Management and automated workflows have become a huge area of growth as remote work and hybrid work look set to be more than just a phase. Platforms that provide management solutions continue to soar in popularity. According to Global Market Insights, the management software market is expected to grow by over 8.5 per cent CAGR until 2032. In addition, figures from Statista show IT spending worldwide is projected to reach over five trillion U.S. dollars by the end of this year. Governance and compliance are two sectors where there remains room for development. Tools, technology, and processes remain a source of contention for most organisations as they continue to digitise operations. Kuberno is one platform that aims to bridge the gap. Designed and supported by a team with expertise in governance and technology, it enables users to better manage business objectives.

We spoke with Zoe Bucknell, Founder of Kuberno, about her plans to transform governance through technology and innovation, bootstrapping, and the challenges she faces as a successful female entrepreneur.

How did the concept of Kuberno emerge?

The inspiration for Kuberno came from the many difficulties I repeatedly faced as a Company Secretary. Governance and compliance functions have massively lagged behind other areas of technological innovation. Without good technology, governance professionals had to spend hours on administrative tasks that could have been automated and lacked the tools to deliver to the highest standard. Kuberno was created to give governance professionals the processes, tools and technology to achieve exceptional governance and support broader business objectives.

Where did you work, and what did you do before establishing the company?

Before starting Kuberno, I worked for over 20 years in roles as General Counsel and Company Secretary. It allowed me to collaborate with senior leadership teams in the early stages ofof my career, giving me a great background. I think that the experience it provided was instrumental to Kuberno’s success because it taught me how to speak the language of the Board. It also gave me a deep understanding of how all the constituent parts of a business fit together – which is key to solving a business’s problems and achieving its senior leadership’s buy-in.

Did you find you had many transferable skills that you could use to help build Kuberno?

I think being a Company Secretary gave me a great foundation for starting a business. I had to learn the language of the Boardroom and find a way to be heard, which allowed me to develop my voice but also speak in a way that is compelling to business leaders. Company Secretaries also have an unparalleled overview of businesses because we work with and advise every member of the Board. It meant I had a strong grounding in every aspect of business, from sales and marketing to finance, operations, tech and HR. In addition, working as a General Counsel gave me a similar level of exposure to senior executive teams for nearly 20 years. Seeing the challenges that leaders face at both executive and board levels has proven invaluable in building a business from scratch.

Can you tell me a bit about the challenges you are facing in developing it?

We started as an entirely bootstrapped company, which, naturally, came with a number of challenges. Also, we had to optimise everything we did to ensure every single penny spent delivered the best possible outcome for our customers. We managed to get past that phase by being diligent with our spending, but it’s been really helpful for us to go through that process because it has helped us develop an agile approach in everything we do.

What sets the platform apart from similar ones?

We understand the critical role legal entities play within enterprises, so our tech solves user problems across our customer organisations in tax, finance, HR and legal functions – not just compliance-related compliance-related needs. Unlike other solutions on the market, which can be incredibly complex and often require courses and extensive experience, our design-led approach makes it intuitively simple for users, which also helps enterprise adoption as there is practically zero training required.

In your opinion, what are the main challenges currently facing governance and reporting?

The main challenge is that we are witnessing an explosion in new regulations for business and new reporting requirements. There is also an increased focus on “know your business” and legal entities are the building blocks for enterprises. This all creates additional work for those in governance and compliance, but very few teams are given the extra resources they need to keep up with these changes. They are forced to spend far too much time on administrative tasks, leaving many overworked. We launched Kuberno to help provide them with the technology they need to grow.

How did you go about attracting investment into Kuberno?

We started as a fully bootstrapped business. One day we were approached by Nasdaq about a commercial partnership because they were impressed by the platform and thought it complemented their suite of governance products perfectly. This represented a massive growth opportunity for us, especially in the US, but there was no way that we would have the funds to support that level of growth while we were bootstrapped. Thankfully, we were able to do a deal where we were also funded through Nasdaq Ventures. They provided us with a £3.5 million Series-A financing, which has given us the funds to scale globally. Nasdaq was a dream partner for us because we’re very aligned on mission and values and both share a commitment to promoting best practices in governance.

What has the feedback been like from users so far?

I’m glad to say that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, which isn’t a surprise, as the tool significantly reduces the amount of time users have to spend on administrative tasks, increasing their overall productivity. We have found that users are really pleased to be able to focus on other things and to spend more time on the more strategic aspects. They have also said that it is much more intuitive than some of the other technological tools they have tried, which can sometimes require significant training. My favourite piece of feedback came from a user who said that the platform is like a Hermes Handbag, and they can’t stop looking at it!

Are you planning on adding any new features to it?

We have a roadmap for the platform with many exciting plans for the future, but we can’t disclose them just yet. We recently launched a registered agent service in the US, which means we can now support any American clients needing managed government, tax, and legal correspondence.

Last but not least, what advice would you give to other female founders  looking to start their own tech business?

Don’t stop learning! I think leaders need to always be at the forefront, so they must stay uncomfortable and ensure they’re also growing. Another tip is to really invest in your processes and systems. They are the machinery of the company, and it can feel like overkill in the early days. When you’re developing quickly, you will need them before you know it. No matter how much you try to get ahead of it, you will always be playing catch up in a fast-growing startup. Overall, I would say if you can see a pain point that needs to be solved – go for it, but make sure you have the right people around you with complementary but diverse skill sets.

And finally, what are your ambitions for Kuberno over the next 18 months?

Looking to our goals for the future, we’re pursuing an ambitious growth plan with a view of scaling the business globally. This year, our expansion plans are particularly focused on growing across America following our launch in the US. We also have many exciting plans concerning product development, which we are looking forward to sharing once ready.