Podcasts about 100m arr

  • 103PODCASTS
  • 192EPISODES
  • 39mAVG DURATION
  • 5WEEKLY NEW EPISODES
  • May 5, 2025LATEST

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Best podcasts about 100m arr

Latest podcast episodes about 100m arr

The Product Market Fit Show
1 year in he had just 3 customers—today he's at $100M ARR. | Forrest Zeisler, Co-Founder of Jobber | Forrest Zeisler, Co-Founder of Jobber

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 53:13 Transcription Available


Forrest Zeisler spent 6 months hearing “no” from every potential customer he spoke to. One year in, Jobber had just three customers—paying $29/month. Today, Jobber generates over $100M ARR, has raised $180M in VC, and employs nearly 1,000 people.In this episode, Forrest shares the brutally honest story behind Jobber's early days: months of rejection, maxing out credit cards, and nearly quitting. You'll learn why there are rarely any “silver bullets”, how he handled relentless investor skepticism, and how incremental daily improvements—not crazy inflection points—led to exponential growth. If you've ever wondered whether your startup can make it through the grind, this is a must-listen.Why You Should Listen• Learn how to persist through brutal rejection—Jobber took 6 months to land their first customer.• Understand why chasing “silver bullet” features or channels rarely works.• Find out when it makes sense to keep going despite extremely slow traction.• Hear why your first investors can shape or destroy your startup journey.• Discover why “compound growth” beats chasing short-term inflection points.Keywordsproduct market fit, startup growth, founder stories, fundraising, bootstrapping, Jobber, vertical SaaS, early stage startups, scaling startups, startup rejection(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:55) From Freelance Devs to Startup Founders(00:07:23) Six Months of Rejection(00:15:09) Landing the First Customer and Almost Losing Hope(00:25:39) Brutal Investor Feedback and the $250K Seed Round(00:35:13) Early Growth and Near-Death Experiences(00:44:15) Hitting Customer Milestones and Finding True Product Market Fit(00:48:41) Crossing $100M ARR and Key Lessons Learned(00:51:11) When to Quit and When to PersistSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Bricks & Bytes
Most Startups Die at $5M ARR - Breaking the $10M Barrier in Construction Tech

Bricks & Bytes

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 86:02


"The best renewal is no renewal. So closing a three-year agreement, right?"In today's episode of our Go To Market Series from the Bricks & Bytes Podcast, we have Kevin Halter (CRO of OpenSpace) share his journey from scaling PlanGrid from $5M to $100M+ ARR and building high-performing sales teams in construction tech.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why construction tech requires a unique go-to-market approach focused on project-level ROI✅ How to transition from project-level sales to enterprise agreements (the key to breaking the $10M ARR ceiling)✅ What to look for when hiring sales talent ("fire in the belly")✅ When founders should hire their first VP of Sales vs CROWhether you're a founder struggling with the 5-10M ARR plateau or a sales leader in construction tech, this episode delivers practical insights on building scalable go-to-market motions in an industry where "it's easy to start a pilot, but hard to scale."06:30 Introduction to Construction Tech Journey09:30 Scaling from 5M to 100M ARR12:31 Understanding Project-Level Value15:22 Building Trust and Transparency in Construction18:28 Transitioning to Enterprise-Level Sales21:28 The Importance of Customer Success Management24:28 Hiring the Right Sales Team27:29 Effective Communication with Executives30:24 Building Long-Term Partnerships33:31 Creating a Scalable Sales Model44:47 Building Long-Term Partnerships (appears to be repeated)48:30 Lessons from Biotech for Construction Tech53:17 Hiring and Scaling Sales Team57:57 Developing Talent and Leadership1:07:31 Choosing the Right Company to Join1:14:53 When to Hire a Chief Revenue Officer

The MAD Podcast with Matt Turck
Dashboards Are Dead: Sigma's BI Revolution for Trillion-Row Data

The MAD Podcast with Matt Turck

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 41:32


Sigma Computing recently hit $100M in ARR — planning on doubling revenue again this year— and in this episode, CEO Mike Palmer reveals exactly how they did it by throwing out the old BI playbook. We open with the provocative claim that “the world did not need another BI tool,” and dig into why the last 20 years of business intelligence have been “boring.” He explains how Sigma's spreadsheet-like interface lets anyone analyze billions of rows in seconds, and lives on top of Snowflake and Databricks, with no SQL required and no data extractions.Mike shares the inside story of Sigma's journey: why they shut down their original product to rebuild from scratch, how Sutter Hill Ventures' unique incubation model shaped the company, what it took to go from $2M to $100M ARR in just three years and raise a $200M round — even as the growth stage VC market dried up. We get into the technical details behind Sigma's architecture: no caching, no federated queries, and real-time, Google Sheets-style collaboration at massive scale—features that have convinced giants like JP Morgan and ExxonMobil to ditch legacy dashboards for good.We also tackle the future of BI and the modern data stack: why 99.99% of enterprise data is never touched, what's about to happen as the stack consolidates, and why Mike thinks “text-to-SQL” AI is a “terrible idea.” This episode is full of "spicey takes" - Mike shares his thoughts on how Google missed the zeitgeist, the reality behind Microsoft Fabric, when engineering hubris leads to failure, and many more. SigmaWebsite - https://www.sigmacomputing.comX/Twitter - https://x.com/sigmacomputingMike PalmerLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-palmer-51a154FIRSTMARKWebsite - https://firstmark.comX/Twitter - https://twitter.com/FirstMarkCapMatt Turck (Managing Director)LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/turck/X/Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattturckFoursquare: Website - https://foursquare.comX/Twitter - https://x.com/Foursquare IG - instagram.com/foursquare (00:00) Intro (01:46) Why traditional BI is boring (04:15) What is business intelligence? (06:03) Classic BI roles and frustrations (07:09) Sigma's origin story: Sutter Hill & the Snowflake echo (09:02) The spreadsheet problem: why nothing changed since 1985 (14:04) Rebooting the product during lockdown (16:14) Building a spreadsheet UX on top of Snowflake/Databricks (18:55) No caching, no federation: Sigma's architectural choices (20:28) Spreadsheet interface at scale (21:32) Collaboration and real-time data workflows (24:15) Semantic layers, data governance & trillion-row performance (25:57) The modern data stack: fragmentation and consolidation (28:38) Democratizing data (29:36) Will hyperscalers own the data stack? (34:12) AI, natural language, and the limits of text-to-SQL

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 799: The Series A Landscape in 2025: Insights from Chemistry VC's Ethan Kurzweil

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 62:46


SaaStr 799: The Series A Landscape in 2025: Insights from Chemistry VC's Ethan Kurzweil SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Ethan Kurzwiel, previously partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and now founding partner at Chemistry VC, took us through a deep dive of exactly where Series A funding is right now in 2025. Current State of Early-Stage Venture Market The early-stage venture landscape has experienced significant shifts since the peaks of 2021. We're seeing: Deal activity decline: From the highs of 2021 (around 3.5B raised in Q4 2021), we're seeing a return to baseline levels but still below pre-zero interest rate era volumes. Longer funding timelines: Seed to Series A timelines have stretched from approximately 12 months to 25 months on average, requiring founders to plan for longer runways. More capital into fewer deals: While total capital deployment is returning to pre-2021 levels, it's being concentrated in fewer companies, making the environment more binary and competitive. Graduation rates plummeting: The percentage of seed companies successfully raising Series A has dropped significantly across all industries, creating a “crunch” for many startups. Listen in for more! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

This Week in Startups
Vertical AI Innovations: Abacus LLM in Finance & Synthesia's Video Avatars | E2112

This Week in Startups

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 67:35


Today's show: Alex interviews founders from Abacus and Synthesia—two companies leading the charge in vertical AI. Abacus is deploying on-prem LLMs to banks and insurers with a focus on data control, accuracy, and integration with legacy infrastructure. Synthesia just hit $100M ARR by helping 70% of the Fortune 100 turn internal documents into scalable AI video. If you're interested in how generative AI is moving from hype to real enterprise utility, this one's for you.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction to vertical AI with Abacus and Synthesia(1:57) Real-world applications of AI in regulated industries & Interview with Abacus founder David Moscatelli(5:02) Unique challenges for banks and credit unions using AI & Abacus OS private LLM(9:56) Atlassian - Head to https://www.atlassian.com/startups/twist to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(11:57) Abacus features, benefits, and customer acquisition strategies(12:27) Decentralized indexer, data integration, and voice AI technology with VAPI(19:58) Vapi - Go to vapi.ai/twist and get 1000 minutes free per month - for life.(24:47) On-premise setup, combating AI hallucinations, and trust in AI responses(30:08) Hubspot for Startups - Visit hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.(33:40) Abacus company growth, fundraising, and sales hiring(38:25) Introduction to Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli, AI avatars, and building a startup in Europe(41:34) Synthesia's market positioning, target use cases, and personalized avatars(46:33) Synthesia's training data, partnerships, and improvements in AI avatar technology(55:57) Synthesia's growth, Fortune 100 companies usage, and financial aspects(1:00:21) AI model competition, market appetite, and enterprise focus(1:02:09) Future of AI in video creation, ethicalconsiderations, and Synthesia's plansSubscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpCheck out:Abacus: https://www.goabacus.co/Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(9:56) Atlassian - Head to https://www.atlassian.com/startups/twist to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(19:58) Vapi - Go to vapi.ai/twist and get 1000 minutes free per month - for life.(30:08) Hubspot for Startups - Visit hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 798: The Top 10 Reasons to Come to 2025 SaaStr Annual May 13-15 in SF Bay with SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 15:53


SaaStr 798: The Top 10 Reasons to Come to 2025 SaaStr Annual May 13-15 in SF Bay with SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin SaaStr Annual is almost here! And we delve into the key reasons why you should attend SaaStr Annual 2025, happening from May 13th to 15th in the SF Bay Area. Learn about the unparalleled networking opportunities, including opt-in one-on-one meetings, braindates, and C-level summits. Discover how the event can help you meet potential C-suite hires and VCs, and stay ahead of the latest in B2B SaaS, Cloud, and AI through hundreds of workshops and sessions. Don't miss out on the chance to be inspired by top industry leaders and get actionable insights for your business. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20VC: The Daily Deal: Coreweave IPO | Scale Hits $25BN on $2BN EOY Revenue | Sequoia's 25x Return on Wiz | Tech Stocks Tank with Tariffs | Cursor: Defensible or Dangerous Example of Lost Moats in Tech

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 87:18


Welcome to The Daily Deal — the new show with Harry Stebbings and Jason Lemkin, where we break down the biggest stories in tech, venture, and B2B. From market meltdowns to billion-dollar raises, wild valuations, and the drama behind the deals. We're covering it all! Plus, we'll be joined by some incredible guests to go deeper on the moves shaping the future of our industry.  Today we discuss:  Tech stocks were hammered in late trading today in response to the Trump administration's plans to levy tariffs of between 10% and 49% on imported goods, with Apple shares falling more than 6%. Rippling Deal: Illegal or Hustle? Emergence Raises $1B for B2B Investments Cursor, Replit, Windsurf: Who Wins? Lots of gen AI startups are crossing into the $100M ARR club. The latest entrant is talent marketplace Mercor, last valued at $2B. Is triple triple double double dead? ScaleAI at $25B: Pricey or Potential?  Discussion with Bhavin Shah @ Moveworks: ServiceNow Acquires Moveworks for $2.5B: AI Craze Continues Sequoia Makes 25x on Wiz: Is M&A Open Again? USD Stablecoin issuer Circle has filed to go public. The company, which has raised $1.2 billion in VC money, reported $1.7 billion in 2024 revenue, with $155.7 million in net income. Oracle Cloud Revenue Up 23%: Old Guard Wins in AI? Salesforce Customers Love AgentForce, But Will They Pay? Dustin Moskovitz Retires from Asana: Is SaaS Too Tough? Discussion with Andrew Feldman @ Cerebras: Coreweave's Redemption Provision: A Time Bomb for Coatue? Can OpenAI's $12B Deal Save Coreweave from $5B Loss? OpenAI Won't Profit Until $127B in Annual Revenue A lot of young founders raising big in chips; bullish or bullshit?    

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 797: GTM in 2025: How It's Changed, How It's Changing, and What Hasn't Changed (Yet) with Jason Lemkin and Sam Blond

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 62:37


Join Jason Lemkin and Sam Blond as they discuss the evolving role of AI in sales and marketing. Featuring insights from SaaStr's CRO Confidential Series with Rippling, Databricks, and Toast, this episode explores how AI is reshaping the sales landscape. Learn about the impact of AI on productivity, the effectiveness of cold calls, and how technical sales require specific expertise. Don't miss out on these valuable lessons and real-world examples from top industry leaders!   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Growth Rockstar Podcast
La evolución de un equipo de growth | Victoria Colombato (ex-Growth PM, Mural)

Growth Rockstar Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 87:32


En este episodio converso con Victoria Colombato, especialista en Product-Led Growth. Victoria fue la primera persona contratada en el equipo de Growth de Mural, el unicornio SaaS latino, que en 3 años pasó de $5M ARR a +$100M ARR.Con Victoria hablamos sobre qué significa realmente growth, cómo armar experimentos que muevan la aguja en serio y la importancia de tener una metodología clara que todo el equipo pueda seguir.Temas clave del episodio:• Cómo definir y medir el éxito en growth.• Metodologías efectivas de trabajo en equipos de growth.• Experimentación end-to-end: cómo ejecutarla bien.• Las métricas que realmente importan.• Por qué la activación es la clave para escalar tu producto.• El rol del fundador en la estrategia de growth.• Cómo evolucionó el equipo de growth en Mural.• Y mucho más...—Dónde encontrar a Victoria:• LinkedIn: /victoria-colombo• Su nuevo emprendimiento: https://www.tabularasa.lifeDónde encontrar a Dylan:• LinkedIn: /dylanrosemberg• Sitio web: https://www.growthrockstar.com/• Blog: https://blog.growthrockstar.com/—En este episodio cubrimos:00:00 - Introducción sobre Victoria02:06 - Conexión de Victoria con growth07:20 - Comienzo en Mural14:20 - Metodología de trabajo en growth24:20 - ¿Qué es growth?28:49 - Definir el éxito31:35 - Conversion to paid34:32 - PM Growth en Mural39:25 - Experimentos de growth en Mural50:05 - Evolución del equipo de growth56:53 - Activación1:03:48 - Viralidad1:06:02 - Experimentación end-to-end1:12:27 - Founder y growth1:15:27 - Tabula Rasa1:22:48 - Consumer apps con IA1:26:12 - Cierre—Dylan puede ser inversor de las empresas mencionadas en los episodios.

This Week in Startups
11x in Trouble and China's AI Acceleration | E2103

This Week in Startups

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 74:04


OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/twistLinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartupsBrex - the financial stack founders can bank on. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at brex.com/banking-solutions.Today's show: Jason, Alex, and Lon dig into the controversy around 11x, the Andreessen-backed startup accused of misrepresenting revenue and using fake logos, and what that says about early-stage accountability. Then we break down China's dual-front blitz in AI and EVs: DeepSeek's open-source model rivals GPT-4, and Xiaomi's $30K SU7 is a straight-up Porsche clone shaking the EV market. Finally, we unpack the “4-persona framework” that helped Wiz rocket to $100M+ ARR faster than anyone — a must-know concept for any founder looking to build, sell, and scale like a beast.Timestamps:(0:00) Episode Teaser(1:27) Introduction of co-hosts Lon Harris and Alex Wilhelm(3:23) New set design and color analysis(5:43) Announcement of "Twist OT" and potential Patreon model(8:09) Gamestop's Bitcoin strategy and Michael Saylor's influence(10:15) OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/twist(14:26) MSTR and their shift to Bitcoin(17:01) Michael Saylor's conflict of interest(20:40) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(23:09) Investment strategies for company treasuries(25:10) Allegations against Eleven x startup(30:35) Brex - the financial stack founders can bank on. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at brex.com/banking-solutions.(32:56) The importance of transparency and accountability in startups(42:31) Chinese advancements in AI technology and ChatGPT features(55:09) Insight from Israeli VC Gilly Ranan on successful startups(1:04:26) Founder Friday March Pitch Madness bracket competition(1:10:26) How to start a Founder Friday chapter and community(1:11:21) Bracket competition and Launch Accelerator's 34th cohortSubscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpFollow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Lon:X: https://x.com/LonsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonharrisFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(10:15) OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/twist(20:40) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(30:35) Brex - Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at https://www.brex.com/banking-solutionsCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 796: The Secrets Inside Google Cloud's Growth with Sarah Kennedy, Vice President Google Cloud Marketing

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 36:01


SaaStr 796: The Secrets Inside Google Cloud's Growth with Sarah Kennedy, Vice President Google Cloud Marketing   In our latest episode of the SaaStr What's New series, SaaStr CEO and founder Jason Lemkin spoke with Sarah Kennedy, VP of Google Cloud Marketing. The conversation explores the explosive growth of Google Cloud and what's driving this momentum. Kennedy highlights the critical role AI plays in their success, from Google's world-class infrastructure to the cutting-edge AI models like Vertex AI and Gemini. We dive into the specifics of why startups and enterprises are increasingly choosing Google Cloud, the importance of customer-centric strategies, and the shift towards developer-led decisions. We also explore Google Cloud's major partnership with Salesforce and how AI and security are transforming business strategies. Tune in for insights on how Google Cloud is shaping the future of AI and stay ahead of the curve with expert tips on leveraging these technologies for your business. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Category Visionaries
Griffin Parry, CEO & Co-Founder of m3ter: $31.5 Million Raised to Upgrade the Monetization Stack for B2B Software Companies

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 21:27


Griffin Parry is the CEO and Co-Founder of m3ter, a data infrastructure company that helps successful B2B software companies upgrade their monetization stack for new pricing strategies. With $31.5 million in funding, m3ter enables usage-based billing without requiring companies to replace their existing systems. In this episode of Category Visionaries, Griffin shares how the company emerged from his experience as a repeat founder who felt firsthand the operational pain around usage-based billing, both at his previous cloud infrastructure company (which was sold to Amazon) and during his time at AWS. Now, m3ter is solving these challenges for established B2B software companies, particularly those with $100M+ ARR who need to adapt their monetization approach as business models evolve toward more complex, usage-based components. Topics Discussed: How m3ter enables usage-based billing without replacing existing systems The shift toward more complex pricing models in B2B SaaS, particularly with AI features introducing variable costs m3ter's approach as a data infrastructure company rather than just a billing solution The discovery process that led to m3ter's first paying customers The evolution of m3ter's market positioning and go-to-market strategy The balance between direct sales and partner channels Fundraising during changing market conditions GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Meet customers where they are with your messaging: Griffin discovered that while m3ter is actually creating a new category of software, they needed to initially present themselves as solving the specific problem customers were searching for. "Our customers generally come to us because they have billing pain... So every time they have to send out invoices, it's very complicated and painful and risky." Only after engaging with customers could they expand the conversation to their broader value proposition. Start with discovery, not building: When launching m3ter, Griffin and his co-founder conducted 60-70 discovery conversations before building their product. "We had a thesis... but we were going to commit a big chunk of our lives trying to solve this problem. So we wanted to make sure that it was out there and widespread." This approach gave them high confidence in their market and created a pipeline of design partners who became their first customers. Balance direct sales with partner channels: For complex B2B sales to finance and operations leaders at mature companies, m3ter found that partners with existing trusted relationships were their most effective go-to-market channel. However, they learned that "no one's going to partner with you if you don't already have great customers. And so you do have to go through the hard yards... Most of our first big cohort of customers have come through direct sales." Evolve your category positioning naturally: Rather than forcing a new category name, m3ter initially positioned themselves where customers were already searching. "We did spend some time going, 'hey, we're a pricing operations platform'... but people would go, 'well, what's that?' And that was a waste of a cycle trying to explain it." Instead, they evolved toward, "We're a billing infrastructure, billing solution. We'll make your billing work." Fundraise strategically with market conditions in mind: Griffin raised their Series A during a difficult funding environment, but did it intentionally: "Let's zig when everybody else is zagging. We really believe in what we're doing. Let's go and find a high-quality investor who shares that confidence and then we'll really be well set up for the years to come."   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co

B2B Sales Trends
46. From $40M to $150M: Saviynt's Blueprint for B2B SaaS Expansion

B2B Sales Trends

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 28:20


In this episode of B2B Sales Trends, Harry Kendlbacher sits down with Todd Rotger, CRO of Saviynt, to break down the strategies that helped scale the company's annual recurring revenue from $40M to $150M in just four years. Todd shares how his team made the critical shift from product-led selling to outcome-based conversations, the challenges SaaS companies face when scaling beyond $100M ARR, and why clearing the road for sales teams is one of the most important roles of a leader. He also reveals the key sales and marketing alignment strategies that have fueled Saviynt's growth and the top three traits that separate elite sales professionals from the rest. Whether you're a sales leader, revenue executive, or scaling a SaaS company, this episode is packed with hard-won insights on driving sustainable growth.

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 795: The AI Impact on Banking and Finance with CEO and Co-founder at Treasury Prime, Chris Dean

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 39:32


SaaStr 795: The AI Impact on Banking and Finance with CEO and Co-founder at Treasury Prime, Chris Dean Join SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Chris Dean from Treasury Prime as they delve into the intricate world of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and FinTech. The discussion spans a host of critical topics, including the fallout from Silicon Valley Bank, the complexities of reconciliation, Synapse and Evolve's banking controversy, and the evolving financial landscape. They also explore the resurgence of FinTech, the impact of AI on banking operations, and Treasury Prime's upcoming AI-powered operational tools. A must-watch for anyone interested in the future of banking and financial technology.    ----------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   ------------------------------------

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 794: The Top 10 Customer Success Metrics Investors Care About in 2025 with Gainsight CEO Nick Mehta

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 35:46


SaaStr 794: The Top 10 Customer Success Metrics Investors Care About in 2025 with Gainsight CEO Nick Mehta   Nick Mehta is the CEO of Gainsight, the customer success platform that helps businesses deliver value to customers and drive scalable growth.   Over the past 12 years, Nick has met with more than 5,000 companies and hundreds of investors, becoming one of the foremost authorities on customer success strategies. In this engaging presentation, Nick discusses the crucial role of customer success in driving business growth and securing investments. He breaks down the top 10 questions investors grill companies about, covering key metrics like net retention, gross retention, and early warning indicators. Nick also highlights the importance of customer stickiness, value demonstration, and efficient customer success operations.   Additionally, he shares a personal story of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, drawing parallels between the entrepreneurial journey and the challenging yet rewarding climb to success.   ----------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Jungunternehmer Podcast
Vanta CRO on building a $100M+ ARR Revenue Engine – and how you can do, too | Predictable Sales Engine | Hiring Sales Talent | Selling to SMBs with Vanta CRO Stevie Case

Jungunternehmer Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 83:03


Stevie Case, CRO at Vanta, explains how the company surpassed $100 million in ARR in just five years by building a predictable and scalable revenue engine. From founder-led sales to structuring a global sales organization, Stevie shares actionable insights for designing a repeatable go-to-market strategy and scaling effectively.She breaks down the importance of discovery, identifying customer pain points, and building trust, along with tips on hiring and incentivizing your first sales team. What You'll Learn in This EpisodeKey Elements of a Predictable Revenue EngineWhy discovery is the most critical skill for founders and sales teamsHow to define and scale repeatable metrics for predictable revenueScaling a Sales OrganizationWhen and how to hire your first sales repsThe importance of proper incentives and avoiding common hiring mistakesBuilding Repeatable Sales ProcessesHow Vanta scaled from a single lead source to multiple diversified revenue streamsUsing frameworks like MedPIC to identify and quantify customer pain pointsManaging Revenue GrowthHow to balance short-term wins with long-term scalabilityThe importance of focusing on a single channel or ICP before diversifyingALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY:https://zez.am/unicornbakery Where to find Stevie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviecase/ Website: https://www.vanta.com/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter:2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach:https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ Chapter:(00:00:00) Similarities between Building a revenue engine & gaming(00:05:38) How to: Scaling after product market fit(00:15:29) First signals of a buyer-to-be(00:21:17) Mutual Sales Plan at Vanta(00:27:34) How to handle too small budgets & approach the follow-up(00:38:22) Setting boundaries vs. making everything happen(00:42:46) What makes a great case study?(00:44:45) What is a predictable revenue engine?(00:48:17) Never change a winning team? How long do I pursue my first lead-channel?(00:52:07) From what time is a revenue engine relevant?(00:55:04) How to avoid the overkill(00:58:06) The first metrics to start with(01:02:50) How to define a ramp-up-period(01:09:53) Behind the scenes of Vanta(01:18:49) The final advice for your revenue-engine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital Leaders
Vanta CRO on building a $100M+ ARR Revenue Engine – and how you can do, too | Predictable Sales Engine | Hiring Sales Talent | Selling to SMBs with Vanta CRO Stevie Case

Digital Leaders

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 83:03


Stevie Case, CRO at Vanta, explains how the company surpassed $100 million in ARR in just five years by building a predictable and scalable revenue engine. From founder-led sales to structuring a global sales organization, Stevie shares actionable insights for designing a repeatable go-to-market strategy and scaling effectively. She breaks down the importance of discovery, identifying customer pain points, and building trust, along with tips on hiring and incentivizing your first sales team.  What You'll Learn in This Episode Key Elements of a Predictable Revenue Engine Why discovery is the most critical skill for founders and sales teams How to define and scale repeatable metrics for predictable revenue Scaling a Sales Organization When and how to hire your first sales reps The importance of proper incentives and avoiding common hiring mistakes Building Repeatable Sales Processes How Vanta scaled from a single lead source to multiple diversified revenue streams Using frameworks like MedPIC to identify and quantify customer pain points Managing Revenue Growth How to balance short-term wins with long-term scalability The importance of focusing on a single channel or ICP before diversifying ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery  Where to find Stevie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviecase/  Website: https://www.vanta.com/  Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/  Chapter: (00:00:00) Similarities between Building a revenue engine & gaming (00:05:38) How to: Scaling after product market fit (00:15:29) First signals of a buyer-to-be (00:21:17) Mutual Sales Plan at Vanta (00:27:34) How to handle too small budgets & approach the follow-up (00:38:22) Setting boundaries vs. making everything happen (00:42:46) What makes a great case study? (00:44:45) What is a predictable revenue engine? (00:48:17) Never change a winning team? How long do I pursue my first lead-channel? (00:52:07) From what time is a revenue engine relevant? (00:55:04) How to avoid the overkill (00:58:06) The first metrics to start with (01:02:50) How to define a ramp-up-period (01:09:53) Behind the scenes of Vanta (01:18:49) The final advice for your revenue-engine

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 793: The 10-Point Checklist For When You Sell Your Company with David Frankel Managing Partner at Founder Collective and SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 42:03


SaaStr 793: The 10-Point Checklist For When You Sell Your Company with David Frankel Managing Partner at Founder Collective and SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin David Frankel is Managing Partner at Founder Collective, a successful seed fund with investments in companies like The Trade Desk, Olo, and Coupang. With decades of experience as both a founder and investor, David brings a unique perspective to the often-misunderstood process of selling a company. He openly admits that many of his past exits were mistakes, which makes his advice on the topic particularly valuable. He joined SaaStr Workshop Wednesday LIVE to do a deep dive with Jason Lemkin on his 10 Point Checklist when you sell your startup. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tank Talks
News Rundown 3/7/25: The AI Boom, Political Shifts & Canada's Brain Drain—What You Need to Know

Tank Talks

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025 23:33


Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo dive into the growing exodus of Canadian talent to the U.S., breaking down why top founders and engineers are choosing Silicon Valley over homegrown opportunities. They discuss OpenAI's latest move to charge up to $20,000 per month for AI-powered research agents and how companies are rethinking hiring in light of these powerful tools. The conversation also covers the controversial CoreWeave IPO, highlighting its rapid $1.9B revenue surge, heavy reliance on Microsoft, and whether it signals a coming shake-up in cloud computing. On the political front, they analyze the potential for an early Canadian election, shifts in party leadership, and how economic policies—like capital gains tax hikes—are driving entrepreneurs out of the country.Canada's Tech Exodus: Why Founders Are Flocking to the U.S. (07:00)A striking rise in Canadian emigration has raised concerns about the country's ability to retain top talent. In 2024, 81,601 Canadians left the country, the highest number since 2017—half of them from Ontario.* Capital gains tax hikes pushing high-net-worth individuals and founders to relocate.* U.S. venture capital firms providing better funding opportunities for Canadian startups.* YC founder exodus: More Canadian founders are moving to the U.S. post-Y Combinator Demo Day, as confirmed by YC CEO Gary Tan.John Ruffolo's take:* Canada risks losing its top tech talent permanently if it doesn't address the capital and policy gaps driving this migration.* Founders aren't leaving out of convenience—it's about better market access, capital, and scaling opportunities.OpenAI's $20K/Month AI Agents: A Game-Changer? (18:00)OpenAI is rolling out three tiers of AI-powered assistants, capable of advanced research, software development, and business strategy—at a hefty price tag.Pricing breakdown:* $2K/month: Handles advanced knowledge worker tasks.* $10K/month: AI for software development.* $20K/month: PhD-level AI agents for deep research.Why this matters:* AI-powered coding tools like Cursor.dev have already grown to $100M ARR in 18 months.* Founders are increasingly opting for AI engineers over hiring multiple full-time developers.* This signals a shift in the labor market, potentially disrupting high-paid professional roles in tech, research, and consulting.CoreWeave's $2B Revenue IPO—Boom or Bust? (12:00)CoreWeave, a cloud computing startup that stockpiled NVIDIA GPUs early, is racing toward a high-profile IPO.Key numbers:* Revenue skyrocketed from $16M in 2022 to $1.9B in 2023.* Microsoft accounts for 62% of its revenue, sparking concerns over customer concentration.* The company holds $11B in debt, raising questions about profitability.* Founders cashed out $500M pre-IPO, raising red flags.John Ruffolo's analysis:* This looks like a high-risk, low-margin business that may struggle to justify its valuation.* Heavy debt financing and reliance on Microsoft contracts make it a shaky bet.* If public markets reject CoreWeave, it could be a warning sign for other AI and cloud IPOs.Will Canada See an April Election? (03:00)With Canada's Liberal Party leadership race heating up, rumors suggest an election could be called as early as March 16, with a vote on April 22.* The Liberals want a short election to limit Conservative fundraising advantages.* Mark Carney is positioned as the Liberal frontrunner, but he doesn't currently hold a parliamentary seat.* Coalition talks between Liberals, NDP, and the Green Party could reshape Canada's political landscape.Projected outcomes:* Conservative majority is still likely, but the margin has narrowed.* A left-wing coalition could prevent a Conservative landslide.The Bigger Picture: Where is Canada Headed?From AI disruption and talent migration to political uncertainty, this episode of Tank Talks dives into the forces reshaping Canada's future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 792: Why I'm Scared to Buy New SaaS Apps Now with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 24:27


SaaStr 792: Why I'm Scared to Buy New SaaS Apps Now with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin highlights nine key reasons that create friction in the modern SaaS buying cycle. He emphasizes how these factors can deter new customers and impact overall growth. Through examples involving well-known companies and the importance of a seamless customer experience, Founders are encouraged to evaluate and reduce these hurdles within their own SaaS products to ensure they remain true to "Software As a Service." ----------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 791: CRO Confidential: How Codium Built A Billion-Dollar AI Company and a Winning Sales Machine with VP of Worldwide Sales, Graham Moreno

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 44:16


SaaStr 791: CRO Confidential: How Codium Built A Billion-Dollar AI Company and a Winning Sales Machine with VP of Worldwide Sales, Graham Moreno Join us on this episode of CRO Confidential as host Sam Blond dives into the remarkable journey of Codium's VP of Worldwide Sales, Graham Moreno. Discover how Graham led Codium from a 30-employee startup to a unicorn with 150 employees in just one year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SaaS Bazen Podcast
252 - Van 5M naar 100M ARR: De enerverende SaaS journey van Showpad - Hendrik Isebaert

SaaS Bazen Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 72:53


In deze aflevering met Hendrik Isebaert van Showpad: - Hoe Showpad groeide van 5M naar 100M ARR - De uitdaging van ICP-uitbreiding en waarom ze terugschakelden - De impact van de funding-crisis en strategische pivots in 2022 - Waarom Showpad afscheid nam van Customer Success als aparte functie - Hoe Showpad een categorie creëerde én erin leidend bleef - AI, sales en de toekomst van enablement-platforms - De verschuiving van ‘growth at all costs' naar winstgevende groei - Leiderschap en de transitie van interne naar externe CEO Showpad: https://www.showpad.com/ Leadinfo: www.leadinfo.com/ We Love SaaS: https://welovesaas.io/ SaaS Summit Benelux: https://saassummit.io/

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 790: AI at Scale: 8 Learnings from monday.com Co-Founder and Co-Ceo Eran Zinman and SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 36:12


SaaStr 790: AI at Scale: 8 Learnings from monday.com Co-Founder and Co-Ceo Eran Zinman and SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin Join us for an inspiring conversation with monday.com co-CEO and Co-Founder Eran Zinman and SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin. From humble beginnings at $10 million ARR in 2017 to smashing the $1 billion ARR mark in just eight years, Eran shares their journey, challenges, and strategies that have fueled their remarkable growth. Discover the importance of customer diversity, maintaining NRR and GRR levels, leveraging AI for business efficiencies, and the impact of adopting a multi-product approach. Learn how monday.com effectively manages SMB, mid-market, and enterprise customers, and gain valuable insights into the future of AI in SaaS solutions. Perfect for SaaS founders and tech enthusiasts looking for proven strategies to scale their businesses.   ----------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 789: 10 Things No One Tells You About Getting Acquired for $1.5B Steve Mitzenmacher, Former Vice President Corporate Development, Own Company

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 33:19


SaaStr 789: 10 Things No One Tells You About Getting Acquired for $1.5B Steve Mitzenmacher, Former Vice President Corporate Development, Own Company Join Steve Mitzenmacher as he reveals the hidden truths about getting acquired for $1.5 billion. Drawing on his extensive experience in corporate development, Steve discusses the rare odds of closing a deal, the unseen challenges, and the insider dynamics that play a crucial role in successful acquisitions. From pre-LOI preparations to integration post-closing, explore valuable lessons and strategic advice to navigate the complex M&A landscape. Learn why relationships matter, the importance of managing expectations, and how to leverage negotiations in your favor. Don't miss these key insights that can make or break your next big deal. ----------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 788: The Real Data on What it Takes to Go Big and Eventually IPO with Meritech Capital

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 26:40


SaaStr 788: The Real Data on What it Takes to Go Big and Eventually IPO with Meritech Capital Join Alex Clayton and Kathy Choi from Meritech Capital as they delve into the path to IPO for SaaS companies. With 25 years of experience and over 60 IPOs, they explore the size, performance, qualitative factors, and post-IPO success metrics that matter. Learn essential considerations for going public, from creating a compelling story to demonstrating durable growth, operational excellence, and predictable business outcomes. They also provide case studies of successful companies like HubSpot and CrowdStrike, underscoring the importance of durable, long-term revenue growth and strategic multi-product approaches. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else.   If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com   See you in May!    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it!   Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 787: The 2025 SaaS Vibe Check: What Founders Need to Know Right Now with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 37:10


SaaStr 787: The 2025 SaaS Vibe Check: What Founders Need to Know Right Now with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin delves into a comprehensive 2025 vibe check, focusing on the state of tech, AI, and SaaS industries. He discusses the returning presence of founders in San Francisco, the resurgence of venture capital interest reminiscent of 2021, and the significant shift towards AI and AI-native investments. Additionally, he addresses the challenges faced by B2B founders, the importance of rapid product development, and the evolving dynamics of the venture capital landscape. Key insights include the rise of AI applications within SaaS, the critical need for growth over mere profitability, and practical advice for startups looking to secure funding or hire their first account executive. The session concludes with an open Q&A. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.  The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you'll find anywhere else. If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens. We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more. More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.  A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!  So don't wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com See you in May!  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom.  But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it! Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.   Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,  Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.   Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.      Learn more at : inter.com/saastr   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transparent Venture Capital by Tribe Global Ventures
Tribe Talkin' Ep 71: Why VCs Reject You. 2021 VC Investment Cohort Looking Very Grim. Founder Survey Interim Results. Man Baby Leads OpenAI Offer. Sharts.

Transparent Venture Capital by Tribe Global Ventures

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 77:16


In this weeks episode:  OpenAI AI SDR. Investigating ChatGPT Search: Insights from 80 Million Clickstream Records.  Glass jaw man baby make face bid to buy OpenAI.  YC's first AI Startup School.  Cursor becomes the fastest company to $100M ARR. 2021 VC cohort looking very grim.  VC's don't reject you after deep DD.  About 50% of companies will go from Seed to Series A.  Lessons in VC.  Themes of the week.  Sharts.  hello@tribeglobal.vc 

Reed Between the Lines
The Content Strategy Mistake Costing You Growth (with Brendan Hufford)

Reed Between the Lines

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 75:50


Are you stuck creating content that checks the box—but doesn't drive real results?Brendan Hufford, founder of Growth Sprints, has helped SaaS companies scale from $10M to $100M ARR by cutting through the noise with focused, high-impact content marketing. In this episode, he breaks down why most B2B marketing fails—not because of bad execution, but because of a fundamental strategic mistake.We cover:— The #1 mindset shift that helps top-tier marketers avoid “checkbox marketing”— Brendan's go-to framework for creating original content that stands out— How to craft marketing offers that your ideal buyers can't ignore— Why most content strategies fall apart and how to fix yoursIf you're tired of going through the motions and want to start creating content that actually fuels business growth, this one's for you.⬛Get started with Goldcast: https://bit.ly/42bgdJo⬛ Follow Brendan on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhufford/More from The Reeder:

The Coral Capital Podcast
#18: Andrew Schoen of NEA on How to Raise from U.S. Investors

The Coral Capital Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 37:56


Welcome to another episode of The Coral Capital Podcast, a show where we bring on guests from tech, business, politics, and culture to talk about all things Japan. Today's guest is Andrew Schoen, Partner at NEA (New Enterprise Associates) . Established in 1977, NEA has served as a partner to the founders and teams behind some of the most transformational innovations in healthcare and technology over the past five decades including Cloudflare, Databricks, Coursera, Perplexity, Plaid, and Robinhood. The firm manages over $25B in AUM and invests across the early to post IPO stages. Andrew joined NEA in 2014 and invests in founders innovating in AI/ML, fintech, frontier tech, infrastructure software, technically differentiated SaaS and security. Prior to NEA, he was a member of Blackstone's M&A Group. Prior to Blackstone, he founded Flicstart. Andrew serves on the Cornell University Council, the Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship at Cornell, and is President Emeritus of the Cornell Venture Capital Club. He earned his master's degree as a Schwarzman Scholar and his bachelor's degree in economics and science of earth systems in engineering at Cornell. We've highlighted some insights from the conversation below: While NEA has had Japanese LPs for over 40 years, the firm only recently began actively investing in Japan. Talent is a leading indicator for the health of a startup ecosystem, and Japan has a high caliber of talent. Japan's startup ecosystem has key ingredients for success: A large GDP, strong technology base, quality education, and increasing enterprise demand for software and tech solutions. How Japanese founders pitch differently from US founders: Some Japanese founders are more modest about their vision, but overall, there's more similarity than difference in how founders pitch between Japan and the U.S. One major difference is that Japanese founders often set specific IPO dates early, whereas U.S. startups typically stay flexible based on market conditions. Japanese LPs often expect faster exits, but longer time horizons can lead to bigger and more successful outcomes. How to raise money from U.S. VCs: The first meeting is only about securing a second meeting — don't disqualify yourself early by making common mistakes like overstating valuation. Japanese startups should leverage local investors to get warm introductions. What NEA looks for in Japan: Mid to growth-stage, high-velocity, high-margin, software-driven businesses. Growth benchmarks also matter: $10M–$20M ARR → 100% growth $20M–$30M ARR → 50~100% growth $100M ARR → 30~40% growth Key metrics such as LTV/CAC, net revenue retention, and burn multiples are important—but potential future growth trumps past numbers. Longer term sheets = fewer surprises. Short-term sheets can leave room for bad terms later. ----- For founder's building Japan's next legendary companies, reach out to us here: https://coralcap.co/contact-startups/ If you're interested in joining a Coral startup join our talent network here: https://coralcap.co/coral-careers/

Topline
E91: Investor Tomasz Tunguz on AI's Breakout Year and What Comes Next

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 69:21


Investor and AI power user Tomasz Tunguz joins the show to break down his bold predictions for 2025. From startups with 30 employees hitting $100M ARR to the explosive productivity gains driven by AI, Tomasz explains how automation is reshaping the tech landscape. Tomasz, Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into his personal AI-driven workflows, the future of SaaS, why big enterprises might benefit from AI before startups disrupt them, and more.   Topline by Pavilion is also proud to debut The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton. Listen now.   Attention CEOs and Founders! Join Pavilion at the CEO Summit on January 23rd in vibrant New Orleans. Don't miss out—reserve your spot today!   Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to Topline Newsletter.  

The Tech Trek
Navigating Product and Technology Leadership

The Tech Trek

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 26:56


In this episode, Amir Bormand interviews Kevin Trilli, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Amount Financial, about balancing product and technology leadership. They explore the challenges and benefits of merging product and tech roles, managing technical debt, and aligning product vision with business goals. Kevin shares personal experiences, insights on engineering leadership, and the evolving impact of AI on product management. Key Takeaways: Merging Product & Tech Leadership: Combining product and tech roles can streamline decision-making but requires balancing business goals with technical feasibility. Customer-Focused Development: Aligning engineering and product teams around customer success fosters collaborative problem-solving and better outcomes. Technical Debt Management: Managing tech debt involves allocating resources strategically, minimizing replatforming, and balancing short-term needs with long-term sustainability. AI's Role in Product Development: Understanding AI technologies is critical for product managers as AI-driven solutions reshape development processes. Highlights: 01:25 - Combining Product and Tech Roles: Lessons from Leadership 03:45 - Engineering & Product Alignment for Customer Success 05:30 - Managing Feedback Loops Between Teams 09:10 - Balancing Business Goals and Technical Execution 12:55 - The Impact of AI on Product and Engineering Teams 18:20 - Navigating Technical Debt and Roadmap Trade-offs 24:50 - Making Long-Term Product and Tech Decisions Tune in for a deep dive into product-tech leadership, engineering strategy, and practical advice on building high-performing tech organizations. As Chief Product and Technology Officer at Amount, Kevin Trilli shapes the entire product and technology organization, crafting and executing the product vision, product and innovation strategy while overseeing software and technology development. With a history of global product and technology officer roles in venture-based SaaS companies, including fintechs Mambu and Onfido (acquired by Entrust), Kevin is instrumental in helping scaling companies to over $100M ARR. Trilli, a Sloan Fellow with an MS in Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business, also holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois. His expertise extends to multifaceted growth, merging technical proficiency with executive leadership across almost a dozen unique product markets over his career. Kevin also advises and sits on the board for several companies in AI, Cleantech and financial technology. https://www.linkedin.com/in/trilli/

The Product Market Fit Show
He built a $4B unicorn & crossed $100M ARR—here's why it took 10 years of 100-hour weeks. | Martin Basiri, Founder of Passage & Applyboard (SaaS North Keynote)

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 30:02 Transcription Available


I interviewed Martin on the keynote stage at the SaaS North conference. Here is the audio version. Martin built Applyboard into a $4B unicorn doing $100M+ in ARR. He left and started a new startup called Passage— and raised a $40M seed round.He talks about 100-hour weeks, hiring exceptional talent, why smaller teams can outperform—and why he decided to start all over again.Why you should listen:Why great founders thrive in high-stress situations-- on "the edge of failure" as Martin calls it.How to make your first hire. Why you need to go all-in and work crazy hours to build a unicorn.Why Martin thinks it's key to never give up, even in tough times, as cliche as it might sound.The importance of creating a positive environment to attract good people.Keywordsentrepreneurship, education, immigration, impact, startup, Passage, ApplyBoard, perseverance, business model, founder journeyTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:54) Getting Into Coding(00:06:48) Accidentally Making Applyboard(00:10:41) Starting startup #2(00:17:19) Raising the Biggest Seed in Canada with Only 20 Employees(00:20:07) If You Can't Outsmart Them, Outwork Them(00:23:21) Getting the First Software Developer(00:25:48) One Piece of AdviceSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Jungunternehmer Podcast
Effizientes Wachstum: Wie LeanIX die 100M ARR knacken wird (Burn Management, Wachstumsplanung, relevante Metriken), André Christ LeanIX ReUpload

Jungunternehmer Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 76:08


In dieser Podcast-Folge spreche ich mit André Christ über effizientes Wachstum und den Weg zu 100M ARR. Wir sprechen über die Bedeutung verschiedener Metriken, die unerlässlich sind, um effizient und planbar zu wachsen. Dabei werden Metriken wie Annual Recurring Revenue, Net-Dollar-Retention, Gross-Retention und Average Revenue per Customer verwendet, um das Wachstum zu steuern. André erklärt auch, warum es wichtiger ist, Vorhersagen realistisch zu gestalten und diese einzuhalten, als auf Teufel komm raus hohes Wachstum anzupreisen und dieses Mal zu erreichen und mal zu scheitern.ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY:https://zez.am/unicornbakery André ChristLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrechrist/ LeanIX: https://www.leanix.net/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter:2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach:https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/Was du lernst:•Die fundamentale Bedeutung von Kennzahlen am Anfang des Unternehmensaufbaus•Wie André Burn Management steuert•Wie man den Sweet Spot zwischen Wachstum und Effizienz findet •Die Herausforderungen beim Übergang von einem Ein- zu einem Mehrprodukt-Unternehmen und die mögliche Einführung einer Business-Unit•Die Bedeutung von Fokus für die erste große WachstumsphaseMarker:(0:00:00) Intro & LeanIX Zahlen, Daten & Fakten(0:07:01) Die Mendoza Line: Warum es leichter ist, das Wachstum gleich zu halten anstatt es wieder anzukurbeln(0:10:56) Vorhersagbarkeit und Predictability von Wachstum: So stellst du sicher, dass deine Pläne auch erreicht werden(0:24:39) Kern-KPIs für Planung von Wachstum: Net-Dollar-Retention, Gross-Retention, Average Value per Customer, Sales Cycles, und mehr(0:43:30) Burn Management: Wie steuerst du deine Ausgaben richtig?(0:50:56) Wachstum und Wandel zu Mehrprodukt-Unternehmen(1:01:46) Produktmanagement-Mindset für CEO.(1:13:49) Durchhalten im Unternehmertum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World of DaaS
Ramp CEO Eric Glyman - The Hidden Incentives Shaping Banking and Fintech

World of DaaS

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 48:24


Eric Glyman is the co-founder and CEO of Ramp, a financial operations platform. Ramp is one of the fastest growing startups in history, reaching $100M ARR in just three years. Prior to Ramp, Eric co-founded Paribus, a consumer finance app acquired by Capital One in 2016.In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Eric discuss: Corporate spending trendsLeveraging price intelligence dataRamp's ‘Moneyball' hiring approachBanking monopolies + regulatory captureLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.  You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Eric Glyman on X at @eglyman.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

The Product Market Fit Show
His 1st startup failed—but his 2nd one hit $100M ARR & a $1.6B valuation. Here's what he learned. | Liran Zvibel, Founder of WEKA

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 46:44 Transcription Available


Liran quit a cozy job at IBM to launch Fusic, a TikTok-like app back in 2011. He raised over $10M, acquired tens of thousands of users, and failed.So he went back to what he knew: deep tech and enterprise. He launched WEKA in 2014 to improve the efficiency of GPUs. He was operating on hard mode: building deep tech and selling to large enterprise customers. It took him 5 years to build a commercially-ready product. In that time, he raised over $35M from strategic investors, since VCs didn't get it. Once they launched, they more than doubled every year. And this year, they crossed $100M in ARR. Here's how Liran built WEKA and got it off the ground.Why you should listen:Why deep tech is much harder than normal software startups and always takes much longer.How to get enterprise customers to commit well before your product is ready. How to leverage strategic investors to get you through the early days when you have no revenue.How Liran was able to get customers to pay 6-figure deals when competitors offered 'similar' products for free.KeywordsWeka, deep tech, large enterprises, GPUs, OS, product-market fit, funding, strategic investors, POCs, POVs, AI, GPU use case, performance, cost reduction, rapid growthTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:12) Why my first startup failed(00:08:35) Starting WEKA(00:15:04) WEKA's First Customer(00:17:43) The Operating System of CPUs(00:21:19) The Issues with Deep Tech Companies(00:26:19) Competing with a Free Product(00:32:57) Reaching a Couple Million in ARR(00:36:26) Fundraising(00:43:19) Finding Product Market Fit(00:44:08) One Piece of AdviceSend me a message to let me know what you think!

The Product Market Fit Show
He got rejected by 60 VCs, burned all his savings—then grew to $100M ARR & a $2B valuation. | Kyle Hanslovan, Founder of Huntress

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 58:31 Transcription Available


Kyle left his job as a hacker at the NSA to launch Huntress. He bootstrapped for 3 years and burned all his savings. One of his co-founders quit. He got into an accelerator program, but had to sleep in his car for 16 weeks because he couldn't afford a hotel.Finally, 3 years in he'd hit $1.5M ARR. So he pitched 60 VCs for a Series A—and got 60 'no's. He was forced to raise a small, $1M inside round. But then things changed:2018: $1.5M ARR2019: $5M ARR2020: $10M ARR2021: $20M ARR2022: $40M ARR2023: $70M ARR2024: $100M+ ARRHuntress is valued at $2B.The investors who backed his $1M bridge are up 140x. Now every VC wants to invest—and Kyle's the one saying 'no'.Why you should listen: How to know whether you should keep going or quit.What it takes to get through the first few years at a bootstrapped startup.Why revenue expansion is a huge lever for fast-growth (Huntress has 140% net revenue retention).How starting a startup can impact your personal life and relationships.How to work with partners to sell to long tail SMB customers.Keywordsentrepreneurship, cybersecurity, product market fit, startup journey, military experience, SMB market, funding challenges, automation, human expertise, business growthTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:2:01) Working at the NSA(00:6:14) A big win in counter cyber terrorism(00:10:00) What gave way to Huntress(00:14:22) Pitching to a startup accelerator(00:16:29) Adopting curiosity(00:21:04) Getting ahead of cyber criminals(00:26:00) Starting to grow(00:32:50) Cult or conviction(00:35:00) It takes grit(00:39:50) Learning from people's lessons(00:42:20) Cockroaches and underdogs(00:46:10) Three strikes, I'm out(00:52:56) Having a military background(00:56:17) One piece of adviceSend me a message to let me know what you think!

SaaS Talkâ„¢ with the Metrics Brothers - Strategies, Insights, & Metrics for B2B SaaS Executive Leaders

Bessemer Venture Partners recently released their 9th annual Cloud 100 Report. Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike dive deep into the impact of AI companies on the top 100 private cloud companies which increased their aggregate enterprise value to $820B and increased their growth rate to 70%!Key highlights Dave and Ray discuss include:Aggregate enterprise value of the Cloud 100 increased 25% year over yearAverage growth rate increased from 55% in 2023 to 70% in 202497% of the Cloud 100 will be over $100M ARR by the end of the yearTop 10 companies in the Cloud 100 represent ~ 30% of the total Enterprise ValueAi companies represent the top category of the Cloud 100 EV (21% of total)EV:Revenue multiples are down YoY (23x) but still at very attractive levelsAs a follow-on to the BVP "State of the Cloud 2024 Report" the Cloud 100 highlights the era of AI has moved from hype to reality as measured by growth rates and enterprise value!If you are interested in the latest "CLOUD" industry trends as measured by company value, revenue growth rates and industry impact this episode is a must listen!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Product Market Fit Show
They hit $100M ARR—in a "crowded market". Here's how they got to $1M ARR in just 18 months. | Don Mal, Co-Founder of Vena Solutions

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 40:42 Transcription Available


Don co-founded Vena & was CEO for 8 years. Last month, Vena became a Centaur crossing $100M in ARR. Don & his team launched Vena in a crowded market, where everyone else was trying to replace excel. So they built a budgeting and planning (FP&A) solution that instead leveraged excel. As Don says, they "disrupted the disruptors".Don knew the problem, he knew the space, he knew the customers— that's why he grew from 0 to $1M in ARR in 18 months. Here's exactly how he did it.Why you should listen How to close the first few customersHow to close 6-figure deals without any proof pointsHaving knowledge and a network in the industry you're entering makes it easier to find success as a founder.In crowded markets, a differentiated approach and the ability to solve pain points for customers are key to standing out.Why there's no feeling like the satisfaction of taking an idea and product to market, working with great people, and seeing others succeed.Keywordsstartup, scaling, Vena Solutions, network, crowded markets, budgeting and planning, differentiation, pain points, revenue intelligence, SaaS, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur, venture capitalTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:36) The Beginning of Vena Solutions(00:06:06) Step 1 of Vena(00:09:35) First Conversations(00:11:09)The Market in Planning(00:17:50) The Market in Workflow(00:20:02) Wealth Fargo(00:22:23) Getting to a Million(00:26:05) The Biggest ROI(00:29:03) Una(00:34:33) Not Retiring(00:35:55) Finding Product Market Fit(00:38:29)One Piece of AdviceSend me a message to let me know what you think!

The SaaS Revolution Show
CEO of PandaDoc Shares Lessons in Scaling Past $100M

The SaaS Revolution Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 40:42


In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Mikita Mikado, Co-Founder & CEO at Unicorn SaaS PandaDoc, who shares his lessons in scaling past $100M ARR. "It takes a lot of patience to run a business at scale. I'm not sure I have it, I feel like I need to build a lot of it. And this tendency of, like, getting something done instead of having conversations around the topic so that people get an insight or bring their perspective on, like, how something needs to be done. It's a really tough transition and I still struggle with it." Mikita shares: - Getting to $1M ARR and the tedious work that went into building a functioning customer flywheel - From hiring generalists to specialising teammates - How PandaDoc's tenure-defying CROs helped make the company what it is today - The important transition to optionality (and why he struggles with it) - A sneak peek into his SaaStock Europe 2024 speaking session and more.Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

This Week in Local
E89: Monica Ho - SOCi: Lessons in Reaching $100M ARR

This Week in Local

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 20:15


In E89, SOCI's Monica Ho brings us into the world of local marketing and the innovative solutions that are transforming how multi-location enterprises manage their digital presence.  Monica shares insights into reaching a significant milestone—achieving $100 million in ARR—and the critical role that an integrated platform has played in this success.  We explore the challenges of tech bloat, the convergence of digital channels, and how AI is revolutionizing local marketing by offering hyper-localized content and intelligent automation.  This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com.  Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life
How ActiveCampaign hit $100m ARR on way to $300m

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 20:11


How ActiveCampaign hit $100m ARR on way to $300m

Big Picture Medicine
#132 Arcadia CEO ($100M ARR) on How To Sell Enterprise Healthcare — Michael Meucci

Big Picture Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 25:07


Michael Meucci (CEO) transformed Arcadia — formerly a mid-sized consultancy into a healthcare platform with $100M of Annual Recurring Revenue. How? Lots of smart moves, including becoming really good at enterprise healthcare selling. Here's how he did it. Links Arcadia: https://arcadia.io/ Dr Mustafa Sultan: https://www.musty.io/

The Product Market Fit Show
He took 3 years to make his 1st sale—then grew 1000x to $10M ARR in 3 years. | Alex Hoff, Founder of Auvik

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 46:34 Transcription Available


Alex got the co-founder of a public company to join him and raised $6M out of the gate—but it took him 3 years to make his first sale. But after he shifted from selling to SMBs to selling to MSPs (Managed Service Providers i.e., outsourced IT), things took off:April 2015 - $1K MRRAugust 2015 - $10K MRRJune 2016 - $100K MRRNov 2018 - $1M MRR ($12M ARR)And growth never stopped—soon, he'll cross $100M ARR.Alex and his co-founder did many things differently. They came up with an idea by starting with markets, not customer problems. They raised a lot of money upfront and built a sophisticated product instead of an MVP. And they deliberated cultural values before making their first hire.Clearly—it worked.Why you should listenLearn why you should define culture before making your first hire.How to find market trends and customer problems top-down instead of bottoms-up.Why keeping your product unchanged but targeting a different market can have a massive impact and lead to product-market fit. Why you should be willing to be bold and not hedge.Why you should only focus on one thing at a time.How to use constraints to do more things faster.KeywordsAuvik, software company, networking, SMBs, mid-market, decoupling, control plane, hardware, software solution, automate, configuration, user research, product design, team, company values, SaaS, IT management, product-market fit, pivot, managed service provider, MSP, boldness, discipline, adviceTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:47) The Origin of Auvik(00:07:20) Finding a co-founder(00:12:35)  It's People Who Build Companies(00:14:10)  Finding the Concept for Auvik(00:20:07)  Buikding the Product(00:30:30)  First Customer Experiences(00:34:40)  Feedback Loops(00:39:08)  Getting to a Million(00:41:33)  Finding Product Market Fit(00:42:54) One Piece of AdviceSend me a message to let me know what you think!

The Product Market Fit Show
How Wiz grew to $500M ARR in 4 years—& could exit to Google for $23B (largest VC-backed exit in history)

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 11:11 Transcription Available


Google is in talks to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23B (a 40x revenue multiple). Wiz is the company that in 2021 announced it grew from $0 to $100M ARR in just 18 months. How did this cybersecurity company grow so fast in a crowded space? How does it get a 40x revenue multiple when FAANG stocks trade at 5-15x? Who are the exceptional founders that were able to create the largest venture-backed exit in history in just 4 years?In this episode, we dive into the 3 ingredients that made Wiz into such a success: insane growth, insane team, and insane discipline. Why you should listenWhy addressing a full 'Job to be Done' is key to fast growthWhy having an A+ team is irreplaceable  Why you need several factors to come together to have exceptional, outlier resultsKeywordsGoogle, Wiz, acquisition, cybersecurity, growth, team, discipline, end-to-end risks, cloud infrastructure, COVIDTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:00) Wiz's 3 Ingredients to Success(00:01:09) 1. Insane Growth(00:02:30) Jobs to be Done Framework(00:03:30) What does Wiz do?(00:05:36) 2. Insane Team(00:07:54) 3. Insane DisciplineSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Value Inspiration Podcast
#322 - Jim Yu, Founder BrightEdge - on his system to grow from $0 to $100M ARR

Value Inspiration Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 45:29


This podcast interview focuses on the entrepreneurial journey to turn a startup into a +$100M ARR growth business. My guest is Jim Yu, Founder & Exec Chair at BrightEdge Jim Yu is the visionary. He started his career at Mercator Software (now IBM), serving as Director of Product Development, and then moved to Salesforce.com, where he was a Director of Product Management.  He graduated from university when he was 16 years old, and holds an MBA from Stanford University, a Master's in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of South Dakota.  In 2007 he founded BrightEdge where he's been at the helm as CEO for 16 years. He grew BrightEdge into a global leader, helping more than 8,500 of the world's largest brands drive measurable, predictable revenue from their websites and search engines Their mission: to help marketers deliver content that resonates with their audience and drives business impact. More specifically, BrightEdge aims to transform online content into tangible business results, such as traffic, revenue, and engagement. And this inspired me, and hence I invited Jim to my podcast. We explore his journey of building BrightEdge into a successful SaaS company that crossed the $100M ARR bar. He elaborates on his first principles when it comes to building core differentiators, being intentional about market choices, and setting clear milestones for each growth stage. Lastly, he shares his advice on managing go-to-market investments and staying driven by a strong mission to scale intelligently. Here's one of his quotes It really paid off was when we found the big box retail segment. So if you think about social networks, they have a lot of web pages that represent musicians or people or things like that. But on the retail side, they have a lot of products, they have a lot of categories. And if those show up well on search, it leads directly to purchases and revenue.  So the next use case we built into our technology was connecting the dots back to purchases and orders. And so then you could see, as you optimize for organic search, what was the impact on revenue, and then that's when we started to really get forth. We ended up getting most of the big retailers. During this interview, you will learn four things: Why he has been intentional about certain GTM techniques and how he's picked his verticals to bet on. His first principle on making strategic choices that are aligned with the core capabilities and DNA of the company. His approach to scaling, and when to step on the gas and when not. How he defined their unfair advantage and what makes them different as a company For more information about the guest from this week: Jim on Linkedin Jim on Twitter Website: BrightEdge Subscribe to the Daily SaaS Reflection Get my free, 1 min daily reflection on shaping a B2B SaaS business no one can ignore. Subscribe here Yes, it's actually daily. And yes, people actually stay subscribed (Just see what peer B2B SaaS CEOs say) My promise: It's short. To the point. Inspiring. And valuable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life
This $100m ARR Company Is Making a Major Change to their Q3 2024 Marketing Strategy

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 22:17


Typeform CEO Kim Lecha is in a war with Jotform, Surveymonkey, and other form providers. His 2024 top priority is a brand new marketing approach. Will it work? Will Typeform break $180m in ARR before Dec 2024?

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20Growth: The Six Channels Startups Need to Dominate to Grow, Why the Best Growth Talent Never Comes from Marketing or Product, Who and How to Hire Growth Leaders and Teams and Why in a World of AI, Growth is More Science than Art with Matt Lerner

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 55:55


Matt Lerner is one of the OGs of growth having spent 11 years leading growth teams at PayPal. Post PayPal, Matt led the growth marketing program at 500 Startups. He is also the bestselling author of Growth Levers and How to Find Them. Today, Matt is the Co-Founder and CEO of SYSTM, an accelerator program helping startups find their growth drivers.  In Today's Episode with Matt Lerner We Discuss: From Philosophy Student to PayPal Growth Leader: How did Matt make his way into the world of growth? What were Matt's biggest lessons from 11 years at PayPal? What did Matt know now that he wished he'd known when he entered the world of growth? How to Master Growth in a World of AI: What is growth to Matt? What is it not? Why does Matt think growth is more science than art? Does Matt Agee with Adam Gross @ Vimeo that paid acquisition below $100M ARR isn't PLG? How does Matt think AI will change the world of growth today? What does Matt think are the most common growth mistakes founders make? Optimizing Growth Channels: Dos & Don'ts Why does Matt believe there are only six types of growth channels? What is the “locksmith moment" & how do startups find channels that work for them? How does Matt pick a Northstar metric?  What are the most common mistakes founders make when picking North Star metrics? When is the right time to change them? How does Matt approach horizontal product messaging? What works? What doesn't work? How to Hire & Manage Growth Teams What does Matt look for in the first head of growth hire? What questions does Matt ask when interviewing? What were Matt's biggest hiring mistakes? What did he learn? Why does Matt think the best growth hires have no marketing experience? What are Matt's two steps to master onboarding? What are the 3 most common patterns in leaders according to Matt?  

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20Growth: Inside Dropbox, Salesforce & Heroku's Product-Led Growth Engine; What Works & What Doesn't | Why Startups Doing Paid Under $100M ARR are not PLG | Why PLG is a Business Model, Not a Go-To-Market Motion with Adam Gross, Former CEO @ Vim

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 41:53


Adam Gross is one of the masters of product-led growth (PLG). Most recently, Adam was Vimeo's interim CEO. Before Vimeo, Adam was CEO of Heroku, which he joined after selling his startup, Cloudconnect in 2013. Additionally, Adam has held executive leadership roles at Salesforce and Dropbox, and has been an active angel investor & advisor to companies, including Buildkite, Cribl, and Tailscale. In Today's Episode with Adam Gross We Discuss: PLG Tactics from Dropbox, Heroku and Salesforce: What were Adam's biggest takeaways from his time at Salesforce? How did it shape his growth mindset? What did Adam learn about customer acquisition at Dropbox? What would Adam most like to change about growth today? Product-Led Growth: The Fundamentals: What is growth? What is it not? What do founders get wrong about growth? Why does Adam think PLG is not for everybody? What do most great PLG businesses have in common? How are value propositions segmented in PLG? How can startups transition from individual to enterprise clients? Why does Adam think startups doing paid acquisition sub $100M aren't actually PLG? The Secrets to Optimizing Growth Channels: What are the most common reasons fast-growing companies plateau? How does Adam advise founders on diversifying channels? What are the biggest mistakes founders make when scaling into enterprise? How should startups do effective product marketing in horizontal products? What is emotive & strategic marketing? How should startups balance both? How Angel Investing Changes How You View Companies: What are Adam's top 3 pieces of advice for founders? What does Adam mean when he says you are either hiring a poet or a librarian? What are the biggest mistakes founders make when hiring? What was Adam's biggest investment miss? What did he learn from it?

Grow Your B2B SaaS
S3E22 - How to grow your B2B SaaS to 10M ARR? Advice from 20 experts

Grow Your B2B SaaS

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 34:05


In season 3 of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast, we asked all our guests the same question: "What kind of advice would they give a B2B SaaS founder growing to 10M ARR?". By combining all the advice into one single episode you will be able to hear their answers in less than 40min! So, are you looking to grow your SaaS and unsure how to surpass the 10M Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) mark? This podcast episode will be packed with advice from industry experts. All the guests will give practical advice on how to grow your SaaS and make it successful in the long term. If you like the answer of any of the guests, we would recommend jumping into the whole show as there will be a lot more advice! Season 3 guests of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast How to achieve Product Led Growth for your SaaS With Wes Bush How to audit your SaaS growth? With Asia Orangio Lessons learned; Bootstrapping a B2B SaaS to 20M ARR in revenue With Emeric Ernoult How to improve your SaaS Sales With Kevin Dorsey How to implement the Growth Hacking mindset in your B2B SaaS? With Sean Ellis How to prepare your SaaS for an exit? With Dirk Sahlmer How to price your B2B SaaS to accelerate growth? with Wolter Rebergen How to get your first 1.000 users for your B2B SaaS With Simon Høiberg How to achieve Product Market Fit for your B2B SaaS With Maja Voje How to implement a profit-led approach for your SaaS with Guillaume Moubeche How to Achieve Explosive Growth and Increase Profitability with Stefan Avivson How to unify Sales, Marketing & SDR's in your GTM strategy With Chris Walker How to turn Discovery Calls into Customers with Chris Orlob How do investors analyse SaaS businesses? With Cameron Hay  How to scale your SaaS to 1M MRR using processes with Matt Wolach The Unsexy Truth about Startup Success with Cristobal Alonso How to setup affiliate marketing for B2B SaaS with Dustin Howes How Chili Piper is Becoming A Billion Dollar Company With Alina Vandenberghe How to build a billion dollar business within a year With Adam Robinson How to sell Enterprise SaaS, Learn from a 100M+ ARR founder With Jim Yu

Paul's Security Weekly
What can we do today to prevent tomorrow's breach? - Michael Mumcuoglu - ESW #352

Paul's Security Weekly

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 107:13


Defenders spend a lot of time and money procuring and implementing security controls. At the heart of SecOps and the SOC are technologies like XDR, SIEM, and SOAR. How do we know these technologies are going to detect or prevent attacks? Wait for the annual pen test? Probably not a good idea. In this segment, we'll talk with Michael Mumcuoglu about how MITRE's ATT&CK framework can help defenders better prepare for inevitable attack TTPs they'll have knocking on their doors. Segment Resources: CardinalOps Contributes to MITRE ATT&CK for Fourth Consecutive Release ESG Report: Operationalize MITRE ATT&CK with Detection Posture Management Report: Enterprise SIEMs offer inadequate threat detection 2023 State of SIEM Detection Risk Report In the enterprise security news, Axonius raises $200M and is doing $100M ARR! Claroty raises $100M and is doing $100M ARR! Crowdstrike picks up DSPM with Flow Security CyCode picks up Bearer Are attackers like lawyers? How a bank failed (with no help from a cyber attack) the FTC cracks down on customer data collection Apple's car sadly won't be a thing any time soon or maybe ever. All that and more, on this episode of Enterprise Security Weekly. Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/esw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/esw-352