Jesse Bouman is the co-founder and CEO of Slice Group, a creator CRM that helps agencies and brands manage creator relationships.

Launched in 2022, Slice Group recently raised a $645K seed from Intudo Ventures and Arise. 

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

Being a startup CEO is like being an air traffic controller. You have to direct everyone, unblock obstacles for the team, maintain schedules, and communicate with multiple stakeholders. 

Occasionally, crises pop up and you are the one everyone looks to for guidance to get out of the emergency. 

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I’m an extremely anxious person. I’m the type of person that needs to get to the airport three hours early. 

Most people do not suspect my anxiety because I have no problem talking to strangers, in large crowds, or doing things that scare me. 

That's because I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone so many times. It’s taken me years to learn how to harness my anxiety and not let it control me. 

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Starting my first real company at 26. I was too timid and shy before that to start a company full-time. 

I abruptly quit my job and had no savings to fall back on. It forced me to get over my fears and talk to customers and sell. 

While that company ultimately failed, it changed my professional trajectory and positioned me for where I am today. 

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

I’m really interested in the evolution of content creation and media consumption. Streaming is becoming fragmented and with social apps focusing on short-form video; the fight for our attention is fierce. 

What type of content/platform will win? How will this impact media-related business models? What opportunities does this present? 

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

“Saying something a hundred times is not as good as living it once.”

There is a difference between knowledge and experience. I see too many young professionals think they know early-stage startups because they’ve read countless blogs and watched numerous YouTube videos.

So my advice is to go start a company or go work at an early-stage company and build something. 

Get your hands dirty. Figure out what to do when nothing you expected to happen goes right. Your personal growth will grow 10x. 

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

How different businesses operate, especially non-tech related businesses. One of my favorite YouTube channels is Wendover Productions, which makes videos like “How Airlines Price Flights.”   

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

All time: West Wing.  Current: Succession.

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Butter pecan. 

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FYI. We’ve edited this interview for clarity.