While this is just the beginning, From the Ground Up is excited to celebrate the completion of ten episodes. Each one has featured a different person eager to tell their unique story, complete with in-depth conversations and sharp insights sure to help other entrepreneurs on their own journeys.
In honor of these ten episodes, each one hosted by the fantastic John Boitnott, we are going to recap each of the episodes thus far. From VR and the metaverse to a duo of discussions on poultry farming, take a look at what we have been up to on From the Ground Up.
VR, the Metaverse, and AI with Dr. Rolf Illenberger
The very first episode of From the Ground Up featured Dr. Rolf Illenberger, the managing director of VRdirect. The episode focused on the intersection between VR and AI, which is, in many ways, responsible for the emergence of the metaverse. This includes VR’s role in enabling an immersive experience and AI’s ability to change the way we interact with technology.
Ultimately, it is the combination of VR and AI that allows for a natural and immersive experience. This can be useful for engaging with customers, facilitating remote work collaborations, and improving productivity in the workplace. The conversation with Dr. Illenberger is one worth listening to, so if you haven’t already, make sure to give it a listen.
Commercial Real Estate with Christelle Rohaut
The discussion between John and Christelle on From the Ground Up occurred in September 2023, and it was an enlightening conversation about the changing world of commercial real estate. They delved into the changing landscape, the market, and how Christelle’s company, Codi, offers private office spaces.
Insights included the future of leases, city responses, and a dive into the WeWork saga to see what could be learned from the ordeal. Ultimately, while WeWork was a pioneer in the realm of co-working spaces, Christelle believes in a different model that involves short-term leases and partnerships with landlords, something that benefits both parties.
Inside the World of Tech Solutions with Zain Lakhani
The world of tech is massive, covering everything from financial technologies to climate tech, which is playing a major role in combating climate change. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a conversation with someone as embedded in tech as Zain took a couple of turns. However, that should be expected, considering how his company, Lightci, has served giants like Google, Apple, and Coinbase.
Aside from discussing AI’s role in climate change tech, Zain shared his experience selling a company with the From the Ground Up audience. Zain went over everything, from the importance of having the right people around you to the need to manage the expectations and emotions of not only yourself but also the people and employees who will be affected by the sale.
The “Golden” Rules of Securing Venture Capital with Alex Gold
Seasoned venture capitalist Alex Gold joined From the Ground Up for an interesting conversation where he highlighted a crucial mistake many founders make: failing to understand their investor’s priorities. Additionally, he pointed out the importance of knowing the focus areas of VC firms to tailor compelling, targeted pitches, as well as his personal fundraising strategy of breaking funding into tranches to ease investor apprehension and enhance funding round success.
Beyond funding, Alex talked about the transformative power of travel and unique experiences, like Burning Man, advocating for self-discovery and embracing the unknown to enrich one’s perspective and life experiences.
Financial Transparency and Consumer Protection with Adriel Tam
Adriel Tam, the CEO of AdvisorCheck, joined John on the fifth episode of From the Ground Up to discuss transparency in the financial sector. Adriel stressed that, in finance, where clarity and trust are fundamental, the lack of transparency has historically led to consumer mistrust and exploitation. That is precisely why platforms like AdvisorCheck, which advocates for openness and consumer protection, are important.
The conversation delved into AdvisorCheck, which allows consumers to thoroughly vet financial advisors to foster a more trustworthy environment. The platform, which leverages AI and machine learning, verifies advisors’ qualifications and integrity to ensure they maintain clean track records.
Marketing Expertise with Anne Ahola Ward
The world of marketing is always changing, but it has to change in order to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. While Anne’s From the Ground Up episode focused more on the recent events in the tech landscape, Anne offered an insightful look into the world of marketing and explained why it is important to understand the implications of each innovation as it comes along.
If you want to hear about Google, AI, and crypto from someone with deep knowledge of development, SEO, and marketing, this is worth a listen. And if you want even more, you can check out Computer AF, a show John and Anne do together that takes a closer look at what is going on in the world twice per month.
Public Relations and the Art of Authenticity with Fiona Scott
If there is one thing you can take away from this episode of From the Ground Up, it is the importance of building authentic connections. That is true in marketing, where customers want an authentic moment, and it is also true in PR, where authenticity often takes a backseat to generic emails and a method not much different than throwing things at a wall and seeing what sticks.
Fiona is all about authentic relationships where both sides gain value, especially when a business is trying to find success in the media. Beyond authenticity, she discussed the importance of transparency, as well as the power of storytelling, all of which are vital parts of public relations.
Trends and Challenges in AI with Murray Newlands
Murray Newlands, a well-known entrepreneur and venture capitalist, joined John on From the Ground Up to discuss the state of AI and the trends and challenges present in the industry. The conversation touched on numerous things, such as the dominance of the Bay Area in AI, thanks to fundraising abilities and existing big tech companies.
Additionally, Murray talked about the application layer in AI and potential disruptions. He believes startups need deep industry knowledge and adaptability to succeed in the fast-moving AI environment. For those who want a broad look at the AI industry, this is a great episode to take a listen to.
The Startling World of Egg Production with Ruud Zanders
There are documentaries out there revealing the horrors of the poultry industry, but did you know that over 350 million roosters leave the egg each year, only to be immediately gassed or shattered? And that is only in the US. Fortunately, Ruud Zanders and his company, Kipster, are looking to put a stop to that.
In this episode of From the Ground Up, Ruud revealed his process, which was built with sustainability at its core. From feed to the ethical treatment of male chicks using in-ovo technology, Kipster is doing things in a way that makes your morning eggs more palatable. Moreover, they are doing it while still making a profit, which means other companies might try it.
Chicken Excellence with Mike Charles
Another poultry story emerged on From the Ground Up with guest Mike Charles, otherwise known as the “Chicken Whisperer.” This sixth-generation poultry farmer is on a mission to turn the industry into something more sustainable, all while providing proper animal welfare and keeping the quality at its peak.
Mike’s company, La Belle Patrimoine, has earned recognition as an All-Star Supplier of the Year by Whole Foods Market. It is a distinction only carried by 16 companies nationwide, and it reflects a dedication to high-quality products that he advocates. Make sure to tune in to this episode of From the Ground Up so you know just what makes La Belle Patrimoine stand out. Who knows, you might find yourself with a new favorite brand of chicken.
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