Ready For Launch: How To Build A Startup

Hosted by Ian Black

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Apr 2026

Language

About the show

A show about realizing the business ideas of early-stage entrepreneurs. Ian Black interviews early-stage company founders to hear what it's really like getting a business off the ground. How do you launch a startup? What does it take to turn an idea into a business? How do you turn a profit? On Ready For Launch, we get the answers to those questions straight from the people making it happen today. Be inspired by their stories. Learn from their mistakes. Understand the mindset it takes to create something from nothing.

Listen to episodes

59 recent

April 28, 20261 hr 5 min

059 - From Cavities to Category Creation with Sam Coxe, Founder of Flaus (Oprah’s favourite Electric Flosser)

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses.In this interview, Samantha Coxe shares her journey from law to founding Flaus, the world's first electric flosser. Discover how her perseverance, strategic research, and innovative mindset led to creating a new category in oral care, overcoming challenges, and leveraging opportunities like Shark Tank and Indiegogo.LinksWebsite - https://goflaus.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goflausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthacoxe/[⁠](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omsalem/)Key TopicsJourney from law to entrepreneurshipCreating a new product category in oral careStrategic market research and validationLeveraging crowdfunding and TV for growthLessons learned from building a startupChapters00:00 Introduction to Flaus and Its Unique Proposition02:41 Childhood Influences and the Development of Perseverance05:52 The Journey from Law to Entrepreneurship08:52 Realizing the Need for Creativity in Career11:42 The Birth of the Electric Flosser Idea14:53 Market Research and Validation of the Business Idea17:36 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Business Vision20:40 Building a Brand for Diverse Demographics23:28 Strategic Insights and Future Opportunities35:36 Targeting Diverse Audiences in Branding36:42 Navigating the Challenges of Product Development40:59 Learning from Mentors and Industry Leaders44:57 The Journey to Shark Tank: Preparation and Strategy49:15 The Impact of Shark Tank on Business Growth51:03 Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank55:30 The Power of Manifestation in Business01:00:34 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

April 14, 20261 hr 20 min

058 - From FAANGs to Founder, with Zainab Ghadiyali, Founder of Eat Cook Joy and Stackbirds

SummaryWelcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses. This week, Zainab Ghadiyali shares her unconventional journey from growing up in India to becoming a tech entrepreneurin San Francisco. She discusses the hype around AI, her startups in food and AI, and practical lessons on building impactful businesses.LinksWebsiteshttps://www.eatcookjoy.com/https://www.stackbirds.xyz/LinkedIn⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainabg/|Chapters00:00 - AI: Overhyped or Undervalued?02:32 - The Journey of an Entrepreneur05:28 - Childhood Influences and Curiosity08:36 - Navigating Challenges and Risks11:45 - From Health Economics to Tech14:25 - Learning to Code and Breaking into Facebook17:32 - The Importance of Surrounding Yourself with the Right People20:22 - Values and Relationships in Personal and Professional Life23:22 - Vulnerability and Connection26:27 - The Entrepreneurial Spirit29:12 - Financial Stability and Taking Risks32:17 - Overcoming Homelessness and Building Resilience35:22 - Finding Balance and Growth38:28 - The Inspiration Behind Eat Cook Joy40:14 - The Challenge of Culinary Entrepreneurship42:51 - From Idea to Pilot: The Journey of a Startup48:46 - Building a Business: Lessons from the Ground Up53:29 - Navigating the Two-Sided Marketplace55:47 - The Birth of StackBirds: A New Venture01:00:45 - AI in Daily Operations: A Founder’s Perspective01:11:58 - The Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur01:18:18 - Starting Your Own Business: Practical Steps

March 31, 20261 hr 16 min

057 - Revolutionizing Washing: The Science of Microbiome-Friendly Products - with Eli Halliwell, Founder of Sans Savon & Hairstory

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses.Eli Halliwell shares his entrepreneurial journey from disrupting the haircare industry with innovative, microbiome-friendly products to his past ventures in the automotive space. Discover how he identifies opportunities for innovation, the challenges of changing routines, and the impact of AI on entrepreneurship.LinksWebsite - sanssavon.com & hairstory.comSubstack - Eli Halliwell⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction to Eli Halliwell's Entrepreneurial Journey08:45 Innovative Approaches to Hair and Body Care19:21 Eli's Unique Background and Early Career27:38 The Evolution of Entrepreneurship in Today's World42:14 Navigating the Haircare Industry48:52 Innovative Business Models in Haircare53:34 Challenges in Changing Consumer Behavior56:10 Transitioning Leadership and New Ventures01:00:08 Creating a New Brand: Sans Savon01:06:35 Customer Acquisition in a Changing Market01:09:41 Evaluating Growth and Future Steps01:14:28 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

March 17, 20261 hr 12 min

056 - From Shopify to Startup. The 6-Month Plan That Outpaced Expectations, with Michael Kiss, CEO and Co-founder of Symmetry Commerce

SummaryWelcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses.In this conversation, Michael Kiss, CEO and co-founder of Symmetry Commerce, shares his journey from a tech-savvy childhood in Ontario to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the e-commerce space. He discusses his experiences at Shopify, the challenges of starting his own company, and the importance of leadership and company culture.LinksWebsite - https://symmetrycommerce.com/LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/michael-kiss?originalSubdomain=ca⁠Chapters00:0 Introduction to Mike Kiss and Symmetry Commerce05:10 Mike's Upbringing and Early Influences09:43 Education and Career Path to Shopify14:42 Lessons Learned at Shopify19:48 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship24:38 Building Symmetry Commerce29:52 Mindset and Growth as a Business Owner36:29 Vision for Building a Better Shopify38:34 Evolving Service Offerings and Differentiation43:29 Balancing Business Strategy and Execution47:18 Team Collaboration and Problem Solving49:52 The Remote Work Advantage51:58 Reflecting on Initial Business Plans53:39 Navigating Challenges and Growth55:52 Defining Growth Goals and Company Vision59:16 Integrating AI into Business Operations01:01:19 Personal Sacrifices in Entrepreneurship01:05:30 Lessons Learned from Starting Over01:09:56 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

March 3, 202657 min

055 - The AI-Driven Side Project That Gained Global Attention, with Adam Hale, Creator of Dry Outside

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses.Adam Hale shares his journey from digital media enthusiast to data analyst and AI innovator, detailing how he built a weather prediction website using AI tools in just hours. Discover insights on AI experimentation, SEO strategies, human connection, and turning side projects into impactful tools.LinksWebsite - https://www.dryoutside.com/LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhale2/Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:29 The Evolution of Social Media and Personal Privacy05:01 AI in Data Analysis and Website Development07:27 The Role of AI in Daily Work10:24 Building DryOutside: The Concept and Inspiration12:58 Understanding Weather Conditions for Drying Clothes15:41 The Journey from Idea to Launch18:18 Initial Steps and Learning Process21:14 Feedback and Iteration in Development26:43 Building an SEO-Friendly Website30:06 The Power of Reddit for Promotion31:01 From Idea to Live Website in Hours35:20 The Importance of Human Connection37:34 Tech Stack and Data Sources39:13 Unexpected Traffic Surge from Newsletters42:58 Website Redesign and New Features48:18 Feedback-Driven Improvements and AI Inspiration53:13 Advice for Aspiring Project Builders

February 17, 20261 hr 3 min

054 - The Gap Between Design and Reality — and How Omar Salem Built Adora to Fix It

SummaryWelcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses.In this conversation, Omar shares his journey from growing up in Jordan to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Australia. He discusses his experiences at Canva, where he learned valuable lessons about scaling and product growth. Omar reflects on the transition to founding Adora, a company focused on providing visibility into product experiences. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and the challenges of building a startup. Website - https://www.adora.so/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/omsalem/Chapters00:00 Omar's Early Life and Influences01:55 Lessons from Canva: Growth and Product Development13:45 The Transition to Entrepreneurship: Timing and Readiness20:15 Exploring Ideas: Product Growth vs. Education28:21 Understanding Engagement Mechanics29:21 The Birth of Adora33:31 Frustrations with Product Visibility38:28 Building a Solution46:10 Navigating the Development Process51:07 Lessons from Beta Testing55:43 Insights on Founding a Business01:00:47 Advice for Aspiring Founders

March 27, 20241 hr 3 min

AI Revolution in the Job Market: Launching AI Apply - An AI-Powered Job Search Tool, With Co-Founder Aidan Kramer

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world. This week, Ian Black talks to Aidan Cramer about his business AI Apply, which leverages generative AI to help job seekers find and apply for the best job opportunities. Aidan also shares his experience in building multiple businesses and the importance of finding product-market fit. Aidan shares his philosophy on killing ideas that don't work and focusing on the core offering, as well as his growth targets and the strategies he is using to achieve them, including content creation and influencer marketing. Website https://aiapply.co/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@aidancramer Twitter https://twitter.com/AidanCramer We Discuss What Generative AI is Common Mistakes in Job Applications Experimentation with Different Business Ideas How to Achieve Fast Growth and Profitability New Perspectives on Defining Product Market Fit Listening to Customers and Their Ideas Defining Success and Growth Targets Content Creation and Strategy Choosing the Right Co-founder Sacrifices and Loneliness of Entrepreneurship Motivations and Rewards of Entrepreneurship Advice for Starting a Business ––––––– Host: Ian Black Intro Music: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life⁠ License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

March 13, 20241 hr 3 min

Overcoming Your Fears By Bootstrapping An Allergy Friendly Protein Bar Business, with Patrick Manning, founder of Alio.

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show about how founders of early-stage companies launched their businesses into the world. This week, Ian Black talks to Patrick Manning, the founder of Alio, an allergy-friendly protein bar company, who shares his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship. He saw a need for a protein bar free from the top nine food allergens and high in protein, and decided to create it himself. He shares his perspective on overcoming doubts and challenges as a founder and the unique lessons he has learned through entrepreneurship. Website https://livealio.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/livealionow Instagram https://www.instagram.com/livealio Chapters Introduction and Background Identifying the Need for Allergy-Friendly Protein Bars Transition from Medical School to Entrepreneurship Finding a Mentor and Overcoming Fear Lessons Learned from Starting a Business Challenges in Recipe Development and Manufacturing Rebranding and Refining the Product Market Response to the Relaunch of Allio Importance of Customer Feedback and Launch Strategy Delegating and Bringing in Experts Building a Team and Seeking External Funding Organic Marketing Strategies Effective Sales Tactics through Engagment with Facebook Groups Sales Channels and Retail Expansion Profitability and Margin Refinement Shelf Life and Expiry Dates Daily Operations and Balancing Work Future Team Expansion Overcoming Doubts and Challenges Advice for Founders and Dealing with Doubt Setting Goals and Managing Friction Product Expansion and New Flavors Challenges in Scaling and Retail Expansion The Power of Creation and Overcoming Challenges Where to Find Alio --- Host: Ian Black Intro Music: https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life License code: 9TQ4MEAPMU4WJWZ4

February 28, 2024Episode 511 hr 29 min

The Van Conversion Expert: How to Unlock the Lifestyle You’ve Dreamed of - with Shane Monks O'Byrne, founder of The Van Conversion Dotcom.

Shane Monks O'Byrne teaches people how to build camper vans and live a van life. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the philosophy of van life, and the lessons he learned from building his latest startup - https://www.thevanconversion.com. Contents: Introduction and Background Shane's Business: Teaching People to Build Camper Vans The Philosophy of Van Life Shane's Journey into Entrepreneurship Choosing the Right Path as an Entrepreneur Lessons from Investing Applied to Life Balancing Details and Output in Design Finding Fun and Passion in Work Finding Passion and Interests Using Childhood as a Starting Point Questioning False Assumptions and Self-Doubt Exploring Different Interests and Skills Learning New Skills and Trying Something New Learning How to Build a Van Documenting the Van Conversion Process Transitioning from Building Vans to Writing a Book Launching the Book and Building a Sustainable Business Preparing for a Long-Term Bike Journey Handling the Business During Time Away Starting a Business: Choosing the Right Direction

October 25, 202356 min

Launching a non-alcoholic spirit brand in Asia and the USA, with Lorin Winata Founder of Melati Drinks (#50)

Welcome to Ready For Launch, the show where I, Ian Black, talk to founders of early-stage companies about how they launched their business into the world. I’m talking with Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, and part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2023. Among many things, we discuss: The history of Asian tonic drinks, dating back to 1293 What it means to be a non-alcoholic spirit, in the Better-for-you category Borrowing extraction techniques from the perfume industry to create the most accessible drink The loneliness of moving the business to a new country, new culture, with no network Whittling down 150 classic ingredients from the spice islands of Indonesia, into the two Melati drinks What it’s like to leave the male-dominated world of venture capital in Asia, to become an Asian female founder The challenges you face doing everything for the first time as an entrepreneur, and why it gets easier. And much more... So sit back and enjoy the show! Company website https://melatidrinks.com/ Find Melati near you: https://melatidrinks.com/pages/store-locator