In this episode of Startup Hustle, Andrew Morgans talks with John Cant of Rising Sun Commerce. They discuss the ins and outs of Amazon Japan, how John’s Team at Rising Sun Commerce came about, and how to work with brands launching on Amazon Japan.



Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:

https://gigb.co/l/YEh5



This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:

https://fullscale.io



Learn more about Rising Sun Commerce:

https://risingsuncommerce.com



Learn more about Marknology:

https://www.marknology.com

In this episode of Startup Hustle, Andrew Morgans talks with John Cant of Rising Sun Commerce. They discuss the ins and outs of Amazon Japan, how John’s Team at Rising Sun Commerce came about, and how to work with brands launching on Amazon Japan.
 
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
<a href="https://gigb.co/l/YEh5">https://gigb.co/l/YEh5</a>
 
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
<a href="https://fullscale.io/">https://fullscale.io</a>
 
Learn more about Rising Sun Commerce:
<a href="https://risingsuncommerce.com/">https://risingsuncommerce.com</a>
 
Learn more about Marknology:
<a href="https://www.marknology.com/">https://www.marknology.com</a>

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.  With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.  If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.   

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.&nbsp; With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.&nbsp; If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Startups, Entrepreneurship and Business are Not Easy

Startup Hustle

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.  With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.  If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.

Amazon Japan

Chris Callen, founder and CEO of Plot, discusses his journey in the construction technology industry and the challenges of coordinating job sites. He shares his experience with his first software startup and the lessons he learned from it. Callen explains how Plot's job site coordination software helps streamline the delivery and procurement processes in construction. He also discusses the role of AI in the industry and the importance of building trust with customers. The episode concludes with a conversation about the go-to-market strategy for selling software to general contractors.

Takeaways
Job site coordination is a complex process in construction, and software solutions like Plot can help streamline the delivery and procurement processes.
Building trust with customers is crucial in the construction industry, as they are often skeptical of new software solutions.
AI has the potential to make an impact in construction, but it is still in the early stages of adoption.
Trade shows and referrals are effective go-to-market strategies for selling software to general contractors in the construction industry.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about PLOT here:
https://www.getplot.com/company

Learn more about Chris Callen here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-callen/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"Plot is a job site coordination software. Primarily we focus on the coordination of who goes where on the site, talking about all of the material deliveries that are coming from all over the planet really, and that are used to make up of any building."
"You obviously need to focus on problem, not solution. We were so infatuated with our solution that we built this, I call it a science project. It was technically pretty amazing. Like what it was able to accomplish was phenomenal, but it didn't solve a business need and it didn't solve something that computed into business value."
"Let's get this out there. Let's see what gets the traction. And by traction, I do mean dollars. I don't mean kind words. I don't mean demonstrations. I mean, who's going to pay for this?"

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Plot and Job Site Coordination
07:34 Lessons Learned from a Software Startup
15:10 The Role of AI in Construction
19:07 Expanding into Procurement Scheduling
25:23 Building Trust with Customers in the Construction Industry
29:46 Go-to-Market Strategies for Selling Software to General Contractors

Chris Callen, founder and CEO of Plot, discusses his journey in the construction technology industry and the challenges of coordinating job sites. He shares his experience with his first software startup and the lessons he learned from it. Callen explains how Plot's job site coordination software helps streamline the delivery and procurement processes in construction. He also discusses the role of AI in the industry and the importance of building trust with customers. The episode concludes with a conversation about the go-to-market strategy for selling software to general contractors. Takeaways Job site coordination is a complex process in construction, and software solutions like Plot can help streamline the delivery and procurement processes. Building trust with customers is crucial in the construction industry, as they are often skeptical of new software solutions. AI has the potential to make an impact in construction, but it is still in the early stages of adoption. Trade shows and referrals are effective go-to-market strategies for selling software to general contractors in the construction industry. Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: <a href="https://gigb.co/l/YEh5">https://gigb.co/l/YEh5</a> This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: <a href="https://fullscale.io/">https://fullscale.io/</a> Find out more about PLOT here: <a href="https://www.getplot.com/company">https://www.getplot.com/company</a> Learn more about Chris Callen here: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-callen/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-callen/</a> Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: <a href="https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/">https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/</a> Sound Bites "Plot is a job site coordination software. Primarily we focus on the coordination of who goes where on the site, talking about all of the material deliveries that are coming from all over the planet really, and that are used to make up of any building." "You obviously need to focus on problem, not solution. We were so infatuated with our solution that we built this, I call it a science project. It was technically pretty amazing. Like what it was able to accomplish was phenomenal, but it didn't solve a business need and it didn't solve something that computed into business value." "Let's get this out there. Let's see what gets the traction. And by traction, I do mean dollars. I don't mean kind words. I don't mean demonstrations. I mean, who's going to pay for this?" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Plot and Job Site Coordination 07:34 Lessons Learned from a Software Startup 15:10 The Role of AI in Construction 19:07 Expanding into Procurement Scheduling 25:23 Building Trust with Customers in the Construction Industry 29:46 Go-to-Market Strategies for Selling Software to General Contractors

Construction Tech, Building Additional Products

David Sinkinson, co-founder of AppArmor, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned along the way. He challenges startup myths and emphasizes the importance of finding the right co-founder. The conversation covers topics such as the need for funding, the psychology of being a founder, the evolution of AppArmor's product, the slow sales cycle in selling to colleges, and the impact of COVID-19 on the business. AppArmor was eventually sold for $40 million. 

The conversation explores the psychology behind valuations and acquisitions in the software business. It highlights the concept of the 'mighty middle' where businesses sell for millions of dollars, but are not the multi-billion dollar giants. The discussion also touches on the challenges and opportunities of building a SaaS company, the importance of timing in seeking funding, and the benefits and complexities of working with family members. The guest also shares insights from his book 'Startup Different' which offers a chronological account of his company's journey and busts 33 myths about entrepreneurship.

Takeaways
Challenge startup myths and evaluate what is truly necessary for your business.
Finding the right co-founder who complements your skills and provides support is crucial.
The evolution of a product is inevitable, and listening to customer feedback is essential for success.
Selling to colleges can have a slow sales cycle, but once you gain traction, customer loyalty is high.
Adapting to market changes, such as the impact of COVID-19, requires innovation and listening to customer needs.
Building a successful business often takes years of hard work and perseverance. The 'mighty middle' refers to businesses in the software industry that sell for millions of dollars, bridging the gap between small startups and multi-billion dollar companies.
Building a SaaS company to reach a million dollars in revenue is challenging but doable, while reaching 10 million is a whole different level of difficulty.
Timing is crucial when seeking funding, as it's important for the market to develop and understand the product before investing heavily.
Working with family members in a business can be successful if there is trust, complementary skills, and effective communication.
The book 'Startup Different' provides a chronological account of the author's company journey and offers insights and lessons for young entrepreneurs.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about Startup Different here:
https://www.startupdifferent.com/

Learn more about David Sinkinson here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsinkinson/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"We wanted to make sure that entrepreneurs and founders can avoid some of the mistakes that we made."
"Funding might actually leave your business worse off than if you hadn't pursued it."
"Being a single founder is hard. You need someone to talk to, cheer with, and pick you back up in the low moments."
"Most people think of software businesses as being these multi-billion dollar huge sales that happen later coming to nowhere kind of thing."
"It's relatively easy to build a SaaS company that gets to a million dollars a year in revenue."
"We were extremely profitable, turning a 60% profit by our final year."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:10 The Importance of Finding the Right Co-founder
07:05 Evolution of a Product: Listening to Customer Feedback
13:09 Navigating the Slow Sales Cycle in Selling to Colleges
15:59 Adapting to Market Changes: The Impact of COVID-19
18:20 Successful Exit: Building a Business Over Time
22:40 Valuations and Acquisitions in the Software Industry
25:17 The Importance of Timing in Seeking Funding
29:43 Taking the Money and Running
31:37 Insights from 'Startup Different' Book

David Sinkinson, co-founder of AppArmor, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned along the way. He challenges startup myths and emphasizes the importance of finding the right co-founder. The conversation covers topics such as the need for funding, the psychology of being a founder, the evolution of AppArmor's product, the slow sales cycle in selling to colleges, and the impact of COVID-19 on the business. AppArmor was eventually sold for $40 million. 
The conversation explores the psychology behind valuations and acquisitions in the software business. It highlights the concept of the 'mighty middle' where businesses sell for millions of dollars, but are not the multi-billion dollar giants. The discussion also touches on the challenges and opportunities of building a SaaS company, the importance of timing in seeking funding, and the benefits and complexities of working with family members. The guest also shares insights from his book 'Startup Different' which offers a chronological account of his company's journey and busts 33 myths about entrepreneurship.
Takeaways
<ul>
<li>Challenge startup myths and evaluate what is truly necessary for your business.</li>
<li>Finding the right co-founder who complements your skills and provides support is crucial.</li>
<li>The evolution of a product is inevitable, and listening to customer feedback is essential for success.</li>
<li>Selling to colleges can have a slow sales cycle, but once you gain traction, customer loyalty is high.</li>
<li>Adapting to market changes, such as the impact of COVID-19, requires innovation and listening to customer needs.</li>
<li>Building a successful business often takes years of hard work and perseverance. The 'mighty middle' refers to businesses in the software industry that sell for millions of dollars, bridging the gap between small startups and multi-billion dollar companies.</li>
<li>Building a SaaS company to reach a million dollars in revenue is challenging but doable, while reaching 10 million is a whole different level of difficulty.</li>
<li>Timing is crucial when seeking funding, as it's important for the market to develop and understand the product before investing heavily.</li>
<li>Working with family members in a business can be successful if there is trust, complementary skills, and effective communication.</li>
<li>The book 'Startup Different' provides a chronological account of the author's company journey and offers insights and lessons for young entrepreneurs.</li>
</ul>
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: <a href="https://gigb.co/l/YEh5">https://gigb.co/l/YEh5</a> This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: <a href="https://fullscale.io/">https://fullscale.io/</a> Find out more about Startup Different here: <a href="https://www.startupdifferent.com/">https://www.startupdifferent.com/</a>
Learn more about David Sinkinson here: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsinkinson/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsinkinson/</a>
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: <a href="https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/">https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/</a>
Sound Bites
<ul>
<li>"We wanted to make sure that entrepreneurs and founders can avoid some of the mistakes that we made."</li>
<li>"Funding might actually leave your business worse off than if you hadn't pursued it."</li>
<li>"Being a single founder is hard. You need someone to talk to, cheer with, and pick you back up in the low moments."</li>
<li>"Most people think of software businesses as being these multi-billion dollar huge sales that happen later coming to nowhere kind of thing."</li>
<li>"It's relatively easy to build a SaaS company that gets to a million dollars a year in revenue."</li>
<li>"We were extremely profitable, turning a 60% profit by our final year."</li>
</ul>
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:10 The Importance of Finding the Right Co-founder 07:05 Evolution of a Product: Listening to Customer Feedback 13:09 Navigating the Slow Sales Cycle in Selling to Colleges 15:59 Adapting to Market Changes: The Impact of COVID-19 18:20 Successful Exit: Building a Business Over Time 22:40 Valuations and Acquisitions in the Software Industry 25:17 The Importance of Timing in Seeking Funding 29:43 Taking the Money and Running 31:37 Insights from 'Startup Different' Book

Startup Different

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Dan Kerr from Flyover Capital, discussing the evolving landscape of venture capital in the Midwest, particularly in Kansas City. They explore the importance of networking for founders, the structure of the upcoming Mid-by-Midwest event, and the changing dynamics of funding, including the rise of debt and royalty financing. 

Dan shares insights on Flyover Capital's investment strategy, the challenges startups face in revenue generation, and the growing variety of investment options available in the region. The conversation highlights the advantages of the Kansas City startup ecosystem and the role of offshore development teams in modern business.

Takeaways
Networking is crucial for founders looking to raise capital.
The Mid-by-Midwest event is designed to connect founders with investors.
Debt and royalty financing are becoming more popular alternatives to equity.
The VC market in 2024 is more selective and cautious than in previous years.
Flyover Capital focuses on investing in undercapitalized regions.
Local investors often take on more risk with Kansas City-based companies.
Startups need to generate revenue to attract investment.
The Kansas City startup ecosystem has evolved significantly over the past decade.
There are now more investment options available for startups in the Midwest.
Offshore development teams are increasingly common among startups.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about Flyover Capital here:
https://www.flyovercapital.com/

Learn more about Dan Kerr here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankerrkansas/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"How much money you got for us today?"
"This is year number three."
"It's a nightmare to reach out to all these different VC companies."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Midwest VC Landscape
03:05 The Importance of Networking for Founders
05:58 Event Format and Structure
09:06 Understanding Debt and Royalty Financing
11:57 The Changing VC Market in 2024
15:05 Flyover Capital's Investment Strategy
18:01 The Role of Local Investors
21:10 Challenges for Startups in Revenue Generation
23:59 The Evolution of the Kansas City Startup Ecosystem
27:00 The Growing Variety of Investment Options
29:51 The Value of Offshore Development Teams
33:05 Conclusion and Event Details

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Dan Kerr from Flyover Capital, discussing the evolving landscape of venture capital in the Midwest, particularly in Kansas City. They explore the importance of networking for founders, the structure of the upcoming Mid-by-Midwest event, and the changing dynamics of funding, including the rise of debt and royalty financing. 
Dan shares insights on Flyover Capital's investment strategy, the challenges startups face in revenue generation, and the growing variety of investment options available in the region. The conversation highlights the advantages of the Kansas City startup ecosystem and the role of offshore development teams in modern business.
Takeaways Networking is crucial for founders looking to raise capital. The Mid-by-Midwest event is designed to connect founders with investors. Debt and royalty financing are becoming more popular alternatives to equity. The VC market in 2024 is more selective and cautious than in previous years. Flyover Capital focuses on investing in undercapitalized regions. Local investors often take on more risk with Kansas City-based companies. Startups need to generate revenue to attract investment. The Kansas City startup ecosystem has evolved significantly over the past decade. There are now more investment options available for startups in the Midwest. Offshore development teams are increasingly common among startups.
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/
Find out more about Flyover Capital here: https://www.flyovercapital.com/
Learn more about Dan Kerr here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankerrkansas/
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/
Sound Bites "How much money you got for us today?" "This is year number three." "It's a nightmare to reach out to all these different VC companies."
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Midwest VC Landscape 03:05 The Importance of Networking for Founders 05:58 Event Format and Structure 09:06 Understanding Debt and Royalty Financing 11:57 The Changing VC Market in 2024 15:05 Flyover Capital's Investment Strategy 18:01 The Role of Local Investors 21:10 Challenges for Startups in Revenue Generation 23:59 The Evolution of the Kansas City Startup Ecosystem 27:00 The Growing Variety of Investment Options 29:51 The Value of Offshore Development Teams 33:05 Conclusion and Event Details

Amazon Japan

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