In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, we're joined by Adam Edmunds, the CEO of the $4B real estate tech powerhouse, Entrata. Adam shares his incredible journey from a student entrepreneur who didn't know what a cap table was to a seasoned operator leading multi-billion dollar companies. He dives deep into the "secret sauce" behind Podium's explosive growth from $1M to $100M ARR in just four years, the critical importance of being "maniacally obsessed" with go-to-market metrics, and the differences between founder-led and operator-led success. Adam also opens up about the personal toll of hyper-growth, his burnout and departure from Podium, and the crucial lessons he learned about identity, relationships, and finding fulfillment in the journey, not just the outcome.

(00:00:00 ) The Secret Sauce of Podium's Hyper-Growth
(00:02:37 ) Introducing Adam Edmunds, CEO of Entrata
(00:04:52 ) Startup Hot Takes: Is AI Coming for 50% of Jobs?
(00:07:54 ) Hot Take: Do Serious Founders Need to Sacrifice Work-Life Balance?
(00:10:04 ) Hot Take: Should Founders Stay in the Weeds to Succeed?
(00:15:45 ) How John Met a Young Adam at BYU
(00:19:47 ) Faking it 'Til You Make It to Land Your First Customers
(00:24:48 ) The Story of Silent Whistle and Allegiance
(00:29:29 ) Cracking the Code on Enterprise vs. SMB Sales
(00:31:29 ) Why Did Podium's Go-to-Market Just Work?
(00:36:55 ) Why Every Founder Must Be a Go-to-Market Metric Assassin
(00:40:00 ) The Founder/Operator Dynamic Between Adam and Eric Farr
(00:41:53 ) "I'm Gonna Be Rich and Dead": Burnout and Leaving Podium
(00:45:17 ) The Journey to Becoming CEO of Entrata
(00:49:14 ) Your Net Worth is Not Your Self-Worth
(00:51:13 ) Why the Journey is Better Than the Achievement
(00:56:06 ) Taking Over a 2,500-Person Bootstrap Business
(00:58:29 ) Raising $500M+ for a "Stealth" Unicorn
(01:02:11 ) Building a Generational Business at Entrata
(01:04:21 ) Adam's Advice to His 23-Year-Old Self
(01:07:53 ) Why Your Employees Don't Have to Care as Much as You Do

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