Forecastr
Based: Louisville
Year founded: 2020
Capital raised to date: $9 million
Key investors: Resolute Ventures, FutureLabs Capital, Uncorrelated Ventures, Techstars Ventures, Converge VC, Render Capital, Keyhorse Capital, Interlock Capital, Practical VC
Founder(s)/top executives: Steven Plappert, CEO, Logan Burchett, chief operating officer. Plappert answers the questions below.
Plappert’s hometown: Louisville
Lives: Louisville
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics,University of Kentucky
Hobbies: Tennis, rock climbing, backpacking, reading, role-playing video games
What’s driving your growth?
Our No. 1 channel is partnerships with venture communities where we provide expertise on financial modeling in the form of webinars, templates, etc., in exchange for exposure to large pools of startups and private companies that need our product and service.
We do a great job of building strong partnerships and robust digital marketing channels. People drive growth. We have incredible partnerships, marketing and sales team. We have a high-quality product and service, which drives referrals and turns customers into raving advocates.
How do you balance existing operations with the need to scale?
This is always a challenge in an early-stage company, we try to keep one eye on the present and one eye on the horizon at all times. We look to give 80% of our time, energy and effort on the present, what is working now, doubling down on those efforts.
Meanwhile, we spend 20% of our time and energy on unlocking exponential growth opportunities for the long-term. We want to become a profitable company, and we want to grow by double or triple from a year-over-year revenue perspective. These are opposing forces and create tension, which stress tests the company.
Do you expect to hire in 2024? If so, how many?
Yes. We expect to hire about 10 financial analysts to keep up with the pace of customer acquisition, as well as two to three new account executives, for the same purpose.
What’s been critical to your company’s success?
Getting the right people, in the right seats, that’s No. 1. People drive outcomes; people make the magic happen. Strong, effective leadership since Day One has been important. We execute at an extremely high degree, and we lead by example. Our domain expertise in this market has been a strength, and has allowed us to out compete others in the market. We have an amazing base of investors, and community partners who amplify and support our efforts.
Why scale your company from Kentucky or Southern Indiana?
Because this is our home, and we love it here. You can build a great company anywhere, why not do it right here at home?
