In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, we sit down with Rathna Sharad, the founder and CEO of FlavorCloud, a cross-border shipping platform that’s transforming the logistics landscape for direct-to-consumer brands. Drawing on her 20+ years of experience in global supply chain and e-commerce, Rathna has built a powerful “anywhere-to-anywhere” logistics solution that empowers brands to operate seamlessly on a global scale.

Founded in 2018, FlavorCloud simplifies international shipping for mid-to-large enterprise merchants by abstracting the complexity of customs, carrier disruptions, and compliance. The platform enables businesses to offer guaranteed global delivery with best-in-class rates and a streamlined checkout process, unlocking new revenue opportunities in a $4.8 trillion global B2C and $7.3 trillion B2B e-commerce market.

In this episode, Rathna shares her journey from developer to entrepreneur, offering insights into the complexities of logistics, the challenges of scaling a remote-first team, and the importance of community support among founders. She emphasizes continuous learning and adaptation in a constantly evolving industry, providing valuable advice for early-stage founders, along with reflections on her fundraising journey and team dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

• FlavorCloud simplifies cross-border shipping, making it as easy as domestic logistics for brands and retailers.
• Rathna’s journey spans 20+ years in global supply chain and logistics.
• The logistics industry is complex and ripe for disruption, especially with the power of technology.
• Continuous learning and embracing discomfort are essential for entrepreneurs.
• Remote work creates unique challenges in team alignment and communication.
• Fundraising requires a structured and disciplined approach for efficiency.
• Community support is crucial in navigating the entrepreneurial journey.
• Scaling a startup involves adapting to changing team dynamics and regulatory hurdles.

Chapters:

• Introduction to Rathna Sharad and FlavorCloud
• The Complexities of Cross-Border Logistics
• Rathna’s Journey in Logistics and E-commerce
• FlavorCloud’s Mission to Simplify Global Commerce
• The Challenges of Scaling a Remote-First Team
• Fundraising Insights and Strategies
• The Role of Community in Entrepreneurship
• Embracing Discomfort and Continuous Learning
• Regulatory Compliance in the Logistics Industry
• Final Thoughts and Advice for Founders

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with all our episodes, where we bring you the untold stories of innovation and leadership from the tech world, only on Tech Scenes Unplugged.

Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com

Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #innovation #venturecapital #startups #logistics #FlavorCloud #crossborder #ecommerce #supplychain #entrepreneurship #ceo #founder #rathnasharad #remotework #scalingstartup

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, we sit down with Forest Flager, CEO and Co-founder of Parspec, a company revolutionizing product selection and procurement in the construction industry. Parspec, founded in 2021 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, is on a mission to enable sales agents and distributors in construction to discover and source the best available products and materials for their projects. Parspect's AI-powered platform supports product selection, quoting, and submittal workflows, simplifying a traditionally cumbersome process.

Forest brings a wealth of experience from his background in architecture and construction technology. Before founding Parspec, he led software and design automation efforts at Katerra and was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Stanford University. Forest has also built innovative digital solutions that have had a significant impact on construction design and fabrication.

In this episode, Forest shares his journey from architecture to founding a tech startup. We explore how Parspec uses AI to automate product selection, the challenges of adopting technology in the construction industry, and the importance of building strong relationships within teams. Forest reflects on his experience in fundraising, the importance of transparency with investors, and how having a clear vision attracts top talent. We also discuss the cultural differences in feedback, team dynamics, and lessons learned from building a distributed team.

Key Takeaways:

• Parspec uses AI to streamline product selection for construction distributors, making the process quicker and more efficient.
• Forest’s background in architecture and construction influenced his motivation to create Parspec.
• Building strong relationships within teams and understanding cultural differences in feedback are key to success.
• Investors appreciate transparency, and having a clear vision is essential for attracting top talent.
• The construction industry is traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, but AI is transforming product selection.
• Fundraising lessons include the need for clear communication and understanding the challenges faced by the company.

Chapters:

• Introduction to Parspec and Its Mission
• The Challenges of Product Selection in Construction
• Forest's Journey to Founding Parspec
• Navigating Technology Adoption in Construction
• Building a Distributed Team
• The Importance of Team Camaraderie
• Cultural Differences in Feedback and Performance Reviews
• Scaling the Product and Market Strategy
• Lessons Learned from Fundraising
• Attracting Talent and Communicating Vision

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with all our episodes, where we bring you the untold stories of innovation and leadership from the tech world, only on Tech Scenes Unplugged.

Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://geni.us/peak-teams

Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com

Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #innovation #venturecapital #startups #constructiontech #AI #Parspec #forestflager #productmarketfit #teamculture #entrepreneurship #ceo #founder

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, we dive into the world of cybersecurity with Jack Marshall, a visionary leader and CEO of Bolster AI, a company focused on AI-driven defense against phishing and impersonation attacks. Jack has a rich history of transforming early-stage companies into billion-dollar earners, including leading Photoloft, the first and largest internet photo-sharing community, which was later sold to Canon, Inc.

At Bolster, Jack and his team are at the forefront of using cutting-edge AI to detect and prevent phishing attacks, ensuring that individuals and businesses can interact online safely. During the conversation, Jack shares his insights into the evolution of Bolster, customer success strategies, and the need for companies to adopt both offensive and defensive approaches to cybersecurity.

We also explore the increasing role of government in cybersecurity, the importance of team execution and adaptability, and how key performance indicators (KPIs) drive growth. Jack reflects on the journey that led him to Bolster and offers thoughts on the current state of venture capital in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Bolster started as a phishing detection tool, evolving as AI became more powerful.
• The company's focus is on offensive anti-phishing strategies to protect brands.
• Customer success plays a critical role in making clients experts in phishing protection.
• Government involvement in cybersecurity is increasing, but there is still much work to be done.
• Execution, having the right team, and adaptability are crucial for success in startups.
• KPIs should be used as a learning tool to improve business strategies.
• Building a great company should be prioritized over simply selling it.
• Creating a unified culture across global teams is essential for long-term success.

Chapters:

• Introduction to Bolster and Its Mission
• Understanding Phishing and Brand Protection
• Automation in Phishing Protection
• Jack's Journey to Bolster
• Customer Success and Empowering Clients
• The Role of Government in Phishing Protection
• Offensive vs Defensive Strategies in Cybersecurity
• The Importance of Team Execution
• Adaptability and Learning in Startups
• The Role of KPIs in Business Success
• Building a Great Company vs Selling
• Creating a Unified Company Culture
• The Current State of Venture Capital
• Desert Island Album Choice

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with all our episodes, where we bring you the untold stories of innovation and leadership from the tech world, only on Tech Scenes Unplugged.

Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://geni.us/peak-teams

Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com

Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #innovation #venturecapital #startups #cybersecurity #AI #phishingprotection #BolsterAI #entrepreneurship #ceo #founder #leadership #KPIs #adaptability