The Be Helpful Podcast

In this enlightening episode of The Be Helpful Podcast, Gboyega Adebayo dives deep into the topic of integrated planning with Nate Ruben, founder of N8 Ventures. They discuss the unique approach of holistic planning, which considers not just business goals but personal values and life priorities. Tune in to learn how this approach can lead to more meaningful success. Additionally, they explore their respective relationships with time, control and intentionality.

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In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, host Gboyega Adebayo sits down with Tanya Alvarez, founder of Owners Up. Tanya shares invaluable advice on entrepreneurship, mindset, and the importance of building supportive communities. She discusses her approach to work-life balance, underscoring the importance of personal development and identifying what truly matters in life. The discussion further explores the crucial role of accountability in entrepreneurship, with Tanya revealing her effective strategies for setting goals and maintaining self-accountability.

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In this enlightening episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, host Gboyega Adebayo engages in a riveting conversation with Dr. Jeff Michaels, an accomplished optometrist based in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Michaels is at the helm of Family Vision Care of Richmond, a thriving practice comprising six doctors and a dynamic 30-member staff.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Michaels shares invaluable insights and experiences, emphasizing the significance of continual learning, empowerment, and innovation in his journey. He casts a spotlight on the importance of adopting a customer-centric approach and harnessing the power of influence in his role.

The episode also delves into the critical aspects of creating empathy, facing challenges head-on, underscoring quality, strategic planning, and the impact of coaching and mentoring. Tune in to this episode to glean profound wisdom from Dr. Michaels' journey and apply it to your entrepreneurial voyage.

Connect with Dr. Jeff and the Family Vision Care Team:

In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, we are joined by BrandonDavid Hawkins, Founder and Connector at Music Tech Ventures. Throughout our conversation, BrandonDavid shares his entrepreneurial journey, offering a wealth of insights and lessons learned along the way.

Key discussion points include:

• The role of mentorship in BrandonDavid's life: BrandonDavid credits his mentors for helping him identify his strengths and guiding him throughout his journey.
• Entrepreneurship as a journey of personal growth: According to BrandonDavid, entrepreneurship is a process of becoming who you truly are. He discusses how this journey has helped him align his passions with his work, driving him to solve problems despite challenges and setbacks.
• Viewing businesses as living entities: BrandonDavid offers a unique perspective on viewing one's business as a city. He highlights the importance of infrastructure, relationships and growth, underscoring the dynamic nature of businesses and the need for continuous development and adaptation.

Whether you're an early-stage or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Key takeaways include the importance of seeking mentorship, seeing entrepreneurship as a journey of personal growth, and maintaining a dynamic view of one's business. Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes the importance of collaboration, creativity, and staying true to one's passion.

Tune in to hear BrandonDavid's unique perspective and learn from his entrepreneurial journey.

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Don’t miss an insightful episode as Gboyega delves into the unique journey of Nyene Baker, whose path from drug dealing to entrepreneurship is nothing short of remarkable. Nyene candidly shares how the lessons learned from his unconventional past have remarkably shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. He discusses how the skills acquired in the world of drug dealing unexpectedly equipped him with valuable tools for his journey as an entrepreneur.

Connect with Nyene & Visionary Philanthropy Group:

Today Gboyega sits down with Nyene Baker, a man whose life journey reads like a tale of resilience and transformation. In this episode, Nyene opens up about the pivotal year 1990, which marked a revolution in his life's trajectory. Nyene candidly discusses how his journey led him down the path of drug dealing during his freshman year in high school and the subsequent impact it had on his life. His life experiences and remarkably positive perspective shines through as he recounts his upbringing, being sentenced 15 years in prison, and how he turned his life around.

Connect with Nyene Baker:

Prepare to embark on a thought-provoking odyssey in the latest episode of the Be Helpful Podcast. Join us as we delve deep into the insights and wisdom of Mira Taylor, Founder of Moon & Rune and an integrative therapist and organization wellness consultant. In this captivating bit, Mira peels back the layers of time, spirituality and purpose, revealing the hidden threads that weave together an extraordinary entrepreneurial success story. 

Connect with Mira Taylor & Moon & Rune:

In this inspiring episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, Gboyega ventures into the world of entrepreneurship with Mira Taylor, an Integrative Therapist, Subconscious Medium, and Organization Wellness Consultant, who shares her profound insights and personal journey through the realms of entrepreneurship, self-discovery, and success. 

Connect with Mira Taylor & Moon & Rune 

Welcome back to another thought-provoking episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, hosted by Gboyega Adebayo. Join us as we dive deep into the entrepreneurial insights of Jarie Bolander, author and advocate for entrepreneurship.

In the second part of this interview, Gboyega and Jarie explore the intricate landscape of product-market fit and the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Jarie, the host of The Entrepreneur Ethos podcast, shares his wisdom on leveraging AI effectively and its shortcomings with storytelling.

Discover the very real concept of "the best story wins" as Jarie unveils the significance of crafting compelling narratives in the competitive business realm. Gain a firsthand perspective on the transformational impact of AI in enhancing creativity and driving innovation. Through real-world examples and insightful anecdotes, Jarie elucidates how entrepreneurs can harness the potential of AI to free up time for more creative activities.

Join us for an enlightening discussion that touches on the fundamentals of product-market fit and the evolving landscape of AI.

Connect with Jarie Bolander:

Join host Gboyega Adebayo in a captivating conversation with Jarie Bolander, an entrepreneur, author, and the host of The Entrepreneur Ethos Podcast. On his podcast, Jarie shares his insights on how to inspire and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Gboyega and Jarie explore the transformative power of creativity and resilience in the entrepreneurial landscape. They delve into creativity and the importance of guardrails, understanding your story, and embracing constraints as catalysts for innovation. Through candid anecdotes and expert advice, Jarie sheds light on how these qualities contribute to ethical and inclusive ventures.

Tune in to uncover valuable insights that will empower you to become a more impactful and forward-thinking entrepreneur.

Connect with Jarie Bolander:

In the second part of our interview with Ravi Kurani, the founder of Sutro, we delve into the journey of getting acquired and the pros and cons of being VC-backed or acquired by a strategic buyer. Ravi shares his perspective on funding a business and the importance of the team, emphasizing the need to manage ego and embrace the concepts of "unattachment and acceptance." We also learn about Ravi's morning routine and how he ensures that the world doesn't dictate his day. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring hardware entrepreneurs and a discussion on the misconceptions surrounding Excel financial spreadsheets and how to make them truly valuable. Join us for an insightful conversation that explores the challenges and triumphs of building and scaling a hardware business.

Connect with Ravi Kurani & Sutro:

In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, we sit down with Ravi Kurani, the founder of Sutro, a water testing robot company. Ravi shares the fascinating story of how Sutro got started, emphasizing the value of local startup and networking events like Google Startup Weekend. He dives into the rules of prototyping when building a product and the importance of validating your idea based on first principles. Ravi also discusses building a team and raising capital through a hardware accelerator, highlighting his first two hires and their focus on product development. Join us as we explore how to find customers, specifically those who have pools. Tune in for valuable insights into the world of hardware startups and water testing technology.

Connect with Ravi Kurani & Sutro:

In part two of our captivating interview series with Sarah Lockwood, co-founder of Hivecast, we jump into her personal journey as a leader and the hurdles commonly faced by entrepreneurs. Join us as Sarah candidly reflects on her growth and development as a leader, sharing valuable insights and lessons learned along the way.

Throughout this episode, Sarah opens up about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the importance of vulnerability in sharing the realities of the journey. She discusses the difficulties of seeking advice from loved ones and the significance of connecting with generous entrepreneurs who can offer guidance and support. Sarah also reveals her wish to have written a letter to herself prior to starting her businesses, enabling her to revisit her why and mission statement when faced with obstacles.

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode, where Sarah Lockwood shares her experiences, wisdom, and the valuable lessons she has learned throughout her entrepreneurial endeavors. Join us as we gain profound insights into leadership, resilience, and the power of reflection.

Connect with Sarah Lockwood & Hivecast:

In this episode of The Be Helpful Podcast, we kick off our sit down with Sarah Lockwood, co-founder of Hivecast, a leading podcast production agency. As a serial entrepreneur, Sarah evaluates the evolution of her first action through the years. She shares her valuable insights on evaluating business opportunities and harnessing the power of podcasting to grow your business. We delve into Sarah's approach to evaluating opportunities, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly evaluating opportunities before you get started. As she calls it, cautious optimism, we explore the benefits of considering both the positive aspects and potential challenges of any business opportunity. Sarah also highlights the immense potential within the podcasting space, discussing how to curate and capitalize on this exciting medium. We address common mistakes made by new podcasters and the challenges they face, such as understanding their ideal audience and delivering value through effective calls to action. Join us as we get to know Sarah Lockwood.

Connect with Sarah Lockwood & Hivecast:

In this inspiring episode, Gboyega Adebayo and Evan Marshall explore the theme of perseverance and partnership. They discuss the importance of peace, patience, and perseverance in pursuing success. Evan shares his experiences of rushing to solve gaps and the dangers of being too reactive. They also highlight the value of finding partnerships that help fill gaps and address customer feedback, as well as the challenges encountered with black gatekeepers. Listeners gain insights into Evan's satisfaction with the impactful journey of his business thus far.

Connect with Evan & Black Menswear:

Host Gboyega Adebayo and guest Evan Marshall delve into the topic of setting goals in this episode. They emphasize the significance of recognizing both big wins and small victories along the way. Listeners gain valuable insights on the correlation between effective communication and successful execution. Evan shares his experiences in developing communication skills as a leader, highlighting the role reflection plays in personal growth. They discuss how a lack of execution often stems from a lack of communication, and offer practical strategies for improving both aspects.

Connect with Evan & Black Menswear:

In this engaging episode, Gboyega Adebayo interviews Evan Marshall, the Chief Operating Officer of Black Menswear. They discuss the power of leveraging a side hustle to pivot one's career and share insights into the origin of Black Menswear as a cultural impact agency. Listeners gain valuable tips on using their 9-5 jobs to develop skills for their side hustles. Evan also shares his experience in software sales and how being pleasantly persistent with emails can yield positive results. They dive into the importance of creating content that resonates and creates an emotional connection, as well as the science behind going viral.

Connect with Evan & Black Menswear:

In this final installment of our three part series with Brian Moon, Founder of The Moon Group, we discuss Brian's favorite book recommendations for entrepreneurs who want to learn more about building a successful business and identify the surprising fact he found out along his journey. Plus, he'll share his personal why that keeps him motivated to push on the days when it gets hard. Join us for this final episode as we wrap up our conversation with Brian.

Connect with Brian:

In the second installment of this three part series, Gboyega Adebayo continues his conversation with Brian Moon, Founder of The Moon Group, a successful real estate brokerage in Chicago. This episode dives into the art of negotiation and how it can be used to get the best deal for any situation. We explore why investing and experimenting wisely is so important in building success, and discuss how taking risks can lead to growth.

Brian also shares his experience with hiring an assistant and how he overcame this obstacle in order to further his growth. Finally, we discuss how failure can be a powerful learning tool for growth if you choose to embrace it rather than letting it define you. Join us for this exciting episode!

Connect with Brian:

In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, host Gboyega Adebayo sits down with Brian Moon, Founder of The Moon Group, a successful real estate brokerage in Chicago, IL. In this series of three episodes, Brian shares his passion for teaching, building a team, effective hiring, negotiation, and other insights from his career journey.

To kick off the series, we dive into Brian's story and his path to building a successful real estate team. Brian shares his framework for effective team building, including insights into hiring, management, and leadership. We explore the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way, providing valuable takeaways for anyone interested in building a successful team in any industry.

Stay tuned for parts two and three where we continue our conversation with Brian and delve deeper into his approach to teaching, negotiation, and other important aspects of building a successful career.

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In this episode, we kick off our series with Kevin Touch, the Founder of Middle Road Energy, and explore his journey into entrepreneurship at a young age. We discuss his refreshing and balanced approach to running a business, the importance of pursuing passions, and a positive mindset. For those turned off by the extreme version of entrepreneurship often portrayed on social media, Kevin's perspective will provide a refreshing take on how to approach the world of business. Tune in and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations with entrepreneurs.

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In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, host Gboyega Adebayo wraps up his 3-part conversation  with Jade McDonald, Chief Product Officer at Navigate Maternity, to discuss the challenges of time management as a startup founder. Our conversation explores the balance between thinking and hands-on work, common struggles and guilt associated with not always producing something tangible, and practical tips for managing time effectively in the early stages of entrepreneurship.

As we wrap up the episode, we bring in some lighthearted fun with our quick hitter questions before sharing more about Navigate Maternity and their proactive care approach. Tune in for a valuable discussion with Jade McDonald and useful takeaways on managing time as a startup founder.

Connect with Jade & Navigate Maternity:

In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, our host Gboyega Adebayo speaks with Jade McDonald, the Chief Product Officer of Navigate Maternity, about her experience in building and launching a remote startup. Jade shares valuable insights and tips on how her team approaches pitch competitions, fundraising, and determining what is "good enough" for your minimum viable product (MVP).

As co-founder of Navigate Maternity with her sorority sisters, Jade emphasizes the importance of staying connected and communicating effectively with remote teams. Her team’s approach to fundraising and pitch competitions have led to success and will prove valuable to anyone interested in launching a startup. Additionally, Jade delves into the key factors in determining when your MVP is ready to launch, providing guidance for entrepreneurs at any stage.

Connect with Jade & Navigate Maternity:

In this episode of the Be Helpful Podcast, our host Gboyega Adebayo sits down with Jade McDonald, the Chief Product Officer of Navigate Maternity. Together, they explore a range of topics such as entrepreneurship, startups, time management, and health and wellness. Jade shares her experience of joining the Navigate founding team and emphasizes the importance of an iterative approach when starting from scratch. Additionally, she offers practical tips for managing time and staying healthy during the entrepreneurial journey. Tune in for an insightful conversation and don't forget to subscribe for more exciting episodes with entrepreneurs.

Connect with Jade & Navigate Maternity:

“It all takes persistence. I had zero connections. I got 500 in two weeks,” shares Dana Broder, founder and head stylist at Art of the Style. Dana grew up not quite knowing what she wanted to do and struggling in school due to learning differences. She was drawn to entrepreneurship, but did not know the exact avenue she wanted to go into. When a friend needed help with his style, Dana found her calling and realized that she had a gift for being a personal stylist. In spite of facing challenges with maintaining sobriety, she remained persistent and never lost hope that she would be a professional stylist one day. In today's episode, Dana shares her entrepreneurial journey and how being given a chance at the Trunk Club saved her life.

Dana’s path to entrepreneurship was lined with many challenges, but she did not let them stop her for long. She was determined to hustle and make it happen for herself. When an opportunity arose to work at the Trunk Club, Dana went for it and refused to give up, even when they initially thought she was a bad fit for their work culture. Ultimately, she proved everyone wrong and went from having zero connections to selling the most of anyone in the history of the Trunk Club in her first month. It would have been easy for Dana to become too overwhelmed by the obstacles and give up, especially while struggling with her sobriety, but instead she doubled down, clung to her dream, and made it happen.

To be a successful entrepreneur, it is important to be customer service focused, humble, and very dedicated. If you do not put the customer first, your business will fail regardless of how talented you may be. Learn more about Dana’s journey and how she managed to stay hopeful and persevere through every challenge thrown her way.

Quotes

• “Many times I want to say it's not my fault. Especially with retailers not delivering. So, that literally isn't my fault, but it is my fault.” (24:45-24:57 | Dana)
• “If you are not customer service focused, your business will fail immediately.” (26:26-26:33 | Dana)
• “It all takes persistence. I had zero connections. I got 500 in two weeks.” (35:30-35:35 | Dana)
• “Sometimes you’ve got to humble yourself even if you are right.” (36:23-36:27 | Dana)
• “In my industry, I don't see anyone as a competition because nobody's me and I'm not them.” (56:44-56:51 | Dana)

Connect with Dana Broder:

“My team is actually the biggest reason why I opted not to sell Brainchild and to shut it down instead; because I knew if I were to sell, I would have to sell my team,” explains Kiley Peters, founder of RAYNE IX, an executive consultancy for women entrepreneurs. Kiley began her entrepreneurship journey with Brainchild Studios, a digital content strategy agency. In today’s episode, Kiley shares why she chose to shut down Brainchild Studios, what she learned from shutting down a business, and why she decided to found RAYNE IX.

In 2021, Kiley realized that she no longer wanted to run Brainchild Studios and was instead interested in working with female small business owners. Her love for her team members led her to shut down the business instead of sell, so that she could bring them with her to the new company. Kiley shares what she has learned from her entrepreneurship journey, along with tips for other small business owners.

If you are an entrepreneur, you need to understand the value of your employees and provide ample opportunities for them to succeed. Learn more about why Kiley chose to shut down her first business and how RAYNE IX helps women entrepreneurs not only succeed, but flourish.

Quotes

• “One of the things I love most about entrepreneurship is you build something from nothing.” (8:53-8:56 | Kiley)
• “Congratulations, you're a business owner. Now you get to choose if you want to continue to do the thing that you know or you want to manage people.” (12:42-12:49 | Kiley)
• “If you're working for somebody else and you decide you don't want to do that anymore, you give a two week notice. And then you leave, and you go on to the next thing. When you are an entrepreneur and a business owner, you don't get to give a two week notice.” (21:04-21:19 | Kiley)
• “My team is actually the biggest reason why I opted not to sell Brainchild and to shut it down instead; because I knew if I were to sell, I would have to sell my team.” (30:00-30:09 | Kiley)
• “Getting really clear on what everybody's strengths are, and then creating the opportunity for them to succeed in that way, is the greatest thing that you can do for yourself and your team.” (35:05-35:14 | Kiley)

Connect with Kiley Peters:

“The idea was to create a little bit of a middle of the road option that's a more stepwise option that makes it a cool brand. That's also a stepwise way to maybe not have such an excessive amount of sugar and caffeine in a beverage,” explains Dr. Jason Romesburg, founder of Running Lights Beverage, a beverage start-up based out of Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Jason is a practicing neuro-radiologist who never anticipated himself pursuing entrepreneurship, especially outside of healthcare. Looking back on his journey, he found that he had been employing entrepreneurial skills while trying to build an interventional radiology clinic. In today’s episode, Dr. Jason details what he learned through attempting to start the radiology clinic and how he applied those lessons to his beverage start-up.

Dr. Jason’s idea for his beverage was to make a healthier alternative to the major soda brands, one with more moderate levels of caffeine and less of an excessive amount of sugar. After making mistakes while opening the radiology clinic that caused a lot of debt to accrue, he knew that he would need to approach the beverage start-up more strategically. Instead of operating out of debt, he now understood the importance of bringing on a white coat investor, being keenly aware of everyone involved in the business, and not buying brand new equipment and supplies.

For a start-up to succeed, you really have to put your all into it. If you’re going to be using your own money, consider going in with an investor so that you are not immediately operating from a place of debt. Learn more about the lessons Dr. Jason picked up along his entrepreneurial journey.

Quotes

• “I had to start to think about selling myself, even though I didn't like to think about it that way.” (11:43-11:47 | Dr. Jason)
• “It's not going to work unless you really put your all into it.” (21:13-21:17 | Dr. Jason)
• “If I am going to do something like a business where I have to invest my money, I'm going to, first of all, know intimately the people that are involved.” (21:27-21:38 | Dr. Jason)
• “The idea was to create a little bit of a middle of the road option that's a more stepwise option that makes it a cool brand. That's also a stepwise way to maybe not have such an excessive amount of sugar and caffeine in a beverage.” (36:45-36:59 | Dr. Jason)

Connect with Dr. Jason Romesburg:

“I love oxygen, because if you have never almost died before, then you wouldn't understand what I'm saying maybe. But for me, yeah, I love oxygen. Now that I'm up, everything else is fair game. I have a ton of energy, because I'm a competitor. I'm going to build my tallest building. I'm not worried about what everybody else is doing. I've got to build my tallest building,” shares Randall Townsel. Randall is a business owner and works in Chicago real estate development where he has completed over 750 residential and commercial projects. In today’s episode, Randall discusses where he gets his inspiration and motivation from.

Randall was drawn to entrepreneurship from a young age, attracted to the idea of making his own schedule. At university, Randall pursued a professional football career, but had to pivot after experiencing a near death experience where he was caught in a drive-by shooting. After that Randall’s mindset shifted and he became more in love with life than ever before. His motivation comes from that mindset shift and the desire to not waste any of the time he has been given.

No matter what life throws at you, don’t give up. Even if someone tells you no, that doesn’t matter in the long run. There are 1000s of opportunities out there, so just move right on to the next one. Learn more about how you can stay motivated and reach your goals so that you can make the most of the time you have.

Quotes

• “If I want something, I'm gonna do the dang thing, and it doesn't matter who I'm lining up against.” (38:11-38:17 | Randall)
• “That one person said no, don't let that energy affect what you're doing. There are 1000s and 1000s of deals out there. Right? And so, if you really want something, if you're a salesperson, if you are a school teacher trying to quiet down a class, whatever you are, don't accept no. Don’t worry about no, that's nothing. A no is nothing. A no means you're on the right track. You're getting close. So I don't worry about ‘no’.” (39:02-39:37 | Randall)
• “Never fall in love with a piece of property, your house, rental, anything.” (40:21-40:28 | Randall)
• “I'm going to build my tallest building. I'm not worried about what everybody else is doing. I've got to build my tallest building.” (48:03-48:12 | Randall)
• “Your mindset is everything.” (49:42-49:44 | Randall)

Connect with Randall Townsel:

“Certain things I was able to do for myself, and certain things I wasn't. And I think the important takeaway here is to let that happen and to be fine with that to happen and not to blame yourself,” shares brand strategist Juliana Rogers. Juliana is a former ballerina turned business brand strategist based out of Germany. In today’s episode, Juliana talks about online brand strategy for entrepreneurs.

Startup growth largely depends on not only the ability of your brand to solve a problem, but also on your strategy. Often when people consider entrepreneurship they will start to think about a brand in terms of a name and a logo, but there is a lot more to think about when talking about brand strategy. By building a brand, you are ultimately creating an emotional picture within a potential customer that influences their decisions in a positive way toward that brand. The most important thing to consider is what problem you wish to solve and who your target audience is that needs that problem solved. Then you can start to develop a product or service that solves that particular problem and begin designing your brand.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to be able to accept help when you need it without blaming yourself for not knowing every single little thing. Learn more about the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when creating a brand and the steps you should take in order to create a successful brand that people feel they can trust.

Quotes

• “The interesting thing is that so many people when they think of, I want to start a brand, they think in terms of name, brand name, and logo, which is brand design, but that's not brand strategy.” (23:47-24:03 | Juliana)
• “Attached to the brand name still is not a person, but a quality perception. And that's what building a brand is about is creating an emotional picture within the customer and influencing that emotional picture, and influencing it in a positive way so that the customer relates to the brand in a certain way and relates certain quality aspects, certain feelings and emotions to the brand.” (32:57-33:36 | Juliana)
• “Certain things I was able to do for myself, and certain things I wasn't. And I think the important takeaway here is to let that happen and to be fine with that to happen and not to blame yourself.” (37:47-38:03 | Juliana)
• “Try not to trap yourself into a name that is hard to memorize, hard to spell, because people ultimately will have to find you on the internet.” (51:40-51:51 | Juliana)

Connect with Juliana Rogers:

“If you have a bank account, you have customers that are willing to pay you money. If you can solve a problem that somebody has, you're literally in business,” explains Steve Valentor, founder and president of Polynomial Ventures, a Chicago based venture capital firm. Steve has 30 years of experience within the technology industry and his venture capital firm focuses on early stage tech. In today’s episode, Steve talks about what entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs need to know about money, company valuation, and attracting potential investors.

The venture capital industry has a very high rate of return, however, it also has a high amount of risk involved. Investors are looking specifically for businesses that will likely be able to return the full amount of money invested. The majority of start-up businesses will fail in the long run, so it is important to really think about what problem you are solving, who your customer base is, and what your valuation is for your company. Not every entrepreneur needs to go the venture capital route to get their business rolling. Many businesses are not suited for that route and instead can seek other means of investment that are not necessarily cash-based. Someone may be willing to supply you with an extra real-estate property for example, or suppliers may be willing to cut deals with you in order to get your business going.

There are many ways to fund your business, but one important thing to keep in mind is the more money you borrow, the more you will have to return to your investors. Really figure out your valuation for your company and do not take more money than you actually need. Learn more about dos and don’ts for new entrepreneurs and find out what qualities venture capitalists are looking for in an investment opportunity.

Quotes

• “Every business area is ripe for entry by new ambitious, creative people that want to make a difference and change the world.” (7:04-7:11 | Steve)
• “The more money you bring into your company, the more money you're going to have to return to your investors.” (17:45-17:50 | Steve)
• “The venture industry has been returning 30% over the last 50 years on average. That's remarkable. But to do that, you have to take these enormous risks.” (20:49-21:00 | Steve)

Connect with Steve Valentor:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in real estate? Or maybe you're a seasoned pro and are looking for ways to take your business to the next level. In either case, social media is a great place to start. This week we're chatting with Jen Bowles, a real estate agent turned broker who found her home in social media. Tune in to learn how she uses different platforms to connect with clients and grow her brokerage, JBO Home. You might just be surprised at some of the things she's doing!

As a female entrepreneur, it can be easy to feel like an imposter. You're hustling 24/7, trying to make your business a success, and constantly second-guessing yourself. But guess what? You're not alone. Be in the Room is a community for female entrepreneurs, founded by Ryann Dowdy, where you can share your struggles and triumphs, vent about the challenges you're facing, and get advice and support from other female leaders. Whether you're just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey or you're a seasoned pro, Be in the Room has room for you to be who you want to be. So come on in and join the conversation!

Financial freedom. It's a phrase that gets tossed around a lot, but what does it actually mean? For some people, it might mean being able to quit their day job and do whatever they want. For others, it might be simply having enough money saved up so that they're not worried about money all the time. Regardless of how you define it, do you know how to go about achieving it? Jay Stephens, CEO of My Wealth Journey, LLC does and we talk to her about it in this episode!

If you do your job, enjoy the evenings and weekends, and pay the bills but deep down find yourself wanting more from your work, is that enough? It's time to dream bigger and to take your career up a notch! Adele Leah, Career and Transformational Coach has an amazing superpower; helping us tap into our own natural superpowers so that we can live the life we truly deserve! Press play to listen to Adele Leah's advice on listening to our hearts when it comes to making our jobs feel like play!

Do you love good food, but hate the hassle of cooking or leaving your house? Starving for a new food ordering experience? Andrew Martino, a culinary genius, and owner of Ghost Truck Kitchen created a revolutionary delivery service with a menu that will tantalize your taste buds! Listen in to learn how Ghost Truck Kitchen feeds Andrew Martino’s local community and his soul.

Wish you knew how to build a brand so you can stop sitting on the sidelines? Hear from founder of Brand B Sports. He left the corporate world creating his personal brand as an entrepreneur and now he has a ball building brands for professional athletes with major players like the NBA, NFL, and NHL! 

Exploring passions and maintaining the relationships along the way has been at the core of Sean Moran’s entrepreneurial journey. Sean is the owner of Dashing Chicago, a luxury footwear retailer located in downtown Chicago. In our conversation, we dive into Sean’s experience opening and running stores before he finally opened Dashing in Spring 2021. He highlights the importance of persistence, patience, and relationships. All of which have enabled Dashing to be the premier Alden and Edward Green retailer in the Midwest.

Learning how to be an effective CEO is a different growth journey than being an entrepreneur. Rob Volk leads Foxbox Digital, a rapidly growing digital product agency. In this conversation we explore Rob’s learnings from transitioning from co-founder and CTO in his previous role to founder and CEO with Foxbox. Through this conversation, we learn about how important of branding your culture and lead with your company’s values. This is a great episode for future CEOs.