Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.

This week, Ian Black talks to Aidan Cramer about his business AI Apply, which leverages generative AI to help job seekers find and apply for the best job opportunities. Aidan also shares his experience in building multiple businesses and the importance of finding product-market fit. Aidan shares his philosophy on killing ideas that don't work and focusing on the core offering, as well as his growth targets and the strategies he is using to achieve them, including content creation and influencer marketing.

Website

https://aiapply.co/

Tiktok

https://www.tiktok.com/@aidancramer

Twitter

https://twitter.com/AidanCramer

We Discuss

What Generative AI is

Common Mistakes in Job Applications

Experimentation with Different Business Ideas

How to Achieve Fast Growth and Profitability

New Perspectives on Defining Product Market Fit

Listening to Customers and Their Ideas

Defining Success and Growth Targets

Content Creation and Strategy

Choosing the Right Co-founder

Sacrifices and Loneliness of Entrepreneurship

Motivations and Rewards of Entrepreneurship

Advice for Starting a Business

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Host: Ian Black

Intro Music:

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life⁠ License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.

This week, Ian Black talks to Patrick Manning, the founder of Alio, an allergy-friendly protein bar company, who shares his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship. He saw a need for a protein bar free from the top nine food allergens and high in protein, and decided to create it himself. He shares his perspective on overcoming doubts and challenges as a founder and the unique lessons he has learned through entrepreneurship.

Website

https://livealio.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/livealionow

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/livealio

Chapters

Introduction and Background

Identifying the Need for Allergy-Friendly Protein Bars

Transition from Medical School to Entrepreneurship

Finding a Mentor and Overcoming Fear

Lessons Learned from Starting a Business

Challenges in Recipe Development and Manufacturing

Rebranding and Refining the Product

Market Response to the Relaunch of Allio

Importance of Customer Feedback and Launch Strategy

Delegating and Bringing in Experts

Building a Team and Seeking External Funding

Organic Marketing Strategies

Effective Sales Tactics through Engagment with Facebook Groups

Sales Channels and Retail Expansion

Profitability and Margin Refinement

Shelf Life and Expiry Dates

Daily Operations and Balancing Work

Future Team Expansion

Overcoming Doubts and Challenges

Advice for Founders and Dealing with Doubt

Setting Goals and Managing Friction

Product Expansion and New Flavors

Challenges in Scaling and Retail Expansion

The Power of Creation and Overcoming Challenges

Where to Find Alio

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Host: Ian Black

Intro Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

Shane Monks O'Byrne teaches people how to build camper vans and live a van life. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the philosophy of van life, and the lessons he learned from building his latest startup - https://www.thevanconversion.com.

Contents:

• Introduction and Background
• Shane's Business: Teaching People to Build Camper Vans
• The Philosophy of Van Life
• Shane's Journey into Entrepreneurship
• Choosing the Right Path as an Entrepreneur
• Lessons from Investing Applied to Life
• Balancing Details and Output in Design
• Finding Fun and Passion in Work
• Finding Passion and Interests
• Using Childhood as a Starting Point
• Questioning False Assumptions and Self-Doubt
• Exploring Different Interests and Skills
• Learning New Skills and Trying Something New
• Learning How to Build a Van
• Documenting the Van Conversion Process
• Transitioning from Building Vans to Writing a Book
• Launching the Book and Building a Sustainable Business
• Preparing for a Long-Term Bike Journey
• Handling the Business During Time Away
• Starting a Business: Choosing the Right Direction

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

I’m talking with Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, and part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2023.

Among many things, we discuss:

• The history of Asian tonic drinks, dating back to 1293
• What it means to be a non-alcoholic spirit, in the Better-for-you category
• Borrowing extraction techniques from the perfume industry to create the most accessible drink
• The loneliness of moving the business to a new country, new culture, with no network
• Whittling down 150 classic ingredients from the spice islands of Indonesia, into the two Melati drinks
• What it’s like to leave the male-dominated world of venture capital in Asia, to become an Asian female founder
• The challenges you face doing everything for the first time as an entrepreneur, and why it gets easier.
• And much more...

So sit back and enjoy the show!

Company website

https://melatidrinks.com/

Find Melati near you:

https://melatidrinks.com/pages/store-locator

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

This week I’m talking with Brian Davis, co-founder founder of Parable.

Among many things, we discuss:

• Why Brain Care is so important for an ageing population
• The 4 Pillars of Brain Care
• How to communicate the benefits of a product when customers aren’t problem-aware yet
• The importance of finding founder-fit
• The problems with fundraising and launching a business at the same time
• Deciding to shut down the business
• The problem with taking advice from Outliers
• The lack of failure stories on social media

Sit back and enjoy the show!

Welcome to Ready For Launch. This week I’m talking with Derek Sivers, ex-musician, ex-entrepreneur, TED speaker and four-time book author.

Among many things, we discuss:

• Why New Zealand is the best place in the world to raise a kid
• How to adapt your values to your current situation
• The secrets to becoming a great speaker
• What still terrifies Derek about speaking on stage
• The best way to write a book
• The value of self-publishing and retaining your copyrights
• The importance of doing the opposite of your creative habits
• What Derek’s latest book is all about
• How your belief and perspectives change your actions
• The barbell strategy of living in the extremes
• Why graveyards are a great place to sleep
• Useful beliefs about writing.

And so much more! So sit back and enjoy the show

Website

https://sive.rs/

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

This week I’m talking with Stephanie Golik Founder at Huddle.

Among many things, we discuss:

• From Design to Founder: Steph’s journey from studying Architecture to becoming co-founder of Huddle
• The Power of Building: How Steph used app development as a way to kick start her career in design
• Searching for The One: How moonlighting on different creative projects led to finding the one to go all in on.
• The Idea Graveyard: Learnings from killing small projects that helped launch Huddle
• Getting Paid In Equity: What designers and builders should know about getting paid in equity by startups.
• The Art of Investment: How getting seed funding was a strategic choice in moving quickly and catching the wave of people looking for more work flexibility
• Being Non-Scalable: The importance of doing non-scalable tasks early on to deliver a great customer experience, and how to relinquish that control later on.
• Quarterly Planning: How looking ahead helps Huddle stay on track with their vision to make the future of work more flexible.

Enjoy the show!

Links:

Huddle site

https://www.huddle.works/

Want to join as a builder?

app.huddle.works/builder-invite/itomblack

Want to hire a team?

app.huddle.works/invite/itomblack

Workshops on becoming a founder

https://www.dive.club/course/go-from-designer-to-founder

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

This week I’m talking with Hunter Hammonds, founder of Assembly.

We discuss:

• What Assembly is: a business that builds businesses from scratch
• Hunter’s career pre-Assembly: from skipping college to 8-figure agencies
• The challenges of selling a design agency
• The importance of having your heart in your business
• 6 key attributes of a strong business operator
• Leading with a “Burn the ships” mentality
• A playbook for building a business from nothing
• Pivoting as a company of companies.
• How to decide which businesses to invest in
• 3 components to hiring at speed
• The value of building an audience

Links:

If you need the world’s best design team:

https://offmenu.design/

If you need the most kick-ass high engagement short form viral videos:

https://www.viralcuts.co/

Amazing product demo animation launch videos

https://www.keyframe.design/

The coolest youtube agency in the world

https://www.heyfriends.studio/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/_hunterhammonds

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

This week I’m talking with Brigitte Kaps CEO & Founder of Rent a PR, a company that offers Public Relations & Communications Advisory on demand.

Among many things, we discuss:

• Brigitte’s finance background before starting her company
• Seeking out inspiration from Silicon Valley: the mindset difference of the USA
• The main components of PR: Paid and unpaid media
• How to create a good PR briefing
• PR for different stages of a company: Startups to mid-cap
• Misconceptions about PR
• Choosing a PR agency: What kind of coverage do you need?
• The cost of PR: from on demand to retainers
• Crisis management for businesses
• And much more!

So sit back and enjoy the show

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-kaps-6912985/

Company Website

https://www.rentapr.ch/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/rent_a_pr

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.

This week I’m talking with Zach Frantz, founder of Wildland Coffee, a company that makes coffee in tea bags.

Among many things, we discuss:

• The Inspiration for Wildland Coffee
• Product Development: From co-packers to packing in-house
• Business growth: The challenges of finding a scalable sales channel
• When to quit: How to identify the signal from the noise when evaluating business strategies
• Sales before Brand: The importance of revenue in the early stages of a business
• Secrets of success: The power of the ask
• And so much more!

So sit back and enjoy the show.

Company website

wildlandcoffee.co

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachfrantz/