Jun 06 2024 55 mins 1
Boston-based office management tool Robin Powered faced a significant challenge at the beginning of 2020 when the world went into lockdown, making their business model obsolete overnight. Forced to adapt quickly, the company experienced its fastest-growing period by pivoting to meet the demands of the new work-from-home era.
During a visit to Boston, we interviewed Robin’s co-founder, Brian Muse, and current CEO, Micah Remley. They discussed the company’s evolution, the enduring relevance of hybrid work, and the mixed responses from companies regarding a return to the office. Brian shared the company's journey from an agency experimenting with various startups to creating a successful office management tool that helps companies manage workspaces and book desks and conference rooms.
With over 20 years of management experience, Micah talked about leading Robin through these changes and adapting to the shifting market landscape. He highlighted the need for companies to focus on revenue and sustainability, moving away from the era of raising large amounts of capital based on growth alone.
Join us as we share the story of Robin Powered and the lessons behind running a scaleup in the ever-changing world of office space and the future of work!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:16 - It all started with an agency
05:30 - Going all in
07:27 - Reaching Product Market Fit
09:02 - Why should we even exist anymore?
12:13 - Co-founders leaving
14:32 - Hiring a new CEO
17:04 - CEO's role in a Scaleup
20:26 - Biggest mistake founders make
21:40 - Onboarding a CEO
27:21 - What should CEO focus on?
30:16 - Being a CTO and a founder
32:27 - Impact of remote work on scaling Robin
34:11 - Downsides of remote work
36:30 - Working remote (States vs. World)
37:49 - Acquiring Flow n Form from Croatia
40:27 - Shifting to product mentality
44:26 - The impact of layoffs
47:10 - Art and science of running a scaleup
50:08 - Investing into relationships
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