‍How did your career start and what led you to co-found Procure Pro?
‍My journey into startups began right after university when I joined an Australian startup focused on engineering drawing management. I was immediately drawn to the startup culture—the fast development cycles, close interaction with customers, and the agility of operations. After a few years, I got a chance to dive deeper into startups when a commercial real estate lawyer, frustrated by the inefficiencies in contract negotiations, wanted to automate the process. Together with Tom, a colleague from my previous job, and a new UX designer, we co-founded ProcurePro to revolutionize real estate contract negotiations.

‍How did the pandemic affect your business?
‍The pandemic was a crucial moment for us. Just as we were gaining traction in the commercial real estate sector, the global lockdowns caused almost a total halt in our operations. However, this pause allowed us to explore other industries with similar needs. This led us to pivot towards the construction industry, focusing on subcontractor procurement, a niche with high demand and underserved needs.

‍How is your engineering team structured for growth and innovation?
‍We structured our engineering team into three product squads, each closely aligned with design and product management for better cross-functional collaboration. This supports our agile methodology, allowing quick adaptations and continuous delivery of features that meet user needs. Each squad is autonomous but closely integrated, ensuring our innovations are consistent and we maintain a seamless user experience.

‍How do you balance innovation with operational stability?
‍We prioritize robust coding and architectural practices from the start. This planning allows us to scale without being slowed down by technical debt, which is a common issue in fast-growing startups. We emphasize quality and sustainability over speed, ensuring that each feature we release is built on a solid foundation that supports future enhancements.

‍How do you align long-term planning with agility?
‍Our long-term planning is very customer-centric. We continually refine our product roadmap by staying aligned with our core customers—commercial builders with specific needs. Each product squad can adjust their focus based on direct customer feedback and market trends, ensuring our developments are both reactive and proactive.

‍How do you allocate projects in a remote setup?
‍In our remote environment, project allocation is based on expertise and past performance in specific areas. We aim for a broad understanding of our entire product suite among all teams but also value deep expertise in specific functions. This allows specialized teams to handle complex features efficiently while encouraging knowledge sharing across squads to prevent silos.

‍What resources or philosophies guide your leadership style?
‍My approach is heavily influenced by the philosophy of seeing team members as individuals first, a perspective reinforced by insights from the Developing Leadership podcast. This empathy-first approach helps in making informed decisions that drive the business forward while creating a supportive and engaging work environment. It's about creating a space where everyone can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our goals.

-Nathan
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