Growing For It!

Episode 8 of Growing With it this time joined by Per Wimmer

Per Wimmer, a global finance chair and adventurer, discussed his diverse background, including his law degrees and his role as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He highlighted his achievements, such as the first tandem skydive over Mount Everest and his future space flight plans. Wimmer emphasized the importance of philanthropy, sharing his work with UNICEF and Global Angels, which funded orphanages in Nepal for five years. He also discussed his writing, media work, and the influence of figures like Buzz Aldrin and Elon Musk. Wimmer shared personal anecdotes, including his experiences with the homeless in Wales and his adventures in the Amazon, underscoring the value of empathy and giving back.

Key take-aways:

1. The power of personal connection and empathy: Wimmer emphasizes the profound impact he experienced from directly engaging with and supporting those in need, like the young girl at the orphanage in Nepal.
2. The importance of balancing ambition with purpose: Wimmer's "Seven Wimmer Values" highlight the need to pursue one's passions while also giving back and inspiring others.
3. Embracing risk and learning from mistakes: Wimmer encourages entrepreneurs to take action on their ideas rather than waiting for perfect conditions, as mistakes and failures are essential for growth.
4. The role of culture and psychology in business success: Wimmer stresses that half of business and finance is about people, culture, and psychology, not just numbers and spreadsheets.
5. Finding inspiration in diverse experiences: Wimmer's adventures in the Amazon jungle and time with the homeless in Wales provided valuable philosophical insights that shaped his outlook and approach to life.

Chapters:

1. [0:00 - 10:00] Introduction to Per Wimmer: Entrepreneur, Adventurer, Philanthropist
2. [10:00 - 25:00] Philanthropic Efforts and Giving Back to the Next Generation
3. [25:00 - 40:00] Inspirational Figures and the Pursuit of Dreams
4. [40:00 - 55:00] Navigating Risks and Setbacks in Space Exploration
5. [55:00 - 70:00] The Seven Wimmer Values: A Guiding Compass
6. [70:00 - 85:00] Connecting with the Amazon Jungle and the Simplicity of Life
7. [85:00 - 95:00] Balancing Adventure, Philanthropy, and the Demands of Modern Life
8. [95:00 - 110:00] The Importance of Culture and Psychology in Business Success
9. [110:00 - 125:00] Embrace Action and Learn from Mistakes
10. [125:00 - 135:00] Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways

More:

Mikkel – https://www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Travis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Per Wimmer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/perwimmer/

Episode 7 of Growing For It - 4th Coffee Talk about Airflight!

Mikkel and Travis discuss their journey of raising a pre-seed round for their company, starting with the emotional high of the grant funding and the subsequent challenges with a co-founder who gave up his equity. Afterwards, They aimed to raise $180,000 for 10% equity, initially feeling optimistic but learning the hard work involved. Despite initial setbacks, they refined their pitch, contacting 50 investors weekly, and eventually secured an investment. This investment, along with previous grants, allowed them to transition from bootstrapping to being fully funded, enabling them to hire staff and proceed with their product development of the flying crane.

Key take-aways

1. Importance of Honest Communication and Recalibration: The founders were able to resolve the co-founder issue through open and honest communication, and they quickly recalibrated their expectations and approach when facing challenges during the fundraising process.
2. Building a Strong Pitch and Investor Relationships: The founders put in significant effort to refine their pitch, becoming more confident and articulate in their presentations. They also focused on building genuine relationships with investors, which helped secure their first investment.
3. Transitioning from Bootstrapping to Funding: The investment from Peter marked a pivotal moment, allowing the founders to move forward with hiring, purchasing equipment, and building their product. The importance of having a compelling vision and building trust with investors was crucial in this pre-seed stage.

Chapters:

[0:00:00] Team Dynamics and Co-founder Challenges

[0:02:50] Fundraising Goals and Initial Optimism

[0:04:35] Developing the Pitch Deck

[0:07:09] Investor Outreach and Handling Rejections

[0:11:30] Improving Pitch Skills

[0:14:39] Meeting Peter and Securing the Investment

[0:20:01] Celebrating the Success

[0:21:39] Importance of Vision and Trust

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Episode 6 of Growing With It with guest Simone Engbo Hansen.

Simone Engbo Hansen, an expert in communication and content creation, discusses her consultancy, EPOS Communication, which focuses on brand positioning and holistic marketing strategies. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling and humor in marketing, particularly through memes, which she uses to engage her audience on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Simone shares her personal journey, including overcoming chronic migraines and using her experiences to build resilience and connect with others. She advises aspiring personal brand builders to start posting consistently, share value, and be authentic to build a strong, relatable brand.

Key take-aways:

1. Holistic Communications Strategy: Simone emphasizes the importance of considering all customer touchpoints and aligning brand positioning, messaging, and content across different platforms.
2. Leveraging Memes for Engagement: Simone's creative use of memes showcases how brands can effectively connect with younger audiences and build a sense of community.
3. Authenticity in Personal Branding: Simone shares how being open about her personal struggles and experiences has helped her build a relatable and engaging personal brand.
4. Overcoming Challenges with Resilience: Simone's perseverance in the face of chronic health issues demonstrates the power of a positive mindset and using challenges as fuel for growth.
5. Balancing Personal and Professional Branding: Simone discusses the nuances of aligning personal and company branding strategies to maintain a cohesive brand identity.

Chapters:

1. Introduction to Simone's Entrepreneurial Journey [0:00 - 3:00]
2. Holistic Communications and Brand Positioning [3:00 - 12:00]
3. Leveraging Memes for Engagement [12:00 - 20:00]
4. The Roots of Simone's Creativity [20:00 - 28:00]
5. The Power of Relatable Storytelling [28:00 - 37:00]
6. Building a Authentic Personal Brand [37:00 - 46:00]
7. Overcoming Challenges with Resilience [46:00 - 55:00]
8. Aligning Personal and Professional Branding [55:00 - 65:00]
9. Developing a Supportive Mindset [65:00 - 80:00]
10. Embracing the Entrepreneurial Spirit [80:00 - 102:00]

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Be sure to check out Simone om LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-engbo/

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Episode 5 of Growing With It - #3 Coffee Talk with Mik & Trav

Picking up from the second Coffee Talk we dive back into the story of AirFlight. Mikkel and his team successfully flew their flying car, garnering significant media attention, including a front-page regional newspaper story and national television coverage. This led to inquiries from the Danish wind industry, suggesting an unmanned version for wind turbine maintenance. Despite the emotional challenge of pivoting from their dream flying car to an unmanned crane, they secured a $125,000 grant, which allowed them to bring a co-founder back to Denmark and continue development. The process involved careful financial planning and grant application strategies, ultimately leading to a significant boost in their startup's momentum.

Key take-aways:

1. Pivoting from the flying car to the unmanned flying crane was a difficult but necessary decision based on market demand.
2. Securing grants was crucial for funding the development of the new prototype and bringing Mikkel back home to work full-time.
3. Celebrating wins and reflecting on the emotional journey is important, as entrepreneurship can be fast-paced and overwhelming.
4. Being razor-sharp on financial projections, customer identification, and grant application details was key to securing funding.
5. Redistributing equity after a co-founder stepped down was a challenging but important step to move the company forward.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: Flying Car's First Media Coverage [0:00:00 - 0:02:12]

Chapter 2: Transition to Unmanned Flying Crane [0:02:13 - 0:07:57]

Chapter 3: Challenges and Emotional Impact of Pivoting [0:07:58 - 0:11:38]

Chapter 4: Securing Funding and Moving Forward [0:11:39 - 0:16:57]

Chapter 5: Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans [0:16:58 - 0:22:44]

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Episode 4 of Growing With It joined by Christoffer Bak

Christoffer Bak, Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of Shaping New Tomorrow, discussed the brand's journey from a local Danish clothing brand to an international success. He emphasized the importance of customer feedback, innovation, and maintaining a strong company culture. Shaping New Tomorrow's growth included a successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised 160,000 Danish kroner, and participation in a Danish version of Shark Tank, which led to significant sales growth. The brand expanded to multiple stores in Denmark and Germany, faced challenges during COVID-19, and is now entering the women's market. Christoffer highlighted the importance of self-development, radical open-mindedness, and maintaining a strong co-founding relationship.

Take-aways:

1. Focus on customer needs and feedback to drive innovation, even in traditional industries like clothing.
2. Building a strong company culture and customer experience is crucial for scaling a business successfully.
3. Partnerships and media exposure can provide valuable boosts, but managing rapid growth requires agility and automation.
4. Maintaining open communication and shared vision among co-founders is key to navigating challenges.
5. Continuous self-improvement through habits and learning from others' experiences can help entrepreneurs stay resilient.

Chapters:

1. The Founding of Shaping New Tomorrow [0:00 - 10:00]
2. Solving Customer Needs Through Innovation [10:01 - 20:00]
3. Building a Community-Driven Brand [20:01 - 30:00]
4. Scaling Internationally and Overcoming Obstacles [30:01 - 40:00]
5. Leveraging Crowdfunding and Media Exposure [40:01 - 50:00]
6. Maintaining a Strong Co-Founding Relationship [50:01 - 60:00]
7. Cultivating a Scalable Customer Experience [60:01 - 70:00]
8. Embracing Continuous Improvement and Perseverance [70:01 - 97:00]

If you wanna learn more about our "Founders" initiative, DM us on our socials listed below:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

e sure to check out Christoffer Bak om LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoffer-bak-813134102/

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Tune in when Christoffer Bak of Shaping New Tomorrow pours out from his business wisdom!

Episode 3 of Growing With It - #2 Coffe talk with Mik & Trav

Picking up from the previous Coffee Talk, Mikkel, Travis, and their co-founders - inspired by Mikkel´s wife Klaudia - rebounded from bankruptcy by incorporating Air Flight in Denmark, securing a workshop in a suburb. Initially funded by Klaudia, they faced financial strains, necessitating Mikkel to work as a consultant in Odense, commuting three hours back and forth. Despite challenges, including a global pandemic, they persevered, eventually flying their flying car after a year. This milestone attracted media attention, including front-page coverage. However, the success was short-lived, leading to a pivotal decision about the project's future, setting the stage for future episodes.

Key take-aways from this episode:

1. Resilience: Mikkel and his team persevered after bankruptcy to incorporate AirFlight, showcasing their determination.
2. Diverse team: The team recognized the need for a range of skills, but faced challenges in managing the dynamics.
3. Financial constraints: Mikkel took on a demanding consulting job to fund the project, highlighting the need for creative solutions.
4. Adaptability: The team had to rethink their approach when the pandemic disrupted their business model.
5. Celebrating milestones: The team celebrated the first successful, albeit brief, flight of the flying car prototype.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: Incorporation and Early Challenges [00:00 - 04:00]

Chapter 2: Building the Flying Car Dream [04:01 - 09:00]

Chapter 3: Weathering the Storm [09:01 - 15:00]

Chapter 4: The First Flight and Looking Ahead [15:01 - 17:39]

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Episode 2 of Growing With It this time with Kim Scott

In this episode Mik & Trav are joined by Kim Scott, author of "Radical Candor," and they discuss the importance of balancing care and challenge in management. Scott emphasizes the need to address power imbalances and build genuine relationships with direct reports. Scott shares her experiences, including a pivotal moment at Google where she learned the value of direct feedback. She also highlights the distinction between superstar and rockstar modes, advocating for fair treatment of all employees. Additionally, Scott addresses gender inequality, stressing the importance of addressing bias, prejudice, and bullying with empathy and clear communication.

Take-aways:

1. Radical candor is about caring personally and challenging directly to build trust and improve performance.
2. Leaders must make time for both task-oriented work and nurturing relationships with their team.
3. Providing timely, honest feedback is crucial to avoid negative impacts on the team and individual performance.
4. Respecting all work and honoring both "superstar" and "rock star" modes of employee performance is important for building an inclusive culture.
5. Addressing bias, prejudice, and bullying in the workplace requires vulnerability, empathy, and a commitment to creating a respectful environment for all.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Dilemma of Firing Bob [0:00:00 - 0:10:00]

Chapter 2: The Inspiration Behind "Radical Candor" [0:10:01 - 0:20:00]

Chapter 3: Mastering the Art of Radical Candor [0:20:01 - 0:35:00]

Chapter 4: The Power of Honest Feedback [0:35:01 - 0:50:00]

Chapter 5: Building an Accountable and Inclusive Culture [0:50:01 - 1:05:00]

Chapter 6: Navigating Workplace Inequalities [1:05:01 - 1:20:00]

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Be sure to check out Kim Scott om LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Episode 1 of Growing For It - Coffee Talk #1 with Mik & Trav

*Contains a sponsored segment*

In this coffee talk and intro episode to the Growing For It Podcast, Mikkel and Travis take us through the steps of their entrepreneurial adventures. Mik and Trav are the co-founders of a company called Air Flight, which is building flying cars, flying cranes, and other flying vehicles. Mikkel's entrepreneurial journey began with a pivotal moment on a flight to a wedding in London, where he experienced a feeling of pure joy and adventure from the takeoff and wanted to recreate that in a flying vehicle. Driven by a strong belief and self-confidence that he could build anything, Mikkel started designing and prototyping a flying car.

Mikkel and Trav met through a mastermind group in 2017 and bonded over their adventurous spirits and sports backgrounds, leading them to partner up and work on the flying car project. In late 2018, Mikkel's previous company ran into financial troubles due to a problematic construction project, leading to the company going bankrupt. This was a major setback, but with the encouragement of his partner Klaudia, Mikkel regained his motivation and decided to fully commit to building AirFlight, the company focused on developing flying vehicles.

Mikkel and Trav are the co-founders of a company called AirFlight, which is building flying cars, flying cranes, and other flying vehicles. Mikkel's entrepreneurial journey began with a pivotal moment on a flight to a wedding in London, where he experienced a feeling of pure joy and adventure from the takeoff and wanted to recreate that in a flying vehicle. Driven by a strong belief and self-confidence that he could build anything, Mikkel started designing and prototyping a flying car.

Mikkel and Trav met through a mastermind group in 2017 and bonded over their adventurous spirits and sports backgrounds, leading them to partner up and work on the flying car project. In late 2018, Mikkel's previous company ran into financial troubles due to a problematic construction project, leading to the company going bankrupt. This was a major setback, but with the encouragement of his wife Klaudia, Mikkel regained his motivation and decided to fully commit to building AirFlight, the company focused on developing flying vehicles.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mikkel's pivotal moment on the flight to London sparked his passion for creating a personal flying vehicle to recapture that sense of adventure and connection to the ground.
2. Mikkel's strong self-belief and confidence in his ability to build anything drove him to pursue the flying car dream, even when it seemed unconventional.
3. Mikkel and Trav's bond and shared mindset as adventurous, risk-taking entrepreneurs was a key factor in them partnering up on the AirFlight project.
4. Mikkel's previous business failure and bankruptcy was a major setback, but his wife's encouragement helped him regain his motivation to keep pursuing the flying car vision.
5. Mikkel's determination to never give up, even in the face of significant challenges, has been a defining characteristic in his entrepreneurial journey.

Chapters:

Chapter 1 - The Inception of AirFlight [0:00 - 5:40]

Chapter 2 - Finding a Co-Founder [5:41 - 12:00]

Chapter 3 - The Downfall and Rebirth [12:01 - 20:00]

Chapter 4 - Committing to AirFlight [20:01 - 27:46]

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult