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Founding Journey

How Steven Galanis Grew Cameo into a $1 Billion Unicorn

Oct 10, 2024
01:06:17

This is how Steven scaled his startup, Cameo, to become a $1 billion unicorn and how the company has changed since.

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πŸš€ Startup β†’ cameo.com

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The Journey to Cameo
(01:33) β€”  Steven's 1st business: Spartan Entertainment
(04:26) β€” Steven's pre-Cameo work experience
(06:33) β€” Starting Cameo with Co-founder Martin Blencowe
(11:14) β€” Cameo's founding story

Founder Mode
(18:43) β€” Steven’s early insight on β€œcameos”
(23:48) β€” Overcoming the cold start problem
(25:46) β€” Cameo's growth tactics
(27:28) β€” Cameo's eureka moment

Challenges & Opportunities
(31:39) β€” Changing Cameo's idea of success
(36:30) β€” Navigating headcount reductions
(38:57) β€” Joining the 1871 incubator
(40:57) β€” Building alongside other founders

Investor Relations & Communication
(42:26) β€” How to interact with investors
(44:02) β€” Co-founder communication
(46:39) β€” Attracting investors without fundraising
(49:00) β€” Fundraising without a pitch deck
(50:33) β€” Benefits of creating an unused pitch deck
(53:32) β€” Cameo's Series A experience

Rapid Fire
(1:01:01) β€” Who's an investor you'd recommend to other founders?
(1:01:50) β€” What's one thing you'd change about the startup world?
(1:02:20) β€” What's the one piece of advice first-time founders need to know?
(1:03:58) β€” What's something you believe that most people disagree with you about?

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