Hitting Clutch Shots

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

When you're the first to do something as an entrepreneur, and you do it very well, other companies start to pay attention—fast. But what happens when you're suddenly up against businesses a hundred times your size, offering up your product? In this preview of Zero to IPO season two, Zoom's CEO and founder Eric Yuan shares advice on how to stand out with Rachel Tipograph, CEO and founder of MikMak, a marketing ecommerce platform that allows brands to better understand their consumers.

People spend a lifetime getting to an IPO — but what happens after you go public? How does it change your company? How does it change your worldview? And how do you channel all of that change into something much more significant? In our season finale, we explore the great beyond of post-IPO success with Aneel Bhusri, Josh James, Maggie Wilderotter, and Aaron Levie.

This is it. The moment you’ve been waiting for. How nervous is everyone? Why IPO? Why now? In this episode, we talk with successful entrepreneurs about the highs and lows of taking their companies public—and everything it took to get there. You'll hear from Josh James, Fred Luddy, Julia Hartz, Ben Horowitz, Aneel Bhusri, and our very own Frederic Kerrest about the day itself and how it propels your company into an entirely new chapter.

You have one chance to make your shot. Every eye in the room is on you, there’s no room for self-doubt, and failure is not an option. As your company grows, you’ll go up against the buzzer and face your competition time after time. In order to consistently nail the game-changing shots, you have to learn to enjoy them. In this episode, 2015 NBA Finals MVP and Golden State Warriors shooting guard Andre Iguodala — someone very familiar with hitting clutch shots— teaches a master class on performing under pressure. Medallia's Amy Pressman comes in with the assist, sharing how even the best players in the game can improve.