In this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with Jacques Nack, founder and CEO of JNN Group and Quantum Inc. Jacques brings a powerful mix of tech innovation, leadership insight, and entrepreneurial grit to the conversation. We explore his journey from tinkering with early computer systems and learning QBasic at age 12 to leading high-performance teams and advising global startups. His insights into system-building, team development, and creative sales hacks are absolute gold for anyone in the startup world.

Jacques shares how he bootstrapped a tech business from one desk to 40+ employees, and why clarity, focus, and creative resourcefulness were key to his success. We also dive into how he thinks about startup execution, the "barbershop test" for new ideas, and how to know when (and how) to raise funding. If you're building a company or leading a team, you won't want to miss this episode.

Timeline Summary:

[2:02] - How childhood curiosity and early exposure to business shaped Jacques' entrepreneurial mindset

[6:30] - Discovering inefficiencies in digital legal evidence and launching a disruptive data firm

[11:10] - Why he didn’t hire salespeople—and got business from competitors instead

[16:25] - The importance of hiring right: building a team that trains itself

[20:45] - Jacques’ advice on executing ideas: countdowns, clarity, and the "barbershop test"

[28:10] - How to know when it's time to raise funding (and what kind of raise you need)

[35:30] - Making smart decisions about scaling: partnerships, pricing strategy, and timing

[42:15] - What makes a great CEO at different business stages

[48:00] - Final advice: stick to your spot, work hard, stay honest, and get a little lucky

Links & Resources:

Jacques Nack Website: https://www.jacquesnack.com/

Jacques Nack LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacques/

Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com

Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Closing Remark:

If you found value in Jacques' story and insights, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the Patent Hacks Podcast. Share this episode with a founder or leader who's ready to scale smart and build bold!

In this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with Cliff Budnick, president and general manager of Innovate Technologies, to unpack the lessons of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the powerful role patents play in building and protecting a business. From launching his first startup in the custom partyware space to leading a multimillion-dollar HVAC solutions company, Cliff has lived through every phase of product development and IP strategy.

We talk about the real-world implications of patenting, navigating cash flow challenges, and building a strong team through thoughtful delegation. Cliff also pulls back the curtain on how Innovate leverages in-house inventions, licensed products, and strategic acquisitions to grow their IP portfolio and market reach. If you want to understand how innovation and intellectual property drive sustainable growth, this one is a must-listen.

Timeline Summary:

[1:10] - Cliff shares his startup journey and lessons from his first company

[6:34] - The cash flow trap: Net 90 terms and their hidden impact

[11:42] - Transitioning to Innovate and building an IP-focused culture

[15:20] - Offensive vs. defensive patent strategies in real-world business

[19:56] - Innovate’s product development pipeline and provisional patent strategy

[24:31] - Mistakes, delegation, and the 60% rule for scaling effectively

[31:02] - Evolving from in-house IP to licensing and third-party products

[38:45] - Defending IP against infringers and the costs of enforcement

[46:12] - How patents impact valuation during M&A and investor interest

[50:08] - Communicating ideas to attorneys and vetting prior art

[54:36] - Cliff’s advice to early-stage and scaling inventors: embrace failure

Links & Resources:

• Cliff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliff-budnick-mba-bb277011/
• Cliff’s Website: https://inovate.com/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Closing:

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast! If you found Cliff's insights helpful, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the show. And don’t forget to share it with fellow founders, product leaders, or anyone navigating the world of IP and innovation. See you in the next one!

In this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with Ronald Diamond, founder and chairman of Diamond Wealth and a leading voice in the world of family offices. With a background that spans hedge funds, private equity, and innovation in wealth management, Ron brings a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on how family offices are transforming the investment landscape.

Ron shares his journey from Wall Street to founding a hedge fund and ultimately building a powerful syndicate of family offices managing billions in assets. We dive into how these private entities differ from traditional private equity and venture capital, the concept of "patient capital," and why family offices may be the future of both innovation and philanthropy. If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or just curious about the future of wealth, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Timeline Summary:

[1:22] - Ron shares his career beginnings and early experience at Drexel Burnham

[5:45] - Launching his hedge fund and transitioning into family office investing

[9:03] - Differences between family offices and traditional private equity/VC

[14:16] - The advantage of patient capital in the family office model

[18:50] - Creating Family Office World Media to drive collaboration and education

[26:32] - How Stanford and Booth schools helped build a family office curriculum

[32:10] - The lack of a playbook and how education is changing the family office model

[39:18] - Investing with purpose: how family offices are solving real-world problems

[46:27] - What Ron looks for in startups and why he bets on the entrepreneur

[53:06] - Advice for entrepreneurs on navigating funding and maintaining balance

Links & Resources:

• Ronald’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronalddiamond/
• Ronald’s Website: https://www.diamondwealthstrategies.com/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Closing:

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast! If you enjoyed this conversation with Ronald Diamond, please take a moment to rate, review, and follow the show. Don’t forget to share it with friends or colleagues who might benefit from the insights. Catch you in the next episode!

In this episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with Sam Sells, a former Air Force officer turned real estate visionary and founder of Impact Growth Capital. Sam shares his incredible journey from growing up in rural Oklahoma to transforming slums and distressed housing into clean, affordable communities that truly uplift people out of poverty. We dive into how he's using a for-profit business model to create massive social impact while delivering strong investor returns.

Sam breaks down how his team partners with public housing authorities, leverages government-backed funding, and integrates AI-powered tools to support tenants with access to education, job training, childcare, and more. If you've ever wondered how you can build a sustainable business that actually changes lives, this episode is packed with real-world strategies, inspiration, and actionable insights.

Timeline Summary:

[1:35] - Sam's humble beginnings in rural Oklahoma and how the military became his escape from poverty

[4:30] - From global health strategist to impact-driven real estate investor

[8:18] - Identifying the U.S. government as the biggest slumlord and seizing the opportunity to partner for change

[13:50] - How affordable housing becomes a launchpad for breaking the cycle of poverty

[18:05] - Building a 3-part system: housing, on-site services, and AI-powered support

[24:42] - The importance of aligning incentives to create sustainable impact

[32:10] - How Sam structures deals to attract foundations and mitigate investor risk

[40:55] - Simple yet powerful strategies to reduce crime in distressed housing communities

[45:30] - Taking the mission global and advice for aspiring social entrepreneurs

[52:00] - Sam's advice for founders: never give up, prioritize cash flow, and expect challenges at every level

Links & Resources:

• Sam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelsells/
• Sam’s Website: https://impactgrowthcap.com/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Closing Remark:

If this episode inspired you to think differently about business and impact, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the Patent Hacks Podcast. Your support helps us keep bringing on incredible guests like Sam. Share this episode with someone who dreams of doing well and doing good!

In this value-packed episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, I sit down with David Goldstein, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and founder of the 9% Club. David's mission is to help founders join the elite 9% of startups that actually succeed, and in this episode, he delivers actionable advice from the trenches of entrepreneurship. We discuss everything from his first "pooper scooper" business at age nine to building and scaling multiple ventures, and the critical role that systems play in making businesses scalable and sustainable.

David shares why passion, preparation, and process are essential to winning in business, and he breaks down how founders can avoid black holes that quietly destroy startups. You'll also hear why analysis paralysis can be more dangerous than failure, how to pick the right investors, and why daily execution habits matter more than big ideas.

Timeline Summary:

[1:05] - David’s first business at age 9 and the hustle that launched his entrepreneurial journey

[5:45] - Lessons learned from failure and why passion and sales are non-negotiable for success

[11:20] - How systems separate successful founders from the 91% who fail

[16:15] - Overcoming fear and analysis paralysis with action and mindset shifts

[22:40] - The danger of chasing the wrong revenue and shiny objects

[29:05] - What makes startups scalable and attractive to buyers

[36:12] - The truth about automations and creating lean, efficient growth

[41:30] - Understanding black holes in business and how to avoid them

[47:00] - Daily execution habits every founder should adopt

[52:10] - Managing mental stress, staying confident, and preparing for pressure moments

[58:25] - One piece of advice for aspiring and scaling founders

Links & Resources:

• David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-goldstein5/
• David’s Website: https://9percenter.com/9-percent-club
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Closing Remark:

If this episode gave you the inspiration or tools to push your startup further, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the Patent Hacks Podcast. Share this with your fellow founders who need a little extra momentum on their journey to becoming part of the 9%!

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Eschliman—executive coach, leadership strategist, and former VP of Operations at Tri Pointe Homes—to explore how to lead with purpose, build high-performance teams, and master the "monotonous" steps that actually lead to success. With over 30 years in the corporate trenches and now working as a Gravitass Impact coach, Jeff shares timeless leadership wisdom for founders at any stage of their journey.

We unpack why clarity beats complexity, how to take accountability like a true leader, and why scaling a business always starts with self-mastery. Whether you’re just breaking into entrepreneurship or leading a growing team, this episode is full of powerful frameworks, honest insights, and mindset shifts that can help you scale without burnout.

• [1:25] Jeff’s path from military service to the homebuilding industry to coaching
• [5:40] Why working for others can be a powerful way to build your leadership toolkit
• [11:20] The “do it for free” test: finding a path that fuels you long term
• [17:05] How to bring clarity to business chaos through mission, values, and core competencies
• [24:15] What it really means to “master the monotonous” in business and life
• [31:00] Why real leadership means looking in the mirror—and taking 100% ownership
• [38:45] The biggest hiring blind spots founders face (and how to fix them)
• [49:10] Why action—not knowledge—is what drives progress
• [56:00] Building mindset muscles: the daily power of gratitude and personal grounding
• [1:03:00] Final advice for early-stage founders and those looking to scale

• Website: https://www.jeffeschliman.com/
• Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffeschliman
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

This conversation with Jeff is a masterclass in leadership, mindset, and growth. If you're building something big—or even just trying to grow into the next version of yourself—his frameworks and honest storytelling will help guide the way.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate, follow, share, and review the Patent Hacks Podcast—it helps more builders and founders like you discover us. Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you in the next one!

In this episode, I talk with Irfan Jafrey (founder of Roosterly, ex‑Google researcher, and personal branding expert) about the psychology behind social media, how to build a brand without burning out, and how AI is already reshaping content creation. Together we dig into the discovery process he used early on, the three types of executives he’s seen in his work, and what authentic storytelling looks like in an era of formulaic content. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an executive, or a creator, you’ll get real, actionable insights—not just hype.

• [2:10] Irfan’s transition from law + Google research into founding Roosterly
• [6:30] How small-scale proof of concept laid the groundwork for raising capital
• [9:45] The “three buckets” of executives & their social media challenges
• [16:20] Does every entrepreneur or executive need a personal brand? (Spoiler: No)
• [20:50] The danger of AI-generated “same-sounding” content & the future of gated, high-value content
• [28:15] What actually makes content land in big publications vs getting lost
• [35:05] Irfan’s internal framework: choosing projects, avoiding burnout, and working with purpose
• [41:40] Unpopular opinions + advice for early-stage founders (e.g. slow down, don’t chase quick wins)

• Website: https://roosterly.com/
• Connect with Irfan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irfanj/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

I truly enjoyed this conversation with Irfan — I hope his clarity, honesty, and strategic mindset left you with just as many takeaways as it did me. If this episode resonated, please rate, follow, share, and review PatentHacks—it helps more creators and innovators find us. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next one.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Timothy Coffin, a health‑informatics veteran, AI innovator, and CEO of ConQiro. Tim walks us through how he turned personal tragedy (a hospital incident involving his son) into a mission to improve hospital operations with real‑time AI for asset tracking and predictive maintenance. Along the the way, we dig into his entrepreneurial journey, from building early computer systems in high school to working in defense and intelligence, then pivoting to healthcare. We also explore what it really takes to deploy AI in hospital settings (from ethics to training to security), what’s next with large language models in clinical care, and the wisdom he’s learned about scaling startups, fundraising, and reinventing yourself across industries.

If you want to peek into the future of AI in health, or you’re a founder trying to navigate the messy intersection of compliance, speed, and meaningful impact, this is one you’ll want to listen to.

• [2:30] Tim’s early tinkering days: creating a “match‑survey” app and one of the earliest point-of-sale systems
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• [6:15] From Air Force AI to telecom to defense: how his background built a foundation for healthcare
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• [11:40] The catalyst: his son’s hospital experience and the problem of missing or misplaced medical equipment
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• [16:20] The hidden cost: nurses spending 75 minutes per shift looking for equipment, and hospitals losing ~$4,000 per bed annually
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• [22:50] Deploying AI in healthcare — misconceptions, pitfalls, and non‑negotiables (ethics, security, model drift)
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• [28:10] The promise of LLMs in clinical settings: conversational programming, real‑time decision support, and integrating domain expertise
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• [33:40] Commercial vs government innovation: why timelines differ, procurement challenges, and strategies to bridge the gap
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• [38:20] For AI founders: “Don’t sell AI, sell purpose.” Advice on fundraising, investors, and scaling
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• [42:00] Final advice: risk, reinvention, and surrounding yourself with talent that complements your strengths
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• Website: https://conquiro.ai/
• Connect with Dr. Coffin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothypcoffin/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/
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Tim’s story is a powerful reminder that great innovations often arise from real, painful problems. His approach blends deep technical savvy, domain knowledge, and a relentless drive to make things better. As he says, founders often fail when they chase buzzwords instead of purpose. His journey also shows that you can reinvent yourself—medical tech, defense, telecom, academia—and carry common threads of curiosity, ethics, and solving problems.

If you got value from this episode, I’d appreciate it if you’d rate, follow, share, and review The Patent Hacks Podcast so more people can discover these conversations. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time.