Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sydney Fulkerson, Founder of Sunflower, located in Miami, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sunflower connects founders to top designer and developer talent on a project basis for services, including pitch decks, branding, website, and product UX/UI. We work directly with early-stage (Pre-Seed to Series A) startups and also directly with VCs to help their portfolio companies.
Tell us about yourself
I've worked with early-stage companies for the past 5+ years and am a self-taught graphic designer of over 15 years. In the beginning, I was helping founders with just pitch deck design. I later started to hone in on the founder's storytelling and messaging as well because founders are so close to what they're working on it's hard for them to take a step back and share their story in a compelling and succinct way. After working with dozens of companies, founders would come back to me asking where to go for help with branding, website, or product design. I realized there was a huge gap for founders when it came time to look for design help on a project basis: either their investors sent them to big expensive agencies, or founders were left trying to find their own design solution on Fiverr or Dribble, not always knowing what to look for. That's when I started Sunflower: the go-to storytelling and design resource for early-stage companies. What motivates me each day is being part of multiple founders' journeys at the earliest stages and seeing how their companies transform over time -- and how story and design play a part in that growth. I love helping people and helping founders tell better stories.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Working with over 100 companies and helping them collectively raise half a billion dollars through effective storytelling and design.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Managing your time effectively. Time blocks and accountability are crucial for me. Not only for getting things done but also for reflecting on what you've done and where you want to go.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Progress over perfection. You don't need to wait for everything to be perfect before you get started.
- Start an organized CRM because you never know who from your walks of life can help you along the way, and seeing these names in one central location can be super helpful.
- Don't compare your start to someone else's middle. You're on your own journey, and it'll look different than someone else's. Run and grow your business in a way that feels right and authentic, and fun for you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.picksunflowers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneyfulkerson/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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