Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup Ian Black
-
- Business
-
A show about realizing the business ideas of early-stage entrepreneurs.
Ian Black interviews early-stage company founders to hear what it's really like getting a business off the ground. How do you launch a startup? What does it take to turn an idea into a business? How do you turn a profit? On Ready For Launch, we get the answers to those questions straight from the people making it happen today.
Be inspired by their stories. Learn from their mistakes. Understand the mindset it takes to create something from nothing.
-
Overcoming Your Fears By Bootstrapping An Allergy Friendly Protein Bar Business, with Patrick Manning, founder of Alio.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.
This week, Ian Black talks to Patrick Manning, the founder of Alio, an allergy-friendly protein bar company, who shares his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship. He saw a need for a protein bar free from the top nine food allergens and high in protein, and decided to create it himself. He shares his perspective on overcoming doubts and challenges as a founder and the unique lessons he has learned through entrepreneurship.
Website
https://livealio.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/livealionow
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/livealio
Chapters
Introduction and Background
Identifying the Need for Allergy-Friendly Protein Bars
Transition from Medical School to Entrepreneurship
Finding a Mentor and Overcoming Fear
Lessons Learned from Starting a Business
Challenges in Recipe Development and Manufacturing
Rebranding and Refining the Product
Market Response to the Relaunch of Allio
Importance of Customer Feedback and Launch Strategy
Delegating and Bringing in Experts
Building a Team and Seeking External Funding
Organic Marketing Strategies
Effective Sales Tactics through Engagment with Facebook Groups
Sales Channels and Retail Expansion
Profitability and Margin Refinement
Shelf Life and Expiry Dates
Daily Operations and Balancing Work
Future Team Expansion
Overcoming Doubts and Challenges
Advice for Founders and Dealing with Doubt
Setting Goals and Managing Friction
Product Expansion and New Flavors
Challenges in Scaling and Retail Expansion
The Power of Creation and Overcoming Challenges
Where to Find Alio
---
Host: Ian Black
Intro Music:
https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life
License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4 -
The Van Conversion Expert: How to Unlock the Lifestyle You’ve Dreamed of - with Shane Monks O'Byrne, founder of The Van Conversion Dotcom.
Shane Monks O'Byrne teaches people how to build camper vans and live a van life. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the philosophy of van life, and the lessons he learned from building his latest startup - https://www.thevanconversion.com.
Contents:
Introduction and Background
Shane's Business: Teaching People to Build Camper Vans
The Philosophy of Van Life
Shane's Journey into Entrepreneurship
Choosing the Right Path as an Entrepreneur
Lessons from Investing Applied to Life
Balancing Details and Output in Design
Finding Fun and Passion in Work
Finding Passion and Interests
Using Childhood as a Starting Point
Questioning False Assumptions and Self-Doubt
Exploring Different Interests and Skills
Learning New Skills and Trying Something New
Learning How to Build a Van
Documenting the Van Conversion Process
Transitioning from Building Vans to Writing a Book
Launching the Book and Building a Sustainable Business
Preparing for a Long-Term Bike Journey
Handling the Business During Time Away
Starting a Business: Choosing the Right Direction -
Launching a non-alcoholic spirit brand in Asia and the USA, with Lorin Winata Founder of Melati Drinks (#50)
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
I’m talking with Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, and part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2023.
Among many things, we discuss:
The history of Asian tonic drinks, dating back to 1293
What it means to be a non-alcoholic spirit, in the Better-for-you category
Borrowing extraction techniques from the perfume industry to create the most accessible drink
The loneliness of moving the business to a new country, new culture, with no network
Whittling down 150 classic ingredients from the spice islands of Indonesia, into the two Melati drinks
What it’s like to leave the male-dominated world of venture capital in Asia, to become an Asian female founder
The challenges you face doing everything for the first time as an entrepreneur, and why it gets easier.
And much more...
So sit back and enjoy the show!
Company website
https://melatidrinks.com/
Find Melati near you:
https://melatidrinks.com/pages/store-locator -
049 - Launching and Closing A Daily Brain Care Business, with Brian Davis, Co-founder of Parable.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Brian Davis, co-founder founder of Parable.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why Brain Care is so important for an ageing population
The 4 Pillars of Brain Care
How to communicate the benefits of a product when customers aren’t problem-aware yet
The importance of finding founder-fit
The problems with fundraising and launching a business at the same time
Deciding to shut down the business
The problem with taking advice from Outliers
The lack of failure stories on social media
Sit back and enjoy the show! -
048 - Launching A Literary Career: Derek Sivers Reveals His Writing Process For His Forthcoming Book, Useful Not True.
Welcome to Ready For Launch. This week I’m talking with Derek Sivers, ex-musician, ex-entrepreneur, TED speaker and four-time book author.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why New Zealand is the best place in the world to raise a kid
How to adapt your values to your current situation
The secrets to becoming a great speaker
What still terrifies Derek about speaking on stage
The best way to write a book
The value of self-publishing and retaining your copyrights
The importance of doing the opposite of your creative habits
What Derek’s latest book is all about
How your belief and perspectives change your actions
The barbell strategy of living in the extremes
Why graveyards are a great place to sleep
Useful beliefs about writing.
And so much more! So sit back and enjoy the show
Website
https://sive.rs/ -
047 - Launching a Network of Top Designers and Builders For Startups, with Stephanie Golik, Founder at Huddle
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Stephanie Golik Founder at Huddle.
Among many things, we discuss:
From Design to Founder: Steph’s journey from studying Architecture to becoming co-founder of Huddle
The Power of Building: How Steph used app development as a way to kick start her career in design
Searching for The One: How moonlighting on different creative projects led to finding the one to go all in on.
The Idea Graveyard: Learnings from killing small projects that helped launch Huddle
Getting Paid In Equity: What designers and builders should know about getting paid in equity by startups.
The Art of Investment: How getting seed funding was a strategic choice in moving quickly and catching the wave of people looking for more work flexibility
Being Non-Scalable: The importance of doing non-scalable tasks early on to deliver a great customer experience, and how to relinquish that control later on.
Quarterly Planning: How looking ahead helps Huddle stay on track with their vision to make the future of work more flexible.
Enjoy the show!
Links:
Huddle site
https://www.huddle.works/
Want to join as a builder?
app.huddle.works/builder-invite/itomblack
Want to hire a team?
app.huddle.works/invite/itomblack
Workshops on becoming a founder
https://www.dive.club/course/go-from-designer-to-founder
Customer Reviews
Great podcast
Just discovered, high quality, fascinating interviews, part of my weekly routine now.
Epic podcast
This is my new favourite podcast. It’s so well created, Ian asks exactly the questions I’m always thinking about, and it’s been so inspiring and helpful for me! This is real gold if you’re looking for the behind-the-scenes details of startups!
Love it! ❤️
Great for anyone thinking about, or fascinated by, launching new businesses!