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 59 episodes available.

Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup episodes:

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
June 21, 2023043 - Launching a Revolutionary Dyslexia Screening & Diagnosis Business, with Jamie Wace, CEO and Co-founder of Talamo
Welcome to Ready For Launch. I’m your host Ian Black. Every episode, I talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Jamie Wace, CEO & co-founder of Talamo, a company dedicated to democratising access to dyslexia diagnosis.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why 80% of children aren’t diagnosed with dyslexia.

How Jamie overcame the challenges of having dyslexia.

The prevailing narratives around neurodiversity.

How working at design agencies set Jamie up for success as a founder.

How Talamo pivoted over time.

How to run qualitative customer research for your startup.

The reality of running a startup as a side hustle - its challenges, and its benefits.

Coping with imposter syndrome, and dealing with uncertainty.

Planning for a future in an uncertain market.

And so much more…
So sit back and enjoy the show!
Podcast
Talamo Thoughts
Website
https://www.talamo.co.uk/

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This website is sponsored by The Obsidian Design Lab.
...more
1h 7min
June 07, 2023042 - How to Launch a Home Electrification Startup, with Jesse Vaughan, Co-founder of Kopperfield
Welcome to another episode of Ready For Launch.
I’m your host Ian Black. Every episode, I talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Jesse Vaughan, Co-founder and President at Kopperfield.
Among many things, we discuss:
How we can make an impact on climate change through our home

Growing up an in a family of entrepreneurs

The importance of accounting in business

Finding the right problem to solve as a founder

Letting go of your own ideas

Maintaining a healthy state of mind to make better decisions

Being vulnerable with your team

Go-to-market strategies for a two-sided marketplace
So sit back and enjoy the show!
Website
https://www.kopperfield.com/
Careers
https://careers.kopperfield.com/
Contact Jesse
[email protected]
...more
1h
May 24, 2023041 - How To Launch a Content-native E-commerce Platform, with Rishabh Jain - Co-Founder & CEO at FERMAT
Welcome to another episode of Ready For Launch.
I’m your host Ian Black. Every episode, I talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Rishabh Jain - Co-Founder & CEO at FERMAT
Among many things, we discuss:
The impact of cookie-less browsing on Ecommerce brands

How to learn to be a leader

Tactics for getting the most out of your career

The power of saying No

The importance of placing big bets in business, to create non-linear changes

How to come up with ideas that will create non-linear impact

Deciding when to abandon a business idea

Advice for fundraising a startup

And so much more!
Sit back and enjoy the show.
Rishabh on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishabhmjain/
Rishabh on Twitter
https://twitter.com/rishabhmjain
Fermat Website
https://www.fermatcommerce.com/
...more
57min
April 12, 2023040 - Launching A Survey Solution Business for E-commerce with Matt Bahr, CEO at Fairing
Welcome to another episode of Ready For Launch. I’m your host Ian Black. Every episode, I talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Matt Bahr, CEO at Fairing.
Among many things, we discuss:
The importance of the voice of the customer as a data source

How brands use surveys to improve their products

Finding product market fit through failure

The shift in mindset required to go from running a bootstrapped company to a venture backed company.

Choosing a cofounder

Renaming the brand

Why you should dogfood your own products
So sit back and enjoy the show

Links:
Company Site
https://fairing.co/
Matt LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbahr/
Matt Twitter
https://twitter.com/mattrbahr
Blog Post on databases
https://fairing.co/blog/postgres-database-shopify-data-developer-not-required
...more
58min

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 59 episodes available.