In today's episode of Tech Talks Daily, we immerse ourselves in the fascinating world of tech startups and software development through the eyes of Frederic Joye, co-founder of Arcanys and a seasoned SaaS investor. With a career spanning over two decades, Fred offers invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of software development and the art of tech startup investment. But before we dive deep into our conversation, thanks to [Sponsor Name] for supporting this episode.
Fred's journey from Switzerland's financial and insurance sectors to the tech scene across Hong Kong and the Philippines is a narrative of relentless pursuit and adaptability. His venture into the entrepreneurial realm, notably with Arcanys, a company that has become synonymous with innovation in software development and investment in tech startups, paints a vivid picture of a strategist at work.
Today, we delve into the essence of "smart money" - an investment strategy that transcends financial capital to include real technical expertise and time. Fred shares why investing in tech startups is more than providing financial backing; it's about contributing to a startup's growth trajectory through strategic mentorship and technical support.
The evolution of software development outsourcing, particularly with the advent of remote and distributed teams, is another critical area of our discussion. Fred looks closer at the benefits and challenges of managing distributed software teams, offering a blueprint for leveraging global talent while maintaining team cohesion and innovation.
Furthermore, Fred's insights into evaluating startups highlight the importance of an experienced team, proven traction, and sound financial management. His advice to tech companies underscores the significance of agility, customer success, talent investment, and culture cultivation in achieving sustainable growth.
As we navigate these topics, Fred's narratives serve as informative dialogues and guiding lights for CEOs, CTOs, and tech leaders steering tech-enabled businesses and B2B SaaS companies. His perspectives on the future trends in AI, low-code platforms, and cybersecurity offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of technology and its impact on businesses and society.
[00:00:00] Are you ready to unravel the secrets behind successful tech startups and the intricate
[00:00:06] world of software development?
[00:00:09] Good, because today on Tech Talks Daily we're going to be joined by an exceptional guest.
[00:00:15] His name is Frederick Joy.
[00:00:16] He's a co-founder of a company called Arcanis and he's also a luminary in the tech startup
[00:00:22] investment space. The security and efficiency of your managed file transfer solution are paramount. This is where KiteWorks sets a new benchmark for surpassing legacy MFT tools with its unparalleled security measures and user-centric design. They've even been awarded the prestigious FedRAMP moderate authorisation, a recognition that is not easily obtained and they've held it since 2017 by the Department of Defence.
[00:01:45] So what I'm trying to say at Arcanis Ventures, which is our investment arm, where we specialize in funding
[00:03:01] software development teams for these startups
[00:03:05] that are raising funds in a, I would say, until I was 30. So I worked in insurance and the banking industries, which made my mom very happy. But I felt it also pretty boring. And when in Switzerland, I sold most of the stuff and then landed in Hong Kong in January 2009. And we worked on that e-commerce venture for a good year in Hong Kong. And in late 2009, we had an opportunity to buy a small side business in the Philippines.
[00:05:44] So neither of us had ever really been to the Philippines for our business and we had some friends that were asking us to help them out with more software developers, then we decided that we and welcoming, it makes your day everyday. Even if you have a bad day and you meet someone that's smiling to you on the street,
[00:08:21] just changes everything.
[00:08:23] So I miss Switzerland, but I'm also very happy
[00:08:26] to be in the Philippines. for that expertise in a specific industry with people who've been working in industry for quite some time and now want to do something on their own. The second part for us, because we invest in seed to pre-series A companies, we look at a startup that has some proven traction.
[00:09:41] So it means that there is a product that what they're doing and that we can help them go much faster.
[00:11:01] So that's kind of like around that have evolved with it.
[00:12:20] And what we see as well now is all the Philippines where we have to navigate that something differently. And before you came on the podcast, I was doing a little research on you and I was really how you emphasized that investing
[00:13:42] not just financial capital but also
[00:14:45] entrepreneurs are not just looking at people who put in some cash and just kind of wait for things to happen and don't provide additional value.
[00:14:51] And so that's also how we look at our investments is we know that we can really
[00:14:58] make a difference with these founders because we bring in so much more expertise
[00:15:04] in what they want to build. have helped all these distributed teams to work more efficiently. And so becoming easier, it means that startups have more access to global talent. It's easier for them to go to other countries and find the talents people on the first go, then you can also go much faster to market. So this is really a really strong competitive advantage. And because you become a lot more, I think, efficient with the use of capital as well, in subsequent investment rounds. What opportunities and challenges have you seen? So the challenge is, I think the first one that a lot reliable access to all the tools that they need and more importantly the internet. And this is also being slowly addressed by companies like SpaceX that are distributing
[00:20:23] the internet much easier now. we'd mention is I think additional resilience and adaptability. And simply because you have distributed teams sometimes across many time zones, many different cultures. So it can simply add a lot of diversity
[00:21:40] and a lot of resiliency in the teams.
[00:21:45] And again, for startup founders and business leaders the quality when you're at that stage is always the most important thing to look at. Well, of course, there's speed, but the quantity has to be there. So I think it have to embrace whatever changes are coming your way. So embracing a JBT, we have to be prepared to pivot our strategies, pivot what we offer as products or services on the trends, right? And as I mentioned, regardless of where people are located. And I think the last thing that I kind of see for the companies we work with is this
[00:25:40] idea of sustainable growth. Everybody's pushing so hard in that direction. So of course, the AI, we see a lot of growth in the low-code, no-code platforms that are becoming a lot more powerful and popular because it enables people to do rapid development of mobile web
[00:27:01] apps with minimal coding.
[00:27:03] So that's really good for from Switzerland to the Philippines. But if we look back at your career now, of course,
[00:28:21] same for anybody listening, none of us lot today from the intricate nuances of managing distributed software teams to the pioneering world of tech startup
[00:29:42] investments, not to mention the snowcat mountains of the Alps, about your tech ventures, what strategies will you adopt to help you navigate the ever-changing tech landscape, how will it help you and your business. Please join the discussion and share your thoughts with us and can do that by simply emailing me techblogwriteroutlook.com, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, just at Neil C Hughes. But that's it for today so keep innovating, keep pushing boundaries and
[00:31:03] stay tuned to Tech Talks Daily of course for more insights, more great stories in