Scott Belsky

Bravo to Julie Crabill and the team at Fathom.org for this eye-opening, nuanced take on #AI's impact on American society. The research indicates not just the business and productivity impacts of AI we like to talk about, but also impacts on public policy, bipartisan viewpoints, and the growing lack of trust in the tech companies who are on the forefront of AI development. A great read and something for me to keep in mind as I work with organizations grappling with AI. Marie Gill, Gina Jeneroux, MBA FLPI, Mark Wayman, Allie K. Miller ORG AI Download the report from the Fathom site. https://fathom.org/

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I'm building my second startup. Why? I had a panic attack at my first. I spent a few years and so much of my own money figuring out how to learn the skills to come down from high stress situations, clear my head, stay happy, and (as a result) make great decisions. It's a journey every busy human goes through. After building those skills (an ever evolving journey), I have built a world-class team to help me bring an everyday solution to busy women: smart Moodrings (Moodring Tech). I took the Founder Mental Health Pledge because I know, first hand, what needs to be done on the individual's level to care for themself. It's not affordable and it's time consuming. We have to test solutions for ourselves inch by inch and we have to build solutions to make it easier and, even, feasible to care for ourselves. Join me...

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Zypsy's new venture investment program, offering $100K worth of design services in exchange for 1% equity, presents an intriguing model for both the design firm and the startups. Zypsy is leveraging its design expertise as a critical asset in helping early-stage startups enhance their brand and product offerings, essential to a startup's early success. Pros of Zypsy’s Strategy: → For cash-strapped startups, receiving high-caliber design services in exchange for equity provides immediate value without upfront costs. This allows these startups to allocate scarce resources to other critical areas of development. → By accepting equity in exchange for services, Zypsy aligns its interests with the startups it serves. Success for the startups translates into success for Zypsy, potentially increasing the quality and dedication behind the services provided. → Zypsy’s roots in reputable firms and its successful track record can provide startup service and credibility. For a new company, being associated with a name with a legacy in design and technology can be a significant boost. Cons of the Strategy: → While trading equity for services saves money upfront, it can be costly if a startup succeeds in the long run. Startups must weigh the potential future value of their equity against the immediate benefits of professional design services. → The program caps services at a certain point, after which startups must pay cash. This could pose challenges if the initial design needs are underestimated, leading to unforeseen expenses. → The program's selective nature might limit its availability to a broader range of startups that could benefit from such services. Focusing on specific industries may exclude other sectors where design is a critical differentiator. Zypsy’s program makes sense on multiple levels, especially in how it offers substantial non-monetary value to startups, helping them refine their brand and product experiences without initial cash outlay. This can be particularly advantageous for startups at an early stage, where cash flow is a critical concern. But, startups should carefully consider the long-term implications of giving away equity and ensure that the value received aligns with the potential future value of the shares given. This strategy bolsters Zypsy's portfolio and places it at the heart of innovation, driving the brand and product strategies of tomorrow’s leading companies. https://lnkd.in/dHWU_wDZ #thenakedbrand #startups #equity

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In this new episode of #TheBuilders, we dive into the fascinating dynamics between makers and managers with executive coach David Bates. With a background spanning from IBM to venture capital, he shares his insights on respecting deep work and managing interruptions for better team communication and performance. Here are some gems you'll hear: 💎 Coaching should be tailored to each person, focusing on individual growth and goals. 💎 It's crucial to recognize and appreciate different work styles to create a productive team environment. 💎 Clear communication protocols are essential for high-performing teams. 💎 Leaders need to protect their deep work time for strategic planning. 💎 Valuing every team member's contributions is key to organizational success. From creator to manager, we all are required to do deep work. This episode is packed with practical advice to boost your team's productivity and harmony. Tune in now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/dcF4j59J #teamcommunication #communicationiskey #teamenvironment #leadership #businesstalks #businesspodcast #entrepreneurship #thebuildersfm

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It's uncommon to see innovation in a product that has been chugging along at the same level for decades. But Mark Adams, Keeri Tramm, Holden Page, and Bo Frize are building something special with our RealTrends Verified business. For those that don't know about RealTrends Verified, it's the one real estate rankings program that uses double-verified data (from the agent and their brokerage). Steve Murray and Tracey Velt had been operating the rankings for decades before we acquired the business. Ever since we acquired the business, we've noticed that our ranking pages have pretty impressive SEO juice. Try searching for "best real estate agents" or "best real estate agents in Texas", and you'll see a RealTrends page pretty high your results. This year, we're going to start leveraging this SEO juice with an expansion of RealTrends Verified into city pages. Now people will be able to search for "best real estate agents in Dallas", and find top agents in their city. We'll drill down even further into neighborhoods and zip codes in the coming years. If you're a brokerage or team leader, or a top agent in your city, please check out our new city pages! https://lnkd.in/eTGVHsaN

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I had the honor of being a guest on Jamie Tilke's podcast "Motion Matteres" and what a fun time we had! Three Potential Listener Questions 1) What are the key strategies I can use to scale businesses on Amazon? 2) How can entrepreneurs differentiate their brands in a competitive e-commerce market? 3) What role does data-driven decision-making play in successful digital marketing? Have a listen: https://lnkd.in/ejYfK-2H

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Although female founders are typically in the minority compared to male founders, we do our best to include them for MELT in NY! Allow me to introduce some remarkable and innovative female founders 🙋‍♀️ ☞ Co-Founder & CEO @ Blanka Stage: Seed Blanka is a platform that automates the process of launching a branded beauty line. With high-quality products manufactured in North America and with no minimums or upfront costs, our technology unifies the process of launching a brand - from product selection through order fulfillment. ☞ Founder & CEO @ FemiSpace Co. Stage: Pre-seed AI doctors for women’s health. ☞ CEO / Founder @ Parrot Finance Stage: Seed Copy trading platform. ☞ Founder and CEO @ InstantReplay Stage: Pre-seed The in-store “cookies” for retail. ☞ Founding Product Manager @ Stealth Stage: Seed Payment management with AI. ☞ Founder @ Copy trading consumer investing platform Stage: Seed Copy trading consumer investing platform. ☞ CEO/Founder @ Bonde Stage: Seed Member-only platform to support the advancement of professional women. ☞ Co-founder @ usebeams com Stage: Seed The next-gen productivity and automation platform for meaningful insights and seamless workflows. ☞ CEO/Founder @ LinSha Techworks Stage: Pre-seed We are improving the speed and safety of flanged pipeline maintenance by bolting/unbolting flanges autonomously. ☞ Co-founder @ Poldit Stage: Pre-seed Poldit is a community for sharing knowledge through interactive livestreams and Q&A, aimed at fostering human connections and reducing misinformation. ☞ CEO @ NaviGuide Stage: Pre-seed Equitable AI guidance counselor. ☞ CEO & Founder @ Transformers Academy Stage: Pre-seed AI-Driven LMS that transforms BORING manuals into ready-to-study employee or client courses in minutes. ☞ Co-founder @ Index Network Stage: Pre-seed Index allows you to create truly personalized and autonomous discovery experiences across the web. ☞ Founder and CEO @ TAMMIRA, INC. Stage: Pre-seed An evidence-based livestreamed health, wellness & beauty programming for kids & young women. ☞ Founder and CEO @ Bridgit Health Stage: Pre-seed Centralized AI-enabled social worker platform for hospitals to reduce delay of discharge. ☞ Chief of Staff (Founding Team) @ Mattermore Stage: Pre-seed Mattermore empowers managers with AI, automating 1:1 call data to boost performance, save time, and reduce stress, productivity loss, and turnover. 【💎 VIP Sponsored by】 ​Bradley Kam ​・Founded 2 companies Unstoppable Domains & Talkable ・Raised over $70M ・Unstoppable Domains recently raised $65M in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, reaching a $1B valuation. Aquibur Rahman ​Founder of Mailmodo, has received funding from Sequoia and is an alum of Y Combinator S21 ​Nathan Stevenson ​CEO and Founder of ForwardLane Inc. has been featured by Forbes, the World Economic Forum, and American Banker Event link 👉 https://lu.ma/ldbfgkez

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Boldness isn’t just about having ideas; it’s about acting on them. As we move into 2025, let’s recognize that technology is currently one of the most powerful tools we have to create real, positive change. Women like Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, and Carol B. Tomé CEO of UPS, show us how leveraging tech can not only reshape industries but also empower the next generation to lead in spaces once considered out of reach. Technology has the unique ability to break down barriers, connect us globally, and transform industries. In education, digital learning platforms with AI-powered tutors or personalized learning apps are changing the way we teach and learn, making education more accessible to millions. In sustainability, IoT-driven solutions are helping businesses and cities reduce carbon footprints and manage resources more efficiently. When we’re bold enough to challenge the status quo, technology helps us build solutions that make the world more inclusive, innovative, and impactful. 2025 is the year to think bigger, act bolder, and use the power of technology to drive change. Let’s lead the way, break new ground, and create a future that works for everyone. #BoldIdeas #TechnologyForGood #WomenInTech #Leadership #TechInnovation #FearlessCreation #2025Vision #PositiveChange #Innovation

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"We're just going to steamroll you". So so many startups building new AI products (with hopes of becoming businesses) are just solving near-term obvious problems or filling gaps that they see in current generation AI platforms. The (vast?) majority of these are really just features that will be absorbed by the platforms as they mature. Or as Sam Altman comments in this video - it's not because we don't like you, it's because we have a mission and we're "just going to steamroll you". The insane pace of advancement in platforms at this market stage makes a time-to-market advantage a foolish thing to bet on. Go deeper with critical thinking on moats, customer-centered product experience, and always build ahead of today's models... https://lnkd.in/gXe5nTHf

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Hi, I’m Alex from PAX ANIMA, a Munich-based video production company. I partner with purpose-driven brands, nonprofits, and changemakers to create videos that connect with people and amplify impact. ✨ WHY YOUR STORY MATTERS Your story is more than what you do—it’s about why it matters. Sharing your work can: 📌 Help people understand your mission. 🌍 Simplify big ideas like sustainability or social impact. 🤝 Bring in the support, funding, or partnerships you need. 🚩 WHO I WORK WITH 🌱 Sustainability organizations: Renewable energy, eco-innovation, green tech. 💡 Nonprofits: Advocacy, community-building, and awareness campaigns. 🤲 Mission-driven brands: Social enterprises and mindful businesses. 🎥 HOW I CAN HELP 📽️ Show the people and purpose behind your work. ✏️ Make your message clear and relatable. 📈 Create videos that attract donors, partnerships, or loyal audiences. Let’s talk about how your story can reach the people who need to hear it most.

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A big thanks to AI guru Nicole Leffer for taking marketing leaders from Cervin Ventures' portfolio companies through her "Harnessing the Power of Gen AI for Marketing" seminar today. Every time hear Nicole speak I come away with a dozen new AI tips and tricks -- and she delivered again by showing us how to build foundational skills in our marketing orgs. I won't steal her magic but here are a couple of Nicole's context-setting observations: 🤖 AI is a great assistant, not a replacement for marketing. AI can't do ALL of your marketing, especially in these early days. (So don't even think about taking humans out of the loop yet.) 🤖 Marketers using AI think they are further along than what they really are -- mostly because they don't know what they don't know. (Good news, if you're incorporating AI into workflows, you're still ahead.) 🤖 AI and the models are currently the dumbest they will ever be. If you can do great things with them now, think about what they will be able to do in the next 3-5 years. Thanks to all the Cervin companies who participated! cc: Christine Vidal, Daniel Kish, Crystal Mendes, Josh Dreyfuss, Jeanette Belashov, Justin Mota, Marwa Mhtar, Kristi Tutt, Tyler Fridley, MBA, LingRaj Patil, Phoebe Wang, Ashley Daniels #marketing #ai

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You have the power to create a million dollar community business. How? That’s exactly what Gina Bianchini, CEO of Mighty Networks, explores with me on the most recent episode of The Expertise Economy Podcast. In this tactical conversation, Gina introduces us to the 'People Magic' framework—a revolutionary approach to building thriving and self-sustaining communities. From identifying your ideal member to the 9 steps for creating communities so valuable you can charge for them and so well-designed they run themselves, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can transform your business and your members' lives. Whether you're a #creator, #entrepreneur, or aspiring #community leader, this episode is your roadmap to success in the digital age - don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in community building. Tune in and uncover the strategies that transform passion into profit: https://lnkd.in/dicjVMiB

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It’s NY Tech week and my new favorite thing is teaching underrepresented founders how to talk back to investors. So many of them ask me for help fundraising, and I get it. I may not always think of myself as an expert, since I’m lucky enough to surround myself with people who are much more experienced at it than I am. But we did do it successfully once, raising more than $3M along the way with little more than a deck, a dream, and an incredible founding team. Of course, we’re all aware that this success puts us in the teeny tiny cohort of startups who raise without a traditional-looking founding team. So what’s the common theme in my advice to non-traditional founders at the early stage? Push back. It’s easy to get intimidated by investors. They’re smart, aggressive, and ask really hard questions. It can be hard to remember that YOU are the expert on your market. They are generalists. Even if they have strong opinions on your market, it’s OK to tell them when you think they’re wrong. In fact, if you have the conviction and confidence (plus evidence to back it up), disagreeing with your prospective investors can even be seen as an advantage. When a VC asks you a question at the pre-seed stage about your path to $100M in ARR, it’s OK to say “dude, we’re a pre-seed company. I know what our path is to get to a million, and we will have a lot to figure out after that.” Now, this only works if you have a track record that can support your confidence. Or if you don’t know the answer, but you DO know HOW you’re going to figure it out, talk about the path from experimentation to scalability. It’s better than making up a bunch of stuff that you’ll probably throw out eventually, and VCs will respect your focus and defense of your precious little time. Plus, they can usually tell if your confidence is lacking in your answer, anyway. This investor market is a tricky one, but never forget that they (investors) need you (founders) just as much as you need them. And hey, if you’re an up and coming female or underrepresented founder, and you need some help (or just a pep talk) I’d love to help. Happy Tech Week everyone!!

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WONDERMIND.COM..... FOR EXAMPLE. CONGRATULATIONS PRES. ELECT MR. TRUMP 2nd TERM THANK YOU MS. MARTIN PRES. NYSE GROUP. EXCELLENTLY SAID. FRANCOISE BETTENCOURT MEYERS L'OREAL HEIRESS c/o ODEON RESTAURANT TRIBECA NY WHAT'S ON THE TABLE UPSTAIRS.? I HOPE NY HAMPTON BEACH HOUSE.! LATE JOSE' CHEF & LOUIE BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY WARREN BUFFET Chairperson MAYE MUSK Supermodel. E. MUSK. Mother BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION GATESFOUNDATION.org Tenri.org TENRI CULTURAL INSTITUTE GALLERY SPRING THEME Cryptocurrency REYGITONIUM-G https://lnkd.in/e55sRd8b https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 WonderMind.com WHAT'S ON THE TABLE*Crypto-REYGITONIUM-G MR. MS. TEEFEY & SELENA GOMEZ-RARE-SUPERSTAR TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I ABSOLUTELY SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH CRYPTO-REYGITONIUM-G I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE INFANT DEMOCRATIC-CAPITALISTIC MINDS BLAME USA GOVERNMENT. THEN IS ANY GOVERNMENT TO BE BLAMED FOR HOMELESS PROBLEMS PLAGUING THE WORLD.? NO. GOD KNOWS HEADACHES US GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE NEW WORLD TRUE SHOCK TO WITNESS. PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. DOESN'T THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE HOMELESS. THE HOMELESS ARE OUT THERE. ARE YOU.? HOMELESS.. OPPORTUNITY MISUNDERSTOOD. The modern economic system is a market economy, which is a capitalist economy where people, not the government--NOT THE GOVERNMENT--own most businesses. In a capitalist economy, prices allocate capital and labor between competing uses, and capital assets can be privately owned and controlled. GOOGLE https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 EXAMPLE IF YOU NEED TO RAISE MONEY FOR ANY REASON OR LETS SAY THE "HOMELESS PROBLEM WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE TIME & MONEY CONSUMING BUT IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARD THE HOMELESS. HOWEVER CRYPTOCURRENCY CAN POSSIBLE ALLOWS AN EXPENDITURE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY TO BENEFIT ALL WHO USES THE CRYPTO & REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S CONSUMED. THEREFORE IF A CRYPTO-CURRENCY REYGITONIUM-G EXISTED IT'S MORE HIGHLY LIKELY THE HOMELESS PROBLEM CAN BE VANQUISHED BECAUSE FINANCES WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO BE TAPPED INTO FOR HOMELESS RESOLUTIONS. REYGITONIUM-G: EACH COUNTRY GOVERNMENT INITIAL $1-DOLLAR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OF 8-BILLION EARTH CITIZENS. THEREAFTER GLOBALLY ANYBODY CAN INVEST IN THE CRYPTO-REYGITONIUM-G. FAMILY SECURITY. OR CONTINUE HIDING THE HOMELESS WHEN A POLITICAL LEADER VISITS AMERICA. CLOSING COMMENT: THE DAMNEDEST CRAZIEST FUNNIEST EMBARRASSING ABOUT THE HOMELESS CHAOS IS ANY EXCUSE AS TO WHY HOMELESS EXIST. HENCEFORTH CONSIDER USA TRILLIONS IN DEBT & 6,120 HOSPITALS SCATTERED AROUND THE USA & MANY COUNTRIES ASKING FOR FOREIGN AID IN THE TRILLIONS & YOU TALKING EXCUSES. MEANWHILE WE WANT TO SETTLE HUMANITY ON OTHER PLANETS. THANK YOU FOR READING.

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I’m honored to be featured in Startup Snapshot’s new report, "Beyond the Buzz," the first-ever behind-the-scenes look at how startups are leveraging #GenAI tools. Based on data from hundreds of founders, this report dives into: The report includes:  👉 Exclusive data points on GenAI adoption in startups  👉 Insights on upskilling teams and addressing risks  👉 Real-world examples from industry leaders Check it out here:  https://lnkd.in/eHicEiMW Wisor.AI

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I'm considering teaching a course at Berkeley designed to prepare business undergrads for corporate culture and more specifically, passive-aggressive behavior. This is my particularly favorite large company quality. We will learn some of the top phrases and practice them. For maximum effectiveness we may create an audio app to make sure the tone is just right. Please feel free to use this. whenever 1. Thanks in advance 2. As per my last email 3. I Thought You Knew 4. I Was Only Joking 5. Please advise 6. I'm not mad 7. Per our conversation 8. Friendly reminder 9. Whatever 10. Why are you so defensive? Whatever

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What an awesome conversation just premiering on Ben Reinberg's "I Own It" show today. Here is the first look as this begins to syndicate along with the rest of his season on The C-Suite Network and more this Fall. https://lnkd.in/gCrgPhe3 Thanks to Alliance Consolidated Group of Companies, LLC. nBrain AI ATOM!Q AMILYA ANTONETTI Ben Reinberg for the opportunity to share my thoughts on #leverage #ai #appliedknowledge and #business today!

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Aditya Vempaty and the team at MoEngage have a genius strategy. Use other brands to help build their own and create a connection between the two. A current campaign they're running is giving people custom Air Jordans for taking a demo. No one bit for $100 gift card... their time is worth more than that. But finding a brand that had emotional and non-monetary value for the buyer (execs) means they'll engage. Even if the conversation goes no where, they'll remember you're the one who gave them the custom Jordans. They'll tell other people about the custom Jordans. They'll give their kids the custom Jordans and remember you every time they see them on their kid. This helps build lift that you couldn't get any other way.

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One-third of Gen Z donors plan to increase their giving in the coming year. Are you ready to meet them? Download the latest report from the #BlackbaudInstitute for exclusive Gen Z giving insights.​

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