Hey there! It’s Cameron Gallad, the founder of JusCheckIt, and I’m excited to share my journey as an entrepreneur and the valuable lessons I learned attending the TechCrunch Early Stage conference. Let me tell you, being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park. It’s definitely not the glamor and luxury you see online; it’s about having drive, effective communication skills, embracing failure, and building a resilient team.
Growing up as a first-generation college graduate in a financially struggling family truly shaped my entrepreneurial spirit. Witnessing my family’s legal battles ignited a fire within me, leading to the creation of JusCheckIt—a legal services company with a mission to enhance access to legal communication, information, and representation.
Attending the TechCrunch Early Stage conference was a game-changer for me. I had the opportunity to learn from professionals at renowned venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital. Here are the three valuable lessons I took away from the conference:
Lesson 1: Founders are storytellers: Being a founder is more than just creating and pitching a product. It’s about weaving a compelling story that captures the essence and inspiration behind your startup. I encourage fellow founders to be authentic, personal, and visually engaging when telling their stories. By sharing our journey and vision, we can connect with our audience and convey the true spirit of our startup.
Lesson 2: Your team is everything: As the CEO of JusCheckIt, I can’t stress enough the importance of fostering a happy and cohesive team. Each team member brings unique skills and expertise to the table, and it’s crucial to support each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Conflict management is also essential for maintaining a healthy team dynamic. We hold ourselves accountable for addressing conflicts and keeping our team united.
Lesson 3: Choose investors wisely: While the prospect of securing investment may be exhilarating, it’s vital for founders to carefully select investors who align with their startup and team. Just like a marriage, the investor-founder relationship should be based on shared values and chemistry. Seeking references from other founders can help evaluate the potential investor’s compatibility. When considering long-term commitment, founders should ensure the investor is the right fit for the company.
I’m incredibly grateful to UC Davis for instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in me, and I’d like to acknowledge the support we received from Blackstone LaunchPad, which enabled our team to attend the TechCrunch Early Stage conference. I want to emphasize that together, with an exceptional team and the support of an amazing school, we have the opportunity to build something truly remarkable.
Let’s keep pushing boundaries and creating positive change. JusCheckIt is here to empower individuals and revolutionize the legal landscape, one step at a time!