Sustainability has become more important than ever for businesses of all sizes, in all industries, and in all corners of the world. But how are companies supposed to collect and analyze data related to sustainability in order to meet regulations and make a positive impact on the world? The answer to that question is tech startups like APlanet, which is based in Spain. In just two years, APlanet has made incredible traction and done great work helping CSR departments and sustainability professionals manage data and processes related to sustainability. APlanet Co-CEO and Co-Founder Johanna Gallo recently spoke with startup coach Roland Siebelink on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. They discussed the need for a startup like APlanet and the amazing progress the company has made in just two years. More importantly, Johanna shared some of the secret sauce of APlanet’s early success. The biggest challenges of APlanet entering new markets. Why APlanet went against convention by splitting its staff between product and go-to-market from the beginning. How APlanet has found a balance between customer feedback and other factors that matter when building a product. Why the first employees hired at a startup are so critical in the future of the startup. How APlanet measures whether or not potential team members have a startup mentality. 

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APlanet Co-CEO and Co-Founder Johanna Gallo: Measuring the Startup Mindset

We all know that remote work and distributed companies are a little different from the traditional office setting. There’s always a little bit of magic that’s lost when you don’t have those informal interactions at the office. But in a world that’s becoming increasingly remote and distributed, one startup is trying to replicate the feeling of being in an office. Tandem is a virtual office app that aims to bring back the serendipity of an office setting, even when the team is working remotely. Tandem CEO and co-founder Rajiv Ayyangar joined startup coach Roland Siebelink on this week’s episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. Rajiv talked about the inspiration for Tandem and the importance of collaboration. The two also discussed how Tandem got started and the important lessons Rajiv and his co-founders have learned along the way. The advantages of having a team-first mentality when launching a startup. The best way for a startup to discover its blindspots as quickly as possible. The importance of keeping growth and convergence separated. Why it was helpful for Tandem to set company-wide OKRs earlier than other startups. Why you shouldn’t value the feedback you receive from every customer equally. The pros and cons of using your own product. 

Tandem CEO and Cofounder Rajiv Ayyangar: Listen Carefully to Your Customers—but Don’t Build What They Ask For

Whether you’re one person or a multinational corporation, so much of our personal information exists on the Internet. It has made data security an absolute necessity, and that’s unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Fortunately, there is a data security startup called Fortanix that’s thinking outside the box and offering a platform that keeps data protected even when you’re on an untrustworthy network. Fortanix CEO and co-founder Ambuj Kumar recently sat down with startup coach Roland Siebelink on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast to discuss his data-first, multi-cloud security startup. Naturally, the conversation moved beyond what Fortanix does with Ambuj sharing the most important lessons he’s learned as a first-time founder and CEO. The strategy Ambuj used for speaking with potential customers while developing his product. The keys to getting useful feedback from potential customers, even if it’s negative feedback. Why Fortanix is striving to sell its product to the top companies in the world. Why it’s important for CEOs to handle the first several sales that their startup makes. How it’s possible to build a successful company by attracting average talent. Why Ambuj doesn’t mind being told that he’s wrong about something. 

Fortanix CEO and Cofounder Ambuj Kumar: The World is Always Rooting for a New Hero

Imagine walking into a hotel and being able to check in without needing to speak to someone at the front desk. Well, such a scenario will soon be possible thanks to Mrunal Desai and his startup AavGo. Currently, AavGo is rolling out a variety of solutions for the hospitality industry, including contactless check-in, a work management platform for hotel staffs, a digital app for in-house guests, and more. Mrunal joined startup coach Roland Siebelink on this week’s episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast to discuss why he started AavGo and all of the ways his startup will change the hotel experience for both guests and staff. They also talked about the many learnings that Mrunal has encountered as a first-time founder. The biggest key for AavGo in forging successful partnerships. The mistake that AavGo made during its early days that it hopes not to repeat. How AavGo is trying to maintain the culture of a small company despite having close to 100 employees. The method Mrunal uses when starting new teams or hiring new employees. The thing founders should get from investors beyond their money. Why Mrunal’s biggest success as a founder has nothing to do with the company’s success. 

AavGo CEO and Founder Mrunal Desai: Success Is Not Making the Same Mistakes Again

More than ever, it’s critical for big companies to find the right candidates. But upon receiving thousands of CVs for dozens of open positions, how is it possible for a company to sift through all of the applicants and find the right candidate for a job? Well, it’s possible now with Impress.AI, which has helped to automate the process to make it easier for recruiters of enterprises to hire at scale, making the hiring process more efficient and fairer at the same time. Impress.AI co-founder and CEO Sudh Ahuja joined startup coach Roland Siebelink on the latest episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. The conversation focused on how Impress.AI has been able to change the hiring process for the better, as well as some of the successes and shortcomings during Sudh’s first experience as a startup CEO. How Impress.AI guarantees that every applicant receives an interview. How Impress.AI has been able to build trust with enterprise clients. Why early case studies are critical when working with enterprises. The features of Impress.AI’s product that make it a good fit for enterprise clients. How Impress.AI is trying to make up for not investing more in marketing. How Impress.AI’s founding principles are still playing a key role in the company. 

Impress.AI co-founder and CEO Sudh Ahuja: How to Create a Product That Enterprises Love

Selling to enterprise clients is one of the biggest challenges faced by B2B startups. It’s not necessarily any easier when deciding to sell to enterprise clients from the very beginning. That’s one of the lessons that Tydy co-founder Kiran Menon has learned. Tydy is a SaaS HR and operations platform that was built to target enterprise clients. Kiran joined startup coach Roland Siebelink on the latest episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. They discussed why Tydy decided from the start to target enterprise customers and all of the challenges and learnings that have occurred along the way. How being focused on enterprises helped to build the product. How a product can be more appealing to enterprise clients. The key to expanding accounts with enterprise clients. How quickly should you be able to show the value of your product? Why fundraising is different when enterprise clients are your target. The two biggest traits that any entrepreneur should have before starting their journey. 

Tydy CEO & Cofounder Kiran Menon: Be The Devil that Enterprises Know

The COVID-19 pandemic has helped to shine a light on the need for telehealth platforms. One startup that is striving to fill the void in the market is MediQuo, which is based in Spain. MediQuo is aiming to increase doctor efficiency and patient access with asynchronous healthcare consultations via both a 24/7 instant service and a SaaS platform. MediQuo co-founder and CEO Bruno Cuevas joined startup coach Roland Siebelink this week on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast to discuss the state of telehealth and the services that MediQuo brings to the table. They also discussed the process of getting MediQuo off the ground and Bruno’s key learnings along the way. How MediQuo has attempted to solve a two-sided marketplace with different experiences for both patients and health professionals. The value of earning trust in the marketplace. Why Bruno regrets not trying to monetize MediQuo sooner. Why it can be a good idea to extract value once you’ve started to deliver it. Useful fundraising methods outside of the venture capital route. Why your customers are sometimes the best source of financing. 

MediQuo CEO and Cofounder Bruno Cuevas: The Best Financing Comes From Your Own Clients

We can all agree that software security is more important than ever. But even startups that specialize in security face challenges, especially for first-time founders. IriusRisk is a perfect example of that. This Spanish-born startup plans one step ahead by predicting security issues software may face before one line of code is written. IriusRisk CEO and co-founder Stephen de Vries recently spoke with midstage startup coach Roland Siebelink on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. About the challenges of being a first-time founder and the important lessons he’s learned along the way. Why starting out as a consultant agency has benefited IriusRisk. How IriusRisk developed a more serious channel strategy. How to know when it’s time to hire a game-changer in a particular department. How IriusRisk has managed to keep the CEO and VP of products separate roles. The best practices for inspiring employees from different departments. How Stephen has adapted from being on the technical side of things to being a CEO. 

IriusRisk CEO and Cofounder Stephen de Vries: Stay Really Close to Your Customers

With so much innovation in the world right now, what is the new frontier for technology? According to WearWorks co-founders Keith Kirkland and Kevin Yoo, that new frontier is the sense of touch. WearWorks is a startup that’s focused on communicating using the sense of touch. The company’s first product Wayband is a navigation tool that uses only the sense of touch and is geared toward blind and vision-impaired individuals. Keith and Kevin recently joined startup coach Roland Siebelink on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast to discuss how they arrived at this new frontier and how they’ve managed to navigate it to this point. The importance of understanding what the market or your target customer is missing. Recognizing that teams grow and develop ideas, not individuals. Why you don’t always have to agree with your co-founders but you should respect them. How to recognize when something might be bad in the short-term but good in the long run. Why it’s important for startups to have an extended family outside of their employees. The concept of co-founders constantly merging their perspectives together. 

WearWorks Cofounders Keith Kirkland and Kevin Yoo: You Get Much Better Products When You Don’t Agree

What’s the difference between being a consultant and running a startup? The answer might lie with InRule co-founders Rik Chomko and Loren Goodman. The two were working as consultants in the decision management sector, but when they found a pragmatic way of conducting business that could be turned into a product, they made the leap. With that, InRule was born. Rik and Loren recently sat down to talk with Midstage startup coach Roland Siebelink to discuss their journey from consultants to founders and the value proposition that has made InRule successful. The two co-founders also shared a lot of the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Why it’s helpful to narrow your market and dominate one niche before expanding. The difference between creating new products and selling old products to new people. How Rik and Loren make sure not to add friction to their co-founder relationship. Why it’s important for co-founders to share the same values before scaling the company. The benefits of having a coach to guide you to the right answers. 

InRule Co-Founders Rik Chomko and Loren Goodman: Don’t Be All Things to All People

There’s no question that healthcare is one of the most complicated and flawed industries in the world. Adding in a global pandemic certainly hasn’t helped. However, tech startup Redox has tried to add a little more efficiency to the entire industry. It’s truly a mission-driven company that is striving to play a role in improving patient care. Redox cofounders Luke Bonney and James Lloyd sat down with midstage startup coach Roland Siebelink to talk about the company’s mission and a variety of other topics related to their startup journey. How cofounder relationships are similar to marriage. The importance of trust for companies that operate remotely. The challenge of finding employees who are motivated by purpose and passion. Why Redox has parted ways with high-performing employees. How finding the right coach became an inflection point for Redox. 

Redox Cofounder Luke Bonney and James Lloyd: Cofounder Relationship Is a Fundamental Determinant of Success

One of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that all of us should make an effort to live healthier lives. One company that’s trying to make that easier for people is Kafoodle, a UK-based food-compliance company. Kafoodle works with commercial kitchens of all kinds, from bars and restaurants to schools, hospitals, and care homes. The company’s goal is to make the planet healthier by giving people the information about food they need to make good choices. Kafoodle Cofounder and CEO Tarryn Gorre spoke with Roland Siebelink this week on the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. They talked at length about Tarryn’s past in hospitality, her passion for healthier food choices, and Kafoodle’s role as a startup that’s trying to create a healthier planet. The importance of Kafoodle finding partners to work with on food health. How Kafoodle has adapted to serve a world that prioritizes convenience. The methods Kafoodle uses to reach out to customers and engage with the community. How the pandemic became a blessing in disguise despite restaurants shutting down. Why Kafoodle is determined to keep its team small. 

Kafoodle Cofounder and CEO Tarryn Gorre: We’re Not in the Business of Building Huge Teams

Finding success as a tech startup is difficult enough under the best of circumstances. But when you base your business around blockchain technology and mix in the uncertainty of cryptocurrencies and a global pandemic, things become even more complicated. Yet, LuxTag has been able to find multiple verticals to serve and create positive momentum moving forward. LuxTag co-founders Rene Bernard and Jeff McDonald sat down with Roland Siebelink on the latest episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Podcast. They discussed both the unique challenges and successes that LuxTag has experienced during the company’s startup journey. How Rene and Jeff foresaw the future of blockchain technology years before it happened. The challenge of navigating the boom-and-bust cycles of cryptocurrencies. The difficulty of having technology before there was a use case or a problem to solve. How LuxTag copes gets developers to stay with the company. Finding a balance between investing in technology and recognizing the importance of sales. The importance of finding employees who have the same background as your core target group. 

LuxTag Cofounders Rene Bernard & Jeff McDonald: Hire From the Field You Want to Attack

Drone technology has already changed the way humans interact with the world around them. Further research and development continue to make strides with new innovations. One company to come out of that research is Emesent, which has developed technology that allows drones to fly beyond the line of sight of humans where there is no GPS to guide them. Emesent co-founders Stefan Hrabar and Farid Kendoul joined Roland Siebelink of the Midstage Institute on this week’s episode of the Midstage Startup Momentum Momentum Podcast. They discussed Emesent’s transition from a research project to a startup and the keys to the company’s rapid growth. What are the important similarities between being a researcher and being a founder? How did underground mining become the focus of Emesent? The biggest challenge when Emesent grew from seven to 80 people in two and a half years. The importance of being conscious of company culture with such a fast-growing company. How Emesent was able to have “pent up demand” as soon as it launched its product. 

Emesent co-founders Stefan Hrabar and Farid Kendoul: How to Align with Natural, Unfair Advantages

It’s estimated that after receiving seed funding, roughly one-third of mid-stage startups will fail to reach each subsequent round of fundraising. That means only a small fraction survive long enough to raise a Series C or D. But why are so many startups losing momentum in the mid-stage and struggling to survive? There are a lot of reasons why this happens, but on the bright side, there are just as many ways to avoid this fate. On this week’s edition of the Silicon Valley Momentum Podcast, Roland Siebelink of the Midstage Institute outlines the best ways to enhance a startup’s chances of surviving the mid-stage and finding success. What are the five drivers of mid-stage momentum? What does it mean to have a roundtable of accountability? How do you put together a mid-stage master plan? How to get your company into an unassailable market position. Why leaders should want CEO to mean Continually Educating Officer. 

Midstage Momentum Method

Roland Siebelink talks all things tech startup and bring you interviews with tech founders across the world.

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