Kyle Thomas

I’ve heard founders say: “We’ll figure it out after we raise.” No. That’s why you won’t. Capital is fuel. But no one fuels a car without a map. Get your roadmap together before you start the raise. You’re not winging this. #RaiseWithReadiness

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Blind trust in specialists leads to blind spots. You don’t need to know how to run every campaign, but you do need to know what good looks like. As a business owner, you must define success and hold your consultants accountable. This clip explains why owner accountability is critical: Full Roundtable Episode: video + blog insights https://lnkd.in/gmwQjV6H Join The Connect The Dots Scaling Up Resource Center for FREE: https://lnkd.in/gTXV2j6A #ScalingUp @Scalingupcoaches @scalingupnz #Leadership #Strategy #Growth ➡️ Follow My Hashtag #AskGlennMarvin

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The warm intro space is a graveyard of zombie products. They all make the same promise. And they all share the same fatal flaw. The promise is incredible: tap into the networks of your investors, advisors, colleagues and customers. The reality? You spend weeks chasing people down just to get started. Here's the problem they all refuse to solve: They require your network - the people you want intros from - to do work for you. They have to export their LinkedIn network as a CSV file. Or manually grant access to their account. Let's be honest. Who is actually going to do that? You're lucky if 15-20 people comply. So your entire "network mapping" is limited to that same handful of people. You burn them out with requests. And you miss the best intro paths from the 99% of your network who never opted in. Those 15 people might have 5,000 connections each. That's a 75,000-person network. Sounds big, right? But what about YOUR 5,000 connections? Each of them has their own 5,000-person network. The math: 5,000 x 5,000 = 25 million potential intro paths. You're leaving 99% of your network's potential on the table because of a broken model. That's exactly why we built Draftboard differently. Our agent maps your entire network automatically. No one else has to install anything, export anything, or do anything at all. 99% less friction. Over 100x more reach. We solved the core friction that killed every other tool in this space. Because getting a warm intro shouldn't require you to burn your network just to get started.

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What happens when we outsource all our decisions to AI? We save time. We avoid cognitive load. And we miss opportunities that human judgment would catch immediately. Outsourcing research to AI? Easy yes. Outsourcing final decisions to AI? Hard no. Your discernment is your competitive advantage. (Resharing because this is exactly why visionary entrepreneurs need to stay in the driver’s seat…)

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You can build and also feel that your company is doing a lot of things right s/o to Salubrum (Backed by Forum Ventures) by Osama U. At this stage, you are sure your product and the problem you solve is real. For Salubrum its helping healthcare companies serve thier ideal patients by understanding intent. And this is a very clear problem to tackle. In my work and for over a decade, this is where an important question needs to be asked (and in Salubrum’s case) “When does patient intent stop being a marketing insight and become an operational emergency for healthcare companies?” Why? To build a company that will last we must understand that people dont act because something is important, they act because it is an unavoidable priority. And for a company like Salubrum, the next path to growth isn’t explaining the value better or more often. Its focusing on the situation where the product becomes inevitable. People don’t buy when a problem is well described, they buy when the cost of doing nothing is pretty high. In this situation, they will PULL the product out of your hands.. Understanding and building Salubrum FOR this “situation”means: 1. Content will never argue that healthcare marketing is broken, it must speak to the leaders of these companiens who are already feeling the consequences of wasted marketing spend. 2. The brand narrative stops being “We identify patients before they start searching.”and starts to answer this question for them “What do we do when our marketing budget keeps growing, but patient flow doesn’t.” The brand story explains why waiting is risky and how Salubrum’s solution derisks the situation. 3. From there, conversation buckets (typically called content pillars) form naturally. “We’re spending, but we don’t trust the demand we’re generating.” “We know intent matters, but we can’t see it early enough.” “If this doesn’t change, our growth plan doesn’t hold.” Those aren’t “content ideas. They are the internal conversations already happening inside healthcare orgs under pressure that Salubrum’s marketing must speak to 4. Only in this situation does the market truly see Salubrum’s value. As such, all outbound efforts must target behavior (intent) that signal this unavoidable situation. No automated outbound tool can create demand, they only channel it so it can be served. These tools will work best for Salubrum when they trarget healthcare organizations/departments that: – already feel the cost of misaligned marketing spend – are accountable for patient volume and outcomes – know that another quarter of “testing” isn’t an option At this point, sales conversations will feel calm instead of forceful. Founder-led sales will do less of explaining what Salubrum does and focus more on what needs to be fixed immediately and why And this isn’t just about Salubrum. [continued in the comments]

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📣 2025 changed everything in generative 🤖AI. Music and video got good enough to effectively entertain…*and* confuse people with high impact. Beginning with 🏈Super Bowl ads. What we saw this year: 🎸AI music projects hitting mainstream charts and getting coverage in the trades like Billboard, Rolling Stone etc 📽️AI video going cinematic, then going viral. Watermarks and “safety” features stripped in minutes. If anyone can generate a convincing voice or face: Authenticity is table stakes. Trust becomes infrastructure. That’s what we’re building at ViNIL We verify voice, identity, name, image, and likeness. 🔒We prove what’s authentic before the content spreads. We support consent, attribution, and creator rights. 👷🏾‍♀️We build. We educate. We advocate. 🎙️If you’re a creator, label, studio, platform, or investor—you’re already in this. What kind of tools do you wish existed? Other things that happened this year… ✅Timbaland launched an AI-focused venture (Stage Zero) and introduced AI artist TaTa using Suno. ✅ The Velvet Sundown drew major attention as an AI music “band,” later described publicly as an art hoax. ✅ Xania Monet became the first known AI act to appear on a Billboard radio airplay chart, debuting at No. 30 on Adult R&B Airplay with “How Was I Supposed to Know?” ✅ Breaking Rust’s “Walk My Walk” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart (a downloads chart), and coverage noted the small unit volumes behind that ranking. ✅ Deezer reported roughly 50,000 fully AI-generated tracks uploaded per day, about 34% of daily deliveries, and noted high levels of fraud on AI tracks. ✅ OpenAI announced Sora 2 on September 30, 2025. ✅ Google released Veo 3.1 and Veo 3.1 Fast in paid preview via the Gemini API on October 15, 2025. ✅ Watermark removers for Sora 2 circulated quickly after launch, raising scam and disinformation concerns.

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Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but the path is fraught with challenges. Did you know that over 90% of startups fail within the first five years? This staggering statistic highlights the importance of understanding the key challenges that entrepreneurs face: 1. **Market Uncertainty**: Navigating an ever-shifting market landscape requires agility and foresight. 2. **Funding Gaps**: Securing adequate funding remains a crucial barrier; know your options, from venture capital to government grants. 3. **Team Dynamics**: Building a cohesive team is essential. Invest time in finding the right talent and fostering a collaborative culture. Each of these hurdles can be tackled with strategic planning, resilience, and a willingness to learn. Remember, the journey of entrepreneurship is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about continually adapting to new realities. Let’s share our experiences to foster a collaborative community where we support each other through these challenges. What hurdles have you faced in your entrepreneurial journey? #Entrepreneurship,#Startup,#BusinessGrowth,#Leadership,#Innovation,#EntrepreneurMindset,#Funding,#MarketTrends,#TeamBuilding,#SaudiArabia,#KSA,#Vision2030,#Riyadh,#Jeddah,#Dammam,#SaudiJobs,#SAUDIGulf,#MiddleEastJobs,#UAEKSA

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𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 3-𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 30 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨. Most American-made brands are doing this right now:  • Over-funding 1–2 noisy channels  • Under-funding the quiet segments that actually drive profit  • Staring at blended ROAS and wondering why cash feels tight Here’s a simple 30-minute Wastage Audit you can run with the data you already have: 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭 – Pull the data Grab the last 6–12 months of:  • Orders  • Ad spend / marketing costs Doesn’t have to be perfect—export from Shopify, your ad platforms, and your CRM is enough. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮 – Group it where decisions happen Create groups by:  • Channel (Meta, Google, Email, Organic, etc.)  • Product line (tables vs chairs, flagship vs add-ons, etc.)  • Customer type → New vs Returning Each row should represent a channel × product line × customer type combo. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯 – Calculate the only numbers that matter For each group, calculate:  • CAC = Spend ÷ New Customers  • LTV (even if it’s 6–12 month LTV)  • Payback period = Months to recover CAC  • Profit per order = Net revenue – COGS – marketing Now sort those rows by profit per order and LTV:CAC. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰 – Find your opportunity map  • Look at the top 10% and bottom 10% of groups  • Top decile = your high-yield pockets  • Bottom decile = your wastage pockets This is your opportunity map. No fancy tool, just math. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀: Reduce or pause spend on the bottom decile groups by a clear percentage (e.g., 20–30%) and watch what happens to profit, not just revenue. 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲-𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Reinvest that freed budget into the top decile groups where:  • Payback is fastest  • Profit per order is highest  • Returns/discounts are lowest 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: Decide your minimum acceptable:  • Payback period (e.g., 90 days max)  • Profit per order (e.g., every order must clear $X after marketing) If a channel–product–customer combo doesn’t meet those guardrails, it doesn’t get more budget. Period. #AmericanMade #DTC #Manufacturing #MarketingAnalytics #Profitability #WastageWarrior

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Most founders celebrate landing whale clients. Smart ones immediately start planning their exit strategy. Here's what most founders do: → Land a major client → Revenue spikes 40-60% → Celebration mode kicks in → Dependency quietly builds Six months later, that "game-changing" client owns your business model. Don't confuse loyalty with strategy. The problem isn't operational. It's emotional decisions wearing spreadsheets. The best operators treat client concentration like any other risk: → 30% max revenue from any single client → Exit strategies built before dependency forms → Diversification as growth strategy, not afterthought Your biggest client win can become your biggest strategic liability. Start planning the breakup before you need it. #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #ClientDiversification #ScottJoseph #RiskManagement

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How to turn warm, engaged traffic into actual solar clients using nothing but content (…without running new ads or slashing your prices) 1. Solve problems with your content Most prospects already want solar—they just don’t know who to trust or how it works. Create content that answers the real questions and positions you as the safest choice. Examples: • “What’s the best solar panel brand for [area] homes?” • “How much can solar actually save you long-term?” • “Solar PV vs. Battery Storage — Which should you install first?” 👉 Use real installs to back it up. (“We saved this family $960/year using XYZ panels.”) 2. Highlight your unique edge Why should they choose your solar business instead of the 10 others they’re comparing? Make your value prop clear in your content—speed, price, aftercare, guarantees? Examples: • “Why we don’t recommend the cheapest solar panels” • “Our 5-step system to avoid cowboy solar installs” • “What your quote should include — and what to watch out for” 👉 Add stats, photos, or reviews for proof. 3. Make your content interactive The more they engage, the more they remember you. Simple tools go a long way. Examples: • “Solar savings calculator – what could you save?” • “Which solar system is right for your home?” • “Quiz: Is solar PV worth it for your property?” 👉 Direct them to your contact page after the result. 4. Hit objections head-on Most solar leads ghost because of doubts — not disinterest. Tackle the hard stuff directly. Examples: • “Why solar quotes vary so much” • “Are solar batteries actually worth it in 2025?” • “What to do if you already got a poor install” 👉 Testimonials work magic here. Use video if you can. 5. Use proper CTAs Content with no CTA = attention wasted. Be clear. Be helpful. Guide them. Examples: • “Book a free solar savings consultation” • “Get a custom solar quote in 2 minutes” • “See real savings from our past installs” 👉 Match the CTA to the post type. Don’t force urgency if it’s not there. 6. Retarget smartly If they’ve seen your blog, video, or calculator — don’t let them forget you. Examples: • “Still thinking about solar? Get a second quote.” • “We noticed you liked our calculator — want to see your savings in real life?” 👉 Use dynamic retargeting if possible: show ads based on pages they visited. 7. Track → learn → improve Watch what content drives real results — not just clicks. Track: • Time on page • CTA click-throughs • Call or form conversions 👉 Update weak posts with better headlines, stronger proof, or tighter CTAs. Why this works: Solar is a trust-first decision. You’re not just selling panels — you’re selling a new lifestyle for the next 25+ years of your client. Content that educates, removes risk, and makes the next step obvious will always outperform content that just “gets seen.” If you run a solar business, steal these. Your warm leads are closer to closing than you think. Save it and like it so that you get more of this content

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Most founders don't know you can convert an LLC into a C-Corp to qualify for QSBS. Here's what that actually looks like. Why it matters QSBS lets you exclude up to 100% of federal capital gains when you sell. But LLCs don't qualify. Only C-Corporations do. The good news: you can convert and start the clock. 3 ways to convert You can use a state-law conversion (Delaware makes this easy). You can file a Check-the-Box election with the IRS. Or you can form a new C-Corp and move the LLC's assets or member interests into it. Each path gets you to the same place. Your tax advisor picks the right one for your situation. One hard deadline The company's gross assets must stay under $50 million at conversion. After July 4, 2025, that limit rises to $75 million under the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Miss that window and you lose eligibility. The holding period clock starts fresh Your years operating as an LLC do not count. The clock starts on the day you convert. Hold the new C-Corp stock for 5 years and you get 100% exclusion. Under the new OBBBA rules, 3 years gets you 50% and 4 years gets you 75%. The pre-conversion gain still gets taxed Any value built up inside the LLC before conversion does not qualify for QSBS. That gain gets taxed normally when you sell. But here's the strategic play: your basis in the new C-Corp stock equals the LLC's fair market value at conversion. QSBS lets you exclude 10x that basis. Example: Your LLC is worth $8M at conversion. You own 50%, so your basis is $4M. That gives you up to $40M in future gains you could exclude tax-free. The higher your valuation at conversion, the bigger your future exclusion cap. Before you ever talk to a broker/advisor, you get to get you business exit ready. Get my 5-Part email course on QSBS delivered to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/g_x6tHwh

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Most business owners never realize they're losing potential customers because their website makes people say "they'll figure it out later." You don't have to be one of them. In this video, I share 3 decisions your website has to make ridiculously easy for prospects to make. And share examples of what that looks like. Want to know where your website may be causing confusion that's costing you customers? 🔥Get your FREE 5-Second Clarity Scorecard ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gUR54ynr

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Just watched a clip sharing a fascinating, real-world business post-mortem. It underscores a surprising, yet common, trend in post-acquisition turnarounds: Aggressive scaling after VC funding sometimes sidelines the very talent that built the initial momentum. The eventual realization? The engine driving revenue—often the experienced sales team—needs to be reinstated. It’s a gentle reminder that foundational business expertise often outlasts strategic overhauls. Have you witnessed a company successfully execute this kind of bring back the old guard sales reversal? I’m keen to hear your war stories in the comments! #BusinessStrategy #SalesLeadership #VentureCapital #BusinessTurnaround #OperationalExcellence #LeadershipLessons

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'Entrepreneurs disrupt, don't ask for permission' Stefan Rust from Truflation talks about being scrappy and how it's up to the entrepreneur to recognize when it's no longer time to be scrappy. Listen now: - YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gckTt_86 - Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g-d4PpYD - Other episodes as they release: https://lnkd.in/gkZbk957 #startup #entrepreneurship

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AI is excellent at optimization. That doesn’t mean it’s good at judgment. We’ve confused “faster” with “better” for so long that we forgot to ask: Better for who? Better for what? Better at what cost? Efficiency without wisdom scales harm quietly. The future will not be led by the most optimized systems—but by leaders willing to interrupt efficiency when it conflicts with humanity. That pause? That’s human leadership. #ThriveAI #Skilldora #WisdomOverSpeed #EthicalAI #Leadership

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