About this episode
Building a startup can feel lonely. You make decisions with incomplete information, learn things the hard way, and hope you're moving in the right direction.In this episode, I spoke with Chelsea Cooper, Founder & CEO of Approvely, about the lessons that only come from actually building—not from books or Twitter threads.We talked about:Learning the hard way why distribution mattersBuilding in tough, regulated industries like payments and gamingGrowing a company without VC money or a technical co-founderStaying focused on revenue, customers, and real problemsTrusting the process when things don't go as plannedChelsea's journey is honest, grounded, and incredibly real. If you're building something of your own—or thinking about starting—this conversation will remind you that you're not alone, and that progress comes from showing up every day.Hope this one helps you.? Connect with Chelsea Cooper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsiemcooper/ Website: https://approvely.comAbout the Host I'm Abhinav Sinha, host of Funds & Founders—a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations, and sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/?? Timestamps 00:00 – Trailer / Hook00:40 – Intro01:40 – Where did your entrepreneurial journey begin?04:19 – Did you ever have a traditional 9–5 job?06:45 – Why onboarding felt like a problem worth solving09:30 – Realizing distribution matters more than the product12:17 – Building a network early & learning from mentors14:18 – Being a woman in a traditional payments industry16:18 – Lessons from partnerships: what worked & wh
