Tag: Networking

Marcio Goncalves, founder of a fast-growing virtual assistant agency (a team that handles admin and day-to-day tasks for busy founders) and a fully remote podcast production company, argues that scale comes from structure, not luck. He shares how his first taste of entrepreneurship started at 12, raising pet-store hamsters and finding homes for the new litters, and how that early instinct evolved into launching a podcast in 2012 before most people knew what a podcast was. He walks through leaving a steady salary after a quick real estate win, then building toward the businesses he runs today, including a virtual assistant company growing 10 to 15 percent month over month. We unpack how he turns getting new customers into simple math, the hiring order that helps founders stop being the bottleneck, and the kitchen-table low point that pushed him to adopt the Entrepreneurial Operating System framework plus personality assessments to steady the team and the metrics. --- Episode Resources • EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) - A simple operating framework for running a business with clear priorities, weekly meetings, and a few key numbers to track. (https://www.eosworldwide.com/what-is-eos) • “Traction” by Gino Wickman (https://a.co/d/3Ox5Q9d)  • Ninety - An EOS software (https://www.ninety.io/) • Culture Index - A personality tool mentioned for hiring and team alignment. (https://www.cultureindex.com/) • The Predictive Index, PI Behavioral Assessment - A personality tool for understanding how people are wired at work. (https://www.predictiveindex.com/assessments/behavioral-assessment/)  • Gatekeeper for Spark Mail - Screens and blocks senders to keep inbox clean. (https://sparkmailapp.com/features/gatekeeper)  • “The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber (https://a.co/d/11bO4lH) 

Matthew Stafford, professional investor and co-founder of Nine Others, argues that simplicity wins. He shares how starting on the Venture Capitalist side sharpened his founder's empathy, the early signals he listens for, and how one dinner became a global peer network. We unpack the pre-boom London fundraising scene, practical ways to cut noise from your pitch, and the community mechanics that actually move founders forward. --- Episode Resources - Nine Others - Official Website (co-founded by Matthew Stafford) (https://9others.com/) - “What’s Keeping You Up at Night?” by Matthew Stafford & Katie Lewis (https://a.co/d/hMhyJBI) - Overview of Matt & STAFFORD VC (https://www.stafford.vc/?pvs=143)

Reuben Levinsohn, professional investor and founder coach behind Exit Quotient Ventures and Flying with Founders, argues that clarity and discipline win. He shares how starting from an “exit first” mindset sharpens founder focus, the early signals he listens for like EQ, leadership quotient, paid pilots, and a clean path to $1M ARR, and when to graduate beyond founder-led sales. We unpack the red flags that kill momentum, practical ways to earn a second meeting, and the founder-wellness routines that keep you in the game. Along the way, Reuben breaks down what he saw in Pavewise and Protein Pints, and how to turn traction into a real go-to-market engine. --- Episode Resources Flying with Founders: Founder Coaching, Meetups, Retreats. (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/) Flying with Founders Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@FlyingWithFounders/videos) Reuben’s Venture Capital: Exit Quotient Ventures (https://www.exitquotient.com/) Webinar event series: “Inside the Mind of a VC / Investor” (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/fwfevents/inside-the-mind-of-a-vc-customer-satisfcation) Pavewise: AI-assisted planning for paving in relation to weather. (https://www.pavewisepro.com/) Protein Pints: High-protein ice cream startup that Reuben angel-backed. (https://proteinpints.com/) Catalina Crunch: Exec talent the Protein Pints founders recruited from. (https://us.catalinacrunch.com/) “Lift Others as You Climb” by Scott D. Idle (https://scottidle.com/ , https://a.co/d/hvRFPYv) “The Founder’s Survival Guide” by Rachel E. Turner. (https://www.thefounderssurvivalguide.com/ , https://a.co/d/8BkG46M)