Our CEO and founder Pete Cashmore recently sat down for an interview with Bloomberg Venture to talk about how Mashable has grown as a startup and a small business.

We're a humble outfit, but — in Bloomberg's words — we're also one of the world's most profitable blogs. Founded in 2005 as a one-writer blog, Mashable has now grown to include a staff of more than 30 people and has become a well-known source of great content and great events.

So, how did Cashmore do it? Aspiring bloggers and would-be media moguls, get ready to take a few notes! In this interview, our CEO discusses Mashable's origins and how he's managed to scale his small business into a thriving player in the larger world of technology and media.

We're embedding the first in this four-part series. If your interest is piqued, check out parts two, three and four, as well.

Have a look, and let us know what you think in the comments.