Stacey Stubblefield is a former entrepreneur in residence at Curious Minds Inc, who co-founded TeleSign, a company born out of the incubator. Stacey shares her unconventional journey from considering law school to embracing technology and entrepreneurship, leading to the creation and eventual acquisition of TeleSign by BICS. Stacey discusses the challenges and milestones of growing TeleSign, from early idea testing to hitting significant revenue milestones and navigating the complexities of selling the company. The conversation covers the importance of choosing the right co-founders, the impact of mentorship and advisory roles, and insights into the current startup ecosystem. Stacey also touches upon her current stealth company project and advises aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the value of resources like AWS, social media platforms for networking, and the necessity of staying informed and adaptable in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing unconventional paths as an entrepreneur
• Importance of ideation and experimentation in early startup stages
• Learning from incubator experiences to shape future business strategies
• The process of identifying an idea with the potential for success
• Choosing co-founders with complementary skills for a balanced team
• How to transition smoothly from incubator to independent operations
• Overcoming scaling challenges and celebrating growth milestones
• Utilization of modern tools and networking to stay informed and adaptable

Key Timestamps:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:56) From Law School to Tech Incubator: A Pivot into Entrepreneurship
• (07:41) Navigating the Startup World: Lessons from the Incubator
• (12:01) Founding TeleSign
• (16:21) Co-Founder Dynamics and the Importance of Complementary Skills
• (19:34) Transitioning from Incubator to Independent Company
• (22:56) Scaling Challenges and Milestones in TeleSign's Journey
• (26:59) Rethinking Leadership and Decision to Sell
• (31:29) The Complex Journey of Selling a Company
• (34:23) Navigating the CFIUS Process and Challenges
• (36:40) Post-Sale Reflections and Adjusting to New Roles
• (40:44) Exploring Identity Fraud and Generative AI Challenges
• (45:20) Leveraging Modern Tools and Networking for Success
• (53:06) Conclusion

Mentions:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacystubblefield/

Key Topics Discussed:

Funds and Founders, Abhinav Sinha, Abhi, Austin Entrepreneurs and Founders, Venture Capital, Untold Stories, C Corp Registration, Quantum Encryption, Tech Company Acquisition 

Check out the Funds & Founders Community:

Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.com

Website: fundsandfounder.com