Ditch the highlight reel and gatekeepers: Founders share blueprint to building value, together

Entrepreneurship is lonely, but it doesn’t have to be isolating, said Mark Launiu, opening a three-day summit rich in practical wisdom and firsthand storytelling from founders who’ve created businesses — and struggled through the times that suck — in Kansas City.

Mark Launiu, co-founder of MADE MOBB, opens a panel conversation on entrepreneurship during Blueprint Weekend at the streetwear brand’s Southwest Boulevard headquarters; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“This is about building something that lasts and building it with people who understand the journey,” Launiu, co-founder of streetwear brand MADE MOBB, told a packed crowd Friday during Day 1 of Blueprint Weekend at the shop’s Southwest Boulevard storefront.

Founders, creatives and aspiring business owners filled the space, many attending Blueprint to sharpen their skills, find clarity and build real connections, they said.

Launiu was joined Friday for the entrepreneurship panel by Jackie Nguyen, founder of Café Cà Phê; Sam Kulikov, co-founder of the Kansas City Pioneers esports organization; and Dan Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC. (Subsequent Blueprint Weekend programming focused on real estate investing and building a clothing business.)

Together, Friday’s panelists shared hard-earned lessons on entrepreneurship, mental health and the unglamorous work of building brands from the ground up.

“We host these events to add value back to everyday people,” said Launiu. “We’re not gatekeepers. We want to see the community grow.”

A Blueprint Weekened attendee asks founder panelists a question during the event at MADE MOBB in Kansas City’s Crossroads; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Popping up with an unapologetic ask

Nguyen walked the audience through the scrappy beginnings of Café Cà Phê, a Vietnamese-owned coffee brand that grew through relentless pop-ups, door knocking and unapologetic self-advocacy, she said.

Early growth, Nguyen explained, came from showing up — again and again — and putting herself directly in front of customers.

“Sometimes I pulled up a table and popped up outside of nail shops,” she said. “I posted on Instagram every weekend, and I just did it over and over. You just ask.”

Nguygen shared that Café Cà Phê was never just about selling coffee. It was about building relationships and sharing culture through food.

“You are really in the business of people,” she said. “If you’re not willing to talk to people or advocate for yourself, it’s going to be really hard.”

She also spoke candidly about the emotional weight of shouldering a mission-driven brand — and the moment she realized she couldn’t do it alone.

“There were days when I felt like I was carrying the whole business on my back,” said Nguyen. “I had to learn that asking for help is not weakness. It’s survival.”

Panelists share a laugh during a founder-focused entrepreneurship event as part of Blueprint Weekend at MADE MOBB’s Southwest Boulevard headquarters; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Pricing, profit and knowing your worth

One of the most practical moments of the evening centered on pricing: a topic Launiu noted is often guided by emotion instead of data.

“As a business owner, you have to keep your emotions out of it,” he said. “Don’t limit your prices.”

Nguyen broke down her pricing process, which included researching nearly every coffee shop in Kansas City before opening.

“I interviewed almost every single coffee shop owner in town,” she said. “I wrote down the most expensive latte at each shop and broke down the costs.”

She encouraged founders to work backward from profit goals, understand their cost of goods and not be afraid to ask peers for real numbers.

“The worst thing they’re going to say is no,” said Nguyen, “you just have to be hungry enough to ask.”

Launiu added insight from MADE MOBB’s wholesale business, emphasizing that margins must support both retail and wholesale relationships.

“If I’m selling at 50 percent off wholesale, I still need to make money,” he said. “Otherwise, I’m in the wrong business.”

Forming your own connective tissue

Kulikov, who also is co-founder and chief marketing officer of Social Apex Media, brought perspective from both marketing and esports, speaking candidly about the pressure of building brands in public.

Sam Kulikov, co-founder of the Kansas City Pioneers esports organization, speaks during a panel conversation on entrepreneurship as part of Blueprint Weekend at MADE MOBB’s Southwest Boulevard storefront; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“Everyone sees the highlights,” he said. “They don’t see the anxiety, stress and self-doubt behind them.”

He emphasized that marketing is less about algorithms and more about relationships.

“At the end of the day, you have to build connective tissue in your community,” Kulikov said. “That’s the best marketing you can do.”

He also pushed founders to rethink the idea of doing everything themselves.

“I’m not trying to wear every hat,” he said. “If you want to scale, you have to put the right people in the right positions.”

Kulikov encouraged honesty around the emotional realities of entrepreneurship.

“If we only talk about wins, we create a fake standard,” he said. “Real success includes setbacks.”

Dan Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC, right, speaks during a panel conversation on entrepreneurship as part of Blueprint Weekend at MADE MOBB’s Southwest Boulevard headquarters; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Retail, responsibility and leadership

Smith spoke from the vantage point of someone who has helped dozens of small brands step into the realm of brick-and-mortar retail. Through The Porter House KC and its 811 Retail Incubator program, founders can test products, build systems and learn without taking on the full risk of a long-term lease.

Mark Launiu, co-founder of MADE MOBB, speaks during a panel conversation on entrepreneurship as part of Blueprint Weekend at MADE MOBB’s Southwest Boulevard storefront; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“You don’t have to go all in to see if it works,” said Smith, “We’re a bridge to that.”

He described the space as one that allows entrepreneurs to learn through trial and error.

“The goal is to mess up as much as you can,” he said. “You’re not going to lose your livelihood under our roof.”

Click here to apply for one of the retail openings at the 811 Retail Incubator.

Smith cautioned founders against chasing the image of success without understanding the responsibility that comes with it.

“You can’t just look at the bright and shiny and say that’s what I want,” he said. “You have to be willing to suck for a long time.”

Launiu closed the panel by tying those lessons back to the purpose of Blueprint Weekend, urging attendees to move beyond inspiration and into execution.

“Blueprint Weekend is about action,” he said. “Take these conversations and turn them into decisions.”

He added a final reminder to the entrepreneurs to connect and meet someone new.

“This is your community,” said Launiu. “Use it.”

The post Ditch the highlight reel and gatekeepers: Founders share blueprint to building value, together appeared first on Startland News.