Index Ventures’ Post

Chris bootstrapped Refine Labs to $22M in revenue. On this episode, Chris Walker shares the story of how he got Refine Labs off the ground, what he did to grow so fast, and also why he regrets spending so much on growth instead of focusing on profitability. He goes exceptionally deep on sales and marketing and provides tactical advice you can steal. Listen to the Full episode here:

When you add a second product to your startup, the complexity grows exponentially, not linearly. Dharmesh Shah calls it the "3 Body Problem" - where every decision, from marketing to resource allocation, pulls in different directions, creating unpredictability. His insights on managing this complexity emphasize simplification wherever possible. Check out this visual representation of the chaos that ensues, and give his article a read if you're planning to scale: https://lnkd.in/e6UUrsQV

Learn more about 2D #barcodes and how they can help businesses compete internationally. Megan Baumer of GS1 US joins the #Startup Hustle #podcast to provide insight. http://ow.ly/CjKG50N4C7O #TeamGS1US #smallbusiness Startup Hustle

🔧 Revisit one of our most insightful episodes with Douglas Squirrel! With over 40 years of coding experience and 20 years leading software teams, Squirrel has a unique approach to boosting productivity through the power of conversations. 🚀 Whether you’re revisiting or discovering this episode for the first time, you’ll learn how to align complex technology with real customer needs, avoiding common pitfalls that tech founders often face. 💡 Episode Highlights: 💠 The 'Elephant Carpaccio' Strategy: A game-changing method for breaking down massive projects into manageable, customer-driven success stories. 💠 Communication as a Growth Tool: Discover how effective dialogue can transform your tech organization, fostering productive conflict and strategic alignment. 💠 Navigating Growth Challenges: Practical advice for managing underperformers and building a team that thrives in a startup environment. Whether you’re looking to refine your team dynamics or gain new perspectives on tech leadership, Squirrel’s expertise is a valuable resource. Tune in for strategies that blend human conversations with technological innovation. 🎧✨ Check out the full episode: 👉 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gVwQQy2C 👉 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gSEG7YKk 👉 Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/gqce3ZC9 #TechLeadership #ProductivityHacks #StartupSuccess #ScalingWithPeople #TechInnovation

Ivan Barajas Vargas, CEO of MuukTest, talks to Alice Heiman about his journey from QA expert to CEO of #MuukTest. His story proves that with the right #mindset, even casual conversations can spark game-changing ideas. #CEOs, want to transform your business? Listen to this episode of #SalesTalkforCEOs and learn how authentic networking can fuel your #growth. Don't miss out! https://lnkd.in/gqxe8eFv

Hey #StartupNation #Founders! We covered a lot in this podcast with #TechSalesCraft. Hope you find it helpful. Thanks for the opportunity to interview with you, James! It was great to interview with you. We're always happy to share some of our experience with young startups. David Bitton

Learning #4: Authentic Storytelling Builds Trust [Off To The Valley] 12 Lessons from 12 Incredible Guests in Season 1 I spoke to 12 high-achieving individuals who moved away from the comfort of their homes to start or expand businesses. Here’s what I learned. Sharing authentic personal stories can build trust and resonate with audiences. Sara Powell’s journey to founding Impactury involved overcoming personal challenges, which she openly shares to inspire others. Lloyed Lobo’s experiences, from the Gulf War to building startups, highlight the power of storytelling in connecting with others. Lisa Wehden’s creation of Plymouth stemmed from her own immigration challenges, making her mission deeply personal. Key Takeaway: Authentic storytelling fosters connection and trust with your audience. Actionable Steps: 1. Reflect on Your Journey: Identify personal experiences that have shaped your path. 2. Share Openly: Communicate your story authentically to connect with others. 3. Align with Your Mission: Ensure your story reflects your values and objectives. Hear how Sara, Lloyed, and Lisa used authentic storytelling to build trust. Tune in to Off To The Valley Season 1: 1. Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47hNovl 2. Apple: https://apple.co/479sn6d 3. Youtube: https://bit.ly/3TgJQ6T #EntrepreneurshipJourney #ResilienceInBusiness #StartupLessons #OffToTheValley #BusinessGrowth #StartupResilience #FounderStories

Excited to share pt 2 of our epic conversation with Kacie Jenkins! She shares insights on how startups can scale smarter. Including effective ways marketers can leverage AI. Highlights below 👇 And access to our full convo directly here: https://lnkd.in/ePC7mSm7

Building Jam Ep. 8 | The Board Meeting 🎧 The Jam board is meeting today, so this week our founders share what happens in these meetings! New episode just went live - catch it in the comments. We're really enjoying sharing what it's like building Jam each week. So many of you are startup founders, hope you 💜 this episode.

Algorizin wasn't my first gig. My first startup didn’t make it. I couldn’t crack our product-market fit. Without that, profits didn’t follow. We had to shut it down. My second venture was even more demanding. Co-founder and team conflicts tore it apart. I got fired from my own company. But I learned some valuable lessons from it. If there’s one takeaway, it's this: Choose your co-founders or partners very wisely. They’ll make or break your entire journey. To everyone building something out there: Keep going. Learn. Adapt. Your story isn’t over. Until you say so. PS: If you want more context, watch the full episode on Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eXAwb5K4