

20VC: Scaling Zapier To $140M ARR and a $5Bn Valuation on $1.4M of Funding, What Founders Misunderstand About Fundraising & How Founders Should Think About Secondaries Today with Wade Foster, Founder & CEO @ Zapier
32 snips Apr 15, 2021
Wade Foster, Co-founder and CEO of Zapier, shares insights from leading his company to a $5 billion valuation with just $1.4 million in funding. He discusses the challenges of remote work that Zapier has navigated since 2012 and emphasizes the importance of transparency in team communication. Wade reflects on his journey from email marketing to entrepreneurship, revealing critical leadership lessons learned while scaling. He also touches on fundraising approaches, the significance of effective executive hiring, and Zapier's mission to democratize automation for everyone.
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Wade's Non-Traditional Path to Zapier
- Wade Foster graduated during the financial crisis and struggled to find a job in his field.
- He took a marketing internship at a small software company, which sparked his passion for software.
Wade's Advice on "Fake It Till You Make It"
- Don't fake it in areas where you're inadequate, but say yes to stretch opportunities if you're a good learner.
- Be prepared for constant learning, as running a company constantly reveals new challenges.
Advice for Graduates: Small vs Big Companies
- Join the smallest company possible to gain broad exposure to different business functions.
- In smaller organizations, you get to experience all aspects of the business, even if not expertly.