BUILDERS

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

Elizabeth Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Isolation: Over $22 Million Raised to Build the Future of Nuclear Waste Disposal

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Elizabeth Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Isolation, a nuclear waste disposal solution that's raised over $22 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Elizabeth’s passion for the environment, and her lifelong desire to work towards the greater good
Why nuclear power is absolutely essential for the future of a green energy transition, despite many people’s legitimate concerns
Storage as a central component of making nuclear energy safe, and how Deep Isolation deploys innovative solutions to this perennial problem
Building trust and credibility with everyone from state institutions to local communities with an interest in safe storage
Why enjoying the fundraising journey is an important part of bringing a business to market, and the future of Deep Isolation’s first disposal
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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
 
 

Scott McCrady, CEO of SolCyber: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Managed Security

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Scott McCrady, CEO of SolCyber, a modern MSSP that's raised $20 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Scott’s background as a security engineer and what led him to found SolCyber as a solution to what he saw as existing shortcomings
Why comprehensive monthly security packages are so appealing for many mid-sized security-conscious companies
Balancing positivity and caution in Scott’s approach to business, and how ‘duality’ shapes his worldview
How Scott sees SolCyber’s evolution in retrospect, and the things he might have done differently
The future of outsourced security programs and why Scott thinks they’ll soon dominate the industry
 
Favorite book: 
The Power of Positive Thinking
Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company

Jason Radisson, CEO and Founder of Movo: Over $9 Million Raised to Build the Future of HR Automation

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Jason Radisson, CEO and Founder of Movo, an HR automation platform that's raised over $9 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Jason’s time being in charge of the expansion of Uber into Nevada, and the lessons he learned there and at 99 taxis
The workforce problem in the US and how that spurred Jason to create Movo
What it was like for Movo during the pandemic, and how the app contributed to keep businesses running
Jason’s strategies for rising above the competition in the US
Lessons Jason learned from fundraising for Movo

Mars Geuze, CHO and Co-Founder of Hyperloops: Over €36 Million Raised to Make Hyerloops a Reality

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 Mars Geuze, CHO & Co-Founder of Hardt Hyperloop, a transportation system that's raised over €36 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
From Student Projects to Hyperloop: Mars and his co-founders transitioned from building electric race cars to pioneering Hyperloop technology, catalyzed by Elon Musk's Hyperloop competition.
Open, Standardized Infrastructure: Hardt Hyperloop advocates for a network of standardized infrastructure owned by governments or private entities, enabling various operators to run their Hyperloop vehicles.
Capacity and Feasibility: Addressing misconceptions, Mars emphasized that Hyperloop can transport up to 20,000 passengers per direction per hour, rivaling traditional rail capacity.
Strategic Partnerships and Global Efforts: Countries like the Netherlands, Spain, India, and South Korea are actively investing in Hyperloop development, with significant public-private partnerships driving progress.
Next Steps and Testing: Hardt is building a 420-meter test facility to demonstrate key functionalities, including lane switching, which is critical for creating an efficient and flexible transportation network.
Long-term Vision: Mars highlighted a phased approach, with operational pilot routes expected by 2029 and widespread adoption and scaling of longer routes from 2030 onwards.
 
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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

Brandon Schulz, CEO and Co-Founder of Violet: $14 Million Raised to Power the Future of E-commerce

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Brandon Schulz, CEO and Co-Founder of Violet, an e-commerce technology company that's raised $14 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Brandon’s career background in social commerce and e-commerce businesses, and finding his calling in entrepreneurship
Why so many social commerce team struggle to establish an integrated infrastructure for large numbers of companies selling on a single platform
Violet’s vested interest in making their customers make more money, and how their pricing policy reflects this reality
How overpromising often ends up compromising the category creation process in the minds of customers
Finding product market fit, and the four-year slog towards finally making a commercial breakthrough

Ben Christensen, CEO of Cambium Carbon: $5.5 Million Raised to Build a new Category of Sustainable Wood

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Ben Christensen, CEO and Co-Founder of Cambium Carbon, a company that has raised $5.5 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Ben’s background in forestry and his lifelong commitment to fighting climate change
The staggering figures of urban wood waste in the US and how that material can be harnessed by companies 
Why running ultramarathons has been transformational for Ben
What founding a startup has taught Ben about dealing with existential challenges
How rethinking the uniqueness of products can lead to a smaller carbon footprint
 
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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
 

Stephen de Vries, CEO and Co-Founder of IriusRisk: $40 Million Raised to Build the Future of Threat Modeling

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Stephen de Vries, CEO and Co-Founder of IriusRisk, a threat modeling platform that's raised nearly $40 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Stephen’s career as a programmer in the Y2K era and transitioning to application software security testing 
Being an early entrant to the cybersecurity space, and how the industry has changed over the years
How IriusRisk’s automated security approach streamlines the security software design process for developers
The expansion of IriusRisk's content to meet market demand, including device-specific protocols for medical devices.
The potential implications of impending regulations and working with the federal government to improve security
 
Favorite book: 
The Bhagavad Gita