STL Startup Week 2022

Join this fireside chat where Jesse Pujji answers questions about how he bootstrapped multiple companies to 8 figures. He'll cover how to get started, important metrics to pay attention to, how to manage cash flow and several other topics!

As a technical founder, it is tempting to focus on product and shy away from sales, leaving that to a "sales person". But selling should be the first thing you do, even if you have nothing. This is the story of how we got our first sale when there was no product at all. Why talking to your customers is the most important thing you can do to build something, how to get their attention, and how to navigate selling a product while you are building it at the same time.

Entrepreneurship does not favor the specialist who is only able to do one thing really well. It favors teams of generalists who are able to pivot from one role to the next on a shoestring budget. But the pressures that build while wearing so many hats are real and emotionally draining. George Bailey, president of Arch Grant recipient zPods, will talk about the many hats he has worn as an entrepreneur and practical methods he uses to move his business forward while avoiding burnout.

Objectives of presentation:
• Attendees will learn concrete coping methods for transitioning successfully between wildly different tasks.
• Attendees will learn communication and other skills that mitigate the effects of burnout.
• Attendees will receive an overview of some of the best books in time and project management.
• Attendees will learn skills for creating clarity for when the chaos of startup life peaks.

What's beyond the startup phase? SCALING. Most startups don't realize what it really takes to scale their business. This session will discuss 3 key factors that entrepreneurs need to take in order to scale your business effectively. Attendees can expect to take a hard look at their own business with immediate opportunity for feedback.

St. Louis is unique in so many ways. In order to paint both a vibrant and accurate picture of our city and region’s culture and history, one must embrace it holistically by championing all the reasons that make St. Louis shine as a great place to live, work, and expand one's business, while also acknowledging our issues as a city and thinking of them as opportunities to grow. Through a combination of storytelling-styled marketing, direct outreach and relationship building, we can tell a dynamic, promising and engaging story to those who may not quite be sold on St. Louis. Whether your goal is to draw startups, new team members, or other resources and talent here, learn how to showcase your city in both a convincing and authentic way.