Floodgate and tEQuitable

Imagine it Forward and Goodr

You’ve created something incredible, and once it hits the market, it’s guaranteed to change the world. But you’re a rookie CEO and don’t have any experience getting a product off the ground. So how do you get started, and how do you scale? In this episode of Zero to IPO, Imagine it Forward author Beth Comstock and Goodr founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe discuss the importance of being an industry disruptor—and the challenges that come along with it. We explore how to acquire and get the most out of your first client, and how to get paid what you're worth. And since Goodr is a mission-driven company committed to combating hunger (no small feat!), Beth and Jasmine also discuss what it means to make your passion your day job, how to find work/life balance, and the importance of taking care of yourself when you’re taking care of so many others.

Floodgate and tEQuitable

You’ve built a product that everyone needs. The only problem? They just don’t know it yet. How do you convince potential clients to give you a try? On this episode of Zero to IPO, Floodgate co-founder Ann Miura-Ko and tEQuitable CEO and founder Lisa Gelobter discuss the importance of category creation, product market fit, and brand recognition. Ann also lends her expertise as a prominent investor to help Lisa strategize on how to buck fundraising trends, and steadily grow her business in an otherwise fast-paced industry. And we wouldn’t be relevant if we didn’t talk about impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market and the economy, and the necessity of an “anti-fragile mentality” to thrive.

Slack and Pigeonly

You’ve taken your product to market, and the response is overwhelming. It’s an overnight success — and more people are interacting with your business than you could have ever imagined. What does strategic growth look like from here?? Who should you partner with? And how do you honor your original mission as you expand and take on new kinds of clients? On this episode of Zero to IPO, Slack CEO and co-founder Stewart Butterfield and Pigeonly CEO and founder Frederick Hutson discuss growth, distribution strategy, and the importance of staying true to your brand.

Zuora and Integrate

You’ve finally built the company of your dreams. You’re not yet public, but you’re not in startup mode anymore and are hungry for more. So how do you navigate this next stage of growth? How do you refine your leadership skills, and successfully expand into global markets? In this episode of Zero to IPO, Tien Tzuo, founder and CEO of Zuora, and Jeremy Bloom, co-founder and CEO of Integrate, discuss management styles (in the context of Olympic skiing and pro football), international expansion, and how to keep building during these not so normal times.

BlackLine and LOOMIA

You’ve prototyped, reiterated, and refined your product—and you’re ready to make your first sale. But first, you need to hire someone who can help you find your client base and close some deals. So what should you look for in that first sales hire? And when you’re a small startup trying to attract top-tier talent, how can you incentivize the position? On this episode of Zero to IPO, CEO and Founder of BlackLine Therese Tucker shares advice on growing the business with the right sales leader with Madison Maxey, CEO and Founder of Loomia, an innovative e-textiles company.