No VC, No Problem: Melissa Kwan’s Path to eWebinar Success

Today's guest is Melissa Kwan, founder of eWebinar, a company that turns videos into interactive webinars. She's an outspoken bootstrapper, and her journey and perspectives are fascinating. Enjoy!Director, producter, co-creator: Christopher MudiappahpillaiFounder, host, co-creator: Rob KenediGood jokes: Paul BatesBad jokes: Rob Kenedi---00:04:03 - Introduction of Melissa Kwan- Rob introduces Melissa Kwan, founder of eWebinar, and mentions her journey as a bootstrapper.00:04:14 - Overview of eWebinar- Melissa explains that eWebinar automates webinars by turning videos into interactive webinars, particularly useful for onboarding and training.00:04:52 - Features of eWebinar- The platform includes interactive elements like polls, questions, and asynchronous chat for real-time or later responses.00:05:11 - Competitors- Melissa identifies competitors such as EverWebinar and EasyWebinar, noting that most focus on live webinars while eWebinar specializes in automation.00:06:02 - Previous Company- Melissa discusses her previous company, Spacio, which she exited in 2019, and reflects on her revelations before starting eWebinar.00:07:39 - Media's Measure of Success- Melissa emphasizes that media recognition does not equate to personal success, highlighting the importance of personal metrics over external validation.00:08:25 - Journey to Understanding Success- Melissa shares her journey of moving to New York and the pressures of startup culture, leading to her realization about the nature of success.00:10:20 - The Impact of Not Raising Funds- Melissa reflects on how not getting funded allowed her to build a profitable business without the pressures of investor expectations.00:11:05 - Debt and Financial Struggles- Melissa discusses her financial struggles, including debt from her previous startup, and the mental toll it took on her.00:17:02 - Mental Preparation for eWebinar- Melissa describes her mental state when starting eWebinar, including fears of returning to previous struggles and the need for a positive mindset.00:25:02 - Non-Negotiables for the New Company- Melissa created a list of non-negotiables for her next venture, which guided her decision-making process.00:30:05 - Purple Ocean Strategy- Melissa explains her approach to eWebinar as a "purple ocean" opportunity, improving upon existing solutions rather than creating something entirely new.00:32:11 - Friends and Family Investment- Melissa discusses taking friends and family investments and the importance of transparency regarding the risks involved.00:35:07 - Structure of eWebinar's Investment- Melissa explains how eWebinar was structured to allow for dividends based on investment percentage, which differs from traditional VC models.00:36:05 - Drawbacks of Bootstrapping- Melissa acknowledges the challenges of bootstrapping, including the need for side hustles and the distractions they bring.00:40:39 - Speed to Market- Melissa reflects on the speed of bringing eWebinar to market, emphasizing the importance of having a revenue-generating product from the start. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decelerator.media