Building Blocks With Brendan Herjavec

Join Brendan Herjavec in this episode of Building Blocks as he sits down with Josh Nielsen, the visionary CEO of Zencastr. Dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and discover the incredible journey of building a company that has become a podcasting game-changer. From unexpected pivots to solving real problems for creators, learn how Zencastr evolved to empower podcasters worldwide. Gain insights into the challenges of transitioning from a solo venture to leading a growing team, and explore the future of podcasting, including the rise of short-form content and the quest for true audience engagement. Don't miss this candid conversation with Josh Nielsen, where the building blocks of success are unveiled.

Key Takeaways:

Stay tuned for valuable lessons, inspiring anecdotes, and a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of Zencastr on this episode of Building Blocks!

Join us in this captivating episode as we dive deep into the entrepreneurial odyssey with Parker Olson, a dynamic individual who seamlessly transitioned from conquering Ironman challenges to steering the helm of a successful functional food company, FORIJ.

Assembly believes that a powerful intranet is the heartbeat of any thriving team. Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of modern intranets with Jonathan Fields, the visionary behind Assembly. Assembly is on a mission to unite teams by creating seamless spaces where information flows effortlessly, communication becomes second nature, and genuine connections among employees flourish. Discover how Assembly's platform not only streamlines day-to-day operations but also fosters a culture of celebration and mutual success, transforming the workplace from a task-oriented environment to a community-driven hub.

🌐 Jonathan's Journey: From ZipRecruiter to Building Assembly

Our special guest, Jonathan Feilds, shares his remarkable journey from being an early employee at ZipRecruiter to co-founding Assembly in the midst of the Covid era. Witness the profound shift he experienced, transitioning from investment banking to the dynamic world of scaling startups. As ZipRecruiter expanded, Jonathan identified the challenges in maintaining a vibrant culture amidst growth, leading him to embark on a mission to revolutionize the process through the power of technology.

🚀 Key Takeaways from the Episode:

From Side Project to Series A: Gain insights into the pivotal steps and strategies Jonathan employed to steer Assembly from a promising side project to a successful Series A round.

Navigating Business Scaling: Explore the nuances and challenges that businesses face as they scale, drawing from Jonathan's hands-on experience in adapting to a constantly evolving landscape.

AI-Powered Culture Development: Uncover the ways companies can leverage AI to enhance their cultures, fostering a work environment that thrives on innovation and collaboration.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation that goes beyond the surface, providing actionable insights for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone passionate about building thriving company cultures. 

🌐 Learn more about Assembly: https://www.joinassembly.com/

🎧 Listen to previous episodes and subscribe: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nYPfEFxYG8v1zOWk1Fw50

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-blocks-with-brendan-herjavec/id1558897987?uo=4

Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80Y2YzOWZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Antler is the investor backing the world’s most driven founders, from day zero to greatness. Founded on the belief that people innovating is the key to building a better future, they partner with people across six continents to launch and scale high-potential startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges. Antler has offices in 25 cities, including Austin, New York, Toronto, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Bangalore, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Sydney. The global community backs people from the beginning with co-founder matching, deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding. Antler has created and invested in more than 600 startups across a wide range of industries and technologies, with the goal of backing more than 6,000 by 2030.

Bernie Li is a General Partner at Antler Canada, joined in October 2021. Former co-founder of PURE Energies, acquired by NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG). Former MaRS Sr. Advisor. Former Principal and Entrepreneur in Residence at iNovia Capital. The Atmospheric Fund, Investment Committee Member. Investor and Advisor at Rally Assets.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. What it Takes to be an exceptional founder

2. The differences between being an investor and being a founder

3. Why and How Canada has become a powerful force in the startup world

https://www.antler.co/