KY FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT: Don Weobong

Don Weobong is the founder and CEO of Louisville-based Telania. 

What does Telania, LLC. do? 

I founded Telania LLC. in 2002, with eLeaP launching in 2005. eLeaP is a cloud-hosted learning management system (LMS) that assists enterprises to manage organizational compliance and team performance for SME’s. From simply building courses in minutes or choosing content from our library of quality courses to fast-track your training program, eLeaP enables our customers to solve complex learning, performance and engagement challenges.  

eLeaP has won multiple awards such as the Capterra Award, eLearning Industry’s Top 10 LMS Website Designs Award, and Featured Customer’s Top Performer for Corporate LMS Award because it is comprehensive, modern, and trusted.  

What sets Telania apart?  

We believe that having the opportunity to serve so many individuals and organizations, large and small, is a privilege and not a right. We believe in treating people with respect no matter their background or expertise level. To this end we strive each day for excellence in product, service and responsiveness.  

What was the greatest challenge you encountered in launching your startup and how did you overcome it?  

Access to resources and a local customer base is the greatest challenge we face. While we had supportive family and friends it was not easy to access financial, talent and business support. There was a lot of trial and error. Thankfully each adversity faced also turned out to be a great learning opportunity.   

What are you most proud of about Telania?  

In a tough industry, Telania’s eLeaP platform has continued to excel and provide excellent and reliable service to organizations across the country and globally. We are most proud of our team! Team is everything and as a small organization, we all get to see our individual efforts directly impact our customer’s success.  

What piece of advice do you have for new founders – or – what have you learned that you wish you’d known when launching a startup?  

Get a mentor. Focus. Continue to learn.  

What is the most important ingredient or ingredients for a thriving startup ecosystem?  

Technology. Technology does not ‘replace’ people, it empowers them. The backend of your business, product or service needs to be as strong as your front end. This creates longevity and stability to pivot, grow and succeed.   

What makes Kentucky a great place to innovate?  

Against the beautiful backdrop of the bluegrass, Kentucky provides innovators with the opportunity to move at their own pace. Having access to several colleges and universities that offer an array of professional development courses helps us to stay in touch with emerging trends.  

Find out more about Telania and eLeap by visiting  www.telania.com. 

Know a startup founder or entrepreneur with a story to tell about their journey? Send your ideas to web@kyinnovation.com.