Founder Stories: Daivik Goel & Superstar

Meet Daivik Goel, the founder of Superstar, a platform that helps influencer marketing managers scale campaigns. You can find out more about his business at joinsuperstar.com and follow his updates on X at daivikgoel. Please enjoy the interview with Daivik!

Who is your ideal customer and what problem do you solve for them?

We help influencer marketing managers unify their creator data, automate influencer campaigns, and scale.

When and where did the itch to start building your own product or service and business come from?

I've always been fascinated by the way technology can change lives since I was a kid. That fascination with technology was inherently part of who I am. Later, I realized that I'm a very self-motivated person. I really like getting into the weeds of things and defining how things look. I don't think there's any better way to do that than in business. So it just naturally made sense.

Which resources were most helpful to you at the beginning of your founder journey?

There are probably too many resources to list, but at this point, several platforms offer valuable information. For company building, Y Combinator has a lot of good resources for startups. When looking at different technologies, Product Hunt or Twitter is pretty good at finding new technology. If you're trying to find a dose of inspiration, there are many sources for stories of some of the best entrepreneurs in the world. I have my own preferred resources, which include a lot of Twitter, LinkedIn, Product Hunt, TechCrunch, YC, and other mediums. However, it's not necessarily something I stick to rigidly.

What was the first thing you did starting off? Would you do the same thing again, if you were starting over?

Yeah, I mean, I think the first thing I did was just try building some small prototypes of ideas I had circling my head, just so I could sort of see both what the implementation would look like and try to understand the customer experience. I think there are two ways, right? Either you can start really diving into the customer's problems, which in all likelihood is the best way to do it if you're trying to build a business, or you start with side projects and then try sort of pivoting from there. I chose the side projects route to begin with, and I think there is some merit to that. But nowadays, I would definitely go with the customer experience first - go find customers or go find problems that are worth solving, and then work towards technology. It took me a couple of tries to really nail down, but equipped with what I have now, I think I can do that pretty well.

What's the most joyful part of building your business for you?

I think there are several factors at play. The idea of my work contributing to what could be a big payday is definitely very appealing. But on a day-to-day basis, I think it's generally just building something from the ground up, something that didn't exist or wouldn't exist without you being there, talking to customers, and seeing the value that provides. This is something of a new phenomenon in my entrepreneurial journey. As I mentioned earlier, I went the side project route to begin with, but now I'm really starting to see how customer interaction fuels me. Every time I have a call with customers, I go on a bender to get things done. That's definitely been the most joyous part of it for me.

Which area of building the business has been the most challenging for you?

Honestly, it's just blocking out the noise. When I'm working and building, it's great. But when I start thinking about my situation—where I'm living, my location, money—all those things start to compound and can throw me off. I'm getting better at focusing, ignoring those distractions, and just getting stuff done. I think part of that improvement comes from enjoying the process of building rather than just focusing on the results. It's something I've developed over time. It was definitely a big challenge earlier on and still challenges me today, but I think I've gotten better at mitigating it. This journey has been about learning to stay in the moment, appreciating the work itself, and not letting external concerns derail my progress. While it's an ongoing process, I can see how far I've come in managing these challenges.

Which entrepreneur do you look up to the most?

I know it's not the most unique answer, but I was a Steve Jobs fan growing up. The work he did had a big impact on my life, and I think the way he approached building technology is something I really resonate with. It definitely influences the way I approach design, talking to customers, and building. I have a lot of respect for the work that he did and look up to him the most. His vision and ability to innovate in multiple industries continue to inspire me in my entrepreneurial journey.

What are you the proudest of so far?

I think one of the things I'm most proud of is sticking with it, keeping it going, and not getting enamored by new technology. As engineers, we are prone to getting captivated with new technologies coming out, but that's not the best way of running a business. I've been pretty good at regulating that. I'm pretty proud that even through the dark times (and they can come very quickly) I was still able to get stuff done and keep working at it.

What's next for you and your business?

Yeah, I think right now we're at the precipice of what I think will be an exponential curve. Just try and move it along by bringing on new customers and building onto the platform, and see what happens. I'm pretty excited for the next couple of months.

What's one ask you would make, if someone really wanted to help you?

Yeah, I mean if you know any influencer marketing managers who are struggling with maintaining their creator campaign and data, I'd love the introduction. On the side, I also run events. So if you're a founder, please feel free to come by. We're going to have an event in Toronto and San Francisco. If you want to come, please let me know. And if you want to help organize them in other locations, also open to that.

To us at Entrecurious, Daivik's story is a testament to perseverance and finding a focus on the customer. We look forward to following his journey and the growth of Superstar. Stay tuned for future updates on Daivik and Superstar, plus more incredible early-stage founder stories coming each week!

If you are an early-stage founder, I'd love to hear your story. DM me on X, and let's make it happen.