In this episode, Sasha sits down with Michelle Valentine, Co-founder and CEO of Anrok, the tax compliance infrastructure for the internet economy. They discuss the complexities of sales tax in the digital age, the historical context, regulatory changes, and challenges faced by startups operating online. Michelle shares her journey from VC at Index Ventures to founding Anorak and provides valuable advice for finance leaders and founders on navigating sales tax issues effectively.

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LINKS:

https://www.anrok.com/

X/SOCIAL:

@sashaorloff (Sasha)

@_vltn (Michelle)

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode preview

(01:12) The complexity of sales tax in the digital age

(03:40) The evolution of sales tax laws

(05:41) The impact of remote work and Supreme Court rulings

(07:20) Local vs. state tax compliance

(10:47) How Anrok solves sales tax issues

(12:25) The importance of early sales tax compliance

(15:13) Anrok's approach to sales tax management

(18:30) Address data quality and sales tax

(24:06) Common misconceptions about tax responsibility

(26:45) From venture capitalist to founder

(28:01) Building a strong founding team

(32:57) The why now for Anrok

(35:41) Advice for founders and finance teams

(39:49) The role of accounting firms and fractional CFOs

(42:47) Anrok's vision and future