What do you do when you need investor funding for your startup, but you’re struggling to convince anyone to open their wallets?

Rob May, engineer turned entrepreneur, knows what that feels like.  Even though he had experience with startups, he still found it a struggle to convince investors to fund his ideas.  

However, he finally cracked the code.

And in this episode Rob shares how constant practice pitching and getting feedback eventually made him a master storyteller that helped him hugely increase the odds of getting funding.

We also talk about:
Rob’s journey from electrical engineer to tech entrepreneur
Building and scaling startups
Finding investors and handling rejection
Transitioning from pirate culture to a process-driven organisation
Using AI for brand content governance
Scaling AI companies amid supply constraints

Listen in to hear Rob's startup stories and advice on pitching, funding, team building, and more!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
BrandGuard: https://www.brandguard.ai/
Rob's Substack: https://investinginai.substack.com/
Rob's AI Innovators Podcast: 
Apple:
Spotify:

Want regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business?  Sign up here.

What do you do when you need investor funding for your startup, but you’re struggling to convince anyone to open their wallets?
Rob May, engineer turned entrepreneur, knows what that feels like.  Even though he had experience with startups, he still found it a struggle to convince investors to fund his ideas.  
However, he finally cracked the code.
And in this episode Rob shares how constant practice pitching and getting feedback eventually made him a master storyteller that helped him hugely increase the odds of getting funding.
We also talk about:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rob’s journey from electrical engineer to tech entrepreneur</li>
<li aria-level="1">Building and scaling startups</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finding investors and handling rejection</li>
<li aria-level="1">Transitioning from pirate culture to a process-driven organisation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using AI for brand content governance</li>
<li aria-level="1">Scaling AI companies amid supply constraints</li>
</ul>
Listen in to hear Rob's startup stories and advice on pitching, funding, team building, and more!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">BrandGuard: <a href="https://www.brandguard.ai/">https://www.brandguard.ai/</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1">Rob's Substack: <a href="https://investinginai.substack.com/">https://investinginai.substack.com/</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1">Rob's AI Innovators Podcast: </li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-innovators-podcast/id1558589105">Apple</a>:</li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0jXj0NuVvdUPEFMUyRYpMK">Spotify:</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
Want regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business?  <a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/">Sign up here.</a>

This podcast is for new and emerging online business owners who are determined to do what it takes to reach their financial goals, help people along the way and learn a bunch of useful new skills. Have a love/hate relationship with the tech? We talk about that. Not sure you have what it takes to achieve success? We talk about that, too, plus how to deal with mindset challenges. Trudy Rankin, Founder of the Online Business Program, shares actionable tips that will help you really get your business growing, as well as interviews with experts and inspiring stories so that you can grow your online business with confidence.

This podcast is for new and emerging online business owners who are determined to do what it takes to reach their financial goals, help people along the way and learn a bunch of useful new skills. Have a love/hate relationship with the tech? We talk about that. Not sure you have what it takes to achieve success? We talk about that, too, plus how to deal with mindset challenges. Trudy Rankin, Founder of the Online Business Program, shares actionable tips that will help you really get your business growing, as well as interviews with experts and inspiring stories so that you can grow your online business with confidence.

Online Business Launchpad | Start An Online Business | Online Business Growth

The Online Business Launchpad podcast shares tips, techniques and stories from small business owners who have solved problems and challenges like the ones you face.  This podcast is for you if you want to increase revenue and profits without burning out so that you can have more time for yourself and your family and more choices in how you live your life.

The Online Business Launchpad podcast shares tips, techniques and stories from small business owners who have solved problems and challenges like the ones you face.  This podcast is for you if you want to increase revenue and profits without burning out so that you can have more time for yourself and your family and more choices in how you live your life.

How Engineer and BrandGuard Co-Founder Rob May Mastered The Art Of Pitching Investors For Startup Funding

“Like there’s this weird thing of the disappearing lawn guy… he shows up two or three times and then just drops off the face of the earth.”

If you’ve ever hired a service provider who mysteriously vanished, you’ll appreciate this episode. Bryan Clayton took that exact frustration and turned it into a multi-city marketplace now used by 300,000 people every week. But this isn’t just about lawn care. It’s about systems, scale, simplicity — and why this might actually be the best time in 30 years to start a business.

Bryan Clayton is the CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, the largest lawn care marketplace in the United States. Before launching GreenPal, he built a landscaping company from the ground up to $8–9 million in annual revenue and 150 employees before selling it to a national firm. He combines deep operational experience with tech-driven innovation.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
Why reliability matters more than price when building a service-based business
The power of niching down to one core use case instead of trying to do everything
How to manage a two-sided marketplace (customers and service providers)
Why cancellation policies must balance fairness on both sides
The difference between starting in an established industry vs. inventing something new
Why Bryan believes this is the best time in decades to start a business
How AI acts as “middle-to-middle” acceleration rather than end-to-end replacement
Why founders should personally handle customer support — even years into the business

If you’re building a service business — or even thinking about starting one — this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

Tune in to hear how Bryan built two businesses in completely different ways — and why simplicity, customer feedback and systems thinking made all the difference.

And if you want to stay updated on future episodes:

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED
GreenPal – https://www.greenpal.com/
Bryan Clayton on LinkedIn 

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

&ldquo;Like there&rsquo;s this weird thing of the disappearing lawn guy&hellip; he shows up two or three times and then just drops off the face of the earth.&rdquo;
If you&rsquo;ve ever hired a service provider who mysteriously vanished, you&rsquo;ll appreciate this episode. Bryan Clayton took that exact frustration and turned it into a multi-city marketplace now used by 300,000 people every week. But this isn&rsquo;t just about lawn care. It&rsquo;s about systems, scale, simplicity &mdash; and why this might actually be the best time in 30 years to start a business.
Bryan Clayton is the CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, the largest lawn care marketplace in the United States. Before launching GreenPal, he built a landscaping company from the ground up to $8&ndash;9 million in annual revenue and 150 employees before selling it to a national firm. He combines deep operational experience with tech-driven innovation.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why reliability matters more than price when building a service-based business</li>
<li aria-level="1">The power of niching down to one core use case instead of trying to do everything</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to manage a two-sided marketplace (customers and service providers)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why cancellation policies must balance fairness on both sides</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between starting in an established industry vs. inventing something new</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Bryan believes this is the best time in decades to start a business</li>
<li aria-level="1">How AI acts as &ldquo;middle-to-middle&rdquo; acceleration rather than end-to-end replacement</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why founders should personally handle customer support &mdash; even years into the business</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re building a service business &mdash; or even thinking about starting one &mdash; this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.
Tune in to hear how Bryan built two businesses in completely different ways &mdash; and why simplicity, customer feedback and systems thinking made all the difference.
And if you want to stay updated on future episodes:
Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: <a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/">https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">GreenPal &ndash;<a href="https://www.greenpal.com/"> https://www.greenpal.com/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Bryan Clayton on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.:<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>

From Mowing Lawns to $8M Founder with Bryan Clayton

Jared Bauman didn’t expect to compete for his own name online.

But when a state representative with the exact same name started appearing everywhere in search results, it forced him to confront something bigger: search engines — and now AI tools — don’t guess who you are. They connect dots.

And if your digital presence isn’t clearly connected, someone else may become the “expert” instead.

In this episode, we take a calm, strategic look at how search is evolving from traditional SEO into what Jared calls “GEO” — Generative Engine Optimization — and what that means for solopreneurs and small business owners who want to remain visible in an AI-first world.

No panic. No hype. Just clarity.

Jared Bauman is the founder of 201 Creative, a marketing agency specializing in SEO and emerging AI search optimization strategies. He’s also the host of the Niche Pursuits podcast and has been an entrepreneur for more than 25 years, building and selling multiple businesses. As AI began reshaping search behavior, Jared studied the data, adapted his agency, and developed practical frameworks to help businesses stay visible and credible.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
Why SEO isn’t dead — it’s evolving.
What “Generative Engine Optimization” (GEO) actually means.
The shift from focusing on keywords to focusing on entities.
Why AI tools care deeply about accuracy, consistency, and freshness.
How inconsistent business information erodes trust with AI systems.
What schema (structured data) is — explained in plain English.
Why third-party mentions and citations matter more than ever.
The danger of “set it and forget it” websites.
What a GEO Snapshot Audit reveals about your visibility gaps.

CALL TO ACTION

If you want your business to be recommended — not overlooked — in an AI-driven search landscape, this episode is essential listening.

Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations that help you grow the online side of your business strategically and sustainably.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED
201 Creative Website - https://201creative.com/ 
GEO Snapshot Audit (free audit discussed in the episode) - https://201creative.com/geo-snapshot/ 
Niche Pursuits Podcast - https://www.nichepursuits.com/category/podcasts/ 
Jared Bauman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbauman/ 

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.:
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

Jared Bauman didn&rsquo;t expect to compete for his own name online.
But when a state representative with the exact same name started appearing everywhere in search results, it forced him to confront something bigger: search engines &mdash; and now AI tools &mdash; don&rsquo;t guess who you are. They connect dots.
And if your digital presence isn&rsquo;t clearly connected, someone else may become the &ldquo;expert&rdquo; instead.
In this episode, we take a calm, strategic look at how search is evolving from traditional SEO into what Jared calls &ldquo;GEO&rdquo; &mdash; Generative Engine Optimization &mdash; and what that means for solopreneurs and small business owners who want to remain visible in an AI-first world.
No panic. No hype. Just clarity.
Jared Bauman is the founder of 201 Creative, a marketing agency specializing in SEO and emerging AI search optimization strategies. He&rsquo;s also the host of the Niche Pursuits podcast and has been an entrepreneur for more than 25 years, building and selling multiple businesses. As AI began reshaping search behavior, Jared studied the data, adapted his agency, and developed practical frameworks to help businesses stay visible and credible.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why SEO isn&rsquo;t dead &mdash; it&rsquo;s evolving.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What &ldquo;Generative Engine Optimization&rdquo; (GEO) actually means.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The shift from focusing on keywords to focusing on entities.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why AI tools care deeply about accuracy, consistency, and freshness.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How inconsistent business information erodes trust with AI systems.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What schema (structured data) is &mdash; explained in plain English.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why third-party mentions and citations matter more than ever.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The danger of &ldquo;set it and forget it&rdquo; websites.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What a GEO Snapshot Audit reveals about your visibility gaps.</li>
</ul>
CALL TO ACTION
If you want your business to be recommended &mdash; not overlooked &mdash; in an AI-driven search landscape, this episode is essential listening.
Remember to subscribe so you don&rsquo;t miss future conversations that help you grow the online side of your business strategically and sustainably.
Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business <a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/">https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">201 Creative Website - <a href="https://201creative.com/">https://201creative.com/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">GEO Snapshot Audit (free audit discussed in the episode) - <a href="https://201creative.com/geo-snapshot/">https://201creative.com/geo-snapshot/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Niche Pursuits Podcast - <a href="https://www.nichepursuits.com/category/podcasts/">https://www.nichepursuits.com/category/podcasts/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Jared Bauman on LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbauman/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbauman/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.: <a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/">https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>

From SEO to GEO - How to Stay Visible in an AI-Driven World with Expert Jared Bauman

“If I really want to make wealth for myself, I need to bet on myself.”

That’s how Juzbi Walia explains the moment she stopped playing the corporate game and started building her own. And that same energy runs through this whole episode: sell with integrity, don’t slime people into a ‘yes’, and stop guessing what your audience is thinking. If you’ve ever read bro-marketing copy and felt like you needed to wash your eyeballs afterward, you’ll love Juzbi’s approach to persuasion that’s effective and ethical.

Juzbi Walia has spent over a decade in persuasion and influence, working in corporate communications with major global agencies and a wide range of organisations across sectors. Now she brings that same influence skillset into the online business world as a conversion copywriter and email strategist, helping course creators launch with messaging that converts without crossing into manipulation.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
Why most course creators don’t actually know their real objections (and keep answering outdated ones).
The hidden cost of over-persuasion — even if it “works” in the short term.
Why “copy is assembled, not written” (and how customer research is the real work).
How to find your sales argument (the unique point of view that makes your offer stand out).
The power of message hierarchy: primary promise first, then secondary angles in the right order.
Using a custom GPT to pressure-test messaging angles (without randomly “testing everything”).
Why copywriters who step into the strategist role will thrive (and “selling words as a service” won’t).
A very real take on business growth: “spaghetti on the wall” is sometimes the job description early on.

If you’re building a course (or launching anything online) and you want to sell without sounding like a late-night infomercial, you’re going to get a ton from this one. 

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Juzbi on Instagram: @juzbi.copy
To get Juzbi’s free resource -  “How to Write Non Manipulative Emails That Sell” (a checklist of persuasion triggers for launch emails).  Or you can send her a DM on Instagram.

Suggested Timestamps
00:00 – Intro + why “non-sleazy persuasion” matters
00:01–00:04 – Juzbi’s background in persuasion + corporate comms
00:05–00:08 – Why she left corporate: “bet on myself” + designing work around life
00:13–00:17 – Objections, customer research, and the danger of over-persuasion
00:19–00:25 – Messaging hierarchy + sales argument example (Instagram course)
00:25–00:26 – GPT bot + Danny Page
00:32–00:34 – Copywriter vs strategist (and why strategy is the moat)
00:35–00:38 – Lead gen experiments + “spaghetti on the wall” phase
00:40 – Where to find Juzbi + free checklist

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

&ldquo;If I really want to make wealth for myself, I need to bet on myself.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s how Juzbi Walia explains the moment she stopped playing the corporate game and started building her own. And that same energy runs through this whole episode:&nbsp;sell with integrity, don&rsquo;t slime people into a &lsquo;yes&rsquo;, and stop guessing what your audience is thinking. If you&rsquo;ve ever read bro-marketing copy and felt like you needed to wash your eyeballs afterward, you&rsquo;ll love Juzbi&rsquo;s approach to persuasion that&rsquo;s effective and ethical.
Juzbi Walia has spent over a decade in persuasion and influence, working in corporate communications with major global agencies and a wide range of organisations across sectors. Now she brings that same influence skillset into the online business world as a conversion copywriter and email strategist, helping course creators launch with messaging that converts without crossing into manipulation.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why most course creators don&rsquo;t actually know their real objections (and keep answering outdated ones).</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden cost of over-persuasion &mdash; even if it &ldquo;works&rdquo; in the short term.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why &ldquo;copy is assembled, not written&rdquo; (and how customer research is the real work).</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to find your sales argument (the unique point of view that makes your offer stand out).</li>
<li aria-level="1">The power of message hierarchy: primary promise first, then secondary angles in the right order.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using a custom GPT to pressure-test messaging angles (without randomly &ldquo;testing everything&rdquo;).</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why copywriters who step into the strategist role will thrive (and &ldquo;selling words as a service&rdquo; won&rsquo;t).</li>
<li aria-level="1">A very real take on business growth: &ldquo;spaghetti on the wall&rdquo; is sometimes the job description early on.</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re building a course (or launching anything online) and you want to sell without sounding like a late-night infomercial, you&rsquo;re going to get a ton from this one.&nbsp;
Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Juzbi on Instagram: @juzbi.copy</li>
<li>To get Juzbi&rsquo;s free resource -&nbsp; &ldquo;<a href="%20https://juzbi-creative-co.kit.com/landing-page?utm_source=OBL-Podcast&amp;utm_content=resources-mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Ep-243">How to Write Non Manipulative Emails That Sell</a>&rdquo; (a checklist of persuasion triggers for launch emails).&nbsp; Or you can send her a DM on Instagram.</li>
</ul>
Suggested Timestamps
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">00:00 &ndash; Intro + why &ldquo;non-sleazy persuasion&rdquo; matters</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:01&ndash;00:04 &ndash; Juzbi&rsquo;s background in persuasion + corporate comms</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:05&ndash;00:08 &ndash; Why she left corporate: &ldquo;bet on myself&rdquo; + designing work around life</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:13&ndash;00:17 &ndash; Objections, customer research, and the danger of over-persuasion</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:19&ndash;00:25 &ndash; Messaging hierarchy + sales argument example (Instagram course)</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:25&ndash;00:26 &ndash; GPT bot + Danny Page</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:32&ndash;00:34 &ndash; Copywriter vs strategist (and why strategy is the moat)</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:35&ndash;00:38 &ndash; Lead gen experiments + &ldquo;spaghetti on the wall&rdquo; phase</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:40 &ndash; Where to find Juzbi + free checklist</li>
</ul>
My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.:<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>

How Engineer and BrandGuard Co-Founder Rob May Mastered The Art Of Pitching Investors For Startup Funding

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