Alex Zhuravlev’s Post

Are investors *really* interested in the problem you're solving? 👇 Some of them are, but not all of them. Yet everyone will tell you the 'problem' is everything... 🚪 The problem might open the door - particularly if you're looking at sector specific angels or VCs or impact investors. But then, what are investors actually looking at? 🌏 Is this a big idea? The question I ask myself, no matter how interesting the problem, is 'will the world look any different if this company succeeds?' ✨ Have they managed to get anywhere? A few test users, a manual unscalable version of their product, customer interviews. I want to see the founders getting out there, and people responding. ⏰ Is it the right time? If this is such an amazing idea and huge market, why hasn't anyone else done it yet? What makes now the right time for this to happen? 👯 Is this the right team? I need to be convinced that the founders are going to be able to do this, but also be able to bring in the very best team. Businesses are mainly about the people within in. Remember, investors get things wrong ALL the time. Knowing what they're looking for won't protect you from hearing no, but it should help shield you from a few mistakes.

We've all experienced that exhilarating rush of ideas when the prospect of launching a new product fills us with enthusiasm. However, it's no secret that we can often find ourselves hitting roadblocks along the way. Trust me, I've been there too, and I can genuinely relate to the frustration 🙂. In navigating these challenges, I've developed an 8-step approach called InVest8 which has proven to be a valuable tool for overcoming obstacles and achieving successful product launches. I realized the importance of both self-learning and connecting with experienced individuals who've walked this path before. It's not about having an extensive track record of significant investment right from the start. Even if you're someone like me, who's relatively new to the process, there's a starting point for everyone. Remember, every seasoned expert was once a beginner, just like us. As we embark on this exciting journey, we can lay the foundation for success and assemble the right team as we progress. So, let's embrace this beginning with humility and enthusiasm. buildspace Nights & Weekends Farza Majeed

Every founder faces lots of decisions as a company is starting up. None are more important than building the first team. So as we built the @atono team, I drew on past lessons I have learned over the years from other startups - and I'd love to hear your thoughts and advice -- 🧑 Recruit people, not employees. Pay attention to people for who they are entirely, not just their track record or perceived abilities. Do they have a deep sense of integrity? Do they work well on a team? Honest? Recruit to match the attributes you value the most, and do not compromise. 🙇 Humility > Smarts Intelligence without humility = arrogance. And if you have a big ego, being right may become more important than our success. A humble (or coachable) person, on the other hand, is not ruled by ego. They treat everyone on the team respectfully and see success as a collective effort. 🧠 Smarts > Effort Sometimes working hard isn’t working smart, and working smart may become an excuse to polish a cannonball that is never fired. The balance is to look for intelligent people who can weigh the benefits of going faster and doing something right. 💪 GSD > Blah blah blah Don't look for the gift of gab. Look past someone's ability to justify, rationalize, run a meeting, or speak to fancy slides. Find people who can get stuff done. 🚀 Potential > Experience I choose upside over history. Trusting a capable person, regardless of their years of experience, with areas of real responsibility yields spectacular results - epic wins and failures. Team builders - what else do you look for in a candidate?

One person can make a difference, But..... . . . a team can change the game! Learn how to build a dream team As a startup founder, you might think that your brilliant idea and hard work are enough to drive success. But the truth is, no one person can do it alone. Building a strong team is crucial to achieving your startup's goals and scaling your business. Why is a strong team important? - Diverse perspectives and skills lead to better decision-making - Shared workload and responsibilities reduce burnout and increase productivity - Collaborative culture fosters creativity and innovation - A strong team attracts investors, customers, and top talent How can you build a dream team? - Define your company culture and values - Hire for attitude and train for skills - Foster open communication and feedback - Empower team members to take ownership and make decisions - Lead by example and prioritize teamwork over ego Your startup's success depends on the people behind it. By building a strong team, you'll unlock your business's full potential and achieve greatness together👥🎯 What's your favorite team-building strategy? Share your experiences in the comments!

(Not a political post!) Some say, that the most difficult part of any business is building the team. Many disagree to this because on paper it looks easy on the eye! Making the team see the vision you have. It starts with identifying people who have a similar vision as you. Even if they don't share the vision at the start, making them believe in the vision and making them work as a team for the common goal. It's that simple to read and understand! Infact, The ventures that Crack this simple formula are unstoppable. But on the other side, it's one of the toughest to implement. Because, most of the ventures get stopped due to the lack of this team which sees the vision. In my journey so far, I have seen both the ends of the spectrum. I have been extremely successful whenever I built this team. I've alos failed miserably when I failed to build this team. There is no secret formula or one single solution. If it were everyone would Crack it everytime! This is the most interesting part of building ventures. Team Building! Another interesting fact - One member can make a team great or break the team. Irony is You never who that one person is. Figuring out which side each team member is gonna bend - the make side or break side is an exciting and draining task while we are trying to build something. and remember, you gotta be positive all the while and be the one motivating everyone and taking the hit everytime! This is why many feel it's a tough task. Read the first two lines again and it would make sense now!

To secure funding, STRONG TEAM is extremely important. 1. Investors often look for founders with relevant experience and a proven track record. Highlight the expertise and background of your founding team. 2. Show that your team has a diverse range of skills, covering all essential areas such as technology, marketing, sales, and operations. A well-rounded team increases confidence in your ability to execute the business plan. 3. Include reputable advisors and mentors in your pitch. Having experienced industry professionals on board can add credibility and attract investor interest. Vandana Kakkar Business Coach

Balancing big roles and leading different companies sounds Exciting! (but it also brings some tough problems) Having lots to do is the major problem when managing everything If you try to manage everything alone that makes you tired and stressed. To fix this,Build a supportive team that helps you avoid feeling alone when managing everything. Share Tasks: - Give responsibilities to a capable team. Smart Systems: - Use efficient methods and technology for smoother work. Team Support: - Encourage open communication and teamwork to avoid feeling alone. In the world of starting and running different ventures, Finding smart solutions isn't just important—it's the key to making everything work. Always learn and adapt to tackle challenges in running multiple businesses. Follow Dr Nagaraj Balakrishnan for more #EntrepreneurialChallenges #TeamBuilding

Investors aren't only interested in good ideas; they also focus on the founders and the team. It's important for founders to pick a team that adds to the company's growth. Investors check if the team is open to feedback, has the right experience, and has a strong background. Building a team with these qualities increases the chances of attracting investment.

Typically, every time you have to decide on an action, you think around 2 things: At what time am I going to be able to do this action? How much money will it cost me? One or the other will determine the outcome of your decision. Depending also what type of buyer you are, you will execute your decision in a shorter or longer time, or even hold yourself from executing the action. After many years of executing actions without strategy, which brough excessive debt into my life, I was forced to change my patterns and priorities, making every decision to action a financial decision. So these are the 3 things I focus when I am before an investment decision: Is this something that will bring me 5 times my investment ? Can I afford it under my current conditions?  How much time will I need to dedicate vs. how much time will alleviate for me to dedicate to other things where I can actively build wealth? I believe that when your focus is reaching financial freedom, time is the real asset behind the line of the decision making, and here is where I’ve discovered the importance that team building creates when trying to catch up with time and make the most out of such a valuable and irreplaceable asset. By building a diverse team of people, experienced in different industries, sectors and languages, it will enable you to do more for less and at the same time, expand your levels of opportunities to build wealth. Tell me, who do you have and who are you missing in your team? 

Building a top-tier team is one of the most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship. My time is largely consumed by scouting talent and nurturing existing team members. Finding the right people is a complex task. Posting a job on LinkedIn doesn't guarantee applicants with the necessary skills - these individuals rarely seek out opportunities, they need to be found. Evaluating potential team members adds layers of complexity. Judging hard skills like engineering might be straightforward for someone from a similar background, but identifying excellence in less familiar roles, such as sales or marketing, is a demanding task. Your vision is the glue that holds great talent together. You need to articulate it convincingly. In today's tech-driven economy, there's more money than talent. Thus, recruiting top talent is harder than securing funds. High-quality candidates have countless opportunities, making it challenging to persuade them to join your mission. Enough about my experiences, let's hear yours. What are your top tips for building a winning team? What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them in assembling your ideal team? Comment below and let's learn from each other's experiences.