Podcasts about build the future

Rajat Bhageria is an entrepreneur, investor, and the CEO of Chef Robotics. What does it actually take to build and deploy generally intelligent robots? Rajat's company is actively scaling robotics in the food industry and is here to tell us all about it.In this conversation, we talk about what the current food manufacturing process looks like, the challenges and opportunities in robotics, what the coolest AI and robotics companies are on the market today, why the future might look like WALL-E, and much more. 00:00:00 Introducing Chef Robotics00:03:50 Automating Food Assembly00:08:23 Technical Backend00:16:45 Robotics Complexity00:22:55 Deployment & Scaling00:34:39 The Future of Robotics00:45:22 Startups & Self-Actualization00:49:01 Positive Vision of the futureThanks for listening to this episode of Build The Future.Want more insights about the future?Sign up for updates, new episodes, and essays about the future at https://camwiese.com/ Watch full episodes + videoYoutube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@CamWieseXGet in touch, recommend guests, or say hello:X: https://twitter.com/camwiese

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Umaimah Khan, CEO & Co-Founder at Opal Security, a data-centric identity security platform that has raised $32 Million in funding.   Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:   Background and Start: Umaimah initially aimed to be a math professor before transitioning to cryptography and ultimately catching the startup bug. Her experience at various startups, especially with scaling security and compliance systems, directly influenced her founding of Opal Security. Early Days of Opal Security: The first three months of Opal Security involved intense research and discussions to shape the product's architecture, deeply influenced by Umaimah's background in cryptography and her prior startup experiences. Unique Challenges of Identity Security: Umaimah views identity security as one of the last great enterprise frontiers, difficult to solve due to constant technological evolutions that outpace the ability of security protocols to adapt. Marketing Philosophy: Opal Security aims to cut through typical marketing noise by directly demonstrating the tangible value of their products to customers, contrasting with the complex and often opaque marketing strategies prevalent in the security sector. Approach to Scaling Adoption: Umaimah emphasizes the importance of user-friendly product design even in complex enterprise environments, drawing parallels to Slack's transformation of IRC into a tool accessible beyond engineering teams. Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, Umaimah sees Opal Security playing a critical role in shaping the future of access and authorization as technological landscapes and regulatory environments evolve, potentially impacting how identity security is approached globally. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Cole Riccardi, CEO & Founder of Authentic, an insurance technology company that has raised $16 Million in funding.    Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:   Authentic's Captive Insurance Model: Cole introduces Authentic's unique offering in the insurance market - a captive insurance platform that enables entities like franchisors and vertical software companies to create their own insurance programs. Simplifying Captive Insurance: Cole explains captive insurance in simple terms, making the concept accessible and highlighting Authentic's role in simplifying the process for small business networks. The Genesis of Authentic: The inspiration behind Authentic stemmed from Cole's background in financial services and a personal connection to the insurance industry, spotting a niche for a more efficient insurance offering. Early Challenges and Customer Feedback: Discussing the initial phase of building Authentic, Cole talks about the importance of market research, conversations with potential partners, and the positive feedback that helped refine the product. Marketing Philosophy and Target Customer: Cole shares Authentic's strategy of focusing on service excellence to stimulate word-of-mouth within niche markets and discusses the importance of accurately identifying their Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Navigating Regulatory Challenges: Cole touches on the regulatory landscape for captive insurance, detailing Authentic's strategic approach to navigating these challenges and securing a competitive edge in the insurance technology space. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Today I am sharing why knowing history will give you fortitude and encouragement in the current political and cultural climate plus a truth concerning birds to give you peace and hope.History Is a wise companion and counselor.Knowing history allows us to have a better frame of reference for how the Lord has worked his character, his fulfillment of promises, and allows us to draw strength instead fastness from those who have walked before us during difficult and hard times.History reminds us we are not alone in our trials.**Note about end times and eschatology - If you read the last 10 or 20 years of current history, you will not have a proper view of eschatology in light of Scripture and all the the Lord has done and is doing. History is a wise companion and helps us learn from the past and build for the future. When we learn from history, we mature as people there's a famous quote by Cicero that says "To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child."History Book Ideas:Richard Hannula books: Radiant: 50 Remarkable Women in Church History - https://a.co/d/bwa01wzHeralds of the Reformation: https://a.co/d/4G54bAzFor Christ's Crown: https://a.co/d/dgrHqzvTrials and Triumph: https://a.co/d/hgKVFrYHistory from Creation to Modern Day Story of the World Volumes 1-4 (not distinctly Christian, but good chronological, read aloud or curriculum): https://a.co/d/dVdg4j9Mystery of History (more Christian - I have not used this, but it has been recommended): https://a.co/d/0x6TfktAmerican History:Did America Have a Christian Foundation? Mark David Hall (this is my new personal history read, but the author came highly recommended from a reputable source): https://a.co/d/6VB7KTISend me a Text Message.Support the Show.Support SPF $5 a month: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithfulSign Up for the SPF newsletter: sheprovesfaithful.com/newsletterIf you're enjoying the SPF Podcast, please leave a review on your favorite podcast player! Thank you!

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Senan Ebrahim, CEO & Founder of Delfina, an intelligent pregnancy care platform that's raised over $10 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Inception of Delfina: Senan was inspired to create Delfina after witnessing a preventable stillbirth during his time as an MD PhD student at Harvard, leading to his focus on using AI to predict and prevent pregnancy complications. Personal Motivation: A personal emergency involving his wife's pregnancy highlighted the inadequacies in maternal health care, driving Senan's commitment to improving the system. Maternal Health Crisis: The US maternal health crisis is exacerbated by a reactive, profit-driven healthcare system, with particularly poor outcomes for marginalized groups such as Black and Native women. Predictive Technology: Delfina's AI-powered platform can predict complications as early as 12-14 weeks into pregnancy, providing crucial insights to OB-GYNs and midwives. Founding Journey: The first 90 days involved building the initial AI models and recruiting key team members, including his brother Ali as CTO and Priyanka Badia for product development. Early Adoption and Validation: Delfina spent two years clinically validating their models with partners like Mayo Clinic before securing early customers, highlighting the importance of scientific validation in healthcare. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Spencer Dusebout, CEO & Founder of Aidium, a CRM platform for mortgage professionals that's raised $19 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Unique CRM Focus: Aidium targets the mortgage sector, providing an end-to-end solution from lead generation to client retention, filling a significant gap in the market. Market Challenges: Spencer highlights the difficulties of disrupting a market dominated by legacy software and navigating stringent compliance requirements. Customer-Centric Development: Aidium started by serving top producers, leveraging their influence and feedback to refine the product and expand within large organizations. Iterative Go-to-Market Strategy: The company's approach evolved from targeting top producers to a broader account-based marketing strategy focusing on enterprise clients. Acquisition Insights: The acquisition of Whiteboard Technologies added valuable capabilities and customers, but Spencer emphasizes the complexity and all-consuming nature of acquisitions. Fundraising Realities: Spencer shares that fundraising is a grind, requiring numerous pitches and a focus on finding investors who truly understand and align with the company's vision.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Daniel West, CEO of Prospection, a patient-centric intelligence platform that's raised over $36 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Category Creation Insights: Daniel emphasized that category design goes beyond marketing; it involves reshaping the entire business strategy, including messaging, sales enablement, and customer targeting. Addressing Care and Share Leak: Prospection tackles significant issues in pharma by addressing care and share leaks, where patients do not receive optimal treatment, leading to poor outcomes and financial losses for pharma companies. Market Positioning: Transitioning from selling to business intelligence teams to engaging with commercial leaders in pharma has been crucial for Prospection's GTM strategy, focusing on delivering meaningful insights to drive better patient outcomes and market performance. Challenges and Decisions: Daniel shared the tough decisions involved in turning away revenue that didn't align with their category creation strategy, highlighting the importance of focus and alignment with long-term goals. Role of the CEO in Category Design: Effective category design must be led by the CEO or be a core pillar of the CEO's strategy, ensuring alignment across the organization and commitment to the long-term vision. Learning from Experience: Daniel discussed the importance of adapting previous SaaS and tech industry experiences to fit the specific needs of Prospection, especially in terms of sales roles and understanding the unique combination of skills required in their niche market. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Krenar Komoni, CEO & Founder of Tive, a supply chain visibility platform that's raised $82 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Founding Story: Krenar started Tive in 2015 after witnessing the inefficiencies in tracking shipments in his father-in-law's trucking business. Product Innovation: Tive's launch of the world's first single-use 5G-ready tracker in 2020 significantly improved product-market fit and customer adoption. Customer Shift: Initially targeting VP-level supply chain executives, Tive's ideal customer profile shifted to logistics managers and transportation coordinators who handle shipment operations. Sales Strategy: Cold calling and direct customer engagement were crucial in understanding market needs and iterating the product for better market fit. Market Discovery: Tive found a significant market in produce logistics, where real-time temperature tracking ensures product quality upon delivery. Core Value: Krenar emphasizes transparency with customers, building trust by proactively communicating issues and maintaining high customer support standards. Actionable Takeaways:  Adapt Your Target Customer Profile: Initially targeting VP-level executives may not always be the best approach. Identify and engage directly with the individuals who handle the day-to-day operations, as they may have a greater need for your product. Leverage Cold Calling for Customer Insights: Don't underestimate the power of cold calling and direct engagement with potential customers. This approach can provide valuable insights into market needs and help refine your product offering. Innovate Cost-Effective Solutions: To succeed, especially in hardware products, it's crucial to find ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Tive achieved this by working closely with manufacturers in China to produce affordable, high-quality trackers. Prioritize Transparency with Customers: Building trust through transparency is essential. Proactively communicate any issues and maintain high standards in customer support to foster strong, long-lasting relationships. Understand and Adapt to Market Needs: Flexibility and willingness to pivot are key. Tive initially targeted the pharma industry but shifted focus to produce logistics when they found a more immediate and accessible market opportunity. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Gabor Balogh, CEO & Founder of Trucksters, a long haul transportation startup that's raised over $20 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Background and Inspiration: Gabor's international upbringing and early entrepreneurial ventures with college friends led to the creation of Trucksters, driven by a desire to innovate in the transportation sector. Business Model: Trucksters offers an "ultra express" transportation service using a relay system, reducing delivery times from days to hours by switching truck heads at designated points. Value Propositions: Speed, safety, visibility, and robustness are the key benefits Trucksters offers to multinational companies, particularly in textile, perishable food, electronics, and e-commerce sectors. Market Landscape: The European long haul trucking market is highly fragmented, lacking digital processes, and facing a driver shortage, which Trucksters aims to address with its innovative relay system. Growth and Expansion: Since its founding in 2018, Trucksters has grown to €20 million in annual revenue, with plans to expand its corridor strategy throughout Europe and potentially to the US and Latin America. Future of Trucking: Gabor discusses the importance of environmental sustainability and the role of relays in integrating electric and autonomous trucks into long haul transportation.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Nichts wirkt unmittelbarer auf den Menschen als der umgebende Raum. Architektur beeinflusst alles: Identifikation, unser Wohlbefinden, unsere Motivation, Arbeitsabläufe und Prozesse. Auf Basis dieser Überzeugung entwickelt und realisiert das international tätige Planungs- und Beratungsunternehmen CSMM zukunftsweisende Konzepte für Gebäude und Innenräume – zur Steigerung der Innovationskraft und Produktivität ihrer Auftraggeber. Gerade ist ihr zweites Bookazine mit dem Titel „Re:build the Future“ erschienen, in dem CSMM den Blick auf eine visionäre Gestaltung unserer Bausubstanz im Kontext des Klimaschutzes aufzeigt. Unter verschiedenen Themenschwerpunkten setzen sich die ArchitekturgestalterInnen mit Herausforderungen unserer Gesellschaft auseinander, die neue Ansprüche an ihre gebauten Lebensräume stellt. Über die Frage, warum das ausgerecht in den trendgetriebenen Bürowelten so gravierend ausfällt und welche Hebel hier am sinnvollsten einsetzbar sind, darüber sprechen wir heute mit Malte Tschörtner & Timo Brehme von CSMM in unserem Podcast.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with David DeWolf, CEO & President of Knownwell, a commercial intelligence platform that's raised $2 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Accidental Entrepreneur: David's journey began as a software engineer who accidentally transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding his first company, Three Pillar, which grew to 2,500 employees. Leadership Philosophy: David emphasizes the importance of genuinely caring for his team while making tough decisions, creating a balance that fosters loyalty and respect. Growth and Acquisition: David's approach to scaling Three Pillar involved six acquisitions, highlighting the strategic growth and integration of complementary businesses. AI and the Future: Fascinated by AI, David's new venture, Knownwell, focuses on applying AI to improve business operations and commercial relationships, aiming to create an intelligent operating system for enterprises. Customer-Centric Development: David stresses the importance of genuine curiosity in customer conversations, using insights to guide product development and ensure alignment with market needs. Thought Leadership: Knownwell's launch included a podcast to establish thought leadership in enterprise AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of first-mover advantage in a new market category.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Danny Freed, CEO & Founder of Blueprint, a therapist enablement platform that's raised $13.7 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Founding Story: Danny founded Blueprint after losing a close friend to bipolar disorder. His journey began with a personal mission to understand mental health care and evolved into creating Blueprint to help therapists utilize data more effectively. Early Days: The first 90 days involved designing and building the initial product, getting it in front of potential users, and raising a small pre-seed round to hire the first engineer. Achieving Product-Market Fit: Blueprint recently launched a new product that significantly boosted engagement and adoption, indicating strong product-market fit. This new product automates documentation, saving therapists valuable time. Customer-Centric Development: Continuous engagement with therapists and iterating based on their feedback was crucial in developing a product that truly meets their needs. Marketing Strategy: Blueprint focuses on reaching individual therapists directly, leveraging digital channels and community networks to build awareness and adoption. Therapist Enablement Category: Originally focused on measurement-based care, Blueprint has expanded its scope to therapist enablement, providing a comprehensive suite of tools designed to enhance therapist efficiency and effectiveness.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Steve Pomfret, CEO & Founder at Cygnetise, a signatory management platform that has raised $8 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Background in Operational Change: Steve spent 20 years working with large banks not as a banker but as a process expert, which laid the foundational skills for starting Cygnetise, designed to optimize signatory management processes. Transition to Entrepreneurship: The confidence to start Cygnetise emerged from Steve's experience as a freelance consultant, which bridged his transition from an operational expert to an entrepreneur. Strategic Use of Blockchain: Rather than focusing on blockchain as a buzzword, Cygnetise leverages the technology for its immutability and efficiency, addressing specific operational inefficiencies in signatory management. Category Creation and Education: Steve emphasizes the ongoing evolution and challenge of establishing a new category in the market, highlighting the crucial role of education and adapting marketing strategies. Scaling Through Partnerships: Looking ahead, Cygnetise plans to accelerate growth by forming channel partnerships with large financial institutions and tech companies to expand its market reach dramatically. Vision for the Future: Steve envisions Cygnetise becoming a dominant player in the market through strategic partnerships and expanding its customer base across diverse geographies and industries. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Dan Beck, CEO & Co-Founder of 401GO, a retirement benefits platform that's raised over $14 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Diverse Entrepreneurial Background: Dan has a history of starting and exiting various businesses, ranging from consumer products to consultancy in China, and even a food truck. Motivation for 401GO: Inspired by a personal finance class in college, Dan's goal was to make retirement savings accessible and easy for small businesses after struggling to set up a 401K for his employees. Simplifying Complexity: 401GO focuses on reducing the complexity and cost traditionally associated with setting up 401Ks, allowing small businesses to set up a retirement plan in just 10-15 minutes. Advisor-Centric Platform: The decision to build a platform that integrates financial advisors was crucial, providing both high-tech and high-touch service to clients. Regulatory Tailwinds: State mandates requiring small businesses to offer retirement benefits have increased demand, positioning 401GO to capitalize on this growing market. Sustainable Growth: 401GO has experienced consistent month-over-month growth of 8-10%, with a strong focus on partnerships with financial advisors and payroll companies driving this success. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Tune in to another episode of ✨ Hospitality Highlights ✨, as our hosts Kris Hall and Cara Houchen are joined by: ⭐ Simon Numphud FIH, Managing Director of AA Media ⭐ Rebecca Marshman, Group Head Pastry Chef of BaxterStorey

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Douglas Ver Mulm, CEO & Founder of Stable Insurance, an insurtech company that has raised $3.7 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origin of Stable Insurance: The company was born out of Doug's experience with his own fleet of rideshare vehicles in NYC, addressing the lack of suitable insurance products for rideshare operators. Data-Driven Insurance: Stable Insurance leverages real-time data from rideshare platforms, telematics, and dash cams to create a more accurate and personalized insurance pricing model. Unique Coverage Features: They offer benefits such as income replacement, zero-dollar deductibles with dashcam footage, and rewards for loss control investments, addressing specific needs of rideshare drivers. Market Focus: Initially targeting individual owner-operators, the company is expanding to serve small fleets and other gig economy drivers, such as those using car-sharing and delivery platforms. Regulatory Navigation: Successfully launching their own product in Illinois, with plans to expand to additional states including Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Tennessee by the end of the year, and targeting California and Florida in 2023. Future Vision: Aiming to offer a comprehensive suite of tools for gig economy drivers, including banking, lending, and health and life insurance products, along with enhanced analytics to help users manage their small businesses more effectively. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Tom Trowbridge, Co-Founder of Fluence Labs, a Web3 native computing platform that has raised $9 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Addressing Monopolistic Behavior: Fluence Labs aims to counter the monopolistic nature of cloud providers by creating a decentralized, peer-to-peer computing platform that reduces reliance on centralized infrastructure. Solving Central Points of Failure: By distributing computation across multiple nodes globally, Fluence enhances resilience and reduces the risk of service disruptions due to single points of failure. Combating Government Influence: The platform is designed to reduce government control and surveillance over digital infrastructure by decentralizing data and compute operations. Advanced Peer-to-Peer Compute: Fluence offers a peer-to-peer compute network where operations can be performed at multiple locations, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Economic Layer Development: The upcoming economic layer will enable compensation for hosts running computations and for developers creating software, fostering a thriving ecosystem. Composability with Aqua Language: Fluence's Aqua language simplifies building peer-to-peer applications, allowing developers to assemble applications from pre-existing modules, similar to the Defi ecosystem. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Will Wilson, Co-Founder of Antithesis, an autonomous testing platform that's raised $47 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origins and Motivation: Antithesis was born from the frustration of debugging and testing software, an experience shared by Will and his co-founder from their days at FoundationDB and Google. Early Challenges: Building Antithesis required redefining foundational aspects of computing, including developing a unique hypervisor for virtual machines. Stealth Mode Strategy: The company stayed in stealth for an extended period, allowing them to refine their product while creating an aura of exclusivity in Silicon Valley. Content-Driven Marketing: Antithesis has never paid for ads, relying instead on engaging, technical blog posts and nostalgic videos of Nintendo games to attract their developer audience. Creating a New Category: Will emphasizes that autonomous testing is a new category, with Antithesis aiming to eliminate manual software testing and improve developer productivity.  Developer Trust: Building trust with developers involves transparency about product limitations and a straightforward, no-hype approach.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Dimitrios Skaltsas, CEO & Co-Founder of Intelligencia AI, an AI drug development platform that's raised $15.5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Early Challenges and Inspiration: Dimitrios shared how he transitioned from McKinsey to co-founding Intelligencia AI, inspired by his work on big data and AI in pharmaceutical R&D. First Customer Success: Landing their first major pharmaceutical client was a pivotal moment, achieved through relentless networking and demonstrating their AI's potential to transform drug development. Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic accelerated the pharmaceutical industry's adoption of AI, highlighting the need for faster and more efficient drug development processes. Explaining AI in Pharma: Intelligencia AI stands out by focusing on explainability, providing users with transparent, data-driven insights that enhance decision-making rather than relying on opaque black-box models. Navigating the AI Hype: Dimitrios discussed how the rise of AI has brought both opportunity and noise, emphasizing the importance of high-quality data and a clear understanding of AI's practical applications in pharma. Future Vision: Intelligencia AI aims to become the gold standard in drug development risk assessment, expanding its therapeutic coverage and geographic reach, particularly into Asia.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Gary Calnan, CEO & Co-Founder of CisLunar, a space tech company that's raised $5.7 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Passion for Space: Gary's lifelong interest in space led him to found CisLunar in 2017, focusing on industrializing space and creating sustainable human presence beyond Earth. Addressing Space Debris: CisLunar tackles the growing problem of space debris by processing it into valuable metals for in-space manufacturing, transforming an environmental hazard into an economic resource. Government Support: Winning their first NASA SBIR contract in 2021, CisLunar has also secured funding from the Space Force, DARPA, and the ISS National Lab, highlighting strong government backing. Innovative Power Conversion: CisLunar developed a power converter originally for their own use, which has evolved into a commercial product with applications across various in-space systems. Market Focus: The company positions itself as a leader in high-power processing for satellites and in-space manufacturing, aiming to be a foundational player in the industrial space economy. Survival and Adaptation: During tough market conditions, CisLunar took on contract engineering projects aligned with their strategic goals, showcasing their resilience and adaptability.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Nikola Borisov, CEO & Co-Founder of Deep Infra, an AI company that has raised $9 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Inception and Focus: Deep Infra was founded in September 2022, focusing on hosting top open source AI models and providing them through a simple API. Market Demand Shift: The company pivoted focus to large language models after the release of ChatGPT, driven by increased demand in the AI space. Customer Base: Currently, most customers are startups integrating AI into their products, with medium and large enterprises slower to adopt. Competitive Edge: Deep Infra differentiates by offering cost-effective, easy-to-use access to open source AI models, allowing customers to fine-tune models as needed. AI Market Dynamics: Nikola sees the AI field as healthy and innovative, with continuous releases of new models from major players like Microsoft and Meta. Fundraising Insights: Fundraising is a necessary part of the entrepreneurial journey, requiring the ability to attract smart investors aligned with the company's vision.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Sergey Litvinenko, CEO & Co-Founder at Koop Insurance, an insurance technology company that has raised $7 Million in funding.   Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:   Preventive Insurance Model: Koop Insurance distinguishes itself by offering a preventive insurance model tailored for the tech sector, where traditional insurance falls short due to a lack of historical data for new technologies. Founding Inspiration: The initial idea for Koop emerged from the challenges faced in the autonomous vehicle space, which led to the realization that these challenges were prevalent across the tech sector, prompting a pivot to insurance. Aha Moments: Sergey describes multiple "aha" moments in Koop's journey, such as shifting from an API for autonomous vehicles to an insurance model when realizing the existing market's inefficiencies. Growth and Scaling: Discussing the growth from a bootstrap startup in Pittsburgh to a pre-series A stage company in New York with nearly 20 full-time employees. Trust and Branding: Emphasizing the importance of trust in the insure-tech space, Koop focuses on building a brand that combines expertise, reliability, and partnership with giants like Munich Re and Lloyd's of London. Market Strategy and Evolution: Koop's strategy involves not selling insurance in the conventional sense but offering compliance and risk management as part of a comprehensive package to tech companies. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Liz Gilligan, CEO & Founder of Material Evolution, a sustainable cement company that has raised $19 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Cement Chose Liz: Liz transitioned into cement research serendipitously, finding the vast potential impact of decarbonizing an industry responsible for 8% of global emissions. Startup in a Garage: Early on, Material Evolution operated from Liz's parents' garage, where they developed two tons of material during the pandemic, showing resourcefulness and resilience. Initial Target Market: The company's initial customers are concrete manufacturers in the precast industry, which offers a controlled environment to test and refine their sustainable cement. Navigating Traditional Industries: While many traditional cement companies are open to innovation, some resist change. Liz focuses on engaging with forward-thinking clients eager to adopt sustainable solutions. Regulatory Changes: The evolving regulatory landscape, including carbon taxes and updated standards, supports the adoption of new, sustainable materials and technologies. Challenges of Scaling: Building factories presents significant challenges, from securing adequate power supply to navigating environmental regulations. Material Evolution is learning and iterating from each step in this process.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Claudius Jehle, CEO & Co-Founder of Volytica Diagnostics, a battery diagnostics platform that has raised over $9 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Pioneering Battery Diagnostics: Claudius transitioned from mechanical engineering to e-mobility, focusing on the degradation and quality assessment of electric bus batteries, leading to the foundation of Volytica Diagnostics. Innovative Technology Development: Initially working with telematic IoT devices, Claudius developed algorithms to analyze field data from batteries in real-time, which became the core IP of Volytica Diagnostics. Navigating Early Challenges: The company faced significant challenges during its early days, especially amid COVID-19, including securing funding and negotiating licensing agreements with academic institutions. Strategic Early Adopters: Claudius emphasized the importance of speaking at industry events and leveraging his network to attract early adopters, though he noted the need for a more scalable approach like webinars and online marketing. Global Monitoring: Volytica Diagnostics now monitors over a gigawatt hour of batteries across various applications worldwide, including utility-scale systems and public transport, showcasing their expansive growth and traction. Critical Go-to-Market Decisions: The decision to focus on API-based integrations and partnering with established companies in the logistics and utility sectors was pivotal, allowing for scalable and widespread adoption of their technology. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Lars Grønnegaard Hansen, CEO & Co-Founder at Dreamdata, a B2B revenue attribution platform that has raised over $12 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Tech Scene Evolution in Copenhagen: Lars discusses the growth of the tech scene in Copenhagen, highlighting the emergence of successful companies like Vivino and Zendesk, which have paved the way for newer ventures like Dreamdata. Dreamdata's Founding: Coming from a background in user experience and product development at Trustpilot, Lars and his co-founders launched Dreamdata to address the challenges B2B marketers face in linking marketing efforts directly to revenue generation. Focus on Data Integration: Dreamdata differentiates itself by integrating deeply with modern data stacks, allowing B2B marketers to perform sophisticated revenue attribution and optimize marketing spend based on data-driven insights. Changing the Attribution Conversation: Lars emphasizes the shift from using attribution merely as a tool for assigning credit to viewing it as essential for operational optimization and strategic planning in marketing. Automated Marketing Optimization: Dreamdata aims to automate B2B marketing processes, drawing parallels to advancements in B2C marketing automation that have transformed customer acquisition strategies. The Future Vision for Dreamdata: Looking ahead, Lars sees Dreamdata at the forefront of automating go-to-market strategies for B2B companies, enabling them to scale efficiently with technology-driven solutions.   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Chris McCall, CEO & Co-Founder of Valid8, a verified financial intelligence platform that's raised $14.8 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Genesis of Valid8: Chris shared the origin story of Valid8, inspired by a high-profile Ponzi scheme investigation and the need for verified financial data. First Customer Journey: It took two and a half years to acquire their first paying customer due to the high bar for quality and feature completeness required by accountants and lawyers. Market Segmentation: Valid8's primary markets are accounting, government, and legal, with accounting being the largest segment, followed by state and federal government clients. Marketing Philosophy: The company recently invested in marketing, focusing on a sage persona that delivers deep subject matter expertise to highly sophisticated professionals. Category Creation: Chris explained the emerging category of Verified Financial Intelligence (VFI), which ensures data quality and supports evidence-based professional opinions. Future Vision: Valid8 aims to drive transparency and efficiency in the financial system by reducing sample risk and enhancing data transparency, ultimately lowering the cost of capital.   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Ani Chaudhuri, CEO & Co-Founder of Dasera, a data security platform that has raised $21 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: RSA Highlights: Ani shared his experience at RSA, where he walked 21 miles in four days, emphasizing the intense activity and engagement at the event. Evolution of Tech Companies: Ani discussed how building tech companies has evolved over 20 years, highlighting the shift from owning servers to leveraging existing infrastructures. Data Security Fundamentals: Dasera's approach to data security revolves around four key questions: where is my data, what data do I have, who has access, and what risk is introduced. Market Readiness: Ani emphasized the importance of market readiness for success, explaining how the increasing awareness and regulations around data security have benefited Dasera. Fundraising Insights: He detailed the stages of fundraising, from pre-seed to Series A, and how focusing on customer success and market validation was crucial. Future Vision: Looking ahead, Ani believes the future of data security will involve more comprehensive and automated solutions that integrate signals from various platforms to provide context-aware security.   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Mykolas Rambus, CEO & Co-Founder of Hush, a cybersecurity company that's raised $7.5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Navigating the .com Bubble: Mykolas shared how his first company, Lobby7, navigated the .com bubble burst by pivoting business models and ultimately selling in 2003. Building Wealthex: Wealthex emerged from the 2008 financial crisis, providing a Bloomberg-like platform for private bankers using public internet data, leading to a successful exit. The Birth of Hush: Hush was founded to address data privacy, focusing on removing personal information from the internet to prevent cyberattacks on employees. Tackling Cybersecurity Threats: Mykolas discussed the rise of AI-driven cyber threats and how Hush proactively mitigates risks by eliminating accessible personal data. Effective Marketing in Cybersecurity: Hush's marketing strategy revolves around building trust through referrals and email campaigns to ensure companies are aware of the service when they need it. Vision for Privacy: Mykolas envisions a future where 20% of the American workforce is protected by services like Hush, significantly reducing cybersecurity risks and enhancing data privacy. // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with René Janssen, CEO & Founder of Lepaya, an employee training platform that has raised over $85 Million in funding.  Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Global Upskilling Need: René describes the universal need for upskilling among the 3.3 billion global workforce, driven by rapid changes in job requirements and skill sets. Lepaya addresses this by offering a platform that combines technology with human expertise to enhance work effectiveness and prevent burnout. Personal Drive: The idea for Lepaya stemmed from René's own experiences at Lazada, where he observed significant inefficiencies and employee turnover due to inadequate skills training and development processes. Combination of Tech and Human Touch: Lepaya differentiates itself by integrating technology with human-led training, recognizing that essential workplace skills—like leadership and communication—are inherently human and benefit from real interaction. Market Size and Opportunity: The global market for employee development is vast, with current spending estimated at around $400 billion annually. Lepaya positions itself within the 'people development' category, focusing on universally applicable skills across industries. Challenges in Market Adoption: Initially, Lepaya faced challenges in market penetration due to its innovative approach, which significantly deviates from traditional training methods. The solution required educating potential clients about the unique benefits of integrating technology with personalized human training. Vision for the Future: René envisions Lepaya as a leader in the people development space, significantly impacting how companies invest in human capital to remain competitive and ensure employee well-being and productivity. Sponsors:  Front Lines — we help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.  www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co 

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Chloe Smith, CEO & Co-Founder of Mercator AI, an AI-powered business development platform for commercial general contractors that has raised $4.5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Background and Inspiration: Chloe comes from a background in data strategy and marketing, not directly from construction, but her family's involvement in the industry piqued her interest and led to the inception of Mercator AI. Cross-Industry Application: Although her background is not in construction, Chloe's experience in data strategy and marketing allowed her to identify and address a gap in the construction industry, demonstrating the value of cross-industry application of skills. Foundational Shifts: Mercator AI helps construction businesses identify early project opportunities by tracking land development, which allows their clients to engage earlier and more effectively in potential projects. Navigating Industry Challenges: Chloe discusses the challenges of transitioning from other sectors to construction tech, highlighting the importance of understanding and adapting to industry-specific dynamics. Focus on Business Development: The platform is designed to 'force multiply' the efforts of business developers in the construction industry by streamlining the research and pursuit process, fundamentally changing how contractors approach new opportunities. Early Struggles and Adjustments: Reflecting on the initial challenges, Chloe emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability, sharing an anecdote about early investor interactions that shaped the company's trajectory.   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Omar Abou-Sayed, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Vaulted Deep, a carbon removal company that has raised $8 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Early Career at BP: Omar's career began in 1998 at BP, where he was immediately involved in projects aiming for compliance with the Kyoto protocol, showcasing BP's early commitment to environmental standards. Diverse Experience: Before his entrepreneurial journey, Omar worked across various sectors within BP, including deepwater operations and international business development, and played a pivotal role in spinning off BP's chemical division into a standalone company. Transition to Entrepreneurship: After an MBA from Harvard Business School and a stint as an entrepreneur in residence at TPG, Omar ventured into the clean tech and energy services sectors, eventually founding Vaulted Deep based on technology developed by his father. The Birth of Vaulted Deep: Vaulted Deep emerged from the realization that carbon could be effectively sequestered in organic matter using a technology initially invented for environmental remediation in the oil industry. This idea, however, had to wait for the carbon credit market to mature. Market Evolution and Strategy: Omar discusses the bifurcation of the carbon market into emissions reduction and carbon removal, highlighting Vaulted Deep's position in the latter as it aims to become the largest, high-quality carbon removal company. Future Vision and Impact: Looking ahead, Omar envisions Vaulted Deep expanding significantly, driven by the urgency of climate change and the necessity for scalable, durable carbon removal solutions.  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Arvin Ganesan, CEO at Fourth Power, a thermal battery energy storage company that has raised over $20 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Comprehensive Career in Climate Change: Arvin has dedicated his entire career to climate change mitigation, leveraging experiences from government regulatory roles to leading global energy programs at Apple, before becoming the CEO of Fourth Power. Regulatory Understanding and Market Entry: Arvin emphasizes the complexity of introducing technology in regulated markets like utilities, highlighting his deep understanding of both regulatory frameworks and customer needs as critical to his leadership at Fourth Power. Transition from EPA to Apple: Arvin's move from the EPA to Apple represented a significant shift from regulatory work to corporate influence in renewable energy, providing him with a unique perspective on driving change from outside the government. Innovative Approach to Energy Storage: Fourth Power is pioneering in the long-duration battery space by using materials like graphite to store energy, which can power thousands of homes for days and is positioned as a cleaner and more scalable alternative to traditional battery materials. Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Startups: Arvin discusses the challenges of navigating a startup in a heavily regulated industry and the opportunities that arise from understanding and adapting to these regulations rather than attempting to overhaul them. Vision for Fourth Power: Looking forward, Arvin shares his vision for Fourth Power to dramatically scale up their operations, manufacturing reliable and cost-effective long-duration batteries that align with market demands and regulatory frameworks, ultimately making renewable energy more accessible and economical.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Andy Freivogel, CEO & Co-Founder of Science On Call, a restaurant tech platform that has raised $4.4 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origin of "Science On Call": The company's name reflects its evolution from a boutique IT consultancy to a tech support platform, emphasizing its 24/7 availability and responsiveness to restaurant technology needs. Platform Agnostic Approach: Science On Call supports various tech stacks across different restaurant brands, providing a unique service by being completely platform-agnostic. This flexibility allows them to service any restaurant's tech support needs regardless of the underlying systems they use. Impact of the Pandemic: Launching right before the COVID-19 pandemic provided unique growth opportunities. With restaurants shifting rapidly to off-premise dining, the demand for seamless technology solutions surged, positioning Science On Call to meet these critical needs. Automation and Scalability: Andy highlights the company's focus on automation to solve common IT issues in restaurants, which improves efficiency and allows restaurant staff to focus more on customer service rather than tech troubleshooting. Cultural Alignment and Branding: The company's branding, which includes elements like a gorilla and a Nokia phone, resonates with the gritty, vibrant culture of the restaurant industry, emphasizing their connection and understanding of the sector they serve. Customer-Centric Sales Strategy: Transitioning from a broad outreach strategy to a more targeted, buyer-centric approach significantly improved their go-to-market strategy, enhancing customer acquisition and satisfaction.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Edward Wu, CEO & Founder of Dropzone AI, a next-generation cybersecurity platform that has raised over $20 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: AI-Powered Security Analysts: Dropzone AI is leveraging advancements in generative AI to replicate the decision-making processes of human cybersecurity analysts, enhancing the speed and accuracy of threat detection and response. Addressing the Talent Gap: Edward highlighted the significant talent shortage in cybersecurity, with a global deficit of 4 million professionals. Dropzone AI's technology aims to mitigate this by automating routine security tasks, freeing human analysts to focus on more complex and critical threats. Early Challenges and Opportunities: Starting in February 2023, Edward's prior experience in cybersecurity allowed him to identify the inefficiencies in security operations centers (SOCs) and inspired him to develop a solution that reduces the burden of voluminous security alerts on analysts. Customer Acquisition Strategy: Dropzone AI's approach to landing their first paying customers involved identifying early adopters within the cybersecurity community who shared a vision for the potential of AI-driven security. Marketing and Messaging: Without a formal background in marketing, Edward developed an effective communication strategy by immersing himself in industry expos and trade shows, learning to craft messages that accurately convey the capabilities and benefits of Dropzone AI's technology. Transparent and Accessible Product Demos: In an industry often shrouded in secrecy, Dropzone AI stands out by offering ungated, interactive demos on their website, fostering transparency and building trust with potential customers by allowing them to experience the technology firsthand.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Matteo Bogana, CEO & Co-Founder at Cleafy, an online fraud prevention platform that has raised $12 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origins of Cleafy: Matteo was inspired to start Cleafy after being told that solving certain cybersecurity problems was scientifically impossible. Their breakthrough in real-time content verification on web pages sparked the company's inception. Early Challenges: The initial years for Cleafy were tough due to the premature market for their technology. Matteo and his team struggled to gain the first customer, working hard to create market conditions favorable for their product. Customer Traction: Gaining the trust of early customers was difficult, especially as a new entity competing against established companies. Building credibility took significant effort through meetings and consensus building. Customer Base Evolution: Today, Cleafy targets mid to large financial institutions with structured fraud management teams, indicating a shift from startups to more established entities. Differing Approaches to Startups and Corporates: The messaging for startups, particularly fintechs, differs as they typically understand and value integrated cybersecurity and fraud management solutions more quickly than traditional banks. Marketing Philosophy: Cleafy's marketing strategy involves creating trust through knowledge sharing, leveraging their Clifi Labs to provide insights and threat intelligence directly to potential customers and at high-profile security events.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with John Li, CEO & Co-Founder at Vimcal, a calendar productivity tool that has raised $7 Million in funding. Most interesting points from our conversation: Origins of Vimcal: Initially focused on augmented reality, John and his co-founder pivoted from their original concept to address the pressing needs they personally experienced with calendar management during fundraising periods. The Pivot to Calendar Productivity: The shift to developing Vimcal was sparked by the challenges of scheduling investor meetings efficiently without relying on impersonal booking links. Initial Product Traction: Despite its early bugs, Vimcal quickly gained traction within the founder community for its unique 'slots' feature, demonstrating the importance of solving a specific, relatable problem. Targeting Executive Assistants: Vimcal recognized executive assistants as a critical user base, leading to the development of specialized tools to streamline their heavy calendar management workload. Innovative Marketing Campaigns: The campaign featuring Sarah Rafferty from "Suits" illustrates Vimcal's creative approach to engaging its target audience and increasing brand visibility. Future Goals: John envisions Vimcal becoming an essential tool within large organizations, leveraging its EA product to gain entry and expand throughout Fortune 500 companies.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Nick Hegeman, CEO & Co-Founder at Paintjet, a commercial and industrial painting technology company that has raised nearly $17 Million in funding. Most interesting points from our conversation: Origins in Painting: Nick describes how he entered the painting industry, noting a lack of innovation over the last 50 years, which has created ripe opportunities for disruption, particularly through robotics and AI. Transition to Technology: Starting with a franchise, Nick gained essential insights into the painting industry's labor shortages and operational challenges, which informed his approach to introducing technology solutions. Robotic Integration: Paintjet's technology focuses on heavy industry applications, where robotics can efficiently handle large, repetitive tasks, significantly improving productivity and safety. Customer-Centric Business Model: Paintjet doesn't sell its technology but charges per square foot painted, aligning with how customers already budget for projects. This model simplifies the transition to automated solutions for clients. Marketing Strategy Shift: Initially, Nick avoided using the term "robot" to prevent alarming potential construction industry clients. Over time, as the market became more receptive to technological solutions, Paintjet shifted to openly promote its robotic innovations. Future Vision and Expansion: Looking forward, Nick discusses the potential to broaden Paintjet's scope beyond painting to other construction-related tasks, leveraging the company's expertise in robotics to offer more comprehensive solutions.  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Ian Amit, CEO & Founder at Gomboc, a cloud security remediation platform that has raised over $5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origins of Gomboc Name: Ian shared the geeky and meaningful origin of the company name, Gomboc, inspired by a monostatic shape devised by a Hungarian mathematician, symbolizing the company's mission to self-right security issues automatically. Leadership Lessons from IDF: Despite not following the typical cybersecurity pathway through the IDF's elite units, Ian's military service profoundly shaped his leadership style, emphasizing quick decision-making and handling responsibility across diverse teams. Career Evolution: Ian's career journey from a hacker tinkering with computers to various roles in cybersecurity, including red teaming and leading security research, culminating as a CISO at major corporations, provides a rich backdrop to his startup's mission. Transition to Entrepreneurship: Ian discussed his transition from security executive roles to founding Gomboc, driven by his desire to address systemic issues in cloud security he encountered firsthand, emphasizing the need for effective remediation over mere detection. Gomboc's Solution to Cloud Security: The platform focuses on automating the remediation of security misconfigurations in cloud environments, providing code-level solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing DevOps workflows, significantly reducing the manual labor typically involved in securing cloud deployments. Market Education and Category Creation: Ian highlighted the challenge and importance of educating the market about the need for automated security remediation solutions in cloud computing, which is not yet widely recognized as a distinct category by analysts but is critical for reducing widespread vulnerabilities.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Josh Knauer, Co-Founder at Reseed, a carbon credits platform for farmers that has raised over $5 Million in funding. Most interesting points from our conversation: Early Online Innovation: Josh began his entrepreneurial journey by founding one of the first e-commerce sites for natural products in the mid-90s, long before the widespread acceptance and understanding of online shopping and natural products. Pioneering Data Integration: After selling his first company, Josh founded a data integration platform that synthesized diverse data sets for enhanced decision-making in various sectors, demonstrating his foresight in the value of interconnected data long before it became a norm in tech. Visionary Environmental Impact: With Reseed, Josh taps into the underutilized potential of agricultural carbon credits, aiming to transform how the world views and values the carbon sequestration potential of farming. Empowering Farmers: Reseed's model not only addresses climate change but also aims to improve the economic stability of farmers globally by providing them with additional revenue streams through carbon credits. Challenging Conventional Investment Wisdom: Josh has taken a unique approach to funding by focusing on aligning with investors who share a mission-driven focus, challenging the conventional venture capital route that many startups take. Future Aspirations: Looking forward, Josh envisions a future where investments in ecosystem services, supported by solid data and profitability, become a cornerstone of both environmental sustainability and financial portfolios globally.  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Zack Rosenberg, CEO & Founder at Qortex, an intelligent video analytics platform that has raised $11 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Early Industry Insights: Zack reflects on his early career at BuzzFeed, where he was among the first employees. His experiences there provided him with a foundational understanding of content virality and digital marketing strategies that have influenced his entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurial Lineage: Zack credits his entrepreneurial spirit to his parents, both entrepreneurs themselves, emphasizing the profound impact of their resilience and work-life balance on his career and personal life. Product Development Journey: He discusses the evolution of Qortex, initially starting with different aims and gradually pivoting towards video analytics driven by market needs and opportunities, highlighting the importance of adaptability in startups. The Challenge of Positioning: Zack talks about the crucial role of positioning in the marketplace and how subtle tweaks in positioning can significantly impact customer perception and product uptake. Building a Culture of Curiosity: At Qortex, fostering a culture of curiosity is key. Zack details how the company encourages this through various initiatives like guest speakers, dream meetings, and a company-wide book club to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving. Future Vision for Media: Looking forward, Zack envisions a transformation in how video content is consumed and monetized, predicting a shift towards more personalized and non-intrusive advertising experiences based on content relevance rather than traditional demographic targeting.  

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Alex Reynolds, CEO & Co-Founder at Vendelux, an event intelligence platform that has raised over $20 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Creation of Event Intelligence Platform: Vendelux helps companies strategically determine the best events to attend by analyzing attendee data from multiple sources, including direct partnerships with event organizers. Navigating the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Vendelux just as they were poised to launch, forcing the co-founders to pivot and persevere through uncertain times while maintaining their other employment. Skepticism and Resilience Toward Virtual Events: Despite the rapid growth of virtual event platforms during the pandemic, Alex firmly believed in the irreplaceable value of in-person interactions, a bet that paid off as the world began to reopen. Challenges of Fundraising in a Skeptical Market: Initial fundraising efforts for Vendelux were met with skepticism as VCs doubted the return of in-person events, a sentiment that shifted dramatically by the time of their Series A as the industry began to recover. Target Market and Customer Impact: Vendelux primarily serves event marketers and field marketers, providing them with essential tools to demonstrate the ROI of events and improve accountability within their organizations. Vision for the Future of Event Engagement: Alex envisions a broader application of Vendelux's platform, aiming to enhance professional relationship-building across various types of gatherings, from large-scale conferences to intimate meetups.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Stacy Edgar, CEO & Co-Founder of Venteur, a health insurance platform that's raised $7.6 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Venteur's Mission: Born out of personal experience with health insurance challenges, Venteur aims to solve health insurance affordability for all Americans. Stacy and her brother, drawing from their family's entrepreneurial journey and healthcare struggles, have built a platform that offers personalized health insurance plans, empowering individuals to make proactive health decisions. The Origin and Pivot: Founded in November 2020, Venteur initially focused on helping individuals and businesses navigate health insurance choices through AI-driven decision support technology. The company made a significant pivot during COVID-19, moving from a focus on professional sports to a broader healthcare market, acknowledging the changing needs and landscape. The Business and Customer Impact: Venteur's platform offers businesses a way to provide pre-tax health insurance stipends, shifting away from traditional group plans. This approach allows employees to select plans that best suit their needs and can lead to substantial cost savings for businesses, with one healthcare system saving $9 million and preserving 175 jobs by switching to Venteur. Market Education and Resistance: Educating the market on the benefits of individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRA) is a core part of Venteur's strategy, leveraging social media to demystify health insurance jargon and encourage informed consumer choices. However, the established health insurance model, which significantly benefits from the status quo, presents resistance to change. Growth and Challenges: Venteur's journey has involved learning the complex dynamics of the health insurance industry, including the importance of choosing the right sales and commercial team members with deep industry knowledge. The company's growth reflects the market's readiness for a new approach to health insurance, despite the inherent challenges of changing long-standing industry practices. Future Vision: Looking ahead, Venteur aims to further personalize healthcare through its platform, offering individualized bundles of health services and insurance that cater to each person's unique needs, promoting preventative care and wellness alongside traditional health coverage.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Tim Weiss, CEO & Co-Founder of Optera, a carbon management and accounting platform that has raised $17.5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Origin Story: Tim's career began with a deep commitment to addressing climate change, starting with environmental policy studies and leading to impactful work in southern Africa on renewable energy solutions. This foundation laid the groundwork for his venture into entrepreneurship with Optera. Evolving Climate Conversation: Over the last decade, Tim has witnessed the transformation of climate change dialogue from a cautious topic to a central business risk, pushing corporations to adopt ambitious environmental goals. Transition from Services to SaaS: Optera's journey from a boutique consulting firm to a scalable SaaS company highlights the importance of discipline and customer learning. Initially using complex Excel models, Optera successfully pivoted to software by focusing on scalable solutions. Market Position and Growth: With a laser focus on large enterprises, Optera has positioned itself as a leader in carbon management by leveraging direct data for actionable insights. This strategic focus is different from many competitors aiming for simplified solutions. Customer-Centric Growth Strategy: Optera's go-to-market strategy is deeply rooted in building a strong, reputable brand and customer referral engine. By focusing on content strategy and leveraging customer testimonials, Optera has carved out a niche in the crowded carbon management landscape. Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, Tim envisions Optera playing a pivotal role in the global decarbonization effort, helping thousands of the world's largest companies achieve net-zero emissions. This ambition underscores the company's commitment to tackling climate change through technology and data.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Tim Quirk, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Final Offer, a revolutionary real estate negotiation platform that's raised $11 Million in funding.  Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Transition from Cloud to Real Estate Tech: Tim's journey from the early days of cloud software to founding Final Offer, highlighting the evolution of technology and his unique perspective on bringing innovation to traditional industries. Inspiration Behind Final Offer: The realization of a universal problem in real estate transactions led to the creation of Final Offer, aiming to demystify and simplify the buying and selling process for everyone involved. The Core Mission: Transparency: At the heart of Final Offer is the mission to bring transparency to real estate negotiations, ensuring that buyers and sellers have clear and accessible information to make informed decisions. Overcoming Industry Resistance: The initial resistance from the real estate community underscored the importance of working within the industry, leading to strategic adjustments in the platform's approach to ensure support and collaboration from real estate professionals. Rapid Growth and Future Expansion: Final Offer's exponential growth and plans for expansion across North America and into Canada demonstrate the platform's potential to redefine real estate transactions on a global scale. Embedding Within the Community: A key go-to-market strategy for Final Offer involves embedding the platform within the real estate community, fostering trust and cooperation rather than attempting to bypass industry professionals.