Today, the world is moving faster than ever before. In an age where a single insight can be the difference between hitting your number and hitting a wall, it’s never been more important to have a finger on the pulse of your business. This means understanding everything that’s happening, as it’s happening, so you can take smarter actions for your business in the moment.

At the end of 2019, I did something few senior leaders ever do: left my comfortable corporate job at a global, multi-billion dollar software organization to join a little known Series E analytics startup called ThoughtSpot.

Today, we announced our Series F funding at ThoughtSpot, valuing the company at $4.2 billion. As the Co-founder and Executive Chair, it’d be customary to write a post that celebrates this milestone, shares lessons learned, and the usual. Those can come later. Instead, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the people that have been a critical part of my journey as an entrepreneur, both at ThoughtSpot and Nutanix (now valued at $7B+).

As we announce to the world today that ThoughtSpot is now worth $4.2B, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I am grateful to the customers who had the courage to challenge the status quo and give us a shot inside their companies. I am equally grateful to the entrepreneurs and investors who had the courage to join us and build a company that is changing what's possible with data. Often, people say it's hard to be courageous in the face of adversity. I say that’s conformist bullshit.

When speaking about the historical trajectory of significant movements, Ghandi once said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” For startup founders, these words aptly illustrate the road — and obstacles — that lie ahead. Startups that succeed are destined, at some point, to face off against the most powerful incumbents in the world. Still, there has never been a better time to be a startup than right now.

For members of the military, financial planning is a difficult and ever-changing process. Few businesses understand this better than First Command Financial Services, which focuses on serving the nation’s military families with flexible solutions to home mortgages, car loans, and wealth management.

Financing in America can be a confusing and complex process. The myriad offerings, rates, and forms are daunting for even the savviest consumer. Credit Karma simplifies the lending process by anonymizing individual borrower data and procuring multiple financing offers depending on what the consumer is looking to finance. Whether it be a sofa, a car, or a house, customers no longer need to fill out multiple forms; Credit Karma is their one-stop credit application.