BUILDERS

Nate Kharrl, CEO and Co-Founder of Spec: $30 Million Raised to Build the Future of Fraud Defense

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 Nate Kharrl, CEO & Co-Founder of Spec, a fraud defense technology platform that's raised $30 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Personal Journey from Fraudster to Fraud Fighter: Nate's unique background as a former eBay fraudster who now combats fraud highlights his deep understanding of the field and the irony of his professional journey.
Founding During a Pandemic: The idea for Spec originated in 2014, but the COVID-19 pandemic created the perfect timing for Nate and his co-founder to finally launch the company, addressing the surge in fraud and scam activities.
Understanding the Fraud Landscape: Nate differentiates fraud from cybersecurity, explaining that fraud involves the misuse of systems for nefarious purposes, while cybersecurity focuses on protecting systems from unauthorized access.
Customer-Driven Product Evolution: The first customers of Spec helped shape the company's product by providing real-world feedback, leading to a better understanding and articulation of their core value proposition.
Navigating Enterprise Sales: The transition from founder-led sales to a dedicated sales team has been challenging, but essential for scaling the business and addressing the complex needs of large enterprises.
Future Vision with AI: Nate envisions leveraging AI to make complex fraud detection more accessible and efficient for non-technical users, enhancing the platform's value and usability.
 
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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

Igor Jablokov, CEO of Pryon: $50+ Million Raised to Build the Future of Enterprise Knowledge Management

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Igor Jablokov, CEO of Pryon, an AI-powered enterprise knowledge management platform that's raised more than $50 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Igor’s background in the tech industry, working with Apple to create Siri, and the state of AI today
A great Bill Gates quote about our biases when thinking about the short and the long term
Why the man Igor most admires is Benjamin Franklin
Facing disbelief when introducing innovative ideas, and why Igor doesn’t care about how other people define certain things
Regulation in the AI industry and where AI is headed
 
Favorite book: 
The Complete Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series Books 1-7

Swapnil Shinde, CEO and Co-Founder of Zeni: $47+ Million Raised to Build the Finance Operations Category

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Swapnil Shinde, CEO and Co-Founder of Zeni, a finance operations platform that's raised over $47 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Swapnil’s background in computer science, and starting a service that was like Spotify for Indian music
Working together with his identical twin brother
Why startup bookkeeping is generally fragmented, complex, and lacking in insights, and how Zeni helps solve those problems
Creating a new service category and disrupting a longstanding business
Why fundraising becomes easier with every startup you found
 
Favorite book: 
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day

Nishika de Rosairo, CEO and Founder of HumanQ: $3.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Human Development

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Nishika de Rosairo, CEO and Founder of HumanQ, a platform dedicated to unlocking human potential that's raised $3.5 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Nishika’s background growing up and living in four continents, and her passion for unlocking human potential
How education creates a problem for people because they are forced to choose between the left or right side of the brain
The workings of HumanQ and how it harnesses the power of AI to help people transform
Success stats, with 95% of people declaring HumanQ programs make them more equipped to add value in their workplace
Why Nishika would advise her past self to take faster and bigger bets sooner
 
Favorite book: 
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable (Tim Grover Winning Series)

Kelsey Bishop, Founder and CEO of Candor: $5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Professional Relationship-Building

In today’s episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Kelsey Bishop, Founder and CEO of Candor, a culture-building platform that's raised $5 Million in funding.
Topics discussed: 
How her experience loving some teams she worked with, but not others, led Kelsey to start Candor
Kelsey’s favorite founder, his success story, and why she admires him
Building a platform that allows people to get to know colleagues on a personal level, and the one element that plays a big part in the success of Candor
Using TikTok as a marketing tool, and why luck and timing play a big part in fundraising
The importance of following your intuition rather than someone else’s advice
 
Favorite book:
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

Raghu Gollamudi, CEO and Co-Founder of Included: $5.4 Million Raised to Build the Future of HR Analytics

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Raghu Gollamudi, CEO and Co-Founder of Included, a people analytics platform that's raised $5.4 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Raghu’s experimenting with tech as a kid, which included blowing a TV fuse in a country where TVs were very expensive
His background in engineering and telecommunication in India, building a startup during the .com crash, and working at Microsoft
Why Raghu admires an innovator who’s making sanitary napkins more accessible 
Creating an AI-powered HR analytics platform that provides insights and actionable recommendations to leaders
Lessons Raghu learned from fundraising, and what his vision is for the future of Included
 
Favorite book: 
Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers

Zach Rash, CEO and Co-founder at Coco: $60 Million Raised to Bring Food Delivery Robots to Market

In today’s episode of Category Visionaries, we speak to Zach Rash, CEO and Co-founder of Coco, a food delivery robot that's raised $60 Million in funding.
Topics discussed: 
Zach’s background in mechanical engineering and wanting to build something for the physical world
Why Sam Altman, Coco’s largest investor, is an inspiration for Zach
Using tech and a remote work model to build a product that makes food delivery cheaper for merchants and buyers, and the ins and outs of Coco’s workings
Regulatory headaches, why Coco doesn’t steal jobs from human food deliverers, and how it contributes to sustainability
Dealing with competition, lessons learned from fundraising, and Zach’s view for the future of Coco
 
Favorite book:
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Troy Carter, CEO and Co-Founder of Earthshot Labs: $11 Million Raised to Power the Future of Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

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 Troy Carter, CEO and Co-Founder of Earthshot Labs, an ecological restoration finance platform that's raised $11 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Troy’s background as a Stanford graduate, and also as founder of a successful cider company in the West Coast
Finding fulfillment in one’s professional and personal life, and improving organizations
How one can make environmental issues more personal and motivating for people, and what we can learn from stoicism
The way Earthshot Labs uses ecosystem forecasting to help people develop carbon reduction projects
Difficulties in the industry, and what Troy sees in the future of Earthshot Labs
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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
 

Ian White, Founder, CEO and CTO of ChartHop: $74 Million Raised to Build the Future of PeopleOps

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Ian White, Founder, CEO & CTO of ChartHop, a people ops platform that’s raised over $74 Million in funding.
Topics discussed:
Ian’s background as a student of both computer science and theater, and as a startup founder 
Building a new way of planning, managing, and supporting the people in an organization
Differences between being a CTO and a CEO
How ChartHop helps connect, visualize, and align people to empower organizations through insights, alignment, and action.
Lessons from getting his first customer, people operations, and community building
 
Favorite book:
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

Matthew Stoudt, CEO and Founder of AppliedVR: Over $70 Million Raised to Build the Future of Chronic Pain Relief

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Matthew Stoudt, CEO and Founder of AppliedVR, a virtual reality therapeutics platform that's raised over $70 Million in funding.
Topics Discussed:
Matthew’s background as a kid entrepreneur who sold stuff in school, and studying investment banking
The first startups Matthew built and why it’s important to stick to your vision instead of chasing what is hot right now 
Entrepreneurs Matthew admires, collecting experiences rather than material things, and the most touching experience he’s had on a trip
The staggering numbers of people who suffer from chronic pain around the world, and what AppliedVR is doing to change that
Matthew’s vision for the future of his company