Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners

“Every company in the world… will be reengineered in 24 months.” - Bill McDermott, CEO, ServiceNow AI is changing everything. If you believe AI isn’t affecting your business today … think again. If you believe you can “wait and see what happens” … you’re too late. AI will bring down the cost of business processes through automation. It will reduce labor costs by requiring less manual intervention in work. Goldman Sachs estimates AI will increase global GDP by 7%. It will eliminate millions of jobs. And create millions more. AI is changing everything. What are you doing to prepare? #AI #FutureOfWork #Founder #Entrepreneur #Career *** My passion is to help global founders become happier their life and more successful in their business through our weekly newsletter, The Founder's Journey Podcast and The Founder's Collective community. Join me. Links in comments and featured posts.

Two words can make or break us. We hear and speak these two words every day and rarely recognize their power. What if. Those two simple words are the manifestation of every limiting belief that we have. And they lie at the core of every success we experience. What if. What if I start the business and it doesn’t work? What if I sign up for the race and don’t complete it? What if I quit this job and I like the new one even less? Or… What if you change the question? What if I start the business and crush it? What if I sign up for the race and get in better shape? What if I quit the job and love the new company? What if you allow yourself to think beyond the limitations? What if you start believing there is more out there for you? "The only limits you have are the limits you believe." – Wayne Dyer Your mind finds answers to the questions you ask. Ask a limited question and your mind will oblige and give you a limited answer. Ask an abundant question and your mind will find that answer too. What if you changed the questions you ask yourself? **** My passion is to help global founders become happier their life and more successful in their business through our weekly newsletter, The Founder's Journey Podcast and The Founder's Collective community. Join me. Links in comments and featured posts.

Walter Randall owns the hottest recording studio in NYC. They have multiple Grammys and Billboard #1's. Oh, and he was homeless for 12 years when he started Lounge Studio. Walter tells his epic story of grit and perseverance on The Founder's Journey Podcast. I met Walter when using his studio for the recording of another podcast episode. He introduced himself as the engineer. We got to talking, and he told me his founder's journey. Literally moved to tears, I promised to come back to NYC and interview him. This episode is the result. Walter is one of the most inspirational founders I have ever met. If you ever want to see the serendipity of random meetings and chats, that was my first encounter with Walter. But his story will stick with me. It will for you too. 🔥 Tune in to this week's episode of The Founder's Journey Podcast with our guest, Walter Randall, Founder of Lounge Studios. Link in comments and featured posts.

I love interesting founders. Steve Gilman tops that list. He’s been a professional baseball player, an intelligence officer and a successful entrepreneur. Steve’s newest startup, OneRange, is equally as interesting. And that why I’m thrilled to announce our recent investment from EMEP. OneRange is the intelligent upskilling technology connecting companies and their employees to world-class learning providers, leveraging data across courses, books, conferences, and more to provide individualized recommendations for effective skill-building at every level. At EMEP, we focused exclusively on Future of Work technology. Here's why OneRange is a perfect fit: → OneRange's platform offers automated solutions for employee upskilling. → With its AI-powered intelligence, OneRange delivers personalized recommendations for skill-building, creating tailored learning pathways for employees. → OneRange provides access to a wide range of learning providers, enabling employees to access resources from anywhere, anytime. → As the gig economy continues to grow, individuals need to continuously reskill to remain competitive. I’m honored to be an extended part of the OneRange team! Want to learn more about OneRange and Steve? Here’s a short profile and interview to learn more about Steve and OneRange: https://loom.ly/FfZjdZ8 📌 If you are an accredited investor and interested in more about what we are doing at EMEP, DM me and we can discuss.

Sometimes a founder comes along and you have to back them... it’s as simple as that. Ricardo is that kind of founder, and that’s why we at Evergreen were thrilled to recently invest in Route. The commercial cleaning industry is almost $90 billion in the US alone. There are thousands of companies ranging from mom and pop to large, publicly traded companies. But, unless you're one of the really big players, there isn’t a lot of software to help you operate your business efficiently and close more revenue. Enter Route. Route understands the cleaning industry better than anyone, and they've built advanced technology and data analytics to help their customers... → Win more business → Respond to proposals faster → Streamline their operations “I’m not building a software company. I’m building a community of cleaners.” That’s what Ricardo told me the first time we spoke. And he is doing just that. Want to hear more about Ricardo’s approach to building his business by building a community? Check out our recent interview on The Founder’s Journey Podcast. At EMEP, we invest strictly in Future of Work technology. There are 4 core pillars to this thesis: → The AUTOMATION of work systems and processes → The transformational impact of AI on the way we will work → The GLOBALIZATION and MOBILIZATION of the workforce → The shift to the FREELANCE and GIG economy Route will have a long-term impact on the Automation of the commercial cleaning business as well as start delivering AI-based analytics to a traditional non-tech industry. I’m honored to be an extended part of the Route team! If you are an accredited investor and interested in more about what we are doing at EMEP, DM me and we can discuss.

This week the U.S. government made a regulation change that will fundamentally change the future of work and your business. Here’s a quick analysis… This week the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disallowed the use of non-compete agreements for employees. This creates a massive shift in how we manage our teams. As startup founders and leaders, it’s crucial to understand the nuances and implications of this change: ** Key Takeaways ** → Prohibition of Non-Competes: The FTC's new rule bars employers from using non-compete agreements with most workers, including independent contractors. The aim is to enhance job mobility and open up opportunities for innovation. → Exceptions: The rule DOES allow non-competes with senior executives (those earning over $151,164 annually and in a “policymaking role”). This can still help protect sensitive business information at the top level. → Current Agreements: Importantly, existing non-compete clauses can still be enforced under certain conditions, providing some continuity for ongoing contracts. However, since non-competes were already hard to enforce, this ruling will quickly be challenged by workers and likely render them impossible to uphold. → Impact on Other Protections: The FTC was silent on the use of non-disclosure, non-solicit, and other forms of IP protections. The use of these will become FAR more important to protect your core business assets. ** Implications for Startups ** → Talent Acquisition: Easier movement between companies could mean more opportunities to attract talent. However, it also means we might struggle to retain key employees unless we create compelling reasons for them to stay. → Innovation vs. Protection: Without the safety net of non-competes, protecting proprietary information becomes trickier. We’ll need to strengthen other areas of our legal framework, such as NDAs and trade secrets laws. → Cultural Shift: This will lead to a competitive labor market where fostering a positive company culture and offering attractive career development opportunities become crucial. → Flexibility for Freelancers: Gig workers might find it easier to take on multiple projects or move between startups without the restrictions of non-competes. This could enrich the talent pool and enhance flexibility in staffing. → Entrepreneurial Boon: It will be easier than ever for workers who have been considering taking their knowledge and striking out on their own to do so. They will no longer fear being in violation of broad non-compete agreements. Of course, they still can’t steal customers, trade secrets, or talent. 🔥 Looking forward to your thoughts and strategies on adapting to these changes! Weigh in below. *** ♻️ This thread helpful to you? Please share it and follow me for more on the startup world and the future of work. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #Innovation #FTCRuling #NonCompete #TalentManagement #FutureofWork

Raising VC dollars is too often misunderstood by founders. Five fallacies to dispel before you start looking for funding: -> Growth at All Costs Fallacy: The belief that rapid growth is paramount and should be pursued at all costs. Leads to unsustainable business practices, burnout, and sometimes neglecting the fundamental aspects of building a solid, profitable business -> More Funding Equals Success Fallacy: Securing more funding from VCs is NOT ann indicator of a company’s success and future potential. It’s not a validation, but a chance to validate. While funding can help with resources, it also comes with higher expectations, pressure and a loss of control for the founders. -> Innovation Equals Disruption Fallacy: You DON’T have to be disruptive to be successful. While innovation is crucial, not every successful company needs to disrupt an entire industry. Many successful startups achieve success by incrementally improving existing solutions or finding niche markets. -> Exit Strategy Over Business Fundamentals Fallacy: Exits are an outcome, not a goal. Overly focusing on an exit can lead companies to prioritize decisions that enhance short-term valuations or appeal to potential acquirers, sometimes at the expense of solidifying their business for long-term sustainability. -> One-Size-Fits-All Approach Fallacy: There is no one size fits all playbook. Some VC’s put the notion. It’s wrong. A good VC will bring a tailored approach, acknowledging the specific context and stage of the company, is often more effective. What fallacies would you add? Would love to hear your thoughts. 🔥 Enjoy this post? You’ll love my FREE Founder’s Collective Newsletter and Founder’s Journey Podcast. Join thousands of global founders and leaders between the newsletter and the podcast! Links in comments and Profile.

I scaled my last startup to tens of millions in revenue through M&A. Here was my playbook. Most believe M&A is for large companies. But startups trying to get to scale can run this play also. When we were just a couple million in revenue, we had already acquired our first rollup. Then we acquired a company 4x our size. In this week’s edition of The Founder’s Journey Podcast, I lay out the do’s and don’ts of growing your startup inorganically. 🔥 Listen and subscribe to the podcast today! Link in comments and profile.

As a founder, our journey is more than just the businesses we build; it's about designing a life that complements our entrepreneurial spirit. We just launched this weeks edition of The Founder's Collective Newsletter where we dive deep into Life Design for Founders. Here are my top 3 takeaways ... -> Adapt and Thrive: Like the proverbial seed finding its perfect soil, founders must seek environments and communities that nurture their growth. Embrace the ecosystem that aligns with your values and vision. -> Embrace the Art of Editing: Letting go is as important as forging ahead. Regularly assess what's serving your purpose and what's not. Editing allows for innovation and space for new ideas that propel both personal and business growth. -> Design to Lift Others: Our entrepreneurial pursuits should aim to elevate those around us. When we design our lives and businesses with the intention to uplift others, success becomes a shared journey. It's time to start making our journey about more than building a company. It's time to make it about building a life. 📌 Don't miss another edition of The Founder's Collective Newsletter. Subscribe today! Link in Featured Posts and Comments. *** #Entrepreneurship #LifeDesign #Innovation #CommunityImpact #Leadership

If you want to make sure you are building your startup for success, avoid these 7 habits that can sabotage it: -> The “Do Everything” Syndrome Leads to burnout and loss of focus. Counteract by delegating and setting clear boundaries. ->The “Not Delegating” Approach Leaves you overwhelmed and inhibits growth. Counteract by trusting your team to accomplish necessary tasks. -> The “I Know Best” Attitude Leads to decision fatigue. Counteract by valuing the opinions of others and testing their ideas. ->The “No Time” Issue Can result in burnout and poor health. Counteract by scheduling daily time for your wellbeing. ->The “No Feedback” Culture Results in stale ideas and a lack of innovation. Counteract by fostering a culture of open communication. -> The “No Strategy” Problem You're acting without a clear path or vision. Counteract by setting short and long-term goals for business growth. -> The “Not Adapting” Issue Your inflexibility may cause you to fall behind. Counteract by staying informed about the market and engaging with people outside your company. Keep the cheatsheet below as a reminder of what NOT to do! 🔥 Want advice from world class founders and experts on how to grow you business? Subscribe to my FREE Founder’s Collective Newsletter and Founder’s Journey Podcast. Join thousands of global founders and leaders between the newsletter and the podcast! Links in comments and Profile. *** #StartupLeadership #BusinessInnovation #ProfessionalGrowth #StrategicThinking #CorporateWellness