John Koelliker didn't start Leland because he wanted to build another AI company.
He started it because he believed one person could change another person's life.
After building marketplaces at Uber, LinkedIn, and other startups, John realized the power of mentorship, coaching, and human expertise. He set out to build a platform that could scale those relationships and help people land jobs, get into school, and achieve career goals. Today, Leland has raised more than $20 million and become one of Utah's fastest-growing consumer technology startups.
In this Start School conversation, Leland Founder & CEO John Koelliker joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to discuss building a venture-backed company, navigating the AI revolution, raising capital, hiring world-class talent, and why founders should stay obsessed with customer problems instead of their own solutions.
They discuss:
• Why AI is changing every job, not just technology roles
• How founders should think about building systems instead of doing everything themselves
• Why the best startups stay obsessed with the customer's problem
• The lessons John learned raising more than $20 million in venture capital
• How to know whether venture capital is right for your business
• Why authentic relationships matter more than building a massive network
• The biggest hiring mistake founders make
• How to identify your strengths instead of obsessing over your weaknesses
• Balancing entrepreneurship with family and life outside of work
• Why building something people truly want matters more than raising money
Whether you're launching your first startup, raising capital, or trying to understand how AI is reshaping entrepreneurship, this conversation is full of practical advice for founders building companies in a rapidly changing world.
00:00 Introduction
01:45 What is Leland and why John started it
05:50 AI anxiety and the future of work
10:30 Why AI is changing how we work forever
15:40 Raising $20 million in venture capital
21:15 Utah's startup ecosystem and consumer startups
25:05 Authenticity, AI, and building products people want
29:10 B2B vs. B2C and product-led growth
33:00 Venture capital mistakes founders make
38:10 Finding customer problems instead of falling in love with your solution
42:30 Building authentic relationships and your network
45:45 Balancing family, entrepreneurship, and success
48:30 Hiring world-class talent and leading yourself
50:44 Closing remarks
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