Growth Everywhere | Entrepreneurial Stories | Business Lessons

The story of Mailchimp's recent acquisition by Intuit for $12 billion is such a fascinating example of the power of bootstrapping a business with a long-term plan. In today's episode we take a closer look at this deal and the lessons it presents for us, for whatever size of the company you are running! To introduce the topic, we go over some quick definitions and important concepts, looking at how bootstrapping plays out under different models, and what has made Mailchimp's journey unique. Far from perfect, the path that Mailchimp and their leadership have taken exemplifies the winding road that entrepreneurs, SaaS companies, and many startups have to take towards a big payout like this. So for all this inspiring and thought-provoking information on one of the biggest current stories in online business, be sure to join us on Leveling up! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:07] Before we jump into today’s episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:48] A quick definition of bootstr

Today’s guest is Chris Herd, the CEO and founder of Firstbase which is an all-in-one SaaS platform for the supply and management of assets and equipment to remote workers. After founding a remote financial technology company, Chris discovered the challenges of having a remote team which led him to found Firstbase. Since late 2019, the company has now raised over $15 million, a lot of which can be attributed to Chris’s presence on Twitter. Today he explains how he managed to generate 80 million Twitter impressions in the space of a year and how he has used the platform as his primary acquisition channel, as well as a great tool for building relationships with key decision-makers at some of the biggest investment companies and venture capital firms in the world. Tuning in you’ll hear Chris’s advice on what type of content to share, the importance of consistency, the role of spontaneity, and how to inspire conversation through the platform. Chris also shares some profound insight into the future of remote work o

The Dentist that Built a 32,000 Member Community Which he Leveraged into Scalable Revenue Today’s guest is Dr. Glenn Vo. Not only is he a practicing dentist who used his dentistry and entrepreneurial skills to build a multimillion-dollar practice, but he is also the founder and CEO of Nifty Thrifty Dentists, a dental company that connects dental professionals with other dental companies through discounts and deals. In this episode, he explains how he built a 32,000 member community on Facebook and leveraged it into scalable revenue. Find out how Glenn only works two days a week, why all of his other revenue streams have much more potential than his practice, and the importance of having the right ‘why’. As the author of the book Industry Influencer, Glenn is passionate about helping people to become industry influencers in their fields and build their own empires. Tune in to find out discover the importance of creating a platform, how to go about building a community, and what mistakes to avoid. Find out how

Today, Eric talks to Max Rofagha, the founder of Finimize, a newsletter that makes news from the world of finance so simple that anyone can understand it and become their own financial advisor. Max shares how he came up with the idea, how he originally started a website, and why he adapted it to a newsletter. In this episode, he provides some insight into the timeline of the business, how the company makes money, and how, in a short space of time, this email community has grown to over one million subscribers. Tuning in, you’ll hear his thoughts on paid ads, how he goes about finding the best writing talent, and why he hires analysts, not journalists. Find out Max’s thoughts on the creator economy and where he sees it going, as well as the trends he’s excited about in this space. To hear some tips on helpful books and resources Max uses to level up his own skills, and insight into where he sees opportunities in the creator economy and the world of business in general, tune in today!    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTE

Today’s guest is Lori Harder, a self-made millionaire, bestselling author of A Tribe Called Bliss, and the top-rated podcast host of Earn Your Happy and co-host of Girlfriends & Business. She is also in the process of building a new empire as the founder and CEO of LitePink which is the best tasting low-calorie, low-sugar premium rosé wine seltzer, created to help you drink and connect better. Lori sheds some light on how growing up in a conservative religious community influenced her career path and helped her to realize that “Your environment is stronger than your willpower.” She explains how her career in the fitness industry, and then personal development, led her to her current venture. Discover how LitePink works and makes money, why they’re selling direct to the consumer, and how Lori has uniquely found investors that have something to offer beyond just money. Lori explains the company’s marketing strategy, the value of surveys, and why they are contracting out instead of hiring in. Hear about her cont

Today’s guest is Kevin David a software entrepreneur and content creator who started off in e-commerce and now owns multiple eight-figure businesses. He made his first YouTube video just over four years ago and has now been viewed more than a billion times across different social media platforms, where he shares his expertise on e-commerce and gaining financial freedom. Tuning in today, you’ll hear how he first achieved success in e-commerce, transitioned into e-commerce software, and how he started all three of his software companies from the ground up. He explains how he was able to shift his mindset by surrounding himself with good people and filling his head with great books, of which he provides a number of examples. In this episode, find out why Kevin pays his CEOs so much, how he developed his social media content strategy, and how he built up his email list. As someone who has perfected the art of leveling up, Kevin is full of profound advice, so tune in today!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:43] Kev

Today we are going to talk about what to look for in an M&A deal!

Today’s guest is Matt Gunnin, the CEO and Co-Founder of Esports One which is the first real-time fantasy platform that makes watching esports competitive. He explains how he came up with the ingenious idea to gamify watching esports, how Esports One works, and how it’s different from traditional fantasy platforms. Tuning in, you’ll hear how it makes money, why retention is high, and why the concept seems to be working so well. Find out how Matt is growing the business, the role SEO plays in this, and how Matt is using Clubhouse to open up new ways of innovation and help level up the industry. Matt also shares his views on NFTs, and how he sees them being incorporated into the arena of esports. For all this as well as a sneak peek into the future of the platform and its upcoming games, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:36] Some background into the games Matt has played and is still playing. [01:12] What Esports One does, how it’s different from traditional fantasy platforms, and how it makes mone

Today we are going to talk about the questions you should be asking the other team!

Today we are going to talk about Simple 5-Step Mergers & Acquisitions Checklist!

Today’s guest is Garry Tan from Initialized, a company that focuses on investing in high potential software startups at the seed stage and earlier. From starting with $7 million in assets under management, his company has grown to the point where it currently has over $770 million, and they're starting to create over $100 billion in market value. He's invested in companies such as Coinbase, Opendoor, Flexport, Rippling, Patreon, Ro, and more. Even though Garry has established a name for himself as one of the world’s best venture capitalists, today on Leveling Up, he explains why he still thinks of himself as an engineer and designer first. As an investor and partner at Y Combinator, he discusses the influence of Paul Graham on his career and how he learned to be a founder. Tuning in, you’ll find out what questions Garry asks before he invests, how people who want to grow venture capital funds find him, and why angel investors should have a portfolio of at least 20 to 30 companies. Hear about how he chooses wh

Today we are going to talk about 'How to Fail During an M&A Integration?'

Today we are going to talk about How to Source M&A Deals?

Today’s episode of Leveling Up is a little different as AdSkills Founder Justin Brooke and our host Eric Siu interview each other. Justin has a wealth of experience in the advertising industry, having run an agency for years. In addition to founding AdSkills, he is also known for generating millions of clicks in a day, and his crowning achievement of sourcing 17,000 leads in one day. Tuning in today, you’ll hear about AdSkills, how it is different from other marketing training companies, and how Justin uses book funnels to successfully acquire customers. Justin also provides some practical tips for anyone out there who wants to write a book and use the book funnel method. Eric talks about the concept of seeing life as a video game and discusses what he’s learned through the process of writing and publishing his book Leveling Up. Tune in to hear how he managed to generate $65,000 in book sales in a few hours and also provides a valuable growth hack tip for using Non-Fungible Tokens to grow your email list.  T

Today we are going to talk about M&A Transaction Structures: Asset Sale vs Stock Sale!

Today, Eric gives a rundown of the core questions you should be asking during the due diligence of mergers and acquisitions and the implications of each question. Tuning in, you’ll find out how to ascertain what discounts you can negotiate, what assets you could potentially exclude from the sale, what hidden risks you may be taking on, and if the company’s profitability and future potential are worth the price. This episode will help you decide whether or not you want to acquire a business and negotiate a better price. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:33] The first question you should ask during mergers and acquisitions: Why are you interested in exploring the sale? [00:45] Question two: What are your plans with the money? [01:11] Question three: Who are the A-players on the team? [01:30] Question four: What does your marketing and sales engine look like?  [02:02] Question five: What other assets do you have? [02:27] Question six: Who would be staying long term with the company? [02:39] Question seven: W

Today’s guest is Shawn Merritt the co-founder and CTO of Toucan, a Chrome extension that allows you to learn a new language while you browse the internet. Shaun, together with his other co-founders, found a way to level up the existing habits that people already have by creating a chrome extension that allows users the opportunity to passively learn a language without taking any time out of their day. Tune in to find out how Toucan works, and how it is different from other language-learning platforms. Shaun gives us some insight into how the company was established and how it has grown and achieved a vast amount of success in just two years. Hear about their journey thus far, how they are monetizing this product, marketing it, and how they use advertising as a deeper form of learning through their ingenious “Own The Word” concept. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:41] Shaun explains how he and his co-founders came up with the idea for Toucan. [01:29] How Toucan works to teach people new languages passively wit

While Twitter may be old, it is one of the places where some of the smartest and most successful people in the world engage with each other, and it is one of the most helpful social media platforms that exists today. In this episode, Eric gives us some tips on how to make the most of it. Tune in to hear about the power of Twitter advanced search, how to use tweet storms, other best practices, and even formatting tips, to help you level up your Twitter reach.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:19] Why Eric believes Twitter is one of the most helpful social media platforms today. [00:52] The first tip: how to benefit from Twitter advanced search. [01:48] How you can make use of tweet storms.  [02:31] Why Eric would choose Twitter over blogging if he was starting today. [02:44] Why you should post links in the comments instead of the tweets. [03:16] Why you shouldn’t just retweet, you should reply. [03:39] How to tag someone in a tweet so that it looks like a tweet and not a reply. [04:01] Formatting tip: h

If you’re looking for a new career, this episode is for you! From TikTok to Snapscan, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Podcasts, there have been a lot of developments in social media recently, and these platforms have evolved to the point where there is a need to develop new roles. Today on Leveling Up, Eric gives a breakdown of four new social media careers for 2021 and beyond; roles that even Eric is currently trying to fill in his own business. To find out what opportunities exist for you, or what new roles you may need to establish in your company, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:22] Eric introduces the topic by mentioning some of the recent developments across different social media platforms.  [00:45] The first new role: native writers who are really good at creating content for one specific platform. [01:36] Short form video creator: for platforms like TikTok, Snapchat Highlights, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.  [02:20] Content refresher: Updating content that is performing well to improv

A recent report from the Internet Advertising Bureau indicates that US podcast revenues are skyrocketing and are projected to be at over $2 billion by 2023. Today on Leveling Up, Eric breaks down the most important points of this report. Tuning in you’ll hear how the figures in this report relate to Eric’s experiences in podcasting. Find out how brand advertising is approaching parity with direct response and what this means, which content genres are most popular among podcast advertisers, why D2C brands maintain the top advertiser category, and why bigger brands are now buying in. With the growth of the podcast industry and the low competition rates, discover what opportunities you may be missing in the podcast industry today.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:26] An introduction to the recent report by the Internet Advertising Bureau on the growth of podcast advertising revenue. [01:01] The types of sponsorships Eric gets for his Marketing School podcast. [01:46] Why mid-rolls are more premium than pre-rol