Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

In this episode, we speak with Taylor Rhodes, CEO of Applied Systems, the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and an innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems. Taylor joined Applied in 2019 after serving as Chief Executive Officer of SMS Assist, the leading cloud-based software platform for multi-site property management. Previously, he was CEO of Rackspace, where he led the company’s growth from a cloud pioneer to an industry leader with more than two billion dollars in revenue. Taylor was recognized as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs of 2023 by The Software Report. Taylor supports World Vision.  To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Alan Cline, Hg’s Head of North America, a Partner and a member of Hg’s Senior Leadership Team. He leads the firm’s activity across the USA and Canada. Alan has a long and impressive track record across leadership, tech investing and operations, having built the Foundation Fund within Vista Equity, following hands on experience as a technology entrepreneur.  He was previously Senior Managing Director, Fund Co-Head at Vista. Hg has over 400 employees across London, Munich, New York, Paris and San Francisco, and a current portfolio of around 52 businesses, worth approximately $135 billion in aggregate enterprise value. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with David Ratner, CEO of HYAS, a cybersecurity company leading the charge in the war against attacks of all kinds, including ransomware, supply-chain attacks, phishing, and trojans. David’s career spans various areas of software and technology, from writing code for some of the first and largest mobile and messaging systems to scaling, growing, and exiting multiple venture-backed, private-equity-owned, and public software companies. Before joining HYAS, David was the CEO at Realm and CEO and President at Openwave Messaging. He earned his PhD and MS in computer science at UCLA and his undergraduate degree in mathematics and computer science at Cornell University. David was recognized as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs of 2023 by The Software Report. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with “Kim” Lechà, CEO of Typeform, a no-code SaaS platform with thoughtfully-designed tools that help companies grow their business by engaging with their audience. It provides a refreshingly different form builder that helps companies collect zero-party data while providing a stellar brand experience. The company is backed by Sofina, General Atlantic, Index Ventures, and other notable investors. Kim joined Typeform in 2018 as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience at high-growth companies.  He was recently recognized by The Software Report as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs of 2023. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Daphne Tong, Partner and Co-Head of Investments at WestCap, an operating and investing firm for generational companies. WestCap invests in tech-enabled, asset-light marketplaces. Its focus areas include fintech, real estate tech, infrastructure tech, healthtech, and digital experiences. Prior to WestCap, Daphne was the Co-Head of the Private Equity Funds and Co-Investment Group in the Americas for GIC, a leading global investment firm established to manage Singapore’s foreign reserves. Prior to that, she was a Principal in Blackstone’s Private Equity division.  She started her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. Daphne was recognized by GrowthCap as one of the Top Software Investors of 2023. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Sean Hinton, CEO and Founder of SkyHive. SkyHive is a generative AI software company that rapidly re-skills companies and communities around the world. SkyHive invented Quantum Labor Analysis, the application of Artificial Intelligence to analyze a workforce at its most granular and real-time level. Sean is a member of the 2023 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute and he was recently named one of The Software Report’s Top 50 SaaS CEOs of 2023. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Raghu Ravinutala, Co-Founder and CEO of Yellow.ai, a global leader in generative AI-powered customer service automation. Raghu co-founded the company with a vision to make customer and enterprise interactions more effective and effortless. Since its inception, Raghu and his team have successfully expanded Yellow.ai’s presence across the U.S., Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Australia and Latin America with over 1,000 customers in over 85 countries. Previously, Raghu worked for 16 years with leading tech companies such as Texas Instruments, and Broadcom across leadership roles in engineering, product management and business development both in the Bay Area and India. Raghu was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs of 2023 by The Software Report.  The company is backed by Salesforce Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, WestBridge Capital, and other notable investors. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Rodrigo Liang, the Co-Founder and CEO of SambaNova Systems. Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities within the enterprise.  Its purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries and is backed by investors including SoftBank, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital, Google Ventures, and other notable investors. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Princeton Equity Group Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jim Waskovich.  The firm is among the most experienced franchise and multi-unit investors in the United States, having sponsored investments in some of the most admired, growth-oriented brands in the consumer, healthcare, and business services industries. Jim co-founded Princeton Equity Group, co-leads its investment activities, and sits on the Firm’s investment committee. Prior to co-founding the firm, Jim spent nearly 20 years as a private equity investor at Summit Partners, ABS Capital, and Princeton Ventures, which he founded in 2006.  Jim is also the Founder and Chairman of Princeton Medspa Partners, a leading consolidator and franchisor in the noninvasive medical aesthetics industry. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

Ernesto Aguilar, President and CEO of Ardurra, talks about the rapid growth and backing of Ardura, their strategy for growth through acquisitions, and his experience in private equity. They also discuss building a tech company, reflecting on their career, and their passion for raising awareness about Alzheimer's.