Shamus Rae is co-founder and CEO of Engine B, a digital technology company that has developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools for auditors.
Founded in 2019 by Rae and Donne Burrows, Engine B’s software aims to standardise client data in professional services.
The London-headquartered company has raised £3.5m in funding, with £1.7m of that coming from an Innovate UK grant in April 2020.
In this week’s Founder in Five Q&A, the Engine B chief explains why he believes a good CEO should hire people to “boot you out” if it’s in the company’s interest, why the first 10 hires are crucial for shaping a startup’s culture, and shares the nascent technology he’s most excited by.
1. What was the most important early hire you made?
Shamus Rae: Before Engine B was even a fully-fledged company, I got Donne Burrows on board. She has all the operational smarts you’d ever need, understands how I think and shares my values for the business. She’s now the co-founder and chief operating officer....