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David Kellerman
Founder & CMO Frank about tea - Forbes30under30 - Social Entrepreneur -
David Kellerman is a co-founder and former Digital Lead of Frank About Tea, a company that revolutionized the tea industry by sourcing and producing tea directly at its origin in Kenya and Sri Lanka. The company focuses on creating a transparent, fair trade system and reducing environmental impact. Founded in 2016 alongside Valerie Hirschhauser, Frank About Tea was established with the mission to disrupt the traditional tea sector, ensuring more value remains in tea-producing countries. The company gained recognition for its innovative approach, including being featured on the Forbes "30 Under 30" list in the e-commerce category in 2019.123
Kellerman's role at Frank About Tea involved building the brand, managing e-commerce operations, and promoting sustainability initiatives. The company was acquired by HTC in 2023, after which Kellerman transitioned to coaching and consulting entrepreneurs through his initiative, The Founders' Coach.2
Highlights
I have ADD
(I never dared to say)
Growing up, it was a label to hide, a source of shame.
I was seen as: ↳ Lazy ↳ Chaotic ↳ Never on time
Most other founders that I coach have ADHD. And I'm not surprised.
Who else can: ↳ Remain calm amidst extreme chaos ↳ Be creative when everything seems to be lost
We've been trained all our lives to deal with uncertainty, chaos, and rejection. We're subject-matter experts.
And we're not alone. 33% of us are dealing with the same patterns. The same issues. The same problems.
It's about acknowledging your AD(H)D-blind spots and embrace that what makes it powerful.
Yes, it's a handicap, but it's a strength at the same time. It's all a matter of perspective.
Took me 10 years to realize that.

Your choice of co-founder is the most important decision you'll ever make.
(65% of scale-ups fail due to failing co-founder dynamics).
What to look out for in a co-founder?
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Don't get a mirror You'll pick someone who look like you, mirror neurons do that. Find someone that complements you and is not a mirror image to you.
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Share a similar vision It's best to sail in the same direction, when the storm hits. If you're aligned, the business is aligned.
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Someone that talks when the storm hits Stress creates binary leaders, make sure that you help each other lead when the goings get tough. Talking and vulnerability does wonder, in one of the most difficult things you'll ever do.
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That won't put its ego before the business Stress creates binary leaders, narcissistic traits will be enlarged in difficult times. Flesh out the degree of ego in your co-founder or else you'll get booted out of your business, or your company culture will become toxic.
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A bit of comic relief Your co-founder becomes more important than your partner, he/she understand everything you go through including the fight with your partner. You better laugh about your own fights.
Your co-founder becomes more than a partner - they're your co-pilot, your confident. Hell, you'll see them more than your romantic partner. `
Choose wisely, because the stakes are high: your business.
shouldering the burdens and celebrating the triumphs alongside you. Choose wisely because in the end, the stakes are high: your business.
