Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 920: A TEENAGE entrepreneurial sensation building new tech w/ Zach Derhake
What if you could turn a high school passion project into a successful business venture? Join us as we talk to Zach Derhake, a young tech entrepreneur who has done just that. From his initial steps into the world of SEO to creating groundbreaking platforms like PostPitch and Rhythmatic.ai, Zach's story is one of innovation and relentless ambition. He shares how his age has been both an advantage and a hurdle, offering a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode, we explore the pivotal role of backlinks in SEO and how Zach's creation, PostPitch, is revolutionizing the link-building process with AI-powered personalized outreach. Hear firsthand how this tool has made a significant impact on conversion rates and the importance of balancing technology with market needs. Zach also offers a peek into his philosophy of customer-first development and the strategies that have propelled his ventures forward.
We also tackle the early stages of building a business, from forming vital partnerships to conducting small-scale experiments for validating ideas. Zach highlights the importance of technical co-founders and the art of collaboration, drawing from his own experiences. Additionally, we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities that come with teenage entrepreneurship in the social media age, and the promising future of AI across various industries. This episode is brimming with actionable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to make their mark in the world of technology and business.
ABOUT ZACH
Zach Derhake is a high school technology entrepreneur who began his career in SEO, helping software companies drive more traffic to their sites. After a year in the SEO industry, he noticed that outreach to other websites was tedious and could be improved with technology. This realization led him to build Post Pitch, an AI platform that automates the process of reaching out to other websites for links.
Before starting Post Pitch, Zach founded Rhythmatic.ai, an AI song recommender he later sold to the major music label Empire Distributions. More recently, Zach has been working on building a competitive online marketplace for finding real estate agents.
Zach has a lot of ideas and loves working on projects. He hopes to eventually start a disruptive technology company that changes the world.
LINKS & RESOURCES
EDITORIAL NOTE: It was misstated that Zach sold Rythmatic.ai to Empire Distributions. While he started and grew this company, it was not sold to Empire Distributions.