In this episode of Inovia Sessions, host Meryl Almeida sits down with Ernest Chi, Senior Director of Product Acceleration at 1Password, to dive deep into the world of strategic partnerships and M&A. Ernest shares insights from his impressive career spanning roles in high-growth tech companies and his current position overseeing partnerships and corporate development at 1Password. Discover his practical approach to evaluating build, buy, or partner strategies and the pivotal role trust plays ...
Oct 21, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Tune into this episode of Inovia Sessions where host Meryl Almeida discusses the fascinating journey of Alex Leclerc, co-founder and CEO of Poka. Discover how Alex led his company through a strategic exit to IFS despite a challenging M&A landscape. Alex shares valuable insights on selecting and working with an investment bank, choosing an acquirer, and building lasting trust post-acquisition. Learn from his firsthand experience about the meticulous planning and strategic decisions that power...
Jul 23, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Welcome to Season 2 of Inovia Sessions. This season, we're diving deep into the world of mergers and acquisitions. Hosted by Meryl Almeida, Director of Corporate Development at Inovia, we'll explore the critical aspects of M&A, from planning to execution. Join us as we discuss strategies with seasoned executives, board members, and founders who've successfully navigated complex M&A transactions. Whether you're looking to grow your business or considering an exit, this series offers pract...
May 23, 2024•1 min
In this enlightening episode of Inovia Sessions, host Meryl Almeida welcomes Sarah Hughes, head of Atlassian’s venture arm, partnerships team, and corporate development function. Sarah discusses the strategic role these divisions play in fueling Atlassian's growth, highlighting the recent $975 million acquisition of Loom. She explains how Atlassian, like Inovia, leverages ecosystem maps and early relationship building in its M&A strategy. Listen in to dive deep into the mechanics of creating...
May 23, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Join us on this insightful episode of Inovia Sessions where we explore the intricate role of board members in mergers and acquisitions. Our guest today is Patrick Pichette, a seasoned board member with a storied history as the CFO of Google and board chair at Twitter. Hosted by Meryl Almeida, this discussion delves into Patrick's unique perspective on the strategic implementation of M&A from a board's viewpoint. Discover the critical aspects of presenting transactions to the board, the dynam...
May 23, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Dive into the complexities of M&A with Jann Lau, a Senior Director of Corporate Development at PayPal, on this episode of Inovia Sessions. Hosted by Meryl Almeida, this discussion explores how Jann’s varied roles at companies like Square and his experience with PayPal’s inorganic growth strategies have shaped his perspective on M&A. Jann discusses the importance of adaptability, the necessity of teamwork, and strategic decision-making in corporate development. Gain insights into how comp...
May 23, 2024•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode of Inovia Sessions, join host Meryl Almeida as she sits down with Hilary Shirazi, Head of Corporate Development at Notion. With a remarkable background spanning roles at Pinterest, Zendesk, and LinkedIn, Hilary shares her extensive experience in navigating complex M&A transactions. This discussion delves into how reporting structures impact M&A, the strategic experimentation in M&A processes, and the critical importance of early integration efforts. Whether you're a s...
May 23, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In today's episode, we delve deep with Emil Eifrem CEO of Neo4j. He started a graph database software company in 2007 which has now raised close to $600M, employs over 700 people and is used by 75 of the Fortune 100 companies. From starting in Sweden to a quick move to the US market and an eventual return to Europe, Emil candidly shares the evolution of Neo4j over the years. As a tech leader who transitioned from being in the day-to-day trenches in the U.S. to eventually taking a hybrid approach...
Dec 19, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, we’re joined by Collin Crowell, Vice President, North America at Kameleoon, the platform where product, marketing, and engineers work together on growth through experimentation. Colin’s journey as the first North American hire overseeing a rapidly growing team is a masterclass in understanding the cultural, operational, and strategic nuances of expanding into this region. As someone who’s bridged the gap between European headquarters and North American operations, Collin’s insig...
Dec 12, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In today's episode, we're thrilled to sit down with Konstantina Psoma, the Founder and CEO of Kaedim. Navigating her journey from Europe to Silicon Valley, Konstantina offers a firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs of raising from top tier US investors. With her roots in Athens and her eyes set on San Francisco's tech landscape, she underscores the significance of building a strong network of founders and the complexities of fundraising whilst propelling a business forward. Dive in wi...
Dec 05, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, we're privileged to have a conversation with Daniel Glazer, Managing Partner at Wilson Sonsini. As an authority on assisting European startups break into the U.S. market, Daniel will help us break down the administrative considerations and costs associated with expanding West. If you're a startup eyeing the U.S. market or just keen on understanding its legal intricacies, this episode is brimming with hands-on advice.
Nov 28, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, we sit down with Phil Hutcheon, Founder and CEO of Dice, to dive deep into the intricacies of breaking into the US B2C market and establishing leadership through network effects. From confronting resistance to navigating stereotypes and securing support from key players, we'll uncover valuable insights that every tech entrepreneur should know.
Nov 21, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode, we're diving into the early-day challenges of entering the American tech market as a B2B SaaS company. We'll hear from Isabelle Guis, Global CMO and North American CEO of Brevo, and Francoise Brougher, Executive Advisor at Inovia, who have both successfully navigated this landscape.
Nov 10, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
