Category Visionaries

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Brett Kleger, CEO of Datacubed Health, a data collection and patient engagement platform that has raised over $43 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Background Transformation: Brett shares his journey from a "recovering lawyer" to leading a tech company focused on clinical trials, highlighting his passion for creating a meaningful impact in healthcare. Access to Clinical Trials: Datacubed Health aims to democratize access to clinical trials, allowing individuals from any socioeconomic background and location to participate, challenging the traditional model that favored those with proximity to major medical centers and financial means. Patient-Centric Approach: The company distinguishes itself by prioritizing patient experience in clinical trials, using behavioral science to engage participants effectively, a shift from viewing patients merely as data sources. Navigating a Pandemic: Brett discusses the challenges and strategic shifts needed to adapt Datacubed Health's operations and growth plans in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of remote work adaptation and employee support. Strategic Growth: Key priorities for 2024 include sensible growth, advancing patient data collection sophistication, and achieving profitability, with a focus on expanding market reach within the clinical trial space. Vision for the Future: Brett envisions a future where access to cutting-edge medical treatments is not limited by geography or financial status, aiming to make novel healthcare solutions available to all through improved clinical trial processes.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Amit Bhatia, Co-Founder and CEO of Datapeople, a recruiting intelligence platform that has raised $21 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Diverse Background: Amit's journey from an investment banker and a neural net engineer to a founder in the recruiting tech space highlights a diverse set of experiences leading to his current venture. Market Revelation: Amit's realization about the massive, yet underoptimized recruiting space while working at Morgan Stanley provided the impetus for founding Datapeople. Bootstrap Beginnings: The initial four years of bootstrapping and building a job search engine offered Amit a "PhD" in understanding the nuances of job searches and employer postings. Problem Identification: Discovering that the issue wasn't with platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed, but rather the way jobs were presented, led to the development of Datapeople's unique solution. Enterprise Ready Journey: Transitioning from a job search engine to a sophisticated platform for both recruiters and hiring managers marked a significant growth phase for the company. Customer Diversification: Amit emphasized the importance of serving a wide range of industries beyond tech to ensure the solution's applicability and success across the job market.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Meryem Arik, CEO and Co-Founder of Titan ML, a leading LLM deployment solution that's raised $2.8 Million in funding.  Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Unconventional Beginnings: Meryem’s journey into tech was fueled by her passion for rugby, a sport where she learned the importance of teamwork and resilience. Her unique path from sports to banking, and finally to tech entrepreneurship, highlights the diverse experiences that shape innovative leaders. Solving a Crucial Problem: Titan ML addresses the inefficiency of ML engineers spending excessive time on infrastructure rather than core business problems. Meryem discusses the importance of providing a solution that allows engineers to focus on what truly matters for their business. The Rise of Titan ML in a Post-ChatGPT World: The conversation delves into how the launch of ChatGPT highlighted the urgent need for Titan ML's services. Meryem shares how the AI frenzy post-ChatGPT propelled the demand for their LLM deployment solutions, illustrating the market's rapid evolution. Navigating the Fundraising Journey: Meryem reflects on the iterative process of fundraising, likening it to finding product-market fit. She emphasizes the value of adapting and learning from each pitch to better convey the company's story and vision. Advocating for Women in Tech: Discussing the underrepresentation of women in tech and venture-backed startups, Meryem calls for a shift in perspective to view gender diversity as a business opportunity, rather than a charitable cause. Her insights challenge the industry to recognize and address systemic issues starting from education. Looking Ahead: Meryem outlines her vision for Titan ML to become an essential, though perhaps invisible, component in LLM and generative AI deployments. Her ambition for the company to be as fundamental as deploying a database speaks to the transformative potential of Titan ML's technology.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Khaled Hassounah, CEO and Founder of Ample, a pioneering EV battery solution that has raised over $290 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: From Software to Clean Energy: Transitioning across various sectors, Khaled found his calling in addressing the clean energy challenge, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to making significant social impacts. The Genesis of Ample: The founding of Ample was driven by the realization that the current infrastructure cannot support the rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs), necessitating a new approach to energy delivery for EVs. Modular Battery Swapping: Ample’s innovative solution to the EV charging challenge involves modular battery swapping, a concept that drastically reduces charging times and infrastructure demands. Customer-Centric Business Model: Unlike traditional approaches, Ample focuses directly on end-users and fleet operators, partnering with automakers to integrate their battery swapping technology without selling directly to them. Overcoming Skepticism: Khaled discusses how Ample navigates the initial skepticism around battery swapping by showcasing their unique, modular approach, which differs significantly from past attempts in the space. The Future Vision of Ample: Looking ahead, Khaled envisions Ample expanding its global network of battery swapping stations and possibly reinventing their technology and business model to further accommodate the evolving needs of EV energy delivery.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jordan Domash, CEO and Co-Founder of Responsiv, a legal tech company that has raised $3 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Jordan's Journey: From starting his career in consulting to an eight-year tenure at Relativity, a leading company in legal tech, and finally founding Responsiv to address the inefficiencies in legal research. Chief of Staff Insights: Jordan's unique role as Chief of Staff at Relativity, where he gained deep insights into product development, customer needs, and the complexities of legal technology. The Genesis of Responsiv: Inspired by the challenges faced by in-house attorneys in accessing accurate legal information, Responsiv was born to offer a streamlined, AI-enhanced solution for legal research. Understanding the Market: Responsiv caters to in-house legal teams across various industries, focusing on regulated organizations and rapidly growing tech companies for its initial customer base. Disrupting Traditional Legal Research: Aiming to replace the outdated methods of legal research dominated by platforms like Westlaw and LexisNexis, Responsiv offers a modern, AI-driven alternative that's tailored for the corporate legal environment. The Future of Legal Tech: Jordan's vision for Responsiv extends beyond providing legal research tools; he aims to create a comprehensive platform that supports in-house attorneys in every aspect of their work, from accessing legal information to drafting actionable documents.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jared Pope, CEO and Co-Founder of WorkShield, a workplace misconduct platform that has raised $12 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: A Recovering Lawyer Turned Entrepreneur: Jared shares his journey from being a lawyer to embracing the entrepreneurial path, driven by a desire to manage his own ventures and solve significant problems outside the traditional practice of law. The Genesis of WorkShield: Inspired during the MeToo movement, Jared and his Co-Founder (who is also his wife) aimed to tackle workplace misconduct with a solution that offered a voice to affected employees, ensuring their concerns are seriously addressed and resolved efficiently. Challenges of the Traditional Legal System: Jared's transition from law to entrepreneurship was fueled by the inefficiencies and constraints of the legal profession, pushing him to seek a more impactful and equitable way to address workplace issues. Building WorkShield's Unique Solution: WorkShield stands out by not just being a software platform but also offering services that humanize the process of handling workplace misconduct, ensuring that affected employees feel heard and supported. Growth and Evolution: WorkShield's approach to scaling involves closely listening to client feedback to continuously improve and adapt its platform to meet the evolving needs of workplaces. The Importance of Culture and Fit: Jared emphasizes the critical role of hiring the right team members who align with WorkShield's core values of being hungry, humble, and smart, contributing to the company's positive culture and sustained growth.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Marina Segal, CEO & Co-Founder of Tamnoon, a cutting-edge cloud security platform that has successfully raised over $5 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Early Experiences Shape Future Paths: Marina's initial years in Israel and service in the IDF taught her vital lessons in adaptability, language, and equality. Despite her niche role within the IDF, it laid the groundwork for her passion in compliance and frameworks, influencing her career trajectory. Cultural Adjustments and Learning Curves: Moving to the US, Marina faced the challenge of adapting to a new work culture, learning the subtleties of communication and professional interaction. This experience sharpened her interpersonal skills and played a crucial role in her decision to dive into the startup ecosystem, drawing her closer to the Israeli community. Driven by Process Optimization: Marina's journey into cloud security was motivated by her desire to automate and optimize compliance assessments and risk management processes. Her work at Deloitte and the transition to a tech startup stemmed from her passion for reducing manual workload through innovative solutions. Finding Inspiration in Leadership: Marina credits her grandmother and a mentor from Deloitte as significant inspirations in her life. Their leadership styles, emphasizing humility, approachability, and the ability to manage stress while fostering a sense of equality and peer respect, greatly influenced her approach to leadership and problem-solving. Tamnoon's Unique Value Proposition: Tamnoon aims to bridge the gap between cloud security detection and effective remediation. By focusing on the next step beyond just identifying security issues, Tamnoon seeks to offer scalable solutions for remediation and prevention, addressing a critical need in the cloud security space. The Significance of Team Building: The co-founding journey of Tamnoon underlines the importance of partnership and team dynamics. Marina's previous collaboration with her co-founder at another startup highlighted the value of shared principles, conflict resolution, and the ability to work towards common goals.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Stoyan Zulyamsky, Co-Founder of Costimize, a finops-powered operating system for the modern enterprise that's raised $5 Million in funding.  Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:  Early Tech Aspirations: Stoyan's interest in technology began at a young age, with ambitions to build his own computer. His early career moves, including working for the biggest bank in Bulgaria, provided him with the insights and experiences that would later fuel his entrepreneurial journey. The Tech Scene in Bulgaria: From being perceived as a call center location to becoming an R&D hub for large tech companies, Bulgaria has experienced a significant transformation. This change reflects the country's growing startup ecosystem, fueled by an influx of capital and a wealth of educated talent. Addressing Cloud Complexity: Costimize tackles the complex, automated environment of cloud systems, aiming to simplify and optimize operations for businesses. Stoyan's vision is to provide a systematic approach to managing and reducing cloud expenses while organizing operational playbooks for sustainability. The Genesis of Costimize: The idea for Costimize was born out of Stoyan's experiences in managing IT operations and witnessing the manual efforts required to control cloud spending. This realization led to the development of a platform that could automate these processes, saving time and resources for businesses. Market Positioning and Growth Strategy: Initially focusing on Google Cloud as a niche market, Costimize is expanding its offerings to other cloud platforms. Stoyan's strategy involves leveraging marketplace opportunities and partnerships to drive growth, aiming for a tenfold increase in the coming year. FinOps and the Future of Cloud Management: Stoyan emphasizes the importance of FinOps (financial operations) in the evolving landscape of cloud management. He envisions Costimize as a central platform that connects various systems, aiding organizations in automating their cloud finances for enhanced profitability.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Arie Zilberstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Gem Security, a cloud detection and response platform that has raised $34 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Facing Skepticism and Pursuing Vision: Despite encountering skepticism at the outset, Arie and his team remained committed to their vision for Gem Security, leveraging their extensive cybersecurity experience to validate and pursue their innovative cloud security solution. Identifying a Market Gap: Arie's prior roles in incident response revealed significant challenges in cloud-native breach detection and response, inspiring the foundation of Gem Security to address these critical gaps in the market. Strategic Relationship Building: Gem Security's credibility and market presence were significantly enhanced through strategic relationships and endorsements from cybersecurity leaders, illustrating the importance of trusted networks in startup growth. Early Customer Engagement and Validation: The transition from design partners to paying customers highlighted the importance of early and active engagement with potential users to refine and validate the product offering, ensuring it met real market needs. Focus on Team Building: The initial stages of Gem Security emphasized assembling a strong foundational team, underscoring the crucial role of talent acquisition and team cohesion in the early success of a startup. Vision for Scaling and Future Growth: Looking forward to 2024, Arie focuses on scaling Gem Security's go-to-market strategy and enhancing the sales team to broaden the company's reach and impact, aiming to revolutionize security operations in the cloud era.

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Ethan Ruby, CEO and Co-Founder of SaaSGrid, a SaaS data platform that has raised over $3 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Product Development Journey: The inception of SaaSGrid, evolving from a simple spreadsheet for financial diligence to a comprehensive SaaS data platform, illustrates the iterative nature of product development and the importance of addressing specific market needs. Transition Challenges: Transitioning from a venture capitalist to a founder, Ethan discusses the multifaceted challenges and learning curves, highlighting the operational and strategic shifts required in this new role. From Tool to Platform: The transformation of an internal tool into a full-fledged product underscores the potential of simple solutions to evolve into significant market offerings, emphasizing innovation and market fit. Building a Sales Team: Ethan talks about the strategic pivot from founder-led sales to establishing a sales team, reflecting on the scalability challenges and the critical nature of this transition for growth. Addressing Diverse Customer Segments: Tailoring the product and messaging to serve both early-stage startups and growth-stage companies showcases the complexity of effectively serving a broad market with varying needs. Vision for the Future: Ethan shares his vision for SaaSGrid to become the all-in-one operating hub for SaaS companies, leveraging data for enhanced operational workflows and decision-making.