Startup Confessions Podcast

About Startup Confessions Podcast

The Startup Confessions podcast is about uncovering the behind-the-scenes truth about the startup entrepreneurial journey. Inspired by a summer internship in entrepreneurship, Host Yssamae Abdon invites startup founders from different industries from all stages of entrepreneurship to share their challenges and triumphs. Entrepreneurship will look different to each person, and the Startup Confessions podcast is where authenticity meets ambition. The goal is to be a source of insight and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and future business owners with stories from our guests.

Publisher

Yssamae Abdon

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2024

Latest episode

25 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Apr 2025

   CEO of Delfyn and woman in finance transforming the financial industry with AI, Ceren Danis

   NOTE* In the podcast, we mention Unique Payments. However, as of April 2025, Unique Payments has rebranded to Delfyn. In this episode of the Startup Confessions podcast, host Yssamae Abdon speaks with guest speaker, Ceren Danis, CEO and co-founder of Delfyn, about her journey in finance and entrepreneurship, her expertise and what led her to where she is now. They discuss the importance of co-founders, the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry, the impact of AI on financial services, and the qualities that lead to entrepreneurial success. AI is transforming financial services by standardizing data across platforms. Ceren talks about preparing for the future of work requires flexibility and a willingness to learn and understanding the realities of entrepreneurship is vital before taking the leap. She shares the importance of persistence in achieving entrepreneurial success and how mindfulness practices like meditation helped her be more resilience. Delfyn is a fintech startup company that helps B2B companies get paid faster with the focus on AI. Please see links to Delfyn, and Ceren's mentorship club: https://www.mentoring-club.com/the-mentors/ceren-danis (https://www.mentoring-club.com/the-mentors/ceren-danis)2. https://app.growthmentor.com/mentors/ceren-danis (https://app.growthmentor.com/mentors/ceren-danis)3. www.delfyn.co (https://www.delfyn.co/) - Delfyn website LinkedIn Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceren-danis/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceren-danis/)- Ceren Danis https://www.linkedin.com/company/delfyn/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/delfyn/)- Delfyn

2. 

   14 Mar 2025

   Empowering women through sustainable fashion and breaking stigmas as an entrepreneur with Arielle Loupos, founder of Flower Girl Co

   In the 3rd episode of the Startup Confessions podcast, host Yssamae interviews Arielle Loupos, founder of Flower Girl, a sustainable period underwear brand. Arielle shares her journey from working in e-commerce to launching her own brand, emphasizing the importance of using natural materials and creating a community around menstrual health. She discusses the challenges of product development, the significance of self-care, and the need to break the stigma surrounding female reproductive health. Arielle's passion for education and community building shines through as she discusses her vision for changing the narrative around periods and empowering women. In this episode, Arielle Loupos discusses the journey of building her sustainable period underwear brand, focusing on the balance between creative vision and business practicality. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, understanding one's purpose, and the habits that contribute to success. The discussion also touches on gender dynamics in business and the significance of community support. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Flower Girl and Its Mission 01:32 Arielle's Journey into E-commerce and Product Development 05:35 The Challenges of Product Development and Learning 11:03 Overcoming Failure and Embracing Self-Care 14:57 Building Community and Breaking Stigmas 20:30 Celebrating Female Cycles and Changing Narratives 24:05 Balancing Creative Vision and Business Decisions 27:28 Authenticity and Openness in Branding 31:58 Preparing to Start a Brand 34:41 Habits for Success 36:15 Navigating Gender Dynamics in Business 39:40 Following Your Why and Brand Identity Check out Arielle and Flower Girl Co on social media! Arielle - https://www.instagram.com/arielleloupos (https://www.instagram.com/arielleloupos) Flower Girl Co - https://www.instagram.com/flowergirl.co_/ (https://www.instagram.com/flowergirl.co_/) Flower Girl Co website (https://flowergirl.co/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY_yVFyvAppYMEVIcoOroeXR9jKhvvX9FBZKIJUmtte2n0AXomllNOY7UY_aem_rbuY7K-URcZQngrPdOJDMw)

3. 

   3 Mar 2025

   Humor as a Business: The Rise of No Boring Brands with Aidan Brannigan

   In Season 2, episode 2 of the Startup Confessions podcast, Aiden, founder of No Boring Brands, shares his journey in the creator economy and the establishment of his creative humor agency. He discusses the importance of authenticity in social media, the art of humor in content creation, and the challenges of navigating perceptions around social media careers. Aiden emphasizes the significance of consistency, networking, and defining personal success while addressing the realities of cancel culture and online criticism. The conversation concludes with insights on maintaining passion and discipline in one's career. Takeaways Aidan founded No Boring Brands to help B2B brands use humor in marketing. Perceptions of social media careers often clash with reality. Authenticity is key to building an online presence. Humor in content should be relatable and not demeaning. Understanding audience and brand voice is crucial for effective content. Cancel culture shouldn't deter creativity. Consistency and discipline are vital for success in any field. Networking is essential and you should seize every opportunity to connect. Defining personal success is more important than societal expectations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aiden and No Boring Brands 02:55 The Journey of Building a Creative Humor Agency 06:02 Navigating Perceptions of Social Media Careers 09:10 The Value of Authenticity in Online Presence 11:51 The Art of Humor in Content Creation 14:57 Understanding Audience and Brand Voice 18:02 Dealing with Cancel Culture and Online Criticism 20:58 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline 24:03 Networking and Seizing Opportunities 27:04 Defining Success and Career Paths 30:00 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations Links to Aidan Brannigan x No Boring Brands: LinkedIn - Aidan Brannigan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanbrannigan/) No Boring Brands website - https://www.noboringbrands.co/ (https://www.noboringbrands.co/)

4. 

   31 Jan 2025

   Reflections from Season 1, Q&A, changes in Season 2.

   Summary In this episode of the Startup Confessions Podcast, host Yssamae reflects on her journey of launching and running a podcast focused on entrepreneurship. She shares insights on the challenges she faced as a young host, the importance of consistency, and how she connects with her guests. Yssa also discusses the technical aspects of podcasting, her personal growth through the experience, and offers advice for aspiring podcasters. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Startup Confessions Podcast 03:12 Challenges of Podcasting and Imposter Syndrome 06:06 Finding Guests and Building Connections 08:34 Technical Setup and Equipment for Podcasting 11:11 Navigating Conversations and Authenticity 12:59 Advice for Aspiring Podcasters 14:53 Balancing Podcasting with Personal Life 16:46 Lessons Learned and Overcoming Doubts Thank you for listening to our podcast. You can follow us on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/startupconfessionspod TikTok: @startupconfessionspod

5. 

   6 Sept 2024

   Sonia-Michelle, founder of Ruby Sky Events and marketing manager at Porsche Center London

   In this episode, Sonia-Michelle de Souza (or SM), marketing manager at Porsche Center London Ontario and founder of Ruby Sky Events shares her passion with creating, and sharing memorable experiences through events. Sonia-Michelle shares her experience in the automotive industry as a marketing manager and her passion for events led to the recent launch of Ruby Sky Events. Ruby Sky Events focuses on providing unique experiences through events serving exclusive wine and food. In this episode, we discuss how SM balances many roles including being a marketing manager, and founder of her own small-business, her advice to young aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs, staying creative, and important habits to stay on top of your game. With her experience in the marketing industry and the automotive industry, she has combined her professional skills with her passion for events and food, creating her newly launched Ruby Sky Events. Thank you for listening to this episode and stay tuned for the next episode on the Startup Confessions Podcast. You can find Ruby Sky Events on: Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556915732031&mibextid=LQQJ4d (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556915732031&mibextid=LQQJ4d) Keep update on the Startup Confessions Podcast on: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/)

6. 

   16 Aug 2024

   Simplifying processes for success, and trusting yourself as an entrepreneur with Brandie Grace Wong - Founder and CEO of Totally Brand It

   In episode 8 of the Startup Confessions Podcast, we have our new guest Brandie Grace Wong, founder and CEO of Totally Brand It. Brandie is a young and ambitious entrepreneur who has started her journey at the age of 15years old and is now running her own agency. In this episode, we talk about simplifying processes for business success, the challenges of running a business, how to vet team members and cultivating work culture, and advice on trusting yourself in decision making as an entrepreneur. Totally Brand It is a fractional COO agency focusing on business operations, and innovation helping clients, generally in B2B simplify process and scaling for success. Totally Brand It is on: Website: ⁠https://www.totallybrandit.com/first-welcome⁠ (https://www.totallybrandit.com/first-welcome) Instagram ⁠@totally.brand.it⁠ (instagram.com/totally.brand.it) Brandie Grace Wong is on: Instagram ⁠⁠@brandiegracewong (instagram.com/brandiegracewong) YouTube @BrandieGrace (youtube.com/@brandiegracewong) Linktree @BrandieGrace (linktr.ee/BrandieGrace)

7. 

   4 Aug 2024

   Delivering the best grooming experience and selling kicks with Leoles, co-founder of TopTier Company

   In this episode of the Startup Confessions podcast, host Yssamae invites Leoles, co-founder of TopTier barber shop, offering one of the best fades and kicks in Oakville. Leo and his team’s passion for barbering and offering excellent grooming experiences for every client that comes into TopTier makes a barbershop stand out amongst the rest. They also have a unique twist and sell kicks for passionate collectors. Follow Leoles Melegrito on instagram @lefades (https://www.instagram.com/lefades/) He is also part of the @cuttingdealspod (https://www.instagram.com/cuttingdealspod/) podcast. You can follow Top Tier on: Instagram @toptiercompany (https://www.instagram.com/toptiercompany/) Tiktok @toptiercompany   (https://www.tiktok.com/@toptiercompany?_t=8oard4wWbCg&_r=1) Book an appointment or get some kicks on toptier website: TopTier  (https://toptiercompany.ca/) TopTier Kicks (https://toptierkicks.com/) Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/)

8. 

   19 Jul 2024

   The mindset behind bringing authentic food to reflect rich culture with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa, owner of the top rated restaurant in Oakville.

   Guest Speaker: Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa - Chef and Restaurant owner of Maro’s Bistro, Bohemian Beirut and co-owner of Narenj Oakville. Welcome to this episode of the Startup Confessions Podcast. In this episode, we speak with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa, a chef who has made a name for himself by blending the traditional flavors of his Lebanese background with innovative culinary techniques. From working alone 15 years ago as a new immigrant to Canada to now owning a top-rated restaurant in Oakville Maro shares his philosophy on food and the importance of authenticity in business. Maro is a passionate chef and restaurant owner of Maro’s Bistro, co-owner of Narenj Oakville, and soon to be Bohemian Beirut all located in Oakville, Canada. Maro’s journey started in Lebanon where he brings his culture and knowledge to enhance the dining experience in one of Canada’s wealthiest cities. He shares his unique approach to reinventing dishes that enhances the Lebanese culture as he transitions to the Canadian culinary scene. Maro shares his journey with authenticity and a no bullsh*t attitude. If you love food, curious about the unique art of expressing culture through cuisine, you will love this episode. Visit Maro's restaurant Maro’s Bistro and Narenj Oakville in [Oakville, Ontario, Canada]. Follow Maro on social media for culinary tips and updates. Subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring stories from entrepreneurs and startup owners. Maro’s Bistro is on: Website: https://www.marosbistro.com/ (https://www.marosbistro.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maros_bistro/ (https://www.instagram.com/maros_bistro/) Thank you for joining us in this episode with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your friends and family. Stay tuned for more episodes. Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/) ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod

9. 

   19 Jul 2024

   Enhancing dining experience through authenticity and cultural fusion with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa, chef and owner of the top rated restaurant in Oakville.

   Guest Speaker: Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa - Chef and Restaurant owner of Maro’s Bistro, Bohemian Beirut and co-owner of Narenj Oakville. Welcome to this episode of the Startup Confessions Podcast. In this episode, we speak with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa, a chef who has made a name for himself by blending the traditional flavors of his Lebanese background with innovative culinary techniques. From working alone 15 years ago as a new immigrant to Canada to now owning a top-rated restaurant in Oakville Maro shares his philosophy on food and the importance of authenticity in business. Maro is a passionate chef and restaurant owner of Maro’s Bistro, co-owner of Narenj Oakville, and soon to be Bohemian Beirut all located in Oakville, Canada. Maro’s journey started in Lebanon where he brings his culture and knowledge to enhance the dining experience in one of Canada’s wealthiest cities. He shares his unique approach to reinventing dishes that enhances the Lebanese culture as he transitions to the Canadian culinary scene. Maro shares his journey with authenticity and a no bullsh*t attitude. If you love food, curious about the unique art of expressing culture through cuisine, you will love this episode. Visit Maro's restaurant Maro’s Bistro and Narenj Oakville in [Oakville, Ontario, Canada]. Follow Maro on social media for culinary tips and updates. Subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring stories from entrepreneurs and startup owners. Maro’s Bistro is on: Website: https://www.marosbistro.com/ (https://www.marosbistro.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maros_bistro/ (https://www.instagram.com/maros_bistro/) Thank you for joining us in this episode with Marwan (Maro) Al Chamaa. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your friends and family. Stay tuned for more episodes. Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/) ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod

10. 

    14 Jun 2024

    From being a small town girl to being a 21 yrs old female entrepreneur on her path to 'having it all' with Kenzie Masse

    Kenzie Masse is a young 21 year old digital marketer and forex trader based in Ontario Canada. Listen to episode 5 of the Startup Confessions Podcast to hear her story navigating life as a young entrepreneur, making the untraditional choice of going down the entrepreneurial life while her peers follow a different path. She also shares her passion for empowering women in the entrepreneurial space, and to help others know that you really can have it all. You can follow Kenzie Masse on: Instagram @kenziemasse (https://www.instagram.com/kenziemasse?igsh=MWJ3cDdrc3ZjZTVldg==) Tiktok @kenziemasse (https://www.tiktok.com/@kenziemassee?_t=8nCGJI0qHen&_r=1) Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast

11. 

    31 May 2024

    Balancing ethics and making money, re-defining wealth, and talking openly about reproductive health online with Valeria Emanuel, co-founder of Rif Care

    Valeria Emanuel (https://www.instagram.com/malibumama__?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==), (Val) co-founder with Rebecca Caputo (https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamazing/) of Rif Care shares her journey as a an entrepreneur balancing decisions between ethics and making profit, re-defining wealth, and dealing with social media hate. Rif Care is an organic and sustainability focused period care brand based in Los Angeles began with a shared passion between Val and her best-friend, Rebecca for making an impact with reproductive health care products. You can find Rif Care on their website and social media pages: ● Website, ⁠https://rifcare.com/ (https://nizz.app/) ● ⁠⁠ (https://nizz.app/)Insta, https://www.instagram.com/rifcare (https://www.instagram.com/rifcare) You can also follow Valeria on: ● Instagram ⁠@malibumama⁠__ (https://www.instagram.com/malibumama__/) Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram ⁠@thestartupconfessionspod⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/) ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast

12. 

    17 May 2024

    Building a business by solving an everyday problem with Afotey Odai, Software Engineer and Founder of Nizz

    In the third episode of the Startup Confessions podcast, host Yssamae invites Afotey Odai to share his story on being a software engineer and becoming a startup founder of Nizz app. Nizz is a chore tracking app, designed in the simplest way to help users manage house chores. It is practical, useful, and effective. Nizz aims to transform co-living experiences by making chores easier. Afotey shares the inspiration behind his app idea all the way back to 2018, and the journey it took for him to launch the app, and its future goals. In this podcast episode, Afotey also shares the challenges of being a technical founder, knowing how to onboard team members, the challenges and the successes of being an entrepreneur. Afotey offers advice and tips for software engineers who want to build and bring their ideas to life. Way to build a business from a relatable and everyday problem for most people. If you do chores, Nizz will be a useful tool for you. Check out Afotey's socials below and link to Nizz app. Check out Nizz on their website, or the App Store: ● https://nizz.app/ (https://nizz.app/) ● App store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nizz-chore-tracker/id1585045282) You can follow Afotey Odai on: ● Instagram @afotey_o (https://www.instagram.com/afotey_o/) ● LinkedIn at Afotey Odai Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod (https://www.instagram.com/startupconfessionspod/) ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast

13. 

    3 May 2024

    Why putting people first and valuing community is everything with Nina Simone.

    In episode 2 of the Startup Confessions Podcast, host Yssamae Abdon sits down with Nina Simone, the founder of Pappus Agency and co-founder of SheSapiens. Nina shares her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship and explores the importance of community in the entrepreneurial world. Nina was born in Germany and has lived in many places including Greece, Italy, Romania, Indonesia, and currently in Portugal. Nina highlights her passion for community building and desire to create an impact on society through Pappus and SheSapiens. Nina has always been an entrepreneur at heart, driven by her desire to challenge the status quo and address social issues around her. She also shares her dissatisfaction with traditional corporate roles and how they led her into entrepreneurship. Nina emphasizes the importance of community in her entrepreneurial journey and encourages entrepreneurs to seek community as they are an essential support system in building confidence and personal growth. Host Yssamae and Nina also discuss the importance of horizontal leadership and collaboration in creating a supportive and enjoyable work environment. Nina's approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and enabling those around her to thrive and be authentic. However, Nina also discusses the challenges of maintaining a horizontal leadership structure at a larger-scale company. Nina acknowledges the complexities that come with scaling a business and maintaining a culture centred on empathy and respect. Yssamae and Nina also explore the prevalence of impostor syndrome as a consequence of societal expectations and ingrained cultural norms, particularly among female entrepreneurs. In this episode, Nina emphasizes the need for authenticity and self-acceptance in overcoming feelings of inadequacy. Nina reflects on the sacrifices and rewards of entrepreneurship, highlighting the instability inherent in the early stages of building a business. She finds fulfillment in witnessing the growth and success of others within her community. Nina shares valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, urging them to embrace their authenticity, prioritize financial stability, and focus on personal and professional development. Empowering Women Through She Sapiens: Yssamae and Nina discuss the mission of She Sapiens in empowering female entrepreneurs through community-building initiatives and educational resources. Nina emphasizes the importance of supporting women in their entrepreneurial journey and creating a safe space for growth and collaboration. This episode of the Startup Confessions podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to continue their self-development, and learning journey, and encouragement from Nina to keep putting people and community first. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Startup Confessions podcast with our guest, Nina Simone. Be sure to check out Nina Simone’s social media, and website pages for Pappus Agency and SheSapiens. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue to explore the journeys and insights of inspiring entrepreneurs with our next guest, Afotey Odai, a software engineer based in London, UK and founder of a chore-tracking app called Nizz. Check out Nina Simone on: ● Instagram @nina.simone_franke ● YouTube: Nina Simone ● Pappus Agency website https://pappus.agency/ ● SheSapiens website https://shesapiens.com/ Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast

14. 

    26 Apr 2024

    Expectations, reality checks, and lessons from entrepreneurs, and the inspiration behind the startup confessions podcast.

    In the launch of the first episode of Start-Up Confessions, host Yssamae Abdon discusses the concept of entrepreneurship and how a summer in Lisbon inspired her interest in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has been around for decades but what does it mean to be one? Based on her research, she will briefly discuss some historical aspects of entrepreneurship based on Austrian political economist Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of entrepreneurship in the 1930s (Driessen, 2010). Schumpeter describes an entrepreneur as someone who transforms new ideas and inventions into new innovations. Entrepreneurship is also closely associated with the term start-up, which generally seeks to innovate and scale through a growing company team, and through international growth. Yssamae also recalls how her internship influenced her perception of entrepreneurship and describes the experience after shadowing a female founder, Nina Simone, founder of two-start up companies based in Lisbon. Nina is founder of Pappus Agency, and co-founder of SheSapiens. With both a focus on community, Pappus is a consulting agency that helps companies scale through community while Shesapiens is a global female network supporting and empowering female entrepreneurs and business owners. Yssamae shares her experience interning for a start-up company in Lisbon, and discussing eye-opening realizations about the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Reality check. It is not always glamorous. You will learn about what she observed being around entrepreneurs including the freedom and flexibility that entrepreneurship offers but the self-accountability, hard-work, and discipline it requires. The first episode sets the tone for the podcast. The StartUp Confessions podcast aims to serve as a source for transparency and appreciation for the beauty and the less glamorous aspects of the entrepreneurial path. The goal is to break the perception that becoming an entrepreneur is unattainable and impossible. Instead, inspiring listeners to start through relatable and accessible stories from guest speakers. Thank you for tuning in, and get ready for more candid confessions in the episodes to come! Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram @startupconfessionspod ● TikTok @startupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast References: Driessen, Martyn P.; Zwart, Peter S. (2010) Nina Simone, linkedIn ● Pappus Agency website https://pappus.agency/ ● SheSapiens website https://shesapiens.com/

15. 

    25 Apr 2024

    Trailer

    Host Yssamae Abdon invites guests on the Startup Confessions Podcast to share their challenges and triumphs as entrepreneurs. The path to entrepreneurship will look different to each person. The Startup Confessions Podcast is where authenticity meets ambition. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, this podcast is a source of insight and inspiration that can empower and encourage you in your business or self-development journey.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Startup Confessions Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.