Samyr joins us to talk about his journey from growing up as an immigrant in Tampa to becoming a founder and building Knack, a peer-to-peer learning platform that grew into a B2B education company.
He shares what pushed him to leave a corporate career at just 21 to bet on himself, the early days of building Knack, and the pivots that helped the company grow from less than $100K in revenue to more than $1 million in just six months during COVID. Samyr also gets candid about the challenges that came with rapid growth, raising capital, overhiring, navigating the impact of generative AI, and ultimately turning the business around.
After more than a decade building Knack, Samyr found himself at a different point in life, getting married, becoming a new dad, and realizing he was ready for a new challenge. He talks about what it was like to step away from the day-to-day, why knowing when to move on can be just as important as knowing when to keep pushing, and what he wants to build next.
The conversation also dives into the future of education, the role of AI in the classroom, why Samyr believes college should be an option rather than the only path, and the opportunities for alternative education and workforce pathways.
He also shares his perspective on Florida's growing tech ecosystem, why the state doesn't need to become the next Silicon Valley, and why he believes Florida has an opportunity to build its own identity in tech and entrepreneurship.
A conversation about taking risks, betting on yourself, navigating the highs and lows of building a company, and knowing when it's time for the next chapter. Listen to the full episode to learn more about Samyr's journey.
What is Skin in the Game VC Podcast?
Florida Funders Managing Partner and "Skin in the Game VC" podcast hosts Saxon Baum & Tom Wallace believes that entrepreneurs are game changers and that the companies they envision, create and build make the world a better place. FLF is a hybrid venture capital fund and investor network that discovers, funds, and builds early-stage technology companies. We combine a $300M+ venture platform with 2,000+ accredited investors to back breakout founders in B2B software, fintech, AI, health care, and cybersecurity. Beyond capital, our team of serial entrepreneurs and investors provides operating expertise, strategic introductions, and a nationwide support network that helps founders win. By unifying venture capital with an engaged investor community, we deliver exceptional outcomes for founders and LPs alike. This podcast was envisioned to educate, connect and activate accredited investors to get skin in the game and invest like a VC.