Category Visionaries

Gabe Sibley, Founder and CEO of Verdant Robotics: $48 Million Raised to Build the Future of Autonomous Agriculture

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Gabe Sibley, CEO and Founder of Verdant Robotics, an autonomous agriculture company that's raised $48 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed: 
Gabe’s background in autonomous robotics, including other companies that he founded and worked in
The potential and pitfalls of self-driving cars
Inspirational people and books for Gabe
How Verdant harnesses computer vision and machine learning to create robots that help growers do more with less
The importance of dialogue with the customer, and an erroneous stereotype about farmers
 
Favorite book: 
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water

Laura Kornhauser, Co-Founder and CEO at Stratyfy: $10 Million Raised to Power the Future of Financial Inclusion

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 Laura Kornhauser, CEO and Co-Founder of Stratyfy, a predictive analytics and decision management solutions provider that has raised $10 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Laura's Journey to Founding Stratify: Laura shares her transition from a decade-long career at JPMorgan Chase to entrepreneurship, influenced by her engineering background and a personal mission driven by her family's entrepreneurial spirit.
Inspiration from Literature: Laura discusses how "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" have significantly impacted her outlook as an entrepreneur, emphasizing lessons on societal issues and the entrepreneurial journey.
Stratify's Mission: Stratyfy is focused on enabling financial institutions to better understand customer risk through advanced analytics, aiming to improve financial inclusion by addressing structural biases within the financial system.
Early Challenges and Breakthroughs: Laura recounts the initial difficulty in convincing risk-averse financial institutions to adopt Stratyfy's innovative technology and the persistence required to secure their first customers.
Rapid Growth and Team Expansion: Over the past year, Stratyfy has seen a 400% increase in its customer base and nearly doubled its team size, testament to the company's impactful mission and innovative technology.
The Importance of Mission Alignment and Problem-Solving in Talent Attraction: Laura attributes Stratyfy's success in attracting top-tier talent to a shared commitment to their mission of financial inclusion and the opportunity to solve complex, meaningful problems.
 

Johannes Peeters, Co-Founder & CEO of VoxelSensors: $7 Million Raised to Build the Future of Spatial Computing

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 Johannes Peeters, CEO and Founder of Voxel Sensors, a 3D perception platform that has raised €7 Million in funding. 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Voxel Sensors' Mission: Johannes introduced Voxel Sensors as a company dedicated to building the cornerstones for spatial and empathic computing, enhancing devices' ability to perceive and interact with the world in real-time and in all dimensions.
Early Challenges and Strategic Founding: Founding the company right as the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began, Johannes and his team used this period to quietly lay down the company's foundation, patent filing, and strategic planning without external pressures.
Innovative Technology for a Range of Applications: Voxel Sensors is developing technology that dramatically improves power efficiency and reduces latency in 3D sensing, applicable in consumer electronics like smartphones and augmented reality, as well as in industrial settings.
The Dual Focus on Consumer Electronics and Industrial Applications: Johannes detailed how Voxel Sensors' technology is versatile enough to cater to both consumer and industrial markets, highlighting the specific adaptations and targeted strategies for each sector.
Marketing Philosophy and Go-To-Market Strategy: Despite initially minimal marketing efforts, Voxel Sensors has leveraged its industry connections, past experiences, and strategic board composition to engage with key players in the consumer electronics and industrial sectors.
Future Vision and Ethical Use of Technology: Looking ahead, Johannes envisions a world where augmented reality and digital interactions seamlessly blend with our physical world, emphasizing ethical usage and the ability to choose when to engage with digital enhancements.

Dave Copps, CEO of Worlds: $31 Million Raised to Power the Future of Industrial Automation

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 Dave Copps, CEO & Co-Founder at Worlds, an industrial metaverse platform that has raised $31 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Early AI Innovations: Dave discusses his early involvement in AI, predating the current hype, and how his fascination with corporate culture and anthropology led to pioneering work in semantic search and digital investigations.
Surviving the Dotcom Crash: Dave reflects on steering his first company through the turbulent dotcom crash, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the critical support of investors who are genuinely committed to the founder’s vision.
Transition from Back Office AI to Industrial Applications: Dave shares his journey from creating AI for back office applications to developing Worlds, which applies AI in real-world industrial settings, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Building a Market of One: Dave explains his strategy of creating unique products that do not just fill gaps in the market but also redefine the market itself, combining broad technological capabilities with innovative business models.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Investors: Reflecting on his experiences, Dave stresses the significance of selecting investors who align with the startup’s vision and are committed to supporting founders through challenges.
Vision for AI’s Future: Dave delves into his perspective on the future of AI, including the potential for AI to facilitate real-time, multimodal interactions between humans and machines, transforming how we manage and interact with industrial environments.

Kenneth Herschel, CEO and Co-Founder of Viggo: Nearly $6 Million Raised to Build the Future of EV Charging Infrastructure

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 Kenneth Herschel, CEO & Co-Founder at Viggo, a sustainable mobility platform that has raised nearly $6 Million in funding. 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Origins in Electric Ride-Hailing: Kenneth outlines Viggo's start as a response to Uber's departure from Copenhagen, aiming to elevate the standard of taxi services with electric vehicles and superior technology.
Strategic Shift to EV Charging: The necessity for efficient charging for Viggo's fleet revealed a larger market need, prompting a significant pivot towards developing urban EV charging solutions.
Exponential Growth in EV Charging: With a 250% growth in the EV charging sector, Kenneth highlights this segment's rapid expansion as evidence of the burgeoning demand for reliable urban charging infrastructure.
Synergy Between Mobility and Charging: Kenneth discusses the operational harmony between Viggo's ride-hailing and EV charging units, leveraging the visibility and needs of one to enhance and expand the other.
European Expansion Insights: Venturing into new markets, Kenneth reflects on the challenges and immense opportunities of scaling Viggo's model across Europe, emphasizing the necessity of fast urban charging infrastructure.
The Power of Persistence: Through the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenneth emphasizes the critical role of persistence and belief in the face of adversity, underscoring a foundational principle for entrepreneurial resilience and success.
 

Jag Lamba, Founder and CEO of Certa: $52 Million Raised to Build the Future of Third-Party Management

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 Jag Lamba, CEO & Founder at Certa, a third-party management platform that has raised $52 Million in funding. 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Origins in Consulting and Engineering: Jag's transition from engineering to business and eventually founding Certa was driven by his desire to build rather than consult, highlighting the shift from advisory roles to hands-on creation and leadership in technology.
Insightful Career Shifts: Experiences at McKinsey and handling venture capital initiatives provided Jag with exposure to high-caliber problem-solving and innovative product development, setting the stage for his entrepreneurial journey.
Inspirational Figures and Readings: Jag discusses how influential figures like Satya Nadella and non-business literature, including Bill Browder’s "Red Notice," have shaped his perspectives on leadership and the courage to innovate against significant odds.
Addressing a Universal Business Pain: The inception of Certa was rooted in Jag's realization of the inefficiencies in third-party risk management during his tenure at McKinsey, identifying a gap that Certa could fill.
Early Adoption by Major Clients: Jag’s commitment to not letting early adopters down and his flexibility in product development helped secure early trust and collaboration from significant enterprises, including Uber.
Future Vision for Certa: Looking ahead, Jag envisions a streamlined, almost instantaneous process for onboarding and collaborating with third parties, enhancing compliance and operational efficiency with a single click.

Julio Martínez, Co-Founder and CEO at Abacum: $40 Million Raised to Build the Future of FP&A

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 Julio Martinez, CEO & Co-Founder at Abacum, an FP&A platform that has raised $40 Million in funding. 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Sabbatical Inspirations: Julio started with his transformative sabbatical in India, where he was immersed in microfinance, shaping his future perspective on business and finance.
Corporate Finance Roots: Julio’s journey into finance was not planned from childhood but developed from early career choices and opportunities that emphasized rapid learning and high-pressure environments.
Innovation at Banco Sabadell: Prior to Abacum, Julio led a venture builder and investment fund, initiating fintech innovations and investments across Europe and the U.S.
Launching During COVID-19: Starting Abacum at the outset of the pandemic required conviction and adaptation to severe market uncertainties, shaping the company’s resilient foundation.
Problem Definition and Impact: Abacum addresses the inefficiencies in financial teams’ operations by automating routine tasks, allowing focus on strategic analysis and timely decision-making.
Strategic Focus on Mid-Market: From the start, Abacum targeted the mid-market segment, recognizing the specific needs and potentials for impactful solutions beyond what small businesses or large enterprises require.

Sundeep Ravande, CEO and Co-Founder of Innovapptive: $42 Million Raised to Power the Connected Worker Revolution

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Sundeep Ravande, CEO and Co-Founder of Innovapptive, a connected worker platform that has raised $42 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed: 
Sundeep’s background in management consulting, and why he decided to start Innovapptive
Working with Fortune 500 companies, and how Innovapptive helps front-line workers connect with each other and with the back-office
Messaging and positioning, helping create a new category, and fundraising
Why Sundeep would advise his past self to raise money early on instead of bootstrapping for seven years
Why having a vision and pursuing it matters more than being a large player

Josh Merrill, CEO of Confirm: Over $11 Million Raised to End the Performance Review Nightmare

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Josh Merrill, CEO of Confirm, a data-driven performance management platform that's raised over $11 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed: 
Josh’s background in other enterprises before Confirm, and the reason why he decided to join Carta
Why Josh considers Carta's founder to be an inspirational figure
Lessons Josh learned from being an angel investor
Why performance review tools are outdated, and how Confirm is changing that
Josh’s marketing strategy, how his messaging evolved, and his advice on building a good pitch deck for investors
 
Favorite book: 
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Kyle Kiser, CEO of Arrive Health: Over $40 Million Raised to Improve the Value of Healthcare Through Informed Decision-Making

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 Kyle Kiser, CEO of Arrive Health, a healthcare technology platform that has raised over $40 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Inspiration from Personal Experience: The company's origin traces back to a personal story where a co-founder, a doctor, helped his mother reduce her medication costs, highlighting the need for price transparency in healthcare.
Early Days: Kyle joined Arrive Health when it was a small team working out of a co-working space in Denver, emphasizing the humble beginnings and grassroots efforts of the startup.
Core Mission: Arrive Health aims to provide point-of-care price transparency, allowing doctors to see medication costs at the point of prescription, a crucial step in reducing patient out-of-pocket expenses.
Rapid Growth: From a few thousand transactions a month in 2019 to over 10 million transactions monthly, the company's growth underscores the significant demand for their solution in the healthcare market.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with strategic investors, including health systems and associated funds, has been vital for product development and scaling the business.
Future Vision: Kyle envisions restoring consumer choice in healthcare, particularly in prescription drugs, by building a network that manages the complex pharma supply chain to make cost-effective medication decisions.
 
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