Shensi Ding

Shensi Ding, Co-founder and CEO of Merge, discusses the critical search for a Chief Revenue Officer as her company scales after Series B funding. She reveals the complexities of finding a CRO who can adapt to Merge’s unique culture while also driving enterprise sales. Shensi shares her hands-on recruitment strategies and the importance of balancing traditional sales experience with modern skills. Additionally, she emphasizes the value of personal growth through reading and fitness, showcasing how these pursuits enhance leadership.

Shensi Ding, the founder and CEO of Merge, shares her journey from coding whispers to a booming $10M+ ARR. She brazenly cold-messaged 50,000 engineers and offered initial customers two free months to build trust. Shensi emphasizes the importance of outbound sales, detailing her relentless demos and hiring in-office during COVID. Discover why she decided to hold off on revenue collection until hitting $1M ARR and how she regained a lost major client. Her raw, determined spirit proves that sheer grit can lead to remarkable success.

In an engaging discussion with Shensi Ding, the Co-founder of Merge, listeners discover her intriguing leap from finance to tech. She emphasizes the vital role of integrations in modern business and shares the challenges of building and maintaining them. Shensi highlights the need for standardized data models and strategic partnerships, along with ways to enhance integration observability. The conversation wraps up with insights into Merge's expansion into AI applications and the importance of financial efficiency in fostering growth.