Marc Villella on Building a Compliance Company by Solving Real Problems

Some of the best companies aren’t planned — they’re built out of necessity.

In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes talks with Marc Villella, founder and CTO of GryphonHR, about how a career in technology unexpectedly led him into the world of compliance and entrepreneurship.

Marc shares how an early passion for engineering evolved into consulting, leadership, and eventually founding a work eligibility and compliance platform focused on Form I-9 and E-Verify. What started as solving real problems for real employers became a scalable SaaS business serving organizations that couldn’t afford to get compliance wrong.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship after acquisition, the realities of timing, and why compliance is often underestimated until it becomes urgent. Marc also discusses balancing hands-on technical work with leadership and growth.

This episode is ideal for anyone who believes the best products start with practical pain points.


About Marc:

Marc boasts over two decades of expertise in business and IT. His extensive background spans Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance, business management, software product development, project management, security, risk and compliance management, and continuous process improvement. Notable accomplishments include creating multimillion-dollar SaaS platforms, guiding future CEOs, and offering valuable insights into Form I-9 and E-Verify.
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