In this episode, of How I'm Building This, Prateek interviews Eziah Syed, founder of mend, a company focused on holistic healing. Eziah shares his journey from a small town in Canada to leading a startup in New York City. He discusses the challenges of fundraising, the importance of hiring the right team, and the unique approach mend takes towards healing. The conversation also touches on the significance of partnerships, executing business strategies effectively, and the mental health challenges faced by founders.
Takeaways:
- Eziah's journey reflects a deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit.
- Understanding investor expectations is crucial for fundraising success.
- The startup trajectory is often non-linear and requires patience.
- Hiring for cultural fit is as important as skills.
- Mend focuses on a holistic approach to healing.
- Building credibility in the medical community is essential for growth.
- Partnerships can significantly enhance business reach and credibility.
- Brilliant execution is key to client satisfaction and business success.
- Founders must learn from their mistakes to adapt and grow.
- Managing mental health is vital for sustaining the founder's journey.
Sound Bites:
- "Investors are looking for proof points."
- "The trajectory of a startup is not linear."
- "I work maniacally on that."
In this episode, we cover:
00:00 Introduction to Eziah and Mend
02:55 The Journey of a Founder
05:57 Navigating Fundraising Challenges
09:05 Hiring for Success
11:51 Understanding the Healing Company
15:00 Building Credibility in the Medical Community
17:54 The Importance of Partnerships
20:57 Executing Brilliantly
24:06 Learning from Mistakes
27:03 Managing Mental Health as a Founder
Where to find Eziah:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eziah/
Mend: https://mend.me/
Where to find Prateek:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekmathur
Activated Scale: https://www.activatedscale.com
For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email prateek@activatedscale.com
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