
Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup
A show about realizing the business ideas of early-stage entrepreneurs.
Ian Black interviews early-stage company founders to hear what it's really like getting a business off the ground. How do you launch a startup? What does it take to turn an idea into a business? How do you turn a profit? On Ready For Launch, we get the answers to those questions straight from the people making it happen today.
Be inspired by their stories. Learn from their mistakes. Understand the mindset it takes to create something from nothing.
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2024 • 1h 4min
AI Revolution in the Job Market: Launching AI Apply - An AI-Powered Job Search Tool, With Co-Founder Aidan Kramer
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.
This week, Ian Black talks to Aidan Cramer about his business AI Apply, which leverages generative AI to help job seekers find and apply for the best job opportunities. Aidan also shares his experience in building multiple businesses and the importance of finding product-market fit. Aidan shares his philosophy on killing ideas that don't work and focusing on the core offering, as well as his growth targets and the strategies he is using to achieve them, including content creation and influencer marketing.
Website
https://aiapply.co/
Tiktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@aidancramer
Twitter
https://twitter.com/AidanCramer
We Discuss
What Generative AI is
Common Mistakes in Job Applications
Experimentation with Different Business Ideas
How to Achieve Fast Growth and Profitability
New Perspectives on Defining Product Market Fit
Listening to Customers and Their Ideas
Defining Success and Growth Targets
Content Creation and Strategy
Choosing the Right Co-founder
Sacrifices and Loneliness of Entrepreneurship
Motivations and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
Advice for Starting a Business
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Host: Ian Black
Intro Music:
https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life
License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 3min
Overcoming Your Fears By Bootstrapping An Allergy Friendly Protein Bar Business, with Patrick Manning, founder of Alio.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world.
This week, Ian Black talks to Patrick Manning, the founder of Alio, an allergy-friendly protein bar company, who shares his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship. He saw a need for a protein bar free from the top nine food allergens and high in protein, and decided to create it himself. He shares his perspective on overcoming doubts and challenges as a founder and the unique lessons he has learned through entrepreneurship.
Website
https://livealio.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/livealionow
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/livealio
Chapters
Introduction and Background
Identifying the Need for Allergy-Friendly Protein Bars
Transition from Medical School to Entrepreneurship
Finding a Mentor and Overcoming Fear
Lessons Learned from Starting a Business
Challenges in Recipe Development and Manufacturing
Rebranding and Refining the Product
Market Response to the Relaunch of Allio
Importance of Customer Feedback and Launch Strategy
Delegating and Bringing in Experts
Building a Team and Seeking External Funding
Organic Marketing Strategies
Effective Sales Tactics through Engagment with Facebook Groups
Sales Channels and Retail Expansion
Profitability and Margin Refinement
Shelf Life and Expiry Dates
Daily Operations and Balancing Work
Future Team Expansion
Overcoming Doubts and Challenges
Advice for Founders and Dealing with Doubt
Setting Goals and Managing Friction
Product Expansion and New Flavors
Challenges in Scaling and Retail Expansion
The Power of Creation and Overcoming Challenges
Where to Find Alio
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Host: Ian Black
Intro Music:
https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life
License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

Feb 28, 2024 • 1h 29min
The Van Conversion Expert: How to Unlock the Lifestyle You’ve Dreamed of - with Shane Monks O'Byrne, founder of The Van Conversion Dotcom.
Shane Monks O'Byrne teaches people how to build camper vans and live a van life. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the philosophy of van life, and the lessons he learned from building his latest startup - https://www.thevanconversion.com.
Contents:
Introduction and Background
Shane's Business: Teaching People to Build Camper Vans
The Philosophy of Van Life
Shane's Journey into Entrepreneurship
Choosing the Right Path as an Entrepreneur
Lessons from Investing Applied to Life
Balancing Details and Output in Design
Finding Fun and Passion in Work
Finding Passion and Interests
Using Childhood as a Starting Point
Questioning False Assumptions and Self-Doubt
Exploring Different Interests and Skills
Learning New Skills and Trying Something New
Learning How to Build a Van
Documenting the Van Conversion Process
Transitioning from Building Vans to Writing a Book
Launching the Book and Building a Sustainable Business
Preparing for a Long-Term Bike Journey
Handling the Business During Time Away
Starting a Business: Choosing the Right Direction

Oct 25, 2023 • 56min
Launching a non-alcoholic spirit brand in Asia and the USA, with Lorin Winata Founder of Melati Drinks (#50)
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
I’m talking with Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, and part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2023.
Among many things, we discuss:
The history of Asian tonic drinks, dating back to 1293
What it means to be a non-alcoholic spirit, in the Better-for-you category
Borrowing extraction techniques from the perfume industry to create the most accessible drink
The loneliness of moving the business to a new country, new culture, with no network
Whittling down 150 classic ingredients from the spice islands of Indonesia, into the two Melati drinks
What it’s like to leave the male-dominated world of venture capital in Asia, to become an Asian female founder
The challenges you face doing everything for the first time as an entrepreneur, and why it gets easier.
And much more...
So sit back and enjoy the show!
Company website
https://melatidrinks.com/
Find Melati near you:
https://melatidrinks.com/pages/store-locator

Sep 20, 2023 • 1h 23min
049 - Launching and Closing A Daily Brain Care Business, with Brian Davis, Co-founder of Parable.
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Brian Davis, co-founder founder of Parable.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why Brain Care is so important for an ageing population
The 4 Pillars of Brain Care
How to communicate the benefits of a product when customers aren’t problem-aware yet
The importance of finding founder-fit
The problems with fundraising and launching a business at the same time
Deciding to shut down the business
The problem with taking advice from Outliers
The lack of failure stories on social media
Sit back and enjoy the show!

Aug 30, 2023 • 1h 32min
048 - Launching A Literary Career: Derek Sivers Reveals His Writing Process For His Forthcoming Book, Useful Not True.
Welcome to Ready For Launch. This week I’m talking with Derek Sivers, ex-musician, ex-entrepreneur, TED speaker and four-time book author.
Among many things, we discuss:
Why New Zealand is the best place in the world to raise a kid
How to adapt your values to your current situation
The secrets to becoming a great speaker
What still terrifies Derek about speaking on stage
The best way to write a book
The value of self-publishing and retaining your copyrights
The importance of doing the opposite of your creative habits
What Derek’s latest book is all about
How your belief and perspectives change your actions
The barbell strategy of living in the extremes
Why graveyards are a great place to sleep
Useful beliefs about writing.
And so much more! So sit back and enjoy the show
Website
https://sive.rs/

Aug 16, 2023 • 1h 1min
047 - Launching a Network of Top Designers and Builders For Startups, with Stephanie Golik, Founder at Huddle
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Stephanie Golik Founder at Huddle.
Among many things, we discuss:
From Design to Founder: Steph’s journey from studying Architecture to becoming co-founder of Huddle
The Power of Building: How Steph used app development as a way to kick start her career in design
Searching for The One: How moonlighting on different creative projects led to finding the one to go all in on.
The Idea Graveyard: Learnings from killing small projects that helped launch Huddle
Getting Paid In Equity: What designers and builders should know about getting paid in equity by startups.
The Art of Investment: How getting seed funding was a strategic choice in moving quickly and catching the wave of people looking for more work flexibility
Being Non-Scalable: The importance of doing non-scalable tasks early on to deliver a great customer experience, and how to relinquish that control later on.
Quarterly Planning: How looking ahead helps Huddle stay on track with their vision to make the future of work more flexible.
Enjoy the show!
Links:
Huddle site
https://www.huddle.works/
Want to join as a builder?
app.huddle.works/builder-invite/itomblack
Want to hire a team?
app.huddle.works/invite/itomblack
Workshops on becoming a founder
https://www.dive.club/course/go-from-designer-to-founder

19 snips
Aug 2, 2023 • 1h 1min
046 - Launching a Venture Studio, with Hunter Hammonds, Founder and CEO of Assembly: Building a $100m portfolio of creator-led businesses
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Hunter Hammonds, founder of Assembly.
We discuss:
What Assembly is: a business that builds businesses from scratch
Hunter’s career pre-Assembly: from skipping college to 8-figure agencies
The challenges of selling a design agency
The importance of having your heart in your business
6 key attributes of a strong business operator
Leading with a “Burn the ships” mentality
A playbook for building a business from nothing
Pivoting as a company of companies.
How to decide which businesses to invest in
3 components to hiring at speed
The value of building an audience
Links:
If you need the world’s best design team:
https://offmenu.design/
If you need the most kick-ass high engagement short form viral videos:
https://www.viralcuts.co/
Amazing product demo animation launch videos
https://www.keyframe.design/
The coolest youtube agency in the world
https://www.heyfriends.studio/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/_hunterhammonds

Jul 19, 2023 • 55min
045 - PR For Startups: Everything You Wanted To Know About Hiring A PR Firm, with Brigitte Kaps, Founder of Rent a PR
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where Ian Black talks to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Brigitte Kaps CEO & Founder of Rent a PR, a company that offers Public Relations & Communications Advisory on demand.
Among many things, we discuss:
Brigitte’s finance background before starting her company
Seeking out inspiration from Silicon Valley: the mindset difference of the USA
The main components of PR: Paid and unpaid media
How to create a good PR briefing
PR for different stages of a company: Startups to mid-cap
Misconceptions about PR
Choosing a PR agency: What kind of coverage do you need?
The cost of PR: from on demand to retainers
Crisis management for businesses
And much more!
So sit back and enjoy the show
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-kaps-6912985/
Company Website
https://www.rentapr.ch/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/rent_a_pr

Jul 5, 2023 • 54min
044 - Launching a New Era of Coffee Convenience, with Zach Frantz, Founder of Wildland Coffee
Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early stage companies about how they launched their business into the world.
This week I’m talking with Zach Frantz, founder of Wildland Coffee, a company that makes coffee in tea bags.
Among many things, we discuss:
The Inspiration for Wildland Coffee
Product Development: From co-packers to packing in-house
Business growth: The challenges of finding a scalable sales channel
When to quit: How to identify the signal from the noise when evaluating business strategies
Sales before Brand: The importance of revenue in the early stages of a business
Secrets of success: The power of the ask
And so much more!
So sit back and enjoy the show.
Company website
wildlandcoffee.co
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachfrantz/
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