20VC: Hootsuite's Ryan Holmes on Optimising Productivity in Meetings, Creating An Ownership Culture & Lessons From Running A Pizzeria!

Ryan Holmes is the founder and CEO of Hootsuite. He started the company in 2008 and has helped grow it into the world’s most widely used social relationship platform, with 15-million-plus users, including more than 800 of the Fortune 1000 companies. As of 2014, HootSuite has raised over $250m in venture funding from some of the best in the world including Accel, Insight Venture Partners and Fidelity. Prior to Hootsuite, Ryan started a string of ventures from a pizza restaurant to a digital media agency. Ryan is also a prolific angel investor with investments in the likes of Gusto, Bench and previous guest Immediately, just to name a few.

  

1.) How did Ryan transition from being a restauranteur to founding Hootsuite?

2.) What were the big lessons Ryan took from his hard journey as a restauranteur? How has he applied those lessons to his role with Hootsuite today?

3.) How does Ryan look to create an environment of employee ownership and internal entrepreneurs? What has been successful? What has not?

4.) Meetings suck. What does Ryan do to optimise the meeting for simple enjoyment and productivity?

5.) How was the fundraising process for Ryan? What does he think he did well and what would he like to improve on for the next rounds? How was fundraising in 200*? Is now a good time to be raising?

Items Mentioned In Today’s Episode: 

Ryan’s Fave Blog: Media Redefined

Ryan’s Fave Book: The Long Walk

As always you can follow The Twenty Minute VC, Harry and Ryan on Twitter here!

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