Building a consumer app’s MVP and how to fundraise with Zest’s Jake Gutstein | E1889
This Week in Startups
Intro
This chapter explores the unique journey of fundraising for first-time entrepreneurs, emphasizing the absence of a one-size-fits-all strategy. It highlights tools like launch scorecards for investor sourcing while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of each fundraising experience.
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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Today’s show:
Zest's Jake Gutstein joins Jason to discuss his journey in creating the cooking app Zest (1:37). The two dive into how the Zest team formed (10:29), finding the right tools for your startup (25:24), Jake's experience in the Launch Accelerator program (33:27), and more!
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Zest’s Jake Gutstein joins Jason
(1:37) What prompted the creation of Zest and the initial concept and MVP for Zest
(9:22) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(10:29) The product development, initial testing, and finding a technical co-founder
(17:21) The decision to go full-time with Zest, the process of raising initial funding, and the importance of overcoming ambiguity and uncertainty
(20:54) MEV - Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://mev.com/twist
(22:05) Demo of Zest’s product
(25:24) Finding the right tools and mentors and the value propositions of Zest discovered through user research
(32:35) Paintbrush - Visit http://getpaintbrush.com to see if you qualify for a $50K startup loan in less than 2 minutes
(33:27) Product launch, approach to fundraising, and experience with the Launch Accelerator program
(46:48) Future plans and goals for Zest
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Check out the Launch Accelerator: https://launchaccelerator.co
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Check out Founder University: https://www.founder.university
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Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
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Mentioned on the show:
https://twitter.com/jasonfried
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LK6lKCKMQM
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Follow Jake:
X: https://twitter.com/GutsteinJake LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-gutstein Check out: https://zestapp.co
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Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
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Thank you to our partners:
(9:22) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(20:54) MEV - Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://mev.com/twist
(32:35) Paintbrush - Visit http://getpaintbrush.com to see if you qualify for a $50K startup loan in less than 2 minutes
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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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