E67: Jacob Schoenberg - Founder & CEO of GrantX
Iconic Conversations with Jacob Schoenberg - Founder & CEO of GrantX
To the dreamers and all who read this,
This past week has been a tough one. Unfortunately, my family and I are grieving the loss of my grandfather - Cephas Shonayi Matopodzi
He was a great man. He taught me a lot about determination, humility, hard work, and never giving up. Quite frankly, he was the main driving force of why I pursued grad school, because I saw him complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in his 70s!
What excuse do I have, virtually none, given the fact that I have the most valuable resources - time, health, mental energy, and the means to pursue higher education.
It still feels surreal, because I saw him last week. We love you and miss you. Thank you.
I am reminded by one of my favorite bible verses from Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
9 Young people,[d] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
I am so excited for you all to listen to this episode with Jacob Schoenberg. Below is a little bit of info:
Jacob Schoenberg is the Founder & CEO of GrantX. He is a former AI strategist and grant seeker with a robust background in finance and digital marketing. Driven by his firsthand frustration with outdated and inefficient grant funding processes while leading various projects in the ClimateTech sector, Jacob founded Grantx to revolutionize how funding is accessed and applied for.
Following the inception of Grantx, Jacob dedicated over a year to in-depth market research, collaborating closely with nonprofits, startups, and researchers to hone his vision and deepen his understanding of the systemic challenges grant seekers face.
In this episode Jacob Schoenberg shares his journey through unexpected failures, personal growth, and the importance of storytelling. He reflects on pivotal moments in his life, including his experiences during the pandemic, his unconventional career path, and the lessons learned from his parents' adventurous lifestyle. Jacob emphasizes the significance of resilience, the art of communication, and the responsibility that comes with leadership, ultimately inspiring listeners to embrace their own journeys and the stories that shape them.
Listen or read below:
TLDR Takeaways:
Building a company is an art form that requires creativity.
Gratitude plays a crucial role in maintaining a positive mindset as a founder.
Transitioning from pitching to selling is a significant shift for entrepreneurs.
Jealousy can be transformed into inspiration for personal growth.
Listening to diverse stories enriches our understanding of the world.
Personal growth often involves embracing discomfort.
The journey is as important as the destination.
Every struggle is a shared human experience.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Iconic Conversations
01:20 The Art of Building a Company
02:24 Gratitude and Support in Entrepreneurship
04:46 Transitioning from Investor Pitches to Sales
06:29 From Small Town to Startup Hub
07:27 Overcoming Jealousy with Inspiration
10:33 The Role of Comparison in Creativity
12:54 The Journey to Founding GrantX
13:08 Navigating Non-Traditional Paths in Finance
19:04 Lessons from a Tesla Interview
22:20 The Journey to Success and Failure
27:30 Finding Purpose in Uncertainty
32:02 The Art of Storytelling
38:59 Reflections on Growth and Expectations
Song of the Week:
This is the song Jacob mentioned in the podcast. This song is a classic and fitting for the theme of the episode.
I look to the sea
Reflections in the waves, spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We lived happily forever
So the story goes
But somehow we missed out
On the pot of gold
But we'll try, best that we can
To carry on
Link of the Week:
The satisfaction of life is truly in the moment of now.
Matthew 6:34
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Read of the Week:
I read this incredible post by David Nebinski in his newsletter, talking about living and loving a boring life. This quote resonated with me, because as we get older - we need to start being mindful of what and where we put our attention to.
Especially knowing that death’s door can be knocking at any moment.
The art of the daily practice is the real reward on this cosmic rollercoaster called life.
Let us slow down, smell the roses, hone in on the craft of living a life truly well lived.
If no one told you today, just know that I genuinely truly love you more than know.
With Light, Peace, & Loving-kindness,
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Listen to this podcast (but in audio form): Listen to Podcast
GUEST: Jacob Schoenberg
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobschoenberg
💻 Website: https://www.grantx.io/
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HOST: Tanaka Tava
💻 Website: https://www.tanakatava.com/
🎙 Podcast: Listen to Podcast
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Thanks for the shout-out!