Y Combinator: The Ultimate Startup Launchpad with Michael Litt

May 28, 2024

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In this episode of The Startup CEO Show, host Mark MacLeod engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Michael Litt, the innovative CEO of Vidyard and investor at Garage Capital. Discover the secrets behind transforming startups into scale-ups, insights of being part of Y Combinator in Silicon Valley, and navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Explore Michael's perspective on staying innovative and energized, the nexus between investing and entrepreneurship, and the pivotal role of bleeding-edge technology in shaping the future of businesses.

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Key highlights:

04:15 The Genesis of Vidyard and Entrepreneurial Journey

08:30 Unleashing the Potential of AI in B2B Commerce

12:45 Crafting Sustainable Growth Strategies

18:20 Revolutionizing Customer Interactions with AI Avatars

24:10 Building a Strong Executive Leadership Team

30:50 Leveraging AI for Enhanced Customer Outreach

37:30 The Impact of University of Waterloo on Startup Ecosystem

42:15 Founder CEO vs. Professional CEO Insights

48:40 Navigating the Startup Landscape and Building Success

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Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/