In this episode of the How I'm Building This Podcast, Prateek interviews Chris Wallis, the Founder of Intruder, who shares his journey from growing up on a farm in the UK to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the cybersecurity space. He discusses the challenges of building a startup, the importance of hiring the right people, and how to create a cohesive team culture. Chris also delves into the evolution of Intruder's go-to-market strategy, the integration of AI in their processes, and the metrics he tracks to ensure business health. He emphasizes the need for caution when deploying AI in mission-critical systems and reflects on the importance of mental health for founders.

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Takeaways:

• He lived in a garden shed during an accelerator program to save costs.
• Hiring is critical, and caring about the company matters more than just skills.
• Self-learning is essential for cybersecurity roles.
• Company culture is shaped by both hiring and firing decisions.
• Chris initially thought building a product would attract customers.
• Google Ads were effective in driving initial traffic to Intruder.
• AI integration is approached cautiously, focusing on manual processes first.
• Metrics like ARR and churn are vital for understanding business health.
• Mental health management is crucial for long-term success as a founder.

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Sound Bites:

• "Hiring is the most critical piece of the job."
• "You have to care when you come on board."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Chris and Intruder

10:19 Chris's Journey to Founding Intruder

19:40 Hiring and Company Culture

28:28 Navigating Advice and Mental Health

32:12 Future Plans for Intruder

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Where to find Chris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wallis

Intruder: www.intruder.io

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: ⁠https://www.activatedscale.com⁠

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode of the How I'm Building This Podcast, Prateek interviews Matt Wilson, founder of uMed, who shares his journey from being a physician in the UK to becoming an entrepreneur in the healthcare sector. He discusses the challenges of accessing patients for research, the importance of hiring the right talent, and the strategies uMed employs to maintain a competitive edge in a crowded market. Matt emphasizes the significance of building relationships in the US market and the metrics that gauge the health of his business. He also provides insights into effective marketing strategies and the value of ambassador programs while cautioning against following trends without critical evaluation.

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Takeaways:

• Matt's background as a physician shaped his entrepreneurial journey.
• Creating system change in healthcare is essential for patient access.
• Hiring should focus on independence and proactive problem-solving.
• Building relationships is key to success in the US market.
• uMed aims to provide rapid high-quality data for research.
• Understanding customer value is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.
• Metrics should include deal value, not just deal volume.
• Ambassador programs can effectively drive business growth.
• Setting clear expectations with ambassadors is vital.
• Trusting your instincts amidst external advice is important for founders.

Sound Bites:

• "Hiring is by far the most critical job of a CEO."
• "We need to hire people and we need to make decisions."
• "We're incentivizing people to help us get a deal."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Matt Wilson and UMed

02:40 Matt's Journey from Medicine to Entrepreneurship

05:32 The Importance of Hiring in Startups

14:41 UMed's Mission and Problem Solving

21:59 Building Relationships in Business Development

25:22 Maintaining Competitive Edge in a Crowded Market

27:08 Key Metrics for Business Health

29:31 Marketing Strategies for UMed

34:55 Advice on Building an Ambassador Program

38:27 Navigating Advice and Trends in Startups

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Where to find Matt:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmattwilson

uMed: www.umed.io

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: ⁠https://www.activatedscale.com⁠

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode of the How I'm Building This Podcast, Prateek interviews Stefan Rust, founder of Truflation, exploring his entrepreneurial journey, the importance of co-founder relationships, and the challenges of hiring in startups. Stefan shares insights on navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the significance of quick decision-making, and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency. He discusses the vision behind Truflation, strategies for user growth, and the necessity of feedback loops. The conversation also touches on mental health in entrepreneurship and the future aspirations for Truflation.

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Takeaways:

• Stefan Rust's global upbringing shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
• Trust is crucial in co-founder relationships.
• Entrepreneurship is often a lonely journey requiring resilience.
• Hiring the right people is essential for startup success.
• Quick decision-making is vital when realizing a hiring mistake.
• The crypto journey began with a developer wanting to be paid in Bitcoin.
• Mainstream adoption of crypto faces regulatory challenges.
• Truflation aims to provide accurate economic data.
• Building a user base requires understanding community needs.
• Feedback loops are essential for product improvement.

Sound Bites:

• "Hire slow, fire fast."
• "We're not here to play nice."
• "You have to learn how to sleep."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Stefan Rust: A Global Entrepreneur's Journey

04:41 Navigating Co-Founder Relationships

07:12 Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges

11:37 Hiring for Success in Startups

15:11 The Importance of Quick Decisions

17:04 The Crypto Journey Begins

20:02 Challenges in Mainstream Adoption of Crypto

22:14 The Vision Behind Truflation

23:48 Growing a User Base: Strategies and Insights

26:32 Creating Effective Feedback Loops

27:55 Debating the Necessity of Tokens

30:11 The Scrappy Nature of Startups

33:03 Mental Health in Entrepreneurship

34:53 Future Aspirations for Truflation

Where to find Stefan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanrust

Truflation: www.truflation.com

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: ⁠https://www.activatedscale.com⁠

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode of the How I'm Building This Podcast, Prateek interviews Josh Claman from Accelsius who shares his journey from a small farm town in Illinois to leading a cutting-edge cooling technology company. He discusses the importance of hiring for curiosity, collaboration, and kindness, and how transparent communication fosters a positive company culture. Josh elaborates on the founding story of Accelsius, the revolutionary cooling solutions they provide, and the challenges of scaling a hard tech company. He also reflects on common misconceptions about following one's passion and emphasizes the importance of managing mental health as a CEO.

Takeaways:

• Josh Claman's journey reflects a global perspective shaped by diverse experiences.
• Hiring is a critical challenge; curiosity and kindness are key traits to look for.
• Transparent communication fosters trust and aligns teams with the company's mission.
• Accelsius aims to revolutionize cooling solutions for high-density chips.
• Educating the market is essential for overcoming objections to new technology.
• Sales cycles can be long due to the need for proof of concept.
• Key metrics include pipeline growth and proposal conversion rates.
• Cross-functional collaboration is vital for team alignment and success.
• Common advice like 'follow your passion' can be misleading for early-career professionals.
• Managing mental health is crucial for maintaining effectiveness as a CEO.

Sound Bites:

• "I want people to smile in the office."
• "Follow your passion is terrible advice."
• "Every day is a new problem to solve."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Journey to Accelsius: A CEO's Background

03:11 Hiring for Success: Identifying Top Talent

07:37 Building a Transparent and Trusting Company Culture

12:56 Founding Accelsius: The Vision Behind the Company

17:25 Revolutionizing Cooling Solutions: The Problem We're Solving

21:01 Messaging the Edge: Educating Prospective Customers

24:19 Key Metrics for Growth and Health

26:43 Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ensuring Team Alignment

28:22 Debunking Common Advice: The Reality of Passion

31:12 Managing Mental Health as a CEO

33:15 Looking Ahead: Scaling Accelsius
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Where to find Josh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-claman-3438731/

Accelsius: www.accelsius.com

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: ⁠https://www.activatedscale.com⁠

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode of the How I'm Building This Podcast, Prateek interviews Arjun Mahadevan who shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his multicultural upbringing to founding Doola, a company that simplifies business formation and bookkeeping for e-commerce entrepreneurs. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the challenges of hiring, and the significance of customer feedback in scaling a business. Arjun emphasizes the need for persistence, the value of niching down, and the balance between work and mental health as he looks towards the future of Doola and its mission to empower entrepreneurs worldwide.

Takeaways:

• Arjun's multicultural background shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
• The American dream and immigrant mindset influenced his journey.
• Persistence is key in entrepreneurship; follow-ups matter.
• Hiring fast can lead to costly mistakes; take your time.
• Narrowing focus to a niche can lead to greater success.
• Customer feedback is crucial for growth and improvement.
• Building strong investor relationships is like dating.
• Mental health is intertwined with physical health for founders.
• Doola aims to simplify business processes for e-commerce.
• The future of Doola includes expanding its services globally.

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Sound Bites:

• "Don't forget about the customer."
• "You need to know your numbers."
• "The sale is made in the follow-up."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 The Journey Begins: Arjun's Background and Entrepreneurial Spirit

03:24 The Accelerator Experience: Y Combinator Insights

05:30 Navigating Investor Relationships and Series A Funding

08:56 Hiring Strategies: Finding the Right Fit for Your Team

13:00 The Founding Story of Doola: Lessons from Early Mistakes

15:17 Narrowing Focus: The Importance of Niching Down

17:08 Scaling Customer Acquisition: Effective Marketing Channels

20:18 Listening to Customers: Building a Customer-Centric Business

23:20 Understanding E-commerce Business Formation Needs

25:35 The Power of Persistence: A Scrappy Founder's Story

27:50 Debunking Common Startup Myths: The Truth About Delegation

29:53 Mental Health in Entrepreneurship: Balancing Mind and Body

31:34 The Future of Doola: Vision and Goals Ahead

Where to find Arjun:

LinkedIn: Arjun Mahadevan

Doola: www.doola.com

Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: https://www.activatedscale.com

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode, of How I'm Building This, Prateek interviews Nanda Kishore from Aitomatic who shares his extensive journey in the tech and AI industry, detailing his experiences from his early days in India to founding Aitomatic. He discusses the importance of adaptability, the lessons learned from both successes and failures, and the critical qualities to look for when hiring in a startup environment. Nanda also delves into the founding story of Itomatic, the pain points they aim to solve in the industrial sector, and the strategies they employ for market engagement and customer education. He emphasizes the necessity of hands-on involvement for founders and debunks common myths surrounding startup leadership.

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Takeaways:

• Founders should run lean until product-market fit is found.
• Adaptability is crucial for startup success.
• Hiring franchise players is essential for early-stage companies.
• The cost of failure in industrial AI can be very high.
• Educating the market is key to successful product adoption.
• Hands-on involvement from founders is necessary for understanding the business.
• Building awareness through brand-oriented marketing is effective.
• The biggest BS advice is about surrounding yourself with professional managers.
• Understanding customer pain points is critical for product development.

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Sound Bites:

• "Don't be wedded to your idea."
• "The cost of failure is very high."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Nanda Kishore and His Journey

05:53 Hiring Strategies and Qualities to Look For

12:11 Understanding the Pain Points in Industrial AI

17:54 Building Awareness and Customer Engagement

24:03 Debunking Common Startup Myths

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Where to find Nanda:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkishore

Aitomatic: www.aitomatic.com

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: https://www.activatedscale.com

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode, of How I'm Building This, Prateek interviews Daniel Loreto from Jetify who shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing his background, the philosophy behind funding and financial discipline, and the challenges of running a venture-funded business. He emphasizes the importance of community building, the pain points in software development, and how Jetify aims to simplify developer environments. Daniel also highlights the significance of mental health for founders and shares insights on future innovations at Jetify, including AI-driven solutions.

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Takeaways:

• Daniel's diverse upbringing influenced his entrepreneurial spirit.
• Funding should be approached with caution and strategic planning.
• Maintaining financial discipline is crucial for startup success.
• Community-led growth can be a powerful strategy for startups.
• Understanding customer pain points is essential for product development.
• Content marketing plays a key role in building brand awareness.
• Transitioning from community engagement to paying customers requires careful strategy.
• Creating value for the community fosters loyalty and engagement.
• Startups can leverage agility to outpace larger companies.
• Mental health management is vital for founders' well-being.

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Sound Bites:

• "You need to try to hit that big thing."
• "Development without complexity."
• "You need those little break times."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Daniel and His Journey

05:55 Challenges of Running a Venture-Funded Business

11:59 Building a Community and Winning Customers

18:06 Transitioning from Community to Paying Customers

24:01 Balancing Value Creation and Marketing

29:56 Mental Health and Well-Being as a Founder

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Where to find Daniel:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danielloreto

Jetify: www.jetify.com

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: https://www.activatedscale.com

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com

In this episode, of How I'm Building This, Prateek interviews Luke Jinu Kim, the founder of Liner, who shares his journey from growing up in Korea to building a global startup in Silicon Valley. Luke discusses the challenges of funding, the importance of hiring the right team, and the strategies that led to Liner's success in the competitive AI landscape. He emphasizes the need for startups to focus on their customers and adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining a clear vision for the future.

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Takeaways:

• Luke grew up in Korea and was inspired by the tech boom.
• He initially wanted to bootstrap Liner but pivoted to seeking venture funding.
• The importance of focusing on one thing well to avoid becoming a 'zombie'.
• Liner's vision is to filter high-quality information from the web.
• Hiring the right team is crucial for startup success.
• The go-to-market strategy has evolved from organic growth to digital marketing.
• Pivots are essential for adapting to market changes and user needs.
• Luke emphasizes the importance of customer focus for differentiation.
• The future of Liner includes helping users apply knowledge effectively.
• Building a strong team culture is key to navigating challenges.

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Sound Bites:

• "I wanted to create a product that can be used globally."
• "Doing the most important thing really well helped us survive."
• "We were lucky, but it was a risky moment."
• "Our hiring bar got really high, but it led to a strong team."
• "We want to be the last mover, not the first mover."
• "Our goal is to replace some part of Google search."
• "We want to be the go-to place for knowledge."
• "We are going to help users apply found knowledge."

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Luke and Liner

03:45 The Journey to Entrepreneurship

08:08 Funding Decisions and Initial Challenges

13:34 Navigating the Funding Landscape

18:33 Hiring Strategies and Team Dynamics

22:45 Go-to-Market Strategies and User Acquisition

29:03 Pivots and Lessons Learned

35:45 Future Outlook and Vision for Liner

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Where to find Luke:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinukim/‍

Liner: https://getliner.com/

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Where to find Prateek:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur

Activated Scale: https://www.activatedscale.com

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com