“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Dave Margulius: "Starting a Company Without VC Money is Like Starting a Religion"
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Aug 14, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dave Margulius, co-founder of Quizlet and a serial entrepreneur, shares his journey from bootstrapping a startup with teenage partners to building a successful global education platform. He dives into the challenges of leading without VC funding, emphasizing passion as a driving force. Margulius also sheds light on the transition to board member, the importance of maintaining a mission-driven culture during growth, and the revolutionary impact of AI in recruitment. Tune in for insightful wisdom on innovation and leadership!
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Massive Education Opportunity
- Dave frames global education as a $5 trillion opportunity driven by mobile attention shifting to phones.
- He believes Quizlet can be one of a few global platforms leveraging AI to scale learning.
Founding Through A Chance Meeting
- Dave met 17-year-old Andrew who had built a study app used in his high school and started working with him.
- They leveraged free tools, APIs, and teens' energy to rapidly prototype and scale Quizlet.
Building In Coffee Shops
- Dave drove to pick up Andrew after school, worked together in coffee shops, and shipped projects in single weekends.
- Teen developers repeatedly surprised him by delivering full builds far faster than expected.