Innovation, Influence, and Women in Tech with Alessandra Angelini, CEO of Influur

Alessandra Angelini is Co-Founder, CEO, and mastermind behind Influur, a platform connecting influencers with brands and everything in between. Alessandra realized that influencers lacked a professional platform, like LinkedIn, to monetize their work. She then joined forces with her co-founders to take the leap and launch a platform, Influur that would bridge the gap between brands and influencers, making it easy for them to connect and monetize their collaborations.

In our recent interview, Alessandra shared her entrepreneurial journey, and gave her tips on how she cultivates confidence as a trailblazing woman in tech.

Thanks for sitting down with Confidence Daily! Tell us about what you do.

I am the CEO of a startup tech company called Influur. We are a marketplace platform that seeks to connect brands that are trying to connect with their audience, with influencers that have engaging audiences, as well as ambitions to partner with companies.

How do you cultivate confidence?

Confidence comes from within, but it can also be nurtured through continuous learning and self-belief. Personally, I cultivate confidence by staying up-to-date with industry trends, surrounding myself with a supportive team, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. Celebrating small victories along the way also boosts my confidence and motivates me to reach even greater heights.

What does being a woman-owned business mean to you?

Honestly, it means the world to me. It has been so rewarding to enter the tech industry as a women-led business. Being a woman-owned business is a source of immense pride for me. It represents the triumph over societal norms and gender biases, demonstrating that women have an equal place in the business world. It also means taking responsibility for empowering other women, creating a supportive environment, and promoting gender equality through opportunities and representation.

What was your business origin story?

I was working as a journalist at CNN with Paula, our COO. We needed to contact an influencer urgently for a news cover but they never replied to their DM. We could not believe the fact that contacting an influencer was harder than contacting high-profile personalities in the government or Hollywood. We started researching and realized the huge accessibility gap that exists between brands and influencers. Both parties need each other and are eager to collaborate but there was a bridge missing for them to connect. That's how we thought of Influur, we wanted to be that bridge!

Okay, coming up with a great idea and actually taking the steps to become an entrepreneur and launch your company are two very different things. How did you know it was time to get started?

I wish I could explain it better than this, but to be 100% transparent, it was a drive we felt inside. At first, we were extremely meticulous and did not want to launch until we felt everything was beyond perfect. With time, we realized we would have always found something else to perfect, to add, to change. That is when out of nowhere we felt inside that it was time. We needed to take a leap of faith and start even if it was not perfect. We realized then that we escaped what happens to most people that want to start a new challenge, they stay frozen by fear of not succeeding. Success is right there, right after the fear, right after the leap of faith… you need to just launch, just do it!

Sometimes entrepreneurship can be a hard and isolating journey. How do you stay confident along the way?

Staying confident in the entrepreneurial journey can be challenging, but I find that surrounding myself with a supportive network is vital. Having mentors and like-minded individuals who understand the challenges and can provide guidance and encouragement is incredibly empowering. My family’s support has been crucial. There are moments when you do not need words of encouragement but just to know your family is there and is proud of you. Additionally, celebrating milestones, both big and small, and acknowledging my achievements helps me maintain a positive mindset and stay confident in my abilities.

If you had to list three traits or attributes that have been pivotal for your success, what would they be?

First and foremost, resilience has been crucial. The ability to bounce back from setbacks, learn from failures, and keep pushing forward has been instrumental in my entrepreneurial journey. Secondly, adaptability has been key. Being open to new ideas, embracing change, and adjusting strategies when needed have allowed me to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Lastly, passion has been a driving force. Being deeply passionate about what I do has fueled my determination, inspired my team, and helped me overcome challenges with steady dedication.

What's one myth you'd like to debunk about your line of work?

One myth I'd like to debunk is that influencer marketing is just a passing trend or only meant for younger audiences. In reality, influencer marketing has proven to be a powerful and effective strategy for brands to connect with their target audience authentically. It has become an integral part of the marketing landscape, and its potential for growth and innovation is immense.

What advice would you give to burgeoning entrepreneurs?

Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Failure is inevitable in the entrepreneurial journey, but it's how we respond to it that defines our success. Learn from your mistakes, adapt your strategies, and never lose sight of your vision. I would also encourage all of them to start doing things they don't know and asking questions. It is ok to not know something, it is ok to not be perfect from the get-go. Surround yourself with a supportive team, stay persistent, and believe in yourself and your ideas.

What words do you live by?

Once, one of my Co-Founders asked me “What is the worst that can happen?” and I started living by that phrase ever since. The worst that can happen is that something doesn't work but in return, we learned how to do it better. As I said before, our dreams and the best things that are in store for us, are one step after taking a leap of faith. Every time I am scared or hesitant about something I think “Just do it, what is the worst that could happen?”.

Any final words of wisdom?

Never underestimate the power of perseverance and resilience. Not everything will come out perfect from the beginning. Do not hold yourself from taking a leap of faith because you believe what you have is "not enough". Trust in the process and work hard. Consistency helps you reach perfection, but you must start somewhere.