How to Scale

Welcome to Season 2 of the How to Scale podcast! In the 1st episode of the new season, host Mike Reid speaks to Martin Leuw about the role of purpose in software scale-ups.

Martin is a serial software entrepreneur with a 25-year track record of creating significant tangible value to PE and Founders through leading business growth. As Group CEO of IRIS Software Group, over a 10 year period, Martin led the scale-up growth from £2m to £50m EBITDA pa and Enterprise Value from £30m to $1bn, delivering a 90% IRR exit to the PE backers.

In our conversation we discuss how Martin used the role of purpose as a key catalyst to scale-up his businesses and discover tangible takeaways that can be applied to your scale-up journey.

We cover these topics extensively in Frog's library of Scale-Up toolkits, other episodes of the podcasts and many other Scale-Up insights from our Frog operating partners. Go to frogcapital.com/scale-up for more.

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In the twelth episode of 'How to Scale', we focus on ‘building a strong collaborative culture'. Host Jens Düing speaks with Frog's in-house psychologist, John Sutherland. 

John is one of Frog’s Operating Partners and is a specialist leadership team development consultant. He works with the companies Frog invests in to assess their senior teams, assist with new key hires and develop team culture.

In our conversation we dive deeper into topics including building team culture and language, the rules of belonging, fostering an environment for robust contention, nurturing, strong collaboration, teamwork, and dealing with difference.

You can find more content from John at https://frogcapital.com/profile/john-sutherland/ as well as many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our other Frog operating partners.

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In the 11th episode of How to Scale, host Jens Düing speaks to Adam Hale about the 5 things software companies need to focus on at the same time, to set them on their way to 'Scaling to Market Leadership'.

Adam is the Chair of 3 companies, including Clue Software, one of the companies Frog has invested in. He has had successful careers in executive search and professional services, as well as successfully scaling a business called Fairsail from 13 people and £700k ARR to over 200 people and £12 million ARR before being acquired by Sage Group.

In our conversation we'll cover the 5 areas Adam concentrates on with the businesses he chairs, which are purpose, focus, customer success, innovation and team.

We cover these topics extensively in Frog's library of Scale-Up toolkits, other episodes of the podcasts and many other Scale-Up insights from our Frog operating partners. Go to frogcapital.com/scale-up for more.

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In the tenth episode of How to Scale, host Jens Düing speaks to fellow Senior Partner, Mike Reid about the steps for software companies to follow to increase the chances of 'Being Successfully Acquired'.

Mike founded Frog Capital in 2009 and has been investing in businesses for over 20 years and overseen the sale and acquisition of over 50 companies in that time.

In our conversation we'll cover topics including building value sustainably, shareholder and stakeholder alignment, corporate communications, mastering due diligence, and most importantly of all; planning well in advance.

You can also find Mike's accompanying toolkit, '11 Steps to Being Successfully Acquired' at frogcapital.com/beingacquired as well as many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our Frog operating partners.

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In the ninth episode of How to Scale we focus on scaling HR when a software company is growing fast. Host Jens Düing speaks to Ulli Dittgen-Noweski, who is Chief People and Communications Officer of Caspar Health, one of Frog Capital’s portfolio companies.

Ulli has a wealth of experience in HR leadership roles across the world, having worked for BMG, MSD and Schering-Plough Research Institute amongst others before joining Caspar Health.

In the conversation we cover putting the right HR processes, policies and structures in place to enable growth. We also talk about how to develop buy-in by making staff feel heard, attracting and recruiting the right talent and navigating cultural differences.

If you'd like to check out further content from Frog Capital, you can visit https://frogcapital.com/scale-up/, where you will find many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our Frog operating partners. In addition, you can find out more about Frog Capital and stay updated with our latest news and Scale-Up insights by following us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/frog-capital/

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In the eighth episode of ‘How to Scale’ we discuss the role of the Chair at software companies through the scale-up stage. Host Jens Düing speaks with fellow Senior Partner, Mike Reid, and Frog’s in-house psychologist and Team Development Operating Partner, John Sutherland, who have put together a Chairing Framework, which forms the basis for our discussion.

Put together in collaboration with Frog’s wider network of Chairs, it examines the five key elements a Chair will focus on:

1. Strategic time horizon
2. Balancing Stakeholder focus
3. Governance/ Mentoring approach
4. Adaptive/ Intentional style
5. Development strategy

You can find more information about Frog’s Chairing Framework by downloading the accompanying scale-up toolkit at https://frogcapital.com/scale-up/the-frog-scale-up-chairing-framework/, as well as many other scale-up insights and toolkits from our other Frog operating partners.

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In the seventh episode of How to Scale we focus on mergers and acquisitions. Host Jens Düing speaks to serial entrepreneur Michael Kent, who was the CEO of Azimo, one of Frog Capital’s former portfolio companies, which recently was acquired by Papaya Global.’

Before being CEO of Azimo, Michael worked in corporate mergers and acquisitions at News Corp and WPP before founding Small World where he and his team conducted multiple acquisitions.

In the conversation we cover growth strategies with mergers and acquisitions, including what to focus on if you're looking to acquire for the first time and a reminder that the process does not finish when the transaction is completed. We also talk about the difference in skill sets between organic growth and acquisitive growth, and the importance of focusing on people and relationships before, during and after any deal.

If you'd like to read further content on mergers and acquisitions, you can visit https://frogcapital.com/scale-up/mergers-and-acquisitions/, where you can download Frog Capital’s toolkit on growth strategies with mergers and acquisitions.

If you want to find out more about Frog Capital and stay updated with our latest news and Scale-Up insights follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/frog-capital/

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In the sixth episode of How to Scale we focus on scaling finance teams. Host Jens Düing speaks to fellow Senior Partner at Frog Capital, Steven Dunne.

Steven has over 20 years of private equity experience gained both within private equity firms and as a senior executive of private equity backed companies.

In the conversation we cover topics including the organisation and process of scaling the finance function, and why engagement with the rest of the business is fundamental to success.

If you'd like to read content from Steven, you can visit https://frogcapital.com/scale-up/, where you will also find many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our other Frog operating partners.

If you want to find out more about Frog Capital and stay updated with our latest news and Scale-Up insights follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/frog-capital/

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In the fifth episode of 'How to Scale' we focus on ‘Senior team development in the real world'. Host Jens Düing speaks with Frog's in-house psychologist, John Sutherland. 

John is one of Frog’s Operating Partners and is a specialist leadership team development consultant. He works with the companies Frog invests in to assess their senior teams, assist with new key hires and develop team culture.

In our conversation we'll discuss the common pitfalls in team development and what strong teams do to address them. We cover topics including diversity, dealing with different styles and approaches, and how leaders can evaluate their own behaviour, team dynamics and the fit with the business strategy and purpose continuously.

You can find more content from John at frogcapital.com/teamdevelopment as well as many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our other Frog operating partners.

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In the fourth episode of How to Scale we follow last episode's focus on the recent tech downturn with the perfect antidote that lies at Frog's core - scaling businesses sustainably. Host Jens Düing speaks to fellow Senior Partner at Frog Capital, Steven Dunne.

Steven is Frog's CFO and heads up our operating partner programme. He has over 20 years' experience working in private equity backed businesses and private equity companies themselves. works closely with the CFO's at the companies Frog has invested in.

In the conversation we cover topics including balancing growth and profitability, how purpose impacts a business, strong leadership and strategic financial management and planning.

If you'd like to read content from Steven he has written several great pieces available at frogcapital.com/scalingsustainably as well as many other Scale-Up insights and toolkits from our other Frog operating partners.

If you want to find out more about Frog Capital and stay updated with our latest news and Scale-Up insights follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/frog-capital/

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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