Entrepreneur Perspectives

Hosted by Eric Kasimov

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271

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Entrepreneur Perspectives is where founders, operators, and people building interesting things talk about what's actually on their mind — no prep, no rehearsed answers, just the conversation as it happens. Hosted by Eric Kasimov, founder of KazSource and creator of QuietLoud Studios. 300+ episodes since 2017.

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July 13, 2026Episode 1981 hr 5 min

Matt Dalio on Why Portfolio Beats Pedigree and Teaching a Generation to Build | EP198

The best engineer Matt Dalio ever hired didn't have a high school diploma. That fact runs through this whole conversation — what building proves that credentials can't. Education is changing because work is changing. AI is already reshaping what people can build, how they learn, and what employers actually value — and Arizona State University has become the clearest picture of where it's going, precisely because of the reputation it had to shake. Matt Dalio, founder of Endless, joins Eric Kasimov. Matt's work centers on one idea: young people should be creators of technology, not just consumers of it. The conversation runs from Arizona State's President Michael Crow measuring success by who a university educates instead of who it rejects, to the engineer with no diploma who outperformed the Stanford hires, to why building games might be the most complete education a kid can get, and what happens to a generation that opts out of AI versus one that learns to wield it. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Why Arizona State University (ASU) stands out in higher education Michael Crow's "realm five learning" — education that's infinitely scalable, infinitely personalized, infinitely affordable What "GitHub University" shows about proof of work and why it beat the Stanford hires Why portfolios are becoming more important than resumes How game making teaches technical, creative, and collaborative skills Why AI fluency may become a core workforce skill The difference between using screens to consume and using them to build GSV (Global Silicon Valley) and spreading the builder mindset beyond the Valley Why young people should start building, tinkering, and solving real problems CHAPTERS 00:00 – Arizona State University and innovation in education 01:21 – Michael Crow’s approach to access and scale 03:20 – Changing perceptions of ASU 05:33 – Why higher education has to change 07:09 – Prestige, jobs, and the shifting value of a degree 08:06 – GitHub, proof of work, and hiring without a diploma 11:26 – Why portfolio can matter more than pedigree 13:08 – AI, marketing, and what students actually need to learn 15:15 – Teaching young people to become AI power users 16:00 – Why game making teaches multidisciplinary skills 18:34 – ASU, scale, and reaching more learners 20:33 – Soft skills, collaboration, and real work 21:46 – Games, arts, media, and engineering at ASU 23:37 – Coding, Claude Code, and technical fluency 25:37 – Why Matt still believes code matters 28:07 – Screens, phones, Chromebooks, and real computers 31:42 – What Gen Z can do now 32:31 – Why schools are often anti-AI 34:33 – Building as the path to employment 35:52 – Burning your resume and building proof 37:22 – Moving from Abu Dhabi back to the US 38:34 – AI education in the UAE 39:15 – Bringing AI education to more people 40:39 – Building through contracts, partners, and foundations 42:00 – Why America needs broader access to builder skills 44:15 – Helping young people join the modern economy 45:39 – Public schools and the difficulty of scale 46:19 – Kids who are already building their own futures 49:26 – Why the traditional system still matters 50:00 – Vibe coding an SAT prep tool 52:08 – AI concerns, climate, and the risk of opting out 55:00 – Global Silicon Valley and spreading the builder mindset 57:36 – Games, sports, licensing, and learning through interests 59:06 – Game studios, communities, and professional learning 01:01:49 – Finding your passion by building 01:02:50 – Matt’s book and Endless Future 01:04:09 – The lean book and shipping early 01:04:46 – Where to find Matt Dalio and Endless Connect Matt Dalio: Website | LinkedIn Eric Kasimov: X | LinkedIn Related Entrepreneur Perspectives episodes How AI Is Changing College Counseling and Admissions with Senan Khawaja, CEO of Kollegio David Selinger on AI Security, $15M Series B, and the Deep Sentinel Mission Ankit Somani | From Google to Conifer: Rare-Earth-Free Motors, $20M Seed, and Rethinking College Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

June 22, 2026Episode 19757 min

How a 21-Year-Old Built a 1,000-Player Soccer Company in College | EP197

Brando Babini started a company at 16 because the thing he needed didn't exist. Five years later he's running it from a train seat between Brown and Brooklyn — 1,000 players, a Nike partnership, and 30 million views he shot and edited himself. This one's about how he actually does it. Brando is 21, still finishing his degree, and building Youth 4 Youth FC into one of the largest player-led soccer organizations in the country. He spotted the gap from his own playing career — no mentor, no one who'd walked the path ahead of him — and built the thing he wished he'd had. The 2026 World Cup is on U.S. soil right now and the whole country's suddenly paying attention to soccer. Strip the sport out, though, and you've still got the more interesting story: a Gen Z operator running a real company while most people his age are still picking a major. What We Get Into Spotting a gap from lived experience and building the company you wished existed at 16 Running an eight-state operation while taking the Amtrak back to class twice a week — the "drop-in," not the dropout Turning 30 million organic views into 4,000 player applications — and what to do when that engine slows down Landing a Nike partnership as a young, unproven founder The mission-vs-profit tension: building real access without building a handout Going need-blind by design — so the best kid plays whether his family can pay or not Scaling by "mega sub-regions" instead of chasing franchise growth Teaching 13-year-olds to represent themselves — agency as the actual product Chapters 00:00 — The drop-in: running a company between Providence and New York 01:30 — Starting at 16, and the gap he was trying to close 03:45 — When the pro dream faded and the founder showed up 04:30 — The question that runs everything: "what do I wish existed?" 21:00 — Access without a handout: the mission-vs-profit tension 26:00 — Why profit incentives aren't the enemy, and going need-blind 33:00 — Teaching agency: parents, players, and an internal locus of control 50:00 — 30 million views, 4,000 applications, and rebuilding the funnel 52:00 — The Nike street-soccer project he's directing this week 58:00 — Rapid fire: the GOAT, the Prem, and a 2026 World Cup read This first aired on SportsEpreneur. For the full sports-business take — youth soccer pathways, college recruiting, and pay-to-play — listen to the original conversation there. More Soccer Content from SportsEpreneur Hydration Breaks, Fox Ads, and the Americanization of the World Cup 2026 World Cup: Groups, Schedule, and What to Watch as the Tournament Is Here Top 5 Soccer Leagues in the World (2025 Rankings: Depth, Players & Vibe) Soccer: The World’s Most Popular Sport (3.5 Billion Fans, and Rising in the U.S.) Connect with Brando Instagram: @y4yfc · brandobabini.com · y4yfc.com · LinkedIn: Brando Babini Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Connect with Eric: X / LinkedIn

May 26, 2026Episode 19653 min

College Sports Is Becoming a Data Business | EP196

Why NIL needs data, why athlete brands matter, and how college sports is becoming a marketing business. College sports is moving fast. NIL, revenue sharing, transfer rules, donor fatigue, social media, compliance, brand deals, and athlete value are all colliding at once. Brent Wall, founder and CEO of Student Athlete Score, joins Eric Kasimov to talk through what is actually happening in the NIL market. Student Athlete Score helps schools, brands, and athletes understand social influence, audience quality, brand fit, and the real marketing value behind athlete deals. Eric and Brent get into the chaos around NIL, the rise of athlete personal brands, the growing youth sports market, the role of AI and data, and why local brand deals may be one of the most interesting parts of this whole shift. They also talk about college sports becoming more professional, what that means for Olympic sports and mid-majors, and why athletes now have to think about life beyond sports earlier than ever. Chapters 00:00 – Ann Arbor, Michigan sports, and the business behind athletics 01:50 – The professionalization of sports at every level 03:01 – Why athletes now need to build personal brands 05:51 – What Student Athlete Score does 07:56 – The FICO score idea for athlete social value 08:35 – How universities use Student Athlete Score 10:54 – NIL education, taxes, and athlete responsibility 13:36 – The new era of NIL and NIL Go 15:17 – Compliance, regulation, and the fight over NIL deals 16:22 – Five-and-five, eligibility, and transfer rules 18:53 – Lawsuits, athlete rights, and past NIL usage 19:35 – Tournament expansion, TV money, and sports betting 22:19 – Why media rights drive the sports economy 23:00 – Tennis programs, Olympic sports, and budget pressure 26:17 – Donor fatigue and the need for ROI 28:15 – Data, story, and decision-making in college athletics 29:41 – Transfer portal chaos and recruiting changes 35:15 – Mid-majors as proving grounds 36:00 – International athletes, age gaps, and roster realities 38:49 – Unlocking NIL for Olympic sport athletes 39:53 – Why follower quality matters 41:03 – Instagram, TikTok, X, and athlete visibility 42:31 – Brand fit beyond the sport 43:31 – Life beyond sports and building a platform 44:11 – NIL moving into the youth and high school market 46:21 – NIL as a real-world sales and marketing lesson 47:21 – Micro-influencers, team dinners, and local business deals 50:31 – How Student Athlete Score landed university partners 51:20 – New commercial roles inside athletic departments 52:51 – Where to find Brent Wall and Student Athlete Score Connect Brent Wall: Website | LinkedIn Eric Kasimov — X | LinkedIn Related episodes NIL Made College Athletes Entrepreneurs With No Guardrails | EP194 Gordon Hayward | Life After the NBA & Youth Sports Reform EP143 | Bad Grades in School to Sports Business Founder Dan Soviero Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

May 19, 2026Episode 19550 min

Why Youth Sports Needs Less Chaos and Better Tools | EP195

Why youth sports are chaotic, why parents carry the load, and how Onsides is trying to make it easier. Youth sports is not just practices, games, and tournaments anymore. It is schedules, apps, travel, training, equipment, group chats, recruiting pressure, and a lot of parents trying to keep up. Dave Yoo, founder and CEO of Onsides, joins Eric Kasimov to talk about the problem his company is trying to solve. Onsides is built for parents of youth athletes who are tired of jumping between platforms and trying to make sense of scattered information. The goal is simple: reduce the cognitive load. Eric and Dave also get into the bigger youth sports ecosystem, including AI, private coaching, NIL, parent behavior, social media, startup life, and what it means to build something useful in a noisy market. Key Takeaways Why youth sports feels broken, but may be better described as underserved How parents became the collateral damage of fragmented sports platforms Why Onsides starts with scheduling but points toward something bigger How AI can help parents without guessing on the details that matter Why every feature should reduce cognitive load The rise of private coaching, travel needs, and sports tech integrations What startup founders need to think about in the AI era Why the youth sports conversation still has to come back to the kids Chapters 00:00 – Youth sports, sports tech, and the size of the market 03:00 – Why Dave Yoo started Onsides 06:06 – Building the all-in-one youth sports app for parents 08:26 – Reducing cognitive load for sports families 10:48 – Training, private coaching, and Athletes Untapped 12:29 – How Onsides uses AI 14:40 – Probabilistic AI vs. deterministic scheduling data 16:41 – AI disruption in software engineering 18:42 – Advice for students entering the workforce 20:09 – College, uncertainty, and keeping up with change 22:29 – Growth, awareness, and reaching overwhelmed parents 24:31 – The commercialization of youth sports 27:07 – Recreational sports, I9 Sports, and getting kids active 30:25 – Too many games, overuse, and youth sports reform 33:02 – Better parent behavior and positive messaging 35:10 – NIL moving downstream 37:52 – How podcasting and media help startups grow 41:38 – AI, content, and the next wave of signal boosting 43:24 – Kids, social media, group chats, and behavior 47:42 – How to find Onsides 48:39 – Connecting with Dave Yoo Connect Dave Yoo: Website | LinkedIn Eric Kasimov — X | LinkedIn Related episodes Gordon Hayward | Life After the NBA & Youth Sports Reform EP143 | Bad Grades in School to Sports Business Founder Dan Soviero EP 181 | AI Content Detection & Digital Ethics with Madeleine Lambert Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

April 20, 2026Episode 1941 hr 10 min

NIL Made College Athletes Entrepreneurs With No Guardrails | EP194

When NIL opened up, everyone rushed to build the marketplace — collectives, payment vehicles, deal flow. Nobody asked who the athlete actually was or what they'd do when the money hit. Stephen Bienko, former Air Force Academy and Villanova athlete and founder of 42U, has been inside college athletics long enough to see what got left behind. This conversation covers the transfer portal, soft skills, brand equity, and why the chaos in college sports is a business lesson that applies well beyond the stadium. Key Takeaways NIL created overnight entrepreneurs with no guardrails — the infrastructure for deals came first; the infrastructure for the human being came last Student athletes have a 5.5% Instagram engagement rate vs. 2.2% for non-athlete influencers — brands figured this out before universities did Chasing NIL deals is like buying followers in 2012 — most of those people are gone; sustainable brand equity is built differently "Soft skills" came from the U.S. military in WWII — AI is making them the most valuable skills in the room again The transfer portal has pluses and minuses — the old way forced hard conversations; the new way offers freedom but skips the growth that came with it Chapters [00:00] The old-school transfer — walking into a Hall of Fame coach's office and asking to leave [07:57] NIL and the gold rush nobody planned for [14:00] Athletes as economic engines — the 5.5% stat [25:47] Where "soft skills" actually came from [29:00] Stop chasing deals — build brand equity instead [57:00] Financial literacy and what college athletics should actually be teaching Originally aired on SportsEpreneur . Connect Stephen Bienko — 42U | LinkedIn Eric Kasimov — X | LinkedIn Related episodes Gordon Hayward | Life After the NBA & Youth Sports Lacrosse Founder on Youth Sports Therapist Shortage + Consuming Bad News Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

April 17, 20263 min

Essentials | No Compromise: What Military Thinking Taught This Tech Founder About Leadership

Zero tolerance for compromise doesn't mean being harsh — it means being clear. Dave Selinger explains how military mentors shaped his leadership philosophy, why "left of bang" became the foundation of Deep Sentinel's approach to crime prevention, and how you can hold absolute standards while still managing people like human beings. Key Takeaways "Left of bang" — the military concept of intervening before the first shot fires — is the core logic behind Deep Sentinel's entire model Zero compromise on safety and performance doesn't require a drill sergeant approach; clear boundaries and human management can coexist Most leaders drift toward leniency because someone "means well" — Selinger argues that's exactly where standards break down You don't have to serve to learn from the military — books, mentors, and borrowed frameworks can still reshape how you lead Chapters [00:00] No compromise — where the idea comes from [01:07] Left of bang: the military concept that changed everything [02:03] Clear boundaries vs. harsh management — the paradox Selly lives by [03:18] How to absorb military thinking without serving Producers Note Pulled from EP192 with Deep Sentinel founder David Selinger . About Entrepreneur Perspectives Real conversations on business, creativity, and life—hosted by Eric Kasimov. Founder of KazSource. More from Entrepreneur Perspectives Is College Still Worth It? From Google to Conifer Author of The Book of Elon Get in touch with Eric Kasimov: X | LinkedIn Credits: Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

March 26, 202626 min

The Long Game | Episode 1: Wes Connor on 50 Years in Business

What 50 years in insurance teaches about relationships, change, and why the basics still matter. In Episode 1 of The Long Game, Mitch Long sits down with Wes Connor to talk about how he got into insurance, what kept him in it, and what 50 years in the business has taught him. They get into family business, remote selling, hiring challenges, commercial and personal lines, and why life insurance still stands apart from products people are required to buy. It’s a grounded look at what still matters in the business, what has changed, and why the basics still win. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT How Wes Connor got into insurance in 1975 From kitchen table sales to DocuSign and video calls Why relationships still matter in a more digital business Working with family across generations Hiring challenges in today’s insurance market Commercial versus personal lines in a changing market Why life insurance feels different from mandatory coverage Disability, long-term care, and planning before it’s too late CHAPTERS 00:20 – Mitch welcomes Wes Connor 00:41 – How Wes got into the insurance business 03:15 – Starting out and falling in love with the work 05:21 – How selling insurance has changed over the years 08:00 – Podcasts, technology, and the next generation in the business 11:00 – Working with family and building an agency over time 12:00 – Hiring challenges and the shortage of new agents 16:23 – Disability insurance, income protection, and planning gaps 16:52 – Wes breaks down his agency’s commercial and personal lines mix 19:19 – Why selling life insurance is more satisfying 21:00 – Real examples of how life insurance changes outcomes for families 23:29 – Long-term care, aging, and staying healthy Connect with Mitch Long: LinkedIn | KazInsurance | Read: Pagers & Payphones Connect with Wes Connor: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram More from the KazSource Network The Real ROI of Podcasting — KazCM What Happened to CFB Bowl Games — SportsEpreneur Remote Work in Today’s Financial Advisory Industry —Entrepreneur Perspectives About This Podcast and Series The Long Game is a series under Entrepreneur Perspectives. Produced by QuietLoud Studios — a modern media network. Get in touch with Eric Kasimov: X | LinkedIn Credits: Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

February 5, 202633 min

The Long Game: Meet Mitch Long

Why stories beat pitches, why showing up still matters, and what this series is about. Eric Kasimov sits down with Mitch Long to kick off The Long Game. Mitch has been in the insurance business for over 30 years. He started with a pager and a roll of quarters. He built his book by showing up every Tuesday until people just started handing him the business. Now he's here to have conversations with business owners about how they got where they are — the real version, not the LinkedIn version. What We Talk About: Criminal justice major to insurance salesman The 93-year-old woman and the bell story Why face-to-face still matters (and why it's not enough anymore) Pagers, Blackberries, and the quarantine pivot The buggy whip salesman problem NIL, college sports, and what it means to stay relevant Chapters: 00:14 – What this show is and how conversations work 01:00 – Mitch's path into insurance 08:27 – Podcasting as a way to connect 13:00 – Old school meets new school 21:30 – Adjusting how you reach people 23:45 – Pagers, payphones, and quarters 26:00 – Blackberry, Gateway, and what happens when you don't evolve 28:00 – The buggy whip salesman 30:00 – Mitch's grandfather sold matches 31:30 – MC Hammer selling records out of his trunk 32:01 – NIL and financial literacy Connect with Mitch Long LinkedIn | KazInsurance More from the KazSource Network Ambient Influence in Content — KazCM The Benefits and Issues of NIL — SportsEpreneur Is College Still Worth It? — Entrepreneur Perspectives About This Podcast and Series The Long Game is a series under Entrepreneur Perspectives. Produced by QuietLoud Studios — a modern media network and a KazSource brand. Get in touch with Eric Kasimov: X | LinkedIn Credits: Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

November 11, 202514 min

Is College Still Worth It?

The Truth About Admissions, Debt & AI’s Role in the Future of Higher Ed College costs are soaring, mental health struggles are rising, and the path to success looks more uncertain than ever. In this conversation, Eric Kasimov talks with Senan Khawaja, Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI-powered platform helping students and universities rethink the college admissions process. They explore the question that so many students and parents are asking: Is college still worth it? Together they unpack how higher education, entrepreneurship, and technology are colliding in real time. What You’ll Hear Why student debt is becoming a startup killer for young professionals The mental health toll of college admissions — and what schools are missing The rise and fall of the “test optional” movement Why SATs and ACTs are making a comeback How grade inflation and participation trophies distorted the system What resilience really looks like in education and entrepreneurship How AI can democratize opportunity — not just automate it About Senan Senan Khawaja is the Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI startup rethinking college admissions and guidance. A Stanford grad, he’s focused on making higher education more accessible and data-driven. Learn more about kollegio.ai About Entrepreneur Perspectives Real conversations on business, creativity, and life—hosted by Eric Kasimov. Founder of KazSource. More from the KazSource Network About that Em-Dash That Everyone Now Seems to Hate — KazCM 21% of College Students Use Financial Aid to Bet on Sports — SportsEpreneur AI Security and 15M in Series B Funding — Deep Sentinel interview Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Get in touch with Eric Kasimov: X | LinkedIn Credits: Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

August 14, 2025Episode 19354 min

Bob Knakal on Selling Buildings, the Future of CRE, and Owning the Streets of NYC | EP193

Bob Knakal is a legendary figure in New York commercial real estate, known for his data-driven territory model, massive deal volume, and unapologetically old-school work ethic. As the founder of Massey Knakal Realty Services (sold for $100M) and now Chairman at BKREA, Bob has shaped both the skyline of NYC and the next generation of real estate professionals. In this episode, Bob shares how 40 years of fieldwork, 22 boxes of newsletters, and a pandemic walking tour of Manhattan became the foundation of his modern marketing machine. He talks about launching The Bob Knakal Show, staying true to core values while adapting to AI, and how being “out there” isn’t about ego—it’s about client outcomes. You’ll hear Bob’s brutally honest take on what it takes to succeed in sales, why cold calling still matters, the power of content in real estate, and how office-to-residential conversions are reshaping the NYC market. This conversation is packed with timeless lessons on resilience, relevance, and why liking what you do still beats any business plan. Main Topics: How Bob turned mistakes and cold calls into a $100M business sale Why content creation is the modern version of “pounding the pavement” The ROI of podcasting, newsletters, and putting yourself out there A deep dive on NYC’s office-to-residential conversion wave and 467M tax program What young professionals really need to learn (hint: not just Excel) Why Bob started his own show—and why your legacy matters Lessons in grit, luck, leadership, and working through adversity Chapters With Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction and Early Career Insights [00:00:43] Bob Knakal's Life-Changing Advice [00:01:41] Writing the Book: Selling Buildings [00:05:17] Reading, Learning, and Staying Sharp [00:08:44] Is College Still Worth It? [00:15:22] Market Presence and Content Creation [00:19:46] Adapting to Change: Tech and Tactics [00:25:30] The Relentless Work Ethic [00:26:58] Finding Passion in Work [00:27:36] Resilience Through Adversity [00:30:43] Commercial Real Estate Market Changes [00:34:26] Office to Residential Conversions [00:39:35] Commitment to New York City [00:42:46] The Map Room Success [00:46:58] Launching The Bob Knakal Show [00:50:24] Inspiring the Next Gen [00:54:04] Wrap Up & Final Words Bob Knakal Website YouTube LinkedIn Related Episodes: David Selinger on AI Security, $15M Series B, and the Deep Sentinel Mission | EP192 Tastytrade: How a Trading & Media Empire Was Built by Giving Everything Away | Scott Sheridan CEO — EP189 How AI Is Changing College Counseling and Admissions with Senan Khawaja, CEO of Kollegio | EP190 Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios . Get in touch with Eric Kasimov: X LinkedIn Credits: Music by Jess & Ricky: SoundCloud