In this episode of Huckaleros, Kyla Brown joins host Mike Brennan to share her evolution from growing up in Rochester and studying digital retail to founding Knotch, a fashion and style AI platform. She dives into the ups and downs of building a startup, connecting her background in tech from Syracuse University to her work at Code Academy and her recent entrepreneurial moves, including her innovative Shopify app. Kyla discusses the importance of community, mentorship, and staying true to her vision, all while navigating challenges like fundraising and industry shifts. Plus, she reflects on her time in Trinidad, her deep love for fashion rooted in her family, and her goal to make style more accessible, personalized, and sustainable through technology. Key topics include how her diverse experiences in education, tech, and fashion intertwine, why embracing experimentation and feedback is essential, and the exciting future of AI in retail. Kyla also offers insights into the importance of trust, persistence, and building ecosystems that support authentic growth. Tune in for a story of resilience, innovation, and a visionary approach to transforming how we style ourselves and shop online.

PJ McMullen joins Huckaleros with Mike Brennan to talk about the path that led to building Planke, a fitness platform designed to better connect instructors and studios.

PJ shares how growing up in the Catskills, working in technology consulting, moving to New York City, and navigating major life changes during the pandemic all shaped where he is today. The idea for Planke came from seeing firsthand how difficult it could be for fitness instructors to find the right opportunities and for studios to find the right people.

We talk about how Planke evolved from those early conversations, what PJ learned moving from consulting into building a product, and why the traditional hiring process does not always work well in the fitness world. PJ also shares the experience of moving from New York City to Austin and eventually back to Rochester, where he is now continuing to grow the company.

Ebuka Mgbenka of Money Pigeon

In this episode, Mike Brennan welcomes Ebuka Mgbenka to share his journey from growing up in Nigeria, developing a passion for building and engineering, to transitioning into software development and entrepreneurial ventures. He discusses the story behind founding Money Pigeon, which is designed to make international transactions seamless, trustworthy, and local-like especially within emerging markets like Nigeria. Ebuka highlights his experience with tech giants like Google, his fascination with AI and machine learning, and his early career in enterprise software and IoT at Bosch.We dive into Ebuka's insights on the evolving AI landscape, its future potential, and the ethical considerations around automation and jobs. He emphasizes the importance of creating useful AI tools and the role of regulation in shaping its impact. Ebuka recounts his experience during Startup Grind’s global pitch event in San Francisco, and the strategic vision of making cross-border spending as effortless as local transactions.Finally, Ebuka offers a vivid vignette of his food adventures in Chicago, the cultural differences he navigated, and how his experiences abroad continue to influence his vision. His story exemplifies how personal pain points can inspire scalable solutions, driven by curiosity, resilience, and a strong desire to solve real-world problems.