In this episode of the How I Became podcast, host Kelly Yefet interviews Tom, the founder of BenchSci, who shares his journey from aspiring doctor to entrepreneur. Tom discusses the challenges he faced in academia, the importance of antibodies in research, and how he identified a business opportunity to help scientists find better antibodies. He reflects on the significance of building a strong team, the difficulties of pitching to investors, and the evolution of BenchSci's business model. Tom also dispels common myths for future founders and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

Please like, comment, and give us a 5 star rating to keep the momentum going!

Need help from a fractional Marketing team? Reach out to kelly at kellyyyefet@gmail.com

We know Bumble, Tinder, and all the other dating apps... but what about a dating app for cars?

OK, it's not exactly like that, but Vivian Liu, founder of Mae - Making Auto Easy is developing a match-maker tool for consumers to find the perfect car for them.

An immigrant family, moving to Canada from China, watching her dad struggle as an entrepreneur, but ferociously still trying to succeed inspired her spirit to never give up.

In this episode of the How I Became podcast, Kelly Yefet interviews Vivian Liu, founder of MAE, a tech startup in the automotive industry. Vivian shares her journey of becoming a risk-taker, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and the importance of mentorship and networking. She discusses the impact of her family's entrepreneurial background on her own journey, the struggle for work-life balance, and the significance of choosing love over career aspirations. Vivian also reflects on the early days of building her startup, the necessity of pivots, and the myths surrounding entrepreneurship.

Please like, comment, and give us a 5 star rating to keep the momentum going!

Need help from a fractional Marketing team? Reach out to kelly at kellyyyefet@gmail.com

Ready for a deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship, fertility, and breaking barriers? On this episode, we’re joined by Suze Mason, co-founder and COO of Sprout Family, as she takes us through her inspiring journey of launching a company with a mission to make fertility, surrogacy, and adoption care accessible to all Canadians through employer benefits.

Suze saw a glaring gap in fertility care coverage in Canada and set out to tackle the financial barriers that hold so many people back from starting or growing their families. She shares the pivotal lessons she’s learned about building meaningful relationships, the power of open communication, and why it’s time to bring reproductive health into the spotlight.

But we’re not sugar-coating it. This episode touches on some vulnerable and real stories about fertility struggles, so please be mindful of the trigger warnings.

Key Takeaways:

• Sprout's Mission: Making fertility, surrogacy, and adoption care accessible across Canada through innovative employer benefits packages.
• Canada vs. The World: Fertility coverage in Canada lags behind, with only 2% of employers offering it—compared to 50% in the US.
• Entrepreneurship Lessons: Building relationships and effective communication are key to validating demand and aligning stakeholders in any business.
• Breaking the Silence: Open conversations about reproductive health are essential to break stigma and support those on their fertility journeys.
• Men in Fertility: Men play an active role, and male factor infertility needs more attention in the conversation.
• Changing the Landscape: More companies are waking up to the importance of fertility coverage, recognizing that reproductive health is critical for employee wellbeing.
• Founder's Mindset: Being a founder doesn’t mean being a rebel—it’s about leveraging skills from your past roles to create meaningful change.

This conversation will leave you empowered, informed, and ready to reframe how we think about reproductive health and entrepreneurship. Tune in!

Phillip Haid, founder and CEO of Public Inc, discusses the concept of profit with purpose and how to embed social and environmental impact into business strategies. He shares his journey of convincing companies to embrace this idea, even in the face of skepticism and risk aversion. Haid emphasizes the need to transform capitalism to address societal and environmental challenges, and highlights the importance of curiosity and understanding different perspectives in driving social change.

His upbringing in a liberal Jewish household and Catholic school influenced his values of social justice and curiosity. The conversation explores the evolution of marketing and the response to purpose-driven marketing. It also delves into the challenges and myths of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience and determination. He shares a successful campaign example that merged business interests and societal impact, highlighting the need for authenticity and transparency. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the personal growth and leadership development experienced throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

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Interested in brand or growth marketing support, reach out to kelly at https://kellyyefetconsulting.com/

Jaimie Harris, the brilliant mind behind This Is J, a female-founded, made-in-Canada pajama and loungewear brand. If you’re not familiar, This Is J specializes in crafting ultra-soft bamboo pajamas, robes, loungewear, and cozy accessories that redefine comfort and style. The brand recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and was proudly recognized as one of Canada's Fastest Growing brands in 2022. This Is J is a favourite of everyone from Emily Blunt to our very own Meredith Shaw – the latter of whom declared just last month on Breakfast Television that This Is J is her “absolute favourite pajama brand.”

Given the remarkable journey and impact of This Is J, I believe it's high time to shine the spotlight on the visionary behind the brand. Jaimie Harris's story is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation, and I'm eager to share her story with you!

Takeaways

• Family support and influence can play a significant role in an entrepreneur's journey.
• Learning from both wins and losses is crucial for personal and business growth.
• Networking and mentorship are valuable resources for entrepreneurs.
• Celebrity endorsements and securing deals with renowned stores can be exciting milestones in a business.
• Pivoting and adapting during challenging times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, can lead to growth and success. Pivoting a business to e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic requires being already set up for online initiatives and having a strong team in place.
• Balancing work and family life as a CEO and mother requires support at home and at work.
• Launching a business doesn't require everything to be perfectly planned; learning and growth come from interacting with customers and adapting to their needs.
• Success is often the result of years of hard work and continuous growth.

Tim Johnson, Head of Brand Partnerships at Blossom Social, shares his journey from being a startup founder to his current role. He discusses his experience at Wattpad, the app for readers and writers, and the rapid growth and acquisition of the company. Tim also talks about his failed startup, Couply, and how it has transitioned into a successful side hustle.

We dig into the importance of setting up a structure that allows a business to run without needing constant attention. Tim is now focused on building brand partnerships at Blossom Social, an app for retail investors. We also dive into his journey as a founder and the different types of founders: product-focused founder and end-state focused founders.

Tim highlights the unique position of Blossom in the wealth management industry and the opportunity to make a significant impact.

From start to finish, we explore so many topics, ideas, and theories. Like, Comment, Share and give us 5 STARS if you love it!

In this episode of How I Became, I spoke to Laura Gabor. She is the co-founder & COO at ecologicca, the founder of What in the Tech, and avid investor and loves community building.

We discuss her fundraising experiences in the US and how it compares in Canada, noting differences in risk tolerance and capital availability. She shares her journey with ecologicca, a company focused on improving indoor air quality and predictive health modeling, inspired by her co-founder's struggles with poor air quality. We also explore her side project, What in the Tech, which provides resources and support for tech founders. Being a founder is not easy, nevermind spending time trying to understand resources, tools, and the lingo. This is what she's working to unlock.

Take Aways

• Fundraising in the US is often easier and faster compared to Canada, where investors are more risk-averse and have less capital available.
• The Canadian tech ecosystem tends to focus on B2B SaaS companies, while the US is more open to different industries and hardware startups.
• Ecologicca is a company that focuses on indoor air quality and uses IoT technology to monitor and improve air quality in buildings.
• The company's products produce hydroxyls, which are responsible for fresh air outdoors, and have been used by NASA.
• Ecologicca aims to provide clean air for everyone, regardless of their location or financial means. Ecologicca creates hydroxyls to improve indoor air quality and reduce the spread of diseases like COVID-19.
• What in the Tech is a side project that provides resources and support for founders in the tech industry.
• Data and technology play a crucial role in both Ecologica and What in the Tech.
• Laura is passionate about advocating for underrepresented founders and creating a more inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem.

"You determine what your life is. Everyone is going to be dealt bad cards. It's your choice on how you handle those."

Anjali, co-founder of AVO, shares her journey in entrepreneurship and the founding of AVO, a copy trading platform for cryptocurrencies. She discusses the importance of financial literacy and how her upbringing and parents' emphasis on financial education influenced her. Anjali also talks about the challenges of coming from a tough high school and how she overcame them to succeed. She emphasizes the importance of networking and cold outreach in getting opportunities and shares tips for founders in navigating the VC space. Anjali also discusses the importance of falling in love with the problem, not the solution, and the role of customer discovery in shaping the direction of the company. She dispels the myth that founders make money quickly and highlights the need for passion and commitment to the problem. Finally, she shares her perspective on being a delusional CEO and the importance of conviction in building something impactful

Takeaways

• Financial literacy is crucial for personal and professional success.
• Networking and cold outreach can open doors and create opportunities.
• Customer discovery is essential for understanding the needs and pain points of your target audience.
• Fall in love with the problem, not the solution, and be open to pivoting.
• Building a successful company requires passion, commitment, and conviction.