Riviera Holdings VC Podcast EP6 Ashley from Cast21

The podcast explores Ashley Hoppe's journey in founding Cast21, a company creating waterproof alternatives to traditional casts and braces. Ashley discusses the initial vision influenced by the startup culture of the 2016 era and how it has remained consistent: to change how the world heals. She emphasizes the importance of skill-based hiring over pedigree and shares insights on navigating product-market fit through customer discovery programs. The conversation covers Cast21's marketing approach, which uniquely combines B2C and B2B strategies, and the challenges of managing product development, manufacturing, and supply chains, especially with tariffs and domestic competition. Ashley also touches on expanding beyond the U.S. market, fundraising experiences, and the significance of asking for help and building connections.