Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch the full episode here: inspiredinsider.com/brandon-kordower-daniel-simon-interview
Brandon Kordower is the Founder and CEO of Aura CFO, a firm that helps marketing agencies scale profitably through fractional CFO services and strategic financial guidance. With over 15 years of experience, Brandon empowers agency owners to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Under his leadership, Aura CFO has supported businesses from $500K startups to nine-figure companies and helped clients achieve eight-figure exits by focusing on financial clarity and growth.
Daniel SimonDaniel Simon, Executive Vice President at Aura CFO, brings 30 years of C-suite experience and a wide-ranging background across investment banking, music, fine arts, marketing, e-commerce, education, and restaurant ownership. His versatile experience adds depth to the firm’s insights and services. Together, Brandon and Daniel lead a team dedicated to helping agencies avoid common financial missteps, increase profitability, and prepare for sustainable growth or acquisition.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brandon Kordower, Founder and CEO of Aura CFO, a firm that helps marketing agencies scale profitably through fractional CFO services and strategic financial guidance, and Daniel Simon, Executive Vice President, to discuss how agency leaders can take control of their finances, scale smarter, and prepare for eight-figure exits. They share real-world stories, actionable metrics, and insights into the financial visibility every creative business needs to thrive.
Watch the full episode here: inspiredinsider.com/brandon-kordower-daniel-simon-interview
Brandon Kordower is the Founder and CEO of Aura CFO, a firm that helps marketing agencies scale profitably through fractional CFO services and strategic financial guidance. With over 15 years of experience, Brandon empowers agency owners to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Under his leadership, Aura CFO has supported businesses from $500K startups to nine-figure companies and helped clients achieve eight-figure exits by focusing on financial clarity and growth.
Daniel SimonDaniel Simon, Executive Vice President at Aura CFO, brings 30 years of C-suite experience and a wide-ranging background across investment banking, music, fine arts, marketing, e-commerce, education, and restaurant ownership. His versatile experience adds depth to the firm’s insights and services. Together, Brandon and Daniel lead a team dedicated to helping agencies avoid common financial missteps, increase profitability, and prepare for sustainable growth or acquisition.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brandon Kordower, Founder and CEO of Aura CFO, a firm that helps marketing agencies scale profitably through fractional CFO services and strategic financial guidance, and Daniel Simon, Executive Vice President, to discuss how agency leaders can take control of their finances, scale smarter, and prepare for eight-figure exits. They share real-world stories, actionable metrics, and insights into the financial visibility every creative business needs to thrive.
![[SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/df8p-zXm9_c/mqdefault.jpg "[SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Kevin Surace is the CEO and CTO at Appvance, a company that provides AI-native software quality assurance and autonomous testing solutions for enterprise applications. He is also Chair of Token, bringing decades of experience as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, inventor, and futurist. Recognized as the father of the AI virtual assistant, Kevin has led multiple technology companies, earned broad recognition, including being named Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, and holds dozens of patents. He speaks globally on generative AI, automation, innovation, enterprise software quality, and the future of work.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [2:09] Kevin Surace shares the AI tools he uses across voice, video, and coding
• [4:10] How AI is changing the way developers build products and find purpose
• [8:51] Kevin explains how AI is disrupting both small and large SaaS companies
• [12:39] Why AI may democratize SaaS development and erase traditional software moats
• [20:23] Appvance’s AI-native approach to software QA and autonomous bug detection
• [26:02] The $120 billion QA market and why manual testing is ripe for AI disruption
• [30:49] Kevin discusses reskilling workers and becoming the “robot overlord” of AI tools
• [43:14] Token Core’s biometric cybersecurity approach to stopping MFA compromise
• [47:40] The connection between joy, fulfillment, and peak performance
In this episode…
AI is not just changing how software gets built — it is challenging the foundations of how SaaS companies create value, compete, and survive. As AI tools make it possible to generate code, automate testing, and streamline go-to-market workflows faster than ever, what happens to traditional SaaS moats?
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com")
![[Top Agency & SaaS Series] New Rules of Growth in an AI-Driven World With Solomon Thimothy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eFjAkbHPx7Q/mqdefault.jpg "[Top Agency & SaaS Series] New Rules of Growth in an AI-Driven World With Solomon Thimothy
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Solomon Thimothy is the CEO and Co-founder of Clickx, a marketing intelligence platform for brands and marketers to plan, execute, and measure all their online marketing campaigns. He is also the Co-founder of OneIMS, a leading inbound marketing and sales agency driving measurable results across industries. With nearly two decades of experience, Solomon is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author known for applying 10X strategies to help businesses scale leads and revenue efficiently. He is passionate about helping companies leverage AI to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [4:18] Solomon Thimothy shares why showing up in AI search is now business critical
• [5:24] How declining demand is impacting small businesses in the AI era
• [9:15] Simple, actionable steps to make your website AI-friendly
• [11:03] The AI tools top marketers rely on every single day
• [15:53] The game-changing mindset behind Dan Sullivan’s 10X framework
• [22:53] How AI-first strategies are reshaping sales and marketing
• [26:19] Mistakes businesses make when creating offers
• [34:26] Smarter ways to qualify leads and upgrade your sales process
In this episode…
What happens when your website traffic drops, leads become unpredictable, and customers start relying on AI to make decisions for them? How do you stay visible when algorithms recommend only a handful of options? And what does it really take to compete in a world where AI is reshaping how buyers discover and choose businesses?
Seasoned entrepreneur Solomon Thimothy highlights the need for businesses to transition from traditional SEO to being discovered through AI-based search systems. He highlights how the buyer’s journey has fundamentally changed, where authority and relevance now determine visibility.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com")
![[Telecom Series] Inside the $1.6 Trillion Connectivity Ecosystem With Ben Edmond](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJ9bc2wvgTE/mqdefault.jpg "[Telecom Series] Inside the $1.6 Trillion Connectivity Ecosystem With Ben Edmond
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Ben Edmond is the Founder and CEO of Connectbase, a company that helps telecom, cable, and managed service providers buy and sell network services more efficiently through a digital platform. Under his leadership, Connectbase powers over 4 million quotes each month and serves nearly every major operator across North America and Europe. Prior to Connectbase, Ben served as CRO at Global Capacity, where he led the company’s customer go-to-market strategy and execution. With over 25 years in telecom, fiber, and networking, he is known for modernizing connectivity commerce and reducing transaction friction.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [4:32] Ben Edmond on Connectbase as the operating system for connectivity buying and selling
• [8:39] The hidden network ecosystem powering the internet connections businesses rely on every day
• [12:44] Ben’s path from MCI into the telecom and networking industry
• [18:52] Lessons from bootstrapping a company and acquiring the first 100 customers
• [22:35] The value Connectbase creates for both buyers and sellers in the connectivity marketplace
• [27:47] Ben on how AI infrastructure creates new demand for connectivity
• [34:44] Why Connectbase hosts TCW Live for industry connection and education
In this episode…
The connectivity industry depends on thousands of providers, yet transactions are still slowed by manual processes, disconnected systems, and limited visibility. As demand for faster connectivity grows, how can businesses better match supply and demand in real time?
Ben Edmond, a telecom industry veteran and entrepreneur, shares that the key to reducing friction is digitizing how connectivity services are bought and sold. He explains that bringing real-time data, automation, and visibility into the process enables providers to make faster, more accurate decisions.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com")
![[SaaS & eCommerce Series] Reality of Buying a Founder-Led Business With Brian Nolan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j7XqWfpPPeA/mqdefault.jpg "[SaaS & eCommerce Series] Reality of Buying a Founder-Led Business With Brian Nolan
Brian Nolan is the Co-owner of Darren & Phillip, a purpose-driven lifestyle brand creating premium matching apparel and accessories for dog lovers and their dogs. He leads the brand’s American growth, strategy, and e-commerce expansion while advancing its mission to support dog rescue organizations worldwide. Before acquiring the company, Brian co-founded and led Sellbrite and BookOutdoors, which were acquired by GoDaddy and Hipcamp, respectively. A USC Marshall School of Business alumnus, he draws on extensive experience in entrepreneurship, product development, marketing, and e-commerce to build customer-focused brands that combine commercial growth with meaningful social impact.
In this episode… Building a successful software company and buying an established consumer brand require very different operating skills. When a founder moves from SaaS exits into e-commerce ownership, how can past experience create an advantage without obscuring the realities of inventory, brand identity, and customer behavior?
According to Brian Nolan, the transition from startup exits to brand ownership requires proven growth instincts and a willingness to relearn the fundamentals. He emphasizes evaluating repeat purchases, unit economics, and audience engagement before an acquisition. After taking over Darren & Phillip, he improved systems, expanded sales channels, refined the product line, and repositioned the brand as a premium, human-first lifestyle company. The experience also showed him the impact of founder visibility and the value of longer transitions, performance-based incentives, disciplined inventory planning, authentic storytelling, and a clear brand identity.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brian Nolan, Co-owner of Darren & Phillip, to discuss moving from SaaS exits to building a stronger e-commerce brand. Brian explains how he evaluated and acquired Darren & Phillip, repositioned its products and identity, and managed complex inventory challenges. He also shares lessons on seller transitions, acquisition incentives, and using Shopify and AI to guide decisions.")
