From Scratch Radio Show

07/06/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Patrick Collison, Co-Founder, Stripe

Stripe makes it easier for businesses to accept payments in web and mobile apps. Meet co-founder Patrick Collison. http://bit.ly/2k6JFei

Stripe is a financial software company that helps businesses manage their online and mobile transactions. Patrick started Stripe in 2009 when he was 21 years old with his younger brother, John. He is originally from Dromineer, Ireland, which has a population of roughly 70 people.

06/29/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Ethan Brown, Founder, Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat uses protein from plants — not animals — to look, smell & taste like meat. Meet the founder Ethan Brown http://bit.ly/2k697xE

Beyond Meat makes meat using plant protein instead of animal protein. The goal is to make a healthier product that looks, tastes, feels, and smells like chicken or beef using fewer natural resources.

05/24/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Martine Rothblatt, Founder, Sirius Satellite Radio, United Therapeutics

Martine Rothblatt, founder of SiriusXM and United Therapeutics, became America's highest paid female CEO in 2013. http://bit.ly/1G0nfyO

Martine is a pioneer in the satellite industry, launching companies including Geostar, PanAmSat, and Sirius Satellite Radio. She also founded United Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cardiopulmonary disorders. In 2013, she became the highest paid female CEO in America.

05/06/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews John Zimmer, Co-Founder, Lyft

Need a lift? With the Lyft app on your phone, request a driver to pick you up in minutes. Meet founder John Zimmer. http://bit.ly/2xu5fgw

Lyft is a transportation network company with a peer-to-peer mobile app that enables passengers to request rides with their smartphones. Prior to starting Lyft, John co-founded Zimride in 2007, a carpooling ride-share company available predominantly in college communities. Zimride was sold to Enterp...

04/29/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Dan Widmaier, Co-Founder, Bolt Threads

Bolt Threads makes spider silk by replicating a spider’s DNA and then produces clothes using the silk. Meet co-founder, Dan Widmaier. http://bit.ly/2DVI5HI

Bolt Threads is a materials innovation company. Using proprietary technology and revolutionary bio-engineering concepts, Bolt Threads seeks to deliver high-performance materials focused on sustainability.

04/19/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Essie Weingarten, Founder, Essie Nail Polish

With $10K in 1981 Essie Weingarten launched essie, her own line of nail polish, now a global brand in 25K salons. http://bit.ly/2axtAs2

Essie started her eponymous brand in 1981 with $10,000 after working in the hosiery business. When Essie launched, there were very few companies making nail polish, and nail salons were rare. Essie nail polish is now available in roughly 25,000 salons in more than 100 countries. The company was boug...

04/19/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Tristan Walker, Founder, Walker & Company

Tristan Walker founded Walker Brands, maker of health & beauty products for people of color. Bevel Code2040 http://bit.ly/2g94q4A

Walker & Company makes beauty and health products for people of color. Prior, Tristan was the first African American entrepreneur in residence at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is also the founder of Code2040, a program that connects Black and Latino coders with Silicon Valley star...

04/08/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Luis von Ahn, Founder, Duolingo, ReCAPTCHA

Computer scientist Luis von Ahn builds systems that enable web security (@reCAPTCHA) & gamify learning (@duolingo). http://bit.ly/2iYxb5G

Luis is an inventor and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon. He is one of the creators of CAPTCHA, a system that allows websites to determine whether you’re a human or a computer. CAPTCHAs are wavy, distorted words that people need to type out when they’re submitting a form to a websit...

04/08/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Robert Stephens, Founder, Geek Squad

More than 20,000 agents at Geek Squad provide 24/7/365 tech support to set up, install, support or repair all kinds of consumer electronics. Meet founder Robert Stephens.

https://bit.ly/2WxnwpB

Robert Stephens started making computer tech-support house calls on his dirt bike while he was a college student at the University of Minnesota in 1994. He’d arrive to a customer’s house on time, take off his shoes, wear a clean uniform, and fix the problem. His cheeky “law enforcement” mark...

03/22/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Martine Rothblatt, Founder, Sirius Satellite Radio, United Therapeutics

Martine Rothblatt, founder of SiriusXM and United Therapeutics, became America's highest paid female CEO in 2013. http://bit.ly/1G0nfyO

Martine is a pioneer in the satellite industry, launching companies including Geostar, PanAmSat, and Sirius Satellite Radio. She also founded United Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cardiopulmonary disorders. In 2013, she became the highest paid female CEO in America.

03/16/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Andrew Rosen, Co-Founder, Theory

Meet Andrew Rosen, American fashion pioneer and co-founder of Theory, maker of contemporary clothing for women & men http://bit.ly/2gLX8te

Andrew launched Theory, a contemporary clothing company, in 1997 with co-founder Eli Tahari. Theory used the stretchy fabric lycra to create a more modern, slender look initially for young professional women. Theory was sold in 2003 to the Japanese company Fast Retailing and IPO’ed in 2005. In add...

03/01/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Azim Premji, Chairman, WIPRO

Azim Premji became 5th wealthiest in India by transforming Wipro Limited from cooking oil producer to IT outsource provider. https://bit.ly/2VsLT7G

Sometimes the company you start looks a lot different from the company you end up with; Azim Premji turned his cooking fat company into one of India’s largest technology companies. With over 70,000 employees and $3Bn in sales, Wipro provides software solutions, research and development, and inform...

02/27/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Mark Ramadan, Co-Founder, Sir Kensington's

Sir Kensington's co-founder Mark Ramadan gets tongue-in-cheek describing his "absurdly highbrow" gourmet condiments. http://bit.ly/1J7fYvy

Sir Kensington’s is a condiment company that sells ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc. Mark and his partner Scott tried to create a gourmet alternative to Heinz and started tinkering with recipes in their off-campus apartment while they were students at Brown University. Unilever acquired the company in ...

02/18/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Fabrice Penot, Co-Founder, Le Labo

Perfumes by #LeLabo are prepared on the spot for the client in each store. Meet co-founder Fabrice Penot. http://bit.ly/2et9uoX

Le Labo is a perfume company that launched on Elizabeth Street in New York City in 2006. Le Labo perfumes are prepared on the spot for the client in each store, and the brand is appreciated for its minimalist peeled-back aesthetic. Le Labo was bought by Estee Lauder in 2010.

02/04/2019

Conbody teaches military workouts in a prison style bootcamp in Manhattan and online. Meet founder Coss Marte. http://bit.ly/2nkMg2P

01/25/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Jo Malone, Founder, Jo Malone London and Jo Loves

Meet perfumer & founder of Jo Loves, Jo Malone, the fragrance creator behind some of the world’s best scents https://bit.ly/2Pbxp9r

Jo Malone is a fragrance entrepreneur. She launched Jo Malone London in a retail shop in London in 1994. The company was bought by Estee Lauder in 1999.

01/22/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Daniel Lubetzky, Founder, KIND Healthy Snacks

Before launching KIND Snacks, founder Daniel Lubetzky performed magic in the streets of Paris & Bulgaria. http://bit.ly/1jZM0wi

KIND is a food company that produces sweet and savory bars with whole nuts, spices, and fruit, among other products. KIND is sold in a diverse array of locations including Whole Foods, Walmart, convenience stores and newspaper stands. Daniel launched KIND in 2003. Daniel is also the founder of Peace...

01/04/2019

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Maguy Le Coze, Co-Founder, Le Bernardin

Maguy LeCoze of Le Bernardin shares the fascinating story behind one of the world’s finest seafood restaurants. http://bit.ly/1v1z4k5

As a teenager, Maguy Le Coze and her brother Gilbert were introduced to the culinary life while helping their parents in their hotel restaurant in Brittany, France. But staying in the French countryside was not for her. Maguy and Gilbert opened Le Bernardin first in Paris, and later in New York City...

12/28/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Dr. Robert Langer, Chemical Engineer, MIT

Dr Robert Langer, Institute Professor at MIT's Langer Lab, is leading a team of 100 bio-medical engineers to reinvent the science of prescription drug delivery in the body. http://bit.ly/1evk9TD

Dr. Langer is a chemical engineer who has pioneered the fields of drug delivery and tissue engineering. His lab at MIT receives roughly $10 Million in annual grants and has 100 researchers. Dr. Langer has helped to launch close to 30 start-ups, and his lab’s innovations have been licensed or subli...

12/17/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Gary Kremen, Founder, Match.com

Before Gary Kremen founded Match, he acquired domain names for free that would later be worth millions http://bit.ly/1bQbTlB NPR

Gary is a serial entrepreneur who launched Match.com, the online dating service, in 1993. A host of other online matchmaking personals companies have hatched as a result of Gary’s innovation. Gary also registered a number of lucrative domain names in the early days of the internet including housin...

12/10/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Jay Kimmelman, Co-Founder, Bridge International Academies

Bridge International Academies operates primary schools in developing countries for roughly $6/mo. Meet co-founder, Jay Kimmelman http://bit.ly/1dcjhIY

Bridge International Academies is a private network of nursery and primary schools educating the poorest students in developing countries including Kenya, Uganda and India. Bridge charges families roughly six dollars per month for a pupil to attend school and uses economies of scale to keep costs lo...

11/27/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Sam Goldman, Co-Founder, d.light

D.lightdesign makes solar power and lighting for people without access to reliable electricity. Meet co-founder Sam Goldman. https://bit.ly/1FVTMoO

One third of the world population does not have access to reliable electricity. D.light sells solar lighting and power to consumers in developing countries. The company’s lamps are healthier, cleaner, and cheaper than the traditional kerosene lamp alternatives.

11/20/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Marc DaCosta, Co-Founder, Enigma

Enigma combines vast amounts of data from a variety of sources to reveal insights that inform business decisions, solve problems and unlock new opportunities. Meet co-founder Marc DaCosta. https://bit.ly/2RtvOMP

Enigma is a company that uses the internet to make public data available and understandable to users. Enigma links across various databases to uncover relevant facts that a user might not notice by looking at a single data set. The universe of data sources to choose among includes SEC filings, publi...

11/09/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Fadi Ghandour, Founder, Aramex

Fadi Ghandour's Aramex, the “Fedex of the Middle East”, was first in the Arab world to be listed on the NASDAQ. http://bit.ly/1i4iCEB

Fadi Ghandour is one of the leading entrepreneurs of the Middle East. Fadi and his family moved from Lebanon to Jordan where his father eventually became head of Royal Jordanian Airlines. Adopting his father’s business sense and knowledge of the aviation space, Fadi recognized and filled the need ...

10/26/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Patrick Collison, Co-Founder, Stripe

Stripe makes it easier for businesses to accept payments in web and mobile apps. Meet co-founder Patrick Collison. http://bit.ly/2k6JFei

Stripe is a financial software company that helps businesses manage their online and mobile transactions. Patrick started Stripe in 2009 when he was 21 years old with his younger brother, John. He is originally from Dromineer, Ireland, which has a population of roughly 70 people.

10/19/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Ethan Brown, Founder, Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat uses protein from plants — not animals — to look, smell & taste like meat. Meet the founder Ethan Brown http://bit.ly/2k697xE

Beyond Meat makes meat using plant protein instead of animal protein. The goal is to make a healthier product that looks, tastes, feels, and smells like chicken or beef using fewer natural resources.

10/10/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Jo Malone, Founder, Jo Malone London and Jo Loves

Meet perfumer & founder of Jo Malone London, Jo Malone, the fragrance creator behind some of the world’s best scents https://bit.ly/2Pbxp9r

Jo Malone is a fragrance entrepreneur. She launched Jo Malone London in a retail shop in London in 1994. The company was bought by Estee Lauder in 1999.

09/15/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Martine Rothblatt, Founder, Sirius Satellite Radio, United Therapeutics

Martine Rothblatt, founder of SiriusXM and United Therapeutics, became America's highest paid female CEO in 2013. http://bit.ly/1G0nfyO

Martine is a pioneer in the satellite industry, launching companies including Geostar, PanAmSat, and Sirius Satellite Radio. She also founded United Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cardiopulmonary disorders. In 2013, she became the highest paid female CEO in America.

09/09/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Luis von Ahn, Founder, Duolingo, ReCAPTCHA

Computer scientist Luis von Ahn builds systems that enable web security (Re-Captcha) & gamify learning (Duolingo). Our conversation: http://bit.ly/2iYxb5G .

Luis is an inventor and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon. He is one of the creators of CAPTCHA, a system that allows websites to determine whether you’re a human or a computer. CAPTCHAs are wavy, distorted words that people need to type out when they’re submitting a form to a websit...

08/31/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Orion Hindawi, Co-Founder, Tanium

Orion Hindawi, co-founder of Tanium Inc., reinvented endpoint security for computer networks with his father, David. http://bit.ly/1UiJyFi

Tanium is a cybersecurity company that focuses on providing internet safety for the US government and Fortune 500 companies. Clients include Amazon, Target, Best Buy and the Department of Defense. Orion started Tanium with his father David.

07/20/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Jonathan Cedar, Co-Founder, Biolite

BioLite produces clean, portable stoves for cooking off the grid in developing countries. Meet co-founder Jonathan Cedar. https://bit.ly/1izHQlo

Biolite is a company that produces clean, portable stoves for cooking off the grid in developing countries as well as for camping. The stove reduces toxic smoke emissions by 90 percent by using its own heat waste to generate energy. Biolite is targeting a global public health challenge of smoke poll...

07/09/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Nolan Bushnell, Co-Founder, Atari

Nolan Bushnell, a pioneer of the coin-operated video game, founded Atari & employed a young Steve Jobs back in the 70s http://bit.ly/1gKXjhm

Nolan is considered one of the pioneers of the video game industry. Nolan developed the first coin operated game (Computer Space), as well as Atari’s popular debut game, Pong. Nolan also founded Chuck E. Cheese’s, a game centric restaurant chain. He is the author of Finding the Next Steve Jobs. ...

06/15/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Jason Ackerman, Co-Founder, Fresh Direct

FreshDirect is an online grocer that delivers directly to your door. Meet co-founder Jason Ackerman. http://bit.ly/2kDZRAz

Fresh Direct is an online grocer that disrupted the traditional food supply chain by sourcing food where it’s produced and delivering it to consumers without going through additional retailers. Fresh Direct launched in 2002 from its headquarters in a former paper plant in Long Island City, Queens.

06/05/2018

From Scratch | Jessica Harris interviews Mike Krieger, Co-Founder, Instagram

From 0 to 60 million photos shared per day in 5 years. Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger explains how they did it. http://bit.ly/1mdQlVT

Instagram is a photo sharing app that was released through the Apple App Store in October, 2010 and reached one million users in just three months. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for one billion dollars. Mike and his partner, Kevin Systrom, are both graduates of Stanford University.