Traction

Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Remitly, shares his journey of transforming money transfers for immigrants, growing from 0 to 4.2 million customers and reaching a multibillion-dollar IPO. He discusses the inspiration behind his pursuit, shaped by his friends' struggles with outdated systems. Oppenheimer reveals strategies for user acquisition and retention, the importance of trust in customer relationships, and insights on choosing markets for expansion. He also offers unconventional advice that could change the way founders approach their startups.

Is bigger always better?There's this prevailing notion that a company needs to have thousands of employees working around the clock to create value and become successful.But our guest today has done the opposite.With a team of 80 that works 40 hours a week, he’s managed to rival the growth of his competitors with hundreds of millions in funding and thousands of employees working evenings and weekends.He has also generated more profit than all of them combined.Today, Jason Fried, Co-Founder and CEO at 37signals, shares the playbook for achieving big things with small teams.Specifically, Jason discusses:- The advantage of doing less and staying small in certain areas.- Choosing the most enjoyable hard path in business.- The long-term strategy to remain profitable.- The difference between a Founder and a CEO.- When to bring on a COO.- Why requiring your employees to work nights and weekends indicates your company is broken.- Why the expectation of immediate responses is toxic to a lot of companies.- Maintaining company culture, without unnecessary meetings.- Figuring out prioritization as a small company.- Lessons learned from growing a small team with no funding.Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioResourcesBooks - https://basecamp.com/books Products - https://37signals.com How one dollar made us worth $100,000,000,000 (that's 100 billion) - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/basecamp-valuation-tops-100-billion-after-bold-vc-investment-fried This episode is brought to you by:Each year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#product #marketing #innovation #startup #bootstrapping

Our guest on this episode of Traction is a legend in Silicon Valley, Keith Rabois, CEO of OpenStore, and GP at top-tier venture capital firm Founders Fund.Keith was instrumental in the success of PayPal, LinkedIn, Slide, Square, and OpenDoor. Eight companies he helped build are publicly traded IPOs with multi-billion dollar market caps or have been acquired for greater than $1 Billion.Today, Keith shares some unconventional tactics for building hyper-growth companies.Specifically, Keith covers:- How he got into tech and PayPal.- Advice to founders dealing with chaos in the market.- How startups should be built.- Finding and attracting undiscovered talent.- Key hires to make from 0 to $10 million and beyond.- Key ingredients to build a company that eventually goes public.- Common mistakes that founders should avoid.Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about OpenStore at https://open.store/This episode is brought to you by:Each year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#product #marketing #innovation #startup #generativeai #AI #founder #hypergrowth

They say success comes at a price, but what about the hidden toll it takes on the minds of those who dare to dream big?Andy Johns is a former Tech Exec and VC who spent the last 15 years investing in and driving growth for some of the biggest tech brands including Facebook, Twitter and Quora, as well as Wealthfront, where he was also president.After several years of working through psychological pain stemming from childhood trauma, Andy left it all to become a mental health advocate and a writer at Clues.Life. Now, he's on a mission to help others heal from emotional pain, transform themselves and discover their life’s purpose.In this session, Andy will dive into the raw reality of mental health and the stigma that has kept it locked away for far too long.Specifically, Andy discusses:- The reason for leaving Silicon Valley and becoming a mental health advocate.- How to uncover deep internal issues within yourself.- Why communities need to be more open about mental health.- Common health challenges for tech employees.- How to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work/life balance.Andy Johns - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjohns/Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Clues.Life at https://www.clues.life/This episode is brought to you by:Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. Scale your customer service without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/tractionEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#startup #founder #mentalhealth #selfcare

Generative AI is all the rage these days. There are thousands of generative AI tools swarming the market, and VC funding for this vertical hit two and a half billion last year.Regardless of the hype, generative AI has the power to transform the way we do business and reshape the entire customer journey.On this episode, Des Traynor, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Intercom, breaks down the hype. Specifically, Des covers:– Use cases of generative AI. – How the entire industry will change with AI's involvement.– Intercom’s approach to AI.– How to deploy at scale.– How the future of generative AI will evolve in the business world.– How to get started without extensive technical expertise.– Potential risks and downsides.– Advice for founders.Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Intercom at https://www.intercom.com/This episode is brought to you by:Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. Scale your customer service without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/tractionEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#product #marketing #innovation #startup #generativeai #AI

Building a unicorn as a first-time founder doesn't happen too often, but Capchase did that in two years while helping other startups get more than $2 billion in non dilutive funding.On this episode, Miguel Fernandez, Co-Founder & CEO at Capchase dives into:- Building a unicorn as a first time founder- Acquiring early customers and getting to product market fit- Funding your company without giving up equity- Bootstrapped vs. venture-backed - How money can mask anything- Leadership principles to institute during stressful times- The top things that make a great company cultureLearn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Capchase at https://www.capchase.com/This episode is brought to you by:Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. Scale your customer service without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/tractionEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#product #marketing #innovation #fundraising #fintech #unicorn #SaaS

On this episode of the Traction Podcast, Immad Akhund, Founder and CEO of Mercury shares their playbook to 80,000+ customers in more than 180 countries and becoming a multi-billion-dollar fintech company. Specifically, Immad discusses:Tactics for driving early customer acquisition and getting to go-to-market fitHow Mercury grew its customer base from 19,000 to more than 80,000 in just 18 monthsThe leading indicator for user engagementHow Mercury got 55% of their customers through word of mouthWhy you have to invest in things that are the right thing to do but may not necessarily provide monetary valueHow to create a product-focused culture throughout your organizationLearn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Mercury at https://mercury.com/This episode is brought to you by:Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. Scale your customer service without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/tractionEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com #product #marketing #innovation #fundraising #fintech #banking #startups

Matt MacInnis, COO at Rippling shares what it takes to successfully build and scale a hypergrowth company.In less than seven months after reaching a $6.5 billion valuation, Rippling was valued at $11.25 billion.Matt joined the company when it was just 70 employees, and he has been a key player in its exponential growth.From 2009 to 2018, Matt was the Co-Founder and CEO of Inkling, a mobile learning platform that provides on-job training for companies including McDonald’s and Whole Foods. Inkling was named one of the fastest, most innovative companies and raised over $100 million in funding before being acquired in 2018.Specifically, Matt covers:- The transition from Inkling to Rippling.- The key to making a startup with multiple products successful.- The long-term vision for Rippling.- What is a COO, and when is the right time to bring one into a company?- Behind the scenes of walking into a 70-person startup during a pandemic.- The first hires to make in a fast-moving company.- Key things to understand when scaling to $100 million ARR.- Why Rippling likes to hire former founders.- The benchmark for a successful process.Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Rippling at https://www.rippling.com/This episode is brought to you by:Intercom enables you to connect with your customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. Scale your customer service without additional investment while still providing a fast and personal experience. Apply to get a 95% discount at https://Intercom.com/traction.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com #product #marketing #innovation #fundraising #startup

Loom’s Co-Founder and CTO, Vinay Hiremath, joins us to share learnings from the highs and lows of his startup’s hypergrowth journey, going from maxing out his credit cards and being inches away from closing the company’s doors to having over 14 million users and a $1.5 billion valuation.Specifically, Vinay covers:– Coming up with the idea and finding co-founders.– Managing the chaos of pivots to product-market fit and escape velocity.– Tactics for driving customer acquisition and growth – how Loom got to 14 million users.– Whom to hire and how to build a team from the early stages through hypergrowth and scale.– Lessons from raising money from top investors like Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins.– Highs and lows of entrepreneurship and top things to do to prepare for peak mental performance.Learn more at https://tractionconf.ioLearn more about Loom at https://www.loom.com/This episode is brought to you by:In a digital world, customers demand more, especially from support. Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. This enables customer service teams to scale without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Welcome to a whole new way to support your customers. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/tractionEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#product #innovation #fundraising #startup #growth

On this episode, Mike Knoop, Co-founder and President at Zapier, dives into how they built a $5 billion company with little to no funding. A completely remote company utilizing little to no venture funding isn't the norm for highly successful companies, but that's exactly how Zapier started.Fast forward to today, and the company is helping millions of businesses connect with 5,000+ apps to aid productivity and save up to 20 hours per week. Specifically, Mike covers:- How Zapier got its start and self-funded its growth for so long. - Finding product-market fit and getting customers to pay early on. - How to think about adding new features and products.  - A framework for decision-making. Learn more at https://tractionconf.io Learn more about Zapier at https://zapier.com/ This episode is brought to you by: In a digital world, customers demand more, especially from support. Intercom enables businesses to connect with their customers at exactly the right moment using powerful messaging and automation. This enables customer service teams to scale without additional investment while still providing efficient and personal customer experiences. Welcome to a whole new way to support your customers. Eligible startups get advanced Intercom features at a 95% discount. Visit https://Intercom.com/traction   Each year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI   Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca   Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com #startup #growth #product #marketing #automation