DevReady Podcast
We started the DevReady podcast to help non-techs build better technology. We have been exposed to so many non-techs that describe the struggle, uncertainty and challenges that can come with building technology. The objective for the DevReady podcast to share these stories and give you the tools and insights so that you to can deliver on your vision and outcomes. You will learn from non-tech founders that have invested their time and money into developing technology. We will discuss what worked, what didn’t and how they still managed to deliver real value to their users. These stories are inspirational – demonstrating the determination, commitment and resolve it really takes to deliver technology. Throughout the DevReady Podcast we also invite subject matter experts to the conversation to give you proven strategies and techniques to successfully take your idea through to delivery and beyond. Enjoy the Podcast, it will challenge you, inspire you and provide the tools you will need ...
Episodes
Friday Jul 12, 2024
Friday Jul 12, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Andrew Romeo interviews Steven Ristevski, Principal at SR Link, to delve into the intricacies of sales and lead generation. Steven shares his journey from an unexpected start in a clerical traineeship to becoming a seasoned sales expert, discussing key strategies for engaging potential clients, building long-term relationships, and navigating the evolving landscape of sales in various industries.
Steven shares his extensive experience in sales, which began unexpectedly with a clerical traineeship and evolved through various roles where he honed his sales skills. He discusses his current work with diverse clients, helping them reach decision-makers and influencers across various industries, including security, cloud solutions, data analytics, and operational solutions. Steven emphasizes his ability to adapt to different products and industries, leveraging his problem-solving skills to match solutions to customer needs.
Steven emphasizes the importance of engaging potential clients from the very beginning of a conversation, understanding their challenges, and presenting tailored solutions. He shares his experience from working in a conference center, where he learned the significance of market research and creating effective pitches. Steven also discusses his current methods, including cold calling and using various communication channels to reach decision-makers. He highlights the necessity of building rapport, being adaptable, and continuously providing value to clients and prospects.
Steven delves into his process for finding and engaging prospects, explaining that he primarily uses LinkedIn to research potential clients based on their job titles and industry focus, employing tools like Lucia to gather insights and contact information. He discusses his systematic approach to networking, which includes creating lead lists, initiating connections, and setting up introductory meetings. Steven emphasizes the importance of building rapport, understanding client needs, and maintaining honest communication to foster long-term relationships.
Andrew and Steven then discuss the importance of numbers in sales and lead generation. Steven emphasizes the role of LinkedIn in maximizing outreach despite the challenges of cold calling. He highlights the necessity of targeting a broad range of job titles to increase the chances of making valuable connections. Steven also talks about his experience in assisting both small and large companies in navigating sales processes and building relationships. He underscores the need for patience and realistic expectations in sales, as immediate results are rare.
Concluding their discussion, Andrew and Steven highlight the importance of long-term relationship building in sales. Steven shares his experience, emphasizing that successful sales often stem from years of rapport rather than immediate transactions. He advises new tech entrepreneurs to focus on networking, leveraging LinkedIn, and persistently reaching out to potential clients. Steven also highlights the value of mentorship and continuous learning from more experienced colleagues, recounting how his business model evolved during COVID-19. He underscores the importance of adaptability and perseverance in sales, agreeing with Andrew that real-world experience and relationships are crucial for success, more so than formal courses.
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis chats with Kerry Boulton-Holdsworth, a seasoned Value Builder & Exit Strategy Coach from The Exit Strategy Group. Kerry, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and former EOS Implementer, shares invaluable insights on crafting successful business exit strategies. Tune in to learn how to build value, ensure readiness, and navigate the complexities of business exits.
Kerry shares her journey from conducting a management buyout to becoming an Exit Strategy Coach. She highlights the importance of having an exit strategy for any business, recounting how reading "Business Plans that Win $$$" helped her and her husband raise funds and plan for their business’s future. Kerry discusses the economic fluctuations and stresses the necessity of being prepared for unexpected opportunities, such as selling their real estate business when a lucrative offer arose. She concludes by advising business owners to always be ready for sale, focusing on growing for value, and ensuring readiness across business, financial, and personal aspects.
Kerry emphasizes balancing business, financial, and personal readiness in exit strategy planning. She discusses opportunities for acquiring businesses owned by baby boomers and integrating them for exponential growth. Sharing her experience of retiring and reinventing herself, Kerry highlights the importance of having a purpose beyond business. She stresses the need for thorough financial planning, stakeholder consideration, and estate planning to ensure a smooth transition and continued fulfillment post-exit.
Kerry outlines eight key drivers crucial for a successful business exit strategy. These include having well-documented financials, identifying growth markets, mitigating reliance on key personnel, and differentiating the business. She discusses maintaining positive cash flow, ensuring high customer satisfaction, and reducing dependence on the owner. Kerry advises business owners to strategically plan their end game by targeting potential buyers and setting up robust systems and processes to support future growth and stability.
Additionally, Kerry highlights the differences in valuation between startups, particularly SaaS businesses, and traditional businesses, noting that SaaS companies are often valued based on revenue, while traditional businesses are valued on EBIT. She emphasizes understanding and mitigating risks, such as customer and people concentration, to enhance business value. Kerry also advocates for integrating recurring revenue models, like maintenance arrangements or subscription services, to increase business attractiveness to potential buyers. She mentions John Warrillow's book, "The Automatic Customer," and offers a free assessment on her website for business owners to evaluate their value drivers.
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis speaks with Jamie Kritharas, Founder and CEO of Defiant Digital, a creative performance agency based in Sydney. Jamie shares his journey from being a DJ and a producer to leading a creative performance agency, revealing key insights into scaling brands through strategic digital marketing. Tune in to discover the secrets behind combining performance marketing with creative services and optimizing the entire customer journey.
Jamie discusses how his agency aids seven and eight-figure brands in scaling through creative paid media and landing page optimization, emphasizing the importance of performance marketing to maximize return on investment for paid media efforts. He shares his unique background as a DJ and producer, which equipped him with marketing skills that led to the creation of Defiant Digital, aiming to bridge the gap he noticed in agencies that integrated performance marketing with creative services.
Jamie elaborates on the evolution of his career, detailing how his experience as a DJ and artist manager helped him spot a market gap for agencies that combine performance marketing with creative services. He underscores the value of hands-on experience and learning by doing, recounting how he initially did free work in exchange for testimonials to build his portfolio. Jamie also discusses the growing significance of TikTok as a marketing platform, particularly for brand awareness, while acknowledging that Meta platforms still dominate in ad spending.
The discussion then shifts to the nuances of digital marketing strategies. Jamie contrasts Google and social media advertising, noting that Google targets users actively searching for solutions, while social media focuses on creating brand awareness. He advises startups with limited budgets to prioritize Google Ads for immediate ROI and to invest time in learning marketing fundamentals before hiring an agency. This understanding is crucial for avoiding common pitfalls and maximizing advertising effectiveness.
Jamie stresses the importance of understanding and addressing customer problems in digital ads to capture their attention. Effective ads should highlight the audience's issues and offer clear solutions, with the post-click experience on the website being seamless, featuring fast loading times, testimonials, and easy navigation. He compares this to a well-organized physical store that encourages customers to stay and return. Additionally, Jamie discusses the shift towards more authentic, native content in digital advertising, using relatable, user-generated content to engage audiences. He advocates for brands to first test and refine content strategies organically before scaling successful tactics with paid ads, ensuring a solid understanding of what works.
In conclusion, Jamie emphasizes the importance of testing and learning when creating ad content, recommending the experimentation of various types of content to see what resonates best with the audience. He underscores the need to capture attention quickly in a scrolling feed and maintain a seamless post-click experience, especially for service-based businesses where lead nurturing is crucial. Jamie advises businesses to thoroughly evaluate an agency's creative capabilities and track record before hiring them, ensuring the agency can handle conversion rate optimization, high-converting landing pages, and email and SMS marketing. Understanding the entire customer journey and maintaining engagement through automation are pivotal for driving performance and increasing lifetime value, particularly in e-commerce.
Friday Jul 05, 2024
Friday Jul 05, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Andrew Romeo interviews Su Jella, Winner, Women in AI (APAC), and Top 25 Analytics Leaders (IAPA). Delve into the dynamic world of data analytics as Su unpacks the transformative power of AI, navigates ethical landscapes, and unveils innovative strategies shaping the future of industries. Join Andrew and Su as they explore how data-driven insights are revolutionizing decision-making and enhancing customer experiences in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Su recounts her career journey, transitioning from a marketing background to a prominent role in data analytics, underscoring the shift from traditional market research to digital marketing strategies. She emphasises the integration of web and CRM technologies and the critical importance of understanding customer behavior through data insights. Throughout the discussion, Su advocates for effective data management and storytelling within organisations to drive impactful decision-making.
Andrew prompts Su to elaborate on the essence of data analytics and a typical day in her professional life. Su details the multifaceted nature of her work, encompassing data cleaning, analysis, and the communication of actionable insights to stakeholders. She stresses the significance of discerning valuable data amidst vast collections, highlighting the evolution of analytic techniques and the pivotal role of trustworthy data in facilitating informed business strategies.
Su provides practical advice on initiating effective data utilization within businesses. She stresses the assessment and optimisation of existing data assets, emphasizing robust data governance and the strategic integration of data collection channels. Su also addresses the burgeoning significance of digital data and cybersecurity, particularly in safeguarding customer information and enhancing operational resilience.
The conversation turns to the distinctions between generative AI (GenAI) and big data analysis, where Su clarifies that GenAI, like ChatGPT, excels in rapid synthesis of information for content generation, contrasting with big data's rigorous approach to analyzing extensive datasets through structured processes and natural language processing. She underscores the necessity for accessible data visualization tools beyond traditional Excel, advocating for intuitive solutions that empower decision-makers across all levels of technical proficiency.
Su concludes by discussing the transformative impact of AI on organizational practices, emphasising the imperative to humanise AI applications and integrate ethical considerations. She cites examples from social responsibility initiatives where leveraging big data for non-commercial purposes has yielded substantial community benefits and enhanced product development.
In the final segment, Andrew and Su explore the criticality of data-driven decision-making versus relying on assumptions in business contexts. They stress the importance of robust feedback loops and innovative approaches to adding value not only to revenue streams but also to customer experiences. Su’s insights underscore the transformative potential of data analytics when applied thoughtfully and ethically within organisations striving for competitive advantage and sustainable growth.
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
In this enlightening episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis sits down with Jemimah Ashleigh, Founder of The Visibility Lab, to delve into the intricacies of personal branding and strategic visibility for entrepreneurs. From navigating social media landscapes to leveraging PR opportunities, Jemimah shares invaluable insights on building and amplifying a strong personal brand in today's competitive business world. Tune in to gain actionable advice and transformative strategies from a seasoned expert in the field.
Jemimah discusses the importance of having a strategic social media presence that includes not just promotional content but also expert insights, personal engagement, and inspirational posts. She highlights the need for business owners to be clear about the problems they solve and to actively engage in sales activities. Additionally, Jemimah stresses the significance of networking, media appearances, and leveraging awards and speaking opportunities to amplify one's brand.
Jemimah delves into the importance of thought leadership and personal branding, emphasizing that thought leadership stems from showcasing unique perspectives and expertise. This can be effectively shared through media, awards, and social media. She illustrates the necessity of balancing personal and business brands, using examples like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Jemimah underscores the importance of curating one's personal brand carefully, as off-the-cuff comments can have lasting negative impacts. She offers practical tips for entrepreneurs to define and promote their personal brand to build a lasting legacy.
The discussion also covers the evolution of personal and business branding for entrepreneurs and how it changes when scaling to corporate levels. Initially, personal and business brands are intertwined, but as businesses grow, they need to be distinguished, especially around the $150,000 revenue mark. Jemimah emphasizes aligning values between personal and business brands and understanding how one wishes to be perceived in a corporate environment. She stresses the necessity of building a strong personal brand, surrounding oneself with smarter individuals, and being consistent and present in activities such as social media and networking. Thought leadership and repeated activities are highlighted as crucial for effective visibility and growth.
Jemimah discusses the role of public relations (PR) in elevating a personal brand, noting that television remains a powerful medium despite the shift towards digital. She advises using platforms like SOS Portal and HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to gain free media coverage and shares her experiences of how consistent media exposure can lead to significant business opportunities and sales. Jemimah concludes by emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to PR, suggesting that businesses target publications and platforms where their ideal clients are already active.
For startups, Jemimah shares insights on building a strong brand from scratch. She emphasizes the importance of clarity in what you want to be known for and developing a consistent message. Jemimah advises new graduates with fresh ideas and industry experts transitioning to startups to follow the same steps: identify ten core things they want to be recognized for, stay focused, and course-correct as needed. She highlights the significance of community impact and strategic visibility, noting that success can be accelerated with the right approach. In the closing segment, Jemimah offers actionable advice, such as the "ten things exercise," and recommends leveraging platforms like SourceBottle and Collectively to stay updated and engage with media opportunities. She also suggests reading "Atomic Habits" by James Clear for personal development, concluding with a strong emphasis on consistency and a clear vision.
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis welcomes Jack Bear, Managing Director, Norg.ai to explore the transformative journey from web development to AI innovation. Jack shares invaluable insights on leveraging AI to enhance e-commerce solutions, the importance of data-driven results, and navigating the complexities of integrating large language models. Tune in to discover the strategic pivots and future directions of Norg.ai in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Jack shares the story of Norg.ai, a startup that has grown over the past 13-14 months with a team of 14 in Australia and several overseas contractors. Initially evolving from a web development agency, Norg.ai used surplus funds and project work to develop its own AI products, driven by the need to stay competitive and meet client demands. Jack emphasizes the transformative impact of AI on their services, particularly in SEO and content writing.
Anthony and Jack discuss Norg.ai’s evolution and its current offerings. Initially focused on chatbots to address e-commerce pain points, they quickly pivoted due to market saturation and negative connotations associated with chatbots. Instead, they now focus on personalized product recommendations and optimizing customer interactions on e-commerce websites. Jack highlights the importance of data-backed results, such as increased sales and support efficiency, drawing parallels to how Amazon’s "people also bought" feature enhances the shopping experience.
The conversation shifts to the complexities of integrating large language models (LLMs) into AI products. Jack shares his experiences pitching AI solutions to the Victorian Government and addresses the skepticism around LLMs due to inconsistencies and hallucinations. Norg.ai tackles these challenges by implementing sanity checks to ensure reliability. Jack underscores the importance of personalized, accurate interactions in AI, particularly for enterprise clients, and the need for innovative, in-house solutions to address emerging problems.
Jack also shares the challenges of transitioning his team from an agency structure to developing AI solutions at Norg.ai. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining team cohesion and adapting to a less predictable startup environment. Customer feedback and iterative testing are crucial in refining their product, with initial experiments leading to several pivots. Jack discusses the competitive landscape and the strategic advantage of maintaining an agnostic approach to AI integration. He also highlights the prevalence of companies rebranding existing products with AI buzzwords without substantial functionality, cautioning against the "smoke and mirrors" prevalent in the market.
Finally, Jack emphasizes the critical importance of stakeholder feedback in the product development process, planning to focus entirely on iterating based on this feedback for the next six to nine months. He shares a retrospective strategy of creating multiple waiting lists for different product concepts to gauge market interest and gather feature preferences. This cost-effective approach helps validate product ideas before full development. Jack also discusses an upcoming feature: leveraging AI to provide highly personalized shopping recommendations and search results based on user behavior and preferences, highlighting AI’s transformative potential when deeply integrated into product functionality.
Friday Jun 28, 2024
Friday Jun 28, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, join host Andrew Romeo as he explores the art and science of innovation with Lee Foster, Founder & CE0, Innovate Wisely, and Joeri (Yuri) Timmermans, Director of Innovate Wisely, delving into their groundbreaking framework and strategies for fostering trust, momentum, and collaboration in organizational innovation.
Joeri, with a 20-year engineering background, shares his journey of integrating business strategies with technology and innovation, highlighting how he met Lee at Queensland University of Technology. Lee, with over 30 years of experience in chemical engineering, discusses her passion for environmental sustainability and her research into the missing link between innovation and knowledge. Together, they founded Innovate Wisely to validate and share their innovative framework with other organizations.
Lee explains their comprehensive framework for innovation, which supports teams from idea inception to implementation, focusing on continuous improvement and knowledge management. The methodology includes phases for initiation, knowledge creation, solution testing, and customer adoption, culminating in a critique phase similar to a retrospective in Scrum. By emphasizing new knowledge and its application, the framework integrates seamlessly with existing systems like design thinking and Agile, enhancing them with a focus on knowledge and trust.
Lee and Joeri discuss the significance of trust and momentum in Innovate Wisely's innovation framework. Trust is essential at all stages of the innovation process, impacting team dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and leadership engagement. They introduce the "Trust 360" model, which identifies key areas where trust is crucial for innovation. They also highlight the importance of measuring trust and momentum as lead indicators to foresee and address potential issues. Additionally, they emphasize using agile frameworks over traditional waterfall approaches to manage the uncertainties inherent in innovation effectively.
Andrew, Lee, and Joeri emphasize the critical importance of maintaining continuous momentum and fostering open conversations to build trust, which are essential to preventing innovation efforts from failing. Lee highlights a methodology developed by Innovate Wisely that includes a series of questions to assess trust at various phases of a project, providing valuable insights for making informed decisions. Joeri adds that identifying potential trust issues early can prevent wasted resources and ensure the success of innovation initiatives. They discuss the role of AI in business, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on accelerating innovation, and the necessity of strong drivers for change, using examples like Apple to illustrate how creating a desire for change can propel progress.
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis welcomes Nick Bendel, CEO, Hunter & Scribe and Co-Founder, RealPR. Join them as they explore strategies for effective marketing, the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT, and valuable insights for small businesses navigating the digital landscape.
Nick founded Hunter & Scribe, a copywriting agency, in 2018 after a career in journalism. The agency specializes in creating a variety of content—such as blogs, social media posts, and newsletters—for clients in the finance and property sectors, including mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and financial advisors. Nick explains that their content improves clients' search engine rankings, maintains a social media presence, and engages audiences through newsletters. He expresses his genuine passion for finance and property, making his work enjoyable and fulfilling.
Anthony and Nick discuss the impact of TikTok and short-form videos on content marketing, as well as the influence of ChatGPT and AI tools. Nick highlights the effectiveness of TikTok for businesses with relevant audiences but notes that his clients prefer written content tailored to their industry. While acknowledging the impressive capabilities of ChatGPT, Nick emphasizes that it cannot replace the expertise required for news content and in-depth analysis. His team uses ChatGPT for idea generation but maintains a human touch in content creation to ensure quality and value, impressing both audiences and Google for SEO.
The conversation shifts to the challenges and strategies of creating content for similar clients, especially in industries like mortgage broking. Nick explains how Hunter & Scribe differentiates content by focusing on unique audience characteristics and using varied angles to cover similar topics. They discuss the importance of tailoring content to reflect clients' personalities and values, depending on their business goals. Drawing from his journalism background, Nick emphasizes the skill of presenting fresh takes on familiar stories. They also touch on the balance between personal branding and scalable business growth.
Nick discusses the importance of aligning marketing content with business goals and the nuances involved in positioning content for growth. He shares his experience transitioning from a one-person operation to a team, emphasizing the use of "we" instead of "I" to reflect this growth. The conversation explores the value of different content types based on business needs and the significance of sourcing credible information, a practice Nick developed from his journalism background. Nick also highlights the role of factual accuracy and integrity in maintaining credibility and meeting client expectations. He advises against using controversy merely to attract attention, advocating instead for maintaining authenticity and gradually building a reputation as a trusted authority through steady and credible content.
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis welcomes Max Mito, Co-Founder & CEO of StrongRoom AI, to explore the fascinating journey of revolutionizing healthcare technology. Max shares insights on the company's pivot from facial recognition to medication management, the challenges of modernizing a traditionally paper-heavy industry, and exciting plans for international expansion. Join us for an engaging discussion on innovation, growth, and the future of healthcare technology.
Max shares the origin story of StrongRoom AI, which began during his university years with co-founder Christopher Durre. Initially focused on using facial recognition for medical record matching, they soon discovered the healthcare sector's reliance on paper records and outdated systems. This realization led them to pivot toward medication management, officially launching StrongRoom AI in 2017. Max reflects on the surprising technological backwardness in healthcare, highlighting the persistent use of paper and outdated systems like faxes in private hospitals and pharmacies.
Max and Anthony then delve into the slow adoption of new technology within the healthcare sector. Despite the clear benefits of technological advancements, many in the industry resist change due to a strong focus on customer care and business operations. Max explains that the risks and complexities involved in implementing new healthcare technology contribute significantly to this resistance, underscoring the critical importance of privacy and security. They share anecdotes about outdated systems, such as the continued use of Windows 95 and 7, illustrating the challenges faced in modernizing healthcare technology.
The discussion then shifts to the founding journey of StrongRoom AI. Max talks about his technical co-founder Chris, and the later addition of Kieran Start and industry veteran Mark Feldschuh as co-founders. He highlights his transition from a self-taught coder to focusing on other business aspects, emphasizing the importance of leveraging team strengths and the evolving nature of his role as the company grows. Max also shares valuable lessons learned from his previous job in door-to-door sales for solar panels, which provided insights into sales and Australian culture despite its challenges.
Max provides an in-depth look at the origins and evolution of StrongRoom AI. Initially focused on using facial recognition for data management in pharmacies, the company pivoted to specialize in medication management, particularly for controlled substances like opioids. He discusses the development of StrongRoom AI’s two product generations: the first improves workflow tools in healthcare settings, and the second integrates with dispensing software to enhance patient adherence and medication management through data analysis. This platform helps pharmacists make informed decisions, addressing issues like cost barriers and ensuring patients receive appropriate care.
Max concludes by sharing the challenges and lessons learned during StrongRoom AI's seven-year journey. He emphasizes the difficulties of rapid growth, particularly in maintaining customer support while onboarding numerous pharmacies. The critical importance of hiring the right people at the right time is highlighted, noting that both exceptional and poor hires significantly impact the company. Max reflects on the necessity of investing in automation early and the efficiency hindered by manual processes initially. He shares insights on humility and learning from mistakes, noting that true growth comes from continuous refinement and listening to team input. Additionally, Max discusses StrongRoom AI’s exciting international expansion plans, with DEA clearance to enter the US market and strategic moves in the UK, focusing on targeted growth in these regions and the unique opportunities presented by different healthcare systems.
Friday Jun 21, 2024
Friday Jun 21, 2024
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, join Andrew Romeo in conversation with Vicenç Garcia. Co-Founder & Chief Vision Officer, Docufen, as they explore the journey from corporate to startup entrepreneurship. Vicenç shares his inspiring story of tackling industry challenges with innovative solutions, highlighting the importance of problem reframing and digital transformation in the pharmaceutical sector. Get ready for a deep dive into entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and the future of technology in highly regulated industries.
Vicenç Garcia shares his journey from the corporate world to startup entrepreneurship, inspired by childhood stories emphasizing problem reframing. He underscores the need to view problems from various perspectives, citing an anecdote about painting bees to address a challenge, highlighting the importance of understanding problems deeply before proposing solutions.
Andrew and Vicenç delve into the significance of comprehensively understanding problems before leaping into solutions, referencing Albert Einstein's wisdom. Vicenç recounts his transition from chemical engineering to pharmaceutical consulting, driven by a passion for technology and a desire to address the pharmaceutical industry's reliance on paper-based processes despite technological advancements.
They discuss the hurdles of digitizing processes in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, where paper documentation remains prevalent. Vicenç shares personal experiences with excessive paperwork in validation engineering, reflecting on industry conservatism and resistance to change. They explore the idea of tackling small, specific problems first and iterate towards broader solutions, emphasizing incremental change and addressing pressing issues.
Vicenç elaborates on his approach to developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), starting with conversations and PowerPoint slides to validate ideas within the pharmaceutical industry. He stresses focusing on problems rather than solutions initially, iterating based on feedback. Andrew highlights the importance of seeking feedback actively and the value of critically evaluating business ideas daily.
Discussing Vicenç's journey in starting a technical startup, they touch upon accelerator programs and finding the right co-founder. Vicenç shares strategies for non-technical founders in building technical companies, stressing networking and aligning values with co-founders. Andrew reflects on teamwork's significance in building successful businesses.
Vicenç outlines Docufen's mission to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry by digitizing processes, reducing paper usage, and maintaining integrity and safety standards. He emphasizes staying within one's domain to understand problems deeply and suggests unconventional approaches for innovation. Andrew also underscores the importance of sharing ideas for feedback in the startup world to avoid investing in wrong solutions.