BUILDERS

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with William Sankey, CEO and Head of Product, Co-Founder of Northspyre, a proactive intelligence platform that's raised over $32 Million in funding, about why making the right decisions about complex urban environments means working with massive amounts of data, and how automation can be a game changer for this massive economic sector. Letting their clients leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver building and construction projects in a more predictable, repeatable and generally easier way, Northspyre is helping build better cities for everyone. We also spoke about William’s lifelong fascination with the urban environment and why he loves to learn about how cities work, his personal experiences with the real estate industry’s most salient pain points, what it was like coming from an entrepreneurial family and why the real estate sector remains at the tail end of technological innovation. Topics Discussed: William’s lifelong fascination with the urban environment, and why he always wanted to build better cities The current state of data analytics in the real estate sector, and why it’s real estate developers who are most often on the front lines of executing the development of cities and spaces Why most developers spend 30-50% of their time doing low value administrative work, and how Northspyre plans to change all that Why the real estate sector has lagged behind when it comes to the implementation of technological solutions How Northspyre’s staff’s real-world experiences in the real estate sector help them develop relevant strategy for industry disruption How William’s entrepreneurial family opened his eyes about how things got built and the role business can play   Favorite book:  The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Peter Prizio Jr, CEO of SnapAttack, a threat management platform that's raised $8 Million in funding. SnapAttack is the Enterprise-Grade & MSSP Platform that helps security leaders answer their most pressing question: “Are we protected?” By rolling intel, adversary emulation, detection engineering, threat hunting, and purple teaming into a single, easy-to-use product with a no-code interface, SnapAttack unlocks the potential of your security operations. Prior to SnapAttack, Peter developed complex defense weapons systems and citizen services for Government clients, ultimately finding a home in cybersecurity startups spanning from Third Party Risk and Cyber Threat Intelligence. He is passionate about collaboration and information sharing across organizations, industries, and public sectors as a backbone for proactive security. We speak about why the scale and sophistication of cybersecurity threats means that constant innovation is an industry essential. By capturing detailed information about cyberattacks and handing it over to the defender, their mission is to help clients hunt for hackers and respond more effectively. We also speak about Peter’s background as an Electrical Engineer and his fascination with finding out how things work, how SnapAttack spun out from RnD at Booz Allen Hamilton, the challenge of finding the hacker hunters to deal with contemporary security concerns, and why government clients might be hard to crack at first, but the networking rewards make them worth it in the end. Topics Discussed: Peter’s background as an electrical engineer, and his fascination with how things function that eventually led him to the cybersecurity space How SnapAttack spun out of the ‘Dark Labs’ RnD at Booz Allen Hamilton, and how they found themselves as an independent entity The current state of threat detection and why most companies relying on traditional manual hunting can find themselves stretched to capacity Why constant evolution in the scale and sophistication of cyber threats means defenders need to stay at the cutting edge of innovation How SnapAttack’s ‘snapshot’ strategy puts critical tools in the hands of defenders to detect and deal with real-world threats Why doing business with government agencies can be a real slog to start with, but why the long-term benefits make the effort worth it in the end   Favorite book:  The Little Red Book of Wisdom

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Stijn Vande Casteele, founder of Sweepatic, an external attack surface management company that’s raised $4.4 million in funding, about why an effective cybersecurity strategy depends on getting the right information to the people who need to make decisions, and how Sweepatic makes that happen in real time. Market leaders in threat discovery, Sweepatic’s name comes from the focus on continuously mapping, analyzing and monitoring all  internet facing assets or ‘sweeping,’ to provide their clients with critical information via a seamless interface. We also speak about the challenges of getting a startup off the ground in Europe versus some other cybersecurity hubs, Stijn’s experience across an entire industry which inspired him to start Sweepatic, the appeal of cloud-based services for contemporary customers, and why Sweepatic’s approach might have found perfect market fit.   Topics Discussed: Stijn’s career in cybersecurity, and the lessons that led him to found Sweepatic Why discovery is probably the most important component of any cybersecurity infrastructure The different challenges facing cybersecurity startups in Europe compared to the US or Israel How a seamless, cloud-based solution has helped Sweepatic attract more customers Why keeping customers close and really focusing on their feedback has been critical to Sweepatic’s success The future of cybersecurity: more information, more visibility, more control

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 Fady Hawatmeh, CEO of Clockwork, an FP&A platform that has raised nearly $3 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Personal Pain Point: Fady's background as an outsourced CFO highlighted the need for a more automated, accessible FP&A solution, leading to the genesis of Clockwork. Customer-Centric Approach: Clockwork's development was driven by direct feedback from clients, focusing on what small businesses truly need from an FP&A tool. Competitive Market Strategy: Despite the noise from well-funded competitors, Fady emphasizes the unique, hands-on experience and genuine connection with the small business market. Financial Growth: In its first full year, Clockwork achieved 5x revenue growth, demonstrating strong market traction and customer validation. Vision for the Future: Clockwork aims to be the go-to platform for companies under $100 million in revenue, integrating all financial, payroll, and HR functions into one seamless system. Mission-Driven Leadership: Fady’s leadership is rooted in a genuine commitment to solving real problems for small businesses, prioritizing customer success over short-term gains. //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Patricia Thaine, Co-Founder & CEO of Private AI, a privacy tech startup that's raised over $11 Million in funding, about how a new awareness of privacy concerns and a slew of regulations are driving transformation in the sector, and why Private AI’s comprehensive solution package has found its perfect market fit. Covering everything from privacy regulation compliance, determining the risks associated with different types of data, and even privacy-free training data for chatbot programs, private AI is helping get the most out of big data without exposing people to undue risk. We also speak about Patricia’s background in research on privacy and language processing, why new regulations are driving a rush towards a more privacy-centric tech sector, the value and risk of companies with hoards of harvested data, and the current state of the privacy space about which Patricia is largely optimistic. Topics Discussed: Patricia’s background in the academic world of privacy and language processing models How Patricia knew that her education was taking her towards starting her own tech company, and when her interest in privacy began Why so many companies struggle to deal with the data they collect, in terms of both scale and complexity The Private AI triple offering of regulation compliance, risk differentiation and privacy-free training for chatbot programs How, for once, regulations are driving innovation in the privacy-sensitive tech economy Why Private AI works in 47 second languages, and believes that privacy is not only for the English speaking world   Favorite book:  How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Samson Magid, Co-founder and CEO of HealthSnap,  a remote patient monitoring platform for chronic condition management that's raised over $12 Million in funding, about why the time has come for a whole new approach to long-term health and wellbeing. Breaking with the established ‘fee for service’ model that prioritizes products and services over health outcomes, HealthSnap provides real time monitoring, notifications, and coordination services to make sure patients get the care and support they need for chronic conditions. We also speak about Samson’s background in the exercise science and nutrition space, why he decided to forgo medical school to start an entrepreneurial journey with HealthSnap, how the US healthcare system found itself spending trillions of dollars on chronic conditions without delivering on outcomes, and how covid became a forcing function for the rise of the remote health industry. Topics Discussed: Samson’s educational background in the exercise science and nutrition space Why Samson decided to forgo medical school to go on a startup adventure with HealthSnap Why health and wellbeing is a marathon, not a sprint, and how Samson makes sure to take care of himself How the US found itself spending trillions of dollars to treat preventable, chronic conditions but without delivering much in the way of outcomes The ‘fee for service’ structure at the heart of contemporary healthcare’s systematic challenges Why the biggest challenge for HealthSnap is convincing physicians to change the way they practice medicine   Favorite book:  Shoe Dog

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Michael Witte, CEO & Co-founder of Workrise, a marketplace for on demand services and skilled labor in the energy industry that's raised over $750 Million in funding, about why the energy sector’s needs for digital innovation are equal to its dependence on advanced extraction technologies, and how Workrise fits in to the future of energy. A B2B marketplace to bring together skills and expertise from disparate vendors and individuals to implement energy projects to the highest possible standard, Workrise is set to drive efficiency and expediency in this foundational part of our economy. We also speak about Michael’s background as a native Texan and as a energy engineer, the staggering technology in the energy extraction process but why the sector lags behind in terms of digitalization, how personal experience led him to found Workrise, and how he manages to balance being a father, husband, dog owner and CEO. Topics Discussed: Michael’s life as a native Texan and his career in the oil and gas sector The complexity of energy extraction projects involving a wide range of stakeholders, skills and expertise The current state of the Austin tech ecosystem and why Michael is proud to be a part of it The staggering technology required to extract energy resources, but why the sector still lags behind in terms of digitalization Why so many would-be founders never really consider what their success might mean, and the responsibility that comes with a leadership role How Michael balances his business with the responsibility of being a husband, father and ‘dog father’   Favorite book:  The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz   Resources:  Easier, Faster, Safer: How Workrise is Absorbing Complexity to Bring the Energy Industry Into the Future

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Jack McDonald, CEO of PolySign, a fintech company building institutional grade infrastructure for digital assets, about why trusted investment custodians for crypto have been a long time coming, and how PolySign positions itself as the ideal solution. Regulated, insured, and conflict-free, Polysign provides the infrastructure for tomorrow’s digital-native trading and investment environment. We also speak about Jack’s unusual path to the position of Polysign CEO, how an outsider found himself at the top of the organization, Jack’s background in financial services, the current state of the crypto and digital assets space, and how Polysign found the balance between feedback from the market and keeping their leading innovation under wraps until it was ready to launch. Topics Discussed: Jack’s career in the financial sector, from big banks to smaller, more nimble institutions How Jack came to find himself coming from the outside to the position of CEO at Polysign, and why Arthur Britto is such a unique business partner Why trusted, regulated infrastructure is an essential part of future trading in crypto and digital assets Why the other path to being a custodian for crypto is setting up as a trusted company, and why Polysign decided to follow that path The current state of the crypto trading landscape, how it’s moving past some troubled times towards a more secure future How Polysign struck a balance between good market feedback and keeping their product under wraps until it was ready to launch   Favorite books:  The Leadership Fables of Patrick Lencioni Just Kids

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Damien Hutchins, Co-Founder of Rollzi, a full truckload carrier provider that's raised over $8 Million in funding, about why it’s time for a whole new approach to trucking and how Rollzi is making it happen. Deploying an innovative ‘single-lane relay’ strategy in which a network of local transit nodes keep trucks on the road while taking the pressure off drivers, Rollzi is reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and providing a less grueling work lifestyle for the drivers at the heart of their business. We also speak about how, despite being a ‘non-tech guy,’  Damien found himself with a career-long history in tech, what excites him about the trucking industry in particular, how drivers deal with difficult schedules, and what Rollzi plans to do about it, and where autonomy might fit into the freight network of the future. Topics Discussed: Damien’s background in the tech sector despite being  self-professed ‘non-tech guy’ How Damien found himself in the trucking space and what excites him about this industry in particular The challenges facing the trucking industry in a post-covid economy and how they inspired Damien to found Rollzi How Rollzi builds efficiency into its business model by bringing a whole new approach to road freight Why automation is far from a panacea for freight, but where it might find a place in Rollzi’s business model How Damien tries to strike a balance between the expense of innovation and the need to stay profitable   Favorite book:  Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Sean Knapp, Founder & CEO of Ascend, a data engineering platform that's raised $50 Million in funding, about why, in an era where every company is transforming into a software company, getting the right digital infrastructure in place is critical for optimizing productivity. Providing a single ‘pane of glass’ through which their clients can create, ingest, transform and ultimately utilize data, Ascend is positioning itself as an essential backend software system for the digital economy. We also speak about Sean's career in tech, what it was like getting in on the ground floor during the early days of google, the lessons he brought forward to his own tech startup, why the inexorable rise of data presents its own challenges of scale for an increasingly interdependent commercial landscape. Topics Discussed: Sean’s career in the software engineering space, and what he learned from joining Google during the early days of 2004 How it felt to leave a stable, secure position and take a leap into the unknown by risking it all on a startup Why ‘data is eating the world,’ and forcing every company to essentially become a software company How the deluge of data in the modern marketplace presents its own unique challenge for businesses Why most companies’ data teams spend 80% of their time trying to integrate different software solutions Why Sean is actually excited to see a bit of a down market in the years to come, cutting out some of the background noise   Favorite book:  Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity