The hardest job for most companies is marketing, but specifically how marketing can drive sales growth. This evening Tom Simon showed us tips on how to market products or services to ensure campaigns are supporting sales goals, which in turn generate much needed revenue. Tom Simon is a seasoned product marketer, who is deeply passionate about consumer experiences and the data behind it. He was the founder of Source 3 that was acquired by Facebook. Today, Tom joined forces with Justin Miller to start Zookies Cookies. ​

Here is my take on top wisdom points shared this evening:

• Be open, ready, and willing to pivot. If market development is not happening fast enough or demand not there or market shows interest in different area, then accept what is not working, make fix, and address new area asap. Move beyond. Pivot!
• Have the right people and right team around you to be able to make the company alive and thrive. Build on team excitement and ability to make changes to fuel momentum to achieve growth.
• Qualities to look for in person when hiring to be successful in tech start-up: Surround yourself with people who are smarter then you. Don't be smartest person in the room. You can have vision, but need smart people to support building everything and get you there. Have people who have passion, grit, and are ok with grinding in start-up lean and mean environment.
• Focus on solving real problems and innovative to address problem in better way. Gain leverage by being expert in solving unique problem.
• Acquisitions can start off by working with big companies on projects. Just get some work going and open up dialog with hot companies. Overtime if you prove yourself in solving problem your company becomes ripe for acquisition.
• Brand is important. It's who you are and what you stand for. Your team and vision on the product, audience, and plan. Think your brand through and then shout it loud & proud.
• Focus on market that has biggest pain point and give that channel your focused messaging, positioning, and product offering. Team up with other channel partners who have vested interest in reaching your target market that has the biggest need and partner with others to market to these customers. Don't go at it alone.
• Use marketing strategically to communicate value of your product and the problem you solve. Focus on a niche of people and companies who care to buy-in and evangelize your product for you. Focus on product adoption. Get people using and loving your product.
• Marketing can help magnify the problem and put "fear" into what can happen if situation is not addressed and how your product offers solution to solve it quickly and easily. Then go after companies that need problem solved in which you have great solution for. Hyper-Target.
• Get attention. Prove product value. Tell compelling story. Convince people they need your product and there is real problem they need to worry about. The show them how your product is the solution. Be clear and be loud!
• Know what your good at and how to communicate your greatness and communicate with passion that you're the best choice!
• Important to have your people feel they're part of something big and different. Have your people bought in with equity to feel special for being part of company that is marching toward gigantic things!
• Best quote related to what it is like launching a start-up tech company, "Jumping off a cliff and building an airplane on the way down"
• Best advice in marketing, "Align yourselves with the sales team. Sales is the lifeblood of company so need to be 100% in touch with the pain points of sales to address with marketing support. Get in room with sales team, listen to the needs of clients, and then build strategies with sales team that deliver results. No matter how pretty your marketing is or sounds, if it doesn't convert for sales then not effective.
• Know your message that can cut through the clutter and resonate with people per addressing problems on their mind. Show them your simple solution. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Focus on strategy that delivers your unique messaging in a compelling way and follow-up to double down on messaging so you stand out and are remembered.

Great session in the heart of downtown Raleigh! Special thanks to Mark Bavisotto from Startup Grind for leading discussion, Tom Simon for great presentation, and HQ Raleigh for hosting event. Great beer from LONERIDER Brewery and food from Al's BBQ too. Looking forward to the next Startup Grind event this May!

Each May Startup Grind celebrates female founders and last night was a special evening to recognize great people and companies. In partnership with Smashing Boxes, Startup Grind/Triangle honored female founders in the area. It was a nice occasion for networking, awards, and learning. What was most impressive was the numerous open and candid discussions on challenges faced, opportunities ahead, and how as a community we can better support female lead companies.

The award winners were fantastic and pleased to share them here. Top Female Entrepreneur Newcomer: Jessica Mitsch, Momentum Learning Top Female Social Entrepreneur: Heather McDougall, Leadership ExChange Top Female Entrepreneur, Courtney Tellefsen, The Produce Box
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A special thanks to everyone who attended and shared. A special gratitude to the sponsors like Smashing Boxes for hosting event, Lonerider Brerwery, and Big Al's BBQ. More to come with Startup Grind sessions each month and the Startup Summit Conference October 15th and 16th at NC State. Exciting times! Go RTP!

Tonight we enjoyed business networking and brews veteran style at American Underground in Durham per special event hosted by Bunker Brews. This event featured a special themed story around "Green Beret to Startup Founder" as former Army Special Forces Officer, Tommy Sowers, shared his journey from the military to academia to running for office and ultimately starting a disruptive company. This evening was packed with learning about the parallels among these unique paths and journey in life and business.
Here is a recap on some of the top wisdom points shared:

• Do you want some advice on giving a talk to a group? No one complained about a short speech. Make it tight!
• Look for problem to fix and do it with speed and watch the numbers closely.
• Be resourceful. Find volunteers to work for free and people who are willing to wear many hats and grind.
• Example from military on getting things done: Show up and work hard. Learn the craft and learn your profession.
• The area's veterans are good for a startup: Operations and systems. Getting stuff done. Focusing in and targeting.
• One perspective to raising money; Realize there is a wide world of capital available. The key is to target the right investors. Find your niche of investors who care about you and what you do... then sell a good story. Differentiate! And know how to ask for the money!
• Like a military raid; Always know and be prepared for what is about to go down.
• All plans are worthless, but, planning is everything. Have a plan, mission, and phased approach. Then communicate all to your team very clearly.
• Have strong ability to handle uncertainty. You must be okay with uncertainty because this is what is needed in starting anything new and to help you get through cloudy times!
• Do an "AR" after events. Have an "After Action" review on paths taken and what you learned. Do post modem to assemble the facts and learn what went well and what went wrong. Make sure you dedicate a set time to evaluate and document learning so you can implement any changes needed.
• Do what you love and are passionate about so you can be in it for the long haul and get through setbacks.
• Be data driven. Care about the numbers and enjoy the spreadsheets on your business.
• Be fast and agile to move at a quick pace to address needs swiftly.
• Keep things in perspective! No one is going to get killed here today so keep business in right frame of mind.
• Hire people with good start-up experience and start-up speed; Adaptable and nimble. Be able to operate with uncertainty.
• Make sure you get the people and human element in forefront of your business to help with your most needed company assets of sales, marketing, and leadership.
• Recommended a great group called "EO" to expand your network and learning.

What is Bunker Brews?
A monthly meet-up or happy hour where the Bunker Labs community — veterans, military spouses, and civilians alike can network with subject matter experts, investors, thought leaders, and more — creating a robust environment for growth and development.

What is Bunker Labs RDU?
​Bunker Labs—a national non-profit—was created by military veterans for veterans to start and grow businesses. 25% of transitioning service members want to start a business and they need places inside their community where they can connect with the people, resources, and support they need to start and grow their businesses. Bunker Labs’ network is designed to fill that space. Learn more about Bunker Labs RDU programs for veterans at http://bunkerlabsrdu.org/programs-for-veterans/!