Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup

By Ian Black

A show about realizing the business ideas of early-stage entrepreneurs.

Ian Black interviews early-stage company founders to hear what it's really like getting a business off the ground. How do you l... more

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FAQs about Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup:

How many episodes does Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup have?

The podcast currently has 53 episodes available.

Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup episodes:

March 27, 2024 AI Revolution in the Job Market: Launching AI Apply - An AI-Powered Job Search Tool, With Co-Founder Aidan Kramer
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.
This week, Ian Black talks to Aidan Cramer about his business AI Apply, which leverages generative AI to help job seekers find and apply for the best job opportunities. Aidan also shares his experience in building multiple businesses and the importance of finding product-market fit. Aidan shares his philosophy on killing ideas that don't work and focusing on the core offering, as well as his growth targets and the strategies he is using to achieve them, including content creation and influencer marketing.
Website
https://aiapply.co/
Tiktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@aidancramer
Twitter
https://twitter.com/AidanCramer
We Discuss
What Generative AI is
Common Mistakes in Job Applications
Experimentation with Different Business Ideas
How to Achieve Fast Growth and Profitability
New Perspectives on Defining Product Market Fit
Listening to Customers and Their Ideas
Defining Success and Growth Targets
Content Creation and Strategy
Choosing the Right Co-founder
Sacrifices and Loneliness of Entrepreneurship
Motivations and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
Advice for Starting a Business
–––––––
Host: Ian Black
Intro Music:
⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life⁠
License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4
...more
1h 4min
March 13, 2024 Overcoming Your Fears By Bootstrapping An Allergy Friendly Protein Bar Business, with Patrick Manning, founder of Alio.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.
This week, Ian Black talks to Patrick Manning, the founder of Alio, an allergy-friendly protein bar company, who shares his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship. He saw a need for a protein bar free from the top nine food allergens and high in protein, and decided to create it himself. He shares his perspective on overcoming doubts and challenges as a founder and the unique lessons he has learned through entrepreneurship.

Website
https://livealio.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/livealionow

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/livealio

Chapters
Introduction and Background
Identifying the Need for Allergy-Friendly Protein Bars
Transition from Medical School to Entrepreneurship
Finding a Mentor and Overcoming Fear
Lessons Learned from Starting a Business
Challenges in Recipe Development and Manufacturing
Rebranding and Refining the Product
Market Response to the Relaunch of Allio
Importance of Customer Feedback and Launch Strategy
Delegating and Bringing in Experts
Building a Team and Seeking External Funding
Organic Marketing Strategies
Effective Sales Tactics through Engagment with Facebook Groups
Sales Channels and Retail Expansion
Profitability and Margin Refinement
Shelf Life and Expiry Dates
Daily Operations and Balancing Work
Future Team Expansion
Overcoming Doubts and Challenges
Advice for Founders and Dealing with Doubt
Setting Goals and Managing Friction
Product Expansion and New Flavors
Challenges in Scaling and Retail Expansion
The Power of Creation and Overcoming Challenges
Where to Find Alio

---
Host: Ian Black
Intro Music:
https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life
License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4
...more
1h 4min
February 28, 2024The Van Conversion Expert: How to Unlock the Lifestyle You’ve Dreamed of - with Shane Monks O'Byrne, founder of The Van Conversion Dotcom.
Shane Monks O'Byrne teaches people how to build camper vans and live a van life. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the philosophy of van life, and the lessons he learned from building his latest startup - https://www.thevanconversion.com.

Contents:
Introduction and Background

Shane's Business: Teaching People to Build Camper Vans

The Philosophy of Van Life

Shane's Journey into Entrepreneurship

Choosing the Right Path as an Entrepreneur

Lessons from Investing Applied to Life

Balancing Details and Output in Design

Finding Fun and Passion in Work

Finding Passion and Interests

Using Childhood as a Starting Point

Questioning False Assumptions and Self-Doubt

Exploring Different Interests and Skills

Learning New Skills and Trying Something New

Learning How to Build a Van

Documenting the Van Conversion Process

Transitioning from Building Vans to Writing a Book

Launching the Book and Building a Sustainable Business

Preparing for a Long-Term Bike Journey

Handling the Business During Time Away

Starting a Business: Choosing the Right Direction
...more
1h 30min
October 25, 2023Launching a non-alcoholic spirit brand in Asia and the USA, with Lorin Winata Founder of Melati Drinks (#50)
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
I’m talking with Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, and part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2023.
Among many things, we discuss:
The history of Asian tonic drinks, dating back to 1293

What it means to be a non-alcoholic spirit, in the Better-for-you category

Borrowing extraction techniques from the perfume industry to create the most accessible drink

The loneliness of moving the business to a new country, new culture, with no network

Whittling down 150 classic ingredients from the spice islands of Indonesia, into the two Melati drinks

What it’s like to leave the male-dominated world of venture capital in Asia, to become an Asian female founder

The challenges you face doing everything for the first time as an entrepreneur, and why it gets easier.

And much more...
So sit back and enjoy the show!
Company website
https://melatidrinks.com/
Find Melati near you:
https://melatidrinks.com/pages/store-locator
...more
57min
September 20, 2023049 - Launching and Closing A Daily Brain Care Business, with Brian Davis, Co-founder of Parable.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Brian Davis, co-founder founder of Parable.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why Brain Care is so important for an ageing population

The 4 Pillars of Brain Care

How to communicate the benefits of a product when customers aren’t problem-aware yet

The importance of finding founder-fit

The problems with fundraising and launching a business at the same time

Deciding to shut down the business

The problem with taking advice from Outliers

The lack of failure stories on social media
Sit back and enjoy the show!
...more
1h 24min
August 30, 2023048 - Launching A Literary Career: Derek Sivers Reveals His Writing Process For His Forthcoming Book, Useful Not True.
Welcome to Ready For Launch. This week I’m talking with Derek Sivers, ex-musician, ex-entrepreneur, TED speaker and four-time book author.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why New Zealand is the best place in the world to raise a kid

How to adapt your values to your current situation

The secrets to becoming a great speaker

What still terrifies Derek about speaking on stage

The best way to write a book

The value of self-publishing and retaining your copyrights

The importance of doing the opposite of your creative habits

What Derek’s latest book is all about

How your belief and perspectives change your actions

The barbell strategy of living in the extremes

Why graveyards are a great place to sleep

Useful beliefs about writing.
And so much more! So sit back and enjoy the show
Website
https://sive.rs/
...more
1h 32min
August 16, 2023047 - Launching a Network of Top Designers and Builders For Startups, with Stephanie Golik, Founder at Huddle
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Stephanie Golik Founder at Huddle.
Among many things, we discuss:
From Design to Founder: Steph’s journey from studying Architecture to becoming co-founder of Huddle

The Power of Building: How Steph used app development as a way to kick start her career in design

Searching for The One: How moonlighting on different creative projects led to finding the one to go all in on.

The Idea Graveyard: Learnings from killing small projects that helped launch Huddle

Getting Paid In Equity: What designers and builders should know about getting paid in equity by startups.

The Art of Investment: How getting seed funding was a strategic choice in moving quickly and catching the wave of people looking for more work flexibility

Being Non-Scalable: The importance of doing non-scalable tasks early on to deliver a great customer experience, and how to relinquish that control later on.

Quarterly Planning: How looking ahead helps Huddle stay on track with their vision to make the future of work more flexible.
Enjoy the show!

Links:
Huddle site
https://www.huddle.works/
Want to join as a builder?
app.huddle.works/builder-invite/itomblack
Want to hire a team?
app.huddle.works/invite/itomblack
Workshops on becoming a founder
https://www.dive.club/course/go-from-designer-to-founder
...more
1h 1min
August 02, 2023046 - Launching a Venture Studio, with Hunter Hammonds, Founder and CEO of Assembly: Building a $100m portfolio of creator-led businesses
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Hunter Hammonds, founder of Assembly.
We discuss:
What Assembly is: a business that builds businesses from scratch

Hunter’s career pre-Assembly: from skipping college to 8-figure agencies

The challenges of selling a design agency

The importance of having your heart in your business

6 key attributes of a strong business operator

Leading with a “Burn the ships” mentality

A playbook for building a business from nothing

Pivoting as a company of companies.

How to decide which businesses to invest in

3 components to hiring at speed

The value of building an audience

Links:
If you need the world’s best design team:
https://offmenu.design/
If you need the most kick-ass high engagement short form viral videos:
https://www.viralcuts.co/
Amazing product demo animation launch videos
https://www.keyframe.design/
The coolest youtube agency in the world
https://www.heyfriends.studio/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/_hunterhammonds
...more
1h 1min
July 19, 2023045 - PR For Startups: Everything You Wanted To Know About Hiring A PR Firm, with Brigitte Kaps, Founder of Rent a PR
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Brigitte Kaps CEO & Founder of Rent a PR, a company that offers Public Relations & Communications Advisory on demand.
Among many things, we discuss:
Brigitte’s finance background before starting her company

Seeking out inspiration from Silicon Valley: the mindset difference of the USA

The main components of PR: Paid and unpaid media

How to create a good PR briefing

PR for different stages of a company: Startups to mid-cap

Misconceptions about PR

Choosing a PR agency: What kind of coverage do you need?

The cost of PR: from on demand to retainers

Crisis management for businesses

And much more!
So sit back and enjoy the show
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-kaps-6912985/
Company Website
https://www.rentapr.ch/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/rent_a_pr
...more
55min
July 05, 2023044 - Launching a New Era of Coffee Convenience, with Zach Frantz, Founder of Wildland Coffee
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Zach Frantz, founder of Wildland Coffee, a company that makes coffee in tea bags.
Among many things, we discuss:
The Inspiration for Wildland Coffee

Product Development: From co-packers to packing in-house

Business growth: The challenges of finding a scalable sales channel

When to quit: How to identify the signal from the noise when evaluating business strategies

Sales before Brand: The importance of revenue in the early stages of a business

Secrets of success: The power of the ask

And so much more!
So sit back and enjoy the show.
Company website
wildlandcoffee.co
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachfrantz/
...more
54min

FAQs about Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup:

How many episodes does Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup have?

The podcast currently has 53 episodes available.