Libsyn Directory

268: Michael Cardamone — Creative Ways to Fund Your SaaS Company

Release Date: 07/14/2021

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this episode, Bill delves into the significance of creating a powerful and positive company culture as a foundational strategy for scaling businesses effectively and sustainably. He likens the ideal company culture to a "good cult," emphasizing the need for intentional, cult-like qualities within a company to foster unity, commitment, and shared values among team members. By drawing parallels with companies like Disney and Apple, known for their strong, cult-like cultures, Bill outlines how such a culture can significantly contribute to a company's success by enhancing...

Managing a Positive Cash Flow with Peter Kingma

Scaling Up Business Podcast

If maintaining positive cash flow is keeping you up at night, this is the conversation you need to hear. Once you’ve got cash figured out, everything runs more smoothly. Peter Kingma works with multinational clients and leads EY Working Capital services in the Americas. Corporate leaders entrust him to help liberate cash through operational improvements, which help in reducing costs and improving service quality. His new book, Cash Is King, discusses why your company’s cash position should be on an equal footing with sales, cost, and service, and how to make that happen. ...

Core Values, how to develop and use them

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this insightful episode, Bill delves into the essence and significance of company core values, demystifying how to get them right and why they are so crucial for creating a thriving, scalable business. He emphasizes that core values are not mere aspirational statements or the embodiment of desired traits but rather a reflection of how a company operates at its best. Bill argues that core values should guide the behavior and decisions within a company, ensuring it grows in a way that remains true to its founding principles without becoming overwhelming or diverging into something the founder...

Delegating as a Leader with Dave Kerpen

Scaling Up Business Podcast

Effective leaders know how to delegate the things they don’t do well — or don’t want to do well — so that they can focus on their strengths and move the company toward greater success. Dave Kerpen is currently an advisor to many companies and is the CEO/Co-Founder of Apprentice, a platform that connects entrepreneurs and business leaders with smart and motivated college students looking for real-world experience and mentorship. Dave’s new book, Get Over Yourself, shares the roadmap for how you can shift your mindset (and your workload) to focus on the things most important for...

Perfecting your pitch

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this episode, the focus is on mastering the art of pitching within the context of growing a company, emphasizing the importance of engaging people effectively despite their inherent complexities and irrationalities. Recognizing that people, including ourselves, operate in ways that might only make sense to them, the episode delves into how to craft a pitch that resonates and leads to more affirmative responses. The key lies in sharing a compelling vision of the future that addresses a problem or gap and depicts an improved future state. This approach not only demonstrates an understanding...

Don't Self Sabotage with personal worries

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this episode, Bill delves into the psychological barriers that hinder our ability to secure affirmative responses in business interactions, emphasizing the detrimental impact of personal concerns and self-doubt. He identifies common worries, such as fearing one is too salesy or arrogant, and illustrates how these internal fears can prevent effective communication and diminish the enthusiasm in pitches or proposals. Bill proposes a solution to shift focus away from oneself and towards understanding and addressing the needs and interests of the other party. By acknowledging and setting aside...

Designing a Company That Can Get Rich with Christopher Volk

Scaling Up Business Podcast

The ultimate goal of building a company is to build its value. Designing a company that can get rich is not always top-of-mind for business owners, but it should be. Christopher Volk is the author of The Value Equation. Christopher was instrumental in leading and publicly listing three successful companies, two of which he co-founded. A 2019 regional winner of EYs’ Entrepreneur of the Year award, Christopher is a frequent university lecturer and serves on multiple non-profit boards. Not all companies are created equal. While many companies focus on their goods or services that...

Talent Assessment and Development

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this episode, Bill introduces a comprehensive approach to talent assessment aimed at enhancing team performance and fostering a positive work environment as businesses grow. He emphasizes the critical importance of assembling a team that not only performs well but also aligns with the company's values and culture. Bill introduces the concept of a talent assessment tool and process that focuses on two main criteria: fit with the company's values and performance in their current roles. This straightforward assessment provides a clear strategy for managing team members, highlighting the need...

Dignity in The Modern Workplace with Ari Weinzweig

Scaling Up Business Podcast

Does dignity in the workplace really matter? Plenty of companies seem to get by without upholding dignity, but with over 40 years of experience and $60 million in annual sales, today’s return podcast guest knows there is a better way. Ari Weinzweig is the co-founder of Zingermans Delicatessen. Ari, alongside his co-founder, Paul Saginaw, started Zingerman’s in 1982 as a restaurant and specialty food retail space. Now the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has 23 partners, employs over 750 people, and generates over $60 million in annual sales from ten separate businesses. ...

Process Accountability PACe

Scaling Up Business Podcast

In this episode, Bill explores the crucial concept of process accountability as a key driver for company growth and efficiency. Focusing on the interplay between team engagement, performance, and the seamless integration of various business processes, Bill sheds light on the importance of defining and managing core processes distinct from functional responsibilities within a company. He emphasizes that processes like the transition from lead to customer experience involve multiple departments and, without clear accountability, can lead to missed opportunities and inefficiencies. Bill delves...

More Episodes

If you are a Founder of a SaaS company then this is an episode you do not want to miss. Today’s guest works directly with SaaS companies and knows the inner workings of how to raise the capital you need in your business.

Michael Cardamone was one of the first 30 employees at Box in a BD role and then later led partnerships at AcademixDirect. After six years of being in operating roles, Michael launched Forum Ventures, a BSB SaaS-Focused Accelerator and Fund based in NYC and Toronto.

Michael is seven years into his company and he’s already on his fourth fund for the accelerator and has worked with over 200 companies. Some of Michael’s entrepreneurs have never even stepped into Silicon Valley and have raised several millions of dollars. The VC landscape is rapidly changing to find companies outside of California and New York.

Michael sees the benefits, too. You want more diversity? Take advantage of the global landscape and hire team members from all over the world to get a different cultural perspective. Countless studies have shown that when a company has more diversity, they are adaptable and more empathic to all different types of users.

One thing that founders don’t think about enough is how will investors value your business? What is their process and how do you fare in that process? A great way to make yourself stand out is to bring data points and market research to the fold to showcase how you’re thinking about your target market differently and the types of risks you foresee in your industry. Investors love to see a bit of legwork being done, even if the memo isn’t all roses and positive.

Interview Links:

TOPICS