Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad
A weekly show where Mary Scott, startup consultant with BusinessRiff, interviews experts in their fields for practical / tactical advice for new, startup businesses. Includes topics like Inventors, Investors, Marketing, Accounting, Legal, Social Media, Mindset, etc. Currently running on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@StartUpSuccessLaunch and in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/startupbusinesslaunchpad/ We want Startups to be wildly successful, and this information will get them there faster. Episodes can also be found at https://businessriff.com
Episodes
What Investors Want with Jay Goth from Redtail Capital
Startup Investor Engagement Discussion
Mary welcomed Jay Goth from Redtail Capital to discuss how startups can talk to investors. Jay explained his background as a serial investor who formed Redtail Capital to focus on impact investing, particularly in biotechs, medical technologies, clean energy, and social impact startups.
Startup Investment Requirements Discussion
Jay discussed ...
Basic Contracts for Startups with Mike LaBozzetta, The Laiderman Law Firm
Startup Contract Types Overview
Mike discussed various types of contracts that startup businesses need to be aware of, including insurance policies, employment agreements, contractor agreements, licensing deals, investor agreements, and operational agreements like bylaws and partnership agreements.
Business Structure and LLC Options
Mike explained that when start...
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship with Dr. Ashley Hemmy
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Overview
Ashley Hemmy (she/her) explained that the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a global organization celebrating its 40th anniversary that brings entrepreneurship education to young people worldwide, particularly in communities with limited access to such opportunities. The programs serve students from kindergarten th...
Investor Pitch Practice with David Weaver, Transitions Law Group & AngelLab
YouTube Live Stream Planning Meeting
Mary and David discussed going live on YouTube, with thGre content being edited before distribution through RSS feed and LinkedIn. They confirmed a link for the event, which was shared in the Zoom chat. Mary prepared to set up the YouTube live stream, ensuring the audio was properly configured to avoid feedback.
Mock An...
Funding Tips for Startups with Allen Kopelman, Nationwide Payment Systems
Startup Funding Sources Discussion
Mary asked about alternative funding sources for startups beyond banks and friends/family. Allen clarified that their company is in the payments business, not the funding business, and explained that startups typically turn to Stripe and Square for payments processing. He noted that startups can only access additional funding ...
Alternate Funding for Startups with Greg Roberts, The Roberts Consulting Agency
Alternate Funding Business Entry
Gregory explained how he entered the alternate funding space while working with a firm that helped launch CPA businesses. He noticed that business owners consistently requested funding as their primary need, but traditional banking options were insufficient as 98% of banks avoid lending to startups. This observation led hi...
Pitching to an Investor with Gary Tomchuk from Evolutionary Ventures
Startup Investor Discussion Preparation
Mary and Gary discussed sharing relevant links and contact information, including Gary's LinkedIn profile, Evolutionary Ventures website, and his role as California representative for Investor Circle. Gary mentioned his work with impact investors and his involvement in a round table discussion about what investors want to hear...
Insurance Facts for Startups with Pete Shemetulskis from Marquee Benefit Advisors
Startup Insurance and Benefits
Mary and Pete discussed the importance of insurance for startups, particularly focusing on employee benefits. Pete explained that the need for insurance depends on the industry and organization type, noting that benefits are more crucial for organizations with high employee turnover or those seeking to attract and retain s...
Use a Book to Showcase Your Expertise with Suzy Prudden from Itty Bitty Publishing
Book Marketing for Startups
Mary welcomed attendees to Stuck? Time to Improv! and introduced Suzy Prudden from Itty Bitty Publishing as an expert on using books as marketing tools for startups.
Business Benefits of Marketing Books
Suzy discussed various types of businesses that benefit from creating marketing books, including speakers, coaches, accountan...
What an Investor Needs from a Startup with Randy Berholtz from Mesa Verde Venture Partners
Early-Stage Life Sciences Investing
Randy discussed his background in investing, explaining that he transitioned from being a lawyer with an MBA to working as a CEO and now invests through Mesa Verde Venture Partners, an early-stage life sciences venture fund in San Diego. He typically invests $500,000 to $1 million in US companies as the first...
Marketing Tips for Startups with Alesha Henley from A Dose of Insight.
Startup Marketing Strategy Discussion
Mary and Alesha discussed key tips for startups, focusing on the importance of clearly defining the target audience rather than marketing to everyone. Alesha emphasized that social media should be used for personal engagement rather than just transactional purposes, as building trust with potential customers is essential for b...
Entrepreneurship for Engineers with Richard Bowling, MicroPod Global Engineer Entrepreneur Academy
Engineer Entrepreneur Transition Challenges
Richard identified the primary challenge for engineers transitioning to entrepreneurship as overthinking the process, particularly struggling with business development, marketing, and validation rather than technical aspects. He noted that engineers must make a significant professional mindset...
AEO tips and tricks with Dotty Scott from AskDotty.com
AEO Definition and Optimization
Dotty Scott explained that AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) refers to optimization within artificial intelligence platforms like Claude, Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Gemini, clarifying that all related acronyms represent the same concept.
Answer Engine Optimization Strategies
Mary and Dotty Scott discussed answer engine optimization (AEO), explaining tha...
Social Media Mistakes to Avoid with Heather Havenwood, Haven Media
Social Media Mistakes by Startups
Heather identified two major social media mistakes startups make: not having a clear spokesperson, especially for larger companies and tech firms, and failing to align their messaging with what resonates with their audience rather than just explaining their technology.
Tech Sales Messaging Best Practices
Heather discussed common mistake...
Family Business Challenges with Lowell Mora from Impact CFO
Family Business Challenges Discussion
Lowell discussed the unique challenges of family businesses, highlighting that the family aspect creates complications regardless of the number of family members involved. He shared his personal experience of being advised against working in family businesses but eventually being drawn back to them. Lowell noted ...
Networking Tips with Mary Scott, PitchSTL
Startup Networking Strategies Discussion
Mary discussed the importance of networking and follow-up for startups seeking customers and investors. She emphasized that in-person networking is more effective than Zoom, and highlighted the value of leaving contact information, particularly through LinkedIn. Mary also shared a strategy for introverts to initiate conversations by asking others about...
Dan Lauer from Maryville University talks about Tips for Veteran Startups
Veteran Entrepreneur Funding Challenges
Mary discussed her podcast "Stuck? Time to Improv" with Dan Lauer from Maryville University, focusing on challenges faced by veteran entrepreneurs. Dan identified early-stage capital as a key challenge, noting that while there are good education and networking programs available, veterans of...
Tina Kadish, From Job to Joy, talks about Entrepreneur Mindset
Developing Entrepreneurial Mindset for Startups
Mary and Tina discussed the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset for startups. Tina explained that transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship requires shifting from following others to taking control of one's life and business. She emphasized that an entrepreneur...
Jim Schultz from Open Prairie talks about Funding AgTech Startups
Agricultural Tech Investment Discussion
Mary welcomed attendees to the "Stuck Time to Improv" session and introduced Jim Schultz, an investor, as the guest speaker. The discussion focused on the agricultural tech industry, highlighting its potential for startup businesses and the importance of preparation when approaching investors.
Agtech Investm...
https://tayloredanalytics.com
Financial Projections That Are Investor Ready with Kelvin Taylor, Taylored Analytics
Financial Projections for Entrepreneurs
Mary and Kelvin discussed the components of financial projections for entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on total addressable market (TAM) and its importance to investors. Kelvin explained that investors evaluate business scalability based on the siz...
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