Murat Hokka’s Post

While I was running my startup, I once sat next to a VC who told me that he is looking for just one wrong thing I say to reject me but when it comes to folks with pedigree or qualifications from Ivy Leagues he is looking for just one right thing they say to fund them. It struck me like lightning because no matter how great your product idea is or how profitable your company is or how good your growth is, none of it matters if you happen to not belong to one of these elite clubs. Of course nobody will confess in open and accept it but funding in India still happens because of trivial things and not because your product has some merit. Imagine the money LPs lose over such investments. It's elitist at best and folks from the general diaspora barely have a shot. I'd have met so many small and profitable businesses run by entrepreneurs from small cities without a tinge of elitism in them be it fake accents or expensive clothes or jazzy language but running some really successful businesses. It's easy to judge them and dismiss them on the basis of their attire but these guys are the actual mavericks who understand the pulse of the market. They understand their customers as well as their spouses and would do anything to ensure their customers are happy. Compare them to our English Spoken Entrepreneurs in Tier-1 cities who can throw any amount of gyaan on business but actually have zero clue how to run a profitable business or build a legacy company. That's the bias our investment community suffers from which makes them so myopic that they fail to see great product ideas or entrepreneurs. Imagine running a program called Shark Tank with just one entrepreneur running a profitable enterprise and the rest running loss making businesses. The mainstream media has made heroes out of folks who have no clue how to build profitable businesses. That's tad unfair to a lot of capable entrepreneurs who barely get their 15 minutes. Not that they need it but they could be perfect role models for our aspirants. #business #startups #technology #productmanagement #innovation #entrepreneurship

#FeedbackFriday: Have you filled out your Car Free Day survey? In order to take action on increasing access to mobility options, we need community voices engaging the conversation. Were you able to go the whole day without a car? If not, where did you struggle? Community planning takes community engagement and this is a great way to SpeakUP for our environment AND raise awareness for equity.

We wanted to take a moment to celebrate our amazing community, and showcase their plants and results, just check out the rootzones on these plants! With results like this, our products speak for themselves! Have you tried our products yet? Drop your experience in the comments below or let us know if you want to try it for yourself!

🌟 Exciting Reunion Alert for the Indiana Community! 🌟 🚀 Date: Monday, January 29, 2024 | Time: 5-7 PM In our hyper-connected digital world, isn't it ironic how we often feel more disconnected than ever? It's time to change that narrative, especially here in Central Indiana. 🌐💡 I'm thrilled to share an incredible opportunity for us to reconnect, not just online, but in person, where real relationships blossom. Smaller Indiana is making a grand comeback with a reunion event that promises to reignite our community spirit! 🌟 Remember Smaller Indiana (SI)? That vibrant hub where entrepreneurs, artists, and activists from across Indiana converged to share, collaborate, and grow together. It wasn't just a network; it was a family that made the vast world seem smaller, more intimate, and incredibly relevant to each one of us. 🤝🔍 Rediscover the Power of Personal Interaction: This reunion isn't just about reminiscing the good old days; it's about rekindling those one-on-one connections that are the lifeblood of meaningful collaboration and community building. In a world where we swipe and click through relationships, let's take a moment to appreciate the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interactions. 🎉 Join Us for a Night of Networking, Inspiration, and Fun: Whether you were a part of SI in its heyday or are just hearing about it, this event is for you. If you believe in the power of local communities and real-life connections, you won't want to miss this. It's not just an event; it's the start of something new and exciting. 💡 Don't Miss Out - RSVP Now! Spaces are limited, and trust me, you don't want to experience FOMO on this one. Secure your spot today and be part of shaping the future of our community. 🔗 RSVP here: Smaller Indiana Reunion - January 29, 2024 https://lnkd.in/g88YtRSA Let's make the big world smaller, together. See you there! 🌟 #SmallerIndiana #CommunityReunion #NetworkingEvent #IndianaEntrepreneurs #Artists #Activists #Collaboration #RealConnections

Are you powerful? A few months ago, Jannine Versi connected me with Karen Roth to explore a speaking opportunity for Women@Google in NYC. I started my previous role at Google in this very office, nearly 12 years ago. It's where I met Elle Kim, Hana C., Megan Hellerer, Mia Mora, and so many other incredible leaders and friends. In those days, our executive sponsor was the incomparable Eileen Naughton, who had just daringly named her org GAGA. I will forever be grateful for Women@Google and the tireless volunteers who organized these events. It’s where I gained so much: - The language and data to better understand my experience as a woman in a male dominated workplace - The inspiration from other women leaders’ stories and perspectives - The passion to become inextricably enrolled as an advocate for women’s empowerment Those conversations shaped the work I do with #femalefounders and #womenleaders today, especially in my #leadershipworkshops on confidence, handling interruptions, advocating for yourself, pitching, and emotional intelligence. So the idea of going back to Google to speak for Women@NYC two weeks after my return from maternity seemed like the perfect full circle moment - in service of my tribe, and in service of my creative expression. And, the perfect challenge. It was the first time I was away from my baby for more than 4 hours, and it was for all the right reasons. This is my mission. Leading up to the talk, instead of delving into research like I usually do, I listened. And I heard a message: Talk about Power. - Show these women how much power they have within them - Do it by dismantling the self-image that systems of power and unconscious bias bake into professional women everyday - Give them a blueprint for handling power dynamics, so that they can lead from equal power, not power under - Help them connect with the infallible source of power they have within As a new mom, I have never felt more powerful than I do now. And I knew that giving this workshop would be transformative for *me*. The most rebellious thing a woman can do is know that she's enough. So that's what I led with - my authenticity, my perspective, my message, all of which has been slow churned by all the women leaders I've had the chance to learn from over the years. And this idea: Part of being a powerful is deciding that your way of seeing the world is important before anyone else does. (N.B. This is aimed at those that the world needs to hear more from - women, POC, anyone with a marginalized identity - not the already powerful. For those, look up POWER-WITH and POWER-TO.) I designed the workshop to be provocative, compassionate, and transformative. 100% of attendees have said that they agree/strongly agree that it was worth their time. If you want to join the next one, comment below. Who's ready to tap into their power within? Who else is ready to decide that their way of seeing the world is important and enough?

Focus on the positive, build on coping mechanisms and healthy family support chains! All Secure Fondation should be the first place the VA is sending vets before assigning a medication based regiment that is not necessary and only builds habit forming needs.

Anybody missing warmer weather yet? Springtime nostalgia 🌼 Check out our renderings for the park. Can you hear the gentle hum of bikes, the sweet songs of birds, the scooters whizzing by, the bikes docking at the train station, the dogs playfully barking, and the lively conversations in the air? 🚴♀️🐦🛴🚆🐕🗣️ Project: The Ray at Generation Park Location: Houston, Texas Sub-Market Sector: Community/Non-Profit Rendering Service Type: Marketing Rendering Purpose of Rendering: Marketing Rendering --- #exteriorrendering #communityspace #marketingrendering #3drendering #detailrendering #community

Last week one of our newest members, Anna Deamicis , presented a thoughtful outline of what it is that attracts and keeps members to Pascoe Vale Rotary. After confirming the stated pillars of Pascoe Vale Rotary – People of action, Problem solvers, Community builders Opportunity creators there was lively discussion to which every member thoughtfully contributed regarding the gaps in our club, reasons why and possible answers. The risk and opportunities analysis brought up issues regarding how to progress further and grow membership. The perceived image of Rotary is one of elderly men fundraising with BBQ’s. We know we do much more than that but if we don’t tell people, they’ll never change their perception of this community organization of quiet achievers. It became clear we must embrace social media more and tell the public more often what we actually do! . Further planning will include – Develop a promotional +marketing action plan and measure outcomes regularly Decide our target audience – what demographic do we want? Recruit new collaborative partnerships with key partners and other organisations Update website It was a stimulating and informative evening which provides some base upon which to grow.

Are you ready for #givingtuesday? Giving Tuesday is a global holiday where people from all over the world come together to show their generosity. Check out the few ways you can support us for #givingtuesday2023

🚦Operation: Hair 2024 is underway. For this #community event to work, we’re looking for people that find value in our mission, content and journey that follow whom would like to make a beneficial difference and impact in a positive way to get behind our brand. This is an amazing opportunity to network with us, add value and contribute to a great cause and support a small business- which is rarer than diamond on the internet. What we’re doing is selling our ‘Revenge of the Creator’ hats from the Tech Wars themed community event and I’ll be donating my hair to another charity for a 5th year in a row, after it grows out. When I lost my mother to cancer years back in the middle of our content grind to building brand and community, it was something that I did to pay homage and respect to mine, and it became apart of our brand. If you’d like to show your support to our brand and join our digital e-fam, what are you waiting for? Our Revenge of the Creator Snapbacks are created for bosses that deserve more value on top of their minds, to rock it in public and let them know you’re going places with us as a community! Plus, they say ‘Boss’ in the back of the hat, whether you’re wearing yours at your desk, on the field or in the market. Front, back, sideways or upside down and inside out, it’s royal blue at all angles to keep you lookin’ fresh at all times. 🧢Want a cap with absolutely no cap? Got you. 💬You can message us and ask for info about the drip, and we will surely respond with a drop. 🚀Follow Digital Business Traffic for more authentic entrepreneurship with community, value and occasional jokes with events and stuff. 💻Operation: Hair 2024 https://lnkd.in/eU5QSQ_S