Founders Korner by Koridor

In this episode of Founders Korner, Kyle, an angel investor, VC, philanthropist, and consultant for early-stage businesses, shares his insights into what investors are looking for in 2023 and how founders can approach investors for seed-level funding.  Kyle emphasizes the importance of community outreach and going into the market to make an impact as a founder. He suggests that founders should be putting in 6 plus hours a day reaching out to the community because it is ultimately the key to success.  He also cautions investors against being in a rush and succumbing to the fear of missing out on the next big deal. Instead, he advises taking a step back and carefully considering each investment opportunity.  

As a founder, Kyle emphasizes the importance of stepping through the noise to make an impact and difference for investors. He also notes that meeting founders from their first time teaches investors a lot about them, and they will always learn from their first venture.  

With his sales and marketing background, Kyle has a wealth of experience raising money as a startup. In this episode, he shares his regular observations and suggestions for founders on how to approach investors.  Overall, this episode of Founders Korner provides valuable insights into the current investment landscape and what founders can do to succeed in 2023. 

Connect with Kyle through the link below;  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-kanovsky-936b9b37/

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Contents of this video:  

07:00 - What gets your attention as an investor 

12:30 - What is the checklist you use as an investor  

16:00 - Why you need to see the bigger picture as a founder  

27:00 - Why you have a luxury as an investor to wait.  

32:00 - Final advice for Start up founders  

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Our Host Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries. Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success. 

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.  

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

FREE Monthly Workshop  

Welcome to the Founders Korner Podcast!  

Join hosts Sep and Amara as they dive deep into the startup ecosystems and communities, exploring the highs and lows of being a founder. 

With Amara, the CEO of EasyVC, the show focuses on highlighting the importance of supporting forward-thinkers and change-makers in creating a brighter future. Tune in to gain valuable insight on the startup community, learn about the faults and positives, and discover ways to get involved in your local communities.  

If you are an early-stage venture or investor, connect with her on LinkedIn. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amara-wynn/  

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03:00 - What they think the startup space could improve on  

15:00 - Canada vs USA Startup ecosystems  

21:00 - How money flows in the ecosystem  

23:15 - What is a founders first step to get into their community  

32:00 - How to approach a mentor   

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Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Take a listen to "The Art of Sales: How to Build a High-Performing Sales Team"! 

As a non-technical SaaS founder, you're likely focused on developing and maintaining your product, and building a sales team may not be your area of expertise. But, building a high-performing sales team is essential for any business, and it's important for you to understand how to approach and onboard salespeople effectively. 

Our expert guest on this podcast has years of experience in building and leading sales teams, and he'll be sharing valuable insights on how to build a team that can drive your business to success. He'll be discussing everything from how to find and approach the right salespeople, to how to onboard and train them, to how to manage and motivate them once they're on board. He'll also be sharing tips on how to set goals and measure performance, and how to create a culture that fosters success. 

Whether you're just getting started with building your sales team, or you're looking to take your existing team to the next level, this podcast is a must-listen for any SaaS founder. Tune in and learn how to build a high-performing sales team that will help you grow your business and achieve your goals!  

Doug Mooradian is a sales professional and mentor who believes that the human element & integrity play a role in every deal. Four times in his career he has been brought in by up-and-coming companies to serve as their first sales hire. While all of those endeavours proved successful, Doug also learned a lot about what NOT to do when building out a sales team.  He has proven himself to be an adept networker who enjoys building relationships, learning the true needs of potential clients and closing deals. 

Doug shared that "Over the past 20 years I've learned from some tremendous mentors and worked in every capacity. My experiences in event management, sales, marketing, trade shows and content creation have provided me with some wonderfully entertaining stories and also prepared me to deal with almost any scenario that might arise. 

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Contents of this video:  

03:00 - What Founders need to know when they bring on a sales person 

06:45 -  Why sales teams needs to be solely focused on SALES  

11:35 - Sales is about confidence first  

24:30 - Sales skills are LEARNED 

34:10 - The best way to hire for your startup to evolve  

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Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

In this video, we're talking about the top productivity tips for entrepreneurs and business owners. 

These tips will help you make the most of your time, energy, and resources so you can achieve your goals and grow your business.  

The first tip is about time blocking. This involves prioritizing your tasks and blocking out time in your schedule to work on them. This can include setting up startup and shutdown rituals, such as planning your day the night before or reviewing your progress at the end of the day. By taking control of your schedule and focusing on the most important tasks first, you'll be able to make the most of your time and achieve your goals faster. 

The second tip is about self-care. Many entrepreneurs and business owners make the mistake of sacrificing their well-being for their business, but this is a recipe for burnout. Taking care of yourself is essential for staying productive over the long-term. This includes getting enough sleep, taking regular breaks, going for walks, practicing meditation, journaling, and other activities that help you relax and recharge. 

The third tip is about automation and tools. There are many tools and apps available that can help automate your tasks and make your work more efficient. Examples of this includes tools like Zapier, Motion, Canva, Trello, Pomodoro etc. By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining your workflow, you can free up time to focus on the most important aspects of your business. 

The fourth tip is about setting boundaries. As an entrepreneur or business owner, you're probably used to being pulled in many different directions. However, it's important to remember that you can't do everything. You need to set boundaries and learn to say no to tasks or projects that aren't aligned with your goals. This can be tough, but it's essential for protecting your time and energy so you can focus on what really matters. 

In summary, these productivity tips are designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners make the most of their time and resources. By focusing on time blocking, self-care, automation and tools, and setting boundaries, you can achieve your goals and grow your business more efficiently. Remember, work smart not hard. And also the mental capacity bank needs to be taken care of as well.

Today on Founders Korner Sep and Avery take you behind the scenes of their startup journey. In this episode, Avery shares his experience of transitioning from an accelerated computer science degree straight into a startup with Sep at Koridor. They discuss the ups and downs of startup life, including pivots and the importance of grit for founders. Avery also shares what it was like being in a technical role with a founder, and the two talk about Koridor's hiring process.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and advice for non-technical founders looking to navigate the startup world.

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Contents of this video: 

06:30 - Not all dev programs are created equal - hire carefully  

08:05 -  Koridor's hiring process  

19:35 - What it takes to get lucky  

23:30 - Why Koridor and how it was different from other startups

Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Attracting and retaining SaaS customers doesn't have to be a mystery. By focusing on offering a valuable solution, investing in customer success from the start, understanding your pricing model, creating educational content, and building a feedback loop, you can set yourself up for success in the competitive world of SaaS by following these 5 tips below.   

00:20 - Offer a valuable solution to a single customer 

01:50 - Invest in your customer success early 

02:50 - Understand your pricing 

05:00 - Build a content house 

07:40 - Create a feedback loop 

Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

In this episode of Founders Korner, Jon Hafichuk and Sep delve into the crucial topic of culture and hiring in business. As the founder of Symbol Syndication, a successful video production and digital marketing company, Jon shares his experiences building a positive culture and making strategic hires. 

Sep, the founder of Koridor, brings his wealth of knowledge and experience as a non-technical founder in the tech industry to the discussion. Tune in to learn valuable insights and advice on how to create a thriving culture and make the right hires for your business.  

Jon Hafichuk is the founder of Symbol Syndication, a successful video production and digital marketing company based in Calgary. Jon shares his journey from producing videos to traveling the continent for parkour competitions and eventually, to starting his own business.  

https://www.symbolsyndication.com/

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Contents of this video: 

04:30 - What was your biggest struggle from the beginning of your startup 

09:35 -  What did you learn the most from starting your business  

16:00 - Hiring and Culture

Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources

SaaS Product Playbook

Social

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

We are back in the Founders Korner to talk about all things entrepreneurship and business. Today we have a special treat for our listeners – we have Jana Boyko and Brad Boyko, the sibling duo behind the new guided journal for entrepreneurs, Bedside Business Plan.

In this episode, we dive into the stories and experiences that shaped their entrepreneurial spirits and explore why founders need to invest in themselves. We also discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and how to handle difficult conversations with business partners.

Join us as we cover the do's and don'ts of starting a new venture and learn how everything really does lead to something. Whether you're just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey or you've been running a business for years, this episode is sure to provide valuable insights and inspiration.

About our guests;

The two have always had a strong orientation towards entrepreneurship, following in the footsteps of their father and grandparents. Both Jana & Brad graduated from the Haskayne School of Business and currently work in a variety of entrepreneurial capacities. Jana has a private coaching practice, All of Her Business, where she supports women in holistically making the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Brad is a jack of all trades working in management consulting, running his photography and videography business, and working with Jana to run and grow Bedside Business Plan Ltd. The two are extremely passionate about making entrepreneurship for everyone and recently landed their journal in Indigo & Chapters bookstores across Canada!

https://www.bedsidebusinessplan.com/

08:00 - How to introduce your humanity into your business plan 09:00-  What would be their number 1 advice to future founders

11:00 - Founders need to be sales people

15:60 - Partnerships in your business

17:25 - Hiring for your startup

19:00 - Be open to possibilities

23:00 - Why founders need to be patient with the process

Our Host

Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

Links

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

Resources 

SaaS Product Playbook

Social 

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

On this week's episode of Founders Korner, where we delve into the importance of marketing for early-stage startups, and growth hacking tips and techniques - from a marketing perspective.   

Our guest is Emma, a B2B marketing leader with over 10 years of experience in the tech startup industry. Emma has worked at marketing agencies, Fortune 50 companies, and tech startups, and has a particular passion for go-to-market strategy, customer research, and storytelling for early stage startups.  Emma will also be discussing the importance of getting marketing and sales on the same page, the difference between the two, her thoughts on essential MVP building steps and how to tailor a go to market strategy. One of the highlights of the episode will be Emma's thoughts on product advisory boards (time - 18:00), including how they can be a valuable resource for businesses looking to fine-tune their product offerings.  

If you're a founder or aspiring entrepreneur looking to learn about marketing for SaaS products, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Tune in as Emma shares her expertise and insights on how to effectively market your SaaS product and drive growth for your business. This is an episode you won't want to miss! 

Our Host - Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

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03:15 - Why you need to take marketing into consideration of your product  

05:00 - Understanding your target market + ideal customer  

08:00 - Picking your niche and channel  

08:51 - Pricing your product  

13:47 - Sales vs Marketing 

18:08 - #1 Step you need to take developing your product **

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//Links//

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

//Resources//

SaaS Product Playbook

//Social//

Instagram

TikTok

Youtube

LinkedIn

Who is Koridor?

We turn founders dreams into a reality by being their dedicated technical team.  

Today in Founders Korner we sit down with Wish Bakhshi a Director of AI and discuss what he sees at the biggest opportunity in Tech and how startups can leverage AI to position themselves against the market. We will also be discussing the difference between what it means to have AI technology versus utilizing algorithms.

There are many potential opportunities for startups to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technology in order to turn their ideas into reality. AI can be used in a variety of ways to help startups to improve their operations and processes, and to develop new products and services. For example, startups can use AI to automate tedious or time-consuming tasks, such as data entry or analysis, freeing up their employees to focus on more important tasks. AI can also be used to help startups to develop new products and services by providing valuable insights and predictions based on data. Additionally, AI can be used to help startups to better understand and serve their customers, by providing personalized recommendations and improving the overall customer experience. Overall, the opportunities for startups to use AI are vast, and can help to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and competitiveness of their operations.

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04:10 - What is the difference between an AI startup or SaaS startup  

06:22 - When to use AI vs Algorithm  

13:30 - What is a data engineer?  

23:00 - Real life startup AI misunderstanding examples 

33:40 - Where does Wish see the biggest opportunity for AI in startups

Our Host - Sep is the Founder of Koridor and has a colourful and seasoned history of entrepreneurship in various industries! Through his array of ventures, he has a balanced and realistic understanding of the skills and knowledge required to thrive as a non-technical founder in a technical world. Fortunately for us, his primary passion has always been to help drive like-minded entrepreneurs to success.

So whether you're just getting started or you're looking for ways to accelerate your growth, be sure to subscribe to the Founders Korner.

//Links//

Koridor's Website

Founders Academy

Email Us

//Resources//

SaaS Product Playbook

//Social//

Instagram

TikTok

Youtube

LinkedIn

Who is Koridor?

We turn founders dreams into a reality by being their dedicated technical team.