This is a special episode of Rust Belt Startup because it was taped in front of a live audience this past July at MVCC’s thINCubator. This event was a partnership with The Rising Tide Society of Utica and featured a fireside chat with the founder of Utica Coffee Roasting Company, Frank Elias. 

It’s a conversation that focuses on not only the origin story of the company, but how they've experienced growth. We spend a lot of time talking about building a culture and cultivating talent within your network and within your region - instead of importing that talent. 

How do you create a culture where people want to be a part of the business and gve them opportunities for growth? We spend a lot of time here but also as UCR has expanded they now do a ton of their business online.

We get into that strategy and using partners like Shopify and Amazon and the pros and cons of each as it comes to online retail and distribution. So hope you find this conversation interesting and thanks to everyone that came out to this first fireside chat.

From Beans to Brew - The Utica Coffee Roasting Co. Story with Frank Elias

Energetic dance pop type beat 2026 "Rush" [128 Bpm, A#m]. Uplifting pop EDM instrumental with vocal chop lead and some club house style vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/d1Pma8

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Energetic Dance Pop Type Beat – Pop House EDM

Melodic trap type beat 2026 "Indigo" [165 Bpm]. Pop trap instrumental with crunchy indie rock style distorted electric guitar.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://www.beatstars.com/ihaksi

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Melodic Trap Type Beat – Crunchy Electric Guitar

Hard boom bap type beat "Basement" [97 Bpm, Key: Bm]. Rap battle beat with 90's underground hip hop and old school freestyle instrumental style vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/2DlITZ

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Hard Boom Bap Type Beat – Rap Battle / Freestyle Instrumental

Smooth melodic type beat "Utopia" [97 Bpm, Key: C#]. Chill rap instrumental with ambient, soulful and dreamy trap style vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/6rqGVA

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Melodic Type Beat – Smooth Rap Beat – Chill Trap Instrumental

Slap house type beat 2026 "Can't Stay" [125 Bpm, Key: C].Melodic deep house beat instrumental. Dark club style dance pop vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://www.beatstars.com/ihaksi

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Slap House x Deep House Type Beat – Dance Club Beat

What if one of the most interesting startups in New York is being built quietly in a barn in Vernon?

In this episode of Rust Belt Startup, I sit down with Justin Call, founder and CEO of Modovolo, a company designing a new kind of drone — and doing it far from the typical startup scene.

Instead of chasing hype or venture capital headlines, Justin and his team have been focused on something much harder: patiently building a real company, solving real problems, and learning what it takes to bring a complex idea to life.

In our conversation, Justin shares the story behind Modovolo — how the company got started, why they chose a very different approach to designing drones, and what it’s like to build a startup in a small community in Upstate New York.

We also talk about some of the lessons entrepreneurs can take from his journey, including:

• Why staying focused matters more than trying to grow too fast

• What it’s really like to build a product that has to work in the real world

• The importance of patience when you’re building something new

• Why great companies can be built outside Silicon Valley

• And how small teams can quietly do big things

This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how startups actually get built — not just the highlight reel.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, building things from scratch, or the future of innovation in places like Upstate New York, this conversation is for you.


Learn more at Modovolo.com 

Watch our interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ZlXbe07jC3c

Like and subscribe for more!

The Top Secret Drone Company Hiding In Plain Sight | Justin Call, Modovolo

G-funk type beat instrumental "Proof" [96 Bpm, Key: Cm]. Classic west coast rap beat with kind of Dr Dre x Slim Shady / Eminem style of mockin / diss vibe. Old school hip hop.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/WQyvtE

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 "Delusive" beat album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BWxh0wbTrJsxZLs8M7z9W?si=6mjU-_PCSCm0AGUis69zMA

Dr Dre Type Beat – G-Funk West Coast Rap Instrumental

Underground phonk type beat 2026 "Cut It" [140 Bpm, Key: Fm]. Dark memphis influenced rap instrumental with some disturbing, gloomy and evil trap phonk vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/FwwH4E

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 Beats on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Es393GT2lCOiTmnHbgJG3?si=o_VYhmtCRAiJnxmePjR8DQ

Underground Phonk x Memphis Type Beat - Dark Rap Instrumental

2000s type beat instrumental "Suave" [95 Bpm, Key: Cm]. Early 2000's type pop R&B banger beat with acoustic latin guitar and summer hip hop style vibes. Timbaland x Pharrell x Nelly x Justin Timberlake type beat vibes.

💲  Buy untagged commercial version: https://bsta.rs/j3bfDb

For non-commercial use on Youtube or Soundcloud (no monetization, no Spotify, no iTunes, no radio etc, non-profit) it's free, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! For any commercial use you need an eligible license.
🎧 Beats on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Es393GT2lCOiTmnHbgJG3?si=o_VYhmtCRAiJnxmePjR8DQ

2000s Type Beat – Guitar RnB / Hip Hop / Pop

Free for profit boom bap type beat "No Debate" [90 Bpm, Key: C#m]. Hard 90's freestyle rap instrumental. Gritty and raw old school east coast hip hop vibes from 90s.

Free for profit use, but remember to credit (Prod. Ihaksi)! 
🎧 Beats on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Es393GT2lCOiTmnHbgJG3?si=o_VYhmtCRAiJnxmePjR8DQ

From Beans to Brew - The Utica Coffee Roasting Co. Story with Frank Elias

Rust Belt Startup

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