Discover the Journeys of Successful Entrepreneurs and Their Business Insights

From Yeshiva to Tech: The Journey of Menachem Frank

Menachem Frank is the founder of Berry Tech Dev, a technology company that helps businesses improve their systems and efficiencies.
Frank went through the regular yeshiva system and started his journey in technology when a dorm counselor introduced him to website building during his time in Cincinnati.
After hiring someone overseas to build a website, Frank faced many challenges and lost money on the deal. However, he enjoyed the intensity and realness of doing business and wanted to help people who needed a product.
Frank's forte is finding customers and liaising between the programmer and the customer, as he is not a heavy-duty programmer himself.
He believes that giving valuable advice and not being stingy with it is key to gaining customers' trust and building relationships.
Frank's big break came when he secured a deal with Hyena, a massive deal that was 40 times what he had been doing before. He faced challenges when the client asked about the coder he was working with, but he persisted and eventually won the deal.
He advises people to explore the possibility of coding and programming, but to be honest with themselves about whether it's for them or not.
The demand for good qualified programmers is high, and there are great jobs with great salaries available.
Frank's company, Berry Tech Dev, helps businesses build software and special technologies to improve their systems and efficiencies.
He believes that the supply of qualified programmers is low and that the demand is high, making it a great field to be in.
Frank is not a technical person and has zero technical skills, but he has a business brain and enjoys helping businesses.
He believes that the future is in technology and that there are many creative things that can be done which are not even done in coding yet.Building a Successful Software Development Business
The speaker built a successful software development business by hiring honest coders and listening to their ideas.
The company started with a project for a client that involved creating a system to analyze websites.
The company expanded to provide software solutions for the rental car industry, particularly for companies that rent cars to Uber drivers.
The company created a ticket system that transfers liability to the driver, which was in high demand among rental car companies.
The company makes money by leasing out its software solutions to multiple clients, following the SaaS (Software as a Service) model.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of speaking to potential clients to confirm that they are willing to pay for the product or service being offered.
The biggest challenge for the business was finding the right coders, as many coders do not know how to code properly, and they often leave for other jobs.
The speaker found a solution by building relationships with trustworthy coders and treating them well, even throwing parties for them and valuing their work.
The company has two streams of revenue: building custom software for specific clients and creating its own system of systems, which it leases out to multiple clients.
The speaker believes that becoming friends with a trusted coder who can recommend others is the key to finding and retaining good coders.
The company has had success in creating software solutions for the rental car industry and for organizations that host gala dinners.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of valuing and building relationships with employees to retain them and create a successful business.Insights on Business Intuition and Taking Hits
The interviewee learned about business on the job and through self-teaching.
Business intuition is about reading people and situations, and understanding what people need.
Emotional intelligence is a crucial aspect of business intuition, which is required for success in business.
Taking hits means being able to handle the pressure of failures and setbacks, and continuing to move forward.
Business acumen is not necessarily something that one is born with, but can be developed through experience and learning from mistakes.
The interviewee did not grow up surrounded by business, but rather learned about it through personal interest and passion.
The interviewee's father worked a regular 9-5 job and taught the importance of waking up for Minyan.
The interviewee's mother ran her own private practice for social work and wrote for Hamodia.
Business can be a way to make a Kiddush Hashem, and the interviewee's team uses "God willing" when discussing projects.
The interviewee's outlet is playing basketball.
The interviewee's brother owns a beverage company called Spritz.
The interviewee emphasizes the importance of passion and creativity in business.Starting a Business and Helping Mesivta Kids Discover Their Passions
Starting a business requires having the right employees who can handle tasks effectively.
The stress of making clients happy and answering their calls promptly still exists for business owners.
Successful business owners are those who listen to their clients and respond promptly without excuses.
The speaker discovered his passion for helping others find their path in life through his experience in an old-time mesivta.
He wishes someone had helped him discover his passion earlier, and he now wants to help others in the same way.
The speaker started a program to help mesivta kids discover their skills and interests in business.
The program begins with learning and then moves on to helping the kids identify their strengths and weaknesses.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and one's goals to succeed in business.
The program is not about making money but about helping the kids find their passion and purpose in life.
The speaker believes that helping others is a fulfilling way to live and encourages others to do the same.
The program aims to help mesivta kids who are unsure about their future goals and career paths.
The speaker hopes that by helping others, he can make a positive impact and contribute to society.