Susa Ventures的动态

? Employee Spotlight ? "I never thought I’d stay at Spekit for 5 years… Hey everyone! Elle Brayton, Director of Content & Comms here at Spekit chiming in NOT to bash Spekit but to reflect as I’ve reached the 5 year milestone with this incredible team. I joined as the very pregnant, very eager first marketing hire back in 2019 as we were preparing to raise our first round of capital and introduce Spekit to the masses. After spending the last decade scaling marketing at startups from LA to San Francisco, I was hungry to find “the one.” But realistic enough to know that finding the combination of a product/vision I felt passionately about and the people who could take it there was insanely rare. The biggest lesson for me has been that building a company…building a brand…is not like building a skyscraper. A skyscraper goes up and only up. And, then it’s complete. Instead, it’s more akin to building a city. A city fluctuates with time, it expands and contracts. It nurtures the community and ecosystem around it. It educates, looks for new ways to inspire and delight, to win hearts, and change minds. When I started at Spekit I thought I wanted that skyscraper - a quick win and then onto the next. What I found was opportunity to grow the city, and constantly learn, evolve, and become better through the process. Cheers to the next 5 and to doing more than just slinging software.” - Elle Brayton, Director of Content & Communications at Spekit

After 10 years of doing business in marketing, I made a bold decision to start fresh. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this past decade. The high point of it was undoubtedly co-founding DDSTgroup. There, I experienced significant growth both professionally and as a manager. At DDST, we immersed ourselves in the world of advertising with passion. This domain is quite high-risk, but we managed not just to survive but thrive. In 6 years, our company has become an expert in monetization and capitalization strategies, driving growth, and smart reinvestment. As a leader, I also gained a lot of insight about: ??The financial structure of the business ??Jurisdictions for business scaling ??Optimizing operational processes One of the aspects I'm most proud of, though, is the team we built at DDST. We wanted people to work alongside us, not for us, and feel happy to come to work every morning. This collaborative atmosphere helped us maintain an extremely low turnover rate. However, in August 2023, my co-founder and I felt our active involvement at DDST was no longer necessary. With the processes running smoothly, we went looking for new ideas. To my surprise, we stumbled upon inspiration for our next venture in just a day! That’s how Dmytro Tymoshchuk and I came up with Toolza, a business management startup dedicated to empowering small and middle-sized companies. Our mission is to help them grow, boost profitability, and gain insights into their operations. So, after 10 years, I’ve started a completely new business. But it doesn’t scare me. Every minute in this new role is a learning experience, and I'm enjoying every bit of it. I have immense faith in my team and can’t wait for our product to see the world!

Welcome to LongBox Interactive! We're excited to officially introduce LongBox on LinkedIn. We're creating a groundbreaking platform where long-form storytelling meets investment opportunities. Our mission? To transform how you engage with entertainment and finances, making both accessible and engaging through captivating narratives. At LongBox, we believe in the power of stories to not only entertain but also educate and enrich. Based in the vibrant city of Miami, FL—a burgeoning tech hub—we embody the spirit of innovation and creativity. We're not just building a platform; we're cultivating a community where creativity thrives and people are encouraged to think outside the box. What's Next? Follow us as we share insights, behind-the-scenes looks, and exciting updates. Don't miss out on future in person events with our friends from The Hungry Post & Proyecto Tulum. We’re just getting started and can’t wait to take you on this ride with us. Let's gather around the LongBox, where every story counts, and every investment tells a story. #Innovation #Storytelling #Investment #TechStartUp #LongBox #MiamiTech

Hey folks, ever wonder how Foxipop came to be? Well, grab a seat and let us spill the tea! So, picture this – two friends, a dash of passion for brands, and a sprinkle of creativity. That's how it all started. We had a small vision at first, just happy to be working together and making magic happen. We even had two interns joining in on the fun – talk about a dream team! But you know what they say about plans – they have a funny way of changing. Our hustle led us down a different path, one we never could've imagined. Fast forward, and here we are, leading the charge in providing top-notch IT, media, and marketing solutions under one roof. Yep, we're kind of a big deal now! So, here's the dealio – we're all about personalized solutions tailored just for you. Whether you're a budding startup or a seasoned brand looking to level up, we've got your back. But enough about us – we want to hear your story too! Share your journey with us, and let's see how we can create some magic together. Trust us, it's gonna be one heck of a ride!

From Selling Thin Air to Building a Media Company - Here is my Career Roller Coaster Ever felt like you were selling thin air? That was me in ad-tech. I was great at sales, but it left me feeling empty. So, I made a change. Traded my cushy job for a role at Uber. I loved the product - (they used to call me the Uber Princess ??), but working with 20k other coworkers not my thing. I craved impact. Post-baby #2, I thought I'd found my calling with a startup supporting new working moms. Spoiler alert: An over-controlling founder can turn a dream job into a nightmare. Lesson learned. Then I joined my brother and his best friend at Jomboy Media. Two sports creators focused on building community through authentic content creation, and me, ready to monetize and build. Now? I'm in my element. We're creating something real, making an impact, and after 4 years, still moving at startup speed where every contribution matters. It's not just about working with family; it's about finding where you truly belong.

Come here often? I don't, but hey, let's make a week out of it. With the 1st overall pick in the 2024 draft, Skio selects Olivia Boersen! Hot off a stellar run at Sprout Social, Inc., I had my doubts that I could close this deal. However, I think the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. Yesterday I made a point of outlining how Skio will continue to over invest in Engineering, and Support - but that doesn't mean we can't turn the Revenue engine into something world class, too. Lucky for us, we secured a new anchor. I think every manager dreams of having somebody like Liv on their team (Just creep that background, it's as good as it gets). Steve Jobs said something along the lines of "Hire people smarter than you, and let them tell you what to do". I thought that was pretty easy advice to follow. The bigger aspect of all of this is the general impact her arrival will have -- our company, customers/merchants, and partners are all better off with Liv in the picture, and we're certainly thrilled to snipe her back into the Ecommerce world. I know, I know, I must sound drunk off the corporate kool-aid, but I swear it's only because our customers keep feeding us shots ??. The best part? This is just snipe # 1, of 2... but we'll leave that for another lovely day in the future. Brick x brick.

?? Celebrating One Year of BuzzHub: A Journey of Resilience, Learning, and Growth ?? ? As we mark the first anniversary of BuzzHub, it's a moment of profound reflection and immense gratitude for me. Starting BuzzHub was a leap into the unknown, fueled by a passion for digital marketing and a vision to empower businesses to unleash their full potential online. ? The journey began with an idea born out of my experiences and a desire to create a difference in the digital marketing landscape. Like any entrepreneurial journey, it was not without its challenges. Our initial steps were met with setbacks that tested our resolve. I still vividly remember our first major project proposal, which, despite countless hours of preparation and enthusiasm, was turned down. This moment, though disheartening, was pivotal. It was a lesson in resilience, a reminder that failure is not the opposite of success but a stepping stone towards it. ? This setback ignited a fire within us. We doubled down on our efforts, refined our strategies, and most importantly, learned from the feedback. The hustle was real - long nights, endless research, constant learning, and continuous adaptation. But so were the rewards. Gradually, we started to see the fruits of our labor - successful campaigns, happy clients, and a growing team passionate about making an impact. ? Our journey has been about more than just overcoming initial failures; it's been a testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and never losing sight of our vision. BuzzHub was founded on the belief that digital marketing should be accessible, transparent, and results-driven. Every step we've taken, and every strategy we've implemented, has been with this ethos in mind. ? As we celebrate this milestone, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our incredible team, whose dedication and creativity have been instrumental in our growth. To our clients, who entrusted us with their brands and allowed us to be part of their stories - thank you. Your success is our success, and we're excited to continue this journey with you. ? The road ahead is filled with endless possibilities, and while we pause today to celebrate, we're already looking forward to what the future holds. The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and so are we. Here's to many more years of innovation, growth, and helping businesses thrive in the digital world. ? Thank you for being a part of our story. Here's to the next chapter! #BuzzHub #DigitalMarketing #Anniversary #Entrepreneurship #Growth #Resilience

????????'?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????? It’s probably not just your product. After years of scaling StoreHub, I’ve realized it’s often the tools, systems, and yes, even the mindset, that can hold you back. That’s why I’m excited for "Insights & Bytes with Lark" on 15th October in KL at the ByteDance office, where I’ll break down exactly how we use Lark in game changing ways. Here’s a sneak peek of what I’ll be talking about: ?? Why we finally embraced Lark after dodging Ron Ng's outreach for over a year (he was persistent, I’ll give him that). ? How automation and a chat-first platform like Lark surprised us by boosting productivity and team morale. The shocker? Our team actually got excited about migrating to a new tool. ??? Specific use cases where we turned painful processes into magic. Learn how we unified the team around a Single Source of Truth, or how our New project/task management experience integrated into chat seamlessly. ?? And something I’ve been reflecting on: "Founder Mode vs Manager Mode"—and how Lark lets me engage in Founder Mode at scale. This isn’t going to be your typical event. It’s a laid-back, honest conversation with founders and leaders like you who are navigating the same challenges. If you know me, you know I’m pretty no-nonsense, frank, and unfiltered. This isn’t a sales pitch—it’s just me wanting to share some of what we’ve learned so businesses in our ecosystem can build world-class companies. And here’s a fun thought: maybe this is our secret sauce against our American counterparts (who aren’t big fans of Lark for ‘some reason’). Hope to see you there! ?? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g3cBXx6m #StartupsKL #TechEcosystem #ScaleToWhale

What's in a Name? A LOT! Naming can make or break your product marketing practice, confuse your buyers, and even make you want to pull out your hair. If you're at the Product Marketing Alliance Summit in #Seattle this week, be sure to attend Sanjay Kidambi's session on mastering the art and science of naming. #ProductMarketing #Naming #PMMSummit

Opinion: The Value of Founder Mode The most powerful thing a founder can do is to encourage others at the company to operate in founder mode. https://lnkd.in/dEpFbxFp From Fidji Simo , CEO and Chair at Instacart