In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, we interview Davis Bell, CEO of Canopy, a SaaS platform for accounting practices. They discuss Canopy's journey, including its growth from 100 to 170 employees and a 4-5x revenue increase since Bell joined in 2019. Bell highlights the challenges of prioritizing product development, navigating COVID-19, and raising capital, including a recent $35 million funding round. They also delve into leadership lessons, emphasizing transparency, team autonomy, and the importance of listening and curiosity in achieving better results. Bell shares insights on maintaining high employee engagement and navigating market challenges.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps (by podsqueeze)

The journey of Canopy (00:00:02)

David Bell discusses the growth and challenges faced by Canopy, a SaaS company serving accounting practices.

Raising funding (00:01:46)

David Bell talks about Canopy's successful funding round of $35 million and the challenges of raising capital during a tough economy.

What Canopy does (00:02:15)

David Bell explains that Canopy is a firm-wide operating system for accounting firms, managing customer information, communication, collaboration, time tracking, and more.

Challenges and growth of Canopy (00:03:10)

David Bell shares the challenges and growth of Canopy, including the decision to focus on practice management and the company's revenue and team growth.

Building a system of record (00:06:02)

David Bell discusses the challenges of building a comprehensive system of record for accounting firms and the decision to build the entire platform.

Raising capital and market challenges (00:07:47)

David Bell talks about the challenges of raising capital, re-educating investors, and navigating market dynamics to secure funding.

Series A and Series B funding (00:09:16)

David Bell discusses the traction in the marketplace that led to the successful Series A and Series B funding rounds for Canopy.

Investor value and confidence (00:11:37)

David Bell emphasizes the importance of investors' behavior during challenges and the value of topical expertise in investors.

Navigating COVID-19 impact (00:15:03)

David Bell discusses the challenges of transitioning to remote work and the decision-making process regarding office and remote work arrangements.

Pride in the team and employee satisfaction (00:17:42)

David Bell expresses pride in Canopy's team, low attrition, and high employee NPS, highlighting the company's positive work culture.

Employee NPS and Transparency (00:18:03)

Discussion on the company's employee Net Promoter Score (NPS) and the impact of transparency on employee satisfaction.

Leadership Conception (00:23:03)

The evolution of the speaker's leadership style, moving away from the traditional "visionary leader" model.

Impact of Curiosity on Decision-Making (00:25:12)

The benefits of leading with curiosity and openness, with a specific example of how it led to a better outcome.

Financial Planning and Optionality (00:27:04)

The importance of structuring financial plans to maintain control and optionality, with lessons learned from previous funding experiences.

Future Goals and AI Investment (00:30:46)

The company's future plans, including investment in AI and expansion into adjacent products.

Recommended Learning Resources (00:31:44)

The speaker's recommended newsletters and podcasts for staying informed and learning about AI and tech.

Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up (00:32:51)

Closing remarks and gratitude for the conversation, concluding the podcast episode.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli interviews Amelia Wilcox, founder and CEO of Nivati. They discuss the company's pivot during the pandemic from providing onsite massage therapy to virtual wellness services, addressing the increased need for accessible mental health resources. Amelia shares the challenges of adapting to market trends, selling to HR departments, and the impact of the economic downturn on venture-backed tech companies. She also talks about Nivati’s strategic shift to focus on healthcare and education sectors, her personal journey as an entrepreneur, and the importance of self-care and mentoring. Amelia recommends resources for personal and professional growth, including the "How I Built This" podcast and books like "Extreme Ownership."

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, we speak with Dave Carruthers the Co Founder and former CEO of Voxpopme, a leading digital insights platform for large consumer product companies. Dave describes the lessons from his journey of expanding into the US market and growing the Company into an industry leader.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast episode, Deepak Sindwani, co-founder of Wave Crest Growth Partners, shares his experiences in the growth equity sector, focusing on B2B software companies. He recounts his path from Bain Capital Ventures and Comcast Ventures to establishing his own growth equity firm, emphasizing the importance of resilience and humility. Deepak explains Wave Crest's operating platform, which offers comprehensive support to portfolio companies, and details the success stories of some of his portfolio companies.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast (00:00:02)

Introduction to the podcast and its purpose.

Deepak's Journey to Wave Crest Partners (00:00:27)

Deepak Simone's background and experience in the investing business.

Founding Wave Crest Partners (00:01:51)

Deepak's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Wave Crest Partners.

Initial Struggles and First Fundraising (00:05:04)

Challenges faced during the initial stages of founding the firm and raising the first round of capital.

Growth and Expansion of Wave Crest Partners (00:10:34)

The growth of Wave Crest Partners from two people to a team of 15 and the raising of their first fund.

Investment Strategy and Target Companies (00:12:04)

Defining growth equity and the target range for investment in companies.

Supporting Founders in Growth and Expansion (00:15:55)

The role of Wave Crest Partners in assisting companies in the $5 to $20 million ARR range with growth and expansion strategies.

Value-Added Support for Portfolio Companies (00:18:11)

The expertise and value-added support that Wave Crest Partners provides to portfolio companies on their growth journey.

The Wave Crest Operating Platform (00:18:55)

Deepak explains the five pillars of value and support offered to founder-led capital-efficient B2B software companies.

Impel (00:20:20)

Deepak discusses the journey of a company named Impel (formerly Spin Car) and its evolution from a digital merchandising solution to an augmented reality platform for the automotive industry.

Challenges and Adaptation during COVID-19 (00:23:15)

Deepak shares how Impel faced challenges during COVID-19, initially experiencing a downturn and then benefiting from the shift in consumer behavior.

Acquisition and Evolution (00:25:34)

Discussion on the acquisition of a conversational AI business and its integration into Impel's product, leading to a change in the company's vision and trajectory.

Growth and Partnership (00:28:03)

Deepak highlights Impel's growth, diversification of risk for the founders, and the partnership between Wave Crest and the company.

Recommendations (00:30:23)

Deepak shares podcast and book recommendations, including "All In" podcast, "Smart Lists" podcast, and books by Charlie Munger and the philosophy of "Die with Zero."

Contact Information (00:33:29)

Deepak shares how to connect with Wave Crest and himself for further discussions and collaborations.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, we hear from Andy Barraclough - Co Founder and CEO of Voxpopme. Andy shares how he has led the innovation and R&D groups at the Company with a “Product First” approach. This has allowed the Company to be at the leading edge of real time video feedback and work with some of the largest consumer product companies in the world! Check out the podcast and let us know what you think!

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠.

Can the SaaS model be applied to professional sports? Join me as I speak with Chris Giles, CEO of FanRally who is pioneering a new subscription service for professional sports teams. Is this the wave of the future? Hear how Chris believes subscription and club benefits provide a way for teams to build more direct connectivity with their fans, and provide those fans with a more intimate, value added experience.

Lonnie Mayne, former President of SaaS Company InMoment shares the story of how he helped grow the Company as a member of the early founding team. Later, as the Company grew Lonnie helped with mergers and acquisitions and played a critical role in shaping the unique culture of the Company that helped it compete for large clients like McDonalds. Lonnie’s impact with culture was a hit, so much so that he was soon speaking externally about his new “Red Shoes” culture, and he eventually wrote a book about it!

For more resources on how to be a a better leaders in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠.

Darren Dunn shares the story of how he founded Zartico⁠, and built the team that helped grow the Company into a successful data driven SaaS/DaaS company. Zartico is a Company that powers the possibility of place by helping tourism boards and destination management organizations understand the who, what, when and where of their visitors.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.