Ep. 118 - From Problem to Product - How to Scale an Enterprise Technology Vendor, with Carsten Willems

The Conference Room with Simon Lader

In today's episode, we focus on turning a problem into a technical product company, featuring a true industry luminary, Carsten Willems. As the Co-founder and CEO of threat analysis and detection vendor VMRay, Carsten has traversed a remarkable journey from his early hacking curiosity to pioneering VMRay into a cybersecurity powerhouse.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• The Symbiosis of Tech and Business: Carsten delves into the harmonious blend of technical expertise and business proficiency. Discover how VMRay struck the perfect balance to deliver cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions while ensuring a commercially viable approach.
• Strategic Vision and Traction: Gain insights into how VMRay's strategic focus on core objectives propelled their growth. Carsten discusses how staying true to their vision, even in a rapidly evolving field, paved the way for VMRay's success.
• Data as a Compass: Carsten talks about the significance of data-driven decision-making. Explore how VMRay leverages data analytics not only for enhancing their products but also for driving fundamental business choices.
• Navigating Challenges: Learn about the challenges that VMRay encountered during its ascent, from funding hurdles to market competition. Carsten shares how calculated risk-taking and a resilient team spirit helped them overcome these obstacles.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST - CARSTEN WILLEMS

Dr. Carsten Willems is the co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity vendor VMRay. He is a doctorate in IT security from the University of Bochum in Germany where he did his PHD and in 2007 founded his own cybersecurity consulting firm. In 2013 he co-founded VMRay and has overseen the company's growth to being one of the foremost threat analysis and detection platform vendors in the industry.

Connect with Carsten on LinkedIn

To find out more about VMRay, visit their website

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2023 he has helped businesses escape the feast and famine of inconsistent revenue.

Get to know more about Simon at:

Website: https://simonlader.com/

Escape the Feast and Famine: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scalesharemonetize

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader

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