043: Selling the Public Sector with Patri Founder Josh Ellars

Throughout this season of SalesFounders we have covered a number of themes that seem to exemplify winning startups: Leveraging domain expertise, validated learning, mentorship, and strategic sales growth. Josh Ellars, founder of Patri, exemplifies all of them. In fact, his startup story is a case-study in how each of these components blend together to create a powerful growth trajectory. Josh believes that a founder needs critical feedback and an openness to adaptation. On this episode Josh explains how he has leveraged 10 years of public sector sales expertise, 10,000 linkedIn connections, a powerhouse advisory board and a lean methodology to bootstrap a solution that is will forever change the way companies sell to the public sector.  

ON THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• Challenges selling in the public sector
• Positioning your career around a niche
• Applying the lean startup methodology for feedback driven innovation
• Why LinkedIn is an ideal source for validation and leads
• Building an advisory board - How to surround yourself with the right team
• The pro's and con's of an automated sales process  
• The challenges of running a consulting service and says company simultaneously
• Surrounding yourself with critical feedback and why you should never be married to your idea's