Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

https://www.modinc.ca

Joseph Pinho from MOD INC talks about Monetizing Your Fans & Community

https://www.modinc.ca is the B2B website tailored to businesses and brands to work with on fan art licensing opportunities. https://www.modfanart.com is the fan facing site focused on fan artists and designers to submit and showcase their fan art for potential licensing opportunities. We'll also be hosting future fan art contests with different creators and brands on there.

Monetizing Fan Communities Through Art

Mary Scott and Joseph Pinho discussed the concept of monetizing fan communities, particularly in the entertainment industry. Joseph explained that fan art, created by fans inspired by a creator or brand, is currently not legally monetizable. However, by sourcing fan creations and getting them approved, creators can monetize their fan base. This not only generates sales but also engages the community. Joseph emphasized the importance of having legal coverage for trademarks and copyrights. Mary suggested that this concept could be applied to other industries, such as tech, by engaging fans to create artwork for merchandise. Joseph agreed, noting that this approach can grow the community and fan base, and can be a fun alternative to traditional engagement methods. The typical percentage taken from using fan art for merchandising varies, but can range from 8% to 20%.

https://pitchstl.com

Joe Muller from PitchSTL talks about the Do's and Don't's of Pitching

Creating Engaging Pitches for Investors

In the meeting, Mary and Joe discussed the importance of making pitches interesting and engaging for investors. Joe emphasized that the biggest mistake startups make is being boring, and that pitches should be thought-provoking and unique to capture the audience's attention. He also advised against using gimmicks like raising hands to involve the crowd, as it can come across as unprofessional. Mary agreed with Joe's points and ended the conversation by stressing the need for compelling pitches, particularly for startups with limited time to pitch.

Crafting Compelling Solutions and Differentiation

JMuller explains that a successful pitch should quickly present a compelling solution to a clear problem in a simple, easily understandable way. He emphasizes that the solution needs to sound convincing, as any doubts will lose the audience's interest. Mary asks about differentiating the solution from competitors' offerings. JMuller views competition as validating the market opportunity and recommends highlighting how their solution outperforms alternatives. However, he cautions against dwelling too much on the team, as excessive self-promotion can bore the audience.

Project Trajectory and Presentation Strategy

JMuller emphasized the importance of understanding the trajectory and marketing plan of a project, rather than focusing on minute details. He advised against getting bogged down in explanations or math problems during a pitch, as this could lead to a loss of audience attention. Instead, he suggested keeping presentations concise, using bullet points, and focusing on high-level information. He also stressed the importance of good graphics, such as pie charts, to help visualize data. Mary asked about the appropriate timing for sharing certain information, to which JMuller responded that it's best to avoid too much detail in the initial presentation and save it for the QA session or informal discussions.

Mary and Joe discussed the importance of making pitches interesting and engaging for investors, with Joe emphasizing the need for unique and thought-provoking content. They also discussed the importance of understanding the trajectory and marketing plan of a project, rather than focusing on minute details, and the use of good graphics to help visualize data.

Https://businessriff.com http://focusopex.com/

David McFarland from Focus OPEX talks about what he & investors look for in a startup

Startups, Investing, and Manufacturing Strategies

In the meeting, Mary and Dave Mcfarlane discussed the importance of startups being wildly successful. Dave, an investor, shared his journey into investing and his focus on manufacturing startups, particularly component makers and contract manufacturers. He also discussed his approach to working with early startups, often providing pro bono work and helping them find funding. Dave emphasized the viability of buying existing companies as a strategy for startups, which can speed up growth and de-risk the process. He also mentioned the potential of acquiring a small electronics manufacturer to help roll out a medical device. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging startups to book a call with Dave for further collaboration.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemcfarland-investor-advisor-innovator/

https://businessriff.com https://growthwarrior.co/book/

Lenore Kantor from Growth Warrior tells startups how to Create an Effective Culture

Building Corporate Culture for Startups

In the meeting, Lenore Kantor from Growth Warrior discussed the importance of building a good corporate culture for startups. She emphasized that a culture is a reflection of the founder's personality and values, and it can help attract and retain the right talent. Lenore suggested that founders should communicate their expectations and operating style to employees, and that this can be done verbally or through written documents. She also highlighted the role of culture in reducing turnover and improving productivity. Mary Scott from BusinessRiff agreed with Lenore's points and encouraged startups to book a call with her to discuss how to create and maintain a successful culture.

Website: https://growthwarrior.co/book/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenorekantor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/lenorekantor/

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

https://www.StoryMattersCompany.com

https://www.MyStory911.com

Bridget K. Brown from StoryMatters tells New Businesses how to Get Your Story Straight

Storytelling in Business and Wall Street

Bridget K. Brown from Story Matters discussed the importance of storytelling in business, particularly in preparing for quarterly calls with Wall Street. She emphasized the need to find the right story amidst data and to understand the 'why' behind a business decision. Bridget also highlighted the significance of a business's 'why' in connecting with their target audience. Mary Scott from BusinessRiff facilitated the discussion and agreed on the importance of storytelling in engaging audiences and initiating Q&A sessions.

Combining Business and Community Organization

In the meeting, Bridget discussed her client's successful business model that combined food with community organization. Mary and Bridget also discussed the importance of understanding the 'why' behind a business idea and how it can evolve over time. Bridget shared her approach to crafting elevator pitches and networking speeches, emphasizing the use of questions to engage the audience.

Nikki Serenity, Social Media Influencer, talks about Influencer Marketing for Startups

Summary

Influencer Marketing for Startups Discussed

Mary and Nikki discussed influencer marketing for startups. Nikki explained that there are various ways to partner with brands, including flat fees, affiliate marketing, and influencer apps. She recommended that startups look for influencers who have a similar niche or target audience. Mary asked how startups could contact influencers, to which Nikki responded that messaging or commenting on their social media profiles could be effective. Nikki also shared her experience with a local company, Biofit, and emphasized the importance of persistence and trial and error in influencer marketing.

Exploring Future Collaboration Opportunities

Mary and Nikki discussed the success of their recent collaboration and the potential for future collaborations. Mary expressed her desire to help startups be wildly successful and suggested a call to discuss collaboration opportunities.

Nikki's bio

• Featured on Dr. Phil season 20 - episode “A Beautiful Rebellion”
• Published in Daily Mail UK, and many other news sources
• Has an episode on the Snapchat show, “The Positivity Fix”
• Published in 92+ magazines/on 14-15 magazine covers, 24+ music videos, 16 fashion shows, billboards, a music album cover, a mixtape cover, movies, shows, starring role in Zombie Resurrection (which has been in many film festivals and has won many awards), modeling competition reality TV show season 6 winner/season 7 host/also on season 8
• Worked with Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Jay E, Devon Alexander, and many more

Nikki's Social Media

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiSerenityST

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

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikkiSerenityFans

Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiSerenityOfficial

TikTok: https://www.TikTok.com/NikkiSerenity

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCjOo3h4QXVhoPhVgD9Us6AQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikkiserenityst

https://www.dreamhost.com/features/ai-business-advisor/

Hector Barresi from Sextant International talks about AI for Marketing for Startups.

AI's Role in Marketing Plans for Startups

Mary Scott and Hector Barresi discussed the role of AI in marketing plans for startups. Hector emphasized that AI can be particularly beneficial for startups that have developed a product but lack a formal marketing organization. He highlighted four key areas where AI can help: defining the target market, developing a go-to-market strategy, analyzing different options for deployment, and building a high-level go-to-market strategy. Hector also noted that AI can save time and avoid potential failures by helping startups focus on markets with the greatest potential.

Exploring AI's Potential and Limitations

Hector discussed the limitations and potential of AI, emphasizing that while it can be a powerful tool, it cannot be fully trusted due to its tendency to "hallucinate" or produce inaccurate information. He suggested that AI can be used to generate prompts for more effective interactions, but these prompts need to be carefully crafted. Hector also highlighted the importance of AI in analyzing data and making recommendations, and its potential to assist in content creation. Mary raised concerns about the potential for hallucination in smaller content spaces, to which Hector responded that human interaction with AI is necessary to minimize these errors.

Content Creation, Business Development, and CRM Management Strategies

Hector and Mary discussed strategies for content creation, business development, and CRM management. Hector mentioned a list of apps that could be used for these purposes, which he promised to send to Mary later. They also touched on the topic of cost-saving through one-time licenses for apps, as opposed to monthly subscriptions. Hector emphasized the importance of having a clear strategy and go-to-market plan before implementing automation tools. He suggested that automation should be used to support the process, not replace it, and that it should be tailored to the specific needs of the company.

Startups, Focus, and Targeted Resources

Mary and Hector discussed the importance of focusing on specific areas for startups to achieve success. Mary emphasized the need for startups to book a call with her at https://businessriff.com for guidance. They also discussed the need for startups to ask specific questions before choosing an app.

Business advice: https://www.dreamhost.com/features/ai-business-advisor/

Advertisement – Meta: https://madgicx.com/

Gen AI text generation based on emotional resonance: https://www.zebracat.ai/post/ai-marketing-tools-small-businesses

https://eng2e.seismic.com/ls/79c6ac86-4242-401f-bf63-4705f609dd22/GkDeSO9PqmYf8u1D#/

Kasey Devine from R & D Tax Credits talking about Tax Credits for Startups.

Summary

R&D Tax Credits for Startups

In the meeting, Mary Scott from BusinessRiff welcomed Casey Devine from R&D Tax Credits to discuss the topic of tax credits for startups. Casey explained that 2/3 of companies that qualify for research and development tax credits are unaware of the program's existence. He highlighted that the R&D tax credit is available to anyone developing a product, technology, or innovating on an existing process or technique. He also mentioned that the credit can be claimed on wages, contractor payments, and supplies spent on R&D activities. Casey further clarified that the credit can be claimed against payroll tax for startups with less than $5 million in gross receipts or less than 5 years in business. He encouraged startups to evaluate their options and consider the potential benefits of the tax credit. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging listeners to reach out to Casey for more information and to book a call with her for further collaboration.

https://bit.ly/SSSMC

Steve Brossman from SteveBrossman.com talking about How to Sell Yourself When You ARE Your Brand.

Steve and Mary discussed the importance of understanding customers' pain points and the value of collaborative selling, with Steve sharing examples of successful collaborations. They also explored the potential for expanding strategic alliances and creating clarity around their offerings. Lastly, they discussed the promotion of upcoming workshops and the need for Mary to monetize her social media impressions, with Steve offering to help her with self-selling secrets in the

Understanding Pain Points and Collaboration

Steve and Mary discussed the importance of understanding potential customers' pain points and the value of their offerings. Steve emphasized the need for a collaborative approach in selling, rather than imposing one's knowledge on others. He shared examples of how this approach had helped others, such as a life coach who increased her sales and a professional salesperson who secured a half-million-dollar deal. Steve also introduced the concept of a "bankable story" and the idea of creating a visual blueprint to facilitate collaboration. Mary agreed, highlighting the benefits of expanding strategic alliances and creating clarity around one's offerings.

Collaboration and Upcoming Workshop Promotion

In the meeting, Mary and Steve discussed the potential for collaboration and the promotion of upcoming workshops. Steve offered to help Mary with her social media engagement and suggested setting her up as an affiliate for their workshops.

https://clienttether.com

Keith Levenson from Client Tether talking about What Startups Need to Do Before Franchising

Franchising Capital and Support Requirements

Keith and Mary discuss the significant capital requirements and support systems needed to successfully franchise a business. Keith emphasizes that a minimum of $250,000 is required to start franchising, with more capital being better. He explains that substantial resources are needed to provide ongoing support to franchisees, such as real estate assistance, operational systems, and accounting guidance. Mary notes that even service-based franchises require detailed manuals and procedures. Keith stresses the importance of protecting the brand's intellectual property and highlights humility and openness to learning as key attributes for a successful franchisor during the challenging transition from operator to franchisor.

Franchising Discussion and Resource Sharing

In the meeting, Mary and Keith discussed franchising, with Keith sharing his experiences and insights. Keith expressed his enjoyment in talking about franchising and his hope for new and exciting brands to emerge.