Send us a textToday, I am joined by Lloyed Lobo, Co-Founder of Boast.AI & Traction, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of "From Grassroots to Greatness." In this episode, Lloyed shares the 4 things he did to make his book a Wall Street Journal Bestseller. The podcast also explores the technical aspects of community-led growth, touching on Lloyed's journey, frugality in business, and the impact of hosting successful events to build a community that contributed to his revenue and marketing success. Furthermore,  Lloyed talks about managing excess capital in business growth, providing perspectives on decision-making and the influence of financial constraints on innovation and strategy.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Lloyed Lobo 01:30 how to handle managing excess capital03:24 how Lloyed built a community06:16 measuring the success of community 10:59 how businesses should spend their money11:48 4 building phases of startups15:02 the goal of product market fit16:30 payback period on day one20:18 key tips for hiring22:50 tactics used to make it onto the Wall Street Journal Bestsellers listShow notes:Lloyed Lobo | https://twitter.com/lloyedlobo?lang=enBoast.AI | https://boast.ai/Traction | https://tractionconf.io"From Grassroots to Greatness" | https://www.amazon.com/Grassroots-Greatness-Iconic-Brands-Community-ebook/dp/B0CFR8F7PHZoho Creator | https://www.zoho.com/creator/Zapier | https://zapier.com/Mailchimp | https://mailchimp.com/Mixmax | https://www.mixmax.com/blog/automated-mail-mergeSupport the show

Send us a textToday, I am joined by Rishi Taparia, Managing Partner of Garuda Ventures, who enthusiastically discusses the accomplishment of securing a $31 million fund. Rishi sheds light on the challenges of fundraising, providing insights into Garuda's journey from a nights-and-weekends passion project in 2018 to a full-time firm that successfully fundraised in 2021. He emphasizes the firm's dedication to early-stage B2B startup investments and its commitment to providing both capital and valuable guidance to founders. Prior to his role at Garuda Ventures, Rishi gained experience at Evergrow, Legion Technologies, and Poynt.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Rishi Taparia01:16 how did Rishi and I meet?02:06 why did Rishi raise a fund?05:04 what areas of support do founders ask about?07:26 how to onboard your first hires09:25 tactics for raising a $31 million dollar fund12:48 how has content been a part of my story?16:51 the importance of family when raising18:53 how has Rishi’s relationship with founders evolved21:11 how does Rishi come to his conviction?23:26 how does Rishi overcome the challenges that come with being an investor25:17 trends/movements that Rishi is excited about27:22 how do I manage my time?Show notes:Rishi Taparia | https://twitter.com/taps?lang=enGaruda Ventures | https://www.garuda.vc/Arpan Punyani | https://twitter.com/arpanpunyaniOkta | https://www.okta.com/Poynt | https://www.poynt.com/aboutSupport the show

Send us a textIn today’s podcast, I talk about the “Spotify Playlist” method, discussing how the approach of naming playlists and creating the right mix extends beyond music curation to impact various aspects of business and content creation. I also explore using my playlisting methods to build an investment portfolio in the context of investment, highlighting how strong language and naming contribute to building a repeatable and explicit investment approach. Lastly, I share reflections on the evolving process of naming in an investment thesis and considerations when collaborating with co-investors in venture capital.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty00:24 180 playlists later01:50 technique #1: naming02:33 technique #2: finding the right mix03:27 content application04:55 investment application07:47 building a diverse portfolio08:20 technique #3: Venn diagramsShow notes:The Name of the Wind | https://www.amazon.com/Name-Wind-Patrick-Rothfuss/dp/0756404746The Art of Gathering | https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634920Kevin Macpherson | https://www.artambassador.org/kevin-macphersonThe Magic Grid video | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HkgEgDtxHBo5JiHlAJG4gSeed to Harvest | https://www.amazon.com/Seed-Harvest-Explanation-Venture-Capital/dp/0578906457Support the show

Send us a textIn today’s podcast, I talk about returning from an amazing two-week trip to Guatemala with my mom, thanks to Local Hope and Art Ambassadors for a Colorful World. During the trip, I had the incredible opportunity to contribute to art classes, witness a breathtaking sunrise hike in Tikal, and visit a fascinating ceramic studio by Lake Atitlan. These experiences not only reignited my passion for writing but also introduced me to The Magic Grid, a unique painting approach by Kevin Macpherson. I'm currently contemplating how its principles can be applied to my investing frameworks, a challenge that has opened up a whole new perspective on decision-making. In future episodes, I'll delve into the challenges and rewards of using The Magic Grid in painting and explore its potential in shaping my investment philosophy. As I reflect on this journey, I can't help but look forward to what's next. Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty00:20 reflections from Guatemala01:10 highlights of Guatemala01:35 refinding my love for writing02:11 what is The Magic Grid?05:02 redefining language in investing frameworks05:55 how will I use the grid in my own investing practice?Show notes:Local Hope | https://www.facebook.com/LocalHopeXelaAID/Art Ambassadors for a Colorful World | https://www.artambassadorforacolorfulworld.org/Kevin Macpherson | https://www.artambassador.org/kevin-macphersonThe Magic Grid video | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HkgEgDtxHBo5JiHlAJG4gSupport the show

Send us a textIn today’s podcast, we're diving deep into the world of venture capital and pitch deck mastery. Over the last three years, I've assessed thousands of pitch decks and made 39 investments at the pre-seed and seed stage. Today’s episode features a candid discussion with a close friend about the nuances of raising venture capital as an early-stage founder. We'll take a close look at what happens when you tear down a pitch deck, dispelling misconceptions about raising venture financing. Additionally, we will focus on the power of narrative and the art of crafting a captivating pitch deck.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty02:19 how was it to do a pitch deck teardown?03:23 how do you shape the narrative of your company?04:24 how to frame the problem solution set when pitching06:15 what helps make the case for why a founder is important?08:17 which parts of the deck you should index on?10:28 what is the correct sequence of the order of information in a deck?13:13 how do you show that you're solving a problem?16:58 what types of questions should be asked in user interviews?19:10 what do you accentuate on in a pitch deck?21:07 what deck types resonate with VCs the most?23:38 leveraging a user journey to describe the problem you’re solving24:59 how to share your company story?27:45 how to fundraise with no existing network28:42 when to set up pitches as a VC29:28 when do you bring up your deck?Show notes:Lotus Labs | https://www.lotuslabs.org/Andy Wessman | https://twitter.com/aweissmanUSV | https://www.usv.com/DocSend | https://www.docsend.com/Support the show

Send us a textToday, I'm joined by Deepak Sekar, Co-Founder and CEO of Prof Jim, bringing content to life with Generative AI. Prof Jim transforms books, websites, and other text into interactive videos — at scale. Deepak has been granted 200+ patents, making him one of the more prolific inventors in the world today. Previously, Deepak was the Founder and CEO of Chowbotics, which built the world's first fresh food-making robot named “Sally.” Under Sekar’s leadership, Chowbotics was named among the food trends of 2019 by The New York Times and listed as one of the world’s most innovative companies by Fast Company. Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Deepak Sekar02:48 what sparked the idea for Prof Jim05:39 Deepak’s thoughts on the generative AI space07:18 working with BGV09:14 Deepak’s investor monthly updates11:12 overcoming technical obstacles at Prof Jim13:48 Deepak fixing mistakes in his previous company 18:48 advice for early stage founders27:59 more advice for foundersShow notes:Deepak Sekar | https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepaksekar/Prof Jim | https://www.profjim.com/Meagan Loyst 80/20 model article | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/meaganloyst_superfans-community-apple-activity-7109531573607129091-zXv5/?trk=public_profile_like_viewiJustine | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCey_c7U86mJGz1VJWH5CYPAPacky McCormick newsletter | https://www.packym.com/newsletterTurner Novak newsletter | https://www.thespl.it/Support the show

Send us a textToday, I'm joined by Dhaval Patel, Founder and CEO of Lotus, a Techstars portfolio company, that makes a wearable ring to control objects at home by pointing. Unlike traditional smart home tech - no rewiring, no app, no internet. Lotus' mission is to build tech that is usable by everyone, by optimizing for disability. Previously, Patel was the VP of Hardware at PillDrill and an engineering manager at Apple for 8+ years. Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Dhaval Patel01:25 what problem is Lotus solving?04:38 Dhaval improving at storytelling06:54 Dhaval’s investor updates12:25 early days of building Lotus16:01 principles at Lotus 19:30 raising venture financing24:26 working with BGV29:20 why did BGV invest in Lotus?Show notes:Dhaval Patel | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhaval-c-patel/Lotus | https://www.lotuslabs.org/The Pitch | https://www.thepitch.show/guests/dhaval-patel-lotus/Open | https://www.amazon.com/Open-Autobiography-Andre-Agassi/dp/0307388409Mei Lin Ng | https://www.linkedin.com/in/meilinng/Shail Mehta | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shail-mehta-7b500712/Andy Hoang | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-hoang-93067226/?originalSubdomain=caThe Pitch Show: Lotus Episode | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPoYkU6r5bwSupport the show

Send us a textIn today’s podcast, I talk about AI’s power to automate, optimize, and revolutionize, making AI a goldmine for opportunities. However, because of the rapidly accelerating pace of AI innovation, what seems like a cutting-edge investment today could be outdated in a few short years or even months or weeks. The excitement about the potential of AI, although warranted, needs to be supplemented with a healthy dose of discipline, caution, and diligence. In this podcast, we’ll dig deeper into the value of investing early in AI, the risks, and our unique approach to the space.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty02:03 intro03:34 Value Driver #104:16 Value Driver #204:52 Macro Driver06:52 Technical Feasibility07:30 Consumer Trust08:09 Incumbency risk09:03 Rapidly shifting legislative landscape09:26 Data privacy considerations09:59 Our AI Investment ApproachShow notes:BGV AI Blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/post/ai-investingThe Psychology of Money | https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness/dp/0857197681duolingo | https://www.duolingo.com/Mike Arpaia | https://twitter.com/mikearpaiaArkady Kulik | https://www.linkedin.com/in/arkady-kulik/Support the show

Send us a textToday, I'm joined by Kristen Wiley, Founder of Statusphere, a influencer marketing platform that helps brands earn authentic micro-influencer posts at scale in a fraction of the time. With Statusphere, brands save 98% of the time they’d typically spend on influencer marketing while securing dozens, hundreds or thousands of guaranteed posts. With Statusphere’s streamlined matchmaking algorithm, fulfillment technology and in-depth reporting, they help brands drive maximum results with minimal setup. Previously, Kristen worked as a Chief Marketing Officer at Greenhouse Agency and BlurtBox.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Kristen Wiley01:02 what is Statusphere?02:53 what problem is Statusphere solving?04:18  Statusphere’s matching algorithm06:25 long-term vision for Statusphere07:34 how did Kristen get deep customer empathy?08:27 working with BGV10:15 presenting at the annual summit13:42 Statusphere’s core values16:19 challenges Kristen has overcome 18:40 journey as a non-technical founder20:18 Kristen’s fundraising journey21:51 Kristen’s favorite investors23:26  best books for foundersShow notes:Kristen Wiley | https://twitter.com/TheKristenWileyStatusphere | https://joinstatus.com/We're Calling Shenanigans | https://www.werecallingshenanigans.com/1984 vc | https://1984.vc/Hearst | https://www.hearst.com/Project Hail Mary | https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135202Founding Sales | https://www.amazon.com/Founding-Sales-Go-Market-Handbook-ebook/dp/B08PMK17Z1The Lean Startup | https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898The Art of Gathering | https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634920Support the show

Send us a textToday, I'm joined by Anthony Privitelli, Founder of Creator Testing, on-demand creator-focused feedback and insights. Essentially, Creator Testing was built for teams and individuals who want to get creator feedback, whether it's podcasters, short-form video creators, long-form video creators, live streamers, bloggers, writers, etc. Previously, Anthony worked as a Product Manager at TikTok and a Product Manager at Patreon. Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Anthony Privitelli04:50 what problem is Creator Testing solving?06:42 what was the breaking point for Anthony?10:12  how do creators get paid by Creator Testing?12:09 how do creators apply for Creator Testing?13:30 5 year vision of success for Creator Testing15:42  what calls have been most valuable to creators?17:24 what are challenges Anthony faces?22:28 challenging aspects of being a founder24:42 working with BGV 27:09 common traits among foundersShow notes:Anthony Privitelli | https://twitter.com/APrivitelliCreator Testing | https://www.linkedin.com/company/creator-testing/Arash Ferdowsi | https://twitter.com/arashf?lang=enDropbox | https://www.dropbox.com/Kyle Parrish | https://twitter.com/KyleHParrishFigma | https://www.figma.com/Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/Support the show