Every Founder has a story — a spark that becomes the heartbeat of a brand. Some stories begin with a dream, others with a dish, and every now and then one begins with a taco that turns into a brand that is built to breakthrough.

In this episode of the Founderology Podcast, I talk with Roberto Espinosa — the visionary Founder of Tacodeli. What started as one small taco shop in Austin has grown into one of the most authentic and respected fast casual restaurant brands in the country.

From the very moment I walked into my first Tacodeli, I felt it — the energy, the flavor, and the authenticity.

I still crave Tacodeli's breakfast burrito, made with fresh scrambled eggs and Roberto's grandmother's mashed potato recipe. It is food rooted in authencity, love, and purpose — the same foundation every Founder needs when building something that lasts.

And then there is the story of the Doña Salsa — a recipe created by one of his earliest team members in an employee contest that became a cornerstone of Tacodeli's identity. It is not just a salsa. It is a story of honoring people, sharing success, and keeping community at the center of growth. Every Founder can learn from that level of authenticity and connection.

As Roberto and I talk, you will hear lessons about leading through purpose, growing through people, and staying true to your values as your business scales. His story is proof that greatness happens when vision and integrity grow together.

What Founders will gain from this episode

• It is a blueprint for authenticity. Roberto shares how staying rooted in his original vision became his greatest advantage as Tacodeli scaled.
• It redefines growth. We explore how sustainable success is not about speed but about building systems, culture, and partnerships that last.
• It celebrates Founder conviction. Roberto's unwavering belief in his purpose reveals how clarity fuels every breakthrough.
• It showcases the power of people. From his partnership with his team to honoring the creator of the Doña Salsa, this story demonstrates how empowering others drives growth.

It reminds every Founder why purpose matters. Whether you are building your first store or scaling your tenth, this episode reignites the belief that your purpose can be your greatest accelerator.

The next time you are in Austin, put a visit to Tacodeli at the top of your list. If are joining us for the Founderology Growth Summit, in Austin, February 2-4, 2026 then you are all set. Register today and take advantage of our early-bird special savings so you can order even more at Tacodeli.

Join me for this episode of Founderology, where we talk about tacos, truth, and the timeless power of staying authentic while building something extraordinary to breakthrough.

It's the answer every business owner wants to know and very rarely gets a direct answer about it — UNTIL NOW — at the Founderology Growth Summit, that answer becomes reality.

Founders want to grow, scale, and create lasting value. The challenge is knowing where the value of your business stands today — and what will elevate it to investment-grade strength.

I am so proud and honored to announce that Founders Advisors will be one of our leading sponsors at the Founderology Growth Summit, February 2-4, Austin. Through the leadership of Wayne Vacek, Managing Director of Founders Advisors, Founders gain the rare opportunity to see their business through the lens that investors, partners, and acquirers use to define excellence.

Wayne brings more than 25 years of experience guiding founder-led companies to build stronger systems, smarter growth, and higher value. His insights are practical, proven, and transformative for every Founder ready to accelerate their success.

From insight tompact

Wayne and the Founders Advisors team are introducing their proprietary Investor Grade Assessment exclusively at the Founderology Growth Summit. Every Founder attending the Summit will receive complimentary access to this powerful evaluation that measures performance across seventeen dimensions that define investment-grade readiness.

What Founders must know to increase their valuation

In this Founderology episode, Wayne shares:

• One metric every Founder must measure to drive growth
• Three critical areas that directly influence valuation.
• What are typical blind spots that cause value to be lost
• What separates businesses that attract investors from those that struggle to gain traction

Even the most seasoned leaders will uncover new perspectives through the Investor Grade Assessment — and how those insights become the foundation for long-term value creation. Founders will hear how leadership, financial discipline, and culture align to elevate both performance and worth. Every conversation with Wayne becomes a master class in founder-led excellence. His perspective reshapes how Founders think about readiness, strategy, and success.

From assessment to acceleration

During the Founderology Growth Summit, Founders Advisors will host a bonus Investor Grade Workshop exclusively for all attendees. This experience brings the assessment to life, helping Founders interpret their personalized results, identify high-impact priorities, and build a focused plan to raise value across every area of their business.

Founders will leave equipped with clarity, focus, and actionable priorities — knowing exactly how to transform their Investor Grade results into a growth and leadership roadmap for the year ahead.

To provide securities-related services, certain principals of Founders Advisors, LLC are licensed with Founders M&A Advisory, LLC, member of FINRA & SiPC. Founders M&A Advisory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders Advisors. Neither Founders Advisors nor Founders M&A Advisory provide investment advice.

Every Founder knows the spark that starts an idea and then the journey begins. In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we talk with Donna and Daniel Golik, Mother and Son Founders of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream – craveable, flash freezing made to order ice cream.

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream is the brainchild of ice-cream loving Daniel. So much loving that he spent 6 months in his garage, but 3,345,789 brain-freeze later, the almighty "nitrogen ice cream equation' was perfect and Chill-N was born. Today, Daniel and Donna are expanding Chill-N from its roots in South Florida and franchising across country and in the process redefining ice cream for all.

The Chill Behind the Brand

A brand that began with curiosity, grew through innovation, and continues to expand through purpose. Their conversation reveals what happens when vision becomes more than a plan on paper. It shows how belief, family, and focus can create something that resonates far beyond a storefront.

Daniel and Donna share the inside track on how they transformed experimentation into their growing enterprise. They share their lessons on building systems that work, creating culture that lasts, and leading with values that never waiver. Donna and Daniel also speak to the power of innovation and staying grounded while growth accelerates.

Growth Lessons Earned

Every Founder listening will recognize the moments they've lived themselves and hear how Daniel and Donna addressed:

• The challenge of starting small while thinking big
• The drive to create something new in a crowded space
• The constant balancing act between family and business
• The clarity that comes when purpose and performance align for growth

Chill-N to Breakthrough

Daniel and Donna's dialogue carries the rhythm of Founders who are in motion—refining, adjusting, and leading with intention. Their insights remind us that growth is both creative and operational, deeply personal and powerfully scalable.

Tune in to Founderology: Built to Breakthrough and hear how Donna and Daniel Golik are fueling delicious growth—one decision, one store, and one inspired vision at a time. It's about aligning your focus to keep moving forward and the wisdom to keep building stronger.