• Episode Summary & Player
• Full Transcript
• Show Notes
• Wild Business Growth Podcast Summary

Episode 236: Stan Mirzayev – Customer Service Mechanic, Co-Founder of Parts Pass

Stan Mirzayev, the Co-Founder and CEO of Parts Pass, joins the show to share his journey from coming to the U.S.A. at age 4 to starting businesses that make finding car parts easier than ever. Hear how to keep your user experience simple, test and learn, stay motivated when going through challenges, Stan’s favorite lessons from his parents, and the hot dog vendor story. This episode covers everything from car parts to pawn shops. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What was Stan’s life like as a 4-year-old
• How did his dad find a job when they moved to the U.S.
• Where did the “aha” moment for Parts Pass happen
• How did Stan decide to make Parts Pass so simple to use
• MOVING PARTS!
• How did Stan scale Parts Pass
• What’s something surprising about owning a pawn shop
• The trick Stan can do with a Coke can

Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Upbringing
  • [0:34] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:45] Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more
  • [2:43] Super cool
  • [3:03] Amazing
  • [3:17] What was Stan’s life like as a 4-year-old
  • [3:48] Entrepreneur
  • [5:01] Queens, NY
  • [5:56] How did Stan’s dad find a job when they moved to the U.S.
  • [7:26] Graveyard Shift
  • [8:09] In & Out Lube and Repairs
  • [8:11] When did Stan first get interested in the auto industry
  • [8:41] Psychologist
  • [9:36] Customer Service
  • [10:01] What did Stan learn from starting Parts Detect
  • [10:32] Pawn Shop, Real Estate
  • [11:15] AutoZone, Pep Boys
  • [12:10] MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
  • [12:30] Fortune 500
  • [12:52] VIN Scanner (Vehicle Identification Number)

• The Parts Pass Story
  • [14:06] Where did the “aha” moment for Parts Pass happen
  • [15:21] Brick & Mortar
  • [15:31] Internet, Amazon, eBay, World Wide Web (WWW)
  • [15:57] Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)
  • [16:08] User Experience (UX)
  • [16:42] How did Stan decide to make Parts Pass so simple to use
  • [16:55] CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
  • [17:14] Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • [17:43] Technology (Tech)
  • [18:21] Dropdown Menu
  • [18:56] What did the testing-and-learning look like for Parts Pass
  • [19:02] Startup
  • [19:37] Customer Feedback
  • [19:54] I haven’t gotten it (yet)
  • [20:10] Thought I said that wrong but I was right
  • [20:17] How many versions of the Parts Pass app have they released
  • [21:12] How do you stay motivated when you go through challenges as an entrepreneur
  • [21:37] MOVING PARTS!
  • [21:49] Mental Health
  • [22:09] This too shall pass
  • [23:08] DRIVING FORCE!
  • [23:12] The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss (aka Timothy Ferriss?!)
  • [23:51] Could not resist
  • [25:03] How did Stan scale Parts Pass
  • [25:25] Ben Horowitz
  • [25:32] CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
  • [26:29] That’s a hot analogy
  • [26:42] Way to ruin it, Max
  • [27:04] What’s the best way Stan has grown Parts Pass
  • [30:01] OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), DENSO, ACDelco
  • [30:37] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity

• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [31:35] What’s something surprising about owning a pawn shop
  • [31:55] Interest
  • [32:17] What’s a weird talent Stan has
  • [32:28] Coca-Cola
  • [33:03] What’s something interesting about being a hot dog vendor
  • [34:00] What’s Stan’s favorite lesson he learned from his parents
  • [35:12] Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more. Learn more at PartsPass.App, on social media @PartsPass, @Stan.Founder, and LinkedIn
  • [35:52] What are Stan’s Final Thoughts
  • [36:24] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show your love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
  • [37:06] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [37:08] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
  • [37:10] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [37:16] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Stan Mirzayev on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And quiz each other on car parts. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!

• Episode Summary & Player
• Full Transcript
• Show Notes
• Wild Business Growth Podcast Summary

Episode 219: Jordan Scott – Memory Curator, Founder of Cobble

Jordan Scott, the Founder and CEO of Cobble, joins the show to share her journey from trying to figure out fun things to do in the city to creating the app that does it for you. Hear how to curate a ton of content, market your app, launch in new cities, juggle personal life and professional life, and Jordan’s must-visit spots in NYC. This episode covers everything from Quality Italian to weddings. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• How was it going to school at NYU
• Why should you create your own major
• Where did the idea for Cobble come from
• What decision has helped Cobble scale the most
• Will the app look different in different cities
• What type of paid ads have worked best so far
• Does the Albany skyline have a reputation
• What did Jordan learn from her first wedding to incorporate into the next one

Connect with Jordan at TryCobble.com, Instagram @MsJordanScott, and LinkedIn.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & NYU
  • [0:33] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:43] Connect with Jordan at TryCobble.com, Instagram @MsJordanScott, and LinkedIn
  • [3:01] Murray Hill
  • [3:19] How was it going to school at NYU (New York University)
  • [4:00] Columbia University
  • [4:20] Washington Square Park
  • [4:25] Albany, NY
  • [5:11] IU (Indiana University)
    [5:47] What’s the biggest benefit of going to college in a city environment
  • [6:30] University of Miami (The U)
  • [7:24] Cosmo (Cosmopolitan), Refinery29
  • [7:36] Why should you create your own major
  • [7:54] Gallatin, Stern, Tisch
  • [9:34] “Will Shortz – The Puzzlemaster, Crossword Editor of The New York Times“

• The Cobble Story
  • [10:35] Where did the idea for Cobble come from
  • [11:07] Joe’s Pub, Megan Hilty
  • [12:17] Stacking Classes on Peloton
  • [12:29] idk tonight
  • [12:56] The Infatuation, TikTok Influencers
  • [13:20] Technology (Tech)
  • [14:34] Airbnb
  • [16:46] How do you curate a ton of content
  • [18:05] Machine Learning (ML)
  • [18:14] Google API, Yelp API
  • [19:15] Uber
  • [19:43] What decision has helped Cobble scale the most
  • [21:09] Paul McCarthy – Wild Business Growth Podcast #217: Simplicity Super, Founder of Snapfix
  • [21:57] Social Media
  • [23:18] Sign us up!
  • [23:33] App Store, Google Play Store
  • [23:42] How do you get the word out about your app
  • [23:57] Cobble on Instagram
  • [25:47] What type of paid ads have worked best so far
  • [27:05] CPI (Cost Per Install)
  • [27:58] What’s the biggest challenge with launching in new cities
  • [29:05] Will the app look different in different cities
  • [29:46] User Acquisition (UA)
  • [30:19] Inertia, Sir Isaac Newton
  • [30:33] 219
  • [30:40] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool. Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
• Inspiration & Creativity: People, Hobbies, and Resources
  • [32:27] How do you juggle personal life and professional life
  • [33:25] Shoutout, Nick!
  • [34:08] Wow
  • [34:44] KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
  • [36:03] Shoutout, Dana!
  • [36:15] Nope!
  • [36:28] How do you be and stay creative
  • [37:50] Stephen King
  • [38:05] Lexi Rabadi, Sweeney Todd with Josh Groban

• The Unusual: Pet Peeves, Quirks, and Weird Talents
  • [38:41] What is a weird talent Jordan has
  • [39:18] Cobble: Exploring the Weird & Making Things Happen Quickly
  • [39:26] What’s a quirk Jordan has
  • [40:04] Quiplash
  • [40:47] What’s Jordan’s biggest pet peeve
  • [40:50] “Grinds My Gears” Peter Griffin
  • [41:43] Oh snap
• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [42:26] Shoutout, Phyllis!
  • [42:45] The Egg
  • [42:49] Does the Albany skyline have a reputation
  • [43:47] Quality Eats, Quality Meats, Quality Italian
  • [43:53] Shoutout, Jared & Kristin!
  • [44:03] Pomodoro Rosso, Kings Co Imperial
  • [44:33] The Spaniard, Liquor Lab, Apotheke, Pulqueria, Doyers Street
  • [45:22] Peking Duck House
  • [45:58] Clam Pizza
  • [46:15] Zinc Bar
  • [46:26] Whiplash
  • [47:24] 9.4.21
  • [47:58] What did Jordan learn from her first wedding to incorporate into the next one
  • [49:50] Connect with Jordan at TryCobble.com, Instagram @MsJordanScott, and LinkedIn
  • [50:30] What are Jordan’s Final Thoughts
  • [51:02] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify if you’re feeling super nice
  • [51:19] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [51:21] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
  • [51:23] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [51:29] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Jordan Scott on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And try Cobble with them (duh). Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!

• Episode Summary & Player
• Show Notes
• Wild Business Growth Podcast Summary

Episode 142: Dave Heimbuch – Firefighter Helper, Founder of Hidrent

Dave Heimbuch, the Founder of Hidrent, joins the show to share his journey from looking for help with home renovations to creating the business that connects customers with off-duty firefighters. Hear how to validate your idea, raise crowdfunding, get over perfectionism, the sacrifices Dave has made to bring Hidrent to life, and his favorite dad joke. This episode covers everything from hops to the typical hours of a firefighter. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• How was Dave’s experience at Shazam
• How does Shazam work
• Where did the idea for Hidrent come from
• What was the biggest challenge marketing Hidrent
• What do people enjoy most about using Hidrent
• A spontaneous technology question
• How do you raise crowdfunding on Republic
• What is the biggest adjustment moving from Chicago to Texas

Connect with Dave at Hidrent.com and Dave@Hidrent.com.

Enjoy the shooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Intro & Shazam
  • [0:30] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:40] Connect with Dave at Hidrent.com and Dave@Hidrent.com
  • [1:40] Startup
  • [1:53] Shoutout Pavan Kumar!
  • [2:12] Tech (Technology)
  • [2:15] How was Dave’s experience at Shazam
  • [3:03] Shazam Chicago Office
  • [3:45] Mobile Device
  • [4:07] QR Code
  • [4:32] Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light
  • [4:42] Super Bowl XLVI
  • [4:46] “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO
  • [5:33] How does Shazam work
  • [5:48] Shazam London Headquarters
  • [6:09] IP (Intellectual Property)
  • [6:31] What did Dave decide to do after Shazam
  • [6:42] Advertising
  • [6:46] Photobucket, ValueClick Media, Tapad
  • [7:03] User Adoption, AdTech (Advertising Technology)
  • [7:36] P.F. Chang’s
  • [7:41] Shoutout Alex & Spense!
  • [7:55] P.F. Chang’s To Go in Murray Hill
  • [8:03] Google
  • [8:24] Big Brother, Marketers
• The Hidrent Story
  • [8:50] Where did the idea for Hidrent come from
  • [8:55] Homeowners
  • [9:10] OH-IU!
  • [9:18] Indiana University (IU)
  • [10:11] Side Hustles
  • [10:23] Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, TaskRabbit
  • [10:53] Word of Mouth (WOM)
  • [11:08] The Un-Google Moment
  • [11:34] What does a firefighter’s schedule look like
  • [12:21] Shoutout Andrew!
  • [12:48] What happened after Dave realized there was a business opportunity
  • [13:18] Apple, Fox Interactive Media
  • [15:14] What did Dave set a record in
  • [16:09] What was the biggest challenge marketing Hidrent
  • [16:38] Facebook Ads, Analytics
  • [16:54] Hidrent App
  • [17:33] Bootstrapping
  • [17:39] Nextdoor
  • [17:48] Product vs. Service
  • [18:07] What do people enjoy most about using Hidrent
  • [19:12] Was there a lot of effort training firefighters
  • [19:34] Digital Media, Direct Mail
  • [20:20] Hippo Direct, Mailing Lists
  • [20:31] A spontaneous technology question
  • [20:49] Non-Technical Solo Founder
  • [21:51] MVP Product (Minimum Viable Product), MVP (Most Valuable Player)
  • [22:47] How do you stop being such a perfectionist
  • [23:02] 401(k)
  • [23:52] How do you raise crowdfunding on Republic
  • [24:14] MicroVentures
  • [24:25] Angel Investors
  • [25:06] Investor
  • [25:27] Emily Griffith from Lil Bucks on the Wild Business Growth Podcast
  • [25:49] What is the best way Dave has grown his business
  • [25:59] Capital Factory
  • [26:31] Accelerator, Mentor
  • [27:01] Accounting
  • [27:27] What area of the business did Dave learn the most from others on
  • [28:12] CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), CLV (Customer Lifetime Value)
  • [28:40] Network
  • [28:54] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool

• Inspiration & Creativity: People, Hobbies, and Resources
  • [29:52] What keeps Dave inspired and creative while making big sacrifices
  • [30:08] Income
  • [30:59] Sorry, Mrs. Heimbuch!
  • [31:44] What keeps Dave going on the financial marathon
  • [33:33] What are his favorite creative hobbies
  • [34: 18] What are Dave’s favorite shows on Netflix
  • [34:28] Silicon Valley
  • [34:45] Game of Thrones, WandaVision, Disney+
  • [35:22] Gilfoyle
  • [35:28] Shoutout Mr. Guilfoyle!
  • [35:38] Martin Starr in Freaks & Geeks
• Wild Business Shoutout of the Week
  • [36:02] Creative Marketing campraign
  • [36:11] HopTea
  • [36:23] Facebook
  • [36:35] A Body for Podcasting
  • [36:53] Celiac
  • [37:01] Gluten-Free Beers
  • [37:42] Email, HopLark
  • [38:14] Shark Tank
  • [38:26] What is HopLark
  • [39:20] How did HopLark find Dave
  • [39:31] Whole30
  • [39:40] Machine Learning
• The Unusual: Pet Peeves, Quirks, and Weird Talents
  • [40:11] What is a quirk Dave has
  • [40:20] OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
  • [40:51] In parallel! Nice one
  • [41:09] Jasmine Star on the Wild Business Growth Podcast
  • [41:34] What is Dave’s biggest pet peeve
  • [42:12] What is a weird talent he has
  • [42:22] The best dad joke of all time
  • [43:38] Shoutout Harry Caray. Holy cow!
• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [43:53] What would Dave serve at his Masters Champions Dinner
  • [44:33] Shoutout Jason!
  • [44:43] What is the biggest adjustment after being diagnosed with Celiac disease
  • [45:47] What is the biggest adjustment moving from Chicago to Texas (besides the weather)
  • [46:14] Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville
  • [46:54] My internship at RAPP in Dallas
  • [47:40] Is there really as much corn in Nebraska as everyone says
  • [47:52] Nebraska Cornhuskers
  • [48:37] Connect with Dave at Hidrent.com and Dave@Hidrent.com
  • [49:14] A Dad Joke Business
  • [49:38] What are Dave’s final thoughts
  • [50:02] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast
  • [50:13] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on GoodPods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [50:17]  Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn at @MaxBranstetter
  • [50:20]  Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – Jungle Tribe – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur or innovator joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the crazy creative and unusual ways they grew their business, and provides tips for you to do it, too. Hear the woman who became the voice of Siri, the man who’s reinventing the sandcastle, how GaryVee’s partners are turning the wine world upside down, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Dave Heimbuch on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!