"I'm not just the founder of this company, I'm also the beta test. So actually the first song that I wrote with this software has around 30 million streams now. I wrote it in 10 minutes. I produced it in about an hour, which was exponentially quicker. It was the first pop song that I had ever written, charted in 12 different countries."

Zoe Wrenn, founder and CEO of Tamber.ai, discusses her approach to bridging music and technology, offering musicians a creative suite that leverages AI to streamline production without losing the artistry.

With a deep passion for music and a background in coding, Zoe shares her journey from viral songwriter to entrepreneur, crafting a unique toolkit for musicians to explore limitless creativity.

On this episode of Founders In LA, Zoe highlights the challenges of fundraising and finding investors aligned with her vision, emphasizing the importance of early-stage supporters who understand both the mission and the complexities of innovation.

As she prepares for Tamber’s launch, Zoe envisions a new world where musicians can create at their own pace and audiences can discover music in fresh, immersive ways.

"Look at your weaknesses and try to find people for your advisory board or board of directors that close out those weaknesses. Because you cannot be the best salesperson around, you cannot be the best operator, and you cannot be the best finance person [all at once]." Andrey Kudievskiy, Founder and CEO of Distillery, shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the USSR to building a successful AI-driven software development company in Los Angeles. He recalls his early love for technology, sparked by playing Prince of Persia, and how his entrepreneurial mindset--influenced by his family's humble background-- set the foundation for his future ventures. In this episode of Founders In LA, Andrey discusses the importance of recognizing personal limitations, building strong relationships, and making strategic decisions, such as expanding into Latin America, to drive growth. He also highlights the pivotal role a skilled advisory board plays in supporting a company’s success.

In this episode, Vince Lucero, Founder & CEO of DubPrime, shares his journey from working on the Google Play Store and Credit Karma to founding a company aimed at revolutionizing credit access for gig workers.

Vince discusses the challenges of traditional lending systems and how DubPrime is leveraging AI to assess creditworthiness in a more inclusive way.

With a deep commitment to social impact, Vince’s story is one of innovation, passion, and a desire to pay forward the opportunities he’s had. Founders In LA listeners will gain insights into the intersection of technology, finance, and social equity.

"My two passions in life from as long as I could remember were technology and fashion."

We welcome Jessie Somekh, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Rotate Your Closet, a peer-to-peer clothing rental app designed to monetize those barely-worn pieces sitting in your wardrobe in this episode of Founders in LA.

Jessie shares her journey from a STEM-focused education at Vanderbilt to pivotal roles at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, all while maintaining a passion for fashion.

She discusses how Rotate Your Closet helps women access an endless wardrobe, save money, and earn from their investments in fashion. Jessie recounts into the startup's early days, the role of social media in gaining traction, and the innovative use of AI to personalize the shopping experience.

Listen to this episode to hear about Jessie’s insights into the intersection of fashion and technology, and her vision for transforming how we think about our closets.

"The idea that we cannot leverage our most intimate and valuable space in any way to recoup any value while we're gone is insane."

In this episode of Founders in LA, we sit down with Bo Abrams, Co-Founder of kommu, a groundbreaking home-sharing network.

Bo shares his journey from a determined business school applicant to a visionary entrepreneur revolutionizing the rental market.

kommu leverages trusted personal networks to unlock home-sharing opportunities that traditional platforms overlook.

Bo discusses the challenges millennials face with rising living costs and how kommu provides a solution by allowing users to share their homes with trusted connections.

He also reflects on the evolution of the home-sharing industry and kommu's unique social network model that enhances travel experiences.

"If you can really be the lowest risk, highest return option, people will get it. The experts in that industry will get it and they will sign up."

We sit down with Rachael Nelson, the Founder and CEO of Brandy, in this episode of Founders in LA. Rachael shares her journey from aerospace manufacturing to leading a groundbreaking app that democratizes influence by allowing everyday consumers to earn meaningful money through simple endorsements of their favorite brands.

She describes the inception of Brandy, highlighting the importance of passive income and the power of word-of-mouth marketing.

Rachael's insights into creating a low-risk, high-return product, and her commitment to adding value to the economy by supporting consumers, provide invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with practical advice and the story behind Brandy’s mission to make affiliate marketing accessible to everyone.

Top Takeaways:

1. Simplified Affiliate Marketing: Brandy is designed to make affiliate marketing incredibly easy and accessible for everyone, including older adults like Rachael's 92-year-old grandmother. The platform allows users to earn money by endorsing brands they already use without needing to create content or build a large following.

2. Focus on Passive Income: Rachael is passionate about adding billions to the economy by enabling consumers to generate passive income. She emphasizes the joy and financial relief that can come from earning money by simply sharing products they already love and use in their daily lives.

3. Low-Risk, High-Return Product: Rachael stresses the importance of making Brandy a low-risk, high-return option for brands and consumers. By carefully analyzing market options and addressing pain points such as tracking conversion rates and payment difficulties, Brandy positions itself as a reliable and attractive platform.

4. Adapting to Market Needs: While staying true to Brandy’s core mission, Rachael acknowledges the need to be aware of market trends and prepare for future features that will keep the platform relevant. However, she advises against chasing every trend, instead focusing on the essential elements that will benefit the community.

5. Community and Networking: Rachael highlights the importance of being in the right environment for growth and networking. Moving to Venice, a hub for serious entrepreneurs, provided her with invaluable connections and inspiration. She underscores the value of surrounding oneself with a community that supports and accelerates one’s business goals.

Top Quotes:

1. "It's simple enough that even my grandma who's 92 actually can understand and use that on her iPhone and so it's the most simple form of affiliate marketing that could possibly be produced in my opinion and I'm amazed it doesn't exist yet but we're doing it for the first time."

2. "I want to add billions to the economy, to consumers who need passive income, who need to feed their kids, buy Christmas presents... there's so much joy that we get out of the things that we buy when they're the right things that we buy."

3. "To be low risk you really have to look at what options are available on the market currently and like make a feature list and go through every single one of those and start talking to people about those different features."

4. "I think one thing I will say about anyone who is building I think what was particularly impactful for me was making the decision to move to Venice."

5. "And there's certainly ways to watch what the market is doing and watch what people are flocking to and prepare for the day when it is essential for those features to be incorporated into your product in order to be essential and relevant to your community."

"You need a great lawyer and you need a great accountant. Those two things are inevitable. But they look at me and I go, 'Oh, you've never looked at your cap table."

Joshua Lee, CEO and Founder of Ardius explores the vital importance of cap tables in managing startups and guiding investment decisions, in this episode of Founders In LA. With his deep background in accounting and building ventures, Joshua sheds light on the typical challenges and the strategic value of keeping cap tables clean and detailed. He outlines potential issues entrepreneurs may encounter, such as dilution, valuation discrepancies, and investor expectations, offering insightful advice on how to tackle these hurdles. Through practical examples and personal stories, Joshua highlights the need for transparency and meticulous planning in venture relationships and the growth of startups. This episode is a valuable resource for both founders and investors, providing practical tips on how to understand and use cap tables to drive successful business outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Cap Tables: Joshua Lee highlighted the intricacies of cap table management, noting issues like convertible notes and safe notes. He emphasized the importance of meticulous attention to detail in tracking each entry, as these have significant implications on future strategic decisions, especially concerning funding and exits.

2. The First $10 Million In an Exit Can Be Tax Free: Joshua underscored the crucial need for skilled accountants and lawyers to guide founders through the complexities of startup management. These advisors ensure legal and financial robustness -like uncovering thousands of dollars in taxes or understanding that the first $10 million in an exit might be tax free under the right conditions.

3. The Difference Between Joining a New Fund vs. One that is Almost Closed: Joshua detailed the challenges of navigating funding cycles and managing investor expectations. For instance, a company joining at the beginning of the fund may have different timelines and expectations than one at the end of the fund.

4. Long-term Vision and Strategic Exits:Joshua shared his approach to strategic exit planning, stressing the need for alignment between a startup's operational activities and its exit strategy. He noted how a well-maintained and clear cap table is essential for facilitating smooth transitions and maximizing stakeholder benefits during exits.

5. Founder Diligence: Joshua advocated for proactive founder engagement with their cap tables, emphasizing the critical nature of understanding the implications of each entry. He highlighted the risks of dilution and the necessity for founders to remain vigilant about how transactions affect their control and align with their long-term goals.

   
   

   Top Quotes:

1. "We started opening up the cap table. Start seeing the convertible notes, the safe notes, the priced rounds even venture debt and the warrants that have been issued. It's all over the place."

2. "What is QSBS? It sounds like BS. No, it's called Qualified Small Business Stock. Just look that up. That will pay for itself."

3. "You need a great lawyer and you need a great accountant. Those two things are inevitable. But they look at me and I go, 'Oh, you've never looked at your cap table.'"

4. "So when you take money, there come expectations of different sorts. One is the return, depending on how their fund's doing."

5. "This is why our last company was sold in 18 months, and, very interestingly enough, it was done in a way where I thought everyone's numbers were achieved."