This is a long interview with Parker Conrad, the founder and CEO of Rippling, a workforce management software company. Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

Rippling’s funding and growth

  • Rippling has just raised $450M in a new funding round.
  • The company is valued at over $10B.

Workforce management software

  • Rippling offers a comprehensive platform for managing employees, including payroll, benefits, and HR tasks.
  • Conrad believes that the traditional approach to workforce management software is outdated and inefficient.

Contrasting with other HCM companies

  • Rippling spends significantly more on R&D than its competitors in the Human Capital Management (HCM) space.
  • However, this investment pays off in terms of higher sales and marketing efficiency in the long run.

Parker Conrad’s perspective on AI

  • Conrad is skeptical of trendy AI products and believes that they often lack real-world value.
  • He prefers to focus on building comprehensive software platforms rather than relying on AI to solve specific problems.

Relationship with Bill Gurley

  • Conrad has never met Bill Gurley, but is aware that the two have a history of disagreements.
  • Conrad views Gurley’s comment about "Anti-focus ain’t cheap" as a dig, and believes that it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Rippling’s strategy.

Overall, this interview provides insight into Parker Conrad’s vision for Rippling and its approach to building comprehensive software platforms.