DevReady Podcast Aerion Technologies

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, our host, Anthony Sapountzis, is joined by Youssef Jalloul, a seasoned Tech Entrepreneur, Venture Builder, and a Mentor. Tune in to this episode as Youssef takes us on a captivating journey through his diverse entrepreneurial experiences – from founding hydroponics farms to navigating the complexities of the tech industry. Youssef also shares valuable insights and reflections on the Lebanese financial crisis and unveils his latest venture, "Actively," a groundbreaking approach to air travel and activity planning in the web3 era. Get ready for a narrative filled with innovation, resilience, and a wealth of wisdom for startup founders.

Youssef’s journey unfolds as a dynamic narrative of entrepreneurial ventures and technological innovation. From founding hydroponics farms during university to navigating the challenges of the tech industry, he shares a diverse array of experiences. Youssef's journey encompasses social projects, a tech company in Abu Dhabi, and diverse investments, including medical systems, e-learning, and e-commerce platforms. The interview delves into the complexities of the Lebanese financial crisis, the establishment of an innovative accelerator, and its unfortunate closure due to economic challenges.

The discussion seamlessly transitions to Youssef's relocation to Sydney amid the COVID-19 pandemic, narrating the two-year process to ensure stability for his family. Youssef's focus on self-discovery in the past year and a half culminates in his exploration of new opportunities, particularly in the realm of web3 technology. This exploration leads to the introduction of "Actively," a groundbreaking air travel and activity planner that utilizes AI and QR codes to bridge the gap between traditional and modern practices, emphasizing sustainability and personalized user experiences.

The narrative takes an introspective turn as Youssef reflects on his entry into the tech industry through his parents' development company. The journey involves an award-winning Arabic reading and writing software, its evolution into a web platform, and the impactful effort to address literacy gaps in the Middle East. Youssef's insights for startup founders become a focal point, emphasizing the "build fast, fail faster" mindset, the significance of experiments before substantial investment, and the critical role of a diverse and collaborative team.

The interview concludes with Youssef's current endeavors, including the pursuit of pilots for his innovative projects and the imminent launch of YJ Ventures. This platform aims to combine a venture builder with a scale-up program, showcasing Youssef's passion for guiding founders, navigating the challenges of convincing clients to embrace change, and leveraging the supportive startup ecosystem in Australia.

In this engaging episode of the DevReady Podcast, our hosts, Andrew Romeo and Anthony Sapountzis sit down with Sam Saltis, Founder & CEO of Core dna. Join the conversation as Sam takes us on a captivating journey through his tech evolution, sharing insights into the inception and growth of Core dna, reflections on international experiences, and a visionary outlook on the future of technology and entrepreneurship. Sam's wealth of experiences provides a fascinating backdrop for discussions on building, scaling, and navigating the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.

Sam takes us on a journey through his tech evolution, starting from his teenage experimentation with bulletin boards to becoming the driving force behind a global tech company. The conversation delves into Sam's experiences at ANZ, the pivotal decision to pursue an MBA, and the inception of Core dna, an enterprise cloud platform now recognized globally.

Core dna operates with a distributed team across multiple countries, emphasizing its unique selling points such as affordability, adaptability for various business sizes, and challenges convincing larger enterprises to transition from established platforms. Sam provides insights into diverse client needs, ranging from complex integrations for extensive websites to mid-market enterprises seeking efficient content management.

The episode unfolds Core dna's innovative solution for the challenge of integrating and transferring content across different platforms. Sam shares the entrepreneurial journey of transitioning from the banking sector to founding a tech business, identifying opportunities in connecting shopping centers and retailers to the internet. The evolution from agency to a product-centric business, rewriting systems, and launching the "Expect Factor" platform are discussed in detail.

Sam reflects on his international experiences in India and the United States, emphasizing cultural differences, challenges during the tech boom in India, and diverse business mindsets in the U.S. He critiques the cutthroat mentality in some parts of the U.S. and highlights the collaborative, win-win approach he prefers in business.

The episode concludes with Sam's future plans, including giving back to startups, exploring innovative business models, bringing software development in-house, and global expansion. Sam underscores the importance of recognizing unique strengths in the tech industry, advocating for trust-building through relationships and outcomes over financial competition.

The conversation also touches on the changing dynamics of social interactions, engagement with interesting people, and the transformative role of AI in various industries. Sam's insights offer a comprehensive view of Core dna's growth, the tech industry's challenges, and his forward-looking vision for the future.

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, our hosts, Andrew Romeo and Anthony Sapountzis are joined by Steve Grace, Founder, TNG Media & The Nudge Group and  CEO, Balance The Grind. Steve also hosts a podcast, Give It A Nudge Show, and is the Director at YBF Ventures. Join hosts as they dive into Steve's 28-year adventure in recruitment, unraveling the secrets behind his transformative media strategies and the art of balancing startup success.

Steve delves into his 28-year journey in recruitment, tracing his origins in London, a detour through a government-focused recruitment company, and the subsequent creation of Knowledge, an education-focused recruitment agency tailored for startups. The timing was fortuitous as the company expanded globally, just before the onset of COVID-19, benefitting startups and paving the way for the birth of media platforms.

Steve shares profound insights into the critical decision of choosing the right co-founder for a tech startup, emphasizing the need for non-tech founders to consider acquiring a tech co-founder early in the startup journey. He highlights the rarity of finding a skilled engineer with both technical expertise and business acumen, cautioning against hiring from larger organizations. The discussion extends to the dynamic nature of startup teams, the evolving roles of founders, and the necessity for founders to anticipate shifts in team composition as the startup progresses.

The podcast explores the impact of COVID-19 on the recruitment landscape, with Steve shedding light on the newfound ease of global recruitment and the evolving ability to assess candidates effectively through video interviews. A game-changing strategy is unveiled—using media to recruit for startups. Steve explains how "Give It A Nudge" YouTube channel reversed the traditional recruitment approach, significantly increasing success rates, impact, and candidate retention in startup roles.

Steve passionately expresses his love for the startup world, highlighting the positivity, excitement, and relentless work ethic of individuals within it. He contrasts the startup environment with corporate life, emphasizing the openness, lack of competition paranoia, and the sense of being part of something impactful as key reasons behind his affinity for the startup world. The episode concludes with Steve discussing the accidental evolution of "Balance The Grind" and "Startup Life Unscripted," both becoming impactful media assets.

In summary, the episode provides a comprehensive journey through Steve Grace's entrepreneurial ventures, offering valuable insights into startup dynamics, recruitment strategies, and the transformative power of media in the business landscape.

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, our host, Andrew Romeo, joins Carmen Williams, Co-Founder & Director of Global Teams. In this episode, Carmen shares the secrets behind leveraging her Global Teams’ Virtual Assistants (VAs) to not just elevate but truly amplify your business potential. Join us on a journey through Carmen's insights, a game-changer for entrepreneurs navigating the landscape of the digital era. Discover how her expertise transforms businesses and unlocks the full spectrum of possibilities in this compelling exploration of global teams and virtual mastery.

Carmen shares the unexpected journey of her business, originally rooted in healthcare consulting, that organically grew into a thriving virtual assistant company supporting over 100 professionals in the Philippines. Highlighting the diverse qualifications of her team, including individuals with backgrounds in science, mathematics, law, and engineering, Carmen emphasizes their role in different stages of business growth.

Carmen delves into the crucial aspects of effective communication and collaboration between business owners and virtual assistants, offering insights into marketing strategies. She underscores the importance of business owners owning the strategy and content creation for social media marketing while virtual assistants contribute through distribution and enhancement tasks. The discussion extends to recruitment challenges, delegation practices, and the nuanced methods for motivating virtual assistants.

The conversation shifts to understanding the cost considerations of managing virtual assistants, with Carmen acknowledging that while doing tasks independently may be cheaper, many seek additional support for tasks like scoping, candidate selection, and ongoing communication. Carmen distinguishes between clients with mature businesses willing to invest in quality and those new to the process, seeking extra support to ensure success in integrating virtual assistants.

Carmen's approach extends beyond business relationships to fostering mutual understanding between business owners and virtual assistants. She shares a popular training module focused on helping virtual assistants comprehend the unique aspects of Australian business culture. Carmen invites listeners to explore resources on globalteams.com.au for a deeper understanding of virtual assistant capabilities and improved communication strategies.

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, our host, Anthony Sapountzis, is joined by Monica Rosenfeld, Founder of the Global Stories that Stir Movement. Listen to the episode to discover the art of crafting authentic narratives, mastering personal branding strategies, and leveraging impactful storytelling for business success, in addition to the invaluable insights and expert tips on creating engaging content and fostering meaningful connections in the digital age.

The Global Stories that Stir Movement revolves around monthly storytelling events where individuals share raw and personal stories related to significant themes. With a goal to break down barriers, initiate conversations, and inspire positive change, the movement has organized 15 events since its inception in February 2022. Moreover, the concept is expanding globally through licensing arrangements. Alongside these events, Monica assists various businesses, both small startups and large corporations, in defining their unique narratives, catering to the distinct needs of each.

Monica shares insights into her journey, emphasizing the significance of authentic storytelling in building connections and driving positive change. With a wealth of experience in public relations and media, spanning over two decades, she highlights the power of crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and attract clients aligned with shared values and vision. Monica introduces the "Tree Step" process, guiding businesses in defining their core values, expertise, physical appearance, and content creation strategies, ultimately enhancing their personal branding efforts. She also presents the REAL Storytelling Framework, empowering individuals to unearth their unique stories and add a human touch to their brand.

Moreover, Monica delves into effective content creation strategies, introducing the "Seven REASONS to Create Content" acronym, which outlines various avenues for engaging content development, including real-life stories, entrepreneurial backstories, awareness days, statistics, opinions, news of the day, and snappy tips or myths. She underlines the role of personal narratives in elevating content quality and subtly demonstrating expertise, enabling businesses to naturally attract clients through valuable and engaging content.

Monica emphasizes the transformative impact of storytelling, drawing parallels between its success and effective marketing, underscoring its ability to drive motivation and deepen audience engagement. Lastly, she provides valuable tips for impactful storytelling, advocating for a narrative-driven approach that captivates audiences from the outset while adapting to the context to ensure maximum relevance and resonance.

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, our hosts, Andrew Romeo and Anthony Sapountzis are joined by Steven Lewis, the Director of Copywriting and AI Copywriting Speaker and Trainer at Taleist Agency. Listen to the episode for a captivating discussion on the power of effective communication and engaging content to uncover the secrets of persuasive copywriting and storytelling and gain valuable insights into crafting compelling narratives.

Steven emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinction between copywriting and content writing, highlighting the need to engage audiences and drive specific actions. He illustrates the common tendency for businesses to focus on self-promotion rather than addressing customer concerns, emphasizing the need to prioritize the audience's needs and desires.

Steven underscores the significance of tailoring social proof to address customer objections effectively, stressing the importance of testimonials that resonate with customers' core worries and desires. He delves into the barriers to sales, such as pricing and communication clarity, highlighting the necessity of ensuring a company's website effectively communicates its offerings. Additionally, Steven debunks the misconception of broad demographics in marketing, emphasizing the need to understand the nuanced needs and fears of individual customers within the target market, even in B2B contexts.

Further, Steven emphasizes the importance of understanding clients' emotional needs and desires, showcasing the effectiveness of using language and narratives that evoke positive emotions and resonate with clients' aspirations. He also discusses the significance of leveraging pain points and fear in marketing, highlighting the psychological tendency of individuals to avoid losses more vehemently than pursuing gains. Steven emphasizes the critical role of persuasive and effective copywriting in driving conversions on websites, debunking common myths about copy length and stressing the importance of captivating content.

Moreover, Steven underscores the importance of the research process in uncovering valuable insights about businesses and their unique value propositions. He emphasizes the necessity of effectively conveying these value propositions in various marketing channels, encouraging businesses to move beyond conventional sales-driven email newsletters to establish genuine connections with their audience. Finally, Steven highlights the significance of communicating a business's unique philosophy and approach to establish meaningful connections with the right customers, illustrating this through a discussion on CRM and the importance of clearly articulating a company's target audience and unique approach.