Start Up With Feras

• Advise founders on growth strategies, including exit events.
• Share what I learned in 20+ years of startups: to draw lessons from setbacks and to pivot towards more promising opportunities.
• Serve as a mentor, providing guidance backed by extensive experience in business strategy, consulting, and all aspects of startups, including marketing, sales, accounting, legal, back office, and people ops.
• Guide founders to foster lasting organizational cultures of engagement, achievement, client satisfaction, and stakeholder value.
• Give back to the startup community (with no strings attached) by responding to founders' questions on https://www.youtube.com/@StatrUpWithFeras & https://www.StartUpWithFeras.com.

Co-founder | Teach Entrepreneurs How To Start & Scale to 7 & 8-Figures

e-CENS

• Lead the strategic direction and growth in North America, Europe, & MENA.
• Support team in scaling the business, and foster a culture of learning, achievement, and increasing stakeholder value. 
• Build alliances and industry partnerships across the martech stack to enable client success in digital transformation initiatives.
• Attract top industry talent to deliver measurable results to e-CENS clients and continuously improve company culture and bottom line.

Co-founder | Chairman of the Board 

American Red Cross

• A life-long donor, surpassing 100 blood units donated.
• Committed to generating  awareness about the dire need for blood to save lives and alleviate suffering. 
• Using advocacy and proven leadership to leverage corporate connections for securing blood drive sponsors, donors, and volunteers.  
• Partner with Red Cross leadership and staff to expand the community network and support the mission of the Red Cross to ensure an adequate year-round blood supply.
• Advocate for policy priorities with government officials.

Board Vice Chair | Biomed Committee Chair (Silicon Valley Chapter)

Aikido Silicon Valley (Volunteer)

• Dedicated to training young students, fostering their physical and mental development and instilling a strong sense of discipline and respect in students, both on and off the mat.
• Work with adult Aikido learners as an assistant instructor, supporting their advancement through belt levels
• Continue to learn and adapt to meet students’ needs by embracing their curiosity, energy, and unique strengths.

Youth Instructor  & Assistant Instructor (Fukushidoin)

DC-based coalition and member organizations

• Established a robust DC-based advocacy infrastructure (including 501c3, 501c4, 527 organizations).
• Developed annual goals, operational plans, and budgets to ensure organizational efficiency.
• Successfully drove over 300% year-over-year growth for two nonprofits.
• Laid the foundation for lasting organizational cultures that benefited all stakeholders.

Advisor & Interim Executive Director for Nonprofits (pro bono)

Cardinal Path (Merkle/Dentsu)

• Successfully integrated the acquired company (E-Nor) into Cardinal Path/Merkle/Dentsu in the US, Canada, and MENA.
• Bolstered company’s position as the #1 global reseller of Google Analytics Enterprise and led the organization to achieve the highly coveted full-stack Google Marketing Platform reseller designation.
• Delivered strategic thought leadership for the organization and Fortune 500 clients by navigating the seismic industry shifts in consumer insight, digital transformation, and privacy.
• As part of the executive team, led the organization to exceed profitability targets during 2020 (through Covid-19) by implementing effective operational strategies while prioritizing client retention and employee well-being.

Chief Technology Officer | Head of Delivery 

• Led the successful spin-off from E-Nor of the Dubai-based MENA digital analytics agency following the Dentsu acquisition.
• Provided strategic planning for growth during Covid-19. (Company grew at more than 20%)
• Managed a successful exit.

Chairman of the Board

E-Nor, Inc.

• Led the successful sale of the company to Dentsu's Cardinal Path subsidiary.
• Pivoted the company in 2012 to specialize in enterprise digital analytics and became a top Google partner/reseller to Fortune 500 and government, and led a 35%+ YoY growth in consulting and license revenue.
• Pioneered remote workplace environment across 11 U.S. States and 5 countries while expanding sales and operations in MENA.
• Established an unparalleled commitment to the well-being of team members, including a sizable employment award program.
• Committed to and delivered an annual charitable contribution totaling 1-2% of company revenue.

Co-founder | Chief Executive Officer

WSI Internet Consulting

• Consistently ranked among WSI's top earners (out of 1500 global consultants).
• Earned membership in global franchise advisory council.
• Became WSI’s global ambassador to train and mentor marketing consultants throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA, and APAC.

 Principal Consultant | Top Earner Franchisee 

NetSignature

• Built the Cairo-based web development and mobile pay company from the ground up to 40+ team members.
• Nurtured local talent to become subject matter experts and to provide offshore services for the US, Canada, and EU markets.
• Led the spin-off of the company to a successful exit.

Co-founder | Chief Executive Officer | Board Member

I have built and sold companies in Silicon Valley and abroad, driving $65M in sales and achieving an 8-figure exit.

I have served as a mentor, providing guidance backed by extensive experience in business strategy, sales & marketing, operations, and M&A.

My mission now is to help other entrepreneurs make good, informed decisions at every stage.

Thinking: I can help you decide if entrepreneurship is the right path for you

Early-stage: I help you avoid the pitfalls that derail many new businesses

Started and struggling: I work with you to push through the barriers that are holding your business back

Seasoned entrepreneurs: I provide tried-and-true but individualized guidance to help you reach your destination, whether that's your next level of growth, or an exit

Don't do it on your own. Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial  journey, I can help you take the next right steps.

I'm equally committed to supporting nonprofits, bridging the income inequality gap, and mentoring youth and young professionals. 

My dedication and training in the Japanese martial art of Aikido continues to strengthen my conviction in finding harmonious resolutions to conflict.

Motto: Work hard. Play hard. Give Back.

You don’t realize how much you depend on “small things” until the mountain takes them away.

For close to a decade now, every September, I take a few days off the grid and head 11,000 feet up in the Rockies with a few friends (each with a bow 🙂).

This year, we got the full package: rain, hail, snow—and then days of surprising heat. Four seasons in one trip. Out there, themes have a way of surfacing on their own, unplanned and unavoidable. This year, the theme was clear: preparedness.

In the harsh conditions of the wilderness (and this applies to life and business as well), preparation isn’t optional—it’s survival. 

Forget some things and you’ll only face small annoyances. Forget others and you’ll deal with real discomfort. But miss a few essentials, and it could mean not making it back to camp.

Here’s how it came into focus for me this trip:
- 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Miss these, and it’s just annoying. (e.g. your favorite snack.)

- 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Miss these, and you’ll push through, but it’s uncomfortable. (e.g. running out of dry socks.)

- 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭: Miss these, and you’ll feel it in your bones. (e.g. no extra layer in a storm.)

- 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥: Miss these, and the trip could be over. (e.g. water, fire-starting tools, or navigation gear.)

I keep a checklist of 100+ items. Not because I love lists, but because the mountain doesn’t care if you forgot your headlamp or waterproof jacket.

Preparedness doesn’t make the trip easy. But it turns what could be life-threatening into just another story to tell around the fire.

And isn’t it the same in life and in business?

Preparedness doesn't mean perfection. Most of the time, missing a detail only causes inconvenience. Sometimes it creates real discomfort. 

But if you miss an essential—𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡—the consequences can be fatal.

Preparedness doesn’t guarantee comfort or success. But it gives you another shot at the target. Another day to keep going.

PS. Grateful to Patrick and Carter—for their friendship, camaraderie, and for opening the door for me to experiences like these.

#preparedness

Feras Alhlou

8-Figure Exit | $65 Million Combined Revenue | Helping Founders Build 7 & 8-Figure Businesses | Author | Speaker

Not a 7-figure consultancy yet? Try smiling.

In one of my earlier ventures, it took 8 years to reach 7 figures in annual revenue. Why? 

I can't pinpoint all the factors, but I'm now pretty sure that my serious countenance was hurting sales.

Fast forward years later. Growth in a new business was quicker, and we got to 7 figures in half the time. I think that my more relaxed and approachable demeanor helped.

Sales for consulting and really any kind of service happen when the salesperson conveys not only authority but also empathy.

You communicate authority in a variety of ways, including the content that you produce and the domain expertise that you display in all interactions with leads and clients.

You communicate empathy by listening actively to understand a potential client's real pain points and proposing meaningful solutions.

Even before that, though, you show empathy just by being human. By being yourself. By smiling.

I'm not recommending excessive familiarity. Most leads and even existing clients don't want to hear about your relationship woes or the TV series you binge-watched. They're evaluating you as a consultant, not as their hangout buddy.

But almost every client still wants to deal with firms whose people are comfortable and reassuring to be around. 

That starts with sales, and it starts with leadership. Even for a client who is B2B, the person making the buying decision is… a person. 

And in the age of AI when so much technical information and even analysis has become readily available without consultants as the intermediary, the interpersonal touch may be more important than ever in sales and client satisfaction.

So show authority and stay professional, but also remember to be human and, by default, wear a smile. :)

#entrepreneurship #authority #empathy #smile

li_at

JSESSIONID

Outsourcing has given me headaches lately, but last week was different.

Eric Fettman (my co-founder) and I were buried under a time-sensitive marketing project that required some outbound email work. 

We could've done the outreach ourselves, but we were swamped, and honestly hesitant to outsource after a few bad contractor experiences.

Still, we took a chance. The vendor we interviewed was super informative on the sales call. They followed up the same day with additional answers, and the next day with clear packages, easy-to-fill forms, and an e-sign contract. Within 48 hours, they delivered work that went above and beyond.

That feeling? Relief. Confidence. Like someone had lifted the weight off our shoulders.

Excellence isn’t just about doing the job—it’s about giving clients that feeling. 

And when you experience it, you know you’ll come back, refer others, and sing their praises.

Model your business for excellence.

#entrepreneurship

Content Strategist | Trainer | Author

How to Make $10K/Month As a Consultant (Step By Step)

Look, I won’t tell you to wake up at 5am, take ice baths, or sell your grandma’s jewelry.

But I will show you how I went from $0 to $65 million in consulting sales.

I’ve broken the process into a simple playbook so you can go from Zero to $10K in months, even if you’ve never sold a thing before.

You’ll see exactly how to land your first three clients, using rejection-proof scripts that turn “no” into opportunity.

I’ll walk you through the framework I used to scale from $2K → $5K → $10K per month, step by step.

This isn’t guru hype. 

It’s real experience from building seven businesses.

Click play now and start building the consulting business you’ve been dreaming of. https://lnkd.in/egSNzaxk

#entrepreneurship #consulting #revenue

Global Entrepreneurship… They definitely didn’t teach this stuff when I was in college. 🙂

But now students get real exposure to it—and I was delighted to speak to two of Professor Iris Xiaohong Quan’s classes this week at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at SJSU on the topic.

I pulled back the curtain on the real side of entrepreneurship—not to discourage anyone, but to help them be better prepared for the journey.

We also had a lively discussion about the unique advantages students (especially those in the Bay Area) already have for global entrepreneurship, including:

 🌍 Cultural agility
 🗣️ Language awareness
 💡 Empathy for the outsider
 🤝 Global network through family and friends
 💪 Strong work ethic
 🌏 Multilingual advantage

Huge thanks to Professor Quan, San José State University staff and faculty, and the students who were patient enough to listen to me talk (a lot!)—and for the thoughtful, sharp questions.

I always leave these sessions energized and inspired by the next generation of entrepreneurs and professionals.

Start Here. Serve the World.

If you have a group that would enjoy this talk, feel free to reach out.

#Entrepreneurship #Global #Education

Most new consultants only think in terms of billable hours — but that’s a trap. 

In this livestream, I’ll show you 7 hidden revenue streams (starting with white-labeling) that can help you grow faster, reduce risk, and build a consulting business that lasts. 

If you’re just starting out or struggling to find traction, this session is for you.

If you can’t make it and have a burning question, drop it in the comment or DM/email and I’ll answer it during the livestream.

#WhiteLabeling #RevenueStreams

Munther Qtaish, Rami Bailony and 10 other attendees

White-Labeling & 6 Other Hidden Revenue Streams for New Consultants

I asked 20 business owners about their biggest struggles, here’s what came up most often:

1️⃣ Growth & client acquisition
2️⃣ Sales & positioning
3️⃣ Systems & operations

The thread running through all of it?

What got you here won’t get you there.

Every new phase of growth requires new tools, new habits, and new ways of thinking.

👉 The real challenge is figuring out what no longer works—and being willing to let it go.

#Entrepreneurship #Growth

Starting out as a new consultant is tough enough. But what makes it harder? 

The flood of business terms you’re expected to know from day one.

I put together a quick carousel with a few of the key terms every new consultant should master — so you can stop nodding along and start sounding like a pro.

👉 And this is just a preview. I break down 50 essential business terms in my latest video on my YouTube channel. 

Which business term tripped you up the most when you were starting out?

#Consulting #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #NewConsultant

Don’t Start Consulting Without Knowing These Terms

Before airlines launch a new jet, they don’t just roll it onto the runway and sell tickets. They run test flights.

Why? Because mistakes in the air cost lives.

In business, mistakes cost years (and $$$).

That’s why validation is your test flight. Safe, small, and priceless.

Here’s your September Launch Challenge – Week 2:
- Talk to 2 people who could be real clients
- Study 1 competitor already selling what you want to sell

That’s it.

Doing the “lite” version this week (2+1) is a starting step that will uncover insights most people never get until it’s too late.

Leave a comment or DM me your insight — I may feature a few during the end-of-month live review.

Your business deserves a test flight before it takes off. 

#Entrepreneurship #SeptBizChallenge

Critical Risks in a Business Plan: 4 Forces That Could Make or Break Your Business

Every day, more than 14,000 new companies are formed in the U.S. — but only a small fraction will ever reach true viability.

Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking with a group of business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at SCORE Mentors Silicon Valley about this very topic.

I’ll dive into the key types of risks that derail many new businesses — and how to plan more effectively to increase your chances of success.

🗓 Wednesday, Oct 8 11:30am Pacific / 2:30pm Eastern

 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eanEe5J9
(There’s a $10 registration fee to support SCORE’s amazing work helping entrepreneurs and small business owners.)

A big thank-you to SCORE Mentors for the incredible work you do supporting the small business community.

Every consultant is driving in one of three lanes.

Most don’t even realize it.

1. DIY (Do It Yourself): You sell people a guide or template, and they do all the work on their own. Cheap, easy to scale, but you make less money per sale.

2. DWY (Done With You): You work with the client. They do the work, but you coach, guide, and support them along the way. Feels personal, pays more, but your time is limited.

3. DFY (Done For You): You do everything for the client. They just pay and relax. Pays the fastest and the most, but it’s heavy unless you have a team.

The lane you choose doesn’t just decide your workload.

It decides your income, lifestyle, and the type of clients who trust you.

But most consultants drift without ever choosing. 

They burn energy switching lanes, never fully owning one… and wonder why money feels unpredictable.

This week’s livestream is about making that choice clear.

I’ll show you:
 -  The 3 consulting lanes every new consultant must know
 - When to use each one
 - How top consultants evolve from lane to lane to deliver value to their clients and build wealth and freedom

Because if you can’t explain what lane you’re in, clients won’t trust you with the keys.

Join live and discover which lane you’re really driving in, and which one gets you where you want to go.

#entrepreneurship #consulting

Before you spend cash on a CRM—pause. 

In the early stages of your business, your #1 job isn’t finding the “perfect” software. It’s selling and delivering your service. 

Too many founders get stuck tinkering with tools instead of building momentum.

Here’s what worked for me: in every business I’ve scaled to 7 and 8 figures, I started with a simple spreadsheet. Google Sheets. Excel. That’s it. 

Manage your leads simply, stay focused, and only upgrade when you’ve got 50–100 qualified leads and active clients.

Until then? Keep it lean. Protect your cash. Focus on closing sales—the real engine of growth.

Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/egW7CHmE

#Entrepreneurship #Consulting #Sales #CRM

There are three common ways consultants deliver their services. Pick the one that fits your style and your clients’ needs:

- Done-For-You (DFY): 
You take ownership and handle the work end-to-end on behalf of the client. Example: running ad campaigns, building a website, designing a sales funnel. Clients pay for speed and expertise. Example: you design and fully implement a new HR system for your client.

- Done-With-You (DWY): 
You guide while you and the client share the implementation. Example: you work with your client to design and implement a new HR system. Both you and your client are hands-on.

- Do-It-Yourself (DIY): 
You provide consulting, frameworks, templates, or training materials but otherwise stay hands-off. Example: you provide strategy and support materials for the HR system, but the client handles the actual implementation. Clients pay for access to your expertise while also maintaining some self-sufficiency.

Each model has trade-offs. DFY often commands higher fees but takes more of your time. DWY gives you leverage while still being hands-on. DIY can scale massively but takes time to build.

Your Challenge (Week 3)
1. Pick your model.
 Decide if you’re going DFY, DWY, or DIY for your first package.

2. Define the scope.
 What’s included? Calls, deliverables, timelines. Keep it tight and simple.

3. Set your price.
Anchor against what you learned in Week 2 (competitor research).

Ask yourself: “What’s the outcome worth to the client?”

At your early stages, remember:
- Don't be too picky about pricing overall.
- Stay flexible on your model choice. If you're imagining a DFW model but are seeing that clients want to be more hands-on, you can shift to a DWY model. 
Empower clients in the way that makes the most sense for them.

#entrepreneurship #consulting #businessmodel

This month, we’ve built step by step:

Week 1: Define your offer.
Week 2: Validate your market.
Week 3: Package and price it.

Now comes the shift from theory → reality.

Your business only becomes real when you connect with an actual person who could benefit from what you offer. 

And your first leads? They’re not strangers on the internet. 

They’re already in your network: friends, colleagues, classmates, past clients.

This week’s challenge:
- Reach out to 5 people in your network.
- Use a simple outreach script.
- Don’t chase perfection, just start conversations.

Because clarity doesn’t create momentum, action does.

This is the last week of the September Launch Challenge—but for you, it could be the very first week of your business.

Are you in? Drop “I’m in” below or DM me your outreach plan.

Taplio

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