Listen Here

| |

Conversation
Highlights

 

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 David Wald, President and Co-Founder of Aclaimant, an active risk management platform that has raised over $30 Million in funding. 

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

  • Leadership Transition: David shares the strategic move of welcoming Kathy Burns as Aclaimant’s new CEO, marking a significant leadership transition aimed at leveraging her vast experience to drive future growth.
  • The Co-Founder’s New Role: Reflecting on his transition from CEO to President, David discusses the importance of aligning talents and roles within the company to maximize success, emphasizing the value of ego management in leadership decisions.
  • Founding Story: Aclaimant’s origin tale is a blend of serendipity and strategic vision, sparked by a casual proposition that evolved into a serious venture addressing critical needs in the risk management industry.
  • Evolving Go-To-Market Strategy: From targeting specific industries to adopting a data-driven approach, Aclaimant’s GTM strategy has matured, focusing on efficiency and targeted outreach to connect with its ideal customer profiles.
  • The Essence of Thought Leadership: David outlines his view on thought leadership as a tool for educating and empowering customers, rather than a platform for self-promotion, highlighting its importance in Aclaimant’s marketing philosophy.
  • Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, David is enthusiastic about Aclaimant’s potential to democratize risk management solutions, aiming to make their platform the preferred choice for middle-market companies seeking to improve their risk management practices.

 

Actionable
Takeaways

Embrace Leadership Transitions for Growth:

David's experience transitioning to the role of President to bring on Kathy Burns as CEO highlights the importance of leveraging external expertise for organizational growth. Founders should consider how leadership adjustments can align with their company's strategic goals and enable greater success.

Manage Ego to Make Strategic Decisions:

The decision to change leadership roles within a company often requires managing personal ego to prioritize the company's long-term success. Founders should be open to roles that maximize their strengths and contribute to the company's growth, even if it means stepping away from the CEO title.

Leverage Unique Founding Stories to Build Authenticity:

Aclaimant's unique founding story, involving a mix of personal relationships and serendipitous opportunities, underscores the value of authenticity in building a company's brand and culture. This authenticity can be a powerful tool in connecting with customers and employees.

Adapt Go-To-Market Strategies as the Company Evolves:

As Aclaimant grew, its go-to-market strategy evolved from a narrow focus to a data-driven approach targeting a broader market. Founders should continuously evaluate and adapt their GTM strategies to remain competitive and responsive to market changes.

Thought Leadership as a Tool for Empowerment and Education:

Aclaimant's approach to thought leadership focuses on empowering customers and educating the market, rather than self-promotion. Founders should consider developing content and initiatives that genuinely help their target audience navigate challenges and make informed decisions.

Recommended Founder
Interviews

Vincenz Klemm

CEO & Co-Founder of Baobab

Vincenz Klemm, CEO of Baobab: $4 Million to Build the Future of Cyber Insurance

Martin J. Gylfe

CEO and Co-Founder of Insurely

Martin Gylfe, CEO and Co-Founder of Insurely: €22 Million Raised to Power the Future of Open Insurance

Jeff Radke

CEO of Accelerant

Jeff Radke, CEO of Accelerant: Over $500 Million Raised to Empower Underwriters to Deliver Better Insurance

Sivan Iram

CEO & Founder of Flow

Sivan Iram, CEO & Founder of Flow: $20.6M Raised to Transform Commercial Insurance Wholesaling with AI

Sergey Litvinenko

CEO & Co-Founder of Koop Insurance

Sergey Litvinenko, CEO & Co-Founder of Koop Insurance: $7 Million Raised to Build the Future of Insurance for Tech Companies

Paul Monasterio

CEO and Co-Founder of Kalepa

Paul Monasterio, CEO and Co-Founder of Kalepa: $16 Million Raised to Power the Future of Insurance Underwriting

Max Bruner

CEO and Founder of Anzen Insurance

Max Bruner, CEO and Founder of Anzen Insurance: $10 Million Raised to Build the Future of Executive Risk Insurance

Michael Konialian

Co-Founder and CEO of Modern Life

Michael Konialian, Co-Founder and CEO of Modern Life: $15 Million Raised to Build the Tech-Enabled Insurance Brokerage of the Future

Douglas Ver Mulm

CEO of Stable

Douglas Ver Mulm, CEO at Stable: $3.7 Million in Funding to Insure Rideshare Drivers

Harry Croydon

Co-Founder of MIC Global

Harry Croydon, Co-Founder of MIC Global: $13 Million Raised to Build the Future of Embedded Microinsurance

Martha Dreiling

Co-Founder & COO of Reserv

Martha Dreiling, Co-Founder & COO of Reserv: $28 Million Raised to Build the Future of AI-Powered Insurance Claims

Dirk Doebler

Founder and CEO of Parento

Dirk Doebler, Founder and CEO of Parento: $4.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Paid Parental Leave

Cole Riccardi

CEO and Founder of Authentic

Cole Riccardi, CEO & Founder of Authentic: $16 Million Raised to Build the Future of Insurance Technology

Harleen Singh

Director of Marketing of Flow

Harleen Singh, Director of Marketing at Flow: The Importance of Deep Customer Understanding in B2B Marketing

Mark Morissette

CEO and Co-Founder of Foxquilt

Mark Morissette, CEO and Co-Founder of Foxquilt: $25 Million Raised to Build the Future of SMB Commercial Insurance