• Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

  • By: Abhinav Sinha
  • Podcast

Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs  By  cover art

Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

By: Abhinav Sinha
  • Summary

  • 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 Success Join 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 Insights Abhinav'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 Capital Ever 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.
    Copyright 2024 Abhinav Sinha
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Episodes
  • Why You SHOULD NOT Follow Your Mentor | Aaron Trahan - E25
    Jul 3 2024

    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 world


    Key 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) Conclusion


    Key Topics Discussed:

    Funds and Founders, Austin Texas, Abhinav Sinha, entrepreneurs, startups, venture capital, coaching, mentoring, coach, mentor, goal setting, achievement. operating systems, routines


    Mentions:

    Website: https://performancemindsetcoaching.co/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-trahan-6135909


    Check out the Funds & Founders Community:

    Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.com

    Website: fundsandfounderpodcast.com

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Community Building, A Harvard Study’s Take on Fulfillment, and The 4 P’s of Mentoring | YJ Lin - E24
    Jun 26 2024

    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 community


    Key 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 Visionary


    Mentions:

    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)

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    54 mins
  • Customer Discovery, Validation, and Acquisition for Early-Stage Growth | Jeff Eversmann - E23
    Jun 19 2024

    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 dynamics


    Key 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 Capital


    Key Topics Discussed:

    Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Entrepreneurs and Founders, product-market fit, customer validation, early-stage investments, Series A


    Mentions:

    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 Christiansen


    Check out the Funds & Founders Community:

    Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.com

    Website: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

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    1 hr and 6 mins

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