The Entrepreneur's Road Podcast Saman

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
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:

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
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

🚀 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