At Fin, going all-in on AI wasn't a moonshot — it was a calculated bet that doing nothing was the greater risk. And steering the financial strategy behind that decision was CFO Dan Griggs.

On this episode of Ventured Growth, Catherine Jhung sits down with Dan to explore how Fin transformed from a traditional SaaS help desk into one of the most talked-about AI-native platforms in enterprise software. With a career spanning Nestlé, RocketFuel and Sitecore, Dan brings a rare mix of operational depth and financial discipline to one of the boldest pivots in SaaS.

Dan also talks about the decision to overhaul their entire pricing model at the risk of cannibalizing existing revenue, how he thinks about forecasting in an outcome-based world, and what the role of CFO looks like when the pace of change never slows down.

Topics include:

* Fin's all-in bet on AI and what it took to get there
* Overhauling a pricing model mid-flight to outcome-based revenue
* How Fin forecasts in a usage-driven, AI-native business
* Resource allocation and the internal debate around hiring vs. automation
* Why $250 million in debt financing made more sense than equity
* What the CFO role looks like in a company transforming at speed
* And more...

Dan Griggs is the CFO of Fin, where he leads financial planning and analysis, and accounting, drawing on more than 15 years in financial and leadership roles across high-growth technology companies. He previously served as CFO at Sitecore, where he helped transition the business to subscription-based cloud software while doubling revenue, and as VP of Financial Planning and Analysis at Rocket Fuel, where he drove over $400M in revenue growth and a successful IPO.

Intercom rebranded to Fin on May 12, 2026. This conversation took place prior to the rebrand, so the episode refers to the company as Intercom throughout.

At Akcea Therapeutics, biotech leadership meant more than drug development—it meant building with purpose, addressing long-overlooked areas of health, and paving the way for future leaders. And at the helm was founding CEO Paula Soteropoulos.

On this episode of Ventured Growth, Katie Segien sits down with Paula to explore how she helped take Akcea public, launched therapies for underserved diseases, and advanced efforts in women’s health—a space historically underfunded and under-researched. With 35 years of experience across pharma and biotech, Paula shares how she's using her platform to drive both innovation and inclusion.

She also talks about mentoring the next generation of women CEOs, shaping boardroom dynamics, and why genomic medicine could help close longstanding gaps in women’s care.

Topics include:

• Leading Akcea through IPO and pivotal drug launches
• The massive underfunding of research into women’s health 
• Mentoring and elevating women in biotech leadership
• Building purpose-driven executive teams
• What’s next in in vivo genomic medicine
• And more…
  
  
  

Paula Soteropoulos is a seasoned biotech executive, board member and advisor whose career spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including rare disease, cardiovascular and metabolism, infectious disease, renal, and transplant and oncology. Paula is a Venture Partner at 5AM Ventures, and serves as Chairman of Ensoma, and on the boards of directors of Dianthus Therapeutics, Rallybio, and Kyowa Kirin. Paula was the founding CEO of rare disease therapeutic developer, Akcea Therapeutics, and was a board director at UniQure. She serves on the advisory boards for Chiesi USA and Tufts University Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Paula continues to lead and advise companies at the intersection of science, leadership, and women’s health. 

At Eight Sleep, product innovation isn’t just about comfort—it’s about performance, health, and personalization at scale. And behind the numbers powering that mission is CFO Nick Chammas.

On this episode of Ventured Growth, Catherine Jhung sits down with Nick to discuss how Eight Sleep evolved from a niche product for athletes into a sleep fitness brand with global momentum. From raising $100M to expanding manufacturing across continents, Nick has helped steer the company through pivotal growth milestones.

He shares insights into their new AI-powered sleep agent, how digital twins are driving personalized rest, and why the best product feedback comes straight from the customer.

Topics include:

• Applying AI to sleep and biometric data
• From product-market fit to global expansion
• How Eight Sleep is solving for menopause, snoring, and temperature regulation
• Leading a capital-efficient team of 100
• Nick’s personal journey from banking to scaling a hardware brand
• And more…

Nick Chammas is the CFO of Eight Sleep, the world’s first sleep fitness company. With experience across finance, operations, and strategy, he brings a holistic view to driving growth in a competitive consumer tech landscape.

In the high-stakes world of startups, few roles have evolved more dramatically than that of the CFO. Today’s finance leader is expected to move beyond spreadsheets — shaping strategy, influencing product development, and building cross-functional trust. M.G. Thibaut has done all of that and more.

In this episode, Eddie Lopez is joined by M.G. Thibaut — former CFO of Strava, DroneDeploy, and Copper, and now the founder of Coterie CFO and Executive-in-Residence at Scale Venture Partners. With roots in investment banking and big tech, M.G. has spent over 16 years helping venture-backed startups grow, scale, and stay agile through every stage.

Now, she’s focused on building something new. M.G. shares the founding story of Coterie CFO, a community redefining the relationship between finance leaders and the fintech tools they rely on. She also opens up about her advisory work at Scale, the traits of high-performing finance teams, and why she believes today’s CFO must be as comfortable with ambiguity as they are with analytics.

Topics Include:

• How M.G. pivoted from investment banking to startups
• What makes a modern CFO indispensable to a startup’s success
• The founding vision behind Coterie CFO
• Building trust and transparency with CEOs and teams
• The evolving role of the CFO in a tech-driven world
• And other topics…

M.G. Thibaut is a startup CFO turned venture partner and community builder. She is the founder of Coterie CFO and an Executive-in-Residence at Scale Venture Partners, advising startups and mentoring emerging finance leaders.

The food delivery landscape is changing. As consumer demands grow more sophisticated, companies must innovate—balancing speed, quality, and personalization to stand out in a saturated market. But can convenience and quality coexist in this fast-paced industry? Is there a way to truly personalize the dining experience while catering to the individual needs of each customer?

Kelley Morell is the CFO of Wonder, a rising "super app" for mealtime. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Ruslan Sergeyev speaks with Kelley about her career journey, transitioning from an accomplished investor at Blackstone to leading the financial strategy of this startup. She reveals the unique approach Wonder is taking to conquer the food tech space, combining a multi-faceted platform with strategic acquisitions to offer an unparalleled consumer experience.

Topics Include:

• Wonder's evolution from mobile kitchens to a hybrid brick-and-mortar and delivery model
• The challenges of competing in a crowded market and differentiating Wonder's offering
• The role of AI in personalizing food recommendations and creating a seamless user experience
• Building a strong team and culture to support rapid growth
• Wonder's future plans for national expansion and a potential IPO
• And other topics…

Kelley Morell is the CFO of Wonder, a rapidly growing food tech company aiming to become the "super app" for mealtime. With extensive experience in both investing and operating, Kelley provides a valuable perspective on building a successful business in a dynamic industry. Her insights into the future of food, the power of technology, and the importance of a strong team offer inspiration for anyone looking to disrupt the status quo.

The financial services industry faces increasing pressure to combat financial crime and comply with evolving regulations. The old way of handling compliance—mostly through manual work—isn't cutting it anymore given how complex and fast-moving today's financial world is. This is where AI comes in, offering a powerful new way to strengthen compliance and protect market integrity.

In this episode, Hercules Capital's Catherine Jhung speaks with Erkin Adylov, founder of Behavox and former hedge fund manager. He walks us through his career shift from managing investments to launching his own company. He explains why he started Behavox, which uses AI to help financial institutions stay compliant – a solution born from his firsthand experience seeing the limitations of traditional compliance methods.

Topics Include:

• The rise of AI in financial services compliance
• How Behavox uses AI to spot financial crime
• Why AI makes financial monitoring better
• Strategies for retraining compliance teams in the age of AI
• Behavox’s future plans for expanding into transaction screening and policy management
• And other topics…

Erkin Adylov is the founder and CEO of Behavox, a leading provider of AI-enabled compliance solutions for the financial services industry. With a deep understanding of the complexities of financial markets and the evolving regulatory landscape, Erkin has led Behavox to become a trusted partner for institutions seeking to enhance their compliance programs and protect the integrity of capital markets.

The biotech and pharma industries are rapidly evolving, with mergers and acquisitions driving innovation and growth. As market demands shift, these deals reshape strategies, bolster R&D, and bring groundbreaking therapies to healthcare.

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sands has guided high-impact transactions that have shaped the biotech and pharma landscape. In this episode, Janice Bourque speaks with Stephen about his journey from bioengineer to healthcare M&A leader. They examine the forces that drive today’s major deals, from global expansion to complex valuation challenges, and the strategies that ensure success in a competitive market.

Topics Include:

• Key trends and strategies in biotech/pharma M&A
• Challenges in valuing early-stage biotech companies
• Pharma’s evolving role in funding and scaling biotech innovations
• Future outlook for healthcare partnerships and acquisitions
• Stephen’s insights on the future of healthcare M&A
• And other topics…

Stephen Sands is a Senior Advisor in Lazard’s Global Healthcare Group with a distinguished career in healthcare M&A. Known for his expertise in biotech and pharma, Stephen has led some of the industry's most transformative transactions, helping to drive strategic growth and innovation in the healthcare sector.

Vijay Patel is an institutional investor turned corporate venture capitalist. He has spent the last decade at the intersection of finance and healthcare, changing the way CVS Health approaches innovation and strategic investments. His journey from traditional venture capital to leading CVS Health® Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader in corporate venture capital and healthcare innovation.

In this episode, Janice Bourque is joined by Vijay Patel to discuss his path from institutional investor to Managing Partner of CVS Health Ventures. They discuss the creation and growth of CVS Ventures, highlighting Vijay's approach to fostering innovation and driving strategic value in the healthcare ecosystem.

Topics Include:

• Vijay's transition from institutional investing to corporate venture capital
• The founding story of CVS Ventures and its impact on healthcare innovation
• CVS Ventures’ investment strategies and focus areas
• The role of corporate venture capital in shaping the future of healthcare
• Vijay's vision for the future of healthcare technology and innovation
• And other topics...

Vijay Patel is the managing partner and co-founder of CVS Health Ventures and vice president of enterprise business development for CVS Health. Patel founded the CVS® Digital Leadership Program and has played a key role in developing strategic partnerships with digital health companies. Patel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

In an era where breakthrough innovations coexist with concerns over drug affordability, Peter Kolchinsky, founder and Managing Partner at healthcare and life sciences investment manager RA Capital, joins us to shed light on the factors and paths forward.

Hercules Capital's Janice Bourque engages with Peter on his No Patient Left Behind initiative, a non-profit dedicated to making medicines affordable for everyone in America.

Topics Include:

• Overview of the "No Patient Left Behind" movement and its objectives
• Examining communication challenges within the drug industry
• The pivotal role of insurance in enabling patient access and affordability
• Strategies to maintain support for innovation amid pricing concerns
• Potential solutions to bridge the gap between innovation and affordability

Peter Kolchinsky, PhD is a founder and Managing Partner at RA Capital Management and author of The Great American Drug Deal. Peter is an active investor in and board member of publicly- and privately-held companies developing drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, and research tools. He served on the Board of Global Science and Technology for the National Academy of Sciences, is the author of The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup, and frequently writes and speaks on the future of biotechnology innovation. Peter founded and serves as a Director of No Patient Left Behind, a non-profit advocate for healthcare reforms that would make today's medicines affordable to patients and promote the innovation that gives all of us hope for tomorrow. He holds a BA from Cornell University and a PhD in Virology from Harvard University.

Navigating the intricate world of venture debt requires a deep understanding of both the legal landscape and financial imperatives. David Ephraim from Morrison & Foerster brings over two decades of experience to the table, making him a leading authority on structuring deals that align legal precision with business innovation.

This episode, hosted by Janice Bourque from Hercules Capital, engages David Ephraim in a discussion about the nuances of venture debt, including how negotiations are framed, the roles of various stakeholders, and the essential strategies for overcoming common challenges. David also provides forward-looking insights into how the field might evolve in the coming years.

Topics include:

• Overview of venture debt and its importance
• Detailed look at negotiation processes in venture debt
• How legal and business issues intertwine in these negotiations
• The importance of strategic foresight in financial planning
• David’s perspectives on the future of venture debt

David Ephraim is the co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Transactions Department and managing partner of their Boston office. He specializes in various aspects of secured lending, including venture debt, fund finance, and cross-border financing transactions. David's expertise ensures sophisticated solutions for banks, institutional lenders, and private funds, making him a pivotal figure in the financial industry.

Join us on today’s episode, where David Ephraim’s expertise offers invaluable perspectives on the nuanced processes that underpin successful venture debt strategies, providing our listeners with guidance for navigating these essential financial instruments.

Public market investor turned tech visionary, Casey Woo, has spent the last two decades at the forefront of technology and finance, revolutionizing the way high-growth startups approach operations and strategy. His journey from analyzing markets on Wall Street to leading Operators Guild and FOG Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader at the intersection of technology, finance, and community building.

In this episode, Catherine Jhung is joined by Casey Woo to discuss his unique path from public market investor to influential COO/CFO in the tech industry. They discuss the creation and growth of Operators Guild and FOG Ventures, highlighting Casey's approach to fostering community and driving innovation in the startup ecosystem.

Topics Include:

-Casey's transition from public market investor to tech COO/CFO

-The founding story of Operators Guild and its impact on the tech community

-Inside FOG Ventures: Strategy and vision for tech startups

-The role of community in the success of tech and finance ventures

-Navigating high-growth challenges in the startup world

-Casey's vision for the future of technology and finance

-And other topics…

Casey Woo is the founder of Operators Guild, the premier community and ecosystem for finance and operational professionals at high growth companies, and its associated investing arm, FOG Ventures. He has two decades of experience as a proven, serial COO/CFO in high-growth technology companies, most recently as the CFO of property tech company Landing. Casey started his career as a public market investor focused on the consumer/retail, media, industrials, technology and healthcare sectors. His expertise in blending strategic finance with operational excellence has made him a pivotal figure in shaping the landscape of technology startups.

In the aftermath of the 2020 biotech surge and its subsequent contraction in 2022, the biotech industry has been characterized by significant volatility. There were 21 biotechnology IPOs in 2022, a notable decrease from the record-breaking 104 IPOs in 2021.

To review the highs and lows of 2023 and explore what lies ahead in 2024, distinguished biotech analyst and co-founder of Endpoints News John Carroll joins Hercules Capital's Janice Bourque. Carroll brings 45 years of award-winning journalism, and a specialization in biopharma spanning over two decades to discuss the biggest pharma deals and surprises of 2023, the impact of AI on drug development, the future of biotech in Asia, and much more. 

Topics Include:

• The biggest pharma deals and surprises of 2023
• AI’s impact on drug development
• Whether or not the Inflation Reduction Act will impact pricing
• John’s major lessons from 2023
• The future of biotech in Asia
• The greatest concerns for the biotech industry going into 2024
• John’s hopes for the industry in the new year
• And other topics…

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John D. Carroll is a biotech analyst and writer with decades of prize-winning experience in journalism. A co-founder of Endpoints News, he has covered biopharma for the past 15 years. Carroll has been quoted by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Financial Times, The Times of London and more. He’s also keynoted at biotech gatherings around the world and addressed student audiences at MIT and Harvard. Carroll has contributed stories from Central America and Ireland to the Dallas Morning News and Time and wrote for the Houston Press. He spent 6 years as editor and publisher of the Dallas Business Journal, was publisher of Texas Business and early in his career was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team of reporters and editors at the Kansas City Star & Times.

Resources Mentioned:
Endpoints News: https://endpts.com/ 

Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-carroll-884aa410/ 

The gaming and platform industries are dynamic sectors at the intersection of technology and entertainment, constantly evolving to meet the demands of a global audience. In 2022, the revenue from the worldwide gaming market was approximately $347 billion.

Ed Lu, a seasoned executive with 23 years of financial and operational experience, has played a pivotal role in this landscape, dedicating thirteen years as the CFO at online gaming and platform companies. Ed is the current Chief Financial Officer at Fandom, the world’s largest gaming and entertainment community platform.

In this episode, Hercules Capital's Lesya Kulchenko  and Ed Lu discuss Ed’s CFO experience within gaming and platform companies, top advice for new founders and aspiring CFOs in today’s business landscape, choosing between building, buying, and partnering, the key factors for successful acquisitions, when to pursue bargain opportunities, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Ed’s top priorities as a CFO in today’s business landscape
• Essential advice for emerging founders and aspiring CFOs
• Core values that led Ed to leadership
• The advice Ed gratefully avoided
• Choosing between building, buying, and partnering
• Key factors for successful acquisitions
• When companies should pursue bargain opportunities
• Factors outside of work that shape Ed as the “non-CFO CFO”
• And other topics…

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Ed Lu is a seasoned executive with 23 years of financial and operational experience and thirteen years as CFO at online gaming and platform companies. He is the current Chief Financial Officer at Fandom, the world’s largest gaming and entertainment community platform. During his tenure, Fandom has grown revenue by more than 3x, acquired three companies, and doubled its employee base to 500.

Before joining Fandom, Ed served as the CFO for Outpost Games and Machine Zone. His tenure at Machine Zone involved raising over $800 million in combined financings, overseeing revenue growth from $8 million to $1.7 billion, and scaling the company from 30 to 1000+ employees. In his free time, he also enjoys serving as a strategic advisor for other digital gaming companies.

Resources Mentioned:
“Top 10 Start-Up Tips for Founders,” by Ed Lu: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6998677341623267328/ 

Healthcare and biotech venture capital plays a critical role in funding innovative medical technologies, drug development, and life-saving therapies. These investments drive advancements in healthcare, transforming science into products that improve global patient outcomes.

Terry McGuire is a founding partner of Polaris Partners, with over 35 years of early-stage investing experience in medical and information technology companies. As a venture capitalist, Terry has invested in more than 80 companies that have raised over $7 billion in equity and corporate capital.

In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque and Terry McGuire discuss Terry’s trajectory from generalist to distinguished expert in healthcare and biotech venture capital, strategies to find the right scientists and product, Terry’s biggest lessons in raises, limited partnerships and investor relationships, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Terry’s path from generalist to venture capitalist
• Strategies to find the right scientists
• 3 traits that can turn a scientist into an effective CEO
• How to turn science into a product
• The emerging technologies to look out for
• Strengths and weaknesses of the industry
• Terry’s biggest lessons from the evolution of raises, limited partnerships, and investor relationships
• And other topics…

Terry McGuire is a founding partner of Polaris Partners, with over 35 years of early-stage investing experience in medical and information technology companies. As a venture capitalist, Terry has invested in more than 80 companies that have raised over $7 billion in equity and corporate capital. He also co-founded three companies: Inspire, AIR, and MicroCHIPS. Companies Terry has supported have touched more than 60 million patients and directly saved over 400,000 lives.

Terry has been listed as one of Scientific American’s Worldview 100, Forbes’ Top Life Sciences Investors, and Forbes’ Midas 100 List of Top Tech Investors, among others. He is the chairman of the Global Venture Capital Congress, serves on several public and private boards of directors, and is the recipient of various awards, including the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Life Sciences awarded by Harvard and the City of Jerusalem.  

In the dynamic field of life sciences, skillful operators ensure the efficient development of medical innovations, while insightful investors provide crucial capital and strategic guidance. Rich Aldrich's 30+ year career uniquely bridges both sides, having played key roles in founding and managing successful ventures in the industry.

Rich Aldrich is a co-founder and partner at Longwood Fund. Before Longwood, he founded RA Capital Management and has been instrumental in co-founding and contributing to the growth of notable biotech companies, including Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Concert Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, among others.

In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque and Rich Aldrich discuss key lessons in operations and investment, the advantages of public investing, the attributes of a strong management team, Rich’s reflections on the industry and much more.

Topics include:

• Transitioning from operations to investing
• Rich’s key lessons from public investments
• The advantages of public investing
• Attributes of a strong management team
• Current areas of scientific interest for Rich
• Emerging challenges in life sciences
• Deciding whether or not to commercialize
• Rich’s reflections on the industry’s evolution
• And other topics…

Rich Aldrich is a co-founder and partner of Longwood Fund, an early-stage life science venture firm. With over 30 years of experience in the life sciences space, he has co-founded and helped build several biotech companies including Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Concert Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, among others. Before the Longwood Fund, Rich founded RA Capital Management, a life sciences investment fund with an AUM of over $9 billion.

Rich received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth. He currently serves as a Director of Longwood portfolio companies Axial, Sitryx Therapeutics, and Colorescience.

The healthcare space has long been a transactional one, seeing patients as numbers instead of human relationships. In 2004, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle began to challenge the status quo and create an entirely new model of care delivery that finally put patients at the center of healthcare.

Rushika Fernandopulle is the co-founder and former CEO of Iora Health, a value-based primary care group based in Boston that was acquired by One Medical in 2021, where he served as Chief Innovation Officer. One Medical was acquired by Amazon earlier this year for close to $4 billion. Rushika currently serves on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care.

In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Katie Segien is joined by Rushika Fernandopulle to discuss how he created a new delivery model for medicine, Iora Health’s business model evolution, going from bootstrapping to six rounds of funding, and other topics.

Topics Include:

• Rushika’s mission and experience in transforming healthcare
• How he created a new delivery model for medicine
• Iora Health’s business model evolution
• Going from bootstrapping to six rounds of funding
• Rushika’s process for building an optimal team
• Advice for entrepreneurs who are struggling to raise capital
• And other topics…

Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is a practicing physician who has spent decades improving the quality of healthcare delivered to patients. He was co-founder and CEO of Iora Health, a value-based primary care group based in Boston that delivers better quality, lower costs, and improved satisfaction for both patients and providers. Iora was acquired by One Medical in 2021 for over $2 billion, which went on to be acquired by Amazon earlier this year for close to $4 billion.

Rushika was the first Executive Director of the Harvard Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement and Managing Director of the Clinical Initiatives Center at the Advisory Board Company. He serves on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care.

Successful biotech companies require a capable CFO to guide the company through conducting clinical trials, securing regulatory approvals, establishing scalable production, and adeptly conveying value to healthcare stakeholders.

Mark Hahn is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of CFO experience. He is currently the CFO of Verona Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque is joined by Hahn to discuss his experience as CFO of Verona, Dova, and Cempra, the intricacies of single-asset companies, preparing a company for FDA approval and commercialization, identifying a successful launch, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Mark’s experience as CFO of Verona, Dova, and Cempra
• The intricacies of single-asset companies and the challenges when raising capital
• The steps a CFO should take when preparing for FDA approval and commercialization
• What biotech companies should focus on before presenting to the FDA
• How to know when you’ve had a successful launch
• Mark’s experience as a CFO with a late-stage asset
• And other topics…

 Mark Hahn is a seasoned CFO with over 25 years of experience. He joined Verona Pharma as CFO in 2020. Prior to Verona, Hahn served as CFO of Dova Pharmaceuticals through its 2019 acquisition by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum for $915 million. There, he was instrumental in raising capital and launching the company’s first commercial product. Prior to Dova, Hahn was CFO of Cempra, where he led the company’s IPO and several subsequent follow-on offerings until the company’s acquisition by Melinta Therapeutics in 2017. Earlier, Hahn was the CFO of several other public and private companies. Hahn began his career at Ernst & Young. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a certified public accountant in Maryland and North Carolina.

The healthcare technology sector has witnessed astonishing growth in investments, skyrocketing from $3 billion pre-pandemic to $29 billion in 2021. Michael Greeley brings invaluable insights to the show as the co-founder and general partner of Flare Capital Partners, a pioneering venture capital firm dedicated to healthcare technology.

Before Flare, Greeley was the founding general partner of Flybridge Capital Partners. Earlier in his career, he was with Polaris Partners, and also held positions at GCC Investments, Wasserstein Perella & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co. 

In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Katie Segien is joined by Michael Greeley to discuss his experience as an early pioneer in health tech investments, the remarkable growth and challenges of healthcare technology, the impact of AI on healthcare programs and services, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Michael’s experience as an early pioneer in health tech investments
• Liquidity and scaling challenges for healthcare tech companies
• How to create a more sustainable business model in this space
• What Michael looks for when building out his portfolio companies
• AI’s impact on healthcare programs and services
• The Flare Scholars program
• Future challenges and possibilities in the healthcare sector
• And other topics…

Michael Greeley is a co-founder and general partner at Flare Capital Partners. Before co-founding Flare in 2014, he focused on emerging growth company financings as the founding general partner of Flybridge Capital Partners. Earlier, he held positions with Polaris Partners, GCC Investments, Wasserstein Perella & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co. Greeley sits on dozens of boards and authors the blog On the Flying Bridge.

Greeley received a BA with honors in chemistry from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. While he considers himself a New Yorker, he grew up in Hong Kong and currently resides in Boston.

Resources Mentioned:
Flare Capital Partners: https://www.flarecapital.com/
Michael Greeley’s blog: https://ontheflyingbridge.wordpress.com/
Flare Capital Scholars Program: https://www.flarecapital.com/flare-capital-scholar-application 

Elizabeth Bailey has more than 20 years of experience supporting early-stage startups as a venture capitalist. Today, she is a founding member at RH Capital where she serves as the fund's Managing Director. RH Capital is a women-led, impact venture capital fund that strategically invests in early-stage startups dedicated to revolutionizing women's health.

In this episode, Elizabeth joins Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque to discuss the origin, strategies, and portfolio of RH Capital. They discuss how female founders are changing the landscape in the women’s health space with support from venture capitalists.

Topics Include:
- High return opportunities for investors in the women’s health space
- How venture capital can improve health outcomes for underserved groups
- The origin, strategies, and portfolio of RH Capital
- Collaboration opportunities for strategic investors, startups, and venture funds
- Conducting thorough due diligence when evaluating companies
- And other topics…

Elizabeth Bailey is the Managing Director and founding team member at RH Capital, a women-led impact venture capital fund for early-stage startups focused on health equity and revolutionizing women’s health. RH Capital leverages investment capital to address health disparities, focusing on biotech, devices, diagnostics, digital health, and services.

Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience in venture capital and supporting early-stage companies. Before joining RH Capital, Elizabeth served as the Founding Director of the Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies at Massachusetts General Hospital and Investment Partner at Commons Capital, one of the first impact investment funds. Elizabeth holds a Master’s from Harvard Kennedy School and a BA from Brown University.

Resources Mentioned:
RH Capital: https://www.rh.capital/
Tara Health Foundation: http://tarahealthfoundation.org/
May: https://www.getmay.com/
Radiant Oximetry: http://www.radianoximetry.com/

The subscription e-commerce market is expected to grow by $784 billion by 2026. Locus Robotics, a subscription-based mobile robotics and software provider, is a pioneer leading the way in warehouse automation.

Dustin Pederson is the Chief Financial Officer of Locus Robotics, a company that supplies over 230 warehouse sites with up to 500 bots per site. With 15 years of experience in enterprise software, AI, warehouse automation, education, and aerospace, Dustin helps companies grow by enabling high-performance teams and overseeing all aspects of a business.
 
In this episode, Hercules Capital host Noah Carville and Dustin discuss the principles of scaling a business, fundraising and managing operations in today’s economy, the trade-offs between raising debt versus raising equity, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Dustin’s pivot from multifaceted companies to startups
• The guiding principles for scaling a business
• Aligning business needs, goals, and leaders
• The CFO’s responsibilities in managing scale
• Advice for fundraising and managing operations in today’s economy
• Creating the right leadership team
• Trade-offs between raising debt vs. raising equity
• And other topics…

Dustin Pederson is the Chief Financial Officer for Locus Robotics, a subscription-based autonomous mobile robotics and software provider for over 230 warehouse sites in the U.S. He is also the previous VP of Finance and Operations at Cognito and Advisory Board Member for Text IQ.

With 15 years of experience in enterprise software, AI, warehouse automation, education, and aerospace, Dustin helps companies grow by enabling high-performance teams and overseeing all aspects of a business. His roles have covered venture fundraising, business planning and analysis, sales strategy and operations, finance, marketing, legal contracts management, and facilities management.

Resources Mentioned:
Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike-ebook/dp/B0176M1A44 

Laureen DeBuono is a highly seasoned CEO, COO, CFO, and Board Member currently serving as Managing Partner at FLG Partners. During her career, she has raised over $2B in financings, led 2 IPOs, and completed over $12B in M&A transactions.

In this episode, Hercules Capital's Eddie Lopez and Laureen discuss company restructuring, five qualities CFOs need to be successful, advice for companies that can’t access IPOs, the challenges CFOs may face in the upcoming years, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Laureen’s 40+ years of experience in Silicon Valley
- Restructuring a company
- Five things every CFO must have to be successful
- How the CFO role has evolved
- Advice for companies that can’t access IPOs in current markets
- The challenges CFOs may face over the next two years
- And other topics…

Laureen DeBuono is a highly seasoned CEO, COO, CFO, and Board Member with over three decades of executive management experience. During her career, she has raised over $2B in financings, led two IPOs, and completed over $12B in M&A transactions.

Laureen currently serves as Managing Partner at FLG Partners, LLC, working with companies like HotelTonight, Rodan+Fields, and the Actian Corporation. She holds her B.A. from Duke University, M.A. from Stanford University, and J.D. from New York University School of Law.

In 2006, venture capitalists poured billions into clean energy technologies during Cleantech 1.0, only to lose half of the investments over the next five years.  The climate tech investing space has since rebounded and become one of the most popular investment sectors, and new incentives show an exciting opportunity for extended growth over the next few years.

Meera Clark is a principal at Redpoint Ventures, where she is passionate about the climate tech, consumer, and infrastructure sectors. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 List for Venture Capital, Business Insider’s 55 Rising-Star VCs of 2021, and Venture Forward Women. Meera previously worked at Morgan Stanley’s Multicultural Innovation Lab, Morgan Stanley’s tech investment banking group, and as a principal at Obvious Ventures.

In this episode, Catherine and Meera talk about the trajectory of Meera’s career, her thoughts on upcoming market shifts in 2023 and 2024, how consumer shifts are affecting businesses, the climate tech investing space, and much more.

Topics include:
- Her untraditional upbringing and its effect on her career
- The importance of a strong support system
- Thoughts on the economy and market for the next 12-24 months
- Upcoming IPO market shifts
- How consumer shifts are offering new opportunities for businesses
- The climate tech investing space
- Building an all-star cap table
- And more…

Meera Clark is a principal at Redpoint Ventures. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 List for Venture Capital, Business Insider’s 55 Rising-Star VCs of 2021, and Venture Forward Women. After graduating from Stanford, Meera accelerated her career at Morgan Stanley’s Multicultural Innovation Lab and within its tech investment banking group. She later became a principal at Obvious Ventures, where she worked on 12 of the company’s 30 investments from its $272 million third fund, sourcing four investments and serving as a board observer for three others. She also serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Annual Summit of All Raise.

Resources Mentioned:
The Grid, by Gretchen Bakke: https://www.amazon.com/Grid-Fraying-Between-Americans-Energy-ebook/dp/B01DM9Q6CQ
Taming the Sun, by Varun Sivaram: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Sun-Innovations-Harness-Energy-ebook/dp/B08BT1SM11
The World for Sale, by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy: https://www.amazon.com/World-Sale-Traders-Barter-Resources-ebook/dp/B08TMTG4CT
The New Map, by Daniel Yergin: https://www.amazon.com/New-Map-Energy-Climate-Nations-ebook/dp/B084GDG8DG
MCJ Collective: https://www.mcjcollective.com/ 

Scaling a company requires planning, funding, systems, and plenty of grit. Ajay Vashee gained the latter when he became one of the youngest CFOs of a publicly listed company at Dropbox. With the help of his team, Ajay helped scale Dropbox from $45M to nearly $2B in revenue and grow the employee base 30-fold.
 
Ajay later leveraged his experience as an operator to become a general partner at IVP, where he has helped lead investments in companies like DeepL, Jasper, and TaxBit, among others. By focusing on delivering impact and building relationships, Ajay is able to help companies scale at impressive rates, even amid today’s challenging economy.

In today's episode, host Catherine Jhung talks with Ajay about his advice for operators, how to change the trajectory of a company, and the importance of team collaboration. We’ll also hear about mapping ROI, scaling in the current economy, spending thoughtfully without sacrificing growth, and much more.
 
Topics include:

• Ajay’s advice for operators moving up the ranks
• Using business to deliver impact
• Changing the trajectory of a company
• Why you should map ROI
• The importance of collaboration and strong teams
• How to scale in the current economy
• Spending thoughtfully without sacrificing growth
• The most dangerous decision a company can make
• And other topics…

Ajay Vashee is the former CFO of Dropbox and a current general partner of IVP. When he joined Dropbox, it was just a five-year-old company with 100 employees. During his tenure, Ajay helped scale Dropbox from $45M to nearly $2B in revenue and grow the employee base 30-fold. As one of the youngest CFOs of a publicly listed company, Ajay helped lead Dropbox through its milestone IPO. He was also named the Bay Area CFO of the Year by the San Francisco Business Times.

Ajay is now a general partner at IVP, a leading growth-stage venture firm in San Francisco with over $9 billion in committed capital. IVP is one of the top-performing firms in the industry and has backed innovative companies like Coinbase, DeepL, Grammarly, Jasper, Slack, and Twitter. 

The challenges of launching a startup can seem endless when you are just starting out. Truth be told, the magnitude of these challenges will only grow as your business grows. But don’t let this deter you.

Derek Andersen understood that the obstacles he was facing in entrepreneurship were not unique to him. This notion led him on his quest to create a community for entrepreneurs to share their advice and inspirations with others, proving that entrepreneurs are in fact, stronger together.

In this episode, Hercules Capital host Eddie Lopez and Derek talk about his path to working in the tech industry, habits that create a CEO, how creating solutions to your own problems is an avenue for success, advice for founders looking to raise capital in the current environment, being a customer of your own product, and much more…

Topics Include:
- The impetus for Startup Grind and Bevy
- Freedom and creativity in entrepreneurship
- Bootstrapping companies
- Servant leadership
- Dealing with failure
- The responsibility to help others
- Managing relationships with investors
- Taking advantage of slingshot moments
- And other topics...

Derek Andersen is the co-founder and CEO of Bevy, a SaaS product that helps companies like Salesforce, Atlassian, Google, Snowflake, and Adobe build virtual and in-person communities. Derek also co-founded Startup Grind, a community of 600 Chapters in 125 countries educating, inspiring, and connecting startup people. Since 2012, Startup Grind has hosted 10,000 events for more than 500,000 people. In 2010, Derek co-founded Commonred which was acquired by Income.com. Derek previously worked as a product manager at Electronic Arts. He currently lives in Palo Alto CA with his wife and four children.

Books Mentioned:
The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton Christensen: https://www.amazon.com/How-Will-Measure-Your-Life/dp/0062102419
How Will You Measure Your Life, by Clayton Christensen: https://www.amazon.com/How-Will-Measure-Your-Life/dp/0062102419

Today we are featuring Marco Zappacosta, co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack.

Thumbtack is a modern home management platform that helps homeowners stay up to date on routine maintenance while also connecting them with local service providers who can support with home care. The company was recently acknowledged as one of Fortune's Best Places to Work in Tech and overall for Small/Medium Companies.

Marco has been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and has been featured in stories in the New York Times, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.

In this episode, Catherine and Marco talk about getting Thumbtack off the ground, determining what investors are looking for, moments of great progress amongst great challenges, transitioning to a fully remote workplace, identifying and assessing talent, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Timing around raising capital
- Prioritizing healthy & profitable growth
- Driving liquidity in the marketplace
- Reaching your first customers
- Systematizing availability
- Making radical adjustments to ensure viability during COVID-19
- Investor climate change
- Creating a more equitable workplace through remote work
- Scaling effectively in a virtual context
- Questions for interviewing candidates
- And other topics…

Marco Zappacosta is the co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack, the technology leader building the modern home management platform. Thumbtack empowers homeowners to instantly book skilled professionals and supports hundreds of thousands of small businesses to grow sustainably. The company has raised more than $500 million and was recently acknowledged as one of Fortune's Best Places to Work in Tech and overall for Small/Medium Companies. Marco has been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and has been featured in stories in the New York Times, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.

In a world of continuous innovation, it seems like our healthcare system has been left behind. The hassles of health insurance have become the status quo, and far too many of us have fallen victim to the abhorrent costs of medical services.

Few of us have the time or wherewithal to battle with insurance companies or chase down medical providers. So, where do we go from here? Is there a way to effectively deliver low-cost healthcare to large numbers of people?

According to Adrian Aoun, CEO of Forward – an AI-based healthcare company – the solution is simple: redesign healthcare as a product.

In this episode, Catherine and Adrian discuss his journey to becoming the CEO of Forward, how productizing healthcare can lower costs and boost innovation, why health insurance is the biggest obstacle in healthcare, and much more.

Topics Include:

• How Adrian’s childhood shaped his pursuit of knowledge
• The enormous challenges our healthcare system faces
• How to migrate the work of doctors and nurses to hardware
• How our current healthcare system disincentivizes innovation and fails to keep up with its challenges
• The Forward business model
• How to raise millions of dollars as a startup
• And other topics…
  
  Adrian Aoun is the founder and CEO of Forward, an AI-based healthcare system combining world-class private doctors with new technology to enable proactive, data-driven primary care. Most recently, he was the head of Special Projects for the CEO of Google/Alphabet, where he founded one of the Alphabet companies Sidewalk Labs. Adrian arrived at Google upon the acquisition of his AI startup Wavii, and spent his first year at Google helping to create and build their AI division. Additionally, Adrian is an active angel investor and advisor to a number of technology startups and funds.
  
  Resources Mentioned:
  Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Trucking is one of the largest industries in the United States with roughly $800 billion spent annually on trucking services. Despite the high demand for services, 35% of all miles driven by trucking companies are driven empty due to inefficient coordination systems within the industry.

Mark Okerstrom, President and Chief Operating Officer of Convoy, the nation’s leading digital freight network, believes the solution to empty freight lies at the intersection of logistics and technology. Convoy is working to save money for shippers, increase earnings for carriers and drivers, and eliminate carbon waste for our planet. 

In this episode, Catherine and Mark talk about Mark’s transition from his role as CEO of Expedia to Convoy, why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to business, how Convoy plans to remedy problems in trucking and logistics, Convoy Go, and more.

Topics Include:
- What convinced Mark to join Convoy
- The state of today’s trucking industry
- Keeping trucks full by bundling shipments
- Financial and environmental impacts of truckers driving empty
- Thoughts on the current and future markets
- Dara Khosrowshahi and thoughts on mentorship
- Key lessons from Mark’s career
- And other topics…

Mark Okerstrom is the President and COO of Convoy, an American trucking software company. He is the former CEO of Expedia and previously served as an attorney with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and as a consultant with Bain & Company. Mark was selected by Institutional Investor Magazine three years running for its All-American Executive Team, Top 3 Public Company CFO, Internet Sector (2016, 2017, and 2018). He earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School and Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of British Columbia.

Sports and games are a huge part of our lifestyle and culture and will continue to be for generations to come. But how can investors and creators encourage growth and take advantage of this unique market?

Investor, founder, and entrepreneur Kai Bond had spent over a decade in the gaming industry when he realized he wanted to approach gaming as an investable category. So he partnered with the startup Courtside VC, a venture capital firm that challenges the traditional definition of sports, digital media, fitness, and gaming.

In this episode, Eddie Lopez and Kai talk about Kai’s entrepreneurial journey, how to approach gaming as an investable category, Kai’s take on web3, the future of gaming, diversity in the venture community and more.

Topics Include:
- Understanding what it means to be a good CEO
- Challenge of coming from the corporate world to the startup world
- The state of venture capital in Q1 2022
- The importance of transparency and discipline in VC
- What Courtside learned during 2020
- Evolution of monetizing assets in gaming
- Kai’s take on Web 3.0
- The future of gaming
- Why timing matters in the venture market 
- How to increase diversity in venture capital
- And other topics…

Kai Bond is a partner at Courtside, a VC company that partners with early-stage founders who are challenging the traditional definition of sports, digital media, fitness, and gaming. Before Courtside, Kai was a Principal at Comcast Ventures where he led investments in Catalyst Fund, a seed-stage fund focused on investing in underrepresented founders.  

Kai was the founder of pixieTV, an interactive SmartTV platform that was acquired by Samsung in 2014. After that, Kai moved into the role of GM at Samsung NEXT. Kai has held leadership positions in product strategy, business development, and M&A at Microsoft, GLG, and Hatch Labs. Kai is a graduate of Wesleyan University.

Raj Verma is the CEO at SingleStore, a database management system that helps modern applications be fast, frictionless, and flexible.

When Raj started at SingleStore, he was Co-CEO with SingleStore’s founder, Nikita Shamgunov. By building a healthy relationship and friendship with Nikita, Raj was able to lead with the company’s founding principles, keeping that essence that makes SingleStore so special. Raj’s transition to Co-CEO and later to CEO has as much to do with his mindset and leadership skills as it does with the CEO job description.

In this episode, Catherine and Raj talk about Raj’s transition from Co-CEO to CEO, why Raj views CEO as a mindset, how Raj leads with “a warrior’s mentality and a servant’s heart,” the importance of adaptation and change, how to build company culture, and more.

Topics Include:
- Relationship between founder and CEO
- How his partnership with Nikita started
- The accountability that comes with being a CEO
- Executive coaching
- Conscious capitalism
- Combining business strategy with culture
- The importance of finding you're why
- What drives Raj toward success
- Adapting to new circumstances
- And other topics…

Raj Verma is the Chief Executive Officer at SingleStore. He has more than 25 years of experience in enterprise software and scaling operations. Before SingleStore, Raj was the CEO, EVP of Global Scales, and COO of TIBCO Software, a company that he helped grow to over $1 billion in revenue. He was also COO at Aptus Software and Hortonworks. Raj holds a BA in computer science from BMS College of Engineering in Bangalore, India.

Resources Mentioned:
Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807060100/
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Secrets-Silicon-Startup/dp/152473165X
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts: https://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330537

Christine Tao is the Co-founder and CEO of Sounding Board, a venture-backed startup that recently raised $30 million in Series B funding and has grown four-fold over the past 12 months. Sounding Board’s mission is to help companies develop impactful leaders by leveraging AI-powered pairing technology with a network of leadership coaches.

The idea for Sounding Board started when Christine was provided leadership coaching to transition into an executive leadership role at Tapjoy. Tapjoy set Christine up to work with an executive coach, Lori Mazan.

Christine quickly realized the impact Lori’s coaching was having on her career success, and the two of them acknowledged how crucial it is to bring coaching to all levels of leadership. Christine and Lori’s ideas blossomed into the successful, growing company Sounding Board is today, helping bring leadership coaching to companies and employees around the country.

In this episode, Catherine and Christine talk about the benefits of leadership coaching for both employees and employers, Christine’s experience growing a venture-backed company, what she looked for when hiring her financial partner, finding and retaining talent, and the importance of mission and narrative for fundraising.

Topics Include:
- The four types of leaders
- Relationships between coaches and coachees
- How CFOs bring needed structure and discipline to startups
- Fundraising as a learned skill
- How COVID helped accelerate Sounding Board’s growth
- Advice for founders of startups
- The power of asking for what you want
- Hiring practices in today’s job market
- The best advice Christine has received from a coach
- How coaching can drive employee retention and engagement
- And other topics…

Christine Tao is the co-founder & CEO at Sounding Board, a venture-backed startup with the vision to help companies develop impactful leaders by leveraging AI-powered pairing technology with a network of leadership coaches. 

Before co-founding Sounding Board, Christine was a Senior Vice President of Developer Relations at Tapjoy, a venture-backed, leading mobile advertising & publishing network, and previously led e-commerce partnerships and strategy at YouTube. Christine advises several startups and is a member of the executive committee HR West & NCHRA (Northern California Human Resources Association).  

Christine holds an MBA in Marketing & Operations from Wharton and a BA in Business Administration from UC Berkeley.

While working in investment banking, Peter Lorimer (Betterment, OnDeck, Bank of America Merrill Lynch) realized that the financial services being offered to everyday people were fundamentally broken.

This sparked his interest in FinTech, eventually leading him to the FinTech start-up OnDeck. It was while working at OnDeck that Peter first decided he wanted to become the CFO of a FinTech company.

Peter first fell in love with the investing and savings app Betterment as a customer. Fast forward to today, and Peter is now CFO of this fast-growing FinTech Company.

In today's episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Catherine Jhung and Peter discuss Peter’s journey from banking to FinTech, what he learned from mentors along the way, insights from OnDeck going public, transitioning to a CFO position, the importance of storytelling as a CFO, and more.

Topics Include:
- Peter’s career path to becoming the CFO at Betterment.
- The transition from investment banking to FinTech. 
- Transitioning a private company to a public company.
- Thinking of an IPO as a milestone, rather than a destination.
- Recruiting and retaining great talent.
- What he learned from CFOs like Michael O’Grady.
- And other topics...

Peter Lorimer is the Chief Financial Officer of Betterment, an investing and savings app. Before Betterment, Peter worked as the Senior Manager, Strategic Finance and FP&A at OnDeck. He also worked in investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Peter has his BA in Political Science from Duke University and his MBA from Harvard Business School. Peter resides in New York City.

Want to connect with Hercules Capital? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Jenny Bloom (Zapier, MailChimp) recently retired as CFO of Zapier, a technology startup that helps businesses automate their workflows. Jenny has decades of experience working as CFO for bootstrapped tech startups like Zapier and Mailchimp. 

In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Eddie Lopez and Jenny Bloom discuss Jenny's experience in the startup world, how she helped grow Zapier to a $5B valuation with only $1.3M in VC funding, tips for staying lean during periods of hypergrowth, and much more. 

Topics Include:
Jenny’s journey from corporate accounting and finance to CFO at major startups. The role of CFOs at tech startups. The value of investing in learning and development for your staff. The importance of building relationships as a CFO. Bootstrapping vs funding. Three tips for startups with growth models similar to MailChimp and Zapier. The importance of simplicity and automation. How to create a financially frugal company culture. And other topics…     

Jenny Bloom retired as the CFO of Zapier at the end of 2021. Before her role at Zapier, Jenny spent several years in corporate jobs in industries from retail and hospitality to the automotive industry with Saab Cars USA. In 2002, Jenny started a CPA practice, Bloom & Associates, LLC, that focused on outsourcing CFO services for technology startups. This was where she connected with the founders of MailChimp. Jenny went on to work as the CFO of MailChimp for six years before starting at Zapier. Jenny lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.  

*Correction – Zapier received $1.3M in VC funding, slightly more than was mentioned in the podcast.

Want to connect with Hercules Capital? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Antonio Nieves (Interior Define, ModCloth, Bonobos) is the CEO of Interior Define, a rapidly expanding digital custom furniture brand. Interior Define is a venture-backed startup based out of Chicago, IL that is changing the way people shop for high-quality furniture online.

In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Antonio joins Catherine Jhung to discuss how his background as CFO at major digital brands helped him transition into the role of CEO. Nieves reveals the keys to being an influential leader, discusses the importance of empathy, argues that investing in staff is a defining feature of a successful business, and much more. 

Topics Include:
Antonio's transition from CFO to CEO. The importance of narrative when leading an organization. Selling people on your company as a CEO. Creating structure and agency within an organization. Delegating as an executive. How to foster talent and invest in staff. And other topics...

Antonio Nieves is the CEO of Interior Define, based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the former CEO of ModCloth. Antonio was the COO and CFO of Bonobos during their sale to Walmart. Throughout his career, Antonio has held senior positions at major companies including Logitech, Gilead Sciences, Blue Coat Systems, and Johnson & Johnson. He graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Accounting. 

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Alan Fuhrman (Esperion Therapeutics, SpringWorks Therapeutics, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals) has 25+ years of executive financial experience in biotechnology, medical devices, and technology services. He has experience in a wide variety of both public and private company financial transactions and offers valuable insight for finance professionals in biotech and beyond. In today’s episode, Alan joins Hercules Capital's Lake McGuire to discuss how venture debt can help companies achieve growth in today’s markets, why the risk is worth the rewards when working in biotech, healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics between a company and its board, and much more.

Topics Include:
How growing up in rural Montana and studying agricultural economics gave Alan a leg up in biotech. Transitioning from agriculture to public accounting. Taking initiative in building professional relationships. Alan’s personal experience with AML and how it motivates his work in biotech. Working as a biotech CFO and audit chair. Macroeconomic challenges for biotech in the near term. Thoughts on sources of funding for biotech companies. And other topics...

Alan Fuhrman is a Board Member and Audit Chair at Esperion Therapeutics, Springworks Therapeutics, and Checkmate Pharmaceuticals. He was previously the CFO of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Mirna Therapeutics, and Ambit Biosciences, among others. Fuhrman was also the Audit Chair at Loxo Oncology for four years before the company sold to Eli Lilly and Company for $8 billion in 2019. He holds two bachelor's degrees from Montana State University–one in accounting and the other in agricultural economics.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Greg Henry (Couchbase, ServiceNow, GE Healthcare) is a finance leader with 20+ years of experience leading global growth and financial operations within the technology industry. In this episode, Henry joins Catherine Jhung to discuss taking Couchbase public in July 2021, what Henry learned from a fourteen-month consent decree at GE Healthcare, advice for aspiring CFOs, and much more.

Topics Include:
Career paths to becoming a CFO. The power of mentors in shaping our career trajectory. The importance of the CEO/CFO relationship. The future of office work in a post-COVID world. Time management and work-life boundaries. Living and traveling abroad with family. How to properly vacation. What Henry learned when transitioning from a company of 300,000 employees to a company of 300 employees. And other topics.

Greg Henry is the CFO of Couchbase where he is responsible for the overall financial governance and management of the company’s financial operations. Prior to Couchbase, Henry served as the Senior Vice President of Finance at ServiceNow, where he led the enterprise cloud company’s financial development. Greg is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

David Lapter (Dashlane, MakeSpace, Fab.com, KickApps) is a seasoned executive of venture-backed start-ups with over 12 years of experience leading finance and business operations at various ventures in the US and Europe. In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Lapter joins Catherine Jhung to discuss how to be a master delegator as a CFO, things to consider when taking a CFO position, managing spending after funding rounds, and much more.

Topics Include:
Three things to consider when taking a job as a CFO. Investing in your network. Scaling a fast-growing business. Delegating tasks and projects as an executive. Managing massive amounts of data. Setting clear checkpoints to measure the health of your business after funding rounds. The influence of being raised by Holocaust survivors. Finding drive, ambition, and passion in your work. And other topics.

David Lapter is currently the CFO of Dashlane. He has helped scale several other companies including MakeSpace, Fab.com, and KickApps. During his tenure in start-ups, David has led companies through numerous rounds of equity and debt funding, as well as buy and sell-side M&A activities. David graduated from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a BScE in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Charly Kevers (Carta, Lending Club, Salesforce, HP) is the CFO at Carta, a company that is building infrastructure for the private market in the form of cap tables, valuations, and private equity plans. Carta also powers CartaX, a private stock exchange that facilitates private company and private fund transactions. In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Kevers joins Catherine Jhung to discuss how he has managed Carta through 10x growth, why thirty-five percent of venture-backed companies use Carta’s platform, how working in investor relations prepared Kevers for a CFO position, and much more.

Topics Include:
Critical strategies for aspiring CFOs. Developing your product to be the defacto product for a particular industry. Extreme curiosity, questioning the status quo, and anticipating future scenarios. The influence of mentors on Kevers' career. And other topics.

Charly Kevers is the CFO at Carta, a position he has held since 2017. He previously served as the VP of Finance at Lending Club, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Salesforce, and Director of Investor Relations at Hewlett-Packard. Kevers received his BA in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds an MBA in Business Administration from INSEAD.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Spencer Punter (DCVC, Axway Appcelerator, SnapLogic) has over two decades of experience in Silicon Valley. Starting as an investment banker, Punter moved on to become a venture capitalist, an entrepreneur, a manager of a venture capital fund of funds, and eventually a CFO/COO of venture-backed enterprise SaaS companies. In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Punter joins Catherine Jhung to discuss his work with DCVC, how to stay focused and find leverage for your company, finding a competitive edge through athletics, and much more.

Topics Include:
Setbacks and career changes. How Spencer transitioned from an investment banker, to venture capital, to CFO. Time management and finding leverage as a CFO. Prioritizing tasks and projects. Physical fitness and running. What Spencer learned from running one hundred miles. Balancing career goals with personal goals and family life, and other topics.

Spencer Punter has over two decades of experience in Silicon Valley, starting as an investment banker and then becoming a venture capitalist, an entrepreneur, a manager of a venture capital fund of funds, and eventually a CFO/COO of venture-backed enterprise SaaS companies. He is the COO and CFO of DCVC, a venture capital group backing entrepreneurs who apply Deep Tech to tackle previously unsolvable global-scale problems. Spencer has extensive operating experience having served in a variety of roles including CEO, COO and CFO at four venture-backed start-ups. Spencer received an SB with honors in Physical Sciences from Harvard University.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Adriel Lares (Stash, Fastly, 3PAR) is one of the tech industry’s most accomplished financial leaders. In this episode of Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital, Lares joins Catherine Jhung to discuss how he conceptualizes the work he does as a CFO, what it takes to manage a complex, rapidly growing company, the importance of visibility and diversity in leadership positions, and much more.

Topics Include:
How to measure progress in a large company. Three golden rules for work and life. Taking 3PAR and Fastly public. Growing up in Alvin, Texas as a child of Mexican immigrants. What producing wine in Napa Valley taught Lares about networking. Dealing with setbacks as a company. Balancing work and family life. Giving back to the communities we come from. And other topics.

Adriel Lares is an accomplished CFO and advisor. He was integral in taking two tech companies public–3PAR and Fastly. Lares recently stepped down as Fastly’s CFO to take a new position as the CFO at Stash, an app-based personal finance platform designed to help middle-class Americans build wealth. He is also one of three founding partners of Memento Mori, who produce some of the most sought-after wines in Napa Valley. Lares currently sits on the board of several organizations, including the National Hispanic Institute and the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Stanford University.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/

Welcome to Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital! In this introductory episode, host Catherine Jhung shares the intentions behind the podcast and what listeners can expect in forthcoming episodes.

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website – https://www.htgc.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercules-capital/