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Event

Jun 19, 2024

Jun 19, 2024

Scaling from $1M to $20M: Event Highlights

Last night, we co-hosted an exhilarating panel discussion packed with insights, laughter, and key strategies on scaling businesses from $1 million to $20 million. Sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking and co-hosted by Screenloop and StackOne, the event brought together seasoned experts who shared their wisdom and humorous anecdotes.

The Speakers

  • Hanna Marie Asmussen, Founder & CEO of Localyze

  • Harrison Rose, Founder of GoodFit.io and former co-founder of Paddle

  • Jay Radia, Founder of Reachdesk and Yieldify

Hiring Insights

Our panellists shared invaluable hiring tips:

  • Hanna emphasised removing people not aligned with the company’s system.

  • Harrison discussed the high cost of retaining underperforming team members and the importance of quick evaluations. He highlighted that not firing soon enough can set a tone of acceptance for underperformance.

  • Jay stressed the importance of thorough referencing and validation during hiring, noting that spending extra time on this process is crucial.

  • Hanna noted that adaptability and a similar mindset are more important than experience, as business needs change rapidly.

  • Jay pointed out that VPs often excel in one area and it’s crucial to ensure their skills align with the business needs.

  • Harrison concurred, emphasising the need to identify the missing skills necessary for the business.

Scaling Strategies

When it comes to scaling, our experts had this to say:

  • Culture Fit Over Product-Market Fit: Hanna emphasised that focusing on culture-market fit is crucial for rapid growth.

  • Systematisation: Moving from experimentation to repeatable systems is key, with hiring being crucial in this transition.

  • Data-Driven Focus: Once scaled, the focus should be data-driven and performance-oriented, supported by a strong culture.

  • Customer Management: Establish rules to avoid saying yes to every customer request.

US Market Focus

Cracking the US market requires founders to relocate for better control and success. Many founders try to do it too early, which can be a costly mistake.

Best Hiring Practices

  • Avoid Premature Senior Hiring: Early-stage companies need doers, not just thinkers. Avoid giving out C-level titles too soon.

  • Learning from Mistakes: Recognise that not every hire will be perfect. Use mistakes to refine your hiring process.

  • Motivation and Flexibility: Look for these traits in early-stage hires, as they are more critical than experience.

  • Celebrate Contributions: Celebrate the contributions of early hires, even if they choose to move on as the company scales.

  • Team Integration: Be considerate about blending new employees with long-timers to avoid creating a toxic culture.

Partnership and Fundraising Insights

  • Partnerships: Analyse partnerships critically to ensure they target the same Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Be selective and strategic.

  • Fundraising: Only take extra cash if necessary and consider taking secondary as a founder. Sometimes, taking a step back can lead to better decisions.

Speaker Insights

Here are some notable quotes from our panellists:

  • Hanna on alignment: “Kick people out who are not on board with the system.”

  • Jay on senior hires: “Thorough referencing is essential. Make those extra calls. It might be harder, but it's worth it to avoid costly hiring mistakes.”

  • Harrison on growth: “If the company is growing at 300%, everyone on the team needs to, otherwise the company will outgrow you.”

Conclusions

Hosted at and sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, this event was a treasure trove of insights for scaling your business. The audience was highly engaged, laughing and nodding in agreement, especially when the panel discussed the challenges of Go-To-Market strategies and hiring practices.

Feeling inspired? So are we!


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Last night, we co-hosted an exhilarating panel discussion packed with insights, laughter, and key strategies on scaling businesses from $1 million to $20 million. Sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking and co-hosted by Screenloop and StackOne, the event brought together seasoned experts who shared their wisdom and humorous anecdotes.

The Speakers

  • Hanna Marie Asmussen, Founder & CEO of Localyze

  • Harrison Rose, Founder of GoodFit.io and former co-founder of Paddle

  • Jay Radia, Founder of Reachdesk and Yieldify

Hiring Insights

Our panellists shared invaluable hiring tips:

  • Hanna emphasised removing people not aligned with the company’s system.

  • Harrison discussed the high cost of retaining underperforming team members and the importance of quick evaluations. He highlighted that not firing soon enough can set a tone of acceptance for underperformance.

  • Jay stressed the importance of thorough referencing and validation during hiring, noting that spending extra time on this process is crucial.

  • Hanna noted that adaptability and a similar mindset are more important than experience, as business needs change rapidly.

  • Jay pointed out that VPs often excel in one area and it’s crucial to ensure their skills align with the business needs.

  • Harrison concurred, emphasising the need to identify the missing skills necessary for the business.

Scaling Strategies

When it comes to scaling, our experts had this to say:

  • Culture Fit Over Product-Market Fit: Hanna emphasised that focusing on culture-market fit is crucial for rapid growth.

  • Systematisation: Moving from experimentation to repeatable systems is key, with hiring being crucial in this transition.

  • Data-Driven Focus: Once scaled, the focus should be data-driven and performance-oriented, supported by a strong culture.

  • Customer Management: Establish rules to avoid saying yes to every customer request.

US Market Focus

Cracking the US market requires founders to relocate for better control and success. Many founders try to do it too early, which can be a costly mistake.

Best Hiring Practices

  • Avoid Premature Senior Hiring: Early-stage companies need doers, not just thinkers. Avoid giving out C-level titles too soon.

  • Learning from Mistakes: Recognise that not every hire will be perfect. Use mistakes to refine your hiring process.

  • Motivation and Flexibility: Look for these traits in early-stage hires, as they are more critical than experience.

  • Celebrate Contributions: Celebrate the contributions of early hires, even if they choose to move on as the company scales.

  • Team Integration: Be considerate about blending new employees with long-timers to avoid creating a toxic culture.

Partnership and Fundraising Insights

  • Partnerships: Analyse partnerships critically to ensure they target the same Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Be selective and strategic.

  • Fundraising: Only take extra cash if necessary and consider taking secondary as a founder. Sometimes, taking a step back can lead to better decisions.

Speaker Insights

Here are some notable quotes from our panellists:

  • Hanna on alignment: “Kick people out who are not on board with the system.”

  • Jay on senior hires: “Thorough referencing is essential. Make those extra calls. It might be harder, but it's worth it to avoid costly hiring mistakes.”

  • Harrison on growth: “If the company is growing at 300%, everyone on the team needs to, otherwise the company will outgrow you.”

Conclusions

Hosted at and sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, this event was a treasure trove of insights for scaling your business. The audience was highly engaged, laughing and nodding in agreement, especially when the panel discussed the challenges of Go-To-Market strategies and hiring practices.

Feeling inspired? So are we!


Last night, we co-hosted an exhilarating panel discussion packed with insights, laughter, and key strategies on scaling businesses from $1 million to $20 million. Sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking and co-hosted by Screenloop and StackOne, the event brought together seasoned experts who shared their wisdom and humorous anecdotes.

The Speakers

  • Hanna Marie Asmussen, Founder & CEO of Localyze

  • Harrison Rose, Founder of GoodFit.io and former co-founder of Paddle

  • Jay Radia, Founder of Reachdesk and Yieldify

Hiring Insights

Our panellists shared invaluable hiring tips:

  • Hanna emphasised removing people not aligned with the company’s system.

  • Harrison discussed the high cost of retaining underperforming team members and the importance of quick evaluations. He highlighted that not firing soon enough can set a tone of acceptance for underperformance.

  • Jay stressed the importance of thorough referencing and validation during hiring, noting that spending extra time on this process is crucial.

  • Hanna noted that adaptability and a similar mindset are more important than experience, as business needs change rapidly.

  • Jay pointed out that VPs often excel in one area and it’s crucial to ensure their skills align with the business needs.

  • Harrison concurred, emphasising the need to identify the missing skills necessary for the business.

Scaling Strategies

When it comes to scaling, our experts had this to say:

  • Culture Fit Over Product-Market Fit: Hanna emphasised that focusing on culture-market fit is crucial for rapid growth.

  • Systematisation: Moving from experimentation to repeatable systems is key, with hiring being crucial in this transition.

  • Data-Driven Focus: Once scaled, the focus should be data-driven and performance-oriented, supported by a strong culture.

  • Customer Management: Establish rules to avoid saying yes to every customer request.

US Market Focus

Cracking the US market requires founders to relocate for better control and success. Many founders try to do it too early, which can be a costly mistake.

Best Hiring Practices

  • Avoid Premature Senior Hiring: Early-stage companies need doers, not just thinkers. Avoid giving out C-level titles too soon.

  • Learning from Mistakes: Recognise that not every hire will be perfect. Use mistakes to refine your hiring process.

  • Motivation and Flexibility: Look for these traits in early-stage hires, as they are more critical than experience.

  • Celebrate Contributions: Celebrate the contributions of early hires, even if they choose to move on as the company scales.

  • Team Integration: Be considerate about blending new employees with long-timers to avoid creating a toxic culture.

Partnership and Fundraising Insights

  • Partnerships: Analyse partnerships critically to ensure they target the same Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Be selective and strategic.

  • Fundraising: Only take extra cash if necessary and consider taking secondary as a founder. Sometimes, taking a step back can lead to better decisions.

Speaker Insights

Here are some notable quotes from our panellists:

  • Hanna on alignment: “Kick people out who are not on board with the system.”

  • Jay on senior hires: “Thorough referencing is essential. Make those extra calls. It might be harder, but it's worth it to avoid costly hiring mistakes.”

  • Harrison on growth: “If the company is growing at 300%, everyone on the team needs to, otherwise the company will outgrow you.”

Conclusions

Hosted at and sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, this event was a treasure trove of insights for scaling your business. The audience was highly engaged, laughing and nodding in agreement, especially when the panel discussed the challenges of Go-To-Market strategies and hiring practices.

Feeling inspired? So are we!