Working Towards Our Purpose

Today my guest Dave Phelan shares his entrepreneur journey from working in the corporate world, to starting his own startup app, to pivoting to a successful consulting business.  Dave is an entrepreneur who grew up outside Philadelphia and studied business at Susquehanna University. After college, he started working at an engineering firm but always had a desire to start his own business. Together with his college friend Phil, they came up with the idea for an app called Loople. The app aimed to provide users with information about daily specials offered by bars and restaurants. They left their day jobs to focus on building the app, which gained over 50,000 users, but after two years the app didn't achieve their desired monetization goals, so they decided to pivot in a new direction. 

Dave and his partner Phil used what they learned developing their own app to help other small businesses do the same.  Founders Approach combines US-based project managers & talented global developers to bring businesses ideas to life without compromising on quality or value.  Dave also opens up about the difficulties of quitting his job and the extreme highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Join us as we dive deep into Dave's inspiring story and uncover the lessons he learned along the way.   

✨ FREE GUIDE: Soften Your Inner Critic in 7 Days: A Guide to Stop Getting In Your Own Way

00:00 – Introduction 
01:08 – Dave’s background: growing up, college, and first steps in business
03:05 – How Dave got into app building and founding Loople
05:38 – Overcoming challenges without a tech background
07:43 – Transitioning from corporate to startup life: struggles and excitement
11:05 – The importance of having a co-founder and support system
13:01 – Working with friends as business partners: lessons learned
17:10 – The pivot from Loople to Founders Approach
20:07 – Letting go of a failed idea and finding new direction
22:24 – Client acquisition and the power of networking
26:20 – Starting the podcast "Why I Quit": inspiration and impact
31:07 – Defining success as an entrepreneur
34:28 – Current business challenges and the quest for sustainability
36:58 – Excitement for the future and new entrepreneurial ventures
38:30 – Closing thoughts

In this episode you'll learn:

How to startup an app
How to build a business with a partner
How to pivot and grow a sustainable business 
How to define your own success as an entrepreneur
How to get word of mouth clients and referrals 
How to connect entrepreneurs 

 

1. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: How to Trust Your Success as a High-Achiever | EP 45

2. Overcoming Others' Expectations: 3 Stages to Living an Authentic Life | EP 48

3. Should You Quit Your Job? How to Know When it’s Time for a Career Pivot | EP 39

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