Explore Podcast | Startups Founders and Investors Hugo Rauch

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership. 🔥
In this episode I sat down with Alex Brees, the co-founder and CEO at un:hurd, a music marketing startup supporting artists with their music promotion
We discussed Alex’s journey from tech to Universal Music and launching un:hurd. We covered everything from how he came up with the idea, to his initial revenue-led model as a consultant, and developing the iOS app to be ahead of competitors while supporting artists on their existing devices. We discussed un:hurd’s business model from adopting a membership model for monetization to developing partnerships and integrating AI into their product. Alex shares the impact un:hurd already has on the music industry as well as some advices for entrepreneurs! 🚀
Have a great episode! 
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Alex and un:hurd.
Timestamps: 
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Sponsor Spotlight: OpenVC
02:00 Alex Brees: From Science Student to Music Marketing
05:09 The Birth of Breezebox and Picasso Events
06:42 A Brief Stint at Universal Music
10:48 Embracing Entrepreneurship with Keakie
12:14 Launching Un:hurd - The Mission and Vision
14:27 Data-Driven Music Marketing: A Game Changer
22:40 Building Relationships in the Music Industry
25:24 Bootstrapping and Fundraising Journey
28:30 Strategic Investments and Market Expansion
31:06 Product Evolution: From iOS to Desktop
34:19 Crafting the Product Roadmap
36:15 Technical Challenges and Team Dynamics
38:04 Leveraging Partnerships for Growth
39:49 Measuring Impact in the Music Ecosystem
41:53 Unveiling the Business Model
46:01 Future Aspirations and AI Integration
47:58 Entrepreneurial Advice: Patience and Personal Growth


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
Thank you for tuning in and for the amazing support. I wanted to let you know that the best way to support this show is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars on your podcast platform. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
This episode is unique and does not fit our series of founders interview.
Today, I sit down with Peter Walker the head of insights at Carta, a cap table management software providing unique features. Carta has more than 43k startups on its platform which makes it uniquely positioned to gather insights.
In this episode, we are talking about data driven insights in the fundraising market such as fundraising trends, valuations, shutdowns, equity splits, compensations, revenue-lead versus venture backed startups, AI companies.. the list is long!
This is “Fundraising 101” - everything the data tell us to help you get started! 📈
Have a great episode! 
Listen on 🟢Spotify.
Listen on 🟣Apple Podcast.
***** 
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about Peter and Carta⁠⁠⁠, sign up for Carta’s free offer.
*****
Timestamps: 
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:00 Transition from Health to Startup
04:04 Experience at Carta
08:39 Carta's Product and Role in the Ecosystem
12:09 State of the Fundraising Market
16:21 Startup Shutdowns and Valuations
21:10 Bootstrapping vs Venture-backed Startups
23:26 Considerations for Fundraising
24:47 The Gap in Funding for Growing Companies
26:04 Fundraising for the First Time
29:30 Angel Round and Equity Distribution
32:06 Valuation and Funding Trends
36:41 AI Companies and Industry Trends
40:06 Timeline Between Fundraising Rounds
42:39 Headcounts and Employment in Startups
46:02 Forecast for 2024
49:08 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
Thank you for tuning in and for the amazing support. I wanted to let you know that the best way to support this show is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars on your podcast platform. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
This episode is unique and does not fit our series of founders interview.
Today, I sit down with Dallas Price from Forum Ventures, a venture studio based in North America and focusing on B2B SaaS companies.
In this episode, we are exploring the concept of venture studio. We cover everything from defining what a studio is, why it is different from accelerators and incubators, understanding the financial model for GP and for founders, the role of the founder and the relationship with the studio, the startup life cycle, the equity split structure, the investment amount and support from the studio, product development, sales cycle, defining ICP, benefits and drawbacks for founders.. the list is long!
This episode is venture studio 101 - everything you need to know to get started! 📈
Want to become an entrepreneur but don’t know to start? This episode is for you! Want to join a studio as an employee? This is also for you!
Have a great episode! 
Listen on 🟢Spotify.
Listen on 🟣Apple Podcast.
***** 
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about Dallas and Forum Ventures⁠⁠⁠.
*****
Timestamps: 
00:00 Introduction to Venture Studios
03:45 Defining Venture Studios
08:27 Founder's Role and Equity
10:35 Venture Studios and External Programs
13:27 Venture Studio Life Cycle
21:02 Generating Ideas
23:39 Market Research and Validation
26:27 Venture Studio Thesis
28:54 Finding a Founder
31:36 Geographic Location of Founders
33:06 Office Space for Portfolio Companies
34:09 Defining the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
36:35 Timeline for Product Development
38:03 Roles and People in a Venture Studio
42:19 Business Model of a Venture Studio
44:47 Success Rate of Venture Studio-backed Startups
47:49 Compensation for Venture Builders
49:42 Ventures Built and Launched by Dallas
51:20 Advice for Entrepreneurs


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
In this episode I sat down with Nate Matherson, the co-founder and CEO at Positional, a startup that provides a modern toolset for SEO and content teams.
We discussed Nate’s early interest in finance, his decision to start LendEDU as a tutoring app, and the subsequent pivot to a marketplace for student loans. Nate shares the challenges of raising capital and the pivotal role Y Combinator played in the growth of LendEDU. We also talked about the decision to exit in March 2020, becoming an angel investor, and starting a new company. Nate provides insights into building an SEO toolset and offers advice for startups looking to leverage SEO as a growth channel and much more! 🚀
Founders looking to grow a content channel, this episode is for you.
Have a great episode! 
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
***** 
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Nate and Positional.
*****
Timestamps: 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:25 Starting LendEDU
09:23 Pivoting to a Marketplace for Student Loans
16:14 Getting into Y Combinator
23:08 Selling the Company
25:04 Transitioning Out and Becoming an Angel Investor
29:18 Starting a New Company
31:31 Pivoting from ContainIQ to Positional
36:13 Building an SEO Toolset
41:46 SEO Tips for Startups
46:36 Positional Today and Future Plans
48:43 Advice for Starting a Business


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
In this episode I sat down with Martin Habfast, the co-founder and sales director of Umiami, a food startup that provides plant-based filet experience without compromising the taste and the texture.
We discussed Martin’s unique journey from building a tutoring startup to raising $100M to grow a plant-based meat company in France. Martin shares his strategy for fundraising, the challenges of a Food Tech startup, the strategic selection of ingredients, Umiami’s collaboration with a Michelin Star Chef and much more! 🚀
Ambitious founders, this episode is for you.
Have a great episode! 
****
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
****
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
****
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about Martin and Umiami.
****
Timestamps: 
00:31 Introduction
02:19 The Journey from Student to Entrepreneur
12:09 The Genesis of a Plant-Based Meat Startup
21:45 Navigating the Challenges of a Food Tech Startup
28:07 From Kitchen Experiments to Lab Innovations
29:43 The Strategic Decision Against Co-Manufacturing
31:11 Becoming a Mission-Driven Company
32:29 Simplifying Ingredients for Superior Products
35:11 NutriScore A: A Testament to Quality
36:47 Producing 100% in France: A Strategic Choice
39:23 Continuous Product Improvement Through R&D
41:58 Targeting the Flexitarian Market
45:21 Innovative Technology Behind Plant-Based Chicken
46:55 Navigating the Competitive Landscape
48:32 Challenges and Opportunities in the Plant-Based Industry
51:13 Collaboration with Michelin Star Chefs and Future Goals
55:34 Contributing to Entrepreneurship as a MassChallenge Judge


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎
For those of you that have been here since the beginning, 1000 thanks, and welcome to the newcomers who have joined us in recent weeks. I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn, the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏
In this episode I sat down with Jas Jaiswal, the founder and CEO at SmartHaul, a software company that provides a relay model with the focus on bringing truck drivers back home more often while moving freight 2x faster. We discussed Jas’s unique journey from moving to the US from India, developing a business to $1BN EBIDTA before jumping into the unknown and building SmartHaul with the help of Platform Venture Studio. Jas shares the challenges of building a company, the reasons why he is planning to fundraise, the benefit of the venture studio model and much more! 🚀
Have a great episode! 
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Podcast.
***** 
Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥
Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership.
Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠. 
Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Jas and ⁠⁠⁠SmartHaul⁠⁠⁠.
*****
Timestamps: 
00:00 Introduction
05:24 Realizing the Desire to Become an Entrepreneur
07:30 Joining Platform Venture Studio
11:45 The Idea for SmartHaul
24:28 Building the Algorithm and MVP
26:38 Challenges and Opportunities
31:16 Business Model and Market Size
37:21 Advice for Future Entrepreneurs


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com