Ep 5: Laura Bell Main (SafeStack) on bootstrapping, raising from VC and profitability in hard times

In this pod, we learn about Laura from Safestack's journey in building her company, from its inception as a cybersecurity consultancy to its evolution into a VC-backed platform with over 25,000 security learners in 80 countries.

Laura shares her journey as a software engineer and security enthusiast, detailing the origins of her passion and the unique approach Safestack takes in integrating security with software development. The conversation also delves into Safestack's funding journey, starting with her quitting her job with a new baby and $300 in the bank, bootstrapping through consultancy revenue, to securing investments from various VC firms. 

Laura shares insights into the lessons learned during fundraising, team scaling, and navigating market shifts, particularly the economic downturn in 2023. She emphasizes the importance of adapting to market conditions, making tough decisions, and maintaining a focus on profitability. 

This podcast is entertaining, enlightening, and a must-listen for anyone interested in lessons on raising from Venture Capital.

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Kia ora and welcome everyone to THE FUNDING FILES, where we explore the highs, lows and cashflows of funding a business in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Huge thanks to the founders for sharing their stories, to our board for inspiring us to make this pod, and to Rory Harnden for making our design and intro string.