As an early stage investor in disruptive tech, I'm often working with first-time founders. And it's incredibly exciting getting to know an entrepreneur, seeing them work to bring their vision to life, and if they're lucky, seeing them level up from being simply a founder with an idea to a true CEO and business leader.

But it's a particularly special experience when you get the chance to work with founders and leaders you already know and love. There are so many unknowns that can affect a startup, and when you work with a proven, familiar team, it's like you're already starting at the 50-yard line. Of the many questions that a startup faces - is there product/market fit? What does the pipeline look like? What are our key growth levers? Can we hit our key milestones before we run out of money? - it's incredibly fortunate when you don't have to question the talent or work ethic of a founding team, because you already know and trust them. You know they can build a world-class org, because they've done it. You believe 100% in their leadership integrity, because you've seen it in action. And you don't have to worry about whether they're capable of scaling a company, because they've already been there before. Not to mention, it makes me more effective as an investing partner because we all know how to work with each other - how the team thinks, where they will excel and where there are gaps to be filled, and how we can best push each other forward to success.

That's why I'm so excited for today's announcement introducing MetaCX, a company we funded alongside Scott Dorsey, managing partner at High Alpha and former CEO and Co-Founder of Exact Target. MetaCX will transform how businesses manager their SaaS customers by building a digital success layer to bring suppliers and buyers of enterprise software together for better collaboration and outcome management, offering real-time visibility into customer success. In short, it's a new platform that rethinks the area of customer success from the ground up!

MetaCX is led by Co-Founder and CEO Scott McCorkle, who most recently served as CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and previously served as President of ExactTarget prior to its acquisition by Salesforce. This is a team I've gotten to know over 14 years since I invested in Exact Target in 2004. Later, I was a customer of Exact Target while CMO at REVOLVE and got to see Scott and Scott in action from the other side of the wall. I respect this team enormously as leaders, partners, and friends, and it's super exciting to be working with a team where there is such a positive working history and established trust.

MetaCX launches publicly early next year, and I am personally excited for the value this will provide our SAAS portfolio in being able to have a higher level of transparency, commitment and accountability with their buyers. I can't wait to show you what we are building! Until then, please join me in supporting Scott McCorkle and the MetaCX team.