Startups Decoded Ep#22: Founders, Build Your Startup in Public with Cory Blumenfeld
In this episode, we explore why the best founders don’t wait for perfect plans—they launch, learn, and build in public.
From early growth hacks to fast feedback loops and sales that start before the product’s finished, we unpack what it really takes to grow quickly and stay ahead. If you're stuck planning instead of building, this one will light a fire.
Cory Blumenfeld is a seasoned entrepreneur and business strategist with a passion for empowering individuals to find their voice and start their own ventures. He has co-founded multiple startups, including CoHealth, a digital platform promoting healthy behavior change, and Caribou, a healthcare planning software for financial advisors that raised over $3 million in funding.
Currently, Cory serves in Strategy Operations at LearnLux Financial Wellbeing, applying his diverse experience to enhance financial wellness solutions. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and a Next 36 alumnus, Cory is dedicated to inspiring and guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through his insights and leadership.
SHOW NOTES
Music Credit: "Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)
In this episode of Startups Decoded, Andy Walsh and Corey Blumenfeld discuss the concept of building in public, exploring its significance in the startup ecosystem. Corey shares his journey as a founder, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and the power of relationships in business. They delve into the balance between sharing ideas publicly versus keeping them private, the necessity of validation and testing in product development, and the role of trust and vulnerability in fostering a successful team culture. The conversation also touches on how effective storytelling can attract investment and the long-term benefits of building genuine connections within the entrepreneurial community.
Takeaways
Building in public allows for authentic connections.
Storytelling is crucial for engaging with audiences.
Validation through testing is essential for success.
Trust and vulnerability foster a positive team culture.
Investors are interested in the founder's story and decisions.
Sharing experiences can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Building relationships is key to long-term success.
The future of selling lies in genuine storytelling.
You can learn from every interaction, regardless of experience.
Being respectfully assertive is important in business.
Sound Bites
"You can learn from every single person."
"You need to be respectfully assertive."
"The future of selling is storytelling."
Chapters
00:00 Building in Public: A New Era for Startups
05:02 The Journey of Entrepreneurship: Lessons Learned
08:55 The Power of Sharing Your Story
11:41 Learning from Every Interaction
14:19 Building Relationships in a Digital Age
16:45 Transparency vs. Stealth: The New Norm
18:57 Testing Fast: Validating Ideas Quickly
23:51 The Importance of Hypothesis Testing in Business
25:33 The Power of Storytelling and Sharing in Public
28:05 Building Trust Through Vulnerability and Authenticity
33:29 The Role of Trust and Delegation in Business Growth
38:48 Storytelling as a Tool for Investment and Revenue Generation