A Bootstrapped SaaS Journey To 1.3 Million Users with the CEO of Upace, Rachel Koretsky

From Spaghetti to Growth

📌Make sure to check out UPACE https://rachel-koretsky.squarespace.com/

In this episode of 'From Spaghetti to Growth,' host Seema Alexander, president of Virgent AI and co-chair DC Startup Week, explores the entrepreneurial journey of Rachel Koretsky, the CEO of UpACE and co-chair of DC Startup Week.

Rachel shares insights on how she grew her startup from zero to nearly 5 million users, discussing the challenges of being a non-technical founder, securing pilot programs, and pivoting business strategies. The episode delves into the intricacies of building a SaaS platform for community rec centers, the importance of understanding customer needs, and leveraging technology for member engagement.

In addition, the two co-chairs also have some bonus content as they discuss the growth trajectory and vision of DC Startup Week, emphasizing the significance of community and support in the entrepreneurial ecosystem --and their upcoming 9th annual conference from October 21-25 in Washington DC Metro area.

👉 In this episode

(01:19) Meet Rachel Koretsky: CEO of Upace

(02:05) Rachel's Entrepreneurial Journey

(04:07) Identifying and Solving the Initial Problem

(07:12) Challenges of a Non-Technical Founder

(09:20) Building the First Client Base

(16:24) Leveraging University Resources

(21:51) Navigating the Impact of COVID-19

(26:07) Utilizing Predictive Analytics for Growth

(29:55) Challenges of a Non-Technical Founder

(31:11) Finding the Right Technical Partner

(32:30) Trusting Your Gut in Business Decisions

(33:26) The Journey to Finding a CTO

(34:11) Empowering Female Founders

(35:24) The Importance of Community Support

(38:47) The Birth of DC Startup Week

(45:24) The Vision for DC Startup Week

(48:32) Advice for Aspiring Founders

(55:19) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🌎Reach out to Rachel Koretsky

LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkoretsky Website https://rachel-koretsky.squarespace.com/new-index

🌎Reach out to Seema Ponda Alexander

Disruptive CEO Advisory https://www.disruptive.ceo/

Production Studio: Legacy Session