Silicon Slopes | Leaders Interviewing Leaders Leland CEO & Co-Founder John Koelliker
Mar 7, 2025
31:52
In this episode, we sit down with John, the visionary founder behind Leland, a groundbreaking marketplace platform based in Utah. John shares his journey from interning at Uber and working at LinkedIn to launching Leland while at Stanford. Discover how Leland is revolutionizing the coaching and content marketplace, the challenges of building network effects, and the strategic decisions that have fueled its rapid growth.
00:00 - Introduction and the Kiln building
00:41 - The idea behind Leland and its inception
01:08 - John's background in marketplaces
02:00 - Challenges and rewards of building a marketplace
02:36 - Creating network effects
03:54 - Recruiting coaches for Leland
04:43 - Benefits for coaches on the platform
05:43 - Revenue potential for coaches
06:26 - The role of AI in Leland's future
08:22 - Human connection vs. AI in coaching
09:01 - Using AI within the company and product
10:11 - AI tools for coaches and customers
10:37 - Competition and market positioning
11:15 - Lessons learned from LinkedIn
13:10 - Fundraising journey and investor insights
14:32 - Building a company in Utah vs. the Bay Area
15:56 - The future of SaaS and AI
17:22 - Leland's revenue model
18:00 - Potential for job boards and internships
18:11 - Advice for raising money and bootstrapping
19:39 - Choosing the right investors
20:51 - The story behind the name "Leland"
21:47 - Decision to build in Utah
22:42 - In-office vs. remote work
23:35 - The future of Utah's startup ecosystem
26:22 - Areas for improvement in Utah's tech community
27:28 - The importance of funding diverse ideas
28:15 - Thoughts on accelerators and YC
30:26 - The value of early supporters and mentors
If you enjoyed this video and want to support us please leave a LIKE, write a comment on this video and Share it with your friends. Subscribe to our channel on YouTube and click the icon for notifications when we add a new video. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.
Our website: https://www.siliconslopes.com
Show Links: https://www.joinleland.com/
Social:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/siliconslopes
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/siliconslopes/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-slopes/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aEtQ1KJrWhJ3C2JnzXysw
00:00 - Introduction and the Kiln building
00:41 - The idea behind Leland and its inception
01:08 - John's background in marketplaces
02:00 - Challenges and rewards of building a marketplace
02:36 - Creating network effects
03:54 - Recruiting coaches for Leland
04:43 - Benefits for coaches on the platform
05:43 - Revenue potential for coaches
06:26 - The role of AI in Leland's future
08:22 - Human connection vs. AI in coaching
09:01 - Using AI within the company and product
10:11 - AI tools for coaches and customers
10:37 - Competition and market positioning
11:15 - Lessons learned from LinkedIn
13:10 - Fundraising journey and investor insights
14:32 - Building a company in Utah vs. the Bay Area
15:56 - The future of SaaS and AI
17:22 - Leland's revenue model
18:00 - Potential for job boards and internships
18:11 - Advice for raising money and bootstrapping
19:39 - Choosing the right investors
20:51 - The story behind the name "Leland"
21:47 - Decision to build in Utah
22:42 - In-office vs. remote work
23:35 - The future of Utah's startup ecosystem
26:22 - Areas for improvement in Utah's tech community
27:28 - The importance of funding diverse ideas
28:15 - Thoughts on accelerators and YC
30:26 - The value of early supporters and mentors
If you enjoyed this video and want to support us please leave a LIKE, write a comment on this video and Share it with your friends. Subscribe to our channel on YouTube and click the icon for notifications when we add a new video. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.
Our website: https://www.siliconslopes.com
Show Links: https://www.joinleland.com/
Social:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/siliconslopes
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/siliconslopes/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-slopes/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aEtQ1KJrWhJ3C2JnzXysw