Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup

We're kicking off the new season with a chance for you to get to know your podcast host Ian Black as he shares stories about how Ready For Launch came to life.

This week I have Zach Laberge on the show - a young Canadian entrepreneur with dreams of revolutionizing the way rental businesses operate. We talk about: Joining the movement of the sharing economy How he got into dropshipping at the age of 10 The key to successful instagram marketing for your pet. Finding the right team Consistently developing your network What it's like building venture backed business while you're still meant to be in school The 51% rule for getting investment And so much more. https://zacharylaberge.com/ https://frenter.com/ Reach our for investment opportunities or partnerships

This week my guest is Justin Clegg, Founder of Allset (https://www.allsethq.com/). We dive into why home services is an area ripe for technological innovation, and how he wants to bring the power of AI and automation to the 5 million home services businesses through their mobile commerce platform. Show notes: https://readyforlaunchpodcast.com/#/blog/15-show-notes-justin-clegg-founder-of-allset

Today we're going to talk about Periods! If you've never stopped to think about why they are still considered a taboo topic of conversation, then this episode is just for you. We've got Nick Jain on the show. Nick is one half of the founding team of August, a modern period care company built for Gen Z, that's ready to redefine how the world talks about periods, and truly have an impact on a new generation of consumers. We dig into a bunch of important topics like: What Period Poverty and the Tampon Tax are, and how they negatively affect menstruators What August wants brands to do about it What the word Impact means for a new brand like August As well as diving into the research process August used to create a truly consumer-built brand, and why this process is something every business should be doing. So listen up and enjoy the show! Web - https://www.itsaugust.co/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/itsaugust/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@itsaugustco

This week I have Matt Walsh in the house, founder of distributed experience design agency Green Stone, and newly formed digital talent advisory company Morel.  We discuss: the difference between distributed work and working from home the future of hybrid working models why businesses should treat freelancers just like full-time employees how the role of CEO changes as a company matures and why starting a business definitely isn't fun at first! Enjoy the show! https://morel.gs/ https://www.greenstone.co/

This week I'm chatting to Braden Parker, co-founder, and CEO of custom footwear company Casca. We had a great conversation where we dove into how Casca are working to revolutionize the shoe manufacturing process that hasn't really changed in a century. We also discuss the difficulties of hiring a team that will take your business to the next level, how to focus your product messaging for the right consumers, the ways in which phone technology will impact custom footwear, and, surprisingly, the pitfalls of trying to launch a cricket pasta business! https://casca.com/

This week we're taking a trip down memory lane with Byran Mahoney, CEO of Chord Commerce (formerly CTO at Glossier, and Co-founder of Dynamo). We discuss his journey launching multiple businesses over the course of his career, and what he's learned along the way. From his first job scrubbing toilets and cutting grass at age 13, through to the launch of his latest endeavour Chord, a commerce-as-a-service company. As well as many great throwback stories from Byran's life, we discuss: What headless commerce means The importance of business partners, The benefits of side projects Advice on pursuing venture capital Why wine is so important https://chord.co/

This week I'm learning from the wonderful Danielle Thompson about how she's transforming her existing online community Design Club into a more focussed service called Design Match. We discuss : What it takes to become a confident designer Tips and tricks for managing your time Creating an online community that people want to engage in Avoiding the busy trap The benefits of fear, and the power of vulnerability https://www.designclub.co/ https://www.instagram.com/danielletom/ Also mentioned on the show: https://www.rescuetime.com/ https://sunsama.com/

This week I had a wonderful conversation with the author of the number 1 bestselling book The Purpose Myth, Charlotte Cramer.  We dive into the world of vulnerable storytelling, self publishing, and plagiarism, and the effects of ego on decision making. Listen to learn about: The three fundamental needs of humans for their careers, How to feel more purpose in your life. The importance of honesty in your writing. Keyword advice for Amazon's algorithms The value of accountability in communal pursuits https://charlottecramer.com/

This week I'm talking to Andrew Burton, founder of Creative agency Shoreditch design studio. We get into the pros and cons of running a product business versus a service business, the importance of picking the right business partners, tips for hiring outside your area of expertise, and how to approach sales. Andrew is the Creative Director & Founder of Shoreditch Design Studio. Creative agency for your next big thing. Before launching Shoreditch Design Studio, he co-founded a fitness app called Tona, which was then acquired by another company. https://shoreditchdesignstudio.com/