Startup Truths and Building What Users TRULY Need with David Politis | The Further, Faster Podcast

“Money is oxygen. And if you run out of money…you’re f*cked. Period.”

David Politis doesn’t mince his words. The founder and executive chairman of BetterCloud, the world’s first end-to-end Saas management system (acquired by Vista Equity for $750M), he’s spent the best part of the last two decades building businesses that help other businesses do better. Companies like Vocalocity (acquired by Vonage) and Cloud Sherpas (acquired by Accenture).

Most recently he’s launched a new platform Not Another CEO, which provides practical insights, workshops and community for founders and CEOs committed to growing themselves and their companies. A fountain of knowledge, he joined Jeff Becker to share some of the vital lessons he’s picked up over the years. This episode of Further, Faster is – as always – a must listen for founders (CEOs might want to tune in too).

First, some important reality checks from David: “Don’t optimize for valuation.” He explains to Jeff why founders should be wary about chasing big valuations that can make it impossible to exit with any money. “There are very good companies I'm aware that are doing $100, 150, 200 million ARR, but they raised at $7 billion, $5 billion, whatever… and they're so out over their skis. There's literally no exit path. Like there's just nowhere. That’s a hard situation to be in.” 

David talks about the process of building the first 100 customers, growing a community around a business and the personal cost to being a founder. With the 996 approach in the air, Jeff calls on David for his take on what work life balance should look like. For David, it’s not about how you work, but if you really do care about what you’re building: “There's no real divide between work and life.” As he tells Jeff: “I sold the company three years ago. I'm advising a bunch of companies. I'm on calls all the time with founders in the middle of the night on Sundays just because I love it and I enjoy it.” 

There is a sacrifice to this, David explains. You might not see your family, your kids. You might neglect your health. “I want to wish that wasn’t necessary. But unfortunately I think that is what's necessary to build a company.”

For more words of wisdom from David – from how to grow as a leader to FOMO in fundraising – listen to the full episode here.

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