Lekan Olude is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur best known for co-founding Jobberman, West Africa's leading job search engine. In 2021, he founded Motherboard, a comprehensive employee benefits platform, further solidifying his impact on the Nigerian business landscape. He’s a previous guest on the podcast in which we wanted to continue the conversation to expand upon Lekan’s immigration from Africa to the States. Today, expect to learn what it takes to create community as an introvert, build brand value, and align with venture capitalists.Key Takeaways:Navigating the culture shock of migrating to the US.How is the US economy structured differently than the rest of the world?Building community as an introvert through hosting mini parties.Community is leverage. Man was never made to go alone.Providing value doesn’t have to be anything more than sharing what you have to offer.The difference between brand value and online presence, and how to establish yourself in each.This life is not a rehearsal. Make the most of your one chance.Questions to ask to understand why a venture capitalist is investing in you. Mentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oludeolalekan/Other Mentions: AppSumoCheck out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

In this episode, serial entrepreneur, investor and founding partner of Anti-VC, Saleem Ahmed, joins us in an engaging discussion about his transition from an unfulfilling career in engineering to founding successful startups. In addition to Anti-VC, Saleem founded Jrop and Zown. Today, Saleem discusses what many founders tend to underestimate about building a startup, finding mission alignment with co-founders, bootstrapping vs raising capital, and how to actually generate revenue in your startup.Key Takeaways:How to tell if you’re a serious entrepreneurHealthy partnerships with VCsFinding the right co-founderCreating mission alignment throughout your teamEnsuring peaceful legal dissolutions Issues with relying on venture capital for a lifelineReasons why founders choose to go and secure grantsBuilding a powerful network via LinkedInDefining product market fitBootstrapping vs raising moneyMentions:Website: https://www.antivc.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antivc/

In this episode, Brandon Tigges, the CEO of Job Machine, shares his journey as an entrepreneur, and the valuable lessons that have shaped his career in sales and marketing. He portrays the picture of a resilient military child. He gives an insight into his transformative experiences in creating a failed marketing agency and then working for a robotics startup that exposed him to understanding customer problems, scope projects, and margins. Now Brandon helps military veterans find jobs and has come full circle from his military roots.Key Takeaways:Understanding your customer’s problem firstSetting goals that challenge you to take the necessary actionHow talking to customers can save you time and moneyAchieving product-market fitFiguring out what to give up to achieve your set financial goalsPicking jobs that give the best learning experiences Why your product is your business model, not your productMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-tigges/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weaponsgradehuman/Check out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Training Layers, Bret Sears. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, from running a financial services company to building TrainingLayers, a ground-breaking software training platform. We delve deep into the learning curve involved in building a SaaS product from the ground up and how Bret navigated these challenges. He shares how they prioritize a comprehensive user journey while also providing insight into their upcoming product, Sequence. He reflects on the importance of adaptability and resilience in entrepreneurship and offers some invaluable advice for future founders.Key Takeaways:Elements that drive people towards career success How to hold an effective conversation that connects peopleGoal-setting frameworks that get people unstuckHow to be deliberate about particular actions for a specific outcomeFiguring out the true capital factoryThe difference between an onboarding system and a user journeyWhy crafting a story that people can identify with is importantMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-siers-%E2%96%B6-11a81b5/Other Resources: Capital Factory, DocuSign, Jira, ClickUp, Slack, ChatGPT, GitHub

In this conversation with Marc Nathan, a Vice President at Egan Nelson LLP and founder of T-Squared Agency, listeners explore the dynamic Austin startup scene. Marc shares insights on the evolution of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the shift from service to product-based businesses. He discusses the vital role of mentorship, highlighting traits like 'coachability' in mentees. The importance of building a personal brand and leveraging community connections for fundraising is also tackled, making this an essential listen for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Lekan Olude is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Jobberman, West Africa's leading job search engine. Born and raised in Ogun State, he pursued his education at Obafemi Awolowo University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. With a diverse career that includes experiences at Goldman Sachs and TeleMobile Nigeria Limited, Olude has not only played a pivotal role in the tech industry but has also served as the Special Adviser on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. In 2021, he founded Motherboard, a comprehensive employee benefits platform, further solidifying his impact on the Nigerian business landscape.Key Takeaways:Pursuing entrepreneurship early on without capitalGrowing the conviction to pursue your ideaIndicators you’re right or wrongIdentifying product market fitBuilding your company for an exitHitting global recognition and 1 million usersEconomic downturns and layoffsFocusing sustainability rather than "startup mentality"The questions to ask yourself to take your idea from concept to launchLeveraging domain expertiseMentions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oludeolalekan/Other Mentions: How to Hone Your Mind, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Teams of Teams, Good to Great, Great by ChoiceCheck out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Justin Schoenfelder is the CEO and Founder of Fantasy Elect, a platform that merges the fantasy sports experience with politics, allowing users to compete for bragging rights and cash. He is also a co-host of the Bully Pulpit podcast and has a strong passion for learning. With a diverse background in executive coaching, real estate development, independent film financing, and writing for various media, Justin applies his varied experiences in his role as the leader, manager, and coach at Fantasy Elect. The platform aims to engage individuals and organizations globally in the intersection of politics and fantasy competition.Key Takeaways:The origin of Fantasy ElectValidating the business before building the productOperating in a regulated space: payments processing, legal requirements, identity verificationTwo factors to starting a business: leveraging relationships and learning from othersA framework for approaching problemsHiring a CEO to scale your companyBeing a generalist as an entrepreneur who’s always putting out firesWhat happens when you over sharpen a bladeMentions:Fantasy Elect: https://fantasyelectgame.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-schoenfelder-fantasy-electOther Mentions: Bully Pulpit, Bubble, How to Take Over the World PodcastCheck out the Funds & Founders Community:Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.comWebsite: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Welcome to "Funds & Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs," where we dig deep into the stories of successful Austin founders. Instead of focusing on their successes though, we dive into their journeys, particularly the struggles and obstacles they had to overcome.This weekly podcast is tailored for Austin founders navigating the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey and hosted by fellow Austinite Abhinav Sinha. Here’s what to expect by tuning into Funds & Founders:🚀 Embark on a Journey to SuccessJoin Abhinav as he takes you behind the scenes, exploring the highs and lows of building a company. This isn't your typical success story – we dive into the failures, the struggles, and those pivotal breakthrough moments that define a founder's path.🌟 Real Conversations, Real InsightsAbhinav's approach is refreshingly different. Rather than dwelling on success, he crafts casual conversations that unravel the untold stories. Identify the setbacks that helped them grow, the lessons learned from failures, and the breakthrough moments that fueled these founders.🤔 Why Didn't They Quit? Learn and Apply.At the heart of each episode, Abhinav delves into the 'why' behind the perseverance. Why didn't they throw in the towel during tough times? And, most importantly, how can you apply their insights to your own journey? Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical takeaways for your entrepreneurial adventure.🤝 Decoding Venture CapitalEver wondered what goes on in the minds of Austin's venture capitalists? Abhinav sits down with local VCs to decode their criteria for investing in early-stage companies. Gain valuable insights into the world of venture capital, understand what investors look for, and appreciate the vital factor of founder-investor compatibility.🎙️ Meet Your Host, Abhinav Sinha:Abhinav's soft-spoken yet inquisitive style creates an intimate atmosphere, allowing guests to share their authentic stories. His genuine curiosity and insightful questions make each episode a captivating journey into the minds of Austin's most successful founders.If you're a budding Austin entrepreneur seeking the inspiration and insight needed for building a successful company, "Funds & Founders" is your go-to podcast.