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.

Unlock the secrets behind cutting-edge AI-powered customer experiences in this eye-opening conversation with Jacob Millorino, Partnerships at Rich Panel. Whether you're an e-commerce pro, SaaS founder, or just AI-curious, discover how automation and intelligent insights are transforming how brands delight customers and boost revenue.In this episode, Jacob shares his journey from door-to-door life insurance sales in Cleveland—where trust was built in real conversations—to leading innovative AI integrations in the customer service space. You'll learn how Rich Panel's AI-native help desk is reducing mundane tasks by 70–80%, freeing up reps to focus on high-value interactions.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: L0TL4VM4G4R67IRB

In this episode of Huckleros, Mike Brennan sits down with Steve Smith, founder of Perdix Software, to explore a journey that began with entrepreneurship at a remarkably young age and evolved into building technology for the future of manufacturing.

Steve shares the early experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the lessons learned from building businesses, and how those experiences ultimately led to the creation of MOLI, Perdix's integrated software and hardware platform designed to help manufacturers improve visibility, efficiency, and operational performance.

Our conversation covers entrepreneurship, product development, manufacturing innovation, leadership, and the realities of building technology that solves real-world industrial challenges. Whether you're a founder, operator, or simply fascinated by how great businesses are built, Steve's story offers practical insights and a compelling look at the future of manufacturing technology.

Topics discussed:

• Early entrepreneurial beginnings
• Building and scaling technology businesses
• Lessons learned from years of entrepreneurship
• The origins of Perdix Software
• How MOLI helps optimize manufacturing operations
• The future of industrial technology and automation
• Advice for founders and innovators

Dustin Wilson is Startup Community Manager at NextCorps and adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at SUNY Brockport, Dustin has spent nearly a decade working across the WNY startup ecosystem — from his time at Launch NY and KnowCap to developing entrepreneurial support programs that move founders forward. He holds an MBA in Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise from Colorado State University and brings lived startup experience to everything he does.

We discuss his entrepreneurial journey, what it takes to build a startup, and the current landscape for business and AI around Rochester and beyond.

On this episode of Huckleros, we're joined by Tom Seymour of Moka Energy.

Tom is bringing a unique caffeinated coffee bar to market, and honestly, he brings about as much energy as ten of the bars themselves. We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, his go-to-market strategy, and some of the lessons, setbacks, and unexpected challenges he's encountered while building the business and his career.

If you're interested in startups, product launches, or hearing what it really takes to bring a new consumer product to market, you'll enjoy this conversation.

Check out Moka Energy and grab some bars for yourself at MOKAEnergy.com.

In Episode 2 of Huckaleros, Mike Brennan sits down with his business partner, cousin, and longtime friend Jon Brennan, President of Developer Squad.

Having worked together for nearly 20 years, Mike and Jon share the story behind their entrepreneurial journey, from early ventures and hard-earned lessons to the successes that shaped their careers. Along the way, they revisit a few epic failures, the challenges of building businesses with family, and the experiences that ultimately informed how they approach entrepreneurship today.

This is an honest conversation about resilience, partnership, risk-taking, and what happens when you keep showing up long enough to learn from both your wins and your mistakes.

Whether you're building a business, thinking about starting one, or simply enjoy founder stories, this episode offers a candid look at the realities behind the entrepreneurial journey.