Podcasts about startup success

Collin Stewart is the Founder and CEO of Predictable Revenue, a sales outsourcing company that helps B2B businesses build repeatable, scalable sales development teams. Under his leadership, Predictable Revenue has become a recognized leader in sales consulting, delivering over 10,000 booked meetings and scaling outbound sales for more than 55 companies. Recognized for his data-driven, practical approach to solving sales challenges, Collin also hosts the Predictable Revenue podcast, which boasts over 400 episodes.  In this episode… Rushing to scale before confirming real market demand is a common startup trap. Founders may hire sales leaders too soon, invest heavily in marketing, and burn through cash without a proven customer pull. How can entrepreneurs mitigate this risk and develop a sales process that truly meets customer needs? Collin Stewart, an expert in outbound sales and customer development, learned this lesson firsthand. In his early ventures, he invested heavily in building tools without confirming that buyers cared, which cost him years of effort. Over time, Collin discovered that the key was starting with customer development interviews, asking the right questions, and carefully transitioning from learning conversations into sales. He now advises founders to validate product-market fit themselves before handing sales off, to avoid what he calls “founder suicide.” In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Collin Stewart, Founder and CEO of Predictable Revenue, about bridging the gap between customer development and sales. Collin shares why premature scaling is a startup killer, his framework for running effective customer interviews, and lessons from working with companies like Uber. He also discusses best practices for cold email deliverability, targeting strategies, and his favorite tools for modern sales teams.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: High-Tech Hustle: Milano's Startup Success Story Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-09-30-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: In una frenetica giornata autunnale, il sole brillava sopra Milano, riflettendosi sui vetri dell'incubatore di startup.En: On a busy autumn day, the sun shone over Milano, reflecting off the windows of the startup incubator.It: Leonardo, un giovane imprenditore dal cervello digitale, guardava fuori dalla finestra.En: Leonardo, a young entrepreneur with a digital brain, was looking out the window.It: Il caffè sotto di lui emanava un invitante profumo di caffè tostato.En: The café below him emitted an inviting aroma of roasted coffee.It: Ma Leonardo non aveva tempo per il caffè oggi.En: But Leonardo had no time for coffee today.It: Mancavano solo poche ore alla presentazione che poteva trasformare i sogni della sua startup in realtà.En: Only a few hours were left before the presentation that could turn his startup dreams into reality.It: Accanto a lui, Giulia era immersa nel suo mondo di numeri e schermi.En: Next to him, Giulia was immersed in her world of numbers and screens.It: Lei era il cuore analitico del loro progetto.En: She was the analytical heart of their project.It: Vivace e precisa, Giulia desiderava che le sue capacità venissero riconosciute; spesso, però, l'ombra luminosa di Leonardo sembrava oscurarla.En: Lively and precise, Giulia wanted her skills to be recognized; often, however, Leonardo's bright shadow seemed to overshadow her.It: Nel mezzo dell'hub, un ronzio di creatività permeava l'aria.En: In the middle of the hub, a buzz of creativity permeated the air.It: Impiegati codificavano, stampanti 3D lavoravano incessantemente, e le idee scorrevano come fiumi invisibili.En: Employees were coding, 3D printers worked incessantly, and ideas flowed like invisible rivers.It: Ma oggi, un problema minacciava di sconvolgere quest'armonia: il prototipo, essenziale per il loro incontro con Marco, lo scettico investitore, era sparito.En: But today, a problem threatened to disrupt this harmony: the prototype, essential for their meeting with Marco, the skeptical investor, had disappeared.It: Leonardo aveva paura del fallimento.En: Leonardo feared failure.It: Tuttavia, mostrava al mondo solo un volto di determinazione.En: However, he showed the world only a face of determination.It: La sua mente correva veloce.En: His mind was racing.It: Non potevano permettersi di allarmare nessuno nell'incubatore, ma nelle prossime ore dovevano ritrovare il prototipo.En: They couldn't afford to alarm anyone in the incubator, but in the next few hours, they had to find the prototype.It: "Giulia," sussurrò, tentando di mantenere la calma.En: "Giulia," he whispered, attempting to stay calm.It: "Dobbiamo scoprirlo prima che sia troppo tardi."En: "We need to find it before it's too late."It: Decisero di cercare negli uffici, negli angoli più nascosti.En: They decided to search the offices, the most hidden corners.It: Giulia, con occhi aguzza, analizzava ogni dettaglio, anche il più insignificante.En: Giulia, with sharp eyes, analyzed every detail, even the most insignificant.It: Nel frattempo, Leonardo interrogava il team con domande apparentemente casuali.En: Meanwhile, Leonardo questioned the team with seemingly casual questions.It: Marco, il loro futuro potenziale finanziatore, era un uomo che dubitava sempre.En: Marco, their potential future financier, was a man who always doubted.It: La perdita del prototipo avrebbe destato la sua sfiducia e chiuso le possibilità di ottenere i fondi necessari.En: The loss of the prototype would have aroused his distrust and closed the doors to obtaining the necessary funds.It: Nel cuore della struttura, trovarono la risposta.En: In the heart of the structure, they found the answer.It: In una stanza buia, illuminata solo dal bagliore dei monitor del server, scoprirono che Giovanni, un collega, aveva preso il prototipo per errore.En: In a dark room, illuminated only by the glow of the server monitors, they discovered that Giovanni, a colleague, had taken the prototype by mistake.It: Giovanni lo aveva scambiato per un'unità di test.En: Giovanni had mistaken it for a test unit.It: "Pensavo fosse da controllare," si giustificava, imbarazzato.En: "I thought it needed to be checked," he justified, embarrassed.It: Leonardo trattenne un sospiro di sollievo.En: Leonardo held back a sigh of relief.It: Con il prototipo recuperato e la tensione dissipata, Leonardo e Giulia tornarono alla presentazione.En: With the prototype recovered and the tension dissipated, Leonardo and Giulia returned to the presentation.It: Il tempo scorreva veloce come un lampo.En: Time was flashing by like lightning.It: Davanti a Marco, mostrarono il loro progetto con fiducia ritrovata.En: In front of Marco, they showed their project with renewed confidence.It: L'entusiasmo di Leonardo e la meticolosa preparazione di Giulia portarono Marco a cambiare idea.En: Leonardo's enthusiasm and Giulia's meticulous preparation led Marco to change his mind.It: "Sì, investo," disse con decisione.En: "Yes, I'll invest," he said decisively.It: Le possibilità che il futuro sorrideva al team.En: The future was smiling at the team.It: Alla fine della giornata, mentre il sole tramontava, Leonardo capì quanto fosse importante la collaborazione.En: At the end of the day, as the sun set, Leonardo realized how important collaboration was.It: Giulia si sentì finalmente riconosciuta per il ruolo fondamentale che aveva giocato.En: Giulia finally felt recognized for the crucial role she had played.It: Nel cuore della vibrante Milano, un gruppo di giovani imprenditori aveva trovato la sua strada verso il futuro, insieme.En: In the heart of vibrant Milano, a group of young entrepreneurs had found their path to the future, together. Vocabulary Words:the incubator: l'incubatorethe entrepreneur: l'imprenditorethe aroma: l'aromathe shadow: l'ombrathe harmony: l'armoniathe prototype: il prototipothe failure: il fallimentothe face: il voltothe corner: l'angolothe doubt: il dubbiothe distrust: la sfiduciathe relief: il sollievothe tension: la tensionethe monitor: il monitorthe financier: il finanziatorethe glow: il bagliorethe screen: lo schermothe server: il serverthe preparation: la preparazionethe collaboration: la collaborazionethe skills: le capacitàthe investor: l'investitorethe corner: l'angolothe opportunity: le possibilitàthe future: il futurothe project: il progettothe idea: l'ideathe hesitation: l'esitazionethe justification: la giustificazionethe determination: la determinazione

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Heartfelt Choices: Balancing Family and Startup Dreams Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-09-30-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 渋谷のスタートアップインキュベータは、若い起業家たちの夢が詰まった場所です。En: The Shibuya startup incubator is a place filled with the dreams of young entrepreneurs.Ja: ガラス張りの壁の向こうでは、デジタルの創造が次々と形を作っています。En: Beyond the glass walls, digital creations are taking shape one after another.Ja: 秋の葉が青山通りをカラフルに彩る季節、ここで働く優秀な開発者たちの心も忙しく動いています。En: In the season when autumn leaves color Aoyama Street vividly, the minds of the talented developers working here are also busily active.Ja: 晴人は28歳のソフトウェア開発者で、彼のプロジェクト「アソビモ」の成功を目指しています。En: Haruto is a 28-year-old software developer aiming for the success of his project "Asobimo".Ja: しかし、彼にはもう一つの重要な責任があります。それは、高校生の妹、恵子の世話をすることです。En: However, he has another important responsibility: taking care of his high school-aged sister, Keiko.Ja: 両親を亡くした後、晴人が家族の支柱です。En: After losing their parents, Haruto has been the pillar of the family.Ja: 今日は敬老の日です。En: Today is Respect for the Aged Day.Ja: 晴人は起業家の夢を追うために忙しい中、祖父母のことを考えています。En: While busy chasing his entrepreneurial dreams, Haruto thinks about his grandparents.Ja: 彼は最近、彼らを訪れていません。En: He hasn't visited them recently.Ja: 夕方になると、彼は心がざわついていました。En: As evening falls, he feels a restlessness in his heart.Ja: このまま遅くまでインキュベーターに残るべきか、それとも妹の恵子と一緒に祖父母を訪ねるべきかという決断があります。En: He must decide whether to stay late at the incubator or visit his grandparents with his sister Keiko.Ja: 午後の終わり、晴人は決断します。「今日は家族を優先しよう」と。En: By the end of the afternoon, Haruto makes a decision: "Today, I'll prioritize family."Ja: プロジェクトの締め切りが迫る中、彼はスマートフォンを手に取り、チームメイトにメッセージを送ります。En: With a project deadline approaching, he picks up his smartphone and messages his teammates.Ja: 「プロジェクトは家から進めることができる」と彼は計画を立て、信頼できる仲間に進捗を任せることに決めました。En: He plans to work on the project from home and decides to entrust the progress to his reliable colleagues.Ja: 彼は急いでオフィスを出、恵子と一緒に祖父母の家へ向かいます。En: He hurriedly leaves the office and heads to his grandparents' house with Keiko.Ja: 久しぶりの再会に祖父母も喜び、ホームメイドの料理で彼らを迎えてくれました。En: His grandparents are delighted at the reunion after so long and welcome them with homemade cooking.Ja: 家で過ごす時間は、まるで時間がゆっくり流れるようでした。En: The time spent at home felt as if it flowed gently and slowly.Ja: 家族との時間を過ごした後で、晴人は心が軽くなり、前向きな気持ちになりました。En: After spending time with his family, Haruto's heart feels lighter, and he feels positive.Ja: 仕事と家庭のバランスを取ることで、より健康的な生活を実現できることを理解したのです。En: He realizes that by balancing work and family, he can achieve a healthier lifestyle.Ja: この経験を通じて、晴人は新たな決意を胸に抱きます。En: Through this experience, Haruto holds a new resolve in his heart.Ja: 彼は、個人的なつながりを大切にすることが、長期的に成功をもたらすことを学びました。En: He learned that cherishing personal connections leads to long-term success.Ja: どんなに忙しくても、家族を忘れない。En: No matter how busy he gets, he will not forget his family.Ja: 冷たいガラスの向こうの世界にも、温かい心が必要だったのです。En: Even in the world beyond the cold glass, a warm heart is needed. Vocabulary Words:incubator: インキュベータentrepreneurs: 起業家たちglass walls: ガラス張りの壁creations: 創造season: 季節vividly: カラフルにtalented: 優秀なdevelopers: 開発者たちresponsibility: 責任taking care: 世話をするpillar: 支柱restlessness: ざわつきdeadline: 締め切りentrust: 任せるhurriedly: 急いでreunion: 再会homemade: ホームメイドflows: 流れるresolve: 決意cherishing: 大切にするlong-term: 長期的にcold glass: 冷たいガラスwarm heart: 温かい心delighted: 喜びapproaching: 迫るreliable: 信頼できるgently: ゆっくりprogress: 進捗balance: バランスhealthier: 健康的な

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Solving Sustainability: A Startup's Journey to Innovation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-09-30-07-38-20-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Stockholm vibrerade med höstens energi.En: Stockholm vibrated with the energy of autumn.Sv: Löven brann i rött och guld utanför de stora fönstren på Stockholm Startup Incubator.En: The leaves burned in red and gold outside the large windows of the Stockholm Startup Incubator.Sv: Inuti var lokalen fylld med unga hjärnor, alla med drömmar om att förändra världen.En: Inside, the space was filled with young minds, all with dreams of changing the world.Sv: Här, bland surrande samtal och klickande tangentbord, satt Astrid, Lars och Emil.En: Here, among buzzing conversations and clicking keyboards, sat Astrid, Lars, and Emil.Sv: De var här för att delta i ett seminarium om hållbar teknik.En: They were there to attend a seminar on sustainable technology.Sv: Det var en del av deras slutprojekt i skolan.En: It was part of their final project at school.Sv: Astrid, med sina gröna idéer, ville skapa något som kunde göra skillnad.En: Astrid, with her green ideas, wanted to create something that could make a difference.Sv: Lars var mer skeptisk.En: Lars was more skeptical.Sv: Han tyckte om att tänka praktiskt.En: He liked to think practically.Sv: Emil, med sitt breda leende och talang för att nätverka, drömde om stora affärer.En: Emil, with his broad smile and talent for networking, dreamed of big business deals.Sv: Trion hade en uppgift: att skapa en prototyp av en miljövänlig produkt.En: The trio had a task: to create a prototype of an environmentally friendly product.Sv: Men de kunde inte komma överens.En: But they couldn't agree.Sv: Astrid ville ha en vattenrenare som kunde fungera i alla världens floder, Lars tvivlade på att det var möjligt, och Emil undrade hur de skulle göra pengar på det.En: Astrid wanted a water purifier that could work in all the rivers of the world, Lars doubted it was possible, and Emil wondered how they would make money from it.Sv: "Vi måste hitta en kompromiss," sa Astrid plötsligt.En: "We need to find a compromise," Astrid suddenly said.Sv: Hennes röst var lugn men bestämd.En: Her voice was calm but determined.Sv: "Vi kan göra något lite mindre, men fortfarande innovativt."En: "We can make something a little smaller but still innovative."Sv: De började diskutera, och snart enades de om en prototyp - en bärbar solkraftsladdare.En: They started discussing, and soon they agreed on a prototype - a portable solar charger.Sv: Den skulle inte rädda alla världens problem, men det var en början.En: It wouldn't solve all the world's problems, but it was a start.Sv: När seminariet började, fyllde sorlet rummet.En: When the seminar began, the room was filled with chatter.Sv: Astrid stod framför publiken och presenterade deras prototyp.En: Astrid stood in front of the audience and presented their prototype.Sv: Hon förklarade hur den kunde användas i både städer och på landsbygden.En: She explained how it could be used in both cities and rural areas.Sv: Hon visade hur enkel och praktisk den var att använda.En: She showed how simple and practical it was to use.Sv: När hon slutade sin presentation tog en man i kostym ordet.En: When she finished her presentation, a man in a suit took the floor.Sv: Han var en känd riskkapitalist i branschen.En: He was a well-known venture capitalist in the industry.Sv: "Jag gillar idén," sa han.En: "I like the idea," he said.Sv: "Jag tror att vi kan utveckla detta vidare tillsammans."En: "I think we can develop this further together."Sv: Gruppen jublade i tysthet.En: The group quietly cheered.Sv: De hade gjort det.En: They had done it.Sv: Deras idé hade fått uppmärksamhet.En: Their idea had gained attention.Sv: De valdes ut för att få mentorskap från inkubatorn.En: They were selected to receive mentorship from the incubator.Sv: När de lämnade byggnaden den dagen var de tre mycket mer än bara ett skolprojekt.En: When they left the building that day, they were much more than just a school project.Sv: De insåg kraften i att balansera drömmar med verklighet.En: They realized the power of balancing dreams with reality.Sv: Astrid hade lärt sig vikten av att kombinera sin idealism med praktiska lösningar, och Lars och Emil såg potentialen i deras enhetliga vision.En: Astrid had learned the importance of combining her idealism with practical solutions, and Lars and Emil saw the potential in their unified vision.Sv: Hösten låg som ett löfte om förändring.En: Autumn lay like a promise of change.Sv: Och i den kyliga, fräscha luften kände de att det här bara var början på något stort.En: And in the crisp, fresh air, they felt that this was just the beginning of something big. Vocabulary Words:vibrated: vibreradeincubator: inkubatornskeptical: skeptiskprototype: prototyppurifier: vattenrenarecompromise: kompromissinnovative: innovativtportable: bärbarchatter: sorletpresentation: presentationsustainable: hållbarventure capitalist: riskkapitalistmentorship: mentorskapchallenge: utmaningdetermined: bestämdidealism: idealismnetworking: nätverkaagree: komma överensurban: städerrural: landsbygdenrealized: insågbalance: balanserapotential: potentialenpromise: löftechange: förändringcrisp: kyligaenergy: energitalent: talangbeginning: börjandreams: drömmar

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Striking the Balance: A Startup's Path to Investor Success Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-09-30-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: El sol de primavera entraba a raudales por las ventanas grandes del incubador de startups.En: The spring sun streamed abundantly through the large windows of the startup incubator.Es: El lugar era un hervidero de actividad.En: The place was a hive of activity.Es: En un rincón, Esteban movía nervioso papeles sobre una mesa llena de garabatos y esquemas.En: In one corner, Esteban nervously shuffled papers on a table full of scribbles and diagrams.Es: Luz, a su lado, ajustaba los últimos detalles de la presentación en su computador, una sonrisa confiada en su rostro.En: Luz, beside him, was adjusting the final details of the presentation on her computer, a confident smile on her face.Es: Al otro lado, Paloma revisaba cifras en su tablet, su ceño fruncido.En: Across the room, Paloma was reviewing figures on her tablet, her brow furrowed.Es: El grupo estaba a minutos de su gran presentación.En: The group was minutes away from their big presentation.Es: Esteban llevaba meses trabajando en esto.En: Esteban had been working on this for months.Es: Quería impresionar a los inversores con su producto innovador.En: He wanted to impress the investors with his innovative product.Es: Pero aún no sabía si debía ser audaz o comedido.En: But he still didn't know whether to be bold or measured.Es: Los consejos de Paloma y Luz eran opuestos.En: Paloma and Luz's advice were opposing.Es: "Esteban, necesitamos mostrar todo lo que podemos hacer," decía Luz con entusiasmo.En: "Esteban, we need to show everything we can do," said Luz enthusiastically.Es: "Nuestro producto es increíble.En: "Our product is incredible.Es: Los inversores deben ver su potencial completo."En: Investors need to see its full potential."Es: "Sí, pero no podemos prometer más de lo que podemos cumplir," replicó Paloma, firme pero tranquila.En: "Yes, but we can't promise more than we can deliver," Paloma replied, firm but calm.Es: "Queremos que confíen en nosotros, no que se desilusionen."En: "We want them to trust us, not be disappointed."Es: Esteban escuchaba a las dos, asintiendo.En: Esteban listened to both, nodding.Es: Sabía que la decisión final era suya.En: He knew the final decision was his.Es: Tomó aire y dijo: "Encontraremos el equilibrio.En: He took a breath and said, "We'll find the balance.Es: Luz, destacaremos las funciones más llamativas.En: Luz, we'll highlight the most striking features.Es: Paloma, seremos claros con los límites actuales."En: Paloma, we'll be clear about the current limitations."Es: Llegó el momento.En: The moment arrived.Es: Caminaron hacia la sala de reuniones, donde varios inversores ya estaban sentados.En: They walked to the meeting room, where several investors were already seated.Es: El clima era tenso, pero había una energía positiva en el aire.En: The atmosphere was tense, but there was a positive energy in the air.Es: Esteban comenzó con seguridad, introduciendo el producto y resaltando sus beneficios.En: Esteban began confidently, introducing the product and highlighting its benefits.Es: Luz explicó las características emocionantes con pasión, ganando la atención del público.En: Luz explained the exciting features with passion, capturing the audience's attention.Es: Todo iba bien hasta que uno de los inversores, un hombre calvo con gafas, levantó su mano.En: Everything was going well until one of the investors, a bald man with glasses, raised his hand.Es: "¿Y qué pasa con la escalabilidad a largo plazo?"En: "And what about long-term scalability?"Es: preguntó, con un tono inquisitivo.En: he asked, in an inquisitive tone.Es: Este era el momento crítico.En: This was the critical moment.Es: Esteban sintió una punzada de nervios, pero con la energía optimista de Luz en mente, y la precaución de Paloma, respondió.En: Esteban felt a pang of nerves, but with Luz's optimistic energy in mind, and Paloma's caution, he responded.Es: "Nuestro enfoque inicial está en la calidad y satisfacción del usuario.En: "Our initial focus is on quality and user satisfaction.Es: A medida que avancemos, planeamos ampliar gradualmente, asegurando que cada etapa de crecimiento esté bien estructurada."En: As we progress, we plan to expand gradually, ensuring that each stage of growth is well-structured."Es: El lugar quedó en silencio por un segundo eterno.En: The room went silent for an eternal second.Es: Luego, el inversor asintió, satisfecho.En: Then, the investor nodded, satisfied.Es: Esteban sintió una ola de alivio.En: Esteban felt a wave of relief.Es: Había logrado encontrar el balance correcto.En: He had managed to find the right balance.Es: Al salir de la sala, Luz le dio una palmada en la espalda.En: As they left the room, Luz patted him on the back.Es: "¡Lo hiciste genial!"En: "You were great!"Es: Paloma sonrió, más relajada.En: Paloma smiled, more relaxed.Es: "Ese fue un buen equilibrio de visión y realidad."En: "That was a good balance of vision and reality."Es: Esteban sonrió también, sintiéndose más confiado que nunca.En: Esteban smiled too, feeling more confident than ever.Es: Había aprendido a valorar tanto la ambición como la realidad.En: He had learned to value both ambition and reality.Es: Sabía que su equipo estaba en el camino correcto, liderando con determinación y equilibrio hacia un futuro brillante.En: He knew his team was on the right path, leading with determination and balance towards a bright future. Vocabulary Words:the incubator: el incubadorthe hive: el herviderothe scribbles: los garabatosthe diagrams: los esquemasthe brow: el ceñothe figures: las cifrasto impress: impresionarbold: audazmeasured: comedidostriking features: funciones llamativaslimitations: los límitesthe atmosphere: el climathe benefits: los beneficiosthe features: las característicasscalability: la escalabilidadlong-term: a largo plazoinquisitive: inquisitivothe focus: el enfoquethe stage: la etapastructured: estructuradathe balance: el equilibriorelief: el aliviothe vision: la visiónreality: la realidadambition: la ambiciónthe team: el equipodetermination: la determinaciónthe effort: el esfuerzoto expand: ampliarto highlight: resaltar

Research from Dr. Andrey Kostyuk at the Grenoble Ecole de Management supervised by Prof. Martina Battisti, a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, and Director of European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, reveals that successful startup mentoring operates as a complex social exchange where both mentors and entrepreneurs must benefit for ventures to thrive. The findings advance the understanding of entrepreneurial mentoring and provide a blueprint for designing more effective mentoring programs that could accelerate sustainable startup growth worldwide.

S6 Ep4 – Hanim Dogan-Jain is a partner at Prime Advantage Capital Partners, as well as an  advisor, board member and passionate advocate for female founders. She has a rich international background spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. In this compelling episode, Hanim shares her journey from humble beginnings in Turkey to entrepreneurial success and venture capital leadership. The conversation dives deep into the harsh realities of fundraising in today's climate, the unique challenges faced by female founders, and the importance of impact-driven investment. Hanim offers candid insights, practical advice, and heartfelt anecdotes that highlight both the obstacles and opportunities in the startup ecosystem.

What does it really mean to “succeed” as a founder or a VC? In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Mark Mullen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bonfire Ventures, to explore the realities behind startup success, venture capital, and what it takes to build a high-performing team in today's market.Mark opens up about the unrealistic expectations in venture capital, why selling a company for $11M can be celebrated in some industries but deemed a failure in VC, and how the focus on founder personalities has shifted startup culture. He also shares the lessons he's learned growing Bonfire from a solo GP to a team of 11 managing over a billion dollars, and the strategies behind picking founders, understanding their motivations, and making early-stage investments.In this conversation, we cover:- The evolution of Bonfire Ventures and its $245M fundraise- The difference between founder wins vs. VC wins- How capital markets, interest rates, and M&A affect venture returns- Why intuition matters — and how to back it up with real metrics -The qualities Mark looks for in founders and early-stage companies- Lessons from market downturns, COVID, and AI's rise in venture capital- The Palisades fire and how that affected Mark and his familyIf you're a founder, investor, or curious about venture capital, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, mindset, and strategies that shape startup and VC success today.Mark Mullen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamullen Website: https://www.bonfirevc.com/Sean Goldfaden LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/

SummaryIn this week's episode of Startup Junkies, host Caleb Talley and Grace Gill are joined by Permjot Valia, co-founder of Nava Develop Inc., who offers listeners a masterclass in entrepreneurship and investment. Permjot, known for his keen business acumen and international venture capital experience, shares his unique perspectives on what it takes to build successful companies and thrive in today's fast-paced business landscape.Throughout the conversation, Permjot discusses the importance of adaptability for founders, referencing real-world challenges that startups often face. He emphasizes that resilient entrepreneurs are those who not only adapt quickly but also learn from setbacks, turning failure into an opportunity for growth.Caleb and Grace steer the conversation into practical territory, asking Permjot how aspiring founders can attract the attention of investors. Permjot highlights the need for clarity by having a strong pitch and a clear understanding of your business model and target market.Listeners will appreciate the actionable advice sprinkled throughout the episode, as well as Permjot's candid reflections on the delicate balance between passion and pragmatism in entrepreneurship. Whether you're an early-stage founder or just curious about what makes startups succeed, this episode offers valuable lessons and an inspiring look behind the scenes of venture capital!Show Notes(00:00) Introduction(03:41) Cultural Differences in Business Pitches(09:05) Redefining Strategy with New Terms(13:19) How Bentonville Is a Gateway to Global Opportunities(16:06) Scaling Success Through Talent Pools(22:26) Business Model Transition Challenges(27:01) Reflecting on Self-Identity(28:29) Closing ThoughtsLinksCaleb TalleyGrace GillStartup JunkieStartup Junkie YouTubeFuel AcceleratorPermjot ValiaNava Develop Inc.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Innovative Dreams: Mei Lin's Journey at the Tech Expo Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-19-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 高科技城市在秋天显得格外繁忙。En: The high-tech city looks particularly busy in the autumn.Zh: 城市中心的科技博览会上，最新的创新产品在展出，各路创业者在寻找机遇。En: At the tech expo in the city center, the latest innovative products are on display, and all kinds of entrepreneurs are seeking opportunities.Zh: 秋风轻拂，街道上挂满了温暖的灯笼，节日的气氛伴随着科技的活力正弥漫开来。En: The autumn breeze gently blows, and warm lanterns hang all over the streets.Zh: 美琳站在博览会的一个角落，心里七上八下。En: The festive atmosphere, coupled with the vitality of technology, is spreading.Zh: 她是一位有抱负的技术创业者，这次带来了自己研发的智能设备。En: Mei Lin stood in a corner of the expo, feeling anxious.Zh: 她想打动这里的投资者，为自己的创业项目获得资金。En: She is an aspiring tech entrepreneur, and this time she brought her self-developed smart device.Zh: 她的内心却充满不安，害怕自己不如其他创业者。En: She wanted to impress the investors here and secure funding for her startup project.Zh: 锦海是此次比赛的投资评委，他以严厉著称。En: However, her heart was full of unease, fearing she might not measure up to other entrepreneurs.Zh: 然而，在他的严肃外表下，他一直在寻找新鲜的点子和有才华的人。En: Jin Hai is a judge for this competition and is known for his strictness.Zh: 他希望能帮助他们成功。En: Yet, beneath his stern appearance, he is always seeking fresh ideas and talented individuals.Zh: 紫萱是美琳的朋友，也是她的同事，一直在鼓励和支持她。En: He hopes to help them succeed.Zh: 紫萱虽然希望美琳成功，但也对自己的职业生涯有些疑虑。En: Zi Xuan is Mei Lin's friend and colleague, always encouraging and supporting her.Zh: “美琳，加油！En: While Zi Xuan hopes for Mei Lin's success, she also has some doubts about her own career.Zh: ”紫萱微笑着说道，她递给美琳一份准备好的演讲稿。En: "Mei Lin, go for it!"Zh: “谢谢你，紫萱。En: Zi Xuan said with a smile, handing Mei Lin a prepared speech script.Zh: ”美琳感激地说。En: “Thank you, Zi Xuan,” Mei Lin said gratefully.Zh: 比赛开始了，美琳的心跳加速。En: The competition began, and Mei Lin's heart raced.Zh: 上台后，面对众多评委和观众，她感到无比紧张。En: After going on stage, facing many judges and the audience, she felt incredibly nervous.Zh: 她知道必须做出决定：是坚持原来的演讲，还是冒险加入一个关于中秋节的个人故事。En: She knew she had to make a decision: stick to her original speech or take the risk of adding a personal story about the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 她想起中秋节的团圆和希望的象征。En: She remembered the Mid-Autumn Festival's symbol of reunion and hope.Zh: 终于，美琳深深吸了口气，决定冒险分享她的故事。En: Finally, Mei Lin took a deep breath and decided to take the risk and share her story.Zh: 她的声音略微颤抖，却充满真诚。En: Her voice trembled slightly, yet it was filled with sincerity.Zh: “我的产品，不仅是一件科技产品，也承载着家庭的故事。En: "My product is not just a piece of technology; it also carries a family story.Zh: 在我小时候，和家人一起过中秋，总让我感到温暖。En: When I was little, spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with my family always made me feel warm.Zh: 我希望这个设备也能带给人们这样的温暖和连接。En: I hope this device can also bring such warmth and connection to people."Zh: ”故事打动了观众，吸引了锦海的注意。En: The story moved the audience and caught Jin Hai's attention.Zh: 他看到了美琳对产品的热情和诚意。En: He saw Mei Lin's passion and sincerity for the product.Zh: 在比赛结束后，他主动找到了美琳，表达了投资的兴趣。En: After the competition ended, he actively sought out Mei Lin to express his interest in investing.Zh: 那天晚上，美琳和紫萱走在节日的长街上，抬头望着满街的灯笼。En: That evening, Mei Lin and Zi Xuan walked down the festive streets, looking up at the lanterns lining the way.Zh: 紫萱笑着说：“看，你做到了！En: Zi Xuan smiled and said, "See, you did it!"Zh: ”美琳点点头，微笑着。En: Mei Lin nodded, smiling.Zh: 她终于明白，真实的故事和情感能够连接人心，带来机会。En: She finally understood that real stories and emotions could connect hearts and bring opportunities.Zh: 她的自信心因这次经历而大大增强。En: Her confidence was greatly boosted by this experience.Zh: 这场比赛，不仅是为了创业，更是一次内心的成长。En: This competition was not only about entrepreneurship but also a journey of personal growth.Zh: 灯笼的光辉照亮了美琳的心，也映衬出科技与传统交织的城市风景。En: The glow of the lanterns illuminated Mei Lin's heart, highlighting a cityscape where technology and tradition are intertwined. Vocabulary Words:entrepreneurs: 创业者innovation: 创新opportunities: 机遇autumn breeze: 秋风lanterns: 灯笼festive atmosphere: 节日的气氛vitality: 活力aspiring: 有抱负smart device: 智能设备secure funding: 获得资金strictness: 严厉stern appearance: 严肃外表talented: 有才华encouraging: 鼓励prepared speech script: 准备好的演讲稿gratefully: 感激地heart raced: 心跳加速trembled: 颤抖sincerity: 真诚symbol of reunion: 团圆的象征unease: 不安highlighting: 映衬tech expo: 科技博览会investors: 投资者judge: 评委competition: 比赛personal growth: 内心的成长reunion: 团圆illuminated: 照亮cityscape: 城市风景

Ian Bergman sits down with Hassan Jaferi, Sr. Director at Myant Ventures and veteran of IP, tech transfer, and startup acceleration, to unpack the realities of turning academic breakthroughs into thriving businesses.From his early career as a patent examiner to building and mentoring deep tech ventures through Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, Hassan shares the pivotal lessons he's learned about bridging the gap between research and commercialization. He explains why most startups fail to define the real problem, the critical role of industry engagement, and how founders can avoid wasting years chasing the wrong market.Key insights include:Why 50% of academic spinouts struggle to identify a true problem to solveThe importance of engaging industry early—and speaking in the language of problems, not solutionsThree hard-won lessons from scaling Bitnobi, a data-sharing startup that was recently acquiredHow founders should think about grant funding, bootstrapping, and the right time to raise venture capitalWhy embedding entrepreneurial experience inside universities can make or break tech transfer successWhether you're building a deep tech startup, working in corporate innovation, or navigating university tech transfer, this conversation delivers practical lessons on what it really takes to move research from the lab to the market.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the podcast! Let me know via text :)RECORDED VIA ZOOMIn this episode of The Simone Feiler Podcast, I'm joined by Peter Deans — founder of GoRu.com, creator of the 52 Risks® framework, and author of The Startup Toolkit.With decades of experience in corporate finance and entrepreneurship, Peter has worked with founders across industries to help them navigate uncertainty, manage risk, and build stronger, more resilient businesses.We dive into:Peter's experience turning The Startup Toolkit into an audiobook with Brisbane Audiobook ProductionWhy most startup founders underestimate risk — and how to shift your mindsetThe key takeaways every entrepreneur should know from The Startup ToolkitReal-world success stories of founders who applied the frameworkHow startups can adapt to AI, remote work, and global competitionPeter's best advice for anyone sitting on a big idea but waiting to take the plungeWhether you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, or business leader, this conversation is packed with practical insights and proven strategies to help you launch and grow with confidence.

Dr. Matthew Jones is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with co-founders to help manage critical conflicts that threaten their success. He is the author of the book, "The Cofounder Effect: How to Diagnose, Fix, and Scale Healthy Communication for Startup Success." Matt has worked with hundreds of bootstrapped and VC-funded co-founder teams to help them repair and manage their relationships in the context of their growing business. In this episode, we discuss a wide range of co-founder relationship topics, including: Why co-founder alignment sets the floor and ceiling for entire company culture and employee performance. How most co-founder conflicts aren't about surface issues but deeper psychological needs for recognition and power. Why research shows companies founded by friends are more unstable than those started by strangers. The three communication languages of cofounders: operational (business), psychological (feelings), and archetypal (the vibe). Quote from Dr. Matthew Jones, a clinical psychologist “And those differences can start off and be quite positive. If we can manage that tension effectively. That's the magic of co-founders, right? Is the complementary skills and ways of operating that allows you to land somewhere even more effective than you could have individually.  “But those same differences that give you that magic sauce also can be sources of friction, like an arthritic knee that just aches every now and then, and sometimes gets worse and worse, right? And so that's where the tensions really have to be managed. And so that's why I advocate for making those differences as conscious and explicit as possible.” Links Dr. Matthew Jones on LinkedIn Cofounder Clarity website  Book: “The Cofounder Effect: How to Diagnose Fix and Scale Healthy Communication for Startup Success”   The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com.

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Adriana Brusi, founder of Crowds Now, takes us through her entrepreneurial journey from restaurants and a chocolate franchise to creating an innovative app with over 500K users. Crowds Now empowers everyday people to earn as brand ambassadors, redefining influencer marketing while helping businesses grow and communities thrive. In this episode, Adriana shares her insights on resilience, scaling ventures, and building lasting impact through innovation and people-first leadership. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here.   Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Adriana Brusi shared that the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing people. She explained that even one toxic hire can destabilize a company, making recruitment, culture protection, and team management the most challenging aspects of scaling successfully. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Adriana Brusi shared that her favorite business book, which has helped her the most, is Unreasonable Hospitality. She recommends it even for those outside the hospitality industry, as it offers powerful lessons on service, leadership, and creating exceptional customer experiences. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Adriana Brusi shared that one of the great podcasts she recommends for professional development is Diary of a CEO. She values its diverse topics and practical insights, noting that it provides a wide range of perspectives useful for entrepreneurs looking to grow a small business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Adriana Brusi shared that a key tool she recommends for growing a small business is a CRM system. She emphasized that it doesn't need to be complex – platforms like Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor, or Mailchimp are enough – as long as they help maintain data integrity, manage customer relationships, and drive growth effectively. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Adriana Brusi shared that the advice she would give herself on day one of starting out in business is to “just keep going.” She explained that the journey will be hard and messy, with moments of doubt and setbacks, but persistence and resilience are what ultimately lead to success. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Hire the person, not the resume – skills can be taught, values cannot – Adriana Brusi In business, resilience turns obstacles into stepping stones – Adriana Brusi Your people are your greatest asset—or your biggest liability – Adriana Brusi      

In this episode of the Predictable Revenue podcast, Collin Stewart interviews Sriharsha “Sai” Guduguntla, co-founder of Hyperbound. They delve into what it truly takes to achieve product-market fit, from conducting 2,000 user interviews to leveraging AI for enhanced sales productivity. This post highlights the key lessons every early-stage founder needs to hear. Highlights include: The Journey of User Interviews (01:35), The Mechanics of Virality (09:22), Building a Sustainable Inbound Strategy (10:14), Avoiding the GPT Wrapper Trap (12:56), AI in Sales: Enhancing, Not Replacing Human Coaches (14:40), And more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights in Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!

From a small town in Gujarat to leading a global consultancy, Hardik Parekh joins Jack Russo on The Valley Current® to share his thrilling journey of grit, risk, and innovation. Hear how he bootstrapped his firm Searce from scratch, transformed consulting with a “talk less, do more” mantra, and scaled to 1,300 employees across 12 countries all without VC funding. They dive into AI disruption, Silicon Valley's talent wars, and why the future belongs to “AI-first” firms. It's an inspiring look at building big dreams through relentless execution and visionary thinking. Don't miss this electrifying story of entrepreneurial triumph! https://searce.com/    Jack Russo Managing Partner Jrusso@computerlaw.com www.computerlaw.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackrusso "Every Entrepreneur Imagines a Better World"®️  

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steven Puri—film executive turned tech founder, productivity expert, and remote work evangelist. Steven's career path has taken him from producing blockbuster hits like Die Hard and The Wolverine to raising millions in venture capital and building tools that help people focus better, work smarter, and reclaim their time.Steven shares fascinating behind-the-scenes lessons from Hollywood—how storytelling principles apply to business—and the practical strategies he's developed for managing dopamine, achieving flow states, and structuring your day for maximum productivity. Whether you're a leader managing a remote team or an entrepreneur trying to get more done without burning out, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Today, we talk about the difference between Entrepreneur Brain and Normal Brain. Normal Brain is out to sabotage your startup. We teach you Entrepreneur Brain to make sure that doesn't happen. Tacklebox 10-Day Customer Interview WorkshopAli Abdaal - The Good Student vs. The Good Entrepreneur Mindset (text, Ali's email signup)Graham Weaver - How to Design a Winnable GameDaina Trout EpisodeTimestamps:00:30 Entrepreneur Brain vs. Normal Brain01:50 The $2 Million Dollar House05:30 Customer Interviews Workshop6:06 Situation #1: The Overwhelming To Do LIst10:57 Situation #2: When Things Don't Work13:09 Situation #3: When You Feel Unprepared15:48 Situation #4: When You Are Low On Resources18:17 The End: Lotto Tickets

Brian Thompson chats with Amy Cosper, former Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, award-winning journalist, and author of the new book, “The Ultimate Guide to Startup Success.” In this episode, Amy brings fierce honesty, contagious energy, and deep wisdom about what it really takes to build a mission-driven business in uncertain times. You'll also hear some of the biggest legal and financial mistakes founders make and be reminded why entrepreneurship can be a radical act of hope and defiance. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses don't have to be altruistic. Amy describes a mission-driven business as one fueled by a higher purpose, but she's careful to clarify that purpose doesn't have to be altruistic. “Having a mission-driven or purpose-driven company is what you stand for,” she said. “It doesn't have to be altruistic, but it is what you believe in.” The mission should be the company's soul that emanates out to the branding, business plan, and revenue streams. As a consultant to startup founders, Amy routinely sees that entrepreneurs struggle with finding clarity. “If you don't have clarity in what your company does, it's going to be really hard to find your purpose,” she said. Avoid common legal and accounting mistakes. Because entrepreneurs are visionary, they often overlook important, practical needs. Amy shared four, common mistakes she hopes future founders will avoid: Not maintaining accurate books from the start: While you may not want to think about the numbers, it's important to do accurate accounting as a business owner. Not getting an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN): Your EIN is like a Social Security number for your business and should be tied to your entity. Giving your business short-sighted name: Naming your business after a fleeting trend or something specific to a geographic region becomes problematic when you want to grow. Not understanding how to structure partnership and operating agreements: If you don't plan for how a business will get split up or choose an appropriate business structure, you're setting yourself up for headaches when it's time to pivot. “My hope for the book is that entrepreneurs and founders don't make the same mistakes that I made,” Amy said. ”When you're creating something new, or you're disrupting a known way of thinking, you're not thinking about how to structure an operating agreement or whether it's better as an LLC or S Corp. My advice is to take a pause and do a little bit of research.” Just start. Amy knows people who have been about to launch their business for 20 years. While it's scary to take the first step, she encouraged want-to-be entrepreneurs to just start. “You get to make your own destiny,” she said. “You're in charge.” Resources + Links “The Ultimate Guide to Startup Success” Amy Cosper: LinkedIn Brian Thompson Financial: Website, Newsletter, Podcast Follow Brian Thompson Online: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Forbes About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast Brian Thompson, JD/CFP, is a tax attorney and Certified Financial Planner® who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit. On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Jan Willem Van der Meer, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Momants. Jan Willem shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from building one of Europe's major ticketing companies to launching Momants, an AI-powered platform designed to transform the events industry. Discover how Momants is tackling the challenges of personalization and efficiency in event ticketing. Jan Willem explains how their solution integrates with existing ticketing systems to automate support, increase conversion, and create tailored marketing experiences for everything from festivals and concerts to museums and amusement parks. Jan Willem also discusses the realities of founding and funding a SaaS startup, offering valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you're interested in how AI is shaping the future of events, or if you're a SaaS founder seeking inspiration and advice, this episode is filled with practical insights and forward-thinking ideas. Show Notes: 00:00 Ticketing Company Rise and Sale 03:57 Challenges in Festival Ticketing 10:00 AI Startup's Initial $1M Investment 11:54 Supportive Network for Startup Success 14:35 "Building AI Partnerships with Innovators" 20:42 Balancing Revenue and Client Experience 22:39 Message Engagement and Client Onboarding 25:38 "WWF Moments Founder Chat" Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/momants-raises-1-million-in-pre-seed-funding Jan Willem Van der Meer's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janwillemvdmeer/ Momant's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/momants/ Momant's Website: https://www.momants.ai/ To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben's daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben's SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Join host Paul Spain as he chats with Luke Campbell, co-founder and CEO of VXT. Luke shares his journey of founding VXT while still a student at the University of Canterbury. Recently named Young Achiever of the Year at the 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, Luke opens up about the challenges of launching and pivoting a startup, finding the right co-founder, and how VXT found its niche helping lawyers reclaim valuable time with AI-powered call management. Luke offers honest insights on finding the right problem, fundraising, building company culture, and recruitment tips for aspiring founders.A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

GSD Presents: Top Global Startups with Yossi Abraham Bootstrapped and Thriving: The Profitable Growth Mindset Behind Startup Success June 18th, Wednesday

On today's Episode Shanta Author Ben Wiener who is a Venture Capitalist and managing partner who shares H.E.A.R.T, if you are an Entrepreneur, Business owner or not, this is an Episode that will help those who have a big dream or a big idea and you are ready to Pitch the investor.  Ben also shares his experience when he was in a position to have to Pitch his ideas from an investor. Learn H.E.A.R.T  framework—the 5 essential elements of a pitch that mirrors how venture capitalists evaluate deals.Real startup struggles like entrepreneur stress, setbacks, how to overcome failure, and how to set up your startup for pitch success.The mindset shift founders must make to win investor trust.What actually happens when your pitch deck sounds smart—but not investable.Connect with Ben:Website: https://www.benwiener.net/Social Media: LinkedIn | XApple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Spreaker | Castbox and more. Connect with the host:Instagram: @AuthenticTalks2.0 Email: AuthenticShanta@gmail.com Website: www.AuthenticTalks2.com Facebook: AuthenticTalks2 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/authentic-talks-2-0-with-shanta--4116672/support.

One of the most-listened and shared episodes of 2024 - an episode that multiple people reached out months later to say "this single episode helped me launch my business." So, that's cool. It's on standing out in a crowded market, and it's on mice. Specifically, the guy who got rid of ours. There are four lessons, a framework, Customer Journey Mapping and the Feature Fold. TackleboxIdea to Startup NewsletterIdea to Startup BotSugar (but it stinks)00:30 Intro02:00 We've Got Mice05:15 The Mouse Man's Funnel07:50 Smooth Jazz08:21 One - Build Your Funnel to Match Customer Emotion11:45 Good Questions For Your Funnel12:30 Two - Contrast from the Feature Fold14:30 Saving your Customers a Decision15:53 Three - Take Yourself Seriously19:14 Four - The Things Other People Stink At22:14 The End22:50 Recap of the Four Lessons

Join us for an insightful episode of The Product Podcast with Jon Noronha, Co-founder of Gamma, an AI-first platform revolutionizing how people create presentations, documents, and websites. Starting in 2020 during the height of shelter-in-place, Gamma has achieved remarkable growth, reaching over 50 million users with a lean team of just 30 people. Most impressively, they went from less than a year of runway to cash-flow positive in just 3 months after pivoting to AI, with 80% of their revenue coming from outside the U.S. - all without a sales team.In this episode, Jon breaks down Gamma's unconventional approach to building AI products, challenging traditional notions of team structure and go-to-market strategy. He shares insights on why they prioritize UX designers over PMs, how they achieved rapid international growth without localization, and their strategic decision to focus on the application layer rather than building their own AI models.What you'll learn:- How Gamma evolved from a presentation tool into a full-blown AI content platform- Why they bet on a design-first team structure with 7 UX designers and no traditional PMs- The technology behind their AI implementation and multi-model approach- How they achieved profitability in 3 months through pure product-led growth- Their strategy for reaching 50M+ users with a team of just 30 peopleEpisode Chapters:(00:00) Gamma's Evolution: From Presentations to AI Platform(15:00) Unconventional Team Structure: Why Designers > PMs(20:00) Product-Led Growth: Zero to 50M Users Without Sales(25:00) AI Integration Strategy: Focusing on User Experience(30:00) International Growth: 80% Revenue Outside USKey Takeaways

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Unlocking Venture Capital for Entrepreneurs: Insights from Business Conversations with PiIn this episode of Business Conversations with Pi, host Skoob and AI co-host Pi delve into essential advice for new entrepreneurs seeking venture capital. They discuss building a solid business plan, networking, developing an effective pitch deck, and finding accelerators and incubators. The episode also recommends valuable resources including books like 'Venture Deals' and 'The Lean Startup' to help founders navigate the complexities of venture capital. Listeners are encouraged to explore alternative funding options and reach out with their own questions for future episodes.Book MentionsVenture Deals" by Brad Feld   The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries Pitch Anything" by Oren Klaff: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Raising Capital" by David Nour00:00 Introduction to Business Conversations with Pi00:26 Welcome and Episode Overview01:45 Meet Pi, Your AI Co-Host02:05 Understanding Venture Capital02:22 Securing Venture Capital: Tips and Strategies03:17 Finding Incubators and Accelerators04:17 Creating an Effective Pitch Deck05:24 Recommended Reading for Venture Capital06:26 Final Thoughts and Encouragement06:56 Closing Remarks and Next Steps Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community If you would like to be coached on your entrepreneurial adventure please email me at for a 2 hour free discovery call! This is a $700 free gift to my Skoobelievers!! Contact me Now!! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: From Glitch to Glory: Startups, Vision, and Reality Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-07-15-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: תל אביב בחוץ הייתה חמה כמו כבשן בקיץ, אך בתוך החממה של הסטארטאפ, הכל הרגיש חי ותוסס.En: Tel Aviv outside was as hot as a furnace in summer, but inside the greenhouse of the startup, everything felt alive and vibrant.He: החלונות הגדולים אישרו לשמש הקיץ להיכנס ולשטוף את החלל באור.En: The large windows allowed the summer sun to enter and bathe the space in light.He: רחש הגלים באופק התמזג עם צלילי ההקלדות והדיונים.En: The rustle of the waves in the distance blended with the sounds of typing and discussions.He: אורי, מנכ"ל החברה, התהלך בין השולחנות עם אור בעיניים.En: Ori, the CEO of the company, walked between the desks with light in his eyes.He: הוא היה בטוח במיזם שלהם כמו בקיץ עצמו, אך נועה, ה-CTO, הרגישה חוסר נחת.En: He was as confident in their venture as in summer itself, but Noa, the CTO, felt uneasy.He: לתמונת המיזם היה בעיניה חסר פרטים קריטיים.En: In her eyes, the venture's picture was missing critical details.He: ואלי, ראש מחלקת השיווק, ניסה למצוא איזון בין הטירוף של העבודה לבין חייו האישיים.En: And Eli, the head of the marketing department, was trying to find a balance between the madness of work and his personal life.He: "דדליינים לא מחכים," אורי הכריז בביטחון.En: "Deadlines don't wait," Ori declared confidently.He: "אנחנו חייבים לשכנע את המשקיעים בפגישה הקרובה.En: "We must convince the investors in the upcoming meeting."He: ""אני לא בטוחה שזה חכם," ענתה נועה, מקדישה כל תשומת לב לשורות הקוד על המסך שלה.En: "I'm not sure it's wise," Noa replied, devoting all her attention to the lines of code on her screen.He: "המוצר לא מושלם עוד.En: "The product isn't perfect yet."He: ""יש לנו תאריך ואין לנו דרך חזרה," אמר אלי, מנסה להרגיע את העניינים באמצעות הקסם האישי שלו.En: "We have a date and there's no way back," said Eli, trying to calm things down with his personal charm.He: "אנחנו חייבים לנסות.En: "We have to try."He: "היום של הפגישה עם המשקיעים הגיע.En: The day of the meeting with the investors arrived.He: המשרד היה ממושטר ומסודר לקראת ההצגה.En: The office was organized and prepared for the presentation.He: אך פתאום, באמצע הפרזנטציה הסוערת של אורי, קרה התרחיש שנועה חששה ממנו: תקלה טכנית בפרזנטור.En: But suddenly, during Ori's intense presentation, the scenario that Noa feared happened: a technical glitch with the presenter.He: המסך שניערך להפגין את שם החברה נותר כחול ומרוקן.En: The screen set to display the company's name remained blank and blue.He: אורי הרים את מבטו אל נועה ואלי, עיניו מלאות תסכול.En: Ori looked up at Noa and Eli, his eyes full of frustration.He: אבל אז, ברק של רעיון עלה בראש של נועה.En: But then, a flash of an idea came to Noa's mind.He: בעזרת פריט נתונים שלא חשבו עליו קודם, היא הצליחה להמחיש את היתרון של המוצר בלי הצגת המסך.En: With a data point they hadn't considered before, she managed to illustrate the product's advantage without the screen display.He: הרושם שהותירה היה מועצה לכולם.En: The impression left was significant for everyone.He: המשקיעים, אחרי רגע של התלבטות, נתנו את האישור לחתום על ההשקעה.En: After a moment of hesitation, the investors gave the green light to sign on the investment.He: המפגש נגמר ואורי הביט אל נועה בעיניים מלאות תודה.En: The meeting ended, and Ori looked at Noa with eyes full of gratitude.He: "למדתי המון," הוא אמר.En: "I learned a lot," he said.He: "מעכשיו יש לנו שני מסלולים: החזון והמציאות.En: "From now on, we have two paths: the vision and reality."He: "נועה חייכה בפשטות.En: Noa smiled simply.He: "לפעמים, הרעיונות הכי טובים מגיעים כשהם הכי נחוצים.En: "Sometimes, the best ideas come when they are most needed."He: "הצוות החזיר את החיוכים שלהם.En: The team returned their smiles.He: החלום המשיך להתקדם, עכשיו עם תקווה חדשה ואמונה רבה יותר בעבודת הצוות.En: The dream continued to progress, now with new hope and greater belief in teamwork. Vocabulary Words:furnace: כבשןgreenhouse: חממהrustle: רחשventure: מיזםuneasy: חוסר נחתbalance: איזוןmadness: טירוףdevoting: מקדישהglitch: תקלה טכניתfrustration: תסכולgratitude: תודהillustrate: להמחישsignificant: מועצהhesitation: התלבטותscenario: התרחישpresentation: פרזנטציהventure: מיזםinvestors: משקיעיםimpression: רושםstartup: סטארטאפdepartment: מחלקתdeadline: דדלייניםcalm: להרגיעcharm: קסם אישיorganized: ממושטרblank: מרוקןconcept: רעיוןadvantage: יתרוןsign: להשקעהreality: המציאותBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Collaboration Triumphs: Uniting a Team for Startup Success Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-07-15-22-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Rummet summede af liv og energi.En: The room buzzed with life and energy.Da: Det var sommer i København, og startup-inkubatoren var fyldt med unge, håbefulde iværksættere.En: It was summer in København, and the startup incubator was filled with young, hopeful entrepreneurs.Da: Freja stod midt i dette virvar.En: Freja stood in the midst of this chaos.Da: Hun var bekymret.En: She was worried.Da: Bekymret for, om hendes nystartede virksomhed ville lykkes.En: Worried about whether her new company would succeed.Da: Freja havde endnu en udfordring den dag: Hun skulle købe kontorartikler.En: Freja had yet another challenge that day: She needed to buy office supplies.Da: Freja mødtes med Mikkel, hendes forretningspartner.En: Freja met with Mikkel, her business partner.Da: De ville starte indkøbene sammen.En: They intended to start shopping together.Da: Men fra starten var de uenige.En: But from the beginning, they disagreed.Da: Mikkel mente, de skulle købe moderne, dyrt udstyr.En: Mikkel thought they should buy modern, expensive equipment.Da: Freja tænkte mere på funktionalitet og at spare penge.En: Freja focused more on functionality and saving money.Da: Søren, en af deres medarbejdere, havde også en mening.En: Søren, one of their employees, had an opinion too.Da: Han ønskede farverige, kreative materialer.En: He wanted colorful, creative materials.Da: Freja kunne mærke angsten vokse.En: Freja could feel the anxiety growing.Da: Hvordan kunne hun vælge det rigtige?En: How could she choose the right thing?Da: De besluttede at tage til en stor kontorforsyningsbutik tæt på inkubatoren.En: They decided to go to a large office supply store near the incubator.Da: Butikken havde alt, hvad man kunne tænke sig: ergonomiske stole, smarte whiteboards, moderne teknologi og utallige kontorartikler.En: The store had everything one could imagine: ergonomic chairs, smart whiteboards, modern technology, and countless office supplies.Da: Freja kiggede forvirret rundt.En: Freja looked around confused.Da: Der var så mange valgmuligheder.En: There were so many options.Da: Men en tanke slog hende.En: But a thought struck her.Da: I stedet for at tage beslutningen selv, kunne hun involvere alle.En: Instead of making the decision alone, she could involve everyone.Da: Freja tog en dyb indånding og kaldte teamet sammen.En: Freja took a deep breath and called the team together.Da: "Lad os finde ud af det sammen," sagde hun.En: "Let's figure this out together," she said.Da: "Hvad synes I, vi har brug for?"En: "What do you think we need?"Da: Det ændrede alt.En: It changed everything.Da: Mikkel og Søren delte deres synspunkter, og resten af teamet bidrog også.En: Mikkel and Søren shared their viewpoints, and the rest of the team contributed too.Da: De begyndte at diskutere og vejlede hinanden.En: They began to discuss and guide one another.Da: Snart havde de en plan.En: Soon they had a plan.Da: De tog det bedste fra alles ønsker og lavede en liste.En: They took the best from everyone's desires and made a list.Da: Deres køb blev et farvet udvalg af opslagstavler, komfortable stole og praktiske skriveværktøjer.En: Their purchase became a colorful selection of bulletin boards, comfortable chairs, and practical writing tools.Da: Alles idéer blev taget i betragtning.En: Everyone's ideas were taken into account.Da: Da de forlod butikken, var stemningen anderledes.En: As they left the store, the mood was different.Da: De følte sig forenede.En: They felt united.Da: Det var ikke kun indkøbet, der var fuldført.En: It wasn't just the shopping that was completed.Da: Freja følte en lettelse.En: Freja felt a relief.Da: Hun havde gjort det rigtige.En: She had done the right thing.Da: Hun indså, at styrken i hendes virksomhed lå i samarbejdet.En: She realized that the strength of her company lay in collaboration.Da: Freja smilte.En: Freja smiled.Da: Hun vidste nu, at hun kunne lede med selvtillid og inklusion.En: She now knew she could lead with confidence and inclusion.Da: Denne oplevelse havde ændret hende.En: This experience had changed her.Da: Hun var klar til de næste udfordringer.En: She was ready for the next challenges.Da: Takket være sit team havde Freja fået modet til at føre sin startup til succes.En: Thanks to her team, Freja had gained the courage to lead her startup to success. Vocabulary Words:buzzed: summedeincubator: inkubatorhopeful: håbefuldemidst: midtworried: bekymretsucceed: lykkeschallenge: udfordringoffice supplies: kontorartiklerdisagreed: uenigepurchase: købergonomic: ergonomiskeconfused: forvirretinvolve: involveretight-knit: forenederelief: lettelsecollaboration: samarbejdestrength: styrkeninclusion: inklusioncourage: modetunited: forenedecomfortable: komfortablecreative: kreativeselected: udvalgcontributed: bidrogviewpoints: synspunktercolorful: farvetguideline: vejledeanxiety: angstentechnology: teknologipractical: praktiske

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Tradition Meets Innovation: Haruto's Startup Success Story Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-07-15-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 真夏の東京、渋谷の中心にあるスタートアップインキュベーターは熱気に包まれていました。En: In the peak of summer, in the heart of Tokyo, a startup incubator in Shibuya was enveloped in bustling energy.Ja: 窓越しに差し込む日差しはビルの影を落とし、街の喧騒がかすかに聞こえてきます。En: Sunlight peeked through the windows, casting shadows from the buildings, and the faint sounds of the city's hustle and bustle could be heard.Ja: このモダンなオフィススペースで、ハルトとエミは次の一手を考えていました。En: In this modern office space, Haruto and Emi were contemplating their next move.Ja: ハルトはテックスタートアップを立ち上げようと奮闘する若手起業家です。En: Haruto is a young entrepreneur striving to launch a tech startup.Ja: お盆が近づく中、祖先を敬う気持ちとスタートアップの成功へのプレッシャーが彼を動かしていました。En: As the Obon holiday approached, his respect for his ancestors and the pressure to make his startup successful fueled his motivation.Ja: エミはハルトのサポート役ですが、現実的な考え方を持っています。En: Emi plays a supporting role to Haruto, providing a realistic perspective.Ja: 彼らは信頼できる投資家を探しており、ケンタに期待を寄せていました。En: They were seeking a trustworthy investor and pinned their hopes on Kenta.Ja: ケンタは慎重な投資家で、彼らのスタートアップが本当に価値があるのか疑問を持っています。En: Kenta is a cautious investor who harbors doubts about whether their startup truly holds value.Ja: 「ケンタさんに良い印象を与えるにはどうしたらいいかな？」とハルトは考えました。En: "What can we do to leave a good impression on Kenta-san?" Haruto pondered.Ja: エミは「オフィスの雰囲気も大事よ。高品質で予算に合うオフィス用品を揃えましょう。」と言いました。En: Emi said, "The office atmosphere is important too. Let's gather high-quality office supplies that fit our budget."Ja: ハルトはインキュベーターの周りを散策し、渋谷の店を巡って適切なアイテムを選びました。En: Haruto explored around the incubator and browsed through the shops in Shibuya to select appropriate items.Ja: お盆用の提灯や扇風機、和紙で包んだノート。それはハルトの熱意と、伝統を大切にする想いを表していました。En: Lanterns for Obon, fans, and notebooks wrapped in washi paper—all of which represented Haruto's enthusiasm and his respect for tradition.Ja: 数日後、ついにケンタとのピッチミーティングの日が来ました。En: A few days later, the day of their pitch meeting with Kenta finally arrived.Ja: エミとハルトは準備万端です。En: Emi and Haruto were fully prepared.Ja: ミーティングルームには、新しく揃えた文具が綺麗に並び、涼しい風鈴の音が心地よく響いていました。En: In the meeting room, the newly gathered stationery was neatly arranged, and the soothing sound of wind chimes resonated comfortably.Ja: ハルトは熱心にプレゼンテーションを始めました。En: Haruto began his presentation passionately.Ja: 「私たちの技術はテクノロジー業界に革新をもたらします。そして、これらのアイデアは日本の伝統を尊重しつつ未来を開くものです。」と語りました。En: "Our technology will bring innovation to the tech industry, and these ideas honor traditional Japanese values while opening doors to the future," he stated.Ja: その姿は、自信に満ち溢れ、誠実さが感じられました。En: His demeanor was confident, with sincerity shining through.Ja: ケンタは彼の言葉を真剣に聞き、オフィスの細部に目を向けました。En: Kenta listened intently to his words and took note of the office's intricate details.Ja: ミーティングの終了後、ケンタは微笑みました。En: After the meeting ended, Kenta smiled.Ja: 「素晴らしいアイディアと情熱を感じました。私の投資を約束します。」En: "I felt your great ideas and passion. I promise my investment," he said.Ja: その言葉を聞いて、ハルトとエミは喜びでいっぱいになりました。En: Hearing those words, Haruto and Emi were filled with joy.Ja: この経験を通じて、ハルトはリーダーシップに自信を持つようになり、祖先への敬意が単なる伝統でないことを理解しました。En: Through this experience, Haruto gained confidence in his leadership and understood that respect for ancestors is not merely a tradition.Ja: それは努力と誠実さによって示されるものなのです。En: It's something to be demonstrated through effort and sincerity.Ja: お盆を迎える夏の日、彼は新たな決意を胸に抱きました。En: On a summer day as Obon approached, he embraced a new determination within his heart. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: 包まれていましたbustling: 喧騒contemplating: 考えていましたentrepreneur: 起業家striving: 奮闘するapproached: 近づく中perspective: 考え方trustworthy: 信頼できるharbors: 疑問を持っていますdemeanor: 姿sincerity: 誠実さintently: 真剣にhonor: 尊重demonstrated: 示されるdetermination: 決意heritage: 伝統innovation: 革新persuasion: 説得faint: かすかにshadows: 影amidst: 中心にあるgather: 揃えるsoothing: 心地よくresonated: 響いていましたlanterns: 提灯stationery: 文具embellishment: 装飾pitch: ピッチheartened: 喜びでいっぱいsupporting: サポート役

What can founders learn from elite athletes, and how does coachability translate into venture building? In this episode of The Augmented Life, Michael Tiffany sits down with Ruben A. Austin, founder of All In All, former football player, and serial entrepreneur. From growing up in Düsseldorf to joining an NFL international recruitment program, Ruben's journey spans continents, careers, and communities. They dig deep into Ruben's philosophy on adaptability, leadership, and why building real human connection offline, is still the most powerful force in business. Ruben also shares what it takes to curate a high-trust room, how he sees seasonality shaping creative work, and why slowing down is the ultimate founder superpower.—⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: From athlete to entrepreneur01:13 – Growing up in Düsseldorf & playing American football02:13 – NFL pipeline & facing failure early03:31 – Why Ruben chose Mystique as his favorite villain04:27 – Coachability and adaptability in startups06:24 – What makes someone truly coachable07:23 – Why peer groups may matter more than mentors08:14 – Surrounding yourself with people who tackle big problems09:38 – Trump, thinking big, and perspective shifts11:05 – Worst-case scenario thinking as a mental unlock12:19 – Mortality as a driver for intentional living14:32 – Can AI replicate the soul of human creativity?16:13 – Empathy, texture, and what AI still can't do17:24 – What “good energy” really means at events19:00 – From transactions to relationships: Ruben's evolution20:25 – Shared interests as the root of strong communities22:20 – Why New York's seasonality drives creativity24:28 – Slowing down to spark ideas25:46 – Summer, seasonality, and the hidden opportunity in downtime27:14 – Optimizing during off-seasons28:20 – Fundraising, VC cycles, and the post-Labor Day relaunch28:55 – Where to find Ruben and All In All—

Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code, or even knowing how to?As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by Eric Simons, founder of StackBlitz and creator of the viral AI app builder Bolt.new. Eric shares how modern tools like Bolt and Cursor are redefining what it means to be a founder, turning product managers, designers, and even marketers into full-stack startup builders.They explore how AI coding agents are changing team composition, cycle times, and what the real founder skillset looks like in 2025.In this episode, you will:Discover why reality-based iteration—not ideas—is the true startup superpowerLearn how AI tools like Bolt give non-technical founders real shots on goalUnderstand the evolving role of the technical cofounder in the AI eraCompare top-down and bottom-up AI workflows (e.g. Bolt vs Cursor)Avoid common pitfalls when prompting AI tools to build production-grade appsExplore how startup team roles are converging—and where creative tension still mattersHear the origin story of Bolt's breakout growth and what made it an overnight success (after 7 years)The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

In this episode, Melissa Perri is joined by Julia Austin, Author, Lecturer at Harvard Business School, and Founder of Good For Her, to discuss the essentials of building a strong startup foundation. They delve into the importance of understanding your customer and the problem you're solving, the dynamics of co-founder relationships, and transitioning to outcome-based roadmaps. Julia shares insights on how AI can play a role in product development and gives advice for first-time product managers in startups.Julia emphasizes the need for founders to focus on financial and legal aspects, often overlooked in the excitement of building a product. The conversation offers valuable advice for product managers and founders aiming to build sustainable and successful startups.Want to gain insights into building a strong foundation for your startup and the role of product managers? Listen to the full episode for practical tips and strategies from Julia's extensive experience.You'll hear us talk about:05:20 - Understanding Foundational Work in StartupsJulia Austin discusses why startups should spend 80% of their time on foundational work and discovery, emphasizing the importance of understanding the problem and target audience before developing solutions.12:45 - Transitioning to Outcome-Based RoadmapsMelissa Perri explains how product managers can shift from feature-based roadmaps to outcome-based ones, focusing on connecting outputs to outcomes and effectively communicating with stakeholders.24:10 - Advice for First Product Managers in StartupsJulia provides tips for new product managers on building trust with founders by understanding the company's history and aligning with the founders' vision to help structure the startup's roadmap and priorities.Episode resources:Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaaustin/After the Idea book: https://www.aftertheideabook.com/Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overviewTimestamps:00:00 Introduction03:08 Dear Melissa08:34 Understanding Founder Relationships15:53 Operational Foundations for Startups26:20 Applying AI Thoughtfully35:26 Role of PMs in Startups43:48 Closing Remarks

Maor Shlomo is the founder of Base44, an AI-powered app builder that he bootstrapped to an over $80 million acquisition by Wix in just six months. As a solo founder (with severe ADHD), he hit $1 million ARR just three weeks after launch and grew the product to more than 400,000 users, all while navigating two wars in Israel and never raising a dollar of outside funding.What you'll learn:1. The growth playbook that took Base44 from three friends to 400,000 users without spending any money on marketing2. How he hasn't written a single line of front-end code in three months—and how to structure your code repository to make it easier for AI to write your code3. His AI productivity stack that allowed him to compete against heavily funded competitors4. Why being a solo founder in AI might be the ultimate advantage (and the wedding story that almost killed the business)5. The story of signing the $80M acquisition deal while war broke out with Iran6. How to identify when to sell vs. stay independent (and why Maor chose acquisition despite being highly profitable)7. The counterintuitive product decision that tripled activation by removing a “helpful” feature8. How building in public on LinkedIn drove more growth than any paid channel—Brought to you by:Sauce—Turn customer pain into product revenue: https://sauce.app/lennyDscout—The UX platform to capture insights at every stage: from ideation to production: https://www.dscout.com/Contentsquare—Create better digital experiences: https://contentsquare.com/lenny/—Transcript: ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-base44-bootstrapped-startup-success-story-maor-shlomo⁠—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/167384119/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Maor Shlomo:• X: https://x.com/ms_base44• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maor-shlomo-1088b4144/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Maor and Base44(08:16) The origin story: how Base44 came to be(14:55) Bootstrapping and solo founding: challenges and insights(22:52) Productivity hacks and tech stack for solo founders(27:23) How to get started using Base44(28:47) Thoughts on raising money(34:05) Distribution in the age of AI(36:09) Ambition and goals(40:05) Growth strategies: from first users to thousands(51:32) Building in public(57:42) The solo founder journey(01:00:23) Community support(01:03:23) Hackathons and partnerships(01:06:42) The importance of velocity in product development(01:08:20) Technical stack and infrastructure insights(01:15:24) Activation lessons(01:18:19) The acquisition journey with Wix(01:25:14) Final thoughts and advice for founders—Referenced:• Base44: https://base44.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Tzofim: https://www.israelscouts.org/• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/• RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• Wix: https://www.wix.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com• Yoav Orlev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-orlev-4a044b72• WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/• Google: https://about.google/• MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com/• Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/• Render: Render.com• Claude 4: https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-4• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

Send us a textDo you feel stuck living paycheck to paycheck—and dream of building lasting financial freedom? In this episode, Sun Yong Kim-Manzellini shares how she went from earning $35,000 a year as a single mom to building a seven-figure business by learning to trade, shifting her mindset, and taking bold action.Raised in South Korean orphanages and adopted to the U.S. at 14, Sun Yong overcame adversity most can't imagine. After working over three decades in the medical field and still struggling financially, she realized her “dream job” wouldn't create her dream life. So she made a change—and transformed her future in just one year.This inspiring conversation is packed with powerful insights to help you break free from financial limitations and start designing a life of freedom—on your terms.What You'll Learn:✅ How to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle✅ Strategies for creating financial freedom through investing✅ The mindset shifts that open doors to wealth✅ How small actions lead to massive transformation✅ Why your past doesn't define your potential

Amy Cosper has spent her career at the intersection of business, creativity, and storytelling. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, she shaped the conversation around startups, innovation, and leadership, bringing the journeys of founders and disruptors to millions of readers worldwide. She's won Neal Awards for editorial excellence, redefined business media, and continues championing entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Her most recent book is The Ultimate Guide to Startup Success, an inspiring step-by-step guide to launching a business. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, she shaped the conversation around startups, innovation, and leadership—bringing the journeys of founders and disruptors to millions of readers worldwide. With a career spanning editorial leadership, content strategy, and digital media, Amy has built brands, guided entrepreneurs, and uncovered what makes businesses thrive. She has spoken at global conferences, launched award-winning content initiatives, and led Bizee.com as Head of Content. She also hosts the Get Bizee Podcast. Her expertise isn't just theoretical—Amy has lived and breathed entrepreneurship, working directly with founders, business owners, and industry leaders to understand what separates success from failure. Now, she's bringing that insight to you. Today's episode speaks about success, mindset and happiness, money and the actual fulfillment in life! 

Welcome to another riveting episode of The Proven Entrepreneur Show, hosted by the ever-curious and seasoned entrepreneur Don Williams. With nearly four decades of entrepreneurial grit under his belt, Don brings listeners into the minds of those who've not only dared to dream but dared to do — and do it exceptionally well.In this episode, Don sits down with a guest whose resume reads like a startup fairy tale — but with all the grit, grind, and gut-wrenching moments that make it real. Meet Gregory Shepard: Fulbright Scholar, TEDx speaker, author of The Startup Lifecycle, and the rare entrepreneur who's built and sold 12 companies — each one a success story in its own right.But this isn't just a highlight reel. Gregory opens up about the soul-crushing detour into politics, the sleepless nights wondering how to make payroll, and the raw truth behind why most startups fail — even when they have a great product. He shares how a five-year, $500,000 research project led to the creation of Startup Science, a platform designed to fix the fragmented startup ecosystem and help founders avoid the very pitfalls he once faced.As the conversation unfolds, listeners are taken on a journey through the startup lifecycle — not the one you read in textbooks, but the one forged in the trenches. Gregory challenges conventional wisdom, especially the advice founders often receive from investors. He introduces the concept of the Ideal Acquirer Profile (IAP), a game-changing strategy that flips the traditional startup model on its head: build your company with the buyer in mind from day one.From the dangers of overvaluation to the hidden costs of premature scaling, Gregory breaks down the anatomy of failure — and more importantly, how to avoid it. He speaks candidly about being neurodivergent, growing up in poverty, and how those experiences shaped his resilience and perspective as a founder.This episode isn't just for entrepreneurs — it's for anyone who's ever faced a mountain and wondered if they had what it takes to climb it. Gregory Shepard doesn't just offer advice; he offers a roadmap, forged in fire, for how to build something that lasts — and how to walk away from it with your head held high.So grab your headphones, settle in, and prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about startups. Because this isn't just another business podcast — it's a masterclass in entrepreneurial survival.

Bob Young co-founded Red Hat, the first company to build a successful business around open source software, and helped shape the modern internet in the process. In this episode, Bob shares the story of how Red Hat went from a CD in a Ziploc bag to a billion-dollar business that inspired GitHub, Coinbase, and much of the cloud infrastructure we use today.But this conversation is about more than just software. Bob opens up about betting his family's finances on Red Hat, the moment he realized he wasn't meant to be a public company CEO, and why he believes capitalism, when done right, can be a powerful force for good.He also shares what he's building now (including a needlepoint company), how he thinks about failure, and the one principle he thinks every founder should live by.Where to find Bob:Lulu.comNeedlepoint.comTimestamps:(00:00) The challenge of fragmented attention and overbooked schedules(05:09) Red Hat's founding story and the philosophy behind open source(08:56) Why the internet is the world's largest open source project(13:34) From newsletter publishing to reinventing Linux(19:49) Why customers chose Red Hat: control, not cost(22:12) The business model insight that changed everything(24:44) How IBM's services model inspired Red Hat's structure(27:36) Scaling Linux for enterprise and dealing with constant updates(36:24) Proprietary software as a modern feudal system(43:33) Racking up $50K in credit card debt to keep Red Hat alive(49:01) Trust, marriage, and startup risk(55:05) Leaving Red Hat and why Bob stepped down as CEO(59:23) What sleep taught Bob about optimism and recovery(01:06:10) Red Hat's culture of ownership and accountability(01:14:24) Why Bob still builds: making the world a better place through business(01:15:02) The importance of discipline and organization(01:17:08) Founders' advice: serve customer needs, not just wantsIn this episode, you'll learn:How Red Hat became the first successful open source companyWhy control—not price—is the real value of open source softwareWhat makes transparency a business strategy, not just a virtueHow capitalism and idealism can actually alignWhy understanding customer needs matters more than their wantsThe difference between proprietary and democratic tech systemsHow to build culture that owns mistakes and learns out loudWhat it really means to commit to your co-founder and spouseHow to navigate failure, burnout, and your own limitations as a leaderWhat keeps Bob starting new companies in his third and fourth actsConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Amir Barsoum, Founder & CEO of InVitro Capital, about how his venture studio is changing the way startups are built. Focused on AI and service-based businesses, Amir shares why the traditional VC model is broken—and how his approach unlocks smarter, faster growth. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most founders don't know what their differentiator is. That's a problem. Today, we walk through two paths to help you find a differentiator strong enough to anchor a business. We also help you root out bad differentiators - the ones that'll just waste your time. There's also a story about a Rabbi's wisdom, a founder making decaf coffee, and a poison ivy company I'm obsessed with. Tacklebox - start your company before you quit your jobHow to Find Your WedgeHow to Use Landing Page Tests 00:30 Differentiator Intro01:45 Rabbi Joke05:15 Smooth Jazz05:45 How to Find Your Differentiator06:46 Path 1: Letting a Customer Tell You11:41 Path 2: Four Questions to Pick Your Differentiator19:32 How to Test Differentiators21:00 The Reality of Differentiators (Downer)22:16 The End - Taking Yourself Seriously

Ever had an idea so specific that everyone told you it wouldn't work? Nelson Nigel heard that too, right before scaling his niche startup, Kidmoto, to over 60 cities across the U.S. Nelson is the founder and CEO of Kidmoto, a reservation-based ride service that provides pre-installed child car seats for families traveling to and from airports.  After surviving a life-threatening train accident at age 13 and later working as a NYC cab and Uber driver, Nelson spotted a critical gap in the rideshare market – one that Uber and traditional taxis weren't solving. So, with just $600 and relentless energy, he built a solution parents now rely on nationwide. What Happens When You Build a Business Around One Clear Problem Most ride services leave families on their own when it comes to car seats, creating travel stress and safety risks. Nelson shares how identifying this single, overlooked pain point helped Kidmoto stand out in a crowded market. By going all-in on solving this one issue, he built a business that serves a specific type of customer better than anyone else. How to Grow Without Investors, Funding, or a Tech Background No VC backing. No glamorous startup story. Nelson built everything from the ground up – outsourcing tech, mastering content marketing, and learning to prioritize the right problems at the right time. If you've ever wondered whether you really need outside funding to grow, Nelson's story is proof that focus, grit, and great execution can take you further than you think. Enjoy this episode with Nelson Nigel... Soundbytes 26:56 - 27:05 “Rome was not built in one day, and Rome was not built by one man, so stay in your lane and let the professionals do what they do best.” 11:32 - 11:42 “It's like everyone refrained from doing this because it just wasn't feasible. But, sometimes the riches are in the niches.” Quotes “Try many things. Fall down. Just get back up and keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.” “86,400 seconds in a day. We have to utilize it, because life is great.” “Steve Jobs once said that your time is limited. Don't waste it living someone else's life.” “We focused on something that every company refrained from doing, including Uber, and we built out a consumer base on that one niche.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://kidmoto.taxi/  Connect with Nelson Nigel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonnigel/  Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: https://thebrandid.com/website-tweaks/ Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website?  Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, we're joined by Scott Friend, a longtime leader in the retail and venture capital world. A partner at Bain Capital Ventures and the co-founder of ProfitLogic, Scott shares his journey from operator to investor, his unique lens on early-stage startups, and what separates great founders from the rest. We unpack the evolution of BCV over the past 20 years, the power of founder-market fit, and why customer success is non-negotiable in today's startup landscape.Scott offers candid insights on investing in companies like Rent the Runway, Jet.com, Attentive, Miracle, and Archive, plus his take on AI's growing influence in commerce. From the one that got away (Peloton) to his thoughts on grit, momentum, and the founder's mindset, this conversation is packed with value for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone passionate about the future of commerce.Key Topics Covered:Scott's journey from building ProfitLogic to investing at Bain Capital VenturesWhat makes a founder stand out (and why most are first-timers)How BCV approaches early-stage vs. growth-stage investingCommon characteristics of breakout founders like Jen Hyman and Marc LoreThe importance of customer success and analytic rigorAI's disruptive role in commerce platformsWhy focus and momentum matter more than perfectionPersonal stories behind high-stakes risk and reward (including Jet.com)The investment that got away and the companies he'd double down onRapid fire: Favorite show, CEO admiration, and meeting the Dalai LamaIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with your network. For more insights on the future of commerce and investing, follow The Retail Pilot wherever you get your podcasts.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Anya Chang - Taelor.Style On Getting the Style Right: "We tend to know about the best performing clothes and also those brands from all over the world that are high quality and really, really good be able to find a home here." Men's clothing styles can be challenging.  As professional people, going around meeting other professionals, we want to look professional.  But when it comes to shopping, many men aren't interested in running around and having to decide what looks good.  We want the clothes to just show up at our doorstep. This is a problem that Anya Chang of Taelor.Style has solved.  Utilizing AI to help men get the clothes they want that fit the style they are going for, Anya helps these men rent clothes.  Much like Netflix DVD's from back in the day.  This allows her clients to enjoy the clothes and keep a fresh and new wardrobe.  Pretty clever, right? The beauty is the combination of clothes showing up, then they can be shipped back without washing them.  Then more clothing shows up.  This is an ideal way to stay fresh, trendy and noticed, while maintaining working as a busy professional looking for a minimum maintenance lifestyle. Anya discusses her past in Silicon Valley and how she developed Taelor.Style to help the busy professional man. Listen as Anya discusses her entrepreneurial journey, her wins, along with a few losses, and the learning curve that comes with delving into the garment industry. Enjoy! Visit Anya at: https://taelor.style/     Podcast Overview: 00:00 AI-Driven Men's Clothing Service 05:49 AI-Driven Personalized Styling Service 06:59 AI-Enhanced Fashion Styling Data 11:25 Airport Attire: Casual Evolution 13:57 Pushing Fashion Boundaries 18:24 Fashion Sustainability and Concierge Expansion 21:29 Startup Success in Men's Fashion Industry 24:17 "Rivalry: Northwestern vs. UChicago" 27:51 Early Struggles of a Startup Launch 31:37 Innovative, Sustainable Startup with Local Support 36:02 AI-Enhanced Fashion Styling Service 37:44 Eco-Friendly Clothing Rental Practices 43:04 Efficient Travel Clothing System 43:58 Emerging Taiwanese Textile Brands 47:11 Future Unicorn Exploring Potential Sale 50:25 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Rejection 54:28 "Appreciation for Package Logistics" Podcast Transcription: Anya Chang [00:00:00]: Typical. AI doesn't know the future. AI know the past. But then those 300 brand, they are designing the collection two years down the road. They are trendsetters for the work. We are like the executive assistant, they are concierge, they are butlers. So we really is helping them to get ready for their week. They are buying the MySpace, they are buying the time. Anya Chang [00:00:18]: They don't want to look good actually, but they want to be successful. Our customers tend to start trying something new than before. A lot of guys when they signed up, we open their closet only blue. There's nothing else, just blue. And they only have the same dress shirt, the same brand in the last 10 years. No one is going to interview us since we are so small. So I wait outside of a press room. When the reporter came out, I delivered my business card and said hey, this is our business which we haven't started. Anya Chang [00:00:44]: At the time it was just idea. I follow up a few times. She said I'm really not interested in these stories. Please stop emailing me. Apple box come in. It does not come in with the name Apple outside because what they want to achieve is they want to prevent thief. They don't want anyone steal those things. James Kademan [00:01:00]: Have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link funded drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie Calls on call Extraordinary Answering Service as well as the Bold Business book.

In this episode of Market Mondays, we break down the biggest headlines shaping business and investing. We dive into Robinhood's recent surge after being added to the S&P 500, explore China's dominance in the EV space, and reveal the official lineup for Invest Fest 2025. We also unpack the unexpected beef between Elon Musk and Donald Trump — and its potential impact on Tesla stock.Special guest Paul Judge joins the show to share game-changing insights on startup investing, winning traits of successful founders, and how to spot the next big industry before it explodes. We also cover how to stay ahead of the curve with AI, red flags for entrepreneurs to avoid, and powerful lessons from real-life investment stories. Don't miss the exclusive look at the Invest Fest Pitch Competition!Link for Invest Fest Tickets & Pitch Comp: https://investfest.com#MarketMondays #InvestFest2025 #Robinhood #EVmarket #Tesla #PaulJudge #ElonMusk #DonaldTrump #StartupInvesting #AI #BullMarket #StockMarket #FinancialLiteracy #EarnYourLeisureSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

From the streets to the boardroom, Ken Miller's story is nothing short of extraordinary. In this powerful interview, Ken shares how he transformed from a homeless, three-time felon battling addiction to a multi-business owner, author, and mentor making a difference in countless lives.In this episode:- Ken's inspiring journey of overcoming addiction and incarceration- Life lessons from the penitentiary to the C-suite- The turning point that changed everything- Why AI is the ultimate equalizer, and how Ken built an AI company- His powerful mentoring model that's transforming young men's lives- The book Becoming Ken, and why it's a must-readIf you've ever faced setbacks, questioned your worth, or wondered how to turn pain into purpose, this episode is for you.Follow more of Ken:- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kenmiller84- Website: KenMillerSpeaks.comFollow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com

This episode's guest is someone who's spent her career studying—and championing—entrepreneurs who don't always fit the Silicon Valley mold. Dr. Lori Rosenkopf is the Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School and the author of the new book Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation. In this short guide, Lori explores how success doesn't have to mean dropping out of college to start a venture-backed unicorn in your garage. Instead, she highlights seven distinct paths that entrepreneurs can take to build impactful ventures, whether they're bootstrapped, mission-driven, or even working within larger companies. Drawing on her years of research and mentoring at one of the world's top business schools, Lori introduces what she calls the “Six Rs” of entrepreneurial mindset—Reason, Relationships, Resilience, Resources, Results, and Recombination—as core principles that help explain why some founders succeed where others falter. In this conversation, we talk about the entrepreneurs Lori profiled in her book—from disruptors and acquirers to accidental founders—and what their stories can teach us about resilience and innovation.  If you've ever thought “I'm not the typical entrepreneur,” perhaps Lori will convince you that maybe there's no such thing. Discussed in this episode Lori discusses the work of Spirovant Sciences and its CEO Dr. Joan Lau. Paul recommends reading Shoe Dog and Super Founders. Wharton offers curriculum in Entrepreneurship & Innovation for both undergraduates and MBAs. The Venture Lab is Penn's home for student entrepreneurs.  Some entrepreneurs rely on SBA loans rather than equity investments.  The Hult Competition is a global competition that challenges university students to develop innovative social enterprises that address pressing global issues. Get to know Lori Rosenkopf Lori Rosenkopf is the Simon and Midge Palley Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As Vice Dean for Entrepreneurship, she serves as Wharton's faculty director for Venture Lab, Penn's home for student entrepreneurs, and also their San Francisco campus. In a prior role as Vice Dean of Wharton's Undergraduate Division, she introduced a new curriculum and developed experiential classwork in the tech sector. For over thirty years, Rosenkopf has taught entrepreneurship and management of technology to more than 20,000 high schoolers, undergraduates, MBAs, and executives, connecting these learners to many of the most entrepreneurial alumni at Wharton and Penn through treks, panels, and classes. Rosenkopf received her PhD in Management of Organizations from Columbia University, her MS in Operations Research from Stanford University, and her BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. She worked as a systems engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Eastman Kodak between her degrees. Rosenkopf lives in Philadelphia with her partner, Allan, and their dog, Winston.

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Everyone sees the headlines — billion-dollar valuations, glamorous exits, and founders “living the dream.” But behind the scenes? Most are living on modest salaries, building equity they can't touch, and navigating high-stakes decisions with capital partners breathing down their neck. Here's the real story about building a company, raising money, and staying hungry without starving.Get access to our real estate community, coaching, courses, and events at Wealthy University https://www.wealthyuniversity.com/Join our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://www.wealthykingdom.com/ If you want to level up, text me at 725-527-7783!--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generat...

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstoryTim Guleri is a seasoned venture capitalist and managing partner at Sierra Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based early-stage technology-focused venture capital firm. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, he has a strong track record of identifying and nurturing successful startups. Before joining Sierra Ventures, he co-founded Scopus Technology, which went public in 1995 and was later acquired by Siebel Systems for $460 million, and Octane Software, which was acquired by E.piphany in 2000 for $3.2 billion.  ➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.x.com/timguleri/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/timguleri/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/  Lingoda - https://try.lingoda.com/successstory (Code: scott25)Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scottFederated Computer - https://www.federated.computerCornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)Create Like The Greats Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/create-like-the-greats/id1653650073FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/Bank On Yourself - https://www.bankonyourself.com/scottStash - https://get.stash.com/successstoryNetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary ➡️ Talking Points00:00 - Intro05:23 - The Common Thread in Tim's Journey08:01 - Born Entrepreneur or Learned Skill?10:31 - How Entrepreneurs Find Their Focus18:30 - Tim's Career & Investment Philosophy22:08 - Sponsor Break24:46 - The Evolution of Sierra Ventures30:27 - Founder Traps in Venture Capital35:08 - Managing Risk at Sierra Ventures40:57 - Finding Investors: Tips for Founders49:50 - Sponsor Break52:03 - The Biggest Challenge for First-Time Entrepreneurs57:24 - Riding Trends vs. True Innovation1:00:26 - Is There an Undiscovered Playbook for Distribution?1:03:17 - Scaling Without Crashing1:08:05 - Making High-Stakes Decisions with Confidence1:12:28 - Smart Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs1:17:03 - Final Thoughts from Tim Guleri