Advice Line with Tope Awotona of Calendly

How I Built This · 29 Oct 2026 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Tope Awotona, founder of the scheduling platform Calendly, returns to discuss the company's evolution into an AI-powered meeting assistant called Cali and the lowered barriers to building software. He advises callers on specific hardware and business challenges: Dom Cotton of New Lane struggles with profitability and scaling his UK-made foldable bike helmet; Ivana Besseluck of Playfield seeks operational systems to maintain her modular dog walking bag business while preparing for childbirth; Danny of The Nail Room weighs expansion against family life using builder gel techniques; and Justin Kitridge of ISlide prioritizes channels for his customized footwear.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 59m

    97: Plateaus

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the operational upheaval caused by successfully launching paid advertising, which forced them to build robust inventory tracking and financial planning systems from scratch using Airtable. They analyze the challenges of scaling a small physical product business, the 'plateau' growth model, and the lack of suitable software tools for their specific revenue tier. The episode concludes with a segment on iPhone longevity, the diminishing returns of annual upgrades, and the difficulties of sourcing cases for older models.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 39m

    #194 - AI for Ops with YANY Beauty and Phenomenal Foods Co

    Yaminah Childress, founder of YANY Beauty, and Veronica Blue, founder of Phenomenal Foods Co, discuss how small CPG teams leverage AI for operational efficiency. Veronica uses ChatGPT to manage recipe costing, unit economics, and investor projections, while Yaminah employs tools like Perplexity AI for market research and Contractor AI for legal agreements and forecasting. The episode highlights how these founders use AI to replace traditional back-office functions, enabling solopreneurs and small teams to scale without hiring extensive staff. They emphasize treating AI as a tool rather than a threat, using it to automate complex data tasks and generate accurate financial models.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 52m

    75: We Got to Finish Something

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the surprise arrival of a professional spec spot ad for their free app Highball, created by Weekend Video. They detail the ongoing production and shipping challenges of the Cortex Mark Two pen, specifically the bottleneck in Seracote coating and assembly processes. The hosts also explore the potential of returning to software development via subscriptions, the complexities of running Instagram ads, and the launch of a limited-edition Cortex Mark One in collaboration with Myke Hurley.

  • Making It · 59m

    Episode 336: Take the hug…

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto reflect on their 2021, discussing Diresta’s new Walmart product line and a streaming TV show, Clagett’s CNC candy dishes and trailer build, and Picciuto’s go-karting and upcoming 3D printing projects. They share advice on handling contracts and maintaining a positive mindset, while also touching on personal challenges like Diresta’s rib injury and the loss of Aaron. The hosts conclude by recommending YouTube channels and Jocko Willink’s Kickstarter course.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 01m

    92: We’ve Hit Our Ceiling

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss hitting their growth ceiling as a two-person DIY company and their strategic pivot to hire staff and build systems for sales, marketing, and logistics in 2023. They outline plans to expand revenue through B2B custom sales, affiliate programs, and improved e-commerce infrastructure, while Dan Provost’s Tech Corner evaluates large monitors like the Dell 49-inch and Apple Studio Display for creative workflows.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by How I Built This. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.