Podcasts about build iconic brands

Welcome to a special episode of Startup Dad! It's the holiday time again when the list of responsibilities, performances, potlucks and gifts goes through the roof for already busy parents. To help you navigate the chaos I've asked many of my past guests to share with me their favorite books from the past year – those they'd gift to another person and those they'd tell parents to get for their kids. I've also highlighted parent's favorite meals to make with and for their kids.I'm joined by Alex Cohen, Andrew Capland, Brian Balfour, Adam Nash, Adam Grenier, Will Rocklin, Rob Schutz, Casey Handmer, Tye DeGrange, Josh Herzig-Marx, Carla Naumburg, and Michael Perry.In this episode we discuss:- Top book recommendations from 2024 for adults- Their top book recommendations for kids of all ages- A favorite recipe to make with your kidsWhere to find Adam Fishman- Newsletter: FishmanAFNewsletter.com- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/- X: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/Timestamps:[00:41] Favorite book to gift this holiday season?[14:27] Favorite book that you'd recommend to another parent for their kids?[28:52] What recipe do you like to get your kids involved in at the holiday time?_Show ReferencesA full list of ALL references in this show can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17eDnhGaRWvCqBl0RmM746Je7Ovpt7qL-14TNzQS4DUg/edit?tab=t.0Nick Soman's Episode: https://startupdadpod.substack.com/p/building-a-company-and-family-nick-soman-decentFounding Sales, The Founder Led Sales & Early Stage Go-to-Market Handbook by Pete Kazanjy: https://www.foundingsales.com/Decent: https://www.decent.com/Casey Handmer's Episode: https://startupdadpod.substack.com/p/astrophysics-saving-the-planet-and-three-kidsPoor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Mungerby Charles T. Munger: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poor-charlies-almanack-charles-t-munger/1142619102Eric Bahn's Episode: https://startupdadpod.substack.com/p/integration-over-balance-and-hustling-with-kidsNever Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-audiobook/dp/B01COR1GM2/Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-copperhead-barbara-kingsolver/1140860121Eric Mauskopf Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOkHqWbJI1cWill Rocklin Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnPwKjSosyMA Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain-george-saunders/1137150630Michael Perry's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6JJhiFfK4Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/four-thousand-weeks-oliver-burkeman/1137427241Tye DeGrange Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs8FnMNIQILonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lonesome-dove-larry-mcmurtry/1001920809Adam Nash's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaOCL5WSzhcWhen the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reachby Ashlee Vance: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-heavens-went-on-sale-ashlee-vance/1142161472Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liftoff-eric-berger/1137428010Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Ageby Eric Berger: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reentry-eric-berger/1144620800Brian Balfour's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiQ_wAwfv5s100% Unofficial AB to Jay-Z by Jessica Chiha: https://www.amazon.com/100-Unofficial-Jay-Z-Jessica-Chiha/dp/0648073912/Andrew Capland's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-4ir53gZcThe Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-big-leap-gay-hendricks/1102667522Rob Schutz's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g611gCs4g0AThe Ferryman by Justin Cronin: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ferryman-justin-cronin/1141941765Carla Naumburg's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcrzFhbeIVsCase Histories (Jackson Brodie Series #1) by Kate Atkinson: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/case-histories-kate-atkinson/1100163888Josh Herzig-Marx's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiaE6ZmaOIQGnomon by Nick Harkaway: https://www.amazon.com/Gnomon-Nick-Harkaway/dp/0525432930The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway: https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Away-World-Nick-Harkaway-ebook/dp/B001EL6R9W/Adam Grenier's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoOXR_3dnLUFaster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain by Peter Shankman:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faster-than-normal-peter-shankman/1125456961Alex Cohen's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOa9mS-CIuQOutlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia: https://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Longevity-Peter-Attia-MD/dp/0593236599Lloyed Lobo's Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRuVbAHaUb0Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296Masters of Scale: Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs by Reid Hoffman: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/masters-of-scale-reid-hoffman/1138865531Penguin Problems by Jory John: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/penguin-problems-jory-john/1123199367Red Mars (Book #1) by Kim Stanley Robinson: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-mars-kim-stanley-robinson/1100623050The Cat Kid Comic Club Collection: From the Creator of Dog Man (Cat Kid Comic Club #1-3 Boxed Set) by Dav Pilkey: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Kid-Comic-Club-Collection/dp/1338864394/Pig the Pug (Pig the Pug Series) by Aaron Blabey: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pig-the-pug-aaron-blabey/1123894006?Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/du-iz-tak-carson-ellis/1123161884How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Full Color Edition by Dr. Seuss: https://www.amazon.com/How-Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Jacketed/dp/0593434382The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-polar-express-chris-van-allsburg/1100303321The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pout-pout-fish-deborah-diesen/1100935993Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tickle-monster-josie-bissett/1009267028The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Series #1) by Suzanne Collins: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hunger-games-suzanne-collins/1100171585Teach Your Giraffe to Ski by Viviane Elbee: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/teach-your-giraffe-to-ski-viviane-elbee/1128007314Little Blue Truck Makes a Friend: A Friendship Book for Kids by Alice Schertle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-blue-truck-makes-a-friend-alice-schertle/1142263535The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-with-no-pictures-b-j-novak/1118663264How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaoticby Carla Naumburg: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-stop-freaking-out-carla-naumburg/1145065982Someday a Bird Will Poop on You: A Life Lesson by Sue Salvi: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/someday-a-bird-will-poop-on-you-sue-salvi/1128829321The Spooky Wheels on the Bus: (A Holiday Wheels on the Bus Book) by J. Elizabeth Mills: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spooky-wheels-on-the-bus-j-elizabeth-mills/1019165966From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growthby Lloyed Lobo: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-grassroots-to-greatness-lloyed-lobo/1143861087Ninja Life Hacks Mindsets 8 Book Box Set (Books 65-72: Accountable, Respectful, Flexible Thinking, Consent, Entrepreneur, Healthy, Negative, Adaptable) by Mary Nhin: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637316976Improvise. Scene from the Inside Out by Mick Napier: https://www.amazon.com/Improvise-Scene-Inside-Mick-Napier/dp/156608198X---For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.comProduction support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Mea Culpa, Startups Lessons Learned, where founders, investors, lawyers and mentors share their lessons learned working on, with or for startups. Season 3 Lloyed Lobo's story.   Let us know who you want to hear sharing on this podcast. Thanks to Kohpy Ventures for making this series possible. Contact me @jebbery or suggest a guest here: www.mcp.fm Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Wall Street Journal Bestseller) at FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com Lloyed's Instagram: instagram.com/lloyedlobo/  

Making moves in your business, but hardly moving forward? Are you ready to stop sabotaging your own success?     Today, we're delving into the harsh realities of entrepreneurship with our guest, Lloyed Lobo. His journey is a testament to resilience and success.    From surviving the Gulf War to co-founding the fintech platform Boast.AI, empowering over 100,000 innovators through his community at Traction, and being featured in some of the world's top business publications.     But here's the twist: he isn't just here to share his triumphs. Lloyed feels he has wasted so much time and money on doing the wrong things.    So, we're diving deep into the mistakes he's made along the way, covering everything from the stupid things he's wasted time and money on, to the best investments he's ever made.    Join us as we navigate the pitfalls of entrepreneurial decision-making, revealing what truly matters when it comes to investing your resources wisely.    If you're ready to take control of your journey and make smarter choices, this episode is a must-listen!   #DestressYourBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Wisdom #ResourceManagement #LloyedLobo #PodcastJourney    ---   Helpful resources:   Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Wall Street Journal Bestseller) at https://FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com https://www.instagram.com/lloyedlobo  TractionConf.io Boast.AI

The World's #1 Personal Development Book Podcast! In today's episode we have the pleasure to interview for the second time Lloyed Lobo author of “From Grassroots to Greatness” Lloyed is a software engineer by education, community builder by passion, he has worked in startups, built companies worth millions and is co-founder of Boast.Ai and Traction.  In this episode you'll learn about the importance of energy and how to create it, diet, exercise, why a relationship can make you a rock star or a peasant, lessons on how to solve loneliness, creating a Wall Street Journal best-selling book, how to be the cool kid on the block, and of course the importance of creating a great community.  We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Lloyed Lobo.  Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Wall Street Journal Best-Seller) at https://www.FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com https://www.instagram.com/lloyedlobo To learn more about Lloyed visit: boast.ai/ www.lloyedlobo.com/ Today's episode is sponsored by Audible. Try Audible for free: www.bookthinkers.com/audibletrial. The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers) If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Lloyed Lobo got his first understanding of the power of community when visiting his grandparents in the Mumbai slums, and watching people come together in his childhood during the Gulf War. He has since turned this into an entrepreneurial superpower and used community-building to catapult his bootstrapped startup into the big time. He's since written a book about all of this stuff called "From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community-Led Growth". We spoke about the book and many of the topics within. Episode highlights:   1. Community is a company strategy, not a marketing strategy It's not enough to just sit there and layer "community" on top of your existing marketing and expect it to pay back instantly. It has to be part of your company's DNA, something that your customers and your employees can be inspired and motivated by. Attribution is hard, but the results will come. 2. You need to show up for your community or they won't show up for you You cannot take your community for granted. You need to provide them with constant, consistent value with no immediate expectation of reward. They will keep coming for the value, and you are engineering serendipity for future conversations. 3. Don't be afraid to have the sales conversations That said, if you don't ask, you don't get. You cannot be afraid of trying to offer paid value to your community, even if it feels uncomfortable to ask. If you are providing value then people will be happy to talk to you. Not everyone will become a customer, but some will. Use the reciprocity bias to your advantage. 4. There is power in finding your niche and sticking to it Don't try to go too wide chasing vanity metrics. You will get more value out of a smaller community of people who share your exact passions than out of a generic sea of people who couldn't care less. Make sure you identify your people, show up for them, and own your white space. 5. Community can be as much of a moat as technology or industry expertise There are more communities and products to solve problems for communities than ever before but, if you have the right community, you can use it to your advantage. Having an engaged, passionate community can help prevent your company from becoming a commodity. Check out "From Grassroots to Greatness" "In a world where traditional marketing is losing its edge and products are struggling to stand out, a thriving community is your biggest asset. Recognizing that true success lies not in products or technologies, but in the power of people, author Lloyed Lobo explores the intricate art of harnessing the community's strength as your ultimate acquisition channel, brand differentiator, feedback source, retention lever, and catalyst for transformative change." Check it out on Amazon. Contact Lloyed You can catch up with Lloyed on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Lloyed Lobo, the co-founder of Boast.AI and an expert in community-led growth, shares his journey of building deep, meaningful connections in the business landscape. In this inspiring episode, Lobo discusses the significance of genuine relationships in achieving business success. He opens up about his personal experiences, shedding light on how he cultivated a community-centered approach at Boast.AI. Lloyed's insights emphasize the power of authentic connections, not only in fostering business growth but also in enriching personal life. He delves into the importance of aligning company values with personal beliefs and how this alignment propels both individual and organizational success. This episode is a compelling narrative on the intersection of personal values, community building, and business success. Lobo's approach to entrepreneurship, focusing on authentic relationships and community engagement, offers valuable lessons for both budding and seasoned entrepreneurs.   Segmented Timestamps   [00:26] Lloyed's personal 'why' and his parents' influence. [05:01] Adapting to change and personal growth. [08:29] Building a $100 million FinTech company and discussing his book. [16:45] Hiring and firing based on company values. [29:21] Discussing the 'unicorn porn' phenomenon. [36:16] Society's definition of success. [41:18] Playing the long game in business and life.   Notable Quotes   "My why is bringing people together to create impact, to have a good time, to improve the quality of life, to have fun." - Lloyed Lobo "Pain is the precondition for growth. Anything great is on the other side of pain and suffering." - Lloyed Lobo "Great companies have great alignment. It's important to get people excited to become the co-author of a massive impact." - Lloyed Lobo "If you don't hire and fire people based on your values, then you'll never put it in action." - Lloyed Lobo "Your values are constant and make sure the people you're getting in bed with are aligned with you." - Lloyed Lobo "Society's definition of success... All my life I was chasing society's definition of success." - Lloyed Lobo "Life and business is a marathon, not a sprint. To be able to play the long game, you need to be able to sustain yourself mentally." - Lloyed Lobo "You may not get a second chance in life. You may lose, is it worth losing, is all the chase worth losing the relationships that you sacrificed everything for?" - Lloyed Lobo    USEFUL LINKS   Reach Lloyed at: Websites: https://www.tractionconf.io/ | https://boast.ai/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/lloyedlobo/  Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6twRL8X8D4CQq9yaazkvuM Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TractionConf Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Wall Street Journal Bestseller) at https://fromgrassrootstogreatness.com/    GET MORE FROM THE CULTURE LEADERS PODCAST Website: https://www.jessicakriegel.com/ Jessica's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegel  Culture Partners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/culturepartners/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess_kriegel/    Enjoyed the episode? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please leave us a review. 

Lloyed Lobo, Cofounder, Boast.AI & Traction. Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, From Grassroots to GreatnessLloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder, experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, witnessing the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. As the co-founder of fintech platform Boast.Al, he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company to $10 million in annual recurring revenue while also co-founding Traction, a community empowering more than 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital.Lloyed is also the author of the Wall Street Journal Bestselling book, ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth', which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small, such as Apple, Harley Davidson, Nike, Crossfit, HubSpot, and many more to help readers attract passionate and devoted fans of their own.Lloyed has been covered in Fox Business, Techcrunch, SF Business Journals, Forbes, and several other publications. He has also been a speaker at more than 100 conferences and podcasts including SaaStr, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Marketing School, Mixergy, and more.Unleash the Eagle Within You to soar higher with Coach Ugo Chijiutomi, “The Eagle”, your C.E.O (Chief Encouraging Officer). Here to encourage you to live life knowing your worth. You are worthy and I am here to help you embrace the best version of yourself. Visit https://ugochijiutomi.com to learn more about Coach Ugo Chijiutomi. I share 1 podcast a week and I'm interested in hearing your feedback plus what you would like to hear me talk about. Be sure to like, comment and share the videos with your friends. Be a part of the conversation and subscribe today. I love You! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About : International Speaker | Transformational Coach I UN WOMEN U.K. delegate CSW 67|Podcast Host. Email: info@ugochijiutomi.com LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ugo-chijiutomi-b92547226 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugo.chijiutomi/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank You!

On this episode of the Hustle and Flowchart podcast, host Joe Fier dives deep into the world of building iconic brands with community-led growth with special guest Lloyed Lobo. Lloyed, the co-founder of Boast.AI, shares his incredible journey from struggling startup to eight-figure success. Lloyed discusses the challenge of relatability when showcasing successful companies like Tesla and Apple, and how he overcame skepticism from potential customers to build a thriving community around his own company. He reveals the strategies and tactics that propelled Boast.AI to reach $10 million in annual recurring revenue without relying on marketing or investors. One key aspect Lloyed stresses is the importance of finding your tribe and building meaningful relationships with other founders. He shares how his meetup transitioned to an online format during the pandemic, resulting in a significant increase in subscribers and even catching the attention of investors. The power of community takes center stage in this episode, as Lloyed highlights its role in creating purpose and fostering a sense of belonging. He also provides practical advice on organizing successful events, inviting the right speakers, and attracting sponsors. Lloyed's new book, "From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community-led Growth," serves as both a guide and a source of inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to skyrocket their businesses through the power of community.  Understanding the Challenges of Building a Community: Lloyed highlights the difficult journey of finding a target audience and gaining their trust, emphasizing the significance of relatability when discussing successful companies like Tesla and Apple. Leveraging the Power of Community: Lloyed shares the remarkable story of how Boast AI reached $10 million in ARR without marketing or investors, completely relying on the power of community. He discusses the importance of passion, a sizable niche, propensity to pay, and ease of access. Practical Tactics Lead to Success: Rather than seeking high-level inspiration, Lloyed advocates for the practical guidance and support that can be provided by founders at a similar level of success. He highlights the need for actionable advice and specific tactics. Community Growth During the Pandemic: Lloyed explains how he transitioned his meetup to an online format during the pandemic, resulting in a significant increase in subscribers. This shift led to investors acquiring a majority stake in his company. The Power of Purpose and Companionship: Lloyed reflects on his experiences during a war in his childhood and how it taught him the importance of community and companionship in driving impact and purpose. Nurturing a Community for Sustainable Success: Lastly, Lloyed shares insights on the importance of consistency, understanding the customer's circle of influence, and creating a sense of community and purpose to attract and retain people. Two Other Episodes You Should Check Out Mastering the Art of Letting Go: Finding Clarity in Business with Joe Fier How To Be Seen & Unleash Your Authentic Brand with Jen Gottlieb Resources From Episode Accelerate growth with HubSpot's Sales Hub Check out other podcasts on the HubSpot Podcast Network Grab a copy of "From Grassroots To Greatness" Check out Boast.ai Contact Joe: joe@hustleandflowchart.com Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Hustle & Flowchart Podcast! If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please head over to iTunes (or wherever you listen), subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you!

Lloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder, experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, witnessing the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. As the co-founder of fintech platform Boast.Al, he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company to $10 million in annual recurring revenue while also co-founding Traction, a community empowering more than 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital. Lloyed is also the author of ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth', which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small. The book topped Amazon's new release charts in various categories, including Startups and Business Technology, within mere hours of its pre-sale launch. About the Episode: Today's episode is not a typical coaching episode like we usually do. Instead it's more a typical podcast set up where I interview Lloyed about his battles with mental health while exiting the company he built up to 10 million in recurring revenue.  Connect with Lloyd: Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com TractionConf.io Boast.AI https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo Recent viral LinkedIn posts Founder fitness (+2,400 likes)  Best way to bootstrap a startup to $10m revenue (+2,000 likes) Best way to raise funding for first time entrepreneurs (+900 likes) Best investor outreach template (+800 likes) Book: FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com | LinkedIn | Podcast | YouTube | Podcast Appearances

Have you ever heard these common myths about building connections and creating a sense of purpose in sales?  Myth #1: Networking is just about exchanging business cards. Myth #2: Purpose is a fluffy concept that doesn't impact bottom-line results. Myth #3: Building strong connections is only for extroverts. In this episode, our guest Lloyed Lobo will debunk these myths and share the truth about how these strategies can accelerate sales success. Lloyed Lobo, the accidental entrepreneur turned Wall Street Journal bestselling author, has a unique journey that has always revolved around the power of community. Growing up in Kuwait to Indian parents who faced educational barriers, Lloyed experienced the importance of connection and unity firsthand. Spending summers in the slums of Mumbai, he witnessed how communal activities like pumping water and sharing meals brought people together. Later, during the Gulf War, Lloyed saw how a shared purpose could unite even in the face of adversity. These experiences shaped his belief that great leaders should cascade purpose, not just goals, and that when people are united by a common purpose, they can move mountains. Lloyed's entrepreneurial spirit was ignited by these experiences, as he learned that entrepreneurship is not just about making money, but about taking an idea and executing it with extreme risk and uncertainty. Building communities became Lloyed's DNA, and it played a vital role in the success of his company, where he realized the true power of connection and the impact it has on mental well-being. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of building connections and creating a sense of purpose. When people are united by a common purpose, they can move mountains. - Lloyed Lobo My special guest is Lloyed Lobo Lloyed Lobo is a renowned author, known for his Wall Street Journal bestseller, "From Grassroots to Greatness." Alongside his writing achievements, Lloyed is also the co-founder of Boast.AI and Traction, showcasing his entrepreneurial expertise. With a unique background that includes being a refugee of the Gulf War, Lloyed brings a fresh perspective to the table. Growing up in a community-driven environment, he witnessed firsthand the power of unity and purpose in overcoming challenges. This experience has shaped his belief in the importance of cascading purpose as a leader and the ability of a strong community to achieve exceptional results. Lloyed's extensive knowledge in community-led growth makes him a sought-after guest for discussions on building connections and driving sales success. Prepare to gain valuable insights from his wealth of experience and expertise in this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast. In this episode, you will be able to: Accelerate sales growth by harnessing the power of community. Empower sales leaders to effectively cascade purpose and drive sales success. Create strong connections and a sense of purpose within your sales team for increased motivation and collaboration. Tap into community-driven approaches to fuel business growth and sales results. Discover the key to understanding and targeting your ideal customer profile (ICP) for sales success. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction 00:02:26 - Background and Formative Experiences 00:06:48 - Entrepreneurship and Risk 00:08:36 - From Grassroots to Greatness 00:09:49 - The Power of Community 00:13:17 - The Four Stages of Idea Growth: Audience, Community, Movement, Religion 00:15:22 - The Importance of Human-to-Human Connection 00:16:50 - The Power of Community in Marketing 00:18:30 - Examples of Successful Community Building 00:20:08 - The Journey into Community Building 00:27:21 - Finding the Right Audience 00:28:14 - Understanding the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) 00:29:30 - Platforms and Communities 00:30:55 - The Power of In-Person Connections 00:33:38 - Community Building Advice 00:40:46 - The Power of Positive Companionship 00:41:08 - The Influence of Founders 00:41:30 - The Importance of Communication 00:42:12 - The Fourth C: Consistency 00:43:54 - Underdog Stories and Entrepreneurship Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the podcast and the guest, Lloyd Lobo. They discuss the importance of energy and connection in building a community. 00:02:26 - Background and Formative Experiences Lloyd Lobo shares his background, growing up in the slums of Mumbai and experiencing the Gulf War as a refugee. He discusses how these experiences taught him the power of community and purpose. 00:06:48 - Entrepreneurship and Risk Lloyd Lobo explains how his experiences as a refugee during the Gulf War shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. He believes that entrepreneurship is about taking an idea to execution and impact while dealing with extreme risk and uncertainty. 00:08:36 - From Grassroots to Greatness Lloyd Lobo discusses his book, "From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community-Led Growth." He explains how building a community can drive growth and shares his experience with leveraging community to grow his own company, Boast.AI. 00:09:49 - The Power of Community Lloyd Lobo shares how building a community of entrepreneurs helped his company, Boast.AI, acquire customers and grow. He emphasizes the importance of community in understanding customer pain points and building relationships. 00:13:17 - The Four Stages of Idea Growth: Audience, Community, Movement, Religion Lloyed Lobo explains that every enduring global phenomenon follows the same four stages: audience, community, movement, and religion. Building a community is essential to avoid becoming a commodity and instead become a cult-like brand or religion. 00:15:22 - The Importance of Human-to-Human Connection Lloyed emphasizes that technology may evolve, but human-to-human connection remains consistent. The most iconic brands and businesses are built on these connections. He shares that he wrote a book on this topic, highlighting its significance. 00:16:50 - The Power of Community in Marketing Lloyed discusses how marketing has changed, with consumers becoming fed up with spam and clickbait. Building a community is crucial for businesses to own their relationships with consumers and avoid relying solely on algorithms and platforms. 00:18:30 - Examples of Successful Community Building Lloyed provides examples of companies like Atlassian and Harley-Davidson that have successfully built communities. These communities have not only saved struggling brands but have also become iconic and influential in their respective industries. 00:20:08 - The Journey into Community Building Lloyed shares his personal journey into community building, starting with cold calling and sales. He realized the importance of communication and connecting with like-minded individuals at entrepreneurial events, which led to the formation of his own community. 00:27:21 - Finding the Right Audience Lloyed emphasizes the importance of loving and understanding your target audience. He shares his experience of building a startup audience and highlights the criteria to consider, such as sustainability, niche size, propensity to pay, and ease of access. 00:28:14 - Understanding the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) Lloyed explains the process of understanding the ICP by immersing oneself in their world. By identifying their pains, goals, aspirations, and obstacles, entrepreneurs can develop products that address their needs. He also emphasizes the importance of knowing the ICP's circle of influence. 00:29:30 - Platforms and Communities Lloyed emphasizes the significance of knowing where your target audience frequents, whether it's LinkedIn, blogs, or magazines. He suggests creating an online audience through consistent content creation and bringing them together through offline meetups or online community channels. 00:30:55 - The Power of In-Person Connections Lloyed highlights the power of building connections through in-person interactions. He explains that combining multiple senses strengthens relationships and trust. While online communities are valuable, meeting in person can foster deeper connections. 00:33:38 - Community Building Advice Lloyed advises individuals to consider their DNA of giving before building a community. He emphasizes that community building is a marathon and requires time, consistency, and a genuine desire to help others. He also suggests being deliberate about the type of community to build. 00:40:46 - The Power of Positive Companionship Surrounding yourself with positive and uplifting people during difficult times can make those times feel less challenging. Companionship plays a crucial role in shaping our experiences, and having great companions can make any journey, even a difficult one, memorable. 00:41:08 - The Influence of Founders Working closely with founders has given Lloyd the courage to start his own startup. The people we surround ourselves with have a significant impact on our mindset and aspirations. Your community is your currency. 00:41:30 - The Importance of Communication Communication is key to aligning people and building an audience. Without effective communication, you have an empty room. Mario is praised for his high energy communication skills. 00:42:12 - The Fourth C: Consistency Consistency is crucial for success. Whether it's in community building, creation, or communication, consistent actions lead to significant outcomes over time. Overnight success is the result of compound interest on consistency. 00:43:54 - Underdog Stories and Entrepreneurship Lloyd enjoys underdog story movies because they teach valuable lessons about entrepreneurship. It's not about how hard you hit, but how hard you keep pushing forward. From grassroots to greatness, the journey of an underdog is inspiring. Accelerate sales growth Accelerating sales growth relies heavily on building a strong community around your business. Lloyed Lobo emphasizes that this community-building prevents a business from becoming just another commodity. When achieved effectively, it results in creating a solid foundation that helps to accelerate sales growth and drives the success of a business. Empower sales leaders Lloyed's story inspires and empowers sales leaders to focus on creating a sense of purpose and genuine engagement with their audience. He goes on to highlight the importance of consistency and communication in attaining this purpose. Empowered sales leaders equipped with these insights have the potential to transform their business performance and achieve higher levels of success. Create strong connections Creating strong human-to-human connections and fostering a robust community is at the heart of Lloyed's message in this episode. He emphasizes that businesses need to own relationships beyond algorithms and platforms, enforcing the importance of a two-way interaction. By doing so, businesses can build stronger, long-lasting connections which eventually lead to sustainable growth and success. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Check out FlyMSG.io, the free personal writing assistant and text expander application created by Vengreso, the company founded by Mario Martinez Jr. Tune in to the Modern Selling podcast hosted by Mario Martinez Jr. to hear from sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers and learn how to grow your sales numbers at scale. Get a copy of From Grassroots to Greatness, the Wall Street Journal bestseller written by Lloyed Lobo, co-founder of Boast.AI and Traction, to learn 13 rules for building iconic brands with community-led growth. Explore Boast.AI, the company co-founded by Lloyed Lobo, which offers solutions for automating R&D tax claims and innovation funding. Connect with Lloyed Lobo on social media to stay updated on his insights and experiences as an entrepreneur and community builder. Join the Traction community, created by Boast.AI, to connect with other entrepreneurs and access resources and support for building and growing your business. Reflect on the power of community and the impact it can have on your personal and professional life, as shared by Lloyed Lobo in the podcast episode.  

Wende Zomnir is the co-founder of the legendary beauty brand, Urban Decay, and most recently the co-founder of Caliray, a beauty and wellness brand. When Wende co-founded Urban Decay in 1996, there was no social media, and Sephora was still two years out from entering the U.S. She was a pioneer who broke the beauty industry with its “makeup as empowerment” attitude, eventually elevating it to the #1 brand spot at both Sephora and Ulta for years running – and is still one of the most successful beauty brands to date. After selling to L'Oreal in 2012 and spending her time leading the brand there, Wende eventually left and launched Caliray, a California-inspired brand focused on clean formulas, dirty minds and sexy sustainability. In this week's episode, we discuss Wende's journey from her marketing career to launching Urban Decay, including her meeting with co-founder Sandy Lerner, who co-founded Cisco Systems. Wende reflects on the early, less glamorous days of Urban Decay, her resourcefulness, and how the brand became such a success. We also talk about her new brand Caliray, and the differences in starting a brand today compared to when Urban Decay launched and the biggest surprises & learnings so far. Wende shares her advice on why you need more than just passion to build a successful business, why having a strong self-worth is crucial in business, the biggest skills that entrepreneurs need for any brand and so much more. In this episode, we'll talk to Wende about:* The quote "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity". [02:34]* Wende's early years in Texas and her relationship with makeup. [04:45]* Wende's life prior to Urban Decay. [10:31]* Connecting with the iconic Sandy Lerner. [12:09]* Pitching the concept and securing orders.[14:44]* Getting into Nordstrom and the crucial trait of resourcefulness. [19:13]* Wende's response to imitators of the Naked Palette and advice for female entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. [25:00] * Urban Decay's L'Oréal acquisition and transition. [28:31]* Maintaining healthy boundaries: separating self-worth from business. [32:25]* The inspiration for Wende's new beauty brand, Caliray. [34:48]* Challenge's Wende had to navigate while building Caliray. [40:11]* Essential skill during Urban Decay's early days. [43:10]* Advice for entrepreneurs who are scared to put their idea out. [44:42]This episode is brought to you by beeya: * Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. * Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Wende:* Caliray Website: https://caliraybeauty.com/* Caliray Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caliray/* Urban Decay Website: https://www.urbandecay.com/* Urban Decay Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbandecaycosmetics/* Wende's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendezomnir/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Co-founder of Boast.AI & Traction, Lloyed Lobo.Lloyed's story is a compelling one. Growing up in the slums of Mumbai, he experienced firsthand the power of community. He saw how people came together for safety during the Gulf War and how this sense of community was a lifeline in times of crisis.His experiences with the community continued as he joined HubSpot's inbound marketing community and worked for startups. He learned the importance of surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals and how this can fuel personal and professional growth.Lloyed's belief in the power of community didn't stop at personal experiences. He and his friend started their company, Boast, and had to build a community to grow their business. This community eventually rose to 120,000 subscribers and played a crucial role in their success, attracting customers, partners, and investors.However, despite achieving financial success, Lloyed found himself feeling depressed. He realized that it was because he had lost his community. This realization led him to write a book about the power of community and its role in building iconic brands. He distilled his learnings into 13 rules for community-led growth, hoping to inspire others to embrace the power of community.Lloyed emphasized the significance of community and its impact on individuals' well-being. He mentioned that loneliness is America's number one killer and shared his experience of feeling depressed when he lacked a sense of community.Lloyed introduced the concept of "blue zones," five places where people live long and functional lives. He highlighted that belonging, social connection, and community are essential for a fulfilling life.Key Points from the Episode:Importance of community in personal and professional lifeLloyed Lobo's personal journey and experiences with communityBuilding a community for business growthThe role of community in achieving success and attracting customers, partners, and investorsThe impact of losing community on mental healthLloyed Lobo's book "From Grassroots to Greatness" and its focus on community-led growthAvoiding common mistakes in building and maintaining a communityThe significance of community for well-being and longevityStarting with purpose, vision, mission, and values when building a communityAbout Lloyed Lobo:Lloyed Lobo is a multifaceted entrepreneur, podcast host, and community leader with a remarkable journey. Having endured the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, he developed a profound appreciation for the power of community during times of crisis. Lloyed's entrepreneurial prowess shines as the co-founder of Boast.AI, a fintech platform that achieved incredible success using the Community-Led Growth model. Under his leadership, Boast.AI reached eight-figure revenues and secured over $100 million in funding.In addition to his fintech endeavors, Lloyed co-founded Traction, a dynamic community that empowers over 100,000 innovators through valuable connections, enriching content, and access to capital. His expertise extends to the written word, as he authored "From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth," a book offering tactical insights from iconic community-led businesses like Apple, Nike, and HubSpot. This literary gem quickly rose to the top of Amazon's new...

In the age where traditional sales tactics seem obsolete, CEOs and founders are shifting to innovative strategies. Lloyed Lobo, co-founder of Boast, accentuates the importance of community-led growth. His journey, from an engineer to a salesperson, and ultimately, to the co-founder of a company aiding businesses in accessing R&D funding, underlines the value of community.Lloyed divides community-led growth into four stages: audience, community, movement, and cult. He believes that it starts with a passive audience, and, with engagement, it transforms into an active community. When this community works collectively towards a cause, it becomes a movement, and finally, with deep-rooted beliefs, it can shape into a cult (in a good way).By curating events, insightful blog posts, and actively engaging with his audience, Lloyed created a trusted hub for entrepreneurs. He also emphasizes founder-led sales in a startup's initial stages, suggesting that personal touchpoints build credibility and rapport.Furthermore, Lloyed points out that community-driven platforms don't just boost sales but propel innovation by fostering a collaborative space for knowledge sharing. As the world progresses, businesses that prioritize and integrate community-building will emerge as leading brands.Chapters00:39 Introduction of special guest Lloyed Lobo, co-founder of Boast.03:55 Boast integrates with technical and financial systems to streamline funding.08:05 Lloyed Lobo's journey from engineering to sales to co-founding Boast.12:10 The challenges of cold calling and finding the right audience14:39 Framework for targeting the right audience: passion, niche, propensity to pay, ease of access15:56 Identifying white spaces in the market: lack of support and tactical content20:16 Hosting meetups and the importance of consistency22:29 Understanding the ideal customer profile and their aspirations25:46 Using events and community to engage and build loyalty28:57 Founder-led sales and the importance of product-market fit33:05 Hiring for trajectory and the importance of grit and determination35:24 Founder reinventing their job and excitement of trying new things39:18 The role of community in building enduring brands.41:12 Lloyed Lobo's journey from humble beginnings to success.45:18 The importance of loving your customer and adding value.45:43 Lloyed Lobo's book "From Grassroots to Greatness".About GuestLloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder, experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, witnessing the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. As the co-founder of fintech platform Boast.Al, he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company to $10 million in annual recurring revenue while also co-founding Traction, a community empowering more than 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital.Lloyed is also the author of ‘**From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' **(foreword by Jason Lemkin), which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small, such as Apple, Harley Davidson, Nike, Crossfit, HubSpot, and many more to help readers attract passionate and devoted fans of their own. The book topped Amazon's new release charts in various categories, including Startups and Business Technology, within mere hours of its pre-sale launch.About CompanyBoast.ai is a leading financial technology firm that simplifies the process for companies to access government incentives, including R&D tax credits and innovation grants. Leveraging a blend of expertise and automation, Boast.ai streamlines the claims process, maximizes claims amounts, and reduces the risk of audits. With their integrated platform, businesses can secure the funds they need to fuel their growth without giving up equity or taking on debt. Founded by Lloyed Lobo, an award-winning entrepreneur experienced in technology and business development, Boast.ai is committed to supporting businesses from grassroots to greatness, ensuring they fully capitalize on the financial opportunities available to them.Social Links You can learn more about and connect with Lloyed Lobo in the links below.Connect with LLoyed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedloboGet Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' https://fromgrassrootstogreatness.com/Additional LinksTraction Community - Explode Your Growth (tractionconf.io)Boast | Be Confident, Be Ready, Be ProtectYou can learn more about and connect with Alice Heiman in the links below.Connect with Alice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceheiman/Check out Alice's website: https://aliceheiman.com/

Welcome to the latest episode of "Working with Startups from Science," where we delve into the inspiring journey of individuals who've carved innovative paths in the startup ecosystem. Today, we have the privilege of hosting Lloyed Lobo, a multifaceted entrepreneur, author, and community builder, known for his significant impact in the fintech space and beyond. Lloyed Lobo has experienced life's extremes, from witnessing the atrocities of the Gulf War to co-founding Boast.AI and Traction, platforms that have transformed the world of fintech and empowered countless innovators. Lloyed's story is one of resilience, innovation, and the immense power of community, having leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap Boast.AI to $10 million in annual recurring revenue. We discuss about: Personal Journey: Lloyed will share his motivations behind embracing entrepreneurship and the inspirations that fueled his journey. Challenges as a Migrant Entrepreneur: We will explore the unique set of challenges Lloyed faced as a migrant and how they shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Building Big Businesses: Lloyed will provide insights and learnings on how to leverage community and resilience to build successful, iconic brands. Bootstrapping to $10 Million: Lloyed will unravel the lessons learned from bootstrapping and the dynamics of building a sustainable business without external funding. The Power of Community: Drawing on examples from his book, "From Grassroots to Greatness," Lloyed will discuss how brands like Apple, Nike, and Harley Davidson have built loyal, cult-like followings through community-led growth. ResourcesGet Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com TractionConf.io Boast.AI Lloyed on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo CHECK OUT STARTUPS FROM SCIENCE: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-from-science/ Check out my new book "Überzeugende Start-up Pitches": https://bit.ly/3DhKZCQ Write me: info@startupsfromscience.com

EPISODE 54: THIS WEEK'S GUEST - LLOYED LOBOIn this episode, Lloyed shares: His views on how outsourcing the financial role to professionals helps when it's time to sell the business How bootstrapping (vs. Venture Capital) allowed him to sell on his timetable Why building community is a key differentiator and value driver in any business and even more when it's time to sell GUEST BIO:Lloyed Lobo is an incredible, self-made entrepreneur.  As a Kuwaiti refugee and former engineer turned serial entrepreneur, Lloyed co-founded and built boast.ai, a company helping businesses access R&D tax credits and innovation incentives, to $10 million of ARR. He also co-founded Traction, a nonprofit that brings together more than 120,000 entrepreneurs and innovators to share lessons on scaling startups. Lloyed sold a majority stake in boast.ai to a growth capital firm, which not only allowed him and his co-founder to create the personal liquidity they both needed for the next stages of their lives, but they were also able to maintain a substantial portion of equity in the business.Lloyed is full of poignant, entrepreneurial and personal anecdotes to succeed in business and in M&A.We hope you enjoyed my conversation with Lloyed Lobo.WHERE TO FIND LLOYED LOBO:LinkedInX (Twitter)InstagramEPISODE REFERENCES AND READING MATERIAL:Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon)BOAST.AITractionWhat Is Bootstrapping? (blog)Ten Best M&A Podcasts For Entrepreneurs and Business Owners (blog)

Lloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder, experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, witnessing the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. As the co-founder of Vancouver based fintech platform Boast.Al, he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company to eight-figure revenue and secure over $100m in capital, while also co-founding Traction, a community empowering over 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital. Lloyed is also the author of ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (foreword by Jason Lemkin), which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small, such as Apple, Harley Davidson, Nike, Crossfit, HubSpot, and many more to help readers attract passionate and devoted fans of their own. The book topped Amazon's new release charts in various categories, including Startups and Business Technology, within mere hours of its pre-sale launch. Lloyed has been covered in Fox Business, Techcrunch, SF Business Journals, Forbes, and several other publications. He has also been a speaker at more than 100 conferences and podcasts including SaaStr, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Marketing School, Mixergy, TearSheet, MarTech Podcast, and Success Story. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada's economy. To support Canada's businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Throughout human history, sacred texts and religious congregations have epitomized the enduring power of collective belief. This sense of community, united by a shared doctrine, forms a bond that transcends boundaries, emphasizing not just individual salvation but a collective spirit that uplifts and unifies. Similarly, while a SaaS company is distinct from a religion, it thrives on the relationships it fosters within its user base, emphasizing connections, shared experiences, and the collective value they bring.Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI, having delved into the successes of iconic companies like Apple, Atlassian, and more, offers insights into harnessing community-driven growth in his book, "From Grassroots to Greatness." Today's episode takes listeners on a journey with Lloyed, highlighting the significance of community-led growth in B2B SaaS, with his book serving as a beacon for those seeking to deepen their understanding.Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at https://FromGrassrootstoGreatness.comHigh-Level OverviewThe Power of Collective Belief: Drawing parallels between religious congregations and the potential of building strong communities within the B2B SaaS sector.Relationships and Connections in SaaS: Discussing the importance of nurturing relationships, fostering connections, and creating shared experiences among users.Case Studies of Iconic Companies: Analyzing the growth and community-building strategies of enduring companies like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, and others.Lloyed Lobo's Insights and Learnings: Delving into Lloyed's research, his interactions with over a thousand leaders, and the distilled knowledge he provides in his book.Community-Led Growth in B2B SaaS: Exploring the transformative impact of community-driven growth strategies on businesses and understanding its long-term benefits.Community-Led GrowthIn an era where customers no longer buy products but experiences, the importance of community-led growth cannot be understated. Building a community fosters genuine connections, creating a platform where customers don't just use your product, but actively champion it. This human-centric approach positions companies at the forefront of consumer minds, forging deeper ties and ensuring longevity in a rapidly evolving market landscape.Value-driven Content Creation: Start by generating content that is both educational and beneficial to your target audience. This builds trust and positions your brand as a thought leader in your domain.Engaging Forums and Groups: Create spaces, be it online forums or social media groups, where your community can engage, ask questions, and share their experiences. This not only facilitates peer-to-peer learning but also provides invaluable feedback.Exclusive Events and Webinars: Host events that offer exclusive insights, previews, or discussions. This not only fosters a sense of belonging but also gives members a reason to stay engaged and involved.Collaborative Product Development: Involve community members in beta testing, feedback rounds, and even ideation sessions. This not only improves your product but makes them feel valued and integral to your brand's success.Community Ambassadors: Identify and nurture active members to become ambassadors. They can further evangelize your brand, offering a more authentic voice that resonates with potential customers.Feedback Mechanisms: Implement clear channels through which community members can provide feedback on products, services, or even community activities. This ensures continuous improvement and adaptability.While the tactics to cultivate community-led growth can vary, the underlying principle remains consistent: value your community members as co-collaborators, not just consumers. Their collective wisdom, enthusiasm, and advocacy can drive your brand to new heights. As you venture into this realm, remember that genuine engagement and mutual respect are the keystones of any thriving community. Embrace them, and watch your brand flourish in ways you'd never imagined.

True success lies not in products or technologies, but in the power of people. Why do some companies have loyal, cult-like followings while others blend into oblivion? If we look around, we begin to notice that traditional marketing is losing its edge and many entrepreneurs are struggling to stand out.  It becomes clear that a thriving community can be your biggest asset. This breakthrough has launched Lloyed Lobo to new heights and led him to coin the phrase: " If you build a community, you won't become a commodity!". Lloyed joins the show to reinforce this message.  Lloyed is an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder.  As a young refugee in Kuwait, he witnessed the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. His new book, From Grassroots to Greatness -13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth has topped Amazon's new release charts in a number of categories. This book dives into what Lloyed learned after talking to 1,000+ leaders and looking behind the growth of obscure ideas that went on to become enduring companies like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, and more.  

John welcomes entrepreneur, author and community builder Lloyed Lobo shares his experiences and insights on building his own startup and bringing it to eight figures in revenue. His unique background as a young refugee from Kuwait during the Gulf War has shaped his perspective on community-led growth. John and Lloyed also discuss his book, "From Grassroots to Greatness," and discover the 13 rules to build iconic brands with community-led growth. They also dive into the importance of pain in personal and professional growth, and how surrounding yourself with the right people can positively impact your mental health and the importance of aligning with a greater purpose.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: bit.ly/JBMembershipConnect with Lloyed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo/Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at https://FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com

LifeBlood: We talked about the power of community, how to organically grow a company and have an exit, why self-care is never selfish, and why misery loves company, with Lloyed Lobo, entrepreneur and author.       Listen to learn why it's wise to focus on impact above everything else! You can learn more about Lloyed at TractionConf.IO, Twitter, Podcast, Boast.AI, YouTube and LinkedIn. Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at https://FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com Thanks, as always for listening! If you got some value and enjoyed the show, please leave us a review here: ​​https://ratethispodcast.com/lifebloodpodcast You can learn more about us at LifeBlood.Live, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook or you'd like to be a guest on the show, contact us at contact@LifeBlood.Live.  Stay up to date by getting our monthly updates. Want to say “Thanks!” You can buy us a cup of coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeblood

The World's #1 Personal Development Book Podcast! In today's episode we have the pleasure to interview Lloyed Lobo author of “From Grassroots to Greatness” Lloyed is a software engineer by education, community builder by passion, he has worked in startups, built companies worth millions and is co-founder of Boast.Ai and Traction.  In this episode you'll learn about how someone came from a rickety old bus in Kuwait during a war to helping build companies worth millions of dollars, why community is crucial to success, how money isn't the answer to life's problems, the importance of consistency, and the frameworks for how you can start to build a community today. We had such a fun time talking about Lloyed's colorful background and how he has built something worth a lot more than money can buy. If you are looking to start a business or build a community worth staying around for, listen up!  This episode is a MASTERCLASS in community building! We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Lloyed Lobo.    Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com Today's episode is sponsored by Audible. Try Audible for free: www.bookthinkers.com/audibletrial. The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers) If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time! Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:34 - The Impact of Childhood Experiences 00:10:35 - Building Community from Behind a Computer Screen 00:15:38 - Building a Community Creating Success 00:21:02 - Creating a Movement: Values and Consistency 00:26:09 - The Importance of Consistency in Building a Community 00:31:09 - From Virtual Summit to Community Growth 00:36:13 - The Power of Human Connection 00:41:32 - The Fuel of Rejection 00:46:47 - Outro

Lloyed Lobo has been covered in Fox Business, Techcrunch, SF Business Journal, Forbes, and many other publications. Lloyed Lobo is an entrepreneur and podcast host who experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait. Lloyd leveraged the Community-Led Growth model and bootstrapped to eight-figure revenue then secured over $100m in capital. Lloyed is the author of ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth. The book topped Amazon's new release charts in various categories, including Startups and Business Technology, within hours of its pre-sale launch. Looking forward to this talk today. Welcome Lloyd to The Nice Guys.From Grassroots To Greatness by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules to skyrocket your business with Community Led Growth, covering tactical advice from iconic brands like Apple, Atlassian, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, and more. Grab your copy at www.FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com Connect with Lloyed Lobo:Website: www.FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo Instagram: https://instagram.com/lloyedlobo TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152 Partner Links -- We use these apps and get amazing results and huge time savings too!Design tool: Canva Pro: Create Stunning Design in Minutes!Check out Headliner to create social media posts with video easily- make.headliner.appSimplecast is the easiest way to set up your podcast hosting- Simplecast.comZoom is the easiest way to schedule meetings and record your podcast interviews. Zoom.usAcuity is the easiest way to schedule your podcast interviews, meetings, and life.Acuityscheduling.com

This week, Jim talks to Lloyed Lobo, Co-Founder of Boast, about his amazing Journey through Entrepreneurship, and how he was able to harness community led marketing to bootstrap a business to over 10M.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODE Being a swiss army knife Don't let rejection rule you, let it fuel you Growing up on the streets of Mumbai: value of community The three key skills for entrepreneurship The key to consistency 3 Different types of community How to figure out who to target for your community The importance of understanding the customer Just ask Inflection points of a bootstrap company Audience vs Community Resources: From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth Jim Huffman website Jim's Twitter GrowthHit The Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy: Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45) Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41) How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44) Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10) How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)  

Welcome to another episode of Expert To Authority Show, brought to you by http://gtex.org.uk/,  I am your host, Simone Vincenzi, The Experts Strategist, and this is the podcast for experts who want to become the ultimate authority in their niche while making an impact in the world. We have created the Webinar Conversion Kit where you will get access to: The High-Converting Webinar Framework BONUS #1: High-Converting Webinar Slide Template BONUS #2: Pitch and Follow Up Templates BONUS #3: High Converting Webinars Case Studies BONUS #4: Our Trello Webinar Checklist All of this for only £29.99 for a limited period of time. Click here to download. https://webinarconversionkit.com/ Today I have the pleasure to Interview Lloyed Lobo Lloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host and community builder, experienced the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, witnessing the strength of community in evacuating the population to safety. As the co-founder of fintech platform Boast.Al, he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company to $10 million in annual recurring revenue while also co-founding Traction, a community empowering more than 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital. Lloyed is also the author of ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (foreword by Jason Lemkin), which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small, such as Apple, Harley Davidson, Nike, Crossfit, HubSpot, and many more to help readers attract passionate and devoted fans of their own. The book topped Amazon's new release charts in various categories, including Startups and Business Technology, within mere hours of its pre-sale launch. Lloyed has been covered in Fox Business, Techcrunch, SF Business Journals, Forbes, and several other publications. He has also been a speaker at more than 100 conferences and podcasts including SaaStr, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Marketing School, Mixergy, and more. In this episode, we talk about If you build a community you won't become a commodity How to start and build a community from scratch How to leverage your community to become an iconic brand Connect with Lloyed Lobo Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo Website:  lloyedlobo.com Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/TractionConf Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6twRL8X8D4CQq9yaazkvuM Get Lloyed's new book, 'From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (Top New Release on Amazon) at FromGrassrootstoGreatness.com   To become a GTeX Member, Apply here: https://gtex.events/call  ------- To receive daily support in your coaching and speaking business, join our private Facebook Group EXPLODE YOUR EXPERT BIZ https://www.facebook.com/groups/explodeyourexpertbiz/ ------- Take a full business assessment for free to have absolute clarity on your business with the EXPERT BIZ CHECKLIST. http://bit.ly/expert-biz-checklist-podcast ------ Also, make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any other episode.   If you want to reach out to me with your questions, you can email me at Simone@gtex.org.uk that comes right to my inbox. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/explode/message

In this episode of SaaS Fuel™, Jeff Mains takes us on a journey with our guest Lloyed Lobo, co-founder and President of the fintech platform Boast.Al. Lloyed's story is a rollercoaster ride, from being a refugee to an "awkward engineer" to a SaaS founder. Lloyed is also the author of ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth' (foreword by Jason Lemkin), which covers tactical advice from community-led businesses both big and small.Along the way, he shares valuable insights on the power of community-led growth and how it can transform your business. Jeff and Lloyed discuss the importance of finding your ideal customer profile (ICP) and understanding their circle of influence. They dive into Lloyed's strategies to build a thriving community, explore the role of communication and creativity in driving success, and how being contrarian can lead to big wins.Get ready to be inspired and entertained as Jeff and Lloyed uncover the secrets of building an iconic brand with community-led growth.Key Takeaways[00:01:55] - The magnetic pull of the community[00:05:08] - Transforming users into a tribe[00:09:41] - Uncertainty and risk during childhood[00:12:30] - Community and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand[00:17:15] - Overcoming limitations through communication[00:19:02] - The power of effective communication[00:27:01] - Communication and creation[00:34:05] - Hosting Tactical Founder Events[00:37:11] - Building a thriving community[00:41:07] - Focus on customer needs and aspirations[00:44:11] - Iterative approach to building a business[00:49:56] - Community-led growth is valuableTweetable Quotes"The brands of yesterday were built on what they told us about themselves. Brands of the future will be built about what the community says about them." - 00:07:12 Jeff Mains"You could be on a crappy journey on the way to hell and great companions make it memorable." - 00:13:12 Lloyed Lobo"The only way to create abundance in life is to help others without expecting anything in return." - 00:14:50 Lloyed Lobo"Learning to communicate and learning to create, if you combine that together, you can do big things." - 00:27:35 Lloyed Lobo"I don't care what we do, as long as we build the company we want to work for, I'm in." - 00:23:12 Lloyed Lobo"Now, you know, I think the only way to win in the world is to be contrarian, have a contrarian view and hope that it's right." - 00:35:50 Lloyed Lobo"I think, the most important experience in my journey, because if I hadn't had that experience, I wouldn't know how to now translate customer requirements into developer requirements and how to infuse marketing." - 00:27:41 Lloyed LoboSaaS Leadership LessonsEmbrace the Power of Community. A satisfied customer will use your product, but a loyal community member will fight for it. Building a community around your business creates a sense of belonging and loyalty that goes beyond mere satisfaction.Find Your Tribe. Identify your ideal customer profile (ICP) and understand their needs, pain points, and aspirations. By focusing on a specific target audience, you can create a community that resonates with them and provides value.Be Contrarian. Don't be afraid to go against the grain and take a contrarian approach. In the case of Boast AI, they focused on serving startups and founders when others were advising against...

Today's podcast is a very, very special episode of What The Tech, as I'm positively stoked to feature Boast's very own Co-Founder and community builder extraordinaire Lloyed Lobo onto the show! Along with being one of the original brains behind Boast, Lloyed is also the founder of Traction, a community empowering over 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital. The community-led business model Lloyed spearheaded both here and at Traction was key to bootstrapping Boast in our early days, eventually building a business with eight figure revenue while securing over $100million in funding. Lloyed tells this story as well as other community-first founder strategies in his new book ‘From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth,' which features tactical advice from businesses both big and small, including Apple, Harley Davidson, Nike, Crossfit, HubSpot, and many more.It's a must read, and of course, any podcast featuring Lloyed is a must listen. I can't wait to hear from him directly about what it was like building Boast in tandem with the massive Traction community, his process for writing, and his advice for founders navigating the startup scene in 2023.Boast AI accelerates the success of innovative businesses globally with software that integrates financial, payroll, and engineering data into a single platform of R&D intelligence. Visit Boast.ai, sign up for our Blog newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn for weekly #InnovatorsLive sessions and the latest news to fuel your growth. Intro and Outro music provided by Dennis Ma whose mixes you can find on Soundcloud at DJ DennyDex.

Traction is a global community of over 100,000 entrepreneurs and innovators. We bring leaders behind the fastest-growing companies to share business advice via webinars, podcasts, meetups, retreats, and conferences. Connect with Lloyed

"The company was my identity. I had this huge void to fill and I didn't know what to do with it."   Boast.ai and Traction co-founder Lloyed Lobo shares his personal struggles managing his self-described addictive personality after leaving the day-to-day business before digging into the keen insights contained within his new book "From Grassroots to Greatness - 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth."   Sponsored by TechExit.io, taking place October 25 in Toronto.

Lloyed Lobo is the founder of Boast AI. He scaled from zero to $10mil+ and all with no investment! Lloyed created an entire community, utilizing this community for growth and now has written a book about it. He talks to Ryan about how you can grow and lead a movement from scratch and then leverage it for your next opportunity and gives an amazing breakdown of how to bootstrap your way through building a business, avoiding giving up your freedom and equity to investors. Grab LLoyed's entire GTM community led growth playbook here in his Top Selling Book: From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth: Grab the Book  Join 2,500+ readers getting weekly practical guidance to scale themselves and their companies using Artificial Intelligence and Revenue Cheat Codes.   Explore becoming Superhuman here: https://superhumanrevenue.beehiiv.com/ KEY TAKEAWAYS Entrepreneurship is all about taking something from nothing and dealing with risk and uncertainty to create a positive outcome After the advice from an entrepreneur, Lloyed took a sales job to learn the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur. One of the best ways to bootstrap a company to $ 1 million plus ARR is to sell a service. Lloyed first started the company from his bedroom, he had to get very good at communicating with his customers and learning exactly what they wanted. They didn't have anything else they could rely on. When starting out, talk to your customers to find out what their pain points are and discover what they need. You need to do things that are manual and won't scale in the beginning. Think about the bigger picture and the wider purpose of your product, connect with your customers and help enable their success. Utilise other people's credibility and brand reputation by collaborating with them. Get back to basics with your marketing and branding, simple can be very effective especially if you utilise tried and tested methods. BEST MOMENTS “You attract the energy you give out” “I used to procrastinate on everything” “Everything you do as an entrepreneur is all communication” “You won't know exactly what to build if you don't do the work manually…do things that don't scale in the beginning” “You're asking about the problem, not the solution” “Building a service is a great way to bootstrap it” Ryan Staley Founder and CEO Whale Boss ryan@whalesellingsystem.com www.ryanstaley.io  EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo/Saas, Saas growth, Scale, Business Growth, B2b Saas, Saas Sales, Enterprise Saas, Business growth strategy, founder, ceo: https://www.whalesellingsystem.com/closingsecretsThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Lloyed Lobo. He is an entrepreneur, podcast host, and community builder. He is the co-founder of Boast.ai, where he leveraged the Community-Led Growth model to bootstrap the company. He is also the co-founder of Traction, a community empowering over 100k innovators through connections, content, and capital. His book titled From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth. Lloyed explores the intricate art of harnessing the community's strength as your ultimate acquisition channel, brand differentiator, feedback source, retention lever, and catalyst for transformative change. More About Lloyed Lobo: Follow Lloyed on LinkedIn Listen to the Traction Podcast  Lloyed's website Pre-order From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth

https://www.lloyedlobo.com/http://linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobohttps://www.tractionconf.io/podcasthttp://boast.aiTwitter:9lloyedloboLloyed LoboCofounded and helped bootstrap Boast.Al to 8 figures ARR. Boast is a fintech platform that provides businesses with R&D and Innovation funding.Cofounded and helped bootstrap Traction to more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and innovators. Traction is a global community that brings leaders behind the fastest-growing companies such as Shopify, Atlassian, Twilio, MailChimp, Github, intercom, Calendly, Zapier, and more to share learnings on how to build and scale companies via podcasts, meetups, retreats, and conferences.Prior to Boast.Al and Traction, I ran product and go-to-market for a number of early stage startups.I've been involved in the US and Canadian startup ecosystem for more than 15 years as an entrepreneur, community builder, and angel investor.I'm a software engineer by education, community builder by passion.I love taking things from 0 to 1.My purpose in life is to bring people together to create a big impact

Why do some companies have loyal, cult-like followings while others blend into oblivion? Is a good product enough to win in the market today?In a world where traditional marketing is losing its edge and products are struggling to stand out, a thriving community is your biggest asset.However, building and nurturing a community takes time - relationships cannot be an afterthought. When put front and center, a community can be a great acquisition channel, product feedback mechanism, brand differentiator, retention lever, and growth moat.In this session, Jason Lemkin, Founder at SaaStr, and Lloyed Lobo, Cofounder at Traction discuss the journey behind creating the world's largest community for SaaS and Business software, where hundreds of thousands across the globe actively engage through mega conferences, events, meetups, podcasts, blogs, social media, and more.Specifically, Jason and Lloyed dive into:- Audience vs community, what is the difference- Getting your community started, bringing people together, and seeding it at the beginning- How to ensure your community sticks and sustains for the long haul- The most impactful way to add new members- Unique strategies and tactics to keep the community engaged and drive interpersonal connections between members- The key metrics for community successGrab a copy of From Grassroots to Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comLearn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about SaaStr at https://www.saastr.com/This episode is brought to you by:From Grassroots To Greatness by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules to skyrocket your business with Community Led Growth, featuring tactical advice from iconic brands like Apple, Atlassian, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, and many more. Grab your copy at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don't get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#community #clg #communityledgrowth #marketing #startup

When evaluating funding pitches, Touch Capital founder and CEO Anna-Lena Kamenetzky doesn't pull any punches.  Her straightforward style is shaped by over two decades of global experience as a brand operator and board director at multinational companies, including Keurig Dr. Pepper and JAB Holding Company. She's helped incubate and build billion-dollar brands, and understands what it takes to succeed in the highly competitive food and beverage industries. That perspective guides the vision and funding strategy for Touch Capital, a recently launched venture capital firm led by Kamenetzky that invests in consumer brands across food, beverage, pet and personal care. Touch Capital was founded on the thesis that CPG conglomerates “will continue to need to ‘buy-in' innovation through strategic acquisitions.” By leveraging their collective operational experience, Kamenetzky and her team support portfolio company founders, including those of fast-growing brands Super Coffee, Lesser Evil and Catalina Crunch, by bringing “buyers'-side experience to the builders.” We spoke with Kamenetzky during Taste Radio's live podcast and meetup event in Austin, where she discussed the formation of Touch Capital, how global trends help inform the firm's investments, how she evaluates innovative brands and their scaling potential, and the impact of a talent shift towards entrepreneurship. She also explained why investor feedback and input only works “if it's a pull and not a push,” how founders can mitigate risks for investors and offered a candid perspective on trendy concepts, ingredients and food and beverage categories. Show notes: 0:45: Interview: Anna-Lena Kamenetzky, Founder & CEO, Touch Capital – Kamenetzky and Taste Radio editor Ray Latif chatted about Miami's entrepreneurial food and beverage community before discussing how her experience as a beverage operator and an observer of global trends has impacted her perspective as an investor. She also discussed the value of entrepreneurs with prior industry experience, why an “‘A” idea doesn't work with a “C” team, how she identifies potential for mainstream appeal in early-stage brands, and why “can they pull it off?” is a key question in how she evaluated founders and their plans. Later, she shared her take on notable trends, ingredients and emerging categories, including keto, gut health, cannabis and RTD cocktails. Brands in this episode: Super Coffee, immi