Reactor Podcast

Hello everybody!

How do you create a deeptech or climate tech startup? You ask.

I have got the question SO MANY TIMES
and since we can't all get into deeptech accelerators,
I thought that..

Well, I'll give it a shot in a series of videos.
Deeptech & Climate Tech startup 101.

This is the second one. Instead of focusing on ideas: execute. Fast. Repeat.

By the way, do you know that Reactor is on Instagram too, now? 

https://www.instagram.com/reactortechmedia/

Thanks for your support!

Deeptech & Climate Tech Startup 101 - Episode 2: From Ideas to Execution - The True Value Lies in Action

Welcome back to Reactor! I’m Jerome, and in today’s episode, we’re tackling a critical topic for any aspiring entrepreneur: The true value of your business isn’t in the idea itself—it’s in how well you execute it. We’ll dive into why ideas alone aren’t enough and how to turn them into real, impactful value.

Here’s what we’ll be covering in today’s episode:

1. The Absurdity of Idea Theft
   • Why ideas alone aren’t enough
   • The myth of someone stealing your idea and succeeding
2. Execution: The True Power Behind Ideas
   • The value formula: Value = (Dream Outcome × Probability of Achieving Outcome) ÷ (Effort × Time Delay)
   • Real-life example: Mark Zuckerberg and the importance of execution
3. Focusing on Bringing Value to Customers
   • Starting small and scaling
   • Listening to feedback and iterating quickly
   • Solving real problems, not just hypotheses
4. Overdelivering to Build Momentum
   • Creating loyal customers by going above and beyond
   • Building momentum through consistent value delivery
5. Staying Customer-Focused
   • Empathy mapping to understand customer needs
   • Customer journey mapping to enhance experiences
6. Recap and Takeaways
   • Summary of key points
   • The importance of execution over ideas
   • What to expect in the next episode

These six chapters will guide us through understanding why execution is the key to success and how to effectively turn your ideas into tangible, impactful value. Let’s get started!

[Scene 2: The Absurdity of Idea Theft]

Let’s start with a simple question: When was the last time someone stole your business idea, created a company exactly the way you envisioned it, and made billions from it?

Sounds absurd, right? That’s because it is.

The truth is, ideas are easy.

Execution is what separates dreamers from doers.

Think about those gadgets you sometimes see on late-night TV.

Sure, they’re real, and they might even be useful,

but how many of them are truly solving a problem that people are struggling with every day?

Often, these products are just “hypotheses in your head,”

ideas that haven’t been tested against real-world needs.

Without execution, an idea remains just that—an idea.

[Scene 3: Execution - The True Power Behind Ideas]

Execution is where the real value lies.

Let’s break it down with a simple formula: Value = (Dream Outcome × Probability of Achieving Outcome) ÷ (Effort × Time Delay).

Let’s dissect this:

1. Dream Outcome: This is the best possible result your product can help your customer achieve.

It’s what your customers dream of.

How big is the impact you can make?

2. Probability of Achieving Outcome: This is your chance of success.

How likely is it that your product will achieve the dream outcome?

1. Effort: How much work is required?

What kind of res

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Are you a deeptech or climate startup? Do you want to appear on Reactor special edition called 'Biz Decoder' in front of investors and customers?

https://tally.so/r/wzYVGk

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https://reactortech.substack.com/

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summary

In this episode, Jerome discusses the transition from being an employee in a tech company to building your own deep tech or climate tech startup. He emphasizes the importance of mastering your mindset about sales, personal branding, and marketing. Jerome provides tips on sales, such as identifying your ideal customer profile, qualifying leads, building relationships, and addressing objections. He also discusses the significance of personal branding, including defining your brand, consistency in messaging, content creation, and networking. Lastly, he highlights the key aspects of marketing, such as focusing on customer needs, storytelling, content creation, SEO/SEM, social proof, and analytics.

keywords

transition, employee, tech company, deep tech, climate tech, startup, mindset, sales, personal branding, marketing, ideal customer profile, leads, relationships, objections, value proposition, closing techniques, storytelling, content creation, SEO, SEM, social proof, analytics

takeaways

• Transitioning from an employee to a founder requires mastering your mindset about sales, personal branding, and marketing.
• In sales, it is important to identify your ideal customer profile, qualify leads, build relationships, and address objections.
• Personal branding helps you become a leader in your industry and build trust with your audience.
• Marketing involves focusing on customer needs, storytelling, content creation, SEO/SEM, social proof, and analytics.
• Having the right mindset in sales, personal branding, and marketing is crucial for building a successful startup.

titles

• Tips for Effective Sales, Personal Branding, and Marketing
• Building Relationships and Trust in Sales and Personal Branding

Sound Bites

• "Having a great product isn't enough. You need the right mindset to build a strong brand, create a sales track record, and attract a loyal customer base."
• "Sales are built on relationships. Take the time to build trust and rapport with your prospects. People buy from people they know, like, and trust."
• "Personal branding helps you become a leader in your industry and put a human face on your company. It builds trust and attracts talent."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

01:04
Building the Foundations: Mastering Your Mindset

03:04
Sales: Understanding Your Ideal Customer Profile and Qualifying Leads

05:45
Personal Branding: Becoming a Leader in Your Industry

10:35
Marketing: Showcasing the Value You Deliver

19:54
Conclusion and Next Steps

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Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Are you a deeptech or climate startup? Do you want to appear on Reactor special edition called 'Biz Decoder' in front of investors and customers?

https://tally.so/r/wzYVGk

Find the newsletter here:

https://reactortech.substack.com/

Follow me on Linkedin / jeromegilleron

Our guest today:

Markus Bohl is the managing director of Intel Ignite Europe since 2022

Serial entrepreneur, he has gathered 20 years of experience as entrepreneur himself.

He is also an investor in early stage startups.

Summary

Marcus Bohl from Intel Ignite Europe discusses the startup selection process and the support provided by the program. Ignite is a non-dilutive acceleration program for early-stage deep tech startups. They select companies based on technology, team, and eight verticals. The selection process is rigorous, with two cohorts per year and 300-320 companies per cohort. The top 18 companies are invited to a selection day, where they are assessed by a panel of experts. Ignite helps startups find product-market fit, connect with customers, build teams, and raise funding. They emphasize the importance of coachability and the ability to hire better than oneself. Intel Ignite is an accelerator program that supports deep tech startups. The program focuses on helping startups develop their technology, build their business, and connect with investors and customers. The program lasts for three months and provides mentorship, resources, and access to Intel's network. The role of the CTO is crucial in each branch of Intel Ignite, providing technical expertise and guidance to the startups. The program also emphasizes the importance of effective communication and messaging for deep tech founders. Intel Ignite aims to create value by facilitating collaborations between startups and Intel, as well as other ecosystem players.

Keywords

#IntelIgnite, #startupselection, #accelerationprogram, #deeptechstartups, #technology, #team, #verticals, #selectionprocess, #productmarketfit, #customerconnection, #teambuilding, #fundraising, #coachability, #Intel; #acceleratorprogram, #deeptech, #technologydevelopment, #businessbuilding, #investor, #customer, #CTO, #effectivecommunication, #valuecreation, #collaborations

Takeaways

• Intel Ignite is a non-dilutive acceleration program for early-stage deep tech startups.
• Startups are selected based on their technology, team, and fit within eight verticals.
• Ignite helps startups find product-market fit, connect with customers, build teams, and raise funding.
• Coachability and the ability to hire better than oneself are important traits for founders. Intel Ignite is an accelerator program that supports deep tech startups in developing their technology and building their business.
• The role of the CTO is crucial in each branch of Intel Ignite, providing technical expertise and guidance to the startups.
• Effective communication and messaging are important for deep tech founders to convey the value of their technology.
• Intel Ignite aims to create value by facilitating collaborations between startups and Intel, as well as other ecosystem players.

Apply for Intel Ignite if you are in one of those domains:

AI/ML & Computer Vision Autonomous & Robotics Hardware & Manufacturing Software Dev Tools & DevOps Security & Privacy Data, Cloud & Edge Next Gen Compute Web3 Infrastructure

https://intelignite.com/

https://intelignite.com/apply/

Support the show

Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Are you a deeptech or climate startup? Do you want to appear on Reactor special edition called 'Biz Decoder' in front of investors and customers? https://tally.so/r/wzYVGk

Find the newsletter here: https://reactortech.substack.com/

Follow me on Linkedin    / jeromegilleron 

Guest Presentation

August is a consultant at Deloitte during the day. Working on strategy projects within sustainability, insurance, and consumer products.

At night, he is the author of Impact Supports newsletter about impact VC. 
https://impactvc.substack.com/

Summary

August Solliv, founder of an impact-focused newsletter, discusses his journey and the evolution of his content. He shares his motivation for starting the newsletter and the shift towards interviewing impact investors. The conversation explores the value of interviews in gaining specialized knowledge and understanding the perspectives of different investors. They also discuss the importance of understanding the focus and scope of different VC funds when fundraising for impact startups. The conversation touches on the benefits of newsletters and the potential for other formats like podcasts and videos. They also discuss the opportunities and benefits that come from engaging in side projects and personal branding. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact investment ecosystem, including the potential for a bubble and the hottest topics in impact investing. The conversation explores the differences between impact investing in Europe and the US, the challenges of achieving profitability in impact startups, and tips for raising funds. It emphasizes the importance of team alignment, finding the right investors, and considering alternative funding options. The conversation also highlights the need for collective action and small steps to create impact as individuals.

Keywords

August Solliv, impact investing, newsletter, interviews, VC funds, fundraising, podcasts, videos, side projects, personal branding, impact investment ecosystem, bubble, hottest topics, impact investing, Europe, US, profitability, raising funds, team alignment, alternative funding, collective action

Takeaways

• Interviews with impact investors provide specialized knowledge and insights into the impact investment space.
• Understanding the focus and scope of different VC funds is crucial for impact startups when fundraising.
• Newsletters offer a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and engaging with a specific audience.
• Engaging in side projects and personal branding can lead to new opportunities and professional growth.
• The impact investment ecosystem is evolving, with potential for a bubble and a focus on hardware and growth stage funding. Impact investing in Europe and the US differs in terms of deal size and maturity of startups.
• Achieving profitability in impact startups requires a balance between growth and increasing profits.
• When raising funds, it's importan

Support the show

Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Are you a deeptech or climate startup?
Do you want to shine in front of INVESTORS and CUStOMERS on Reactor newsletter? 
https://tally.so/r/wzYVGk

Find the newsletter here: https://reactortech.substack.com/ 
and the podcast here https://open.spotify.com/show/25DtGEXLS3vJFKYhiky3Pl

Follow me on Linkedin  / https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromegilleron/


Summary

In this episode, Jerome reflects on his failed startup project, Space Eternity, and shares the five key mistakes he made that led to its failure. He advises listeners on how to avoid these mistakes and turn them around for success.

Keywords
#startup, #failure, #mistakes, #success, #product, #customers, #hiring, #communication, #sales, #marketing, #patience 

Takeaways
Don't fall in love with your product, fall in love with solving your customers' problems
Verify the ambitions and skills of your co-founders and employees, don't hire friends just because it seems cool
Talk about your project and seek feedback, even negative comments can provide valuable insights
Sales and marketing are essential, learn about them and embrace their importance
Be patient and play the long-term game, success takes time


Sound Bites
"Don't fall in love with your product, fall in love with solving your customers' problems"
"Verify the ambitions and skills of your co-founders and employees, don't hire friends just because it seems cool"
"Talk about your project and seek feedback, even negative comments can provide valuable insights"

Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background of Space Eternity
02:55
Mistake #1: Falling in Love with Your Product
06:12
Mistake #2: Hiring Friends
08:07
Mistake #3: Avoiding Communication
10:05
Mistake #4: Neglecting Sales and Marketing
13:01
Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities

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Summary

Jérôme Gilleron, the founder of Reactor Media, discusses his background in aeronautics and aerospace and his transition to marketing and sales. He explains the concept behind Reactors, which aims to provide support and resources for early-stage startups. Guiron emphasizes the importance of marketing and personal branding for startups and the need to validate ideas before launching. He also discusses the role of corporate investors and the synergy between corporations and startups. Guiron shares his aspirations of becoming an investor in the future and his thoughts on mastermind groups for entrepreneurs. In this conversation, Jérôme Gilleron discusses the importance of sales for entrepreneurs and the need to qualify potential customers. He emphasizes the role of sales in generating revenue and sustaining a business. Jérôme also talks about the challenges of reducing carbon footprint for companies and the need for new practices in old systems. He shares his vision for his media platform, Reactor, and the importance of talking about ideas and seeking feedback. Jérôme encourages entrepreneurs to talk to potential customers and understand their needs before trying to sell a product or service.

Keyword

Aeronautics, aerospace, marketing, sales, startups, Reactor, validation, personal branding, corporate investors, synergy, mastermind groups, entrepreneurs, sales, entrepreneurship, carbon footprint, deep tech, impact startups, media platform, feedback

Takeaways

• Transitioning from a technical background to marketing and sales can provide a unique perspective and skill set.
• Marketing and personal branding are crucial for startups to establish credibility and attract customers, investors, and talent.
• Validating ideas before launching is essential to ensure market demand and avoid wasting time and resources.
• The synergy between corporations and startups can lead to innovation and mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Becoming an investor in the long run can provide opportunities to support and mentor promising startups.
• Mastermind groups can offer valuable networking and learning opportunities for entrepreneurs. Sales is an essential skill for entrepreneurs as it generates revenue and sustains a business.
• Reducing carbon footprint requires implementing new practices in old systems.
• Reactor aims to be a recognized media platform for deep tech and impact startups.
• Entrepreneurs should talk to potential customers and seek feedback before trying to sell their product or service.

Titles

• The Synergy Between Corporations and Startups
• Validating Ideas: A Crucial Step Before Launching Reactor: A Vision for a Media Platform
• The Importance of Sales for Entrepreneurs

Sound Bites

• "Marketing and sales at the beginning, in any case, are together."
• "An idea is not worth much."
• "There is synergy between corporations and startups."
• "If the person behind doesn't do anything, what... You can be for nothing."
• "Sales remains the number one skill of the CEO, even before his technical expertise."
• "If you don't want to sell, I think you're not good at making a company."

Chapters

00:00 Jérôme Gilleron’s Background and Transition to Marketing and Sales

03:10 The Concept Behind Reactors and the Importance of Validation

06:43 The Role of Marketing and Personal Branding for Startups

09:02 The Value of Ideas and the Fear of Launching

13:16 The Synergy Between Corporations and Startups

21:07 Mastermind Groups for Entrepreneurs

31:07 The Importance of Sales for Entrepreneurs

41:42 Reducing Carbon Footprint: Challenges a

Support the show

Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Are you a deeptech or climate startup? Do you want to appear on Reactor special edition called 'Biz Decoder' in front of investors and customers? https://tally.so/r/wzYVGk

Find the newsletter here: https://reactortech.substack.com/

Follow me on Linkedin     / jeromegilleron 

Summary
In this episode, Jerome Gilleron discusses the challenges of selling innovative products and the process of changing customer habits. He emphasizes the need to understand customer constraints and the three stages of success for any invention. Additionally, he highlights the importance of marketing and communication in advocating for disruptive solutions.
Keywords
sales, marketing strategy, deep tech, climate startups, customer habits, innovation, customer constraints, success stages, marketing communication
Takeaways
Understanding customer constraints is crucial for selling innovative products.
The three stages of success for any invention are: ridiculous, dangerous, and obvious.
Advocating for disruptive solutions requires consistent and strategic marketing and communication.
Titles
The Three Stages of Success for Inventions
Selling Innovative Products: Overcoming Customer Inertia
Sound Bites
"No one is buying directly from you when your product is 10 times better, 100 times better."
"Ridiculous, dangerous, and then the final step, obvious."
"The wrong time, the right time was yesterday. But the other second right time is now."
Chapters
00:00
Understanding Customer Inertia and Constraints
04:19
The Three Stages of Success for Inventions
14:13
Advocating for Disruptive Solutions: The Power of Marketing

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Summary

In this episode, Jerome Gilleron discusses the importance of focusing on one niche market when starting a business. He emphasizes that solo founders or small teams should not try to address multiple markets simultaneously. Instead, they should identify a niche where they can provide value and have a clear understanding of the pain points and needs of their target audience. Gilleron provides a formula for selecting the right market based on factors such as market growth, purchasing power, and accessibility. He also suggests offering free trials or services to gain customer feedback and build trust in the early stages of the business.

Keywords

niche market, solo founder, pain points, market selection, customer feedback

Takeaways

• Focus on one niche market instead of trying to address multiple markets simultaneously.
• Identify the pain points and needs of your target audience in the chosen market.
• Use a formula to select the right market based on factors like market growth, purchasing power, and accessibility.
• Offer free trials or services to gain customer feedback and build trust in the early stages of the business.

Titles

• Building Trust and Gaining Customer Feedback
• The Importance of Focusing on One Niche Market

Sound Bites

• "If you have less than 50 employees, you likely just have one market, one niche."
• "Focus on one market. It's hard enough to address one market very clearly and very smoothly."
• "One market, one message, one value proposition."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

04:11
Selecting the Right Market

07:56
One Market, One Message

12:05
Working for Free to Gain Customers

16:24
Sales in Technical Projects

Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Do you need help developing your deeptech or climate business?  Let's talk!

Find the newsletter here: https://reactortech.substack.com/

Follow me on Linkedin   /https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromegilleron/?locale=en_US

And X  /   / jeromegilleron  

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Summary

Camille Colbus, the first employee of Too Good to Go, shares her experience in scaling the app that fights food waste. She emphasizes the importance of passion and belief in the product when convincing stores to join the platform. Camille also discusses the key elements that investors look for, such as the mission and potential impact of the company. She highlights the significance of building a strong team and culture, as well as the value of learning from experts. Camille advises entrepreneurs to stay focused on their mission, be open to feedback, and put ego aside. She also recommends the book 'Radical Candor' for effective feedback communication.

Keywords

#foodwaste, #impact, #scaling, #passion, #belief, #stores, #investors, #team, #culture, #feedback, #ego, #startup, #entrepreneur, #entrepreneurship 

Takeaways

• Passion and belief in the product are crucial when convincing stores to join a platform.
• Investors look for companies with a strong mission and potential impact.
• Building a strong team and culture is essential for success.
• Entrepreneurs should stay focused on their mission, be open to feedback, and put ego aside.
• The book 'Radical Candor' is recommended for effective feedback communication.

Titles

• The Importance of Feedback and Ego Management
• Building a Strong Team and Culture for Success

Sound Bites

• "Passion and energy...believing in your product."
• "Learning by doing...having a good team."
• "Surrounded by people you can learn from."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

04:04
Showing the Product to Stores

08:17
Learning New Jobs and Hiring the Right Team

12:16
Marketing Strategy and Building a Community

15:49
Adapting to Feedback from Stores and Consumers

26:29
Advice for Startups in the Circular Economy

31:56
Putting Ego Aside and Seeking Feedback

35:18
Recommended Company: We Can Do

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Christina Rebuffet-Broadus is a coach and consultant specialized in helping European companies successfully land in the USA.

She has helped dozens of deeptech and climate companies and she is sharing with tips about personal branding, how to finally reconciliate tech and sales and sharing her experience of entrepreneurs and with companies from Grenoble.

Find Christina on social media in her newsletter:

• Newsletter: https://www.christinarebuffetcourses.fr/american-market-alchemist
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarebuffetbroadus/

Here are the references mentioned during the episode :

Vincent Bligny https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-bligny/

Rémi Moriceau https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmoriceau/

Aniah https://aniah.fr/

The entrepreneur Lionel Clément : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionel-clement/

Maud Vinet https://www.linkedin.com/in/maud-vinet-quantum/

Quobly https://www.quobly.io/

Mathieu Lefebvre https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathieu-lefebvre-2aa74390/

waga-energy https://waga-energy.com/en/

Christina’s recommended resources:

Youtube The futur https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-b3c7kxa5vU-bnmaROgvog Podcast The school of greatness https://lewishowes.com/sogpodcast/ Book - You are a badass at making money https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Badass-Making-Money/dp/0735222975

Thanks Le Minimistan in Grenoble for hosting us for the episode https://minimistan.org/

Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon !

Do you need help developing your deeptech or climate business? https://dynamic-scale-210.notion.site/Coaching-for-Deeptech-Impact-CEO-1448aabacdee42d6a6f980eed74cc2a5

Find the newsletter here: https://reactortech.substack.com/

Follow me on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromegilleron/?locale=en_US

And X https://twitter.com/JeromeGilleron

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