Alyssa Pollack’s Post

Today, I want to share a story about a small startup in the field of psychological support for parents of children with complex diagnoses that faced failure many times. Many years ago, I accidentally met a woman with very kind eyes. We started talking, and it turned out she was the head of a foundation supporting families with children suffering from incurable and rare diseases. As I gradually immersed myself in her story, I learned how challenging it is to develop socially beneficial projects that seem hopeless in terms of victories and earnings. She faced countless rejections, and investors often overlooked her because her project did not promise incredible profits. I have always been someone who supports purpose-driven projects. This time, my task was simple: to package this story in such a way that it would ignite a spark in people when they met her, to base the stories we tell on small victories rather than a path to defeat. And you know what? We succeeded. After many years of trying to find support from major investors and industry influencers, we were finally heard. Do you know how long it took? Seven years. Seven years of disappointments, rejections, and fruitless, hard work. If you feel like it’s tough right now, it means you're in the middle of your journey. Never give up. Share your stories of victories and defeats, long paths of development, and the moment when everything changed.

Ever wondered what founders actually get from working with LeapSheep as a Startup Builder subscriber? Maree Kenny is one of the founders we're working with. She's working a full-time job, has a son and a partner, and is working on her startup swipemate on the side. Since working with us, she’s completed a user research project with more than 30 people in her beachhead market - to really validate the problem that she's solving - which is that the rules of the game have fundamentally changed in dating - and many 'regular Aussie blokes' are struggling to survive. Their profiles don't reflect who they are as a person - and therefore, they are getting passed over by women (including herself previously) whose bar is higher. It's this problem that she's solving with version 1 of her solution - to relevel the playing field by supporting these men to reflect who they really are. --------- One of the core things we work on in a 1:1 is the critical tasks that she needs to do, and how to fit them around her job. At our latest 1:1 - we worked on: How to tell her story effectively as to why she's so passionate about building a solution to help people overcome loneliness - and why she's so invested in helping regular Aussie blokes understand how to truthfully position themselves to meet what women want in a long-term partner. How to test her first solution concept with people she’s completed user research with. Her first solution is not software. But it's delivering value to customers in a repeatable way. Think you could use this kind of help to get your customers? Sign up to a strategy session to find out more in the link in bio #startupfounder #startupsuccess #mvp #leapsheep #swipemate

Don't launch a startup without a community behind you. Here's why: 1. Feedback Loop - Get quick feedback to refine your product. 2. Early Adopters - Build a loyal base that promotes your product. 3. Market Validation - Confirm your product's demand before full-scale launch. 4. Visibility Boost - Use community advocacy to enhance your brand's presence. 5. Resource Sharing - Tap into community skills and resources cost-effectively. 6. Support Network - Gain emotional support and business guidance. 7. Funding Access - Connect with potential investors through community ties. Build your community first to pave a smoother path for your startup.

What if we spent less time listening to everyone and focused more on discovering what truly works for us? By understanding ourselves better and finding the path that matters to us, we might not follow the most prescribed route, but staying true to it can yield results over time. Remember, the hustle must continue, as nothing comes easy! #StartPauseStop #FindYourPath #HustleAndGrow #WednesdayMotivation

Two years ago, I made a pivotal decision to exit a startup that I had co-founded Redbird and helped grow into a network of 500 pharmacies in under four years. It was a challenging yet transformative period in my life. Someday, I look forward to sharing more about my experiences and the valuable lessons I learned. During exit, one of the most thoughtful gifts I received was a send-off album (Hats Off to my co founders especially our CTO and the team for this). As I bid farewell, I reflected on the key lessons I shared with an exceptional team: 1. Know Thine Self: Each of us is uniquely different, and understanding oneself is crucial for finding true purpose and direction. Knowing our strengths and preferences guides us through both smooth and tough times, enabling us to stay focused on our vision. 2. Integrity Matters - Be A Good Person: Being a good person should never be compromised. Demonstrating integrity through our actions builds a reputation that precedes us. It's this reputation that can lead others to offer empathy rather than condemnation during challenging moments. Give people who know you the opportunity to give you the benefit of the doubt in your absence, it can make or break you! As we navigate the second half of the year, some of us have exceeded our goals, while others are still working towards theirs. Wherever you find yourself, take heart. Remember the wisdom of the Psalmist: "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." #HappyJuly1st

Getting a lovely review can be as good as receiving a valentine. ‘His advice was not only invaluable but his enthusiasm for the business also injected new energy into our team.’ Helping a business find ways to thrive is something I get really excited about. I can help you rediscover your spark, too. Push the button on my website, and we can talk about what you do and why. Richersolutions.com #clientlove #happyclient #grateful #thankful #makingadifference #impactfulwork #clienttestimonials #customersuccess #valentinesdaylove #lovemyjob #letsconnect #scheduleaconsultation #freechat #startagrowthjourney #getunstuck #businesscoaching #richersolutions

I touched on a subject that most #techfounders wouldn't be as vulnerable about. On the next stop of the journey, I talk about the day I almost quit. Quitting has never been an option for me. This journey has no instruction manual and when you're trying to do it alone, it can become a burden and not a journey. I am glad I finally raised my hand and asked for help from the amazing team I work with every day. Here's to vulnerability: https://lnkd.in/e4zHnQ25

Here’s the counter-intuitive move I made after sunsetting my startup, Sleuth: instead of going “onwards and upwards 🚀”, I went…inwards. If you’re familiar with engineering jargon, I made a personal sandbox: 1. I made space from the noise. This was HARD. In fact, my coach noted I was so desperate for it that instead of using words, I’d make a gesture with my arms as if they were protecting my head from an invisible force trying to get me. It took months to disengage with some of the narratives in startup-land that I had considered ‘just normal’.
 2. When I succeeded in disconnecting within a safe space, the internal momentum was unstoppable. I metabolized so much of the journey with Sleuth in a matter of weeks. I compare it to how I felt in those first few weeks of reconciling Sleuth might end and I’m proud of how quickly I was able to get through the hard emotions just a few months later. 

 **Side note: being a caregiver gave me a leg-up; I had practice enduring grief and facing hard facts. I’d never wish that on anyone but caregivers of all types will know what I mean. 3. The personal sandbox let me experiment. I did have my own very initial, survival reaction of “upwards and onwards 🚀” and had frantically brainstormed what I would do next. Turns out, many of those next things were driven by fear and were well below my skillset; time and retrieving my self-confidence made them fall off my list, some others I experimented with and decided it’s not for the long-term, and others…well, that’s for the another post. ;) 🚴♀️ All of this to say, I found just as much momentum by going in as others might find by going on. (📷 from a summer trip to Aspen, CO with two of my fav women. I chose space in all the ways possible: mental, physical, & psychological)

It's a random day. Mid of March, let's call it. You wake up a bit early & start introspecting. How has the hustle been till now? Do you remember what date, time and day it is? Do you remember when was the last time you slept with nothing pending in your to-do-list? Would you want that? For me, I enjoy the thrill of having so much to do. Being workaholic is one thing & being restless when everything is so sorted that you start exploring new avenues is other. To some, it's hustle. To some, it's fun! Ye Bhi Theek Hai Guess you know where I below. What is your take? #hustle #worklifebalancegoals #founderlife #startupjourney #enjoythejourney #higherconsciousness