Category Visionaries

DeVaris Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of Meroxa: Over $19 Million Raised to Empower Engineering Teams with Better Stream Processing

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with DeVaris Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of Meroxa, a stream processing data application platform that's raised over $19 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
DeVaris’ background before launching Meroxa at some of technology’s biggest names, including Twitter, Microsoft and Zendesk
Growing up inspired by his grandparents' entrepreneurial endeavors, and the dot-com, to one day become an tech entrepreneur
How Meroxa helps developers move data around with ease, removing the need for specialized knowledge across different data systems
Working with Government Agencies including the Air Force, Space Force, and NASA, handling complex real-time data challenges.
Deciding to work with government agencies while aiming to ensure any contributions align with their standards.
 
Favorite book: 
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Dave Mor, CEO and Co-Founder of OneLayer: $15 Million Raised to Protect Private Cellular Networks

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Dave Mor, CEO and Co-Founder of OneLayer, a cyber security platform dedicated to private cellular networks that's raised $15 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Dave’s background, which includes serving in the Israeli Defense Force for 15 years, specializing in cybersecurity and technology innovation
How the Israeli tech sector gained a fearless reputation for a mindset of tackling security challenges fearlessly, even against giants.
the challenge of connectivity in enterprise IoT and industrial settings, and why so many firms opt for private 5G network solutions
OneLayer’s impressive growth trajectory, and how they handle deploying security solutions across a range of different geographies
Why seamless integration is central to the OneLayer security offering, and how it has helped them scale along with their growth

Daniel Turner, CEO of TRAXyL: Over $5 Million Raised to Make Connectivity Happen From Here to Anywhere

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Daniel Turner, CEO of TRAXyL, an optical fiber installation company that's raised over $5 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Daniel’s early background, his education in computer science, and his time working in the intelligence community
How living in DC and witnessing 9/11 shifted Daniel’s professional focus from game development to the intelligence sector
How his father’s challenges with high-speed internet installation drew attention to a need for innovation in the installation industry
Why a ‘minimally disruptive installation’ method means TRAXyL brings connection to people and places typically too challenging for fiber installation
Making the transition from bootstrapping funding to finding success in a capital seed round, raising millions for further development

Vinoth Chandar, CEO and Founder of Onehouse: $33 Million Raised to Bring Order to Data Lakehouses

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from the tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Vinoth Chandar, founder of Onehouse, a cloud-native data Lakehouse solution that has raised $33 Million in funding.
 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Vinoth's Rich Background: Vinoth has a deep technical background in database and distributed systems engineering, with significant stints at Oracle, LinkedIn, Uber, and Confluent before founding Onehouse.
Innovating at Uber: Vinoth was part of the team at Uber that built the world's first Data Lakehouse in 2016, a precursor to the modern data Lakehouse concept, showcasing his pioneering work in data management.
Lessons from Uber's Turbulent Times: Vinoth's time at Uber during its most tumultuous periods taught him resilience and the importance of a positive product impact, underscoring the critical role of culture and team dynamics in navigating challenges.
Admiration for Linus Torvalds: Vinoth admires Linus Torvalds for demonstrating how open-source software can create immense value over time, reflecting on the transformative power of collaborative software development.
Influential Reads: Books like "The Journey is the Reward," a biography of Steve Jobs, and "Crossing the Chasm" have profoundly impacted Vinoth, offering insights into market innovation and the importance of category creation.
Onehouse's Mission: Onehouse aims to revolutionize data management with its faster, better, and cheaper cloud data infrastructure, leveraging Apache Hoodie to enable efficient data processing and management.
Navigating Product Market Fit: Identifying and refining Onehouse's customer profile and value proposition in a crowded and noisy market has been a significant challenge, with open-source community engagement playing a crucial role in building credibility and trust.
Future Vision: Vinoth envisions Onehouse completing its product story to bring an interoperable cloud data plane to life, focusing on managing and transforming data effectively for businesses.

Brett Martin, President and Co-Founder of Kumospace: $25 Million Raised to Power the Future of Virtual Offices

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Brett Martin, President and Co-Founder of Kumospace, a virtual office platform that's raised $25 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Brett’s roles in addition to President of Kumospace, Co-Founder of Charge Ventures, and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School
The different ways in which companies deploy Kumospace, either as a replacement for, or supplement to, other platforms
How focusing on seamless conversation switching set Kumospace on the path to revolutionize the online meeting space
The strategic approach Kumospace deployed to secure some big name clients like Harvard, LinkedIn and NASA
The future of remote work and what it means for all of us in a digital-first future

Shalabh Singhal, CEO and Co-Founder of Trademo: $12.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Supply Chain Intelligence

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 Shalabh Singhal, CEO & Co-Founder of Trademo, a supply chain intelligence platform that's raised $12.5 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Vision for Supply Chain Intelligence: Shalabh explains how Trademo aims to build a single source of truth for global supply chains, providing intelligence, compliance, and risk management solutions.
Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, highlighting the need for robust solutions to manage disruptions.
Unique Market Positioning: Trademo differentiates itself by integrating intelligence, compliance, and risk management into a single platform, addressing the complex needs of modern supply chains.
Growth and Traction: Since launching, Trademo has seen impressive growth, with a month-on-month increase of over 100% in its first year.
Content Marketing Strategy: Shalabh emphasizes the importance of founders driving content marketing in the early stages to set high standards and build trust.
Fundraising Insights: Shalabh shares his approach to selecting investors who understand the industry and can offer valuable support beyond capital.

Jithendra Palasagaram, CEO and Founder of Part Analytics: $4 Million Raised to Simplify Direct Material Sourcing

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from the tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jithendra Palasagaram, CEO and Founder of Part Analytics, a sourcing platform for direct materials that's raised $4 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Part Analytics' Unique Offering: A B2B SaaS platform that empowers sourcing and procurement leaders in manufacturing companies with significant electronic spends to make quicker, smarter decisions throughout the product lifecycle.
Inspiration Behind Part Analytics: Jithendra's firsthand experience with the challenges in sourcing and procurement roles at a large multinational corporation, combined with his academic tenure at the University of Chicago, motivated him to tackle these issues through technology.
Fundraising in the Midwest: Jithendra's journey underscores the importance of networking and finding the right investors who share the vision for the company and contribute beyond just financial support.
Platform Impact through Case Studies: A case study with ITW, a Fortune 500 company, showcased Part Analytics' ability to deliver 5% cost reduction on electronic components spend, reduce shortages by over 70%, and consolidate spend data for better negotiation leverage.
Market Position and Vision: Distancing itself from traditional procurement solutions, Part Analytics champions a 'design to procure' philosophy, aiming to bridge the gap between engineering and sourcing from the onset of the design phase.
Advice for Aspiring Founders: Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Jithendra advises acting sooner and with conviction. He emphasizes the importance of fully committing to your venture from the start to accelerate progress and success.

Ali Javidan, Co-Founder of Range Energy: $9 Million Raised to Build the Future of Electric Semi-Trucks

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Ali Javidan, Co-Founder of Range Energy, a new electric vehicle company focused on trailers that's raised $8 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Ali’s career background, beginning in motosports before eventually transitioning to the decarbonization economy
Ali’s time spent at Tesla during the early years, and his belief that the company can make a meaningful impact
The challenges of driving innovation in the commercial transportation sector, and why it tends to be resistant to change
Why Ali believes that the majority of vehicles will be electrified in the next ten years, and prospects for the sector as a whole
How Range Energy carved a unique space for themselves, free of competitors or critics
 
Favorite book: 
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration

Kalpesh Kapadia, CEO and Founder of Deserve: Building the Future of Credit Cards

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Kalpesh Kapadia, CEO and Founder of Deserve, a mobile-first credit card platform powering the future of credit cards. 
Topics Discussed:
Kalpesh’s background as a mechanical engineer, his life in India in the 1980s, and his studies in the US
How his experiences as a foreign student in the US led Kalpesh to found the company that became Deserve
What’s different about credit cards like Deserve, that run entirely on the cloud 
Why 99% of the credit cards still run on infrastructure from the 80s and 90s, and what problem this will be causing by 2025
Working as B2C versus B2B, getting a domain name, and crisis management
 
Favorite book: 
The Art of Thinking Clearly

Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData: Over $170 Million Raised to Build the Leading Time Series Provider

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData, a time series data platform that's raised over $170 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Evan’s background and his unconventional path to CEO as someone with an environmental science degree
The excitement and challenges of being a first-time CEO and the disappointment of a failed IPO due to a market crash
The increasing demand for data and AI, and InfluxData's position as a market leader in the time series database space
InfluxData’s growth prospects and their rise as a market leader in the sector
Overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities as the foundation for moving forward in business
 
Favorite book: 
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times