraordinary entrepreneurs.??ᬨ‚Ć

Betsy Flanagan is an entrepreneur who produces and hosts StartupStudio, a podcast that spotlights the challenges and successes of entrepreneurs. StartupStudio inspires audiences by showcasing examples of people who once lived ordinary lives and went on to create something extraordinary from the businesses or organizations they created from scratch.

StartupStudio is distributed on the San Jose Mercury News podcast Inside Silicon Valley, AllBusiness.com, University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business podcast series and the official FeedBurner podcast.

In 2000, Ms. Flanagan started BrightMinds, an online tutoring service, and Georgetown Tutors in 1994, a college prep and tutoring center in Great Falls, VA, which she sold to what is now called Georgetown Learning Centers.

In addition to starting her own ventures, Ms. Flanagan has a passion for working with entrepreneurs. While at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (acquired by Credit Suisse) she worked in the Private Client Service group guiding founders through liquidity events such as IPOs and buyouts. Later, she worked as an Associate at The Band of Angels, a $50MM venture fund with 100+ members, many of whom are the first generation of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and high technology executives. Ms. Flanagan?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s business knowledge is augmented by her experience at Wells Fargo in investor relations and Internet strategy.

Ms. Flanagan volunteers for The Full Circle Fund and the SPCA?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s Bark & Whine Ball. She enjoys swimming from Alcatraz, competing in triathlons, trekking gorillas in Uganda, and traveling off the beaten path as often as she can.

Ms. Flanagan has an A.B. in Anthropology from Harvard, cum laude, and an M.B.A. from University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.

Tazo Tea founder Steve Smith has created what many believe is the most innovative tea brand in the world. After 22 years in the tea industry building Stash Tea into a nationally recognized brand, Steve sold Stash Tea and started Tazo Tea, making a bet he could reinvent the staid tea category. Steve was so successful that Starbucks (SBUX) bought Tazo Tea five years later for over $8 million. Listen in to hear how he did it, where he got his inspiration, and how he is committed to improving the lives of thousands of people in tea growing communities around the world.

My guest today is Steve Smith, the founder of Tazo Tea, which is arguably the most innovative tea brand in the world. After 22 years in the tea industry building Stash Tea into a nationally recognized brand, Steve sold Stash Tea and started Tazo Tea, making a bet he could reinvent the staid tea category. Steve was so successful that Starbucks bought Tazo Tea five years later for over $8 million. Listen in to hear how he did it, where he got his inspiration, and how he is committed to improving the lives of thousands of people in tea growing communities around the world.

 Tazo Tea founder Steve Smith [27:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Grace Welch, the founder of patemm is my guest today. She is also featured on today’s episode of the “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” titled “Moms who Made Millions,” along with Paula Deen and Amsale. Her invention was simple — a round diaper changing pad as opposed to a rectangular one. It’s hard to believe it hadn’t been thought of before. So, let that be a lesson to us all. When we think of a better way to do something, research it and go for it! That is exactly what Grace did. Within five months of having the idea, she patented it, launched the website, had a thriving business and was meeting with editors of national magazines about her new product. She is a master at public relations. Courteney Cox-Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields and Heidi Klum are just a few of the A-list Celebrity Moms who love her product. And in addition to being on the Oprah Show, she has been featured on The View, as well as in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, People Magazine, Real Simple, and dozens of other magazines. Tune in to hear how she did it.

My guest today is Grace Welch, the founder of patemm. She is also featured on today’s episode?Ǭ†of?Ǭ†the Oprah Winfrey Show, titled “Mom?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s who Made Millions,” along with Paula Deen and Amsale. Her invention was simple — a round diaper changing pad as opposed to a rectangular one. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s hard to believe it hadn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t been thought of before. So, let that be a lesson to us all. When we think of a better way to do something, research it and go for it! That is exactly what Grace did. Within?Ǭ†five months of having the idea, she patented it, launched the website, had a thriving business and was meeting with editors of national magazines about her new product. She is a master at public relations. Courteney Cox-Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields and Heidi Klum are just a few of the A-list Celebrity Moms who love her product. And in addition to being on the Oprah Show, she has been featured on The View, as well as in the?Ǭ†Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle,?Ǭ†the Boston Globe,?Ǭ†People Magazine, Real Simple, and dozens of other magazines. Tune in to hear how she did it.?Ǭ†

 Patemm founder Grace Welch [22:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download