Rippling, an all-in-one HR technology company founded by Parker Conrad after his ousting from Zenefits, has quickly gained traction in the competitive software market.

Valued at $13.5 billion as of April 2024, Rippling aims to provide a comprehensive solution for various business functions, including payroll and IT.

Conrad emphasizes the importance of building multiple parallel business applications that share a common data set, which leads to a standardized user experience.

He criticizes traditional business software models for creating inefficiencies, as they often require businesses to manage numerous separate applications.

Conrad argues that an integrated approach to business software offers better pricing options and can be more appealing during economic downturns.

He believes the key to better business software lies in integrating multiple applications into a single system.

Conrad highlights the importance of employee data as a fundamental component of business software, rather than merely a feature for HR solutions.

His horizontal approach with Rippling is designed to attract and retain customers in a crowded software market by offering a comprehensive system.

The software market has seen a rise in single-feature startups, which often struggle to gain traction due to a lack of differentiation and tight budgets.

Venture capitalists have expressed concerns about funding startups with limited capabilities, as established companies tend to prefer sticking with existing solutions.

Conrad shared insights about his company and past experiences during a recent appearance on TechCrunch's Found podcast.

Reflecting on his public dispute with former investor David Sacks, Conrad explained that he felt compelled to speak out after being pushed out of Zenefits.