EP 49: How Chris Gladwin Raised Over $100M and Achieved Over A Billion Dollar Exit Guest Name: Chris Gladwin

In this episode, we're thrilled to talk with a true tech veteran, Chris Gladwin, a serial entrepreneur and currently the CEO and co-founder of Ocient. Chris shares his journey through multiple successful ventures, including Cleversafe (acquired by IBM for over $1.4 billion) and MusicNow. He provides valuable insights into raising capital, navigating market cycles, and building resilient tech companies. Chris offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, having raised hundreds of millions of dollars across various market conditions. He discusses the challenges of fundraising during different economic climates and shares strategies for success. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Chris's practical advice and real-world stories will surely resonate. Here's what you're in for: 00:00 - Intro 07:54 - Strategies for raising capital vs. selling companies 11:03 - Navigating fundraising in different market cycles 23:43 - Understanding valuation models and market trends 30:17 - Avoiding overvaluation and excessive burn rates 37:38 - The benefits of being bought rather than selling 39:35 - How Circuit City acquired Music Now 48:35 - Outro This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders. Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders  Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc ABOUT CHRIS GLADWIN Chris Gladwin is a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits under his belt. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of OCIENT, a software company providing solutions for the world's largest data analyzing systems. In 2004, Chris founded Cleversafe, which became the largest and most strategic object storage vendor in the world. Under his leadership, Cleversafe had over 1,000 patents granted or filed. After raising over $100M, Chris led the company to a $1.4B exit in 2015 when IBM acquired the company. Before Cleversafe, Chris founded MusicNow and Cruise Technologies startups and led Zenith Data Systems' product strategy. He started his career at Martin Marietta as a database developer and holds an engineering degree from MIT. Chris's experience spans various sectors, including data storage, digital music, and enterprise software, making him a valuable voice in the tech startup ecosystem. Connect with Chris Gladwin on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gladwin-7ba42b/ Website: https://ocient.com/ ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders. ABOUT JASON Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development. You can reach out to Jason through: Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/