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In this week's episode of the Biz/Dev Podcast, we sit down with Chip Royce, founder and managing principal of Flywheel Advisors. Chip tells us what most startups get wrong in their go-to-market strategy, common mistakes that derail new products before they find traction, and why a founder's journey is rarely a straight line. If you want actionable advice on setting up your next launch and want to avoid the pitfalls Chip has seen again and again this conversation is a must-listen.LINKS:Chip's LinkedInFlywheel Advisors on LinkedInFlywheel Advisors Website___________________________________ Submit Your Questions to: hello@thebigpixel.net OR comment on our YouTube videos! - Big Pixel, LLC - YouTube Our Hosts David Baxter - CEO of Big Pixel Gary Voigt - Creative Director at Big Pixel The Podcast David Baxter has been designing, building, and advising startups and businesses for over ten years. His passion, knowledge, and brutal honesty have helped dozens of companies get their start. In Biz/Dev, David and award-winning Creative Director Gary Voigt talk about current events and how they affect the world of startups, entrepreneurship, software development, and culture. Contact Us hello@thebigpixel.net 919-275-0646 www.thebigpixel.net FB | IG | LI | TW | TT : @bigpixelNC Big Pixel 1772 Heritage Center Dr Suite 201 Wake Forest, NC 27587 Music by: BLXRR
Bob is a serial entrepreneur who founded MobileIron, grew it to $150M in revenue, and took it public. Now, he's back with his fourth startup, BlueRock, tackling the next massive wave: agentic AI security.In this episode, Bob breaks down the distinct difference between finding Product-Market Fit and finding Go-To-Market Fit—and why confusing the two can kill your company. He shares the exact questions he asked early customers to pivot from a generic mobile idea to a billion-dollar enterprise solution, the painful transition from founder-led sales to a repeatable playbook, and why he believes agentic AI is the "mobile wave" all over again.Why You Should ListenWhy asking "what else is bothering you?" can uncover real pain points.Why finding Product-Market Fit might actually increase your burn rate.Why founder-led sales often fail to scale and what to do about it.How to use a "Deal Grind" session to turn anecdotal sales wins into a scientific Go-To-Market machine.Why identifying the right tech wave matters more than your initial idea.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, go to market fit, enterprise sales, founder led sales, mobileiron, agentic AI, cybersecurity startup, bob tinker00:00:00 Intro00:03:17 Talk to Customers Before Writing Code00:15:28 Why Finding PMF Can Increase Burn Without Growth00:17:51 The Founder "Magic Pixie Dust" Trap00:25:34 The Deal Grind Exercise00:31:43 From 1M to 80M ARR in 4 Years00:32:54 Why Agentic AI is the Next Mobile Wave00:38:30 The Famous Sequoia Tombstone Meeting00:40:17 The Magic Question: What Else is Bothering You?Send me a message to let me know what you think!
Amanda Kahlow, CEO and founder of 1Mind, joins Amir to break down what AI changes in modern sales and go to market, and what it does not. If you lead revenue, product, or growth, this is a practical look at where AI creates leverage today, where humans still matter, and how teams actually adopt it without chaos.Amanda shares how “go to market superhumans” can handle everything from early buyer conversations to demos, sales engineering support, and customer success. They also dig into trust, hallucinations, and why the bar for AI feels higher than the bar for people.Key takeaways• Most buyers want answers early, without the pressure that comes with talking to a salesperson• AI can remove friction by turning static content into a two way conversation that helps buyers move faster• The hardest part of adoption is not capability, it is change management and trust inside the team• Humans still shine in relationship and nuance, but AI can outperform on recall, depth, and real time access to the right info• As AI levels the selling experience, product quality matters more, and the best product has a clearer path to winTimestamped highlights00:31 What 1Mind builds, and what “go to market superhumans” actually do across the full buyer journey02:00 The buyer lens, why early conversations matter, and how AI gives control back to the buyer06:14 Why the SDR experience is frustrating for buyers, and where AI can improve both sides09:42 Change management in the real world, why “everyone build an agent” gets messy fast13:04 Why “swivel chair” AI fails, and what real time help should look like in live conversations15:52 Hallucinations and trust, plus the blunt question every leader should ask about human error22:26 Competitive advantage today, and why adoption eventually pushes markets toward “best product wins”A line worth sharing“Do your humans hallucinate, and how often do they do it?”Pro tips you can use this week• Start with low stakes usage, bring AI into calls quietly, then ask it for a summary and what you missed• Build adoption top down, define what good looks like, otherwise you get a pile of similar agents and no clarity• Focus AI on what it does best first, recall, context, and instant answers, then expand into workflow and process laterCall to actionIf this episode sparked ideas for your sales team or your product led funnel, follow the show so you do not miss the next one. Share it with one revenue leader who is trying to modernize their go to market motion, and connect with Amir on LinkedIn for more clips and operator level takes.
Jeff Meadows, president and chief commercial officer for Mohawk's residential business, and Kemp Harr discuss market conditions and a recent shift in Mohawk's marketing strategy to integrate its dealer strategy with its consumer outreach.
Glean has grown into a $7.2B company by giving employees AI assistants and agents that extend their capabilities.CEO Arvind Jain is back on Grit alongside Joubin Mirzadegan. Here's what stood out:“My mindset by default is that if you build something last year, that it's got to be obsolete. There has to be a new way to do that thing better today. If not, then it's just lack of imagination.”“I have no doubts that AI capabilities are just going to increase more and more over the next few years. But even more important is this concept of how much are we even leveraging what AI can do today? I would say that we've not even used 1% of current capabilities of these models”“If you're trying to be everything to everyone, then you just cannot compete with somebody who's focused on a smaller problem and going deep into that.”You can also listen to Arvind's earlier episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIH0Qp6d6bg&list=PLRiWZFltuYPF8A6UGm74K2q29UwU-Kk9k&index=96Guest: Arvind Jain, founder and CEO, GleanConnect with Arvind JainX: https://x.com/jainarvindLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jain-arvind/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGritLearn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Irina Chuchkina is the Chief Growth Officer at Wallet In Telegram. Irina is an accomplished leader in crypto and fintech with over 18 years of experience building world-class brands at the intersection of payments and technology, across Europe and Asia. Currently, Irina is leading Wallet's global expansion strategy with a target of 15 new countries in the next 2 years.Previously, she was CMO at Volt, driving their brand and global marketing strategy. She was also part of Southeast Asia super-app giant, Grab, where she helped to launch GrabPay, Grab's mobile wallet, and GrabRewards, its loyalty platform across Southeast Asia.In this conversation, we discuss:- Wallet in Telegram - Difference between Wallet in Telegram vs standalone crypto wallets - Finance inside messaging apps - Telegram as a Super-App - The convergence of messaging, payments, and identity - Go-To-Market for wallets - Stablecoins as the backbone of global payments - 3 pillars of wallets: distribution, utility, simplicity - The recent launch of xStocks inside TON Wallet - Why growth in crypto is fundamentally different from Web2 growth Wallet In TelegramX: @wallet_tgTelegram: t.me/walletLinkedIn: Wallet In TelegramIrina ChuchkinaX: @pogodasuperLinkedIn: Irina Chuchkina---------------------------------------------------------------------------------This episode is brought to you by PrimeXBT.PrimeXBT offers a robust trading system for both beginners and professional traders that demand highly reliable market data and performance. Traders of all experience levels can easily design and customize layouts and widgets to best fit their trading style. PrimeXBT is always offering innovative products and professional trading conditions to all customers. PrimeXBT is running an exclusive promotion for listeners of the podcast. After making your first deposit, 50% of that first deposit will be credited to your account as a bonus that can be used as additional collateral to open positions. Code: CRYPTONEWS50 This promotion is available for a month after activation. Click the link below: PrimeXBT x CRYPTONEWS50FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS FeedSee All
Today's episode of the Punk CX podcast is with Chris Morrissey, who is the General Manager and Global Head of CX Sales & Go-To-Market at Zoom, where he drives strategy and execution for the company's customer experience business. Chris joins me today to talk about why describing yourself as ‘AI-first' these days is a mistake, why reducing effort outweighs everything else in CX, the difference between "lip service personalization" and true personalization and how we should be moving beyond chatbots and what the future of customer interaction really looks like. We finish off with Chris's best advice, his Punk CX brand and his very own good news story. This interview follows on from my recent interview – Brands should avoid making Gen AI or chatbots their sole frontline – Interview with Phil Regnault of PwC – and is number 568 in the series of interviews with authors and business leaders who are doing great things, providing valuable insights, helping businesses innovate and delivering great service and experience to both their customers and their employees.
In EdTech, things can start moving quickly. A new idea gets attention. A stakeholder asks for leads. A competitor launches something similar. Before long, teams feel pressure to act fast and show progress.The problem is that moving fast does not always mean moving in the right direction. When teams skip validation, meaning they have not yet confirmed that real educators or leaders truly need what they are building, speed can create more problems than momentum. Budgets get stretched, marketing efforts chase the wrong signals, and educators are asked to spend time on tools that do not actually solve a meaningful problem.In this episode, Kate Busby joins our CEO, Elana Leoni, to talk about what validation really looks like in EdTech. We break down how to tell the difference between early interest and real demand, why this work is often messy, and how marketers can use AI to test ideas, messaging, and prototypes faster without losing sight of the people they are trying to serve.What You'll LearnA simple four-stage way to think about validation, from idea to scalingWhy “friends, family, and fools” feedback is a signal, but not proofHow to spot when you are still in hustle mode, even if you call it tractionWhere pivots are most realistic, and when they get expensiveHow to use competitor reviews, sales transcripts, and lightweight surveys to speed up market researchA practical method for pairing real-world insights with synthetic personas to test positioningWhy prototyping is one of the most useful AI applications for marketers right nowThe discovery question more founders should ask, and how it can shape your SEO, copy, and campaignsFor quick wins from the lightning round and details on resources mentioned, visit the episode show notes: https://www.leoniconsultinggroup.com/podcasts/is-your-edtech-product-is-ready-to-go-to-marketMentioned in this episode:EdTech Planner 2026Planning a full year of education marketing takes time, and you need a clear path that helps you stay relevant, consistent, and aligned with the moments that matter. Ready to make 2026 your most intentional (and effective!) year yet in education marketing? What The EdTech Marketer's 2026 Planner helps you do: Focus on what matters most to your brand and audience Plan campaigns around key education events Use proven strategies tailored to K–12 and higher ed Build a system that fuels visibility, engagement, and leads For six years, thousands of education and EdTech marketers have used this planner to guide their yearly campaigns and stay aligned with the school calendar. Download here: https://www.leoniconsultinggroup.com/edtech-marketers-planner
Signup for the FREE Masterclass: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/masterclassIn this episode of the Customer Success Pro Podcast, host Anika Zubair and guest AsAshley Stamps-Lafont discuss the evolving role of customer success within go-to-market strategies. They explore the importance of building relationships, establishing trust, and the necessity of aligning customer success with revenue goals. Ashley shares her experiences as the first VP of Customer Success at Quotapath, emphasizing the need for customer success leaders to understand financial metrics and the shift towards revenue ownership. The conversation also touches on the future of customer success, the importance of communication, and actionable advice for aspiring leaders in the field.Chapters:00:00 The Role of Customer Success in Go-To-Market Strategy14:39 Building Relationships and Trust in Customer Success24:44 Metrics and Revenue Ownership in Customer Success39:29 Future Directions for Customer Success46:51 Advice for Aspiring Customer Success LeadersConnect with Anika Zubair: Website: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikazubair/RevUP Academy: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupConnect with Ashley Stamps-Lafont:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleystampslafont/Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-eventWant to be my next podcast guest apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guestDownload my freebies:https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/resources
Why do some go-to-market strategies fall flat while others drive lasting success? In this episode of StrategyCast, learn how to cut through GTM complexity, align teams, and use AI for smarter decisions, so your marketing efforts produce real, reliable impact!And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details.==Let's Break It Down==03:52 Decision-Making Breakdown Causes Complexity07:41 SDR Impact on Campaign Success12:35 "AI's Role in Early Strategy"15:25 "Key Skills for Better Execution"17:42 "Integrated Marketing Ecosystem Explained"20:06 "Know Your Buyer"23:35 "Streamlining Decisions with AI"==Where You Can Find Us==Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast==Leave a Review==Hey there, StrategyCast fans!If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!
Most founders are terrified of "Red Oceans" or markets saturated with massive competitors. They think the only way to win is to find a completely untapped "Blue Ocean." In this episode of the ProductLed 100 series, Wes Bush sits down with Patrick Thompson (CEO of Clarify.ai) and Esben Friis-Jensen (Co-Founder of Userflow) to discuss why entering a crowded market is actually the smartest move a founder can make if you have the right strategy. Patrick reveals how he spent six months interviewing potential customers before writing a single line of code for Clarify, an autonomous CRM designed to disrupt the industry giants. Together with Esben, they break down the exact framework for validating problems, the power of business model disruption through pricing wars, and why "feature parity" is not the goal. Whether you are building a new startup or trying to carve out space in a competitive category, this episode offers a masterclass in customer discovery, positioning, and Go-To-Market execution. Key Highlights: 02:15 : Why Patrick spent 6 months on discovery before writing a line of code 06:53 : The "Red Ocean" Advantage: Why crowded markets are easier than Blue Oceans 10:10 : How to differentiate when features are commoditized 12:34 : Using price and ease of use as a wedge against incumbents 18:31 : The 3-Step Framework for building what people want: ICP, Channels, and Business Model 23:12 : Which acquisition channels actually work (Product Hunt vs. Founder-led Marketing) 30:04 : Why complex products still need human onboarding, even in PLG 36:49 : How to operationalize customer feedback for engineering teams Resources:
בפרק חדש ווירטואלי, יוני אירח את יונתן גור זאב, Co-Founder & CPO @ Weavy (Figma Weave) לשיחה פרקטית על הדרך לבניית מוצר מ-0 ל-1 בעולם שבו הטכנולוגיה משתנה בקצב מהיר מאוד והציפיות רק עולות כל הזמן. ---------- דיברנו על: - איך ניגשים לתכנן את הגרסה הראשונה במוצרי AI? - איך אוספים פידבק ממשתמשים פוטנציאליים כבר בשלבים מוקדמים? - מהן ההשפעות של מגבלות המודלים והטכנולוגיה על המוצר שיצרו? - ומה הדרך האפקטיבית לייצר אסטרטגיית Go-To-Market לקהל מקצועי ולא מתפשר?
In this recap episode, we highlight the best moments from our 2025 interviews and reflect on the ideas that defined the year.Featuring:David Rubenstein (co-founder of Carlyle) - From White House to Wall Street: David RubensteinYamini Rangan (CEO of HubSpot) - HubSpot CEO on the Future of SaaS, AI, & Leading Through ChangeBen Chestnut (co-founder of Mailchimp) - Bootstrapped to 12B: Mailchimp's Ben Chestnut on Life After the ExitWinston Weinberg (co-founder and CEO of Harvey) - I Raised $300M To Bring AI To Laywers | Winston Weinberg & HarveyGarrett Lord (co-founder of Handshake) - The Expert Network Behind Handshake AI's Model Training w/ Garrett Lord & Mamoon HamidAidan Gomez (co-founder and CEO of Cohere) - Synthetic Data and the Future of AI | Cohere CEO Aidan GomezMichelle Zatlyn (co-founder of Cloudflare) - Building Cloudflare for the Next 50 Years | Co-founder Cloudflare Michelle ZatlynEvan Spiegel (co-founder and CEO of Snap) - How Snap Plans to Win the AR Race | Evan Spiegel on SpectaclesConnect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGritLearn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
In this episode of the B2B Go-To-Market Leaders Podcast, Vijay Damojipurapu speaks with Akshay Doshi, SVP of Sales at SpotDraft, about building repeatable value in B2B SaaS—and why great go-to-market is ultimately about elevating customers, not just closing deals.Akshay shares his journey from SDR to sales leader, including formative lessons from customer success, enterprise account management, and scaling sales teams during uncertainty—most notably, building SpotDraft's GTM engine just as the pandemic reshaped buying behavior worldwide.The conversation explores how modern GTM leaders can design sales motions that mirror the customer experience, create trust through expectation-setting, and build systems that scale culture—not just revenue.They dive into:Why Akshay defines GTM as go-to-repeatable value, not just pipeline or quota.How experience in customer success makes sales leaders more credible and effective.Designing sales processes that reflect the onboarding and delivery experience customers will actually receive.Building trust by saying “no” to the wrong customers—and why it pays off years later.Scaling a sales culture through values, micro-wins, and cultural carriers.How sales and marketing must operate as a single orchestration layer, not separate functions.Lessons from scaling SpotDraft through outbound, word-of-mouth, and customer love during COVID.Why AI in legal tech requires careful expectation-setting, not hype-driven positioning.Advice for aspiring GTM leaders: learn adjacent functions early and think like an operator, not just a seller.This episode is a deep, practical look at how modern sales leaders can build durable GTM systems by aligning value, culture, and customer outcomes.Connect with Vijay Damojipurapu on LinkedInConnect with Akshay Doshi on LinkedInBrought to you by: stratyve.com
What happens when AI becomes your most influential referrer?As consumers turn to ChatGPT for answers, James Cadwallader and his team at Profound help brands like Eight Sleep and MongoDB gain visibility and leverage inside AI models.On this episode of Grit, he explains why brand narrative has shifted away from content, and why Profound is scaling globally ahead of traditional SaaS timelines.Guest: James Cadwallader, co-founder and CEO of Profound and Ilya Fushman, partner at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with James CadwalladerX: https://x.com/thejamescad?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsca/Connect with Ilya FushmanX: https://x.com/ilyafLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyafushman/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGritLearn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Pour l'épisode de cette semaine, je reçois Jonathan Chemouny, GTM Europe chez Eleven Labs.Eleven Labs est aujourd'hui le leader mondial de l'IA audio : synthèse vocale (text-to-speech), transcription (speech-to-text), doublage multilingue, musique générative et surtout agents vocaux capables d'interagir en temps réel de manière ultra naturelle.Au cours de cet épisode, Jonathan revient sur son parcours, de l'entrepreneuriat à ses expériences chez Intercom et Lattice, jusqu'à son rôle actuel chez Eleven Labs où il pilote le Go-To-Market en Europe dans un contexte de croissance exceptionnelle (plus de 200M$ d'ARR atteints en à peine deux ans).Nous avons longuement parlé des grands cas d'usage d'Eleven Labs (création de contenu, doublage de podcasts, agents vocaux pour le support ou les ventes), des ruptures technologiques qui expliquent l'explosion de la voix (latence, qualité des modèles, orchestration temps réel), mais aussi des usages inattendus qui émergent sur le marché.Jonathan partage également une vision très concrète du Go-To-Market dans l'IA : pourquoi les playbooks SaaS classiques ne fonctionnent plus, comment structurer un moteur d'outbound quand l'inbound explose, le rôle clé des Forward Deployed Engineers (FDE) pour closer des deals complexes, et les expérimentations menées avec l'IA vocale pour prospecter, qualifier et convertir plus vite.Un épisode dense et très opérationnel, au cœur des enjeux actuels du SaaS et de l'intelligence artificielle.Vous pouvez suivre Jonathan sur LinkedIn.Bonne écoute !Mentionnés pendant l'épisode :Eleven LabsIntercomLatticeLemlistClayPalantirDoctolibNever Split the Difference – Chris VossInfluence et Manipulation – Robert CialdiniPour soutenir SaaS Connection en 1 minute⏱ (et 2 secondes) :Abonnez-vous à SaaS Connection sur votre plateforme préférée pour ne rater aucun épisode
Rob Turano, Operating Partner at Bloom Equity Partners, breaks down the playbook he uses to transform lower middle-market software companies—from sharpening product focus to elevating talent and building repeatable go-to-market engines. He shares how Bloom integrates operating partners early in diligence, accelerates transformation in the first 12–18 months, and instills a performance culture rooted in data, speed, and ownership. Rob also gets personal, from his love of cooking to the practices he uses to think more clearly as a leader. It's a sharp, candid look at what real value creation in private equity demands today—hit play and take notes. Episode Highlights 1:31 – Growing up in New Jersey, Villanova roots, and the consulting-to-private-equity path 5:56 – Why food matters in Rob's life and how he became Bloom's unofficial in-house chef 9:22 – The three traits Bloom looks for: focus, management strength, and GTM maturity 14:38 – Selling value vs. selling features—and why every salesperson must think like a CFO 20:49 – How Bloom's deal, BD, and operating teams collaborate from diligence through execution 27:45 – The urgency of the first 6–12 months and the sequencing of transformation in PE 36:18 – Rob's top advice to PortCos today: talent first, disciplined KPIs, and repeatable GTM engines 40:25 – The book shift that made Rob more creative—and the life hack that helps him think clearly For more information on Bloom Equity Partners, go to https://www.bloomequitypartners.com/ For more information on Robert Turano, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-turano
Building a Rock-Solid GTM in Financial ServicesIn this snippet, Pavan Bachwal, VP & Head of Financial Services at Ericsson, breaks down what it really takes to build a successful go-to-market strategy in the complex financial services ecosystem.According to him, the foundation rests on four core pillars:Technology- getting it right from day one.Organization- aligning legal, regulatory, operational, technical, marketing, and consumer-facing teams.People- motivating and bringing together like-minded talent.Licensing- ensuring every piece of compliance is locked in.Once these are in place, the GTM plan becomes clear:
Turning down a $3B offer from Facebook is a bold move for any young CEO.Evan Spiegel shares how Snap's early dream was to stay independent and give its community an authentic voice, a bet that proved right.He also explains why they are now doubling down on AR glasses and why the anxiety around AI deserves far more attention from tech leaders.Guest: Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc. and Bing Gordon, Advisor at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with Evan SpiegelX:https://x.com/evanspiegel?lang=enLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-spiegel/Connect with Bing GordonX: https://x.com/bingfish LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/binggordon/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Closed Circuit Selling: Why the Funnel Is Breaking Your GTMMost go-to-market teams aren't failing on effort. They're failing on architecture.In this episode, we sit down with Charles Needham (co-author of Cold Call Algo) alongside Adem Manderovic (CRO School) to break down why the linear funnel is the biggest sacred cow in sales, and why Closed Circuit Selling is the better model for modern outbound.We unpack incentives, silos, CAC payback insanity, and why “meetings booked” became a broken religion. Then we get practical. How to run outbound as market learning. How to capture timing signals. And how to build feedback loops that actually make marketing, sales, and customer success stronger together.Tune in and learn:+ Why buyer journeys are non-linear, and funnels create blind spots+ How to shift from meetings quotas to conversation-driven market validation+ Why intent data can't replace first-party conversationsIf you're a B2B marketer or revenue leader, this is the blueprint for building a GTM system that compounds instead of churns.-----------------------------------------------------
If you're in B2B SaaS, you probably feel it already: the old way of “just hire more SDRs and send more emails” is broken.Everyone has the same tooling. Everyone is running the same sequences. Everyone is “personalising at scale” with the same prompts. Yet pipeline quality is down, efficiency is under scrutiny, and suddenly… go-to-market (GTM) design has become a first-class strategic problem.Few people are better positioned to talk about this shift than Harrison Rose.Harrison co-founded Paddle, helped turn it into one of the UK's fastest-growing software companies, and has now raised a $13M Series A (led by Notion Capital, with participation from Robin Capital, Inovia, Salicap, Common Magic, Andrena and more) to build GoodFit – an AI-driven GTM data platform.Here's what's covered:00:47 | What GoodFit actually does — mapping your entire market and scoring every account01:32 | Paddle origins → the first-principles GTM problem that later became GoodFit03:31 | From internal tool to standalone company — recognizing the “product inside Paddle”04:18 | Who buys GoodFit — why B2B tech is the first adopter (and why the market is much bigger)06:28 | Second-time founder advantage — credibility, networks, and selling before the product exists08:29 | Choosing investors — why Notion, avoiding echo chambers, and constructing a syndicate13:24 | Bootstrapping for four years — optionality, profitability curiosity, and knowing when VC is the right path18:34 | AI's real impact on go-to-market — why most teams are just automating bad outreach22:25 | The GoodFit vision — deciding who to sell to, why, and how (and leaving execution to others)35:34 | Leaving Paddle — identity, founder evolution, and learning to lead differently the second time around46:40 | Giving back — why Harrison opens his inbox for “weird, gnarly, unsaid” founder questions
In episode #336, Ben Murray breaks down his top three go-to-market efficiency metrics that every SaaS and AI operator should master. He explains when each metric becomes meaningful, how they differ across go-to-market motions, why ACV-based benchmarking matters, and how these metrics become forward-looking tools through forecasting. Ben also highlights the importance of having fully burdened sales and marketing expenses in place so these efficiency metrics are accurate and defensible. What You'll Learn The three most important go-to-market efficiency metrics and why they matter How ACV—not ARR—should drive your benchmarking Why these metrics are proactive when used in forecasting, not just historical How revenue types (subscription vs. usage vs. platform/overage) influence metric design The foundational role of fully burdened sales and marketing expenses Why It Matters Enables operators to measure the true efficiency of sales and marketing investments Provides clarity on the health and scalability of the go-to-market motion Helps leadership benchmark realistically against peers using ACV-based expectations Allows finance teams to forecast forward-looking efficiency, not just track history Ensures efficiency metrics remain accurate as product pricing and revenue models evolve Prevents major errors caused by incomplete or misallocated CAC inputs Resources Mentioned Ben's SaaS Metrics Framework (Pillar 5: Go-to-Market Efficiency): https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation Ray Rike's benchmarking data at benchmarkit.ai Blog posts on modifying metrics for subscription + usage revenue models: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-calculate-cac-payback-period-with-variable-revenue/
SaaStr 832: How to Use AI to Hyper-Customize Go-To-Market at Scale with SaaStr's CEO and Chief AI Officer In this episode from SaaStr AI London 2025, SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and SaaStr's Chief AI Officer, Amelia Lerutte discuss the implementation and optimization of AI SDRs within various business contexts. They focus on key AI agents used for sales processes, data aggregation, and the customization of outbound and inbound messages. Real-world results, like increased email response rates, are highlighted along with practical steps for setting up and training AI SDRs. They also offer advice on selecting the right vendors, the importance of human oversight, and leveraging AI to improve qualification and customer interactions. Key takeaways include how AI can handle more interactions consistently and efficiently and the role of AI in augmenting human sales capabilities. --------------------- This episode is Sponsored in part by HappyFox: Imagine having AI agents for every support task — one that triages tickets, another that catches duplicates, one that spots churn risks. That'd be pretty amazing, right? HappyFox just made it real with Autopilot. These pre-built AI agents deploy in about 60 seconds and run for as low as 2 cents per successful action. All of it sits inside the HappyFox omnichannel, AI-first support stack — Chatbot, Copilot, and Autopilot working as one. Check them out at happyfox.com/saastr --------------------- Hey everybody, the biggest B2B + AI event of the year will be back - SaaStr AI in the SF Bay Area, aka the SaaStr Annual, will be back in May 2026. With 68% VP-level and above, 36% CEOs and founders and a growing 25% AI-first professional, this is the very best of the best S-tier attendees and decision makers that come to SaaStr each year. But here's the reality, folks: the longer you wait, the higher ticket prices can get. Early bird tickets are available now, but once they're gone, you'll pay hundreds more so don't wait. Lock in your spot today by going to podcast.saastrannual.com to get my exclusive discount SaaStr AI SF 2026. We'll see you there.
In this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, Warren Zenna sits down with Amy Osmond Cook, Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, to tackle the pressing challenge of balancing AI innovation with authentic human connection. As revenue leaders race to adopt AI-native strategies, the risk of losing trust through impersonal automation grows. Amy shares her perspective on why technology should enhance, not replace, the creative human element in Go-To-Market motions, setting the stage for a discussion on modern leadership.Amy details the evolution of Fullcast into a comprehensive Revenue Operations platform through strategic acquisitions like Ebsta and Copy.ai. She explains how these moves allowed the company to build a fully AI-native sales performance management solution. By integrating territory planning, forecasting, and analytics, Fullcast aims to solve the fragmented tech stack issue. Amy outlines the vision behind merging these capabilities to support mid-market and enterprise revenue teams effectively.Integrating multiple companies is a complex operational challenge. Amy discusses the nuances of merging distinct cultures and leadership styles into one cohesive organization. She emphasizes the importance of clear communication, defined playbooks, and celebrating wins to align distributed teams. Her insights provide a practical blueprint for leaders managing growth through acquisition while striving to maintain a unified company identity and shared purpose across international borders.Finally, the dialogue covers the evolving landscape for revenue leaders. Warren and Amy examine the pressure on CROs to adopt AI strategies while relying on experience to guide decision-making. Amy explains how Fullcast meets customers where they are, offering flexible solutions for their specific needs. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the skills required to lead in the current market and how to navigate the intersection of data and intuition successfully.
What if the key to explosive business growth isn't doing more, but doing less, only much better? In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, Vinay Koshy speaks with David Snider, founder and CEO of Harness Wealth, to unpack the transformative power of specialization. From scaling Compass from pre-launch to a $1.8 billion valuation, to building a platform shaped by a personal encounter with bad tax advice, David Snider reveals the counterintuitive strategies and data-driven decision-making that fueled his journey. You'll hear how narrowing focus not only ignited rapid revenue growth but also strengthened trust, team building, and technology adoption in a notoriously traditional industry. Ready to learn how refusing to serve everyone can actually help you serve and win over the right ones? Tune in for tactical insights on storytelling, technology integration, and cultivating a culture that delivers standout results. If you've ever wondered how to break through plateaus, build scalable trust, or harness the hidden drivers of client referrals, this conversation is your blueprint for going further by zeroing in. Some topics we explore in this episode include: The origin story of Harness Wealth fueled by bad tax advice.How specialization accelerates business growth and revenue.The power of storytelling and data synthesis in fundraising.Tech adoption challenges for professional service firms.Pivoting from a marketplace to a SaaS revenue model.Using content marketing and education to build client trust.Company culture and values driving high client satisfaction.Onboarding that matches advisors and clients by specialization.Strategies to avoid commoditization of specialized services.Future growth areas and emerging advisor specializations.And much, much more...
What does it take to go from advising founders to becoming one?On this week's special Reverse Grit episode, we flip the script and put our Grit podcast host Joubin Mirzadegan in the guest seat.Joubin recently founded Roadrunner, where he is now co-founder & CEO. Roadrunner is building an AI‑native CPQ to modernize the quote‑to‑cash stack, drawing on years of conversations he's had with enterprise revenue leaders.Stepping into the host role, Mamoon Hamid joins Joubin to talk about his transition from sales leader to founder, how Roadrunner came together, and why it became our first incubation since Glean.Roadrunner is hiring! Check them out: https://www.roadrunner.ai/Guest: Joubin Mirzadegan, Partner, Kleiner PerkinsConnect with MamoonXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
Send us a textGuest: Prasanth Chilukuri, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Soul Street Ventures -- The biggest threat to early-stage SaaS growth isn't competition. It's founder distraction, unfocused GTM motions, and chasing quick wins instead of building a real business.In this episode, Prasanth Chilukuri, co-founder and managing partner of Soul Street Ventures, joins host Ken Lempit to reveal why most early-stage SaaS companies struggle long before product issues surface — and how disciplined strategy, a tight ICP, and hands-on founder coaching unlock meaningful, scalable traction.Drawing on his experience both as a SaaS founder (Tekmetric) and investor, Prasanth explains why “scale with soul” isn't just a mantra, but a framework for building durable companies that don't rely on hype, vanity channels, or coast-driven valuation games.Key takeaways from this episode:Why misaligned ICPs and GTM distractions quietly stall early-stage SaaSHow to test, retest, and refine GTM motions using real customer behaviorWhy AI discoverability is reshaping marketing efficiency (and what to do about it)How venture style differs across regions — and why it matters for foundersWhy founder coachability, discipline, and mindset are the strongest predictors of growthHow unique SaaS data assets create new value (and why most companies underuse them)If you're a B2B SaaS founder, CRO, or CMO navigating early-stage go-to-market, evaluating AI's impact on your product, or preparing for institutional capital, this episode offers a practical, grounded playbook for building a company that truly lasts.---Not Getting Enough Demos? Your messaging could be turning buyers away before you even get a chance to pitch.
Every traditional financial institution faces the same dilemma: evolve or fall behind, build or buy. But when safety, predictability, and trust is paramount, how do traditional finance companies innovate? How do they place their innovation bets, and decide what to explore and not to explore? Fidelity Chairman and CEO Abigail P. Johnson shares an inside look into Fidelity's decade of crypto experimentation -- from early Bitcoin mining to building foundational custody infrastructure to stablecoins and much more. Johnson shares how Fidelity explored dozens of crypto use cases; why only one initially mattered, and how a single foothold shaped a long-term institutional strategy. This episode is for anyone interested in exploring how innovation happens inside companies, how startups can partner with big institutions, how TradFi is approaching crypto in this "Year of Institutional Adoption"... and what the next decade of financial infrastructure might look like.We originally recorded it at our Founders Summit event in October 2025, in conversation with a16z crypto COO Anthony Albanese, who was the Chief Regulatory Officer of the New York Stock Exchange before joining a16z; and was previously acting superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), where he signed and issued New York's first-ever BitLicense.As a reminder, none of the following is investment, business, or tax advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
AI is already changing how we meet, collaborate, and get work done. But what comes next and how can organizations prepare their AV and UC ecosystems for the next wave of AI?In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL's Mathew DeFreitas talks with Sudeep Trivedi, Head of Alliances and Go-To-Market at Logitech. They explore how AI is enhancing meetings today, the next phase of AI, called pervasive AI, and what it will mean for workplace productivity and engagement. Additionally, they highlight how Logitech and AVI-SPL are helping organizations build flexible, AI-enabled collaboration environments.Key conversation takeaways:AI is automating meeting tasks such as transcription, note-taking, and actionable insightsLogitech solutions like Rally Bar and Sight are already powering AI-driven collaborationPervasive AI is emerging as an always-on experience, improving workplace productivity and engagement continuously and contextuallyAVI-SPL and Logitech work together to design AV and UC ecosystems ready for current and future AI capabilitiesLogitech technologies embed AI and machine learning across hardware and software for smarter, more connected experiencesExplore how Logitech and AVI-SPL are helping organizations adopt and prepare for pervasive AI in the workplace.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL: Linkedin X YouTube
Fifteen years in, it can still feel like “we're just getting started.”Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of Cloudflare, returns to Grit with Joubin Mirzadegan to share how Cloudflare secures the internet for millions, with a vision built to last generations.She also shares why staying close to reality and to customers becomes harder as success compounds, and how Cloudflare is helping content creators regain control in an AI driven internet.Guest: Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder and President of CloudflareConnect with Michelle ZatlynXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
On this episode of Embracing Erosion, Devon sits down with Molly Chapman, Senior Associate of Product Marketing at Apax Partners. Molly's career spans both agency and in-house roles across industries like travel, and financial services — from shaping campaigns at STA Travel, to leading product marketing and GTM strategy at Moorepay, and now advising a diverse portfolio of companies within one of the world's leading private equity firms.In their conversation, they discuss how she guides portfolio teams without owning their strategy, what product marketing looks like in a PE context, and how the discipline itself is evolving — both inside traditional tech companies and beyond. Enjoy the conversation!
Welcome back to the show. I appreciate you being here. As we head into Thanksgiving, I want to talk about something that can transform your motivation, your mindset, and your go to market strategy. That thing is gratitude.Gratitude is more than a feeling. It is energy. It is fuel. It is a tool you can use to execute at a higher level. When you apply gratitude with intention, you unlock clarity, momentum, and positive action.Today, I want to share how gratitude can help you stay motivated, how it can help you get unstuck, and how it can improve the way you serve your customers. Let's get started.⸻Gratitude as FuelGratitude shifts your focus. When you feel grateful, you stop thinking about what you lack. You start noticing everything you already have. That shift builds momentum. It creates internal power that drives your next move.When you feel tired or stuck, pause for a moment and ask yourself a few questions:What am I thankful for right now?Who in my life gives me strength?What opportunities do I have that I might be overlooking?Every time you return to these questions, your mindset resets. You move from limitation to possibility. You stop spiraling and start executing.⸻Gratitude Creates MotivationGratitude protects you from burnout. It keeps your energy focused on progress. When you look for what is working, your brain becomes more solution oriented. You begin to believe again. You remember that the next call matters. The next conversation matters. The next customer matters.When gratitude becomes a habit, your motivation becomes more consistent. You show up stronger. You think more clearly. And your team feels that energy too. People want to work with someone who radiates belief and positivity.⸻Gratitude and Customer ObsessionGratitude makes you care deeply about the people you serve. When you build from gratitude, you do not see your customers as numbers. You see them as partners who trust you.This mindset creates a powerful advantage in your go to market strategy.A grateful business becomes a customer obsessed business.You start asking new questions:What pain are they experiencing?What friction can I remove for them?What outcome can I help them achieve faster?How can I make their day easier right now?Gratitude turns selling into serving. And serving always wins.⸻Using Gratitude to Break Through StagnationEveryone experiences moments where they feel stuck. That is normal. But here is the truth. You cannot feel stuck and grateful at the same time. These two states cannot exist together.So the next time you feel stuck, do something simple. Write down ten things you are grateful for. Include people. Include lessons. Include challenges. Include anything that has shaped you.You will feel your energy shift. You will feel clarity return. Gratitude opens the door. Action takes you through it. And momentum carries you forward.⸻Thanksgiving MessageBefore we close, I want to say thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your support. Thank you for following along on this journey over the years.I am truly grateful for you. Your time. Your trust. Your belief. Your commitment.None of this happens without you.I hope you and your loved ones have a great Thanksgiving filled with joy, connection, and rest. Remember what you are grateful for. Let that gratitude guide your decisions and your actions in the weeks ahead.Thank you again for being here. Keep going. Keep serving. Keep selling. Keep believing.Happy Thanksgiving.
SaaStr 831: How We Use 20+ AI Agents for Marketing & Go-to-Market with SaaStr's Chief AI Officer and CEO & Founder Join us for part two of our series on leveraging AI tools for Go-To-Market in B2B/SaaS. In this episode, SaaStr's CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin, and SaaStr's Chief AI Officer, Amelia Lerutte discuss the importance and current state of AI in marketing, highlighting their key tech stack and tools. They share their experiences and insights in utilizing these tools for creating personalized marketing collateral, automating content repurposing, and optimizing email campaigns with AI. Learn about the convergence of sales and marketing tools, the future of AI in go-to-market strategies, and how specialized AI agents can dramatically improve your outreach, lead generation, and content creation processes. --------------------- This episode is Sponsored in part by Salesforce: Connect data, automate busywork and empower teams like nobody's business with the one platform that grows with you, every step of the way. Learn how Salesforce works for Startups at salesforce.com/smb. --------------------- This episode is Sponsored in part by HappyFox: Imagine having AI agents for every support task — one that triages tickets, another that catches duplicates, one that spots churn risks. That'd be pretty amazing, right? HappyFox just made it real with Autopilot. These pre-built AI agents deploy in about 60 seconds and run for as low as 2 cents per successful action. All of it sits inside the HappyFox omnichannel, AI-first support stack — Chatbot, Copilot, and Autopilot working as one. Check them out at happyfox.com/saastr --------------------- Hey everybody, the biggest B2B + AI event of the year will be back - SaaStr AI in the SF Bay Area, aka the SaaStr Annual, will be back in May 2026. With 68% VP-level and above, 36% CEOs and founders and a growing 25% AI-first professional, this is the very best of the best S-tier attendees and decision makers that come to SaaStr each year. But here's the reality, folks: the longer you wait, the higher ticket prices can get. Early bird tickets are available now, but once they're gone, you'll pay hundreds more so don't wait. Lock in your spot today by going to podcast.saastrannual.com to get my exclusive discount SaaStr AI SF 2026. We'll see you there.
Screens have pulled families apart. Brynn Putnam set out to bring them back together with Board, the world's ‘first face-to-face game console.'On Grit, she tells Joubin Mirzadegan how every venture she's built, including Mirror, started as a personal need, and how her true edge is the ability to strip an idea down to what actually matters.Guest: Brynn Putnam, founder and CEO of BoardConnect with Brynn PutnamXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
Today, we're continuing our Strategy That Moves Your Business series with our 3rd episode: Go-To-Market Strategy That Wins Business. Specifically, how to bring new or existing products or services into existing or new markets and position yourself to win. We see many businesses underestimate the time and effort it takes to successfully execute these go-to-market efforts. Today you'll learn what's included in a comprehensive go-to-market strategy - and how to turn it into results for your business. For more about ForthRight Business by ForthRight People or for 1:1 consultation, check us out at ForthRight-Business.com And as always, if you need Strategic Counsel, don't hesitate to reach out to us at: ForthRight-People.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/forthrightpeople.marketingagency INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/forthrightpeople/ LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/forthright-people/ RESOURCES https://www.forthright-people.com/resources VIRTUAL CONSULTANCY https://www.forthright-people.com/shop
In this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, Michael LeJeune speaks with Alexa Tsui about the industry shift from traditional business development and capture toward disciplined go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Alexa explains why top tech entrants (Palantir, OpenAI, etc.) hire “go-to-market” leaders, not old-school BD roles, and why GovCon companies must stop piling up tools and start building a repeatable story, capability portfolio, and process. Learn the essentials: define what you sell, clarify your “why,” craft case-study-driven stories, use LinkedIn strategically, and prioritize painkillers over vitamins. If you want a focused pipeline, clearer decisions, and faster scale, this episode shows where to start. ----- Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Guest: Brian Gustason, Operating Partner at Craig Group Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection
How do companies like Salesforce and Dell scale intelligence across every cloud?Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Cohere, explains how they're building AI that works across all enterprise systems and deploys anywhere, giving companies true flexibility and security.He joins Joubin Mirzadegan for a wide-ranging conversation on why synthetic data went from dismissed to indispensable, and how the race among AI labs is really unfolding.Guest: Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of CohereConnect with Aidan: XLinkedInConnect with Joubin: XLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
Join hosts Ken Roden and Erin Mills as they reflect on an incredible Season 2 of the FutureCraft GTM podcast. From pilot purgatory to agent swarms, they unpack how AI in go-to-market evolved throughout the year, share their biggest lessons learned, and make bold predictions for 2026. Key Topics Covered Season 2 Reflections [00:01:00] The slow start vs. strong finish of AI adoption Pilot purgatory and why 95% of AI rollouts struggled The accordion effect of AI tools throughout the year Guest Predictions Review - "They Called It" [00:04:00] Rachel Tru Air on AI SDRs: Still a work in progress Chase Hannigan on no-code agentic systems: Ahead of the curve Liza Adams on EQ being the edge: Called it perfectly Major Themes That Emerged [00:08:00] Adoption over tools as the key to success AI as teammate vs. AI as output generator The "sandwich model" - humans at both ends, AI in the middle Curiosity and EQ as critical differentiators What Failed This Year [00:10:00] AI vendor spray-and-pray marketing Custom GPT overload (600 GPTs at one company!) Rolling out LLMs without proper change management Business Impact Wins [00:17:00] Speed to market improvements Analytics accessibility for non-technical users 600% more time on site from AI-driven traffic Time auditing as a measurement strategy Personal Lightning Round [00:32:00] Most overhyped buzzword: AIEO Underrated tool: N8N Biggest personal unlock: Self-regulation with AI use Best use case: Digital twins and content workflows 2026 Predictions [00:24:00] Agent swarms and workforces (Erin's pick) Digital twins as the hero (Ken's pick) Closed company-specific LLMs Fractional AI experts with their own agent teams New organizational structures emerging Notable Quotes "AI is like an intern with a PhD who doesn't have any business experience" - Ken "Digital twins are great, but I think it's gonna be swarms" - Erin "It's 90% focus on the people and 10% on the execution now, not the other way around" - Erin "Get your hands dirty. Because this is new to everybody, there's a real need to understand what your team is going through" - Erin Guests Mentioned This Episode Liza Adams Rachel Truair (Simpro) Chase Hannegan Sheena Miles Rebecca Shaddix Chris Penn Key Takeaways Change management is critical - 80% focus on people, 20% on execution Start with boring problems - Don't chase the sexiest AI use cases Define acceptable mistakes - Know when to call a pilot a failure Agent swarms are the future - Moving beyond single-purpose tools Communities matter - AI has opened unprecedented knowledge sharing Speed to market - Months-long processes now taking days or hours Resources Mentioned N8N workflow automation platform Relevance AI Lindy ElevenLabs (voice) Planet Money AI recruiting segment Chris Penn's analytics community Coming in Season 3 (March 2026) Human agentic workflows with verification stopgaps Agent swarm implementations New modalities: voice and video applications More on the Iron Man suit approach to fractional AI work Share what you want to see in Season 3 & Connect with the Hosts: Ken Roden Erin Mills About FutureCraft Stay tuned for more insightful episodes from the FutureCraft podcast, where we continue to explore the evolving intersection of AI and GTM. Take advantage of the full episode for in-depth discussions and much more. To listen to the full episode and stay updated on future episodes, visit our website, https://www.futurecraftai.media/ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered advice. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own and do not represent those of any company or business we currently work for/with or have worked for/with in the past. Music: Far Away - MK2
The hardest company to build is the one you start after you've already succeeded.After scaling Yext into a platform powering millions of businesses, Howard Lerman chose to start over with Roam, the “Office of the Future,” where humans and AI work side by side from anywhere.On Grit, he joins Joubin Mirzadegan to talk about the solitude of leadership and what happens when you stop building for Wall Street.Guest: Howard Lerman, co-founder and former CEO of Yext, and founder and CEO of RoamConnect with Howard LermanXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
✨ Alex Powell, Senior Manager of Go-To-Market Strategy at Target☁️ How Alex pivoted from hospitality into a career in brand marketing☁️ The unexpected job that launched her marketing career☁️ What startup marketing really looks like behind the scenes☁️ How to advocate for yourself when you don't have all the answers☁️ Advice for breaking into marketing without a traditional pathJoin the Sky Society Women in Marketing private LinkedIn group.Follow Sky Society on Instagram @skysociety.co and TikTok @skysociety.co
The hardest part of transformation is knowing what to let go of.Dan O'Connell, now leading Front as CEO and formerly on the board at Dialpad, joins Joubin Mirzadegan to explore the delicate balance between legacy and innovation as he leads a decade old company through the AI revolution.He also reflects on why courage and control can coexist in leadership, and what it means to “make decisions that give you energy.”Guest: Dan O'Connell, CEO of FrontConnect with Dan O'ConnellXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
AI has completely changed the rules of marketing, and finance can't afford to play catch-up. Workiva's VP of Revenue Marketing, Joel Capperella, joins Steve Soter to unpack how AI is reshaping data, trust, and decision-making across the business. As progression analysis evolves and web traffic declines, traditional forecasting and investment models are losing their edge. This episode breaks down what modern finance and marketing leaders must do to keep pace. You'll learn: Why the old CFO-CMO disconnect is no longer sustainable How AI's data disruption is forcing a new model of collaboration Why credibility and transparency are now the most valuable data currencies What separates a caretaker CFO from a truly transformative one Watch the full episode for practical insights on data trust, financial transformation, and redefining success in the age of AI. 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Rewriting the Marketing Playbook with AI 02:42 The Changing Role of CFOs in the AI Era 06:25 The Future of Marketing and Finance Collaboration 10:14 Closing Thoughts
Marketing Leadership Podcast: Strategies From Wise D2C & B2B Marketers
Dots Oyebolu talks with Steffen Hedebrandt, CMO and Co-Founder of Dreamdata. Steffen shares his insights on building a revenue-driven marketing culture and how B2B teams can use data to align marketing activities with business outcomes. He discusses why attribution should focus on impact, the balance between experimentation and scaling, and how lean go-to-market teams can operate efficiently while maintaining creativity.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.04:17 When using a lot of channels, ensure their revenue is being measured.09:02 Ongoing experimentation complements proven tactics to sustain consistent growth.10:55 Conventional analytics tools often miss complex, multi-stakeholder B2B journeys.15:20 Setting clear capacity limits helps go-to-market teams maintain operational quality.18:41 Lean and resourceful marketing practices encourage creativity and improve efficiency.20:12 Every marketing initiative is assessed by its cost and potential to generate positive ROI.26:33 Measuring contribution to revenue is more effective than over-focusing on attribution.Resources Mentioned:Steffen Hedebrandthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenhedebrandt/Dreamdata | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dreamdata-io/Dreamdata | Websitehttps://dreamdata.io/Insightful Links:https://blog.titan-one.co/revenue-team-alignment-go-to-market-strategyhttps://www.93x.agency/blog/why-marketing-should-own-their-revenue-targetshttps://www.xactlycorp.com/blog/correctly-setup-revenue-attribution-highly-compensated-employeesThanks for listening to the “Marketing Leadership” podcast, brought to you by Listen Network. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation. We appreciate the enthusiasm and support from our community. Currently, we are not accepting new guest interview requests as we focus on our existing lineup. We will announce when we reopen for new submissions. In the meantime, feel free to explore our past episodes and stay tuned for updates on future opportunities.#PodcastMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #BrandMarketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingIntelligence #GTM #B2BMarketing #D2CMarketing #PodcastAds
Tim and Tyler talk to Brent Smith, CEO of New Leaf Symbiotics, about their "behind the scenes" go-to-market strategy and his take on the fragmentation and M&A landscape in biologicals. — This episode is presented by Corteva R&D. — Links New Leaf Symbiotics - https://newleafsym.com New Leaf on AgList - https://aglist.com/partner/newleaf-symbiotics
Before AI became a buzzword, a few true believers were already building.Since early 2022, Mati Staniszewski and his team at ElevenLabs have been among them, working to create voices that “actually represent emotions.”He shares with Joubin Mirzadegan how voice AI is transforming diverse fields, from delivering personalized healthcare for different age groups to amplifying creativity in filmmaking.Guest: Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabsConnect with Mati StaniszewskiXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
What happens when early-stage founders realise their go-to-market strategy just isn't working? Do they double down on outdated advice or take a fresh look at how modern buyers actually engage? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Richard Lowry, founder of Springboard IQ, to unpack how he's helping startups rebuild broken GTM strategies in just seven days through a crowdsourced, operator-led model that challenges everything we think we know about growth. Richard explains how Springboard IQ brings together six active operators to co-create a go-to-market blueprint that's fast, focused, and grounded in the realities of today's market. This approach delivers practical strategy and design rather than execution, giving founders clarity on where to focus their time and energy. As Richard puts it, founders should save their passion for the demo because that's where it really matters. The conversation explores why technical founders often mis-hire sales talent, why relying on outdated accelerator advice can derail growth, and why many teams hit a “GTM wall” long before real scale begins. We also discuss why the future of GTM might look very different from the digital-first strategies of the past. As inboxes flood with automated outreach and AI-generated content, Richard believes human-led activation through curated events, community experiences, and even spontaneous moments of connection will define the next era of startup growth. It's a conversation that blends practical lessons, honest stories (including one involving a soup kitchen in Lisbon), and a call to bring the human element back to how we sell, connect, and grow. So, could a crowdsourcing strategy from active operators be the smarter way for startups to go to market? And in an era of AI-saturated noise, will the next big differentiator simply be showing up in person? I'd love to hear your thoughts after you listen.
What's product-market fit like when you give people the power to do what they never thought was possible?On this rerun of Grit from April 2024, Victor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, shares how his platform gave billions a new way to create video without cameras, and explores a future where video and audio replace text as the primary way to share knowledge and content.Guests: Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of Synthesia and Josh Coyne, Partner at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with Victor RiparbelliX: https://x.com/vriparbelliLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorriparbelli/Connect with Josh CoyneX: https://x.com/josh_coyneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacoyne/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Make your product irresistible, and everything else will follow.That's the philosophy of Grant Lee, co-founder and CEO of Gamma, an AI design platform with an 'anti-PowerPoint approach', used by over 50M people.This week on Grit, he also shares why enduring businesses aren't one person shows, and how their deliberate hiring process shapes and strengthens company culture.Connect with Grant LeeXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins