How To Start Your Startup with STRADA
The journey of launching a successful startup is neither easy nor simple. But with the right direction, the payoff can be absolutely groundbreaking. If only there was a resource out there that could help you start your startup business and scale it for long-term success. Oh, wait, there is!
Together with his brother Peter, Michael Cioni introduced numerous transformative technologies to creative professionals and established lasting trends while working at some of the film industry’s most prominent brands. Now the Cioni brothers launched a startup at the intersection of art and technology called Strada.
Strada is a new Al-enabled cloud platform that revolutionizes workflow for creatives. Its goal is to inspire those navigating the challenges of launching ambitious ideas off the ground.
If you have the seed for the next great startup but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered! In a series of eight short yet comprehensive episodes, Michael Cioni provides the advice you need for how to start your startup with Strada.
1. STARTING A STARTUP
Michael Cioni recently resigned from his job and decided to launch a new startup that connects creators to the technology they need to successfully scale their businesses.
So, on his last day of work, Michael decided to set up a camera to record his thoughts. Why is this so important? When starting a startup, you are making a commitment. Oftentimes, we are leaving a place of security to pursue a venture greater than ourselves.
For Michael, and like so many others, the journey starts here.
2. BUILD A SUCCESSFUL STARTUP TEAM
Two weeks into his life-changing journey to starting a startup, Michael identifies the initial challenges of developing his company.
One such challenge is contending with mounting pressure to perform while working through the growing pains with his newly formed team.
Every team comes with its unique set of qualities and will change as your startup venture develops.
3. BRAND NAME AND WEBSITES
It’s so frustrating when a bit of unfamiliarity and bad luck turns a simple task into a monumental one.
The foundation of any successful startup is a clear, creative brand name and obtaining a corresponding domain name. Yet, Michael and his team found themselves struggling with just that.
Not only is it difficult to choose the right name but it can also prove to be very expensive. In this episode, follow Michael Cioni as he navigates the spider web of domain registrars.
4. WHAT SETS YOUR STARTUP APART FROM THE REST?
What defines your startup from all the rest? For Michael Cioni and his team, it’s all about connecting two industries together.
With technological advances that continue to transform the film industry, it was only a matter of time before there was a resource that connected both worlds.
While Hollywood and Silicon Valley seem worlds apart when it comes to their industry methodologies and practices, Strada serves as the ultimate resource to bridge both worlds.
Dive into their journey as they craft a pitch that speaks both the language of Hollywood and the tech world.
5. THE BUSINESS OF INSPIRATION VS PRACTICALITY
Michael Cioni is first and foremost a creative with big ideas and intent on changing the landscape of the film and tech industries.
He is more inclined to outline his vision for a project or company and wax on about task lists and action items.
However, if you ask about how to set up payroll, an expense reporting tool, a benefits plan, or a 401K — well, that’s a whole other animal.
The most frustrating factor for creatives is working on the “hard stuff,” but Michael has an idea of where to start, insights into what platforms actually work, and how to avoid tedious pitfalls.
6. HIRING HACK: HIGHER SALARY OR EQUITY?
One of the great challenges of the hiring process is finding and hiring candidates who are experienced and committed. Now, does your startup have the funds to secure them or do you need to offer equity?
Navigating the tightrope between equity and salary for new hires requires careful consideration.
In this episode, Michael Cioni presents Strada’s innovative approach: enabling employees to shape their compensation based on their appetite for risk. This method provides new employees with the opportunity to choose a stake in the future with more equity or live in the present with a higher salary.
7. HOW TO RAISE FUNDS FOR YOUR STARTUP
A startup won’t last long without the funds to keep it afloat. Whether you need to raise a couple hundred thousand, a few million, or even more, where do you even start?
In this episode, discover Strada’s process for raising money. It begins with understanding the nuances of the various kinds of venture capital funding and gaining the support of industry leaders with your vision.
For Strada, the vision is key. They firmly believe that AI will actually help creatives — not replace them.
8. LOVE YOUR CRITICS
When the same people in the same place dealing with the same subject matter collaborate for extended periods of time, it’s easy to miss out on much-needed outside perspective.
Moreover, the ability to handle and welcome criticism is central to ensuring your business can become the best possible version of itself.
In this episode, Michael Cioni outlines how the Strada team’s journey to IBC in Amsterdam resulted in not only a variety of much-needed outside perspectives but also incredible opportunities to intimately connect with the global media community and spread the word about Strada’s AI workflow revolution.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WORKFLOW
Continue to follow the journey of Michael Cioni and Strada on YouTube with episodes on Starting a Startup and Building an Alpha.
Are you a business owner and creative who wants to take control of your workflow? Then, join the waiting list for the Strada cloud marketplace and workflow builder so you can deliver higher-quality content faster!
