What is DCTAV
The DC Tech & Venture Coalition (DCTAV) is a coalition of DC Tech executives & founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders championing DC's tech and innovation sector. Their vision is to make DC the world's most influential city for tech, innovation, and new venture by 2030. They have the resources and the long-term vision necessary to achieve that goal. Before the foundation of DCTAV, there was no single champion for the District's tech sector in the District of Columbia or surrounding communities in Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Adam's Talk at DCTAV
During the session, Adam discussing the founding of Inflectra, why he chose to bootstrap the company rather than raise money, how he intentionally created a company culture that fosters work-life balance and employee flexibility. He also discussed his personal environment, raising two young children whilst starting the company, and balancing work and family commitments.
Adam also discussed how entrepreneurs and business owners should look to hire people with differing skill sets and personalities to balance out their own (vs. hiring people like themselves, a common mistake). He also discussed how and when to make the leap from a founder-lead sales organization to a professional sales process that lets the company scale. Lastly, he discussed the role of a channel partner program, and how it lets smaller companies scale efficiently.
After the talk, Adam took questions from the audience, covering topics such as - when to build a partner program, why Inflectra was bootstrapped, and where the idea for the original product came from.
Shout Out to Ashtan Moore
We'd also like to give a personal shout out to Ashtan Moore, one of the organizers of DCTAV (who hosted the evening as Kevin Morgan was away) and the person who invited Adam to speak at the event. Ashtan Moore is fervently passionate about growth, especially yours.
From his simple roots as a homeschooled Virginia transplant, Ashtan has “failed up” into an internationally-recognized entrepreneur, speaker, investor, and advisor. As co-founder and partner at Model B, an AI-powered performance ad agency, Ashtan has achieved notable results and driven powerful growth for brands that include Anheuser-Busch, Cognizant, Gilead Sciences, GN Store Nord, Planet Inc., SandboxAQ, ServiceNow, and SailPoint.
More Information on the Inflectra Story
If you would like to learn more about the founding of Inflectra and its different phases, please refer to the following articles:
- 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became a CEO
- If you’re a bootstrapped startup, turn to user-centered design to thrive during adversity
- IdeaMensch Profile of Adam Sandman & Inflectra