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In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey guys, I have been working for four months at my job and I already don't like it. This is my first job out of college and I work as a C# backend engineer for a small B2B SaaS company. I really think this company is a dead end. There is a lot of technical debt and antipatterns and we have no automated testing whatsoever. Most of our time is spent manually debugging but no one wants to refactor. I'm already thinking about working somewhere else. However, it took me a while to get this job, and I don't think the market has gotten any better since. I'm trying to decide whether I should focus on applying to jobs again or if I should work on a bunch of side projects and open source to stand out better. On one hand, I can learn new technologies on my own to make me stand out for my next job, but on the other hand, I feel like as long as I stay at this company I am wasting time, since I'm not learning from my job. I want to switch to more distributed backend engineering in Java anyways, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Listener Ghani asks, “I'm a mid-level software engineer who has trouble communicating with my engineering manager and product manager when there is unclear or missing information about an assignment/story/project. They answer with hostile/dismissive tone/non-answer (e.g it's on the jira-card, epic, etc). They course correct when they have the information later, harshly my impressions were they don't have the information at the time they expect engineers to make decision they expect engineers to know something they don't (e.g architecture, infrastructure, past decision, plans, etc) I really want to look for where we can have a safe exchange of information. How can I do this?
From Engineering to Empathy: Chris Silvestri on Conversion Copy That ConnectsIn this episode, I sit down with Chris Silvestri — founder of Conversion Alchemy, conversion copywriter, and message–market fit specialist — to explore the psychology behind conversion and how B2B SaaS companies can craft customer journeys that actually drive decisions. With a background in industrial automation engineering and a decade in copywriting, Chris blends technical logic with user-centered creativity to produce copy that truly resonates.We cover:Why copywriting is more about research than writing (70% research, 30% execution)The “Motivation → Value → Anxiety → CTA” framework and how it beats rigid formulas like AIDAWhy founders must articulate a strategic narrative before even thinking about copyHow AI (like GPT and Claude) can be used as a research co-pilot without compromising human insightNavigating mega menus, product naming, and UX friction in SaaS websitesHow to craft messaging that speaks directly to your audience's inner monologueWhy B2B sales aren't siloed decisions, but committee-driven choices — and how to write for all stakeholders
Send us a textIn this audio-focused episode of Sidecar Sync, Mallory Mejias and Amith Nagarajan explore three groundbreaking advancements in AI audio technology—starting with Google's real-time voice translation for seamless cross-language communication. They then unpack Microsoft's open-source Vibe Voice, capable of generating full-length, multi-speaker podcasts, before diving into ElevenLabs Music, an AI tool creating fully-licensed, studio-quality tracks from simple prompts. Tune in for laughs, live demos, and serious implications for associations, from global content reach to AI-driven personalization. Plus, hear the hilarious tale of Amith's early-morning car debacle and Mallory's AI-generated bounce anthem for associations. This one hits all the right notes!
Why does B2B influencer marketing feel so chaotic right now?
Visit thedigitalslicepodcast.com for complete show notes of every podcast episode. Influencer and affiliate marketing decoded! Join Brad Friedman & Tye DeGrange to explore tools and tactics that drive real business growth. Tye DeGrange is the Founder and CEO of Round Barn Labs, a leading growth marketing agency specializing in affiliate and influencer marketing for top tech brands, including Grammarly, Nextdoor, Meta Quest, and Atlassian. With 20 years of experience in performance marketing, Tye has driven growth for startups and Fortune 500 companies across e-commerce, B2B SaaS, and Consumer Tech. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in History, Tye began his career at Sequoia-backed AdBrite, one of the first ad networks. Under his leadership, Round Barn Labs has earned accolades such as Boutique Agency of the Year and recognition as a Top 30 Global Affiliate Marketing Agency. Based in Austin, TX, Tye is passionate about building growth-focused teams and identifying innovative revenue opportunities. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, exploring Austin with his wife Blaine, and spending time with their two young children, Hayward and Gray. The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by Magai. Up your AI game at https://friedmansocialmedia.com/magai
Soham co-founded Rubrik by taking what he learned from building Google's data center tech to enterprises desperate for cloud migration. Two quarters later, he hit $1M ARR. And a few years later, a $16B IPO. Soham breaks down why paid pilots beat free trials, how to sell enterprise hardware before it works, and why early customers become your biggest champions when you solve real pain. Now building WisdomAI after watching the ChatGPT moment unfold, he shares what's different about competing in AI's gold rush versus owning an ignored category.Why You Should Listen:Why early customers endure broken productsHow he hit $1M ARR in 2 quarters selling enterprise hardwareWhy you should always charge for pilotsCustomer feedback is the only PMF signal that mattersKeywords:Rubrik, Soham Mazumdar, enterprise sales, data backup, IPO, product market fit, B2B SaaS, cloud migration, WisdomAI, data centers00:00:00 Intro00:04:26 Leaving Google to start a company00:11:00 Building the founding team00:14:27 Landing the first customer in Australia00:22:30 Hitting $1M ARR in two quarters00:25:42 Go-to-market strategy and the DeLorean stunt00:30:30 When Arvind left to start Glean00:34:10 Starting WisdomAI after the ChatGPT moment00:51:22 Advice for early stage foundersRetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.Send me a message to let me know what you think!
saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. In episode #37 of season 5, Tim Heicks talks with Dave Boyce, EVP Product at Winning by Design, a global B2B revenue consulting and training company that enables recurring revenue teams to architect sustainable growth.--------------Episode's Chapters----------------0:00 - Introduction and Guest Background1:11 - Early Days in SaaS and Entrepreneurship3:13 - Evolution of PLG and Enterprise Software6:13 - Joining Winning by Design9:11 - Writing the PLG Book for the Masses12:19 - Consulting and Value Add for Companies16:00 - New Perspectives on PLG and Freemium23:06 - AI's Impact on GTM and Human Touch31:16 - AI Search and the Future of Discovery36:03 - Evaluating Companies for AcquisitionDave - https://www.linkedin.com/in/boycedave/Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-groupStay up to date:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796
The software that powers 25% of India's e-commerce transactions, processes a billion orders each year, and in 2025 alone fulfilled 20 million quick-commerce orders: Unicommerce sits at the core of India's digital retail ecosystem. It is one of the few SaaS companies from India to go public, doing so after nearly a decade of steady growth without fresh primary capital until its IPO in 2024.In this episode of The Neon Show, we sit down with Kapil Makhija, CEO of Unicommerce, the company quietly running India's $60B E-retail market (set to hit $2 Trillion in the next two decades). The conversation goes beyond the company's journey to unpack how perceptions of Indian SaaS customers are changing: from the old belief that they “don't pay” to a more nuanced reality where they value communication, support expectations, and long-term relationships define success.We also look ahead to the future of SaaS in India: from the impact of AI, to the challenges of scaling from zero to $100M, to the balance between pricing and value, and identifying the sectors most ready for building large SaaS companies.This episode is for anyone curious about the story of SaaS in India, from how it is being built, scaled & the opportunities ahead.00:00 – Trailer01:15 – India makes you product-ready & pressure-tested03:45 – GTM: India doesn't reward size, it rewards focus05:00 – Joining Unicommerce the week Snapdeal acquired it10:10 – Digital-first brands vs. traditional brands12:36 – Why Excel and manual ops were the real competition?14:25 – The acquisition of Shipway17:02 – How will the company achieve 1000 Cr Revenue?19:40 – How the decision to go public was made23:40 – Success in SaaS isn't sign-ups, it's retention29:31 – The myth that Indian customers don't pay33:30 – Do Indian customers want Enterprise support but SMB pricing?36:40 – The impact of AI on SaaS39:10 – Founder vs. CEO: Is there a difference?47:29 – White spaces in e-commerce waiting to be built50:35 – Q-commerce vs. E-commerce: where are brands betting?52:07 – How SaaS companies decide if they're IPO-ready?55:10 – Can India build billion-dollar SaaS companies at home?58:15 – How long does the 0 → $100M journey really take?01:01:15 – How to build a ₹100 Cr SaaS company today?01:09:53 – Are pricing advantages in SaaS sustainable?01:12:22 – How much do brands actually spend on tech?-------------India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
Unlock the secrets of hypergrowth in SaaS with Gaurav Bhattacharya in this electrifying kickoff of our podcast series, hosted by Lauren Hawker Zafer.
In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy is joined by Taylor Black, Director of AI and Venture Ecosystems in Microsoft's CTO Office. With a background as a B2B SaaS founder and deep tech venture studio leader, Taylor brings a rare blend of startup vision and enterprise expertise to the AI conversation.Together, they explore the rise of agentic workflows, protocols like MCP, and the shifting interface of software in the age of AI. Taylor also reflects on the philosophical and economic implications of AI's rapid evolution—from abundant intelligence to human decision-making limits. If you're curious about how Microsoft thinks about AI agents, or what the future of work might actually feel like, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Chapters:[00:00] The Promise of AI and Collective Problem Solving[00:32] Intro: Meet Taylor Black of Microsoft[01:54] Inside the CTO's Office and Innovation Labs[03:53] From SaaS Founder to Deep Tech Studio Leader[05:38] Agentic Workflows: Beyond the Hype[08:46] Ecosystems, Authority, and Agent Infrastructure[11:12] MCP: The Protocol Standard for AI Agents[15:24] Microsoft's Vision of Agentic Interfaces[18:34] Designing for Human Capacity in the AI Age[23:15] The Hidden Risks and Philosophical Impacts of AI[27:09] Scarcity vs Abundance: New Frontiers in Work[29:12] Final Thoughts: A Future of Abundant IntelligenceConnect with Taylor BlackLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/blacktaylor/Connect with Boaz AshkenazyLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazyX: @boazashkenazyEmail: info@shiftai.fmThe Shift AI Podcast is syndicated by GeekWire, and we are grateful to have the show sponsored by Augmented AI Labs. Our theme music was created by Dave Angel.
The New Wave of AI-First SaaS Companies Serving SMBs w/ Cooper Simson of Martell Ventures - AZ TRT S06 EP16 (278) 8-24-2025 What We Learned This Week: · Political & product risk can kill a business overnight. · AI is lowering barriers to software creation while eliminating low-value roles. · SMBs are ripe for AI adoption, especially in workflow automation & marketing. · The best AI businesses solve real problems — not just add shiny features. · Future-proofing means building where the “puck” is going, not where it's been. Guest: Cooper Simson https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/ Website: https://martellventures.com Contact Cooper - Instagram: @Coop_Doggy_Dog Dan Martell's portfolio manager and business partner at Martell Ventures. Cooper talks about what they're building around AI and SaaS software, companies they work with, and the products for SMBs. Show Notes Guest: Cooper – Entrepreneur & AI Venture Builder Bio · Started with a finance degree but never pursued traditional finance. · First venture: lead-gen & marketing agency (failed when partner left). · Pivoted through freelance work → launched a business helping people apply for government grants using AI. · Business collapsed overnight due to political risk when U.S. policy changed. · Backed by Dan Martel, who later brought Cooper into Martel Venture Studio AI. · Lessons learned: Always maintain control of the product and build businesses that can withstand outside risks. Segment 1: AI + SMB Software Companies · Martel Ventures works with AI-first SaaS companies solving real business problems for SMBs (0–100 employees, $1M–$50M+ in revenue). · Examples of portfolio companies: o Precision Connect – cleans and organizes business data dashboards. o Atlas AI – AI voice agent that can call leads, nearly indistinguishable from a human caller. o Hero – recruitment tool powered by AI. · AI is the middleman killer → entry-level tech jobs (SDRs, data analysts) most at risk. · Core question for any AI product: Does it solve a real problem, or is it just an AI feature? Segment 2: Dan Martel & Martel Ventures · Dan Martel: 27+ years in tech, 3 major software exits, 5M+ followers. · Founder of SaaS Academy (coached 6,000+ students). · Author of Buy Back Your Time. · Martel Ventures (founded 2024): o Invests in and advises AI SaaS startups. o Target: 10–12 portfolio companies per year. o Provides equity, funding, and advisory services to accelerate growth & marketing. · Martel Ventures' niche: AI + SaaS companies with clear use cases and revenue potential. · Cooper's biggest takeaway: “Skate to where the puck is going” — build for future AI demand, not yesterday's. Segment 3: The AI Shift in Business · Cost transformation: AI drastically reduces software development and coding costs. · AI enables SMBs to: o Automate workflows & reduce repetitive tasks. o Boost employee efficiency → turns “C players” into “B+ players.” o Increase ROI per employee by shifting them to higher-value work. · SMB Examples: Local service providers, agencies, or firms generating $1M–$50M annually with 5–200 employees. · Key insight: If you can't identify the customer and the problem solved in 5 seconds, the product likely won't succeed. AI Use Cases in Marketing & Ops · Lead research automation. · Retargeting: AI can read your website, identify IPs, and find who visited. · Ad research: analyze competitor ads with AI agents. · Campaign automation: compresses timelines from weeks to days. · Contact management: AI can segment and organize lists for sharper targeting. Cooper Philosophy: Frameworks & Systems · The "Founding 50" framework walkthrough · How to diagnose bottlenecks and build fast paths to MRR · Distribution engine strategies that accelerate growth Contrarian Takes · "Distribution beats capital — especially when your offer hits" · Why founders waste time perfecting products instead of selling · Red flags he spots instantly in founders AI Market Insights · What makes AI-first companies different from traditional SaaS · Why SMBs are the sweet spot for AI products right now · How venture landscape is changing for AI companies Leadership & Scaling · "Lighthouse, not tugboat" guidance approach · Speed over perfection in execution · People-first, action-oriented leadership style Dan Martell – Bio info https://www.danmartell.com/ventures/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmartell/?originalSubdomain=ca https://www.saasacademy.com/author-dan-martell Dan Martell is a renowned coach and founder of SaaS Academy, celebrated for his expertise in scaling B2B SaaS businesses and significant contributions as an angel investor. Dan Martell is a Canadian entrepreneur, angel investor, and coach known for his expertise in the SaaS (Software as a Service) industry. He's founded, scaled, and successfully exited three technology companies. He's also a prominent figure in the SaaS coaching space, having founded SaaS Academy. Additionally, Martell is an Ironman athlete, philanthropist, and author. Book – Buy Back Your Time Biotech Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Biotech-Life+Sciences-Science AZ Tech Council Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=az+tech+council *Includes Best of AZ Tech Council show from 2/12/2023 Tech Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science Best of Tech: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=best+of+tech ‘Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast. AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business. AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving. Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more… AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/ ‘Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/ KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.
This week, I sat down with my good friend Michael Bair, founder of Bair Consulting, to unpack what really separates good CX in B2B from the DTC playbook, and why both worlds have a lot to learn from each other.We cover B2B SaaS, enterprise customer success, DTC retention, and why too many brands still treat CX like an afterthought. Michael gets real about why B2B companies ignore brand at their own risk, what DTC can steal from SaaS (hint: product obsession), how subscription churn compares to six-figure SaaS contracts, the rise and overhype of AI in CX, and why empathy and product knowledge will always be the secret sauce of customer success.If you're leading a CX team, building SaaS, or trying to scale a consumer brand, this episode is packed with hard-won insights from two people who've lived on both sides of the table.Listen now for the truth about B2B vs DTC CX, retention that actually works, and what “fractional” really means when you're in the trenches with founders.
Send us a textThomas Altman, co-founder of Tasio and Betty, joins Mallory Mejias for an electrifying deep dive into the future of AI through the lens of world models—AI systems that don't just respond but simulate environments and predict outcomes. From Genie 3's physics-aware interactive worlds to the transformative potential for associations in training, events, and strategy, this episode unpacks the profound shift from reactive AI to systems that “understand” the world. Thomas also shares insights from his new book The Association Knowledge Cycle, and offers practical advice for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Thomas Altman started working with associations after earning his graduate degree in applied data modeling techniques. One of the first things Thomas noticed when working with associations was that, while they do a great job of collecting data, hardly anyone is really putting that data to use. In an effort to leverage association data and content, Thomas developed Betty. With Betty, Thomas aims to utilize advanced AI-driven solutions to help associations deliver value to their members.https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-altman-tasio/
Is AI making your marketing sharper—or just noisier?AI has supercharged how fast we can create. Blogs, campaigns, designs—what once took weeks now takes hours. But speed comes with a catch. When everything is generated faster and in higher volume, clarity often gets lost. Signal turns into noise. The real message gets buried.In Episode 89 of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, host Brian Graf and Kalungi founder Stijn Hendrikse break down a key idea from Stijn's new book Syntropy: why AI accelerates entropy in marketing, and how modern teams can counteract it by becoming creators of syntropy—clarity, meaning, and signal that cuts through.You'll hear what this shift means for marketers at every level, and why the skills that matter most today aren't technical execution, but judgment, storytelling, and the ability to translate raw data into insight.Critical topics in this episodeEntropy vs Syntropy: Why AI often multiplies noise instead of clarity, and what marketers can do about it.The new marketing roles: From the Syntropic Sculptor (designer) to the Syntropic Scribe (writer), and why their value now lies beyond rule-following.The STOP method: A practical way to standardize, templatize, optimize, and productize marketing work.The future CMO: Why the “Syntropy Navigator” becomes the most important role in an AI-enabled marketing team.Career resilience: How marketers can stay relevant by doubling down on the human skills AI can't replace.By the end, you'll have a sharper lens on AI's role in marketing: a powerful accelerator, but one that needs human judgment to stay on course.Resources shared in this episode:3 traits of an effective marketing leaderThe 4 SaaS Marketing Leadership Maturity Stages ExplainedLooking for a Startup Marketing Agency? Here's What Every B2B SaaS Founder Needs to Know T2D3 CMO MasterclassSubmit and vote on our podcast topicsABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKSSince 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth.Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiAs a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft's Office platform.Brian Graf: CEO of KalungiAs CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing.Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.Listen to more episodesHead back to the B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks home page for more.
saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. In episode #36 of season 5, Anna Nadeina talks with Vitaly, founder of ReviewsOnMyWebsite & TextNinja.--------------Episode's Chapters----------------0:00 - Introduction2:51 - Building Reviews 5:47 - Target Audience and ICP8:45 - The Story Behind the Brand12:25 - White Label Partnership Strategy17:01 - Building Text Ninja28:19 - Growth Strategy and Marketing Channels33:30 - Implementing AI Features38:35 - Biggest Lessons LearnedVitaly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitalymotuz/ ReviewsOnMyWebsite - https://reviewsonmywebsite.com/TextNinja - https://textninja.com/Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-groupStay up to date:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796
Spotlight Ten - From Saving Lives to 5M ARR - AI Sales, Founder Psychology and the Dark Side of Speed with Gaurav BhattacharyaSpotlight ten is a truly unique and insightful dive into building a SaaS venture and the 996 culture of Silicon Valley.Who is Gaurav?Gaurav Bhattacharya is a repeat B2B SaaS founder and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who's built, scaled, and exited startups before most founders finish their MVP. Currently the CEO of Jeeva.ai, he's leading the charge in automating outbound AI-powered SDR agents — helping B2B teams 2x their pipeline in half the time (and cost).Before Jeeva, he co-founded involve.ai, a customer intelligence platform that grew to 500+ companies and 1.1M users globally. He raised over $20M from top investors like Sapphire Ventures, Stanford University, and Gokul Rajaram — and hit $5M ARR in under 9 months with just 11 people.Gaurav's story starts even earlier, at 17, he co-built a radiology tool that the Indian government adopted nationwide to fight sex-selective abortions.He's been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, LA Business Journal, and top startup podcasts — and he's not here to preach theory. Gaurav brings real-world operator lessons, raw founder stories, and tactical GTM frameworks that listeners can steal and ship the same day.When he's not building, he's probably over-caffeinating, mentoring founders, or geeking out on outbound psychology.#techpodcast #ai #redefiningai #laurenhawkerzaferSubscribe to the channel and share what you enjoyed! Give us some stars and feedback in the review section!
How can enterprise product leaders balance customer needs, technical complexity, and strategic vision? In this podcast hosted by Cassio Sampaio, Okta VP of Product Ian Hassard will be speaking on building effective B2B SaaS roadmaps and navigating product management challenges. Ian shares insights from his extensive experience leading product teams at high-growth companies like Okta and Auth0, offering a deep dive into modern product management strategies.
What do Michael Kors, Blue Nile, and Typeform have in common? More than you'd think. Daniel's OUT, Tamara's IN. She's joined by Kevin Branscum, a brand leader who's worked across fashion, luxury, and B2B SaaS. Together, they explore why the best brands aren't built on features or functions but on feelings, cultural awareness, and creativity. What can SaaS and B2B Marketers learn from fashion CMOs? Turns out, there's a similar connection between people and software beyond just its practical use. Research should go beyond product usage into the real lives of customers. And, Brand can (and should) be an “always on” refresh. They also dig into how to avoid the copycat trap of competitor marketing and why taste might just be the most important marketing skill in the AI era. If you're a marketer who wants to build a brand people actually connect with, this episode is for you. Follow Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbranscum/ Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
Eoghan McCabe is the founder and CEO of Intercom, a customer service platform that has successfully pivoted to become an AI-first company with its agent product, Fin. After stepping away from the CEO role in 2020 due to health issues, Eoghan returned to find the company's growth had stalled. Just one month after his return, ChatGPT launched, and within six weeks, Intercom had a working prototype of what would become Fin. In this conversation, Eoghan shares the brutal reality of transforming a late-stage SaaS business valued at multiple billions into an AI-first company that's now growing faster than most public software companies.We discuss:1. Why Eoghan believes most late-stage companies won't survive the AI transition2. The “founder mode” transformation that required firing 40% of staff and resulted in 98% employee satisfaction3. Why having “nothing to lose” is the ultimate advantage in AI transformation (and why comfortable companies will fail)4. How Intercom transformed from a plateauing SaaS business to an AI-first company growing at 300%+5. How Intercom's pricing evolved from “the most hated in SaaS” to a model that charges just $0.99 per resolved ticket6. The cultural transformation required to compete with AI-native startups7. How 12 years of therapy and a period of “ego death” shaped Eoghan's leadership approach—Brought to you by:Great Question—Empower everyone to run great research: https://www.greatquestion.com/lennyWorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs: https://workos.com/lennyDX—The developer intelligence platform designed by leading researchers: http://getdx.com/lenny—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-intercom-rose-from-the-ashes-eoghan-mccabe—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/170710700/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Eoghan McCabe:• X: https://x.com/eoghan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoghanmccabe/• Website: https://eoghanmccabe.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Eoghan(05:00) The state of Intercom(09:53) The decision to pivot to AI(12:33) Why Eoghan is "anti-bot" in customer service(16:19) Pricing strategy evolution(19:26) Implementing the AI transformation(26:11) Cultural and organizational changes(31:18) Surviving a coup attempt(40:05) The future of AI and business(45:11) AI's impact on jobs(48:44) AI and human creativity(50:26) The importance of young AI talent(55:00) The cultural shift in AI adoption(58:00) Personal growth and leadership(01:04:34) Intercom's success in producing product leaders(01:11:05) Intercom's unique company culture(01:14:11) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• Fin: https://fin.ai/• Des Traynor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destraynor/• The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan• Pricing your AI product: Lessons from 400+ companies and 50 unicorns | Madhavan Ramanujam: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/pricing-and-scaling-your-ai-product-madhavan-ramanujam• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Behind the founder: Marc Benioff: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-founder-marc-benioff• Anthropic co-founder on quitting OpenAI, AGI predictions, $100M talent wars, 20% unemployment, and the nightmare scenarios keeping him up at night | Ben Mann: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/anthropic-co-founder-benjamin-mann• Fergal Reid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fergalreid/• How Perplexity builds product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-perplexity-builds-product• Yosi Amram's website: https://yamram.com/• (Nathaniel Russell) Ego Death Now: https://heythereprojects.shop/products/copy-of-nathaniel-russell-space-is-a-place• Daniel Kahneman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman• Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/en-US/• Paul Adams on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladams• What AI means for your product strategy | Paul Adams (CPO of Intercom): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/what-ai-means-for-your-product-strategy• Which companies accelerate PM careers most: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/which-companies-accelerate-your-pm• N26: https://n26.com/en-eu• Notion: https://www.notion.so/• Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/• True Detective on Max: https://www.hbomax.com/shows/true-detective/9a4a3645-74e0-4e4d-9f35-31464b402357• 28 Years Later: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10548174/• Trainspotting: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/• 28 Days Later: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/• Fellow: https://fellowproducts.com/• Porsche 911: https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/• Making Meta | Andrew ‘Boz' Bosworth (CTO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-meta-andrew-boz-bosworth-cto—Recommended book:• Nuclear War: A Scenario: https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-War-Scenario-Annie-Jacobsen/dp/0593476093Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com
Paul Becker, Gründer von recap, spricht über die Besonderheiten von Fundraising im Fintech-Bereich. Nach einer erfolgreichen Series A teilt Paul, warum Fintech-Fundraising anders ist als klassisches B2B SaaS, wie man Balance-Sheet-Komponenten richtig kommuniziert und warum Produktentwicklung in Fintechs länger dauert. Was du lernst: Wie du Fintech-spezifische Fundraising-Herausforderungen meisterst Die richtige Balance zwischen Equity und Infrastruktur Warum klassische VC-Metriken nicht immer passen Wie du B2B-Fintech-Produkte richtig entwickelst ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery Paul Becker & Chris Püllen findest du hier: re:cap: https://www.re-cap.com/de Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulbckr/Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnaro/ naro: https://www.naroiq.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/
Send us a textIn this episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias tackle the latest developments in AI with a fast-paced series of updates—from Claude overtaking ChatGPT in the voice mode battle, to Google's shockingly tiny Gemma 3 model, to the rocky rollout of GPT-5 and what it teaches us about innovation at scale. Then, the duo zooms out for a big-picture look at AI's massive and growing energy demands. Can AI keep advancing without breaking the grid? Enter neuromorphic computing—a brain-inspired breakthrough that could power the next era of AI more efficiently. Hot dogs, ant colonies, and nuclear power all make appearances in this can't-miss conversation.
Why does marketing feel… weird right now?
In this episode, Jeremy from QuickMail and Jack from SalesBread tackle a tough question from a head of growth at a small B2B SaaS company: How do you succeed in cold outreach when your product lacks a clear edge in a crowded market? The two dive into real-world tactics and mindset shifts that can help founders and marketers compete against bigger players even without a flashy differentiator. Key Topics Discussed: The importance of market education and timing when entering a saturated niche Competing on price: the most basic but often effective strategy for early traction Why strong marketing can outperform a superior product Alternative ways to position your offer—such as "trial as a gift" Why commoditized tools (like email verification) need creative outreach angles Using consulting or audits as a Trojan Horse to sell your core software The game-changing idea of targeting consultants and incentivizing them with affiliate deals Whether you're selling "salt" or software, you don't need to reinvent the wheel to succeed. With smart positioning, pricing, and outreach strategy, even undifferentiated products can win. This episode is packed with actionable gems for any B2B founder trying to get traction in a tough market. About the hosts: Jack Reamer founded SalesBread.com – the lead generation agency that brings B2B companies 1 lead per day by sending ultra-personalized LinkedIn messages and cold emails. Show listeners can book a free, 15-minute lead generation brainstorm session here: https://salesbread.com/contact/ Jeremy Chatelaine founded QuickMail.com – the most performant cold email platform to get replies, thanks to industry-leading features such as Deliverability AI and Advanced Stats. Start your trial today here: https://quickmail.com
What's the secret behind B2B SaaS sales growth and how can outbound strategies be used to scale revenue efficiently? When it comes to growing a B2B SaaS company, not all sales leads are created equal. Inbound leads, those who find you through marketing efforts or referrals, already have some level of trust. They've seen your website, maybe read a blog post or two, and are at least familiar with your brand. Outbound leads, on the other hand, have no idea who you are. You're reaching out to them cold, and they're likely skeptical from the start. That's why trust becomes your most important asset in outbound sales. In this episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS Podcast, brought to you by SaaStock, Joey Gilkey, CEO of Titan X, explains that outbound sales require a different mindset. You're not just selling a product; you're building a relationship from zero. In outbound, your first impression matters more than ever. That process starts with establishing credibility right away. Without trust, even the best SaaS product won't make it through the noise.As a valued listener of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast, we've got something special for you! As a valued participant, you have the exclusive opportunity to get a 30% discount on tickets to SaaStock Europe this October - the leading conference for AI & SaaS founders, investors, and leaders.Key Timecodes(0:00) – Introduction: Building Trust in Outbound vs. Inbound Sales(0:51) – Scaling Revenue in B2B SaaS: Proven Outbound Strategies(1:30) – Joey Gilkey's Irresistible Offer for Increasing Connect Rate(1:55) – Joey's Outbound Story: From Services Company to SaaS(3:00) – Launching TitanX: Zero to Five Million in 12 Months with Outbound(4:04) – The Compounding Effect of LinkedIn and Outbound Strategies(4:57) – Defining Outbound in the Modern B2B SaaS Context(5:53) – Common Challenges in Scaling Revenue for SaaS Companies(6:50) – The Four Fundamentals of Outbound: List, Message, Rep, Follow-up(8:21) – Importance of Targeting the Right Companies and Titles(9:44) – Structuring an Outbound Strategy for Success(10:42) – Accounts First, Then People: Tailoring Messaging to Personas(11:40) – Messaging That Resonates: Understanding Different Pain Points(12:35) – Evaluating Rep Performance and Funnel Math(13:24) – Follow-up Systems: The Buckets Framework(14:30) – Understanding the Six Buckets in Outbound Strategy(16:49) – Retargeting and Ads: Leveraging CRM Systems for Follow-up(17:34) – Choosing the Right Outbound Channels: Phone vs. LinkedIn(18:50) – Phone as the Tip of the Sphere: Conversational Advertising(20:10) – Scaling Outbound: The Advantage of High Connect Rates(21:07) – Combining Outbound and Inbound for Effective Nurturing(22:06) – Common Pitfalls in Outbound: Focusing Too Much on Meetings(23:13) – Surveying the Market: Understanding Buyer Readiness(24:57) – Phone Outbound as Advertising: Focusing on Conversations(25:14) – Handling Seasonality in Outbound: Deliverability vs. Receptivity(26:16) – High-Impact Tactic: Prioritizing Meaningful Conversations(27:41) – Apple's iOS Update: Impact on Outbound Phone Calls(29:05) – Future of Outbound: Predictions for the Next 2–3 Years(30:09) – Preparing for the Future: Self-Sourcing Pipeline & Sales Dev(32:50) – Advice for SaaS Founders: From $0 to $10K MRR(34:59) – Scaling from $100K to $10M ARR: Founder's Key Strategies(37:04) – Final Thoughts: Best Practices in Outbound & Revenue Growth(40:22) – Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Recap(42:34) – Contact Information and Closing Remarks
Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3Jjar14 ----------------------- Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? Send me a voice message via email at podcast@usertesting.com ----------------------- Episode summary:In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs sits down with Talia Wolf—founder of GetUplift and author of Emotional Targeting—to explore how emotions drive conversions and why most teams overlook this critical factor in their optimization efforts. Talia shares her journey from social media marketing to creating her own emotional targeting framework, explaining how she discovered that every buying decision—whether for a luxury watch or a B2B SaaS tool—hinges on how customers feel. She calls out the “deadly hamster wheel” of CRO, where teams rely on best practices, competitor mimicry, and quick fixes instead of building strategies rooted in genuine customer insight. Listeners will learn: Why emotions are the foundation of all decisions—and how to identify the emotional triggers that influence your customers. How even “boring” products can connect on a deeply emotional level to boost conversions. Strategic questions to audit your digital experiences beyond surface-level UX fixes. How to prioritize CRO efforts when resources are limited, and why solving specific problems beats chasing generic best practices. The right way to integrate AI into your optimization process without losing the human touch. Steps leaders can take to embed emotional targeting into their team's culture and win buy-in through small, high-impact experiments. Resources & Links: Tara Wolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliagw/ GetUpLift: https://getuplift.co/ Emotional Targeting book: https://taliawolf.com/book Tara Wolf's personal website: https://taliawolf.com/ Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/) Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast
#274 Growth | In this episode, Dave is joined by Sean Lane, Founding Partner at BeaconGTM and RevOps expert, to talk about scaling RevOps in B2B. With over a decade of experience at Drift and other B2B SaaS companies, Sean shares actionable tips for marketers looking to align operations with business goals.Dave and Sean cover:How to build alignment between sales, marketing, and opsWhy early-stage companies must align operational complexity with their growth maturityHow continuous planning helps marketing and ops teams stay agile as business challenges come upTimestamps(00:00) - - Intro to Sean (07:11) - - Going From Founder Led Sales to Having A Professional GTM (09:52) - - How Ops Bridges Business Goals (13:42) - - How To Align Sales, Marketing, and Operations (17:51) - - Why You Need A Clear Marketing Strategy (20:17) - - How To Build A Partnership Between Marketing and Operations (26:41) - - Guidelines for long term vs short term budgeting and planning (32:19) - - Marketing's Role At The Bottom Of The Funnel (37:14) - - How To Get “Hand-raisers” For Your Product In The Customer Journey (41:06) - - Do Engaged Accounts Measure The Success Of Marketing? (42:56) - - Sean's Podcast ROI (45:12) - - AI Use Cases In Ops (50:14) - - How To Hire A Good Ops Person (53:42) - - Closing Remarks Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Walnut.Why are we pouring all this effort into marketing just to push buyers to a “request a demo” or “contact sales” button?Come on, today's buyers don't want to talk to sales right away. They want to explore your product themselves, see how it works, and understand its value before booking a meeting.That's where Walnut comes in.Walnut empowers marketers and GTM teams to create interactive, self-guided product experiences in minutes. Embed these experiences on your site, in emails, or anywhere in your funnel to let buyers engage on their terms, from awareness to close and beyond. That's the beauty of Walnut - you're getting a platform that your sales and CS colleagues can use to showcase the product too.And the best part? You get real intent data—see which features prospects love, where they drop off, and what's actually driving pipeline. Demo Qualified Leads are the new MQL.Over 500 companies, like Adobe and NetApp, use Walnut to drive 2-3x higher website conversion rates and 7 figures in pipeline on a yearly basis. So do you want to drive more leads, shorten sales cycles, and actually show your product instead of hiding it behind another typical B2B CTA? Go check out Walnut.io. And if you tell them Dave from Exit 5 sent you, they'll build out your first demo for free!
Is founder-led growth helping or holding you back?Early wins often come straight from the founder's voice. Nobody knows the problem better, or tells the story with more passion. That credibility is what gets the first customers to sign, keeps them close, and often carries a young company through its earliest deals. But founder-led growth has limits. Time runs out. Markets expand. What worked at $1M ARR may stall out at $15M.In Episode 89 of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, host Brian Graf and Kalungi founder Stijn Hendrikse unpack both sides of founder-led growth: why it's such a powerful accelerator in the beginning, and why it can quietly become a ceiling if companies don't evolve.You'll hear how to recognize the signs that your business is over-reliant on the founder, and what founders, teams, and investors can do to keep growth compounding even as the company matures.Critical topics in this episodeWhy founder-led growth works: The credibility, subject matter expertise, and customer intimacy that early adopters can't resist.Where it breaks: The hidden ceiling that appears when everything still flows through the founder.Transition challenges: Letting go of sales, messaging, and culture without losing the magic.Investor view: How search funds and acquirers spot businesses that need to move past the founder model.The Kalungi story: What happened when Stijn stepped away, and how Brian navigated the shift to a broader team-led approach.Amplifying the founder's voice: Ways to scale thought leadership without burning out the founder.By the end, you'll see founder-led growth for what it is: a launchpad, not a permanent operating model. And you'll walk away with sharper instincts for when to double down on the founder's voice—and when it's time to build beyond it. B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks is one of the most respected voices in the SaaS industry. It is hosted by two leading marketing and revenue growth experts for software:Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 CMO Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiBrian Graf: CEO of KalungiB2B SaaS companies move through predictable stages of marketing focus, cost and size (as described in the popular T2D3 book). The best founders, CFOs and COOs in B2B SaaS rely on a balance of marketing leadership, strategy and execution to produce the customer and revenue growth they require. Staying flexible and nimble is a key marketing asset in a hard-charging B2B world.Resources shared in this episode:BSMS 77 - Leveling up your go to marketThe 4 SaaS Marketing Leadership Maturity Stages ExplainedLooking for a Startup Marketing Agency? Here's What Every B2B SaaS Founder Needs to Know T2D3 CMO MasterclassSubmit and vote on our podcast topicsABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKSSince 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth.Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiAs a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft's Office platform.Brian Graf: CEO of KalungiAs CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing.Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.
saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies.In episode #35 of season 5, Anna Nadeina talks with Dave, founder of AhaSlides, a platform to help you make interactive presentations.--------------Episode's Chapters----------------0:00 - Introduction1:03 - Dave's Background & Founding Aha Slides2:36 - Building a Global Team & Leadership Philosophy9:16 - Team Culture & Routines14:36 - Hybrid Work & Office vs. Remote19:47 - Sales Motion & Growth Strategy24:39 - Product-Led Growth & Importance of Product25:14 - Going Global & Customer Diversity27:17 - AI in SaaS: Opportunities & Challenges46:44 - Biggest Wins & Lessons LearnedDave - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davebui/AhaSlides - https://ahaslides.com/Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-groupStay up to date:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796
How can empathetic B2B SaaS marketing transform your growth strategy?This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Ashleigh Norton, Vice President of Marketing at Blink AI Automotive. Ashleigh shares her unique journey from aspiring meteorologist to leading marketing efforts in the fast-evolving automotive tech space.Ashleigh dives into what it takes to truly connect with an audience on platforms like LinkedIn, why storytelling is at the heart of effective communication, and how marketers can embrace AI without losing their ethical compass. She explores the delicate balance between automation and personal touch, and how time management can make or break modern marketing strategies. Ashleigh also discusses the value of building strong professional relationships, supporting sales through thoughtful strategy, and taking a problem-solving approach to marketing rather than simply pushing products.In this episode, we cover:The power of storytelling to engage and connect with audiencesBalancing manual and automated networking for authentic relationshipsEthical considerations when using AI in marketingHow solving real problems drives better marketing and supports sales teamsIf you're navigating the intersection of AI, marketing, and automotive innovation, Ashleigh's insights offer real-world strategies to help you build meaningful connections and grow with purpose.
In this episode, Maximus Greenwald, founder of Warmly.ai, shares insights on building a successful B2B SaaS company. With over $5M ARR and 60 employees globally, Max discusses how they pivoted six times before finding product-market fit, why learning is the only metric that always needs to go up, and how they're building an AI-powered sales enablement platform. What You'll Learn: Finding Product-Market Fit: Why six pivots were necessary The importance of continuous learning How to know when to persist vs pivot Building Remote Teams: Managing 60 people across multiple countries The 10-15% remote work efficiency trade-off Building culture across time zones Sales & Marketing Evolution: From founder-led to team sales Why marketing should own top of funnel The future of AI in sales Co-founder Dynamics: Managing roles and responsibilities The power of cross-functional leadership Building trust between co-founders Growth & Scale: The path to $5M ARR Building in San Francisco Preparing for Series B ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery Where to find Max: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-greenwald/ Website: https://www.warmly.ai/ More about Guest-Host Mike Mahlkow: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemahlkow Website: https://www.mikemahlkow.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/ Chapters: (00:00:00) What you need to know about Max & Warmly.ai (00:05:04) The rough early days at Warmly (00:10:43) How close was Max to quitting? (00:14:58) What was the actual pivot at Warmly? (00:24:23) How does Sales evolve over time? (00:34:02) How does the speed change while scaling? (00:45:50) How does Max divide and conquer the world of his co-founders?
Okay, it's time we discussed customer case studies. Like really discussed them. So I invited Em Thomas to join me, she's founder of StackCat Content (full-stack case study services for B2B SaaS companies).Here's what we cover:What do the worst case studies have in common;What about the best case studies;How to structure customer calls to pull out the right info for case studies;What format performs best;How to create case studies that sell;Companies that do this well;Em asks me her burning question.Em on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/imemthomasStackCat Content: www.stackcatcontent.comFor more content, subscribe to Building With Buyers on Apple or Spotify or wherever you like to listen, let me know what episodes you've listened to, and don't forget to leave a review if you're lovin' the show. Music by my talented daughter.Anna on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annafurmanovWebsite: furmanovmarketing.com
Send us a textIn this episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias dive into two groundbreaking releases from OpenAI: the long-awaited GPT-5 and the surprising return to open source with GPT-OSS. They unpack the shift toward simplified AI interaction, the implications of automatic model selection, and what GPT-5's real-world performance means for power users. Then they explore how the new OSS models may radically reshape how associations build and deploy custom AI solutions. Plus: updates from ASAE Annual, thoughts on AI hallucinations, and why association leaders should start thinking more like engineers.
#541 Want to make your website your best salesperson? In this episode, host Brien Gearin dives into the fascinating world of conversion rate optimization (CRO) with Sahil Patel, CEO of Spiralize. Together, they explore how your website can and should be converting more of the traffic you already receive. Sahil shares his journey from being a Spiralize customer to leading the company, along with actionable insights into A/B testing, website optimization, and building a data-driven approach to increase conversions. Discover the power of proven A/B test winners, the importance of running iterative experiments, and why CRO is positioned to be as critical for businesses today as SEO was 20 years ago. Whether you're a B2B SaaS company or a small business owner looking to optimize your website, this episode is packed with value! (Original Air Date - 12/16/24) What we discuss with Sahil: + Website as a salesperson: Your website should convert visitors + CRO defined: Turning visitors into customers through testing + A/B testing power: Measure and refine website performance + Data-driven strategies: Use proven A/B test winners + Website optimization tips: Try Loom videos and Google Translate + Focus on B2B SaaS: Optimize trial and demo buttons + CRO beyond SaaS: Applicable to industries like home services + Avoid pitfalls: Don't skip testing or rely on guesses + Future of CRO: Positioned for growth, like early SEO + Spiralize's model: Full-service, data-powered optimization Thank you, Sahil! Check out Spiralyze at Spiralyze.com. Follow Sahil on LinkedIn. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with Madeline Fraser, the dynamic founder and CEO of Gemist, a B2B SaaS and AI company revolutionizing the jewelry industry. Madeline shares how a frustrating search for a custom engagement ring sparked the idea for Gemist, which now powers customization, stone sourcing, and hyper-realistic rendering for jewelry brands and retailers. With deep product insight and two previous startups under her belt - including an appearance on Shark Tank and an exit into the gaming space - Madeline unpacks how her creative background and startup experience led her to build scalable tech that's reshaping a centuries-old industry. They talk about her time on The Pitch (where she met Neal and landed Gemist's first investment round), her vision for modernizing the jewelry shopping experience, and why customization is no longer optional for today's customers. Key Topics Covered: How Madeline turned a personal pain point into Gemist's founding story Her Shark Tank experience - and why the deal didn't go through What it's really like to bootstrap vs. fundraise Why user testing came before writing a single line of code The tech stack behind Gemist's jewelry customization engine Scaling B2B SaaS in a traditional industry The future of Gemist: watches, new verticals, and profitability Startup lessons from interior design to jewelry tech Why every founder needs grit, agility, and a chip on their shoulder Links & Resources: Gemist Connect with Madeline & Neal Madeline on LinkedIn Neal Bloom on LinkedIn @NealBloom on Twitter
SaaS Scaled - Interviews about SaaS Startups, Analytics, & Operations
Today, we're joined by Chris Silvestri, Founder at Conversion Alchemy, an agency that combines copywriting, UX design, and psychology to help SaaS and eCommerce companies convert more visitors into customers. We talk about:How failure to crystallize strategy results in messaging shortcomings & low conversionsTactics to get started with & accelerate messaging content, including use of AIImpacts of improving messaging to differentiate your SaaS offeringGrowth stages at which it's most impactful to fine-tune messagingUse of AI models to act as prospects in order to gain insights, including use of real research to construct partially synthetic personas
Roman Kaplun and Oleksandr “Sasha” Kravchuk from MacPaw unveil Cloud Cleanup, a new CleanMyMac feature designed to help users manage and optimize cloud storage across iCloud, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Using native macOS APIs, it ensures privacy by never accessing login credentials directly and working entirely on-device. Cloud Cleanup can unsync local files to free up Mac space or delete unnecessary items from the cloud to reduce storage costs. It integrates CleanMyMac's familiar tools like Space Lens, offers user control before deletions, and plans to add Dropbox and additional connection options in future updates, with user feedback guiding development. This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:35] MacPaw team introduction[1:30] Cloud Cleanup overview[3:01] Security and privacy approach[4:46] Supported cloud services[8:11] Main use cases and benefits[10:57] Comparison to CleanMyMac functions[13:08] Privacy safeguards[13:25] Development background[18:34] UX design challenges[18:43] Dropbox support discussion[22:26] Integration into CleanMyMac[24:35] Additional connection methods[27:14] How to learn more and give feedback[29:37] Connecting with the MacPaw team Links: Guests: Oleksandr “Sasha” Kravchuk has been working in product and graphic design for 20 years. In that time, he's helped train dozens of designers to implement data-driven approaches to user experience construction. A Design Director at MacPaw, his work on CleanMyMac has received multiple design and UX accolades, including the recent visual revamp, which earned two Webby Award nominations for Best User Experience and Best Practices. Find him on LinkedIn. Roman Kaplun is a Senior Engineering Manager at MacPaw, responsible for overseeing all engineering and product development for CleanMyMac. For over fifteen years, Roman has led global engineering teams across industries, including investment banking, payment processing, and B2B SaaS, with a primary focus on delivering customer value and building robust technology solutions. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
Roman Kaplun and Oleksandr “Sasha” Kravchuk from MacPaw unveil Cloud Cleanup, a new CleanMyMac feature designed to help users manage and optimize cloud storage across iCloud, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Using native macOS APIs, it ensures privacy by never accessing login credentials directly and working entirely on-device. Cloud Cleanup can unsync local files to free up Mac space or delete unnecessary items from the cloud to reduce storage costs. It integrates CleanMyMac's familiar tools like Space Lens, offers user control before deletions, and plans to add Dropbox and additional connection options in future updates, with user feedback guiding development. This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:35] MacPaw team introduction [1:30] Cloud Cleanup overview [3:01] Security and privacy approach [4:46] Supported cloud services [8:11] Main use cases and benefits [10:57] Comparison to CleanMyMac functions [13:08] Privacy safeguards [13:25] Development background [18:34] UX design challenges [18:43] Dropbox support discussion [22:26] Integration into CleanMyMac [24:35] Additional connection methods [27:14] How to learn more and give feedback [29:37] Connecting with the MacPaw team Links: Guests: Oleksandr “Sasha” Kravchuk has been working in product and graphic design for 20 years. In that time, he's helped train dozens of designers to implement data-driven approaches to user experience construction. A Design Director at MacPaw, his work on CleanMyMac has received multiple design and UX accolades, including the recent visual revamp, which earned two Webby Award nominations for Best User Experience and Best Practices. Find him on LinkedIn. Roman Kaplun is a Senior Engineering Manager at MacPaw, responsible for overseeing all engineering and product development for CleanMyMac. For over fifteen years, Roman has led global engineering teams across industries, including investment banking, payment processing, and B2B SaaS, with a primary focus on delivering customer value and building robust technology solutions. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
A lot of SaaS founders start with freemium because it feels like the easiest way to get users in the door—but then those users never really convert. You end up with a bloated free tier, server costs piling up, and barely enough paying customers to keep things going. It's like giving away your best stuff and hoping someone eventually offers to pay for it. And the worst part is, by the time you realize what's happening, it's already eating into your runway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV69xh5WFrE Dan Balcauski, founder and Chief Pricing Officer of Product Tranquility, helps B2B SaaS companies fine-tune pricing to drive real growth. Today, he explains why freemium often fails in B2B, especially when customer value isn't clearly defined. He shares how subscription models have matured and why pricing needs to reflect what users actually care about. His focus: use value-based metrics to build smarter, more profitable product strategies. Stay tuned! Quotes: “If you don't really understand how you're charging customers or haven't thought it through well, you're missing the highest leverage opportunities.” “I would spend most of my time on what the price tag goes on, and little time on what number goes on the price tag.” “Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We need to understand it's not what we think; it's what those customers think, whom we're actually trying to sell this to.” Resources: Accelerate your growth today | Product Tranquility Connect with Dan Balcauski on LinkedIn
How can empathetic B2B SaaS marketing transform your growth strategy?This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with James Furbush, VP of Marketing at AccessOne and host of the RCM Ladder Podcast. James shares his insights into effective marketing strategies for B2B SaaS companies, with a special focus on the healthcare sector. James reveals why truly understanding your audience is non-negotiable, and how marketers can stand out by avoiding hostile tactics and instead embracing unscalable but impactful efforts to build real relationships. He emphasizes the value of empathy in every touchpoint, and how this approach leads to more sustainable growth and stronger customer trust.In this episode, we cover:Why deeply understanding your audience is the foundation of effective marketingHow to ditch aggressive tactics in favor of trust-building strategiesThe power of unscalable actions to create genuine connectionsJames's contributions to the marketing community and how networking fuels innovation
Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.Today, we're joined by Ties Boukema, Head of Data, Tech & AI at Dawn Capital, one of Europe's leading B2B SaaS and Fintech investors. With a background spanning law, statistics, Google Health, and five brain surgeries, Ties brings a rare mix of grit, optimism, and technical firepower to Venture and he's putting it to use by building Rolodex, an internal AI-powered operating system for Dawn.This is not an AI trends episode. This is an inside look at what it takes to build and deploy technology within a venture firm—and why the industry has been lagging behind.
In this episode of Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur, Jeff Rudner, host of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, interviews Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO of Fame, to reveal how he built a B2B podcast agency to £4M ARR without external funding. Tom shares lessons from 17 previous business attempts, emphasizing the critical role of financial discipline and the power of hyper-focus on core services. Discover his unique risk assessment framework, practical EOS implementation, and the vital role of culture in scaling. This episode delivers actionable strategies on cash flow, profitability, operational efficiency, and team incentives, demonstrating why doing less exceptionally well is the key to lasting growth.
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
If your LinkedIn feed looks like a museum of giant n8n screenshots and “comment to get the guide” posts…good. That means the playbook works—when you do it right. Paolo breaks down the exact framework his agency uses to turn LinkedIn into a repeatable inbound lead engine for B2B—especially SaaS, agencies, and info businesses.What You'll LearnLead magnet mechanics that still crush: how to pick the right asset (templates vs. guides), formats that perform (Notion docs, Miro boards, short scroll videos), and the “perceived value + curiosity + scarcity” combo.Hooks that make people click “See more”: trigger desire, fear, or curiosity in the first 3 lines.Pattern interrupts that boost reach: why oversized workflows, zoom-ins, and 10-second sped-up videos spike hover time and help the algo.Profile-as-landing-page: how to structure your headline, Featured section, and CTAs to funnel traffic without tanking post reach.Nurture after the comment: DM prompts that qualify intent, when to drop case studies, and how to avoid low-intent “free audit” traps.Where this shines: B2B SaaS, agencies, consultants/coaches—audiences that are active on LinkedIn and buy from content.Paolo's Playbook (Step-by-Step)Pick the problem (one ICP pain your offer solves).Choose the asset format based on buyer type:Done-for-you buyers → plug-and-play templates.Education/info buyers → guides/videos.Design the preview media to signal value and create curiosity:Notion table of contents screenshot, massive Miro flow, or a 10-sec scroll video.Write the post like this:3-line hook (desire/fear/curiosity).Promise + what's inside.CTA to comment (optionally “repost for priority”).Light scarcity (e.g., 48-hour window).Delivery & DMs:Send the asset, ask an easy reply (“Are you posting on LinkedIn yet?”).Qualify with 1–2 follow-ups, then make a clear offer with outcomes + timeline (+ guarantee if you have one).Nurture cadence (next 2–3 days):Day 1: Case study (story format: before → intervention → after; CTA to book).Day 2: Technical value post (lower engagement is fine; it nurtures).Add strongest case studies to Featured on your profile.Links without nuking reach:Push to profile/Featured or drop links in comments; edit the post later to add the link after it's cooked.Tactical NuggetsComments > Likes (weightier signal + more hover time).Avoid bot pods; if you coordinate engagement, keep it real accounts and relationships.For SaaS without a free trial, push to a free setup/usage guide that inherently requires the product.Use storytelling in case studies; people remember transformations, not dashboards.If you're running volume lead magnets, expect lower engagement on deep-dive posts—that's normal and still effective.Tools & Formats MentionedNotion (TOC screenshot as lead magnet preview)Miro (big workflow screenshots)n8n (automation diagrams that stop the scroll)Short scroll videos (10–15s, autoplay pattern interrupt)AI voice agent (optional MOFU experiment to educate and qualify at scale before handing off to a human)Who This Works Best ForB2B SaaS (often top performer)AgenciesConsultants/CoachesAny ICP that's active on LinkedIn and buys based on content/authoritySponsorTalent Fiber — Hire world-class global talent (engineers with 7+ years' experience, U.S. time zones, excellent English) at ~⅓ U.S. cost. They're an outsourced HR partner, handling compliance, payroll, and employee happiness—with a free replacement if it doesn't work out. Learn more: talentfiber.comConnect with PaoloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadgenwiz/
Hila Lauterbach, Founder of 10x GTM, and Klue Advisor. 10x GTM is a company partnering with high-growth B2B SaaS companies to accelerate revenue through strategic GTM and product marketing excellence. In this episode, KJ Hila discuss the rise of data-driven and AI-powered investment models—and why they’re not enough on their own. They also explore the most common go-to-market mistakes: lack of alignment, unclear audience, and missing foundational strategy. Key Takeaways: [5:47] Hila’s Origin Story & Overcoming Rejection [13:45] The Broken Investment Model [16:39] Building a Repeatable Go-to-Market Engine [26:50] The Future of SaaS & AI’s Impact Quote of the Show (27:00): “Every time the door was closed, I built a new door. You have to keep iterating, keep believing, and keep working hard towards your goals.” – Hila Lauterbach Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Hila Lauterbach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilalauterbachmarketing Company Websites: 10XGTM.com and https://klue.com/ How to get more Disruption/Interruption: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Let's step into these shoes for a minute. You're the sole marketer at a B2B startup. You've been hustling, pitching investors, and finally you close your Series A. Suddenly, you have the budget to make real progress. What do you do next?Here's the lesson that stood out to me in a recent guest application: “There is no real progress in marketing, especially in B2B and post-Series A, without product marketing.”I love that lesson and I think of product marketing as the translator between what engineers build and what customers truly need.To hear the story behind that lesson – and many more insights born from wrestling with real revenue goals – I spoke with Asaf Raz, VP of Marketing at Agora [https://agorareal.com/]. Agora secured $34 million in Series B funding last year and has raised a total of $63 million in funds so far.Raz manages a team of 12 demand gen, product marketing, creative, and field marketing professionals.Lessons learnedMarketing can't be successful without being connected to sales goalsOne of the most important things about being a marketing executive is to know your market really well, knowing the actual people.There is no real progress in marketing, especially in B2B and post-Series A, without product marketingThere's nothing helpful that comes from complaining about things and blaming other people for your problems Take full ownershipFrame for persuasionDiscussed in this episodeMarketingSherpa has teamed up with parent company MeclabsAI to produce a research study. We are granting 10 AI engineering vouchers worth $5,000 each to eligible companies. Learn more at https://meclabs.com/research/5k-engineering-voucherProduct Quality: Marketing's job is to help the product win (podcast episode #97) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/product-quality]Marketing Career: How to become an indispensable asset to your company (even in a bad economy) [https://marketingexperiments.com/value-proposition/marketing-career]Customer-First Marketing: The customer is always right … but not always right for your company [https://sherpablog.marketingsherpa.com/b2c-marketing-2/customer-is-always-right-but-not-always/]Clarity Trumps Persuasion: How ordinary marketers are learning to write high-impact copy [https://www.meclabs.com/training/misc/optsummit/slides/10-Flint-McGlaughlin-MECLABS-Copywriting-FINAL.pdf]Turn content into pipeline – In this episode, Raz discusses how he uses a podcast to better understand prospects and get more deals. Build your own playbook to get more leads with your content using a multi-agent protocol workflow. Launch the workflow [https://win.meclabsai.com/build-lead-gen] (from MeclabsAI, MarketingSherpa's parent company).Subscribe for more tactics that turn content into closed businessSubscribe to the MarketingSherpa email newsletter [https://www.marketingsherpa.com/newsletters] to get more insights.Apply to be a guestIf you would like to apply to be a guest on How I Made It In Marketing, here is the podcast guest application – https://www.marketingsherpa.com/page/podcast-guest-application
Want to know how to effectively engage industry analysts and shape your product roadmap? In this podcast hosted by Cassio Sampaio, Saviynt Senior Vice President of Strategy Henrique Teixeira will be speaking on product strategy and analyst relations in B2B SaaS. Drawing from his extensive experience at Gartner and in the identity management space, Henrique shares insider insights on how product managers can collaborate with analysts to drive innovation and market positioning.
If you're building before validating the market, you're not a founder — you're a hopeful builder. In this episode, Bocar Dia, Partner and GM at Forum Ventures, shares how to build a capital-efficient, scalable sales motion in B2B SaaS, from idea to product-market fit and beyond. Drawing from his early days at Hootsuite and advising 30+ founders annually, Bocar unpacks the frameworks and mindsets for growing to $100M ARR without chasing inflated valuations.Specifically, Bocar covers:(03:13) Bocar Dia shifts from engineering to sales at early-stage Hootsuite.(12:09) Validate real pain, then pinpoint key problems to shape your MVP.(20:01) Founders often raise before soul-searching — and end up misaligned.(25:10) Product-market fit is when value drives steady inbound demand.(30:17) Sales has three phases: product fit, GTM fit and scale.(36:57) Don't scale early traction. Prove one repeatable channel first.(41:57) Hire Customer Success before Sales to drive renewals and growth.(46:30) Founders who sell first know exactly what kind of leaders and reps to hire next.(51:00) AI can help sales, but manual validation is needed before scaling.(57:53) Bocar recommends data-driven, tactical sales books for founders.Resources Mentioned:Bocar Diahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bocardia/Forum Ventures | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forumvc/Forum Ventures | Websitehttps://www.forumvc.com/"The Sales Acceleration Formula" by Mark Robergehttps://www.amazon.com/Sales-Acceleration-Formula-Technology-Inbound/dp/1119047072"Founding Sales" by Pete Kazanjyhttps://www.amazon.com/Founding-Sales-Go-Market-Handbook/dp/1734505117Winning by Designhttps://winningbydesign.com/resources/books/This episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. From Grassroots to Greatness by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comEach year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don't get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#ProductMarketFit #CustomerSuccess #VentureCapital #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI
Is your product really ready to sell itself?Plenty of founders spot Slack, Loom, or Canva and claim, “We'll just go product-led.” The idea feels neat. No big sales team. Faster cycles. Viral growth. Yet Product-led Growth only works when the product already clears tough hurdles for ease, onboarding, and unmistakable value. Miss those, and momentum never starts.In Episode 88 of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, host Brian Graf sits down with long-time CMO Stijn Hendrikse to explore why early teams often overrate PLG—and how investors can identify the warning signs before wiring funds.You'll hear hands-on ways to test whether a product can truly pull in its own demand, along with the questions VCs should ask to be sure the numbers make sense.Critical topics in this episodeThe appeal and the reality of PLG: Why founders romanticize the model and where hidden costs creep in.A “10×” rule for product-market fit: Milestones that must scale from tens to thousands before PLG is viable.Metrics investors must see: Value moments and pay–stay–refer ratios (share of users who pay, stick around, and invite others) needed when ARPU is small.Keeping costs in check: How careless spending on ads, onboarding, or extras can turn a lean approach into a cash fire.Mixing self-serve with sales: When a small sales touch helps—start small, then grow each account.Using new capital wisely: Deepening the winning niche instead of chasing every shiny segment.By the end, you'll know how to vet a PLG claim—whether you're shipping code or writing checks. Get ready to rethink the checklist for PLG readiness and to ask sharper questions before betting on a self-service vision. B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks is one of the most respected voices in the SaaS industry. It is hosted by two leading marketing and revenue growth experts for software:Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 CMO Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiBrian Graf: CEO of KalungiB2B SaaS companies move through predictable stages of marketing focus, cost and size (as described in the popular T2D3 book). The best founders, CFOs and COOs in B2B SaaS rely on a balance of marketing leadership, strategy and execution to produce the customer and revenue growth they require. Staying flexible and nimble is a key marketing asset in a hard-charging B2B world.Resources shared in this episode:How to Assess If Your B2B SaaS Company Is Ready for Scalable GrowthBSMS 23 - Product led growth vs. sales led growthLooking for a Startup Marketing Agency? Here's What Every B2B SaaS Founder Needs to Know T2D3 CMO MasterclassSubmit and vote on our podcast topicsABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKSSince 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth.Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiAs a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft's Office platform.Brian Graf: CEO of KalungiAs CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing.Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.
Monica Stewart has spent 15 years helping B2B SaaS founders escape survival mode and build scalable revenue systems—generating $25M+ in revenue and influencing over $200M in valuations along the way. In this episode, John and Monica dig into what really holds founders back from scaling past the $1–10M mark.They explore why so many founders—especially technical ones—see sales as a necessary evil, and the dangerous misconceptions this creates. Monica shares why doing the right things in the wrong order derails growth, how to create processes that don't depend on a founder's charisma, and why she believes most traditional sales methodologies are garbage in today's market.They also discuss how shifting your belief systems—not just tactics—can unlock long-term success, and how AI is changing the playbook for founder-led sales forever.If you're a founder who wants to step out of the weeds and build a company that scales, this conversation is packed with straight talk and actionable insights you won't hear anywhere else.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Monica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-stewart/Connect with Monica on IG: https://www.instagram.com/monicastewartsales/
This is one of the best episodes I've ever recorded! I sit down with the brains of the SaaS Academy (the world's No. 1 coaching program for B2B SaaS founders), Dan Martell. He is a hustling entrepreneur and a top-tier business coach who overcame addiction, ADHD, and even prison to build and exit five software companies. He shares the mindset shifts, habits, and lessons that helped him create a business he loves and scale it beyond what he imagined possible. Get ready to learn about the “Replacement Ladder” concept and how to bounce back stronger from failure. Tune in now to get a chance to join our book giveaway! Check out our Sponsors: Airbnb - Start making money by listing your home on Airbnb with an experiences Co-host, find a co-host at airbnb.com/host BambooHR - Experience the software that makes HR easier for all of your employees. Try BambooHR for free at bamboohr.com/freedemo Cozy Earth - Go to cozyearth.com and use code EARN for 40% off their best-selling sheets, apparel, and more. Open Phone - Stop running your business from your personal phone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at openphone.com/earn Shopify - Try the ecommerce platform I trust for Glōci, Sign up for your $1/month trial period at Shopify.com/happy Constant Contact - Get all the automation, integration, and reporting tools that get your marketing running seamlessly. Try Constant Contact free for thirty days at constantcontact.com. HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Meet Dan Martell, coach and founder of SaaS Academy. 05:30 What fuels your relentless drive every day? 09:45 How fitness becomes a gateway to discipline and consistency. 11:30 Affirmations to build confidence before you have experience. 14:30 Lessons Dan gained from his first triathlon. 19:45 How do you rebuild self-trust after failure? 25:00 The life-changing impact of therapy and finding mentors. 30:15 Strategies for bouncing back from major setbacks. 41:30 Tips for overcoming public speaking anxiety. 50:00 The mindset hack that will help you overcome any challenge. 54:45 The step-by-step process for organizing life and business. 01:00:00 How to get your free copy of Dan's book, "Buy Back Your Time". RESOURCES Check out the BONUS CONTENT HERE! Join the most supportive mastermind on the internet HERE! Check out our FREE 90-Day Business Blueprint HERE! Listen to my free SECRET PODCASTS SERIES - Operation: Rekindle This B*tch Get glōci HERE Use code: HAPPY at checkout for 25% off! FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci Follow Dan: @danmartell