Summary
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sit down with Josh Duntz and Tyler Dunbar of Metova and Central Standard Talent, respectively. With their Naval backgrounds, Josh and Tyler have a unique perspective on the business world. Throughout the episode, the crew discusses Central Standard and Metova’s expertise in identifying customer needs and developing digital products that align with business goals. They highlight the importance of tailoring technology solutions to meet the specific needs of each customer, and how this approach sets Central Standard and Metova apart from other tech agencies. They also comment on artificial intelligence, exploring whether these emerging technologies pose a threat to Central Standard and Metova, and whether AI can be as effective as humans.
Show Notes
(1:33) Introducing Josh and Tyler
(6:08) Josh’s Transition from the Military to the Civilian World
(9:20) Key Takeaways from Military Service
(15:42) Central Standard and Metova’s Connection
(21:01) Finding Talent without Paying Silicon Valley Prices
(23:35) The Threat of AI
(27:51) Looking at the Landscape of the Current Economy
(32:52) Advice to Their Younger Selves
(35:38) Tyler and Josh’s Naval Background
(39:23) Closing Thoughts
Links
Quotes
“I approach leadership the same way in business now, where it’s like, I don’t care if you’re the lowest man on the totem pole or the CEO of the company. I believe that before decisions should be made, everyone should be able to voice their opinion.” – Josh Duntz, (13:19)
“Rule of thumb is we’ll save you 30-50% in cost. And for somebody who’s in any sort of startup, there’s another critical element to this. You also don’t have to give any of your company away to get really high-quality talent.” – Tyler Dunbar, (21:24)
“You have a certain mindset of what outsourcing looks like, right? And typically, for most people, it’s not high quality. So that’s a piece that looks really different for us. We focus on hiring people long-term—custom solution building for a team just for you. And [that allows] us to really focus on high-quality technical talent that is retained over time. So rather than fill fifty really low-level positions, we really try to focus on those senior and mid-level positions that establish and create value for years and years to come.” – Tyler Dunbar, (22:34)
“I think you still need humans to be effective, right? And there’s a difference between being effective and being efficient. I think that AI is probably really efficient, but like Josh was talking about, how effective is it without those little human elements of nuance in between?” – Tyler Dunbar, (26:34)
From the Navy to Tech: The Story of Central Standard and Metova
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley sit down with Josh Duntz and Tyler Dunbar of Metova and Central Standard Talent, respectively. With their Naval backgrounds, Josh and Tyler have a unique perspective on the business world. Throughout the episode, the crew discusses Central Standard and Metova’s expertise in identifying customer needs and developing digital products that align with business goals. They highlight the importance of tailoring technology solutions to meet the specific needs of each customer, and how this approach sets Central Standard and Metova apart from other tech agencies. They also comment on artificial intelligence, exploring whether these emerging technologies pose a threat to Central Standard and Metova, and whether AI can be as effective as humans.
“I think you still need humans to be effective, right? And there’s a difference between being effective and being efficient. I think that AI is probably really efficient, but like Josh was talking about, how effective is it without those little human elements of nuance in between?” – Tyler Dunbar, (26:34)
Central Standard and Metova
A unique pairing, Central Standard and Metova partner to meet clients’ long-term needs by providing the talent and strategy necessary for life cycle solutions. Central Standard helps businesses source top-tier talent from Latin America, allowing them to find Silicon Valley-level talent at a fraction of the cost, without having to deal with the 12-hour turnaround times associated with outsourcing overseas.
“You have a certain mindset of what outsourcing looks like, right? And typically, for most people, it’s not high quality. So that’s a piece that looks really different for us. We focus on hiring people long-term—custom solution building for a team just for you. And [that allows] us to really focus on high-quality technical talent that is retained over time. So rather than fill fifty really low-level positions, we really try to focus on those senior and mid-level positions that establish and create value for years and years to come.” – Tyler Dunbar, (22:34)
Central Standard also allows businesses to acquire high-level talent without having to give up any equity in their companies. While many startups have to sacrifice equity to land the talent that will take them to the next level, Central Standard offers a realistic alternative.
“Rule of thumb is we’ll save you 30-50% in cost. And for somebody who’s in any sort of startup, there’s another critical element to this. You also don’t have to give any of your company away to get really high-quality talent.” – Tyler Dunbar, (21:24)
Lessons from the Military
Josh and Tyler’s experience in the Navy taught them many lessons, which impacted their perspective on business. Tyler learned to lead with action. Rather than being paralyzed by risk aversion, you can benefit from taking a step forward. Josh learned to communicate in a wide variety of circumstances with a variety of people. He also developed an understanding that everyone’s voice matters. When making a decision, everyone should be allowed to speak their mind and voice their support or concerns.
“I approach leadership the same way in business now, where it’s like, I don’t care if you’re the lowest man on the totem pole or the CEO of the company. I believe that before decisions should be made, everyone should be able to voice their opinion.” – Josh Duntz, (13:19)
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