Ep. 98 I Started A New Company!! Meet The Founders Of Retrograde
Jul 29, 2024
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Jake Browne and Gary Meehan, co-founders of Retrograde, dive into their journey of building an AI platform tailored for content creators. They discuss the pressing need for innovation in the creator economy while sharing their personal transitions to entrepreneurship. The duo emphasizes simplifying brand deal negotiations and promoting fair compensation for creators. They also tackle hurdles in talent representation and highlight the importance of a positive mindset in navigating challenges, all while inviting listeners to join the Retrograde waitlist.
Retrograde aims to democratize the creator economy by providing AI-driven support, offering creators a streamlined, efficient alternative to traditional agencies.
The founders propose a fairer commission structure that allows creators to retain more of their earnings while still benefiting from quality services.
Open communication and mutual respect among co-founders are vital for navigating challenges and fostering innovation within the startup environment.
Deep dives
Founding Journey of Retrograde
The discussion revolves around the inception of Retrograde, an AI-driven tech startup aimed at transforming the creator economy. The founders initially recognized a gap in the current agency model, where many content creators felt underserved by traditional talent agencies. By leveraging AI, they propose to streamline communication and management, creating an efficient alternative that aligns more closely with the needs of contemporary creators. This approach aims to offer creators a more immediate and personalized service, contrasting sharply with the conventional methods of talent representation that can be slow and impersonal.
The Role of AI in Talent Management
The core idea behind Retrograde is to function as a virtual talent agent, providing creators with around-the-clock support through AI technology. This system intends to simplify the communication between creators and brands, allowing for instant notifications and efficient handling of offers without the typical back-and-forth emails. By integrating these technological advancements, Retrograde hopes to eliminate many challenges content creators face, such as slow response times and fee structure complexities. The innovation here lies in providing accessibility to high-quality management for all creators, not just the top-tiered ones.
Disrupting the Conventional Commission Model
One of the podcast's key insights is the need to rethink the commission structures traditionally found in the talent industry. The founders discuss a more equitable model, where creators retain a larger portion of their earnings while still benefiting from the services provided by Retrograde. Instead of the typical 20% commission charged by agencies, Retrograde aims to implement a 10% fee with the added benefit of referral bonuses for creators who introduce new users to the platform. This shift not only incentivizes community building but also ensures that creators feel valued and fairly compensated for their work.
Balancing Co-founder Dynamics
The conversation also touches on the dynamics of co-founding a startup, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication and mutual respect among team members. The founders reflect on navigating their diverse backgrounds and experiences while maintaining a unified vision for Retrograde. They acknowledge that challenges often arise from differing opinions and approaches but that these can be effectively managed through open dialogue and shared objectives. This collaboration fosters an environment where innovation thrives and each co-founder’s strengths can contribute to the company's success.
Preparing for Market Launch
As the discussion progresses, there's a focus on preparing for Retrograde's market launch and the strategic steps involved in achieving that goal. The founders stress the importance of gathering real feedback from early adopters to refine the service further before a wider rollout. They emphasize an agile approach, allowing them to iterate based on user experiences continually. The objective is to ensure that when Retrograde officially hits the market, it meets the empirical needs of its users and sets a new standard in the talent management industry.
This week I’m joined by Jake Browne and Gary Meehan - the co-founders of a brand-new company called Retrograde that's on a mission to democratise the creator industry using AI, helping creators earn more from their work. And here’s the wildest bit, I’m the other co-founder! This podcast has always been about sharing my business learnings, and it seems crazy not to talk about my biggest learning curve of the last few months, founding Retrograde.
I wanted this episode to be a raw and real conversation about our journey to date, the reality of what it's been like, how we’ve taken our idea & made it into something real, why the creator industry is crying out for change and what we think this company can be. I really hope you enjoy it.
RETROGRADE, SHREDDY, TALA and THE PRODUCTIVITY METHOD are my own businesses, therefore any mention of them - whilst not being a sponsorship - is monetarily endorsed. As usual, sponsorships do not change my opinions nor my honesty, but I will always disclaim to make sure motives are clear 😊