Fund BMC
Fund BMC
Van Nguyen, Hong Quan
Hinwin presents - FundBMC. BMC is an acronym for Builders, Makers, & Creators. We have real conversations about the real life struggles of starting a real business from nothing. We want to share stories from people who really went through the grinder, to encourage more founders to find their own path, and to help you make your own contribution to the world. So, let's get some more BMCs funded. Or watch us on YouTube (https://hin.win/bmc/yt)
Interview: Jonathan Basker #JobHunting #Resumes #NonTechnical
Hong (@quan) and Jonathan (@basker) have a chat about finding a job during downturns and how to prepare yourself for the best outcome. Topics include: job hunting during COVID-19 (2:00), Hong's first job (8:06), how to get into tech/startups without a technical background (10:24), how to know if your resume isn't working (16:04), what a day in the life of a startup recruiter looks like (17:32), the best tool to help you look credible (19:00), an important tactical way to stand out with your resume (19:35), and why (if you can) skip the resume entirely (20:17). Watch on YouTube:
May 20, 2020
30 min
Interview: Arlan Hamilton #VentureCapital #ItsAboutDamnTime #Underrepresented
Hong (@quan) and Arlan (@arlanwashere) have a chat about the wild ride of investing in underrepresented groups. Topics include: how to invest in the underrepresented (2:14), how venture capital works (7:31), her first million podcast (13:26), almost being on reality TV (16:19), whether Asian Americans are considered underrepresented (17:47), and her new book "It's About Damn Time" (22:59). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pXY0ae27_ts
May 5, 2020
28 min
Interview: Brian M Wang #StartupDad #Leadership #ExecCoaching
Hong (@quan) and Brian (@brianmwang) have a candid chat about parenthood while founding a startup business, how founder egos can get in the way (and how to fix it), and what is executive coaching. Topics include: a true story fable of founder ego getting solved (1:17), tips for a new #StartupDad (7:36), balancing life with your partner (14:16), the biggest tip for parents (16:50), what is executive coaching (17:24), who pays for it (24:24), and how to make the most of coaching/advice/feedback (25:43). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VHsRhM1tXzw
May 5, 2020
30 min
Interview: Christine Tsai #500Startups #Fundraising
Hong (@quan) and Christine (@christine_tsai) talk about 500Startups (500S), the venture capital firm & accelerator, its international expansion, and how to attract more diversity in entrepreneurship. Topics include: how the two met (1:01), details about 500S (1:48), differences compared to another accelerator (3:02), what makes 500S stand out (4:39), a huge hit from an unexpected place (7:58), on why 500S has an international expansion (9:19), differences between regions & markets (13:05), on how to attract diversity in VC & entrepreneurship (18:36), and the 500S application cycle & how to apply (26:39). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bMuqtnVYOvw
Apr 22, 2020
32 min
Interview: Steve Blick #Marketing #Cycling
Hong (@quan) and Steve (@blick) talk about their love of cycling, what marketing is, how to do marketing well, and how it is evolving over time. Topics include: what Blick is known for (0:58), the history of Oakley (2:34), what stood Oakley apart from the competition (3:49), powering through a troubling situation (5:37), what the goal of marketing actually is (7:41), how Blick turned a rough situation into an amazing opportunity (8:28), the essence of marketing (11:42), where great marketing comes from (14:29), what's next in the world of marketing (17:44), where to find Blick now (23:56). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pA6dg3A9XTA
Apr 15, 2020
26 min
Interview: Joyce Park #RealTalk #WomenInTech #106miles
Hong (@quan) and Joyce (@troutgirl) talk about 106miles, the realities of Silicon Valley ecosystem, women in technology, and how to succeed in a more gender balanced economy. Topics include: getting into tech (00:51), dramatic firing (01:54), getting into entrepreneurship (02:36), what is 106miles (04:07), the hard truth about some VCs (04:35), sudden health changes (06:07), how 106miles helps with tackling hard issues (07:10), realities of the entrepreneurship journey (08:11), how failure in Silicon Valley isn't really failure (10:05), how to nurture your confidence (12:02), how to pick good startup ideas and business models (16:36), what to tell the next generation of founders (21:22), examples of women centric businesses (23:35), on dealing with historically based gender biases (24:35), on female VCs/CTOs/cofounders today (26:10). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_o_wrG0NnqE
Apr 8, 2020
34 min
Interview: Liên Johnson #StartupMom #Homeschooling #StartingOver
Hong (@quan) and Liên (@paliendrome) talk about homeschooling, how parenting applies to starting over and building a business, gender/racial/etc balance in companies, and how your heritage can drive your legacy. Topics include: getting into Yale (1:30), getting started with homeschooling (2:53), the trivium educational process (5:36), the origin of PHNX / "Phoenix" (8:33), managing work-life balance with kids (10:00), managing a gender/racial/etc balanced company workforce (11:00), what differentiates PHNX Creative from other agencies (14:24), the origins of this podcast/show (17:25), on being treated as an "outsider" & your responsibility to tell your story (18:00). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zzjv6ipTHOM
Apr 1, 2020
21 min
Interview: Marc Randolph #Netflix #Culture #ThatWillNeverWork
Hong (@quan) and Marc (@mbrandolph) talk about Marc's newest book, how to develop effective company culture, and share some stories about the early days of Netflix. Topics include: how an editor led him to write the right book (2:30), looking back at Netflix's humble beginnings (5:29), the origins of Netflix's famous culture (6:24), how wilderness survival training shaped the culture (9:44), crazy story of how they almost got bought by Amazon (16:09), what ultimately worked for Netflix (20:30), and Netflix's IPO (21:37). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iEwajxBUJ20
Mar 11, 2020
24 min
Interview: Aye Moah #Profitable #Startups #FemaleFounders
Hong (@quan) and Aye (@ayemoah) talk about the struggles of being an immigrant founder, how to creatively hustle and raise money, and about paying forward your success. Topics include: the "UberCab" fundraise story (00:54), boston venture capital environment (05:02), how to focus on building a profitable company (07:01), how to identify unicorn founders (10:26), how she got into MIT from a country in turmoil through a crazy series of events, and paying it forward to help a generation of hard-working, potential future founders (15:40). Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AxIvoDDL-c
Mar 4, 2020
20 min
Interview: Jason Shen #Athleticism #Startups #YC #AsianAmerican
Hong (@quan) and Jason (@JasonShen) talk about the realities of starting a company, how to set yourself apart, working in government, and discover a similarity between the experiences of Asian Americans. Topics include: the influence of Jason's athletic childhood on his entrepreneurial journey (1:28), getting into YCombinator (6:26), having his company fail (10:20), joining Presidential Innovation fellows (16:00), writing about Asian American experiences (18:15), Asian American role models in media (23:29), how to get others to feel aligned with you as an AsAm (26:00), and what Jason is up to now (29:17). Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2up_JEACdY
Feb 25, 2020
33 min