EP 5 - Shaul Olmert, Co-founder & CEO, KwaKwa - Finding Meaning in Entrepreneurship

In this episode, Etgar Shpivak interviews Shaul Olmert, a successful entrepreneur with extensive experience in the tech media marketing business. They discuss topics such as setting KPIs for a team, marketing tactics for investors, and the transition from market education to a competitive market. Shaul shares insights from his journey as a founder and CEO of companies like Playbuzz and Quackwa. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right KPIs that tell the story of your business and constantly adapting to changes in the market. Shaul also highlights the need for ongoing marketing efforts to various audiences, including investors, customers, and employees. The conversation covers various topics related to marketing and entrepreneurship. Shaul emphasizes the importance of storytelling in marketing and the need to understand the company's value and target audience. He also discusses the qualities he looks for when hiring marketing team leadership. Shaul shares his insights on the surprising lessons he has learned as a founder, including the need to adapt and reinvent oneself. He debunks the misconception that running a startup is glamorous and highlights the importance of enjoying the journey. Shaul advises his younger self to take it easy and not compare himself to others. He concludes by discussing the importance of finding meaning in what one does and the value it brings to oneself and others.Takeaways* Choose the one KPI that tells the story of your business and focus on it.* Setting KPIs is an ongoing challenge that requires exploration and failed attempts.* In the early days of a product, focus on key metrics that indicate value creation.* Communicate the big picture vision to your team and tie it to daily activities.* Marketing is not just about technical skills, but also about understanding the market and adapting to changes.* Maintain relationships with investors even when you're not raising money.* Product market fit is a continuous process that requires constant adaptation and reinvention. Marketing is about storytelling and understanding the company's value proposition and target audience.* When hiring marketing team leadership, look for individuals who are committed, adaptable, and have diverse experience.* As a founder, it is important to adapt and reinvent oneself to stay relevant in a changing market.* Running a startup is challenging and requires perseverance, but it is important to enjoy the journey and not compare oneself to others.* Finding meaning in what one does and the value it brings to oneself and others is more important than monetary success.Keywordsfounders, marketing team, KPIs, market education, competitive market, investors, product market fit, marketing, storytelling, value proposition, target audience, hiring, adaptability, reinvention, startup, entrepreneurship, imposter syndrome, success, journey, meaningThanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit etgar.substack.com