Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mark Rampolla is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital, a private equity firm that invests in and supports purpose-driven consumer brands focused on health, wellness, and sustainability. He is a visionary entrepreneur and investor who works closely with founders to scale impactful businesses and build enduring companies. Mark is also the Founder and former CEO of ZICO Coconut Water, having pioneered the global coconut water category and led the company through its acquisition by The Coca-Cola Company. He later reacquired ZICO and continues to play a leadership role in shaping its growth and strategy.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [6:18] Mark Rampolla explains early market testing and discovering product-market fit
• [10:52] Importance of focusing on a core product over expanding flavors
• [14:42] How packaging and branding help products stand out on crowded shelves
• [19:01] What made Liquid Death a standout investment opportunity early on
• [21:53] Key red flags and green flags when evaluating founders and brands
• [28:24] How Mark strategically positioned ZICO for acquisition by Coca-Cola
• [34:17] The harsh realities and low success rates in the beverage industry
• [40:14] Why redefining success beyond money is key to entrepreneurial freedom
In this episode…
Why do so many promising brands fail while a select few break through and dominate their category? Is it luck, timing, or something far more intentional behind the scenes? What separates fleeting trends from enduring, billion-dollar brands?
Mark Rampolla, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor behind multiple high-growth consumer brands, explains that success comes down to disciplined focus and starting with a deeply defined niche.
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: rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - rise25.com
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mark Rampolla is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital, a private equity firm that invests in and supports purpose-driven consumer brands focused on health, wellness, and sustainability. He is a visionary entrepreneur and investor who works closely with founders to scale impactful businesses and build enduring companies. Mark is also the Founder and former CEO of ZICO Coconut Water, having pioneered the global coconut water category and led the company through its acquisition by The Coca-Cola Company. He later reacquired ZICO and continues to play a leadership role in shaping its growth and strategy.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [6:18] Mark Rampolla explains early market testing and discovering product-market fit
• [10:52] Importance of focusing on a core product over expanding flavors
• [14:42] How packaging and branding help products stand out on crowded shelves
• [19:01] What made Liquid Death a standout investment opportunity early on
• [21:53] Key red flags and green flags when evaluating founders and brands
• [28:24] How Mark strategically positioned ZICO for acquisition by Coca-Cola
• [34:17] The harsh realities and low success rates in the beverage industry
• [40:14] Why redefining success beyond money is key to entrepreneurial freedom
In this episode…
Why do so many promising brands fail while a select few break through and dominate their category? Is it luck, timing, or something far more intentional behind the scenes? What separates fleeting trends from enduring, billion-dollar brands?
Mark Rampolla, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor behind multiple high-growth consumer brands, explains that success comes down to disciplined focus and starting with a deeply defined niche.
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: rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - rise25.com
![[SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wu48_avAgtE/mqdefault.jpg "[SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace
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, includingbeing 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.
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?
For Kevin Surace, a veteran technology entrepreneur, inventor, and AI pioneer, the answer is that SaaS companies must rethink where they truly add value. He highlights how AI is democratizing software creation, allowing smaller teams and even non-coders to build products that once required large engineering teams and major funding. The result is a more competitive SaaS landscape where speed, execution, trust, governance, and customer outcomes matter more than software complexity alone. Kevin also explains why enterprise companies may not abandon major SaaS platforms overnight, but startups can still disrupt incumbents by building leaner, lower-cost alternatives. He also explores how AI-driven QA can uncover bugs that human testers miss, helping companies improve software quality while accelerating productivity.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Kevin Surace, CEO and CTO at Appvance, to discuss AI disruption and the new future of SaaS. They cover how AI is transforming software development, why QA automation is ripe for disruption, and what SaaS companies must do to adapt. Kevin also shares insights on cybersecurity, identity protection, and the joy-based mindset behind fulfillment and peak performance.")
![[PE & Wisconsin Entrepreneur Series] People-First Approach to Private Equity With Sequoya Borgman](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZxoaXGgbGpc/mqdefault.jpg "[PE & Wisconsin Entrepreneur Series] People-First Approach to Private Equity With Sequoya Borgman
Sequoya Borgman is the Founder and CEO of Borgman Capital, a private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing lower middle-market businesses across the United States. Since founding the firm in 2017, Sequoya has led investments in more than 20 companies and built a network of over 500 accredited investors.
With over two decades of mergers and acquisitions experience, including leadership roles at RSM US LLP and KPMG LLP, Sequoya brings expertise in deal structuring, due diligence, and value creation. His investment philosophy emphasizes trust, long-term value creation, and preserving the legacies of the business owners he partners with.
In this episode… Building a successful investment firm takes more than financial expertise — it requires resilience, calculated risk-taking, and the ability to keep moving when deals fall apart. But what happens when years of preparation lead to a major setback just as an entrepreneurial dream is beginning?
For Sequoya Borgman, a private equity leader with more than two decades of mergers and acquisitions experience, resilience, relationships, and a strong work ethic are essential to turning setbacks into opportunities. He highlights how lessons from a humble upbringing shaped his approach to risk, persistence, and business. When his first planned acquisition collapsed at the last minute, he relied on relationships and persistence to secure an even better opportunity. These experiences ultimately shaped his thoughtful approach to deal-making, company growth, and long-term partnerships with business owners. He also emphasizes the importance of trust, careful evaluation, and adapting to changing market conditions.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Sequoya Borgman, Founder and CEO of Borgman Capital, to discuss building a resilient private equity firm. They explore turning failed deals into opportunities, evaluating businesses, and building lasting relationships with owners and investors. Sequoya also shares lessons from navigating COVID-19, changing valuations, and successful exits.")
![[Top Agency & SaaS Series] Critical Balance of Human Connection and AI with Dr. Amy Osmond Cook](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a91t16113eM/mqdefault.jpg "[Top Agency & SaaS Series] Critical Balance of Human Connection and AI with Dr. Amy Osmond Cook
Dr. Amy Osmond Cook, is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Fullcast, an AI-native go-to-market platform that helps companies align strategy with revenue execution. A seasoned marketing executive, she has led high-growth companies like Simplus, PathologyWatch, and Onboard from Series A to acquisition. Dr. Cook founded Stage Marketing, a successful full-funnel marketing firm, and has a PhD in Communication from the University of Utah. She is a recognized thought leader in business and healthcare marketing and has taught at ASU, BYU, and the University of Utah.
In this episode… What happens when the friction between sales and marketing slows down growth, even in companies with great products? Can AI truly fix that gap — or does real acceleration still depend on how people and teams work together? And what does it take to scale revenue without losing alignment along the way?
Dr. Amy Osmond Cook, a seasoned marketing and RevOps leader, explains that growth accelerates when AI-powered systems are combined with strong human alignment across sales and marketing. She highlights how Fullcast unifies forecasting, commissions, territory planning, and revenue operations into one platform to remove friction and improve execution. The result is faster alignment, clearer visibility, and more predictable revenue outcomes. She also shares how strategic acquisitions and deep data integration helped build a scalable system that still prioritizes onboarding and client relationships.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Dr. Amy Osmond Cook, to talk about AI, RevOps, and scaling revenue through better alignment. They discuss building Fullcast through acquisitions, using AI for forecasting and commissions, and improving sales territory planning. Dr. Cook also shares insights on onboarding, post-sale relationships, and maintaining trust during growth.")
![[SaaS Series] Revenue You Lose When You Stay Live With Melissa Kwan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aMNyUgzxhoI/mqdefault.jpg "[SaaS Series] Revenue You Lose When You Stay Live With Melissa Kwan
Melissa Kwan is the CEO and Co-founder of eWebinar, an on-demand video platform that turns prerecorded videos into interactive experiences with chat for demos, onboarding, and training. Before eWebinar, she founded Spacio, a real estate technology platform acquired by HomeSpotter in 2019. A three-time bootstrapped founder with more than 15 years of startup experience, Melissa specializes in B2B sales, business development, and building profitable companies with limited resources. She is also the host of the ProfitLed Podcast and the author behind the Your Founder Next Door newsletter.
In this episode… Scaling a SaaS business often means finding ways to grow without sacrificing your time, energy, or values. But what happens when the message that inspired you to build your product no longer resonates with customers? How do you break through a growth plateau while staying true to the business you want to build?
According to Melissa Kwan, a bootstrapped SaaS entrepreneur and experienced founder, sustainable growth starts with understanding what customers truly value — not what founders assume they value. She explains how shifting eWebinars messaging from saving time to driving business growth unlocked new opportunities, while customer conversations uncovered unexpected use cases like recruiting and onboarding. Melissa highlights why creating delightful user experiences, maintaining integrity in product design, and building a lean, remote team have been key to long-term success. She also shares how AI has accelerated her marketing and operations and why defining personal non-negotiables helped shape both her company culture and leadership approach.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Melissa Kwan, CEO and Co-founder of eWebinar, to discuss building a scalable, customer-centric SaaS business. They explore refining product messaging for growth, creating software customers genuinely love, and building a high-performing remote team. Melissa also shares how changing her self-talk transformed her confidence as a founder and marketer.")
![[Top Author & Direct Response Series] How Real Experience Becomes a Bestseller With Travis Cody](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/akAWJgF4j2U/mqdefault.jpg "[Top Author & Direct Response Series] How Real Experience Becomes a Bestseller With Travis Cody
Travis Cody is the Founder of Bestseller By Design, where he helps founders, consultants, and experts turn their knowledge and experience into bestselling books. With a background in Hollywood screenwriting, copywriting, and journalism, he is the author of 19+ books and has worked with leading marketers, including Russell Brunson and Brian Kurtz. He has helped clients achieve #1 Amazon rankings and raise millions in funding through strategic storytelling and publishing. Travis is also known for his creative approach to relationship-building, direct response marketing, and his perspective on the ethical use of AI in writing and publishing.
In this episode… Breaking into a new industry is often a mix of strategy, persistence, and relationships. While skills and credentials matter, real opportunities usually come through trust and connections built over time. How do entrepreneurs and creators establish credibility and grow meaningful relationships from the ground up?
According to Travis Cody, a writer and publishing strategist, breaking into new spaces requires a mix of persistence, creativity, and relationship-driven thinking. He explains that real breakthroughs often come from showing up consistently, taking unconventional action, and building genuine connections rather than relying on traditional gatekeeping systems. He highlights how combining storytelling with direct response principles can open doors that credentials alone cannot. Travis also emphasizes that humility and willingness to learn in new environments can accelerate trust and opportunity. Together, these approaches allow creators to stand out and build lasting influence even in highly competitive industries.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Travis Cody, Founder of Bestseller By Design, to discuss breaking into new industries through relationships, storytelling, and marketing strategy. They explore how Travis transitioned from screenwriting to publishing success, how creative outreach builds credibility, and how AI can be used ethically in writing. He also shares insights on direct response marketing and building authority through books.")
