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Beyond The Founder Phase Podcast

Beyond The Founder Phase Podcast

Written by: Dino Skerlos | Brand Managers
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About this listen

Hey there, I'm Dino Skerlos, your host for Beyond the Founder Phase! This podcast is your go-to for navigating the wild ride of growing a business past the startup grind. I sit down with founders, CEOs, and industry pros to unpack real-world strategies for scaling smart—think authentic marketing, high-value sales conversations, and leveraging AI without losing the human touch. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading an SMB, we’re diving into practical tips to boost revenue, build trust, and stand out in a noisy world. Subscribe now and let’s take your business to the next level together!

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Episodes
  • (VIDEO) Scaling Field Tech with Smart Strategies

    (VIDEO) Scaling Field Tech with Smart Strategies
    Sep 18 2025
    Hey folks, Dino Skerlos here with Beyond the Founder Phase! In this episode, I chat with my friend and client Dave Brown, founder of Nuvo Solutions, about revolutionizing mobility and telematics for field service companies. We dive into his wild journey from bartending to building a thriving business helping HVAC, plumbing, and pest control pros manage devices and GPS efficiently. Dave shares tips on cutting costs, solving real pain points, and why listening beats selling every time. Plus, we talk sales strategies, team building, and planning for growth. If you're in field services or just love entrepreneurial stories, this one's packed with actionable advice—watch now, subscribe, and let's optimize your operations!

    Guest Introduction: I'm excited to have Dave Brown on the show—he's the president and founder of Nuvo Solutions, a mobility and telematics powerhouse out of Clayton, NC. With a sales background that kicked off after a life-changing moment as a bartender, Dave's spent nearly a decade helping field service companies like HVAC and pest control outfits streamline their tech, cut costs, and keep fleets running smoothly. He's a problem-solver at heart, and his insights are gold for anyone scaling a business.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Listen first, sell later: Dave nailed it—true sales is about solving problems, not pushing products; ask why they hate something to uncover the real issue.
    • Manage costs as you scale: Field tech gets expensive fast—focus on transparent pricing and the right carriers to avoid creeping bills.
    • Plan for the long haul: Know your 18-36 month goals; don't deploy devices without aligning them to your software and growth strategy.
    • Build a team that fits: Hire for cultural alignment over skills—skills can be taught, but attitude and fit make or break your company.
    • Be an advocate: Differentiate by being a true partner, not just a vendor; transparency builds lasting relationships.
    • Embrace objections: They're a sign of serious conversation—use them to deepen understanding and close deals.

    Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:27 Guest Introduction 0:55 Career Journey to Nuvo 5:48 Solving Field Service Problems 7:50 Common Challenges in Field Tech 8:28 Differentiating Nuvo as an Advocate 10:32 Sales Approach and Listening 16:17 Building a Sales Team 20:15 Leadership Lessons 23:32 AI in Sales and Operations 28:39 Handling Objections 32:16 Consultant Advice for Customers 36:43 Closing

    Keywords: Dino Skerlos, Dave Brown, It Comes Down To This, Nuvo Solutions, mobility management, telematics, field service technology, GPS tracking, HVAC business, pest control, sales strategies, fleet optimization, entrepreneurial journey, cost management, team building

    Pull Quotes:
    • “Dave hit the nail on the head: ‘Sales isn’t about pushing—it's solving problems and building relationships that last.’”
    • “Loved this from Dave: ‘If you don’t have a plan for the next 18-36 months, you’re just winging it—and that’s a recipe for chaos in field tech.’”
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    39 mins
  • (AUDIO) Scaling Field Tech with Smart Strategies

    (AUDIO) Scaling Field Tech with Smart Strategies
    Sep 18 2025
    Hey folks, Dino Skerlos here with Beyond the Founder Phase! In this episode, I chat with my friend and client Dave Brown, founder of Nuvo Solutions, about revolutionizing mobility and telematics for field service companies. We dive into his wild journey from bartending to building a thriving business helping HVAC, plumbing, and pest control pros manage devices and GPS efficiently. Dave shares tips on cutting costs, solving real pain points, and why listening beats selling every time. Plus, we talk sales strategies, team building, and planning for growth. If you're in field services or just love entrepreneurial stories, this one's packed with actionable advice—watch now, subscribe, and let's optimize your operations!

    Guest Introduction: I'm excited to have Dave Brown on the show—he's the president and founder of Nuvo Solutions, a mobility and telematics powerhouse out of Clayton, NC. With a sales background that kicked off after a life-changing moment as a bartender, Dave's spent nearly a decade helping field service companies like HVAC and pest control outfits streamline their tech, cut costs, and keep fleets running smoothly. He's a problem-solver at heart, and his insights are gold for anyone scaling a business.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Listen first, sell later: Dave nailed it—true sales is about solving problems, not pushing products; ask why they hate something to uncover the real issue.
    • Manage costs as you scale: Field tech gets expensive fast—focus on transparent pricing and the right carriers to avoid creeping bills.
    • Plan for the long haul: Know your 18-36 month goals; don't deploy devices without aligning them to your software and growth strategy.
    • Build a team that fits: Hire for cultural alignment over skills—skills can be taught, but attitude and fit make or break your company.
    • Be an advocate: Differentiate by being a true partner, not just a vendor; transparency builds lasting relationships.
    • Embrace objections: They're a sign of serious conversation—use them to deepen understanding and close deals.

    Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:27 Guest Introduction 0:55 Career Journey to Nuvo 5:48 Solving Field Service Problems 7:50 Common Challenges in Field Tech 8:28 Differentiating Nuvo as an Advocate 10:32 Sales Approach and Listening 16:17 Building a Sales Team 20:15 Leadership Lessons 23:32 AI in Sales and Operations 28:39 Handling Objections 32:16 Consultant Advice for Customers 36:43 Closing

    Keywords: Dino Skerlos, Dave Brown, It Comes Down To This, Nuvo Solutions, mobility management, telematics, field service technology, GPS tracking, HVAC business, pest control, sales strategies, fleet optimization, entrepreneurial journey, cost management, team building
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    38 mins
  • (VIDEO) Scaling SMBs with AI and Process Power

    (VIDEO) Scaling SMBs with AI and Process Power
    Sep 18 2025
    Hey everyone, Dino Skerlos here with Beyond the Founder Phase! In Episode 2, I sit down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, CEO of Technology Rivers, to unpack his incredible journey from CTO to leading a top software development firm. We dive into how his team leverages AI to scale SMBs, streamline operations, and fix broken projects, especially in healthcare. From building robust sales processes to driving 10X efficiency with AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, Ghazenfer shares actionable insights for entrepreneurs and tech leaders. If you’re looking to supercharge your business with AI or learn leadership lessons from a tech visionary, this episode is for you! Hit play, subscribe, and let’s get growing!

    Guest Introduction: I’m thrilled to introduce Ghazenfer Mansoor, the dynamic CEO of Technology Rivers! A true entrepreneur with a knack for tech, Ghazenfer’s built a powerhouse firm that helps SMBs scale through AI, machine learning, and process automation, with a big focus on healthcare. From his days as a Java consultant to leading 50+ team members, he’s all about solving real problems and driving growth. Get ready for some game-changing insights!

    Key Takeaways:
    • Process is everything: Ghazenfer learned the hard way that a structured sales process is critical for consistent growth—ad hoc just won’t cut it!
    • AI isn’t plug-and-play: Companies need solid data and workflows to make AI work; otherwise, you’re just scaling chaos.
    • Hire a coach early: Ghazenfer’s biggest leadership lesson? A coach can guide you to success faster than going it alone.
    • Leverage AI for sales: From cleaning 26,000 contacts in 30 minutes to generating proposals with Claude, AI can transform your sales game.
    • Fixing broken projects: Technology Rivers excels at turning around failed software projects, especially HIPAA-compliant ones.
    • Focus on referrals: Quality delivery drives referrals, a key indicator of sales success for Ghazenfer’s team.

    Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:37 Guest Introduction 1:29 Journey from CTO to CEO 5:02 Building a Sales Organization 12:17 Leveraging AI Internally 20:15 Common AI Implementation Mistakes 27:25 AI in Sales Teams 30:41 Leadership Lessons 33:18 Company Spotlight: Technology Rivers 41:35 Closing

    Keywords: Dino Skerlos, Ghazenfer Mansoor, It Comes Down To This, Technology Rivers, AI for business, machine learning, process automation, SaaS, healthcare tech, HIPAA compliance, sales strategy, go-to-market strategy, leadership lessons, software development, scaling SMBs
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    42 mins
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