Scale By Numbers

In this episode, James Vanreusel joins Marshall Hawks, who leads the Northern California technology relationship management team at SV, in a discussion that revolves around the role of venture debt providers, particularly Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), in supporting companies at various stages of their life cycle. Marshall Hawks from SVB shares insights on their approach to lending, emphasizing that at early stages, they often align with equity funding. As companies progress and achieve milestones, the focus shifts to financial analysis based on specific metrics and trends. Marshall highlights a case involving Planet Labs, where SVB provided capital based on the company's potential for a positive outcome, including a successful SPAC process.The conversation then transitions to incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in banking operations. Marshall acknowledges the significance of AI but notes the challenges faced by regulated financial firms, such as SVB, in leveraging AI due to regulatory considerations. He shares that while AI is a prevalent topic, its implementation within SVB is constrained by the need to navigate legal landscapes and potential data security issues. Marshall provides a concrete example of AI usage in marketing, where AI-generated graphics and design were employed in a campaign.And more. Listen now.Learn more about our guest:Marshall Hawks | SVB websiteReady To Scale?But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you.Free Starter MembershipNon-Profit Enterprise PackageFor-Profit Enterprise PackageConnect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |WebsiteReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

Welcome back to the Scale By Numbers Podcast. In this episode, James Vanreusel interviews Eric Bahn, the Co-founder, General partner and hustler at Hustle Fund.Eric's journey from the heart of Detroit, Michigan, to the epicenter of technology innovation in Silicon Valley is an inspiring one. He's no stranger to hustle, and he's here to share his insights on what it takes to succeed as a founder, investor, and a family man.With a background that includes time at tech giants like Facebook and Instagram, Eric also has a finger on the pulse of emerging technologies, including the impact of artificial intelligence and the trends that will shape the startup landscape in the coming year.Learn more about our guest:Eric Bahn's Linkedin | Hustle FundReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

This episode of the Scale by Numbers podcast welcomes Glenn Gow, a seasoned C.E.O. coach and board member focusing on AI, to share insights into his journey. Glenn discusses his transition from a 25-year CEO role to venture capital, where he recognized AI-related patterns, leading to a deep involvement in the current landscape. The conversation touches upon McKinsey's study on AI impact, distinguishing between traditional and generative AI, and the importance of CEOs embracing these changes.The episode underscores the significance of CEOs understanding both traditional and generative AI. Glenn Gow emphasizes the transformative potential of AI, particularly in areas like chatbots and image generators. The call to lean into these changes is coupled with a cautionary note about potential pitfalls, urging CEOs to be mindful of assumptions, the limitations of generative AI, and the importance of keeping a human in the loop. The discussion also addresses the evolving job landscape due to AI, highlighting a CEO's experience with the impact on problem-solving dynamics.Key Takeaways:Getting your team involved with AI, even if you are not a software company, as soon as possible is essential.Learn more about our guest:Glenn Gow LinkedIn | WebsiteReady To Scale?But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you.Free Starter MembershipNon-Profit Enterprise PackageFor-Profit Enterprise PackageConnect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |WebsiteReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

Welcome back to the Scale By Numbers Podcast. In this episode, James Vanreusel interviews Cameron Newton, an investment manager and founding member of Relevance Ventures. Cameron shares his background, starting as an investment banker before transitioning into venture capital. Relevance Capital focuses on health and wellness investments, primarily in Series A and Series B stages. They employ a reverse barbell strategy, aiming for high returns with seed investments while also focusing on scaling businesses in the 1 to 10 million revenue range.The conversation then delves into the concept of impact investing. Cameron explains that Relevance Ventures defines impact from a ground-up perspective, building companies with impact-focused cultures, diverse boards, and management teams. They measure impact through the longevity and success of these companies, emphasizing that financial return is crucial for sustainability and long-term impact. They prioritize investments that serve underserved populations, use sustainable practices, and have readily available products.Key Takeaways:The importance of an AI component in any business.How to get a good introduction to VCs.The good timing to investing as valuations went down.Learn more about our guest:Cameron Newton's Linkedin | Relevance VenturesReady To Scale?But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you.Free Starter MembershipNon-Profit Enterprise PackageFor-Profit Enterprise PackageConnect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |WebsiteReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Steve Brotman, a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and fund manager with an impressive track record in the world of venture capital and startups. Steve is the founder and Managing Partner at Alpha Partners and a Strategic Advisor to the Pritzker Group's venture arm, Pritzker Group Venture Capital.Steve's venture capital journey began as the co-founder and Managing Director of Greenhill SAVP, a venture capital unit of Greenhill & Co that later became Tribeca Venture Partners. Managing a fund with $100 million in assets, Steve focused on technology and business information services, becoming an early institutional investor in successful companies like LivePerson (Nasdaq: LPSN) and Medidata Solutions (Nasdaq: MDSO). Beyond venture capital, Steve's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found AdOne, an online classified advertising platform that originated as a class assignment at Columbia Business School but grew to serve over one-third of the newspaper industry, ultimately being acquired by a consortium led by Hearst. Steve's outstanding contributions have earned him accolades, including being named a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognition in Crain's Tech 100, and inclusion in the Top 40 under 40 among New York business leaders.Steve Brotman's extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and fund manager makes him a valuable guest, and we look forward to delving into his insights and experiences in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship in this episode.Key Takeaways:The Blackjack analogy - how to double down on the winners.Green lights and red lights in investments;AI is here to stay, how to get ready for it.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

Today, we welcome David Spreng, the founder of Runway Growth Capital, a Silicon Valley-based investment firm that provides venture debt financing to growth-stage companies. David has over 30 years of experience as a VC and growth debt lender and has been actively involved in the formation and development of nearly 50 technology companies. He has been ranked four times by Forbes magazine on their annual Midas List as one of the top 50 VCs, and in 2006, he was ranked the #8 VC.David's expertise in how venture debt has become critical for sustaining established companies has helped companies like Madison Reed secure $50 million in venture debt. In this episode, David shares his insights into the rising popularity of venture debt as an alternative to venture capital, particularly for established companies and household names.Key takeaways:Growth lending and venture debt [7:06]Counterparty risk and risk management. [14:41]The long-term model of venture debt. [17:04]Being a good partner is about knowing the risk. [42:35]Want to learn more about Runway Growth Capital? Check out their website here where you can view case studies and learn more about growth lending and venture debt. You can also email David directly at ds@runawaygrowth.com or on LinkedIn.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode, we're joined by Tony Quintong, the Founder of The Securieon Group, a business consulting and M&A advisory firm. With extensive experience in pre-and post-M&A advisory roles, Tony shares his expertise in navigating the challenging M&A landscape.We delve into Tony's innovative growth strategies that have helped businesses improve profitability, secure growth capital, and eventually exit at a higher valuation. Tony also shares his insights on the importance of market analysis in M&A, and how businesses can effectively position themselves for successful acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of communication and alignment between all parties involved in an M&A transaction, including the target company, the acquiring company, and any investors or stakeholders. Throughout the episode, Tony provides valuable advice for businesses looking to navigate the complex M&A landscape, including tips on due diligence, negotiation tactics, and post-merger integration. Tune in to gain valuable insights from an experienced M&A advisor and business consultant.  Key takeaways:The double-edged sword of Silicon Valley Bank. [2:10]The emotional return on investment in tech. [5:08]How do you prepare for an exit? [10:56]The importance of innovation and adaptability. [16:44]How to choose a good client? [36:32]Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode, we talk to Bharat Kanodi who helps startup founders and VCs know how much their companies are worth. He has valued over 4000 businesses and signed off on assets worth $2.6 trillion in value. He has appraised unique assets like the Golden Gate Bridge, Atlanta Airport, Uber, Airbnb, Yahoo!, Brooklyn Bridge, and Mirage Casino LV, among many others.Either if you are a founder or an investor, knowing how to properly evaluate a company is essential to a successful round.Key Takeaways from this episode:The 409A valuation Down round and stock optionsValuation x Stock Price what are the correspondencesClosing date: the beginning of a relationship, not the endingTwo reasons people buy businesses.To get in touch with Bharat, you can find him on LinkedIn or Youtube.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode, we talk to Justin Daniels. Justin is a shareholder, M&A and transactional lawyer at the AmLaw 100 firm Baker Donelson. He works on global clients in cutting edge industries like fintech, Saas, blockchain, drones and autonomous vehicles. Justin helps companies manage cyber risk as part of the M&A process, launching new products, negotiating complex business contracts and managing ransomware and data breaches.  He is also a national keynote speaker and TedX speaker, co-hosts the popular She Said Privacy/He Said Security Podcast and is co-author of the Wall Street Journal Best Selling Book, Data Reimagined: Building Trust One Byte At a Time. Key Takeaways from this episode:The Three-Layer Chocolate Cake Approach [5:57]How do you go into a company pre-acquisition. [11:07]What is a smart contract? What's the problem with them? [18:27]Cybersecurity as a roadblock to mass adoption. [23:42]What is Data Reimagined? [26:06]To get in touch with Justin, you can find him on LinkedIn as Justin S. Daniels or by email at Jdaniels@bakerdonelson.com. Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode of Scale By Numbers, we talk with Rhea Wong. Rhea is a fundraising consultant, author, and she also has a course called Fundraising Accelerator for non-profits.  She uses her 15+ years of fundraising experience to help nonprofits tweak their message, clarify their ideal donor, engage their board, streamline their processes, and make an effective ask. She provides clarity and a plan to move a nonprofits individual donor program forward.Key Takeaways from this episode:How are you attracting ideal donors?What are you doing to cultivate the donor relationship?How to get Board Members to be a bigger part of fundraisingThe Money Relationship regarding donations and givingWhat is Money Baggage and how are donors thinking about it?Want to learn more about Rhea? Check out her website HERE and grab a copy of her book HERE.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode of Scale By Numbers, we talk to Hayden Cohen, a New York based entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Near.  Near helps fast growing companies and enterprises scale remote teams with the best talent in Latin America.  Hayden started Near in 2020 after hiring remote teammates from Latin America for his startup studio, Effectual Ventures.  He leads Product and Go-To Market efforts for Near. Key Takeaways in this episode:How to save time and money hiring with near [13:13]The culture of hiring in Latin America [20:04]The Benefits of hiring talent in Latin America [25:33]Contracts and Compliance [33:53]How to filter bad applications [43:35]Want to learn more about Hire With Near? Check out their website HERE where you can view case studies, a resource page, and sign up for their newsletter. You can also email Hayden directly at Hayden@hirewithnear.com.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

The Economics Era of Values-Driven Marketing In this episode of Scale By Numbers, we spoke with David Allison. David has been described as a human values expert, a global researcher and a best-selling author. His company, Valuegraphics, focuses on mapping the core human values of everyone on earth and has spent decades doing research on values-driven data. It's all about market research, marketing, and what actually makes people tick.David is a national keynote speaker, and Best Seller and author of We Are All The Same Age Now and, most recently, The Death of Demographics.Key Takeaways in this episode:Why Demographics are no longer helping us understand people [3:18:00]How to use values to leverage your business [12:59:00}Practical examples of how to use key-value data to kickstart your business {26:40:00] The problem with looking at people based on their demographics {31:18:00}Want to learn more about David Allison and Value Graphics, start HERECheck Out David's new Book, "The Death of Demographics," HERE.Dont miss an episode again-Subscribe HERE.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you. Free Starter Membership Non-Profit Enterprise Package For-Profit Enterprise Package Connect with us because we love new friends!LinkedIn | Twitter |YouTube |Website

In this episode of Ask A CFO with James Vanreusel and Steve Matthews, we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of hiring after disruptive Covid-19-related constraints.Along with the benefits of flexible work and remote job applications, new employment issues have emerged, and many countries are seeing some of their lowest employment rates. We discuss the benefits of recruiting internationally as well as challenges that might interrupt work, such as time zones and flexibility in certain professions.Hire with Near– You can get in touch by going to hirewithnear.com or sending an email to franco@hirewithnear.com. https://www.hirewithnear.com/free-guides/hiring-remotely-in-latin-americaNeed CFO-level support and strategic advice but are not ready for an interim CFO? The CFO thinking partner may be able to help.  Learn more here:https://products.vanreuselventures.com/starter-sign-upLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

In this episode of Ask A CFO, host Steve Matthews asks James Vanreusel the difficult questions surrounding raising prices without risking your customers. Are you experiencing expenses tied to inflation, increasing overheads, and narrowing profit margins?  You might be thinking you need to increase your prices.But does the fear of losing new customers, or even worse, your long-term customers, keep you awake at night? Well, this episode might help you out. Learn how to communicate price increases with your customers and realize the fear vs rewards when raising your prices.Need CFO-level support and strategic advice but are not ready for an interim CFO? The CFO thinking partner may be able to help.  Learn more here:https://products.vanreuselventures.com/starter-sign-upLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Investing in the New Frontier of Space Connectivity with Katherine MonsonHave you ever wondered how private businesses operate in space? It's difficult to comprehend the technological advancements and innovations in commercial space industries that can truly benefit humans on Earth!In this episode of Scale by Numbers, we speak with Katherine Monson, the Chief Operating Officer for Hedron, who is working on communications infrastructure in space. Hedron is an aerospace company that is developing a hybrid RF and optical relay network in order to improve communication between space and Earth.It's fascinating to hear Katherine speak about the different layers of the space industry and how Hedron is trying to create faster connectivity between space and earth with lasers! What You'll Learn:How businesses operate in spaceThe different types of companies in spaceHow important the commercial space sector isWhat fundraising is like for space startupsHow the space industry differs from 10 years agoThe unique ecosystem in the space industryWhether or not governments control business operationsThe problems that Hedron is trying to solveKey TakeawaysHow beneficial the space industry is to people here on earthThe new innovations that are revolutionizing the space industryThe logistics of operating a business in spaceWant to learn more? Start HEREReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in a CFO?One of our bespoke packages can help you. One of our membership options may be able to help. Learn more herePro Membership:This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.  Connect with us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Diana Mao - CEO and Co-Founder of Nomi NetworkIn this episode of scale by numbers, we talk with the co-founder and CEO of Nomi Network, Diana Mao. Diana and two other women passionate about human rights founded Nomi Network to provide economic opportunities for survivors of human trafficking and women at risk of human trafficking.  Diana discusses her motivation for founding Nomi Network, the challenges she's encountered along the way, and the positive impact her foundation has had worldwide. Their partnerships and grants, along with donations received, have enabled them to set up ten training sites. The team is very outcome-driven, taking wisdom from the private sector and adapting their learnings for their non-profit model. What You'll Learn:What Diana has learned from the past 12 years of running Nomi Network.The systemic barriers that Nomi Network faces.How to build partnerships and acquire funding.Where to get seed funding as a charity / non-profit.How to manage cash / donor burnout.How much benefit one donation can have.The importance of building trust in a community.Key Takeaways:The value of investing in a human being is astronomical.Look for ways to invest in those around you.You can be part of the solution by doing your part every day.   Want to learn more about Nomi Network and their mission to end human trafficking? Start Here   Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in CFO?One of our bespoke packages can help you.  One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more herePro Membership:This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.  Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

How Board Members Support the Success of The Start-Up CEOIn this episode of Scale By Numbers, we have an exciting conversation with Heidi Roizen of Threshold Ventures, who has worked as a venture capitalist for over 20 years.  She shares experiences as a board member, giving her incredible insight into the value that a board of directors brings to businesses, small and large.  Understand the board of directors' role and their authority in making decisions, what it takes to become a productive board member, along with the challenges a board member can face.  What You'll Learn:What you should consider when choosing board members.What authority do different boards have, and what roles do they play?The difficulties a member of a board of directors may face.What obligations do you have as a board member?Differences between mentors, advisory boards, and governing boards.Why does a company need a board of directors?How important are the relationships with stakeholders?How to become a productive board member.How to find a work-life balance as a board member.Key Takeaways:Understand what a typical resume of a board member looks like. Let people know that becoming a board member is something you're interested in. Meet with others who are on the board you're interested in. Want to learn more about Threshold Ventures? Start Here.Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in CFO?One of our bespoke packages can help you.  One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more herePro Membership:This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.   Connect with us:  LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Benefits of Building a Strong Relationship with Your Start-Up BankIn today's discussion, we take a deep dive into banking with Kelly Caviglia, who focuses on supporting startups and creating relationships with early-stage founders at Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC . What are the essential factors you should look at before selecting a bank? What pain points can a startup-focused bank solve? How do you build a relationship with your bank? What You'll Learn:Finding the right bank for your startup. Getting venture debt or investor capital from banks. What a first-time founder should be looking for in a bank. How a startup-focused bank can solve many pain points. How to develop a relationship and partnership with your bank.Key TakeawaysChoosing a bank is a critical decision for any startup. If you are a seed stage, or series A or B, you should look for a friendly bank that works specifically with startups, such as Bridge Bank.The ecosystem and partnerships that these banks have can be significant. It's essential to evaluate the relationships a bank has with other software vendors, startup credit cards, and capital investors for when your business needs to scale.How quickly can you get funds from your bank? It depends on the type of bank and what relationship you have with them. Kelly loves getting to know her clients better and gives founders her phone number so they can get in touch with her right away, so founders can move very quickly with their funding or underwriting at Bridge Bank.To get started or learn more about how Kelly can help you and your Start Up click here!Ready To Scale? But not ready to invest in CFO? One of our bespoke packages can help you.  One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more herePro Membership:This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.  Connect with us  LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Discover the fundamentals of growing a nonprofit in the tech space, and explore the differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. How do you set yourself up for success with a nonprofit?  In this episode of Scale by Numbers, we talk with co-founder Kevin Barenblat of Fast Forward, a tech accelerator specifically for nonprofits. Fast Forward has accelerated over 70 nonprofits with their unique mentorship, training, and valuable connections. Kevin has a deep understanding of the challenges of nonprofits in tech and shares his experience scaling social impact organizations that collectively have raised over 300 million in funding and impacted over 100 million lives.What You'll Learn:How to run a nonprofit organization in the tech spaceChallenges and opportunities within the nonprofit tech modelHow to scale a nonprofit by joining an accelerator.How technology can be beneficial to scale organizations.How entrepreneurs can learn from others' mistakes.The unique ecosystem Fast Forward offers for nonprofits.How nonprofits can make an additional source of capital.How to leverage peer networks.Financial models used within the industry.Key Takeaways:Differences between a for-profit, and a nonprofit that is looking at impact at scale. Be very specific in the accelerators that you participate in.Knowing who the right people are to do your bookkeeping, your accounting, your HR, and all the things that technology nonprofits are really looking for is really critical. Ready to learn more about the Fast Forward Accelerator? Start HereReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in CFO?One of our bespoke packages can help you.  One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more herePro Membership:This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.  Connect with us LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

The OverviewDo you struggle to find a balance between your work and personal life? Do you find yourself up at 3 am thinking about tomorrow's tasks? You do not need to sacrifice your personal life for career success – you need to plan strategically and more effectively! In this episode of Scale by Numbers, we talk with Blake Stratton, a business consultant at Full Focus, a performance coaching company that has worked with nearly 1000 businesses. Full Focus helps businesses build strategies for their companies to succeed and aims to help its clients find peace between their work and home lives. They call this the double win - “helping high achievers live their best lives.”Blake gives insight into their strategies to keep this balance by aligning your goals into daily tasks. We discover the importance of using a planner efficiently, creating a positive work environment, finding pain points and opportunities in your business, and much more. In this episode, you will learn:How to find out who your audience is.How to narrow your focus on your most important goals.How to plan your workdays efficiently.How to find the perfect work/life balance.How you can reduce your business costs.How to keep motivated and stay productive.How you can learn from other businesses mistakes.How to create a great work culture within your business.How you can benefit from having a coach.Key TakeawayBlake said, you don't get extra credit for going it alone, you don't get extra credit for trial and error, you don't get extra credit, because you said it, I did this without having to ask anyone for help. There are no bragging rights, it's overrated. That statement really encompasses his philosophy, but also the company that he works with that if you need help there is so much help out there.  Whether it's different courses, mentors, or professional business coaches.  When you need that help to accelerate your personal development or business growth, dont wait.  You dont want to become the lid on your company's growthReady To Scale? But not ready to invest in CFO?One of our bespoke packages can help you.  One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more herePro Membership: This is ideal for those who want to do it themselves, but with a thinking partner by their side! Gain the hands-on training and access to our community that you need at this stage of your business. Enterprise Package:  Perfect for companies who are on the edge of growth, and ready to take that next step but want someone to do the work for you.  Bring us on board as your interim CFO. We'll guide you through the planning & execution you'll need to guide your growth.  From modeling to M&A our expert team is ready to dive in.  

The Overview:How to find investment opportunities? How to prepare for an investment? What are the barriers to growth and how do you scale?In this episode of Scale By Numbers, we are excited to talk with Robin Bruce, president of the Dovetail Impact Foundation, where the team invests their time, treasure, and talent into organizations that promote human flourishing. They have supported numerous causes and organizations for over 25 years and have plentiful experience funding and scaling organizations.Robin explains the foundation's investment model and how she applies it to achieve sustainable partnerships, giving insight into the growth indicators her team looks for before investing in a business, such as their vision, budget and projections, and more.She also describes how they often have to dig deeper than the surface level before understanding all sides of a business. She discusses some internal choices they make to ensure they don't have to interfere with an organization's mission as a financial investor. Highlights:What is impact investing / social impact funding?Preparing your business for scale & managing budget.Expansion opportunities and blockages to growth.Business models that have evolved over the past 5 years.Determining high potential investment opportunitiesKeeping up with budget, financial analysis and projections.How to get involved with impact investments?Want to learn more about Dove Tail : Start HereNeed CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?One of our membership options may be able to help.  Learn more here 

Running a company is just about the most difficult thing you can do. So when we get a hold of someone who has done the work and knows what it takes, we listen. Jared Dillian is an author, the creator of the Daily Dirtnap, and the host of The Jared Dillian Show and 'Be Smart" Podcast. He is here to join us as we talk about market psychology, from creating your own luck to what it takes to run a podcast.  What You'll Learn:How to create a niche for yourselfThe ins and outs of the recession narrativeHow a CEO should think about the current market with inflationWhat younger entrepreneurs should know about risk takingHow your comfort zone can differ and how it comes into play when running a companyThe top 3 most interesting people Jared has interviewedWhat bonds look like these daysChances of a recession on the horizonHow to build a strong inner circleInterested in Learning More about Jared Dillian? Start HereSubscribe to the Daily Dirt Nap: Start HereSubscribe to Jared Dillians 'Be Smart' Podcast: Start hereNeed CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?The Vanreusel Ventures Pro Membership Plan could help! Start HereLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Owen is an investment manager at Jasmine Social Investments. Jasmine model is supporting and funding non-profits that focus on social impact issues surrounding health, education, and livelihood.What You'll Learn:The investment processWhat Jasmine looks for in the companies they invest inOwen's view on projections of the exponential takeoff of impact at scaleThe time commitment it takes to find new companies to invest inHow many companies a year does Jasmine add?How to deal with growthThemes/Industries they focus onBusiness models, he wish worked betterWhere the gaps are in the marketThe ecosystems they play inHow to get the attention of Jasmine (or any other investment company)The move from a for-profit focus to a social impact focusChoosing for-profit VS nonprofit Want to learn more about Jasmine Social Investments: Start HereNeed CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?One of our membership options may be able to help. Start HereLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

Venture Capital Studios are a rather new way to tackle the sticky situation around funding. Learn from someone with major studio experience on how it differs from other forms of funding. Jake Horowitz started his first company at 8 years old, a skateboard repair company. It failed miserably. But at 18 he started a design agency and made his way into the venture studio space in 2017. In 2018 he started the Global Startup Studio Network, which later sold to the Global Accelerator Network. He now consults with about 120 studios around the world. He's here to teach us all a lot about the studio space, and why it has changed SO much in the past 6 months alone. Keep up with his thoughts through his newsletter The Co-Founder on Substack, or hear his thoughts on Linkedin. What You'll Learn:The kind of avatar venture studios targetWhy should you look at a studio? Studios VS Accelerators.Where to go if you're starting from scratch.How much equity studios take in a company.How much studios can provide in terms of support and funding.If studios are just another trend.Why “studio” is such a polarizing word.How the venture world has changed post-covid.Why geography matters so much in the venture capital world.What role crypto plays in the studio world.How community affects venture capital.How to build a community and why it's SO important.How to avoid all the crap in the market.Why you should build a community first, and a product second.Why breaking down barriers and building trust is so important.How NFTs and Tokens can be adopted by organizers, and their place in the future of VC. What to learn more about the studio model?  Start HereWant to Join the Gallery Partner Venture Studio Membership? Start HereNeed CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?The CFO thinking partner may be able to help.  Learn more here:http://products.vanreuselventures.com/cfothinkingpartnerLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com

What does it take to win as a business owner? Education? Experience? Funding? Yes, Yes and Yes.  You can have all of those things but still struggle with focus, exhaustion, mental health, and physical health issues. As business owners, we are nothing without a focused mind and healthy body.  How can we access the winning state of mind and maintain it? A healthy body, a healthy mindset. Listen as we discuss some best tools to perform better mentally.In this episode of Scale By Numbers, we are going to take a deep dive into how YOU can set yourself up for success by focusing on nutrition and lifestyle.  We will dig into how investors look at a startup business and CEO mindset, and what it takes to keep your body strong and mind sharp even during the most stressful times. Today our special guest is Kassandra Hobart, she is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (aka Nutrition Coach) providing expertise on overall health and wellness to business owners. Kassandra is a partner at M2 Performance Nutrition with former experience in banking and if that wasn't enough, a former Crossfit Games athlete.  Outside of being a busy nutrition coach, she is also currently working on a project called OMMYX whose mission is to to "radically increase people's healthspan by developing frameworks for a functional lifestyle."  What you will learn in this episode: Tips on how to properly feed your body and feed your mind. What is a winning mindset and what are the tools to obtain it?How to increase longevity in overall health and wellness.How a healthy mindset relates to your business. The importance of nutritional value. How sports and business are similar. How being an athlete is similar to that of a business professional. How a healthy mind relates to healthy business success.Want to connect with  KassandraLooking for a nutrition coach?  You can start here.www.kassandrahobart.comNeed Nutrition Hacks, and Wellness Tips, visit Kassandra on Instagram@kassandrahobart Get on the Waitlist for Kassandra's Health and Wellness app OMMYX.  www.ommyx.com Connect with Vanreusel VenturesNeed CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?  The CFO thinking partner may be able to help.  Learn more here:http://products.vanreuselventures.com/cfothinkingpartner Connect With Us on Social and catch one of our Monthly Q and A sessions:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreusel Youtube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMm Website: www.vanreuselventures.com 

Venture Debt can be confusing if you aren't well versed in its complexities! So to educate you all, we talked with Kevin Zeidan, a venture debt mastermind from Trinity Capital Inc. With 24 years in venture debt, it's safe to assume he knows what the heck is talking about.  Kevin has worked with Promerica, Hercules Capital, Silicon Valley Bank and helped support some companies at their early stages like Uber, Twitter, Twitch, Planet Labs, and other companies at the Seed stage all the way to pre-IPO.  Currently, he is working with Trinity Capital Inc as a Managing Director, where their mission is to support all founders, and are both stage, and sector agnostic.  If you want to connect with Kevin to learn more about him or Trinity Capital, you can reach him at kzeidan@trincapinvestment.com. Thanks, Kevin for making us that much smarter. What you will learn:Venture Debt VS Traditional DebtThe truth about Venture Debt Vs Traditional Debt.How Venture Debt Companies Structure their Loans How the Timing Matches-Up Between Venture Capital Funds and Venture DebtWhat happens If a Company Has Not Reached Exit,How Equity Investors and Venture Debt Funds Look at Traditional LoansHow a Founder Wanting to Understand Venture Debt Better, understands who to work with, how to originate deals, and where the money comes from. What Could Go Wrong with Having Venture Debt?Since Venture Debt is Growing In Popularity, Who Are the New Models? How do they Compete With Incumbents? Should Early Stage Companies Look at Those?What Would Happen if I Have a Venture Debt Loan, and the Fund I Got The Loan For Collapsed?Need CFO-level support and strategic advisory, but are not ready for an interim CFO?The CFO thinking partner may be able to help.  Learn more here:http://products.vanreuselventures.com/cfothinkingpartnerLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesvanreusel/Twitter:https://twitter.com/JamesVanreuselYoutube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7-6z47BPMnY9eJn0gCha6gv1WtquitMmWebsite: www.vanreuselventures.com 

Nicole Glaros was the first non-founder at TechStars. She joined when the company was at about ten companies in the portfolio, 250,000 under management. Now, TechStars has over 2,500 companies in the portfolio (growing 500 companies per year), and ¾ of a billion dollars under management. She has mastered the world of team building and accelerating. What Advice Do You Give The Companies in Your Accelerator? One element Nicole uses to screen companies surrounds team cohesion. Meaning asking questions like "What are the founder dynamics?" and "What is the relationship at the executive team level like?". Communication between founders is massive. She'll note if they're respectful to each other if there is any tension, if they are engaging in difficult conversations, or if they choose to ignore their problems.   Why? Because it makes or breaks companies. This stuff shines through pretty fast once you start looking for it. Nicole works with teams on how to build a constructive dynamic.   The bottom line, it takes three things to set your company up for success. It takes awareness, attention, and responsibility. If your team doesn't engage in these three things, your business will suffer. How Do You Test for The 3 Things Before People Come on Board and Mesh with a Larger Team?Nicole recommends that founding teams and executive leadership teams get coaches. Coaches help keep people honest; it's like low hanging fruit thing if people don't know where to get started.  Personality tests are helpful for other people to understand you, so they know how to relate better. There's no correct answer here.  A big part of this is finding out what people's values are. Seeing what their core and aspirational values are will help you know how the team meshes together. Core values are how you already behave; they come easy to you and can be unconscious. Aspirational values, on the other hand, are what you're trying to be. You can probably be only 2 or 3 aspirational values as an individual or a team. As long as your core values are in alignment, the rest will come. Let's Talk Philanthropy  Philanthropy can be a core value. The way Nicole sees it, the best thing she can do is give back 10x what she's been given.  It doesn't have to be just about money; it can be about time or attention if cash isn't a resource you can give. Youths today are even demanding that their employers do this kind of work; it will help attract great talent. How do You Cope With Feeling Like You Need To Go Outside of Yourself and Your Team to be Successful?  Most of the time, if you've gone through multiple accelerators and have not accelerated, the problem is with the company, not the accelerator. Some things you need more than ANYTHING are creativity and self-confidence that you can figure it out. And it would help if you built a great team.  There is no "quick fix" that will solve all of your company's problems. Failure for entrepreneurs is so high because there is no guidebook for this stuff.  Keep in mind; you should focus on the outcome you want, not the problem. Advice for Female Immigrant Founders who Want to be Successful, Need a Confidence Boost, and Look Up to You?  Nicole's grandma came to the country when she was 14, alone, without shoes, and with no grasp of the language. Relative to that, we have it SO easy.For Nicole, knowing that THAT is where her power comes from is a massive motivator. There is no right path to the outcome you want; you build your own.   It's one step in front of the other; you'll eventually get there. On your journey, find your tribe, the people who understand, appreciate, and support you. They'll help you more than you know.  

Lots of talk in this industry sounds like people just yelling “GO GO GO!”. As CEOs and business owners, we would work ourselves to death if we could. Our James VanReusel sat down with Lately CEO Kate Bradley Chernis to talk about how the world of marketing and fundraising intersects with the difficulties that can come with this industry, financially, physically, and mentally. What Is Lately?Lately is a social media management platform that atomizes any video and turns it into mini movie trailers automatically. No more sifting through longform video content by hand, Lately's AI takes out all the best chunks for you. The AI is soooo smart that it can do the same thing with blogs and podcasts!How Does Lately Prep a Company to Go Fundraising? “If you build it they will come” IS NOT TRUE.Lately markets Lately, 98% sales conversion all because the AI is smart AND because we can do it all by hand (but don't need to). Lately gives you another FULL TIME employee who just does marketing… except it's a bunch of codeWhat Have You Learned on Your Journey?Kate has raised 3.23 million from some of the top investors in Silicon Valley AND New York, and yet has raised no venture money. Truth is,the goal posts keep moving for women. Even if you check all the boxes and are by far the best in the room (as Kate is), it's still about a billion times harder to raise capital for women than your male competitors. Kate's mindset around fundraising is that the venture capital world is mostly broken. She's met with over 614 investors in 2 years ALONE and only 2 or 3 have taken the time to not “science the system” to death. Thanks Shark Tank. People forget you're more than just an elevator pitch full of BS buzzwords. We're human.Being a Woman Sucks SometimesMale investors LOVE to waste womens time. This business world does not operate like the rest of the world. In this world, no one says what they want and when they are bored with you they just disappear. At the start of her journey, Kate wanted to come across as a professional, briefcase and all. Now, she's realized that people want you to OWN them. Confidence that crosses the line over to arrogance, even if you come across as a “bitch” because you're a woman. Every meeting is a demo day, not a coffee talk. They want a show, they want you to dance. How to Stay SaneAll of this is easier said than done, right? But here are a few things Kate touches on that help keep her going amid all the chaos.Gym and meditation are something that she does daily, as well as focusing on getting the best sleep and diet as possible. One thing to keep you sane is finding a Who for the How. Who can do this for you, who can help with that. Create an army of Whos! Bottom line: IT'S HARD. One nugget of truth she's had to learn along the way is to grant herself the grace to say no, which is sooo much harder than expected because the pressure is so great. It is essential to acknowledge when it's not working. Whether it's your health, or your business… When you acknowledge it, you can begin making the change. If something goes wrong at work, it's a bouncy ball that bounces back. But if something happens with your family life or physical health, it's like dropping a crystal ball. Don't drop the crystal ball for a ball that will just bounce back.  

Ben Quazzo is a growth specialist at Accel, at the intersection of tech and finance. Accel is a venture capital firm based in silicon valley, boasting 16 million under management! We get the opportunity to pick his brain about what his work life is like, and what we can do as marketers and businessmen to better ourselves and our companies. What's Life Like in San Fran?When Ben started out at Accel he had 0 responsibilities and spent 90% of his time shopping around for new opportunities and building them around new categories. He would speak to around 20/25 founders a week and find pockets where he knew Accel had an interest in building a hypothesis and an investment. Fast forward to today, he manages 14 companies. His time is split 50/50 between thinking about what new investments look like and how he can make sure that all 14 companies are getting what they need from Accel. He's the point guard, the problem solver! How Do You Filter Through Companies AND Not Get Intimidated When Going Through A Series A?Two very big questions, let's see how he handles them.On the side of the venture capital partners, they take a step back and think about their own responsibility. They are backing partners and NEED to be supportive. Partners need some experience in the category, vertical, or stage of the business the potential customer is in. You can't be everything to everyone!For the person shopping around for a partner, look within their portfolio. What companies has the partner or firm invested in? Are they similar to your business? The biggest tip, do NOT cast a super wide net, find companies that cater to you.  One of the myths you may hear about this period is that you need an introduction to a partner or firm, that is not true! Capital is a TOTAL commodityThe Next StepWhen it comes to business proposals, getting to the point will put you MILES ahead of the person who sends in a 25-page business proposal. There is an inverse correlation with level of excitement about a company and the number of pages. Don't stress too hard about cultivating relationships with potential partners. It's better to send out a message once a month for a year than to try and bombard someone when it comes down to crunch time and you need them. With technology moving everything at such a fast pace, it's SO much harder to get close with a founder, which is why Accel likes cultivating long relationships. Building an Ecosystem  There are three big buckets we'll break down:International: 15 years ago, it was GREAT to be completely U.S. based. Now, with the boom of technology and social media, even if you are a tiny store based in your basement; you are universal.Hiring: With SO much capital, it has made the hiring market more competitive than ever before.Board strategy/composition: People aren't thinking about this as much right now, but it is VERY important. Getting to an exit or to a public company is something you strive to accomplish; a lot of this is following through on a vision.You may be wondering, “Is there a benefit to having a local firm AND a bigger brand like Accel?” And that's a good question!If you are a local business and know that your next 5-10 hires will be in your area AND that your next customers will be also from that area, it's worth finding a highly influential seed investor in that local area to bring on board.   Maybe launch with another large investor when you reach your series A, because that's when you'd want to branch out. How to get in touch with Ben:If you want to reach out to Ben and pick his brain a bit more, you can reach him at his email: bquazo@accel.com. 

Working With Venture Capitalists to Raise Business Funding With Brett SharenowGuest: Brett Sharenow of Broadscope Consulting

Learn Business Growth Strategies

Learn Business Growth StrategiesR&D For You and Me – The R&D Tax Credit and Why You Should Care About it. Guest: Tyler Kem Co-Founder & Vice President of Strike R&D Tax Advisory, tax consultant, and entrepreneurWho is Tyler Kem?Tyler Kem is a tax consultant and an entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Strike R&D Tax Advisory,What is Strike R&D Tax Advisory?Strike R&D Tax Advisory is a consulting firm that helps customers gain insight into the world of R&D tax law and aids in re-fueling their innovation. R&D Tax CreditR&D Tax Credit is “a permanent federal tax credit in 2015, as part of the Path Act, which is really what opened up an immense amount of opportunities for startups, specifically, but also allowed for many other industries to start claiming that tax credit.”The qualifications are very broad, with a basic rule of thumb: everything fundamentally relies on hard science. This applies to:Computer scienceEngineeringBiologyPhysicsChemistry So if you're a company in these industries, you probably qualify.TechnologyEngineeringFood & BeverageConsumer GoodsAnd tons moreThe R&D Tax Credit is a U.S. labor-based incentive. Instead of outsourcing, you can qualify if you keep your labor inside the U.S., which comes with paying higher wages. Starting the Process Many people who qualify for the R&D Tax Credit aren't willing to pay the upfront fees, the retainers, and the monthly billings to claim the credits. And some companies are 10, 20, 30, even $40,000 out of pocket before they even know the size of the credits they're going to be getting. How Strike Can HelpSo Tyler's company Strike does a few things that make the process a whole lot easier:Aligned their interests with the interests of the client from day 1No out of pocket costsNo retainersNo monthly billing OR fixed feesSuccess based fee structure (so they don't get paid until the company is able to use their credits)Offer unlimited audit support (in terms of hours… So if something gets challenged, they've got your back)They EVEN give a fee guarantee on their claims, so if the IRS decides to claw back on 10% of the credits, 10% of their fees go back to the client.If you want to go back in time and apply for these benefits before becoming aware of this credit, you can! The federal statute of limitations is three years from the filing date, so you can go back to the 2018 tax credits and see what cash refunds you have waiting for you!How Does the R&D Tax Credit and the R&D Tax Provisioning Play into Financial Audits?There are a few steps:The Document Gathering PhaseThe Calculation ProcessThe Deep Dive PhaseDuring the first phase, they can gather all of the financial documents; then they work with the business owners and software developers during the second phase. Then they can really understand their systems and find a nexus in between the expenses. Strike's job is to work FOR the company; they're not working for Strike!If this doesn't apply to you, tons of deductions and credits could be available to you in your own personal tax return, so don't miss out.Want To Learn More, about Strike and Tyler Kem?You can reach Strike directly at striketax.com, you can also email him directly at Tyler@striketax.com, or you can call the number on the website and speak to one of the people

Learn Business Growth StrategiesE12 Scale by Numbers PodcastGuest: Jonna Mooney| Founder | Affogato HR ConsultingTopic: HR is never black and white; it "always" depends.If you're ready to build your financial muscle, how about a FREE copy of James Vanreusel's (highly-acclaimed) book for CEOs?  Get your Free Book

Learn Business Growth StrategiesTopic: Preventing Bad Actors from Getting in the way of Good Business.Guest: Candice Tal| CEO & Founder| Infortal

Learn Business Growth StrategiesE10: Scale by Numbers Podcast Guest: Tim Kachuriak| Chief Innovation Officer | NextAfter Topic: What moves and inspires people to donate

Learn Business Growth Strategies

Learn Business Growth Strategies

Learn Business Growth StrategiesScale By Numbers Podcast

Learn Business Growth StrategiesScale By Numbers Podcast

Learn Business Growth Strategies

Learn Business Growth StrategiesScale By Numbers Podcast

Learn 5  Business Growth StrategiesScale By Numbers PodcastVanreusel Ventures is a member of several networking groups in San Francisco, and one of the main questions we get is "what is the best payroll provider or HR software?  There are so many options, that it can be hard for a smaller business to choose one.  They have different setups, and need different features. In this week's Scale By Numbers podcast episode, we take a deep dive into Rippling with their Lead Channel Account Executive Joel Lacayo.  Joel discusses what makes Rippling unique, how they support companies throughout every stage of their business and what they have in store for the future. Rippling is more than just a payroll provider.  They are set up to grow with your company, and include a high level of automation, and API integration for over 500 apps.WHO WAS OUR GUEST: Joel Lacayo is the Lead Channel Account Executive at Rippling. HOW TO CONTACT JOEL:  Website | LinkedIn

Learn 5  Business Growth StrategiesScale By Numbers PodcastOn our kickoff episode of the ‘Scale by Numbers' podcast, David discusses common founder issues and the legal complexities of becoming a scaling and successful business founder. He tells the story of how he has grown as a corporate attorney in San Francisco and why he loves going to bat for his clients.  VLP Law Group specializes in helping businesses close deals and getting investors to invest in companies. Without a clean back story, “you will make it easier for investors to say no.”  He shares tips on a few common founder questions and always recommends that founders gain support from a corporate attorney rather than turning to google for help! WHO IS OUR GUEST: David Goldenberg is a corporate attorney and founding partner of VLP law groupHOW TO REACH DAVID : Website |  LinkedInHOW CAN A CORPROATE ATTORNEY HELP YOU SCALE: David has built a practice at VLP which allows him to represent clients using a team approach where clients receive his direct attention on critical matters while still maintaining an efficient service for more everyday items.  VLP Law Group is a founder-friendly group whose main goal “is to parachute in, to learn very quickly what it is that that's your priority.” David says. He gives clients the personalized insight they need to make crucial decisions, and advocate for them to achieve their goals.  David's twenty-plus years of working with 500 companies have taught him to pinpoint the risks instantly and protect his clients from those risks.  “You don't know what you don't know,” and Clients don't see the 20 years of filter that he has when putting together contracts, term sheets, and stock option agreements. People choose David for his team with billion-dollar deal experience and focus on practical legal solutions.WHAT'S VLP's SPECIALITY: VLP law group helps companies of all sizes raise capital and general business matters.  They also assist with exit transactions, whether that's a merger or acquisition. They work on things like setting up a new company, joint ventures, equity investments, website, privacy policy, terms of service, significant customer agreements and selling your company at the end.SHOULD YOU GO IT ALONE:  If you are not good with paperwork and don't like detail, it's best to hire an attorney to do it for you.  When you are trying to raise money, investors will say no to you if they don't understand the backstory.  It's easier to start from the back and move forward than the other way around.  ATTORNEYS ARE NOT MIND READERS: David states it's vital to set clear goals and objectives for your corporate attorney so they can focus on adding value in the right ways.  Always remember, as a founder, it's your company, not the attorney's company.  Your attorney will do what you need based on the priorities.  Like any service provider, attorneys are not mind readers–you have to set clear expectations about your main priorities and concerns.  IS GOOGLE A GOOD SOURCE FOR HELP: There's a lot of information out there, and David understands that people with zero legal background and smaller budgets need help. It's okay to look for help, but If you don't know what you are looking for or are running into problems, that is when you need to call for legal backup.  Remember, the sooner you get help for an issue, or new business decision  the less money you must spend in the future fixing it.  It is best to keep your business free of skeletons.