Valley Innovators Podcast | Startup Tips

On the latest Valley Innovators podcast, join the founders of 1903 PR and Persimmon Marketing as they discuss the implications of generative AI in the field of marketing. The wide-ranging conversation touches on potential benefits for startups and small businesses, how AI impacts entry-level marketing positions, and if we are headed into a future of marketing mediocrity.Learn more about Katie Verducci and Santiago Villegas at www.1903pr.com with host Brandon Lopez of www.PersimmonMarketing.com and www.ValleyInnovators.com.

Valley Innovators chats with Christian Wandeler, CEO & Founder of SEMCO Style US about the future of work, the great resignation, and why a new leadership style is needed for a rapidly changing global workforce.  Learn more about SEMCO Style US at https://semcostyle.us/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/semco-style-institute-usa/.

Chris Mann, VP of Product Strategy at Ledger Bennett (Ex-LinkedIn, 1Password, Bizo, BrightFunnel) joins Co-founder Brandon Lopez of Valley Innovators to discuss product led growth (PLG).  What is this growing tech trend?  How can founders utilize it successfully to build a customer base, more predictable revenue, and potential venture capital investments? Chris and Brandon also discuss the roles product and marketing teams play in PLG.Learn more about Chris on Medium: https://productmann.medium.com/ 

On this episode we're joined by Partner/Attorney Greg Norys of law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP as he shares common pitfalls for employers to avoid when managing non-exempt hourly workers for meal and rest breaks in California. Learn more about Greg and Coleman & Horowitt at https://ch-law.com/. 

On this pod Five Microns founder Dr. Leo Nguyen tells their story about how a passion to help people with tremors led to a lab invention on Fresno State University's campus and is now a commercially viable product sold across the US.  Learn more at www.fivemicrons.com.

On this episode of our podcast we're joined by California patent attorney Sherrie Flynn of Coleman & Horowitt, LLP where she dispels common myths regarding patents.Sherrie has 30+ years experience in business and mechanical engineering and represents clients in intellectual property registration and enforcement, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, business and business torts, and construction. Sherrie has secured patents for clients from physical/mechanical inventions to virtual reality products.Learn more about Sherrie and Coleman & Horowitt at https://ch-law.com/. 

On the pod we're joined by product leader Chris Mann who has built strategic product road maps at 1Password, LinkedIn, Bizo, IBM, and is also the ex-CEO of BrightFunnel. Chris discusses his actionable framework to align corporate and product strategies, improve collaboration amongst leadership teams, and what the triple cheeseburger of planning is.Learn more about Chris Mann on Medium at https://medium.com/@productmann and get access to his FREE planning templates at https://www.valleyinnovators.com/templates. 

Stephanie Dunn and Daniel Rudnick from law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP share tips and tradeoffs for the various business entity structures (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, etc.) including liability protection, tax implications, oversight required, and much more. Learn more about the best business structure to support your needs.Learn more about Coleman & Horowitt, LLP at https://ch-law.com/.

On this podcast we're joined by Akbar Rafiuddin, Co-Founder & COO of Ascent Solutions. Ascent Solutions is a Salesforce ISV partner with over a decade of experience building apps and solutions that extend the value of the back-office, inventory and order management on Salesforce.Akbar shares actionable tips, gotchas, and lessons learned about how to succeed as a new founder within the Salesforce ecosystem. Learn more about Akbar and Ascent Solutions at https://ascenterp.com/. 

On this podcast we chat with Santiago Villegas, Co-founder of 1903 Public Relations about his entrepreneurial journey. Santiago is from an immigrant family and his ambitions led him to attend Fresno State University where he decided to stay in the Central Valley and build a career in PR without moving to a major media market like NYC or SF. Learn more about Santiago and 1903 PR at https://www.1903pr.com/. 

On this podcast we're joined by founder Eric Colvin of athletic startup Ultrosport. We discuss how to get started in apparel and ecommerce, social media micro-influencers, and other helpful lessons he's learned along the way. Make sure to check out Ultrosport's athleisure gear at https://www.ultrosport.com/ or on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ultrosport/.

On this episode we're joined by founder Katie Verducci of Central Valley PR firm 1903 Public Relations. This in depth discussion covers everything from common mistakes founders make when outsourcing public relations to the types of services and benefits one should expect to receive. Learn more at https://www.1903pr.com/. 

Craig Tristao, a partner at law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP shares tips for employers about the legal ramifications for managing remote employees.  Understand the necessity for a work from home agreement and other ways to keep employee morale high while reducing business risk.  Learn more about Coleman & Horowitt, LLP at https://ch-law.com/.

Sherrie Flynn, a partner at law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP discusses five key areas for employers to address for Return to Work (RTW) success. Learn about how performing a Risk Assessment and Site-specific Plan reduces employer business risk as employees RTW.  Learn more about Coleman & Horowitt, LLP at https://ch-law.com/.

The Valley Innovators Podcast is intended for founders and entrepreneurs that are searching for helpful insights, tips, and stories to traverse the difficult landscape of building a successful company.

Greg Norys, a partner at law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP provides an overview of rules and regulations for employers to consider as they reopen offices and retail locations in the COVID-19 era.  Greg touches on employer guidance for work place safety, bringing employees back to work, COVID-19 testing, and employee benefits. Learn more about Coleman & Horowitt, LLP at https://ch-law.com/.

Greg Norys, a partner at law firm Coleman & Horowitt, LLP provides insights on recent government acts intended to help small business owners and their employees through the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, Greg discusses the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Emergency Family Medical Leave Act (EFMLA), Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSL), and implications for unemployment benefits, employer tax credits, and healthcare.  Learn more at https://ch-law.com/. 

Valley Innovators provides tips and resources to help startups and small businesses weather this difficult time during COVID-19. This pod includes resources for financial assistance, working remotely, managing teams, and ways to reduce short term costs, among other ideas.National Resources:CDC guidance for employers: http://bit.ly/2x5FA30HelloAlice Business Resource center: http://bit.ly/33tfz9SLinkedIn Learning for Working Remotely - free online classes: http://bit.ly/2wbZ8TiLocal Resources (Fresno, CA):Fresno Chamber of Commerce webinar: http://bit.ly/2UdXSXqOrdrSlip delivery app: http://bit.ly/394QEL1