Startup Spotlight #171: Virtual Sapiens
Virtual Sapiens is a machine learning SaaS platform to help client facing professionals master communication skills over video.
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I got the chance to speak with Rachel Cossar, co-founder and CEO of Virtual Sapiens, about what she’s working on at her startup, and any advice she has for emerging entrepreneurs.
Cossar is a leader in the field of nonverbal communication and leadership
presence facilitation. As a former nationally ranked athlete and professional ballet
dancer, she has a knack for translating unique skills into relatable business skills
and competencies.
Virtual Sapiens comes as an evolution of Cossar’s combined work as founder of
Choreography for Business, a nonverbal communication consulting firm, as well as a
faculty member with Mobius Executive Leadership and Leadership Presence
facilitator with Ariel Group. She has worked consistently with leaders from BCG, GE, Harvard Executive Education, Pfizer, and more.
With the increased dependency on video events as a way to connect and drive
impact across organizations, Cossar and her team at Virtual Sapiens are excited to
open up a world of access when it comes to one of the most human, and most
important skills in business - communication.
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Startup Spotlight: Virtual Sapiens
Problem: Communication in the workplace has fundamentally changed and video has come front and center as a core piece of our communication strategy. The video presents both a challenge, in the need for updated awareness and communication skills, and an opportunity - videos are data and insight-rich, meaning they are uniquely powerful as a means for meetings and events.
Market: We are targeting client-facing professionals, with a focus on sales enablement and presentation training. The TAM of communication-focused sales training budgets is $33B in the US alone.
Solution: Virtual Sapiens uses AI technology and expert thought leadership to help client-facing professionals master the true power of video. From our Sidekick product, which provides professionals with their very own in-call communication coach, to our multi-user engagement metrics, we are helping supercharge human connection in the workplace.
Team: A former professional-ballet-dancer-turned-nonverbal-communication-expert and a 2nd-time tech founder connect on Angel.co. Neal Kaiser, former CEO of Upshot eCommerce joined forces with me around a common vision to help improve the connection for our remote workforce. We are joined by a stellar and dedicated team of both FT and PT engineers.
Recent Success:
Cossar: Setting up a strong strategy of communication and cultivation for our small but mighty team, our investors (current and future) as well as clients/prospects. I have been able to translate the skills I honed as a major gift fundraiser at New England Conservatory over to my experience as CEO. The various roles you have to take on as CEO (social media/marketing, sales, fundraising, product design/testing) take a lot of thought, patience, and organization. From the many drastic transitions I have experienced throughout my life, there are always very real skills you can bring with you that help set you apart in your new world. (more on this in my TEDx talk)
Recent Struggle:
Cossar: There are many things the CEO is expected to handle in a scrappy startup and sometimes every day feels like a struggle! But beyond the very normal sparring with complex financial statements (often prematurely requested by certain investors), persistent follow-up, etc. I have found it really hard to not be pressured by the activities of other startups. It can be very easy to momentarily go off course as you hear of other $$$ being raised, valuations being set. When really, your strategy is yours to craft, and stay true to.
Founder Advice:
Cossar: Be really diligent about boundaries. It is so easy to throw your full self, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week into your endeavor. And there is insane pressure to take this approach, or somehow you are not working hard enough. But burnout is a real thing that will only end up slowing you down. Have a conversation around work/life balance with your co-founder(s) and team. Ensure there are accountability measures in place so you regularly schedule a time to unplug and recharge.
Three Cool Founders You Should Know About:
Cossar: Here are three founders you should check out next!
Allison Byers, Founder of Scroobius: Scroobious is a virtual platform and community designed to efficiently connect early-stage founders, investors, and partners.
Niveen Sayeed, Founder of Emplify: Emplify provides customized experiential learning tools to help people bridge socially constructed differences.
Victor Karkar, Founder of Scrible: Scrible is the next-gen research and writing platform for school and work.
Who should I profile next? Leave your suggestion in the comments:
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