Afleveringen
-
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for your continuous support, I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to give a 5 stars review âš on Spotify/Apple podcast.
Thank you OpenVC for keeping this content free for our listeners. OpenVC is a fundraising platform used by 10,000 founders and 5,000 investors. You can use the code: "EXPLOREâ to upgrade to OpenVC Premium and get a 20% discount. đđ„
In this episode I sit down with Sam Wen, a partner at Green Visor Capital and co-founder of Square (a $38B company).
Youâre probably using Squareâs product on a daily basis without knowing it. Square is used by 56 million users that pays with their credit card at small merchants and Starbucks shops. It is this small device that once used the iPhone headphone jack to read credit card and that became this fintech with all sort of payment devices. Look no further than a small grey Square on the payment device next time you go to a shop. This is Square.
Square was co-founded in part by Jack Dorsey (the founder of Twitter), Jim McKelvey, and Sam Wen (our guest today on the show).
In this episode Sam delve into the early days of building Square. Sam shares the inspiration behind creating a simple credit card reader using a smartphone headphone jack and discusses the challenges and triumphs of the startup journey. We talked about the influence of co-founders Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, and the meticulous attention to product quality that has defined Square's success. We discussed competing against Amazon and being copied by PayPal, alongside their legal challenges and fast growth. This episode offers a rich narrative on innovation, persistence, and building a game-changing fintech company.đ
Founders - this is the story behind the most successful fintech! đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify or on đŁApple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Sam, and Green Visor.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:20 Early Career and University Days
02:45 First Job at Boeing
05:20 Transition to Square
09:31 Founding Square and Early Challenges
14:40 Square's Product Development
28:48 Fundraising and Market Strategy
39:39 Competing in the Payment Industry
41:53 Driven by Design: The Early Days of Square
42:19 Competing with Giants: Amazon and PayPal
43:03 The Simplicity of Square's Hardware
45:03 Square's Legal Challenges and Industry Impact
46:27 The Philosophy Behind Square's Product Development
54:15 Square's Partnership with Starbucks
55:48 The Intensity of Working at Square
58:21 Reflecting on the Square Journey
01:01:44 Closing
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast on Spotify/Apple podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
Thank you OpenVC for keeping this content free for our listeners.
What is OpenVC? Itâs a free fundraising platform used by 10,000 founders and 5,000 investors (VCs, angels, family offices). OpenVC provides a fundraising CRM, AI pitch deck analytics and open rate tracking. Use the code: "EXPLOREâ to upgrade to OpenVC Premium and get a 20% discount. đđ„
In this episode I sat down with Guillermo Flor, a venture capital at GoHub Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Spain that focused on B2B seed and Series A.
In this episode Guillermo shares his journey from studying law and working in consulting firms to founding a startup called Tueri, a legal tech company. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned from his entrepreneurial experience, including the importance of building a must-have product, having patience, and making sure to have a strong team. Guillermo also provides insights into his current role in venture capital, the criteria he uses for investments, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. The discussion covers the venture capital market, the significance of product-market fit, and the importance of coming well-prepared when seeking investment. đ
If youâre an entrepreneur, this will boost your chance of getting funded. đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify.
Listen on đŁApple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Guillermo, GoHub, and Product-market fit.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Guillermo's Early Education and Career
03:03 Transition to Entrepreneurship
03:45 Founding Tueri: The Legal Tech Startup
06:02 Challenges and Learnings from Tueri
08:43 Finding Co-Founders and Building the Team
11:03 Business Model and Market Fit
14:50 Lessons from Startup Failure
18:30 Would You Do It Again?
19:45 Closing the Startup and Investor Relations
21:03 Launching the Product Market Fit Newsletter
23:09 Journey into Venture Capital
25:30 Understanding Venture Capital
38:05 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Closing
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
Thank you to OpenVC for support this podcast. đ€
What is OpenVC? Itâs a free fundraising platform used by 10,000 founders and 5,000 investors (VCs, angels, family offices). The platform provides features such as a fundraising CRM, AI pitch deck analytics and open rate tracking.
Through the premium membership, you can raise 5 times faster. With the code: "EXPLOREâ you can upgrade to OpenVC Premium and get a 20% discount. đđ„
In this episode I sit down with Paul Barnes-Hoggett, a repeat fintech founder and multiple times CTO that became a startup mentor.
Paul shares his journey, from his early days studying architecture to his role at Adobe and his ventures into entrepreneurship. He discusses his transition from technology to starting a meal kit service, the journey of developing Alice Financial, and his recent mentorship roles. Paul provides insights on building and scaling startups, understanding product-market fit, the CTO's role in fundraising and how to approach product partnerships. đ
If youâre an entrepreneur, listen to this to increase your chances of raising money. đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify.
Listen on đŁApple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Paul.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Paul's Early Career and Education
03:44 Transition to Freelancing
06:58 Joining Adobe and Key Learnings
11:16 First Entrepreneurial Venture: Meal Kit Subscription
18:05 Founding Alice Financial
25:30 Role of CTO in Fundraising
32:54 Life After Daylight
34:41 Advice for Startup Founders
41:45 Conclusion and Farewell
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership. đ„
In this episode I sat down with Lauri Kokkila, a partner at Inventure, a venture capital fund focused on seed and Series A investments across the Nordics and Baltics.
In this episode we discussed Lauriâs journey from an intern to partner at Inventure. Lauri details the various stages of his role, from sourcing and evaluating new deals to portfolio management and internal fund operations. He provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors on building relationships, the importance of trust and transparency, and understanding market timing. Lauri also discusses the unique characteristics of Baltic founders, the significance of sustainability in investments, and his outlook for the 2024 market. đ
If youâre an entrepreneur, listen to this to increase your chances of raising money. đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify.
Listen on đŁApple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Lauri and Inventure.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Meet Lauri Kokkila: From Student to Venture Capital Partner
03:47 The Journey from Sales to Supporting World-Changing Entrepreneurs
06:09 Climbing the VC Ladder: From Intern to Partner
08:18 The Intricacies of Venture Capital Work
10:32 Decoding the VC Investment Process
12:55 Inventure's Investment Focus and Process
21:09 The Baltic Market: A Hub for Resourceful Founders
23:01 Investment Success Stories and Market Timing
25:39 Looking Ahead: Investment Trends for 2024
27:38 Sustainability in Startups: A Growing Focus
29:24 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Investors
31:52 Closing Thoughts and Resources
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership. đ„
In this episode I sat down with Alex Brees, the co-founder and CEO at un:hurd, a music marketing startup supporting artists with their music promotion
We discussed Alexâs journey from tech to Universal Music and launching un:hurd. We covered everything from how he came up with the idea, to his initial revenue-led model as a consultant, and developing the iOS app to be ahead of competitors while supporting artists on their existing devices. We discussed un:hurdâs business model from adopting a membership model for monetization to developing partnerships and integrating AI into their product. Alex shares the impact un:hurd already has on the music industry as well as some advices for entrepreneurs! đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Alex and un:hurd.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Sponsor Spotlight: OpenVC
02:00 Alex Brees: From Science Student to Music Marketing
05:09 The Birth of Breezebox and Picasso Events
06:42 A Brief Stint at Universal Music
10:48 Embracing Entrepreneurship with Keakie
12:14 Launching Un:hurd - The Mission and Vision
14:27 Data-Driven Music Marketing: A Game Changer
22:40 Building Relationships in the Music Industry
25:24 Bootstrapping and Fundraising Journey
28:30 Strategic Investments and Market Expansion
31:06 Product Evolution: From iOS to Desktop
34:19 Crafting the Product Roadmap
36:15 Technical Challenges and Team Dynamics
38:04 Leveraging Partnerships for Growth
39:49 Measuring Impact in the Music Ecosystem
41:53 Unveiling the Business Model
46:01 Future Aspirations and AI Integration
47:58 Entrepreneurial Advice: Patience and Personal Growth
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in and for the amazing support. I wanted to let you know that the best way to support this show is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars on your podcast platform. It will allow others to discover it. đ
This episode is unique and does not fit our series of founders interview.
Today, I sit down with Peter Walker the head of insights at Carta, a cap table management software providing unique features. Carta has more than 43k startups on its platform which makes it uniquely positioned to gather insights.
In this episode, we are talking about data driven insights in the fundraising market such as fundraising trends, valuations, shutdowns, equity splits, compensations, revenue-lead versus venture backed startups, AI companies.. the list is long!
This is âFundraising 101â - everything the data tell us to help you get started! đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify.
Listen on đŁApple Podcast.
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about Peter and Cartaâ â â , sign up for Cartaâs free offer.
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:00 Transition from Health to Startup
04:04 Experience at Carta
08:39 Carta's Product and Role in the Ecosystem
12:09 State of the Fundraising Market
16:21 Startup Shutdowns and Valuations
21:10 Bootstrapping vs Venture-backed Startups
23:26 Considerations for Fundraising
24:47 The Gap in Funding for Growing Companies
26:04 Fundraising for the First Time
29:30 Angel Round and Equity Distribution
32:06 Valuation and Funding Trends
36:41 AI Companies and Industry Trends
40:06 Timeline Between Fundraising Rounds
42:39 Headcounts and Employment in Startups
46:02 Forecast for 2024
49:08 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in and for the amazing support. I wanted to let you know that the best way to support this show is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars on your podcast platform. It will allow others to discover it. đ
This episode is unique and does not fit our series of founders interview.
Today, I sit down with Dallas Price from Forum Ventures, a venture studio based in North America and focusing on B2B SaaS companies.
In this episode, we are exploring the concept of venture studio. We cover everything from defining what a studio is, why it is different from accelerators and incubators, understanding the financial model for GP and for founders, the role of the founder and the relationship with the studio, the startup life cycle, the equity split structure, the investment amount and support from the studio, product development, sales cycle, defining ICP, benefits and drawbacks for founders.. the list is long!
This episode is venture studio 101 - everything you need to know to get started! đ
Want to become an entrepreneur but donât know to start? This episode is for you! Want to join a studio as an employee? This is also for you!
Have a great episode!
Listen on đąSpotify.
Listen on đŁApple Podcast.
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about Dallas and Forum Venturesâ â â .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Venture Studios
03:45 Defining Venture Studios
08:27 Founder's Role and Equity
10:35 Venture Studios and External Programs
13:27 Venture Studio Life Cycle
21:02 Generating Ideas
23:39 Market Research and Validation
26:27 Venture Studio Thesis
28:54 Finding a Founder
31:36 Geographic Location of Founders
33:06 Office Space for Portfolio Companies
34:09 Defining the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
36:35 Timeline for Product Development
38:03 Roles and People in a Venture Studio
42:19 Business Model of a Venture Studio
44:47 Success Rate of Venture Studio-backed Startups
47:49 Compensation for Venture Builders
49:42 Ventures Built and Launched by Dallas
51:20 Advice for Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Nate Matherson, the co-founder and CEO at Positional, a startup that provides a modern toolset for SEO and content teams.
We discussed Nateâs early interest in finance, his decision to start LendEDU as a tutoring app, and the subsequent pivot to a marketplace for student loans. Nate shares the challenges of raising capital and the pivotal role Y Combinator played in the growth of LendEDU. We also talked about the decision to exit in March 2020, becoming an angel investor, and starting a new company. Nate provides insights into building an SEO toolset and offers advice for startups looking to leverage SEO as a growth channel and much more! đ
Founders looking to grow a content channel, this episode is for you.
Have a great episode!
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Nate and Positional.
*****
Timestamps:
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:25 Starting LendEDU
09:23 Pivoting to a Marketplace for Student Loans
16:14 Getting into Y Combinator
23:08 Selling the Company
25:04 Transitioning Out and Becoming an Angel Investor
29:18 Starting a New Company
31:31 Pivoting from ContainIQ to Positional
36:13 Building an SEO Toolset
41:46 SEO Tips for Startups
46:36 Positional Today and Future Plans
48:43 Advice for Starting a Business
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Martin Habfast, the co-founder and sales director of Umiami, a food startup that provides plant-based filet experience without compromising the taste and the texture.
We discussed Martinâs unique journey from building a tutoring startup to raising $100M to grow a plant-based meat company in France. Martin shares his strategy for fundraising, the challenges of a Food Tech startup, the strategic selection of ingredients, Umiamiâs collaboration with a Michelin Star Chef and much more! đ
Ambitious founders, this episode is for you.
Have a great episode!
****
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
****
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about Martin and Umiami.
****
Timestamps:
00:31 Introduction
02:19 The Journey from Student to Entrepreneur
12:09 The Genesis of a Plant-Based Meat Startup
21:45 Navigating the Challenges of a Food Tech Startup
28:07 From Kitchen Experiments to Lab Innovations
29:43 The Strategic Decision Against Co-Manufacturing
31:11 Becoming a Mission-Driven Company
32:29 Simplifying Ingredients for Superior Products
35:11 NutriScore A: A Testament to Quality
36:47 Producing 100% in France: A Strategic Choice
39:23 Continuous Product Improvement Through R&D
41:58 Targeting the Flexitarian Market
45:21 Innovative Technology Behind Plant-Based Chicken
46:55 Navigating the Competitive Landscape
48:32 Challenges and Opportunities in the Plant-Based Industry
51:13 Collaboration with Michelin Star Chefs and Future Goals
55:34 Contributing to Entrepreneurship as a MassChallenge Judge
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Jas Jaiswal, the founder and CEO at SmartHaul, a software company that provides a relay model with the focus on bringing truck drivers back home more often while moving freight 2x faster. We discussed Jasâs unique journey from moving to the US from India, developing a business to $1BN EBIDTA before jumping into the unknown and building SmartHaul with the help of Platform Venture Studio. Jas shares the challenges of building a company, the reasons why he is planning to fundraise, the benefit of the venture studio model and much more! đ
Have a great episode!
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Jas and â â â SmartHaulâ â â .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
05:24 Realizing the Desire to Become an Entrepreneur
07:30 Joining Platform Venture Studio
11:45 The Idea for SmartHaul
24:28 Building the Algorithm and MVP
26:38 Challenges and Opportunities
31:16 Business Model and Market Size
37:21 Advice for Future Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Ana Pricop, the co-founder and COO of Outdid.io, a startup that provides zero knowledge identification solutions to improve online safety. We discussed Anaâs unique journey from dropping out of a top school, to surviving in London with little to no money and raising $2.5M in 3 days after struggling for 2 years. Ana shares the challenges of fundraising, the strategic pivot from Web3 to targeting broader industries, the importance of the people around you, the necessity to maintain a balance between work and personal life and much more! đ
Early-stage founders and young entrepreneurs, this episode is for you.
Have a great episode!
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore on: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â .
Learn more about â â â Ana â â and â â â Outdid.ioâ â â .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:00 Ana Maria's Love for School
06:20 Starting Outdid.io
10:08 Technical Challenges
12:01 UC London Innovation and Enterprise Startup Program
22:27 Seed Round Fundraising
29:38 Explaining the Solution
31:08 Fast Term Sheets
32:13 Growing the Team
36:48 Differentiation from Competitors
42:23 Managing Relationships with Investors
44:58 Finding Your Role in the Company
46:10 Current State and Future Vision
49:37 Sigma Squared Society
53:21 Advice to Past Self
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Tuomo Laine, the founder and CEO of Twice Commerce, a commerce platform for the circular economy, where you can sell, rent, and resell your products. We discussed Tuomo's journey from being a founder in a corporation to failing in his first startups and pivoting to a new idea. We talked about financing the company, teaching to students to become a better CEO, founding a company with 3 tech co-founders, providing solutions to solve for climate change, his vision for the next 5-years, how he raised 8M⏠and much more!đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â , â â Websiteâ â .
Learn more about â â â Tuomo â â and â â â Twice Commerce.
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Background
05:38 Learnings from Corporate Experience
09:13 Lessons from Failed Startup
12:37 Starting Twice Commerce
21:30 Skills and Expertise for Building Twice Commerce
24:46 Financing the Company
26:35 Early Product Development and Customer Feedback
31:19 Challenges of Subscription and Rental Models
33:23 Contributing to Sustainability and Impact
36:42 Examples of Customers Leveraging the Platform
44:00 Going Global from Day One
45:33 Business Model and Key Metrics
49:17 Future Vision and Advice for Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Jack Lancaster, the co-founder and chief product officer of Spoke.Ai, a company that helps you streamline communications through AI workflows that connects Slack, Jira, Notion, and the rest of your product stack. We discussed Jack's unique journey from Product Manager at N26, to founding a Plant as a Service company and now working on Spoke.Ai. We talked about his vision on AI and its use cases, the strategic decisions of staying in beta for more than a year, the importance of bringing in technical expertise in building the MVP and the necessity to track key metrics such as customer usage. We compared briefly Microsoft Copilot and Spoke, how they differ but also complement each other, and Jack shared some insights for early-stage entrepreneurs. đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â â LinkedInâ â , â â Newsletterâ â , â â Websiteâ â .
Learn more about â â â Jack â â and â â â Spoke.aiâ â â .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:07 Early Career and Start of Plant Club
06:37 Role as a Product Manager at N26
10:37 Founding Spoke AI
15:55 Original Idea and Product of Spoke AI
22:24 Building the MVP of Spoke AI
23:46 Raising Funds and Early Beta Users
27:04 Launching the Beta Version
29:23 Differentiation in Summarization Capabilities
32:11 The Beta Phase and Future Launch
35:28 Partnership with Slack
38:04 Vision for the Company
41:37 Business Model and Key Metrics
46:29 Advice for Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Tomer Molovinsky, the founder and CEO of Per Diem, a startup that provides premium mobile apps for restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. We discussed Tomer's unique journey from serving in the IDF to diving deep into the restaurant industry and technology space. Tomer shared insights from his previous entrepreneurial endeavors, lessons learned from working at companies like OpenTable and Rezi, and the inception and evolution of Per Diem during the pandemic. We discussed how Per Diem addresses the challenge of direct customer engagement for small businesses through creating branded mobile applications, integrating seamlessly with Square's POS system, and enabling features like loyalty programs and subscription models. We uncovered the stories behind their time at Y-Combinator, how they raised $2.3M and their strategy for the future and much more!đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â â â â OpenVC.appâ â â â ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: â â LinkedInâ , â Newsletterâ , â Websiteâ .
Learn more about â â Tomer â and â â Per Diemâ â .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introducing Tomer Molovinsky and Per Diem
01:58 Tomer's Journey: From Military to Entrepreneurship
11:49 Navigating the Startup World: Lessons from OpenTable and Resy
17:23 The Genesis of Per Diem: Adapting to Market Needs
23:11 Y Combinator and Pivoting Towards Success
29:57 The Genesis of a Revolutionary Restaurant App
30:24 Identifying the Gap in Restaurant Tech
33:51 The Strategic Partnership with Square
34:42 Expanding the Ecosystem: Beyond Coffee Shops
35:11 The Technical Backbone: Integrating Essential Features
36:35 Leveraging Square's Infrastructure for Rapid Innovation
39:58 Growth Metrics and Future Directions
46:12 Navigating the Competitive Landscape and Future Plans
48:39 Building a Remote Company Culture and Vision for the Future
52:10 Final Thoughts: Persistence in Entrepreneurship
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Jacqueline Van Den Ende, the founder and CEO of Carbon Equity, a climate investing platform that aims to mobilize billions of private capital from millions of people to fund climate solutions. We discussed Jacqueline's journey from flying to the Philippines and leading a rocket internet company, to coming back in Europe and becoming a venture capital investor. We uncovered the stories behind the creation of Carbon Equity, how they managed to raise $2M in a Seed round from potential customers and later $6M in Series A. We also discussed the grind of convincing funds to join the platform, such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates climate impact funds) and many more stories.đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â OpenVC.appâ ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about â LinkedIn, Newsletter, Website.
Learn more about â Jacqueline and â Carbon Equityâ .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Carbon Equity
01:25 Jacqueline's Career Journey
05:06 Joining Rocket Internet in the Philippines
08:32 Transition to Venture Capital
18:13 Creation of Carbon Equity
22:12 Investing in Climate Solutions
25:27 The Growth of the Sustainable Economy
32:20 Investment Criteria and Portfolio Selection
37:30 Key Metrics and Challenges
45:19 Raising Venture Funding
47:03 Future Vision for Carbon Equity
48:25 Advice for Entrepreneurs
52:24 Final Thoughts
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Stephane Nasser, the founder and CEO of OpenVC, a platform that helps founders find investors. We discussed his journey from Microsoft to founding Petri and refusing a $800k check before closing the company. We talked about bootstrapping OpenVC as a weekend project before becoming product of the month on Product Hunt. We went through some of the key metrics, how both founders managed to go full time and how he sees the platform in the next 5-years.đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â OpenVC.appâ ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about â Exploreâ .
Learn more about â Stephane and â OpenVC.appâ .
*****
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Shoutout
02:06 Stephane's Early Life and Career Journey
04:39 Stephane's Experience at Microsoft and Faber Novel
07:52 The Birth and End of Petri
17:18 Transition to Consulting and the Genesis of OpenVC
23:40 The Challenges and Successes of Bootstrapping OpenVC
25:51 OpenVC deep dive
48:11 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
A thousand thanks for those that are following the podcast each week, and welcome to the newcomers! I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Yotam Rosenbaum, the founder and partner at both The Access Fund and 77 Partners. We discussed Yotam's early journey from dreaming of becoming a musician, to creating a music startup, going through Y-Combinator, meeting Mark Zuckerberg and finally selling Earbits for $8M. We went on to talk about his current job as a Venture Capitalist, his investment thesis, advice for entrepreneurs and much more.đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor â OpenVC.appâ ! đ„
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about â Exploreâ .
Learn more about â Yotamâ .
*****
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction and Yotam's Journey into Music
03:04 The Birth of EarBits: A Startup Idea
14:00 The Role of Y Combinator in EarBits' Growth
19:04 Strategies for Gaining Traction and Listeners
26:25 Building a Partnership and Facing Failure
28:14 The Business Model Behind EarBits
31:02 Selling the Company and Moving On
32:56 Becoming an Entrepreneur in Residence
36:14 Venturing into Crypto and Leaving
37:54 Becoming a Venture Partner at 77 Partners
43:03 Founding the Access Fund
47:14 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Investors
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
Welcome to this new episode of Explore! đ
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. đ
In this episode I sat down with Daniel Zarick, the founder and CEO of Arrows.to, one of the very first customer onboarding tool. We discussed Daniel's journey from running a record label to dreaming of working for Twilio, meeting his co-founder on Twitter, partnering with HubSpot and raising $3M from famous Angel Investors and VC to build a new product category.đ
Have a great episode!
*****
Thanks to our sponsor OpenVC.app! đ„Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore.Learn more about Daniel and Arrows.to.
*****Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:23 Danielle's Early Career and Education
02:44 The Value of University Beyond Classes
04:36 The Journey to Twilio
07:21 Experiences and Lessons from Twilio
09:59 The Decision to Leave Twilio
17:12 The Birth of Arrows
24:23 Understanding CRM and Arrows' Role
27:04 Launching the Product and Facing Market Skepticism
28:11 Understanding the Market and Deciding to Seek Funding
29:55 The Journey of Bootstrapping and the Decision to Seek Funding
32:28 The Fundraising Experience and Investor Relationships
37:39 The Relationship with HubSpot and Future Plans
45:00 The Future of Arrows and Market Evaluation
49:19 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
53:13 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
In this episode of Explore, I sat down with Abi Bouhmaida, the founder of For Good Code đ one of the most followed tech account on instagram.
Abi's growth model is simple : provide as much value as possible, on a daily basis, by writing tech hacks that people want to remember.
We discussed Abi's journey from dropping out of university, to getting a job at Amazon and quitting 3-months later to pursue his passion. Abi shares his insights on setting long-term goals, focusing on providing value over chasing metrics, and employing strategies for exponential growth on Instagram. We also discussed his vision for the future of For Good Code, which might take many forms YouTube, Newsletter, e-learning company, only the future will tell. Finally we explored his ambition to establish a lifestyle business rather than a big corporation.
Tune in to hear Abi's fascinating story!If you like this episode, don't forget to give 5 stars to the podcast on your platform of choice! â
Learn more about Explore :â â Watch shorts clips đș: â â â Instagramâ â â
Follow on LinkedIn đ: â â â Hugo Rauch | LinkedInâ
Learn more about Abi and For Good Code :
Get value on đș: â â â â Instagramâ â â â
Follow on LinkedIn đ: â â â â Abi | LinkedInâ â
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Abi's early interest in Tech04:04 The Birth of For Good Code
05:39 Facing Copyright Issues, Rebuilding and Scaling
07:49 The Decision to Quit Amazon
08:53 The Impact of Changing Content Style
17:31 The Future of For Good Code
27:48 The Importance of Engaging Content
32:16 The Vision for a Lifestyle Business
37:21 The Power of Community and Accountability
42:55 The Future of For Good Code
46:43 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com -
In this episode of Explore, I sat down with Kevin Jurovich, the CEO and founder of Circlesđ±an app that helps you find the right places at the right time.
Kevin is also a former NFL Athlete, he was a Wide Receiver and played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers.
We discussed Kevin's journey from playing in the NFL to raising $300k in a seed round at Circles. We talked about his sports mindset and how that helps him succeed in the startup world, the challenges of being a first-time founder and the importance of having a stellar product and user base before deciding on a revenue strategy. đ
Kevin also shared some important lessons for startups founders that he learned throughout his journey, such as how to raise your first round, the need to be creative in the early stages and the importance of trusting your early team members.
Tune in to hear Kevin's fascinating story!
Learn more about Explore :
Follow on LinkedIn đ: â â â Hugo Rauch | LinkedInâ
Learn more about Kevin :
Follow on LinkedIn đ: Kevin Jurovich
Timestamp :
0:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:02 Kevin's Journey: From Childhood Dreams to NFL
02:26 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change
05:24 Transition from NFL to Corporate World
07:56 Becoming a Financial Advisor and Discovering the Startup World
16:04 The Birth of Circles: A New Venture
18:24 Building a Team and Embracing the Startup Culture
20:25 Fundraising Journey and Challenges
24:52 Pitch Deck and Initial Funding
25:48 Challenges of a Non-Technical Co-Founder
26:46 Building an App: The Right Approach
28:21 Protecting Your Startup Idea
30:23 The Evolution of Circles App
34:49 The Future of Circles: Expansion and Monetization
46:58 The Journey of a Startup Influencer
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com - Laat meer zien
