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After building a successful VC-backed company, Esben Friis-Jensen took a different path — bootstrapping his next SaaS startup to $5M ARR with just a team of 3.In this episode, he shares why he turned down venture funding, how he built an efficient, product-led growth engine, and lessons on scaling smart without sacrificing ownership or speed. (00:00) - Introduction (00:32) - Meet Esben Friis-Jensen (02:30) - The Decision to Bootstrap (06:27) - Product-Led Growth Strategy (11:25) - Competing in a Crowded Market (18:54) - The Role of AI in Business Operations (22:08) - Efficiency and Execution in Small Teams (27:48) - Making Tough Decision (31:17) - Revenue Metrics (32:10) - Speed of Decisions (38:43) - Challenges and Benefits of Founder-Led Companies (40:49) - Joining a Bootstrapped Company  Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

When Jessie Gabriel told me that less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to businesses founded by women, my jaw literally dropped. And that's just the beginning of the equity gap we unpack in this episode.Jessie—founder of the law firm All Places—is on a mission to change that. She works with founders and fund managers to make capital more accessible and equitable, and today she's pulling back the curtain on how money really moves in the entrepreneurial world.We dive deep into what venture capital is, how to know if your business is ready for funding, and the often-ignored topic of gender equity in the VC and private equity world. This episode is eye-opening for any entrepreneur, whether you're service-based, product-based, or just curious about how money moves in this industry.In this episode:What a venture capital fund is—and why it may (or may not) be right for your businessThe reality behind who controls capital in the U.S.Why less than 2% of venture funding goes to women founders—and what that really meansHow to protect ownership of your business even when raising moneyHow Jesse turned grief and encouragement from her community into launching her own firmWhat every entrepreneur can do to help shift inequities in the industryAction Steps for the week:Spend 5 minutes researching a brand you support—learn who owns it and whether it aligns with your values.Have a real conversation with a client or customer to understand your unique value from their perspective.Pick up a business book that's been on your radar and actually read it (or listen to it!) to spark new ideas.Connect with Jessie:Website: https://www.all-places.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisallplaces/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiegabriel/Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠Website: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProductionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@espressopodproductionMusic: John Kiernan. www.johnkiernanmusic.comProduced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts and key takeaways with me on social media using the hashtag #EmployeeToBoss. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network.

In this special mailbag episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano tackles your questions from X and LinkedIn. He gets into AI's market expansion, startup defensibility, which verticals investors are watching, and how the most interesting new roles are being shaped by AI.  Plus, Michael shares what is exciting about consumer AI products right now.Episode Chapters(00:00) Introduction (00:35) AI Opportunities: New vs. Existing Markets (02:09) Will SaaS TAMs Expand or Contract with AI? (02:59) Creating Defensibility for Consumer AI Startups (05:29) Emerging Roles: Agent Engineers vs. Agent Managers (08:25) Best Verticals for Consumer AI (11:39) What Acquisition Could Fix Apple's AI Lag? (13:19) AI's Potential in Dispute Resolution (14:38) The State of VC Funding in AI Stay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

Ernest Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO @ Carvana. Under Ernie's leadership, Carvana went from a back-of-the-napkin idea to a $50+ billion public company, became the fastest-growing online used car retailer in U.S. history, and landed on the Fortune 500 in under 10 years. However, it was not all up and to the right, in 2022, the stock plummeted 99% to a market cap of just $400M. Today they are back with a market cap of $35BN, that is a 100x in the public markets and selling 400,000 cars sold annually, with a logistics network that rivals Amazon.  In Today's Episode with Ernie Garcia We Discuss:  04:12 Are all great founders just “stubborn egomaniacs”? 06:55 How Carvana Almost Died on Several Occasions 08:46 Is Carvana's Inability to get VC Funding a Sign the VC Model is Broken? 11:58 Operators vs. Strategists: What Hires Can Make or Break a Company? 21:46 Billionaire's Biggest Lessons on Parenting 26:52 Is Life About Happiness or Achieving 32:21 The Reality of Being a Public Company CEO 39:07 Why Companies Should Go Public  43:55 Why You Should Price Your IPO to Perfection with No Pop 50:50 “What I Wish I Had Known About Debt in Building Carvana” 52:32 Quick Fire Round: Favourite CEO, Marriage Advice, Carvana in 10 Years  

Join us as we break down key insights from GDC this year, covering self-publishing, securing a publisher, and navigating VC funding. Whether you're an indie dev or part of a studio, this episode offers practical takeaways to help you make smarter publishing decisions.Learn more abour ClaireLearn more about usJoin the next episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour LIVE every Wednesday at 12pm EST on our Discord channel to answer your own burning questions and be immortalized in the recordings.

Andrew White is the founder of FundApps, one of Europe's most under-the-radar success stories. Bootstrapped from a spare bedroom above a London pub, FundApps now monitors over $27 trillion in assets daily - roughly 17% of the world's total AUM. Today, it's a global reg-tech powerhouse, trusted by 5 of the world's 10 largest hedge funds and several of North America's biggest pension funds. Now, it's on track to become Europe's leading reg-tech unicorn. This is the captivating story of how an independent thinker built a values-driven business from the ground up, scaled globally, and never compromised. Listen to hear:• Why he turned down external funding• How bootstrapping became a long-term strategic edge• The moment that reshaped his idea of success• Why he hires for mindset, not credentials• How FundApps embedded purpose at the heart of its culture• Why he avoids meetings and believes indecision is the real killer• What it takes to serve the world's largest asset managers while staying true to your values Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right now the news around GenAI seems scattered, all of the place, and confusing. Let's dig into what's working, what's not, and where some future trends are heading. SHOW: 902SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #902 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK: http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST: "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSOR:Try Postman AI Agent Builder Todaypostman.com/podcast/cloudcast/SHOW NOTES:Most AI Investments Will Lose Money as Market Enters ‘Greed' Cycle (Vinod Khasla, VC)My LLM CodeGen workflow (Harper Reed)"Gen AI: Too Much Spend, Too Little Benefit?" (Goldman Sachs) Microsoft cancels leases on Data Centers for AINVIDIA announces Q4 earnings IF YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT AI, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. There is a ton of AI out there, but it's not always simpleThere's a ton of AI out there, but it's not always affordableThere's a ton of AI out there, and sometimes it blows our mindThere's a ton of AI out there, and open source is starting to be disruptive (again)There's a ton of AI out there, and people are trying to forecast a future that changing too fastThere's a ton of AI out there, and people are struggling with technology and politics overlapping so muchFEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodBlueSky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

** Exploring China's Economic Shift and Data Insights with Robert Wu**Introduction to Robert Wu and His ExpertiseConnect with RobertVisit BigOneLabRead BaiguanRead China TranslatedIn this episode of the Asia Business Podcast, we have an engaging conversation with Robert Wu, a respected figure in the field of economic analysis and business strategy. Robert is known for his insightful writings and is the author of "China Translated," a newsletter that offers a deep dive into China's economic trends and their long-term impacts. He is also the co-editor of Baiguan, which provides data-driven insights into China's business sector, and the CEO of Big One Lab, a data-centric market research company.China's Economic Transition: From Investment to ConsumptionThe episode begins with a discussion on China's economic transition towards boosting domestic consumption. Robert emphasizes a pivotal shift in policy thinking, focusing on the relationship between investment and consumption. Historically, China's economy has been heavily skewed towards investment, leading to impressive infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities. However, this model has reached a tipping point, requiring a rebalancing towards consumption to sustain growth. Robert suggests that while the government recognizes this need, the shift requires long-term structural changes and cannot be achieved overnight.Obstacles to Enhancing Domestic ConsumptionArt and Robert explore the challenges in increasing domestic consumption in China. Contrary to some perceptions, Robert asserts that China's safety nets, including healthcare and education, are relatively robust. However, he highlights issues such as child care expenses and regional disparities that need addressing to encourage consumer spending. Cultural factors also play a role, with older generations tending to save rather than spend. Robert predicts potential policy initiatives, such as birth subsidies, to incentivize higher consumption levels.The State of Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital in ChinaThe conversation shifts to the state of entrepreneurship and venture capital in China. Robert paints a picture of a changing landscape, where U.S. capital, a significant driver of China's VC scene, has withdrawn amidst geopolitical tensions. This retreat has forced local entrepreneurs to adapt, focusing more on sustainable, profitable operations rather than relying on VC funding. Although this environment poses challenges, Robert sees it as an opportunity for businesses to build solid foundations, paving the way for a resurgence in entrepreneurial activity.Government Policies and Economic BalanceArt and Robert delve into the complexities of China's government policies, particularly the balancing act between fiscal stimulus and avoiding moral hazards. Robert provides insights into how the government carefully manages domestic economic policies, recognizing the challenges posed by local government debt and the need to drive consumption. Through careful prioritization and measured interventions, Robert believes China aims to sustain growth while preventing excessive risk-taking by local governments.Navigating Regulatory Environments and Market ReactionsThe episode also touches on China's regulatory environment, where crackdowns on sectors such as online education and FinTech have sparked debates. Robert acknowledges the government's need to manage these industries while also recognizing the importance of considering broader market reactions. By learning from past experiences, the government aims to communicate more effectively and avoid unintended economic consequences.Conclusion: An Objective Look at China's Economic DynamicsIn closing, Robert emphasizes the importance of maintaining an objective perspective when analyzing China's economic dynamics. Despite facing various challenges, the country continues to present significant opportunities for businesses and investors. Through his writings, Robert aims to shed light on the complexities of China's business environment, encouraging a balanced and well-informed discussion. Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:27 Robert Wu's Background and Career Journey05:55 China's Economic Evolution and Policy Shifts14:03 Challenges in Boosting Domestic Consumption19:43 The State of Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship in China27:37 Challenges in VC Funding and Entrepreneurship29:16 VC Funding: A Double-Edged Sword30:21 Government's Fiscal Discipline and Economic Priorities31:05 Balancing Fiscal Stimulus and Moral Hazard35:40 Sector Crackdowns and Policy Implications41:21 Navigating Misinformation and Bias46:38 The Motivation Behind Writing and Sharing Insights51:02 Conclusion and Future Plans ProducerJacob ThomasFollow UsLinkedInApple Podcasts

Wayne Ting is CEO of Lime. The global leader in micromobility, the first to achieve a fully profitable year (2022). Last year, Lime did over $600M in gross bookings, $90M in EBITDA. Their 4-year top-line CAGR is 30%. Before joining Lime, Wayne spent four years at Uber in various roles, including Chief of Staff to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and General Manager of Uber's Northern California business. Wayne previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the White House's National Economic Council under President Obama.  In Today's Episode with Wayne Ting We Discuss: Is Lime Really a Good Business: How did Wayne turn Lime from losing $3 on every $1 to $90M in EBITDA? What worked? What did not work? What did Lime do that he wishes they had not done? What did they not do that he wishes they had done?  The Moments that Changed Everything: COVID: Lime lost 95% of their revenues overnight. What did Wayne and Lime do to save the business in such a short space of time? Uber Deal: How did the Uber deal led by Uber CEO, Dara, save Lime as a business? Battery Innovation: How did an innovation on the transportability of batteries and replacing them change the entire Lime business? The Dangers of VC Funding and Capital Efficiency: Why does Wayne believe that VC hype cycles are so damaging for companies and sectors? How did the heat around micromobility damage Lime?  What did Wayne and Lime do to increase their capital efficiency so much? What worked? What did not? AMA with the CEO of Lime: What company did Lime not acquire that Wayne wishes they had? How did having a stroke change the way that Wayne leads? Which competitor does Wayne most respect and admire? What were his biggest lessons from working with Dara @ Uber?      

Great gaming investors bring more than just cash to the table—they offer strategy, trust, and a shared vision for success. Jetapult hits the mark on all three and, like its name, gives studios the fuel they need to rocket toward sustainable growth, focusing on empowerment rather than just rapid expansion. Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow sit down with Jetapult Co-Founder and CEO Sharan Tulsiani to explore how Jetapult's partnership-driven approach sets it apart from traditional VCs. Drawing from his experience as the former Head of Google Play Games in India, Australia, and New Zealand—and as the creator of Google's Indie Games Accelerator—Sharan shares how Jetapult helps studios leverage data, cultural insights, and operational expertise to scale smarter. He also offers rare insights into what investors really want to hear from studios during pitches and how by prioritizing long-term stability and creative freedom, Jetapult ensures developers remain firmly in the driver's seat. Sharan also dives into specific examples, like helping one studio cut production time by 70% with AI-driven tools and achieving #1 on app store charts by focusing on culturally resonant gameplay. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 03:28 - Jetapult's unique approach 08:51 - Rejecting the Founder "hero story" 11:10 - Is your studio a fit for Jetapult? 18:28 - Why Jetapult invests more than cash 26:54 - How much growth does Jetapult deliver? 33:33 - Peggy and Brian on AI 38:22 - Favourite games Q&A * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect **

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world. Verdiva has entered the competitive obesity market with a $410 million debut, focusing on next-generation therapies. The company's lead asset is an oral glp-1 receptor agonist that can be dosed weekly, aiming to improve accessibility and affordability. In 2024, the biopharma industry saw a significant increase in first-time VC funding, totaling $7.7 billion over 137 deals. J.P. Morgan predicts a strong year for biopharma in 2025, with an uptick in M&A activity and FDA decisions to watch. The FDA has proposed setting a bar for weight-loss therapies as the obesity space heats up. Lilly has won Medicare coverage for Zepbound in sleep apnea, while Vanda criticizes the FDA's conduct after a drug rejection. Layoffs have affected the gene therapy space, with companies like Resilience and Scribe cutting staff. Overall, the outlook for biopharma in 2025 is cautiously optimistic, with opportunities for innovation and growth.

As we start in 2025, we wanted to offer advice on job searching and evaluating roles. The market and the interviewing process have shifted; what do you need to know in 2025 if you seek a new opportunity?SHOW: 887SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #887 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNETCLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK: http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwNEW TO CLOUD? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCAST: "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW NOTES:Considerations when evaluating a startup vs. a more traditional roleRed FlagsConsidering BurnoutHow has the macro environment changed funding and employmentNetworkingKeeping a routineFEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netBluesky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, Eduardo Kupper, the founder of Airborne Ventures, shares his unique professional journey from an Air Force pilot in Brazil to a Wharton MBA graduate and successful venture capitalist. The conversation delves into his diverse experiences in management consulting at McKinsey, tech entrepreneurship through Rocket Internet, and leading a venture capital arm in one of Brazil's biggest banks. Eduardo outlines the challenges and strategies in raising a $5 million fund in Brazil, emphasizing the importance of adding value to others. He discusses the focus of his first fund and plans for raising a $10 million second fund, highlighting the importance of investing in FinTech, healthcare, and B2B companies in Brazil. Eduardo also elaborates on the VC landscape in Brazil, the significance of productivity and efficiency, and the potential for Brazilian startups to compete on a global scale. Finally, Eduardo provides valuable insights for potential LPs and founders on navigating the Brasilian venture capital market.   If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.     Founder Bio:   Eduardo is a seasoned VC with 17+ years of experience across various industries and sectors, including entrepreneurship, venture capital, management consulting, private equity, and investment banking. Previously, he served as the Head of VC at Bradesco Venture Capital arm, where he successfully managed two funds totaling R$ 800mm of invested capital and R$ 1.7 billion AUM. As an experienced VC investor, he has made 70+ deals across several stages and industries over the last decade, with successful exits, including a +1bi BRL sale and a Nasdaq IPO, and sat on the boards of several companies in different sectors and stages. As an entrepreneur, he founded and co-founded a few companies, including Remessa Online, Finpass, MAR Ventures, and the Wharton Alumni Angels. As an investor with a track record of successful deals, he has made marquee investments in companies including Beep Saúde, D1, Conexa, Jeitto, Asaas, and Skyone. Highly connected and well-networked within the venture capital industry, with close relationships and co-investments with several VC funds, angel investors, and internet & tech startups. He brings a wealth of expertise and strategic guidance and an eye for promising opportunities, helping to identify and invest in promising startups and drive returns for our investors on ESG-compliant/target companies, reflecting his commitment to responsible and sustainable investing.   Time Stamps:   00:49 Eduardo's Unconventional Path to Venture Capital 05:44 Insights on Venture Building and Finding Founders 08:21 Corporate Venture Capital Experience 10:00 Launching Airborne Ventures 14:06 Investment Strategies and Fund Management 17:34 Reflections on Fund Performance 24:08 Navigating Investment Strategies 26:04 Investment Stages and Requirements 28:21 Leading vs. Following in Investments 30:07 Investment Structures in Brasil 34:18 B2B vs. B2C in Brasil 41:08 Challenges and Strategies for B2B Startups 47:15 Looking Ahead to 2025   Resources   Follow Darius Gant LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-darius-gant-cpa-44650aa/ Company Website - www.tesoroai.com   Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4uDVNgsK3iNeu7yU4Inu2n   Subscribe on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-darius-gant-show/id1527996104   Company website: https://airborne.ventures/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airborne-ventures  

What are the 7 was to build a successful SaaS without big VC funding? In this episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS Podcast, host Joran Hofman chats with Greg Head, a veteran in the software industry with over 30 years of experience. Greg has played a key role in the growth of multiple companies in the CRM space, such as Act, SalesLogix, and Infusionsoft. Currently, he advises SaaS founders through his Practical Founders group and hosts the Practical Founder podcast. In this episode, they explore his insights into building a successful SaaS business without the need for big venture capital (VC) funding. This episode is essential for any SaaS founder exploring alternative paths to success. Whether you're bootstrapping or considering alternative funding options, Greg Head's insights are invaluable for building a thriving SaaS business. Key Timestamps (2:56) - Understanding the Practical Founder Approach (3:07) - Building a SaaS Without Big VC Funding (4:23) - Should Founders Aim to Sell Their SaaS? (5:49) - Building a Profitable Software Company (7:07) - Seven Paths to Success for SaaS Founders (13:10) - The Cost of Starting a Software Business (14:08) - Understanding the Value of Strategic Exits (16:45) - The Two-Bite Exit Strategy (19:16) - Private Equity vs. Strategic Exits (23:03) - The Startup Flipper Path (28:29) - Later VC Funding as an Option (36:22) - Advice for Founders at 10K MRR (39:11) - Building a Reliable Go-To-Market Motion

Join hosts JJ Englert and David Pal in this week's episode as they interview David Bressler from Formula Bot, a no-code AI startup boasting over 950,000 users in two years. Despite being a first-time builder and entrepreneur, David successfully scaled his application with minimal resources. Learn about his journey from inception to viral success, the challenges faced, and the future of no-code and AI. Don't miss this inspiring story of innovation, resilience, and strategic growth! 00:00 Introduction to No Code Alliance 01:04 Welcome to This Week in No Code + AI 01:14 Interview with David Bressler: The Journey Begins 03:01 Building Formula Bot During Paternity Leave 07:15 Going Viral and Facing Challenges 10:07 The Impact of ChatGPT 14:57 Team Growth and Development 19:17 SEO and Marketing Strategies 27:01 Navigating Startup Costs and Profitability 28:14 Balancing Growth and Personal Life 30:20 The Dilemma of VC Funding vs. Bootstrapping 34:11 Lessons from Scaling with No-Code 36:17 Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans 39:26 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 44:00 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook Learn more about Formula Bot: https://www.formulabot.com/ Learn more about nocode + AI: https://nocodealliance.org

Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #16 Briefing Highlights: Corporate and VC Funding for the Renewable Energy Sector New Mexico Expanded Community Solar Program Section 48D ITC Guidance Provided PJM Interconnection Reform If you have any questions or comments, please email me at info@reneuenergy.com.

Are you a SaaS founder dreaming of scaling your company from $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) to a $100 million exit? Well, you're not alone! In this episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS Podcast, host Joran Hofman talks with Ryan Allis, the CEO and founder of SaasRise, to explore how to achieve just that. Ryan has a proven track record, having built iContact from zero to $50 million in ARR and selling it for $169 million. Now, through SaasRise, Ryan helps other SaaS founders build their businesses with expert guidance, coaching, and digital ad agency services. If you're looking to take your B2B SaaS business to the next level, this episode is packed with valuable insights to guide you on your journey. Key Timestamps (0:52) - Guest Introduction (1:29) - Should SaaS Founders Aim for an Exit? (2:38) - How to Achieve Nine-Figure Exits (2:41) - Bootstrapping vs. VC Funding (3:32) - The Importance of Bootstrapping (4:19) - Building Revenue Before Seeking Investment (4:39) - Mistakes SaaS Companies Make (5:01) - Effective Ways to Grow a SaaS Business (5:35) - Importance of Outbound Marketing (6:22) - Importance of Community for SaaS Founders (7:24) - Specific Forums for SaaS Growth (7:53) - Introduction to the SaaS Growth System (8:51) - Unit Economics and Customer Value (9:29) - Critical Metrics for SaaS Founders (10:24) - Calculating Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) (11:07) - Determining Target Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) (11:49) - Importance of Paid Customer Acquisition (12:19) - Outbound Reach and Advertising (12:42) - Acquiring Customers Below Target CAC (13:09) - Outbound Marketing Strategies (14:18) - Educating the Market Proactively (14:33) - Creating a Comprehensive Lead List (15:54) - Utilizing Lead Lists for Marketing (16:21) - Creating Matched Audiences for Ads (16:52) - Email Sequences and Brand Omnipresence (17:34) - Transitioning to Warm Email Lists (19:54) - Importance of a Comprehensive Lead List (22:47) - Importance of Market Education (23:28) - Efficient Sales and Marketing Spend (24:12) - Providing Value in Content (24:23) - Creating Content and Distribution (25:09) - Building a SaaS Content Machine (25:39) - Importance of Founder-Led Content Creation (26:07) - Distribution Formats for Content (26:34) - Calculating Content Impressions (27:12) - Content Impressions and Growth (27:37) - Measuring Content Impressions (29:26) - Recap of the Content Strategy (30:17) - Content Creation Process (31:21) - Scaling and Building a Team (32:55) - Key Team Members for Scaling (33:33) - Building a System That Operates Without You (35:36) - Preparing for an Exit (35:47) - Steps for Scaling and Exiting (36:12) - Raising Capital and Timing (37:13) - Risks of Raising Capital Too Soon (38:00) - Building Revenue and Systems Before Raising Capital (38:46) - Guidelines for Series A and B Funding (39:59) - The Path to a Successful SaaS Exit (40:15) - Preparing for an Exit (41:12) - Working with M&A Advisors (42:10) - Professional Investment Banks for Exits (43:08) - Maximizing Exit Value with Investment Banks (43:39) - Benefits of Working with Investment Banks (44:24) - Final Advice for SaaS Founders (44:49) - Starting Out and Growing Initial Revenue (47:14) - Contact Information for Ryan Allis

Q3 startup data just dropped. We chat with Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta about valuations at pre-seed, seed and Series A. Why the current fundraising environment is the new normal and not about to get much better. We also talk about trends in founder vesting, and why some founders are choosing to vest for longer.Finally, we go through what to do if you're stuck with some product-market fit but mediocre growth, and why more exits are happening now than anytime in the fast couple of years.Why you should listenFounders should not expect a return to the fundraising conditions of 2021.Competition among founders has increased, raising the bar for fundraising.Many startups are still alive despite challenging conditions, adapting to survive.Why the professionalization of the startup ecosystem offers more options for founders.Startup ecosystems are growing in tier two and three cities.What the one-and-done funding model is and how to use it. KeywordsState of private markets, early stage funding, SAFEs, startup trends, liquidity, valuations, venture capital, market analysis, fundraising, AI, AI startups, vesting schedules, funding models, startup ecosystems, venture capitalTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:33) Top Highlights from Q3 Report(00:04:45) The market won't get any easier (00:06:13) Two Reasons why the SAFE Boom Could Change Things(00:12:34) Professionalization of the Industry is a Double Edged Sword(00:17:44) Rounds that are Leading the Market are as Competitive as Ever(00:22:36) Vesting Schedules(00:30:05) Best Location to Raise & the One and Done MethodSend me a message to let me know what you think!

When Michael Brown was killed in his home state of Missouri in 2014, Morgan DeBaun was dismayed by the poor media coverage of the story. Realizing there was a gap in authentic, real-time coverage of Black issues, she set out in search of venture capital to build a platform for Black voices. To her disappointment, everyone she approached said no. But she found her way to social impact investors who provided the first round of funding she needed to build Blavity, a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. In this episode, she shares how she built an influential media empire and offers practical advice on navigating the toughest challenges of founding and leading a company. In this episode, Hala and Morgan will discuss:  - Why hard work is not enough - Being an outsider in Silicon Valley - Bootstrapping vs. raising venture capital  - Finding social impact investors to fund Blavity - Rallying her investors to raise more capital - How diversity can boost your bottom line - Celebrating wins to attract and keep the best talent - Using anonymous feedback to build a stronger team - Learning to lead 200 employees  - Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life - And other topics… Morgan DeBaun is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Blavity Inc., a company that builds product solutions and media for Black consumers and the enterprises that want to reach them. She launched Blavity in 2014 to address the lack of media representation for Black audiences and has grown it into a multimedia empire that includes brands like Blavity News, AfroTech, Travel Noire, and Shadow & Act. Under her leadership, Blavity reaches over 100 million readers monthly and hosts AfroTech, the largest Black tech conference. Morgan advises top brands on diversity strategies and shares her insights through her podcast The Journey and The Journey Newsletter. Her work and thought leadership have earned her recognition on Forbes' 30 Under 30, America's Top 50 Women in Tech, and The Root 100. Connect with Morgan: Morgan's Website: https://www.morgandebaun.com/  Morgan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgandebaun/  Morgan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganDeBaun  Morgan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/  Sponsored By: Teachable - Claim your free month of their Pro paid plan at https://teachable.com/ with code PROFITING Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host Fundrise - Add the Fundrise Flagship Fund to your portfolio in minutes at https://fundrise.com/PROFITING  Mint Mobile - To get a new 3-month premium wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to https://mintmobile.com/profiting  Working Genius - Get 20% off the $25 Working Genius assessment at https://www.workinggenius.com/ with code PROFITING at checkout Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://youngandprofiting.co/shopify    Indeed - Get a $75 job credit at https://indeed.com/profiting    Resources Mentioned: Blavity Website: https://blavity.com/  Morgan's Podcast, The Journey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-journey-with-morgan-debaun/id1687058364  LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course. Top Tools and Products of the Month: https://youngandprofiting.com/deals/  More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review -  ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting   Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala   Learn more about YAP Media's Services - yapmedia.io/

In today's episode of The Aubservation, we're diving deep into the absolute state of things in Q4 with Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital. We cover the latest trends from Galaxy's Q3 reports, including Bitcoin's performance, crypto VC funding, and the rise of AI memecoins. And a big thanks to our sponsor, Ledger—the best way to secure your Bitcoin and crypto. Let's get into it! we discuss: 01:15 - AI memecoins 05:30 - biggest narratives 08:30 - stablecoins find its pmf 10:50 - builder culture 14:12 - election research from galaxy 23:40 - who is the us' biggest adversary re: crypto 32:10 - crypto venture capital report 36:25 - who is receiving the most funding? 40:20 - uptober - what happened? 43:45 - price predictions 43:50 - BlackRock ETF influence on bitcoin 47:05 - bitcoin l2s 52:00 - bull market inflation adjustment

HData provides software solutions that streamline regulatory reporting and data management for the energy industry, focusing on utilities and regulatory bodies. They are a Techstars startup with two rounds of VC funding. Before HData, Hudson served as an attorney and advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), advocating for data transparency in financial and regulatory disclosures. He also founded the Data Coalition, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing data transparency in government. He is widely recognized for promoting open data standards and leveraging technology to improve regulatory compliance and efficiency. In this episode, you'll learn these four important takeaways. How they turn unstructured energy regulatory data into business intelligence The benefits of SAFE vs. convertible notes for founders Why most crises are not existential threats His recovery from alcoholism and what it means for his company culture

The joy of making new friends as an adult is something nobody tells you about when you're a kid. Mutual friends insisted that Shaheen and I needed to meet. We trusted them, and I was amazed by what an incredible, smart, and fun woman she is. Of course, I was going to keep her! Since then, we've discovered so much alignment in how we think, do business, and what drives us. It's been such a joy to have another powerful woman in my life who's all about leveling up her life and helping other women make lots of money. This woman is the definition of a powerhouse. Don't miss this episode!

In this weeks episode:  Q3 2024 Cut Through Venture Report: VC funding plummets again as mega deals remain elusive. $3b Queensland unicorn Go1's investors prep secondary.  Bookings platform Attekus raises $5m from Five V, QIC Ventures. Brisbane recycling social enterprise Circonomy placed in voluntary liquidation. VC firm Antler exceeds target for second Australian fund.  Google NotebookLM. Sharts:   hello@tribeglobal.vc 

Hoyin Cheung, Founder of Remo.co, an immersive webinar platform, and Founder of Hermessi, an Executive Assistant service enhanced by AI, speaks to the power and dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Along the way we discuss – Stem Cell research to AI interest (1:09), VC Funding (2:49), ChatGPT (16:10), AI Sludge (17:54), and hacked by Social Media (24:00).    Contact Hoyin Cheung @ Hermessi Executive Assistant + AI Please consider support to our pod sponsor – LukeLeaders1248. Donations to scholarships for children of military veterans can be made @ www.lukeleaders1248.com or Venmo @luke-leaders. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore, lead guitarist for The Shadows @ Blind Willie's Blues Club, Marietta, Georgia. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day. 

Stock market update for October 3, 2024.

In this episode, the Blockworks Research team dives into a busy week in the crypto markets. They discussed Solana's boom in onchain activity, macro shifts in TradFi global markets, and the pros and cons of VC funding vs the ICO model. Additionally, they covered the ongoing Ethereum vs Solana debate, and asked themselves - Is Sui a credible competitor to Solana? Finally, they closed the episode with coverage of Firedancer's impact on Solana's performance. Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Resources Blockworks Research Arbitrum Report: https://x.com/blockworksres/status/1835773042359959814 Blockworks Research Metis Report: https://x.com/blockworksres/status/1839379026676506779 Blockworks Research Metaplex Report: https://x.com/blockworksres/status/1841107896941363380 Blockworks Research Solana Dashboard: http://solana.blockworksresearch.com/ -- Chaos Labs recently launched its new flagship oracle product, Edge with Jupiter. Edge has already secured $30 billion in trading volume over the last 2 months, establishing Edge by Chaos as an immediate leader in the low-latency oracle category.  The protocol design blends market context and price data, reflecting Chaos' central thesis that risk data and price data are inextricably linked.  Follow and reach out to @chaos_labs on X to learn more! -- Join us at Permissionless III. Use code 0x10 for a 10% discount: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iii -- Follow Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon Follow Ryan: https://x.com/_ryanrconnor Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Blockworks Research: https://twitter.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:23) Animal Spirits Returning Onchain (4:13) Macro Shifts Across the Globe (10:01) Chaos Labs Ad (10:34) Permissionless III Ad (11:48) The Ethereum vs Solana Debate Rages On (20:46) Is Sui A Credible Competitor to Solana? (26:07) The Pros & Cons of VC Funding vs ICOs (40:05) Firedancer's Impact on Solana Performance -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Dan, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How do you convince investors to bet over $100 million on your innovative beverage company? If you're Matt Roberts, you start by making them a great cup of coffee. Matt is the founder of Cometeer Coffee, which markets innovative frozen coffee capsules crafted using premium coffee beans sourced from leading specialty roasters. The single-serve capsules can be used to make hot or cold coffee, and are produced using a proprietary process in which fresh beans are ground, brewed and flash-frozen to preserve flavors and aromas.  Launched in 2015, Cometeer was developed in partnership with coffee industry legend George Howell, who believes that the brand "will do for coffee what the bottle did for wine." He's not alone in his lofty expectations for the Massachusetts-based company, which has raised venture capital funding from coffee and tech heavyweights, including the founder of Keurig Green Mountain, the former president of Nespresso and lead investors in Blue Bottle Coffee, among others. Cometeer has built a thriving direct-to-consumer business and is gradually expanding distribution to brick-and-mortar retailers. The brand is currently available in over 500 stores nationwide including Sprouts, Central Market, New Season, and Gelson's. In the following interview, I spoke with Matt about how he identified the opportunity to disrupt the instant coffee category by delivering a high quality drinking experience, how Cometeer has crafted an effective consumer education strategy and how his constant desire to learn more has helped him become a better leader. Show notes: 0:35: Matt Roberts, Founder & CEO, Cometeer Coffee – Matt chats about growing up and launching Cometeer in Massachusetts, why the company is based in Gloucester and the city's history as “Freezetown USA.” He also talks about the science and process behind Cometeer and why “brew tech” is the company's stock in trade, what he considers to be the company's “moat” and who its' primary competitors are, and gives a brief, but informative, explanation as to how the company captures and preserves coffee at its peak form. He also discusses how scientific validation of the company's processing methods attracted tech and consumer brand investors, why education and trial remains Cometeer's biggest challenge, and its plans to create a mainstream offering. Matt also talks about Cometeer's relationship with roasting partners and coffee farmers, why he's bullish on climate-resistant coffee crops, how “the extended coffee TED talk” and the success of Nespresso have been effective in attracting new investors and how he talks to them about potential M&A deals, and how podcasts (like this one) have been instrumental in his personal education about business and leadership. Brands in this episode: Cometeer Coffee, Blue Bottle, George Howell, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, James Hoffman, Onyx Coffee, Nespresso

John Stewart created and sold an engineering services business, then grew a Salesforce integration services company before building some early software products. One of their software experiments allowed Salesforce customers to see and interact with their customer data on a map. When customers paid for it and revenue grew, he and his co-founder wound down services and focused on their mapping product.  MapAnything grew quickly to over $2M ARR as a bootstrapped software company, with some revenue-based financing from Lighter Capital to help test their growth plans. When they focused on field service route optimization and grew quickly, MapAnything raised several rounds of venture capital to grow even faster by focusing its sales and marketing efforts within the Salesforce ecosystem.  MapAnything reached $22 million in ARR before Salesforce acquired the company for $250 million. John stayed on with Salesforce for six months before moving on. John and a co-founder launched Fastbreak.ai three years later, a sports schedule optimization platform for professional and amateur sports leagues.  Quote from John Stewart, former CEO of MapAnything “I tell founders most often that you really need to focus on sales and distribution. As a CEO of a startup in the tech space or SaaS, the only thing that really matters is revenue growth. Technology is technology. Even if you have unique IP right now, it won't be unique soon enough. “So you need to figure out your go-to-market motion. That's the single most important thing. Revenue cures all ills. It doesn't matter what's going on in the company as long as revenue is growing. It's all about revenue growth more than anything.” Links John Stewart on LinkedIn MapAnything on LinkedIn Salesforce website Fastbreak.ai website 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. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com.   

Du hast sicher mal bei Lieferando bestellt. Vielleicht weißt du auch, dass die internationale Marke Just Eat Takeaway heißt, Dutzende Länder bespielt und in 2023 mehr als 5 Milliarden Euro Umsatz erwirtschaftet hat..Im C-Level der Just Eat Takeaway Gruppe ist mit Jörg Gerbig bis heute einer der Lieferando Gründer als COO aktiv.Der Delivery Markt war zum Start und auch durch QuickCommerce wie Gorillas oder Flink kürzlich extrem umkämpft. Wie überlebt ein Startup diesen Modus? Wie schaffst du es der Konkurrenz zu trotzen?Jörg spricht u.a. darüber, was es mit der Motivation als Gründer, aber auch mit dem Team macht, wenn dein Börsenwert sich zehntelt. Denn Just Eat war mal mehr als 20 Milliarden an der Börse wert und liegt heute bei ca. 3 Milliarden Euro.Was du lernst:Wie Lieferando es geschafft hat, in einem hart umkämpften Markt zu überleben und zu einem Milliardenunternehmen zu wachsen.Strategien, um als Startup gegen extreme Konkurrenz (in diesem Fall Gorillas oder Flink) zu bestehen und sich durchzusetzen.Wie man als Gründer und Team motiviert bleibt, wenn der Börsenwert des Unternehmens von über 20 Milliarden auf etwa 3 Milliarden Euro gezehntelt wird.Einblicke in die Expansion von einem lokalen Startup zu einem internationalen Konzern, der in Dutzenden Ländern aktiv ist.Wie Just Eat Takeaway es geschafft hat, in 2023 mehr als 5 Milliarden Euro Umsatz zu generieren und welche Strategien dahinterstecken.Interesse an einem All-In-One Referral Program für deine SaaS Lösung?Erfahre mehr über Cello, buche dir eine unverbindliche Demo und erhalte exklusiv 1.000€ Rabatt: https://cello.so/unicorn ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY:https://zez.am/unicornbakery Jörg Gerbig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joerg-gerbig-49b63342/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter:2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach:https://newsletter.unicornbakery.deMarker:(00:00:00) Woran wäre Lieferando fast gescheitert?(00:07:38) Wie bestehe ich im Markt mit viel Konkurrenz?(00:13:43) Zentrale vs. länderspezifische Funktionen in einer Organisation(00:22:33) Relevanz von hohem VC-Funding in Märkten mit starker Konkurrenz (00:28:23) Fehlentscheidungen der ersten Unternehmensjahre (00:32:42) Startup to Scaleup(00:36:51) Persönliche Weiterentwicklung als Gründer(00:39:59) Einfluss des sinkenden Börsenwerts auf die eigene Motivation(00:45:19) Jörg's Gedanken zum Börsengang(00:54:47) Priorisierung als Gründer (00:56:15) Das Just Eat Takeaway Leadership Team Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jehiel Oliver is changing the lives of smallholder farmers in 18 countries.It started 10 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 60% of crops are plowed by hand.That means there's a 90% gap between what Africa's smallholder farmers could be producing and what they're actually producing.But what if, Jehiel thought, you could connect Africa's small-scale farmers with tractor owners — in the same way rideshare apps connect riders with drivers?He founded Hello Tractor to connect small-scale farmers with tractor owners to do just that.In the latest episode of The High-EQ Founder, Jehiel shares:* Why he decided not to take VC funding (even though they were using credit cards to make payroll) and what he focused on instead* The hard decision he had to make when COVID wiped out their revenue streams and how they bounced back to have their most productive year ever* How being prepared for opportunity led to moderating a panel discussion with not one, but two sitting presidents, including President Obama which then led to a series of incredible strategic opportunities for Hello TractorConnect with Jehiel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jehiel/SUBSCRIBE TO THE HIGH-EQ FOUNDER Every week I send out an EQ micro-shift that you can put into practice immediately and level up as a leader. Get full access to The High-EQ Founder by Renita Kalhorn at renitakalhorn.substack.com/subscribe

Eight in ten businesses fail before their 5th year. How can you change the story for your business and ensure sustainable growth? Watch this interesting Find Your Voice podcast with Daniel Adeoye, Debo Omotunde, and Wale Onadeko to find out.  Godman Akinlabi is the Global Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, Nigeria. He is also a thought leader, leadership and relationship expert and life coach. He will be delivering a  transformational and inspirational message. You can also listen here: https://GodmanAkinlabi.podbean.com Thank you for your generosity! To give, visit https://elevationng.org/giving ​

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They may not be major stories, but these 5 headlines will play an important role in how AI and the Cloud evolve in the 2H of 2024. SHOW: 846SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #846 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW NOTES:VCs are looking to get out (Business Insider)Microsoft earnings (31%), Google earnings (29%), Amazon earnings (19%) - QtoQ earnings for the hyperscalersTHE ECONOMY WILL BE THE STORY OF 2H 2024 DUE TO THE US ELECTIONSBUT WILL ANY OF THESE OTHER STORIES GET THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE?Are VCs going to be out on AI startups?Will tech antitrust discussions become prominent in the US elections? When will we start seeing all the early-2024 AI demos turn into reality?How much are the hyperscale cloud earnings boosted by AI spend vs. usage?Will any alternatives to VMware start to show progress in displacing the virtualization leader?FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

Dax Dasilva is the Founder & CEO Lightspeed Commerce, one of the most incredible stories in startups. For 7 years they did not raise outside funding and ran a very profitable business. Ultimately they partnered with Accel and Innovia before going public on the Canadian Stock Exchange with just $70M in ARR. Lightspeed also undertook 9 acquisitions over the course of a four year period to consolidate the global market. Today they have a whopping $900M in ARR but are only valued at $2.6BN. Today we ask the question, is Lightspeed one of the public market's most misunderstood companies? In Today's Episode with Dax Dasilva We Discuss: 1. VC Funding is Distorting SaaS: Why did Dax decide not to raise money for Lightspeed in the early days? Does Dax believe Lightspeed would have been successful had they have raised a seed round like many do today in SaaS? Why does Dax believe venture funding is distorting a generation of SaaS companies today? How does Dax advise founders scaling their business today from $0-$1M in ARR? 2. What Went Wrong: The Founder Returns: Why did Dax feel he had to come back to the role of CEO in 2024? What was not working? What was the single biggest problem that the public markets had with Lightspeed? What were some of the biggest challenges that came with the intense amount of M&A? What would Dax most like to do that the public market will not allow? 3. What Makes a Great Leader: How it Changes: What required skills in leadership change with the changing scale of the company? What skill does Dax have that he is slightly ashamed of but has most contributed to his success? What did Dax not know when he founded Lightspeed that he wishes he had known? What question is Dax never asked that he should be asked more?

Crypto Town Hall is a daily X Spaces hosted by Scott Melker, Ran Neuner & Mario Nawfal. Every day we discuss the latest news in crypto and bring the biggest names in the space to share their insight. ►►TRADING ALPHA READY TO TRADE LIKE THE PROS? THE BEST TRADERS IN CRYPTO ARE RELYING ON THESE INDICATORS TO MAKE TRADES. USE CODE ‘2MONTHSOFF' WHEN VISITING MY LINK. 

Welcome to Season 3 of The J Curve, a podcast about entrepreneurship in Latin America. My guest today is Rafael de Albuquerque, CEO & founder at Zoox Smart Data, a global tech company that offers integrated solutions in big data, analytics, AI & ML. Zoox has over 1650 enterprise customers in 25 countries including the likes of Pepsi, Burger King, F1, PWC and Telefonica. Rafael's journey from selling Wi-Fi routers door-to-door to building a $100m in revenue global data analytics business from Brazil is nothing short of remarkable and paved with countless setbacks and failures. His relentless drive to overcome obstacles and pivot business models serves as a valuable example for other entrepreneurs. In our conversation, we explored how building a successful company without VC funding demands strategic thinking and resourcefulness. Leveraging early investor relationships and focusing on customer-driven growth were crucial in scaling the business. We also discussed the importance of family support for sustaining long-term business success and performance. In today's episode we discuss: 1. Zoox Sales Playbook: how to build a robust enterprise sales strategy? 2. Mastering the pivot: how and why (!) to leverage customer feedback to transform your enterprise? 3. Optimize your startup cap tablet: key benefits of strategic investors vs. traditional VCs 4. Customer-centric innovation: how to boost growth and market relevance by co-creating with customers? 5. Turning failure into fortune: Rafael's lessons in business If you would like to get more insight from LatAm's leading tech founders and investors, subscribe to our new ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Follow Olga on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Olga is an entrepreneur, venture capital investor, mentor at Techstars and founder at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The J Curve⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Latin America's leading English speaking podcast about tech builders. She's been investing in the USA, SEA and Latin America for over 13 years. Companies she backed include tech unicorn ClassPass (acquired by Mindbody) and Vitalk (acquired by Gympass).

Meg welcomes Kathryn Bowsher, managing director of ActOne Healthcare, a consulting firm focused on commercializing healthcare innovations. Kathryn developed this expertise by launching more than 40 products and initiatives across a wide range of therapeutic areas, sites of care, and business models over the course of 25 years. Kathryn is the co-founder, advisor to, and previous Chair of the Board of Pocket Naloxone, an over-the-counter opioid overdose treatment. In this episode, Meg and Kathryn discuss the challenges of getting Pocket Naloxone to market and the innovative delivery mechanism they developed. Kathryn emphasizes the importance of improving access, lowering cost, and reducing stigma associated with naloxone. She digs into the need to put patients at the center of healthcare by reducing complexity and cost for healthcare providers, and Meg asks Kathryn to share her extensive experience raising capital across her storied career.Also discussed are many of Kathryn's insights on healthcare challenges and opportunities such as issues with appointment scheduling and workflow, patient-centric approaches, information-sharing, telehealth, medication access, the persistence of old models of care, and educating stakeholders to further positive change.  Further Reading:Consumer Meets Healthcare: Ted TalkCritical Questions for Rethinking HealthcareEpisode Credits: The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare is a production of The Krinsky Company. Hosted by Meg Escobosa. Produced by Meg Escobosa, Calvin Marty, Chelsea Ho, Medina Sabic, Markala Comfort, and Wendy Nielsen.Edited, engineered, and mixed by Calvin Marty. All music composed and performed by Calvin Marty. ©2024 The Krinsky Company

Ara Mahdessian is the Co-Founder and CEO @ ServiceTitan, one of the great vertical SaaS business of the last decade. Today the company powers over 11,800 trade customers and has raised over $1.4BN from some of the best including Bessemer, Battery, Index, ICONIQ and more. Their latest valuation pegged the business at a reported $7.3BN. In Today's Episode with Ara Mahdessian We Discuss: 1. The $7BN Company That Did Not Want To Raise VC Money: Why did Ara not want to raise VC funding in the early days? What convinced Ara to change his mind? Why did he choose Byron and Bessemer? Does Ara believe that ServiceTitan would have been the success that it is, if it had raised in today's market, a $5M on $25M seed round? What would they have done differently? 2. How to Master Going Upmarket: What are Ara's biggest lessons on what it takes to go upmarket? How does the product need to change? How does the org of the company change? When is the right time to go upmarket? What did ServiceTitan get wrong in their move into enterprise? What did Ara learn from this? 3. How to Build a Brand in SaaS and Have Premium Pricing: What are some of Ara's biggest lessons in how to build the best brand in vertical SaaS? What works in brand building in SaaS? What does not? What would he do differently? What have been Ara's biggest lessons on pricing? ServiceTitan is 3x their competitors, how does Ara think about what is required to have such premium pricing? 4. How to Master the Second Product & Be the Best at Customer Success: When is the right time to do a second product? Why is it too late to wait for PMF with your first product to do the second product? What product did ServiceTitan wait too long to release? What did they learn? What product did they release too early? What did they learn? What are the two core reasons why customer success is the most important element in a business? 5. The Core Pillars of Great Leadership: Why do product builder founders have such an increased chance of success in startups? Why do you have to have expertise in the domain you are hiring for to hire the best? What does truly great leadership mean to Ara today? How has his style of leadership changed? What has Ara learned from soccer that he has applied to being a CEO?  

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra explore the latest trends in the crypto world. In this episode, we dive into the impact of celebrity-endorsed memecoins, featuring discussions around Iggy Azalea's 'Mother' token, Waka Flocka Flame's 'Flocka' token, and other celebrities. We debate the broader implications of these phenomena on the crypto market, address criticisms of venture capital's role in crypto, and explore the seasonal nature of crypto trading. Tune in for an in-depth look at how pop culture intersects with cryptocurrency, shaping current market sentiment. Show highlights

Let's explore how today's early AI era is like the unicorn-filled, heavily VC-funded early 2020s. (Part 3 of 3)SHOW: 830SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #830 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSOR:Panoptica, Cisco's Cloud Application Security solutionSHOW NOTES:Part 1: How Today's AI is like the Early 2000s (Cloudcast Eps:826)Part 2: How Today's AI is like the Early 2020s (Cloudcast Eps.828)THE EARLY 2020s were SHAPED by COVID and FREE CASHVCs were pouring money into startups; “unicorns” were a daily occurrenceMany assumed that “today's normal” would be the “forever normal”Business models were drowned out by technology fascinationDO CURRENT AI ECONOMICS AND FUNDING LEVELS MAKE SENSE?VCs and cloud providers are funding infrastructure like it's 1997-2000Business models around AI are still being sought outFunding valuations have no basis in anything real, at least not yetAre we near an AI (economic) crash, or at least deflation of the bubble?FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

SEATTLE, WA – Chronus, an employee-driven development platform providing mentorship and ERG management, today announces the acquisition of Imperative an employee engagement platform that leverages the power of meaningful 1:1 conversations to help employees own their career through the lens of purpose.  https://hrtechfeed.com/chronus-announces-acquisition-of-employee-engagement-platform-imperative/ BambooHR a leading cloud-based human resource platform, announced Jonathan Leaf as its new chief revenue officer. Leaf will oversee all revenue-generating functions, and be responsible for upleveling their integration and alignment.  https://hrtechfeed.com/bamboohr-appoints-jonathan-leaf-as-new-chief-revenue-officer/ Ashby, a recruiting platform that efficiently scales hiring from startup through enterprise, has raised an additional $30 million in equity financing. This round of funding comes with a vote of confidence from existing investors following a 6X growth in revenue. To date, the company has raised roughly $70M. https://hrtechfeed.com/ai-recruiting-startup-ashby-raises-30-million/ Amsterdam based Carv, announced it secured $10M in seed funding, following the launch of its recruitment platform in March and the significant traction the company has experienced since. With the funding, Carv aims to accelerate its growth and expand the capabilities of its platform into different domains of the recruitment life cycle. https://hrtechfeed.com/ai-recruiting-startup-ashby-raises-30-million/ Rising Team, a team performance platform, announced the completion of its Series A funding of $8 million. The round was led by Zeal Capital Partners and others. This investment allows Rising Team to enhance its team performance platform with AI, hire new team members, and expand its market presence. https://hrtechfeed.com/employee-coaching-platform-rising-team-raises-8-million-series-a/  

Every few years we have to be reminded that open source isn't a business model. Let's talk about the business dynamics that everyone seems to keep forgetting.  SHOW: 816SHOW TRANSCRIPT: SHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW NOTES:Adam Jacobs discusses open source and business (The Changelog)“figure out how to play nice with competition” (Twitter)The will never be another Red Hat - Economics of OSS (a16z)OPEN SOURCE IS A LICENSE, NOT A BUSINESS MODELThere are rules around software licenses (e.g. Apache, GPL, etc.)There are no rules about how people feel about software, creators or maintainersFREE, FREE TIERS, EXTENSIONS, CLONESRed Flags: Writes most of the code, took VC funding (multiple rounds)Green flags: Lots of diverse (companies) contributorsYellow flags:  Foundation owns copyright“There's the business side and there's the hippie side of OSS”“I have endless ambitions”“I didn't build a forever entity”“When is the rug pull going to happen?”If a company takes VC funding, is open source anything more than a marketing vehicle?“Docker figured it out and now they are doing like $100M”. Did they? When is OSS personal, and when is it a company?Will there never be another Red Hat, or just not another Linux?How much is too much when determining if a company should give things away for free?FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

James Perkins, co-founder of Unkey, talks about turning a potential blog post into a full-fledged business that simplifies API management for developers. Throughout the episode, he explains the core features of Unkey, the importance of VC funding, and the realities of startup life, including balancing workloads and managing a globally distributed team.SponsorPostmanPostman is an API platform for building and using APIs. Postman simplifies each step of the API lifecycle and streamlines collaboration so you can create better APIs—faster.Attend their Upcoming Conference - April 30 - May 1, 2024 in San Francisco. Amy and James will be there in person.Show Notes0:00 Intro0:47 Sponsor: Postman1:41 Background and Overview of Unkey3:20 Unkey's Features3:34 Origin Story of Unkey10:10 VC Interaction and Scaling Up16:38 Unkey's Core Features and Technical SetupMintlify for Documentation39:19 Challenges and Rewards of Startup Life45:34 Future Plans and Scaling48:16 Picks and PlugsJames Perkins' Picks and Plugs:RISE Calendar (tool for managing time zones and flexible scheduling)Unkey (API management platform)Brad's Picks and Plugs:Pupford treats for puppy trainingBrad Garropy on YouTubeAmy's Picks and Plugs:Batteries for Mac AppAmy's YouTube Channel

Monica Stewart is a highly sought-after go-to-market consultant with over 15 years of experience working with B2B software companies. She specializes in helping startups in the $2 million to $20 million revenue range that are selling to large organizations. Monica has worked with companies like LinkedIn, Trello (acquired by Atlassian), and Pangeva (acquired by S&P). She is known for her sustainable growth-focused mindset and her ability to help companies bridge the gap between their current strategy and their long-term vision.In this episode, Monica shares valuable insights and discusses common mistakes made by startups, such as not targeting their ideal customer profile (ICP) specifically enough, lacking a clear understanding of lead channels, and neglecting net dollar retention (NRR) metrics. She emphasizes the importance of narrowing the ICP, prioritizing lead channels, and implementing effective post-sale processes for long-term success. Monica also highlights the need for founders to be open to change and willing to reevaluate their strategies as their companies evolve.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[02:08] Monica's Approach to Transforming B2B Startups[05:28] Common Mistakes in B2B Startup Growth Strategies[15:34] Deep Dive into Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) Strategy[20:31] The Importance of Narrowing Focus in Startup Strategy[27:20] Understanding the Three Whys of Buying[30:58] Navigating Leadership and Team Dynamics in Business[31:38] The Importance of Being Present and Adaptable in Leadership[34:48] Strategies for Effective Team Management and Role Alignment[36:00] Embracing Change and Coachability for Organizational Growth[37:10] The Founder's Journey: Vision, Commitment, and Self-Awareness[45:39] Practical Advice for Founders on Prioritizing and Implementing Change[56:40] Understanding the Role of VCs and Owning Your Business NarrativeADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about aligning customer-facing teams to improve execution: https://forc.mx/48o1jyPConnect and learn more about Monica Stewart.https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-stewart/https://www.linkedin.com/company/msps-co/HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:53:46] "It's really the founder and it has to be because at the end of the day, there's a tremendous amount of commitment and buy-in that's going to be needed from them in order to do this work."[00:56:23] "VC firms don't give companies money because they think that company is going to succeed, or even because they necessarily need it to succeed. They give companies money because they want to spread their risk out amongst a broad portfolio. And they know that a good percentage of the companies that they invest in are going to fail."[00:55:53] "Once you see it, you can't unsee it. And it changes the way that you look at your organization forever."

Rand Fishkin is the founder and former CEO of Moz, a leading SEO software for marketers created in 2007 that grew out of the active followers of Rand's popular SEOmoz blog. Moz grew quickly to over $30 million in revenue by 2013, having raised $30 million in venture capital investment. When growth slowed in 2014, the company faced many internal difficulties and Rand dealt with mental health challenges, causing him to step down as CEO. Rand left Moz in 2018 and later that year published his popular book about his difficult startup journey, “Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World.” He described in detail the growth of Moz and the exciting growth years, but he also revealed the painful challenges he and the company faced in their later years. In this podcast discussion, he is frank about the pitfalls and brutal realities of big VC funding for founders and the companies they created.  Rand created his second software company, SparkToro, in 2018 with an approach that was opposite to the funding, growth, and staffing he used at Moz. We discuss the benefits of practical funding and sustainable profits to create healthy software businesses that support the goals of founders, employees, customers, and investors. Learn more at PracticalFounders.com. 

Aneel Lakhani (@aneel, Investor, @crane_vc Crane Venture Partners) talks about the challenges of VC funding and building profitable companies based on open-source software. SHOW: 791CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwNEW TO CLOUD? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:​​CloudZero provides immediate and ongoing savings with 100% visibility into your total cloud spendLearn More About Azure Offerings : Learn more about Azure Migrate and Modernize & Azure Innovate!Azure Free Cloud Resource Kit : Step-by-step guidance, resources and expert advice, from migration to innovation.CloudZero – Cloud Cost Visibility and SavingsSHOW NOTES:Crane VC homepageAneel's 2023 Look Ahead ShowAneel's 2022 Look Ahead ShowThe Problem with Money in (Open Source) Software - Monktoberfest 2023Topic 1 - Welcome back. You're almost in the 5 timers club at this point, and a returning guest from our look-ahead shows in 2023. For our new listeners, tell everyone a little bit about yourselfTopic 2 - You recently gave a talk at Monktoberfest about the problem with money in software, specifically open-source software. The crux of it was that VCs require high returns on investments, and software has short windows to gain adoption. Topic 3 - Could that talk have been given any time over the last 5+ years, or was it triggered by recent “events” with open source companies (e.g. Hashicorp)?Topic 4 - Has VC thinking changed about software, given that open source provided essentially early marketing and awareness for “free,” but that comes with user expectations of free (cost) as well? Are there any new ideas about how to build cost-effective software moats?Topic 5 - There are various “conspiracies” floating around that VCs negotiate “the rug pull” with companies at each funding round. Especially in the early stages (where you focus), how much is the VC focused on getting the idea off the ground vs. the validity of the business model? When does the business model discussion typically start? Topic 6 - We've said before that there will never be another Enterprise Software company after VMware. Has the era of open-source enterprise startups ended, or does it just need to go through a phase of rediscovery?FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

Joining Harry in the hot seat today is Jason Lemkin, Founder @ SaaStr and one of the OG SaaS investors of the last decade. The discussion today is broken into two segments: 2023: A Year in Review: Breakout company Best early-stage fund Best late-stage fund Most surprising event Founder of the Year 2024: Predictions: What is to Come: Does the IPO window open? Do Stripe, Databricks, and more go public? What happens to early-stage venture markets? Does the growth stage come roaring back? What happens to the M&A market? How does Trump change the startup ecosystem? Will a generation of young VCs be washed out the system? Will a ton of venture firms shut down?

When 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed in his home state of Missouri in 2014, Morgan DeBaun was working at a technology company in Silicon Valley. Unhappy with her job and dismayed about the media coverage of the story, she decided to change course. She co-founded Blavity, which became a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Morgan has succeeded despite steep odds to forge an incredibly successful portfolio of companies. In today's episode, she is going to share with us how she built an influential media empire and give us some pointers on how to navigate some of the most challenging parts of founding a company.   Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and corporate advisor. She is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Blavity Inc., a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Morgan also acts as an advisor to influential global brands and companies including PepsiCo., American Airlines, CES, and other businesses.   In this episode, Hala and Morgan will discuss: - Why hard work is not enough - Being an outsider in Silicon Valley - How to pitch a VC firm - How to enlist your donors for help - The right amount of equity to give away in a startup - Talent acquisition and diversity in the tech space - Advising Pepsi and American Airlines - The virtues of anonymous employee surveys - Balancing entrepreneurship with personal relationships - And other topics…   Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and corporate advisor. She is the founder, CEO and Chairman of Blavity Inc., a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Through her work at Blavity, Morgan has grown the company into a market leader for Black media, reaching millions of readers through a growing brand portfolio that includes: Blavity News, 21Ninety, AfroTech, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Blavity TV. Morgan also acts as an advisor to influential global brands and companies including PepsiCo., American Airlines, CES, and other businesses. She also hosts The Journey podcast, a weekly podcast that delves into the captivating stories of purpose-driven achievers on their quest to live their best lives and has her own newsletter, The Journey Newsletter, which gives advice on building a sustainable and scalable career and life.   Resources Mentioned: Morgan's Website: https://www.morgandebaun.com/ Morgan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgandebaun/ Morgan's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgandebaun Morgan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganDeBaun Morgan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ Morgan's Podcast, The Journey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-journey-with-morgan-debaun/id1687058364 Morgan's Company, Blavity: https://blavity.com/   LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course.   Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify Articulate 360 - Visit articulate.com/360 to start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360 MasterClass - Right now you can get Two Memberships for the Price of One at youngandprofiting.co/masterclass Nom Nom - Go to youngandprofiting.co/trynomnom for 50% off on your two-week trial  HelloFresh - Go to HelloFresh.com/profitingfree and use code profitingfree for FREE breakfast for life! Help Save Palestinian Lives:  Donate money for eSIM cards for the people of Gaza at https://youngandprofiting.co/DonateWHala   More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com  Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review -  ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting   Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala   Learn more about YAP Media Agency Services - yapmedia.io/