Rob LoCascio of LivePerson #174 Bonus

TWiST #174 Bonus with Rob LoCascio of LivePerson
Employee numbers in the hundreds, back down to the tens, the way back up again--the ride Rob LoCascio, CEO and founder of LivePerson, has been on is a wild one. Listen in as Rob talks to Jason in NYC about his rocky road and ultimate success.

0:00-1:00 Welcome everyone to this special NYC TWiST.
1:00-2:45 Thank you to Carbonite for sponsoring the show. Jason demonstrates how easy it is to back up your files using Carbonite.
2:45-3:00 I’m here with Rob LoCascio of LivePerson.
3:30-3:30 When did you found the company and what’s the mission?
3:30-4:15 Before SaaS existed, was it server-based in the beginning?
4:15-5:00 How did you come up with the idea of pop-up help boxes on websites?
5:00-5:45 15 years later, where is the company now?
5:45-7:15 You went public when?
7:15-7:45 What was that time like for your company?
7:45-8:15 It is crushing to let people go as an entrepreneur, isn’t it?
8:15-9:15 There’s no good way to lay people off, is there?
9:15-11:30 That same year was September 11th, wasn’t it?
11:30-12:45 But New Yorkers are very resilient, and you started to see signs of life a few years later, yes?
12:45-13:15 So you can have successes, but breakout success could happen in year ten?
13:15-13:45 What are some of the mistakes?
13:45-15:45 If you hadn’t raised a round, how did you fund the company for the first five years?
15:45-16:15 Does today’s climate of “money is free, revenue doesn’t matter” feel a little like deja vu?
16:15-17:15 Groupon feels more like a Web 1.0 company, doesn’t it?
17:15-18:00 So you don’t think we’re going to have an IPO frenzy?
18:00-18:45 A lot of people say the top reason to go public is to have the currency to buy other companies. Is that the case for LivePerson?
18:45-19:45 Is that the dream today, going public?
19:45-20:45 And the government regulations are antiquated and based on bad behavior. But it looks like the SEC may be willing to change things, yes?
20:45-21:30 Looking back, what have you learned?
21:30-22:15 Rob to Jason: But you never quit.
22:15-22:45 There’s no substitute for working hard, is there?
22:45-23:15 Perseverance, sacrifice, hard work--that’s been your whole career, hasn’t it?
23:15-24:45 What’s the difference between starting a company today and starting one like we did in the early 90s?
24:45-25:45 Why did you believe that the Internet was going to work?
25:45-27:15 So you thought if they wanted it, it was good?
27:15-27:45 So they asked, how is it possible for a video file to transfer over the Web?
27:45-28:45 Looking back, is there anything you’d change, any big mistakes?
28:45-29:30 How do you incorporate your hiring philosophy now?
29:30-29:45 Robert, you’re an over-night success 16 years in the making. Thank you for joining me today.

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FOLLOW ON TWITTER
Jason: @jason
Rob: @LP_CEOROB
LivePerson: @liveperson

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