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  • Episode 30: Andrew Teaches Dutch Startup BeSirius' Founder & CEO Anastasia Kuskova

    Episode 30: Andrew Teaches Dutch Startup BeSirius' Founder & CEO Anastasia Kuskova
    2025/06/09
    In this episode of Funded, Now What?!, Andrew Lee Miller discusses all things startups, marketing and fundraising with Russian/Dutch startup founder Anastasia Kuskova, CEO of Sirius , an AI-powered sustainability intelligence platform helping metals, mining, and energy companies move beyond outdated ESG dashboards and into live, contextual decision-making infrastructure. Before founding Sirius, Anastasia was Head of Sustainability at a multibillion-dollar mining company, co-developed a battery traceability platform with Glencore and Tesla, and helped shape global frameworks through the World Economic Forum’s Mining & Metals Platform. She’s also been named one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining — and Sirius recently won the COP29 Sustainable Innovation Challenge. Now, with $3.8M raised and momentum building, Anastasia opens up about the real challenge: marketing a highly technical product in a traditional, skeptical industry. Andrew breaks it down and gives her (and you) a tactical marketing game plan that includes: ✅ Why messaging must be casual and specific to build trust ✅ How to avoid the trap of “automated outreach” in niche markets ✅ When to bring in outside marketing help — and why sooner is better ✅ How to leverage humor, data, and PR to supercharge sales ✅ The importance of sustainability-as-a-revenue-driver storytelling From investor psychology to scaling through content and strategic outreach, this episode is packed with advice for any founder tackling old-school industries with new-school tech. 🔗 Learn more about Sirius: besirius.com 📣 Connect with Anastasia: Anastasia on LinkedIn About the show: Funded, Now What?! is the only podcast where recently funded founders get live, no-fluff growth advice from 20-year startup marketing expert and Fractional CMO Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups). Each week, founders walk away (and you do too) with powerful, practical marketing strategies that help scale their company — fast. About the host: Andrew Lee Miller is a seasoned startup marketing expert, founder of GrowthExpertz- Fractional Agency, and a global keynote speaker with nearly 20 years of experience driving early-stage growth. He has helped lead three successful startup exits and specializes in digital marketing, growth hacking, and scaling tech businesses in the early-stages. Andrew is also the author of The Startup Growth Book and the host of The Funded... Now What? podcast, where he shares insights on navigating post-funding challenges and accelerating startup success. About GrowthExpertz: GrowthExpertz is a boutique consulting firm in San Francisco that does two things really f$cking well:Marketing and Recruitment for tech startups. We're industry agnostic and play in both B2B and B2C, SaaS, Marketplace, Mobile Apps, AI and much more. Led by two senior operators with over 30 years of combined experience scaling early-stage companies, we plug in fast, cut through the noise, and deliver outcomes that actually move the needle—whether that’s building a full-stack growth strategy or hiring your first 10 mission-critical roles.We work exclusively with startups and tech-driven businesses that need expert-level guidance without the fluff—fractional, project-based, or full-scale support.No bullsh!t. Just velocity and real results.Meet with us: www.growthexpertz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 分
  • Funded, Now What? Ep. 28: Talking Startup Marketing with Matt from ClearCOGS Who Raised $3.8M to Bring AI to Restaurants

    Funded, Now What? Ep. 28: Talking Startup Marketing with Matt from ClearCOGS Who Raised $3.8M to Bring AI to Restaurants
    2025/06/03
    Most founders can build. Some can fundraise. But almost none know how to market, until they get advice from someone who’s done it for 20 years. In this episode of Funded, Now What?!, startup marketing veteran and GrowthExpertz founder Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Matt Wampler a former restaurateur turned AI startup CEO and Founder of ClearCOGS who’s raised $3.8M to bring predictive analytics to restaurants. Matt is not only f*cking awesome, but after building a solid product and landing investors, Matt has some incredible questions for Andrew on marketing, hiring marketers and what channels to focus on, and even what Andrew thinks about "shitty linkedin messaging" and working with fractional consultants. That’s where Andrew steps in — with hard-hitting, high-ROI marketing advice based on 20 years of helping early-stage startups grow. In this jam-packed session, Andrew breaks down: Why automated outreach is NOT killing your brand The "casual copywriting" technique to increase email replies Why founders shouldn’t do their own marketing — and how to hire smart How to segment, message, and approach restaurant owners The difference between branding for tech vs. non-tech audiences What every founder misunderstands about “targeted spam” When to bring in fractional experts instead of wasting $$$ on bad hires If you're a startup founder who's still stuck on traction — this episode is your wake-up call. 🎯 👉 Learn more about how Andrew helps founders: www.GrowthExpertz.com👉 Learn more about Matt and his AI startup ClearCOGS.com 📩 Want fractional marketing firepower? Let’s talk. Book a call with Andrew here: https://calendly.com/growthexpertz/letschat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 分
  • From Quant Genius to Million Dollar Founder: Andrew Teaches Nosible AI’s Founder How to Scale

    From Quant Genius to Million Dollar Founder: Andrew Teaches Nosible AI’s Founder How to Scale
    2025/05/27
    In this episode of ⁠Funded, Now What?!, ⁠Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Stuart Reid, the high-IQ, ultra-technical Founder & CEO of Nosible AI — a revolutionary new search engine built specifically for AI agents. Stuart’s background is pure quant brilliance — think hedge funds, deep infrastructure, and cutting-edge AI innovation. But like many technical founders building next-gen tools, Stuart faces a critical question: “Now that I’ve built it…and it got funded, now what?!?” That’s where Andrew steps in. This episode is a masterclass in translating complex tech into customer traction. Andrew helps Stuart step outside of his engineering mindset and into a growth-first approach — teaching him how to: ✅ Build irresistible case studies that open doors ✅ Speak differently to quant funds vs. AI devs vs. media companies ✅ Use scrappy PR and outreach tactics to spark early adoption ✅ Rethink the website as a conversion engine, not just a brochure ✅ Treat marketing like product: test, learn, refine Plus, Stuart shares how he raised capital for Nosible, what makes their AI-native search so different from Google, and how he’s navigating the startup world from his home base in South Africa. "If your genius is stuck in your head or your pitch deck, it’s not going to scale. Let’s fix that." – Andrew If you're a highly technical founder who needs a reality check on growth — or a marketer trying to help one — this is your episode. 🔗 ⁠Nosible AI Website⁠ 🔗 ⁠Nosible AI on LinkedIn⁠ 00:00 – Meet Stuart: Quant Background + AI Vision 02:59 – What Nosible Actually Solves 06:04 – Early Markets: Quants, Media, AI Devs 09:00 – Raising Capital & Investor Feedback 11:58 – South Africa vs. US Startup Realities 14:46 – Stuart Gets a Marketing Crash Course from Andrew 22:26 – Creating Case Studies that Actually Convert 25:32 – Segmented Messaging for Different Audiences 29:15 – The Right Way to Do PR When You’re Pre-Product 34:56 – Why Website Optimization is Step One 40:54 – Networking and Finding Early Adopters 44:36 – Budgeting a Smart Marketing Launch 49:46 – Competing with Giants: Positioning Against Google About the show:Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it. Hosted by ⁠Andrew Lee Miller ⁠ About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (⁠@andrewstartups⁠) founded ⁠GrowthExpertz.com⁠ , a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Why Fractional Consultants? Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Some of our clients include: 🟢 DataDistillr.com (raised $10M off our work) 🟢 CanWeApp.com (acquired) 🟢 WithDouble.com (30% growth in 90 days) 🟢 Retention.com (formerly GetEmails, now $30M ARR) 🟢 CrownDating.com (exit to Match Group) 🟢 Denizen.io (BBVA Incubator) 🟢 Zedge.net (100M+ installs) 🟢 Different.com.au (leading Aussie proptech startup) 🟢 Fly.com (300% traffic increase in 12 months) 🟢 OpenInvest.co (acquired by Chase) Want to learn more about how we help startups scale for less? 📩 ⁠contact@growthexpertz.com⁠ 📅 Book a call: ⁠www.growthexpertz.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 分
  • You Can’t Sell to SMBs and Enterprise the Same Way” — Andrew’s Scalable Sales Advice for Hey Libby AI

    You Can’t Sell to SMBs and Enterprise the Same Way” — Andrew’s Scalable Sales Advice for Hey Libby AI
    2025/05/19
    In this episode, Andrew Lee Miller shares a critical post-funding sales strategy with Tony Small, CEO of Hey Libby, that could dramatically accelerate their growth — segmentation by customer size. “You’ve got to separate your prospects into two buckets — big multi-location chains and solo operators — because the messaging, outreach, and sales motion should be completely different.” Andrew explains how trying to sell to gyms, spas, and wellness centers all with one strategy can stall momentum. Instead, he suggests a two-pronged outreach engine: ✅ For SMBs: Go direct with high-volume cold outreach — short emails, strong social proof, and a “click here to try it now” CTA. ✅ For Larger Chains: Target decision-makers with personalized outreach, consultative sales, and ROI-driven case studies. Use warm intros and partner channels wherever possible. “Small businesses want instant solutions. Enterprises want risk mitigation. Speak their language — and your close rate skyrockets.” 🔥 If you’re post-funding and looking to scale sales without burning your runway, this is one clip you need to hear. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: Funded, Now What?! — Episode 27 with Tony Small of Hey Libby 🔗 Hey Libby on LinkedIn Growthexpertz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    3 分
  • Episode 27: HeyLibby.ai Just Raised $4.5 million to Revolutionize Gyms/Spas with AI. Now what?!

    Episode 27: HeyLibby.ai Just Raised $4.5 million to Revolutionize Gyms/Spas with AI. Now what?!
    2025/05/19
    In this episode of Funded, Now What?!, host Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Tony Small, the Founder & CEO of Hey Libby — an AI-powered customer support startup that's just raised $4.5 million to help gyms, spas, and wellness centers automate communication, improve client experience, and grow faster with an incredible AI tool that answers comms in every way you can think of, but better than you can imagine. With a laser focus on customer experience, Tony shares the startup’s journey to product-market fit, what it took to close their latest fundraising round, and how they’re scaling in an industry that’s ripe for transformation. Andrew provides tactical startup marketing advice to help Tony ramp up growth — including creative acquisition strategies, smart messaging tweaks, and the potential for a white-label go-to-market motion. Tune in as we cover: ✅ How Hey Libby is transforming communication in the wellness industry ✅ Lessons from fundraising: resilience, feedback, and real investor insight ✅ Strategies for finding and dominating your niche ✅ The power of white-label AI for unlocking scale ✅ Why founders need to experiment with cold outreach, social, and more ✅ Andrew’s growth playbook for scrappy B2B SaaS startups If you’re a founder building in AI, vertical SaaS, or looking to improve customer acquisition with real automation — this episode delivers the mindset, tools, and strategy to move faster. 🔗 Learn more about Hey Libby: www.heylibby.ai LinkedIn: Hey Libby on LinkedIn About the show:Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it. About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups) founded GrowthExpertz, a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Why Fractional Consultants? Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Some of our clients include: 🟢 DataDistillr.com (raised $10M off our work) 🟢 CanWeApp.com (acquired) 🟢 WithDouble.com (30% growth in 90 days) 🟢 Retention.com (formerly GetEmails, now $30M ARR) 🟢 CrownDating.com (exit to Match Group) 🟢 Denizen.io (BBVA Incubator) 🟢 Zedge.net (100M+ installs) 🟢 Different.com.au (leading Aussie proptech startup) 🟢 Fly.com (300% traffic increase in 12 months) 🟢 OpenInvest.co (acquired by Chase) Want in? 📩 contact@growthexpertz.com 📅 Book a call: www.growthexpertz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 分
  • Ep. 26 How To Scale In an Old-School Industry with Manukai Startup Founder Pascal Weber

    Ep. 26 How To Scale In an Old-School Industry with Manukai Startup Founder Pascal Weber
    2025/05/12
    In this episode of Funded, Now What?!, host Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Pascal Weber, Co-Founder of Manukai — a deep tech ETH spin-off that just raised a $3M oversubscribed seed round to solve one of the most critical bottlenecks in modern manufacturing: CNC machine programming. While the world rushes to digitize, manufacturing still leans heavily on manual labor — especially in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, where skilled labor is increasingly scarce and efficiency is lagging behind modern AI capabilities. Manukai is changing that, building proprietary AI models that automate complex, high-precision processes and unlock massive efficiencies in global production lines. Pascal shares the vision behind Manukai, their early traction with industry giants like Bosch, and how they’re tackling one of the most outdated-yet-essential processes in industrial manufacturing. Andrew steps in with sharp, tailored launch marketing strategies to help Pascal and his team break through in a conservative, relationship-driven industry. Tune in as we cover: ✅ How Manukai raised $3M pre-seed in a technical, niche category ✅ The labor shortage crisis in CNC machining — and why it matters now ✅ How to launch and scale AI products in traditional industries ✅ Pascal’s approach to product development with enterprise customers ✅ Tactical growth advice from Andrew on GTM strategy, positioning & credibility building If you’re building in deep tech, working on AI for industry, or just fascinated by the future of manufacturing — this is a rare look inside a truly disruptive startup poised to reshape the supply chain. 🔗 Learn more about Manukai: About the show: www.growthexpertz.com/podcast Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it. About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups) founded GrowthExpertz, a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Why Fractional Consultants? Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Some of our clients include: 🟢 DataDistillr.com (raised $10M off our work) 🟢 CanWeApp.com (acquired) 🟢 WithDouble.com (30% growth in 90 days) 🟢 Retention.com (formerly GetEmails, now $30M ARR) 🟢 CrownDating.com (exit to Match Group) 🟢 Denizen.io (BBVA Incubator) 🟢 Zedge.net (100M+ installs) 🟢 Different.com.au (leading Aussie proptech startup) 🟢 Fly.com (300% traffic increase in 12 months) 🟢 OpenInvest.co (acquired by Chase) Reach out! Let's work. 📩 contact@growthexpertz.com 📅 Book a call: www.growthexpertz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 分
  • 🎙️ Episode 25: Turning Pain Into Millions — with Pelva Health CEO Kelley Satoski

    🎙️ Episode 25: Turning Pain Into Millions — with Pelva Health CEO Kelley Satoski
    2025/05/05
    In this episode of Funded, Now What?!, host Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Kelley Satoski the inspiring Founder & CEO of Pelva Health — a mission-driven startup revolutionizing pelvic health care for women through tech-enabled, compassionate solutions. Kelley shares the powerful origin story behind Pelva Health and how she’s working to fix a broken system that fails millions of women. From identifying a huge market gap to building a scalable model for care, Kelley brings vision and heart to one of the most overlooked areas in healthtech. Andrew also delivers expert-level launch and marketing advice to help Kelley position Pelva Health for breakout success, including how to build trust, drive adoption, and go from mission to momentum. Tune in as we cover: ✅ The massive unmet need Pelva Health is solving — and why now is the moment ✅ How Kelley validated her market and built early traction ✅ Go-to-market strategies in a sensitive, underserved space ✅ Tactical advice on messaging, trust-building, and acquisition ✅ The critical mindset shifts founders need in early-stage healthcare startups If you care about women’s health, healthtech innovation, or building purpose-driven companies with massive upside — this is one to bookmark. 🔗 Learn more about Pelva Health: Website: www.pelvahealth.com LinkedIn: Pelva Health on LinkedIn About the show:Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders who want to hear about the marketing challenges, and solutions post-funding. How do you grow your company without blowing it once the big show is on? It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical marketing advice on how to spend it (or not) scaling! About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups) founded GrowthExpertz, a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Learn more at www.growthexpertz.com Why Fractional Consultants? EASY, you will fail less, save more, more faster and scale correctly. Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Some of our clients include: 🟢 DataDistillr.com (raised $10M off our work) 🟢 CanWeApp.com (acquired) 🟢 WithDouble.com (30% growth in 90 days) 🟢 Retention.com (formerly GetEmails, now $30M ARR) 🟢 CrownDating.com (exit to Match Group) 🟢 Denizen.io (BBVA Incubator) 🟢 Zedge.net (100M+ installs) 🟢 Different.com.au (leading Aussie proptech startup) 🟢 Fly.com (300% traffic increase in 12 months) Want in? 📩 contact@growthexpertz.com 📅 Book a call: www.growthexpertz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 分
  • Ep. #24 Aussie Startup Phnxx Raises Millions to Launch "Grid in a Box"!

    Ep. #24 Aussie Startup Phnxx Raises Millions to Launch "Grid in a Box"!
    2025/04/25
    🎙️ In this episode of the GrowthExpertz ⁠Funded, Now What?! Podcast your host AndrewStartups sits down with Wei-Chi Lee, the Co-Founder & COO of PHNXX a cutting-edge Australian startup that's just raised $1.8 million to create the world's first "Grid In a Box" portable solar power stations. Their modular, AI-integrated solutions help traditional old school industries transition toward a greener, more sustainable future. With over a decade of experience in the energy, mining, oil, and gas sectors, and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Wei-Chi is leading the charge in embedding renewable energy and sustainable technologies into industries that desperately need innovation. At PHNXX, he spearheads operational, financial, business development, and strategic efforts—building partnerships, securing funding, and ensuring every solution they deliver is tailored, scalable, and impactful. Tune in as we dive into: ✅ How PHNXX is transforming legacy industries through AI and modular tech ✅ Wei-Chi’s journey from the energy sector to cleantech entrepreneurship ✅ The importance of collaboration and team empowerment in a deep-tech startup ✅ Fundraising lessons and navigating complex client and stakeholder relationships ✅ Why sustainability isn’t a buzzword—it’s the future of operational efficiency Of course, Andrew shares tactical startup growth advice throughout the episode to help any founder make the most of their funding round. If you're a climate tech enthusiast, founder, or investor looking for scalable solutions to today’s biggest environmental challenges, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. About the show: Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews *recently funded* founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it wisely for maximum growth. About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups) founded GrowthExpertz, a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Why Fractional Consultants? Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Learn more: www.growthexpertz.com/letschat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 分