In this episode of Business Owner Tell All: What It Takes host Jamie Seeker sits down with Dr. Connor Glass, Founder & CEO of Phantom Neuro, based in Austin, Texas. Connor shares his journey from aspiring military officer to medical researcher to startup founder, ultimately creating a neurotechnology company that’s revolutionizing how prosthetics connect with the human body.

With Phantom Neuro’s recent $19 million Series A raise, Connor opens up about the strategies, pivots, and process decisions behind building a company at the cutting edge of science. From learning to “translate science into business” to choosing the right partners and investors, Connor tells all about what it really takes to survive and thrive in deep tech entrepreneurship.

• The Origin Story: From ROTC to Johns Hopkins research to founding Phantom Neuro.
• From Lab to Market: The difference between academic “proof of concept” and a real business model.
• Process vs. Passion: How Connor balances chaotic startup life with regulatory demands.
• Building the Right Circle: The role of family, friends, and strategic advisors in shaping his path.
• Fundraising & Strategy: Lessons from raising nearly $30M in venture capital.
• Partnerships & Credibility: Why aligning with organizations like Ottobock and Johns Hopkins was crucial.
• Process Management: How Phantom Neuro thrives in the chaos by prioritizing people and adaptability.
• The Founder Mindset: Why survival and relentless belief are the essence of entrepreneurship.

• “What we were really seeing in those flashy YouTube videos was proof of concept, not commercial reality. Creating a product takes an entirely different mindset.”
• “So much amazing innovation just sits on the shelf in academia because nobody takes the risk to commercialize it.”
• “At the end of the day, it’s just sheer grit, trial and error, and waiting for something good to happen—getting a whole lot of no’s before you get a single yes.”
• “Neurotech is hard to explain—you can’t just give someone a slice of bread like my brother did with his startup.”
• “You are who you surround yourself with. I’ve abided by that fully in building this company.”
• “Wherever there’s red tape and process, I try to optimize it to keep the company alive while still pushing forward.”
• “What it takes is a relentless belief in what you’re doing—a desire to rather die than not succeed.”
• “There’s no playbook. It’s about staying alive long enough for something good to happen.”
• “In order to survive, you have to sprint faster toward death.” (quote from his rocket-founder friend that Connor lives by)

• Transitioning from research to entrepreneurship requires shifting mindset from academic validation to scalable business.
• Early processes should focus less on rigid operations and more on surrounding yourself with aligned people.
• In highly regulated industries, strategy means navigating process without being crushed by it—relationships matter as much as rules.
• Success in startups often comes down to grit, resilience, and embracing chaos rather than perfect plans.
• Investors and partners buy into the vision and founder as much as the product.

In this episode, Jamie Seeker talks with Dr. Damodar “Damo” Sahu, a global tech leader and philanthropist who’s turning AI into a force for good. Based in Northville, Michigan, Data Safeguard Inc. is an AI-powered data privacy and synthetic fraud prevention company helping enterprises protect digital identities before cybercriminals can exploit them.

Dr. Sahu shares his journey — from growing up in a small town in Odisha, India, to leading digital transformation at Wipro, to co-founding a company built on responsible and ethical AI. He explains why privacy is the first line of defense, how process management fuels rapid innovation, and why partnerships are key to long-term growth.

The conversation covers the staggering global cost of cybercrime, the danger of synthetic fraud, and the mindset it takes to run a business that’s driven by both mission and impact. Along the way, Dr. Sahu drops wisdom on aligning your “why” before your “what,” treating every stakeholder as a partner, and leading with purpose.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Purpose to Privacy: Dr. Sahu’s personal and professional journey into AI-driven data protection.
• The founding of Data Safeguard and the vision for AI with a conscience.
• Why privacy matters more than ever in preventing fraud and protecting identities.
• The role of process management and strategy in scaling innovation in a fast-moving tech space.
• How privacy can shift from a “checkbox” to a business enabler that builds trust.
• The importance of aligning diverse teams and partners around a mission.
• The partner ecosystem approach — why building with intent matters more than selling quickly.
• The staggering financial cost of cybercrime and the silent threat of synthetic fraud.
• Future goals: scaling to a $1B valuation, advancing fraud prevention tools, and establishing a global center for ethical AI.
• Signature Question: What it really takes to be a business owner.

Resources & Links:

• Website: www.datasafeguard.ai
• LinkedIn: Dr. Damodar Sahu
• Instagram: @dr.damodarsahu (dance videos included!)

"Privacy is the first line of defense. Security comes later."

"From purpose to privacy — that’s my journey. And I want privacy to be a global mission, not just a product feature."

"The moment you look at everyone — investors, customers, colleagues — as a partner, the game changes."

"We want enterprises to see privacy not as a cost, but as an enabler for growth."

"Why before what — that’s how you align people to a mission that matters."

"Even if a breach happens, our goal is to make that data useless to the fraudster."

"Building with intent is more important than chasing ambition."

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker speaks with Seth Kamens, founder of Kamens & Associates, a full-service accounting and consulting firm based in Livingston, NJ, just 30 minutes outside New York City.

Seth’s career path wasn’t straightforward—after stints in Washington, D.C., recovering from a serious illness, and working at powerhouse firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Deloitte, and Cohn, he realized he hated working for others in environments that didn’t value people. In 2012, he launched Kamens & Associates with just six clients, a partner, and a small office. Today, the firm serves clients worldwide, from billionaires to solopreneurs.

In this candid conversation, Seth shares why CPAs should be more than tax preparers—they should be proactive strategic partners. He unpacks why regular check-ins, process simplification, and realistic growth planning are essential for entrepreneurs who want to avoid costly mistakes and scale successfully. He also highlights the emotional and professional support business owners need to thrive.

• Proactive > Reactive – Meeting with your CPA twice a year can save you from costly missteps in taxes, entity structure, and cash flow.
• Relationships Over Transactions – People remember responsiveness and respect, not page 120 of a tax return.
• Process Simplification Matters – Basic systems (QuickBooks, separate accounts, monthly check-ins) prevent financial chaos.
• Growth Requires Strategy – The bigger the goal, the more you need back-office and advisory support.
• Emotional Support is Critical – Confidence from partners, family, and peers can carry you through the hardest early years.

1. "No one’s going to know what’s on page 120 of a tax return. They’re going to know if you call them back."
2. "I’m not going to bill you for a 5-minute phone call—it just creates a negative connotation."
3. "If you want to go from $100K to $500K in three years, you’re going to need help."
4. "The idea is not to be perfect—it’s to get you in the ballpark."
5. "I see myself as an entrepreneur who happens to be a CPA."
6. "You need three or four people you intuitively trust, who will tell you no."
7. "You need guts, emotional support, and a basic business background to succeed."

• Seth’s unconventional path into accounting, including his illness and early challenges.
• The Facebook and LinkedIn outreach campaign that landed his first six clients.
• Why he targets underserved solopreneurs and startups.
• The cautionary tale of a client who jumped from $125K to $400K without proper tax planning—and ended up $60K in the hole.
• The importance of having trusted advisors outside your industry who can push back.
• Why incremental growth and controlled expansion have been keys to his firm’s success.

In this powerful episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Jim Parrish, founder of Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, based in Northern Virginia. Jim shares how he built a multi-million-dollar personal injury practice rooted in values and client trust—all on a contingency-fee model where the firm only gets paid if clients win.

Drawing from his early days inside the insurance industry, Jim now uses that knowledge to fight for accident victims in car and commercial trucking crashes. But what really sets him apart is his commitment to process, strategy, and community—from internal AI-powered systems to giving away bikes and coats through his community programs.

He talks about hiring ahead of the curve, managing high-stakes deadlines, and staying true to the mission—even when no one’s watching. This episode is packed with takeaways for entrepreneurs navigating risk, growth, and purpose.

• Jim started his firm just two weeks before the birth of his first child—leaning on faith, grit, and strategy to make it work.
• His contingency-fee model means his firm doesn’t get paid unless the client wins—so case selection, risk management, and internal process are critical.
• Selective intake is a must in Virginia due to the harsh “contributory negligence” law, which bars recovery even if the victim is just 1% at fault.

• The firm has developed a detailed procedural manual and leverages AI and KPIs to monitor internal performance.
• Jim meets regularly with case managers to proactively stay ahead of deadlines—citing “be early” as a business and life principle.
• Delegation and trust are essential for scale—especially in high-risk businesses where mistakes are costly.

• Jim hires and trains based on shared values first, skills second.
• He leads internal scenario-based training sessions to prepare staff for insurance company tactics.

• Community service began with time (volunteering and coaching) and evolved into financial giving as the firm grew.
• Signature initiatives:
• Wild Summer: Kids at Play – Gifting bikes and outdoor gear
• 500 Coat Drive – Providing warm clothing for local families
• Scholarships – Funding students entering college

• Hard work is non-negotiable.
• Delegation, trust, and building a values-aligned team are keys to sustainable leadership.
• Giving back isn’t a phase—it’s a mindset from day one.

Tammy Lisi, affectionately known as The Unicorn Chemist, joins Jamie Seeker to share her unconventional journey from chemistry intern to neurophysiology researcher to co-founding Formulate Robotics, a tech-powered contract manufacturing company operating out of rural Iowa. In this deeply authentic episode, Tammy opens up about breaking into male-dominated STEM fields, the emotional weight of fundraising, lessons learned from hiring missteps, and the quiet tenacity it takes to lead in science, business, and innovation.

Tammy’s story is a reminder that innovation doesn't only happen in big cities or corporate labs — and it’s proof that your background doesn’t box you in; it equips you to lead.

🔬 From Molecules to Machines

• Tammy started her career in veterinary chemistry and moved into neurophysiology research at the University of Iowa, where she worked for over a decade and published peer-reviewed articles.
• After leaving academia, she renovated a horse property, reassessed her path, and eventually launched a consulting lab, Unicorn Chemist.

🤝 The Power of Partnership

• Co-founded Formulate and later Formulate Robotics with Osmaan Shah, combining her science background with his expertise in robotics and coding.
• The company developed an automated manufacturing platform to solve pain points for brands in personal care and pharma.

💼 Business & Financial Lessons

• Tammy shares a candid story about hiring too early and hiring the wrong fit — a quality chemist rather than a creative R&D thinker — which hurt the business for years.
• Eventually pivoted to working with experienced freelance chemists instead of a traditional in-house team.

👩‍🔬 Women in STEM

• Often the only woman in a room full of men — even early in her career on a 14-person science team.
• Faced moments of exclusion and being underestimated, like being told to “call the real chemist.”
• Tammy emphasizes that becoming the recognized expert in your space shifts the power dynamic.

🧠 Inner Doubt and Resilience

• Admits to still second-guessing herself, even decades into her career.
• Encourages young women to work hard, stay humble, and trust their ability to grow into confidence.

📍Rural Innovation

• Operates her robotics lab from rural Iowa, proving that cutting-edge science and scalable solutions can be built anywhere.

Tammy’s journey proves that scientific innovation, financial wisdom,...

Pete Bernard’s journey spans from launching firmware startups in high school to leading major innovations at Microsoft and now reshaping the global conversation around Edge AI. In this conversation, Pete breaks down the mindset behind product innovation, why timing and customer clarity matter more than features, and how conviction, collaboration, and education play critical roles in staying ahead in fast-evolving tech landscapes.

From financial planning in billion-dollar product teams to bootstrapping startups, Pete offers a transparent, practical look at decision-making across business models. And at the heart of it all? A commitment to empowering people—with knowledge, with access, and with the courage to lead.

• Started building software in high school in New Jersey
• Moved from Boston to Silicon Valley for early tech roles and startups
• Joined Microsoft, where he spent nearly 20 years building products like Zune, Windows Phone, and Azure IoT
• Now leads the EDGE AI Foundation, formerly tinyML, based in Seattle, WA

• Great products aren’t just cool—they solve real, specific problems for real people.
• Timing in the market is often more critical than the tech itself.
• Microsoft taught him to think at scale: “If it’s not a billion-dollar business, it’s not worth doing here.”

• Conviction in the vision is essential: “That conviction permeates the whole organization.”
• Leadership means making the hard financial and strategic decisions early—and not waiting for someone else to do it.

• Pete’s vision for the EDGE AI Foundation: “Not just about accelerating business, but empowering people through knowledge.”
• The Foundation supports scholarships, education programs, and global tech community-building.

• Startup mode: Focused on smart capital allocation, high growth expectations.
• Corporate innovation: Every project had to justify billion-dollar ROI and high margins.
• Nonprofit mode: Still solving problems and creating value, just for a different kind of “customer.”

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, shares how financial loss, faith, and family values shaped his mission to help others exit wisely. After watching a client (and his own family) lose everything due to poor financial planning, Brett made it his life’s work to educate high-net-worth individuals on the power of the Deferred Sales Trust (DST). He opens up about building his business from zero during the 2008 crash, living with family, and working nights at the Cheesecake Factory — all while refusing to quit.

The episode explores faith-based entrepreneurship, redefining ROI as Return on Time and Return on Impact, and creating a business that enables life on your terms.

• 2008 crash wiped out momentum early in his career.
• Took side jobs to survive, including Cheesecake Factory and AAU basketball gigs.
• Moved in with family; borrowed $5,000 to stay afloat.
• This experience grounded his long-term mission to build something lasting.

“We were flat on our back financially… but that season gave us clarity and grit that shaped everything.”

• Client Steve lost $50M, his marriage, and time with his kids.
• Inspired Brett to find a better exit strategy for families to preserve wealth and unity.
• Sparked the mission to serve “the Steves of the world.”

“I want to dedicate the rest of my working career to helping those kinds of families.”

• A legal installment sale using a trust to defer capital gains taxes.
• Works for real estate, business sales, Bitcoin, and more.
• Creates flexible, passive income streams without 1031 constraints.

“It’s about freedom — liquidity, diversification, and peace of mind.”

• Helped client trade the “3 T’s — toilets, trash, termites” for time with his twin daughters.
• Reframed value beyond just ROI — it’s about lifestyle alignment and values.

“He realized he was trading time with his daughters for trash and termites.”

“Our job is to help people unlock time and freedom, not just wealth.”

• Brett and his wife created a goal: 1,000 extraordinary days in 100 unique places before their kids turn 18.
• Built a business around flexibility and purpose.
• Encourages families to define mission, vision, and values just like they do in business.

“We have it for our companies—why don’t we have it for our families?”

• Once passive income is achieved, the focus shifts to contribution and legacy.
• Helps clients reinvest into what matters most — family, causes, community.

“Return on Impact is where true fulfillment lives.”

• A blend of faith, clarity, identity, and urgency.
• Anchors in the idea that God has pre-designed a good work for each of us.
• Encourages entrepreneurs to get clear on their gifts and walk faithfully toward their calling.

“With just a mustard seed of faith, you can move mountains.”

“We’ve all been given a certain gift. It’s not ours—it’s meant to bless...

In this candid and deeply relatable conversation, Gregory Vetter, co-founder of Tessemae’s and current CEO of Alta Fresh Foods, joins What It Takes to talk about the real cost of entrepreneurship—with a focus on financials. Drawing from his honest and hilarious book Undressed, Greg shares his multi-phase “Money Quest” journey, including investor pitfalls, oil spills, media hype, board takeovers, and ultimately, how bankruptcy led to personal freedom and a renewed vision.

Now with Alta Fresh Foods, Greg has taken those hard-earned lessons and created a profitable, purpose-driven business that prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and solving real problems in food manufacturing. He’s also paying it forward through HomeGrown Brands, helping other founders build smarter.

• Fundraising felt like validation early on—but came with major consequences.
• “Move fast and break things” doesn’t work when you’re shoveling up oil with kitty litter.
• The emotional desire to be seen and validated by investors led to avoidable decisions.
• The Money Quests in his book represent different stages of growth, failure, and learning—essential financial storytelling for entrepreneurs.

• Designed to reduce food waste and labor inefficiencies in retail food assembly.
• Won Sam’s Club Supplier of the Year through radical transparency and over-communication.
• Differentiated by eliminating co-packers and controlling the process in-house.
• No outside investors—complete ownership and freedom in decision-making.

• Despite having the evidence, the board’s control and court battles forced Greg into bankruptcy.
• He describes it as his “freedom moment,” where every fear was exposed, and faith was found.
• The hardest moments led him to his personal transformation—and a deeper connection to God, family, and purpose.

• “What the Inc. Magazine cover didn’t do for us…”
• “The buyer revolving door is real—and it can break your business.”
• “Why I built Alta Fresh without a single investor.”
• “From Chapter 11 to Sam’s Club Supplier of the Year.”

• Storage unit oil spill scene (funny + visual)
• Emotional take on investor love and validation
• Signature question and four things money can’t buy
• The board coup + faith transformation moment