Leanne Linsky, Comedian and Founder
Q: What help can you offer to other Startup Haven member founders… what’s your offer?
A: We’re offering a comedy workshop for entrepreneurs – MVP Laugh & Launch. This is a private event for Startup Haven Members. This interactive improv workshop will teach you how to reframe failures with humor. Learn improv techniques you can use in everyday life and share with your team. Perfect for entrepreneurs who want to lighten up their outlook, make genuine connections, and leave lasting impressions. Bring your stories, your stumbles, and your sense of humor!
Q: Which is your home chapter?
A: Seattle
Q: Describe what your company does in 25 words or less.
A: Plauzzable empowers comedians with virtual tools to host live events, grow global fanbases, and take control of earnings, while offering fans unique, interactive comedy experiences.
Q: Why does the world need your company?
A: Comedy is universal, but comedians often lack tools to thrive. Plauzzable bridges the gap by democratizing access for talent and fans and fostering global laughter.
Q: If you were a hero/villain, what would be your origin story?
A: Born with a knack for humor but frustrated by the barriers comedians face, I vowed to rewrite the rules of comedy. Channeling the energy of countless open mics and the grit of creatives worldwide, I became a champion for comedians everywhere—turning tech into their ultimate stage and Plauzzable into their superpower.
Q: What has been the biggest win for your company?
A: As a non-technical founder, my biggest win was building a team of qualified developers that could bring my dream to life. Launching Plauzzable and seeing comedians and fans enjoy it has been an incredible experience and continues to inspire me.
Q: What do you like most about being a founder?
A: The creative freedom to solve meaningful problems and the privilege of building something that impacts lives while connecting with talented, passionate people.
Q: What is the hardest thing about being a founder?
A: Impatience. I’d love everything to move faster.
Q: What’s your favorite hack for dealing with the demands of running a startup?
A: Blocking “focus hours” every day to tackle the most critical tasks without distractions and recharging with humor—it reminds me why I started this journey.
Q: What were you doing before you started working on your company?
A: I was immersed in the comedy industry—performing and producing shows. At the same time, I had a life coaching business. Prior to that I worked as a Director of Marketing for a voiceover studio and had been a bookkeeper and office manager at an improv theater in New York City. Before I moved to New York, I held various positions at a Fortune 500 Company in Las Vegas for nearly 13 years.
Q: If you weren’t building your company, what else would you be doing now?
A: I’d be on stage and/or behind the scenes producing innovative comedy projects.
Q: What advice do you have for founders who are two stages behind you?
A: Approach everything with curiosity and be a good listener. Validate your idea by listening deeply to your users. Ask your users what they need, then ask what they’re already getting to solve those problems. Find the unmet need and deliver that. Really listen to them instead of telling them.
Q: How has Startup Haven helped you on your journey?
A: Startup Haven has been a great resource for me to step away and connect with other founders that understand the grind. The poker and dinner events are among my favorite ways to meet new people within the ecosystem without it feeling like work or a transaction.
Q: What superhero power would help founders most?
A: The ability to see the future.
Q: If you were to found another company (after you exit your current company) and you could choose any real person living or dead to be your cofounder, who would it be?
A: Lucille Ball. As a comedic pioneer and savvy businesswoman, her vision and resilience would be an unstoppable force for the future of independent entertainment.
