Podcast
Ideas Last
Hosted by Danielle Gillespie · EN
It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the start-up world. But what if having a laser-focus on your idea can actually hold your business back?
In the Ideas Last podcast Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders whose success came from obsessively focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it takes to actually build a long-lasting, profitable startup rather than simply launching one...by putting your idea last.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Modern Banking Solutions to Help Serve The Elderly of America - Samuel Zimmerman, CEO of Sagewell Financial
Feb 13, 202300:46:34Tap to summarizeWelcome to Ideas Last, the podcast about turning initial sparks into big results. On today’s episode, we have Sam Zimmerman. Sam is currently CEO and co-founder of Sagewell Financial. Sam founded Sagewell because he wanted his parents and the 57,999,996 other Americans like them to feel confident about their financial futures. Confident they are saving as much money as possible. Confident they are getting everything they have earned as seniors. Confident they are safe and protected from scammers who take advantage of folks their age. Confident they are going to be able to pass as much as possible to the next generation. Sagewell is an institute that specializes in banking for seniors. Sam shares his journey of how he came up with the idea and has built the company to where it is today. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:42 How Sam got interested in entrepreneurship and start-ups 12:19 What Sagewell Financial is and how the idea came about 19:16 Building out initial financial prototypes and productions from market research 23:58 Testing a new product in the market 41:29 Where most founders typically go wrong GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Sam says, “Pay careful attention to who your primary customers base is. Your customers are the one that guide what products you build and will make your business model function. If you get feedback from the wrong customer segment, you will build the wrong products." CONNECT WITH SAM Sagewell Financial - www.sagewellfinancial.com/ Twitter - twitter.com/Ferrum_of_omega Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/sam-zimmerman-35152a22/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #DanielleGillespie #StartUpCoach #BusinessConsultant #startupfounders
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Building A Community-Based Tech Startup - Jennifer Gomez, CEO of oneKIN
Sep 9, 202200:41:20Tap to summarizeJennifer Gomez is a tech founder and public speaker from Brooklyn, NY. Throughout her professional and entrepreneurial career, she’s helped innumerable brands and startups leverage data-led strategy and creative storytelling to launch products and build authentic relationships with their consumers. Today, she is Co-Founder & CMO of oneKIN Inc., a mission-driven, retail-tech company powering the future of e-commerce for small businesses. From their award-winning curated e-commerce marketplace for diverse retailers to our soon-to-launch livestream shopping app, oneKIN live, they are hyper-focused on providing small businesses tech-enabled solutions to increase their visibility and grow sustainably. In addition to scaling oneKIN, she is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs of color, women, small businesses, and tech professionals around the country via workshops, panels, and various on/off-air speaking engagements. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:17 How oneKIN came about as a company 12:42 How to get started on your entrepreneurial journey 17:16 Consistently getting feedback from your customers 20:54 Forming a partnership with MasterCard 28:11 Where most founders typically go wrong 35:40 What’s next on the horizon for Jennifer GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Jennifer says, “Most entrepreneurs think that everything has to be perfect when you launch. The first iteration of your product is not going to be perfect. And that's part of the process. The journey of those future optimizations is what's beautiful." CONNECT WITH JENNIFER oneKIN - www.onekin.co Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gomez-72748224/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #DanielleGillespie #StartUpCoach #BusinessConsultant #startupfounders
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Efficient & Effective Fundraising For Your Startup - Nathan Beckford, CEO of Foundersuite
Aug 2, 202200:41:13Tap to summarizeNathan Beckford helps startups with strategy, finance, BD, and venture/exit issues. Described as the “wingman to startup CEOs” and as “Biz Dev / CFO to go”, he specializes in pitching deals, raising capital, and getting sh*t done. Nathan is the CEO of Foundersuite, used by 2500+ startups worldwide to bring structure, speed, and efficiency to fundraising and investor relations. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:14 The story behind Foundersuite 04:32 The power of financial models for your startup 09:05 Common mistakes entrepreneurs make when raising money 14:43 Tips for making a good pitch deck 19:28 You have to be full-time in fundraising 27:33 The Foundersuite Framework 35:24 Advice for new entrepreneurs that are starting out GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Nathan says, “One of the mistakes I see founders make is that they don't prioritize fundraising. Fundraising is painful. It takes a lot of time and you face a lot of rejection. But if really want to see results, it takes a full-time commitment of three months for most startups." CONNECT WITH NATHAN Foundersuite - foundersuite.com Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbeckord CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #DanielleGillespie #StartUpCoach #BusinessConsultant #startupfounders
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Big Business Impact Through Small Start-Up Shifts - Gary Goldberger, President & Co-Founder of FableVision Studios
May 9, 202200:40:14Tap to summarizeGary Goldberger is President and Co-Founder at FableVision, an award winning multi-media development and publishing company specializing in educational interactives for children. He oversees the production of FableVision’s award-winning media products. Since the company's launch, Gary has held many positions, and he approaches each project with a multi-faceted perspective. Gary is an expert in designing and developing innovative games for learners of all ages, and is a frequent speaker nationally on the role of games in education. Gary’s unique blend of technical and creative leadership has been a key reason many FableVision projects have won awards. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:23 Gary explains the activities undertaken by FableVision Studios 03:21 The starting point for FableVision Studios. 05:29 Making a big impact through small changes 06:51 How to approach learning in a new way 13:04 Partnerships are a key to success 23:07 Every failure is a lesson learned 28:54 Important nuggets of wisdom for new entrepreneurs 34:04 Personal and professional plans for Gary GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Gary says, “Creators tend to fall in love with with their own ideas, however it is crucial as new entrepreneurs to let their guards down and be willing to accept criticism and feedback." CONNECT WITH GARY FableVision - fablevision.com Email Gary Goldberger - gary@fablevision.com Connect with Gary on Twitter - @FableGary Connect with Gary on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/gary-goldberger-947146 CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5
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Making a difference through your Startup - Alisha McFetridge, Co-Founder & CEO of RainStick Shower
Mar 14, 202200:27:43Tap to summarizeAlisha is the co-founder and CEO of Rainstick, a clean technology company committed to cutting residential water usage in half. Rainstick is a high-flow shower system of 3GPM that saves 80% water and 80% energy through point-of-use recirculation and real-time cleansing. Alisha holds an MSc in Climate Change and Development and a Bachelor in International Business, majoring in Sustainability. In 2020, she came first place in the Communitech's Fierce Founder's Competition and is also the recipient of the Caldwell Partner's Future CEO Award, Royals Roads Leadership Award, and the TD Sustainability Award. She has spent time working, studying and living in Kenya, China, The Netherlands, the United States and Canada, where she currently lives today. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 02:20 Alisha explains the circumstances leading to start of RainStick Shower 07:14 Alisha explains about RainStick Shower 08:37 Entrepreneurs need to maintain a timeframe for their progress in their entrepreneurial journey. 10:01 Facing the initial challenges are a part of startups 14:28 How to identify the market for your product 19:56 Feedbacks help shape the health of your startup 25:54 Plans ahead for RainStick Shower GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Alisha says, “Startups can be slow and challenging, however it is important to believe in your startup, build the team and constantly reiterate and update the technology as needed." CONNECT WITH ALISHA RainStick Shower - www.rainstickshower.com Email Alisha McFetridge - alisha@rainstickshower.com Connect with Alisha on Instagram - Instagram.com/rainstick.shower Connect with Alisha on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/rainstickshower CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5
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Navigating the Entrepreneurial journey in a Startup - Steve Hoffman, Venture Investor, Author & CEO of Founders Space
Feb 21, 202200:52:06Tap to summarizeSteve Hoffman is the CEO of Founders Space, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators, with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Hoffman is also a venture investor, founder of three venture-backed and two bootstrapped startups, and author of several award-winning books. Hoffman went on to launch Founders Space, with the mission to educate and accelerate entrepreneurs. Founders Space has become one of the top startup accelerators in the world. Hoffman has trained hundreds of startup founders and corporate executives in the art of innovation and provided consulting to many of the world’s largest corporations. He currently resides in San Francisco but spends most of his time in the air, visiting startups, investors, and innovators all over the world. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:19 Steve explains his journey as an entrepreneur 06:11 Steve explains about Founders Space - a global startup and incubator 11:36 Customer response plays a big role in every startup 15:20 Entrepreneurs need to have an open approach towards their startup 20:55 When do you quit and try something new 27:19 Being an entrepreneur is a process of discovery and repeated failure 28:02 How to identify a dysfunctional team or leader 32:09 An idea can originate from anyone in the startup team 39.05 Why build a platform and not a product 46.16 Relentless optimism and positivity paves the way to success 49:52 Plans ahead for Founders Space GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Steve says, “The brilliant ideas don’t always have to come from the CEO of the company, rather it needs to be a shared collaboration of the entire team to ideate and drive change" CONNECT WITH STEVE Founders Space - https://www.foundersspace.com/contact/ Email Steve Hoffman - steven.s.hoffman@gmail.com Connect with Steve on Twitter - @FoundersSpace Connect with Steve on LinkedIn - https://LinkedIn.com/in/FoundersSpace/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5
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Supporting Wellness And Health For 50 Million Women In America - Alessandra Henderson, Co-founder & CEO of Elektra Health
Feb 9, 202200:38:55Tap to summarizeAlessandra Henderson is the Co-Founder & CEO of Elektra Health, a next-gen women’s health platform on a mission to smash the menopause taboo. Elektra empowers the 50M women in the US navigating menopause with evidence-based education, virtual care, and a supportive community. Prior to Elektra, Alessandra began her career in technology as the sixth employee at Artsy, where she built the content partner business from the ground up. From there, she went on to found and serve as Executive Director of the MIT NYC Startup Studio, and VP of Network at Human Ventures. She has been featured in leading publications including Fast Company, Forbes, Techcrunch, and more. She has also been a recipient of quite a few laurels like the Martin Trust Community Fellow Award '16 and the Patrick J. McGovern, Jr Entrepreneurship Award '16. Beyond the office, Alessandra is passionate about taboo-smashing, all things art, and supporting & elevating women. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:26 Alessandra explains the Elektra Health 03:23 Symptoms of Menopause and the challenges faced by women 06:07 Creating safe spaces for women to speak about their health 08:24 Having personal connections to your startup serves as a driving force 15:57 Entrepreneurs need to be in a constant state of evolution 17:03 How to build your team and starting out 23:17 Additional features of Elektra Health 31:29 Investing into your team is essential 36:10 Plans ahead for Elektra GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Alessandra says, “Understanding and paying attention to people and the level of interest and curiosity they bring to the table helps to build the right team and culture in any startup." CONNECT WITH ALESSANDRA Elektra Health - https://www.elektrahealth.com/ Connect with Alessandra on Twitter - @acphenderson Connect with Alessandra on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrahenderson/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5
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How To Help A Billion People Improve their Mental Health - Leon Mueller, Co-founder & CEO of Bloom
Jan 24, 202200:40:15Tap to summarizeLeon is the Co-Founder & CEO of Bloom, the world's first self-guided therapy platform on a mission to empower 1 billion people to be their own therapists. Leon was born in Germany, taught himself design in high school, and became a product designer. He built several businesses from HR tech to Voice Technology and Mobile Apps. His company Bloom builds tools to unlock human potential. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:23 Leon explains the Bloom online therapy app 07:17 The challenges and obstacles that came with launching Bloom 17:13 Every entrepreneur should understand your product market 19:08 How to sustain your business through challenges 23:09 Innovation is the best way forward 26:53 Covid has caused many positive changes 28:18 The future of mental health in our society 30:32 Developing different perspectives through which we look at life is key 31:41 What every new entrepreneur should be prepared for 35:06 How to recognize trends in the larger market and industry 36:44 Plans ahead for Leon GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Leon says, “It is important to think what we as humans have always done and what can we do even better - making therapy accessible and affordable" CONNECT WITH LEON Bloom - https://www.enjoybloom.com/ Connect with Leon on Twitter - @iamleonmueller Connect with Leon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonmueller/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #DanielleGillespie #StartUpCoach #BusinessConsultant #LeonMueller #MentalHealth #Bloom #Therapy
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How To Build And Scale World-Changing Companies - Chris Yeh, Investor, Writer, Mentor, Entrepreneur
Dec 23, 202100:52:02Tap to summarizeChris Yeh is the co-author of Blitzscaling, the book that explains how to build world-changing companies like Amazon, Alibaba, and Airbnb in record time. A writer, investor, and entrepreneur, Chris has had a ringside seat in the world of startups and scaleups since 1995. His books help founders, venture capitalists, corporate leaders, policymakers, and everyday people better understand how the internet has changed the way we work together to build amazing organizations. Chris is also the founding partner of Blitzscaling Ventures, which helps rapidly growing companies in winner-take-most markets become global leaders by providing in-depth scaling advice and capital. Hundreds of companies, from garage-dwelling startups to Fortune 50 titans have tapped his knowledge and insights to accelerate and transform their businesses. Chris holds a BS/BA from Stanford University and MBA from Harvard. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:17 How Chris started off his career 06:41 The value in every entrepreneur having a mentor 12:43 How to find the right mentor for you 18:19 Advice for entrepreneurs starting out 20:48 The obstacles to scaling your business 23:10 How to evaluate if your solution is scalable 27:16 The idea behind Blitzscaling Ventures 33:09 Why is the Great Resignation occurring 37:48 Great entrepreneur Chris has mentored 42:09 The Ted Lasso craze 48:14 Plans ahead for Chris GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Chris says, “A key nugget for entrepreneurs is that it's so important to have an orientation towards action. One of the things that holds people back is this belief that they have to get everything right before they do anything, but the most important thing is to just do stuff." CONNECT WITH CHRIS Blitzscaling - https://www.blitzscaling.com/ Website - https://chrisyeh.com Connect with Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisyeh/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #Danie
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How I Started America’s Largest Solar Energy Marketplace - Yaniv Kalish, Founder & CEO of SolarKal
Dec 14, 202100:34:08Tap to summarizeYaniv Kalish is a solar energy veteran, with over 15 years of developing more than $200M valued solar projects. He is the founder & CEO of SolarKal - the largest B2B solar marketplace in the United States. SolarKal streamlines the switch to solar energy for organizations across the U.S. while saving them time, money and internal resources. With dedicated advisory services powered by the largest marketplace of over 125 vetted solar providers across the U.S., SolarKal empowers organizations to go green with ease. Yaniv is a Boston Consulting Group Alum and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School focused in Energy and Entrepreneurship. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EPISODE 01:11 The story behind SolarKal and what it does 04:25 The initial spark into entrepreneurship 07:51 The steps to getting started when launching a company 11:39 Should you bootstrap or raise funding? 14:51 Learning what is beyond your skillset as an entrepreneur 17:12 Building a strong initial team 21:48 The next big thing for Yaniv 27:02 Where most entrepreneurs tend to go wrong and make mistakes 30:41 Advice for young entrepreneurs that are starting out GOLDEN NUGGET FROM TODAY’S SHOW Yaniv says, “Every entrepreneur starts off being a "jack of all trades" in the beginning. It is important to transition towards delegating and building your team as you grow so that you don't become a bottleneck to the growth." CONNECT WITH YANIV SolarKal - www.solarkal.com Connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanivkalish/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Danielle’s Website - https://www.daniellegillespie.net/ Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie/ Email Danielle - dg@daniellegillespie.net Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl Send A Text: +1 (412) 207-3851 Connect with Danielle to learn more about how the Ideas Last methodology can help you turn your product into a successful business venture, regardless of product stage: paper napkin, beta, V1, or established product already released into the wild. SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-last/id1579391101 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fj8K2kEIm8RWNfYzgZs4L If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast! ABOUT THE IDEAS LAST PODCAST It has long been said that ideas are everything, especially in the startup world. But what if having a laser focus on your idea can actually hold your business back? In the Ideas Last podcast, Danielle Gillespie interviews startup founders, whose success came from obsessively, focusing on execution instead of ideation. Each episode dissects what it actually takes to build a long-lasting profitable startup, rather than simply launching - by putting your idea, last. Read more about the Ideas Last story - https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl/ideas-last-a-new-way-to-startup-b94a585e35f5 #IdeasLast #DanielleGillespie #StartUpCoach #BusinessConsultant #Entrepreneurship #YanivKalish #SolarKal
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