The Entrepreneur Ethos

Sedale Turbovsky -- From River Guide to Startups

Episode Summary

From River Guide to Startups: Sedale Turbovsky and Open Grants

Episode Notes

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Summary

Hey everyone. Thanks for listening and getting better with me. I’m always impressed as to how much great feedback I get from both the guests and listeners. So, please keep it up. I appreciate all of it.

Also, I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. 

Now on to my guest today, Sedale Turbovsky, CEO and founder of several start-ups, including Open Grants, which we’ll be talking about today. 

Sedale dropped out of college to become a river guide. Finding he had a lot of downtime, he learned how to write code and build websites to make money. Soon he was working for big businesses, which led him to the startup world. His first business was a collaboration with someone who was also travelling the world and who recognized Sedale as someone he could work with. Currently Sedale heads Open Grants, a site dedicated to providing more transparency and ease in the grant-funding process. 

Many of you might know that finding and applying for government grants and bidding on projects can be a frustrating, complex process. Open Grants is trying make this process easier and more transparent by providing a centralized platform to bring together potential grantors and grantees. In this conversation, Sedale and I talk about how entrepreneurs can start navigating the maze of governmental bureaucracy and, eventually, help change it. 

Now let’s get better together.

Actions to Try or Advice to Take

• Look for and cultivate relationships with people who you’re excited to work with. Turbovsky’s first startup came about when he collaborated with a fellow adventurer. He’s worked with the same group of people over several ventures. 
• Make connections with civil servants and elected officials. Civil servants want to help but often lack the tools to do so. Offer to help and connect with those in a position to use your skills, to share your ideas, and to lay a foundation for working in partnership.
• Recognize that change, especially on the governmental level, happens slowly. Find where you can make a difference and trust in the process. 

Links to Explore Further

• OpenGrants
• Sedale Turbovsky on LinkedIn

For info and resources on advocacy toward entrepreneur-friendly legislation:

• Center for American Entrepreneurship
• (Go here to check out the episode featuring John Dearie at CAE)
• Engine

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