Marcin Lewandowski’s Post

Some words of perspective and wisdom on Exits from this guy....

May 31, 2024 marked an auspicious milestone: 10 years ago I completed the exit of my first startup. I can still remember May 31, 2014 vividly. The feeling of finishing up a million pieces of paperwork and then refreshing the screen on my bank account online until there it was: a big lump of money for all of the work of the past 7 years. I felt a mix of emotions. I felt joy. I felt exhaustion. I felt a sense of disbelief that it actually was going to all go through. But if I'm being honest, the biggest emotion I felt was relief. It had been a huge lift to get the business to that point. With the plentiful resources of our acquiring company and this was the right move for the business and for me. For many Founders, Exits are the holy grail. The literal pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There's almost a mythology that's built up around them, so I wanted to share three lessons about exits I've learned over the past 10 years. In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, I talk about 3 myths and lessons of Exits looking back 10 years later. I'll cover: Lesson 1: Exits can be life changing, but they are rarely "you changing" While a successful exit can bring financial transformation, don't expect one to change or "fix" you. Lesson 2: The Work is actually the Thing Embrace the journey and the daily grind, as the process of building and growing your business is where the action is. Lesson 3: Everything is a series offers Learn to see everything in your business as a series of offers, helping you navigate your journey with more clarity and purpose. Even this podcast is an offer. This 12-minute episode offers perspective from the other side of the Exit! #founders #startups #entrepreneurship #growth #exit

This week I've been digging in deep with with private clients and the members of my 2X Accelerator community on the biggest leverage point in their businesses. It's not their product or service, though a brilliant product/service is essential. It's not their team, though great teams will move mountains. It's not their brand, marketing or funnels. So if not any of the above, what's the biggest point of leverage for your business? It's your offer. This might sound controversial, but customers don't buy your product/service, your team, or your brand and marketing. They buy your offer. Everything else supports either building trust in your offer (brand/marketing) or delivering the promise of your offer (product/team). The more compelling your offer, the easier it is for customers to to say yes to it. The highest level of yes is, 'when can we get started?!' yes. When you have this kind of energy coming from customers, EVERYTHING in your business gets easier. That energy creates momentum that consistently drives exciting, fun growth. That's what makes it the biggest point of leverage in your business. In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, I talk about creating the 'when can we get started?!" yes: - What conditions need to be present to get this type of yes - Why to focus on making your offer 'Stupid' - The two key components of creating a Stupid Offer This 11-minute episode is short, yet chock-full of wisdom. #startups #startupgrowth #founders #entrepreneurship

This week I've been digging in deep with with private clients and the members of my 2X Accelerator community on the biggest leverage point in their businesses. It's not their product or service, though a brilliant product/service is essential. It's not their team, though great teams will move mountains. It's not their brand, marketing or funnels. So if not any of the above, what's the biggest point of leverage for your business? It's your offer. This might sound controversial, but customers don't buy your product/service, your team, or your brand and marketing. They buy your offer. Everything else supports either building trust in your offer (brand/marketing) or delivering the promise of your offer (product/team). The more compelling your offer, the easier it is for customers to to say yes to it. The highest level of yes is, 'when can we get started?!' yes. When you have this kind of energy coming from customers, EVERYTHING in your business gets easier. That energy creates momentum that consistently drives exciting, fun growth. That's what makes it the biggest point of leverage in your business. In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, I talk about creating the 'when can we get started?!" yes: - What conditions need to be present to get this type of yes - Why to focus on making your offer 'Stupid' - The two key components of creating a Stupid Offer This 11-minute episode is short, yet chock-full of wisdom. #startups #startupgrowth #founders #entrepreneurship

How a Founder's Oura Ring Confirmed Product market fit. This week I was having a session with one of my private clients. I've been working with this Founder for a couple of years since their original Seed funding. It's been a long journey to product market fit, with many a twist and turn. But in this session, this Founder reported that the signals were finally turning green: - Customers signing deals - Partners eager to integrate their offering to keep their own customers - A pipeline that is starting to fill nicely But the clincher was when he said, "my Oura ring alerted me that my heart rate variability (a stress indicator) has gone way down over the past couple of months." There it was. Quantified proof that he'd cracked it. There's something that happens when you start getting "when can we start?" yeses. There's a confidence that emerges when you start feeling like it's not luck and you can replicate it. Stress goes way down and things start getting fun. In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, I talk about: - Why it can be a long and winding journey to product market fit and reliable growth. - 2 keys to to shorten the journey. - 3 signs to know when you've cracked it (for now). This 13-minute episode is short, but impactful. #startups #startupgrowth #founders #entrepreneurship

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬, Sam Parr's entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in creativity, grit, and growth. Whether it’s scaling The Hustle, crafting insights on My First Million, or investing in game-changing startups, His story proves there’s no single path to success—only a relentless drive to create and innovate. Dive into the breakdown of his revenue streams and the strategies that made it all possible. Curious about which approach resonates with you? Let us know your thoughts below! #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStories Sam Parr

I’m humbled to have joined Ray Yee on the Founders and Funders podcast to share my journey as an entrepreneur, investor, and hopefuly a mentor. 🎧 From starting out in landscaping 🪴 to building businesses in tech, hospitality, and digital marketing 🚀, it’s been a journey filled with challenges, lessons, and growth. In this episode, we talk through: 💡 Turning early career experiences into entrepreneurial success. 👕 The story behind our early clothing brand (and its exit). 🚛 Lessons from navigating the transport industry. 📈 Strategies for scaling and spotting opportunities in startups. 🙌 Why resilience, mentorship, and team culture are the keys to growth. A huge thanks to Ray and the Founders and Funders team for highlighting the journeys of entrepreneurs and investors in the Australian startup ecosystem. 👉 The link to the episode is in the first comment below. I hope my story resonates with anyone chasing their entrepreneurial dreams. #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Podcast #Innovation #FoundersAndFunders #Resilience #Mentorship #Growth

On today's School for Startups Radio, we welcome Andrew Bauer, Fractional General Counsel and Attorney at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP. Learn how to navigate founder roles, responsibilities, and capital contributions for startup success. Don't miss this crucial episode! Discover the podcast link in the comments to tune in! This is brought to you by Corporate Direct, Inc. #Attorney #CorporateDirect #entrepreneurship #startuppodcast

Off To The Valley Episode 12 Out Now! What does launching three successful startups and scaling across the Southeast Asia market take? In the latest Off To The Valley episode, I had a deep and interesting conversation with Tim Grassin—serial entrepreneur, growth strategist, and founder of Next Big Wave. From building companies that attracted acquisitions to helping B2B founders find their footing in new markets, Tim has mastered the art of turning ideas into high-growth ventures. Here’s what you can expect: 👉 His journey through 3 exits — what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons that shaped his approach today. 👉Why MVPs aren’t enough — Tim talks about the power of focusing on validation first and how to build with purpose. 👉 Founder-Led Sales — Tim’s advice on why YOU need to be the face of your business and how it drives early-stage growth. Hear it first from someone who’s seen the startup life from every angle. Tune in now! 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe: 1.  Youtube: https://bit.ly/3zy0HeQ 2.  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZI1yo0 3.  Apple: https://apple.co/3zysFHo #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #Business #SoutheastAsia #B2B #Founders #OffToTheValley

Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit is unmatched. Failure isn't feared; it's embraced as part of the journey. This week's episode of The Sure Shot Entrepreneur Podcast, Christopher McKelvy explores how the U.S. startup ecosystem is confronting major global challenges, fueled by Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial culture. Listen to the interview via the link in the comments and go into the weekend feeling inspired! K. Ventures Judd Olanoff Gopi Rangan #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Startups #VeteransInBusiness