Category Visionaries

Michael Corr, CEO of Duro Labs: $4 Million Raised to Power the Future of Hardware Engineering

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Michael Corr, CEO of Duro Labs, a product life cycle management company that’s raised over $4 Million in funding, about why a stagnant hardware development sector has been left behind by the .com boom, and how Duro Labs is doing their bit to reduce the risk of innovation for everyone. By improving the way engineers working in different divisions create, enter and transfer their critical data, Duro facilitates automation in critical development cycles, giving people the time, space and resources to really do things differently.
We also speak about the reason why hardware has been neglected for so long, and the fundamental economics which have kept focus on innovation in the software space, how data entry is at the heart of the development process, and why by combining the strengths of software and human engineering means that Michael sees a bright future over the horizon for hardware.
Topics Discussed:
Michael’s engineering career, and how he let his love for building things bring him to the startup space
Stagnation in the hardware space and the economics of risk which have kept innovation largely confined to software
How data drove the .com boom and started a software renaissance, and what it can do for the hardware development economy
Why more and more companies are breaking down the walls between software and hardware solutions
How automation is helping build innovative feedback loops into the hardware product life cycle, and how Duro Labs is at the forefront of the process
Michael’s prediction of a bright future for hardware, and why many more young engineers are finding their way into the space

Henrik Johansson, CEO of Gembah: $14 Million Raised to Democratize Consumer Product Creation

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Henrik Johansson, CEO of Gembah, about why the real world constraints of creating physical products put the process out of reach for most people, and how Gembah’s unique global marketplace is democratizing the development of tomorrow’s must-have items. By connecting engineers, factories and other specialists with the people bringing new ideas for products, Gembah helps facilitate a more streamlined, efficient and empowered production network accessible to all.
We also speak about Henrik’s move to the US and the current condition of the startup sector in his home base of Austin, his previous experience in procurement and product development, why a trip to China transformed his perspective on the production supply chain, and why Genmbah’s target market of small to mid-sized businesses is likely to drive growth for many years to come.
Topics Discussed:
The startup space in two leading innovation hubs - what differentiates Austin from San Francisco, and how things are changing
Henrik’s experience in procurement for Fortune500 companies and how it led him to the production and supply chain space
The challenges and risks confronting new market entrants when it comes to production, and why a single purchase can be mission critical
Legal obstacles when it comes to building physical objects, and how Gembah plans to integrate legal protections into its production process
The democratization of product development via an online global marketplace and what it means for the economy of tomorrow
Why hardware production might be the next part of business to become dominated by outsourcing, and how Gembah see themselves fitting in
 
Favorite book: 
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Nyasha Gutsa, CEO of Billy: $4 Million Raised to Build the Future of Construction Insurance

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Nyasha Gutsa, CEO of Billy, a construction insurance platform that’s raised over $4 Million in funding, about how he found a lucrative niche in a very specific market, and why digital administration in the construction sector has been a long time coming. Billy was established to provide integrated access to insurance for people and companies in the construction sector, letting people review, interact with and manage their insurance plans, including direct contact with providers when necessary.
We also spoke about Nyasha’s journey from Zimbabwe to the US and what it was like arriving here for the first time, how his journey took him through several different industries until he worked his way to the top, and what he learned along the way about how to deal with things when they don’t work out the way you thought they would. Nyasha also shared his experiences as a founder of color in an unequal investment environment still unable to provide truly equal opportunities.
Topics Discussed:
Nyasha’s journey from Zimbabwe to the USA, and what it felt like coming here for the first time at a young age
How a recession permanently changed Nyasha’s career trajectory, and how he worked his way up from the construction yard to the administrator’s office
Why digitalization in the construction sector has been a long time coming, and why Billy prioritizes ease of access to encourage adoption
The construction insurance ecosystem and why the needs of modern businesses suit a more flexible, digital platform
How a user-centric focus helped Billy reduce friction for new users while maintaining security for administrators
Nyasha’s experiences as a founder of color, and the challenge of inclusivity in the investment ecosystem

Jonas Rinde, CEO of Nomono: $15 million Raised to Power the Future of Podcasting

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 Jonas Rinde, CEO & Co-Founder of Nomono, a podcast technology company that has raised $15 Million in funding.
Here are the most Interesting Points from the Conversation:
Innovating Audio Capture: Nomono is revolutionizing the way audio is captured by developing smart microphones that capture spatial audio and metadata, providing a more immersive experience.
Targeting Professional Podcasters: Nomono focuses on professional podcasters and media agencies, offering high-quality, easy-to-use solutions that simplify the recording process, even in complex environments.
Navigating the Pandemic: The pandemic presented significant challenges, particularly with hardware component shortages. However, Nomono leveraged this time to enhance their cloud solutions, ensuring long-term value.
Ease of Use and Quality: The sound capsule developed by Nomono simplifies the recording process, making it easy for anyone to use and ensuring high-quality audio without the need for extensive setup and equipment.
Growing Interest: With over 21,000 people on the waiting list, Nomono is poised for significant growth, highlighting the demand for their innovative audio solutions in the podcasting industry.
Future Vision: Jonas envisions Nomono’s AI technology touching any spoken audio recording, expanding beyond podcasting to enhance various applications in the audio industry.
 

Shamir Karkal, CEO of Sila: $20+ Million Raised to Build the Money API For Fintech

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Shamir Karkal, CEO of Sila, a money API platform that’s raised over $20 Million in funding, about why their innovative fintech development platform is helping to usher in a more diverse future of payments for everyone, and how supporting market disruptors ultimately builds a stronger and more resilient finance sector. Providing developers with the tools they need to build financial applications to handle everything from virtual bank accounts and digital wallets to wire transfers and identity verification, Sila’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to innovate and program with their money.
We also speak about why Shamir’s frustration with the ‘big bank’ lifestyle led him to found a succession of fintech startups, how Sila define their customer problem statement for customers with a wide range of problems to solve, the strengths and weaknesses of traditional banks versus disruptors in the finance space, and a global history of finance and payments, from yap stones to the federal reserve.
Topics Discussed:
Shamir’s career in the finance space, and why ‘big bank’ burnout took him to the fintech startup sector
The challenges facing fintech developers in building functional, effective apps to solve contemporary financial problems
Why established banks and fintech disruptors service different needs in the market, and why that diversity is ultimately a good thing
How finance has developed over thousands of years through a whole range of technologies, but why the basic problem statement remains the same as ever
The federal reserve and the history of the American monetary system, what differentiates it from the European approach to finance
Legacy payment systems, from stones to bank notes, and why they aren’t likely to disappear entirely any time soon
 
Favorite book: 
Debt: The First 5000 Years

Justin Beals, CEO of Strike Graph: $12 Million Raised to Build the Future of Automated Security and Compliance

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Justin Beals, CEO and Co-founder of Strike Graph, about why security certification in a digital economy plagued with breaches can be the difference between success and failure for businesses seeking all-important funding. With Strike Graph, Justin and his team have developed an automated platform to monitor, map and manage their clients’ security systems and deliver a gold-standard attestation of quality that potential partners will immediately recognize and feel comfortable putting their trust (and money) in, all without the lengthy, costly process of an outside consultant.
We also speak about Justin’s transition from a more technical background to the role of founder, why being alone at the top can sometimes be the toughest position of all, the personal experience which drove home the importance of security certification, and why Strike Graph insists they can’t run a firm’s security system on their behalf.
Topics Discussed:
How a technical background in engineering and product development prepared Justin for the founder’s position that would follow
The supplementary skills a founder transitioning from tech should seek out in their potential partner, and why they might not want to be the sole founder in the first place
The central significance of security certification in the digital services economy, and how it can hamstring an enterprise before it’s even up and running
How Strike Graph’s security software let’s a firm monitor, map, and manage their security system, bringing it up to a Soc ii standard
How Strike Graph largely eliminates the need for external consultants, saving their customers both time and money
Why Strike Graph draws the line at actually running their clients’ security systems, and how they expect their advice and insights to be implemented
 
Favorite book: 
How to Start a Record Label

Daniel Birkholm, TalentHub: $6 Million Raised to Transform How Organizations Measure and Improve Their Hiring Experience

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Daniel Birkholm, CEO of TalentHub, an HR tech platform that’s raised over $6 Million in funding, about why a candidate-centric hiring process means companies across the board need a new approach to dealing with job applications, and why TalentHub’s software package is just the solution they need. By monitoring, measuring and mapping extant hiring practices, TalentHub assists their customers to optimize their entire system, with everything from issue identification to proactive learning tools which streamline onboarding to make sure your business doesn’t miss a beat.
We also speak about the current state of the startup sector in Denmark, how Daniel launched his first business at just 18, what led him to see the fundamental flaw in the way companies currently hire candidates, and how data-driven insights can provide the foundation for future innovation, changing your business from the bottom up.
Topics Discussed:
Denmark’s tech startup sector, and how a recent slew of successful enterprises inspires ‘basement-dwellers’ everywhere
Daniel’s first business being launched when he was only 18 years old, and how it’s doing now, 15 years later
The fundamental flaw in contemporary recruitment, and why most teams are more in the business of ‘rejecting’ new employees
How data-driven insights can help optimize current hiring practices, and even inspire innovation towards entirely new systems
Why Daniel believes that hiring is becoming more candidate-centric, and what that means for modern businesses
How a global customer base has helped TalentHub get a foothold in the US, even as they focus most of their business in Europe
 
Favorite book: 
How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling

Matthew Renfro, CEO of Lynx: $17.5 Million raised to Bring Modern Fintech to Healthcare

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Mathew Renfro, CEO of Lynx, a healthcare payment platform that’s raised 17.5 million in funding, about  how this new integrated fintech-healthcare startup is helping reorient people’s relationship with some of their most important life decisions. By tapping into the financial-first mentality that drives so much of our modern world, Lynx puts people on the path to save both time and money, connecting them with products, services and practitioners which are right for them, all while keeping costs as low as possible.
We also speak about what it took for Mathew to leave behind the big leagues for the uncertainty of a fintech startup, what lessons and people he brought with him and how they’ve shaped his role as a founder, why building the best team is ultimately an investment in customer confidence, and why he believes Lynx is a market leader in the personal banking experience.
Topics Discussed:
Mathew’s career in the healthcare industry, and the frustrations that eventually led him to take the leap into the startup economy
How the 20-year old claim system found itself in dire need of innovation, and why Lynx’ combined healthcare-fintech proposal is going to make it happen
Why creating financial relationships is key to the Lynx business model, and exactly what consumers are looking for in the modern healthcare economy
 How true personalisation means monitoring an account balance, avoiding overdrafts and taking the financial-first approach to healthcare decisions
How Lynx manages to flip extant expenses to future revenue drivers for partners in their network
Why building the best team right at the top is a future investment in customer confidence

Rafael Loureiro, CEO of Wealth: $16 Million Raised to Build the Future of Estate Planning

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Rafael Loureiro, CEO of Wealth, a digital estate planning platform that’s raised over $16 Million in funding, about why a modern approach to managing important assets needs to bridge the generational divide, and provide a more accessible way to approach critical decisions. With a comprehensive approach to calculating assets, combining various revenue streams and stores of value, and a proactive approach to updating and managing them, Wealth is finally bringing the digital revolution to an industry that’s barely changed in 200 years.
We also spoke about Rafael’s journey from Brazil to the US and what he hopes to give back one day, why he just can’t walk away from the startup sector, providing new opportunities for estate lawyers, and exactly how he managed to land the coveted ‘wealth.com’ domain.
Topics Discussed:
A lifelong dream of relocating to the US, and how Rafael feels about having achieved it
Why, no matter how many companies he starts and builds to success, Rafael just can’t step away from the startup space
How the pandemic helped Rafael and his team identify a niche in the estate planning market for a digital-native approach
The four driving factors that make today Wealth’s moment to really disrupt the industry
How so many people came to misunderstand the estate management space, and why it’s so much more than just drafting a will
Why doing something truly innovative will always attract critics, but why Rafael believes that on the road to innovation, there’s really no way back
 
Favorite book: 
Dream Big - Cristiane Correa

Paolo Fragomeni, CEO of Socket Supply: $3.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of P2P Computing

Paolo Fragomeni is the CEO of Socket Supply, a New York based company offering web developers tools for building Peer to Peer software with web technology. 
In this episode, Paolo shares how Socket Supply is helping developers shift away from the cloud and how its open-source tools are simplifying the workflow for developers, freeing  them  from the cost and complexity of the cloud.
Topics Discussed:
How Socket Supply came to be and how its developer tools bridges the technology gap in the app development space
The cultural and technical values Paolo learned from other teams that he has applied to his own team at Socket Supply
Socket Supply’s current user base and how Socket’s open-source runtime is supporting the trend of companies moving away from the cloud
Problems and limitations of the cloud, and why having fully cloud based operations becomes more cost prohibitive with growth
Why Socket Supply is not affected by P2P computing hype cycles
How Paolo is focusing on the metrics that matter in determining Socket Supply’s market viability
Paolo’s vision for Socket Supply for the next three years
 
Favorite books: 
Improvised Munitions Handbook
The Anarchist Cookbook