Alexander Hejazi on Growing Placement, the Startup Born From BallBox and Bold Pivots

In this conversation, Alex Hejazi, founder and CEO of Placement, shares his journey from finance to the kiosk industry, detailing the evolution of his business through various pivots, especially during the pandemic. He discusses the challenges and successes of launching a startup, the importance of adaptability, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation highlights the innovative approach of Placement in the unattended retail space and the future potential of kiosk technology.

Takeaways

• Alex Hejazi transitioned from finance to the kiosk industry.
• Placement started as a rental service for sports and leisure equipment.
• The pandemic forced a pivot to package management solutions.
• The company evolved from hardware to a software-focused model.
• First dollar earned came from a proof of concept at the beach.
• Hiring a co-founder was a pivotal moment for the business.
• Entrepreneurs should consider maintaining supplemental income initially.
• Pivots are essential for adapting to market changes.
• The kiosk industry is evolving towards unattended retail solutions.
• Placement aims to maximize asset utilization for brands.

Today's guest, Alexander Hejazi, can be found online at:

Website: https://findplacement.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhejazi/

Your host, Scott Turman, can be found online at:

BrightRay Publishing: ⁠https://brightray.com/⁠⁠⁠

Entrepreneur Website: ⁠https://scottturman.com/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottturman/⁠

Keywords

Placement, kiosks, unattended retail, entrepreneurship, business pivot, startup journey, technology, package management, distribution, innovation