Category Visionaries

David Etue, CEO of Nisos: $33 Million Raised to Build the Future of Managed Intelligence

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 David Etue, CEO of Nisos, a managed intelligence platform that has raised $33 Million in funding. Nisos operates at the intersection of cybersecurity and intelligence services, focusing on providing actionable insights to corporate security, cybersecurity, and trust and safety teams.
 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Nisos's Unique Positioning: As a managed intelligence company, Nisos distinguishes itself by converting data into actionable intelligence, addressing the gap in a market saturated with data but lacking in actionable insights.
The Importance of Focus: Reflecting on Nisos's journey, David emphasizes the critical nature of focus in startup success, advocating for a more concentrated approach to product and market strategy from the outset.
Vision for the Future: David outlines ambitious plans for Nisos, including scaling the company, expanding internationally, forging strategic partnerships, and potentially exploring acquisitions to broaden their service offerings.

Dane Baker, CEO and Co-Founder of EcoCart: $17.5 Million Raised to Power the Future of Sustainable Commerce

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Dane Baker, CEO and Co-Founder of EcoCart, a sustainable commerce platform that's raised $17.5 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Dane’s background as a founder of companies that try to make the world a better place in some way
The reasons why Dane admires Sir Richard Branson
Why it’s complicated for businesses to operate sustainably, and how EcoCart is simplifying those processes and helping brands tell their sustainability stories to their clients
Category creation as educating potential partners on important issues
Mindset building, and what Dane has learned from ultra running
 
Favorite book: 
Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity

Funding the Future: Sergey Gribov, General Partner of Flint Capital

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Sergey Gribov, General Partner of Flint Capital, a venture capital firm focusing on the early stages of promising startups.
Topics Discussed:
Sergey’s background education in technology and computer engineering, followed by his transition to the capital space
Flint Capital’s investment portfolio across a range of tech-forward sectors and the value they can bring to founders in those spaces
Sergey’s top advice for founders seeking a space in the US market, and how they can best prepare themselves and their offering
How to overcome challenges with contemporary fundraising, and why it’s always worth handling the sales yourself
Common mistakes on the road to market, and what founders can do to avoid them ahead of time
The investment opportunities of tomorrow, in everything from health tech to cybersecurity

Matt Watson, CEO and Founder of Origin: Over $70 Million Raised to Make Financial Wellness the Next Big Employee Perk

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 Matt Watson, CEO & Founder of Origin, a financial wellness platform for the modern workforce that has raised over $70 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
From Wall Street to Startup: Matt transitioned from a corporate role at Citigroup to becoming a successful tech founder, driven by a desire to bring professional money management to employees everywhere.
Early Entrepreneurial Lessons: Starting with a snow shoveling business at age 12, Matt’s entrepreneurial journey was heavily influenced by his small business owner parents.
Indio’s Success: Matt's first company, Indio, was a vertical SaaS company that provided workflow management for commercial insurance agents, achieving a significant exit and returning over 100 times initial capital to early investors.
Financial Wellness Vision: Origin aims to offer the same level of financial advice and management to everyday employees that CEOs receive, addressing the widespread stress and complexity associated with money management.
Conviction in Vision: Despite early rejections, Matt’s unwavering belief in the necessity of financial wellness benefits for employees helped secure initial customers and drive Origin’s growth.
Market Adaptation: When faced with a downturn in benefits spend, Origin successfully pivoted to focus on core financial services, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

Tyler Strand, Co-Founder and CTO at Air: $38 Million raised to Build the Creative Operations 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 Tyler Strand, Co-Founder & CTO of Air Labs, a creative operations platform that has raised $28 Million in funding.
 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
 
Problem Identification: Tyler explains the challenge creative teams face in managing large volumes of digital assets and how Air Labs provides a solution.
Journey to Product Market Fit: The evolution of Air Labs’ focus over two to three years to zero in on specific pain points and target customers.
Early Customer Acquisition: The hands-on approach Tyler and his team took to land their first paying customers and build trust.
Creative Operations vs. DAM: How Air Labs differentiates itself from traditional Digital Asset Management systems by focusing on active collaboration and workflow efficiency.
Growth Metrics: Air Labs now serves thousands of businesses worldwide, with substantial ARR and a growing user base, reflecting their successful market penetration.
Future Vision: Tyler's aspiration for Air Labs to become the GitHub of the creative world, serving as the connective tissue for creative processes.
 

Jean Le Bouthillier, CEO of Qohash: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Data Security

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Jean Le Bouthillier, CEO of Qohash, a data security platform that's raised $20 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Jean’s background in defense as an officer in the Canadian Military and a tactical helicopter pilot
Why Jean decided to quit the military to found his own company, and the lessons he learned from his time as an officer
The difficulties regulated entities have in keeping customer data safe and following regulations, and how Qohash helps them do that
Why it’s difficult to get client reviews when your product is data security tools
The tech industry in Canada as compared to the US 
 
Favorite book: 
The Qualified Sales Leader: Proven Lessons from a Five Time CRO

Prakash Chandran, Co-Founder and CEO of Xano.com: $5.4 Million Raised to Build the Next Generation of No-Code Backend Development

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Prakash Chandran, Co-Founder and CEO of Xano, a No-Code backend development platform that's raised $5.4 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Prakash’s background in tech and his time working at Google
Why Prakash admires the CEO of AirBnb, and why he loves books that teach readers to shape their lives through action
The lack of enterprise-ready tools for software engineering in the tech industry, and how Xano uses No-Code to allow people to build software without limits
Why community-led growth is crucial when serving developers
What tools Prakash used to shift and improve the messaging for Xano over time
 
Favorite book:
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Shaily Garg, CEO and Founder of GlobalFair: $22 Million Raised to Create the Future of Cross-Border Procurement

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Shaily Garg, CEO and Founder of GlobalFair, a building materials procurement platform that's raised $22 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Shaily’s background as a civil engineer from a very small cords manufacturing family in India, and how this background helped her start GlobalFair
Why Shaily admires billionaire entrepreneur Ambani Mukesh
How GlobalFair is using technology to make cross-border procurement as easy and hassle-free as buying from a next-door neighbor
How Covid contributed to the launch of GlobalFair
The importance of agility and finding the right customer and business model, and why storytelling is a skill every fundraiser must have
 
Favorite book:
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It

Dipanwita Das, CEO and Co-Founder of Sorcero: Over $20 Million Raised to Power Medical Affairs Teams of the Future

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Dipanwita Das, CEO and Co-Founder of Sorcero, an AI platform for medical affairs teams that's raised over $20 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Dipanwita’s background at the intersection between data and public health, and how technology is ushering in a new era of patient care
How Sorcero supports medical affair’s teams in making data-driven decisions, and ensuring proper prescription of medications
Differentiating themselves by being a product-focused company addressing specific business challenges
Working with AstraZeneca to deploy real-world medical solutions to the market and making a real impact
Measuring success by tangible changes and improvements brought to the medical affairs field, more than just profit margins
 
Favorite book: 
The Lord of the Rings
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Catch 22

Tom Tovar, CEO and Co-Founder of AppDome: Over $26 Million Raised to Build the Future of Mobile App Security

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Tom Tovar, CEO and Co-Founder of AppDome, a mobile dev ops platform that’s raised over $26 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Tom’s TikTok celebrity dog, and why his love of dogs influenced Tom’s decision to move to San Francisco
Tom’s background in law and his switch to tech
The challenges of app protection, and why AppDome is approaching a billion mobile end users protected
Why Tom advises Founders “never to tell yourself you are right” and “have something that everyone can get behind”
How to maintain a leading position within the category you are creating
 
Favorite book: 
Paradox of Choice