In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Ajay Kulkarni, CEO of Timescale, an open source time series SQL database that’s raised over $180 Million in funding, about why, as computers get more powerful and data storage gets cheaper, the future of our digital transformation lies in better databases. With a market offering optimized for data intensive applications which capture large volumes of information for use in enterprise decision making, but faster, cheaper and better than current market offerings, Timescale is set to make a massive impact on the way data affects all of our daily lives.

We also speak about how perseverance kept Ajay in the startup space even after less than successful attempts at first, why he believes the success in any business is the grind, the pros and cons of starting a business during tough economic times, and how Timescale’s early PLG strategy was built on the strength of their community.

Topics Discussed:

• Ajay’s first forays as a founder, and why he feels he learned a lot but never quite got the formula right until now

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Gary Hoberman, CEO and Founder of Unqork, a no-code enterprise application platform that’s raised over $400 Million in funding, about why the future of tech innovation for some of the world’s largest companies is being built without a single line of code. With a range of software solutions combining automation and cutting-edge analytics, Unqork helps their clients divert critical resources back to driving forward momentum instead of maintaining out-of-date solutions.

We also speak about Gary’s impressive career in some of the world’s leading enterprises, how his entrepreneurial family helped shape his unique approach to business, Gary’s vision for innovation in business, and why, as far as he’s concerned, cutting-edge technology really is magic.

Topics Discussed:

• Gary’s career in the world of global enterprise and what it taught him about his own personal approach to business

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Tony Jamous, CEO of Oyster, about how remote working is bringing the world together, building new opportunities and making a dent in one of our greatest collective challenges – global inequality. Oyster’s seamless, red-tape-free solution for any company to hire anyone, anywhere, is more than just a revenue stream, it’s a mission-based company determined to lead the way toward a better future of work for us all.

We spoke about Oyster’s extraordinary funding success, the impact of the pandemic and the importance of timing, and how personal experiences building a global company led him to appreciate the challenge of hiring across borders. A self-proclaimed ‘future of work activist,’ Tony wants to see a world where barriers and borders to productivity are eliminated, allowing people to optimize their skills in their communities and end the cycle of brain drain afflicting much of the world.

 Topics Discussed:

• The future of a truly global economy, and why bureaucracy hurts us all, in the long run,

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Barr Moses, Co-Founder & CEO of Monte Carlo, a data observability platform that’s raised over $230 Million in funding. 

Topics Discussed:

• Barr’s background in the Israeli military, and the lessons in analytics and dealing with challenges that she brought to the world of business

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Kevin Busque, CEO and Founder of Guideline, a 401K platform for small business that’s raised $339 Million in funding, about why so few employees in the US have access to a retirement plan for their autumn years, and their mission to make them more accessible and effective for everyone involved. Covering everything from payroll integrations to intuitive dashboards and intelligent advertising, Guideline gives people the power to invest in their financial future with confidence.

We also speak about Kevin’s early start in business with a highschool custom computer enterprise, his lifelong love of digital technologies and transition through the sector to become a founder, the regulatory pain that both inspired and impeded the early days of Guideline, and how technology is revolutionizing the retirement industry.

Topics Discussed:

• Kevin’s lifelong love of computer technology, from a highschool business to working in firms across the sector

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Tom “TJ” Jermoluk, CEO of Beyond Identity, a passwordless authentication platform that’s raised over $200 Million in funding, about why it’s time to address the fundamental flaw in the way we’ve all been running our security. We all know that sharing passwords is a no-no, but it’s built into the alphanumeric system on which our traditional security systems have been based for decades. By combining identity management and security infrastructure, Beyond Identity are carving out a new market category, and successfully bringing investors and clients along for the ride.

We also spoke about TJ’s legacy in Silicon Valley and the companies which helped to make him a legend there, why it’s such a uniquely great place for starting a startup, and how it’s changed over the decades. Leading the way in a new market space means confronting a whole host of unique challenges, foremost among which is educating your market about exactly why what you’re offering is something they need, and how it’s going to change their whole world.

Topics Discussed:

• TJ’s time in Silicon Valley, and why a unique combination of innovation and investment means its still a uniquely special place to do business

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Doron Myersdorf, CEO and Founder of StoreDot, a battery developer that’s raised over $200 Million in funding, about how battery technology holds the key to a more sustainable future for us all. By rapidly advancing the technology that quite literally drives electric vehicle adoption around the world, StoreDot is positioning itself as a key component in the green energy revolution that is already well underway.

We also speak about Doron’s background in the Israeli tech sector, his role in developing the storage technology that all of us rely on, ‘charging anxiety’ as a barrier to electric vehicle adoption, how StoreDot overcomes the trust barrier with a simple proposition that ‘the proof is in the pudding,’ and how the electric vehicle market is set to mature differently across various regions of the world today.

Topics Discussed:

• Doron’s engineering background and what led him to the battery technology space

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Michel Tricot, CEO of Airbyte, an open source data integration platform that’s raised over $180 Million in funding, about how their open source, future-proof solution is helping businesses everywhere extract tangible value from the data they are all now producing. Developed over several years alongside an open source community of engineers, Airbyte have made sure they address real pain points for their partners by learning as much as possible about the problem space from those working right at the coal-face.

We also speak about why Michel believes the demise of the Bay Area startup sector has been greatly exaggerated, how his lifelong passion for data has carried through to all his big business decisions, why data now determines success for most businesses in the modern economy, and how building trust with customers in your industry is a great investment in future growth.

Topics Discussed:

• Michel’s lifelong love of data, and how toys translated into cutting-edge software solutions

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Martin Mao, CEO and co-founder of Chronosphere, a Cloud-Native Observability Platform that raised more than $250 million in funding and has been ranked as one of the top ten fastest growing SaaS companies ever, reaching unicorn status in just 2 years and four months.

Topics Discussed:

• What Chronosphere does, the problem it solves, and the types of companies using the platform today.

In today’s episode of Unicorn Builders, we speak with Marc-Alexander Christ, Co-Founder of SumUp, a mobile point of sale solution that’s raised $1.5 Billion in funding, about the trials and challenges of disrupting the established payments industry, as well as the benefits it brings to small businesses everywhere. By simplifying orders, unifying payment processes and providing critical insights on everything from tax payments to business performance, SumUp is empowering small businesses with software tools that, until now, have been the reserve of major enterprises.

We also talk about Marc-Alexander’s background in banking and real estate finance, the inspiration for revolutionizing existing payments systems which inspired founding SumUp, causing a major market disruption and the inevitable skepticism that brings from incumbents, and why small businesses became the focus of this global-facing payments platform.

Topics Discussed:

• Marc-Alexander’s background in banking and real estate finance, and how he eventually found himself in the startup sector