Commas: Recent Episodes
Sequoia Blodgett
Commas is all things tech from life hacks, to entrepreneurship advice, to love, life, and tech. Hosted by Sequoia Blodgett. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/commas/support
We guide you through selecting the best social media platforms for different types of businesses.
Whether you're a startup, a local business, or an established brand, understanding where your audience spends their time is crucial. We’ll explore how LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) each serve distinct business needs and how you can leverage these platforms to authentically connect with your target audience.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your social media presence, this episode offers timeless insights to help you choose the right platform and engage effectively with your customers.
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In this episode, I talk about the challenges I'm facing with content creation, the unexpected value of meeting people in person, and how our business strategy is constantly evolving.
I'll also share updates on our latest fundraising efforts, a new AI-powered financial tool I'm excited about, and why having a great advisor has been a game-changer for us.
Join me as I navigate the ups and downs of building Frame Me, and hopefully, you’ll find some insights to help you on your own journey.
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In this episode, I share some exciting updates and challenges from Frame Me's fundraising journey.
Get the inside scoop on what we learned at Founder University, including the game-changing difference between gross market value and actual revenue. Discover the incredible support and collaboration from fellow entrepreneurs in the program.
Dive into the nitty-gritty of the due diligence process required by venture capitalists, with tips on keeping your financials, projections, and market analysis in top shape.
Plus, hear some personal stories and strategies for balancing the hustle of entrepreneurship with a bit of fun and self-care.
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In this episode, I talk about my experiences and challenges in raising capital for Frame Me, especially the differences between fundraising in Atlanta and Silicon Valley.
I dive into the expectations of VCs, the barriers to entry for minority entrepreneurs, and the importance of aligning business models with investor interests.
I also explore creative financing solutions and discuss the ongoing process of figuring out the best strategies for sustainable growth.
Tune in to hear my candid reflections and valuable lessons from my entrepreneurial journey.
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I'm bringing back the Commas podcast in a raw, unfiltered format, sharing my journey with Frame Me, my AI-powered video production company.
This season, I'll delve into topics like raising capital in different cities, pivoting from a service-based business to a SaaS model, and navigating the challenges of securing venture funding.
I'll share insights on starting a business, building a minimum viable product, and the realities of entrepreneurship, all while discussing the evolution of Frame Me and its focus on supporting small to medium business owners.
Tune in for candid conversations and practical advice on scaling a startup.
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Lolita Taub, founder of Ganas Ventures opens up about her inspiring journey into the world of Venture Capital. She passionately delves into why supporting diverse founders is not just a mission but a necessity for her.But that's not all - Lolita also shared invaluable insights for founders. Wondering if Venture Capital is the right path for your startup? Lolita's wisdom is a treasure trove of reasons why you should or should not consider it. 💎This episode is packed with lessons, stories, and those 'aha' moments we all crave. Don't miss out on this gem-filled finale!
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In this episode, we delve into the world of social media marketing with Maribel Lara, a seasoned expert from The Sasha Group, part of VaynerX.
As a key player in Gary Vaynerchuk's renowned consulting firm for small to medium-sized businesses, Maribel shares invaluable strategies for leveraging social media platforms to maximize business growth.
We explore the latest trends, practical tips for audience engagement, and insider knowledge on crafting a social media presence that stands out.
Whether you're a startup or an established company, this podcast offers essential guidance for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing.
Join us for an episode packed with actionable insights to elevate your business's digital footprint.
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On this episode, we chat with Rashad Lambert, Former SEVP at Forbes and Founder of For(bes) The Culture & The Black Excellence Society. He breaks down his dating philosophy and explains why he finds dating in 2023 frightening as a black male entrepreneur.
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Occasionally, we get stuck in situations, primarily driven by the fear of failure. This issue can pervade both our professional and personal relationships. Alisa Gumbs, the Deputy Chief Content Officer at Black Enterprise, provides insight into why divorce should not be seen as a failure. She also discusses how she has incorporated the lessons learned from her past marriage into her current relationship.
Alisa Gumbs Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-gumbs/
Sequoia Blodgett Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/sequoiablodgett/
Commas Podcast Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/commas.club/
What to Find Your Voice on a podcast, stage, or social media? Log into https://www.hollywoodtosiliconvalley.com/ and enroll in the Find Your Voice Program:
https://www.hollywoodtosiliconvalley.com/courses/find-your-voice
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Podcast Show Notes: Love Chronicles - Exploring the Intersection of Love and Business
Introduction
- Sequoia introduces Ross, a guest from the Black Enterprise disruptor conference, and sets the context for the discussion on Ross's journey in love and business.
- Ross shares his background, growing up on the South Side of Chicago, attending an Ivy League school, and working on Wall Street.
- He explains his motivation to bring his knowledge and skills back to his community through his production company, Maconomics.
- Ross reveals that he is married and talks about his relationship, which started in high school and went through ups and downs before reuniting and building a family.
- Emphasizes the strength of their relationship, mutual support, and the joy of having two children with another on the way.
Balancing Personal and Business Life
- Sequoia asks Ross about his perspective on balancing personal and business life.
- Ross highlights the value of diversification and having multiple income sources.
- He appreciates that his wife is involved in her own family's haircare business while he focuses on his ventures.
- Ross emphasizes the importance of financial resources to hire help when needed, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.
- Shares examples of how they outsource tasks to reduce burdens and stresses, particularly during his wife's pregnancy.
Advice for Making the Decision to Marry
- Sequoia asks Ross to provide advice to men considering marriage but haven't taken the leap yet.
- Ross emphasizes the significance of the decision, describing it as a lifelong commitment.
- He mentions that having a family and children brings purpose and focus, motivating individuals to work harder for their loved ones.
- Ross encourages careful evaluation of potential partners, ensuring compatibility for a lifelong commitment.
Ross Mac Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/imrossmac/
Sequoia Blodgett Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/sequoiablodgett/
Commas Podcast Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/commas.club/
What to Find Your Voice on a podcast, stage, or social media? Log into https://www.hollywoodtosiliconvalley.com/ and enroll in the Find Your Voice Program:
https://www.hollywoodtosiliconvalley.com/courses/find-your-voice
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/commas/support
Malcolm "MJ" Harris discusses how authenticity awarded him financial abundance, we give you solutions to avoid entrepreneurial burnout and we discuss how recently installed tech security backfired.
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Does your business need automation? We got you! We cover that, the importance of your circle, digital dating vs. IRL, what jobs will no longer exist in 10 years and what the workforce of the future will look like.
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On this episode, we chat with Renee King, the founder of FundBlackFounders to understand why it's a good idea for Black Founders to consider traditional crowdfunding. We cover entrepreneurship stereotypes, mistakes people make on social media and the hottest new technology to hit the market in 2020.
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We’re jumping into the pros/cons of bringing on an investor, how to manifest what you want, life as a fashion entrepreneur and what was popping’ at CES.
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We took a brief hiatus but, we are back with an all-new co-host! Entrepreneur, Doctor Dapper is bringing his unique perspective to the airwaves. We are talking Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Tech, Fashion and so much more. 2020 is gonna be fire!! Tap in.
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We're taking calls and answering all of your tech entrepreneurship questions. If you'd like advice about your startup, hit us up on the gram @Commas.Club
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Your finances are the bricks to building your entrepreneurial house and millennial money expert, Dominque Broadway teaches you how to lay your foundation.
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On this episode, I'll break down the three costly mistakes that most entrepreneurs make when building their startups and I'll teach you how to create a roadmap for your business.
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Credit maven, Christia'n Annice teaches us the importance of business credit and I’ll share with you how I got my personal credit score to jump up 50 points putting me in the 700 Club in less than two weeks.
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We’ve heard from investors who are out here killin’ the game but, that’s one side of the coin. On today’s show, we'll hear from an investor-in-training and she’ll give you a glimpse of what it’s like to become a Venture Capitalist. Additionally, I'll teach you how to get your problem(s) solved almost immediately if you ever encounter issues with a major corporation.
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Former NFL player, Chase Minnifield takes us on his journey from the league to growing a seven-figure tech company as a non-technical founder and you guys... why in the world did my Instacart shopper steal my groceries... ooohh technology
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On this episode, we do a business audit with the founder of Broke and Fab giving her the steps to grow her business using Instagram and I also teach you how to directly confront your entrepreneurial fears.
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On this episode we chat with Anndrea Moore who fills us in on how she's been able to hold down jobs at the largest tech companies in the world, all while getting a business degree from Harvard, starting her own tech organization, and learning how to become an investor.
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On this episode, entrepreneur Esosa Ighodaro explains how she was forced to shift gears when confronted with competition from a major tech company and yours truly will discuss the importance of the entrepreneurial mindset.
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We chat with Anthony Price, author and founder of Lootscout and discuss all of the different ways you can fund your company.
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We catch with Blavity co-founder Jon Jackson and discuss what it meant for him when he left the company that he helped create and what you should do to prepare to exit if you're having similar thoughts.
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On this episode, I take you through my journey as an entrepreneur, how I manifested what I wanted through establishing boundaries and why it's so important to understand the power of no.
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On this episode, we catch up with former NFL player, Mike Brown who takes us through his startup journey and he teaches us how to get in on the ground floor of startup investing so we can make that tech money and I’ll let you know why with high risk comes high reward - https://republic.co/win-win
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On this episode, we’ll hear from Vernell Woods, the founder of Moolah Mobile and he'll explain to us how he had over a million users on his platform, a major celeb as an investor and business partner and yet, he knew it was time to take his business in a different direction.
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Abu Fofanah, the lieutenant of marketing, teaches individuals how to promote their products and services and turn them into profitable businesses using Facebook Ads and I will tell you what my experience has been like being part of his marketing accelerator.
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The best of Entrepreneurship Advice, Part 2 of the series. I give you tips on how to gamify your life to produce more productivity, how to embrace and deal with failure, and I answer all of your questions from the Gram.
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This is a collection of Entrepreneurship Advice that our audience has gravitated to the most from past episodes. I give you tips on becoming an influencer marketer, how to approach brands to get them interested in spending money with you, how to practice patience, and why it's important to have a business accountability partner. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the series.
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Sevetri Wilson, the founder of Resilia, was the first black woman in New Orleans to raise millions in capital but, not before she built a seven-figure empire by securing government contracts.
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Stanford and Northwestern Kellogg MBA grad, Rahshiene Taha, founder of 7|X, talks about why community is extremely vital to the growth of your business.
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Kurieo founder, Devin Lars talks about how he secured his deals with Nike and Tesla by practicing extreme patience and we discuss why it's absolutely a virtue.
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We’re discussing the importance of ownership with Jeremy and Bryyce co-founders of Cover360ixty and I’ll explain to you why ownership is actually your ticket to financial freedom.
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Learn how to obtain financial freedom with financial expert, Jeremiah Brown and I have some crucial tips for all you last minute tax preparers.
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I teach you how to gamify your life and we talk about human capital - how and why it’s important to invest in yourself, plus our special guest, "the dating guy" returns.
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We dedicate this to culture icon, Nipsey Hussle. We remember him as an entrepreneur, an investor, and someone who was focused on being an asset to the community.
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We’ve got special guest, Jason Geter, a longtime business partner of Clifford "T.I." Harris, co-founder of Grand Hustle Entertainment, Strivers Row, and now Tech Investor under Tech Cypha and Khady Thiam Gueye who many of you may know as Akon's little sister but, she's got some big things bubbling up on her own.
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We chat with Pretty Ricky's, Spectacular Smith about how he built his company Adwizar, and DJ, Investor and Influencer, Mick Batyske teaches us how to connect with brands and the power of relationships.
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Co-founder of Squire, Dave Salvant, turns his setback into a pivot which takes him from failing to a fiercely growing startup and we discuss why failure is extremely necessary for success.
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We talk about the business of being a creative with VR Director, Alton Glass and we dive into the difference between social media popularity, influencer marketing and entrepreneurship.
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Founder Michael Ellison talks about why he's so passionate about getting students involved with coding through his venture Code Path and how he got Facebook to make a $1 Million investment, plus Sequoia answers more of your Q&As.
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Financial advisor, Justin McCurdy helps us get into financial shape. Additionally, Sequoia answers your entrepreneurship questions from the gram.
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The founders of Shearshare, Courtney and Dr. Tye Caldwell walk us through their journey to raising a million dollars in Venture Capital.
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We teach you where to place your marketing dollars, according to Brand and Facebook Ads expert, Leisha Langston, we'll hear from founder, Bruce Hamilton, about his platform that allows you how to build apps with no coding experience and we’ll help you understand what NOT to do as a first time entrepreneur.
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Two formerly incarcerated individuals, Marcus Bullock and Victor "Divine" Lombard, both turn their entrepreneurial skills from a negative into life-changing positives. We'll understand why business accountability partners are a must and we'll catch up with a special guest about his experience dealing with dating apps.
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Military veteran turned self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Roc Ryder, tells us how he uses combat tactics to teach entrepreneurship, we’ll hear from an ex-NBA publicist who teaches women to switch, pivot and quit their careers to transition to a more fulfilling lives and... do I hear Wedding Bells? We’ll give those special couples who are ready to walk down to aisle tips on the best ways to plan that special day.
Producer: Tawala Sharp
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We chat with affiliate marketing expert, Priest Willis Sr., who helps us understand how to make money through affiliates and why Kim Kardashian is actually considered an affiliate marketer herself, we’ll jump into how to outsource aspects of your team and tasks in order to scale if you’re a solo entrepreneur and we catch up with former NFL Player, Ryan Mundy and talk about his transition from the league to tech.
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Chic Geeks founder, Candice Adams talks leveraging influencers for her marketing strategy and we catch up with Relationship Expert, Kevin Carr to discuss why dating is dead.
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Attorney, Jaia Thomas helps us get our business legal right, you’ll find out what you need in order to launch your company the correct way, and Dr. Ally is back helping a couple of callers get the most out of their digital dating game.
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Jason Mayden, the man who made the Nike Monarch the highest-grossing shoe in Nike’s history, shows you how to close the wealth gap, and Dr. Ally delves into the world of mental health and brand identity.
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Investor, Marlon Nichols talks about Venture Capital and gives feedback to a budding entrepreneur. We play digital Truth or Dare with Jay Ellis aka Lawrence from Insecure and we chop it up with Dr. Peace Amadi about online dating and the new swipe culture.
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