Ep 146: Kalev Kaarna
How to sell well, validate demand before building a product, how VCs can add real value & what’s wrong with most accelerator programs
Kalev Kaarna is a Mentor at Creative Destruction Lab and recently became ex-VC at Superangel where for the past 5 years Kalev operated as an investor and startups coach two in one.
Kalev has specialized in propelling early-stage software and deep-tech startups to significant growth, with a keen focus on AI/ML, robotics, logistics, mobility, and SaaS B2B sectors. His prowess in guiding startups through initial challenges, especially in the Nordics and Baltics, is marked by his success in leading Superangel's accelerator program, where 33 startups collectively raised €40M.
A firm believer in the power of effective pitching and building investor trust, Kalev combines his extensive intrapreneurial and research experience with a personal philosophy centered on leadership and personal coaching for founders. His journey, marked by both successes and failures, underlines his profound understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and his dedication to shaping the future of tech startups.
This episode is brought to you in cooperation with Tartu sTARTUp day!
Join the 3,500 people taking part at this year's most startup minded business festival on January 24-26 by securing your ticket here www.startupday.ee
On this episode we talk about:
VC, Startup Coaching and Why and How Superangel Combined These
How Can Startup Founders Benefit from Coaching
Critical Early Sales Lessons for Startups
The “Sell-Demo-Build” Strategy
How to Build a Sales Strategy
How a Founder Must Grow Faster than Their Company
Book references from our conversation:
"Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works" by Ash Maurya.
"Demand-Sided Sales" by Bob Mesta.
"The Mom Test" by Rob Fitzpatrick.
"Clear Leadership" by Gervase R. Bushe.
"The Jolt Effect" by Matthew Dixon and Ted Mc
"The Almanack of Naval Ravikant" by Eric Jorgenson.
"Obviously Awesome" by April Dunford.
"Sales Pitch" by April Dunford.
“Tech Powered Sales” by Justin Michael and Tony Hughes
Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/
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