Ai, 1 Million Customers, and $1.7B Company Valuation | ZenBusiness CEO, Ross Burhdorf

In this episode, Jess sits down with Ross Buhrdorf, Co-Founder and CEO of ZenBusiness, to unpack what it really takes to build companies that matter. From helping lead HomeAway through its massive growth and $3.9 billion exit to Expedia, to building ZenBusiness into a billion-dollar platform serving entrepreneurs across America, Ross shares lessons from the front lines of scaling, fundraising, product-market fit, and leadership. He explains why small businesses are the backbone of the economy, how AI is transforming execution inside modern companies, and why the future belongs to builders who show up, pay attention, and keep moving. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, team-building, and creating products people truly need. If you’re building something of your own—or thinking about starting—this episode is full of hard-won insight from someone who’s done it at the highest level.