1871 is a hub of technology and entrepreneurship in Chicago. This is a place where founders from all industries gather to support each other. This week on The Founder’s Mind, we’re trying something a little different. Before the COVID craziness started, Adam found himself with an extra day in Chicago. He put out a call to any founders at 1871 to come to the recording studio and chat. Aaron Filous, David Pawlan, and Dana Todd answered the call.

Today, we’re sharing three conversations with three founders from very different industries. Adam asks each founder what they wish they had known when they started and how their previous job experiences prepared them for their newest challenges. Their answers will surprise you.

• [01:09] - Aaron Filous, Founder and CEO of Promotable
  • [01:34] - What is Promotable
  • [04:40] - Why feedback is important and how to bridge the gap between the tech and non-tech sides of a business
  • [11:15] - What it’s like contributing to someone else’s success
• [13:18] - David Pawlan, Co-Founder at Aloa
  • [13:56] - David Pawlan explains the concept of Aloa
  • [15:25] - Why Aloa is a relationship focused company
  • [18:40] - Aloa’s mission
  • [20:25] - What David wished he knew before founding Aloa
• [24:45] - Dana Todd, CEO of Balodana
  • [25:02] - Dana Todd on what it’s like to be on her third business, Balodana
  • [28:53] - Challenges of slow fashion
  • [35:11] - The difficulty of getting people to try new things
  • [36:05] - Educating the customer

The Founder's Mind is a podcast for entrepreneurs wanting to gain insights and tactics from founders of all kinds to learn, grow, and be better equipped to navigate the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship. The podcast is hosted by Adam Mutschler, a Leadership Coach and COO at The Kedar Group.

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This podcast episode was produced by Dante32.