Mary Grove’s Post

🙌 Sharing My Journey at Capital Factory during my first week in US 🙌 Hey everyone, I just had to tell you about my experience at Capital Factory - it's been an incredible journey so far! 🚀 For anyone looking to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey in the USA, this place is a real game-changer. 🇺🇸 ✨ Learning from CF Founder Academy ✨ I recently attended the Founder Academy Essentials hosted by Gordon Daugherty, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opener. 📚 His three-day practical lecture gave me so many valuable insights, and I even got his book signed! 😊 Thanks, Gordon, for being such an inspiration! 💡 Amazing Mentors 💡 The mentorship I received at Capital Factory has been nothing short of amazing. 🤝 Harlan Beverly, Sébastien Long, Steve Schaffer, Feng Chi Wang, Kristy Alballero, and Shlomi Podgaetz - these folks are true experts in their fields and have been a tremendous help in shaping my entrepreneurial vision. 🤗 The Supportive Cohort 🤗 But you know what really makes Capital Factory special? It's the community of coworkers who share the same passion and drive. Sarina Charugundla, Kelvin Scott, Umar Brimah, Jesse Lozano, Sawyer Covington, Kurt Bonatz, and Valentyn Yaromenko 🇺🇦 - they've been like a second family, always there to encourage and support me. 😊 And let's not forget the incredible CF staff! Rachel Vaughn, Shea Railey, and Caroline Van Nuis - you make all this magic happen. Your unwavering support and guidance have been essential to my journey. This place is more than just a coworking space - it's a family of innovators and dreamers, and I'm proud to be a part of it. If you're ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level, I highly recommend joining Capital Factory. Let's chase our dreams together! 💪 #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #CapitalFactory #Innovation #DreamBig

For 7 years we've met founders and other startup leaders with a shared desire to grow their teams. Those same founders and startup leaders often have a shared frustration 👇 How can they hire the absolute best of the best when they're still in the earlier stages of growth? When we were considering our next Work Sucks event topic, we weren't sure if talking about growth at a time when some businesses are struggling would resonate with you. But when we thought about the daily chats we have with leaders, we knew this is the exact challenge many of you are facing. That's why we're thrilled to bring together a panel of speakers who've felt those exact same frustrations. These speakers have founded and exited businesses, scaled teams, and helped transform startups from businesses that were hardly known to brands the industry knows and loves. Today's the big day! We're so excited to see you at our next Work Sucks event where we'll dive headfirst into the topic: Growing your startup when talent says it's "too risky". Our previous events have been filled with thought-provoking conversations turned to post-event chats that quite literally went on for hourssss. You know the kind of juicy chats that make you switch off your alarm for the gym the next morning because, let's be real, you ain't going? Yeah, those kind. So join us, will ya?  Get your last minute ticket here: https://lnkd.in/g7fvdSTV

When you were a startup, you were a rebel. Now you are scaling up AND you want to keep your rebellious spirit. I will be launching a program this summer with spots for 8 mischief makers. If you are interested in getting information as it becomes available, comment “mischief” below or message me. Also, give an example of rebellious innovation. And while you are at it, who are the two best mischief makers that you know personally? Celebrate them here.  👇🏻👇🏻 --- o0o ---   🖐🏻 I am Raymond. Founders hire me to make their companies more investable.   Do you want to: ➡ avoid unnecessary pain? ➡ stand out from the others? ➡ look great to your investors? ➡ shave time off due diligence? ➡ eliminate risk and close the deal? ➡ get back to growing your business?   📞 If you would like to chat, just reach out.

What founders have raised billions, yet destroyed their companies and their reputations? Consider the cases of Theranos and WeWork – two startups that successfully raised billions due to the storytelling abilities of their founders, Elizabeth Holmes and Adam Neumann. Holmes personalized her pitch, tying the value of her health tech startup to the well-being of investors and their loved ones. Neumann, on the other hand, crafted a compelling narrative around the communal work experience, tapping into the growing desire for connection in the digital age. Their stories were powerful, persuasive, and irresistible. But, both narratives, while compelling, were ultimately found to be built on shaky foundations. The companies collapsed, serving as strong reminders that while storytelling is indeed powerful, it must be backed by substance, integrity, and credibility. Remember, a compelling story might open doors, but only truth and hard work will keep them open. Let your story not just be captivating but also authentic and genuine. After all, in the world of startups, the best story is always the real one. For more content on #entrepreneurship, #investing, and #leadership, follow me Ashesh Shah.

The startup community is thriving. Having had some incredible meetings over the last couple of weeks, it’s safe to say there are some exciting things happening in the startup world right now 🔥 Here are some of my takeaways from meeting leaders in the ecosystem: 🤝🏻 Roei Samuel and I talked about the vision of his platform Connectd that has now expanded to the US and seeing record growth in the states. We also related over some of the challenges that startup founders face and how we can overcome them. Proof in the pudding that founder community matters. 🧠 Alexi Pittalis and I dug deep into how to build meaningful relationships and community, and what it really means to turn up and support people. It was great to hear how he’s working with funds and portfolio companies to help them understand themselves and how to flip their challenges into opportunities to be transparent, productive, and honest. 🌳 Tariq El Haj Omar and I discussed the opportunity and threats to and of AI, sustainability, and spirituality on a walk round a very sunny Hyde Park. It was great to dig below the small talk and discuss how we as visionaries can lead the way to integrate not just startup success but also societal success into our mission every day. 🚀 Vinchy Chan and I talked a lot about building teams that scale with you as a CEO and how it matters who you bring in early. This is actually super related to Roei’s post about team building today, but the potential risks of bringing in the wrong people too fast is one of the biggest threats to you as a founder/CEO. Make sure you understand people, their work ethic, their vision, and bring the people in who are going to be your A Team from day 0. 💸 Qianhui Yang and I had a great insightful chat about the differences between VC & PE and how different investors support and communicate with potential investments and founders. I find it always such a refreshing moment when people like Qianhui Yang are willing to chat openly about their thought processes, it’s this type of engagement that gives me hope for the investment landscape. Just a handful of the awesome conversations happening over the last week. My advice: reach out, grab coffee, get off the computer, and open up. Trust me, you’ll feel better for it 💪🏻 #Community #Networking #Startups #Investment #Impact

What are some common misconceptions about co-founders? ✏️ 🚫 Debunking Common Myths About Co-Founders 🤝 Co-founders play a pivotal role in a startup's success, yet misconceptions about them persist. Let's bust some of these myths: 1. **Equal Ownership is a Must**: Co-founders don't always have to split equity equally. It's about skills, contributions, and agreements, not just an even share. 2. **All Co-Founders Should Be Friends**: While a good working relationship helps, co-founders don't need to be best buddies. Complementary skills and shared vision matter most. 3. **Co-Founders Must Always Agree**: Healthy debate is normal. Disagreements can lead to better decisions if managed constructively. 4. **Titles Define Everything**: Titles like CEO or CTO aren't set in stone. Roles evolve; what matters is each co-founder's responsibilities. 5. **Co-Founders Don't Need Contracts**: Formal agreements are crucial. They clarify equity, roles, and responsibilities, avoiding disputes later. 6. **More Co-Founders, More Success**: A lean, focused team can be more effective. More co-founders can lead to complexity and decision-making challenges. 7. **Investors Dictate Co-Founder Roles**: Investors have a say, but co-founders should maintain control over their vision and direction. 8. **Co-Founders Split After a Few Years**: Successful co-founder relationships can last a lifetime, evolving with the business. Clear communication, trust, and shared goals are key to successful co-founder partnerships. Don't let misconceptions cloud your understanding of this crucial entrepreneurial dynamic. 🚀👥 #CoFounders #Startups #Entrepreneurship #MythsDebunked

Navigating the exhilarating journey of growth in the business landscape can often feel like holding a tiger by the tail. It can get chaotic at times and often the fast ride up is swiftly followed by a free fall down. Recently, Enjoy The Work General Partner Kristen Hamilton had the opportunity to share some of her incredible knowledge on growth and product market fit with a group of Oregon’s top startups and most talented founders and CEOs gathered at Stoller Family Estate for Oregon Venture Fund’s annual CEO Summit. Kristen shared some valuable insights and experience from her own journey as a first-time founder, delving deeper into the highs and lows of growth, and offering actionable steps for startups grappling with the complexities of expansion. Key takeaways included: — Living and breathing your business principles, ensuring they resonate through your product, brand, culture, and market approach. — Initiating founder-led sales strategies for early customer acquisition. —Audacious hiring practices and avoiding common pitfalls in the recruitment process. — Best practices for leading your team through rapid growth and transformation. —The importance of continuous customer discovery efforts. A heartfelt thank you to Matt Compton and the team at Oregon Venture Fund, as well as Tim Porter at Madrona for the introduction. Gratitude also extends to the brilliant founders who attended the event and asked thought-provoking questions that fueled an engaging discussion. Interested in learning more about all of our workshops and events? Follow us to stay up to date: https://lnkd.in/gdvV9r84 #venturecapital #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #companybuilding

🔥Hot Take Alert🔥: A Cinderella story isn't just for fairytales, it also applies to the corporate world! Intrigued? Read on, my enlightened professionals! 👀👇 We've all been there, scrappy startups fighting to make it big, gazing longingly at those shiny corporate behemoths with their infinite resources and stable outlooks. But let me throw you a curveball, entrepreneurs! Didja know that sometimes, those grand corporate titans gaze right back? They see your agility, your hunger, your innovation and boy, do they want a piece of that pie! Turn the tables, my friends! Yes, you heard it right. Those mighty corporate megalodons need YOU more than you need them! They're slow, often sluggish to respond to market changes, and struggle with maintaining that cutting-edge coolness. It's like asking a dinosaur to tap dance. You, on the other hand, with your nimble team and tight-knit culture, you're straight-up balletic! 🩰 Your lack of legacy systems means you're not chained by outdated tech or practices. You're dynamic, adaptable, and swift. While corporate Goliaths need to battle through layers of management for decision-making, you're out there taking names and making it happen💪 Throw a dash of ambition, a sprinkle of creativity and you've got a recipe for game-changing hustle 🚀 and they're lining up for a taste. So, ask not what you can do for the corporate world. Ask what the corporate world can do for YOU! 👈 Today's mantra: You're the sought-after belle of the corporate ball, and it's high time to start dancing to your own tune! 🎶 Let's start celebrating our nimble nature, cherishing our agility and let's show those corporate bigwigs what we're made of! The stage is yours, you start-up sensations! Go forth, and conquer! 💯🏆 PS: and if you're someone from corporate lands reading this, don't fret. You're more than welcome in our disruptive, nimble world. After all, everyone loves a good underdog story, right? #startuplife #entrepreneurship #businessstrategy #corporaterevolution #innovation

WorkMotion Story Part 2: After meeting Carsten Lebtig and bringing Felix Steffens on board, we blasted off like a rocket. Why? Because each of us founders brought unique, complementary skills to the table—it was the perfect match for a dream team. Carsten Lebtig: With his charming personality and top-tier consultancy skills from McKinsey, he astonished our investors and fueled our growth. Felix Steffens: As a well-connected pre-investor himself, Felix handled investor relations and operations with finesse. Me: Fueled by passion and a relentless drive, I spearheaded product development. In just one month, we launched a live, working product for our clients. It was insane! Our growth was lightning-fast. We were hiring 30 employees monthly to ensure our clients received stellar service. But soon, our success led to an unexpected challenge—our clients began to outgrow us. We faced an immense hurdle that threatened our reputation. But guess who jumped in to save the day? Shhh... stay tuned for Part 3 to find out more! #FounderStory #Entrepreneurship #DreamTeam #StartupJourney #ProductDevelopment #InvestorRelations #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #WorkMotion #Innovation #TeamSuccess #RocketSpeed #GlobalTalent #RemoteWork #ScalingUp #BusinessStrategy #TechStartups #StartupLife

🌟 Reflecting on the journey of entrepreneurship and the importance of mutual appreciation in the startup ecosystem. 🚀 It's disheartening to witness employees forgetting the support and opportunities provided by their companies and founders, leaving negative reviews as they depart. Let's foster a culture of gratitude and recognition. 💙 Imagine a platform where departing employees are rated by employers, acknowledging their contributions, while entrepreneurs also have a space to express their experiences with them. Together, we can create a more sensible and empathetic environment that values the efforts of both employees and founders. #StartupCulture #Gratitude #Entrepreneurship