Making a website is hard. Making one that supports a business is even harder. When Anthony Casalena started Squarespace in early 2004, these were some of the problems he endeavored to solve. After 10 years of development, Casalena and the Squarespace team have perfected the art of designing within constraints, and they've fostered a growing enterprise by applying that principle to the businesses and passion projects of their customers. In this episode of Small Empires, see how Squarespace made the jump from solo founder to startup success and how the company continues to push the boundaries of online entrepreneurship both for itself and its customers.

Making a website is hard. Making one that supports a business is even harder. When Anthony Casalena started Squarespace in early 2004, these were some of the problems he endeavored to solve. After 10 years of development, Casalena and the Squarespace team have perfected the art of designing within constraints, and they've fostered a growing enterprise by applying that principle to the businesses and passion projects of their customers. In this episode of Small Empires, see how Squarespace made the jump from solo founder to startup success and how the company continues to push the boundaries of online entrepreneurship both for itself and its customers.

Hiring a private chef is typically considered a luxury reserved for only the wealthy, but one Brooklyn startup aims to change that. Headquartered in Gowanus, Kitchensurfing is opening the private cheffing industry to the masses by creating a new platform for undiscovered chefs to build up their own personal brands and enrich the diets of their customers. Whether users are looking to learn how to prepare new styles of cuisine, host a party with friends, cater an event, or simply eat differently in their own homes, Kitchensurfing is connecting people with better food.

Hiring a private chef is typically considered a luxury reserved for only the wealthy, but one Brooklyn startup aims to change that. Headquartered in Gowanus, Kitchensurfing is opening the private cheffing industry to the masses by creating a new platform for undiscovered chefs to build up their own personal brands and enrich the diets of their customers. Whether users are looking to learn how to prepare new styles of cuisine, host a party with friends, cater an event, or simply eat differently in their own homes, Kitchensurfing is connecting people with better food.

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, finding factories and sourcing facilities is not a trivial task. People bringing products to life have to pay substantial directory fees or know someone in the industry. Enter Maker's Row: a new approach to cataloging, organizing and representing the best American manufacturers so designers & entrepreneurs can go from concept to prototype without going overseas or over budget.

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, finding factories and sourcing facilities is not a trivial task. People bringing products to life have to pay substantial directory fees or know someone in the industry. Enter Maker's Row: a new approach to cataloging, organizing and representing the best American manufacturers so designers & entrepreneurs can go from concept to prototype without going overseas or over budget.

Small Empires turns a new page and takes a look inside the colorful world of FiftyThree, makers of the hit app Paper. Founded by a group of ex-Microsoft Research veterans that worked on the secretive Courier project, FiftyThree develops design-minded software that aims to help regular humans communicate their ideas effectively and beautifully. In this episode, meet the minds behind FiftyThree and an educator that is using Paper to both present ideas and encourage students to develop theirs, through the art of digital drawing.

Small Empires turns a new page and takes a look inside the colorful world of FiftyThree, makers of the hit app Paper. Founded by a group of ex-Microsoft Research veterans that worked on the secretive Courier project, FiftyThree develops design-minded software that aims to help regular humans communicate their ideas effectively and beautifully. In this episode, meet the minds behind FiftyThree and an educator that is using Paper to both present ideas and encourage students to develop theirs, through the art of digital drawing.

Small Empires is back! Join Alexis Ohanian as we give you a never-before-seen look at the world of New York startups. This week, we check out OkCupid, the dating site with a propensity for data research. Alexis sits with Christian Rudder about how he and the SparkNotes founders went from study guides to an online dating network — and from there, how the startup functions after being purchased by Match.com owners IAC. Next week? A software company that's helping you make better sketches — online and off.

Small Empires is back! Join Alexis Ohanian as we give you a never-before-seen look at the world of New York startups. This week, we check out OkCupid, the dating site with a propensity for data research. Alexis sits with Christian Rudder about how he and the SparkNotes founders went from study guides to an online dating network — and from there, how the startup functions after being purchased by Match.com owners IAC. Next week? A software company that's helping you make better sketches — online and off.

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

Discover, rent, maybe purchase. It's a business model we've seen in various forms for video, audio, and even games. But what about one of the most timeless creative endeavors — art? Small Empires is our new weekly show that visits rising New York City startups and provides never-before-seen access to the men and women building our future. Join Alexis Ohanian as he talks to cofounders Alex Tryon (formerly of American Express) and Scott Carleton (formerly a nuclear engineer), as well as Brooklyn-based artist Dan Bina.

Discover, rent, maybe purchase. It's a business model we've seen in various forms for video, audio, and even games. But what about one of the most timeless creative endeavors — art? Small Empires is our new weekly show that visits rising New York City startups and provides never-before-seen access to the men and women building our future. Join Alexis Ohanian as he talks to cofounders Alex Tryon (formerly of American Express) and Scott Carleton (formerly a nuclear engineer), as well as Brooklyn-based artist Dan Bina.

Gaming is addictive. Working out? Not so much. Cue Fitocracy. It's the product of two people unhappy with their own body image, trying to figure out some way to motivate themselves getting in shape, and putting those efforts into a company. Small Empires is our new weekly show that visits rising New York City startups and provides never-before-seen access to the men and women building our future. Join Alexis Ohanian as he talks to cofounders Brian Wang and Richard Talens at their office near Union Square - and later gets trained by a Fitocracy user.

Gaming is addictive. Working out? Not so much. Cue Fitocracy. It's the product of two people unhappy with their own body image, trying to figure out some way to motivate themselves getting in shape, and putting those efforts into a company. Small Empires is our new weekly show that visits rising New York City startups and provides never-before-seen access to the men and women building our future. Join Alexis Ohanian as he talks to cofounders Brian Wang and Richard Talens at their office near Union Square - and later gets trained by a Fitocracy user.