From Central Missouri Hackathon to $5B Automation Platform w/ Wade Foster, Co-Founder & CEO, Zapier

In this episode of Outsider Inc., host Ian Hathaway sits down with Wade Foster, co-founder and CEO of Zapier, an automation platform valued at $5 billion. Wade discusses his unique path to success, starting from a typical middle-class environment in Missouri, leveraging lessons from early marketing roles, and winning a local hackathon with his initial idea. He shares insights into his journey through Y Combinator, the intentional choices behind Zapier's remote workforce, the importance of solving urgent problems, and a cautious approach to raising capital. Wade's story offers powerful takeaways on resilience, staying focused, and holding tight to your values—especially when building a culture for a remote workforce.   Show Notes:   (02:07) Wade's Early Career and Startup Experience (07:00) The Birth of Zapier (11:32) Early Challenges and Breakthroughs (16:27) Joining Y Combinator (23:04) Building a Remote Workforce (28:03) Building Team Comradery Remotely (30:00) Principles for Hiring in a Remote Setup (32:08) Zapier's Unique Approach to Funding (37:02) Advice for Early-Stage Founders (42:23) Reflections on Silicon Valley and Outsider Geographies (44:58) Beyond the Bio: Personal Insights   ✅ Host: Ian Hathway - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, FOVC ✅ Guest: Wade Foster - Co-Founder & CEO, Zapier Produced by Spellbinder Media. Executive Produced by Bridge Five Ventures. Copyright ©️2025, Bridge Five Ventures, LLC, All rights reserved. Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or at outsiderinc.substack.com.