Blake Erickson is the Co-founder of Scaling.com, a research and advisory firm that helps established businesses pursue tenfold growth through strategic guidance and its Scaling Framework. He leads the company's strategist team and guides its strategic direction, having personally trained more than 1,200 people. Blake also co-authored The Science of Scaling, a New York Times bestselling book written with organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy. An experienced entrepreneur and keynote speaker, he helps business owners strengthen leadership, identify growth opportunities, and develop strategies to scale their companies.

Growing a business doesn't always mean scaling it. Many entrepreneurs spend years making incremental improvements, only to find themselves constrained by the same limitations that have held them back from the beginning. So what separates businesses that grow gradually from those that achieve 10X growth in just three years?

According to Blake Erickson, a bestselling author and entrepreneur with extensive experience building high-performing teams, exponential growth begins with a fundamental shift in how business owners set goals and allocate resources. He emphasizes that the key is not simply setting bigger goals but establishing shorter deadlines that force entrepreneurs to rethink their strategies, identify high-leverage opportunities, and make more decisive investments. Rather than waiting for revenue growth to justify stronger leadership and better systems, founders should build the infrastructure needed to support the scale they want to achieve. Blake also stresses eliminating competing priorities and removing operational bottlenecks, especially when founders get too involved in day-to-day activities. By focusing on the right opportunities, people, and decisions, entrepreneurs can break free from incremental progress and create the conditions for accelerated growth.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Blake Erickson, Co-founder of Scaling.com, to discuss the strategies behind 10X business growth. They explore the impact of ambitious deadlines, the importance of removing bottlenecks, and the value of building high-performing teams before scaling. Blake also shares real-world examples of companies that achieved exponential growth by rethinking their approach to business.

Corey Kupfer is the Founder and Managing Partner of Kupfer., PLLC, a corporate and deal law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, entity and platform design, and entrepreneurship. With decades of experience, he has represented, trained, and mentored thousands of companies and entrepreneurs and has handled hundreds of complex deals and business transitions. Corey is the author of the Amazon bestselling book Authentic Negotiating and host of the DealQuest Podcast. He is also a former Chapter President of the New York Entrepreneurs' Organization and is known for his expertise in negotiation strategy, business growth, and the role of mindset and clarity in successful deal-making.

Great negotiations aren't always about having the strongest position or the best tactic. When emotions run high and the stakes are significant, the ability to stay grounded can make all the difference. So, what really separates an effective negotiator from the rest?

For Corey Kupfer, an experienced negotiator and attorney, successful negotiation starts with internal clarity, detachment, and equilibrium. He highlights how self-awareness and preparation help negotiators stay composed, reframe difficult situations, and navigate high-pressure deals — even when they have limited leverage. Through real-world examples, Corey shows how ego, fear, and poor preparation can derail negotiations, while strategic pauses, creative thinking, and adaptability can lead to better outcomes. His approach shows that mastering the internal side of negotiation matters as much as mastering the strategy.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Corey Kupfer, Founder and Managing Partner of Kupfer., PLLC, to discuss authentic negotiating and successful deal-making. They explore the role of mindset, the three keys to negotiation mastery, and strategies for handling heated situations. Corey also shares insights on bad deals, private equity rollups, and deal-making red flags.

Alexander Harstrick is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of J2 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in advanced computing, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. He previously served as a US Army intelligence officer and worked with the Defense Innovation Unit and AFWERX, helping deploy nearly $2 billion in defense funding to US startups. Alexander holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree from Columbia University.

Jonathan Bronson is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of J2 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in advanced computing, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. He previously worked at Boston Consulting Group, served as COO of Backpack Health, and worked at D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments. Jonathan holds a PhD from Columbia University, where he developed AI tools to analyze biochemistry experiments.

Dual-use investing becomes compelling when a technology can succeed in the commercial market while also solving meaningful government or national security needs. But that broader potential only matters if the business has strong product-market fit and a viable path to scale. What separates a compelling dual-use company from one that simply has a defense application?

Alexander Harstrick, a former Army intelligence officer and seasoned venture investor, argues that the strongest dual-use companies are built around genuine commercial demand rather than government contracts alone. He emphasizes that military relevance should expand a company's opportunity, not substitute for product-market fit. Jonathan Bronson, a PhD-trained scientist with experience across consulting, startups, and investing, adds that helping founders navigate government procurement can create a meaningful advantage when the underlying business is already strong. Their perspective shows why strong business fundamentals, repeatable demand, and commercial product-market fit are essential to making dual-use investing work.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Alexander Harstrick and Jonathan Bronson, Co-founders and Managing Partners at J2 Ventures, to discuss the dual-use investing edge. They explore commercial product-market fit, military procurement, and technologies that serve both consumer and government markets. They also share lessons from fundraising, portfolio companies, and missed investments.