Outsourcing isn't new — but the way startups can use it today has radically changed. On this week’s ep, I sat down with Shaun Walker, CEO of Spoke, to unpack what business process outsourcing (BPO) can look like for high-growth startups in 2025.

Let me say this upfront: most early - stage founders are missing out. Outsourcing isn’t just about slashing costs - it’s about building operational leverage and unlocking global talent pools in a way that accelerates your entire business.

Spoke’s model stands out because it focuses on fully embedded, dedicated teams that feel like extensions of your startup - they're engaged team members motivated to help you hit your milestones.

Whether it’s customer support, finance, data operations, or even engineering, there’s a strategic opportunity here. Especially in today’s hybrid and AI-enhanced world, Shaun argues that outsourcing can be a “bionic” function — letting you scale up or down with flexibility, access talent faster, and focus your internal team on what truly matters.

If you're a founder thinking about how to stretch your funding and build operational leverage, this is a must-listen. Hope it helps you navigate your own growth journey.

🕒 Chapter Markers

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:10 – What Spoke Does Differently in BPO

03:00 – Human-Centric Approach to Outsourcing

05:00 – Why Not Hire Offshore Directly?

07:00 – Building Embedded Global Teams

08:00 – Why Founders Miss BPO Opportunities

10:00 – When to Consider Outsourcing

12:00 – How Spoke Supports Startups

14:00 – The Cost vs. Strategic Advantage Debate

17:00 – Global Talent Quality and Motivation

19:00 – BPO as a Bionic Growth Function

21:00 – Helping Startups with U.S. Hiring Too

22:00 – High-Skill Roles & No Upper Limit

26:00 – AI’s Role in the Future of Outsourcing

28:00 – When Outsourcing Doesn’t Work

32:00 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

• Shaun Walker: LinkedIn
• Spoke: Website
• Interplay: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter
• Book: The Fundraising Rules