We’re exploring the heart of business growth—the messy middle. It’s that unpredictable, often chaotic phase between the excitement of starting up and the satisfaction of exiting a business. This is where the real challenges and opportunities lie. It’s not just about launching or planning your exit; it’s about navigating the complexities of scaling, optimizing, and sustaining your business in an ever-evolving landscape.
BoS Conference’s main focus is addressing this crucial stage, providing you with the tools and insights needed to thrive amidst uncertainty and turn challenges into opportunities. We’re not just discussing theory; we’re providing a roadmap through the messy middle of business growth.
Of course you can. It isn’t common but it can be done and there are some well known ones – Mailchimp for example. Here’s an example of one that you probably haven’t heard of – PDQ.com
Shawn Anderson, co-founder and (ex)CEO of PDQ.com has been to 21 Business of Software Conferences, first time in 2008. I guess he’s learned some good things along the way.
Shawn will be joining us to speak at BoS Conference USA, 23-35 September, Raleigh, NC and will share the story of his 20 year journey from consulting company, through utterly unfundable product business, to growth, acquisition, and his retirement from a $billion business. We’re sharing a little of the story here, part preview, part inspiration, part reminder that it takes work to build a company but there is no single right way.
Who is Shawn Anderson and What is PDQ.com?
Shawn explains who he is and what that company you have never heard of does.
Founding PDQ and the Difficult Transition from Consulting to Product Company
Every software consultancy wants to be a product business. It’s rare to make it. Shawn shares the origins of the company and the moment they decided to go all in on product.
No Venture Everything Gained
VCs are renowned unicorn hunters so looking back, funding should be easy. Shawn explains why VCs refused to invest and the implications of having to build the company without external funding. Turns out, there is a significant upside…
What Will You be Talking About At BoS Conference USA 2024, 23-25 September?
Shawn shares a short preview of some of the insights he wants to share at this year’s conference.
It takes two to tango. In the case of succeeding a company, it takes a lot of crew. Success in today’s fast-paced business world demands a collective effort. It’s overwhelming for one person or a few to get ahead and shoulder the entire weight of keeping a company competitive. One strategic way to uphold is to send your team together in conferences.
As the saying goes, “Learning goes beyond the four corners of the room.” Conferences are one of the those events that people from different corners of the world and varying professions come to. Conferences are designed to welcome individuals as participants in collaborative learning and networking beyond their personal spheres towards expanding horizons, which is really necessary in business-building. While sounds great, events like these are still daunting for some, especially introverts.
Introverts, known for energizing in solitude, may be drained by large crowds. Attending conferences can feel like a challenge despite the potential benefits. Navigating a sea of unfamiliar faces requires unique strategies to ensure they thrive, not just survive, at conferences. Though challenging, these cannot hinder introverts like me from attending conferences. We have the drive to learn and connect. We just need our unique ways to come and show up ourselves to enjoy advantageous conferences at their best. So for introverts like me out there, here are some quiet strategies to conquering conferences.
Raleigh, NC – The Business of Software Conference USA (BoSConf USA), world’s leading event for SaaS and software entrepreneurs globally, returns to Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 23-25, 2024. This 3-day conference marks the second year of the conference partnering with the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) to bring this acclaimed event to the heart of one of the fastest-growing tech clusters in the U.S.
Building on the success of BoS USA 2023, BoS Conf USA 2024 extends a unique opportunity for local and international software leaders to share knowledge, network, and gain insights from the world’s best. The conference fosters collaboration and growth within the local software ecosystem, providing access to the hard-won experiences and insights of industry leaders directly in North Carolina.
Us humans, we are driven to build. From a young age, we explore different possibilities, building things out of curiosity. Through experimentation and experience, we discover what ignites our passion. This innate desire to build translates into every aspect of our lives, including our careers. As adults, we continue to build, but now our creations extend beyond ourselves, benefiting entire industries, customer, and communities.
After many sleepless nights of research and contemplation, you finally started your own company on Day 1. Time fast forward, you’ve nurtured your company from a startup to a growing business, but new challenges have emerged. There is the cut-throat, market competition, limitations of resources, etc. Stimulating your company’s growth has been tougher and more complicated than ever. There is a need for you to change. What if you can turn these challenges into your advantages? One of the strategic steps you can consider is an M&A or Merger and Acquisition.
