William Steele 🌎’s Post

🎉 Today, we are excited to launch our platform, MyStartupGallery (https://lnkd.in/g_7vyGCt), and release our first newsletter. You can read it here: https://shorturl.at/APmMl. 📧 As startup founders, Penny Peng and I often struggled with gaining exposure due to budget constraints. The problems? 🤔 • Content marketing on LinkedIn proved inefficient for profiles with limited followers 📉 • Reaching out to newsletters for coverage came at a cost we couldn't afford 💸 This frustration inspired us to create a free channel for startups to gain targeted exposure to potential users and investors. 🌟 In MyStartupGallery, we exhibit promising startups, their products, fundraising activities, and the teams behind them. Our weekly newsletter further amplifies startups' stories to potential investors and business partners, all at no cost to the founders. 📈🚀 The product is welcomed by founders and investors. Even before our official launch, we attracted over 180+ newsletter subscribers. • Our waitlist includes 182 subscribers, with 112 investors and 66 startups. • Among the investors, 22% are angel investors, and 78% are institutional investors, including venture capital firms (77.27%), private equity firms (9.09%), family offices (6.82%), venture debt firms (3.41%), and accelerators (3.41%). • These investors and startups have a global presence. 🌍 🙏 Thank you to those who supported us even before our launch! 🎉 We will gradually onboard the startups on our waitlist. 🎉 🚀 If you're a founder seeking more exposure for free, simply log in to MyStartupGallery platform and create your company profile. We'll take it from there. 📝 💼 If you're a startup investor actively looking for promising deals, please subscribe to our newsletter (https://shorturl.at/EAsuP). 📧

#MyFoundersJourney: A New Chapter. As the co-founder of Mimrr, a B2B startup, I often reflect on the unique and challenging path that entrepreneurship has carved for me. My most recent startup journey, shared with my co-founder, Brian Giggle, is a testament to the resilience and intentionality required in the face of uncertainty, especially when revenue has yet to chime in the coffers. Our story began in 2023 at Y Combinator's founder-matching event, where Brian and I, two strangers from different corners of the world - USA and the UK, respectively - found common ground in our passion for technology and innovation. We were united not only by Brian's frustrations with existing tools for code documentation but also by our shared search for an entrepreneurial companion. We have come to terms with the fact that the path to success is often littered with rejections and setbacks. Each 'no' we’ve heard has not only been a harsh reminder of the realities of startup life, but also a catalyst for our determination to succeed. We are persevering, channeling our energies into developing Mimrr, a solution designed to alleviate the burdens tech startups face daily. Mimrr automates how software companies document, analyze, and interact with their codebase using our self-hosted AI. We help create a robust documentation site for your entire codebase, even without any existing code comment. Our analytics feature discovers and suggests fixes based on five parameters: code bugs, smells, security, performance, and refactoring. Building Mimrr hasn't been without its trials. However, we are grateful to Melissa Pegus, Shirine Marzouki and Irvin Lopez for giving us the opportunity to grow our company under the guidance and investment of Techstars. Despite being an 80% virtual program, our online meetings keep us anchored, allowing us to share our downcast moments and celebrate our small victories. Entrepreneurship, especially in the tech world, is not for the faint-hearted. Brian and I have had our moments of doubt, but our belief in Mimrr’s potential and our commitment to solving a real problem for development teams worldwide have kept us going. We've learned to embrace the venture-building race, enjoying the journey as much as the destination. While the entrepreneurial path is indeed lonesome and fraught with challenges, it's a trail that Brian and I have chosen to walk with determination. We believe in the power of our product, the strength of our partnership, and the potential of what our team can achieve together. The race of our tech startup, though arduous, must be enjoyed—for it's in the journey that the true value of entrepreneurship lies. Join an exclusive list of alpha startups eager to be among the first to experience the magic of Mimrr.

Let's talk mission creep... Since I started as Executive Director of GrowCo, now Boyd Innovation Center, powered by GrowCo, a whopping 19 months ago, I have received a lot of questions and eyebrow raises regarding our focus on idea stage startups or, better known by startup community and ecosystem builders, as "building top of funnel". If you are curious about why this is our focus or why I've said "not right now" to ideas that don't directly relate to building top of funnel, please take five minutes of your day to read this awesome blog by Chris Heivly. #growcola

The Definitive Guide To Maine's Startup Ecosystem. Whether you are starting, scaling, or still dreaming up your business, this is your go-to guide to getting plugged into all Maine has to offer. https://lnkd.in/eG35NzX2

Connectedness is key to a thriving ecosystem. Startups tend to scale up faster when their Founders are well-connected with peers in top global ecosystems. In the Startup Genome Scaleup Report, they delved even deeper into the power of connectedness, showing that startups with high levels of Global Connectedness have a 3.25x higher rate of becoming a scaleup, defined as an early-stage startup with a valuation of $50 million or more.

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀 We are thrilled to share what’s coming next for us in 2025 at Foundersmax; we’re preparing to launch 15 new startups with a focus on building breakthrough companies. As a venture studio, we do more than invest capital; we work closely with founders, offering the talent, resources, and hands-on support needed to turn ideas into successful companies. 🌟 Foundersmax isn’t just about writing checks; we’re in the trenches with founders, deeply involved from early product development to scaling, market entry, and growth. This hands-on approach is designed to give our founders the best chance to succeed. 🎓 This October 25, 2024, we’re launching StartupCohort, a nonprofit startup academy designed to support future founders. At StartupCohort, we believe in leveling the playing field by giving aspiring startups from all backgrounds access to mentorship, education, and networks. The academy will provide immersive insights from experienced founders and operators, democratizing startup knowledge and breaking down barriers to launch and scale a startup. 💬 "At Foundersmax, we don’t just co-found companies; we build products that matter," says our Managing Partner, Sam Ojei. "2025 is going to be an exciting year as we partner with founders to build the great companies." As we look ahead to 2025, we’re more excited than ever about what’s to come. Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/dPsN-4f5

Curious about the 🇱🇻 Latvian startup ecosystem? Our friends at FIRSTPICK sat down with our Venture Partner Marija Rucevska for a coffee chat to discuss her insights on current trends, challenges, and promising startups for 2024. 👉 WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST THESE DAYS? I'm thrilled about the current state of the Latvian tech ecosystem, which has never seen more active angel investors, founders giving back, and funding available for early-stage teams. This robust support network signals maturity and growth for our ecosystem. I'm especially excited about the new wave of early-stage startups emerging from success stories like Nordigen (acquired by GoCardless), Lokalise, Printify, and Printful — they mean business and are poised to make a significant impact. 👉 WHAT SURPRISES YOU ABOUT THE LATVIAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM? The Latvian startup ecosystem continually surprises me with its rapid adaptability and straightforward, no-nonsense approach. Despite limited resources, it consistently produces cutting-edge solutions. A standout positive is the strong sense of community and collaboration among startups, which fosters innovation and mutual support. 👉 WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'VE OBSERVED IN THE LATVIAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM? I'm a big believer in togetherness, and the most significant change I've observed is the strong community sentiment. There's a "one for all, all for one" mindset where we cheer each other on, ask for help, give feedback, and share ideas. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, and I believe the same applies to our startup ecosystem today. 👉 HOW HAVE INVESTMENT TRENDS IN LATVIA CHANGED RECENTLY? I've noticed more founders aiming higher with clear and articulate fundraising strategies, showing a strong determination to stay on course. This demonstrates a clear vision and well-defined reasoning behind market opportunities, which is incredibly encouraging. 👉 WHICH TOP 3 STARTUPS ARE MOST PROMISING IN 2024 IN LATVIA? 1️⃣ Trace.Space 2️⃣ Supliful 3️⃣ Sorsera 👉 WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FOUNDERS FUNDRAISING IN LATVIA? I encourage founders to aim for even bigger ambitions and visions for their market opportunities. Clearly explain why your team and product are crucial NOW. Helping investors understand the industry stakeholders and overall ecosystem is key to success. Focus on validation in the first 12-18 months rather than chasing vanity metrics—this is the time to build the product and gather user feedback. Shoutout to our pals at FIRSTPICK for this interview! ☕💬

Wow. After launching yesterday, the last 10 people who just registered for Startup Grind's "Ask a Dev" Session covered 5 different countries 🌍️. It's amazing to see the desire for innovative development and AI coming from all corners of the globe. There's still time to register and join Startup Grind online on December 3rd to get all those burning questions answered about working with developers, funding, building applications, and integrating AI into your platform. I know I have quite a few...lol Flyps, a high-end dev team with a passion for high-tech projects and awesome AI, will be sharing all their wisdom with us. ➡️ Register online at https://lnkd.in/gCjC_Yx9 📌Here’s a preview of some of what you’ll get: ✅ Before You Start: What every founder needs to know before diving into development. ✅ Do’s and Don’ts: Avoid common pitfalls and maximize your chances of success. ✅ Cost Calculations: Learn how to budget for your development needs without surprises. ✅ Collaboration Secrets: Discover how to work seamlessly with developers to bring your ideas to life. ✅ Development & Funding: Understand how your tech strategy can impact investor decisions. ✅ Top 10 Tips for Founders: Actionable advice to launch and grow your startup with confidence. 💸Plus, there's a $100 giveaway for registrants only🤑. Yesterday, there was a 1 in 19 chance to win. Today, we'll see when the count updates at midnight! We've also got an amazing 💰 FREE Digital Swag Bag 💰 from our friends at HubSpot when you sign up for HubSpot For Startups that includes: ➤ $5,000 in AWS Activate Credits ➤ $1,500 in TikTok Ad Credits ➤ $1,000 in Credits for Google & LinkedIn ➤ 12 months of Asana Business ➤ 80% off Year One of Apollo.io ➤ 90% off Dropbox ➤ 12 months of Make for free I'd love to see you there so take a minute and register for Ask a Dev. Let's make the next successful move in your startup and AI journey a big one. ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dcGs7ejX Startup Grind Colorado Springs Startup Grind Denver Startup Grind Boston Startup Grind Grand Rapids #startupgrind #startupgrinddenver #startupgrindcoloradosprings #denver #colorado #coloradosprings #startups #ai #entrepreneurship #aidevelopment #software #startup #productdevelopment

Last week, we hosted a fantastic group of curious minds for a special lunch event at Traqo™: a chance to peek behind the curtain of our growing SaaS startup! It was an afternoon filled with delicious coffee, insightful conversations, and most importantly, the opportunity to demystify the world of startups. Often, there's a perception of startups as shrouded in secrecy, fueled by late nights, ping pong tables, and maybe a healthy dose of Silicon Valley drama (looking at you, "WeCrashed"). But the reality is far more nuanced. What did we learn from our amazing guests? Their hunger for knowledge was truly inspiring. We tackled a range of deep and meaningful questions, the kind that everyone wants answers to but rarely gets a chance to ask. From the intricate details of startup logistics to the unique dynamics of a startup work culture, no topic was off-limits. For those curious about the startup journey, here are a few key takeaways: 1. Startups are all about learning and adapting. The path is rarely linear, and there will be plenty of pivots and adjustments along the way. 2. Passion is the fuel. Building a startup requires immense dedication and a belief in your vision. 3. Collaboration is key. No startup founder succeeds alone. A strong team is essential for navigating the challenges and celebrating the victories. This event was a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering a culture of open dialogue and knowledge sharing within the startup community. By shedding light on the realities of startup life, we can empower aspiring entrepreneurs and build a more vibrant ecosystem. Huge thanks to everyone who participated! We were blown away by your curiosity and enthusiasm. Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect and explore the exciting world of startups!

You can build a mission-focused startup outside of traditional tech hub. Here's how. https://lnkd.in/e5VeWQiG Written by Darcy Tuer of ZayZoon