In this episode, Sasha Orloff talks with Josh Wymer, Co-founder and CEO of Central HQ, about raising $8.6 million from First Round Capital and Y Combinator to build an AI-first back office solution that eliminates business compliance tasks through Slack-based automation, helping startups handle payroll, taxes, and HR without the administrative burden that typically comes with traditional software.
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SPONSORS:
Notion
Boost your startup with Notion—the ultimate connected workspace trusted by thousands worldwide! From engineering specs to onboarding and fundraising, Notion keeps your team organized and efficient. For a limited time, get 6 months of Notion AI FREE to supercharge your workflow. Claim your offer now at https://notion.com/startups/puzzle
Puzzle
📈 No more waiting for month's end. No more manual reconciliations, just financials that keep up with you. Puzzle is leading a new movement with an AI first ledger, built for speed, automation, and real time decision making. Join today at https://puzzle.io/
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RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwymer/
https://centralhq.com/
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X/SOCIAL:
@jbwyme (Josh)
@CentralHQX (Central HQ)
@sashaorloff (Sasha)
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Preview
(01:03) Intro
(01:46) The unavoidable hassles
(02:20) Meet Josh Wymer: The mission to eliminate business BS
(02:57) Complexity of payroll and compliance
(04:48) Central’s vision: Simplifying the back office
(07:19) Challenges and innovations in payroll solutions
(10:10) Sponsors: Notion | Puzzle
(11:35) Future of AI in business operations
(18:42) Power of LLMs and AI in streamlining tasks
(21:42) Origin of the tagline
(23:41) Investor reactions and brand strategy
(24:36) Challenges in a competitive market
(25:32) Focusing on founders and SMBs
(28:51) Learning and iterating as a startup
(33:21) Misunderstandings and common mistakes
(36:44) Future of startups and SMBs
(38:42) Wrap
