Episode 1: 6 Weeks to Pivot, Build, and Win SXSW With Elita

In a gripping episode of The New Build podcast, Paloma Newton and Jackson Gritching share their journey from conceptualizing a pet longevity platform, Elita, to winning their category at SXSW Sydney in just six weeks. The founders detail their rapid pivot from a stem cell bank to a digital-first approach, navigating challenges such as evaluating 15 agencies in three days to select a Bubble development partner despite having no software experience. They emphasize the importance of manual processes before automation, as exemplified by Paloma personally handling the first 50 vet concierge requests, which helped refine their approach. Their story highlights the significance of iteration over practice in pitch preparation and underscores the role of founder obsession in achieving success. The episode offers valuable insights into effective prioritization, the art of crafting a compelling pitch, and the resilience required to innovate and succeed under tight deadlines.