In this episode, Adam House Sr. interviews Ryan Angott, CEO and Co-founder of TechLok Solutions, a company focused on innovative laptop security solutions. Ryan shares his unique journey from the cybersecurity world to starting his own business with his father. He discusses his experiences with the $7/hour staffing model, how they’ve scaled TechLok, and the critical lessons learned from making a million-dollar mistake. Ryan also offers insights on how to identify and capitalize on new markets, raise capital, and find the right team for high-growth startups. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for practical advice or a founder in need of inspiration, this episode is filled with valuable takeaways.
Key Takeaways:
- $7 Entrepreneur Philosophy: Ryan’s story of leveraging affordable VA staffing from the Philippines to streamline operations and reduce costs for startups.
- Navigating Father-Son Business Dynamics: The challenges and rewards of building a business with a family member, and how to maintain personal and professional boundaries.
- Learning from Mistakes: How a million-dollar mistake in manufacturing led to a complete pivot and valuable lessons on strategic partnerships.
- Target Market Focus: Discovering their ideal customer profile through market research and shifting from consumer to B2B sales.
- Scaling with the Right Team: The importance of building the right team and how to strategically raise capital without losing too much equity.
Featured Guest:
- Name: Ryan Angott
- Title: CEO and Co-founder of TechLok Solutions
- Bio: Ryan Angott has a background in cybersecurity and entrepreneurship, having co-founded TechLok Solutions and the Strategic Staffing Assistant. His unique approach to leveraging $7/hour virtual assistants and his dedication to securing mobile devices for a work-from-anywhere world have made him a prominent figure in tech innovation.
- LinkedIn: Ryan Angott
Topics Covered:
- What Does it Mean to be a $7 Entrepreneur?: The concept behind using affordable staffing options to scale startups and optimize operations.
- The Journey of Building TechLok: From the inception of the idea with his father to overcoming manufacturing challenges and pivoting during COVID-19.
- Navigating Family Dynamics in Business: Balancing personal relationships while scaling a business with a family member.
- Raising Capital and Making Strategic Decisions: Ryan shares his experience of raising over $2 million and the importance of timing in bringing on investors.
- Finding the Right Market Fit: How TechLok discovered their B2B sweet spot and focused on corporate IT managers as their primary customers.
Notable Quotes:
- "Every great thing comes with a downside, but it’s always doable with the right community around you." — Ryan Angott
- "We made a million-dollar mistake by choosing the wrong factory, but that lesson helped us identify our real value and the right partners." — Ryan Angott
- "As an entrepreneur, if you don’t have a good money person in your corner, get one—trade equity, whatever it takes." — Ryan Angott
Resources Mentioned:
Call to Action:
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