At the age of 42, Eugenio Pace was a late bloomer in the startup game. But he more than made up for lost time when he built up identity authentication platform Auth0 from scratch in 2013, before the company was acquired by Okta in May 2021. The Co-Founder joined Adam for a chat about: Why developers are so important in the tech industry The first sale being a valuable milestone for any startup How the right timing (and luck) both play their part in company growth Zendesk for Startups partner Sil...
May 25, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Modern Health first opened its virtual doors in 2017 and has since grown to 400 employees — experiencing a surge in demand as a result of changing perceptions towards mental health. We caught up with Founder & CEO Alyson Watson to talk about: How focusing on the big picture is key in periods of growth Looking at business objectives to find out where to prioritize resources The importance of looking after and supporting your own team Check out Firstbase: 15% Off the $399 All Included Incorpor...
May 18, 2022•15 min•Season 5Ep. 3
When sales software company Outreach began back in 2014, there were three people making the amount of sales a team of 20 would. Today, they have 1,000 employees across the world and over 5,000 customers. We were joined by Co-Founder & CEO Manny Medina to discuss: Encouraging your employees to be high performers in and outside the organization Using feedback to understand what you’re doing right and where you can improve The importance of prioritizing customer retention before expansion AWS: ...
May 11, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Since launching at New York’s TechCrunch Disrupt back in 2014, DocSend was acquired by Dropbox in March 2021 and has brought on over 20,000 customers. In our Season 5 opener, Adam sat down for a virtual coffee with Co-Founder Russ Heddleston to get the lowdown on: How word of mouth is still important to achieve growth Using customer feedback as a base for making improvements Why founders should monetize their products from the get-go
May 04, 2022•18 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Since 2015, Jane Technologies has been revolutionizing the world of e-commerce, providing a channel for cannabis businesses to get their product directly to consumers' homes. We talked to Founder & CEO Socrates Rosenfeld to learn more about: Market innovation through product development Focusing on long term strategies UPC codes and product data in e-commerce Shout out to our top partner Segment! Here’s a link to get $50k in free credits: https://bit.ly/3wdhYGb...
Mar 31, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Founded in 2014 and acquired by Medallia in September 2020, Sense360 offers businesses clearer insights on customer behavior through data. We met for a virtual chat with Founder & CEO Eli Portnoy to find out more about: Prioritizing value at every step of your pitch Effective cold outreach strategies Leverage your existing data to engage prospects Shoutout to our top partner Deel ! They are a global hiring platform that makes it easy to hire anyone in a new country in minutes....
Mar 16, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 3
After 16.5 years in business and a half a billion-dollar IPO, Olo still has that “day-one energy” and lives by its original vision: to enable restaurants to meet the needs of on-demand consumers. We caught up with Founder & CEO, Noah Glass to discuss: How to best segment in the early days How to leverage the demonstration effect to create FOMO with prospects How resilience is the best founder superpower
Mar 10, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Over the past five years, ZoomInfo has grown 10X to an $800 million dollar run rate business with over 3,000 employees and 25,000 customers. We sat down with Founder and CEO Henry Schuck to hear a few of his growth strategies. Here are a few things we talked about: Prioritize your go-to-market fit Increase expansion with CDRs (customer development reps) Never stop listening to prospect calls
Mar 02, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Rapidly expanding Fintech company, Capchase, partners with startups to help them tap into upfront capital in order to grow. Zendesk’s Adam O’Donnell and Capchase CEO & Co-Founder Miguel Fernandez dive into: His personal path to entrepreneurship What it takes for a startup to succeed Customer centricity: the importance of action over words How Capchase raised over $500mil in equity in one year
Oct 26, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Combining seed capital and hands-on support, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator has gained the title of NYC’s top technology accelerator and early-stage venture capital firm. We sat down with serial entrepreneur and ERA Co-Founder, Jonathan Axelrod to talk about: How ERA helps founders learn, fail and succeed faster The need for agility and a customer-driven mindset for growth Stories of companies that led successful pivots
Oct 19, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Using AI as fuel, Ada equips companies with everything they need to make personalized customer experiences at scale. And all without the help of an engineer. Co-Founder and CEO Mike Murchison takes us behind the scenes of Ada in this discussion about: How to free up live agents and focus on more creative work What to look at when building software Behavior traits among top leaders
Oct 13, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Pachama is on a mission to remove carbon from the atmosphere — with the aim of protecting and restoring forests globally. Through machine learning, the startup monitors carbon capture and finances both conservation and reforestation projects. Zendesk’s Brad Bowery chats with Co-Founder and CEO Diego Saez Gil about: How to help companies and consumers navigate carbon removal and offsetting The importance of finding solutions to climate change Building trust in the marketplace with a long-term app...
Oct 05, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Lang.ai is a no code AI platform designed to help CX teams automate repetitive tasks. This startup is breaking the stereotype that AI is built for engineers by engineers. Zendesk’s Pedro Muller sits down with Co-Founder Jorge Peñalva to discuss: How AI boosts efficiency and prepares companies for the unexpected The importance of tagging systems in early stage startups Lang.ai’s role in freeing up operators to focus on creativity
Sep 28, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 33
In this episode, we reflect on how two startups navigated a rocky year. Our hosts, Pedro Muller and Tara McCann, handpick their favorite moments with past guests from TravelNest and Wavy. Both businesses found unique ways to grow, even during the pandemic. Find out some of their top lessons, including: Switching strategies in times of crisis Ways to put your customers first How customer experience starts with employee experience
Jul 28, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In our first episode recorded on Clubhouse, we invited the Co-Founders of OneSkin onto the show. OneSkin develops products to improve “skinspan”, and was founded by Brazilian entrepreneurs, Alessandra Zonari and Carolina Oliveira. Join their conversation with Zendesk’s Pedro Muller to learn: The unique challenges of growing a startup in a new country Creating a business based on a love of science How to identify a specific customer profile
Jun 22, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia is the CEO and Founder of Product School, the global leader in product management training. Since 2014, the community has grown to more than one million people. In this episode, Carlos shares his experiences from the digital product world, in a conversation with Shawna Wolverton, Executive Vice President of Product at Zendesk. Learn about: The bootstrap approach to building a community-centric business The role of a product manager in early stage startups How to ...
May 25, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Christoph is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of performance management platform, Kaizo. An entrepreneur and investor with a passion for ecological innovation, he’s also kicking goals with non-profit City AI, and the revolutionary domain name marketplace DAN.COM. In this episode, Christoph is in conversation with Zendesk’s Pedro Mueller. Find out: Kaizo’s journey in building tools for support heroes Best practices for growing in the Zendesk Marketplace—the one-stop shop for apps and integrations How to...
May 18, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Pedro Sorren is the founder of Atman, an early-stage venture capital firm. The firm has seeded category-defining companies, like Coinbase, Instacart, GitLab, and Webflow. In this episode, Pedro shares a virtual espresso with Zendesk’s Pedro Muller. Listen to the pair chat about: Why the venture capital industry needs innovation Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley versus Latin America The mighty force of “inevitable” founders who don’t give up
May 11, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Finimize is working on making finance a breeze. The London-based startup gives people information and tools that empower them to make smarter decisions about finance. In this episode, Founder and CEO, Max Rofagha, is in conversation with Zendesk’s Tara McCann. Learn about: Putting in the grind to reach critical mass The power of driving community and brand equity How to align your business model with your consumers
May 04, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In 2019, legal cannabis business sales hit an all-time high of $12 billion. In this episode, get insights on being the first in a fresh industry. Hear Justin Hall, Founder and CTO of Bud.com, in conversation with Zendesk’s Pedro Muller, as he clears the smoke on building a cannabis startup. Find out: The blazing journey of bud.com, starting with a domain purchase in1994 How to enable customer support teams to educate users Growing a business in a highly legislated industry...
Apr 20, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Unstack is a no-code marketing platform for startups. It aims to replace systems like WordPress with all the tools that teams need to win in the digital economy. Learn about Unstack’s journey direct from Founder and CEO, Grant Deken, as he chats with Zendesk’s Tara McCann on: Identifying the problem and building the ultimate solution The power of building community to improve loyalty Advice on creating a strong feedback loop with early customers
Apr 13, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Defy is an early-stage focused venture fund based in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Madison McIlwain, a Partner at Defy, catches up with Pedro Muller, GM of Startups at Zendesk. The pair discuss Madison’s journey from growing up chatting entrepreneurship at family meals, to transitioning out of the corporate world. Learn about: The role of Venture Capital on the startup ecosystem How innovative investors are making it easy for founders to grow their business Advice for getting backed by a vent...
Apr 06, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Vindi is a leader in payment solutions in Brazil. The startup was one of the first SaaS businesses in Brazil, and was recently acquired when it hit $33 million in valuation. Co-Founder and CEO, Rodrigo Dantas, is in conversation with Maira Gracini, Senior Director of Marketing LATAM at Zendesk. You’ll get insights on: Challenges unique to growing a startup in Latin America How to hire and train talent to build a world-class team Getting an edge on Silicon Valley and competing with big names, lik...
Mar 30, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Mary Louise Cosmetics is a natural and organic skincare brand. Founded in 2017, CEO, Akilah Releford, was inspired by many of the homemade beauty remedies used by her grandmothers. So, she started the company in her university dorm room. In this episode, hear Akilah in conversation with Marissa Tree, Zendesk’s Senior Director of Public Relations. Learn: Why a good business idea is always worth following through on The power of frugal bootstrap founders to investors and VCs How to avoid comparing...
Mar 23, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Dispatch Goods is a zero-waste alternative for restaurant delivery. The startup provides reusable to-go containers for restaurants, so customers always have a sustainable option. Join CEO, Lindsey Hoell, in conversation with Zendesk’s Corporate Social Responsibility Director, Todd Lineart. Get insights on: Taking action to support business to be more sustainable Making it simple for people to choose eco-friendly restaurants Unique challenges as a female founder The value of customer feedback to ...
Mar 16, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Everyone knows the value of understanding your product market fit. But getting there is never straightforward. For this live episode, we’re delighted to share a recording of a Zendesk webinar, in partnership with Pendo. Listen for insights and practical advice from two product experts: Mike Gozzo, VP of Product at Zendesk, and Eric Boduch, Co-founder at Pendo. You’ll learn: How to define product market fit is and measure it effectively The right time to prove your fit—should you ever stop? How t...
Mar 09, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Wavy aims to bring simplicity to hair and beauty salons. It’s a simplified cash register app and booking app solution that gets to the heart of what counts: saving time. Join Victor Lebeau, CPO & Co-Founder in conversation with Prelini Udayan-Chiechi, Zendesk’s VP of Marketing for EMEA on: Why agility is vital in order to respond to shifts in customer sentiment All the ways Wavy prioritizes customer relationships Supporting remote teams during tough times...
Mar 02, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 18
LeaseQuery is a cloud-based lease accounting software. Its CEO and Founder, George Azih, took the idea from a one-person startup to a thriving company with 180 employees—in less than six years. The entrepreneur talks with Zendesk for Startups whiz, Brad Bowery, on The rollercoaster journey towards record-breaking growth Getting to the heart of understanding your customers How a 3-year subscription model proved to be a recipe for success
Feb 23, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Freshly is a meal delivery service that not only provides nutritious meals, but cares about reducing the food waste caused by the grocery supply chain. In this episode, CEO and Co-Founder, Michael Wystrach, chats with Zendesk’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jeff Titterton, on Freshly’s unique journey hacking the food industry. Together, they dish insights on: The power of identifying your core customer How to scale a food business Freshly’s approach to reducing environmental footprints...
Feb 16, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 16
TravelNest is on a mission to reinvent the way hosts market their rental properties. The Edinburgh-based startup solves the problem of low occupancy by improving visibility and boosting bookings. From one Chief Operating Officer to another, TravelNest’s Rebecca Moore and Zendesk’s Peter Lorant get together (virtually) to chat: The fast-growth journey of a company that bridges tech and travel How COVID-19 is impacting the travel industry Robust and inspirational leadership amid uncertainty...
Feb 09, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 15
