Enterprise NOW‪!‬ Elzie D. Flenard III

Discover how Meng Chen, Founder of PortfolioBay, launched his platform from scratch in this episode as he sheds light on how even those without software engineering skills can embark on building a platform.
Meng emphasizes the wealth of online resources available for learning web development. Drawing from his experience transitioning from software engineering, he highlights the importance of determination and conviction. He recommends starting with a minimal viable product, focusing on functionality to validate ideas. Once traction is gained, professional skills can be incorporated to enhance the product or secure funding.
Tune in to explore the journey from novice to platform creator and how embracing imperfection can lead to ultimate success.
Episode Highlights:
00:57 - I learned everything myself. I didn't come up with the right framework in the very beginning, and the first version of the product isn't perfect. I actually went through multiple iteration and at some point, I had to rewrite everything in three months to make it under a more sustainable and a better framework that can be extended better, easier in the future. So, I definitely made a lot of mistakes like in the web development side.
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Let's explore the world of real estate as a stepping stone to pursuing passions and entrepreneurship with Meng Chen, Founder of PortfolioBay. He discusses the financial challenges of starting a business in this episode and how real estate can serve as a pre-entrepreneurial runway.
Meng shares his perspective on real estate, emphasizing that it offers more than just financial gains. For him, it provides the freedom to explore passions and create a successful business. He also believes that having financial security allows ample time for pivoting and achieving success in one's endeavors.
Tune in to discover how real estate can be a strategic foundation for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing both financial stability and the space to pursue meaningful goals.
Episode Highlights:
01:23 - I would say I will keep working on it. There might be pivot in terms of solution, in terms of what the product is, but I'll keep working on it until it becomes a successful company. And that's just the value of real estate. It brings in to me like my own personal life. It's not just about investing in real estate and make some money. It's about having the flexibility, like financially to pursue things that you are more passionate about. And eventually, if you stay long enough and you have the passion to go really hard on it, you're going to be successful. So, that's my belief.
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If you're intrigued by the intersection of technology and business growth, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom. Join Elzie in an engaging conversation with Yanev Suissa, Managing Partner and Founder at SineWave Ventures, a leading firm that invests in early-stage commercial technologies with a unique focus on the public sector.
Apply the wisdom Yanev shares to make informed decisions in your entrepreneurial journey. Assess the potential of your tech innovations and focus on meeting customer needs for sustainable growth. Emphasize relationship-building to foster a strong team culture and align with strategic investors. Leverage your strengths to overcome challenges and remain persistent in achieving your goals.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of revolutionary tech, customer dynamics, and market leverage. Uncover Yanev's expert advice on team building, strategic planning, and navigating the ever-evolving business landscape. Learn from his experiences as he shares the secrets of identifying revolutionary tech, diversifying customer bases, and leveraging market dynamics. So, whether you're a startup founder, investor, or business leader, these insights will transform your approach to technology, customer relationships, and strategic planning.
Episode Highlights:
06:03 - I think one of the most important things an entrepreneur can do early on is find a design partner. So, you always have customers, but there are customers who will put in the sweat equity with you because they see what you're doing is so important to their business and could drive so much value for them that they're willing to give you feedback and spend time with you, and try different things. I think that's really important for understanding what you're building and building it the right way. Caveat being, you need to have your own vision. You don't want to build just for one customer. You have to remember this has to be a platform or a technology that applies to many. But often one customer will give you enough of a framework that it'll apply to many different folks.
12:22 - In the venture world and in the startup world and the entrepreneur's world, we sell what could be the vision. But a customer wants what they can use now that drives ROI now that brings them a return and value now for the problem that they're experiencing. And so, I think that that's a really important thing. When you're going into a customer, you could sell a vision. You could sell a tool set that they could do a million things with, but they're not going to think for you. So, at the end of the day, you want to be able to say, "I know you have this pain point. I can solve this now."
16:55 - Make sure that it's not as valuable to them or not useful to them, whoever the attacker is. And so, that was really where we came to Endpoint Security, which will be the next revolution. Basically, taking that paradigm and realizing this is the new paradigm. Let's think about it this way and build the best solution for that. And so, that's why we invested at SineWave and Sentinel One, which ended up being the biggest cyber IPO ever. They did great. And then what's the next revolution? Not just we can Whack-A-Mole this new bug, or we can add a nice feature onto what Sentinel One can do in Endpoint. What is the next paradigm shift that requires people to architect their systems or think about the industry differently?
26:24 - It's a marriage. I'm going to be around longer than some of your wives and husbands are going to be, especially if you build a second company after the first decade, first company. And so, you want to make sure that you're really working with the people you want to work with. I say that at SineWave all the time. We are a team that has a particular culture that works for us. We care about each other, and that's our model. And...

We dive deep with Yanev Suissa, a tech industry veteran, where he shares his approach that prioritizes authentic relationships, emphasizing compatibility and shared vision among team members, partners, and venture capitalists.
Yanev highlights how at SineWave, fostering team growth and development is a core principle. He advocates for providing avenues for team members to take on new roles and acquire skills. Moreover, he addresses mismatches by guiding individuals towards environments where their talents align better.
Tune in to gain insights into nurturing empowered teams and creating a culture of authenticity, growth, and collaboration. Whether you're a leader, a team player, or an entrepreneur, this episode offers invaluable lessons in effective team empowerment.
Episode Highlight:
01:30 - It's a marriage. I'm going to be around longer than some of your wives and husbands are going to be, especially if you build a second company after the first decade, first company. And so, you want to make sure that you're really working with the people you want to work with. I say that at SineWave all the time. We are a team that has a particular culture that works for us. We care about each other, and that's our model. And other firms work well with very different models. So, find the place you fit, find the people you fit with, and I think that's the most important thing. I think it actually makes you more effective at the end of the day. And the most important thing, if it doesn't go well, you still feel realized and you still feel like you did something worthwhile.
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Elzie delves into the concept of revolutionary tech, prompting Yanev Suissa, a tech expert and visionary investor, to provide an illuminating breakdown. Yanev paints a vivid picture of how revolutionary tech signifies the next phase of technological advancements. He uses the field of cybersecurity as an example, highlighting its evolution from traditional perimeter defense strategies to more sophisticated approaches like endpoint security.
The episode also showcases Yanev's firsthand experience as an investor, shedding light on his involvement with groundbreaking companies like Sentinel One, which achieved the largest cyber IPO in history. Yanev's investment philosophy revolves around identifying paradigm shifts and groundbreaking concepts that transform industries from the ground up.
Tune in as Yanev shares his belief on how the next revolutionary frontier lies in the realm of identity and explains how this shift to the identity level represents a fundamental change that requires industries to rethink their architecture and strategies.
Episode Highlight:
01:10 - Make sure that it's not as valuable to them or not useful to them, whoever the attacker is. And so, that was really where we came to Endpoint Security, which will be the next revolution. Basically, taking that paradigm and realizing this is the new paradigm. Let's think about it this way and build the best solution for that. And so, that's why we invested at SineWave and Sentinel One, which ended up being the biggest cyber IPO ever. They did great. And then what's the next revolution? Not just we can Whack-A-Mole this new bug, or we can add a nice feature onto what Sentinel One can do in Endpoint. What is the next paradigm shift that requires people to architect their systems or think about the industry differently?
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Mentioned in this episode:
Podcast Town
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Yanev Suissa explores the art of leveraging market dynamics as a founder. The episode also ventures into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool for your business. Uncover the potential of AI in driving growth and innovation, while also acknowledging the short-term gains that customers may seek from this cutting-edge technology.
Learn from Yanev's invaluable advice on diversifying your customer base to create a resilient and thriving business. Discover the power of seeking counter-cyclical market players and offering solutions that precisely address your customers' pain points. Embrace the key principle of focusing not only on your "vision" but also on delivering tangible ROI and value to your customers right now.
Are you wondering how to expand your customer base and forge impactful partnerships? Yanev Suissa has the answers. Looking for real-world examples of diverse customers? He discusses a range of industries, including Fortune 480 companies, the public sector, technology, healthcare, commercial, and international sectors. Tune in as he shares strategies for working with investors who offer diverse networks of contacts and collaborating with strategic investors who bring something unique to the table.
Episode Highlights:
01:30 - In the venture world and in the startup world and the entrepreneur's world, we sell what could be the vision. But a customer wants what they can use now that drives ROI now that brings them a return and value now for the problem that they're experiencing. And so, I think that that's a really important thing. When you're going into a customer, you could sell a vision. You could sell a tool set that they could do a million things with, but they're not going to think for you. So, at the end of the day, you want to be able to say, "I know you have this pain point. I can solve this now."
Connect with Elzie
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Connect with Yanev Suissa
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Email
Mentioned in this episode:
Podcast Town
Check out our services for your B2B brand!
Grow With Podcast Town