Maruf Yusuf 🍉

Just wrapped up an incredible conversation with Turan Kutlay Künbi, Co-Founder & CTO of Rently, on the podcast! We dove into the real journey of building a startup: 👉 Navigating multiple pivots 👉 Learning from challenges 👉 Finally discovering their golden idea Kutlay shared so many valuable lessons about staying persistent and focusing on solving the right problem. For SaaS founders, this episode is packed with insights you can use today! Stay tuned for the full episode—this one’s a must-listen. 🎧 #SaaSFounders #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #PivotToSuccess #Rently #Podcast

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The Power of Collaborative Work Environments at JIITAK At JIITAK, we believe that collaboration is the key to unlocking innovation and driving success. Our collaborative work environments are designed to bring out the best in our teams, foster creativity, and enhance productivity. When team members come together, combining their unique skills and perspectives, the possibilities are endless. Collaboration not only helps us solve complex problems but also empowers us to achieve our goals more efficiently and effectively. By leveraging collaborative tools and encouraging open communication, we create a culture where every voice is heard, and every idea is valued. This approach has allowed us to deliver exceptional results for our clients and continuously push the boundaries of what's possible. Join us in celebrating the power of collaboration and see how it can transform your work environment! #Collaboration #Teamwork #Innovation #Productivity #JIITAK #WorkCulture #Success #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

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Too often, we get caught up in pursuing perfect outcomes, forgetting that innovation is a journey of trial and error. Check out my full Dialog interview with Mourad Zerroug, CTO at Splash (SplashThat.com): https://lnkd.in/eMgEyBt9

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🤔 Darn! SimpliCity CMS didn't make it to round 3 of #NVBC2024 competition. But it's okay because I know that all submissions aren't automatic WINS, and #startuplife is full of FAILURES (or, as I like to think of them, learning moments!💡). Some things I did learn: - I have an amazing capacity to push to get a lot of hard work done when everything is happening at once (I was submitting this while at the same time practicing my pitch to CivStart's Pitchfest - where we ended up winning audience choice, and finalizing development of SimpliCity before launch). PS. Just because I do have this capacity, it doesn't mean I want to keep stretching myself so thin! But that's a problem for another day. - As I suspected, the evaluators are apprehensive of solutions who cater to the #government market. While they are encouraging in terms of need for our solution, they aren't convinced it will scale quickly enough. In these early days, I can confirm that sales in the public sector are much slower than in the private sector. All we need are a few more early adopter customers to prove the need and repeat sales....but once scaled and a repeatable process is in place, the #govtech market is HUGE (just look at OpenGov's recent $1B+ valuation for instance. Plus there are quite a few inspiring govtech companies in #BC who are doing phenomenal work AND sales). - New Ventures BC has the whole application and evaluation process down to a science, and they are very supportive of providing startups with continued tools and feedback (even for us non-winners). I appreciate that they stay in touch, provide helpful webinars/events, and were open to providing even more feedback and support. I'll be booking that more in-depth feedback session shortly. - This bump in the road doesn't mean I'm going to stop growing SimpliCity CMS. I'm passionate about making sure people in our communities are properly served at the municipal level, and to better support all staff who support all people! #quality #automation #accessiblity #transparency are all tenants of the work we do, and I can't wait to change the world together, one step at a time. #SimpliCityCMS #OneFrontDoor #GovernmentDX #HeadlessCMS #BCstartup #FemaleFounder

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We've seen this so many times. Your brand/customers/product is unique, but that doesn't mean you should reinvent the wheel with your commerce/marketing stack experience. When brands choose heavily-customized tech stacks, it usually leads to high implementation & maintenance costs. But more importantly, it makes it difficult to iterate down the line. You'll be stuck with your "custom" ecom site, loyalty program, unique UX for years - while your competitors will blow past you with "out of the box" tools.

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Canada's VCs should also be on the map! @Phil Chen (Brex) for the inspiration (PamPam City is awesome!) Toronto: 36 VCs and counting. Who are we missing? BetaKit Siri Agrell Satish Kanwar BDC Georgian Inovia Capital Golden Ventures Panache Ventures Radical Ventures Brightspark Ventures OMERS Ventures MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund Relay Ventures Real Ventures Ripple Ventures Staircase Ventures Two Small Fish Ventures N49P Ventures Information Venture Partners Highline Beta Portage Round13 Capital Graphite Ventures GreenSky Ventures Whitecap Venture Partners Amplify Capital Good News Ventures StandUp Ventures GroundBreak Ventures Genesys Capital Plaza Ventures Sixty Degree Capital Impression Ventures Kensington Capital Partners Limited Lumira Ventures Alate Partners Storytime Capital First Ascent Ventures

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Sometimes timing is everything and our launch of the first public Dogecoin proxy in Canada as CSE:SPIR and the US as OTC:SPLCF couldn't have been any better. The strategy is 2 fold: 1) Create and develop more utility for the Dogecoin ecosystem thus accelerating adoption and the institutionalization for global markets 2) Introduce an on-chain tokenized asset management platform that can take in crypto or fiat in exchange for LP exposure to traditional asset management funds and annual yield or distribution. As an example: Dogecoin can now allocate to real estate on-chain making 8-12% / yr and receive distributions in any currency or coin they deem. This is a business that is merging traditional asset management with digital asset management which is one of the largest trends underway globally, and we have a 16-24 month regulatory moat before we see any public listed full prospectus cleared competition. Bitcoin reaches its peak price in every cycle ~500 days post-halving like clockwork, which puts us in Sept 2026. I suspect the rest of the ecosystem will follow as always, especially Dogecoin.

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Hey, it's me! With our latest release on b.world, we've reorganized menus, added more guidance to help you get started, and thanks to Daniel Rosenthal, added our new Dashboard, which is full of information from across your organization and Projects. Check it out today! #nptech #impactmeasurement #socialimpact

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New Episode Alert! 🎙️ 🚀 Inside the Investor’s Mind: Adrian Mendoza’s Journey from CTO to Venture Capitalist In this latest episode of The CTO Show With Mehmet Gonullu, I’m thrilled to host Adrian Mendoza, General Partner of Mendoza Ventures, who joins us from Boston to share his inspiring journey from tech founder to venture capitalist. 💡 Adrian’s path is a rare one—he’s gone from building startups as a CTO to raising a $100 million venture fund. His empathy for founders shines through as he explains his investment philosophy and the critical lessons he’s learned along the way. We dive into: ✨ What inspired his shift from founder to VC 🔍 Common mistakes founders make when pitching to VCs 🚀 How early traction and technical due diligence shape investment decisions 🌎 His commitment to supporting diverse and underrepresented founders Adrian also offers actionable insights for navigating the VC landscape, understanding the “sales” side of fundraising, and building tech that scales. Whether you’re a founder, tech leader, or aspiring investor, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways! 👉 Listen now and gain a look inside the mind of a former CTO-turned-investor who is passionate about empowering the next wave of tech innovators. 🔗 Links in the first comment. #Podcast #VentureCapital #CTO #TechFounders #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Investment #AI #Cybersecurity #Fintech #Leadership

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Are you a B2B software startup founder at the very start? Then you have to meet this early-stage investor! This week's findfunding.vc spotlight is on Dominic Lau from Ripple Ventures. He: 🇨🇦 Is Vancouver and Toronto based 🎣 Loves to fish 🎶 Founded the RippleX Fellowship - a platform to help underrepresented founders access mentorship, intros, and the tools to get from idea to revenue to funding Amongst founders, Dominic and his team at Ripple Ventures, including Matt Cohen, are known for being hands-on partners who open valuable networks, navigate challenges together, and assist in closing crucial revenue and funding deals. Make sure to: ✉️ Pitch him at [email protected] 👀 Look into the RippleX Fellowship - they take 10 companies 2x a year through the Founder Fellowship program and also back companies through the Fellow Fund For more, check out our funder spotlight card below along with Ripple Ventures' profile on findfunding.vc (link in comments).

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The Rise of E-commerce: Why Shopify is Leading the Way! 🛒💼 E-commerce is booming, and platforms like Shopify are revolutionizing how businesses operate online. At GOFTECH, we’re excited about the future of e-commerce and how Shopify is making it easier for entrepreneurs to thrive. Here’s why Shopify is a game-changer: 🌟 User-Friendly Interface: Shopify’s intuitive design allows anyone to set up and manage an online store with ease. ⚙️ Customizable Themes: A variety of customizable themes help businesses create a unique and professional online presence. 🔌 Robust Integrations: Shopify seamlessly integrates with numerous apps and tools, enhancing functionality and streamlining operations. 📈 Scalability: As your business grows, Shopify scales with you, offering solutions for small startups to large enterprises. 🔐 Secure and Reliable: Shopify provides top-notch security and reliable performance, ensuring your store runs smoothly and safely. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your e-commerce business to the next level, Shopify is the platform of choice. Explore our E-commerce (Shopify) courses at GOFTECH Learning Academy to master this powerful tool. #Ecommerce #Shopify #GOFTECH #OnlineBusiness #TechTrends #BusinessGrowth

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A Study on High-Tech Startup Failure: A fascinating study by Vedat Öndas, "A Study on High-tech Startup Failure," delves into the critical factors leading to the downfall of many promising high-tech ventures. This comprehensive analysis uncovers the intricacies of product development, market challenges, financial hurdles, and management missteps that often plague startups. What We Learn: 1) Product and Market Challenges: Timing, design flaws, and inadequate market sizing can derail even the most promising technologies. 2) Financial Missteps: Undercapitalization and overwhelming debt are significant barriers, highlighting the need for robust financial planning and management. 3) Management and Team Issues: The lack of competent teams and the prevalence of human errors underline the importance of strong leadership and a skilled workforce. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

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𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗅 (here is how 👇) More than half of startups fail due to co-founder conflict. Unspoken expectations, unclear roles, and misaligned goals can derail even the best ideas. The solution? Build your co-founding team with intention. Before you dive into your business, align on the critical aspects of your venture and working relationship. A founder agreement is a great tool to guide these essential conversations. Here is a framework to get started: 1️⃣ Personal Goals & Vision What motivates us to start this company? What does success look like, and are we aligned on timelines and growth aspirations (e.g., Unicorn vs. sustainable business)? 2️⃣ Roles & Responsibilities Are roles clearly defined, or do we have skill gaps? How will decisions be made, and how will conflicts be resolved? 3️⃣ Personal Situations Are we financially ready for this journey? How will we manage other commitments and distractions? 4️⃣ Trust & Relationships Have we worked together enough to understand our dynamics? Can we communicate openly, honestly, and constructively? 5️⃣ Equity, Vesting & Investment How will we handle equity, funding, or co-founder changes in the future? 6️⃣ Commitment Are we all ready to go all-in, and what are our timelines? Building the right team and aligning on these areas can make all the difference. 💡 Full Founders Agreement framework available in the comments! (credit to @Talentkick)👇

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Nine developer-first startups were involved in transactions last week 👨🏻‍💻 💰 Here is what happened the week of December 2nd, 2024: On the fundraising side, 4 seed, 1 Series B and 2 Series D+ rounds were announced, totalling $843.7 million. Tenstorrent, based in Toronto 🇨🇦, raised a $693 million Series D led by Samsung Securities and AFW Partners. Tenstorrent develops advanced computing systems tailored for AI applications, offering significant improvements in processing speed and efficiency for complex neural networks. Congratulations to the other companies that announced fundraising last week:  🇺🇸 Upwind Security 🇺🇸 Aerospike 🇫🇷 Pathway 🇺🇸 Pixeltable 🇩🇪 NetBird 🇺🇸 Cake On the M&A side: 🇫🇷 Numeral, a Mambu company was acquired by Mambu to enhance their portfolio by integrating advanced payment orchestration capabilities. 🇺🇸 QMetry was acquired by SmartBear to enable DevOps teams to speed up feature delivery, shorten time-to-market, and consistently deliver high-quality software. That’s all for last week. If you know a startup that should have been included in this list, please ping them in the comment section.

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🌈 fal is thrilled to unlock new opportunities with a $23M funding! 🚀 Co-founders Burkay Gur and Gorkem Yurtseven have attracted top investors like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Kindred Ventures, showcasing strong confidence in their innovative platform for AI-generated media. With a focus on scalability and performance, fal.ai already serves a diverse clientele, including popular apps like Photoroom and Freepik. 📱 As they aim for a $10M annual run rate, fal.ai is set to empower enterprises with cutting-edge media solutions while navigating the challenges of content moderation and copyright liability. ⚖️📈 This funding marks an exciting new chapter for a company redefining the media’s future! 🎉 Source: https://lnkd.in/eqW87Wki #FalAI #GenerativeAI #Startup #Funding #BusinessGrowth #TechNews

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💡 Here is a thought to chew on... I attended IstanbulTechWeek today and as you might already guessed the focus was on AI. Naturally, the topic of how AI helps VCs in decision-making was right up my alley. The discussions revolved around AI's significant contributions to decision-making, predictive analysis, portfolio management, and identifying new ventures, among other areas. But it got me thinking: Could AI lead to the development of new investment vehicles or transition the whole VC system as traditional VCs begin to fade? Or sorry - if and will they ever fade 🧠 No surprise that VCs have taken a hit this year, with a global recession. Several issues have surfaced within the system: LPs found themselves disappointed as funds began to exit (x's became why's), "super founders" are now only in HBR articles' failure sections responding to how they've not been through DD processes, and investors started seeking more liquid options.. With all these question marks threatening the ecosystem, will AI deliver a new avenue for investing in new tech? 🤖 Seems unlikely that VCs will be replaced fully. For sure AI will continue to enhance investment processes, as human judgement and intuition and ethics remain irreplacable. But yet, it makes me ponder the future of venture capitalism and the role AI will play in its foundation—perhaps that’s the key question. I’m #qurios to hear your thoughts #AI #VC #investment

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New Episode Alert! 🚀 I’m thrilled to share the latest episode of The CTO Show With Mehmet Gonullu! This week, I had the pleasure of hosting Andre Laplume, professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, who shared his groundbreaking insights on why the best startups don’t actually start in garages. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of spinout ventures—where innovation happens within established companies and employees break out to create something entirely new. 💡 André busts the myth of the “garage startup” and explains how many successful companies, like Apple, actually began with knowledge and resources gained from previous employers. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in the startup ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways. We discuss the advantages of spinouts, the legal and strategic considerations involved, and how to leverage your experience in an established company to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. 🎧 Tune in now to learn why spinouts might just be the secret sauce to startup success! Links in the first comment. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Spinouts #Innovation #Leadership

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It feels good when one of your startups (as an investor) get an exit via an acquisition. It is now official that Fonolo has been acquired by Verint. #investor #exit #canada #startup

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In just 7 weeks, we've turned the idea Outhad AI! 🚀 into a revenue-generating startup, thanks to the incredible support from Anthony Swindell and the gener8tor team. 🙌 Join us on December 11th at 6 PM at the gBETA Beloit Showcase as we share our story, talk tech, and showcase how Outhad AI is shaping the #future of e-commerce with AI-powered #recommendations. Learn more about us at 🌐 outhad.com – we can’t wait to see you there! #startup #AI #entrepreneurship #ecommerce #innovation

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