At Goodie Nation, we believe in the power of community and the transformative impact of collective intelligence. That belief was the driving force behind partnering with Google for Startups on their inaugural For Founders, By Founders Thought Leadership Series—a unique workshop series designed to tap into the incredible expertise of the Google for Startups Founders Fund alumni. By bringing together some of the brightest minds from our network, we empowered founders to overcome challenges and achieve their business goals through actionable insights and shared experiences.

Here’s a recap of the thought-provoking sessions that shaped this milestone series:

1. The Intersection of Performance Mindset x Sales

Led by Harrison Wilson, Co-Founder of Limitless Minds, this workshop explored how elite sports performance techniques can drive sales success. Participants learned how to adopt the focus, resilience, and winning mindset of top athletes to optimize their sales strategies, build stronger customer relationships, and excel under pressure.

2. Scaling QA Without Breaking the Bank

Ivan Vargas, Founder of MukkTest, shared cost-effective strategies to streamline quality assurance processes through test automation and expert QA solutions. Attendees discovered how to seamlessly integrate these approaches into their CI/CD workflows, ensuring high-quality software delivery without the overhead of in-house deployments.

3. Accelerating Customer Insights with AI-Driven User Interviews

In this innovative session, Kene Anoliefo, Co-Founder of HEARD by Elis, demonstrated how AI can streamline the user interview process. Founders and product teams learned to collect rapid, actionable customer insights, enhancing product development and marketing strategies with unparalleled efficiency.

4. Cybersecurity Penetration Testing: Safeguarding Your Startup

Cariel Cohen, Co-Founder of Securily, walked participants through the essentials of penetration testing. This hands-on workshop empowered attendees to identify vulnerabilities in their systems, simulate real-world attacks, and implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect their businesses.

5. Mastering Asset Inventory & Cybersecurity Scanning

Tina Williams-Koroma, founder of CyDeploy, led this insightful session on maintaining a comprehensive asset inventory and conducting regular cybersecurity scans. Attendees gained practical tools and strategies to monitor vulnerabilities, safeguard their digital environments, and ensure long-term resilience.

6. Understanding and Preventing Phishing Attacks

In this highly relevant session, Tiffany Ricks, CEO of HacWare, provided an in-depth look at the impact of phishing and how to prevent it. Participants explored how HacWare’s automated cybersecurity API enables hyper-customized security awareness training, reducing training costs while enhancing their organizations’ defenses against phishing attacks.

A Community-Driven Approach to Thought Leadership

This inaugural series was a testament to the power of community and collaboration. By tapping into the collective intelligence of the Founders Fund alumni, we delivered a rich lineup of workshops that addressed critical challenges faced by startups today. From scaling QA processes to fortifying cybersecurity and leveraging AI for customer insights, each session was designed to equip founders with the tools they need to achieve their goals.

We’re committed to building a supportive and empowering ecosystem where founders can thrive together. The Google for Startups For Founders, By Founders Thought Leadership Series is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue fostering innovation and shared learning in the startup community.