On this episode of ITK Radio, a conversation with Abraham Williamson.
Abraham is currently the Founding Attorney @ Go With Canvas, PLLC.
GwC (Go With Canvas, PLLC) provides legal counsel to technology and emerging growth companies at all stages of growth, and their investors
Abraham assists early-stage startups in a wide range of legal issues from birth through maturity. His practice focuses primarily on angel and venture capital financings, and general corporate counseling (including negotiating commercial and technology agreements), with an emphasis on technology and consumer packaged goods industries. Abraham also advises clients in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museum) industries with a focus on corporate governance, asset purchases, and strategic alliances.
Prior to co-founding Go With Canvas, Abraham was an associate at a top 20 international law firm in New York City, where he represented public and private companies in leveraged debt financings, equity offerings, and strategic alliances.
Abraham is also a former senior associate of a top Midwestern law firm, where he represented emerging growth companies and private equity funds in the technology, media, sports, robotics, real estate, AI, food and beverage, and healthcare industries.
Abraham has degrees from Harvard Law School, the University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall, and Howard University, plus he is the on-air host for the Diverse Tech Founders Podcast and a member of the African American Museum of Music and Culture.
You can find Abraham on LinkedIn here.
Insights + Ideas:
The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy by Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw Simon & Schuster
+ Knowing the difference between services business and venture-backable business
+ The start-up scene in Nashville, Tennessee
+ The power of hosting a podcast to meet founders and be a part of the venture and start-up ecosystem
+ Using a podcast to build a business, build credibility, and build relationships
+ Settling on a podcast as his preferred communication and connection tool
+ The power of asking uncomfortable questions on loss and failure to learn about entrepreneurship
+ Building systems to maximize business opportunities
+ What to know and understand about diversity
+ Learning from countries that have experienced conflict and disruption, like South Africa and Germany
+ Embrace "mutual authenticity"
+ "The recipe for success is finding a third-way that incorporates... your strengths... whether it is gender or race"
+ How to think about committing time and resources to domestic markets vs. foreign markets as a founder
+ Being exposed to Capitol Hill and political campaigns to understand people and trends better, as well as developing skills to build alliances and compromise for the bigger picture
+ The power of mission-driven start-up companies and opportunities
+ "Make yourself undeniable"
+ Advice for founders to get noticed and how to work with attorneys
+ "Talk to your customers - think customers first"
+ The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers Penguin Random House
+ The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett Pod
+ Get to know Nigeria and the United Kingdom for opportunities
