The SaaS Revolution Show More mountain: Marcus Ryu on finding the joy in hard work
May 15, 2025
In a captivating conversation, Marcus Ryu, co-founder of Guidewire and now a Partner at Battery Ventures, shares his journey from aspiring academic to CEO of a billion-dollar company. He discusses his philosophy of 'More Mountain', highlighting how embracing challenges fosters personal growth. Marcus candidly reflects on years of rejection, the loneliness that comes with leadership, and the transformative role of AI in venture capital. His insights on real entrepreneurship emphasize that true founders thrive by tackling hard problems head-on.
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Guidewire's Early Struggle Story
- Marcus Ryu shared how Guidewire faced continuous rejection from investors, customers, and employees in its early years.
- They overcame immense challenges through sheer willpower to secure initial customers and build the company.
Joy in Hard Work
- Embrace hard work as a feature, not a bug, for meaningful achievements.
- Find joy in the struggle and the process, not only in reaching the destination.
AI's Realistic Impact
- AI promises significant automation but probably won't replace higher-level human judgment soon.
- Its impact may resemble mobile tech: transformative but not revolutionary in human productivity.
