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🦄 Japan’s Oldest VC Firm Eyes 200% Gain
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Hello, there!
It’s been an action-packed week 🙌
Podcast: Creating the Right Team for Success Ft. Kevin Foreman
Success story: Chip Conley Says Entrepreneurship Is Possible at Any Age
Biz Hack: Skyrocket Your Marketing Engagement
Steal-Deal: Creator Growth Almanac By Francis Zierer 💰️
But first, a tour of the headlines…
Weekly Catchups
News | Industry Insights | Trends
🦄 Japan’s Oldest VC Firm Eyes 200% Gain
It's an exciting time for Japan's startup ecosystem. Jafco Group Co., the country’s oldest venture capital firm, is set to triple its investment value. The firm is also considering launching a Japan fund of at least ¥100 billion ($640 million) next year. This resurgence is driven by a surge in potential unicorns and a new wave of entrepreneurs.
🤖 Ukraine Unveils World’s First AI Diplomat
Ukraine has taken artificial intelligence to the realm of diplomacy by introducing the world's first AI diplomat. Named Victoria Shi, the virtual representative aims to assist human diplomats through timely updates and statements on consular matters.
🕰️✨$1.5 Million
The price former FTX executive Patrick Gruhn paid for a gold watch that survived the sinking of the Titanic. The 14-karat timepiece belonged to an American property magnate John Jacob Astor IV who stayed aboard the doomed ship. Jacob’s body and his magnificent watch were discovered a week after the sinking of the mighty ship.
Podcast 🎙️ In this episode, we're joined by Kevin Foreman, the innovative founder of Black Sheep Business Consulting. Kevin shares with us his blueprint for how he went from employee to employer. Foreman also touches upon navigating the challenges of AI in the business world, the importance of adapting consulting services to meet modern demands, and other actionable advice worth your attention. Tune in!
Uncharted Horizons
Personal Development | Success Story
Chip Conley
Hang In There
In an essay for Inc. about “the cult of the entrepreneur,” writer Bill Saporito writes: “We find ourselves at the high-watermark of the cult of the entrepreneur, where excess supposedly leads to success. The message to would-be founders is that a good idea and solid execution aren’t enough to achieve greatness. You must add the histrionics, the blog and social media posts, and the worshipful fan base ready to do your bidding.”
Founder and CEO of Modern Elder Academy Chip Conley says it doesn’t have to be this way. Through his workshop ‘Entrepreneurship at Any Age,’ Conley is on a mission to help entrepreneurs become better humans before businessmen. “Being better at life has made me successful in my business. You have to be smart. You have to negotiate well. But that doesn’t mean you have to be an asshole,” he tells Fast Company without mincing his words.
Corporate executives often have roadmaps or a company strategy and their job is to execute. Entrepreneurship is like surfing: There’s a wave and you have to figure out, How am I going to surf this?
Midlife Reimagined: Conley has always been a non-conformist. After earning his MBA from Stanford Business School in 1984, Chip chose a $24,000-a-year job working for a commercial real estate developer. He avoided generously paying corporate gigs in plain sight. At 26, he started a boutique hotel chain Joie de Vivre. “You’re making no money, living in San Francisco, and named your company for the emotion of joy. You’ve become very new age,” he recalled his friends joking.
After selling Joie de Vivre to Hyatt, Conley began consulting work for Airbnb, a role that quickly transitioned to a full-time role at a company where he was called a “modern elder.” So taken by the name coined name, he used it to launch his own company in 2018.
Through retreats for people from all walks of life, Conley imbibes in entrepreneurs the skills to continue fighting the good fight while learning to expand his own business at 63. He says his favourite part of the job is helping unite people with brilliant ideas who aren’t ready to give up. Many closed rosebuds have bloomed at his academy.
“Corporate executives often have roadmaps or a company strategy and their job is to execute. Entrepreneurship is like surfing: There’s a wave and you have to figure out, How am I going to surf this?”
Being Human: Entrepreneurship at Any Age features sessions and conversations on core leadership topics like time management, growth tactics, and exit strategies.”It’s about people getting to know each other as humans first. What are you dealing with in your company? How do you create the crucible for life-changing conversations to happen? That’s what we specialise in,” Chip says.
Information For Entrepreneurs
Hand-picked resources to keep you inspired
🚀 Creator Growth Almanac: Francis Zierer at Creator Spotlight reveals 30 tactics, tips, and frameworks of 100+ world-class creators and marketers. If you want the full Almanac, just send a friend your unique referral link and tell them to sign up! New entries will be added at the end of every month. Click here to view.
Biz Hacks
Strategies | Tools | Marketing Tips
Credits: pexels
Skyrocket Your Marketing Engagement
How can marketers provide value and keep their audiences engaged?
Interactive elements have been a great option for helping professionals. A recent study by Mediafly shows that interactive content engages 52.6% more than static pieces. It’s integral to include this data while devising a strategy. Before you skip this biz-hack for the lack of coding experience in your company, we urge you to stay on. You won’t need it!
First, some time-tested hacks to create engaging content for each stage of the marketing funnel:
#1 Top of the Funnel (TOFU) Ignite Curiosity with Interactive Assessments
Hack: Ditch boring ebooks. Craft a "Startup Readiness Quiz" that assesses a user's business idea, challenges, and market fit. Integrate lead capture at the end with personalized content recommendations based on their results.
Why it Works: Provides value upfront while capturing valuable user data for future nurturing.
#2 Middle of the Funnel (MOFU) Fuel Decision-Making with Interactive Demos
Hack: Showcase your product's power with interactive product tours or demos. Use tools that allow users to explore features relevant to their specific needs. Consider gamifying the experience with badges or rewards.
Why it Works: Empowers users by letting them "test drive" your product, fostering deeper engagement and building confidence.
#3 Bottom of the Funnel (BOFU) Seal the Deal with Interactive Pricing Calculators
Hack: Go beyond static pricing pages. Design calculators that allow users to personalize pricing based on their specific needs. Offer free consultations at the end to solidify the deal.
Why it Works: Reduces friction by providing clear ROI and a personalized buying journey, leading to higher conversion rates.
💡 Bonus Hack: Repurpose your interactive content! Use quiz results or calculator data to segment your audience and deliver targeted email campaigns for maximum impact.
Let's dispel the myth that interactive content requires coding expertise! The good news is there are plenty of user-friendly tools available to create engaging experiences without writing a single line of code. Here are some go-to resources.
No-code interactive content platforms: Typeform, Qzzr, and Beamer create quizzes, calculators, and other interactive elements with drag-and-drop interfaces.
Interactive content templates: Save countless hours by using pre-made templates to design infographics for your brand.
Brands that pulled it off: Dell's "Customizable PC" Option (Early 2000s): Dell wasn't the first computer company, but they revolutionized the buying experience with their online store. The interactive "Build Your Own PC" tool allowed customers to personalize their computers, see real-time pricing changes, and feel confident about their purchase decisions.
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