Welcome to the Make More Marbles Podcast, where host Brad Hart sits down with the best minds in business, growth, and leadership.
In this episode, Brad interviews Travis Steffen — bestselling author, mentor, and serial entrepreneur with eight successful exits under his belt.
From raising $100 million to mastering the art of timing your exit, Travis breaks down exactly what it takes to build scalable companies, attract investors, and create freedom through entrepreneurship.
🚀 The Entrepreneur with Eight Exits
Travis Steffen’s story is one of constant evolution. Having founded, co-founded, or led eight different companies to exit, he’s learned that selling isn’t just about the money — it’s about reputation, leverage, and freedom of choice.
He shares how exits can serve multiple purposes:
- Cash – recovering and multiplying your investment
- Credibility – building your track record for future ventures
- Choice – giving yourself the time and freedom to build what truly matters next
Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) — or as he calls it, “a super MBA” — Travis believes that titles like Doctor still carry real power and influence in today’s world.
💼 From GrowFlow to Mentorship
Travis previously served as CEO and COO of GrowFlow, a B2B SaaS company built for licensed cannabis businesses in the U.S. It provided compliance tools, point of sale systems, analytics, and sales management — and became a go-to platform in the space.
After the company’s successful exit, Travis shifted gears toward mentorship, helping founders at accelerators build, scale, and sell their startups.
Now, he’s focused on building a venture that lets him act as his own angel investor, funding his next wave of tech innovation.
💰 Fundraising Like a Pro
Raising over $100 million across his ventures, Travis has a strategy that’s anything but random.
Here’s how he approaches fundraising:
- Identify 400–500 investment funds that align with your business model and thesis.
- Send a short, punchy blurb highlighting your most impressive achievements.
- If investors show interest, follow up with a detailed deck and a call.
He emphasizes that most VCs aren’t investing their own money — they’re managing funds with strict criteria. That’s why validation from other investors often drives decisions.
“Venture capitalists rarely give a clear yes or no,” Travis notes.
“They wait to see who else is in before they commit.”
Fundraising, he argues, should be hard. The process tests a founder’s persistence, creativity, and ability to handle rejection — all vital skills for running a company.
⚡ Rapid Growth: Timing Is Everything
When your product starts getting copied, that’s your signal — you’ve hit something real.
For Travis, that’s the time to go all in.
Speed and execution are everything in the startup world. Market conditions shift fast, and the window of opportunity doesn’t stay open for long.
“When something’s working, get as much leverage as you can,” Travis says.
“You can always slow down later — but if you hesitate, someone else will take your spot.”
According to Travis, five elements must align for a company to hit hypergrowth:
- Market – Is the demand big enough and growing?
- Model – Is the business scalable and sustainable?
- Channel – Are your customer acquisition paths working efficiently?
- Product – Does it solve a real, painful problem?
- Message – Are you communicating value in a way that resonates?
When all five align, growth isn’t a struggle — it’s inevitable.
🧭 Beyond the Exit
After so many exits, Travis isn’t chasing the next big sale — he’s building for impact.
He now uses his experience to guide founders through scaling and selling, while also exploring what comes after financial success: purpose, autonomy, and balance.
“An exit is just a milestone,” he reflects.
“What really matters is what you do with the freedom it gives you.”
🔗 Connect with Travis Steffen
👉 Visit his website: travissteffen.com
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👉 Need help building your mastermind or online business?
Schedule a call here.
👉 For help managing your wealth (7 figures+):
Grab the Money Manager book and get access to a private call link.
📩 For support or inquiries, reach out to support@makemoremarbles.com
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