ScaleUp & Up (Infobip)
Explorez tous les épisodes de ScaleUp & Up
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Jun 2024 | From Losing Everything To Building A $10 Million Company (Robin Powered) | 00:55:35 | |
Boston-based office management tool Robin Powered faced a significant challenge at the beginning of 2020 when the world went into lockdown, making their business model obsolete overnight. Forced to adapt quickly, the company experienced its fastest-growing period by pivoting to meet the demands of the new work-from-home era. During a visit to Boston, we interviewed Robin’s co-founder, Brian Muse, and current CEO, Micah Remley. They discussed the company’s evolution, the enduring relevance of hybrid work, and the mixed responses from companies regarding a return to the office. Brian shared the company's journey from an agency experimenting with various startups to creating a successful office management tool that helps companies manage workspaces and book desks and conference rooms. With over 20 years of management experience, Micah talked about leading Robin through these changes and adapting to the shifting market landscape. He highlighted the need for companies to focus on revenue and sustainability, moving away from the era of raising large amounts of capital based on growth alone. Join us as we share the story of Robin Powered and the lessons behind running a scaleup in the ever-changing world of office space and the future of work! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → https://bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 04 Jul 2024 | How I Created TWO Billion Dollar Companies (Jason Cohen) | 01:05:04 | |
What's the secret behind scaling not one, but two multi-million dollar companies? What better person to talk to about growing businesses than Jason Cohen, the founder of WP Engine and someone who has been navigating the world of technology for more than 30 years! In this episode, our hosts IBB and Mia talked with Jason about his passion for blogging and how it has been a key aspect of his journey as an entrepreneur. He emphasized the importance of writing to organize thoughts, share ideas, and receive feedback from the audience. Cohen highlighted the ego-driven aspect of blogging, where positive feedback and impact on readers serve as motivation. Throughout the episode, our guest shared his experiences from bootstrapping to scaling using VC money - both with SmartBear and WP Engine. He talked about the critical shift in focus from exploration and experimentation to optimization and defense of existing strategies post-product market fit. He pointed out the challenges of managing rapid growth, including the need for effective delegation, as well as hiring the right people and adapting to changing organizational dynamics. Cohen also touched upon the importance of hiring individuals who are not just skilled, but also passionate about their work. He shared his views on the need for hiring individuals who are better than the founders with the work they do, in order to drive further improvement and growth within the company. Along with the hosts, our guest also discussed why founders choose to hire CEO's, why it's not an easy choice, and why the decision is always hard because of the ego. Stay with us for the rest of the interview as we explore the lessons behind scaling to hundreds of millions in revenue, and why starting a company is much about personal growth as well as it is about money! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 23 May 2024 | From Fired By Zuck To $100 Million - Noah Kagan Interview | 00:38:10 | |
Noah Kagan is a self-made millionaire, the founder of App Sumo, and a content creator with over one million YouTube subscribers! In this episode, Noah shares valuable insights on his journey, including how he overcame challenges, the importance of finding the right people, and the power of experimenting with low-risk activities. He also discusses his experience scaling a tech product to millions of users, valuable insights into creating a $100 million business from past mistakes, working with billionaires, and his new book, Million Dollar Weekend. Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → https://bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 21 Nov 2024 | Raising $350 Million for Rho Banking (Alex Wheldon) | 00:44:10 | |
"Most people don't get into entrepreneurship because they are passionate about accounting" — says Alex Wheldon, co-founder of Rho Banking, a New York-based technology company that raised 350 million dollars to disrupt the business banking sector in the United States. Still, it goes without saying that even if you have the best possible product out there, your company has to be good at managing money. Otherwise, you might go down faster than you think. That is the exact reason why Rho Banking was founded by Alex and his co-founder Everett Cook, who grew it into one of the most well-respected fintech scaleups, which is now valued at almost half a billion dollars. We caught up with Alex during his recent visit to Belgrade, Serbia, where IBB and Mia Biberovic had the opportunity to talk about his beginnings in music production and advertising to becoming a serial entrepreneur with a knack for innovation in the regulated industries. "I truly believe in challenging conventional solutions and seeing the potential to solve fundamental financial management problems for businesses", said Alex who revealed that he wasn't initially interested in finances, but he learned through experience that managing cash flow and maintaining financial discipline are crucial to sustaining and growing a business. "Rho, in a way, reflects this philosophy by aiming to simplify and enhance financial operations for businesses". Our guest explained why Rho is not a bank, but is offering banking services and partnering with banks that are more inclined to offer traditional services such as lending and are not focused on the technology part. That is exactly the gap that Rho is filling in, with Alex explaining how their products are helping various businesses across different industries manage money more effectively — from early startups to well-established companies. Despite his background in advertising, Alex uncovers why Rho is deeply focused on referrals for customer acquisition and not ads. He firmly believes that this approach allows Rho to maintain a close connection with customer needs and refine the product based on feedback. He also reveals how the company fundraised all the way to Series B and how his experience from the dot-com boom helped him deliver a greater value to investors. *** Engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage – just like Uber, HubSpot and Meta → bit.ly/44xYxqy ***
00:00 - Intro | |||
| 13 Feb 2024 | Ivan Ostojic: From PhD to a $1,000,000,000 Scaleup’s Chief Business Officer | 00:15:46 | |
Ivan Ostojic, Chief Business Officer at Infobip, has been immersed in science and technology since childhood. In the second episode of ScaleUp & Up podcast, Ivan discusses his journey from a fascination with technology and molecular biology to becoming a pivotal figure in the tech industry as a "business translator."
Ivan emphasizes the significance of grasping both technological and business aspects to drive innovation. He underscores the role of business translators in bridging the gap between technical expertise and business impact, advocating for asking the right questions, iterating on insights, and integrating technical advancements to achieve business objectives. Additionally, he sheds light on the CPaaS industry's current state, particularly the emergence of conversational apps and the transformative potential of the conversational era. He elaborates on how businesses can harness these solutions to enhance customer experiences, stressing the importance of true omnichannel communication and the evolving role of AI in consumer interactions. | |||
| 18 Jul 2024 | Honest Advice from ex Trello Product Director (Hamid Palo) | 00:44:28 | |
Have you ever wondered what building and scaling products from the frontlines is like? To be at the intersection between customers and teams shaping digital tools and products? This week, we discuss those questions with Hamid Palo, a former Director of Product at Trello and Uber with extensive knowledge and experience in product development. Our hosts, IBB and Mia Biberović, caught up with Hamid in Brooklyn, where this seasoned product leader talked about his career and experiences and shared valuable insights into the world of startups, scale-ups, and large organizations. Hamid talked about his time at Trello, where he joined the company as employee number five. He recounted pivotal moments that led to Trello's acquisition by Atlassian, shedding light on the emotional rollercoaster and strategic decisions that followed. He reflected on the importance of people-first leadership and the challenges of letting go of ownership in a rapidly evolving organization. Since our guest spent almost nine years at Trello and Atlassian, he also discussed people development in large organizations and how decision-making works from top to bottom. After a short sabbatical in 2022, Hamid joined Uber, where he worked on grocery delivery, a new product at the time, bringing it to market from zero to one. He highlighted the significance of team ownership, accountability, and the iterative process of scaling a new product while emphasizing the value of storytelling and innovation. As the conversation unfolded, Hamid shared his transition to working on his own AI company (like everybody these days!), showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to tackling inefficiencies in the construction industry. Join us as we explore the intricacies of scaling products in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and business! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 27 Feb 2024 | Mario Ancic: You Fight For Your Success – in Business and Sports! | 00:52:09 | |
Mario Ancic, a former professional tennis player known for his Wimbledon appearances and Davis Cup victory in 2005 with Croatia's national team, has transitioned from the tennis court to Wall Street. Currently serving as Vice President at One Equity Partners, Ancic's journey from sports to finance was discussed in the third episode of the ScaleUp & Up podcast. In the new episode, Ancic delved into his upbringing in Croatia, highlighting the support he received from his family in both sports and academics. He shared insights into the parallels between his experiences as a professional athlete and his subsequent career in finance, drawing from lessons learned on the court. Additionally, he discussed his education at Columbia University and the trajectory of his finance career, providing context to his current role at One Equity Partners. Furthermore, the conversation explored Ancic's involvement in supporting businesses like Infobip, shedding light on Croatia's emerging status as a hub for innovative startups in Southeastern Europe. Ancic emphasized the importance of technical expertise in entrepreneurship and discussed the dynamics of investor-founder relationships, underlining the significance of personal connections and mutual commitment to creating value in the investment landscape. | |||
| 20 Jun 2024 | Taking On $17.3M Debt And Buying Out Investors (Wistia) | 00:49:11 | |
Is there such a thing as overscaling the company? Is growth at all costs a good thing or can it actually harm the company and its culture? Meet Wistia, a Cambridge-based video marketing platform for businesses which was founded in 2006. with a vision to create a competition website for filmmakers, and which later evolved into a fully customizable video solution for businesses with various editing and marketing tools at the user's disposal. The story of Wistia is not the story of your average scaleup. Our hosts, IBB and Mia Biberovic, had the opportunity to talk to Wistia's CTO and co-founder, Brendan Schwartz, who shared the experiences of scaling rapidly and investing heavily in growth and the lessons behind the strategy that almost bankrupted the entire business. Brendan gave us an insight into the decisions to go the standard VC route, why other paths were not as common a decade ago, as well as other challenges that he and his co-founder, Chris Savage, faced along the way. He talked about the importance of pivoting and how Wistia did it early on, and how working with experienced people affects the culture in the beginning when the team is still searching for product market fit. One of the key moments for Wistia was when its co-founders started receiving offers to sell the company. After much deliberation, they decided not to do it but to instead raise $17,3 million in debt to buy out the investors and employees who had the equity. Schwartz also talked about shifting strategy from growth to profitability and how this move is especially important in 2024. when profitability is what everyone is talking about. This episode of podcast puts special emphasis on open communication and transparency within the company, as well as the value of creative projects and long-term investments into content marketing. Join us as we share the unusual story of Wistia and share the business lessons that drive sustainable growth. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 09 May 2024 | Scaling Basecamp to Millions in Revenue With David Heinemeier Hansson | 00:42:22 | |
In this episode, we dive into a fascinating conversation with David Heinemeier Hansson, also known as DHH. As the creator of Ruby on Rails and co-founder of Basecamp, DHH shares insights on prioritizing profitability over investments, challenging mainstream business models, and the importance of building trust through admitting mistakes. Join us as we explore the keys to success for scale-up founders, the significance of effective communication, and the potential for affordable products in a subscription-dominated industry. Don't miss out on this engaging discussion that delves into the core skills needed for entrepreneurship, the power of writing as a communication tool, and the excitement of venturing into the unknown in the world of business. Actually engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage. Grow your startup or scaleup with Infobip’s platform – just as Uber, HubSpot and Meta! → https://bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 07 Nov 2024 | Hacking Revenue Growth with Design (Andy Budd) | 00:44:04 | |
Why do we hire designers? Is it just to make things look pretty or can they actually drive revenue? Well, according to Andy Budd, a proper design legend, one of the first UX designers in the United Kingdom and a VC nowadays, it's the latter. We caught up with Andy during our recent visit to the How To Web conference in Bucharest, where we had the opportunity to pick Andy's brain on design and growth. He talked about the things that founders miss when it comes to design and about the things that designers miss and often overlook when it comes to actually running a profitable and scalable business. As somebody who works on bringing those two sides closer through mentoring and consultancy work, our guest shared his views on product-led and founder-led marketing, noting that many founders are focused on product development and often overlook the significance of effective marketing and sales strategies: "The founder’s involvement in sales and marketing is crucial for connecting with customers and building a successful growth strategy." Throughout the episode, Andy took the time to explain why retaining users is a common challenge for startups, as founders often assume customers will instantly see the value of their product. He emphasized the need to prioritize usability and user onboarding, noting that customers usually need guidance to understand and utilize a product’s features fully. He stated: "Founders should really resist the urge to continually add new features and instead focus on optimizing existing features to provide clear, accessible value." He also noted that design leaders should focus on measurable outcomes and collaborate with other departments to demonstrate the impact of design on the company’s growth and success — especially nowadays when organizations are trying to streamline their budgets. Saving the best for last, Andy also gave us an insight into his latest book, The Growth Equation. This book summarizes the past 30 years of his work and discusses valuable principles for growing companies, teams, and revenue. *** Engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage – just like Uber, HubSpot and Meta → bit.ly/44xYxqy ***
00:00 - Intro | |||
| 26 Sep 2024 | From Engineers to Entrepreneurs – The Story of Tenderly (Bogdan Habic) | 00:32:42 | |
What does it take to become one of the most prominent players in Web3 / blockchain community? How do you build tools for Web3 developers and how do you market them? How do you do all of this and become one of the fastest growing developer tooling companies?
This week, we talked to Bogdan Habic, co-founder and CTO of Tenderly, a full-stack infrastructure for Web3 professionals which was founded in 2018. and has so far raised almost 60 million dollars from VC’s such as Accel, Point Nine, Version One Ventures and Spark Capital.
In this episode, Bogdan shared his experience with starting a Web3 company by coming from a Web2 community, highlighting the importance of understanding developer mindset and the need for reliable tools that they can use.
Our hosts, IBB and Mia Biberovic, explored how Tenderly transitioned from a tooling company to a broader infrastructure provider thanks to their investors and mentors. Habic emphasized the significance of community engagement and direct communication with users, which was pivotal in shaping their product offerings.
He also touched upon the subject of hiring in Web3 space, noting that most of their team comes from Web2 backgrounds and required training in order to adapt to the new enviroment. This nurturing approach became a cornerstone for their successful growth.
Throughout our conversation, Bogdan shared valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of developer marketing, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in a rapidly evolving industry. Habic noted the parallels between the current AI boom and the Web3 landscape, suggesting that both fields are on the brink of mainstream acceptance.
Towards the end, our guest emphasized the importance of giving back to the community through initiatives such as Garaza which is aimed at supporting and mentoring the next generation of founders. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro Engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage – just like Uber, HubSpot and Meta → bit.ly/44xYxqy | |||
| 10 Oct 2024 | How I Grew Netlify To $33 Million In Revenue (Mathias Biilmann) | 00:47:30 | |
How does one go from a music journalist to a founder and CEO of one of the most recognizable companies in the web dev area? This week, we talked with Mathias Biilmann Christensen, who, alongside his co-founder Christian Bach, started Netlify - a web builder / hosting company that supports more than 35 million websites globally. Matthias shared his journey of building Netlify and the concept of Jamstack, which he coined to revolutionize web development by separating the user experience from backend logic. Throughout the episode, he explains how nurturing a community and investing in it pays off big time. Our hosts IBB and Mia Biberovic explored the early days of Netlify, including the company's strategy of targeting key influencers in the developer community and the importance of a product-led approach. Mathias talked about Netlify's pricing model, which included a free plan that catered to open-source projects, helping to drive adoption. Speaking of supporting the community, Biilmann explained how he and his team intentionally branded Jamstack to be inclusive and larger than just Netlify. He emphasized the significance of genuine community building and the pitfalls of trying to position oneself at the center of a new category. We also touched on the cultural differences between the tech ecosystems in the United States and Europe, with our guest highlighting the unique optimism and risk-taking mentality found only in Silicon Valley. He shared personal anecdotes about his background as a music journalist and how his journey into tech was shaped by his passion for programming and problem-solving. Finally, Matthias opened up about the human challenges faced in entrepreneurship, particularly during his co-founder’s battle with cancer, and the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective on identity and roles within a startup. He concluded the talk by discussing the value of a distributed company culture and how music continues to play a significant role in his life, drawing parallels between music and programming - saying how composers were the first programmers! Interested in the whole interview? Click the video below or find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Pocket Casts! *** Engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage – just like Uber, HubSpot and Meta → bit.ly/44xYxqy ***
00:00 - Intro | |||
| 24 Oct 2024 | How We Grew Paddle to $75 Million in ARR (Andrew Davies) | 00:56:18 | |
What is the role of marketing in a successful tech company? Do marketers only care about the brand, or are they more user-focused? In today’s episode, we talked with Andrew Davies, CMO of Paddle, a unicorn valued at over 1,4 billion dollars. *** Engage with your customers over WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage – just like Uber, HubSpot and Meta → bit.ly/44xYxqy ***
00:00 - Intro | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | Silvio Kutic: Turning a $27,000 Loan Into a Billion Dollar Company | 00:40:29 | |
In the first episode of ScaleUp & Up podcast, we talked with our very own Silvio Kutic, CEO and founder of Infobip - Croatia's first ever tech unicorn. Silvio gave us an insight into what made him quit his first job after just a couple of hours and pursue his passion for developing communication technologies which later turned into the creation of Infobip - a billion-dollar company and one of the leaders in the CPaaS industry which is actively working with WhatsApp and Uber. We talked with Silvio about the early days of the company, what it's like to work with a family member and why the company chose to build their first campus in the same village where the company is founded. He shared with us how Infobip scaled its services to millions of end users, as well as his views on the future of SMS, WhatsApp, Message and RCS, as well as AI which is rapidly changing the landspace of communications. | |||