Growing Pains

Meet David Hornik, the Silicon Valley legend who turned 5 companies into billion-dollar powerhouses—including Splunk's $28B exit to Cisco

What You'll Learn: • From Courtroom to Cap Table: How a lawyer pivoted into one of tech's most successful investors (and why his legal training became his secret weapon) • The People-First Formula: Why Hornik backs entrepreneurs, not just business plans—and how this philosophy created billions in value • AI Revolution Insights: What the investor who spotted enterprise software gold early thinks about the current AI boom • Work-Life Integration: How a top-tier VC actually manages to be present for his family (spoiler: it's not what you think) • Raising Creative Kids: The unconventional parenting strategies of someone who spots innovation for a living • Diversity = Dollars: Why inclusion isn't just nice to have—it's a competitive advantage that drives returns

The Bottom Line: David doesn't just invest in companies; he invests in people solving problems that matter. After 25+ years in the game, his track record speaks for itself: Splunk ($28B to Cisco), GitLab ($15B peak), Bill.com ($5B), and counting.

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone curious about what it really takes to build game-changing companies in Silicon Valley.

Warning: Contains zero startup clichés and 100% authentic insights from someone who's actually done it.

Chapters

00:00 Intro and Beginnings with Yahoo

01:52 Missing Uber

03:48 Other Bets, Splunk, Bill.com, Faros.ai

09:28 How David assesses the Entrepreneur and the Biz

10:50 How AI changes the pitch

12:59 Data + AI = Moat

19:14 Lobby Conference

21:26 DEI today

22:25 From 2000-2025 what's old is new again

25:08 Humans and Ai

27:56 David and the Arts

31:04 Life Lessons on Balance and attention to life

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

Summary

Would you want a human brain surgeon or the latest AI robotic surgeon to perform surgery? 

In this episode of Growing Pains, Chris Hood former director of innovation at Google, author of Inf-AI-lable , talks about AI's implications for businesses, particularly in customer-centric approaches. Chris presents a contrarian view that while AI has made significant strides, it is not near where the hype claims it to be. Chris argues that what has really changed is distribution to consumers - but not the science. 

He talks about the ethical considerations surrounding its use in critical fields like law and medicine and the importance of self-knowledge in navigating its future implications. 

Takeaways

AI has been around for over 60 years, but its accessibility has changed recently.
The hype around AI (promoted by investors and AI companies) often overshadows its actual capabilities.

Starting with technology (often thin wrappers) rather than customer needs and deep domain knowledge can lead to failure.

Companies should provide options for customer interactions, balancing AI and human support.

Understanding the limitations of AI is crucial for businesses.  Context sharing in AI interactions is crucial.

Rapid AI advancements outpace regulatory measures.

Bias in AI tools can affect decision-making. Diverse AI perspectives can enhance creativity.

Self-knowledge is vital in understanding AI's impact.

For more information visit 

Chrishood.com 

Outforce.ai 

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

David Rowley, Operating Partner with Diversis Capital (Diversis.com) discusses the intricacies of private equity, focusing on growth equity and the role of technology in investment decisions. 

He emphasizes the importance of understanding a company's technical leadership and team dynamics during the due diligence process. 

David also outlines the critical first hundred days post-acquisition, highlighting the need for a transformation plan and the impact of AI on investment strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Private equity firms have unique approaches to investment.
• Technology can be an asset or a liability in acquisitions.
• Understanding a company's history is crucial for future growth.
• Leadership assessment is key during due diligence.
• The first hundred days post-acquisition are critical for success.
• AI is becoming integral to investment strategies.
• Diversity in teams can enhance adaptability to change.
• Effective communication between engineering and product is essential.
• Evaluating technical leadership helps in understanding team dynamics.
• Investment decisions are influenced by market dynamics and company performance.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Private Equity and Technology
• 02:54 Understanding the Due Diligence Process
• 05:36 Market Dynamics and Acquisition Strategies
• 08:15 Evaluating Technology and Team Dynamics
• 10:47 The Importance of Technical Storytelling
• 13:34 Assessing Team Capabilities and Leadership
• 16:06 Navigating the First Hundred Days Post-Acquisition
• 18:44 Organizational Design and Conway's Law
• 23:53 Understanding Conway's Law and Architectural Bias
• 24:59 The Importance of Diversity in Engineering Teams
• 26:37 Navigating the First Hundred Days Post-Acquisition
• 35:27 The Role of AI in Due Diligence and Investment Strategies
• 39:44 The Future of SaaS in an AI-Driven World

Diversis.com Partners with technology companies to accelerate growth

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

This week on Growing Pains..... Altus CXO Chief Technology Officer, Tom Altman! Tune in as we talk about transitioning from consolidation to acquisition, mapping your business process to prepare for AI, and strategies for rolling-up your business. 

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

IdeaScale CEO, Nick Jain provides a unique perspective on key differences between funding from Venture Capital Firms and Private Equity Firms, as well as maintaining profitability when businesses are decreasing their spending on innovation and technology. 

Bonus Tip: The philosophy behind: “Businesses are explained by numbers, but not run by numbers” 

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

This week on Growing Pains...Alicia Farricielli! Tune in as we learn how to feel good about your business and make smart decisions by staying in the present. 

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This week on Growing Pains... Matthew Mamet, Chief Product Officier of EnergySage. We are digging into the perfect scenario for a founder, the threat of OpenAI to Google marketplaces, and increasing your revenue by decreasing costs.

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

This week on Growing Pains... Dave Sobel from The Business of Tech! Let's look into the nuances of the critical first customer,  long-term lifetime value, and gaining awareness with your target community. 

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This week on Growing Pains we are chatting with John St. Pierre, a fellow Canadian, successful entrepreneur, and the author of the $100M Journey. John shares his insights on the tough lessons in early business stages, the ups and downs of VC funding, and leveraging your failures. 

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI

This week we welcome Ryan Matonis, President & CTO of LeadForce360 to the Growing Pains podcast. This week we are getting into CRMs, outbound activities, and the challenges of selling to non-technical companies - as a tech company. Tune in to learn how these insights can ease your growing pains! 

For more insights from Sean, visit OUTFORCE.AI