Ep. 28 From Startup to Scale: Devin Baptiste on the Highs and Hurdles of Entrepreneurship
10/22/24
Welcome to the DO GOOD X podcast, where hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis sit down with Devin Baptiste, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder/CEO of GroupRaise. GroupRaise is a marketplace that facilitates large group charitable bookings at restaurants, with over 10,000 restaurant clients in 500+ cities. In this episode, Devin opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, the growth of GroupRaise, and the importance of validating ideas quickly. He shares valuable lessons learned from both his successes and unresolved challenges. The conversation dives into the unique hurdles underrepresented founders face in securing funding, effective mentorship, and how mentees can grow from their mistakes. Tune in for insights on technology, wellness, faith, and legacy.
In This Episode
- [1:46] Meet Devin, who discusses his upbringing and why he started GroupRaise, and he is transparent about entrepreneurship
- [12:27] The steps Devin took to position his business for growth and the overnight growth he experienced
- [18:48] Effective tactics to assist underrepresented founders in securing funding and principles he has learned and what qualities represent good candidates
- [29:37] Discussion of mentees learning from their mistakes and the mentor/mentee relationship
- [34:48] Devin discusses technology, wellness, faith and legacy
- [41:53] Stephen shares the technology he has found effective in his work, and Kimberly shares her favorite financial tracking system
Key Takeaways
- Being an entrepreneur takes work. You need to have done your homework. Know that there is a reward, but there is also hard work involved
- Expansion and growth can be good things, but they also require a lot of revenue up front, and the yield takes time. Fast growth can be exciting but strenuous.
- There are some principles that are tried and true for a startup, but they may not translate to underrepresented communities because they face hurdles that others don’t
About The Hosts
Kimberly R. Daniel
Kimberly R. Daniel catalyzes entrepreneurs and organizations to do good. She is co-founder and project director of DO GOOD X, a community that provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive Change.
Kimberly also helps purpose-driven organizations clarify and design compelling brand and communication strategies. With over 15 years of experience developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to producing effective processes and creating authentic, “sticky” brands that are community-centered.
In addition, Kimberly has nearly ten years of experience as a certified life coach. She has facilitated workshops, spoken to communities, and written about innovation and entrepreneurship centered on social impact. She co-authored A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
She is deeply passionate about purpose, meaning, and the common good in any aspect of her work.
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Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and the creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X. This community provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change. He is an organizational change strategist and a leadership development specialist focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work purposefully. Stephen co-authors Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
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