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Cultivating Unicorns: Richard Frankel on Scaling Startups to Mythical Proportions | Ep5
In an insightful dialogue, Brian Bell sits down with tech
veteran Richard Frankel, whose expansive career encompasses roles in pioneering
ad tech firms like Net Gravity, DoubleClick, and Yahoo. The podcast delves into
Richard's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling businesses, and
vital lessons for modern startups.
Background and Career Milestones
Richard began as an engineer, swiftly transitioning into the
advertising/media sector during the internet's infancy. At Yahoo in the
mid-2000s, he played a crucial role in developing multiple successful ad tech
products. However, he found the organizational politics and bureaucracy
increasingly stifling, which inspired him to forge his own path.
Entrepreneurial Journey
In 2008, Richard co-founded Rocket Fuel—an AI-driven ad tech
startup—alongside two of his Yahoo colleagues. Despite its launch during a
recession, the company achieved hyper-growth due to the surging popularity of
programmatic advertising. Rocket Fuel went public in 2014 with a valuation of
approximately $2 billion. However, it faced significant hurdles, including
challenges adapting to agency demands for self-service tools.
Post-Rocket Fuel Ventures
Following Rocket Fuel's acquisition, Richard engaged in
advisory roles but found them lacking in excitement. Amid the COVID-19
pandemic, he co-founded Chatwin, a venture focused on assisting SaaS companies
in their global expansion efforts.
Key Takeaways
Business Philosophy
Richard emphasizes the importance of a historical
perspective in business and advocates for leaders to focus on tasks only they
can accomplish while delegating other responsibilities.
This conversation between Brian Bell and Richard Frankel
offers a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in the tech and
startup ecosystems and what it takes to launch and create a unicorn startup.
View all episodes
By Brian BellIn an insightful dialogue, Brian Bell sits down with tech
veteran Richard Frankel, whose expansive career encompasses roles in pioneering
ad tech firms like Net Gravity, DoubleClick, and Yahoo. The podcast delves into
Richard's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling businesses, and
vital lessons for modern startups.
Background and Career Milestones
Richard began as an engineer, swiftly transitioning into the
advertising/media sector during the internet's infancy. At Yahoo in the
mid-2000s, he played a crucial role in developing multiple successful ad tech
products. However, he found the organizational politics and bureaucracy
increasingly stifling, which inspired him to forge his own path.
Entrepreneurial Journey
In 2008, Richard co-founded Rocket Fuel—an AI-driven ad tech
startup—alongside two of his Yahoo colleagues. Despite its launch during a
recession, the company achieved hyper-growth due to the surging popularity of
programmatic advertising. Rocket Fuel went public in 2014 with a valuation of
approximately $2 billion. However, it faced significant hurdles, including
challenges adapting to agency demands for self-service tools.
Post-Rocket Fuel Ventures
Following Rocket Fuel's acquisition, Richard engaged in
advisory roles but found them lacking in excitement. Amid the COVID-19
pandemic, he co-founded Chatwin, a venture focused on assisting SaaS companies
in their global expansion efforts.
Key Takeaways
Business Philosophy
Richard emphasizes the importance of a historical
perspective in business and advocates for leaders to focus on tasks only they
can accomplish while delegating other responsibilities.
This conversation between Brian Bell and Richard Frankel
offers a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in the tech and
startup ecosystems and what it takes to launch and create a unicorn startup.