The Untold Story of Marcus Ryu: Scaling to $10B and Diving into VC
EP 103 of The Logan Bartlett Show: Untold stories from tech's inner circle
After an impressive 18-years leading Guidewire (~$10B Mkt Cap), Marcus Ryu now channels his expertise as a partner at Battery Ventures. I had the privilege to sit down with him and uncover his remarkable journey: co-founding Guidewire in 2001, steering the company through its IPO in 2012, and building one of the largest vertical software businesses in the world. In our conversation, he shared his insights on how to build a durable company in troubling times, what he looks for in entrepreneurs, the future of vertical software, and more…
Click here to view the episode transcript | Watch on Youtube | Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
✉️ Episode Memo
→ A key mindset shift for CEOs
As a CEO, your power isn't just about making decisions; it's about shaping the agenda. Your ability to set priorities, decide who participates, and determine when discussions are complete makes all the difference. Marcus believes that understanding and using this power wisely can unlock effective decision-making and help set your organization up for success.
→ How Marcus Recruited Top Talent for an Unglamorous Problem
When working at a startup, your friends and family likely won't be impressed by your job, as there’s no brand recognition, nor will you receive the perks that come with being at a large corporation. Understanding this, Marcus made the value proposition for joining Guidewire straightforward: "We're going to build software as a craft. You'll be treated with respect, know exactly where things stand, and be regarded as an end, not a means."
To his surprise, this was enough to attract incredibly talented and dedicated people to work tirelessly for a long time on a challenging problem.
→ Why almost failing in year 9 was a blessing
Guidewire nearly collapsed in its 9th year. For 18 months, they couldn’t sell anything thanks to an unjust lawsuit with their primary competitor. Yet, the adversity forged a deep sense of moral purpose and “white-hot rage” that increased the team’s loyalty to Guidewire. The setback delayed their IPO by two years, but it ultimately allowed Guidewire to mature into a stronger, more cohesive company.
Listen to the full conversation for more insights from one of the smartest individuals I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with.
⭐ Trailer
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