Thanks for taking the time to sit with us to share your Startup Story with our readers. Can you start out by sharing a little bit about yourself and your company?
I have a passion for learning more about other humans and figuring out how we can all connect on a deeper level and help each other best. I've been matchmaking for romance through my company, The Social: Modern Matchmaking, for the past four years and have had so much fun and so much success bringing together singles!
After realizing how useful hiring a matchmaker can be to finding love, I thought I should bring those same concepts to the business community. At the end of 2022, Founderist was born! We are curating a unique community of business owners and founders who are all vetted and interviewed based on their mission, why and values behind what they do. We handpick matches for our clients based on what they're looking for -- whether that's connection, mentorship or even partnership in business.
Personally, I love my community in Denver, as I'm a 5th generation Coloradan! I have a super cute dog named Pancake and my husband and I are expecting our first child in April 2023.
Every business has some sort of catalyst for getting started, or some inspiration. What was your "ah ha" moment?
My "ah ha" moment happened at the end of 2022. I was chatting with a good friend and fellow business owner about how fun it would be to matchmake people when physical attraction wasn't a factor! I realized just how many business owners I've connected with over the course of starting The Social: Modern Matchmaking, and the amazing community that I've built for singles as well. Throughout 2022, I was also hosting speed networking events, and the response was very positive! The tru "ah ha" moment came when I was sitting in a coffee shop with my business partner and we really laid out a plan. Why not take this process I've created to match people for love and use if for the business community?
With a million business ideas out there, what makes your business unique?
Founderist is unique because of the handpicked matchmaking element -- coming directly from a matchmaker! There are COUNTLESS networking groups out there for business owners, but none that are really focusing on fostering deeper connection and support for the community.
We have a 12-point matchmaking system that we use to pair people up -- with values being one of the most important things we look at when bringing two people together. While many business networking groups solely focus on lead generation, we're focused on building more authentic and intentional relationships that, of course, lead to everyone growing their business.
Launching a business is hard. Do you have a team, or a people that have helped you get to this point? And, can you share a little bit about that?
It's definitely hard! We're in the very beginning stages of Founderist, but I do feel lucky to have gone through this process already with my love matchmaking company, The Social: Modern Matchmaking.
I have an incredible business partner, Andy Petek, and we work together as a team with very complimentary skills. When we set up partnerships through Founderist, we use our co-founder relationship as an example. We each have strengths and weaknesses that compliment one another and it works!
It also helps to have your mom be your lawyer -- shoutout to Judi Keene!
People love an inside scoop. What is something most people might not know about you or your company?
People might not know that I've had this idea for business matchmaking for a couple years! Andy Petek and I chatted about it pre-pandemic even. Sometimes it's better to wait for the right time to start something, and the timing just worked out way better this way, and I'm so glad we waited.
Every business hits that wall, or hurdle. What is a major hurdle your business is facing? And how can our readers help, or get involved?
At the moment, we haven't hit our major hurdle yet! We're officially launching at the beginning of 2023 and have soft-launched at the point of this article. I'm sure there will be many hurdles and challenges we will face, like any business.
Starting and running a business is a major learning experience. Up until this point, what is the biggest lesson you have learned, personally, about running your business and the field you are in?
The biggest lesson I've learned so far is to be open to change. It is, after all, the only constant! I've learned to be much more flexible with things that need to shift in business -- which can be daily, weekly or even monthly. Whether that's changes in revenue and how much I can pay myself, changes in the types of clients I'm working with or changing an entire business model to play more to my strengths.
For our readers first learning about your business, could you share three key take away's that you believe our readers should know about you, your business or your product/solution?
1. Connecting with business owners isn't really that different than making new friends or dating -- why not take the approach from a matchmaker who has been making love and healthy relationships happen?!
2. Whether you want to admit it or not, doing business with people with whom you have strong, deep and authentic connections is so much more fun. In a world where there's so much conflict, strife and difficulties -- let's have a little fun when it comes to our passions -- business!
3. Community is vitality important for business success. Being able to have someone who has gone through the same challenge and is actually willing to help, can be life-changing for a struggling entrepreneur. We should all lift each other up and there's enough room for all of us in the business world!
For that person learning about your business, why would they sign up for, or use your company or solution?
To build community, relationships, connections and business growth with an amazing group of vetted business owners!
Are you currently seeking funding, co-founders or building out your team? If so, how can our readers help out?
Not at this moment.
Well, it has been wonderful sitting with you today to learn more about you and your company. How can people find out more about what you guys are up to?
Check out our website: www.founderist.club
Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/founderist.club/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/founderistclub
Thank you for taking the time today to sit with us and share your Startup Story.
Thank you for sharing as well!
Startup Stories.
Every startup has a story.
ABOUT TECH ALLEY STARTUP STORIES
The start up ecosystem is in a constant state of re-invention. Startups are born from inspiration unique to the many founders and circumstances that led to their "ah ha" moment. Too often, these stories are buried in an about section, forgotten, or never shared, due to the natural churn of the startup ecosystem.
Tech Alley's to "strengthen communities by bringing people together, fostering a creative class, and creating an inclusive, diverse, and innovative technology and startup culture."
One of the best ways to accomplish this, is to simply tell the stories of the founders that make up this community.
Tech Alley "Startup Stories" would like to share the story of as many startups as possible.
Because every startup has a story.
And we want to share yours.
Joseph Haecker
Denver Chapter Organizer
