Meet Deb, a trailblazing female founder whose personal branding expertise not only fast-tracked her green card process from 15 years to 14 days but also catapulted her into Y Combinator and secured millions in funding. This episode delves into how Deb's personal branding journey inspired the creation of her startup, Criya, designed to empower others to harness the same tools for success. We explore the pivotal role of personal branding in Deb's achievements and how Criya makes it accessible to everyone. Tune in for actionable insights on building a standout personal brand, navigating entrepreneurship, and turning the odds in your favor.

Guest Info:

LinkedIn: Deboshree Dutta
Instagram: @debduttaofficial

Criya Info:

Website: Criya.co

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Guest Background:

Alex Budak is a distinguished faculty member at UC Berkeley, co-founder of StartSomeGood, and the acclaimed author of "Becoming a Changemaker." He is passionately dedicated to empowering individuals to find their voice, spark change, and create a significant impact. His academic roles span across multiple departments at UC Berkeley, including the Haas School of Business, the School of Public Health, and Berkeley Executive Education. Alex is renowned for his inspiring changemaker courses, which have even motivated students to get related tattoos.

His book, "Becoming a Changemaker," has been recognized by CNBC as one of the "top 5 non-fiction books everyone should read about work," and is being published in 12 languages. Budak's journey in driving change commenced with the co-founding of StartSomeGood. This initiative has supported changemakers across over 50 countries, helping them raise millions of dollars to launch and scale new initiatives for change.

Alex holds degrees from UCLA and Georgetown University. He is a sought-after speaker, contributing to events at major organizations like Accenture, Salesforce, and UNHCR. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys culinary adventures, intense workouts, and traveling the world, having explored 39 countries so far.

Guest Info:

LinkedIn: Alex Budak

To Purchase Becoming a ChangeMaker Book:

Hardcover
Kindle
Paperback

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Guest Background:


Daniel Kivatinos, a serial entrepreneur with a resilient spirit, co-founded DrChrono, a transformative platform in medical record management. His journey in the tech startup world includes overcoming failures and layoffs, leading to his determination for autonomy and innovation. Daniel's proactive approach and ability to seize opportunities during pivotal moments in technology led to DrChrono's success, ranking it among Y Combinator's elite exits. Now, he's at the helm of JustPaid.io, an AI-driven revenue collection platform, continuing his legacy of reshaping industries with forward-thinking solutions.

Guest Info:

LinkedIn: Daniel Kivatinos
Instagram: Daniel Kivatinos

JustPaid.io Info:

Website: JustPaid.io
Instagram: @JustPaid.io

Schedule a Live demo HERE 

For exclusive video content and behind-the-scenes access, follow our LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok: 📸 🎉 @theentrepreneursroad (insta), @theentrepreneursroad (tiktok), the entrepreneurs road LinkedIn, Sam K LinkedIn

Guest Background:


Daniel Kivatinos, a serial entrepreneur with a resilient spirit, co-founded DrChrono, a transformative platform in medical record management. His journey in the tech startup world includes overcoming failures and layoffs, leading to his determination for autonomy and innovation. Daniel's proactive approach and ability to seize opportunities during pivotal moments in technology led to DrChrono's success, ranking it among Y Combinator's elite exits. Now, he's at the helm of JustPaid.io, an AI-driven revenue collection platform, continuing his legacy of reshaping industries with forward-thinking solutions.

Guest Info:

LinkedIn: Daniel Kivatinos
Instagram: Daniel Kivatinos

JustPaid.io Info:

Website: JustPaid.io
Instagram: @JustPaid.io

Schedule a Live demo HERE 

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:02:51 Initial Fun Question - The Matrix

00:11:20 Childhood and Early Influences

00:15:16 The drChrono Story

00:23:51 Learning from Startup Failures 

00:37:18 Entering a Whole New Industry - HealthTech

00:38:45 First Customer Acquisition

00:40:49 Scaling Dr Chrono

00:42:42 Customer Traction and Business Strategy

 00:49:17 Be a Test Machine Startup

00:54:49 End of Part One and Reminder for Next Episode

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Guest Background:

Maya Ackerman, PhD., the esteemed CEO of WaveAI, has been a pioneering figure in the AI industry, leading her company to multimillion-dollar success well before the widespread recognition of AI in 2022. Recognized as a 'Woman of Influence' by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, she also serves as a professor of computer science focusing on AI and ML at Santa Clara University. Her distinguished career, marked by a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, reflects an exceptional blend of academic excellence and profound expertise in technology and innovation.

This blend of expertise found a unique expression when Maya rediscovered her passion for music. Initially studying piano in her early years, her musical journey was interrupted due to financial hardships following immigration to Canada. At 27, she reignited her love for music, ingeniously intertwining it with her vast knowledge in computer science and AI. This fusion led to the founding of WaveAI in 2016, an innovative platform at the intersection of music and technology. With products like Lyricstudio and Melody Studio, WaveAI empowers new forms of human expression, bridging the gap between art and AI.

Under Maya's visionary leadership, WaveAI has not only emerged as a pioneer in the AI music industry but also as a key player well ahead of AI's mainstream surge. Today, WaveAI is expanding its impact by fostering partnerships and nurturing emerging startups in the AI music sector.

Maya's story is not just one of overcoming adversity, but of turning personal trials into a force for global change, ensuring that music, her once-lost treasure, is now a gift she shares with the world.

This episode is a goldmine of insights, blending academic knowledge, artistic creativity, and entrepreneurial wisdom. 

Time Stamps: 

• [00:00:03] Introduction to Maya Ackerman
• [00:05:09] Maya's Childhood Journey and Early Years
• [00:14:27] The Evolution and Impact of AI in Music
• [00:24:50] A Student Project to A Multi-Million $ Business
• [00:28:43] Exploring Human-Centered AI: Balancing Innovation and Ethics
• [00:37:43] AI's Impact on Employment in the Music Industry
• [00:52:20] Waveai B2B Partnerships and Expanding Creativity
• [00:55:37] Addressing Copyright Issues in AI-Generated Music
• [01:02:32] Building a User Base 
• [01:11:03] Gender Bias in VC Funding
• [01:20:00] Maya's Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• [01:21:43] Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts

Guest Info:

Website: Maya Ackerman
LinkedIn: Maya Ackerman

WaveAI Info:

Website: Waveai-ai.net
Instagram: @lyricstudiopro & @melodystudiopro

Tryout LyricStudio & MelodyStudio

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🚀 Exciting Announcement! First Investor Episode Alert!

🎙️ Join me for an insightful conversation with Roland Osborne, an extraordinary entrepreneur turned investor from 500 Global! 

✨ Roland's journey began in his childhood days crafting toys in rural Virginia, leading to early entrepreneurial ventures  in high school and eventually co-founding a successful Y Combinator-backed startup with his cousin. Now, as an investor at 500 Global, Roland brings a wealth of operational expertise to the table! Roland's journey from entrepreneur to investor enriches his insights. His experiences navigating the startup landscape foster a unique perspective rooted in practical wisdom. Tune in for fundraising, pitching tips, and more!

🔍 Top Tips for 500 Global Pitch Success:

Passion Over Formula: Investors prioritize genuine care for solving problems over a perfect pitch deck. Roland emphasizes the significance of demonstrating authentic commitment, unique insights, and a dedicated team.

🏗️ Spotlight on Construction Tech:

Witnessing a digital revolution, construction tech emerges as a promising sector for disruption. Roland explores the industry's recent advancements, from on-site iPad integrations to AI technologies, signaling vast potential for innovation.

🔍 Unveiling Startup Standout Secrets: 

Roland advocates for a focus on Speed of Execution: Swift actions, adaptive strategies, and a relentless focus on immediate challenges set successful startups apart. Balancing short-term priorities with long-term vision is key!

🌐 From childhood creations in Virginia to guiding startups through 500 Global, Roland's story is a testament to persistence and evolution. Join us for invaluable advice on navigating the entrepreneurial landscape! 🚀✨

For exclusive video content and behind-the-scenes access, follow our LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok: 📸 🎉 @theentrepreneursroad (insta), @theentrepreneursroad (tiktok), the entrepreneurs road LinkedIn, Sam K LinkedIn

Thrilled to introduce my dear friend, Ram, whose journey has left me utterly in awe.

In this founder episode, we are going alongside Ram in his riveting saga: From supporting himself since age 16 and founding an agency in college to navigating Silicon Valley with Acquire.io and now leading Middleware—a standout from YC's Winter Batch of 2023, all without ever working for anyone but himself.

Ram's upbringing in Rajasthan was a canvas painted with the enchantment of golden dunes and picturesque landscapes 🏜️ Toys were not bought but birthed from sheer imagination, nurturing in him a wealth of creativity, resilience, and an appreciation for life's simple joys 🏰

At 16, moving to the UK, Ram paved his way, funding his education independently. Starting as a go-to student for assignments, he ventured into tutoring, eventually founding Just Total Tech—an agency that blossomed into a team of 100, with employees unaware he was a college student!

After honing his skills working on others' businesses and developing apps for them, Ram leaped to create his own startup—and the rest is history! Here's a glimpse of the fascinating stories from Ram's journey that we'll delve into during the podcast:

🌉 He moved to Silicon Valley to co-found his first startup Acquire.io while bootstrapping it through his agency.

💸 Ram faced an uphill battle securing funding for a whopping 2 years, but quitting wasn't in his playbook! In a tough moment, he told his team they couldn't get paid that month and gave them a choice: leave now and get paid later or stay, believing in his vision and he’ll promise again he will pay later. Astonishingly, not only did no one leave, but everyone stood firm throughout this tough 3-month period!

💰 Ram didn't take any salary himself as he struggled to get funds for two whole years! But guess what? He finally made it from nothing to his first million and eventually raised a whopping $57 million!

👯 Now, Ram is at his second startup venture, Middleware which is still accompanied by some of his initial agency employees.

The list of his challenges and accomplishments goes on and on... This episode is a treasure trove, filled with inspiration and invaluable advice on entrepreneurship—spanning team dynamics, early customer acquisition, guidance for budding students and early entrepreneurs, fundraising, hiring, accelerators, and much more!

Middleware is an AI-based cloud observability platform to debug issues faster! To try out Middleware, click on the link:
https://app.middleware.io/auth/register

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🎉 Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Entrepreneur’s Road, where we embark on an inspiring journey with our very first guest, the remarkable Amy Kelly, Co-Founder of Miri! 🎉

In this episode, we delve into Amy's upbringing and the journey that led her to co-found Miri, a company with a mission to address healthcare equity.

Amy's story is nothing short of extraordinary. She shares how her father, an AIDS researcher, instilled in her a sense of fearlessness, empathy, social responsibility, and a drive to challenge old ideologies. These early experiences laid the foundation for her incredible work in the world of healthcare.

As a serial entrepreneur, she co-founded the Children's Institute and her previous business expanded to three different locations and employed 17 people. Amy's partnership with Boris Korsunsky, the first CTO of Lyft, led to the birth of Miri, where they share a passion for bringing equity to healthcare.

Miri is tackling a massive problem: inequity in healthcare systems. Doctors are overwhelmed, alternative care and coaching are often unaffordable, and practitioners face burnout due to high demand. Not everyone can access the care they deserve or the education they need to prevent illness.

Miri's innovative solution aggregates data from the best doctors and health experts, employing AI to create a customized wellness coach based on users' backgrounds and needs, providing them with the best 24/7 personalized services.

In this episode, Amy also provides invaluable insights and advice for early entrepreneurs. She shares her experiences and lessons learned, offering guidance for those looking to make a positive impact in the world of entrepreneurship. Amy's wisdom and passion for change shine through as she imparts advice on innovation, determination, and building a business with a purpose.

To try out Miri and be a part of this transformative journey, click on the link: https://www.miri.health/

🚀 Join us for a journey of impact, innovation, and inspiration with Amy Kelly. This is just the beginning of an incredible series of conversations with changemakers, and we can't wait for you to be a part of it. 🌟🎙️

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Embark on a journey through the world of entrepreneurship with me as I share inspiring stories from visionary founders, perceptive investors, and industry experts who are shaping the future.

For exclusive video content and behind-the-scenes access, follow our LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok: 📸 🎉 @theentrepreneursroad (insta), @theentrepreneursroad (tiktok), the entrepreneurs road LinkedIn, Sam K LinkedIn