FutureSight’s Post

Are your product teams battling after a merger? Get over yourselves. Tech leaders, the fighting between product teams in the race to become the flagship product after a merger is downright embarrassing. It’s driven by weird startup cults clinging to company missions and the false belief that if you’re not the best, you’re losing. Here’s the reality: get over yourself. Instead of obsessing over status, focus on making something great with what you have. It's a fun puzzle. Go solve it.

Being a Fractional CCO is like being a multi-skilled matchmaker. You're the one connecting the company with its community, but also its own employees, technology, product, and more. And like any matchmaker, it requires a deep understanding of all involved parties. But here's the catch - most companies don't need a full-time, exec-level matchmaker. Enter Fractional CCOs (Chief Community Officers). They're the perfect solution for startups who want to engage with their community more efficiently but don't need a full-time CCO. It's a win-win. The startups get the expertise they need, and the Fractional CCO gets to work with dynamic companies and make a real impact. So, if you're looking to engage your community more effectively, don't let the lack of full-time CCOs hold you back. Fractional leadership is the future and I'm enjoying being a Fractional CCO in the emerging tech space. 

Thrilled to announce my new venture, Transcend GTM 👇 I’m continuing to focus on what I know and do best; building A-Player go-to-market teams for tech start-ups & scale-ups in the USA & EMEA 🇺🇸🇬🇧 If you use Transcend to find talent, you’ll get me taking full ownership and responsibility for your search, and always will. I’ve loved growing a business but my focus is now solely on providing a world class service to my clients, without the distractions that come with scaling. Hit me up if you need help hiring / want to get hired 📲 Some new things as a value-add.… I’ve noticed a rise in demand for interim GTM support. In the coming weeks I’ll be introducing my go-to-market advisory board who can support your business on a consulting or fractional basis ⚙️ 💰Capital Raising: founders trying to connect with relevant investors, investors seeking vetted deal flow…. access fee-free match-making 🤝. (I’m also partnered with an awesome fundraising coach and advisor!) Loads more to come: events, investor partnerships, podcast… and hopefully some recruiting! Excited to get to work 💪 Let’s go!! 🚀 #sales #gtm #recruitment #startups

I chatted with VC general partners recently, and they shared something obvious but still very important for startup founders that is often missed. To succeed, you need three critical roles among the founders: Sales, Product, and Engineer. ✅ Sales is the person who gets customers and drives revenue. ✅ Product is the visionary who shapes the product and keeps it on track with customers' real needs. ✅ Engineer is the one who builds the product and makes it work. Having these three roles covered is crucial! It balances the team and covers all the bases. 💡 If you're starting something new, ensure these roles are in place. It can make all the difference. #StartupLife #Founders #Teamwork #Fintech

Brad Chandler's Journey: From Startup to Scaling and Building a Team Learn about Brad Chandler's timeline for scaling and hiring employees. Check out the full Episode! https://lnkd.in/gXrbmRMh #scaling #businessgrowth #scalingup #growthstrategy #ScaleInvesting #RealEstateWealth #PropertyPortfolio #InvestmentOpportunity

What’s my biggest surprise as a founder? Prior to founding OnRamp, I thought I knew a thing or two about building a company since I’d joined two highly successful startups (VTS and Bombas) as an early stage employee. And in truth I did know some things. But I’ve learned that being in “the seat” is a whole different ball game of pressure and responsibility. My biggest surprise? How little control founders can have. As much as I might have a vision for our company, our team, and our culture, organizations are organic entities. We can hire who we hire (and even then the market dictates who’s available, who we can afford, etc.) and provide guidance and a vision, but ultimately it’s up to our team to execute in the face of changing circumstances. If the business environment shifts, the funding market changes, a competitor emerges - we can’t control for that. What we can do is put together the very best team possible and work together to put ourselves in the best position possible to respond and win.

New year, new opportunities to connect and create impact! After several months on Intro I’m still amazed by the incredible conversations I’ve had with founders tackling everything from product strategy to scaling their teams. With 2025 in full swing, I’ve been reflecting on some recurring themes from my recent calls: 1) Allocators Will Allocate: With record levels of capital waiting to be deployed, 2025 presents an unprecedented opportunity for founders. Venture capitalists are eager to allocate, and those who come prepared with a clear story and plan will stand out. 2) The Power of Perspective: Often, founders just need an outside voice to spot opportunities or identify blind spots. Fresh perspectives can unlock solutions you may have overlooked. 3) Execution Over Ideas: A great idea is just the start. The founders I’ve been speaking with are laser-focused on execution, knowing that great ideas only succeed when paired with great follow-through. It’s been a privilege to play a small part in so many founder journeys through Intro. If you’re tackling something big this year—whether it’s refining a pitch, building a growth plan, or navigating a pivot—let’s connect: intro.co/dereknorton I’ll also pick one person in the comments to gift a free 15-minute call—drop “let’s go” if you’re interested!

The Silicon Valley Dream vs Reality Check Everyone talks about IPOs. The glory. The headlines. The unicorn status. But here's the truth that shocked me: Startups are 16X more likely to be acquired than go public. Let that sink in. Why aren't we talking about this more? • Most founders secretly stress about exit strategies • The "IPO or bust" mentality creates unnecessary pressure • Acquisition conversations feel taboo But look at these success stories: → MosaicML: $1.3B acquisition by Databricks → Nervana: $408M acquisition by Intel → Drawbridge: $300M acquisition by LinkedIn The real secret? Building something valuable enough that bigger players want to integrate it into their ecosystem. This is why at Posybl, we're revolutionizing the startup journey: 1. No-code Bubble development 2. AI-powered MVP building 3. Faster go-to-market strategy 4. Cost-effective compared to traditional coding 5. Focus on building real value, not just chasing IPOs Because whether you exit through acquisition or IPO, what matters is building something worth buying. Time to shift the conversation from "How do we IPO?" to "How do we create real value?" P.S. Curious - what's your ideal exit strategy? IPO dreams or strategic acquisition? Let's discuss! 💭

We’re thrilled to welcome Pete Shutte as an advisor to hyperinteractivity.com. With over 30 years of technology leadership, Pete is a pioneer in SaaS and a seasoned startup expert. He has played key roles as a founder and founding team member in four successful exits, including two IPOs, a merger, and an acquisition. In Pete’s own words- “what excites me about this opportunity is to be at the forefront of guiding customers into a new internet era- the immersive web."

🚀📊Here’s a tailored guide for you to navigate the world of IPOs and find the perfect fit for your entrepreneurial style! 💼💡 1️⃣ Visionary Innovators: Traditional IPO If you're all about groundbreaking innovation, a Traditional IPO might be your best bet. Think of it like Apple’s iconic debut—offering shares through an investment bank to make a huge market impact. 🍏💻🌐 2️⃣ Maverick Disruptors: Direct Listing For those who like to shake things up, consider a Direct Listing. This method, used by Spotify, lets existing shareholders sell shares directly to the public, offering a fresh, flexible approach to going public. 🎶🚀💽 3️⃣ Growth-Driven Entrepreneurs: SPACs If rapid growth is your goal, SPACs are a great fit. By merging with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, you can go public and raise capital all at once—just like Virgin Galactic did to reach new heights! 🚀🌌💰 4️⃣ Mission-Driven Changemakers: IPO with Purpose For those driven by a larger mission, an IPO with Purpose aligns your public offering with your values. Beyond Meat, for example, went public with a focus on sustainability, attracting investors who shared their vision. 🌱🍔🌎 5️⃣ Tech Innovators: Dual-Class IPO Tech leaders, a Dual-Class IPO lets you maintain control while going public. Google’s strategy allowed them to keep leadership influence, balancing growth with strategic oversight. 🔍🔒🚀 6️⃣ Risk-Takers: Hybrid IPO Love a bit of everything? A Hybrid IPO mixes elements of various strategies. Airbnb’s approach blended Traditional and Direct Listing elements, capturing the best of both worlds. 🏠🔄📈 Choose an IPO strategy that matches your entrepreneurial spirit and sets you up for success on the public stage! 🚀🌐💡 #IPOStrategies #EntrepreneurialJourney #PublicDebut #BusinessInnovation 🌟💼