26. Innovation in Early Stage Start ups with Braydan Young

Описание: In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born sits down with Braydan Young, B2B tech entrepreneur, co-founder of Sendoso, and founder of Slash Experts, to unpack what innovation really looks like inside early-stage startups.

Braydan shares hard-earned lessons from building and scaling multiple companies—covering everything from replacing traditional sales demos with peer-to-peer trust, to navigating rapid product cycles, delegation, feedback culture, and decision-making under uncertainty. This conversation is a practical roadmap for founders and leaders who want to move fast, stay close to customers, and build resilient teams without losing clarity, trust, or momentum.

[00:00 – 01:22] Welcome & Braydan’s Founder Journey
Introducing Braydan Young and his background in B2B tech startups
From Sendoso to Slash Experts: why early-stage building still excites him
The pace of modern B2B markets and why founders must adapt quickly

[01:23 – 03:08] The Idea Behind Slash Experts
How customer “back-channeling” inspired a new go-to-market model
Replacing “Book a Demo” with “Talk to a Customer”
Turning real customers into trusted sales advocates

[03:09 – 04:31] The Educated Buyer & Faster Sales Cycles
Why buyers now complete most of the sales journey before a demo
The risk of product-centric selling vs. consultative conversations
How trust accelerates deals and reduces friction

[04:32 – 06:09] Scaling Principles: Delegation & Focus
Why founders can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything themselves
Trusting your team without micromanaging
The ongoing challenge of staying organized as a creative leader

[06:10 – 07:48] Tools, Chaos, and Personal Productivity
ClickUp, handwritten to-do lists, and managing multiple workflows
Why speed matters more than perfection
One person doing the work of five in today’s startup environment

[07:49 – 09:55] Staying Innovative as a Small, Scrappy Team
Why small teams outperform large ones at innovation
Radical transparency: sharing board decks, finances, and goals
Treating employees like owners from day one

[09:56 – 12:22] Rapid Product Development & Weekly Releases
How product cycles have shifted from quarterly to weekly releases
The impact on sales enablement, marketing, and customer experience
Why staying aligned internally is harder—but more critical—than ever

[12:23 – 14:47] Curiosity, AI, and Learning at Speed
Using AI tools to synthesize information faster
Building curiosity into hiring and company culture
Why innovation requires awareness beyond your immediate market

[14:48 – 17:26] Innovation, Risk, and Hypothesis-Driven Leadership
Treating decisions as hypotheses—not fixed truths
Asking the uncomfortable question: “Where are we failing?”
Why early customers are your greatest innovation partners

[17:27 – 20:52] Feedback, Failure, and Healthy Cultures
Why most organizations avoid real feedback
Turning failure into actionable learning
Creating a culture of candor without ego defensiveness

[20:53 – 22:45] Balancing Innovation with Day-to-Day Execution
Sprinting between customer work, prospecting, and internal systems
Structuring focus as teams grow toward 50+ people
Knowing when your operating model must change

[22:46 – 24:51] Growth Inflection Points & Company Values
Lessons from hypergrowth at Sendoso
Why values must be defined before rapid hiring
Helping people self-select into (or out of) your culture

[24:52 – 26:34] Final Takeaways & Where to Connect
Leadership lessons from multiple startup cycles
Balancing ambition, family, and sustainable performance
Where to find Braydan and learn more about Slash Experts

Quotes
“Product-market fit isn’t a milestone—it’s a question you should be asking on every call.” – Braydan Young
“Your first customers stick with you because they believe in the idea, even when you’re still breaking things.” – Braydan Young
“If you’re not asking where you’re failing, you’re probably missing your biggest opportunity.” – Braydan Young

Guest Links
LinkedIn: Braydan Young – linkedin.com/in/braydanyoung/
Website: slashexperts.com
Company: Sendoso – sendoso.com

Call to Action
If this conversation resonated with you, leave a review and share this episode with a founder or leader navigating the uncertainty of early-stage growth.
🎙️ And don’t forget to check out Natalie Born’s book, Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation—a powerful guide for leaders who want to rethink how innovation really happens. Available now at setitonfire.co.

Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

🔥 Don’t just get out of the box—break the box and set it on fire.
Let’s go transform something!