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Godard Abel

Co-founder & CEO, G2
Boulder, Colorado,United States
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Godard Abel's Overview

Total Experience48 years
CompanyG2
CountryUnited States

Godard Abel is a highly accomplished serial entrepreneur and executive in the SaaS (Software as a Service) and B2B software industry. He is best known as the Co-founder and CEO of G2 (formerly G2 Crowd), the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace and review platform, empowering businesses to make informed software purchasing decisions. Before G2, Abel co-founded and served as CEO of SteelBrick, a leading Quote-to-Cash (QTC) software provider built on the Salesforce platform, which was successfully acquired by Salesforce in 2015. Prior to SteelBrick, he was the CEO of BigMachines, a pioneer in Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software, which was acquired by Oracle in 2013. Abel's career is marked by his ability to identify market needs, build innovative technology solutions, scale companies rapidly, and achieve successful exits. He is recognized for his visionary leadership, deep understanding of enterprise software, and commitment to customer success and transparency in the tech industry. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

Professional Summary

Godard Abel's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

G2 - Co-founder & CEO (2018 to Present)
Logik.io - Executive Chairman & Founding Investor (2021 to Present)
Partner Fleet - Executive Chairman & Founding Investor (2021 to Present)
ThreeKit - Executive Chairman & Founding Investor (2019 to Present)
Salesforce - SVP & GM SteelBrick (2016 to 2017)
SteelBrick - CEO (2014 to 2016)
Oracle - Senior Advisor to Board (2011 to 2012)
BigMachines - Co-founder & CEO (2000 to 2011)
Niku (acquired by CA) - General Manager (1998 to 2000)
McKinsey & Company - Business Analyst & Associate (1994 to 1997)

Notable Achievements

Co-founder & CEO of G2

Co-founded G2 in 2012 and has scaled it into the leading global destination for B2B software reviews and a comprehensive marketplace. G2 helps millions of businesses discover, buy, and manage software, significantly influencing the B2B purchasing landscape by promoting transparency and user-driven insights.

Co-founder & CEO of SteelBrick (Acquired by Salesforce)

Co-founded SteelBrick in 2009 and led it as CEO. The company developed next-generation Quote-to-Cash applications on the Salesforce platform, culminating in its acquisition by Salesforce for approximately $360 million in 2015, becoming Salesforce CPQ & Billing.

CEO of BigMachines (Acquired by Oracle)

Served as CEO of BigMachines, a pioneering Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) cloud software company. Under his leadership, BigMachines became a market leader and was acquired by Oracle in 2013, further solidifying his reputation in the enterprise software space.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Recognized for his entrepreneurial success and leadership, Godard Abel (along with his G2 co-founders) was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 in the Midwest.

Champion of SaaS and Cloud Computing

Consistently been at forefront of the SaaS revolution, successfully building and exiting multiple cloud-based software companies, demonstrating a keen ability to foresee and capitalize on major technology shifts.

Educational Background

MBA, Business Administration and Management, General

Stanford University Graduate School of Business - Year 1997

MS, Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Year 1993

BS, Mechanical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Year 1989

Sewickley Academy - Year 1980

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

G2
Total employees1439
HeadquartersChicago
Founded2012

G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, helping businesses discover, buy, and manage the technology they need to reach their potential. Users can access over 2 million authentic, verified peer reviews and product comparisons across thousands of software categories. This empowers them to make informed purchasing decisions with confidence, saving time and reducing risk. G2 also provides valuable insights and data to software vendors to help them understand their market and customers better.

G2 Funding Information
- Total Funding Raised
$157M - Most recent funding amount
8 - Number of funding rounds
22 Jun, 2021 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Accel
IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
Permira
HubSpot Ventures
Salesforce Ventures
Hyde Park Venture Partners
Pritzker Group Venture Capital

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