Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

In the latest episode of Funds and Founders, Jessi, founder of Downland, reveals how agrotourism and regenerative agriculture could revolutionize land management and food production. Discover how matching landowners with next-generation land stewards can restore landscapes and create sustainable business models. Tune in to explore:- The journey of building an AgTech startup from scratch- How to leverage your unique strengths and network in entrepreneurship- The crucial balance between mission-driven goals and venture capital expectations- Strategies for validating your business model and preparing for fundraising00:46 - Entrepreneurial journey06:05 - what a land steward does and their responsibilities?09:33 - Agrotourism12:48 - Decision of taking passion to a full time job16:48 - how did you get a hundred customer interviews?20:52 - Regenerative farming26:30 - Understanding the customer wants in a business29:36 - Journey of a Solo founder33:25 - Eliminating the uncertainty and challenges in the entrepreneur journey34:47 - Crossfit journey42:34 - Product Development Strategy for a Marketplace Startup47:26 - Finding the right partners and right advisors54:13 - Fundraising process1:02:33 - Rapid fire question1:09:15 - Question for the future GuestSubscribe now and hit the notification bell to Funds and FoundersMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessi-roesch-rhymes-with-fresh/Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Simran Singh narrates his entrepreneurial journey from his college days at Duke University to co-founding Zogo, a financial education platform which was eventually acquired by Peak Six. He elaborates on the challenges of early-stage startups, the pivoting of Zogo, and decision-making processes related to product development and market targeting. Simran also introduces his new venture, SwayStack, while providing valuable insights on growth, partnerships, and maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset. Additionally, the episode explores influential books like 'Poor Charlie's Almanac' by Charlie Munger, favorite tools and tech stacks like Notion, JIRA, GitHub, Figma, Google Drive, AWS, and Dynalist, and shares advice on resilience, support systems, and customer engagement. The conversation wraps up with anticipation of the next guest's insights into the role of mentors or advisors. If you’re looking for the motivation and insight needed to build a successful startup, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:• How will you know when to invest in an initial MVP?• Calculating market size to predict scalability• How working with private equity can be beneficial to your long term visionKey Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(01:31) - Simran’s Indian Family Influence(04:40) - Challenges and Learnings from Zogo(14:39) - Navigating Early MVPs(29:25) - Balancing Risk and Stability(35:50) - Zogo's Business Development Strategy(36:23) - Sales and Marketing(38:36) - Total Addressable Market (TAM)(46:50) - Acquisition by Private Equity(55:27) - Post-Acquisition Reflections and New Ventures(59:12) - Rapid Fire Questions and Resources(01:07:40) - Final ThoughtsKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Austin Texas, Abhinav Sinha, entrepreneurs, startups, venture capitalMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esimran/Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, shares his 35 years of experience shaping this iconic festival. He reveals the origins of SXSW, inspired by the New Music Seminar, and recounts pivotal moments like Johnny Cash's appearance and Twitter's launch. Hugh discusses the festival's shift from music-centric to a wide-ranging tech and creative platform, its significant economic impact on Austin, and upcoming challenges with the convention center's reconstruction. He also touches on the intersection of quantum technology and AI, highlighting the ongoing adaptability of SXSW.

Vikas is an experienced entrepreneur, advisor and the Managing Director of Frisco Analytics. In this conversation, he discusses the importance of selecting good advisors and how he identified gaps in the tech consulting space to grow his successful company later acquired by Huron. Vikas gives insights on how to build the right team, and sales strategies, navigate acquisitions and foster the right team culture. Finally, he shares his experiences with acquisition processes, incentive structures in consulting, managing multiple ventures and the value of direct feedback and the growth dynamics in the tech industry.Key Takeaways:• Choosing experienced advisors to save on finances and time• Identifying what’s missing on the team and choosing members with the right culture fit• Addressing incentive structures in consulting as a worker retention strategy• Insights into the acquisition process for consulting teams• Addressing the need for direct and honest feedback• Navigating the complexities of managing multiple venturesKey Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(04:55) - Building a successful consulting business(07:30) - Scaling and managing growth as an Investor(09:05) - Proven incentive structures in the consulting space(15:17) - What is product market fit?(21:24) - The company acquisition journey and post-sale experience(33:48) - The process of underwriting a deal(35:21) - When does one need an exit strategy?(39:17) - Deal flow, evaluation and selection criteria used to issue funding(48:29) - Strategic investment roadmapsKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Austin Texas, Abhinav Sinha, entrepreneurs, startups, venture capital, product-market fit, acquisition, team building strategyMentions:Website: https://www.friscoanalytics.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikas-punna-94b33216/Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Vinay Chandrasekaran, founder of Frontek Solutions, Crayon’d, and Layerpath, shares his fascinating journey from learning HTML as a teenager in India to becoming the CEO of a successful SaaS company. Vinay delves into his entrepreneurial motivations, experiences at Zoho, and the essential role of community, mentorship, and resilience. He also discusses raising venture capital and emphasizes the importance of energy, passion, and mindset. Additionally, Vinay reflects on how his endurance sports endeavors have shaped his discipline and mindset and explores the idea of merging his tech expertise with sports training. The episode concludes with his thoughts on manifestation and public speaking. If you’re looking for the motivation and insight needed to build a successful startup, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:• What’re the first three steps a founder should take in building a startup?• What does failing fast look like in the startup ecosystem?• When will you know to raise venture capital?• What is the role of a Chief Focus Officer?Key Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(03:18) - Building Frontex Solutions(06:12) - The Role of Community in Entrepreneurship(08:23) - Building a Founding Team(10:32) - Joining Zoho(14:36) - Travel and Personal Growth(20:48) - Returning to Entrepreneurship(25:57) - The First Thing Startups Should Do(31:53) - Bringing an Idea to Market(34:49) - The Importance of Founder Fit(41:13) - Raising Venture Capital(51:19) - Burnout and Support Systems(53:41) - Closing ThoughtsKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Austin Texas, Abhinav Sinha, entrepreneurs, startups, venture capitalMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivinayc/Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Alberto Silveira is a seasoned engineering leader with a diverse career spanning companies like IBM, Kaplan, Amplify, OnDeck, and currently, HireVue. He is also the author of the book, Building and Managing High Performance Distributed Teams. Alberto discusses the differences between leading small and large engineering teams, the importance of creating a positive engineering culture, and the nuances of hands-on leadership. He also shares his passion for distributed teams, the challenges of scaling team culture in a remote environment, and his philosophy on balancing immediate deliverables with long-term team health. Alberto reflects on his career journey, the lessons learned from writing his book on high-performance distributed teams during the pandemic, and offers advice on overcoming organizational challenges by taking an inclusive leadership approach. Key Takeaways:• How can you humanize work culture in a remote environment?• How can you create focused teams to improve delivery and outcome?• How the Iron Triangle allows founders to align product, engineering and design teams• Identifying problems and suggesting solutions empowers team members and builds a strong team cultureKey Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(04:40) - Hands-On Leadership as a CTO(08:45) - Defining and Building Engineering Culture(010:44) - Challenges of Scaling and Remote Work(25:49) - Balancing Change and Delivery(31:39) - Engineering vs Product Leadership(37:27) - The Iron Triangle Concept(39:18) - Importance of Design in Product Development(43:06) - Building High-Performance Distributed Teams(48:57) - Leadership and Team Motivation(60:26) - Entrepreneurship is a JourneyKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Texas,, Venture Capital, Ecosystem, Culture, Company Values. Collaboration, Distributed Teams, Scalability, Engineering, Technical, Product, Leaders, Product-Driven, Early-Stage, SaaSMentions:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/asilveira/Mentions: Who: Building and Managing High Performance Distributed Teams, The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart and Randy Street, Lean Inception, Scale UpCheck out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Aaron Trahan, founder of Performance Mindset Coaching, discusses the fundamental differences between a coach and a mentor. Aaron shares his journey to becoming a coach, emphasizing the importance of having a coach for achieving personal and professional breakthroughs. The conversation delves into identifying signals for needing a coach, finding the right coach, and getting the most out of the coaching relationship. Aaron also highlights the value of structured systems like OKRs for setting and achieving goals, and the necessity of prioritizing tasks effectively. The episode concludes with actionable insights on how to incorporate coaching strategies to accelerate growth and navigate entrepreneurial challenges. If you’re looking for the motivation and insight needed to build a successful startup, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:• Why mimicking your mentor's journey can be a pitfall• The advantages of professional coaching over traditional mentorship• How to unlock your distinct potential• Strategies to forge your own path to success in the competitive worldKey Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(01:29) Aaron's Journey to Coaching(03:39) Coaching vs. Mentoring(05:55) Finding and Utilizing a Good Coach(09:59) Knowing When You Need a Coach(15:36) Breaking Through Personal Barriers(33:06) The Importance of Accountability in Achieving Goals(36:52) Leveraging Coaching(40:29) The Power of Prioritization(43:28) The Warren Buffett Priority Story(48:26) Frameworks and Operating Systems(56:03) The Importance of Morning Routines(59:26) ConclusionKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Austin Texas, Abhinav Sinha, entrepreneurs, startups, venture capital, coaching, mentoring, coach, mentor, goal setting, achievement. operating systems, routinesMentions:Website: https://performancemindsetcoaching.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-trahan-6135909Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderpodcast.com

YJ Lin is a key player in the Austin startup ecosystem. He graduated from the University of Houston and is deeply involved with communities like Ascend Austin and the Executive Council Network. Currently, he is the Chief Fun Officer of York's Game Pieces, and Senior Program Manager at Dell for Startups. Over the past decade, YJ has orchestrated city-wide events across North America through nonprofit and corporate entities, focusing on uniting community leaders to build stronger, sustainable ecosystems. YJ specializes in startups, culture, and volunteerism, emphasizing the importance of community, mentorship, and finding the right support systems for personal and professional growth. His dedication to fostering collaborative environments drives ecosystem development and connected human experiences. If you’re looking for the motivation and insight needed to build a successful startup, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:• Explicitly defining one’s role in growing a sustainable community• Recognizing the importance of building strong communities and ecosystems for collaborations• Finding balance through mapping out a life plan• Why is it important to have the three builders, a Rainmaker, Conductor, and Expert in your business?• How to leverage the 4 P’s of Mentoring to foster your communityKey Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(05:05) - Who is YJ Lin?(07:30) - Challenges and Realizations in an Entrepreneur’s Journey(12:21) - Community and Ecosystem Building(14:03) - What a Harvard Study Can Teach You About Happiness(25:27) - What’s All of This For?(30:32) - YJ’s Big Realization(32:38) - The Power of Community Collaboration(37:07) - Challenges in Building Community Ecosystems(43:56) - The Importance of Mentorship and Support Systems(45:55) - The 4 P’s of Mentoring(49:44) - What Type of Builder Are You?(50:56) - What Makes Us Human?Key Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Entrepreneurs and Founders, Venture Capital, Ecosystem, Community, Relationships, Sustainable Community, Community Building, Leverage, Collaborative VisionaryMentions:Website: https://yjlin.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yjlinco/Mentions: The Paterson LifePlan Process by Peter Drucker and Tom Paterson, Austin Stars Facebook group, Born To Build (Jim Clifton and Sangeeta Bharadwaj Badal)

Jeff Eversmann is an experienced design engineer, fractional CFO at Miranti Growth, and GP at Longview Tech Ventures. Drawing from his career across various high-level roles, Jeff explains the continuum from product market match to alignment and finally to fit. He discusses examples, especially Uber's market strategy, and elaborates on how early-stage founders should approach achieving and measuring product market fit. He shares insights into venture capital dynamics, emphasizing the importance of founder-investor compatibility, effective fundraising strategies, and the critical role of executive coaching. Key Takeaways:• Signals, tools, data and metrics early-stage founders can use to assess product-market fit• Importance of achieving customer validation before Series A funding• Why balancing investor advice with the founder's vision is crucial• How founders can effectively network and use their connections for successful fundraising• Ways to determine pivot points and avoid distractions during a product’s life cycle• Understanding venture capital and early-stage investment dynamicsKey Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(00:50) - Defining Product Market Fit(05:25) - Product Market Fit Challenges for Early-Stage Founders(08:20) - Customer Discovery and Validation(09:58) - Raising Series A and Selecting Suitable Marketing Channels(13:35) - Dealing with Investor Pressure in Decision-Making Processes(16:45) - Longview Tech Ventures Investment Criteria(21:46) - Challenges of First-Time Founders(23:30) - Market Sizing and Unit Economics(28:32) - Raising a VC Fund(32:50) - Understanding Internal Product Updates(33:14) - Raising Funds and Communicating with VCs(38:59) - Importance of Founder-VC Alignment(42:17) - Dealing with Awkward Pitching Moments(47:24) - Building Startups and Raising CapitalKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Entrepreneurs and Founders, product-market fit, customer validation, early-stage investments, Series AMentions:Website: https://www.merantigrowth.com/https://www.longviewtechventures.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffeversmann/Mentions: War of Art by Steven Pressfield, The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick, The Innovator’s Solution by Clayton ChristiansenCheck out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Ben James and Dylan Mankey from Tubular Networks discuss their journey from their initial meeting at HomeAway to co-founding Tubular Networks. Ben shares his extensive background in product management, having worked at companies such as National Instruments, VRBO, and Magic Leap, while Dylan talks about his engineering leadership roles with experience at companies like Expedia, HomeAway, and MapMyFitness. The conversation delves into how they decided to partner up, overcoming co-founder conflicts, and the importance of the right dynamics in a startup. Ben and Dylan share insights on building a prototype, gaining their first customer, and validating their idea. They describe Tubular Networks' mission to decarbonize the transportation of goods through a city-scale infrastructure of robotic delivery systems. They also discuss the challenges of hardware startups, the importance of failing fast and learning quickly, and the support systems that have helped them, including the significant influence and advice from their spouses.Key Takeaways:Ways to demonstrate VR concepts before creation to impress first customersNegative impact on health from working excessively and relentlessly pursuing opportunitiesChallenges with pitching solutions to unacknowledged problemsOvercoming legal obstacles in the hardware businessBalancing opportunities with big companies and focusing on smaller contracts for stabilityIntentionally choosing a team that’s comfortable learning new skills and making decisionsAdvantages of using off-the-shelf components for prototyping to reduce the cost of learningEmphasis on the importance of viewing failures as opportunities to gather fresh insightsImportance of balancing carbon footprint considerations with scalability and societal impactPromoting a culture of respect at all decision-making levels for strong founder dynamicsRecognizing the importance of humility and clear feedback to build a strong teamBoldness to seek input from various trusted sources at critical stages of growthKey Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(06:27) The Vision and Mission of Tubular Networks: Revolutionizing Delivery(07:40) Validating the Vision: From Prototype to First Customer(20:37) Navigating the Startup Journey: Challenges, High Points, and Learning(25:57) The Art of Building a Hardware-Software Startup(30:25) Innovative Cost-Saving Measures and the Spirit of Jugaad(32:32) Embracing Failure as a Learning Tool(34:53) Long-Term Vision for a Sustainable Future(38:39) Navigating the Challenges of Decarbonization(45:05) Co-Founder Dynamics and Decision-Making(48:46) Leveraging Technology and Advisor Insights(52:25) Support Systems and Advice for EntrepreneursKey Topics Discussed:Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Entrepreneurs and Founders, Venture Capital, Untold Stories, robotic delivery, tubular networks, Letter of Intent (LOI), decarbonization, carbon footprint, prototyping, Robot Operating System (ROS), Co-Founder dynamicsMentions:Website: https://www.tubular.network/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-p-james/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-mankey/