Will Little @wclittle Subscribe

Managing Director at Prota Ventures.
I'm a bioengineer-turned-software-developer and venture builder/investor. Learn more about me professionally on LinkedIn, personally here, and check out the podcast I host, Ventures.

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Topic:   Startups
 Will Little

Dec 16, 2020
Startups Software Development Will's General Newsletter Design Kickstarter

Bird Buddy, code, the kid years, and creativity

In this newsletter I talk about (1) the recent Ventures episode on the Bird Buddy story, (2) updates to the learn to code series, and (3) correlation between the early ages of life and the expression of creativity.
Will Little

Dec 15, 2020
Startups Startup Fundraising Ventures Podcast Kickstarter

The Bird Buddy story, raising over $2m on Kickstarter, and growing an IoT company :: with Franci Zidar and Kyle Buzzard

In this episode of Ventures, my guests Franci Zidar (https://mybirdbuddy.com) and Kyle Buzzard (https://protaventures.com) discuss the Bird Buddy story from an idea to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Bird Buddy is a smart bird feeder that notifies users of visiting birds with a live stream and AI-assisted photo capturing features. We discuss many aspects of the story to date, including early validation work, design interactions, and the incorporation of feedback from interested customers. We also dive into practical advice for aspiring hardware/IoT entrepreneurs considering a Kickstarter campaign as part of their marketing strategy.

Will Little

Dec 1, 2020
Startups Ventures Podcast Future of Work Design

Design, innovation, work, and the future of humanity :: with Joel Fariss

In this episode, Joel Fariss - a design research and strategic futures associate at Gensler (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelfariss/) - and I discuss the nuances of the word “design” in light of 2020 and the future of work and innovation. Based on his experience at Gensler and in the nonprofit world, we dive into the connection between design and value for humanity, the need for time and space for humans to innovate, and the role of grief to create a more equitable work environment.

Will Little

Nov 24, 2020
Startups Software Development Will's General Newsletter Social Entrepreneurship

Innovation in media, landing livable wage jobs, private commenting in Satchel, and prep work for learning to code

In this newsletter I talk about my podcast with Omari, our joint venture to help people of color land jobs, a private commenting experience on Satchel I built this past weekend, and CSS/JS assignments for students learning to code.
Will Little

Nov 24, 2020
Startups Ventures Podcast Social Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship and innovation in media, No Excuses Jobs, and the Converge Media story :: with Omari Salisbury

In today’s episode of Ventures I had the honor of interviewing Omari Salisbury (https://twitter.com/Omarisal) about his journey as an entrepreneur in the international media space, his company Converge Media (https://www.whereweconverge.com/), their unique spotlight in Seattle, and their new campaign NoExcusesJobs (https://NoExcusesJobs.com) in collaboration with Prota Ventures (https://www.protaventures.com).
Will Little

Nov 22, 2020
Startups Sociology Satchel

Testing out a new private commenting experience on Satchel

Following up on my newsletter from last week, I’ve worked on a new private commenting experience on Satchel this weekend and I’d appreciate any/all feedback.
Will Little

Nov 17, 2020
Blockchains Startups Proof-of-Stake Ventures Podcast Web3

Taking back the Internet: Blockchains, Privacy, Web 3.0, and Figment.io :: with Andrew Cronk

In this episode of Ventures, my guest Andrew Cronk (Co-Founder, Figment.io) and I discuss practical ways to engage with the Web 3.0 stack, how to keep up with information in the blockchain space, how to learn and teach others about crypto technologies, and where everyone is going to be storing and sharing baby photos in the future.

Will Little

Nov 10, 2020
Blockchains Startups Ventures Podcast Web3

What’s up with Blockchain? Web 3.0, DeFi, and scaling trust :: with Spencer Graham and Tony Little

In this episode of Ventures, I discuss with my guests Spencer Graham (https://twitter.com/spengrah) and Tony Little (https://twitter.com/DrTonyLittle) the past, present, and future of blockchain technologies and Web 3.0.
Will Little

Nov 4, 2020
Startups Will's General Newsletter Public Relations

PR for Startups, and hacking humanity for the common good

In this newsletter I talk about my podcast this week with Alex Skillman and how PR + technology could possibly be used to benefit humanity.
Will Little

Nov 3, 2020
Startups Ventures Podcast Public Relations

Public Relations (PR) for startup founders: How to effectively communicate with journalists, influencers, and potential customers :: with Alexandra Skillman

In this episode, Alexandra Skillman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexskillman/) shares her extensive knowledge in the world of PR for an entrepreneurial audience. We discuss at length PR considerations for startup founders regarding go-to-market strategies, overall marketing plans, working with journalists, reaching out to influencers, and avoiding common mistakes.
Will Little

Oct 28, 2020
Startups Coaching Will's General Newsletter

Leadership coaching, Reddit conversations about algorithms, and Startup Rocket for organizations

In this newsletter I talk about my podcast with Shandel Sutherland, my Reddit post from last week, and a 3-min screencast I made today regarding Startup Rocket and its features for organizations.
Will Little

Oct 27, 2020
Startups Coaching Ventures Podcast

Coaching founders on leadership, holistic communication, team building, purpose, values, vision, and mission :: with Shandel Sutherland

In this episode of Ventures I had the honor of interviewing executive coach Shandel Sutherland (https://www.shandelgroup.com/) about topics including organizational effectiveness, personal/team wiring and communication, the “why” behind a company, and setup work that is necessary for teams to be maximally efficient. Establishing clarity is one of the hardest jobs as an entrepreneur and business leader, and in this episode we get a front-row seat into how a 20-yr coaching veteran helps founders and their teams succeed.

Will Little

Oct 20, 2020
Blockchains Startups Startup Fundraising Ventures Podcast

Emerging technology, startup funding, and books for entrepreneurs :: with John Biggs

My guest this week (John Biggs, https://twitter.com/johnbiggs, https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndbiggs/) is an entrepreneur, writer, and technologist. He was the east coast editor at TechCrunch for fifteen years, was an editor at Coindesk, and is currently the Editor in Chief at Gizmodo. In this conversation we dive into a wide range of topics including 5G, the future of work, blockchains, recommended books, John’s entrepreneurial ventures, his new book (Get Funded), previous books (https://johnbiggsbooks.com/), and practical advice for entrepreneurs.

Will Little

Oct 13, 2020
Health Science Startups Will's General Newsletter

Wisdom for entrepreneurs, Bio Eats World, and remember to register for this Saturday’s A Night of REST

A new podcast with Troy Henikoff, a new (long) article on how to prepare for bio eating the world, and a reminder to register for A Night of REST.

Will Little

Oct 13, 2020
Startups Startup Fundraising Venture Capital Ventures Podcast

Entrepreneurship, fundraising, and practical advice for startup founders :: with Troy Henikoff

This week I’m excited to share an in-depth conversation with Troy Henikoff (https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyhenikoff/, https://www.mathventurepartners.com/ ) about his entrepreneurial story and path into startup investing. Troy is one of the most amazing and inspiring people I know. I first met him when I moved to Chicago in the mid-2010s, and his generosity, enthusiasm, and support for founders has been consistently admirable and contagious. After an extended introduction where he shares his story, we walk through practical validation, execution, and funding advice for early stage founders.