Don't miss out! This afternoon at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT, Yext’s Chief Executive Officer, Howard Lerman, will participate in a live discussion with TechCrunch.

This event is part of our ongoing Extra Crunch Live series, currently in its second season. Our aim with these discussions remains the same: to feature compelling founders and investors and provide a platform for you to engage with them through your own questions. (Be sure to register to participate directly.)

As previously mentioned last week, Lerman represents more than just a typical CEO of a publicly traded company. Yext has a notable history with TechCrunch, having originally presented at one of our events in 2009. The presentation was successful, leading to rapid fundraising for Yext shortly afterward.

We will dedicate some time to exploring Yext’s origins as a startup. I’m interested in understanding at what point Howard began actively preparing Yext for its initial public offering – which occurred in 2017 – and the timeframe he used to determine the company’s readiness. Considering the recent surge in technology companies going public, this is an opportune moment to delve into this topic.

We will also discuss Howard’s perspective on the public markets in 2020 and his assessment of Yext’s IPO timing.

For those founders in the early stages of building their companies, we have prepared relevant questions as well. Yext has evolved from a company primarily known for its system that ensures businesses maintain accurate and consistent online listings, to a search-focused organization that utilizes its “Answers” product to drive customer acquisition.

How did the company successfully develop the latter while continuing to support the former, and how has it managed ongoing development? What lessons can startups draw from the decisions Yext has made?

Furthermore, TechCrunch recently examined Howard’s statements on social media concerning Black Lives Matter: “As CEO, I will ensure our company remains a champion for equality and justice.” Therefore, we will explore his views on the intersection of politics and technology companies, and the guidance he offers to founders seeking to establish a strong and enduring company culture.

This promises to be a valuable conversation. Ensure you have subscribed to Extra Crunch, and I look forward to seeing you shortly.

Prepare your most insightful questions. Howard is a thoughtful speaker and will provide comprehensive responses to well-formulated inquiries. Further details are available below.

Details

You'll find below the necessary connections to include this event in your personal calendar and to access the Zoom meeting. We will distribute the YouTube stream link just prior to the start of the discussion:

• Add this event to your calendar
• Access the Zoom Meeting
• Send in your questions
• YouTube Stream: