In this week's episode we speak to Zandra Moore, CEO of PanIntelligence. Zandra shares with us a super cheap and really effective marketing tactic that she used and that can get your business noticed, the triggers that brought about a successful Series A funding round, why she didn’t change her business card when she was promoted to CEO, the key role an incubator played in her journey and the need for support and structures for female founders. Plus there’s a great ‘How to’ when it comes to taking a business step you’re afraid of. INTRODUCING ZANDRA MOORE Zandra Moore is a tech entrepreneur in data and AI, who is passionate about enabling more women in the tech industry. The Co-founder and CEO of PanIntelligence, the No Code Lab, and LeanIn Leeds. Zandra is also involved in a number of other UK organisations focused on increasing female representation in the tech industry. She is also a member of the UK Government’s taskforce for diversity in fast growth companies. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:30] The journey to PanCredit [00:03:00] The MBO/Spin out of PanIntelligence [00:09:00] The feelings behind the step from employee to start up [00:14:00] How the sales started (via old school marketing!) [00:16:30] The major growth landmark and the importance of the channel model [00:21:00] Raising capital, what triggered it and the process [00:26:50] The scary step from Sales & Marketing Director to CEO [00:29:45] Incubators, peer-groups and workshops, and their importance in the journey [00:33:00] The decision on which investors to go with [00:37:30] Female founders and the need & importance for support and change [00:45:00} How to do something that you’re afraid to do KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • Personalisation is the key to getting anyone’s attention • It's super hard to hire when you are a start up • Understand who your ideal customer is, be ruthless speaking to only that profile, research them, write them a letter and then pick up the phone • If you’re looking to raise Series A funds, get on an incubator and meet other Founders who have • Be vulnerable enough to say “I’m struggling with this” and get support • Create competitive tension when looking for investment • Shy Bairns get Nowt • Stage-commensurate support is what’s needed – the right support, for the right people, at the right time • Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone • Solve problems by chunking them down BEST MOMENTS “I emptied my savings to buy the IP” “It was super-hard to do the basics like getting a bank account” “When you send people a hand-written letter with a stamp on it, they remember it” “Joining the PWC incubator was the best thing I ever did” “I didn’t change my job title on my email for three months” “The best thing that I got out of the incubator was meeting the wider investment community” “Even though we pitched to London funds, the final 6 offers came from the North” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/ Website: https://panintelligence.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zandramoore/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/panintelligence/ Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/panintelligencesoftware/ Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/zandramoore Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/panintelligence Shout out tags: https://www.thedatarefinery.co.uk/ Mentioned; https://www.adaventures.com/, https://www.fintechnorth.uk/, https://www.liftedventures.co.uk/ Want to watch...