2045 Studio’s Post

Bringing people together is amazing, but bringing the right people together? That’s where the magic happens! When you’re surrounded by people who inspire real action and growth, you can practically feel the energy. Co-hosting this event with Plug and Play Tech Center, Studio by Tishman Speyer, and #BreakingBreadProductions was an absolute blast! Big events come with big challenges, but when you’ve got awesome partners, it’s all worth it. Here’s my (not-so-serious) top 10 takeaways for throwing an epic event with a team: 1. You’re not performing surgery—breathe! 2. Grace: give it, get it. 3. Be adaptable, ‘cause things will change! 4. Trust your team—everyone’s here to rock it. 5. Opinions are gold. Let people share ‘em! 6. Hold each other accountable. Team effort! 7. Benchmarks aren’t just for the gym. 8. Kindness and love go a long way. 9. Be open, learn stuff, enjoy the ride. 10. Did I mention grace? Yeah, double down on that. Huge shoutout to everyone who made this event come to life. Couldn’t have done it without you beautiful people! Rockstars! Partners: Kayvon Moshiri Jamie Lipman Emma Church Elexys Yamada Sonya Burns Austin Josiah Justin Rufen-Blanchette (JRB) Keini Wilson, CPA Michelle Chung Babi Oloko Jonathan Zoucha Panelists: Raphael Akinsipe, Daricus R., and Isa Watson Sponsors: Lunar #hive2o Video by: #ChrisGreyProductions #LATechWeek2024 #Leaders #Founders #Mentorship #Growth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Impact #Connection #Networks #Relationships

Culture isn’t just what your team does—it’s how and why they do it. 🌟 At DoGood Agency, we help startups and growing businesses build a strong, intentional culture that drives collaboration, innovation, and success. Because when your team aligns with your mission, the results speak for themselves. Curious how we can help your team thrive? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gGuQFSU9 #StartupCulture #Teamwork #LeadershipDevelopment

The Days Of Innovation are here, thanks to TechCrunch Early-Stage and BNT/Prepare 4 VC's premier support of the conference with several special side events. Friends... I'm going to share a two-part story with you -- and one that represents a new era for Boston New Technology, Dropbox DocSend, and the startup community. The first -- the development of a great partnership with Shruti Singapur, which stretches back a very long time thanks to Jason Kraus. The second, the simultaneous development of a brand new kind of free resource for entrepreneurs by BNT spearheaded by Marsh Sutherland and Rhoda Serafim called Precision Pitch Practice. The result: As Precision Pitch Practice, which has been entirely virtual, grew and evolved -- I introduced the concept to Shruti and she loved it. Why Precision Pitch Practice Matters: The consistency of a once-weekly gathering of bright minds in a safe space, where entrepreneurs can freely practice and improve their presentation skills. Unburdened and fluff-free, Precision Pitch Practice has produced real results and now it's coming to life in-person thanks to our friends at Venture Lane | Startup Hub (h/t Kristina Gomez and team) next Wednesday starting at 5PM EST. That's not all however. This completely free-event also features a comprehensive pitch analysis session offered by Justin Izzo and a BNT Startup Showcase with four female founders building amazing solutions. Are you hungry? You're in the startup industry so the default answer is yes. We've intentionally selected BoardsbyMo and WhoozCooking as our food sponsors - two amazing business leaders whose good intentions enrich their offerings. Is this event for you? Whether you want to attend to watch and connect with others... Practice your pitch/get your deck analyzed... Take part in the showcase as an expert panelist... All you have to do is register. https://lnkd.in/e--GNwyQ #Founders #PrecisionPitchPractice #EarlyStage #TSEarlyStage #bostonstartups

Building successful products start with understanding and collaboration. We’ve had the privilege of partnering with 100+ incredible startups and brands across various industries - each with a unique vision and drive. Still, no matter the size, industry, or challenge ahead, it always starts the same question: How can we bring value to this product’s vision?

Last week Boston Founders Forum held its latest meetup event at WeWork downtown which included a fireside chat with Reshma Shetty, Co-Founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. Hosted and moderated by BFF #founders Eleni Vorvis and Christopher Harris, they did a deep dive into Reshma’s journey from MIT to founding one of the leading biotech companies to come out of the #Boston #startup ecosystem. Some of the finer points of the discussion included   -         What’s Reshma’s story? How she, and w/4 cofounders from MIT got started.   -         A Turning point: One of their trusted consultants said ‘just start’, you don’t need funding, so the co-founders went out, got a sidegigs and started Gingko. -         How did the cofounders decide on the roles? Everyone kind of fell into their roles naturally, sort of made it up as they went. -         How did the initial success happen? Hypothesis testing the product and services until they got traction, then came Sam Altman to get them into Y Combinator. -         Small startup to publicly traded company. What were some lessons Reshma learned that still ring true today? -         Be ready for the next challenge and always have a mindset to learn. -         The challenges being a female founder & CEO and what it takes to overcome them. -         Perception of founders who are parents and setting the boundaries for work versus family. -         Have the accolades changed things much? No. As a founder keep your eyes off the hype and keep an eye on making good decisions for the business.  Bonus point during the Audience Q&A Bootstrapping vs accelerator? There is no right answer, it will depend a lot on where a startup is in their lifecycle. Gingko took the gamble on joining Y combinator and won. After the Fireside chat Chris had some further announcements including another upcoming social event at Citizen M (TBD) as well as expansion of Boston Founder Forum into NYC. Congrats on the further growth of the BFF community.  

Reflecting on another fantastic StartupAZ retreat in Flagstaff last month! I’m grateful to be a part of this incredible community that continually supports technology founders in Arizona. StartupAZ is more than just a network; it’s a powerful ecosystem of founders, mentors, and seasoned entrepreneurs who come together to uplift and propel each other forward. The monthly cohort meetings provide the kind of support and mentorship that makes all the difference in launching and scaling a technology company. This organization has been a game-changer for me personally, connecting me with like-minded leaders and providing the resources needed to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Being surrounded by other founders who are as passionate about innovation and growth as I am has been truly inspiring. Below is a video from our retreat, showcasing the spirit and energy of this incredible group of people dedicated to pushing the limits of what’s possible. Seeing how much we’ve grown and the impact we’ve had on Arizona’s tech landscape is both humbling and motivating. If you're a founder in Arizona or someone passionate about the startup ecosystem, I highly encourage you to get involved with StartupAZ. Let’s keep building, growing, and supporting the next wave of innovators right here in Arizona! #StartupAZ #FoundersSupportingFounders #ArizonaTech #Entrepreneurship #StartupCommunity #Innovation

Diversity isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a game changer for startups! Studies show that diverse teams aren’t just good for culture - they drive innovation, improve decision-making, and increase profitability. Speaking from her own experience, Start2 expert Sabine Wiesmüller, PhD, emphasizes that diversity is a strategic advantage. Do you want to build a stronger, more inclusive venture? Don’t miss Empowering Diversity in Ventures, a program designed to help underrepresented founders succeed. 💡 Gain free mentorship, actionable insights, and a like-minded community to scale your business with confidence. 💰 Cost: Free for German startups 📅 When: December 2 - 4 ⏰ Application Deadline: November 28 📍 Where: Virtual 📩 Invitation to our on-site event: Elevate & Connect: Empowering Diversity in Ventures | December 4 | 6-10pm Spots are limited, so sign up now to secure your place! 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dsw7DYYu

What drives your startup's culture? Marc Lore underscores the importance of core values like trust, transparency, and fairness. Even after $545M and $3B exits. Want to learn how he does it? Register now to come see Marc share his insights at the Propelify Innovation Festival tomorrow on the Hoboken waterfront - https://hubs.la/Q02Dv8wv0 These values should guide your startup’s culture and decision-making processes. Establishing and adhering to these principles helps build a strong and cohesive team. By embedding core values into your organization, you create a foundation for long-term success and a positive work environment. #Values #LetsPropel #WeAreTechUnited

The word for 2025 is SCALING ✨ Excited to Speak Tomorrow! ✨ I'm 1 week late on posting everything that happened last week and LOTS happened including a Startup I am an Advisor to: Habits Inc. (a Techstars company!), raising $1.1m in an oversubscribed Pre-seed round led by Atlanta Ventures - more to come on that in tomorrow's post - Congrats again Jack Boudreau & Veera B. Budhi!!!!! They are getting ready to SCALE! Tomorrow, I’ll be discussing my playbook on Scaling and will be joining an incredible lineup of speakers at Tempo by Hilton, Times Square, for an event hosted by Lawrence Krubner and the amazing Tavern Community Coworking team. 🎤 (La French Tech New York sponsor of NYC's TECH WEEK by a16z 2024 - thanks again Benjamin Schwartz, MD, MBA!) I’m thrilled to share the stage with some phenomenal thought leaders, including: Mark Herschberg – Author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You and creator of the Brain Bump app. • Lio Slama – Serial entrepreneur and investor, currently serving as the CEO of AskNeo.Media, the Neo Club, and AskNeo.io. A Techstars portfolio company We’ll dive deep into topics that align closely with the 5 Pillars of Scaling I discussed last year many times—how culture, customer focus, operational excellence, team alignment, and sustainable growth come together to drive success. And maybe I'll include some 007 Chief of Staff related moves as well. Event details: 📍 Where: 1568 Broadway (11th Floor) ⏰ When: The day kicks off at 11:30 AM with mingling, lunch, and coworking time. 🥂 Bonus: Tickets for the full day are sold out, but there’s still space to join the happy hour! 💡 Link to Luma in comments This event is all about insights, collaboration, and connection. 🙌 Let’s make it a memorable day! ✨ #innovation #technology #venturecapital #startups

Reflecting on last week's Venture Atlanta Conference, and wow, what an amazing showcase of the Southeast tech scene! Watching startups like Linq showcase the disruptive work they're doing on the big stage was a powerful reminder of why I love what we do. The energy, the innovation, the sheer audacity of these founders... it's infectious. Key takeaways: 1. Atlanta's tech scene is on 🔥! The caliber of ideas and execution coming out of our backyard is world-class. 2. VCs and PE firms are doubling down on the Southeast. The smart money sees what we've known all along - this region is a goldmine of talent and opportunity. 3. The gap between startup ambition and marketing firepower is real. So many brilliant teams, so little bandwidth for strategic growth marketing. Chatting with founders and investors alike, a common theme emerged: the need for scalable, high-impact marketing that doesn't break the bank or require a full in-house team. It was validating to hear how our mission at Dodeka Digital - providing a world-class digital marketing team in a fractional capacity - is addressing a real pain point in the ecosystem. To all the founders, investors, and innovators I met last week: you're why we do what we do. Here's to fueling the next wave of Southeastern tech success stories! 💪