Outsourcing isn't new — but the way startups can use it today has radically changed. On this week’s ep, I sat down with Shaun Walker, CEO of Spoke, to unpack what business process outsourcing (BPO) can look like for high-growth startups in 2025.
Let me say this upfront: most early - stage founders are missing out. Outsourcing isn’t just about slashing costs - it’s about building operational leverage and unlocking global talent pools in a way that accelerates your entire business.
Spoke’s model stands out because it focuses on fully embedded, dedicated teams that feel like extensions of your startup - they're engaged team members motivated to help you hit your milestones.
Whether it’s customer support, finance, data operations, or even engineering, there’s a strategic opportunity here. Especially in today’s hybrid and AI-enhanced world, Shaun argues that outsourcing can be a “bionic” function — letting you scale up or down with flexibility, access talent faster, and focus your internal team on what truly matters.
If you're a founder thinking about how to stretch your funding and build operational leverage, this is a must-listen. Hope it helps you navigate your own growth journey.
🕒 Chapter Markers
00:00 – Intro & Welcome
01:10 – What Spoke Does Differently in BPO
03:00 – Human-Centric Approach to Outsourcing
05:00 – Why Not Hire Offshore Directly?
07:00 – Building Embedded Global Teams
08:00 – Why Founders Miss BPO Opportunities
10:00 – When to Consider Outsourcing
12:00 – How Spoke Supports Startups
14:00 – The Cost vs. Strategic Advantage Debate
17:00 – Global Talent Quality and Motivation
19:00 – BPO as a Bionic Growth Function
21:00 – Helping Startups with U.S. Hiring Too
22:00 – High-Skill Roles & No Upper Limit
26:00 – AI’s Role in the Future of Outsourcing
28:00 – When Outsourcing Doesn’t Work
32:00 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
