#207: Bringing Soldiers Home to Building the Digital Identity with Blake Hall, Founder & CEO, ID.me

Brought to you by:

SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.

Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.

Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!

Featuring:

Blake Hall, Founder & CEO, ID.me

What You’ll Learn:

How Blake's grandfather earned a Bronze Star with Valor at Anzio and established three leadership rules that shaped three generations of soldiers

Why Roy, an Iraqi interpreter, became a life-changing mission that demonstrated the true meaning of bringing everyone home

How ID.me is building the identity layer for the internet with a digital wallet that puts consumers in control of their data

The four immutable character traits Blake screens for: optimism, kindness over niceness, fight-or-flight control, and zero tolerance for jerks

Strategic fundraising lessons from raising over $100 million while maintaining company control and avoiding liquidation preference traps

Timestamps

(01:00) Military Heritage: Three Generations of Soldiers from WWII to Iraq

(02:00) Grandfather's Bronze Star: Saving His Unit at Anzio Against Nazi Machine Guns

(04:00) The Three Family Rules: Humility, Hard Assignments, and Leadership Lessons

(05:00) Roy's Story: Meeting the Iraqi Interpreter Who Looked Like a "Water Boy"

(07:00) Combat Reality: 19 of 22 Interpreters Executed Over 24 Months

(08:00) The Promise: "I'm Going to Bring All My Guys Home"

(13:00) Combat to Civilian: "Where Do I Go on Friday to Hang Out?"

(14:00) ID.me's Mission: Building the Identity Layer for the Internet

(15:00) Digital Wallets Beyond Payments: Privacy Filters and Never Do Same Thing Twice

(21:00) Core Value #1: "Don't Be a Jerk" - Zero Tolerance Policy

(22:00) Core Value #2: "Kind vs. Nice" - Truth-Telling Over People-Pleasing

(23:00) Core Value #3: "No Pessimists" - The Apollo 13 Mindset

(25:00) Hiring Strategy: Screening for Immutable Character Traits First

(27:00) Duke Basketball Example: Coach K's "We're Gonna Win" Leadership

(31:00) Fundraising Timing: Running Experiments Before Raising Capital

(34:00) Paul Graham's Wisdom: "Love from Few vs. Lukewarm from Many"

(36:00) Founding Team Dynamics: Complementary Skills and Vesting Agreements

(39:00) Strategic Investors: USAA Partnership Without Control Strings

(40:00) Crossover Funds: Viking Global's $100M+ Rounds Without Board Control

(42:00) The Four Business Questions: Size, Frequency, Price, and Moats

(45:00) Book Recommendations: Military Leadership to Tech Innovation

Connect

🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/

🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste

🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/

📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtables

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:

1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.

Join now: https://www.techtables.com/

2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.

CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory

3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com