Xelio CEO Brian Brady spent his first year at the helm of the Madison, Wisc.-based startup making products for students. After acquiring the company’s former parent last month, Brady is expanding the brand while developing new products.
One of Brady’s first decisions was to halt expansion efforts in China. His new offices will focus on three markets: new graduates and STEM-education groups in the Midwest, the military, and technology industry workers in the Great Lakes region.
He told the Wall Street Journal that he wanted to avoid “competing with U.S. suppliers while benefitting from their technological advances.” In building a board of people who are experts in their fields, he has also turned to alumni of other businesses.
Xelio went public last month and added more than $100 million to its balance sheet after selling the Classmate application. The program helps students connect with alumni and organize events. The program is sold for free to public and private schools.
His C.E.O. of the moment, [g]rocal founder and CEO Rob Strayer, talked to us about defining success, scaling the business, and the importance of independence.