Session 10 – Panel Discussion

November 7, 2012 by Ash Shaw • 1 Comment
Posted in News, Presentations, Videos

WordPress is a part of many modern businesses, as either the platform for their web presence and marketing, their development platform or sales channel. As amazing as WordPress is, you need more than a WordPress website to start, run and grow a successful business.

Many startups fail and not every great idea is destined to be transformed into a profitable business. Our panel will discuss how they started, funded and managed their businesses from startup idea to successful enterprise.

Listen on Iono FM

About Ash Shaw

I founded LightSpeed in 2003 as an IT support company, and by 2007 we had fully embraced WordPress, evolving into a design and development agency. Since 2014, LightSpeed has been fully remote, working with clients across industries while keeping roots in Cape Town — a city where the mountains and sea are never more than a short ride away. Today, our focus is on building scalable, content-first WordPress and WooCommerce solutions. We’re behind open-source projects like the LSX Design System, LSX Design block theme, and Tour Operator plugin, and continue to champion workflows that empower both businesses and developers. I’ve also had the privilege of speaking at WordCamp Europe 2025, and serving on the Volunteers Team at WordCamp Europe 2024, experiences that deepened my commitment to giving back to the community that shaped my career. Outside of building, I’m a regular guest on OpenChannels.FM podcasts and have appeared on BugHerd webinars, sharing insights on workflows, remote agency life, design systems, accessibility, and the future of WordPress development.

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