Episode Summary
Chris Hanks has owned multiple businesses in the music, ecommerce, publishing, and export industry. He is the co-author of the bestselling book, School for Startups and currently runs the KSU Entrepreneurship Center at Kennesaw State University. Chris is a big advocate for getting out of your comfort zone and tells the audience, 'when in doubt, go do'. He talks on why it's so important for leaders to have clarity in their business and if you want to grab an investor's attention, you have to give them goosebumps when they hear your pitch.
Key Takeaways
- 02:25 - Why does Chris teach entrepreneurship?
- 04:10 - When in doubt, go do. We learn through actions and things that scare us.
- 05:00 - When did Chris decide he wanted to be an entrepreneur?
- 07:30 - What does a business appraiser do?
- 09:20 - Ask yourself, 'How do I reduce risk in the mind of the investor?'
- 11:15 - You have to be very clear in your milestones with your startup business.
- 14:15 - Chris talks on how he got to know Jim Beach.
- 17:00 - You don't have to wait for passion or creativity to start a business. Just go out and do it.
- 19:15 - With clarity comes power. Be super clear on what you want for your business.
- 19:55 - What makes you CEO worthy?
- 21:20 - Ask yourself, 'So what'?
- 22:15 - About 20% of Chris's students are female.
- 23:45 - Goosebumps always sell. Give your investors goosebumps.
- 26:15 - Chris names all of his pitch approaches after musicians. His pitches can range from the Kayne West approach to the John Lennon approach.
- 27:55 - Instead of telling an investor what you do, tell them what you believe.
- 29:00 - Chris recommends a couple of books every entrepreneur should read.
- 30:15 - You can reach Chris on LinkedIn and through Kennesay State University.
Tweetables
When in doubt, go do.
Anytime risk goes down, value goes up.
Articulate the future, that's what a leader does.
Clarity equals power.
47.9% of all privately held businesses are owned by women.
Goosebumps always sell.
Links Mentioned
School for Startups by Jim Beach and Chris Hanks.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath
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Episode Summary
Charles Smith is an New York-based angel investor and was named top 25 investors in the NY area to know. He has been an active investor since the mid-1990s and has a wealth of knowledge to share on today's show. He talks on why he believes Style Lend is changing the world for the better, why he loves the startup company Boxed, and why you should network with entrepreneurs who have already pitched the angel investor you're interested in.
Key Takeaways
- 01:50 - What is Social Starts?
- 06:20 - Technological skill is what enables you to beat the competition.
- 09:20 - Charles talks about Style Lend and how they are changing the world.
- 13:40 - Charles loves the startup company Boxed.
- 17:50 - Why did Charles want to be an investor?
- 20:05 - Network with entrepreneurs who have already pitched the same investor you're interested in.
- 23:10 - There are no new ideas, so why are you the person to do this?
- 26:30 - Charles believes merchandising will charge dramatically in the upcoming years.
- 28:30 - Entrepreneurs should start reading Neal Stephenson's books.
- 30:25 - Don't dread the pitching process, see it as a way to learn from smart people who have been there before.
Tweetables
The internet has enabled trust over distance at scale for the first time in human history.
The coach of the Eagles says, 'Culture beats scheme.
You don't have to be as big as Google, obviously, to treat people well.
How do you handle "trough of sorrow?
Links Mentioned
Charles Smith Twitter Social Starts
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Episode Summary
Scott Eddy was named the Top 10 Global Travel Influencer on Klout and he is also the Global Brand Ambassador for the startup Zipkick. Scott believes the R in ROI stands for relationships and he talks to John on how he was able to develop a 608,000 Twitter following based on this philosophy. Scott Eddy has lived all over the world and shares how he went from being a stock broker to a digital nomad.
Key Takeaways
- 02:10 - Scott shares a little bit of his background.
- 04:30 - You have to be genuine and really believe in the product you're pitching. People can tell when you're not.
- 05:45 - Saying what's on your mind doesn't work as well anymore. Storytelling can really make people pay attention.
- 08:30 - The only way you can build a whole new network is on social media.
- 11:15 - Twitter is so transparent. It's the only place where you can see what the competition is doing.
- 13:00 - What is Zipkick?
- 18:55 - KLM is using social media to help book people's flights.
- 21:05 - Scott is the same person on social media as he is in person. Be yourself. Faking till you make it doesn't always work.
- 22:25 - Scott loves podcasts and recommends Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone.
- 24:20 - Favorite place in the world? Scott love Thailand.
- 26:50 - VCs in South East Asia ask for a short video clip along with a startup's pitch.
- 28:35 - Scott shares some Twitter tips. Build your personal brand first, always follow back, and more.
- 31:05 - Zipkick will be releasing in the next few weeks
Tweetables
I always say the R in ROI definitely stands for relationships
If you don't have the skills to be a storyteller, practice it.
Storytelling used to mean you were a liar 10 years ago. Now, it means you have a compelling way to express your ideas.
Chase the conversation, not the big names.
Links Mentioned
The Likeability Factor by Tim Sanders
Mr. Scott Eddy Website
Mr. Scott Eddy Twitter
Zipkick
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Episode Summary
John Allen is the founder of iBlaise Consulting and is also an innovator in the bio-tech industry. In 1996, John worked for Agouron Pharmaceuticals. Their work was instrumental in targeting HIV enzymes and Agouron was later acquired by Warner-Lambert for $2.3 billion dollars. John talks on the five core values of iBlaise, how to pair the correct C executives with an entrepreneur's personality type, and much more.
Key Takeaways
- 04:50 - Why was Warner-Lambert interested in Agouron?
- 08:40 - A compelling vision and getting investors to fund you requires two different stories.
- 10:00 - Entrepreneurs are full of possibilities. Investors are full of probabilities.
- 11:25 - Having empathy towards what the investor is looking for is critical.
- 14:00 - John Allen incubated Open Finance Network and talks about what they do.
- 20:20 - John talks on his company's values. Investors look for values in entrepreneurs.
- 22:30 - Investors are always looking for red flags.
- 25:20 - Investors want to talk to early adopters of your product or service.
- 28:20 - If there's friction in the team, then that's a risk to investors.
- 33:55 - Feel free to email John Allen if you're interested in getting funded.
Tweetables
If you're selling dog food, investors want to see the dogs eating it
Two types of entrepreneurs, visionary and market place innovators
Teamwork requires security, identity, knowledge and sensation
3 must haves for investors: Your secret sauce, team and market place potential
Suspend reality so you have vision over visibility
Investors do not want to invest in your dream, they want to invest in a rate of return for their money.
Links Mentioned
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
iBlaise Consulting, LLC
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Episode Summary
Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, small business advocate, and mother of four. She was named one of the top 100 Small Businesses Influencers in 2014 and sold one of her companies in 2005 to Intuit for $20 million dollars. Nellie is currently the CEO of CorpNet, an online legal documenting filing service. Nellie provides valuable insight as to what corporation you should get if you're seeking funding, whether or not you should register your company for trademark, and much, much more on today's episode.
Key Takeaways
- 02:05 - How did Nellie get started as an entrepreneur?
- 04:30 - You have to love and be passionate in what you do in order to be successful.
- 07:00 - Nellie talks about her company, CorpNet.
- 10:45 - Social media is about helping others, not about promoting yourself.
- 12:30 - What kind of legal work should be done before approaching a VC?
- 19:55 - What's the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents?
- 23:00 - If you have a great name, take the time to get it trademarked.
- 25:50 - At the end of a web development project, make sure you get an assignment of the rights to that code.
- 29:10 - Nellie recommends the book Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh.
Tweetables
Creating a legacy and inspiring others is the best way to be successful. #Startups
In social media it's not about being self-promotional, it's about really being of service to people out there.
C corp or LLC for VC funding
Links Mentioned
CorpNet Nellie Akalp Twitter
Nellie Akalp Instagram
Nellie Akalp LinkedIn
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
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