Confidence and Humility: Trademarks of an Entrepreneur

Does it really take over 100 conversations in order to raise capital OR are there some secrets?

Host Cynthia Del’Aria talks with Nathan Beckord, the CEO of Foundersuite.com a venture-backed company that makes the leading “funding stack” that includes, investor database, CRM, pitch deck hosting, and Investor update tools for startups. On this episode. Nathan shares some insights from his entrepreneurial experience raising capital from investors, tips on whether to start bootstrapping and grow your business versus finding investors plus how entrepreneurs can know they're truly ready for an investor. Listen and enjoy!

Resources from this episode

How I Raised This podcast - https://blog.foundersuite.com/tag/how-i-raised-it-podcast/

Paul Graham essays - http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html

This Week in Startup Hosted by Jason Calacanis & Molly Wood - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-startups/id315114957

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today host Cynthia Del’Aria speaks with first time founder, Mark Van Holsbeck. Mark has played drums and performed with many bands, while also acquiring various skills in the IT profession with an impressive 42 year career. Combing these two skills, Mark has set to solve many common management issues that bands encounter and help fans of live cover music easily find a band that matches their musical tastes with his Jukebox Live App. Mark shares how Cynthia's advice impacted the development of his company and app plus some of his origin story which includes a pretty awesome connection to the infamous group Van Halen. Click, listen and enjoy!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Resources from this Episode

Ridiculous Crime Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ridiculous-crime/id1608230191

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode layered with stories of tolerance, perseverance, pain, and tons of humor, host Cynthia Del’Aria speaks with Dr. Jack Nguyen, researcher, licensed dentist and founder of The Quick Company. Dr. Jack packed several boxes during the housing crash and moved to Denver, Colorado to start his career in dentistry leading to successful exit in 2020. He shares stories on how his tolerance for pain as an entrepreneur and as a dentist inspired his patent pending invention while also sharing some insights on the patent process. Listen now!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Resources from Jack Nguyen

Patents Integrated Podcast - Novel & Non Obvious

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/novel-non-obvious/id1560386030 

Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital By Carlita Perez

https://carlotaperez.org/publications/#Technological-Revolutions-and-Financial-Capital-The-Dynamics-of-Bubbles-and-Golden-Ages

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Upward-Spirituality-Halves-Life/dp/0470907754

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're an entrepreneurs AND a parent then listen up, this episode is especially for you! In this episode host, Cynthia Del’Aria talks with Andy Zurcher, co-founder and CEO of Kidiosity. Andy has over 20 years experience as an early-stage executive. He led product, design, and engagement at HomeAdvisor (now Angi) as it grew from pre-revenue to over $200M and acquisition by IAC. In this episode, he speaks about finding balance between the grittiness of growing a startup along and the patience that is needed especially while raising kids Andy talks about why him and his partner started Kidiosity to strengthen families and help today's busy parents spend more intentional, quality time with their children.

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Connect & follow Andy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykiefernyc/

Kidiosity - https://kidiosity.com/

Email: Andy@kidiosity.com

Check out Andy Zurcher's recommended resources:

The Lean Startup Book- http://theleanstartup.com/book

How I Built This Podcast - https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Integrity for the Greater Good

If you're a woman, raising capital, it can be especially TOUGH! On this episode Cynthia speaks with one of her favorite humans, Kelly Kiefer, who is currently engaged, as a strategic advisor, with multiple organizations including Principal at R.S.I.F. Advisors. Kelly known for her strategic thinking with diverse experience holding various C-suite roles in multiple industries including impact investing, risk mitigation and art. On this episode we dive into the importance of integrity in business and how it defines your true success. Kelly shares her advice for women struggling raising capital during a looming recession, the current and possible ripple effects plus lessons to learn from her impactful career like how to keep your entrepreneur intuition clear, you know what to do next! Go Listen now!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Find & follow Kelly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykiefernyc/

Kelly Kiefer's website - https://kellykiefer.com/

R.I.S.F. Advisors - https://www.rsifadvisors.com/

Check out Kelly Kiefer's recommended resources:

Blue Ocean Strategy - https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ocean-Strategy-Expanded-Uncontested/dp/1625274491/ref=asc_df_1625274491/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111907622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6895657269969883571&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028731&hvtargid=pla-318700082110&psc=1

The E-Myth Revisited - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=asc_df_0887307280/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312106851030&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12923508299727639939&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028731&hvtargid=pla-361791162205&psc=1

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology has huge and far-reaching impacts on just about every facet of our world. Perhaps one of the least understood impacts it can have is in agriculture, crop production, and the associated economies that depend on agriculture. (Like, ALL of us!) In this episode, co-founder of Benchmark Labs Dr Carlos Gaitan spends time with us to talk about building an AgTech company with meaningful impacts to farmers and consumers, and demystifies AI and Machine Learning in a way that will make you feel smarter. Listen now!

Check out Dr Carlos’ recommended resources:

 “Rotten” – Netflix documentary about avocado water needs (https://www.netflix.com/title/80146284)

“Machine Learning Methods in the Environmental Sciences” – William W. Hsieh (https://ur.booksc.me/book/70339637/b00774)

“Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist” – Brad Feld, Jason Mendelson (https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Deals-Smarter-Lawyer-Capitalist/dp/1118443616)

Find and follow Dr Carlos on Benchmark Labs (https://www.benchmarklabs.com/) or send him an email at carlos@benchmarklabs.com

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wondered what it looks like to take a common, seemingly everyday item and turn it into a media empire? Monica Michelle, founder of BloomTV, is my guest today, and she’s turned all things floral into a TV network that’s sure to put you into your zen-est of spaces. We talk about what it’s like to build a media company, the transition from baking with flowers to producing shows about them, and how walking away from a deal with Whole Foods was the pivot of a lifetime. Listen now!

Find and follow Monica on BloomTV (https://bloomtvnetwork.com) or send her an email (and your ideas for BloomTV!) at monica@bloomtvnetwork.com. 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey hey hey, the gang’s all here! Back again for another wisdom-packed episode, Precursa’s co-founders Paige Goss, Sarah Jolly, and Cynthia Del’Aria dive into what is good advice, what’s bad advice, how do you know the difference, and how do you find good mentors and advisors. And are all incubator and accelerator programs created equal? How about everyone who sits on a panel or has a seat of “authority”? In this episode, you’ll find out who is worth your precious time to help you build your company and how to find them. We also bust a couple of “overnight success” myths and give you some good advice on finding good advice. Listen now!

Check out the company we talked about in the episode, Wander+Ivy. (https://wanderandivy.com/)

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, we get to talk to first-time founder Gary Tong, who is a dentist by trade and an aspiring entrepreneur by choice. Our conversation ranges from whether the entrepreneurial spirit is generational or not, to how to find a painful problem to solve as an entrepreneur, to whether an introvert can be a successful entrepreneur. If you’re waffling and wondering what taking the plunge looks like in its infancy, then Gary’s your guy. Listen now!

Check out Gary’s recommended resources:

The Pitch podcast, by Gimlet Media (https://gimletmedia.com/shows/the-pitch)

Xbox documentary on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJYsA1jXf60&list=PL0il2l-B_WwadxfTkK3-NLoYNcQEHdBGO)

Mixergy podcast (https://mixergy.com/)

Masters of Scale podcast (https://mastersofscale.com/)

Y-Combinator on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/ycombinator)

And Gary recommends searching YouTube for demo days or pitch days and watching some folks handle all the things real-time.

Find and follow Gary on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-tong-63a14985/) or through us at Precursa (startup@precursa.com). 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to be an intentional entrepreneur, instead of an accidental one? And is there value in partnership vs going it alone? In today’s episode, guest Deb Chromik shares her wisdom on when (and how) to partner successfully, how to figure out what you really want to do with your life (and your business), and the importance of knowing yourself and listening to your audience when building something new. Plus, we hear a new strategy that just might change your fundraising journey for the better… Listen now!

Check out Deb’s recommended resources:

“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks (https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361)

Undercover Billionaire (https://www.discovery.com/shows/undercover-billionaire)

“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek (https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447)

“The Art of the Start” by Guy Kawasaki (https://www.amazon.com/Art-Start-Time-Tested-Battle-Hardened-Starting/dp/1591840562)

“Do More Faster” by Brad Feld and David Cohen (https://www.amazon.com/Do-More-Faster-TechStars-Accelerate/dp/0470929839)

“Shark Tales” by Barbara Corcoran (https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Tales-Turned-Billion-Business/dp/1591844185)

Find and follow Deb on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debchromik/) or through us at Precursa (startup@precursa.com). 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.