When to Build vs Buy: Owning Critical Rails

Alex Bouaziz is the Co-Founder and CEO @ Deel, the $17BN global payroll juggernaut that just last week announced their latest $300M fundraise led by Ribbit, a16z and Coatue. Deel has been on the most insane journey, they do $1BN+ in ARR, they just had their first $100M revenue month and they have been profitable for over 3 years.

AGENDA:

03:38 Announcing $300M Fundraise at a $17BN Valuation

06:24 Rippling vs Deel: WTF is Going On? Where is the Lawsuit?

14:01 Why 1-1s Are BS and Leaders Should Stop Doing Them

17:31 Do Rich Leaders Make Better Leaders

28:33 Biggest Lesson from Ben Horowitz? Why Most CMOs Are Bad?

34:48 Lessons from Nik @ Revolut and Why Companies Need to Make Their Own Software

42:23 Deel's Acquisition Playbook: Lessons from 13 Acquisitions

45:17 How to Price Acquisitions? How to Align Incentives with Founders?

55:45 Deel is Profitable and Growing Fast: When is the IPO?

01:01:35 Best Acquisition Ever + Worst Ever: What Did We Learn?