In this episode, we dive into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship with Brian Shin, co-founder of Business Canvas, which recently secured a remarkable $15 million in funding. Brian shares the importance of persisting through awkward moments, and the strategies behind building exceptional products. From the origins of Business Canvas and the inspiration behind Re:catch to navigating the complexities of team alignment and fundraising, Brian’s journey offers invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Tune in for a conversation that blends personal anecdotes with actionable advice, perfect for anyone looking to thrive in the startup landscape!

Core team:

Brian Shin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shbrianshin/ 

Disclaimer: Co-hosts and guests do not represent opinions and vision of the companies they work in.

Nurpeiis Baimukan – co-host,  https://instagram.com/nurpeiisb, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurpeiis 

Galymzhan Kenzhetayev – co-host https://instagram.com/scientistsoul,    https://www.linkedin.com/in/galymzhan-kenzhetayev  

Saddam Asmatullayev – co-host https://instagram.com/sadda11_asm,  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadda11asm 

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

4:00 – How to expose yourself to happy accidents?

7:40 – How to persist through awkward moments while exposing yourself to high potential spaces?

9:30 – What is Business Canvas & History of Typed

14:00 – History behind Founders as a product

16:40 – How inefficiencies in sales inspired Re:catch

20:30 – How to decide to build a vertical use-case?

27:30 – How to align a team on pivot?

30:24 – How to build great products?

35:00 – The Mom test

39:00 – Targeting markets for Business canvas & future steps

41:00 – How large is the Korean CRM market?

45:00 – Expansion strategy for Re:catch – Land & Expand

47:30 – Fundraising strategy for Business canvas

56:00 – The difference between founding Brian’s first company and now?

59:55 – How do you know if the potential co-founder is good?

1:01:40 – How has the relationship with co-founders changed?

1:04:30 – Hiring in the beginning of Canvas

1:04:45 – What motivates Brian

1:10:45 – Where Brian is spending energy outside of Business Canvas?

1:13:05 – How stepping stone attitude affects the startup?

1:16:30 – How society and culture impacted Brian’s journey

1:19:30 – Korean government’s encouragement of startup culture

1:21:30 – Advice for young ambitious people

1:26:20 – Brian’s favorite resources