Rep Matters’ Post

Being able to talk to other founders is priceless and hearing from folks who are ahead of the curve is such a motivation. I highly recommend going along to them if you can. #founders #startup #scaleup

Last week's dinner co-hosting experience with Builders was a transformative journey, reminding me of the profound impact conversations can have when they evolve into action! Rewind to Pavilion GTM 2023: a serendipitous encounter with Seba Dominguez at a whiskey tasting sparked a strong connection, revealing shared business models, career paths, and personal backgrounds. Fast forward to May in Austin, where Christopher Gannon and Seba's bond strengthened, igniting the idea of hosting a dinner in NYC. When we connected again, the plan came together quickly. Venue Booked ✅ Invites sent ✅ No worries ✅ As someone who had previously only been an attendee of dinners, doubts crept in about orchestrating such an event effectively and efficiently. Yet, Seba's infectious can-do attitude propelled us forward. The evening unfolded seamlessly, with 12 of us gathering at Catch 🐟 to share not only a delicious meal but also candid conversations about our families, favorite restaurants, and the challenges of navigating early start ups. It was everything a dinner should be: effortless and enriching. Three main takeaways for me: 🤝 The Power of Community: Witnessing founders rallying around one another, offering support and encouragement only after just having met, was nothing short of inspiring. 🙌 People Want to Help: By being open and vulnerable, we unearthed unexpected commonalities and discovered innovative solutions to shared challenges. 🌟 Just Dive In: Sometimes, you have to take the leap and trust that the evening will unfold naturally, paving the way for meaningful connections and collaborations. While I regret not capturing the moment with a 📸, I was happy to be fully present. I'm eager to cheer on the incredible individuals I met as they embark on their respective journeys, fueled by the momentum of our shared experience. Amazing to chat with everyone Amy Wu Shannon Wu Jane Tran Kiet Tran, FRM Rom Carmel 🚀 Fernanda Baggio Aaron Surloff Jack Winston Dani Van de Sande Andrew Joseph Sam Schwager Here's to more words evolving into action and forging deeper connections within our entrepreneurial community. #CommunityPower #ActionSpeaksLouder

The first rule of Founders Club: Carve your place in the world! The second rule of founders club: Carve YOUR place in the world! Finding your niche has been a rallying cry in the business space for a hot minute. While finding your niche is cool and all, it negates one pivotal factor… You It completely forgets that you are an incredibly complex blend of: ✅ Beliefs ✅ Vision ✅ The things you love & light you up ✅ Ideas ✅ EVERYTHING How you approach what you do and your complex weave of being is what creates your niche for you… So much more than something you can ‘find,’ right! The first thing we were taught in Entrep 101 was carving that blue ocean for yourself, run from the red full of sharks trying to do the same thing in a similar way, and find your blue! In today’s business world it’s getting a little crowded (and red), but the difference between those who thrive (you) and standout against 99% of the noise, is just this… leaning right in, totally and unapologetically! You in for Founders Club with me?

📍I'm speaking alongside some of the biggest Vc's in the Valley (and a Disney Star) next week at TechCrunch! Here's what I'll be talking about! ⬇️ 💡Consumer social network effects and their reach. As Vently launches in San Francisco, the impacts this city has had, brought us from an idea, to one of the biggest event platforms in the city, network effects being a core driving factor. 🎓 Giving users a space to engage, in a community setting - post college. As GenZ makes a shift from the community they felt in school, to trying to bond and find a new community post grad Vently bridges that gap. 📈 Exponential growth through strategic partnerships: Our partnerships with key players in the events and tech space are helping us amplify our reach. These collaborations allow us to put Vently on center stage with some of the biggest event and community partners across the city. 📊 Our team driving innovation and growth: Vently has a rockstar team, including the counterparts I'll be speaking with our Head of Growth, Gargi Kand, who’s leading our GTM. Her expertise has been pivotal in writing our growth playbook. Nicolas M. will also be speaking day 1 on the impacts of Vently's network from San Francisco to Ohio. 🌉 Looking forward to speaking next to leaders like Bridgit Mendler, Morgan Beller, Corinne Marie Riley, Galym Imanbayev, MD, and Brian Rothenberg! 📥

Everyone's talking about "authenticity" these days. 🤔 Coincidentally, it's often used to describe Rare Founders events 😉 – but what does it actually mean? Webster's dictionary defines authenticity as... nah, I'm just messing with you! Authenticity is about those raw, unscripted moments that unfold at our events. ✨ Picture this: > Someone, initially just an observer, suddenly feels compelled to pitch their own idea. 💡 > Or someone waits until the very last pitch round, to seize that final chance to share their passion. > It's about those spontaneous conversations. Conversations sparked by a shared interest for startups. 🚀 > This ease of interaction. > This genuine connection, is what makes Rare Founders events so special. 💖 We try to break down the barriers of typical networking events. We try to create an atmosphere where everyone feels approachable and where conversations flow naturally. That's the MAGIC! ✨ A genuine connection fostered in an environment of shared passion and inspiration. Want to experience it for yourself? Join us on November 26th (Next Tuesday)! Tickets are available through the link in my profile. 🎟️

It’s hard to put into words what we do at Awake… And it’s not just me who struggles, even our members can find it hard to express their words to their partners or colleagues on their profound experiences. In essence, it is beyond words. It must be lived and experienced, but to those who have no idea, let me try… We’re an investor backed business, that works with startup entrepreneurs, huge corporate companies and million dollar founders to create impact that is beyond just one. We are a movement that believes in “we” over “I”. A world where we all remember the mind-blowing truth of who we really are. Where we go all-in on elevating ourselves, our organizations and innovating the way we build our society, in synergy, collectively. Together we co-create a brighter future. For ourselves, the people around us, and life on earth. Yes, we’re a business that believes in making a profit, but we are a business of purpose, and the community we are building is a testament to the beautiful breakthroughs and shifts we see every day. If you want to know more, send me a DM for an invite to our event: Decode Yourself.

Last week I was in Fort Worth, Texas for the Collective 54 Founders Summit alongside Vallene, Miles, and ~240 other leaders of professional services firms (including some friends and clients), and here are a few of my biggest takeaways: 1. Running a business is hard, and finding a community that can support you through that journey is invaluable. I tell Val and Miles all the time "there is no way I would do this without you two" 🤣 because, while it's rewarding, running a business is ... A LOT. It's lonely. It's challenging. But if you have people around you who support you and walk the walk with you, it's one of the most fulfilling experiences out there. 2. Numbers matter. I'm a creative, okay?! Strategy is my thing, and when Miles (or Jordan) comes at me with spreadsheets, sometimes I try to hide. However, sitting in a room full of people who are successfully growing, scaling, and exiting their businesses is a good reminder that at the end of the day the numbers do, in fact, matter - and the numbers are what enable us to continue doing what we love to do. (I think this might be the entire reason Miles brings me to this conference lol). 3. Building a strong team backed by efficient processes is the key to successfully scaling. I talk about this often since we work with so many business owners who are trying to scale. To truly scale, a company must be able to increase its capacity to handle more business without increasing its operational costs (this is where process comes in). Additionally, founders and leaders have to be able to delegate and elevate themselves out of being the bottleneck (this is where a strong team comes in). There are a lot more insights I could share, but traveling gave me the world's worst head cold so that is all for now. Thank you Greg Alexander, Zach Witonsky, Matt Alexander & the whole C54 team for the amazing hospitality. We'll see you next year 👋

#Fridaythoughts with Fawn and Jeff #extraordinarynotordinary “…it is extraordinary what happens when we start with the presumption of good intent.” #truth When I first heard Jeff’s great phrase, it knocked my socks off. Thanks, Jeff! 🙏 It’s truly inspirational, and rightly deserves to be shared again with you today. Masters of Scale’s headline is ‘Iconic business leaders. Priceless advice.’ Fawn Weaver is this, and so much more. She one of the most significant leaders, business leaders, and thought leaders you have perhaps not yet heard of, until now. What Fawn and her team are achieving at Uncle Nearest, Inc. is nothing short of incredible; zero to $1 billion unicorn in just 7 years, most awarded brand for the past 5 years, and doing so in one the most competitive sectors out there. And, that’s not even the best bit. She is pulling as she climbs; helping others and giving away the secrets to her success so others will benefit. Please make sure you add Fawn to your following list. You will benefit. Your team will benefit. Your company will benefit. And others will benefit too. Don’t take my word for it, please check out any interviews with Fawn you can find. I’ve heard experienced interviewers gasp in awe at just some of the things she says. “The impossible is only impossible until I make it possible.” Wishing everyone a great weekend, and as Fawn would say, be humble, with 2 shots of confidence. 🦉 Fawn Weaver | Founder and CEO, Grant Sidney, Inc. (owner, Uncle Nearest) | Endeavor Board Member | YPO Member | New York Times Bestselling Author | USA Today Bestselling Author | TED Speaker | Doting Wife of Keith Weaver (Since 2003) | Shelbyville, TN Uncle Nearest, Inc. | The Most Awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 🥃 🏆 🦄 Jeff Berman | CEO of WaitWhat | Los Angeles, CA Masters of Scale | Iconic business leaders. Priceless advice. | Online Audio and Video Media | New York #serendipity #providence #love #honor #respect

🌍 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻✨ This past week, I had the privilege of attending the 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗘𝗢𝗦) 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 (𝗤𝗖𝗘) in 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻, and what an experience it was! 💡 The QCE is not just an event—it’s an opportunity to 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 from around the world, learn from one another, and celebrate the impact we’re making for entrepreneurial businesses. From the 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, where we welcomed new Implementers into the EOS community, to the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, the energy in the room was electric. ⚡ It’s always inspiring to meet like-minded professionals who share the same passion: helping businesses 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and build 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀. 🚀 Together, we’re empowering leaders to break through barriers and achieve their 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. I’m especially grateful for the chance to collaborate with so many brilliant minds. Whether it was exchanging ideas, sharing tools and strategies, or just swapping stories over a cup of tea, these connections reinforce why I love what I do. 💼☕ For me, this QCE was a reminder of how much we can accomplish when we operate within a proven system like EOS—and the profound impact we have on the organizations we serve. A huge thank you to the 𝗘𝗢𝗦 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 for another incredible quarter and for continually inspiring me to help businesses reach their true potential. Here’s to another quarter of 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝗅 💪🙌 What’s your biggest takeaway from the last quarter? Let’s keep the conversation going! 👇

What is an experiment you are running to allocate capital to mission-aligned founders with a long-term view? If this resonates, email me for access to a small group conversation among mission-driven investors this Friday in Austin at Black Future House SxSW: https://lnkd.in/gn5j2FMm We are convening investors who are exploring new models to fill the capital opportunity that is hiding in plain sight. This is not a panel. This is a closed-door roundtable discussion where we can be open and honest about how we're pursuing the opportunity in front of us. Our team at Cinematica Labs is convening this conversation in partnership with Black Future House as well as Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) and New Media Ventures (NMV). I have talked for years with Lauren Washington, Jill Johnson, and Jessica Salinas about the experiments we're running to innovate on the capital stack to build sustainable, futurist entrepreneurial ecosystems that support intersectional founders. We as investors have the opportunity to build new structures and strategies to realize the future that is within our grasp. I have led an AI-powered venture fund, an angel syndicate, an angel network, and most recently a mentorship program with Black Ambition supporting 600+ founders. The common pain point I am experiencing, along with many asset managers I talk to, is that we need to collaborate with other investors while we develop capital stack. After Marcia Chong Rosado, Trivia Edwards and I joined forces with Jennifer S. Roberts of Building Utopia to convene the Cultivating Capital Investor Roundtable at Afrotech bringing together Ansley Carlisle, Monica Dean, Evan Boswell Hamilton, Dominick J. Ard'is, I Nasir C. Qadree and others, we knew we had to run it back. Check out more on Building Utopia's Afrofuturist Toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/gMmb3rqk