Founders Unplugged

In this conversation, the founders of Hotbed, M and Perdie, share their unique entrepreneurial journeys and discuss the evolution of Hotbed from its early roots at Tech Hub to becoming a virtual accelerator designed to support founders globally. They explore the challenges and opportunities they faced during the pandemic, the development of Hotbed’s revenue model, and the importance of community building in virtual settings. The conversation also dives into their personal backgrounds, the excitement of bringing ideas to life, and how generational differences shape attitudes towards career and risk. Hospitality and attention to detail play a crucial role in their approach to creating memorable experiences for startups. Takeaways -M and Perdie met at Tech Hub, which was pivotal for their careers. -Spice Startups evolved into Hotbed, focusing on virtual accelerator programs. -Hotbed supports founders globally, offering free resources and investor connections. -The revenue model relies on partnerships with companies targeting startups. -The pandemic prompted the creation of Hotbed as they faced job uncertainty. -Talent is globally distributed, but investment opportunities are not. -The excitement of entrepreneurship lies in bringing ideas to life. -Hotbed aims to support startups in navigating their growth challenges. -Community can be effectively built in virtual settings. -Attention to detail is crucial in creating memorable event experiences. -Generational differences impact attitudes towards career choices and risks. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Founders 03:06 - The Journey to Hotbed 06:07 - Tech Hub Experience 08:54 - The Path to Entrepreneurship 12:01 - Childhood Influences on Entrepreneurship 15:00 - The Birth of Hotbed 18:01 - Navigating Challenges in Startups 22:06 - The Evolution of Spice Startups 25:09 - Understanding Hotbed: A Virtual Accelerator 28:10 - Revenue Models in Startup Support 31:01 - Addressing Global Investment Disparities 34:11 - The Role of Founders Camp 36:52 - Building Community in a Virtual World 40:07 - Creating a Unique Brand Experience 43:03 - The Importance of Detail in Events Follow M on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretannecoyle/ Follow Perdie on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perdiealder/ Checkout Hotbed here: https://www.hotbed.co/ Want a 1-hour free advisory session with me, Greg McCallum? Use the link on my LinkedIn profile.👇👇👇👇👇👇👇 https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c7ed45d8-c8fe-4b6a-9eda-d062fd02c9ad

Welcome to Part Two of my conversation with Sam Oliver. Here we discuss the complexities of building software, particularly in the financial sector, and the potential of AI in automating sales processes. He emphasizes the importance of customer engagement and the evolution of conversational AI, while also addressing ethical considerations and the balance between innovation and regulation. Sam shares his personal ambitions and thoughts on the future of his career, highlighting the significance of health and well-being amidst professional pursuits. Takeaways - Building software is inherently complex and challenging. - AI has the potential to revolutionize sales automation. - Customer engagement can be significantly enhanced through AI. - Conversational AI will play a crucial role in future business interactions. - Ethics and governance in AI are becoming increasingly important. - Innovation must be balanced with regulatory considerations. - Personal health and well-being are essential for sustained success. - Networking opportunities are greater in startup hubs like San Francisco. - The future of AI may involve more manipulative technologies. - Investing in startups requires careful consideration and alignment with personal values. Chapters 00:00 - Navigating Complexity in Software Development 02:36 - The Role of AI in Sales Automation 06:01 - Enhancing Customer Engagement with AI 09:47 - The Future of Conversational AI 14:30 - Ethics and Governance in AI 20:19 - The Balance of Innovation and Regulation 27:33 - Personal Ambitions and Future Goals Follow Sam here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam0liver/ Check out OpenFi here: https://www.openfi.tech/ Want a 1-hour free advisory session with me, Greg McCallum? Use the link on my LinkedIn profile.👇👇👇👇👇👇👇 https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c7ed45d8-c8fe-4b6a-9eda-d062fd02c9ad

In Part One of my conversation with Sam Oliver, he shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing his experiences from starting his first startup at age 20 to his current venture, OpenFi, which aims to revolutionize the sales development process using AI.

He discusses the importance of customer experience, the challenges faced during the acquisition of his previous company, and the legal hurdles that followed. Sam emphasizes the lessons learned throughout his journey, particularly regarding sales strategies, customer fit, and the significance of pre-qualification in the sales process.

Takeaways

- Sam started his first startup company at age 20.

- OpenFi automates the sales development representative role using AI.

- Customer experience is significantly improved with AI solutions.

- Eden Property serves as Sam's retirement business.

- Sam transitioned to tech entrepreneurship due to the rise of social media.

- Exiting his previous company was always part of his plan.

- Legal challenges can arise unexpectedly during an acquisition.

- Possession is nine-tenths of the law in legal disputes.

- Revenue growth is crucial for startup success.

- Understanding customer needs is essential for effective sales strategies.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Sam Oliver

02:54 - The Journey of Entrepreneurship

06:03 - OpenFi: Revolutionizing Sales Development

09:00 - Customer Experience and Technology

12:04 - Eden Property: A Business Overview

14:58 - The Transition to Tech Entrepreneurship

17:58 - The Acquisition Experience

21:57 - Navigating Legal Challenges

26:09 - Lessons Learned from the Acquisition

29:52 - Sales Strategies and Customer Fit

33:01 - The Importance of Pre-Qualification

36:01 - Final Thoughts and Reflections

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Follow Sam here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam0liver/

Check out OpenFi here: https://www.openfi.tech/

Want a 1-hour free advisory session with me, Greg McCallum? Use the link on my LinkedIn profile.👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c7ed45d8-c8fe-4b6a-9eda-d062fd02c9ad

Welcome back to Founders Unplugged! I'm your host, Greg McCallum. In this second part of my conversation with Soma Pirityi, co-founder and CEO of ETA Technologies, we explore his remarkable journey from Hungary to the UK and the entrepreneurial experiences that shaped his path.

Soma shares the challenges he faced regarding the perception of entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe and his initial struggles after arriving in the UK. He reflects on pivotal moments that led him to the startup world, discussing his various ventures, including Sports Find and Future AI Investment Group. Throughout our conversation, he emphasizes the importance of community, learning from failures, and the support that has been crucial to his success.

Episode Highlights:

• The Entrepreneurial Landscape in Eastern Europe
• Discovering Startups: A Lightbulb Moment
• Building Sports Find: Connecting Students and Pubs
• Merging Education and Investment with Future AI Investment Group

Chapters:

00:00 Soma's Journey to the UK

02:53 The Entrepreneurial Landscape in Eastern Europe

06:03 First Steps in the UK: From Student to Entrepreneur

09:05 The Lightbulb Moment: Discovering Startups

11:54 Building Sports Find: Bridging Students and Pubs

14:46 Transitioning from Student to Entrepreneurial Success

18:11 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

21:06 The Importance of Experience in Entrepreneurship

24:00 Future AI Investment Group: Merging Education and Investment

26:55 Navigating Challenges and Learning from Failure

30:06 Reflecting on the Journey: No Regrets

32:52 The Power of Community in Startups

36:03 Technical Challenges and Support in the Startup Ecosystem

39:04 Looking Ahead: Goals for ETA Technologies

Follow Soma here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soma-benedek-pirityi/

Check out ETA Technologies here: https://www.eta-technologies.com/

Want a 1-hour free advisory session with me, Greg McCallum? Use the link on my LinkedIn profile.👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c7ed45d8-c8fe-4b6a-9eda-d062fd02c9ad

Welcome back to Founders Unplugged! I'm your host, Greg McCallum. In this first part of my conversation with Soma Pirityi, co-founder and CEO of ETA Technologies, we dive into the intersection of entrepreneurship and venture capital.

Soma shares valuable insights on the importance of team dynamics and psychometric testing for startup success. We discuss how to assess founder alignment and the critical role of communication within teams. Soma highlights the challenges faced during the transition from seed funding to Series A and emphasizes the necessity of resilience and adaptability in the fast-paced startup environment.

Episode Highlights:

• The Impact of Team Dynamics on Startup Success
• Importance of Psychometric Testing
• Navigating the Seed to Series A Transition
• Understanding the Rich vs. King Paradigm in Entrepreneurship

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to ETA Technologies and Soma's Journey

02:57 The Role of Psychometric Testing in Startups

06:11 Impartiality and Team Dynamics in Investment Decisions

08:55 Industry-Specific Assessments and Team Chemistry

12:02 The Importance of Communication in Founding Teams

15:02 Feedback Mechanisms and Continuous Improvement

18:01 The Rich vs. King Paradigm in Entrepreneurship

21:09 Navigating Founder Misalignment and Team Dynamics

23:54 The Fragility of Startups: From Seed to Series A

27:08 The Alchemist: Turning Ideas into Successful Ventures

29:56 The Importance of Resilience and Adaptability

Follow Soma here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soma-benedek-pirityi/

Check out ETA Technologies here: https://www.eta-technologies.com/

Want a 1-hour free advisory session with me, Greg McCallum? Use the link on my LinkedIn profile.👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c7ed45d8-c8fe-4b6a-9eda-d062fd02c9ad