Flying With Founders

Building a successful company doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens through community, collaboration, and shared experiences.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Achsha Jones, Founder and CEO of Trip Slip, joins host Reuben Levinsohn to discuss the impact of PIREP and the value of founder retreats. They explore how bringing entrepreneurs together creates opportunities to share challenges, exchange ideas, and learn from others who understand the realities of building a business.

The conversation highlights that founder retreats are more than just a chance to step away from the office. They’re an opportunity to build lasting relationships, gain fresh perspectives, and return with new ideas that can help move a company forward.

Whether you’re just starting out or leading a growing business, having a community of founders around you can make all the difference.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from connecting with other entrepreneurs?

Innovation starts with people who are willing to challenge the status quo.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Achsha Jones, Founder and CEO of Trip Slip, introduces herself and shares the vision behind her company. Through technology and entrepreneurship, she’s helping shape Detroit’s growing tech ecosystem while creating solutions that bring new opportunities to the city and its innovators.

Achsha’s journey is a reminder that building a successful company isn’t just about creating great technology—it’s about making a meaningful impact on the community around you and inspiring the next generation of founders.

Her story highlights the power of combining vision, resilience, and innovation to help drive Detroit’s future forward.

How do you think entrepreneurship can shape the future of a city?

Every successful founder relationship starts with one thing: trust.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Jason Hoffer, Business Design Leader at Crowe X-Design Lab, shares why his team prioritizes building trust with founders before offering solutions. By taking the time to understand each entrepreneur’s vision, challenges, and goals, they create a partnership that’s built on collaboration rather than assumptions.

Jason explains that every startup is different, and meaningful guidance begins with listening. Once that foundation of trust is established, his team can help founders make more confident decisions and design businesses that are positioned for long-term success.

His perspective is a great reminder that the strongest partnerships aren’t built overnight—they’re built through understanding, communication, and a shared commitment to achieving the founder’s vision.

What do you think is the most important quality in a trusted advisor or business partner?

A great product isn’t enough—you also need a strategy to bring it to the right people.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Jason Hoffer, Business Design Leader at Crowe X-Design Lab, shares how he and his team help founders develop a strong go-to-market strategy from day one. From identifying the right customers to refining a company’s value proposition and planning for growth, they work with entrepreneurs to turn great ideas into businesses that are ready to launch.

Jason explains that taking the time to build a thoughtful go-to-market plan early can help founders avoid common mistakes, gain traction faster, and create a clearer path for long-term success.

His insights are a reminder that how you introduce your business to the market can be just as important as the product or service itself.

What do you think is the most important part of a successful go-to-market strategy?

Every successful company starts with more than just a great idea—it starts with thoughtful design.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Jason Hoffer, Business Design Leader at Crowe X-Design Lab, introduces himself and shares how his team helps founders build strong businesses from the very beginning. By working alongside entrepreneurs early in their journey, they help shape business models, refine ideas, and create a solid foundation for long-term success.

Jason explains that great businesses aren’t built by chance. They’re built by asking the right questions, understanding the customer, and intentionally designing a company that’s prepared to grow.

His conversation offers valuable insight into why investing time in business design early on can make all the difference as a startup evolves.

What’s one lesson you wish every founder knew before launching a business?

What makes a great place to build a business?

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Nick Beadleston, Executive Director of Grove Community Incubator, and Josh Hart, founder of Riley’s Candles, share what makes Traverse City such a unique place for entrepreneurs. While talent is an important part of any startup ecosystem, they explain that it’s the people, the sense of community, and the willingness to support one another that truly set the region apart.

Strong businesses don’t just grow because of great ideas—they grow because of the relationships, collaboration, and encouragement that exist around them.

Their conversation highlights how a supportive community can help founders overcome challenges, spark new opportunities, and build companies that make a lasting impact.

What do you think makes a community a great place for entrepreneurs?

Building a successful company isn’t just about getting started—it’s about navigating every stage of the journey.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, host Reuben Levinsohn shares how his team supports founders throughout the entire lifecycle of their business. From securing funding and building the right network to preparing for long-term growth and exit planning, the goal is to help entrepreneurs make informed decisions at every step.

Great founders know that success isn’t defined by a single milestone. It’s built through thoughtful planning, strong relationships, and a clear vision for what’s next.

This conversation offers a closer look at the mission behind Flying With Founders and why helping entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey is so important.

What part of building a company do you think founders should plan for earlier than they typically do?

Every great company starts with an idea—but it’s the people behind it who bring that idea to life.

In this episode of Flying With Founders, Nick Beadleston, Executive Director of Grove Community Incubator, and Josh Hart, founder of Riley’s Candles, introduce their organizations and share the stories behind how they came to be. From supporting entrepreneurs through community and collaboration to building a brand with purpose, both journeys highlight the power of turning a vision into reality.

Their conversation is a reminder that every successful venture begins with a willingness to take the first step, embrace uncertainty, and stay committed to the mission.

Flying with Nick Beadleston and Josh Hart was a great opportunity to learn more about the impact Grove Community Incubator is making, the story behind Riley’s Candles, and the lessons they’ve learned while building something meaningful.

What inspired you to start pursuing the work you’re passionate about?