Category Visionaries

Egil Østhus, CEO of Unleash: $16.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Feature Management

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Egil Osthus, CEO of Unleash, a feature management platform that’s raised over $16.5 Million in funding, about why these days every company is a software company, and streamlining the software development pipeline is basically an essential service. Unleash provides an open source, developer-led solution combined with tailor made solutions for their enterprise clients, keeping them at the cutting edge of innovation and clearly differentiated from the competition.
We also spoke about how Norway’s transition away from oil and towards a greener economy is setting the stage for a flourishing startup economy, with low-cost developers ready to set their sights on the  tech sector’s toughest challenges, why unleash retained a die-hard commitment to open source software despite its tensions with the commercial side of their business, and why the developer space is very resistant to traditional marketing strategies, forcing Unleash to always push for the perfect product-market fit.
Topics Discussed:
Egil’s experiences in the Norwegian tech economy, and why the coming green transition promises fertile ground for its emerging tech sector
Why development and testing in a risk-free environment are critical to successful software releases, and how Unleash makes sure everything goes smoothly
Why these days every company is a software company, giving Unleash ample space for market expansion
How Unleash overcomes the tension between open-source software development and the financial imperatives of a commercial enterprise, retaining their die-hard commitment to the open source developer community
Why developers are so resistant to traditional marketing approaches, and how Unleash leverages their open source software to nourish commercial clients
Why Egil feels listening is the most important skill for keeping ahead of customer preferences, letting them leverage a competitive advantage in terms of detail

Viral Patel, CEO of Radish Health: $5 Million Raised to Connect Employees with a Better Healthcare Experience

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 Viral Patel, CEO & Founder of Radish Health, a healthcare platform that has raised over $5 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Career Transition: Viral's shift from an ER physician and Medical Director at Oscar Health to launching Radish Health.
Vision for Healthcare: The inspiration behind Radish Health is to give everyone a "doctor in the family" experience using technology.
Employer Partnerships: Radish Health’s business model focuses on partnering with employers to provide enhanced healthcare benefits to their employees.
Patient-Centric Approach: Emphasizing a healthcare model that prioritizes patient relationships and convenience.
Regulatory Navigation: The complexities of expanding telehealth services across different states and how Radish Health addresses these challenges.
Impact of COVID-19: How the pandemic accelerated the acceptance and growth of telehealth services.
 
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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

Derek Streat, CEO of Dexcare: $110 Million Raised to Help Health Systems to Find Time for the Best Care

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 Derek Streat, CEO of DexCare, a health tech company that has raised $110 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Mission and Background: DexCare is a data-driven intelligence company focused on improving healthcare access for patients, providers, and health systems.
Origin and Growth: Originally developed within Providence Health System, DexCare has now spun out as an independent entity with significant backing and validation.
Market Category Creation: DexCare is pioneering a new category of healthcare access optimization, distinct from traditional telehealth and scheduling solutions.
Strategic Thought Leadership: Emphasis on thought leadership and relationships with leading health systems to drive market adoption.
Challenges and Successes: Navigating the complexities of healthcare regulations and the impact of the pandemic on accelerating digital healthcare adoption.
Future Vision: Expanding from providing access to care to also focusing on prevention and curing illness, integrating digital therapeutics and predictive healthcare models.
 
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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

Daniel Erickson, CEO of Viable: $9 Million Raised to Build the Future of Customer Feedback Analysis

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Daniel Erickson, CEO of Viable, a customer experience platform that’s raised over $9 Million in funding, about why an automated software tool for conducting true analyses on your critical data could change everything about the way a business makes its decisions. By taking the power of natural language processing technology to the next level, Viable promises real-time updates about current trends in your market, explanations about why that might be, and even advice for the future to help guide your sales strategy and product development in the right direction.
We also speak about Daniel's career trajectory from engineering to the boardroom and the lessons he had to learn along the way, why a pivot away from pre-product startups to in-market enterprises was the key to Viable’s profitability, and why they have decided not to build analytics tools, but to build out a truly automated analyst itself.
Topics Discussed:
Daniel’s career from an engineer to CEO, and the lifetime business skills necessary to make the transition
Viable’s original value proposition, and why it ultimately had to pivot away from pre-product startups and shift to where the real money was being made
Natural Language Processing and the power of cutting-edge technology in improving the capacity of our automated analytics
Why unstructured responses present a challenge for analysts, but also a golden opportunity to understand internal market trends
How Viable managed to secure a market fit despite introducing a new category, and why they might not need as much market education as you’d expect
Why, regardless of where you sit in the corporate hierarchy, the ultimate truth is that the customers are always your boss.
 
Favorite book: 
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Biju Ashokan, CEO of Radius Agent: $19 Million Raised to Power the The Real Estate Agent of the Future

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Biju Ashokan, CEO of Radius Agent, a real estate tech platform that’s raised over $19 Million in funding, about why it’s time real estate had access to the tech solutions making waves in other parts of our economy, and Radius Agent plans to be the catalyst for the transformation. Essentially a ‘shopify’ for real estate to make it simpler, safer and more efficient, from humble beginnings as a social media platform to its current iteration as a rapidly-expanding tech startup, Radius Agent has been developing solutions specifically tailored to the needs of its customers.
We also spoke about Biju’s previous proptech startup, why Radius’ social media-first strategy helped it build, and organic community and save significant resources on outbound marketing, and why knowing the profile of your potential clients is absolutely critical to building a market-ready product.
Topics Discussed:
The current state of the real estate market and why Biju is sure things will soon bounce back stronger than before
Why challenging times can provide critical opportunities for transformation-friendly tech startups, and how Radius Agent is planning to take advantage of the change they’re now helping to drive.
How estate agents benefit from a comprehensive solution-based software toolkit, giving them more time to focus on what they do best
How a social media-first approach built an organic community for Radius, and how they can now leverage that as a way of reducing marketing costs
Why a careful profile of potential customers is critical for developing marketable solutions that answer real-world problems
Biju’s key principles for running his business, where he learned them, and what others can learn from them moving forward.
 
Favorite book: 
Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United

Astrid Atkinson, CEO of Camus Energy: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Grid Management

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Astrid Atkinson, CEO of Camus Energy, a Grid Management platform that’s raised over $20 Million in funding, about how coming transformation in the critical utilities sector provides opportunities for startups to claim space for themselves and drive change for the better. Developing large-scale software infrastructure to manage the way we produce, distribute and consume energy, Camus Energy is preparing for a future in which decentralization and diversification are the key concepts that need to be accommodated. Utilities might get a bad reputation for being slow-moving and resistant to change, but with disruption on the horizon it’s time to let real-world needs shape what solutions become successful.
We also speak about Astrid’s time in the early years of google and the lessons she brought with her into the startup space, why transformation leaves space for agile startups to compete on an even footing with established industry players, and how engaging directly with potential customers helped Camus Energy define the parameters of their innovative character.
Topics Discussed:
Astrid’s role in the early years of Google and the vital lessons she learned about the role of individuals in creating global impact
What led Astrid to launch a startup in the utilities space, despite a bad reputation for being conservative and resistant to change
Why the energy grid of tomorrow needs an innovative software solution to manage the speed and scale of the transition
How decentralization and diversification are going to shape the future of our energy sector, and how Camus Energy is preparing to be a part of it
Why Astrid believes in healthy competition, and in creating spaces with enough room for everyone in a market to succeed
How changing needs shape the solutions which succeed, and why it’s sometimes worth taking the risk of creating a transformative market category
 
Favorite book: 
Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers (Collins Business Essentials)

Andrew Forman, CEO of Givz: $3 Million Raised to Make Donating, Not Discounts, eCommerce Brands Ultimate Growth Lever

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 Andrew Forman, CEO & Founder of Givz, an e-commerce marketing platform that has raised $3 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Givz's Core Offering: Givz helps brands replace or enhance discounts with donation incentives, boosting sales and fostering customer loyalty.
Real-World Impact: A campaign with H&M showed the power of Givz, generating $150,000 in donations and converting customers as effectively as traditional discounts.
Sector Adoption: While luxury brands were the initial target, Givz has found success across various sectors, including pet, health and wellness, and CBD.
Customer Engagement: Customers are more likely to make repeat purchases and feel positively about brands that offer donation incentives rather than mere discounts.
Scalability: Givz’s approach allows brands to quickly see the value of donation incentives through simple A/B testing and site-wide campaigns.
Future Vision: Givz aims to expand beyond e-commerce to include brick-and-mortar stores and other industries, offering incentives for various customer actions.
 
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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

Laura McGee, CEO of Diversio: $6 Million Raised to Help Organizations Measure and Improve DEI

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Laura McGee, CEO Diversio, a diversity, inclusivity and equity platform that’s raised $3 Million in funding, about why she believes data holds the key to realizing a genuine diversity agenda and building a better business environment for everyone, regardless of their background. It’s common knowledge today that a more inclusive workforce leads to improved business outcomes, but not many companies out there have really shown themselves able of fulfilling loft commitments made to shareholders and ethics boards. By combining comprehensive experience insights, pain point identification and practical recommendations for action to address problems, Diversio promises a new way of approaching the diversity agenda for the entire business community.
We also speak about Laura’s work in the female entrepreneurship space, how Diversio developed its unique inclusivity metrics, why their systematic problem-solving approach has been a big hit with their growing customer base, and how a scrappy bootstrap start without much capital helped them develop a market-leading product which would propel them to strong growth.
Topics Discussed:
Laura’s passion for the DEI agenda, both working with Diversio and in her capacity as an expert on womens’ entrepreneurship
Why companies’ ability to achieve genuine inclusivity is still lagging behind their commitments, and why that needs to change
How Diversio’s systematic approach, from gathering insights to offering recommendations, is defining the corporate inclusivity agenda
How a bootstrap start for Diversio ultimately helped them develop a market-leading product and provided the impetus to get things right first time
Why Laura is happy to see a proliferation of startups in the diversity and inclusion space, but why she feels Diversio still manages to set itself apart
The current state of diversity across the business board, and why Laura believes we all have a reason to be optimistic
 
Favorite book: 
The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success

Honey Mittal, CEO of Locofy.ai: $3 Million Raised to Build the Future of Frontend Development

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Honey Mittal, CEO of Locofy.ai, a design-to-code platform that’s raised $3 Million in funding, about why this critical phase in the process of bringing software to market remains one of a contemporary startup’s most acute pain points, and how an automated solution can help us all build better, faster and more efficiently. There’s no doubt that developers are one of the toughest product audiences out there, with no kind words for sub-par software solutions, so even a cursory look at some of Locofy.ai’s big-name clients makes it clear that they’re on to a winning idea.
We also spoke about Honey’s experiences in the Southeast Asian tech sector, how the unique regional circumstances helped foster a more global perspective on the contemporary tech sector, why design-to-code just makes sense as a software solution, but only for those who can really get the product right, and how online developer communities provide a lot of opportunities to grow, learn, and improve a product offering.
Topics Discussed:
Honey’s career in the Southeast Asian tech sector, and what we can learn from this strategic region about contemporary concerns in the industry.
How a decade in tech laid the foundations for Honey to found Locofy.ai, and why it was design-to-code that became their software offering
Why making the leap from innovative design to actionable code remains one of the modern startup economy’s most significant stumbling blocks, and how Locofy.ai plans to bridge the gap
The current state of the software development sector, and why a shortage of engineers is reaching crisis point
Why developers are one of the toughest audiences in tech, with no kind words for sub-par software solutions
How Locofy.ai learned to work with online developer communities, and how it helped them develop a more market-ready product
 
Favorite book: 
The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

Emmanuel Massenez, CEO of Kwali: $2.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Food Production for QSRs

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Emmanuel Massenez, CEO of Kwali, a food production platform that’s raised over $2.5 Million in funding, about why it’s time for technology to make its mark in the food production space, and how computer vision promises new levels of consistency and customer satisfaction across the board. By compiling real-world insights and feeding critical data back to managers and brand leaders about exactly what they’re doing right and what they need to do to do it better, Kwali helps build long-term strategies to ensure a more effective and efficient delivery process which leaves both staff and customers smiling.
We also speak about Emmanuel’s long-standing love of French philosophy and how it informs a lot of his choices as a leader, why a desire to make more of a positive impact led him to the food production space, and why it might be time to leave those gut feelings behind and let data take the lead in making critical business decisions.
Topics Discussed:
Philosophy, learning, and why Emmanuel believes there’s nothing new under the sun.
Why Emmanuel moved to Silicon Valley during the COVID pandemic, and why he’s still sure it was the right decision
Why the food industry remains underrepresented in terms of technology adoption, and how that makes it a fertile ground for the right kind of startup
How computer vision is going to change our relationship with consistency and customer satisfaction, providing the critical data we need to make the right kind of business decisions
Why pizza was the perfect place for Kwali to start its marketplace journey, and the potential for development with other popular dishes
Why a little faith in human decency makes a better business environment for everyone, and how Kwali sees every problem as an opportunity to learn
 
Favorite book: 
Any books written by Friedrich Nietzsche