In this Entrepreneur Story, we meet with Anna Piasek, founder of SavvyVenus. Anna delves into the three important things every entrepreneur should know and shares her personal journey toward entrepreneurship. Her story encapsulates the trials and triumphs of early-stage startup experiences, emphasizing the importance of first selling before building, and the realities of budget constraints faced by new businesses. The conversation unveils Anna's unique business model, which not only provides essential services to startups but also champions the cause of gender equality and higher employment opportunities for women in developing countries. It is a narrative woven with resilience, vision, and a steadfast commitment to making a meaningful impact.

What are three things every entrepreneur should know?

Starting out on the entrepreneurial journey demands a nuanced understanding of three key elements. First, acknowledging that failure is an inherent aspect of the entrepreneurial landscape is crucial. It's not about avoiding failure but rather learning and evolving from it. Second, the adaptive capacity to navigate through the ever-changing business environment is equally important. Flexibility and a nimble approach can be the differentiating factors between success and stagnation. Lastly, there's an art to creating and building something substantial. Entrepreneurs need to strike a balance—setting benchmarks without succumbing to the allure of extravagant expenses. It's about sustainable growth rather than immediate splendour.

What problem does your business solve, and who are its customers?

SavvyVenus serves as a dual-purpose entity, addressing significant challenges for our clients. On one hand, it caters to the needs of early-stage startups, providing them with cost-effective and high-quality services. The challenge here lies in the struggle these startups face in finding affordable yet skilled talent. 

On the other hand, SavvyVenus strives to contribute to societal change by empowering women in regions like Nepal and Bangladesh. The gender pay gap and gender inequality persist as formidable issues, and our mission is to bridge these gaps by offering meaningful employment opportunities to women. So, in essence, our business is a bridge connecting startups with affordable talent and simultaneously contributing to gender empowerment.

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

The roots of my entrepreneurial journey can be traced back to a realization—traditional jobs didn't resonate with my aspirations for impact and creativity. I explored various positions, yet none provided the level of autonomy and tangible impact I was looking for. The turning point came with an invitation to join Algorizin, a startup where I saw the potential for meaningful change. The prospect of contributing to something impactful, being creative, and enjoying autonomy became the driving forces that led me to embrace entrepreneurship. The desire to craft my own path to freedom, despite the challenges, fueled my entrepreneurial spirit.

Knowing what you know now, how would you have spent a million dollars when you first started your business?

If someone handed me a million dollars in the early stages of my entrepreneurial venture, the allocation of funds would be a thoughtful and strategic process. The focus would have been on investing in technology to enhance accessibility and efficiency. A significant portion would go towards building a robust Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for a tech product tailored to my business needs. 

What is your proudest accomplishment as an entrepreneur?

I’ve only been on my entrepreneurial journey for seven months, but reflecting back on those seven months, one accomplishment comes to mind—the satisfaction of seven clients. In this time, I've not only established a stable revenue stream but also assembled a small yet remarkable team of women. Witnessing their growth, empowerment, and gratitude serves as a profound validation of the journey I’ve embarked upon. It just goes to show that even modest achievements can become significant milestones on the path to success.

What big goals are you looking to achieve?

The current phase of my entrepreneurial expedition is marked by one important short-term goal—steering the marketing efforts for Algorizin, a significant partner in my journey. This goal extends beyond just numbers; it's about witnessing tangible results and driving substantial traffic. The benchmarks set—10,000 ideal persona subscribers and 20,000 followers across social media by the end of the second quarter—may be ambitious, but I truly believe they are achievable. Concurrently, the aim is to secure 30 contracts per month in sales, a testament to the holistic approach adopted to drive growth and make a lasting impact.

Anna is an emerging entrepreneur who has recently launched her new venture, SavvyVenus, which targets early-stage startups as well as female talents from developing countries. With her commitment to not only drive revenue but to also have a mission-driven business, Anna is operating at the intersection of business needs and social empowerment. She strives to offer quality services that are both cost-effective and mission-aligned, all while fostering a team of empowered women from Nepal and Bangladesh. As she navigates the intricate web of entrepreneurship, her story inspires others to embrace challenges, seek innovation, and embark on a journey where every milestone, no matter how small, contributes to the greater narrative of success.

Looking to divulge your own entrepreneur story? We’d love to hear and share it here! Contact us today to uncover your own inspirations, triumphs, and learnings.