Traction Lab Podcast

In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, JDM and Cameron discuss essential strategies for first-time founders to scale their startups, emphasizing the importance of building a competent team.Recorded live at the Carlson Center at Sacramento State, the guys share insights into the significance of founder-market fit, team dynamics, and advisory boards in attracting investors and gaining traction.And then, plot twist!They move on to explore the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT to facilitate various startup tasks, from customer discovery to rapid prototyping. They argue that AI, when used effectively, can significantly boost a startup's operational efficiency and innovation.The episode concludes, as usual, with “frivolous thoughts" about bizarre ADHD traits and motivational concepts.Things referenced in the show:* The Startup Challenge (9/27—9/29) — here is a quick overview:* Free Founding with AI issue on customer personas—Zero to Traction is a weekly podcast about how first-time founders create companies that scale, co-hosted by Cameron Law, Executive Director of the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sac State, and JDM aka Josh David Miller, who facilitates the launch of scale of startups at The Right Box. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, co-hosts JDM and Cameron discuss the common misconception among first-time founders that a great pitch deck equates to a great business.It's time for hot takes and full-on rants, friends! JDM and Cameron are on the warpath — your pitch doesn't matter as much as you think it does. So let's talk about what actually matters.They emphasize that while a pitch deck is a tool, it should not be the primary focus. Instead, founders should concentrate on creating a solid business.They break down the importance of various business elements like traction, market size, and team, and explain how investor feedback, questions, and skepticism can be used as data to improve the business rather than just the pitch.They conclude, as always. with some lighthearted “frivolous thoughts” and encourage listeners to focus on building a valuable, evidence-backed startup.Zero to Traction is a weekly podcast about how first-time founders create companies that scale, co-hosted by Cameron Law, Executive Director of the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sac State, and JDM aka Josh David Miller, who facilitates the launch of scale of startups at The Right Box. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, co-hosts Josh David Miller (JDM) and Cameron Law return to discuss a rarely highlighted yet crucial concept in the startup world: cycles.They delve into the philosophy of cycles derived from the build, measure, learn loop, focusing on its application in fostering a continuous process of improvement for startups. Through their experiences running the Startup Challenge, they explain how focusing on cycles can lead to better validation of ideas and decision-making.The episode also addresses the importance of proportioning effort to evidence, maintaining a model, and running effective experiments. They emphasize the significance of customer feedback and offer actionable insights for founders to implement this cycle-based mindset.Also, we’ve got your frivolity! * JDM shares updates on fatherhood and his journey re-reading 'The Lord of the Rings'* Cameron educates listeners on the etymology of “quarantine”Links:Startup Challenge on Sep 27—29Timecodes:* 00:00 Welcome Back to Zero to Traction* 01:15 The Concept of Cycles in Startups* 01:50 The Startup Challenge: A Deep Dive* 04:45 Proportioning Effort to Evidence* 08:04 Building and Testing Hypotheses* 12:02 The Importance of Learning and Adapting* 28:07 Frivolous Thoughts and FarewellZero to Traction is a podcast about how first-time founders create startups that scale. Every other week, join JDM and Cameron as they tackle key topics in the search for traction — all to help you get to market sooner and scale faster.New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Watch the live stream recording every other Monday morning on our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

In this episode, JDM and Cameron are flying solo to talk about a topic too often given short shrift: team. After all, fully 65% of startups fail due to founder conflicts.Fail. Due to founder conflict.But team is about a lot more than just you and your co-founders…On today’s show:* The terrifying stats of how teams kill startups;* How to use team to flip those odds in your favour;* How do you find a cofounder?* How do you distribute equity?* Find a cofounder, or hire an employee?* What makes a good team?* The surprising and neglected parts of your team: advisory boards, mentors, investors, and customers;* Developing early startup culture;* The mindset of a successful team builder;* And more!Frivolous thoughts:* Cameron talked about his pending nuptials and the true meaning of the Polynesian greeting of “aloha”.* JDM finally finished Star Trek: Picard… and he has thoughts!Links mentioned:* The Founder’s Pie — an article and method by Frank Demmler on how to divvy up equity in a new business venture.* Advisory Board Series — Carlsen Center workshop series on building out startup boards.* Session 1 - Session 2 - Session 3 - This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

On this week’s show, JDM and Cameron are joined by guest co-host Spencer Bardsley, serial entrepreneur and founder of Shared Vision, for a deep dive into the why, what, and how of testing and experimentation — and Spencer shares a vulnerable story of nearly losing it all, and how testing could have prevented it.Shared Vision is a software tool that helps content creators and influencers manage the products they recommend in order to maximise their affiliate revenue.Find Spencer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbardsley/On today’s show:* Why is testing important?* How do we cultivate a culture of experimentation?* How do you go about the process of testing? How do you design experiments? What are the kinds of tests a founder can run?* What do you do with the data you get back from experiments?* How do you know when it’s time to pivot or persevere?* And more!Frivolous thoughts* Cameron talks about fear of failure, and how he stretched himself to compete in a triathlon.* Spencer shared his feelings on the growth of AI, and what workers need to do to prepare themselvs.* And JDM ranted about the latest season of The Mandalorian (no spoilers): “It's like Task Rabbit, but in the Star Wars universe.”Referenced on the show* The Dip by Seth Godin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

Join regular co-hosts JDM and Cameron Law, and guest co-hosts Pava LaPere and Sherrod Davis, the co-founders of EcoMap, for a riveting discussion of finding who your customer is.EcoMap is a Baltimore-based SaaS startup that makes it possible for people to navigate all of the invisible ecosystems that we live and work in every day — e.g. startup ecosystems!On today’s show:* The importance of falling in love with problems, rather than solutions;* How EcoMap’s broad target market is as much of a curse as a blessing;* Honing your messaging to resonate with your niche;* Tools you can use to identify your customers;* And more!To learn more about customer personas, check out JDM’s recent deep dive on YouTube, along with a free template you can use to get started.Frivolous thoughts* Pava talked about the critical role of regional & community banks, particularly amidst the recent banking crises.* Sherrod shared his March Madness bracket — take a listen to see how his predictions fared.* Cameron confessed he didn’t “get” The Matrix when it first came out when he was a child, but how it takes on a more poignant meaning in the context of 2023.* And JDM calls out so-called “imposter syndrome”, based in part on this New Yorker article. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

Hey friends — JDM here 👋Well, it’s finally arrived!This is the first episode of Zero to Traction, so we’re going to take a few minutes to walk through the ins and outs of startups at the 30k-ft level.Stay tuned for the next episode, where we dive deep into customers and customer discovery with the co-founders of a Baltimore-based startup called EcoMap.Thank you so much for being part of our journey here, and letting us be a smart part of yours.On today’s show:* Who are we and why are we doing this?* What is Zero to Traction?* What is the work of a startup, what is traction, and other general concepts.* Why trying for investment from day 1 will doom your startup to fail* And more!Frivolous thoughts* Cameron shares his thoughts on how ChatGPT is changing his workflow* JDM watched the first episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, and gets Cameron to confess he’s never seen an episode of any Star Trek show.Patrick Stewart’s reaction to Ricky Gervais’ similar confession: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com