Unlock the secrets of entrepreneurial success with this inspiring episode of the Beyond Fulfillment Podcast featuring John Worthington, founder of Tech2U and Sircles! If you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or startup founder searching for actionable strategies, innovative funding ideas, and real-world advice from thriving business leaders, this episode is packed with value.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why John left review platforms like Yelp behind to build a community-driven recommendation app (Sircles).

The biggest risks and leaps of faith every founder faces—especially when raising capital.

Proven crowdfunding strategies that helped John raise over $7 million on Kickstarter and WeFunder.

How to harness community and influencer partnerships for explosive growth.

The entrepreneurial mindset shift from chasing negative feedback to building a business on positivity and trusted networks.

Advice for scaling your business at a sustainable pace, avoiding burnout, and building a loyal team.

The importance of having a mission-driven “Why” for your startup.

Tips on navigating reputational risk as your raise funds and lead your venture.

Timestamps:

00:33 Origin story of Sircles: solving problems with Yelp

02:11 The leap toward a “friend-powered” model

03:11 How & why they chose crowdfunding

05:36 Crowdfunding tips & influencer partnerships

06:56 Building a positive, recommendation-focused app

10:07 Early community-building tactics

11:23 Next milestones & scaling beyond your local market

12:22 Fundraising advice for early-stage startups

14:21 Navigating risk and reputation as a founder

15:40 Lessons learned from Tech2U & scaling wisely

16:55 The value of trusted partners in business

18:05 Where to find and connect with Sircles

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Connect with John:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sircles

Website: https://sircles.com/

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