It’s the final day, the final lesson, and the final chance for the contestants to pull off a win. The day’s lesson is all about tech stacks, with the contestants facing their last challenge of creating an aspirational tech stack. You’re definitely going to want to watch and see what tricks these Bloxers have up their sleeves for their last-ditch efforts! And no spoilers, but if you’ve been looking to see some new faces enter the Blox-Off, you’ll definitely want to stay tuned…
We open with some of the Bloxers learning to perfect their “about me” pitches and discussing their next steps, which gives us a great introduction to some of the contestants we haven’t met yet. Night four closes and it’s off to the final day.
The winners of last night’s pod are enjoying breakfast and already feeling nostalgic for the experience. Today, Wes they are learning Tech Stacks For Startups & Small Businesses, which is important for each and every startup. That’s because there’s an endless list of things that we need to do as an entrepreneur, and having an effective tech stack can take some of the work away and automate it. The Bloxers learn in detail the three ways to scale: employees, the crowd, and technology. We use Starbucks to demonstrate how any company can be a tech company, and how technology can help founders to get things off their plates.
Afterward, the contestants meet their fate in the final challenge: create a combination of an aspirational/real-life tech stack. They present to the judges all the tools they currently use or plan to use for customer retention, social media, and other parts of their business. After their consultations, the Bloxers file in for the final Blox-Off, where the stakes have never been higher, and five new entrants compete that night. But you’ll have to wait until the finale to see how they fare!
Scaling doesn’t only refer to the production of a product but also encompasses various aspects like scaling the sales funnel, supply chain, employee training, customer education, and more. The example of Starbucks is given to illustrate that even brick-and-mortar businesses can be viewed as scalable tech companies if they have a competitive advantage and can operate at a large scale. The concept of a tech stack is introduced, referring to all the software and equipment used in the business to create value. This includes software for lead acquisition, revenue capture, customer service, product distribution, customer organization, employee management, investor relations, security, data storage, marketing collateral creation, accounting, and even managing the tech stack itself. Not all pieces of technology are easy to build or implement on their own, and sometimes it may be necessary to hire tech contractors to assist with the implementation and maintenance of certain tools.
When hiring a tech contractor, it’s important to find the right fit. Going with a firm that is too big or established might be costly and not suitable for early-stage ventures, while going too small with an inexperienced individual may result in an unreliable solution. The main variables to consider when choosing a contractor include their ability to do the job correctly, fulfill warranties, avoid corporate problems, and have a passion for helping early-stage entrepreneurs. Approach technology investments like an investor, considering ROI potential. Technology can greatly increase business value with higher returns. Find vendors who understand long-term vision and offer transparent pricing based on different development stages. Caution against using equity to pay vendors, but if necessary, establish vesting schedules and maintain cash/equity balance. When interviewing technologists, consider vision alignment, enthusiasm, startup culture fit, communication skills, support team, and relevant experience.
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Andrew Chan is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Right Rudder Aviation. He holds several Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates including Certified Flight Instructor Instrument-Airplane, CFI-Glider, and Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. His instructional specialties include bush flying, aerobatics, and advanced transitions. Andrew is also the Manager of the Inverness Airport (KINF), and proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE). Since 2016, Right Rudder Aviation has set out to make the dream of flight accessible to all. Starting with a single 1946 Piper Cub in the flight school, today RRA is a full service Aerospace firm. Conveniently located in Central Florida, RRA is a Fixed Base Operator (FBO), flight school, aircraft maintenance facility, and aircraft dealership. RRA represents and sells all Pipistrel products across the United States, and is the exclusive dealer for the highly praised and newly launched Pipistrel Panthera. Right Rudder Aviation focuses on improving all aspects of aviation for the next generation- from launching revolutionary training programs to electrifying aviation into the future.
As the owner and founder of South Sound Staffing, Brittany is driven by a genuine desire to make a profound difference in the staffing industry. Being a family-owned agency, Brittany and her team go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and unmatched dedication to their clients. With a customer-centric focus, they strive to provide the best staff, ensuring that employers find the perfect match for their organizations. Brittany’s extensive experience of over 10 years in the industry has honed her expertise, making her a true authority in the field. As a thought leader, Brittany is passionate about bridging the gap between employers and employees. She actively engages in discussions surrounding hiring, careers, staffing, leadership, and recruiting. By sharing her insights and expertise, she empowers both job seekers and employers to navigate the ever-evolving job market with confidence.
GW Chew, aka Chef Chew, is the Founder & CEO of Something Better Foods Inc. and has been a vegan food inventor/restaurateur for over 15 years. Adopted at birth into a family with the last name “Chew,” Chef Chew believes that he was born with a mission and purpose to change lives for the better, one chew at a time. Chef Chew grew up in the “country” amongst a family of very heavy meat eaters and noticed over time that a lot of different diseases, from diabetes to cancer, plagued the members of his family. He later discovered that many of those same diseases have been linked to poor diet and overconsumption of animal meat products. Inspired to begin living a healthy lifestyle, Chef Chew switched to a plant-based diet in 2001 and started experimenting with creating vegan food products in 2004. He painstakingly invented the Better Chew proteins in his mom’s kitchen and has perfected the textures and taste over the past 15 years.
Jarret Winkelman is an American business executive and serial entrepreneur. He specializes in establishing and growing companies from zero to multimillion-dollar revenue-generating businesses. Jarret was previously the founder and CEO of Incident Response Technologies (IRT), a GovTech company focused on providing solutions to first responders. Jarret bootstrapped IRT to the upper six figures in annual revenue, then raised $2.5M in venture capital to accelerate growth. IRT ultimately generated millions in revenue and served hundreds of customers throughout the United States and internationally. In 2021, IRT was acquired by The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm, and merged with their portfolio company Omnigo Software. In addition to remaining active as a thought leader and executive in the GovTech market, Jarret owns and operates a variety of business ventures including real estate investment firm Alpha Echo Properties, JSWinkelman Consulting, and Caddis Outdoors.
John’s passion lies in helping entrepreneurs and startup founders launch amazing software into the market that customers love. He partners with early-stage companies, to help them validate their ideas, to build software that matters and that customers actually want to buy. John has helped many bold entrepreneurs solve big problems that create a lasting impact.
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