Perspectives

Textio CEO Kieran Snyder on Building Business Software That Gets Smarter as You Use It

February 11, 2021

past five years honor sitting board Textio augmented writing platform uses advanced language insights help employers clearly express values time unique view future human productivity worked CEO Co-Founder Kieran Snyder beginning thoughtfully navigated complex challenges building enterprise machine learning software opinion difficult build relentless list obstacles CEOs face scaling companies hiring top talent annual Female Founder Roundtable shared journey strategies bootstrapping models reasons deliberately designing symbiotic relationship users network order maximize data collection ultimately increase customer value strong leadership helped scale company raised 40 million investors added numerous fast-growth blue chip customers believe advice prove useful founders within products Emergence calls coaching networks entrepreneurs community unlock creativity brilliance shares lessons knew successful designed business model optimized usage core belief fundamental everything approached product capital always easy others understand vision particularly enough demonstrate concrete incredibly proud stuck found partners believed persevered ups downs outlined learnings early stages 1 Stay close product-market fit days throughout seed-stage funding round important personally involved discovery listen market signals first year remained all-technical team built CTO initial back end made hire continued growing led conversations feedback loop 2 Enter uniquely positioned win career recognized tremendously harmful impact conscious unconscious bias workplace especially people space launched wrote problem implications work give credibility HR grew relevant practitioners founded became able invite test provide prototype 3 premium user experience Simply put gets used better works realized truly enjoyed using consistently want cheap tool wanted something provided substantial Great look feel invested heavily UI design investment paid free treated offering Consistent enabled continuously improve 4 worth giving away worthwhile offer beta return strategy allowed needed system implement systems ready commercialized use Everyone won scenario received critical felt insiders started charging later mature valuable justify 5 Target large quickly go-to-market oriented enterprises natural write documents need make learn means However overnight success obviously takes longer sell larger smaller businesses organizations Cisco Johnson American powerful deliver meaningful 6 pricing encourage good per-user structure enemy adoption Per-seat discourage limit creation Instead flat-rate fosters necessary effect since additional person makes smarter 7 Leverage testimonials fundraising pre-revenue process paying front potential investor concerns solicited adopters attesting stating eventually willing pay attribute 8 outsize writers best constantly pushing envelope seeking new ways differentiate developing terminology similar ML platforms recommend creating identify innovative algorithms around strongest patterns ensure continually learns highest integrity organization whole goal teams access full Please reach KieranSnyder DM's open love hear experiences answer questions Thank

Introducing Oyster: The Company Changing the Way the World Hires

February 2, 2021

Oyster mission empower best talent around world access opportunities regardless based Companies never hire manage longer defined location region country Capital flowed increasingly entrepreneurial portable forcing function global pandemic accelerated shift remote work fundamentally changed employees employers approaching past several decades hiring looking early-growth stage tech company limited handful locations remain benefits heart innovation hub equally drawbacks exceptionally high operational costs maintaining centrally-located created massive barrier entry oftentimes HQ bias year leveled playing field free think globally top suited needs Emergence's approach investing followed path Investment expanded exponentially now partnering entrepreneurs Today incredibly excited welcome Emergence Family leading HR platform distributed speaks belief workforce stay Read 20M Series TechCrunch conviction reinforced Founder CEO Tony Jamous ambition Born Lebanon emigrated times purpose building previous Nexmo Twilio competitor sold Vonage experience across 50 countries led founding team people world-class organizations high-quality jobs luxury reserved opportunity live certain especially focused closing gaps skilled workers developing economies growing beginning important driver social impact four initiatives Helping fulfilled lives reduce inequality Providing businesses wider pool creating diverse Accelerating development local communities reducing brain drain increasing talent's financial non-financial contributions Easing negative impacts commuting population density environment granted B-Corporation certification status pending company's thesis better moment time scale worked hard last significantly impacted individuals 100+ invests change works forefront biggest digital age true embodiment Congratulations Jack next chapter

The Importance of Following Your Instinct and Working with Conviction

January 20, 2021

Lessons leadership Retail Zipline CEO Melissa Wong worked communications Old Navy witnessed massive disconnect said headquarters heard store workers realized tools built sitting stationary desks deskless moving constantly manage inventory service customers co-founder Jeremy Baker launched streamline across entire footprint clear vision conviction address real need first-time needed learn recognize unique style part become comfortable leaning strengths recognized top female executive trailblazer driving innovation rapidly changing industry Forbes thought leader continues awarded Best Tech Places Work Bay Area Innovative B2B Startups CB Insights Emergence privileged incredible leaders make jobs utter joy kind enough share significant learned thus far entrepreneurial journey intimidating times especially male-dominated sector often push challenging decisions despite always feeling confident outcomes past six years growing business come differences borne vulnerabilities excited hope help pave path success next generation SaaS founders 1 CEOs never shy away superpowers raising initial seed round approach male perspective reach full-potential playing came empowering decision longer change cater anyone's perspectives Ultimately matters company keep mind everything advice differently create pretty strength comes using advantage gaining comfort standing experiences 2 Stay focused someone else's version startup received investors so-called experts compared others since rely pattern recognition similar backgrounds comparison template took truly believe forward Today incredibly thankful stuck gut turned type proud lead stood ground established important product priorities following led achieved 3 hesitate go all-in greatest salespeople ardent evangelists beginning wanted invest heavily customer build community connect customer-centricity numbers guide key cases meant placing big bets early relationship maintained break mentality going treating valued partners uncertainty year emphasis able maintain strong relationships already entrepreneurs focus bedrock compassionate listener find ways bring people together around common goal 4 Embrace beauty delegation whether reasons balancing new parent running managing asked juggle reject notion nuanced First humans amount time day live keeping balls air Rather figuring glass rubber okay letting ones drop least pick Prioritizing hardest say easy figure right balance personal experience appreciate power realization control anymore matter surround team home

5 Counterintuitive Pricing & Packaging Insights

January 7, 2021

heels another impressive HubSpot earnings release decided dive driving team's continued success six years post-IPO people know pioneered inbound selling pricing strategy equally instructive getting customers hooked feature-rich free tiers upselling revenue-generating offers powerful counterintuitive lessons next generation SaaS companies Early growth-stage alike often struggle strategic decision price software art requires constant tweaking throughout life company Emergence spend time founders working challenging critical part business right Last year shared thoughts pitfalls per-seat Previously summarized 101 overview recently hosted discussion HubSpot's experts Brad Coffey Chief Officer Chris Hogan Sr Director Product Ops insights find good share wider community 1 packages based user personas question asking difficult answer predicated customer base heard concept persona-based reality go sufficient level granularity determining First important understand role person Within core jobs done helps accomplish solid grasp features build role's exact needs Second must understanding organization determine functionalities required achieve sale e.g integrations enterprise-readiness etc measure differences segments quantify metrics matter segment template spreadsheet Patrick Campbell Profitwell shares examples track help steer team higher conversion hear early-stage tough solve problems enough data absence real substantiate beliefs research validate target pain points run vital package different offerings 2 valuable end-customers meaningful usage start correlating certain retention feature though make worry disincentivize thereby value suggests selecting end-customer control think email sends contacts stored system vs website visits coins metric i.e specifically provide Similar insight dependent end begin identified specific user's around example marketing gone away traditional model instead charges per-contact basis uses continues grow gaining deciding move direction worried lead less users storing began found increased dramatically aligning value-metric now equip sales training articulate Using consistent message persuade towards functionality Net along allows provider capture revenue aligns receive deeper identify set appropriately check Lenny Rachitsky blog sat CEO 3 gate lower usage-based gates common B2B offer tier however included versus premium best convert paid killer often-overlooked usage-gate limits goal allow feel full power platform guard amount leverage limiting number sent automation become familiar new remote-first world 40-minute Zoom meeting paywall experience entirely offering want 40-minutes going pay limit imperative ask distribution play expect increase rates brand aligned experiment appropriate deep-dive analytics persona 4 okay overpay inside mitigate tensions running product-obsessed clarity behaviors deliver fully self-serve acquisition flow happens reps territory cause groups order sustain culture org likely compensation gray areas purely anyway cultural challenges promote effectiveness bottom-up product-driven demand opposed bookings serves SLA leads drives qualified PQLs defined trial realized significant committed action activation event indicates ready great LinkedIn serving onramp Navigator reach threshold profile views InMails messages means commercial purposes benefit upgrading enhanced purpose-built learn work helpful 5 explicit transparent discounting kink sense prospect heavy escape valve back mask mistakes push deals finish line short term serious implications renewal scale tips upfront clear discount lengths close deal final mile client knows applies contract Confronting transparently deal-closing conversation far easier goes avoid discretionary intentional policies introducing named discounts structured policy whole follows ad-hoc introduces complexity moving public better Hopefully prove thinking packaging love experiences works Drop yaz emcap.com

Software for the Workforce Silicon Valley Forgot

December 19, 2020

good job without great software Silicon Valley greater corporate world hard imagine one's Technology main drivers efficiency arguably success nearly 3 billion people around work desk come expect severely limited available Deskless Workforce makes 80 global 113M workers U.S alone factories fields stores construction sites vital everyday lives past several decades providers primarily catered desk-bound every whim large budgets massive continued operate paper processes outdated systems easy lose sight see used place single day saw 20 25 years ago case parts business particularly driven market gap lack stemmed availability Mobile devices necessary use cases now remote corners globe holding back innovation empathy true understanding differently part working operates workflows requirements different deskbound vary significantly industry needs always easily understood outside Stanford-grad-turned-founder engineer tech startup therefore less likely know build worker new breed founders changing game However tech-savvy millennials rise ranks starting crop fit typical stereotype entrepreneur Instead stepping front lines respective industries bringing ideas solve pain points experienced Ryan Chan young Process Development manufacturing plant discovering machine failure resulting downtime largest bottleneck plant's output petitioned approval purchase help maintenance crew track manage broken equipment quickly discovered team using hard-to-use application built desktop environment talking company manager expressed frustration ah-ha moment least users field given difficult go office said make sense felt uncovered opportunity taught code nights weekends never looked next UpKeep mobile-native app allows teams create orders photograph damaged repaired shared task list instantly communicate ever touch keyboard Ryan's product someone truly caught Today 160 000 registered small businesses enterprises including McDonald's Marriott Jet.com changes ways direct effects obvious indirect important Applications efficient meaningful impact quality life keeps going says hearing customers tell changed able effectively efficiently result home time families means stress jobs received benefits deployed Across spectrum employee turnover professions quite high satisfaction low number reasons balance challenges wage dissatisfaction level enjoyment want feel efforts valued contributing company's address issues long toward helping employees done allowing enjoy enabling better understand fact employ agriculture education healthcare retail hospitality transportation 89 buyers plan increase spending year news entrepreneurs building decade Melissa Wong Co-Founder CEO Zipline worked companies Inc huge disconnect marketing strategies headquarters carry led retail-focused solution streamlines communication management information places common floor associates assigned via word mouth deliver best customer service communications worse forgotten set levels making exactly need traditional communicating promotional send dozens items store weekly snail mail email Zipline's retailer's disseminate right integrated mangement feedback reporting giving access otherwise referenceable anytime anywhere connected brand experience delivering impressive results major retailer reported saving 20M implementing another claimed associate execution increased 65 call arms Globally spend 300 goes serve Additionally evidence mounting drives productivity engagement improvements feels inevitable billions dollars eventually spent bring upon solutions problems face change power transformational shift works passionate love hear Reach hello emcap.com

Introducing "The State of Technology for the Deskless Workforce"

December 15, 2020

Several years ago Emergence turned attention important often overlooked population global workers deskless workforce 2.7 billion strong representing 80 worldwide employed factories fields stores healthcare facilities construction sites despite numbers impact forgotten entrepreneurs investors 2018 published report detailed last decades innovation engine Silicon Valley catered almost exclusively desk-based knowledge learned hundreds billions dollars VC investments year less 1 went companies building technology reported buyers large populations actively wanted purchase serve portion deserve support gratitude work areas logistics public safety sectors essential economic infrastructure vital everyday lives long hours sometimes dangerous conditions among first lose jobs hardship hits become increasingly clear since onset pandemic centered research experience understand lack thereof affecting critical State 2020 surveyed 500 across 20 industries focused topics related access use workplace reinforced previous finding unaddressed need better world reliant found 75 spend least half time using form ways surprised given anecdotes heard suggested provide always provided best want change desktop PCs laptops Clearly devices smartphones tablets appropriate feet away office indicated slow hard Unsurprisingly 60 unsatisfied believe management fully appreciate feel extent help translates limitations amount spent budget constraints prevent providing hardware software absence addressing gap brought order perform technologies already personal third proactively sought new specifically purpose helping Availability key factor consider job considering 78 high cost recruiting employees significant employee turnover exists deskless-heavy employers wise improve ability attract retain opportunity create biggest opportunities enterprise today interested speaking views entrepreneur company please contact desklessworkforce emcap.com

What I Wish I Knew

December 1, 2020

Five Lessons Fundraising CEO Enterprise SaaS Leader Stacey Epstein part Emergence's annual Female Founder Roundtable brought together incredible group entrepreneurs backgrounds share experiences best practices learned open supportive connective environment event shared first-time Zinc across impressive career biggest names industry Oracle SuccessFactors ServiceMax Currently CMO Chief Experience Officer talented leaders know driven fearless genuine caring authentic Given leadership running companies large small eager advice wider community founders Serving years leading teams sales marketing humbling take role pushed beyond core competencies challenging rewarding exhilarating opportunity dive deeper every aspect business expand skills new domains Looking back wish known especially area pay forward captured important 1 Determine desirable likely investors act accordingly money slide highlights triple digit growth low churn customer success able decide want investments Since options work impact kind people rosy metrics pitch becomes need build truly compelling case around team product customers market Equally find right understand space excited value proposition 2 Create priority list practice lowest first created extensive spreadsheet potential used mini-CRM managed process cycle helped keep track made easy progress board members help Speak time better questions ask helps evolve refine meet top nailed opinion Emergence VC thrilled partnered journey date 3 Prepare Come toughest think answering addition speaking friendlies existing Show cold slides explaining major decisions thus far demonstrate facts figures support homework chose specific meeting bring businesses uniquely suited research person including record investment thesis values personal interests 4 Choose carefully lonely peers boss topics hash true turnaround situation kept evolving thoughtful approach taking partner matters realize Never look route funding expert partners collaborators cheerleaders confidantes relationship last decade longer 5 good times bad Remember happen great celebrate rules engagement involves honesty tough going tweaking along order overly outlook feel surprised maybe misled hit inevitable rough patch contrast developed built trust collaboration navigate storm unified mind win lose always impress goal winning problem solving

WFH Has Made it More of an Insider’s Game to Secure Venture Funding

November 8, 2020

Emergence Founder GP Gordon Ritter shares enterprising founders adapt new unwritten rules fundraising VC activity climbed back pre-pandemic levels statistic masks important development COVID changed startup funding hand pandemic sparked positive founder-friendly developments starters dramatically easier front VCs taking substantially meetings early-stage investors sat entrepreneurs times week right now engaging back-to-back 30-minute conversations day every addition pitch-to-funding timeline accelerated 50 estimates efficient travel eliminated Despite changes flush capital flooding venture ecosystem become different short responded replacing depth volume spending average 20 less time year-over-year reviewing pitch deck including strong teams promising ideas never funded getting insiders especially early stages always intensely relationship-based business betting team idea often given startups pivot historically invested energy know writing checks built relationships kinds rich interactions take place coffees dinners comfortable making big bets people come whiplash-inducing Zoom sessions obviously possible build meaningful fully virtually around world takes creativity human-centered planning devote pursuit consider lower-risk investments tumultuous year doubling already trust secured therefore known trusted reasons pandemic's dollars poured later-stage bigger rounds decreasing share first financings tougher ground managing mean held roles top tech companies well-known seed angel well-regarded influencers within cohort Silicon Valley Researching contacts references founding part jobs used supplant in-person relationship building courtship Naturally prioritizing Regrettably enable unconscious bias result enough connections establishment piling Others unfortunately female dropped three-year low reminder importance diversity Fortunately outsider lacks close obstacle overcome captured advice sharing looking fundraise 1 homework use talking points job interview role last 7 8 9 years want courtesy showing truly taken effort meeting read blog posts contributed pieces press interviews review social media feeds investment theses priorities best match investor approach sector perspectives insights consistent 2 Engage network helps referral Stanford professor serial entrepreneur super-connected requirement need former classmates partners co-workers think highly skills potential domain knowledge pitching let surprised someone Remember diligence backchannels figure ask whether listed contact ready make sure professional 3 Establish reach needing greatly prefer nice since great discuss working show done research explore similar 4 live hub leverage proximity happen advantage Set outdoor socially distant walks provide differentiation opportunities richer 5 judiciously principal VP likely general partner carefully stacked wiggle room presentation crisp minutes allow sufficient discussion Long stagnant upended Paradoxically pandemic-induced opening broader diverse actually large ingenuity perseverance course regardless went school earn shot dream

Living Our Values

November 7, 2020

Jake Saper Now General Partner Lotti Siniscalco Principal proud announce become sixth Emergence Capital Carlotta promoted always investment professionals within firm allows teach practicing venture folks come curve Rather bringing senior investors prefer hire people earlier careers feel great match work potential grow world-class helping founders win big long run part revolves around shared values Going back earliest interactions strong sense closely aligned believe power focus exceptionally pays dividends prioritize dedicated partners others empathy true commitment every relationship maintain take long-term perspective life knowing often takes patience create truly exquisite worked six years see living day fact live fully ever tireless advocate finding ways important entrepreneurs Whether news celebrate tough problem crack first board member call responsive thought know cares human beings Similarly providing support needs done lending caring ear gain greater appreciation vulnerable another result connected Rick Nucci Co-Founder CEO Guru Since joined Guru's 3 ago personally seen built never hesitated share good bad works figuring talk week look forward conversations critical talent need add challenges product to-to-market advice SaaS best practices brings valuable lens thinks view focused path set enduring company happier partnership incredible comes evaluate new investments enables imagine blossom risks abound starts building conviction listening understanding vision assessing happen becomes reality Likewise brought wide range efforts inside leading build stronger culture enhance due diligence process becoming involved community service initiatives helped raise sights terms Nick Sorensen Whistic echoed thoughts conversation pleased say valued Directors helpful number different levels including customer introductions deep dives analysis projects team-building type person love working making difference grateful family Congratulations well-deserved promotions