Joel Di Trapani’s Post

From $10K investment to $20M exit. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris Carder a remarkable individual whose journey from aspiring journalist to successful entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Chris co-founded ThinData Inc., which has become Canada’s largest email service provider, and he’s now dedicated to nurturing the next generation of innovators as the leader of the Schulich Startup Community. In our latest episode, Chris takes us through his incredible journey, sharing the lessons he learned along the way. Here are some of the key moments we discussed: 👉🏻 The Spark of Entrepreneurship: Chris opened up about what ignited his entrepreneurial spirit and the moments that pushed him to take risks. 👉🏻 Discovering the Internet: A serendipitous meeting introduced him to the untapped potential of the internet, setting him on a path he never anticipated. 👉🏻 Creating the First Online Magazine: Chris shared his experience launching one of the first online magazines in 1995—talk about being ahead of the curve! 👉🏻 The Importance of Mentorship: He emphasized how mentors played a crucial role in guiding him through challenges and helped him navigate his entrepreneurial journey. 👉🏻 Building the Email Marketing Platform: Chris took us behind the scenes of ThinData’s growth, revealing the hard work and determination it took to dominate the email marketing industry. 👉🏻 The Pivotal Decision: Chris discussed a key decision that would significantly impact both ThinData Inc. and his career trajectory. 👉🏻 The Acquisition Journey: Chris provided insights into the acquisition of ThinData Inc. and the complexities involved in scaling a business. 👉🏻 Building a Startup Community: Now at Schulich School of Business - York University, he’s focused on fostering a vibrant startup community, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs every step of the way. If you're looking for inspiration and practical advice on building a successful business, this episode is a must-listen! Thank you, Srishti and Manthan, for all your support. 🎧 Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gv9dVAH5 #Entrepreneurship #Mentorship #Innovation #Podcast

🚀 Delve into the world of startup triumphs on the newest RISE Urban Nation Podcast featuring Honorebel Walker, the mastermind behind SpaceTime Social! 🌟 Honorebel S. Walker divulges priceless wisdom on utilizing mentorship and connections to maneuver through startup hurdles successfully. Gain insights from those who have achieved significant financial milestones and are eager to steer the upcoming generation of business owners. 📞 How have mentors influenced your entrepreneurial voyage? Share your encounters and strategies for embracing mentorship within the startup sphere below! Let's engage in a dialogue and grow together. #EntrepreneurialJourney #Guidance

Stuck in a rut? Unsure of your next career move? Episode six of #speakingostartups is all about finding your passion with author and philosopher, Erik Angner. Angner joins host Eloise Skinner to debunk the myth of the singular "passionate pursuit." The episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on their entrepreneurial journey. "If you're in this business at all, you're probably a go-getter, and a bit of a perfectionist," says Angner. "The only way to figure out what you’re passionate about is to try things out." There is plenty of outside pressure to know what you want to do at all times. In the age of Instagram and LinkedIn, Angner also discusses the importance of community, and the power of authentic entrepreneur relationships that motivate, rather than compare. Discover how to break free from the pressure of perfectionism, embrace flexibility, and build a supportive network below (and don't forget to subscribe to Speaking of Startups!). >> https://lnkd.in/e3EEK_Gn

The brutal reality of cold outreach 👊 When you're building a startup, one of the harshest truths is that success is often a numbers game. Cold outreach is not just a strategy—it's a relentless grind that separates those who make it from those who don’t. Many founders underestimate just how much effort cold outreach requires. It’s exhausting, disheartening, and often feels like a waste of time. But if you spend more time on it, you will have success. 💡 The keys to cold outreach: 📈 Volume Matters: If you're only reaching out to a few dozen people, you're playing too small. Cold outreach is about sheer numbers. Aim to contact hundreds of people. It's a daunting task, but it’s the only way to ensure that you’re casting a wide enough net to find the people who resonate with your product. ✉️ Personalisation is Key: Cold outreach isn’t about blasting the same message to a massive list. Every message needs to be personalised. Find something unique about each person you're contacting (mutual connections, interests or experiences). Yes, it takes time, but personalisation significantly increases your response rates. 💔 Embrace Rejection: Rejection is part of the process. For every 100 messages you send, expect 95 of them to go unanswered. That’s okay. The few responses you do get are what will help you refine your pitch. Cristo P. describes cold outreach as the lifeblood of a startup in this week’s DO AS I SAY episode and I couldn't agree more 😂 #startups #podcast #mentor #coldoutreach

🚀 Unlock the Power of Networking with These Five Hacks! Founders Foundation gGmbH Co-founder and CEO, Dominik Gross, shared some invaluable tips on networking at conferences in the podcast “Besser gründen - Tipps für Unternehmer, Freiberufler und Startups” by René Klein. So insightful that we couldn't keep them to ourselves! Swipe through the slides to discover them. 1️⃣ Choose Relevant Events and Prepare Thoroughly: Select events that align with your startup model. Research who will be attending and plan your approach. Reach out to interesting contacts beforehand and set up meetings during the event. 2️⃣ Have a Killer High-Concept Pitch Ready: Always be prepared with a concise and captivating pitch. Make sure it grabs attention immediately. Dominik shares what to include and what to avoid in the podcast. 3️⃣ Catch Investors After Their Stage Appearances: Investors are often on stage; use this opportunity to approach them right after their talks. Keep your pitch short and impactful to get your foot in the door. Dominik also offers tips on handling nerves when pitching. 4️⃣ Stand Out as a Team Without Being Too Cheesy: Think creatively about how your team can stand out at the event. Dominik shares some examples he loves and explains why they work. 5️⃣ Engage in Meaningful Conversations: Focus on building genuine connections rather than just collecting business cards. Ask insightful questions and show genuine interest in others' work. Dominik dives deeper into each of these points in the podcast, providing additional insights and tips. Don't miss out on his expert advice! Special thanks to the MWIKE (Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes NRW), NRW.BANK, and Founders Foundation for their continued support in empowering startups. Got more tips? Drop them in the comments below! Let's build a stronger startup community together. 💪✨ #startupnetworking #networkinghacks #foundersfoundation #podcast

Raw Talk on First-Gen Service Business Hustle! 💥 Yesterday, Social Sculpt and Optimex - The Growth Company joined forces for an insightful Instagram Live session. We discussed: * Our journeys as first-time entrepreneurs * Building successful service-based companies * Overcoming challenges faced by first-gen founders * Mindset shifts for business growth Despite the timing during IPL, we had an engaging audience who actively participated. It was a candid conversation filled with practical insights and real-life stories This Instagram Live was a successful podcast collaboration between Optimex and Social Sculpt, bringing together our respective communities for an engaging and authentic conversation. As I continue building Social Sculpt on Day 81, collaborating with industry peers like Nissy Prudhvi Raj Chinta has been invaluable in raising brand awareness and establishing Social Sculpt as a thought leader in the social media marketing space. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share our journeys, and inspire others to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Stay tuned for more exciting collaborations and insightful content from Social Sculpt! #entrepreneurship #digitalmarketing #growthmarketing #serviceindustry #SocialSculpt #optimex #personalbranding #socialsculptjourney 

🎙️ Exciting News! Introducing Founders Focus 🚀 Hi LinkedIn community, I'm thrilled to announce the launch of Founders Focus! 🎉 At Founders Focus, we're dedicated to spotlighting inspiring stories and insights from startup founders, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Through engaging interviews, we dive deep into the journeys, challenges, and successes of innovators shaping the future of business. Our goal is to provide a platform for meaningful conversations that inspire, educate, and empower aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals in the startup ecosystem. Whether you're a seasoned founder, an industry expert, or simply curious about startup stories, Founders Focus has something for you. 🎧 Stay tuned for captivating interviews, valuable insights, and actionable takeaways! Interested in being a guest on Founders Focus or know someone with an inspiring startup journey to share? Feel free to reach out or tag them in the comments. Let's connect and amplify impactful stories together! Subscribe to Founders Focus on [platforms where your podcast is available] to join our community and be part of the startup conversation. Exciting times ahead! 🚀 #FoundersFocus #StartupStories #Entrepreneurship #Inspiration #BusinessJourney

🚨🚨 The First Customer New Episode Alert! 🚨🚨 In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Gregory Shepard, CEO and co-founder of BOSS Capital Partners / BOSS Startup Science. Gregory shares his journey, highlighting his challenges growing up with autism, dyslexia, and other conditions in a tough environment. Despite adversities, he recalls his entrepreneurial spirit emerging early, from selling Rubik's cubes to catching and selling rattlesnakes for profit. Gregory's determination led him to overcome obstacles, from learning to code and starting internet businesses to eventually founding and exiting 12 companies. Gregory's entrepreneurial journey evolved into a mission of empowering others through education and opportunity. He discusses his research project on why founders fail, leading to the creation of Startup Science, a platform offering free micro-learning courses for aspiring entrepreneurs. His passion for fostering opportunity equality drives initiatives like the Fulbright Entrepreneurship Initiative, aimed at supporting founders in environmental sustainability and inclusion. Don't miss out on Gregory Shepard's eagerly awaited book, 'The Startup Lifecycle: The Definitive Guide to Building a Startup from Idea to Exit,' which is now available for pre-order! Get ready to dive into this essential resource! Pre-order the book here: https://a.co/d/77AQXvp Guest Info: BOSS Capital Partners / BOSS Startup  Science https://lnkd.in/eHevJgXR Gregory Shepard's  LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gRry3Df9 Sponsored by: JDAQA Software Testing https://www.JDAQA.com #business #people #podcast #entrepreneurship #founders #founderstories #founderjourney #businessbuilding 🎧Find it streaming on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcast: https://lnkd.in/e_nrXEM9 📽️Or Check out the episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eHf_Y8Rn 🎧The First Customer podcast website https://lnkd.in/eJ8pyrMR 📽️ The First Customer YouTube Channel http://ow.ly/rAXA50Lh962 ⛓️Connect with me on LinkedIn http://ow.ly/tuAj50Lh961

🚀 New Episode of The Super Connectors is LIVE! 🎙️ This week, I had the honor of hosting Montasser Chebbah from OnlyFounders, a revolutionary platform that’s like Tinder for finding co-founders! Monta has attended over 200 networking events in just six months, and his energy for connecting people is nothing short of inspiring. 🌟 Here’s a glimpse of what we covered: 💡 "Networking isn’t just about selling or gaining—it’s about learning, being inspired, and creating real value for others." 💡 Monta’s secret to effective networking: "Be memorable. Build genuine connections that make people remember you long after the event." We also dive into: ✨ How Monta turned his passion for helping others into OnlyFounders, a game-changer for startup matchmaking ✨ The power of meaningful conversations and creating win-win scenarios in business networking ✨ How tools like introstars and innovative approaches to networking are shaping the future for Super Connectors If you’re ready to take your networking game to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration! 🎧 👉 Tune in now and let’s connect the dots! #SuperConnector #Networking #OnlyFounders #Entrepreneurship #IntroStars #Podcast #StartupMatchmaking