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