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Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Jonathan Schneider, CEO & Co-Founder of Moderne, a code remediation platform that has raised $20 Million funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Jonathan's military experience taught him the value of decentralized leadership, where trust in subordinate leaders to make the right decisions is paramount. For tech founders, creating a culture where team members are empowered to take initiative can lead to greater innovation and agility within the organization.
Inspired by Reed Hastings' approach at Netflix, tech founders should aim to have a clear end-state vision but pursue it through pragmatic, incremental steps. This strategy ensures steady progress towards long-term goals while maintaining adaptability.
Jonathan's realization of a common industry pain point in code remediation led to the creation of Moderne by repurposing technology developed during his time at Netflix. Founders should look for opportunities to solve widespread problems by adapting and scaling solutions they've developed or encountered in their past experiences.
Moderne’s first customer came through a reference, underscoring the importance of networking and reputation in the B2B space. Building and maintaining strong professional relationships can be a crucial pathway to early customer acquisition.
Despite the cost and the seeming non-immediacy of ROI, investing in a distinct brand identity from the early stages can set a company apart in a crowded market. Jonathan’s decision to invest in branding before having secured funding highlights the long-term value of a recognizable and relatable brand.