Forging The Future with Chris Howard

90% of Startups Fail… Hello Alice Aims to Help Startups Survive and Thrive

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90% of startups fail. Not from lack of ideas, but lack of funding for small businesses. Access to capital can make or break success, yet traditional funding still favors the few. What if technology could level the playing field, giving every entrepreneur a fair shot at business readiness? Kelsey Ruger, Chief Product & Technology Officer, helped build Hello Alice, a free online platform that helps businesses launch and grow, to remove barriers and give small businesses the tools they need to not only survive, but thrive.  

🎧 Episode Highlights  

  • [00:00] Podcast Begins 
  • [01:58] Struggles of a Small Business: Breaking down barriers to startup success 
  • [07:26] Evolution of Business Readiness: Scaling business advising with AI expertise 
  • [11:10] What About Data? How Hello Alice improves with business health data 
  • [17:31] Lessons Learned in Scaling: Prioritizing the leadership gap in startups  
  • [19:35] What’s Next for Hello Alice? Refining AI & understanding customer needs 

    • 🔑 Key Takeaways 

    • All About Access: “It became very clear that access to funding really is about access to the entire network of things that you need as an entrepreneur.” Kelsey doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of business and the barriers that keep entrepreneurs struggling; access to capital and lack of network support halts businesses in their tracks. 
    • Approaching the Leadership Gap: “The main thing you need as a business owner is good leadership skill, because so much of it is influencing other people.” As Hello Alice has scaled, Kelsey has realized that capital access is one barrier, while strong leadership and culture is another barrier impacting small businesses.  
    • AI Advice for Automated Tasks: “Honestly, my advice to our small business owners is to become really comfortable with AI because when you look at most of the time we spend in business, a lot of it could be automated.” When looking towards what’s next, Kelsey says Hello Alice will be refining AI tools to address increasing customer needs. 

      • 👤 Guest Spotlight 

      Kelsey Ruger: 

      Kelsey Ruger designs better businesses and experiences at the intersection of product, technology, marketing, and leadership. As Chief Product and Technology Officer at Hello Alice, Kelsey leads initiatives that connect small businesses with capital and opportunities, serving over 1.5 million entrepreneurs through our Business Health Engine and community platform. 

      Kelsey’s approach combines human-centered design with strategic thinking to create solutions that work for real people. This has shaped successful products and programs at Hello Alice, where they're focused on equitable access to capital and resources for diverse entrepreneurs.  

      Connect with Kelsey: 

      LinkedIn: Kelsey Ruger 

      Websites: Hello Alice | helloalice.com 

      🌟 Resources & Links 

      • Explore past episodes: Forging the Future Episodes 
      • Learn about Softeq: softeq.com

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        Forging The Future with Chris HowardBy Chris Howard