Third Party Therapy - Ian Ellis - The Emerging Tech companies view of TPRM

Ian Ellis | The Emerging Tech companies view of TPRM

Episode Summary: What does your Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) process look like from the other side of the table? In this episode of Third Party Therapy, Mike Day is joined by Ian Ellis, an innovation expert who has spent years working with Microsoft for Startups and various tech accelerators.

Ian shares the "bruising" reality of how emerging tech companies experience corporate due diligence. They discuss why a "one-size-fits-all" questionnaire can paralyze a 5-person dev team and how organizations can adapt their risk appetite to foster innovation without compromising security.

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: The challenge of assessing small, high-impact suppliers

04:20 – Ian’s Journey: From corporate innovation to the startup trenches

11:50 – The "Startup View": How a 100-question spreadsheet feels to a founder

19:15 – The Resource Gap: Why startups don't have "Compliance Departments"

27:40 – Litmus Test: Does your process actually measure risk or just persistence?

35:10 – Right-Sizing Risk: How to scale assessments for emerging tech

44:30 – The Human Element: Building respect and transparency into the onboarding flow

52:15 – Closing thoughts: Moving toward a more inclusive TPRM ecosystem

💡 Key Takeaways

• The "Bruising" Effect: Understand the operational impact that heavy-handed corporate processes have on small, agile companies.
• Proportionality is Key: Why asking a 5-person startup for the same evidence as a global conglomerate is a barrier to entry for innovation.
• Contextual Due Diligence: Learn how to look past the "missing" controls to understand the actual risk profile of a niche technology provider.
• The Reputation Risk: How your onboarding process defines your company's reputation in the tech community—are you a partner or a hurdle?

🔗 Connect & Resources

• Official Website: thirdpartytherapy.com
• Join the Community: Sign up for our mailing list to receive our guide on "Right-Sizing TPRM for Startups."
• Guest Info: Connect with Ian Ellis and learn more about his work with emerging tech EnterpriseTech.London: Posts | LinkedIn

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