In the view of transparency, below is an excerpt from an advisory email I sent this month:
UPDATES 📖
TechYukon’s North of AI Program
- All 3 companies (REPLIC8, AirView, and ColdAcre) have successfully been approved for funding: ~$13,300 each.
- In Yukon and planning on launching/already running a business that’s utilizing/implementing AI/ML in some way? We’re actively recruiting for Cohort 2: Let’s talk!
Startup Fuckup Podcast
- First episode is out! Click the image below to hear Alastair share his lessons on how to find investors, what makes a good/bad investor, doing a rolling close, and navigating a pivot between closing another round.
Other activities:
- Facilitated a 2-part Tech Startup 101 workshop with TechYukon.
- Planning a TED talk, haven’t applied/been accepted to give one though.
- Working on a full day in-person Strategy, Execution, Growth, and Persuasion bootcamp with data strategist + author of Bulletproof Decisions, Ruben Ugarte. Coming in January 2023, details TBD.
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LESSONS 🎓
- Ran 10 workshops back-to-back in 2 weeks to test:
- Are people still interested in webinars?
- Am I able to target people via Eventbrite in different regions by using different locations in the Tags.
- Findings: Attendance was sparse. In-person is still the popular choice and despite people voicing that they want the flexibility of virtually attending, most don’t. Eventbrite is only good for targeting North America, not so much for Central/South Americas.
- A non-manipulative framework for selling – G.R.A.C.E (45 min read + practical exercises)
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GRATITUDE WALL 🤝
- Alastair Smith from Proskida for sharing his time and lessons in the podcast interview.
- Ambe Chenemu from the Black Advocacy Coalition NWT for inviting me to run a business workshop
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FOR LAUGHS 🤣
Source: Unknown
*Don’t blame the ignorant customer; instead, realize that people buy what they WANT, not what they NEED. The king wants a victory (value/benefit), not a gun (product/feature).
Another acronym is “People buy holes, they don’t by drills”, If you need to sell a drill, show how this drill makes holes that are straighter, more effortlessly, cleaner, etc.—
BONUS RESOURCES 💰
For female entrepreneurs:
- The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch is now accepting applications – receive over $90,000 CAD in prizes, resources, education and more.
- The Stacey’s Rise Project is accepting applications – gain mentorship from PepsiCo leaders and a $15,000 grant.