This podcast features an interview with Henry Ward, CEO of Carta, discussing his experiences as a founder and scaling a company. The conversation covers topics such as hiring strategies (missionaries vs. mercenaries), recognizing product-market fit, building a company culture focused on inputs rather than outputs, and advice for early-stage founders raising capital. Ward emphasizes the importance of waiting to hire a VP of sales until product-market fit is clearly established and shares his experience of initially being too transparent with employees about fundraising challenges. A key takeaway is Ward's advice to early-stage founders to focus on finding investors who connect with their problem, rather than solely focusing on charisma in pitching. The interview concludes with insights into organizational design and the importance of written communication in maintaining a consistent company culture.
