Rick Zullo’s Post

Don't allow the full 50% of your time to be taken up with people, hire an operations consultant that can be your right hand to handle the processes so that you can focus on scaling. This will allow the people focus to be truly inspiring your team. Every visionary needs an operations guru as their right hand to grow efficiently!

It is a privilege to work with incredible leaders and it is an absolute joy when you can be in a room full of them. Huge thanks to Stephanie Rich, Mary Grove, and Brett Brohl of Bread and Butter Ventures for inviting me to lead a discussion on "Planning for Hard." Founding and leading a fast-growing company is one of the hardest things you can do; forcing a construct like "work-life balance" on yourself can set up cycles of disappointment and expectations that just cannot be met. Instead, if we "plan for hard" and accept that yes, it will be a lot, and yes it will be a roller coaster - we can then explore/invest in the infrastructure (personal and professional) to bring out the best version of yourself (as a leader, a partner, and a human).

📢 FOUNDERS: Have you taken part in a European accelerator and wish you had noticed the red flags, known which elements were actually worth it or simply have learnings from the process that you think others would benefit from before taking part? I want to hear from you, for a piece in Sifted on what founders have learned from their accelerator experiences! Drop me a DM on LinkedIn or an email at [email protected] 📩

Nabbing awards and speaking on stages is part of a holistic and powerful public relations campaign, particularly for VC backed startups that need signals to potential investors and talent. Here are 6 ways to get them (my full article on Forbes linked below): 1. Suss Out Previous Winners Or Speakers 2. Contact The Organizers 3. Check The Questions Ahead Of Time 4. Use Hard Data To Back Up Your Claims 5. Tell Compelling Stories 6. Be Brief #vcfunding

For founders and investors who want to know how we're cultivating a venture community: 1. Start with a "friends first, business second" culture. 2. Maintain intentional criteria on who can join. 3. Curate events and matchmaking to help people connect authentically. 4. Layer in edu curriculum and resources to support companies. 5. Establish partnerships with investor networks to co-host events, co-create content, and share investment opportunities. Read specifics in our new deck: https://lnkd.in/gcqebd7J Leave a comment: What do you think is a necessary ingredient for a venture community? 👇

Here’s to new ventures in 2024

Pre-SEED Founders - would you like to join me? My most favourite thing is meeting with founders and Capital Angel Network ‘s CANLABS is the one opportunity I have - now for a second year - to spend some consistent quality time together. Thank you for recharging my enthusiasm and for the trust to be a micro part of moving your ventures towards a successful raise. We're at APPLICATION count down and our Cohort is looking mighty!!!! If you're looking for investor decision insights and to focus on getting your raise into winning shape - take a peek. Link in comments

Follow my feed today for exciting news from two Black Dog Venture Partners companies and VC Fast Pitch alumni. #news #blackdogceo #vcfastpitch

Forum Ventures' The Midnight Text shares our POV on the early stage journey, for founders by people that get it. The most recent newsletter hones in on a topic I live and breathe every day - the importance of the founding team. Here's a highlight: "A lot of founders over-index on presenting the business, but you are just as important to the story." Don't miss out. 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/gfgnZDUU