From Startup Risks to Lasting Impact: Mastering the Entrepreneurial Journey with John Simon

The First Buck

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews John Simon, an entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the Greenlight Fund, an organization dedicated to addressing economic mobility challenges by scaling innovative nonprofits across the U.S. In this episode, John shares insights from his diverse experiences in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, emphasizing the importance of identifying unmet needs, building strong teams, and leveraging mentorship to create sustainable impact. He discusses how balancing business and philanthropy has shaped his career, offering valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs on leadership, strategic planning, and making a meaningful difference. ​ Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: • Discover how identifying unmet needs can unlock new business opportunities and drive social impact. • Learn the importance of building strong, value-aligned teams to ensure sustainable growth. • Gain insights on balancing profit and purpose to create meaningful, long-term success. • Understand how mentorship can accelerate progress and help overcome entrepreneurial challenges. • Find out why strategic planning is essential for scaling both for-profit ventures and nonprofit initiatives. ​ In this episode... ​ Nic Cary interviews John and they discuss the lessons learned during his career journey including: ​ • The importance of identifying unmet needs and leveraging innovative solutions to address them. • The value of building strong, aligned teams that share a common vision and purpose. • The necessity of balancing profit with impact to create sustainable, long-term success. ​ ​ Sponsor for this episode... ​ This episode is brought to you by Sky’s The Limit, one of the largest nonprofit programs for underrepresented young adult entrepreneurs in the US. Sky’s The Limit is a quick-growing digital platform that connects entrepreneurs with their peers, volunteer business mentors, training resources, and funding. ​ Our goal is to develop the social capital that founders need to chase their business dreams. ​ To learn more, visit https://www.skysthelimit.org.