Startup Life Show with Ande Lyons

Latest Episodes:

Leveraging Behavioral Psychology and Machine Learning/AI May 29, 2019

Show notes

Our guest, Ethan Anthony, is the Founder & CEO of CrankChart, a communication platform designed to create alignment between decision makers and data professionals by leveraging behavioral psychology and machine learning/AI as supporting mechanisms.
Ethan can be best described as a self-taught man who is a voracious reader, and a highly motivated problem solver. He spent half of his adult life in the Far East, fully immersed in the Asian culture and language.
Currently finishing up his graduate degree at Harvard, Ethan is a published author of 3 technical books, has spent over 10 years serving the world with his technical visionary and problem solving brilliance, and is an authority of behavioral psychology and behavioral economics.
Ethan was an expert panelist at the monthly pitch event I co-host, Founders Live Boston, and it was a genuine pleasure to witness his excellent insights, generous guidance and authentic advice for the featured founders. I know you, too, will benefit from his wonderful wisdom.
Here's one of Ethan's favorite quotes - perfect for the Startup Founder:
"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." - Karen Ravn
Please connect with Ethan via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uberdatageek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrankChart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrankChart-431819220904095/
CrankChart: https://www.crankchart.com/
Here's the Organizational Alignment company Ethan mentioned, Minsilo: https://www.minsilo.com/
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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/.
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 ♥

Get Ntroduced to a Job You Love Using this New HRTech Platform! May 24, 2019

Show notes

I met our guest, Eva Adosoglou, at the monthly pitch event I co-host here in Boston – called Founders Live Boston. She was a featured founder at the event, and her ability to passionately, clearly, and concisely share her business model wow’d all of us… and I know she’ll wow you too!
Eva is the COO at Ntroduced, where she manages all the technical, operational, PR, marketing and fundraising efforts for this startup.
Ntroduced is a job introduction platform using artificial intelligence to directly introduce the right candidates to the right employers by providing insights that go far beyond what a resume or a job description can do.
Eva is originally from Greece and first moved to the US as a Fulbright Scholar to pursue her Masters in Business with a focus on Innovation and Technology.
Please connect with Eva via:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaadosoglou/
https://www.ntroduced.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Ntroduced/
https://twitter.com/ntroduced
https://www.instagram.com/ntroduced/
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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/.
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 ♥

Competitive Salsa Dancer Creates Stylish (and comfortable!) Designer Shoe Brand May 21, 2019

Show notes

“We should lean on our partners because we want to, not because we have to.” ~ Burju Perez
Our guest, Burju Perez, was born in Istanbul, raised in New York City, and now resides in Massachusetts.
She is a shoe designer and business owner, who ran a very successful Latin dance company and toured the entire world as a professional dancer, achieving many honors and awards, including “International Best Artist” and “International Best Instructor” in 2007 at the United Kingdom Salsa Congress.
While her dancing career proved to be rewarding, Burju’s desire to fully embrace her own fashion, style and art sense encouraged her to launch Burju Shoes in April 2009.
Burju Shoes brings a unique collection of stylish, yet highly functional and comfortable designer shoes to the everyday woman.
Made to be worn on and off the dance floor, Burju Shoes are distinguished by high-end construction, tailored patterns, brilliant colors, feminine designs, subtle, yet edgy details, and high-quality leather and vegan leathers. They are engineered so that comfort is the number one priority. Woo Hoo!
I had the good fortune to hear Burju speak live at a recent Entrepreneurship for All event and wowza! What a dynamo! She had us on our feet dancing and cheering ... moving and grooving... I love this female founder's delicious, contagious energy… and I know you will too!
Be sure to listen through to the end because Burju has a DELICIOUS DISCOUNT offer for Startup Life Show Listeners - Hooray!!
Please visit Burju Shoes here: http://www.burjushoes.com/
and follow Burju on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burju-Shoes/57175533779
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burjushoes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BurjuShoes
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/burjushoes/
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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/.
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!

Using Technology to Help Save Pets' Lives May 17, 2019

Show notes

If you love pets, then you are going to LOVE our guest, Artur Sousa, founder of adopets, a platform designed to empower shelters and rescues to save more lives by reducing staff and volunteer's workload. Adopets offers a seamless adoption ecosystem that helps shelter and rescue partners operate more efficiently and focus on what really matters - saving more pets.
How wonderful is that?
Artur is a social entrepreneur with a mission to support other entrepreneurs in all their endeavors, working closely together to develop ventures that will impact the world in a powerful and positive way.
He is a proud winner of a United Nations MDG Award and Member of the Royal Academy of Arts & Music, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has participated in several human rights initiatives and has been an activist for Hansen's disease eradication.
In addition, he is known as an enthusiastic theater professor and public speaker.
As Artur continues on his journey of social impact, he hopes to build on his achievements by using entrepreneurship to break the poverty cycle.
I had the good fortune to meet Artur several years ago while he was working at MassChallenge Headquarters in Boston… where I am a volunteer mentor… and we became instant friends. Like 100% Kindred Spirits!
Please follow Artur and Adopets here:
Website: https://www.adopets.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adopetsus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adopetsUS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adopets_us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturcsousa/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/adopets/about/
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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/.
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 ♥

Shedding Light on the Startup Life May 13, 2019

Show notes

"Manufacturing challenges always come up. One of the things we've had to learn is how to figure out timing, because even though you'll get a time frame from one piece of the manufacturing puzzle, something else comes up that you hadn't anticipated or you did anticipate but then it went completely sideways."
Edward Madongorere is the CEO and co-founder of MOON Selfie, the smallest, most elegant mobile lighting solution for folks who want to live life in the best light.
A jack of many trades, Ed worked in Marketing at Comcast… Developed E-Learning programs and pioneered the video email marketing process at Cisco… and was a designer & project manager at Affectiva.
As a talented UX/UI design and cinematographer Ed founded Edemanté Design & Film, where he produced stunning ads and content for clients.
His work has appeared on CNN, Fox, CBS, MTV, NECN and more. With a magnetic personality and love for people, Ed is always encouraging others to pursue their dreams and overcome challenges, especially through his inspirational Instagram stories.
I had the good fortune to meet Ed at the monthly pitch event I co-host in Boston and became an instant fan of this extraordinary entrepreneur. His startup stories are inspirational and insightful, especially for those founders launching a consumer product.
Please follow Ed everywhere he "glows!"
Website: https://moonselfie.me/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonselfie/ and https://www.instagram.com/edemante/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonselfie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edemante/
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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/.
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 Find the Best Investor for Your Startup Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

"In the beginning, you don't want to waste your time trying to raise money of any kind from investors that are not inherently, organically interested in either you or your industry vertical. You are not going to convert those people to you. You want to go out and find the people that are already excited either about you or about the problem space that you're in. It's like starting with a warm audience." ~ Melissa Withers, Managing Partner, RevUp Capital
Melissa Withers is an experienced fund manager and business builder who has overseen investments in over 100 companies.
She is currently a Founding Partner of RevUp Capital, a fund focused on B2B and B2C companies moving fast up a revenue-fueled growth curve.
She’s a mentor in residence at TechStars Boston and she’s a strong advocate for closing the diversity gap in early stage investing. Hooray!
Melissa's career began at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT, where she worked at the intersection of basic research, communications and public policy.
She was also co-founder and executive director of the Business Innovation Factory, an organization dedicated to the design and testing of new business models.
I had my first Melissa Withers experience several years ago when she was a featured speaker at a Startup Grind Boston Firechat… I ate up every delicious morsel she served, and I’ve been a devoted fan ever since.
Melissa has a unique ability to quickly cut through the startup BS and get down to the nitty gritty details of what’s really going on for a business.
I love her fierce advocacy for startup founders everywhere… and she is a pioneer role model for women in tech and for female funders.
Melissa shares candid stories from her early days as a woman in technology, advice for customer discovery, raising capital, and much more insights for the startup founder.
Please connect with Melissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwithers/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/MizWithers, and hop onto RevUp Capital to learn more about this innovative funding resource: https://www.revupfund.com/.
Are you ready for startup mentoring or some delicious DIY advice for your new business? Then please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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 ♥

FinTech Founder Creates Cashless Tipping App Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

"Maria, you are one of the most impressive people I’ve ever seen in the carpet here. I’m in!" ~ Lori Greiner, Shark Tank
I agree 100% with Lori; in fact, I said those same words while watching Maria Luna, the co-founder of BRAVO, pitch the Sharks. She was so outstanding, I had to hop on Twitter and share my awe and wonder! Click this link to read the Tweet: https://twitter.com/AndeLyons/status/957323290577694720
I was delighted to hear right back from Maria, and we’ve been online friends and fans ever since.
Maria is an energetic serial entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in marketing and managing consumer and healthcare brands at Nabisco and other top companies. Maria excels at lean operations and is a firm believer that blockchain and cryptocurrency will disrupt many industries as we know them.
Her expertise in business planning, organic growth and building functional teams has kept her in demand from the United States to Central and South America.
Maria holds an MBA from the McCombs Business School at the University of Texas as well as a B.A. in Public Communications from the University of Puerto Rico, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is fluent in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Italian.
BRAVO is the easiest way to provide a cashless gratuity or payment to artists, service professional or any micro-merchant seamlessly from your mobile device by connecting users without exchanging information.
BRΛVO is transforming the way to pay with cryptocurrency. Making cryptocurrency seamless and mainstream by enhancing the user experience.
Be sure to go to 17 minutes in the podcast to hear Maria's REMARKABLE story about how BRAVO was chosen out of a thousand startups as the Wild Card company at the San Francisco Tech Stars annual pitch event. The Wild Card company wins the opportunity to pitch to the crowd... with only TWO HOURS to prepare!! Maria and her co-founder were just exhibiting at the event and were not prepared to pitch. This opportunity is what led to BRAVO's appearance on Shark Tank!! A perfect example of Luck = Opportunity + Preparation!!
It was pure deliciousness to finally speak with Maria after years of sharing life and business on social media. I know you'll enjoy the candor and insights from her startup journey.
Please visit BRAVO's website: trybravo.com, and follow BRAVO on the following platforms:
Twitter @Bravo_Pay
Instagram @bravo_pay
Facebook @bravopay
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlunaceobravopay/
If you’re ready for startup mentoring – please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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 a Social Worker Became a Female Founder of a Technology Platform Apr 19, 2019

Show notes

“Entrepreneurs have big ideas and big eyes!” I love this quote Diane Najm shares during our delicious conversation.
Diane is the founder and CEO of PhotoPad, and she has a sensational and inspirational startup story to share with you!
After practicing Social Work for over 20 years, Diane leaped into the entrepreneurial world to launch two tech platforms in the photo and digital content marketing space.
She launched her first product - PhotoPad – a consumer photo app on Facebook - in 2010 and then she launched PhotoPad for Business in 2016.
Diane is passionate about empowering women to succeed in business, and is consistently sharing the best advice, resources and connections everywhere she glows.
A past Director of Founder Institute, Diane is a leader and mentor in the Seattle startup community, where she regularly speaks about entrepreneurship and leadership. Diane serves on the Board of Directors to Women in Wireless and Women in Tech, and in 2018 she received two nominations for startup of the year and innovative product of the year. Congratulations Diane!
I met Diane years ago on Twitter and we’ve been cheering each other on ever since.
Please connect with Diane here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianenajm/
Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianenajm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photopadforbusines/
Website: http://photopad.co (not .com)
If you’re ready for startup mentoring – please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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 ♥

Turn Exhausting Business Trips into Memorable Experiences with a Positive Social Impact! Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

Our guest, Anne-Fleur Andrle, is the co-founder of Jack and Ferdi, a companion application that helps travelers identify what's most authentic about a destination while offering innovative ways to the user to give back to the local community.
This Bleisure App also provides data on opportunities to have a positive impact while on the road (run and walk itineraries, indigenous music, and curated local charities to give back to), while not forgetting the primary reason for the business trip...conducting business. The app also offers data on local business etiquette, learning opportunities, and great work/meeting spaces. This well-rounded app will help business travelers combine business and leisure travel and adopt the growing bleisure travel lifestyle.
Anne-Fleur graduated from UTC – a French University - as an engineer with a double major in biomechanics and scientific communication. She pursued her education at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo with a focus on cardiac regeneration and biomedical engineering. And she was the first woman to graduate from the Biomedical Engineering department of the Graduate School.
A Dual citizen of France and America, Anne-Fleur never misses an opportunity to explore the world - starting with her own neighborhood.
A newborn baby and a newborn business - this is an exciting startup story!
Please follow and connect with Anne-Fleur and her beautiful business Jack and Ferdi here:
Website: https://www.jackandferdi.com/
Twitter: @afandrle and @jackandferdi
LinkedIn: Anne-Fleur Andrle https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-fleur-andrle/ and Jack and Ferdi https://www.linkedin.com/company/jack-n-ferdi/
Instagram: Jack and Ferdi https://www.instagram.com/jackandferdi/ and Anne-Fleur https://www.instagram.com/afandrle/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackandferdi/
If you need startup mentoring – please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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 ♥
Anne-Fleur Andrle Bio
French born and coming from Brittany, I am a bold female entrepreneur and living an extraordinary life. Extraordinary does not mean rich, luxurious or doing nothing but drinking mojitos on an exotic beach. In my book, extraordinary means daring to live life the way I intend to, which means being free and humble, ambitious and bold, respectful of my peers and environment as well as curious to learn anytime I have the opportunity.
I am convinced it is our responsibility as entrepreneurs to give back to our community and for social impact to be deeply rooted in the DNA of our enterprises. This is one of the reasons why we incorporated Jack and Ferdi as a PBC (Public Benefit Corporation).
I am a person of many passions and I believe their common themes are freedom and cre

What Newbie Startup Founders Need to Know Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Please meet Seattle Entrepreneur and Mompreneur Melissa Strawn. She is the founder and CEO of MyPeopleNow.com - a peer-to-peer marketplace for services and directory of freelancers and gig workers.
As a busy mom to five active boys, Melissa uses her own site daily and has incorporated many interesting features that aim to make the gig economy accessible to all.
Melissa blogs at FromWelfareToMillionaire.org and is on a mission to transform the social services system into one that encourages and supports efforts toward meaningful self-sufficiency.
How much do you love that mission?!
I met Melissa on LinkedIn through Nick Hughes, the Founder of the international platform Founders Live. She is a role model for how to engage, connect and create meaningful conversations online… I just love how she moves and grooves through comments and posts, bringing smiles and ah-ha moments everywhere she glows.
I’m so delighted Melissa is here to share her startup stories and her insights on what every newbie founder needs to know!
To learn more about Melissa's business, please visit: https://mypeoplenow.com/
Please connect with Melissa here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-strawn/
https://mypeoplenow.com/aboutus
https://www.instagram.com/mypeoplenow/
https://twitter.com/mypeoplenow
https://www.facebook.com/MyPeopleNow/
If you need startup mentoring – please visit my website, http://andelyons.com where you’ll find all the ways I can add value to your startup journey: strategy calls, pitch deck and one page business snapshot coaching, WBENC application support for women business owners - I’d be honored to mentor you through whatever you’re going through – so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow me on Spreaker, Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!
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 ♥

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