Founded & Grounded

UK's No.2 ranked startup podcast. We bring you the honest realities of startup life, from early-stage founders who are only a couple of steps ahead.

MAGIC: Transforming Personal Training with AI

S4 E14 • May 1, 2023 • 66 mins

Imagine seeing all your fitness progress in a Magic mirror, powered by AI. That's exactly what entrepreneur Varun has created with his tech-first personal training solution after his personal battles with unhealthy habits. Discover how he overcame investor rejection and built an MVP, plus the sacrifices he made along the way.

Key Points

How to fund and build an MVP
Having a co-founder with complementary skills can be invaluable for supporting and sharing the entrepreneurial journey, making the challenges of startup life less lonely.
Criticism and feedback, even when harsh, can serve as a catalyst for improving your business approach and refining your pitch to investors.

Speakers

Varun Bhanot

Guest • 53%

Laura Rawlings

Host • 23%

Ollie Collard

Host • 19%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction to the podcast and guest, Varun Bhanot
3:29	Interview with Varun Bhanot: Origin and early stages of Magic AI
14:17	Varun's insights on startup fundraising, MVP prototyping, and previous startup experiences
18:51	Founding unhouse.org: A social enterprise and its impact
21:51	Sponsor: Nova Blue
28:16	Varun's approach to criticism, the importance of a co-founder, and personal sacrifices in startups
43:22	Preview of the next guest and Varun's future plans for Magic
46:16	Predicting the trends in AI and its impact on jobs
49:16	Varun's advice for early-stage founders and where to find more about Magic
57:35	Hosts' reflections on the interview, community feedback, and introduction to the next episode

Transcript

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