Firas Raouf
The Chief Executive Officer
Startup Strategy
Compensation: What Motivates Your Employees?

As a CEO, you should be thinking about your compensation plan for next year and how to structure it in a way that drives the right motivation and performance.

by Firas Raouf
Finance & Operations
A Baseline Agenda for Board Meetings

Every quarter, I get calls or emails from my portfolio company CEOs asking me what I’d like to have on the next board meeting agenda. From now on, I’m simply going to refer them to this post.

by Firas Raouf
Product
Your Development Dilemma: Growth vs. Capital Efficiency
For early-stage tech companies, growth vs. capital efficiency is a constant tug of war. The dilemma has become quite acute...
by Firas Raouf
Startup Strategy
Have You Run a Coding Contest Yet?

If you’re struggling to land top-notch developers (and chance are you are) one tech recruiting strategy you should try is hosting a coding contest. Here are four key elements to consider.

by Firas Raouf
HR & Leadership
A Question for CEOs: Would You Hire Yourself?

In order to successfully move their companies forward from the startup to expansion-stage founding CEOs need to objectively assess their own skill sets, strengths, and weaknesses.

by Firas Raouf
HR & Leadership
The Renaissance Rep and the Sales Learning Curve

The Sales Learning Curve is a classic must-read for any founder/CEO looking to build or ramp up a sales team, and at its center is the concept of the renaissance rep.

by Firas Raouf
Startup Strategy
Do You Have a Great CFO?

At a crucial point in your company’s development from startup to the expansion stage it becomes imperative for you to bring on a great CFO — and a heavy price awaits those who delay.

by Firas Raouf
Startup Strategy
Transparency and Humility: The Key to Crisis Management and Customer Satisfaction

You aren’t in the software business if you haven’t had to deal with software crisis management. The key to maintaining customer satisfaction? Handling it with transparency and humility.

by Firas Raouf
Startup Strategy
Going International? 5 Steps to Building a More Successful Global Business

International expansion can be enticing and highly profitable, but only if you do it right. These five steps will ensure your global business growth strategy is a success.

by Firas Raouf