Starting a Startup: What does it take? (feat. Josh Sanabria)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews ⁠Josh Sanabria⁠, CEO of Go Architect, discussing the journey of starting a startup. They explore the challenges entrepreneurs face, the importance of patience, effective prospecting strategies, and the significance of building a supportive community. Josh shares insights on narrowing down target audiences and emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, but it can be a rewarding path for those who are passionate about solving problems.

Takeaways

Everything takes twice as long as you think it will.
You don't have to go and be a venture funded company to be successful.
Patience is crucial in the entrepreneurial journey.
Understanding your customers is key to effective prospecting.
Be specific rather than casting a wide net in outreach.
Building a support system is essential for success.
Not everyone is cut out for entrepreneurship.
You don't start a business to save time; it often requires more effort.
Entrepreneurship can be an exciting and interesting journey.
Take risks on adding value in your community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Go Architect

02:20 Challenges of Starting a Startup

11:04 The Importance of Patience in Entrepreneurship

12:52 Prospecting and Sales Strategies

20:39 Narrowing Down Your Target Audience

29:11 Building a Support System

35:53 Is Entrepreneurship for Everyone?

Podcast

Check out on Spotify.

Summary

Overview of Go Architect

Josh explains the work of GoArchitect as a design and technology firm focused on urban planning and using software to assist clients like school districts and investors.
Examples are provided, including working with school districts to manage data, finances, and community engagement.

Transition to Main Topic: Challenges of Starting a Startup

Krish transitions to the main topic, sharing his experience in software development and how the challenges in running a company often go beyond technical issues.
He asks Josh to talk about his journey, challenges faced, and surprises in starting a business.

Challenges and Lessons in Entrepreneurship

Josh highlights that things take twice as long as expected and emphasizes the importance of patience.
He mentions that while venture capital isn’t always necessary, some form of investment, whether through clients, partners, or employees, is essential for success.
Josh shares how realizing alternative funding sources freed him from the idea that venture capital is the only path.

Discussion on Patience and Building Resilience

Krish responds, appreciating the insights and reflecting on his own experience with how patience and unexpected challenges shape entrepreneurship.
Josh elaborates with concrete examples, emphasizing that things like client acquisition, feedback collection, and even product launch often take longer than anticipated. He advises being prepared for delays and waiting periods.

Prospecting and Sales Challenges

Krish introduces the challenge of prospecting and selling, especially in B2B markets. He describes his company's experience with sales automation platforms and the difficulty of effective outreach.
Josh advises being specific in prospecting and tailoring approaches to the target audience, sharing that casting a wide net isn’t always productive.

Targeting the Right Audience and Effective Outreach

Krish shares his experience with automated sales platforms and the frustrations of casting a wide net with minimal results.
Josh emphasizes the importance of being specific and understanding where your target audience is. He suggests focusing on product utility and relevance, rather than relying on mass outreach strategies.

Closing Thoughts on Effective Sales Strategy

Krish highlights the illusion that sales automation can effectively replace personalized outreach. He emphasizes that even though platforms can make it appear that outreach is customized, recipients can tell when they are part of a mass email.
Josh agrees, reinforcing the value of thoughtful, targeted outreach over automated mass communications.