Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

https://www.impactcfo.net Family Business Challenges with Lowell Mora from Impact CFO Family Business Challenges Discussion Lowell discussed the unique challenges of family businesses, highlighting that the family aspect creates complications regardless of the number of family members involved. He shared his personal experience of being advised against working in family businesses but eventually b...

Networking Tips with Mary Scott, PitchSTL Startup Networking Strategies Discussion Mary discussed the importance of networking and follow-up for startups seeking customers and investors. She emphasized that in-person networking is more effective than Zoom, and highlighted the value of leaving contact information, particularly through LinkedIn. Mary also shared a strategy for introverts to initiate...

https://businessriff.com Dan Lauer from Maryville University talks about Tips for Veteran Startups Veteran Entrepreneur Funding Challenges Mary discussed her podcast "Stuck? Time to Improv" with Dan Lauer from Maryville University, focusing on challenges faced by veteran entrepreneurs. Dan identified early-stage capital as a key challenge, noting that while there are good education and networking...

https://businessriff.com Tina Kadish, From Job to Joy, talks about Entrepreneur Mindset Developing Entrepreneurial Mindset for Startups Mary and Tina discussed the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset for startups. Tina explained that transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship requires shifting from following others to taking control of one's life and business. She em...

https://OpenPrairie.com Jim Schultz from Open Prairie talks about Funding AgTech Startups Agricultural Tech Investment Discussion Mary welcomed attendees to the "Stuck Time to Improv" session and introduced Jim Schultz, an investor, as the guest speaker. The discussion focused on the agricultural tech industry, highlighting its potential for startup businesses and the importance of preparation whe...

https://businessriff.com https://tayloredanalytics.com Financial Projections That Are Investor Ready with Kelvin Taylor, Taylored Analytics Financial Projections for Entrepreneurs Mary and Kelvin discussed the components of financial projections for entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on total addressable market (TAM) and its importance to investors. Kelvin explained that investors evaluate busin...

https://businessriff.com Mistakes Tech Startups Make with Stacia Thompson from Radiance Consulting & Coaching Groupe Tech Founder Growth Challenges Mary and Stacia discussed common mistakes made by tech founders, particularly during the dot-com crash when founders excelled at starting companies but lacked experience in running and growing them. Stacia noted that many tech startups failed after...

https://lushin.com Ben Kniffen from LUSHIN talks about How to Set Up a Sales Team Sales Team Development for Startups Mary and Ben discussed the importance of building a sales team for startup scalability. Ben explained that companies typically start with founder-led sales but eventually need to transfer skills and hire team members, as sales roles are particularly challenging to fill. The discuss...

https://globalwelcom.com How to Start a Coaching Business with Dr. Yvonne Oswald from Global Welcome Coaching Business Startup Discussion Dr. Yvonne Oswald was introduced as a guest expert from Global Welcome, and the discussion was set to cover topics including "Wealthy Mind, Wealthy Wallet" and business setup tips. Coaching Business Best Practices Dr. Yvonne shared insights on running a coaching...

https://www.lved.com Terry Anderton from LVED talks about Negotiating Mistakes Startups Make Startup Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid Terry discussed common mistakes startups make when raising funds, particularly targeting the wrong investor types and check sizes, which can lead to a complex cap table with many investors. Terry advised that startups should aim for the largest check size from the fewe...

https://www.brightwings.io Isaac Musselwhite from BrightWings talks about Why & How to Hire a Developer for your custom AI and Apps Developer Hiring Benefits for Startups Mary interviewed Isaac Musselwhite from BrightWings about the benefits of hiring a developer for startups. Isaac explained that non-technical founders often struggle to clearly communicate their vision to developers, leading...

Michael Morrison from MichaelDMorrison.com discusses Principles to Scale & Sell Your Business GPS System for Business Success Michael explained his GPS system for business success, which starts with Guiding Principles that include purpose, product, target audience, and mission. He described these principles as essential for setting direction before creating a business plan, though he noted tha...

https://grandipr.uk/why-your-content-is-at-risk Céleste, The Empress of Trademarks, from GRAND IPR talks about Trademarks for Startups Trademark and Intellectual Property Discussion Mary and Céleste discussed trademarks and intellectual property. Céleste explained that trademarks are unique identifiers, like logos, that must meet certain criteria to be registered. She emphasized that trademarks sh...

www.darlinglocal.com All About Google Profiles with Craig Darling from Darling Local Google Profiles for Startups Discussion Google Business Profile Setup Craig Darling explained that a Google Business Profile is a business listing that helps direct signals from social media channels to search engines like Google, Bing, and Apple. He described the process of creating one as simple, involving visit...

https://businessriff.com Pitching Made Easy with Mary Scott In this episode of "Stuck? Time to Improv!," Mary Scott from BusinessRiff provided basic pitching tips for startups seeking funding or customers. She emphasized starting with a concise 30-second pitch that introduces the speaker's name, company, the problem they solve, for whom, and the benefits the client derives. Then the speaker's uniq...

https://surffinancialbrokers.com Chris Castanes from Surf Financial Brokers gives basic insurance tips for startups Startup Insurance Basics Explained Mary and Chris discussed the importance of insurance for startups, focusing on liability insurance and workers' compensation. Chris explained that liability insurance protects businesses from claims of bodily harm or property damage, both on and off...

Oliver Mitchell from ff Venture Capital talks about AI & Robotics Startups AI and Robotics Investment Insights Oliver Mitchell, an investor at ff Venture Capital, shared his extensive experience in AI and robotics investments, including his time at Autonomy Ventures where he made significant exits. He discussed his current role at FF, where he focuses on DeepTech investments, and his work on t...

Louise Pooley from Pooley Accounting Services talks about Taking Care of Your Money Financial Mistakes in Startup Failures Louise discussed common financial mistakes that lead to startup failures, highlighting the importance of proper cash flow planning during the early non-profitable phase and establishing a solid financial management system. She emphasized the need to separate business and perso...

https://JustinePetersen.org Robert Boyle from Justine Petersen talks about CDFIs CDFIs: Supporting Underserved Communities Mary introduced Robert Boyle from Justine Peterson, a CDFI in St. Louis, to discuss the importance of CDFIs for startups. Robert explained that CDFIs, or Community Development Financial Institutions, were established by the U.S. Department of Treasury in the mid-90s to assist...

https://www.logisticssales.com/ Daman Grewal from LogisticsSales.com gives Sales Tips for Startups Summary Sales Strategies for Startup Success Mary welcomed Daman Grewal to the show to discuss sales strategies for startups, emphasizing the importance of sales before revenue generation. Daman shared his experience visiting St. Louis and acknowledged Mary's introduction. The conversation set the st...

https://evolutionaccelerator.co Alex Chompff from Evolution Ventures Fund Management talks about Getting Investors to Lean In. Startup Support and Collaboration InsightsS Mary welcomed Alex Chompff from Evolution Ventures to the Stuck? Time to Improv! podcast, where they discussed the importance of supporting startups and their journey to success. Alex expressed gratitude for the opportunity to sh...

Startup Tree https://hssu-cie.startuptree.co/ Kristy Jackson from the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harris-Stowe State University talking about challenges to minority founders Supporting Minority Entrepreneurs in St. Louis Mary and Kristy discussed the challenges minority founders face, including funding gaps, knowledge gaps, and a lack of mentorship and sponsorship. Kristy, a...

https://www.farzanachohan.com/ Dr. Farzana Chohan from Optimized Excellence talks about AI for Startups AI Strategies for Startup Success Mary introduces Dr. Farzana Chohan from Optimized Excellence to discuss AI strategies for startups. They plan to explore common mistakes startups make when approaching AI and how to work effectively with it. AI Adoption: Fear vs. Blindness Dr. Chohan discussed t...

https://tencapital.group/ Hall Martin from TEN Capital talks about Success Factors in Early Stage Diligence Due Diligence for Startup Investors Mary and Hall discussed the importance of due diligence for early-stage startups. Hall explained that investors examine pitch decks, legal structures, cap tables, financial projections, and revenue models to assess a company's potential. He emphasized the...

Kent Voran from SCORE talks about What Type of Business Are You. Business Structure Selection Guide Mary and Kent discussed the different types of business structures, including sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability companies, and corporations (C-Corp and S-Corp). Kent emphasized the importance of considering factors such as tax liability, personal liability exposure, operational set...