Almost a year ago, I stood on a plot of land in Austin with Ellis Winstanley. He pointed to an empty space and said, "Here's my vision. I'm going to have an event center there."

I remember thinking: yes, of course, you are and I was so confident it would happen we recorded our first podcast together announcing that the 2026 Founderology Growth Summit would be hosted at the new El Arroyo event center.

That's exactly what Ellis does. He sees what others don't. He asks the questions others won't. And he builds what others say can't be done.

Ellis is the Founder of NAR Ventures, Axial Shift, El Arroyo and several other groundbreaking companies. Here's what makes him different from most serial entrepreneurs/Founders I know: He doesn't just solve problems for himself. He invites others in to solve them together, and the solution ends up helping an entire industry.

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis and I discuss his Founder's journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't bartend ("Why not? I can legally do it") to building one of the most innovative hospitality brands in the country.

When someone told him something couldn't be done a certain way, he didn't argue. He just kept working it until he found a solution. Then he did the hard work of making it real.
Ellis's Founder's mindset has driven everything he's built:

• El Arroyo's transformation from a local Austin icon into an international phenomenon.
• A bold vision for rethinking casual dining at a time when the entire industry is under pressure.
• An approach to community development and experiences that meets people where they are, at an approachable price point.
• Developing technology that drives performance at every level of a restaurant.

Ellis shared something in our conversation that every Founder needs to hear right now. It's about what happens when you stop trying to figure everything out yourself and start asking the right people the right questions. I won't give it all away here. You need to hear him say it.

I will share: The advice he gives is the same approach that took him from running numbers on a 10-key calculator behind a bar to building a portfolio of companies that are genuinely changing how people experience hospitality.

If you're a Founder navigating 2026, wondering how to grow, how to scale, how to solve the problems that feel impossible right now, this episode is for you. Ellis' mindset inspires us all to ask "why not". Listen to the full episode of Founderology: Built to Break Through wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you want to connect with Ellis and 100 more Founders building businesses to break through, join us at the Founderology Growth Summit, Feb. 2-4, 2026, at the brand-new El Arroyo Event Center in Austin. Ellis will be delivering a keynote, "From Tacos to Tech: A Founder's Journey," and trust me, you don't want to miss it.

As Ellis consistently highlighted, it only takes one insight to change everything. One question. One room full of the right people. That's what the Founderology Growth Summit is all about.

Register now at www.founderologysummit.com - Let's make 2026 your year to break through

As we close out 2025, I keep coming back to one undeniable truth: this year moved fast. Faster than many even realized. Technology accelerated. Consumer expectations evolved. Leadership required more courage, clarity and community than ever before. And through all of it, Founders continued to do what Founders do best — rise.

In our final Founderology podcast episode of the year, Fast Casual Publisher Cherryh Cansler and I sat down to reflect on the moments that mattered, the shifts that shaped us and the momentum carrying us into a breakthrough 2026. Rather than recap every detail, we want to share the themes that stood out — the ones that will inspire every Founder to tune in and move into next year with purpose.

2025: The year Founders took control

This was the year Founders stopped waiting for the industry to stabilize and started rewriting the rules.

Cherryh called 2025 "the year of augmentation" — a season when technology supported people and strengthened their work. We watched Founders use AI, smarter systems and predictive tools not to cut corners but to elevate teams, strengthen operations and reclaim hospitality.

I called it the year of AI or Die — not fear-based, simply factual. The Founders who embraced new tools gained speed, clarity and confidence. The ones who resisted were falling behind faster than ever before.

These were great positions we unpack— real insights from the real front line experiences.

The Founder shift: From doing it alone to growing through community

If one message defined our year, it was this: Founders win bigger when they stop building alone.

We saw it throughout our Founderology Collaboratives, the Founderology podcast and the Founderology Growth Summit community. Founders accelerating forward are partnering, collaborating and reaching new levels of momentum together.

Our conversation highlights how this shift changed the game for every Founder who embraced it and why it matters even more in 2026.

What emerged was powerful:

• A network that grows your net worth.
• A community that accelerates your company.
• A shared language only Founders understand to help each other grow.

Hospitality returned to the center — And it's not going away

Cherryh and I both agreed: the future of restaurants is the experience economy.

Guests aren't choosing based on product or price alone. They are choosing based on their experience — they want and expect great service, food, beverage and an overall experience they value.

We discussed examples of brand reinventions, leadership gaps and the renewed importance of hospitality as a true strategic advantage. This is THE section for any Founder ready to reignite the team or reexamine the guest journey.

Where We're Going in 2026

Cherryh said it best: 2026 is the year technology and humanity work together.

I added that to make it all work it has to be the year to invest in leaders and leadership development — the leaders you have, the leaders you are developing and the next generation of leaders you need to groew.

We also share a few surprises in this episode, including emerging trends and the mindsets we believe will define the next wave of restaurant growth.

Why the Founderology Growth Summit is the ultimate launchpad for 2026

This is one area we will not stop talking about because of the massive value and impact of the Founder to-Founder experience. Our conclusion there is no better way to start your year than with 125 visionary restaurant Founders who share your drive.

This is the room where breakthroughs happen.

This is the room where clarity clicks.

This is the room where Founders stop going it alone.

In the episode, Cherryh and I highlight:

• Why this Summit delivers one of the highest ROIs a Founder can make.
• How the Investo

Danielle Mahon, the Founder of seafood steam pot brand Topsail Steamer, joined host Kathleen Wood on a recent episode of the "Founderology" podcast to discuss the evolution of her company from a local storefront to a national franchise.

During the interview, Mahon detailed the philosophy behind her brand, which offers pre-prepared seafood steam pots designed for customers to cook and share at home. Mahon founded Topsail Steamer in 2017 on Topsail Island in Surf City, North Carolina. She launched the business to replicate the family tradition of the "Lowcountry boil," aiming to pioneer a new category in the food industry centered on shared experiences.

"Connection creates meaning and growth," Mahon told Wood during the broadcast.

The discussion covered Mahon's trajectory from a single location to a multi-channel brand. Following a notable appearance on ABC's "Shark Tank," the company expanded its reach through a partnership with the e-commerce platform Goldbelly, allowing the company to ship its signature pots nationwide. Mahon has since transitioned the business into a franchise model, offering opportunities to operators seeking a lifestyle-oriented business model.

Wood, a growth strategist and founder of the consultancy Kathleen Wood Partners, spoke with Mahon about the specific mindset required to scale a niche product. Mahon emphasized a leadership style focused on "disciplined optimism" and the ability to find opportunities within obstacles.

"Challenges arrive, and she responds with clarity," Wood noted regarding Mahon's approach. "Her leadership reflects a founder who pioneers a category with originality and vision."

During the episode, Mahon outlined several key lessons for entrepreneurs, including:

• Staying aligned with a core purpose to direct business strategy.
• Designing experiences that foster human connection.
• Filtering external advice through personal values.
• Thinking beyond the starting point to expand vision with confidence.

Mahon is scheduled to elaborate on these strategies as a featured keynote speaker at the Founderology Growth Summit, Feb. 2-4 in Boston. Her session will cover the specific operational plans guiding Topsail Steamer's expansion and her approach to rewriting the standard franchise playbook.

Register for the summit here.

The "Founderology" podcast features interviews with business leaders and entrepreneurs focused on growth strategies and organizational culture.