Dave Hersh, former entrepreneur and founder of Jive Software, shares his insightful journey from bootstrapping to IPO and beyond.

Dave is also the Author of 1 in 10,000, a newsletter on
The Future of Competitive Advantage: Case Studies and Strategies for Building Moats in the Age of Commoditized Technology

In this episode, Host Alex Shartsis dives into the unspoken challenges of startup growth with Dave, highlighting the pitfalls of premature scaling, the importance of understanding your company's soul, and the often-overlooked impact of a founder's mental health on business success.

Tune in as Dave discusses:

The systemic flaws in the venture capital model and how to navigate them

Strategies for identifying and capitalizing on your company's unique strengths

The critical distinction between ego-driven and soul-driven decision-making

Practical advice for founders on sustainable growth, funding, and leadership development

Gain valuable perspectives from Dave's experiences and apply them to your own entrepreneurial journey.

Show Notes:

0:00 | Introduction

01:12 | From Bootstrapped to Public: Dave's Journey with Jive Software

12:08 | Restructuring for Success: Leadership Lessons from a Turnaround

14:00 | The CEO's Hidden Struggle: Mental Health, Wellness, and Company Performance

20:02 | The Waste in Venture Capital: Why Premature Scaling Often Fails

28:50 | Investors vs. Customers: The Conflict That Can Sink Your Business

41:47 | The Human Advantage: Investing in Emotional Market Openings and Flourishing

45:25 | From Ego to Empathy: Jesse's Transformation and the Power of Culture Shift

53:04 | Transforming Yourself, Transforming Your Company: The CEO's Intuitive Journey

Guest: Dave Hersh(linkedin.com/in/davehersh)

Host: Alex Shartsis (linkedin.com/in/shartsis)

Audio Engineer & Video Editor - James Fixx (fixxmusic.com)

Music by the Great White Shark (Shark Shartsis)

The Seed to Sequoia podcast is created by Silverwood Advisors to help founders with practical advice on building successful startups.

If you would like to get expert advice for your startup reach out to us on:

Website: silverwood.ai

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/silverwood-advisors