Startup Life Show with Ande Lyons

Latest Episodes:

How to Calculate the LTV/CAC Ratio Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

Have you heard the question “what’s your LTV/CAC ratio” and wondered – what the ? I’m just trying to build a business here!
You may have thought to yourself “ruh roh – I have no idea what that means!
Don't worry! I share with you what these acronyms mean, why they’re necessary for your business, and how to calculate them.
As a founder, you have to lift “know your numbers” weights. It’s part of your hands-on training, and the LTV/CAC ratio is a valuable calculation to help you create a successful outcome for your business.
Why? Because it reveals your marketing return on investment (ROI)
In other words – it lets you know if you’re throwing money away on your business or if you’re investing your marketing dollars wisely.
If you’re raising capital or applying for a line of credit, you’ll need to know this number.
This is an audio from my Andelicious Advice YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice
Below is the example I promised for a practice calculation. Have fun and let me know if you have any questions - cheers!
Ande 💙
EXAMPLE CALCULATION:
Let’s say your business’s revenue for one year was $100,000.
During the period, you had 400 unique customers who made a total of 500 purchases. Your average customer lifespan is 10 years.
First, calculate your average purchase value by dividing your annual revenue by your total purchases:
Average Purchase Value = $100,000 / 500
Average Purchase Value = $200.00
Next, calculate your average purchase frequency by dividing 500 purchases by 400 unique customers.
Average Purchase Frequency = 500 / 400
Average Purchase Frequency = 1.25
Finally, plug in your numbers into the customer lifetime value formula:
CLV = (Average Purchase Value – Average Purchase Frequency) X Average Customer Lifespan
CLV = ($200.00 – 1.25) X 10
CLV = $1,987.50
Your average customer will spend $1,987.50 at your business over the course of their relationship with your company.
******
SUBSCRIBE TO LET'S STICK TOGETHER NEWSLETTER:
http://bit.ly/AndeliciousNewsletter
DIY STARTUP FOUNDER PRODUCTS:
http://bit.ly/FOUNDERDIY
PITCH DECK AUDIT
http://bit.ly/PitchDeckAudit
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE:
http://andelyons.com
https://twitter.com/AndeLyons
https://www.facebook.com/PossibilityP...
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/
https://www.instagram.com/ande_lyons/
https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/
https://angel.co/andelyons

Athlete + Coach + Fashion Brand Founder Sep 10, 2019

Show notes

Our guest, AK Ikwaukor, a former professional athlete known as Coach AK, is an entrepreneur, consultant and strategic storyteller who has traveled to 30+ countries working with students, professional athletes, coaches, government agencies, celebrities, CEO’s, employees of Fortune 100 companies, scholars, victims affected by terrorism and even community leaders from around the world through his entrepreneurial ventures.
His endeavors have included work in sports diplomacy, storytelling, fashion, VR, and global education. He has led an unorthodox path which began by narrowly missing the 2008 Olympic games to working at top educational institutions.
In 2018 AK joined a team of former athletes and a group of outstanding designers to launch a fashion brand called E-Lete Styles – a high end professional attire brand for male athletes.
You will be entertained and fascinated by AK's entrepreneurial adventures! He goes deep into how and why he launched his fashion brand business, and shares the best mindset hacks for managing the high levels of uncertainty found on the startup trail.
Please visit E-Lete Styles here: https://www.eletestyles.com/ and follow/connect with AK here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akikwuakor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ak.ikwuakor/ / https://www.instagram.com/eletestyles/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AkIkwuakor
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Do you need a pitch deck reviewed? I've raised millions from VC and thousands from Angels... and I'm a co-host of a monthly pitch event in Boston. I can make sure your deck is ready for investors and a pitch event. Click this link to learn more: http://bit.ly/PitchDeckAudit
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

Don't Be Caged By Your Age Aug 30, 2019

Show notes

How do you respond when someone thinks you're too young or too old to be launching a business?
Our guest, Auriel Wright, is a serial founder and a current Senior at Harvard University studying Computer Science and Mandarin Chinese.
That’s right… Auriel is still in college.
My advice: don’t ever be caged by your age – you’re never too young or too old to launch a business!
In her current venture, StrattyX, she serves as CEO and CTO and works to fulfill the company’s mission of democratizing algorithmic trading through their flag ship product, a mobile algorithmic trading tool for retail investors.
Auriel has received nods from Grace Hopper, the Harvard Gazette, the US Navy, and Intel for her work and she previously worked as a quant at Goldman Sachs before starting her venture full time.
Auriel is a fierce problem solver and generously offers all Startup Life Show listeners to reach out to her with any problem you're having. She'd love to help you!
Her generosity flows throughout our conversation, where she shares:
* how to develop a minimum viable product for under $1000
* advice for the non-technical founder
* how to push back when someone questions your age/race/gender
* why she loves it when someone offers to "tear apart her business model"
* how she became fluent in Mandarin
* her 3-pronged approach for having a holistic, grounded lifestyle
Please follow Auriel everywhere she glows:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurielw/
StrattyX: https://www.strattyx.com/ (sign up for the Private Beta!)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elleruier
Here's a link to the Forbes article where Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon talks about "mirrortacracy vs. meritocracy":
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joresablount/2018/05/19/founder-gym-opens-the-door-to-silicon-valley-for-underrepresented-founders/#3a4470cc1762
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
Because it takes a village to raise a business, please subscribe to my newsletter, Let's Stick Together: http://bit.ly/AndeliciousNewsletter
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Do you need a pitch deck reviewed? I've raised millions from VC and thousands from Angels... and I'm a co-host of a monthly pitch event in Boston. I can make sure your deck is ready for investors and a pitch event. Click this link to learn more: http://bit.ly/PitchDeckAudit
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused –

Are You Media Prepared? Aug 23, 2019

Show notes

It's natural to feel anxious when the "lights/camera/action" are focused on you. You're working hard to communicate your business message while managing your facial expressions and body language, all under the microscope of intense scrutiny.
Our guest, Eric Cox, is a media and communications veteran with over 20 years experience in TV news, PR, marketing and on-air talent development for news.
His passion is helping people tell their stories and he’s spent his professional life following that passion.
His business, Media Prepared, is the culmination of two decades of working with some of the best in the fields of media, PR and marketing and consistently delivering results that help clients tell their story, make an impression or simply feel comfortable in an unfamiliar space.
And he’s going to help you feel media prepared, too!
You can learn more about how Eric and Media Preparedness via his website:
Be sure to connect with and follow Eric via:
Website: http://www.mediaprepared.com/
Email: eric@mediaprepared.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlloydcox/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_ecox/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eric_Cox611
Here's the link for District Hall: https://districthallboston.org/
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Do you need a pitch deck reviewed? I've raised millions from VC and thousands from Angels... and I'm a co-host of a monthly pitch event in Boston. I can make sure your deck is ready for investors and a pitch event. Click this link to learn more: https://andelyons.com/powerful-pitch-deck-investors/
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

Five Children One Husband and a Startup Aug 14, 2019

Show notes

Our guest, Kim Gamez, is the CEO and founder of Mi Padrino®, an online event planning service to help parents and families organize, plan, and fund events celebrated in the Hispanic tradition.
Kim saw a need for a more efficient solution for organizing Quinceañeras, Weddings, Baptisms, and more for the Hispanic community. And, as a mother of 5, she deeply appreciated the complexity of coordinating all aspects of these time-honored traditions with families near and far.
Her hope is that, with the use of Mi Padrino®, Latinos all over the world can be inspired, stay organized, and get the funding they need to have the events of their dreams.
Talk about an inspirational business model – wow – I’m so excited for you to learn more about this phenomenal female founder and how she grew her startup with 5 children and a husband!
Moms: you are going to laugh out loud when you hear Kim's story about the time she was a finalist at a $100,000 pitch contest. Yup, she was breastfeeding her baby when they announced she was the winner!
Another favorite story Kim shares: when asked by investors: "How are you positioned to run this company and build it on an international scale?" Kim pointed to her prior businesses and responded "if you can be a landlord (she had several properties under management) and you can own a restaurant, you can do just about anything."
Here's the link for SPARK Ann Harbor:
https://annarborusa.org/entrepreneurial-services/
Chloe Capital:
https://chloecapital.com/
Mi Padrino website:
https://mipadrino.com/
Please follow Mi Padrino on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mipadrinoevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mipadrinoevents
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mipadrinoevents/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mipadrinoevents/
and connect with Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-gamez-34914bbb/
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Do you need a pitch deck reviewed? I've raised millions from VC and thousands from Angels... and I'm a co-host of a monthly pitch event in Boston. I can make sure your deck is ready for investors and a pitch event. Click this link to learn more: https://andelyons.com/powerful-pitch-deck-investors/
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay s

Don't Hesitate to Delegate! Aug 09, 2019

Show notes

Our guest, Andreina Viera, is an administrative professional and business aficionado committed to creating solutions for businesses and enabling growth in professional settings.
As founder of The Vieras, an organization providing outsourced administrative, financial, HR and marketing solutions to growing businesses, Andreina works with startups and seasoned entrepreneurs. She's an experienced leader and active member in her community, serving as a mentor to organizations like Junior Achievement, and a board member for organizations like Entrepreneurship for All.
Andreina's personal passion is to create opportunities for women of color and empower growth within her community. I've known Andreina for three years now and have watched her blossom from a newbie business owner into a phenomenal female founder.
Andreina shares:
* step-by-step how she launched, branded and built her administrative business
* how she addressed her insecurities around owning and operating a business
* her best advice for founders to let go and outsource tasks
* how she manages raising children and raising a business
It is such an honor for me to introduce you to this wonderful woman and share her remarkable startup story with you!
Please connect and follow Andreina here:
https://www.facebook.com/GetaViera/
https://www.instagram.com/getaviera/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreina-viera-admin-solutions/
https://getaviera.com/
Learn more about EforAll here: http://eforall.org
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on:
Website http://andelyons.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice
Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/
DIY Products: https://andelyons.com/diy-products-for-startup-founders/
Grab my FREE 12-Month Cash Flow Projection Template here: https://selz.co/VJb2t-Nbv
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

How to Launch a Consumer Product Business Aug 01, 2019

Show notes

When our guest, Michele Mehl, went looking for a fitness product that she could fit into her life, she was already a successful startup tech marketing executive and a Mom with a very busy family.
Her family’s history of heart disease got her thinking about a better, more convenient way to exercise. She recruited a co-founder and they begin prototyping a portable stationary exercise bike, one that promoted the same quality of exercises offered at a gym or a spin class, but portable enough to use anywhere.
And so the Excy was born. A Full-Fledged Exercise Bike in a Tiny Device for every body!
Soon after the prototype was built, Michele had a serious accident, requiring months of recuperation, during which time she became even more passionate about her innovative invention.
Michele shares:
* the best customer discovery questions
* Excy's secret sauce (Uncle Mike!)
* her KickStarter crowdfunding story and strategy
* how she figured out manufacturing (only one part is made outside the USA!)
* return policy insights and advice
* how consumer feedback and stories help her get through the tough days
Please visit Excy to learn more: http://www.excy.com
Connect with Michele on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemehlexcy/ and follow Excy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/excyfit and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excyfit/
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

Leverage reddit, Twitch and YouTube to Increase Brand Awareness Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Our guest - Andrew Wall, aka Awall - is a Digital Marketing Executive with over a decade of experience coaching creative professionals to success.
He built the largest gaming video network in the world, produced 10,000 gaming videos, generated 1 billion YouTube views, live-streamed video games full-time, and managed 55 social media accounts across 13 languages simultaneously.
Awall is currently hosting the #1 podcast for gaming creators, live streamers and YouTubers - The Digital Drop Podcast – and he’s the Vice President of Social Media & Video Production at Raging Bull, a successful e-learning company.
I found Awall on YouTube when I was rebooting my Andelicious Advice channel – I needed state-of-the-art guidance for the best YouTube results, and I fell in love with how Awall delivers content to his subscribers. I’m so excited to share this extraordinary expert with you!
Awall shares:
• how his love of technology, video and gaming prepared him to be a pioneer in creating gaming content when YouTube launched
• his 2 year side hustle content strategy, and how it led to the largest online gaming video network
• his deep knowledge of the $28 billion gaming market, the history of eSports, and how Fortnight is influencing the 18 and under crowd (including dance moves!)
• outstanding advice for founders in a position of selling or merging their business
• how there's tons of high level thinking, coordination and competition in gaming, along with terrific (and comforting!) advice for parents who have kids focusing a lot much time on gaming (waving madly here!), and why colleges are offering scholarships to eSports players (what?!)
• why resumes are becoming obsolete – it’s your online presence that matters now
• his exceptional reddit results, his best strategy for building a presence on reddit, and why reddit is an important platform for building your brand awareness
• why Twitch is growing so rapidly (no… Twitch is not a freestyle hip hop dancer!), why it’s THE platform for eSports, how to leverage this incredibly sticky, super engaged live streaming platform for your brand, (the fastest growing segment is NOT gaming), and how you can monetize this platform
Please engage with Awall everywhere he glows:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/awalldigital/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awalldigital/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/awallvs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwallDigital/
Digital Drop Podcast: https://digitaldroppod.com/
Feel free to reach out to Awall via awalldigital@gmail.com.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Lis

What Every Startup Founder Needs to Know About PR Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

Marketing/PR expert and speaker, Robin Samora, teaches small business owners how to rev up their brand online and offline to attract new clients, connect with customers, get media exposure, and increase sales.
With decades of experience, she helps professionals and entrepreneurs find their ideal target market, create branding, marketing and PR strategies that work – with the ultimate goal to double sales.
I’ve known Robin for 8 years and follow her everywhere she glows. I’m thrilled to introduce you to this extraordinary femtrepreneur!
Robin shares:
•Why you need to create a Google My Business profile NOW
•How to leverage HARO (Help A Reporter Out)
•How to pitch the media – and a FREE PDF template to help you properly pitch and respond to HARO requests (grab the PDF here: https://andelyons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/How-to-Pitch-to-HARO-7_24_19.pdf)
•What startup founders must not talk about on social media
•How to handle bad online reviews
•How to create a crises plan
•Media kit best practices
Please visit Robin's website here:
https://robinsamora.com/
Subscribe to Robin's Rainmakers Newsletter here:
https://robinsamora.com/rainmaker/
Follow her on social media here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinSamoraPR
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/robin-samora/13/b62/647
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robinsamora
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RobinSamoraPR/
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

Kindness + Connection + Technology = A Virtual Hug Jul 22, 2019

Show notes

A serial entrepreneur and a 35-year tech product management and innovation expert, our guest Jon Werner’s first startup story began in 2002 when he founded Bones in Motion, a mobile lifestyle services company that developed mobile phone applications and web services that monitored and tracked outdoor enthusiasts in real-time. He raised $2.7 million in angel funding to scale the business and he had the best of outcomes in 2009 when he sold the business to Adidas. Woo Hoo!
Jon spent over 9 years at Adidas as an Innovation Explorer, where he created and led the IoT apparel and footwear project using NFC to engage consumers.
In 2018 Jon and his family founded KOYA Innovations. KOYA is short for kindness on ya! KOYA pairs kindness and connection to create personalized messages between family and friends … anywhere in the world.
And yes, when I say Jon and his family, it's his wife Cherie, the Chief Kindness Officer, and their two Millennial daughters, Caryn - the creative director and Courtney, the marketing director.
John shares:
* his fascinating pioneering background in technology
* the roller coaster ride from launching a GPS mobile phone technology business in 2002 - waaay before smart phones!
* the BEST Angel Investor Story EVER
* his answer when asked by his family "Hey dad, do you have any dreams you want to do next?”
Please visit https://getkoya.com to learn more and follow KOYA via:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/givekoya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givekoya/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/givekoya/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koya-innovations/
You can download the KOYA app on Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/koya-make-someones-day/id1463530485?ls=1 and Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koya.android
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – ande@andelyons.com.
You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.
Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/
Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!
Ande ♥

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Startup Life Show with Ande Lyons

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected