Tim Rault-Smith - Lessons in Startup Problem-Solving and Scaling Innovation

In this episode of Scaling Green-Tech, Katherine Keddie is joined by Tim Rault-Smith, a seasoned scale-up leader turned startup advisor, who now helps founders navigate growth in the EV technology space. Tim was one of the early employees at ForgeRock, the Identity and Access Management software company that rapidly scaled from a small European team to IPO on the New York Stock Exchange before its acquisition in 2023. Tim reflects on his journey through the birth of the Internet and a variety of roles at Sun Microsystems, to co-building ForgeRock’s support services and helping shape the technologies still underpinning today’s digital world.

They dive into the realities of being part of an early-stage team - from working unpaid “idle time” and juggling multiple hats, to navigating crunch points, raising venture capital, and scaling sales globally. Tim also draws on his current role as a startup advisor in the EV and charging space, offering practical lessons on product-market fit, the importance of commercial partners, and the level of commitment it really takes to succeed. If you’re interested in startup scaling, climate tech entrepreneurship, or what it takes to grow from a founding team to a global player, this one’s for you.

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View the YouTube video from Everything Electric:

https://youtu.be/RGLvxGAE66I?si=ZUIpkeZ0GrOqsnj_

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Tim's Early Fascination with Computers and the Internet

(00:10:18) Career Planning and the Genesis of ForgeRock

(00:22:46) Building a Company with 'Idle Time' and Early Funding

(00:37:45) The Crucial Role of Sales and Commercial Partners

(00:49:16) ForgeRock's Full Lifecycle and Funding Journey

(00:59:57) The Strategic Shift from Services to Product Company

(01:09:58) Research, Test and Understand Your Customers' Process