This week we’re joined by Nathan Rosenstock, Co-founder and CEO of Crafty, as he shares his journey as a first-time founder in the food service management industry. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's best startups, Crafty provides a centralized platform for workplace needs and has expanded to 35 markets across five countries. 

Nathan discusses the challenges he encountered, from navigating significant operational shifts during the pandemic to adapting business models and managing rapid growth. He emphasizes the importance of detail-oriented leadership, building empathy within teams, and how constraints can foster innovation. Additionally, Nathan highlights the value of continuous learning, the benefits of an executive coach, and the importance of a clear company identity when seeking investment.

Takeaways:

• Know Your Business Inside and Out: Understanding every detail of your business fosters empathy and credibility, making it easier to connect with and lead your team effectively.
• Be Ready to Adapt Your Business Model: When faced with challenges like the pandemic, pivoting from a market-by-market rollout to a platform model that integrates local operators was key to Crafty’s survival and growth.
• Build Strong Client Relationships: Nurturing close relationships with clients, even as the company scales, provides valuable insights and fosters trust and loyalty.
• Choose the Right Investors: It’s crucial to find investors who truly understand and align with your business model, rather than redefining your pitch for each and every investor. Being genuine to potential investors may not win them all, but it will help you get investors that truly understand your goals.
• Embrace Constraints: Embracing constraints can drive innovation and sharpen focus. Working with limited resources often leads to more efficient and effective outcomes, rather than spreading too thin with excess resources.

Quote of the Show:

• “If you're trying to bend your business to fit what an investor wants, that's a really slippery slope.” - Nathan Rosenstock 

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-rosenstock/ 
• Website: https://craftydelivers.com/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

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