Startup Grind Houston #SGHOU

MYTH: Accommodations = Accessibility This comes as a surprise for many people. Legal compliance is GREAT, don't get me wrong. But/AND, disabled people are not just looking for literal access. Not just access to the room or the job. Accessibility also means... +Opportunity for growth +Belonging in community +Flexibility without penalty +Options for engagement +Proactive steps to equity These are the non tangibles. Things that go *beyond* the accommodations checklist. Accessibility can seem out of reach! But it really isn't. That's why I wrote Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility In Everyday Life. It's an invitation to each of us to build our own roadmap, our own mindset. Come join us! #Disability #Accessibility #ADA #DisabilityIsHuman Image Description: Bright green square dark purple text. The text says "Accessibility Is More Than Accommodations". The word Accessibility is in a lilac pill box. At the bottom is the website: DisabilityIsHuman.com 

What should startups look for in a banking provider? Many founders ask me how to select their financial partners, and I always tell them that these are among the most important choices you make as a founder. From investors to advisors to banking partners, working with the right counterparties to protect and manage your company’s financial position can make the difference between great outcomes and unforeseen challenges.  For startups, it’s vital to find a banking partner who understands your unique business considerations *and* looks for ways to optimize your runway so you can focus on building. Here are the top things I tell founders to look for in a banking solution*: 🤝 Reliability and focus:  Have they demonstrated that they work well with founders and startups? Do they have products and tools that address your business's needs beyond a standard checking account? It is critical to work with a partner who understands and can accommodate your needs. ⚖️ Stability and support:  Do they offer more than the bare minimum FDIC insurance? Can you reach live support if you need it? Confidence that your money is safely stored is vital to choosing the right partner. 🛬 Runway and cost optimization: Do you get access to a treasury product that earns yield? Is there a minimum balance required before you can start earning? What transaction fees do they charge? Making the most of every dollar is crucial for scaling. 💸 Liquidity: Are invested funds available immediately, or does the partner take days to give you access? This is an important factor when considering how quickly you can operate, access your funds for unexpected expenses, and maintain the flexibility your startup inevitably needs. 🚀 Ease of use: Is it easy to create an account and send and receive money worldwide? Can you leverage multiple accounts and tailor your banking set-up to your operational needs? Less time on admin means more time for fundraising, reaching new customers, and hiring great talent. At Brex, we are focused on providing the best solution for startups and founders. That’s why we developed our Brex business account to deliver value to you across our checking, treasury, and FDIC-protected vault products. You can learn more in our blog below. *Brex is a financial technology company, not a bank. Checking accounts and banking services provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. Treasury and Vault accounts are offered by Brex Treasury LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC. Brex Treasury is not a bank nor an investment adviser. Investing in securities involves risk. Yield is variable.

While creating your startup ask yourself who are you collaborating with and does it empower the community?

They said it couldn’t be done. But we did it. I remember when I was first pitching investors for Koru Kids’ ‘after school nanny’ service. I got a lot of ‘No’s. The most common reason given by investors was that they didn’t believe we’d really be able to find enough wonderful people to train up as after school nannies. They’d lean back in their chair and say, sceptically: “So last year you got 4000 applications, and you’re telling me in 2023 you’re going to get over 120,000 applications? How're you going to do that?” Gulp. When you put it that way it did sound like a lot. And in truth, for the first couple of years finding incredible people to train as nannies was our biggest challenge. But we just kept grinding. And now I want to tell you something amazing: Last year we *actually did* get 120,000 applications in the UK to become a Koru Kids nanny. Now when I meet investors they ask, ‘How did you do it?’ The thing is, there is not one answer to that question. There are 1000 answers. We do 1000 things. For example, Freshers’ Fairs at university campuses just happened. We meet lots of wonderful future after school nannies there. Again, it took a while to get this right. Initially our messaging was woolly, our ambassadors shy, our stall boring. BUT LOOK AT IT NOW. Messaging is sharp (’get paid to play’), ambassadors are brilliant, and we even have an experiential game which is incredibly popular. So these days we have a LOT of nannies (even though we accept less than 10% of applicants). It's never just one thing. It's 1000 things. That's why it's hard to explain exactly how you're going to do it ahead of time. The real answer is: We just keep trying and experimenting every day. 🔄 Repost to share with your network, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this And if you’re a parent in the UK and want to give yourself some ‘easy days’ with a part time nanny, check out Koru Kids to see if there’s a perfect nanny near you. Chances are, there is.

Finally, nice things for do-gooders! :)

We'll keep this short so you can get back to the grind - this is your last chance to get Startup Grind Conference tickets for $149. At midnight PT tonight Full Access tickets will be increasing to $249, and then only going up from there. Go, go, go! https://hubs.ly/Q02TS48x0

Our annual Startup Grind Conference launch sale starts NOW! https://hubs.ly/Q02Ts-wl0 On April 29-30th, 2025 our community of startup teams, investors, and innovative organizations will gather in Silicon Valley for the ultimate Startup Grind experience. It's two days that could change the trajectory of your startup, where there's collaboration over competition, genuine connections are formed, and deals are done. For the next 72 hours Full Access tickets are just $149 - the lowest price they'll ever be.

Oye, mira. Just an FYI: On this page, racist and discriminatory comments are responded to by my Justice A.I. It’s great at delivering emotionless, educational facts and real perspectives while maintaining empathy—something many of us aim to do. I am not engaging in the emotional labor to convince willfully ignorant or hateful people to do better. You either understand the assignment, or you don’t. This is one of the many reasons I developed my tool: to educate others and allow them to educate themselves on race-related topics, so as to avoid triggering racial trauma in Black, Brown, and visible minority communities. If you come at me sideways, you’ll be introduced to the block button. If you come at any of my community members with disrespect, you’ll also get the block button. This is a safe space, and it’s my responsibility to keep it that way daily. 👋🏽 So before you come on my page telling me that my responses "may be AI generated," they are, and deflecting from your ignorance isn't going to give you the one-up you think it will. Do better, or keep scrolling. #linkedin #discrimination #oyemira

Yup, most of us wait until the last minute to say yes and do the thing. You ever asked yourself - no,not why folks do that but what is lost by taking that delayed action? The Cost of Delayed Decisions Ever find yourself stuck in indecision, waiting for the "perfect" time or more information before you act? While we wait, opportunities pass us by, momentum slows, and in many cases, we end up right where we started—still not moving forward. Delayed decisions often create more stress, ambiguity, and missed opportunities than we realize. It's not just about taking longer to decide; it's about the ripple effect on your business, team, and personal growth. Every delayed decision is a moment you're not advancing toward your goals or the next level of success. Imagine the impact of being able to make timely, confident decisions without second-guessing or hesitation. That's the power of mastering decision-making. It's not about rushing, but about knowing when and how to act in a way that drives progress. 🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼 In my 5-week decision-making quest starting next week, you’ll learn how to take control of your decision-making process. Together, we’ll identify the habits that lead to delays and replace them with strategies that help you move forward—quickly and effectively. 1️⃣Productivity Loss: A study by McKinsey found that indecision in organizations leads to productivity losses of up to 40%. When decision-making is delayed, it creates bottlenecks in workflows and leaves employees waiting for direction . 2️⃣Leadership Impact: According to a Harvard Business Review report, slow decision-making is cited as one of the top reasons for organizational inefficiency. In fact, executives who are decisive are 12 times more likely to lead high-performing teams than those who delay decisions . 3️⃣Psychological Toll: Dr. Tim Pychyl, a professor of psychology and expert on procrastination, states: "Procrastination and delayed decisions are not benign behaviors. They are linked with higher stress, more illness, and fewer long-term goals achieved. The emotional toll of deferring choices creates a loop of anxiety and guilt." (Solving the Procrastination Puzzle). Are you ready to make faster, more informed decisions and stop the endless cycle of waiting? Join me on this quest, and let’s unlock the clarity and confidence you need to lead with decisiveness. Sign up today and stop letting delay dictate your success! Register here https://lnkd.in/gmZ5tprF