At 17, Bryce Holloway thought he was going to become a dentist. At 23, he spends most of the year living in South America and serves as CEO of Investor Signals, a startup connecting founders with investors.

So how did he get from one to the other?

In this episode of the VoQuest Podcast, Bryce shares the unconventional path that took him from flipping cars and experimenting with making money online to traveling through South America, building a business, developing expertise in startup fundraising, and eventually stepping into leadership at Investor Signals.

We talk about how startup fundraising actually works, why relationships matter so much in venture capital, what it's really like to work inside an early-stage company, and the skills young people can develop to make themselves valuable in fast-moving environments.

One idea stands out above the rest: develop your "figure it out" muscle.

Bryce explains why integrity, resourcefulness, sales ability, consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to solve problems without waiting for someone to hand you instructions can dramatically increase the opportunities available to you.

We also talk about taking risks while you're young, learning from failure, avoiding lifestyle inflation, building relationships, and why Bryce's advice to his 17-year-old self isn't to find the perfect career, but to go down more rabbit holes.

Because the more interests you explore, the more you're exposed to. And the more you're exposed to, the more opportunities you can discover.

Connect with Bryce & Explore

Bryce Holloway on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-holloway123/

Investor Signals:
https://www.investorsignals.co/

Looking for opportunities at startups?

During the conversation, we discussed finding recently funded startups that are actively hiring. Kyle Thomas regularly shares startup hiring opportunities on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-coffelt-thomas/

You don't need money to start. You don't need a mentor. You don't even need a plan... at least, not at first. What you need is the willingness to get uncomfortable and keep going when nothing is guaranteed.

If you've ever looked at the path ahead and thought "I don't have what it takes to build something real" this episode is a direct answer to that thought.

Today's guest knows what it feels like to stand at that crossroads with nothing but potential. Samuel Popa went from earning $200 every two weeks as a hospital worker (with a bank account that rarely climbed above zero) to building and running a portfolio of companies under a private equity firm, all by age 26. He didn't have investors, a business degree, or a family safety net. He had a very small stimulus check, a co-working space, and an idea he got from watching James Bond. Today, he's pulling back the curtain on exactly how he got there and what he'd tell his younger self if he could go back.

What You'll Learn:

• How Samuel brokered his first container deal with negative $300 in the bank and what that taught him about starting before you're ready
• What "vertical integration" actually means and how it quietly became the engine behind his entire empire
• Why chasing money makes it harder to get and what to focus on instead
• The mindset and discipline habits Samuel credits for his growth (and why he compares business failure to lifting at the gym)
• How to define success before you start building so money doesn't become the destination that leaves you empty

Key Moments:

• The James Bond movie that sparked the whole idea (~8:30)
• The ghost ad that made his first $200 with nothing in the bank (~9:30)
• The half-million-dollar supplier crisis that almost ended his company — and created his best business relationship (~16:30)
• "If you're the smartest person at the table, you're at the wrong table" (~29:00)
• His definition of success — and why it's more than money (~19:30)

Resources Mentioned:

• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink (mentioned by C.W.)
• The Immigrant Edge by Brian Buffini (mentioned by C.W.)
• Samuel Popa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-popa-542352314/
• BuiltBox Containers: https://www.builtboxcontainers.com/

Enjoyed this episode? We want to know what's resonating with you. What topics or guests would you love to hear on VoQuest? Tell C.W. directly on Instagram → @voquestpodcast

🎙 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this episode of VoQuest, I sit down with Kase Kilchrist to talk about fitness, faith, business ownership, and what it looks like to find your path when life does not unfold in a straight line.

Kase shares how he went from studying child and family development and working as an autism specialist to becoming a trainer and eventually building an online coaching business. Along the way, he explains what people do not see behind the scenes of working for yourself: client check-ins, programming, taxes, KPIs, lead flow, ad spend, content scripting, and the constant pressure of wearing multiple hats.

We also talk about the emotional side of the journey: being a people pleaser, taking criticism from people who do not understand your goals, learning how to filter feedback, and refusing to let other people’s expectations dictate your future.

For young people interested in health and performance, Kase shares practical advice on avoiding shortcuts, staying natural, learning the basics of nutrition, and understanding why more is not always more in the gym. He also explains why real coaching and accountability still matter in a world full of apps, generic advice, and AI tools.

Toward the end, the conversation shifts to faith, surrender, and learning to trust God with your future. If you are trying to figure out your next step, build discipline, or make wiser decisions about work, health, and calling, this episode is full of honest perspective and practical encouragement.

Find Kase on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quesolifts/

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