Summit Strategy’s Post

In this edition of awaken* newsletter, we had an insightful chat with Patrick Lee, former CEO and co-founder of the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes, in which Patrick approached common concerns facing young business founders. 🌟 Highlights: 1. Discover the founding story of Rotten Tomatoes, Patrick's previous experience in raising money and how he decided to raise Venture Capital for Rotten Tomatoes. 2. Discuss the common tension of waiting for the perfect launching time. 3. Gain Patrick's insightful advice on testing new ideas and confronting failed business test-outs. 4. Understand Patrick's view on the Asian American founder's landscape and the explanation behind his partnerships with Asian entrepreneurs. 5. Explore Patrick's future plan of starting another startup and developing a membership-driven business. 📌 Don't miss out on this exclusive content. Subscribe now at https://lnkd.in/gSvHpHVx!

Due to difficult circumstances, I stepped down as CEO of Canopey yesterday. As a founder who has had to work incredibly hard to build my network, impact, and company, I’m so proud of where I have taken the company. Of course, I had big visions for Canopey, I had only just started down that path, and I am sad that I won’t be leading that mission anymore. Canopey has had huge impact in just under 12 months of being live: 💨 4,328 kg of co2 avoided 💦 604,164 litres water avoided 🧴 2,078 kg of plastic avoided 🌳 20,021 trees planted 🏭 6,000 kg of carbon sequestered 💸 I have also been blessed to have gone from one incredible angel investor to then raise investment from some of the leading names in the industry including Techstars, Crowdcube (...over 340 people pre-product!), Capital Pilot, and so many more. 🏠 Not to mention the 1000s of individuals and businesses that have been welcomed under the Canopey and we have helped continue their own mission of buying better to begin with. But all good things must come to an end, and I have not been operationally active in Canopey for the last few months. I will, of course, always remain the original founder of Canopey. 💡 The idea 🔨 The product 🔮 The vision Naturally, I’m working on something… more on that to come. I’m pumped and I’m excited to get building again! Feel free to reach out for a coffee and chat if you want to catch up and hear more about what’s next in the world of Thomas Panton! From under the Canopey, over and out 🌳 #Announcement #Vision #Community #Progress #Climate

Kicking off Q4 with some co-founder QT! While we've been working together for four years, the last 12 months building Holocene have been some of the most interesting of our careers. We've learned a lot about the VC journey, African climate tech's opportunities and challenges, and what it really means to be an entrepreneur- but we've also learned a ton about ourselves. We came together because of our love of nature and belief in entrepreneurship as an amazing tool to solve the world's most intense challenges. We stay together because of the deep respect we have for each other's different viewpoints, complimentary skillsets, work ethics and strong values. Here's to finding excellent humans with whom you can build something important, and to forging forward on the Holocene journey together!

Why Meatington? After overcoming significant personal and health challenges, and with the unwavering support of my family, we embarked on a new venture: Meatington. But why Meatington? The inspiration behind Meatington came from our shared love for food and our desire to create something meaningful together as a family. We saw an opportunity to bring fresh, high-quality, and innovative food products to the market. Our goal was not just to start another business but to build a brand that stands for quality, trust, and innovation. Starting Meatington was driven by the vision to offer products that people can trust and enjoy. We wanted to create a brand that resonates with our values of integrity, excellence, and community. It was about creating something that we could all be proud of and that could make a positive impact on our customers’ lives. Of course, there were challenges. Transitioning from our established businesses in textiles and travel to a local consumer-facing business was a significant shift. We knew we had a lot to learn, but we were excited about the opportunities this new venture presented. Meatington is built on the foundation of our core values: quality, innovation, and family. These values guide everything we do, from product development to customer service. They are the pillars that hold us up and keep us grounded. As we move forward, our aspirations for Meatington are clear. We aim to grow and expand, continually innovating and improving our offerings. Our goal is to make Meatington a household name, known for quality and trust. Why Meatington? Because it represents our journey, our values, and our commitment to excellence. It’s a testament to the power of family, resilience, and the pursuit of our dreams. What inspired you to start your journey? Share your stories below! #WhyMeatington #BusinessJourney #FamilyBusiness #QualityAndInnovation

"I invested in myself and that type of wealth ain't got no venture cap." Oddisee, Give Way Today, July 1st, 2024 marks my 3rd anniversary at Skout Strategy, Inc. What started as a vision to build resilient local and regional food infrastructure is still very much that, it just looks a bit different. As we enter our 4th year of operation, the vision could not be more clear and the road in which we pave to get there is beginning to take shape. We've got some roadblocks to clear, but after what we've been through, there is not much we cannot overcome. On the heels of what was the most difficult year I've faced as an entrepreneur and thus us as a company, I am proud to say, we are still standing. We are battle tested and intact. Some of those battles we've won and some of we lost. As we have emerged, we've matured. We have gone from being a "start-up" to being a company, which is a fundamental mindset shift in the way we move, operate, and articulate our work. This company and vision has been founded and built on relationships. When I look at my clients, technology partners, stakeholders, etc., I am surrounded by people I have been working with for years. Any new clients or partners have come to us from other trusted clients and partners. These are relationships built on trust, respect, and admiration for the unique value we all bring to the table. We have built our business organically and methodically, giving us the ability to adapt as the market does. Lastly, this photo was taken last week on my annual East Coast trip where I get to spend time with clients who I am lucky enough to call friends. I would like to say thank you to all of my clients, partners, stakeholders, etc. for everything you have done for me and my team in our first three years. Without you all, we do not exist. To all of our future clients, partners, and stakeholders, we look forward to being on this journey with you as well. The future of our food system depends on this work, so let's keep building. #beASkout #changemakers #foodsystembuilders #foodinfrastructure #localtastesbetter #resilientcommunities #growmorefoodlocally #growmorefoodregionally

Last week marked the end of my ride at Endeavor. There's so much to say about my years here, but it always comes back to people people people. I got to work closely with fifty of some of the most thoughtful, fun, hilarious, and genuine colleagues I've ever met. Not to mention: getting to work alongside the hundreds of inspiring entrepreneurs, board members, and partners through our collective work. It was hard work, rewarding work, and I'm so grateful to all of you who were on the ride. 🤟 Endeavor Great Lakes, Endeavor Atlanta, Endeavor Heartland, Endeavor Western New York, Endeavor Miami, Endeavor Midwest, Endeavor Ireland, Endeavor Puerto Rico, Endeavor Canada, Endeavor Colorado

Startups have always been close to my heart and thus a little announcement for my new role as Head of Partnerships at GreenStitch.io. My journey as an Ex-Founder of two ventures—one by choice and one by chance—has been nothing short of transformative. These experiences have reshaped my perspective, honed my skills, and redefined my aspirations in ways I never imagined. As I move forward, I carry with me the wisdom, growth, and clarity gained from these experiences, which will undoubtedly serve as a strong foundation in any journey I pursue. Here's to the next chapter with Narendra Makwana and Arpit Samdani. ✌

Creating an ideal board experience is easier than you think. If you ask Charles Hudson, managing partner at Precursor Ventures, it all comes down to keeping an open mind and engaging in open dialog (and sprinkling in some fun board dinners doesn't hurt either). #vcinsights #startuplessons #boardmatters

Establishing compensation practices in startups can be extremely complex. So what's the best way to start? There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but building and iterating your practice from day one is always easier than trying to reverse-engineer it later. Jess Blomfield, Head of People & Culture at Airtree, shared insights on startup compensation practices with Matt McFarlane as part of the FNDN series. Along with emphasising the importance of starting early, Jess shared: 🧡 Her journey to Airtree 👐 Things to consider when establishing a compensation practice 🤸♀️ The importance of flexibility in compensation models

You can never know how things will unfold. This is the biggest lesson Deeto has taught me. A prime example is how this whole thing came about: Eran Baron and I have been good friends for about 10 years at that point. We met for a morning coffee every Saturday for years. One weekend, we randomly started talking about how much people can learn from hearing about others’ experiences. It wasn’t specifically work related, it was just a Saturday morning coffee chat. 2 year later, Eran is now my co-founder, and Deeto is the ONLY thing we talk about 😂 (other than soccer, of course). So I guess this is your reminder to be open to what life has to offer - because we truly can never know how things will unfold. #foundersjourney #sales #startup