Founder Spotlight: Interview with Sergio Gonzalez, Co-Founder of Piper
Welcome to our Founder Spotlight Series edition; in this edition, we have a founder story who is shaping the future of sales with power-driven AI techniques. Thanks for joining us! Take a look at our latest interview with Sergio Gonzalez, the co-founder of Piper.
Hello Sergio, great to have you on our Founder Spotlight series. Firstly, can you provide a brief overview of Piper and its core mission in the sales productivity and intelligence landscape?
Piper is at the forefront of transforming the sales productivity and intelligence arena. We’re leveraging AI to autonomously process sales conversations, updating CRMs in real-time and allowing sales teams to focus on what they do best: selling. Our core mission is to eliminate manual data entry for sales reps, providing managers with reliable data for informed decision-making. Our long-term vision is to be the driving force behind the most successful sales teams, through cutting-edge AI technology.
Excellent! What inspired the founding of Piper, and what gap in the market were you aiming to address?
Most people in Sales are familiar with this “CRM dilemma”. Sales reps get buried in data entry, while managers often end up with data that’s incomplete or inaccurate. It’s a catch-22 situation: to get the quality data needed to drive business, managers often bog down teams with CRM admin, pulling them away from their primary role – selling. This paradox is one of the biggest unresolved issues in the sales world.
Having experienced this frustration firsthand, both as reps and managers, we were motivated to find a solution. That’s how Piper was born.
By alleviating the everyday challenges faced by sales reps, Piper simultaneously equips managers with the precise insights they need to steer their teams effectively.
Can you provide examples of how Piper assists sales people throughout different stages of client engagement?
Piper assists salespeople at every stage – from initial contact to closing deals. For instance, during client discovery, our AI analyzes conversations to identify key needs and opportunities. In the negotiation phase, Piper provides real-time insights to help tailor strategies. And for follow-ups, Piper automates scheduling and email drafting, streamlining the entire process.
How does Piper stand out from its competitors?
What truly sets Piper apart is our deep focus on the needs of sales reps, which often get overlooked in a market crowded with manager-centric tools. Many solutions add to the administrative burden of sales reps, but Piper is designed to alleviate it. In addition, we’re an AI-native solution that not only transcribes conversations, but also, crucially, builds a comprehensive understanding of ongoing engagements across various touchpoints and communication channels. Unlike conventional transcription tools that offer linear, ‘dumb’ transcriptions, Piper provides nuanced insights, making every interaction count and every insight actionable. This dual focus on easing reps’ workload while delivering rich, actionable data to managers is what makes Piper a game-changer in the sales productivity landscape.
How do you see the future of AI in sales evolving, and what role does Piper play in shaping that future?
The future of AI in sales is about smarter, more intuitive interactions. Piper is pioneering this by not just automating tasks, but by providing insights that help close deals faster and more effectively. Our role is to continually evolve and set new benchmarks in sales intelligence
Congratulations on the recent seed round! Can you share some insights into how this funding round will impact the company’s growth and where you plan to expand to?
This funding round is a significant milestone for us. It will enable us to scale our product development, expand our team, and enter new markets. We’re particularly excited about exploring new integrations and capabilities to further empower sales teams
As the Company grows, could you mention the importance of the cap table management system in dealing with relationships among founders, investors, shareholders and others?
As we grow, managing our cap table efficiently becomes crucial. It’s not just about equity distribution; it’s about maintaining transparent, fair relationships with all stakeholders. Proper cap table management ensures that everyone, from founders to investors, understands their part in Piper’s journey
What are you most excited about for the future of Piper in 2024?
Looking towards 2024, I’m most excited about expanding Piper’s reach and impact. We’re planning to introduce new features and integrations that will redefine sales productivity. Seeing our solution empower more sales teams worldwide is what drives us
Any pieces of advice for other founders looking to raise funds and talking with investors?
My advice to fellow founders is to focus on building strong relationships with investors. It’s not just about securing funds; it’s about finding partners who believe in your vision. Be clear about your goals, transparent in your operations, and show how your solution fills a crucial market need.
