Two-time founder Rujul Zaparde knows a thing or two about resilience and learning from failure. After dropping out of college to build FlightCar, he worked as a PM at Airbnb, and later as a visiting partner at YC. In 2020, he co-founded Zip, a procurement software company that has since raised $370 million and reached a $2.2 billion valuation. In this conversation with YC's Dalton Caldwell, Rujul demystifies the world of enterprise sales, shares his hard-earned lessons about scaling a business from zero, and explains how founders can use first-principles thinking to better approach the challenges of building a startup.

Rujul Zaparde, Co-founder and CEO of Zip, shares his entrepreneurial journey from a failed startup to leading a $1.5 billion company. He emphasizes the importance of speed in startups and why hiring inexperienced talent can foster innovation. Rujul discusses standing out in competitive markets, lessons learned at Airbnb, and the significance of adaptability in early-stage companies. He also challenges conventional wisdom on design partners and the impact of AI on sales, providing invaluable insights for aspiring founders.

In this conversation, Rujul Zaparde, CEO and Co-Founder of Zip, shares insights on building a $1.5 billion SaaS and fintech platform. He discusses the rigorous validation process for big business ideas and emphasizes the need for speed, learning, and iteration in entrepreneurship. Rujul also highlights the significance of nurturing talent within the company and effective strategies for navigating complex procurement challenges. The episode wraps up with a look at future-proofing tech businesses through continuous improvement and leveraging AI innovations.