"Turpentine Finance" with Sasha Orloff | Startup Finance, Leadership, CFO Strategy

E29: Bootstrapped to $640M: Brad Wiskirchen on M&A, Board Management, and Decision-Making

Oct 24, 2024

In this insightful discussion, Brad Wiskirchen, the mastermind behind Kount, shares his remarkable journey in bootstrapping the AI-driven fraud prevention firm that sold to Equifax for a staggering $640 million. He delves into the complexities of navigating business growth, stressing the importance of selecting the right funding partners and transparent communication. Brad also explores the intricate dynamics of mergers and acquisitions, revealing key strategies for successful negotiation, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

56:00

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Episode guests

Brad Wiskirchen

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Brad Wiskirchen emphasized the importance of returning capital to stakeholders, highlighting that many venture-backed startups fail in this regard.

The transformation of Kount stemmed from addressing internal fraud control needs and successfully packaging that solution for the market.

Integration challenges post-acquisition at Equifax were mitigated by leadership changes, focusing on preserving innovative culture and agile operations.

Deep dives

Launch of New Publication

A new publication is being launched by Turpentine, which aims to provide exclusive content written by top hosts and expert guests. This initiative encourages listeners to engage by offering early access opportunities through email subscriptions. The publication seeks to leverage group chats for inspiration and topic generation, allowing for dynamic and relevant content. By fostering this community connection, it aims to enrich the listening experience and provide additional insights related to the podcast's themes.

Intro

3min

From ClickBank to Kinetics: Innovating Fraud Control in E-Commerce

3min

Navigating Business Growth and Funding

17min

Navigating Business Growth Strategies and Product Development

5min

Navigating Project Viability and Agile Decision-Making

2min

Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions

22min

Leveraging Global Connections for Business Growth

2min

In this episode, host Sasha Orloff interviews Brad Wiskirchen about his journey with Kount, the AI-driven fraud prevention company he bootstrapped and sold to Equifax for $640 million, while sharing insights from his experience as a founder and now a partner at CVC Capital Partners. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/eec1be56-ae04-4afc-bb24-7ed8523b2176

📰Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess

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LINKS:

Kount: https://kount.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradwiskirchen/

X/SOCIAL:

@sashaorloff

@KountInc

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