BUILDERS

Funding the Future: Roger Luo, Managing Partner at Embedding VC

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — Funding the Future. In today's episode, we're speaking with Roger Luo, Founder & Managing Partner at Embedding VC, a venture capital firm specializing in AI-driven startups that has raised $15 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Roger's AI Journey: With a PhD in AI and over 15 years of experience, Roger transitioned from leading AI initiatives at companies like Yahoo, Snapchat, and Niantic to launching his own VC fund, focusing on AI startups.
AI's Exponential Growth: Roger reflects on the rapid evolution of AI, from a niche field with few practitioners to a mainstream technology that is now integral to nearly every industry.
Embedding VC's Portfolio: Roger highlights Magic School, an AI-driven platform for K-12 teachers, which has grown to over 2 million users in less than a year and raised $15 million in funding.
VC Differentiation: Roger discusses how his background as an AI operator and researcher enables him to deeply connect with founders, providing value beyond capital by sharing insights from his extensive industry experience.
Common Founder Traits: Roger identifies key traits of successful founders, including being mission-driven, resilient, and surrounding themselves with smart, committed team members.
GTM Challenges: Roger emphasizes the importance of achieving product-market fit before scaling go-to-market efforts, warning against the risks of premature scaling.
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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
 

Marc Borrett, CEO & Co-Founder of Reactive Technologies: $80 Million Raised to Build the Future of Grid Measurement

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 Marc Borrett, CEO & Co-Founder of Reactive Technologies, a grid measurement platform that's raised over $80 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Semiconductor to Energy Transition: Marc leveraged his experience in semiconductors and telecoms to tackle the complex challenges of the energy transition, drawing parallels between the two industries.
UK vs. US VC Landscape: The UK venture capital environment in the 90s was less sophisticated and visionary compared to Silicon Valley, focusing more on stable returns for pension funds.
Creating a New Category: Reactive Technologies is pioneering real-time grid stability measurement, a category that didn’t previously exist, by leveraging telecom principles in the energy sector.
Engineering Insights: The company discovered that grid stability affects signal transmission, leading them to repurpose their technology for measuring grid stability in real time.
Building Trust in a Conservative Industry: Success in the risk-averse power industry required Reactive Technologies to demonstrate high technical credibility and prove that their innovations would not destabilize the grid.
Long Road to Revenue: It took five and a half years for Reactive Technologies to generate meaningful revenue, highlighting the importance of patience and investor support in deep-tech startups.
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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

Ori Eisen, CEO & Founder of Trusona: $38 Million Raised to Power the Future of Account Takeover Prevention

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 Ori Eisen, CEO & Founder of Trusona, an account takeover prevention platform that has raised $38 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Persistence Pays Off: Ori's relentless pursuit of Frank Abagnale for mentorship and his insistence on John Doerr's presence at a crucial pitch meeting exemplify his "never take no for an answer" attitude.
Creative Marketing Strategies: Ori emphasizes the importance of standing out in the crowded cybersecurity market by using unconventional and memorable marketing tactics.
First-Party Data Focus: Trusona's strength lies in using first-party data to verify user identities, which Ori believes is crucial in the age of AI-driven fraud.
Real Vacation Culture: Ori advocates for founders to take real vacations to recharge and avoid burnout, providing a detailed process for effectively disconnecting from work.
Security Through Innovation: Ori's development of computer fingerprinting and other technologies showcases his innovative approach to solving complex security problems.
Challenging Conventional Wisdom: Ori often goes against traditional Silicon Valley advice, focusing instead on what he believes will truly benefit his company and its mission.
 
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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

John Golinvaux, CEO & Founder of Fulcrum: $6 Million Raised to Power the Future of Conversion Optimization

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 Golinvaux, CEO & Founder of Fulcrum, a conversion optimization platform that has raised over $6 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Journey to Founding Fulcrum: John transitioned from running a digital marketing firm to founding Fulcrum after realizing the gap in tools for mid-market companies to track user behavior and drive conversions effectively.
Focus on Mid-Market: Unlike many startups chasing enterprise clients, John chose to target mid-market businesses due to fewer competitors and easier initial traction.
Pivots and Learnings: Fulcrum underwent multiple pivots, initially trying to emulate a customer data platform, but later honing in on conversion optimization by leveraging first-party data.
Balancing Passion and Patience: John emphasizes the need to balance passion with patience, particularly when dealing with potential clients who may not immediately see the value of Fulcrum's solutions.
Importance of First-Party Data: Fulcrum's strategy centers on the collection and use of first-party data to personalize user experiences and drive conversions, avoiding reliance on third-party data.
All-In Approach: John has personally invested in Fulcrum, balancing financial risks with his belief in the company’s mission and potential for long-term success.
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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

Jeremy Pease, CEO of Hivelocity: $200 Million Raised to Build the Future of Hybrid Cloud MSP

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 Jeremy Pease, CEO of Hivelocity, a hybrid cloud MSP that's raised over $200 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Technological Evolution: Jeremy discusses the evolution from basic hardware setups to advanced, highly automated bare metal solutions, and the increasing influence of AI on data center design.
Company Overview: Hivelocity offers a comprehensive suite of services, including bare metal solutions, private cloud, VPS hosting, and retail colocation, aimed at supporting hybrid cloud journeys.
Acquisition Strategy: The company has grown through strategic acquisitions, integrating seven companies over the past three years, and emphasizes the importance of quick integration and synergy realization.
Integration Success: Effective integration of acquisitions, including the rapid merging of ticketing, billing, and communication systems, has been key to Hivelocity's successful growth.
Market Focus: Hivelocity targets mid-market customers, providing both high-touch customer service and advanced automation, a space often overlooked by competitors focusing on enterprise or hyperscale markets.
Brand Transition: The company is transitioning to the Hivelocity brand to better reflect its comprehensive hybrid cloud services, aiming for a unified and streamlined customer experience.
 
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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

Alex Sambvani, CEO & Co-Founder of Slang AI: $20 Million Raised to Power the Future of Voice AI for Restaurants

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 Sambvani, CEO & Co-Founder of Slang AI, a voice AI tool for restaurants that's raised $20 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
From Robotics to Voice AI: Alex’s journey began in high school with a passion for automation and robotics, eventually leading him to work on voice AI features at Spotify.
Finding Product-Market Fit: Initially targeting various verticals, Alex’s team discovered a significant opportunity in the restaurant industry, particularly for managing reservations and common inquiries.
Live Demo of Slang AI: Alex demonstrated Slang AI’s capabilities by calling a restaurant and making a reservation, showcasing the seamless integration with reservation systems and high guest satisfaction.
Evolving AI Acceptance: Initially cautious about marketing their product as AI, Slang AI now embraces the AI label, benefiting from the increasing acceptance and curiosity about AI technology.
Niche Focus for Rapid Growth: By specializing in restaurants that take reservations, Slang AI has been able to deliver a highly tailored solution, enhancing the guest experience and operational efficiency.
Lessons in Fundraising: Alex shared key insights on navigating the fundraising landscape, emphasizing the importance of targeting the right investors who have a track record in your space and stage.
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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

Robert Thelen, CEO & Founder of Rownd: $3.3 Million Raised to Build the Future of App Onboarding

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 Robert Thelen, CEO & Founder of Rownd, an app onboarding platform that's raised $3.3 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
The Onboarding Problem: Robert highlights that nearly half of users drop off during the onboarding process of apps, leading to substantial losses in potential user engagement and revenue.
The Aha Moment: After joining Y Combinator, Robert identified that many CEOs were struggling with user growth due to high drop-off rates at the login and sign-up stages, sparking the creation of Rownd.
Customer-Centric Development: The first three to six months involved close interaction with early customers to understand and solve their pain points, a practice that continues to drive product development at Rownd.
Pain Point Pricing Strategy: Rownd focuses on solving significant pain points and charges a premium, ensuring they provide high value and targeting customers who truly need their solution.
Consumer-Focused Market: Rownd primarily serves B2C companies where user friction can drastically impact user retention, such as in competitive industries like health and wellness.
Stress Management Skills: Robert’s military background has equipped him with exceptional stress management skills, which he applies in high-pressure situations in the startup environment.
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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
 

Robert Cowart, CEO & Co-Founder of ElastiFlow: $8 Million Raised to Power the Future of Network Performance and Security Analytics

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 Robert Cowart, CEO & Co-Founder of ElastiFlow, a network performance and security analytics platform that's raised $8 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Network Dependency: Robert emphasizes the critical role of network infrastructure in today's world, impacting commerce, healthcare, entertainment, and social interactions.
Genesis of ElastiFlow: The company started as an experiment to see how new data platforms like Elasticsearch could improve network observability, leading to a successful GitHub project.
Community's Role: The initial success and growth of ElastiFlow were significantly boosted by a loyal community built around the GitHub project, highlighting the importance of community-led growth.
Market Entry and Growth: ElastiFlow quickly transitioned from community support to paying customers, even before launching their beta product, showcasing the power of having a dedicated user base.
Building a Marketing Strategy: Initially relying on inbound marketing, ElastiFlow has now invested in outbound sales and marketing, including paid ads and content creation, to increase brand awareness and drive growth.
Future Vision: The company aims to continue enhancing network observability, adding more context to network traffic records, and ensuring comprehensive support for hybrid IT environments.
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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
 
 

Anthony Jules, CEO & Co-Founder of Robust AI: $42 Million Raised to Build the Collaborative Mobile Robots Category

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 Anthony Jules, CEO & Co-Founder of Robust AI, a robotics company that has raised over $42 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
From MIT to Sapient: Anthony shares his journey from MIT grad school to co-founding Sapient Corporation, growing it from 3 to 4000 employees and taking it public.
Early Tech Scene: He reminisces about the tech scene in the early '90s, the pre-Internet era, and the challenges of building tech companies without today's information flow.
Vision of the Internet: Anthony discusses the early days of the Internet and how recognizing its potential for transactions was a pivotal moment for his career.
Robotics and AI at Google: He recounts his time at Google, the excitement of working on cutting-edge projects, and his decision to leave due to the mismatch in scale and focus.
Founding Robust AI: Anthony details the serendipitous meeting with co-founders Rodney Brooks and Henrik Christensen, leading to the creation of Robust AI.
Navigating COVID: The early years of Robust AI were defined by the pandemic, pushing the team to innovate remotely and pivot their focus in response to evolving needs.
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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
 

Funding the Future: Clancey Stahr, Managing Partner of GoAhead Ventures

Welcome to another episode of Funding the Future. In today's episode, we're speaking with Clancey Stahr, Managing Partner at GoAhead Ventures, a venture capital firm that has raised $180 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Founding Journey: Clancey founded GoAhead Ventures in 2015, starting with initial legwork in 2013 while still a student at Stanford. He collaborated with his co-founders to connect Japanese corporations with US startups, eventually pivoting to venture capital.
Early Fundraising: The first fund was raised in 2014, totaling $6 million from a partner in Japan and three US angels. The focus was on the team's potential rather than a specific idea, leveraging the Stanford network.
Investment Thesis Evolution: Initially emulating top Silicon Valley VCs, the firm evolved its thesis in 2020 with a focus on video submissions for founder pitches. This streamlined the evaluation process, making it easier to compare founders and identify the best investments.
Video Submissions: GoAhead Ventures receives 60-80 video submissions per week, reviewing over 3,000 annually. The submission process includes a brief introduction and a three-minute elevator pitch, with a one-in-ten chance of leading to a first meeting.
Decision-Making Speed: The firm has honed its decision-making process, providing founders with a yes or no within three days of video submission and offering a signable agreement within 24 hours of a live pitch.
Focus on Fundraising: GoAhead Ventures prioritizes helping portfolio companies raise additional capital, recognizing that every company needs money and that this is an area where they can add significant value.
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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