Alex Shandrovsky’s Post

"Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable" In a recent episode of Tech Salescraft, hosted by James, Boaz Albaranes, Managing Partner at Mindset Ventures, shared his insights on the complexities of building a successful sales team for startups aiming for unicorn status. 📈 The discussion highlighted the critical role of timing, thoughtful hiring practices, and the founder's evolving involvement in sales. Boaz offered valuable advice on how startups can avoid common hiring mistakes and develop a strong go-to-market strategy that fuels sustainable growth. Check out our latest blog for an in-depth exploration of these insights and learn how strategic decisions in recruitment and sales leadership can make all the difference in the competitive tech landscape. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eV6gbV2H #TechSalesRecruitment #TechSalescraft #TechSalesBlog

🚀 Tough question for founders: WHY YOU? ❌ I'm passionate about it ❌ I came up with the idea ✅ Unique insights due to past roles in the industry ✅ Our MVP has growing retention + usage What sets your startup apart in the competitive landscape? Share your edge below! 👇 #CapitalConnector #StartupSuccess #Differentiation #FoundersJourney What unique advantage drives your startup's success story? 👀

Starting a new venture is a thrilling journey, but it can also be incredibly lonely. Early-stage founders often find themselves navigating uncharted waters without a safe space to voice their concerns and fears. It’s not easy to get all the support for those in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Founders need a listening ear, someone who understands the unique challenges they face and can offer guidance without judgment. Creating safe spaces for founders to share their experiences and struggles can make a world of difference. Don't hesitate to reach out if you’re a founder dealing with #SALES challenges. We’re here to listen and help you navigate sales related hurdles. To all the founders, your journey matters, and your voice deserves to be heard. Let's build a culture of empathy and support in the startup ecosystem.

Join Andrew Sykes and me as we unpack the pivotal role of #FounderLedSelling in the high-stakes environment of early-stage startups. Here's why I advocate for founders to take the helm in initial sales efforts: - Direct Engagement: As a founder, your passion is your pitch. You're not just selling a product but inviting early adopters into your vision. This personal connection can make the difference between skepticism and trust. - Navigating Uncertainty: In the early phases, when every aspect of the #ProductMarketFit feels like a moving target, who better than the founder to steer through these waters? Your direct market encounters are invaluable for refining your strategy on the fly. Harnessing Feedback: There’s no substitute for firsthand feedback. Engaging with customers directly allows founders to capture critical insights that can swiftly and effectively pivot a prototype into a #MarketFitProduct. - Avoiding Early Delegation Pitfalls: Delegating sales too soon can dilute the understanding and passion crucial to convincing those first crucial customers. It’s about more than just avoiding misalignment. It’s about ensuring the foundational #SalesStrategy is robust and personal.

Since I met Ify Ifebi, we've had these amazing conversations delving into all things founder life. From strategizing to sharing our pain points, our discussions often lead to us figuring out different solutions, insights, and great laughs. We realized that these conversations could benefit not just us but also other founders navigating similar challenges. One of our earliest talks revolved around how founders and bootstrapped startups can use the power of partnerships for growth. It's not just about teaming up with "bigger" companies; what's truly exciting about being part of a founder community is the opportunity to collaborate with fellow founders. By joining forces, you can leverage each other's networks and resources to propel mutual growth. I love it when two upcoming startups forge strategic partnerships to catalyze their growth. Has leveraging partnerships been a part of your growth strategy? Let me know 💫 #founders #videotestimonials #ugc #marketing #socialmediamarketing #partnership

Great chat with Kate Quigley on all things sales/marketing at biotech startups. Two key takeaways in this clip: 1. Investments in scaling marketing should come after refining and validating a sales pitch / narrative. 2. Founders should always stay close to sales and marketing as the team grows, in Kate's words "they should stay the number one marketer for the entire time they're with the company."

Connecting with investors in your niche can be a game-changer for your startup! Here are four strategies to help you build meaningful relationships: 1⃣ Identify shared interests: Research investors' portfolios and interests to find common ground. This can be a conversation starter and help you tailor your pitch. 2⃣ Attend industry events: Network at conferences, meetups, and webinars where investors are likely to be in attendance. This can help you build connections in person. 3⃣ Leverage social media: Engage with investors on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Share relevant content, comment on their posts, and show your expertise. 4⃣ Get introduced by a mutual connection: Leverage your network to get warm introductions to investors. This can help establish credibility and trust. Remember, building relationships with investors takes time and effort. Focus on providing value and showcasing your expertise, and you'll be more likely to secure the funding you need to grow your startup! #TTLABS #StartupFunding #InvestorRelations

“Everyone jumps up and down with an 11–15 percent close rate from lead to close, but you have to dig in and look at each stage. What are your conversion rates by stage as you move through the pipeline and the funnel? It’s super critical that you understand that, because that can help identify where you’re getting stuck.” I was fortunate to have the opportunity to connect with Brian Bates of Lively Root to discuss his work scaling startups and their sales cycles. Brian offered tips for getting cross-functional alignment and also talked about the importance of incorporating feedback into go-to-market messaging. #Scaling #GTMStrategy Link in the 1st comment 👇

Great Point. It deals with the issue of 'product push' versus 'market pull', timing and in the 'Why You?' What YOU bring to the table. Presuming you want to be part of the endeavour then you need to present to show that you are an indelible part of the deal. Here we are referring to your 'Human Capital' e.g. Technical Knowledge, Business Skills, Traits, Competencies, experience as well as your networks and Social capital. Often seen that in presentations the entrepreneur is not clearly explaining what they bring to the project. hashtag #entrepreneurship hashtag #entrepreneurmindset hashtag #uniofbradford hashtag #teambradford hashtag #startupecosystem hashtag #startup

Founders often ask us about strategic advisors—what are they? What, specifically, do they do? How should a startup engage them to the greatest effect? The right strategic advisor can have a huge impact on your startup, but there's a specific way to structure the relationship and model so it works best for you. Here's a deep drive from Neotribe partner Rebecca Mitchem, CFA on everything you ever wondered about strategic advisors, including specific tips for maximizing their impact, like engagement term limits. https://lnkd.in/g4JJ3DY6