Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

di Mary Scott

Imprenditoria Marketing

Stagione 2025

Dave McFarland - What An Investor Wants in a Startup

Https://businessriff.com http://focusopex.com/ David McFarland from Focus OPEX talks about what he & investors look for in a startup Startups, Investing, and Manufacturing Strategies In the meeting, Mary and Dave Mcfarlane discussed the importance of startups being wildly successful. Dave, an investor, shared his journey into investing and his focus on manufacturing startups, particularly component makers and contract manufacturers. He also discussed his approach to working with early startups, often providing pro bono work and helping them find funding. Dave emphasized the viability of buying existing companies as a strategy for startups, which can speed up growth and de-risk the process. He also mentioned the potential of acquiring a small electronics manufacturer to help roll out a medical device. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging startups to book a call with Dave for further collaboration. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemcfarland-investor-advisor-innovator/

Stagione 2024

Lenore Kantor - Establish an Effective Business Culture for Startups

https://businessriff.com https://growthwarrior.co/book/ Lenore Kantor from Growth Warrior tells startups how to Create an Effective Culture Building Corporate Culture for Startups In the meeting, Lenore Kantor from Growth Warrior discussed the importance of building a good corporate culture for startups. She emphasized that a culture is a reflection of the founder's personality and values, and it can help attract and retain the right talent. Lenore suggested that founders should communicate their expectations and operating style to employees, and that this can be done verbally or through written documents. She also highlighted the role of culture in reducing turnover and improving productivity. Mary Scott from BusinessRiff agreed with Lenore's points and encouraged startups to book a call with her to discuss how to create and maintain a successful culture. Website: https://growthwarrior.co/book/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenorekantor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/lenorekantor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthcoach/

Bridget K. Brown - Get Your Story Right

https://www.StoryMattersCompany.com https://www.MyStory911.com Bridget K. Brown from StoryMatters tells New Businesses how to Get Your Story Straight Storytelling in Business and Wall Street Bridget K. Brown from Story Matters discussed the importance of storytelling in business, particularly in preparing for quarterly calls with Wall Street. She emphasized the need to find the right story amidst data and to understand the 'why' behind a business decision. Bridget also highlighted the significance of a business's 'why' in connecting with their target audience. Mary Scott from BusinessRiff facilitated the discussion and agreed on the importance of storytelling in engaging audiences and initiating Q&A sessions. Combining Business and Community Organization In the meeting, Bridget discussed her client's successful business model that combined food with community organization. Mary and Bridget also discussed the importance of understanding the 'why' behind a business idea and how it can evolve over time. Bridget shared her approach to crafting elevator pitches and networking speeches, emphasizing the use of questions to engage the audience.

Nikki Serenity - Influencer Marketing for Startups

Nikki Serenity, Social Media Influencer, talks about Influencer Marketing for Startups Summary Influencer Marketing for Startups Discussed Mary and Nikki discussed influencer marketing for startups. Nikki explained that there are various ways to partner with brands, including flat fees, affiliate marketing, and influencer apps. She recommended that startups look for influencers who have a similar niche or target audience. Mary asked how startups could contact influencers, to which Nikki responded that messaging or commenting on their social media profiles could be effective. Nikki also shared her experience with a local company, Biofit, and emphasized the importance of persistence and trial and error in influencer marketing. Exploring Future Collaboration Opportunities Mary and Nikki discussed the success of their recent collaboration and the potential for future collaborations. Mary expressed her desire to help startups be wildly successful and suggested a call to discuss collaboration opportunities. Nikki's bio Featured on Dr. Phil season 20 - episode “A Beautiful Rebellion” Published in Daily Mail UK, and many other news sources Has an episode on the Snapchat show, “The Positivity Fix” Published in 92+ magazines/on 14-15 magazine covers, 24+ music videos, 16 fashion shows, billboards, a music album cover, a mixtape cover, movies, shows, starring role in Zombie Resurrection (which has been in many film festivals and has won many awards), modeling competition reality TV show season 6 winner/season 7 host/also on season 8 Worked with Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Jay E, Devon Alexander, and many more Nikki's Social Media Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiSerenityST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NikkiSerenityArtist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikkiSerenityFans Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiSerenityOfficial TikTok: https://www.TikTok.com/NikkiSerenity YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCjOo3h4QXVhoPhVgD9Us6AQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikkiserenityst

Hector Barresi - AI for Marketing Startups

https://www.dreamhost.com/features/ai-business-advisor/ Hector Barresi from Sextant International talks about AI for Marketing for Startups. AI's Role in Marketing Plans for Startups Mary Scott and Hector Barresi discussed the role of AI in marketing plans for startups. Hector emphasized that AI can be particularly beneficial for startups that have developed a product but lack a formal marketing organization. He highlighted four key areas where AI can help: defining the target market, developing a go-to-market strategy, analyzing different options for deployment, and building a high-level go-to-market strategy. Hector also noted that AI can save time and avoid potential failures by helping startups focus on markets with the greatest potential. Exploring AI's Potential and Limitations Hector discussed the limitations and potential of AI, emphasizing that while it can be a powerful tool, it cannot be fully trusted due to its tendency to "hallucinate" or produce inaccurate information. He suggested that AI can be used to generate prompts for more effective interactions, but these prompts need to be carefully crafted. Hector also highlighted the importance of AI in analyzing data and making recommendations, and its potential to assist in content creation. Mary raised concerns about the potential for hallucination in smaller content spaces, to which Hector responded that human interaction with AI is necessary to minimize these errors. Content Creation, Business Development, and CRM Management Strategies Hector and Mary discussed strategies for content creation, business development, and CRM management. Hector mentioned a list of apps that could be used for these purposes, which he promised to send to Mary later. They also touched on the topic of cost-saving through one-time licenses for apps, as opposed to monthly subscriptions. Hector emphasized the importance of having a clear strategy and go-to-market plan before implementing automation tools. He suggested that automation should be used to support the process, not replace it, and that it should be tailored to the specific needs of the company. Startups, Focus, and Targeted Resources Mary and Hector discussed the importance of focusing on specific areas for startups to achieve success. Mary emphasized the need for startups to book a call with her at https://businessriff.com for guidance. They also discussed the need for startups to ask specific questions before choosing an app. Business advice: https://www.dreamhost.com/features/ai-business-advisor/ Advertisement – Meta: https://madgicx.com/ Gen AI text generation based on emotional resonance: https://www.zebracat.ai/post/ai-marketing-tools-small-businesses

Kasey Devine - Tax Credits for Startups

https://eng2e.seismic.com/ls/79c6ac86-4242-401f-bf63-4705f609dd22/GkDeSO9PqmYf8u1D#/ Kasey Devine from R & D Tax Credits talking about Tax Credits for Startups. Summary R&D Tax Credits for Startups In the meeting, Mary Scott from BusinessRiff welcomed Casey Devine from R&D Tax Credits to discuss the topic of tax credits for startups. Casey explained that 2/3 of companies that qualify for research and development tax credits are unaware of the program's existence. He highlighted that the R&D tax credit is available to anyone developing a product, technology, or innovating on an existing process or technique. He also mentioned that the credit can be claimed on wages, contractor payments, and supplies spent on R&D activities. Casey further clarified that the credit can be claimed against payroll tax for startups with less than $5 million in gross receipts or less than 5 years in business. He encouraged startups to evaluate their options and consider the potential benefits of the tax credit. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging listeners to reach out to Casey for more information and to book a call with her for further collaboration.

Steve Brossman - How to Sell Yourself When You ARE Your Brand

https://bit.ly/SSSMC Steve Brossman from SteveBrossman.com talking about How to Sell Yourself When You ARE Your Brand. Steve and Mary discussed the importance of understanding customers' pain points and the value of collaborative selling, with Steve sharing examples of successful collaborations. They also explored the potential for expanding strategic alliances and creating clarity around their offerings. Lastly, they discussed the promotion of upcoming workshops and the need for Mary to monetize her social media impressions, with Steve offering to help her with self-selling secrets in the Understanding Pain Points and Collaboration Steve and Mary discussed the importance of understanding potential customers' pain points and the value of their offerings. Steve emphasized the need for a collaborative approach in selling, rather than imposing one's knowledge on others. He shared examples of how this approach had helped others, such as a life coach who increased her sales and a professional salesperson who secured a half-million-dollar deal. Steve also introduced the concept of a "bankable story" and the idea of creating a visual blueprint to facilitate collaboration. Mary agreed, highlighting the benefits of expanding strategic alliances and creating clarity around one's offerings. Collaboration and Upcoming Workshop Promotion In the meeting, Mary and Steve discussed the potential for collaboration and the promotion of upcoming workshops. Steve offered to help Mary with her social media engagement and suggested setting her up as an affiliate for their workshops.

Keith Levenson - What Startups Need to Know About Franchising

https://clienttether.com Keith Levenson from Client Tether talking about What Startups Need to Do Before Franchising Franchising Capital and Support Requirements Keith and Mary discuss the significant capital requirements and support systems needed to successfully franchise a business. Keith emphasizes that a minimum of $250,000 is required to start franchising, with more capital being better. He explains that substantial resources are needed to provide ongoing support to franchisees, such as real estate assistance, operational systems, and accounting guidance. Mary notes that even service-based franchises require detailed manuals and procedures. Keith stresses the importance of protecting the brand's intellectual property and highlights humility and openness to learning as key attributes for a successful franchisor during the challenging transition from operator to franchisor. Franchising Discussion and Resource Sharing In the meeting, Mary and Keith discussed franchising, with Keith sharing his experiences and insights. Keith expressed his enjoyment in talking about franchising and his hope for new and exciting brands to emerge.

Julie Lichtman - Whay & How to Hire a VA for Startups

Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services talks about How Startups can work with a Virtual Assistant contact Julie on her LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/julielichtman/ Virtual Assistants in Startups Discussion In this meeting, Mary Scott from BusinessRiff and Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services discussed the role of virtual assistants in startups. Julie explained that virtual assistants can handle administrative tasks such as calendaring, scheduling, email management, and customer service. She also highlighted the importance of asking potential virtual assistants about their skill set, availability, and rates. Mary emphasized the value of virtual assistants in maintaining contact with potential partners and customers, and the importance of not asking them to perform personal errands or handle hiring and firing. The discussion concluded with Julie noting that the number of hours a virtual assistant works for a company can vary from one to thirty hours per week. Virtual Assistant Role in Startups Discussion Mary Scott from Business Riff and Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services discussed the role of a virtual assistant (VA) in startups. They highlighted the tasks a VA can handle, such as data entry, CRM management, email inbox management, and calendaring. They also emphasized the importance of finding a VA with the right skill set and ensuring they understand the company's mission and elevator pitch. Julie advised that a VA should be able to hit the ground running within 5 hours of training, and startups should consider hiring a VA if they feel overwhelmed by administrative tasks. The discussion concluded with Julie suggesting that startups meet with at least three potential VAs before making a decision.

Daniel Andrews - Networking, Relationships & Alliances for Startups

https://danielpatrickandrews.com/ Daniel Andrews from Network In Action International talks about Networking & Strategic Partnerships for Startups Daniel shared insights on building authentic professional relationships and strategic partnerships in business, emphasizing the importance of long-term connections and mutuality. The discussion covered effective networking strategies and the value of trust in referrals. Building Authentic Professional Relationships Daniel shared his personal experience of transitioning from casual networking to building authentic professional relationships. He emphasized the importance of understanding that most people encountered in networking are suspects rather than prospects. Daniel recounted his journey of becoming friends with a man named Bert, who acted as his wingman in making initial sales calls for profitable business propositions. He stressed the importance of building trust and borrowing the trust already built with others. Mary acknowledged Daniel's insights. Strategic Partnerships and Networking in Business Daniel and Mary discussed the importance of strategic partnerships and networking in business. Daniel emphasized the need for building long-term relationships with key referral partners, rather than just collecting business cards. He also highlighted the difference between reciprocity and mutuality in partnerships, with mutuality being a more sustainable approach. Mary agreed, noting that startups should prioritize creating and cultivating strategic partnerships for easier customer acquisition through referrals. They also discussed the importance of effective communication, trust-building, and concise content in business relationships. Daniel shared his successful method of holding regular referral pairings and the importance of trust when someone is referred by a trusted source.

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