Former Xero chief, Chris Ridd, has joined Seera as an investor and advisor
Australian independent software vendor (ISV), Seera, has appointed former Xero chief, Chris Ridd, as investor and advisor as it increases its channel focus and looks to significantly expand its partner base.
Seera is a Cloud-based unified talent management solution provider which offers enterprise and SMB versions of its product hosted on Microsoft Azure.
It sells direct and through channel via a distribution partnership with Rhipe.
The company was founded by former Seek executive, Bradley Birchall, who said Ridd’s experience as MD of Xero was what the company needed as it pushes for channel expansion and an IPO in 2017.
Ridd told ARN that Seera was currently at a similar stage to that which Xero was in 2010.
“The company has achieved just over a million in revenue, they are developing our sales and marketing go to market strategy as well as refining the product and looking at the channel strategy,” he said.
“Even though the Xero business is very different to Seera’s, there are a lot of similarities building a SaaS [Software-as-a-service] company.
Ridd said he saw potential in Microsoft’s and Rhipe’s partner base and partnership with Rhipe.
“Seera with Rhipe’s assistance is looking to establish channel partners which specialise in HR and talent management.
“As I experienced at Xero, building a strong, sustainable channel is a big part of go to market strategy.
Ridd said Seera is actively courting channel partners across Australia and in international markets and the company was seeking channel partners who play in the enterprise space.
“Microsoft are keen to build local ISVs which are hosting on Azure and part of what we are doing is trying to leverage that partnership,” he added.
