Coffee with a Founder Podcast: Joshua Bowen of Sutto

17- Jun-2025

In this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Joshua Bowen, Co-Founder and CEO of Sotto. They discuss how tech should handle repetitive tasks, allowing people to focus on building real, meaningful connections. Josh shares his belief that if brands strike the right balance, they will earn both customer loyalty and profit.

Josh also opened up about the human side of startup life. As a later-in-life dad, he has learned to structure his time around his family, forcing him to prioritize what matters most ruthlessly. His advice? Build your life and business around what truly keeps you grounded. For Josh, family and routines are key to staying centered while navigating the fast-paced startup world.

show notes:

01:01 - Introducing Sotto and reimagining brand loyalty

03:55 - Founderitis: The urge to build and create

07:09 - Balancing startup life with a family

10:30 - Fatherhood and new perspectives

13:10 The challenge of changing brand behavior

18:54 - The future of human experience vs. automation

Read More About The Episode:

01:01 - Introducing Sotto and reimagining brand loyalty

Joshua Bowen shares his ‘why’ behind Sotto, describing how the platform provides retail and cosmetics brands with smarter, more personalized SMS-driven customer relationships to help them move beyond generic loyalty programs.

03:55 - Founderitis: The urge to build and create

Josh demystifies the idea of the "unemployable founder" and explains his attraction to both startup and big company life, emphasizing his love for building solutions and moving fast.

07:09 - Balancing startup life with a family

Josh delves into how he manages work-life boundaries as a founder and later-in-life father, revealing regimented routines that help him prioritize his family while staying productive and grounded in the chaos of a startup.

10:30 - Fatherhood and new perspectives

Josh shares how fatherhood has shifted his perspective, making him appreciate the simple joys and the opportunity to support someone new, while reflecting on his upbringing and the familial philosophies he holds.

13:10 The challenge of changing brand behavior

Josh discusses the challenge of convincing brands to shift away from outdated, spammy marketing approaches toward genuine, long-term customer relationships — an uphill battle given entrenched habits and short-term metrics.

18:54 - The future of human experience vs. automation

Beck and Josh discuss how technology can automate repetitive tasks, allowing brands to create truly human and memorable customer experiences, arguing that, despite the rise of automation, the “ultimate luxury” will still be authentic human interaction.

BAM TEAM

26- Jun-2025