.png)
05:13 - Rethinking the venture approach
02:11 Inspiration from Gusto and simplifying benefits
04:15 Building businesses with family
06:28 The shift to venture capital backing
14:04 - Why this mission matters
11:51 Never automating relationships
15:52 Culture is king
01:10 Why 401 (k) plans are complex for small businesses
Dan shares his own struggles as a business owner trying to set up 401ks and reveals how the process is often too complex and costly for companies without dedicated HR staff—setting the stage for why 401GO was founded.
02:11 Inspiration from Gusto and simplifying benefits
Dan highlights the complexities unique to 401 (k) s versus other benefits and describes the company’s approach to making setup and ongoing administration truly simple and automated for small and medium businesses.
04:15 Building businesses with family
Dan discusses the dynamics of working with family, how they complement each other's skills, and the trust and boundaries developed after more than a decade building multiple businesses together.
06:28 The shift to venture capital backing
Dan explains how prior bootstrapped ventures shaped his thinking, what made 401GO different, and why scaling and upfront investment made the VC route necessary—balancing growth ambitions with experience running profitable, efficient companies.
11:51 Never automating relationships
Dan describes 401GO’s philosophy of keeping human relationships at the center, even as they automate the technical side. He explains the risks of over-automation in sensitive financial matters and why speaking directly to knowledgeable humans remains a core value, differentiating 401GO from competitors.
15:52 Culture is king
Dan elaborates on being intentional about culture from the beginning, how it creates value for employees and partners, and why it’s a top concern when bringing on new investors.
On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger cha...
Together, they discuss everything from the slow-burning evol...
On today’s episode, Beck Bamberger sits down with Philip Mer...
