Category Visionaries
Welcome to Category Visionaries — the show dedicated to exploring exciting visions for the future from the founders who are on the front lines building it. In each episode, we’ll speak with a visionary founder who’s building a new category or reimagining an existing one. We’ll learn about the problem they solve, how their technology works, and unpack their vision for the future. Brought to you by: www.FrontLines.io/podcast — Podcast-as-a-Service for B2B tech brands. Launch your show in 45 days.
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Episodes
Friday Dec 23, 2022
Friday Dec 23, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Wes Winham Winler, CEO of Woven, about why a new way of hiring tech developers is needed to keep up with the rapid transformation and growth in the startup space. By putting candidates through rigorous skills testing exercises tailor made to the needs of a specific company, Woven is determined to all but eliminate the mishiring phenomenon and make sure everyone finds themselves in the role that’s right for them.
Wes also explains how a personal experience working with a small team led him to really understand the impact of ineffective hiring, why keeping ‘in-category’ is important for helping potential customers connect with your business, and how pretty much anything can be measured (even if not precisely) to help us all make better business decisions moving forward.
Topics Discussed:
Wes’ experiences in startup culture, and how both positive and negative experiences gave him important lessons to apply with Woven.
How many of us forget that some of the world’s biggest corporate names were once startups too, and how much we can learn from their growth experiences.
Why developing tech solutions, and skill tests in particular, needs effective client communication as much as top-quality programming
How almost anything can be measured to some extent or another, and why establishing measurements can help us make more effective decisions
Why ‘business culture’ can sometimes be a catchall to protect ourselves from legitimate criticism
Why even innovators might be better off staying in an established category to help build new connections with potential customers
Favorite book:
How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Jay Bartot, CEO of Zeitworks, about why so many startups put the cart before the horse when it comes to process automation. Zeitworks has established process discovery as a key component of its business model, to make sure they know exactly what their clients need before they start developing automated solutions for the more mundane needs underlying every business.
Jay also talks about his extensive experience in the startup space, how the tech investment environment has changed since the infamous ‘.com crash,’ and why the proliferation of AI technology can’t quite keep up with how fast the buzzword is spreading through the industry. He prefers the term ‘machine learning’ to help people understand the real processes going on behind the ‘black box’ of automated technology solutions.
Topics Discussed:
Jay’s years in the startup space, transitioning to being a founder, and the lessons he brings forward to the modern tech investment sector
Why automation can help free up talented people from the grind of repetitive, mundane business tasks which dominate so much of their day
Why the modern technology ecosystem is different from the ‘.com era,’ and why most companies these days are putting their business priorities first
Why data propriety is a critical consideration for any business operating in the tech sector, and why a lack of knowledge can come back to bite you eventually
Why discover is a critical component of business process automation, and why Zeitworks’ commitment to the details puts them ahead of the competition
Why Jay is more comfortable using the term ‘machine learning’ than ‘AI,’ given how saturated the marketplace is right now
How machine learning technology is poised to drive the economy of the future, and how Zeitworks is preparing to take full advantage of its meteoric rise
Favorite book:
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Rob Leslie, CEO of Sedicii, about how security in cyberspace doesn’t always mean sacrificing privacy, and why we all need an alternative to sharing our vital data online. By pushing innovation in the field of verification technology, fragmenting critical data and deploying a range of customer-orientated solutions, Sedicii is on a mission to deliver a safer, more secure digital infrastructure for the economy of the future.
Rob Also shared his wisdom on the secrets of building an effective startup, the differences and similarities between working in Japan compared to the West, and why he really believes in the power of the technology his team are working on to change our relationship with privacy, and make sure that a sense of safety and a promise of security don’t have to be mutually exclusive
Topics Discussed:
The challenge of ensuring security in an open marketplace without sacrificing sensitive data
Rob’s formative years in Japan and how they helped him learn about different ways of doing business
How a single bad experience led Rob to focus on verification and privacy as two key aspects of the cybersecurity movement
Why we shouldn’t need to share our sensitive data just to conduct a secure transaction
How fragmenting critical information across multiple secure sites can help prevent hacking
Why Sedicii is determined to build the ‘plumbing’ for a security-native digital future where privacy is guaranteed for all
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Tony Jamous, CEO of Oyster, about how remote working is bringing the world together, building new opportunities and making a dent in one of our greatest collective challenges - global inequality. Oyster’s seamless, red-tape-free solution for any company to hire anyone, anywhere, is more than just a revenue stream, it’s a mission-based company determined to lead the way toward a better future of work for us all.
We spoke about Oyster’s extraordinary funding success, the impact of the pandemic and the importance of timing, and how personal experiences building a global company led him to appreciate the challenge of hiring across borders. A self-proclaimed ‘future of work activist,’ Tony wants to see a world where barriers and borders to productivity are eliminated, allowing people to optimize their skills in their communities and end the cycle of brain drain afflicting much of the world.
Topics Discussed:
The future of a truly global economy, and why bureaucracy hurts us all, in the long run,
How Tony became a ‘future of work activist’ and what it means to run a mission-based company
Why global talent can become the basis of a global community, and why borders build inequality into our society
The importance of like-minded investors, and why a mission is everything when founding a company to drive real change
Why learning and leadership go hand in hand, and why every first-time founder needs a good coach
Target market resonance and the challenge of positioning a revolutionary company in a saturated market
Why global work will soon become ‘future work,’ and how Oyster is positioning itself to get ahead of the curve
Favorite book:
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Eduardo Silva, CEO of Calyptia, about the future of data observation in a fully automated economy, and why a surplus of information can create as many challenges as it solves. Calyptia’s mission is to simplify data observation and give decision-makers access to the most valuable insights possible, ultimately helping everyone do better business on a daily basis.
Eduardo explains a little about his journey in the data space, the process of transitioning from engineer to entrepreneur, community, connectivity, and collaboration in the open-source economy, and the pros and cons of operating a remote company spread across several different countries.
Topics Discussed:
Learning and leading - Eduardo’s journey from an engineer to entrepreneur, and how commercial complexity added a new level of understanding to his technical skill set
Why observability is crucial to unlocking the power of data, and why so many companies miss the mark with their analysis
The digital logistics of collecting and analyzing data from so many different sources
How simplifying observation gives everyone access to the best possible decisions, and what it takes to get there.
Why the world is bigger than silicon valley, and the pros and cons of running a tech platform from Costa Rica
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Ibrahim, CEO of Neo.Tax, about the future of everyone’s least favorite aspect of doing business, and why it just makes sense for computers to take care of the number crunching. Positioning themselves as more than just a solution for tax challenges, but an optimization tool to make sure every enterprise works within the tax framework that best suits their needs and structure.
Ibrahim explains a little about why automation has been so slow to penetrate the world of accounting and taxes, but why a labor shortage in the sector now likely makes it inevitable, why political deadlock can have real-world impacts across all industries when regulations are hamstrung by infighting, and how Neo.Tax is working on a winning strategy to level the playing field, and drive business to a better relationship with tax
Topics Discussed:
Ibrahim’s first-hand experience with tax challenges and why he decided to build-out the solution himself.
Why tax optimization is about so much more than just filing, and how every business could benefit from an automated accountant
Why politics causes problems for entrepreneurs when it affects how regulations are drafted and introduced
How a few well-trained engineers can work out a way through all the complexity built into hundreds of years of tax policy
The aging industry of accounting, and why a labor shortage might be about to supercharge the drive towards automation
Why computers taking care of the numbers might actually be a boon to accountants’ careers, and why there’s so much space for new skills to be introduced
How tax automation outmaneuvers the competition by being more than just a filing system, and why good taxes can become a real revenue boost
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Alon Grinshpoon, CEO of echo3D, about the virtual reality revolution, the almost unlimited potential of fully immersive technology, and why a supporting infrastructure is so important to make it happen. echo3D have positioned themselves as a 3D-native technology cloud solution for technology companies to develop VR applications at scale, retaining flexibility and function without getting left behind in a fast-moving marketplace.
From curing cybersickness to fixing rendering quality for 3D video experiences, solutions to the VR problems of tomorrow are a rapidly emerging industry at the very cutting edge of our digital future, whatever tools might end up emerging as the face of all this new technology, and echo3D’s integrated cloud platform might just be the glue which holds it all together behind the scenes.
Topics Discussed:
Being a self-declared ‘certified nerd,’ and a true believer in the potential of cloud technology and VR
How the metaverse spread across the world, and why it's emerging between big tech and the youth technology market
Why VR is the next technology you don’t realize you need, and how websites, social media and smartphone applications prove the model
How a stint supporting VR surgery led Alon to rethink flexibility in 3D infrastructures
Why echo3D targets the technology developers who can build out applications at scale, and need the cloud support to realize that vision
Cyber sickness, rendering issues, and why the VR revolution offers a whole range of business opportunities
Why oversaturated buzzwords are still a boon for people really pushing the industry forward
Favorite book:
The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
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 Steven Greene, CEO & Co-Founder of Standard Pracice (previously known as Nibble Health), a B2B healthcare payments platform that's raised $8.5 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Inspired by Personal Experience: Steven shared how a personal healthcare emergency and an unexpected $8,000 medical bill led him to realize the need for more accessible healthcare financing solutions, inspiring the creation of Nibble Health.
Innovative Healthcare Financing: Standard Practice offers zero-interest, zero-fee financing for medical expenses as an employee benefit, providing a healthcare safety net that removes financial barriers to care.
Focus on Employers: By partnering with employers, Standard Practice enables companies to offer their workforce flexible healthcare payment options, improving employee retention, productivity, and overall financial wellness.
Seamless Integration: The platform runs on Visa rails, allowing employees to use their Standard Practice card anywhere Visa is accepted, without the need for complex integrations with healthcare providers or payroll systems.
Attributable ROI: Steven highlighted how Standard Practice can help employers save significantly on healthcare costs by encouraging employees to switch to high-deductible health plans, demonstrating a clear ROI for the program.
Long-term Vision: Beyond healthcare financing, Steven envisions Standard Practice evolving into a comprehensive healthcare operating system that helps patients make better care decisions and navigate the healthcare system more effectively.
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Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Idan Shchori, CEO of Datorios, a data transformation platform promising to disrupt the way everyone from dedicated engineers to marketing executives deals with the modern deluge of data. Moving through the sales and marketing space to take a founding position at Datorios, Idan shares insights from the CEOs and thought leaders that make him tick, and also his frustrations with the sometimes outdated approach of what is supposed to be an innovation-driven industry.
With a code-agnostic platform accessible for everyone, regardless of technical background, and a vision to produce a one-stop shop for all their clients' data concerns but at a fraction of the price compared to hiring an external team of dedicated experts, Datorios is making a strategic play for premiere position in a saturated market space. 2023 looks set to be their year, so watch this space.
Topics Discussed:
The Israeli tech ecosystem, and why Tel-Aviv is transforming into a world startup superpower
Why disruption isn’t enough anymore, and why Idan has joined the ‘war on the status quo.’
Why the world of data remains poorly understood, and how this leads to wasting time and money on inefficient solutions
How Datorios ‘code agnostic’ model helps make their solutions accessible for as many people as possible, and why that matters
How leveraging a new breed of ‘data influencers’ helps develop a winning market strategy and prepare a market-ready product
Why two years incarcerated in a contract just doesn’t make sense in the modern startup space
Why Datorios is in it for the long run, developing a meaningful product rather than a quick ‘cash-out’ strategy
Favorite book:
Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Olivia Bushe, CEO of FlowForma, about her journey from CMO to CEO, and why she’s proud to have broken not one, but two glass ceilings on her journey to the top. We also discuss the need for a business-orientated process automation tool at the enterprise scale, and why FlowForma’s no-code approach might just be the winning formula, providing critical services at an accessible price via a SaaS model.
It’s this approach which is helping FlowForma disrupt the market space, and driving them towards increasingly global expansion. Rising above the background noise as a business-native software solution and breaking dependency on dedicated IT teams to integrate crucial software, having established themselves as a presence in the market, the next few years look to be an exciting time indeed.
Topics Discussed:
From CMO to CEO - why breaking glass ceilings is good for innovation and market development
Why more CMOs are likely to find their way into the top job in the future and how their skills make them ideal candidates for CEO
How FlowForma recognised the need for a business-orientated workflow product
The key criteria for new product features, and why ease of use is everything
Why the ‘no-code’ model is disrupting the process automation space
Why new ideas are always an uphill struggle, and why education has been a central part of Forma Flow’s market development strategy
Global expansion, a growing staff, and why FormaFlow is ready to increase its impact exponentially
Favorite book:
The Qualified Sales Leader: Proven Lessons from a Five Time CRO