Podcasts about Saas

Welcome to episode 286 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Paul Bamert, Vice President of Marketing at Case Status.   Paul is a proud member of the Case Status leadership team with a focus on Product Marketing. He specializes in bringing new and disruptive technology and SaaS solutions to market, refining solutions to provide more value to customers and enabling staff to be outcome oriented and success driven. He is passionate about technology and its role in delivering win-wins: helping businesses like law firms run better while at the same time delighting the consumers they serve.  Paul has more than 25 years experience as a technology leader helping businesses and organizations grow through outstanding engagement with consumer-clients. Paul holds a BS in Engineering and Material Science from Duke University and a Masters in Business from The Citadel.     What you'll learn about in this episode: 1. Importance of Client Feedback:     - Minimize negative reviews by addressing concerns early.     - Encourage client referrals and reviews for firm growth. 2. Leveraging Positive Feedback:     - Turn negative feedback into positive outcomes for client loyalty.     - Recognize satisfied clients for stronger relationships and referrals. 3. Evolution of Case Status Software:     - Started with real-time updates, now uses predictive analysis for client interactions.     - Future-focused approach to meet client needs proactively. 4. Client-Centered Approach:     - Proactive client engagement for transparency and satisfaction.     - Integrate case management systems with user-friendly apps for seamless experience. 5. Maximizing Client Satisfaction:     - Prevent negative reviews and leverage satisfied clients for referrals.     - Satisfied clients as key marketing assets for firm growth. Resources:    Website: Case Status LinkedIn: Paul Bamert | LinkedIn Facebook: Facebook Additional Resources:    https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

In this conversation, Rick and Tyler explore various topics ranging from smoking techniques and the evolution of grilling methods to the challenges and benefits of a four-day work week. They discuss business growth strategies, particularly focusing on customer retention and the importance of securing renewals. The conversation shifts to the technical aspects of VoIP systems, including SIP trunking, and the implications of AI on search optimization. Finally, they delve into potential new product opportunities and the strategic considerations of acquiring existing products to enhance their offerings.

MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://⁠movesupplychain.com⁠.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.//Roman Khan isn't just building brands—he's building machines that generate real, distributable cash. In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Roman reveals the systems behind Peak 21's success, including the overlooked levers in supply chain that drive margins, profitability, and growth.If you're a 7–9 figure founder struggling with inventory, margin compression, or scaling profitably—this conversation is a goldmine. Learn why your supplier might be your best financing partner, how a granular bill of materials changes everything, and how Roman's team of 40 in Asia turns under-optimized brands into lean, cash-rich operations.Topics include:- Supply chain as a growth engine (not a bottleneck)- Payment terms, BOMs, and price breaks that fund scale- How Roman avoids debt while growing 50%+ YoY- Why most DTC brands never reach escape velocity- What it takes to actually exit a brandWhether you're looking to scale profitably or exit smart, this episode will shift how you think about operations.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:02:08 - What Is Peak 21?00:07:55 - Process of Vetting A Company For Acquisition00:16:54 - Your Sub $10 Million Revenue Business Should Do This00:30:17 - Supply Chain In Hong Kong00:38:15 - What Is Hot On Roman's Radar for DTC//Roman Khan is the Founder and CEO of Peak21, an ecommerce aggregator doing more than $300M/year in revenue. Follow Roman on X at https://x.com/RomanEcom and inquire about partnering with Peak21 at https://peak21.io. //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Andy Ruben is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, a re-commerce technology company that powers branded resale programs for major labels like Patagonia, Lululemon, REI, and Levi's. Before Trove, he spent a decade at Walmart as the company's first Chief Sustainability Officer, where he launched global sustainability efforts, led omnichannel and private-brand strategies, and integrated e‑commerce — including the rollout of grocery delivery.  Ruben founded Trove (originally Yerdle) in 2012 and introduced the first branded resale platform with Patagonia's Worn Wear in 2017, helping advance the circular economy across more than 150 global brands. He advises BCG and Earthshot Ventures, serves as Lead Independent Director and ESG Committee Chair at Zevia, and has been featured on NPR, TED, and testified before Congress on sustainable business practices. In this episode… Most brands sell products once and lose the customer until their next full-price purchase — often years later. In today's economy, that leaves businesses vulnerable to rising acquisition costs, volatile supply chains, and growing consumer demand for sustainability. So, how can companies reclaim the value of their products, strengthen customer relationships, and stay competitive in the circular economy? Andy Ruben, a sustainability expert and retail pioneer, shares how brands can tap into the hidden inventory in customers' closets by implementing buy-back and resale systems. He explains how branded resale builds loyalty and trust, reduces acquisition costs, and attracts new customers. He emphasizes the importance of starting small, using technology to streamline trade-ins, and designing programs that reinforce the brand's core values. Andy also reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, including hard-earned lessons about building a startup, pivoting business models, and executing founder-led sales in the early stages. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Andy Ruben, Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, about transforming retail through branded resale and the circular economy. Andy shares his startup origin story, the evolution from peer-to-peer to B2B, and insights on customer retention. He also discusses business development missteps, his leadership experience at Walmart, and why speed and focus matter most when launching a new venture.

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom chats with Jeremy Yamaguchi, Founder and CEO of Cabana. A longtime builder in the home services space, Jeremy is now focused on modernizing the pool care industry, one of the largest yet most overlooked service sectors in the U.S. Jeremy shares how his product and marketing background led him to build Cabana with a blend of operational efficiency, software tooling, and local team empowerment. He dives into his strategy around vertical SaaS, customer experience, and the importance of trust and taste when scaling service-based businesses. Key Topics Covered Why the pool industry is primed for tech-enabled reinvention Cabana's approach to building a national brand through software and service How acquisitions, W-2 teams, and onboarding systems set Cabana apart Why founder psychology and team culture matter in field operations Applying tech tools (including ML) to streamline quoting and scheduling Lessons from going through Y Combinator What “slope over Y-intercept” really means in early team building Jeremy's San Diego taco go-to and what makes a taco technically superior Links & Resources Cabana Pools Connect with Jeremy LinkedIn Connect with Neal Bloom LinkedIn: Neal Bloom Twitter: @NealBloom

When Jenny from Lockhart, Texas asked whether email and social tips really apply to nonprofits, Jay Schwedelson gave a hard yes—and then proved it. This episode is all about how to rewire your calls to action with “inner dialogue” buttons that speak directly to what your audience is thinking. Whether you're in nonprofit, B2B, DTC, or SaaS, these simple tweaks can boost your click rates way more than you'd expect. Also: Jay's love-hate relationship with green markets, lavender dog biscuits, and mildly gross soap people.Best Moments:(02:00) Why “does this apply to me?” is the most common (and misguided) marketing question(03:44) The one element everyone overlooks that can drastically lift click-through rates(04:59) How to replace “Donate” with CTAs that actually reflect what donors are thinking(06:30) B2B examples of flipping “Download” into clicks that convert(07:43) Ecomm buttons that tap into guilt, indulgence, and the online shopping spiral(08:15) Jay's favorite SaaS CTA: “Convince me this is worth it”(09:00) Why green markets feel like a fever dream of soap, lavender, and risky mushrooms(10:58) The one vendor Jay always buys from (hint: it's briny)====================Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!Register here: www.GuruConference.com====================Check out Jay's YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/====================MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

Not every SaaS success story starts with a multi-million-dollar seed round. While flashy headlines highlight startups raising big in Silicon Valley, most founders are left asking a far more practical question: Should I bootstrap, or go after funding? In this episode, we're joined by Denise Edwards, the founder of SaaS Launch, a platform that helps early-stage SaaS founders secure the right kind of capital and avoid the wrong kind of investor. We dive into the different types of funding available to SaaS founders and explain the real trade-offs between raising capital vs bootstrapping. Denise breaks down dilutive vs non-dilutive funding and what those terms actually mean for your business long-term. But it's not just about money. Denise highlights the intangible value investors can offer, like mentorship, industry connections, and strategic insights, that often outweigh the dollar signs. We also tackle some of the biggest myths and misconceptions founders believe about fundraising. Finally, Denise walks us through the anatomy of a great pitch, what to say, what to avoid, and how to stand out from the crowd. Whether you're scaling with your own savings or prepping for your first round, this episode will give you the tools and insight to make smarter funding decisions for your SaaS startup. Topics Discussed in this episode: How Denise went from working in SaaS to starting SaaS Launch(01:56) The different types of funding available to SaaS founders (06:30) The pros and cons of raising funding vs bootstrapping (09:00) Dilutive vs non-dilutive funding options (11:27) The intangible benefits that investors bring to the table (17:00) Common myths and misconceptions founders have about fundraising (20:00) The KPIs and metrics that investors look at (24:20) The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching investors (30:23) The anatomy of a great pitch (37:33) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter SaaS Launch  Denise's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take the next step in your SaaS journey with confidence.  

In this episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, Dominik Sobe shares how he built HelpKit, a SaaS platform that turns Notion into a powerful help center. Dominik dives into his journey from a self-taught developer to scaling his business to over 400 customers and $10K in monthly recurring revenue. He shares invaluable marketing strategies, pricing insights, and lessons learned along the way, offering practical advice for anyone looking to launch or grow their own SaaS product. Don't miss this interview that goes into the world of SaaS entrepreneurship! ** Podcast Sponsor - Ahrefs Ready to join a niche publishing mastermind, and hear from industry experts each week? Join the Niche Pursuits Community here: https://community.nichepursuits.com Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links?  Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper Get SEO Consulting from the Niche Pursuits Podcast Host, Jared Bauman: https://www.nichepursuits.com/201creative    

SaaStr 809: Why Enterprise AI Adoption Is Moving 5-10X Faster Than Cloud with Box's CEO and Co-Founder, IBM's VP for AI and SaaStr's CEO and Founder This conversation between Aaron Levie, CEO & Co-Founder of Box, Raj Datta, Global Vice President for Software and A.I. Partnerships at IBM and Jason Lemkin, CEO and Founder of SaaStr, covers the evolution from chat interfaces to digital labor models, the integration of AI to automate complex tasks, and the emergence of new paradigms for businesses deploying AI agents. Key topics include the distinction between AI agents and assistants, the development of proprietary data models, and the rapid pace of AI adoption. With real-world examples from companies like IBM and Box, this session offers insights into how AI is reshaping software ecosystems, enhancing enterprise capabilities, and potentially redefining market moats. ------------------ This episode of the SaaStr podcast is sponsored by: Attention.com   Tired of listening to hours of sales calls? Recording is yesterday's game. Attention.com unleashes an army of AI sales agents that auto-update your CRM, build custom sales decks, spot cross-sell signals, and score calls before your coffee's cold. Teams like BambooHR and Scale AI already automate their Sales and RevOps using customer conversations. Step into the future at attention.com/saastr   ------------------   Hey everyone, we just hosted 10,000 of you at the SaaStr Annual in the SF Bay Area, and now get ready, because SaaStr AI is heading to London! On December 2nd and 3rd, we're bringing SaaStr AI to the heart of Europe. This is your chance to connect with 2,500+ SaaS and AI executives, founders, and investors, all sharing the secrets to scaling in the age of AI.   Whether you're a founder, a revenue leader, or an investor, SaaStr AI in London is where the future of SaaS meets the power of AI. And we just announced tickets and sponsorships, so don't wait! Head to SaaStrLondon.com to grab yours and join us this December in London. SaaStr AI in London —where SaaS meets AI, and the next wave of innovation begins. See you there!

Pricing is a critical lever for managed service providers (MSPs), SaaS providers, and tech companies, yet many organizations treat it as a one-time event rather than an ongoing process. Dan Balcauski, founder and chief pricing officer at Product Tranquility, emphasizes the importance of viewing pricing as a living system that requires continuous iteration and governance. He argues that pricing should be closely tied to the value a company provides, especially in a competitive landscape where both value and market conditions are constantly changing. Balcauski distinguishes between price metrics and pricing models, explaining that many executives mistakenly focus solely on the price itself rather than the broader context of how pricing is structured. He uses the example of McDonald's to illustrate how price metrics can vary based on customer needs and operational viability. By understanding the nuances of pricing metrics and models, companies can better align their pricing strategies with the value they deliver to different customer segments. The conversation also delves into the emerging trends of usage-based and outcome-based pricing. While usage-based pricing is gaining traction, Balcauski cautions that it can lead to confusion due to its broad interpretation. He suggests that outcome-based pricing, while appealing, is challenging to implement effectively because of the difficulty in establishing clear attribution for outcomes. Instead, he proposes a focus on output-based pricing, which measures intermediate outputs that can be more easily quantified. To ensure effective pricing governance, Balcauski advocates for clear ownership and processes within organizations. He stresses the need for companies to define their pricing goals and understand the relationship between customer segments, value, and competition. By embedding pricing governance into their operations, businesses can create a structured approach to pricing that adapts to changing market conditions and customer needs, ultimately leading to better financial outcomes. All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Send us a textUnlock Proven Strategies for a Lucrative Business Exit—Subscribe to The Deep Wealth Podcast TodayHave Questions About Growing Profits And Maximizing Your Business Exit? Submit Them Here, and We'll Answer Them on the Podcast!“Enjoy the journey.” - Dan BalcauskiExclusive Insights from This Week's EpisodesDan Balcauski, founder of Product Tranquility and pricing strategist for high-growth SaaS companies, exposes the silent killers inside your pricing strategy. He unpacks how most founders unknowingly sabotage their growth with guesswork, outdated assumptions, and self-doubt masquerading as humility. 00:04:00 – Why SaaS founders are trapped by imposter syndrome and underpricing00:10:00 – The power of framing pricing as an experiment, not a risk00:12:00 – Dan's origin story: from corporate comfort to entrepreneurial clarity00:17:00 – The 80/20 rule of SaaS pricing failures (and how to spot them)00:20:00 – What makes a great SaaS offer—and why most companies get it wrong00:23:00 – How to price high-ticket vs mass-market SaaS00:30:00 – How to test pricing discreetly without destroying customer trust00:36:00 – The wrong way to price AI (and how to fix it fast)00:41:00 – Why pricing should never be a one-time eventClick here for full show notes, transcript, and resources:https://podcast.deepwealth.com/452Essential Resources to Maximize Your Business ExitLearn More About Deep Wealth MasteryFREE Deep Wealth eBook on Why You Suck At Selling Your Business And What You Can Do About It (Today)BooUnlock Your Lucrative Exit and Secure Your Legacy

In this candid conversation, Bryan Mahoney unpacks his journey from CTO to CEO, exploring what it really takes to evolve beyond the engineering org into leading an entire company. We talk about how his curiosity and hands-on technical skills still shape how he leads today, the mental shifts required to manage AI-driven teams, and how leadership demands evolve as a company scales from services to SaaS.Along the way, Bryan reflects on AI's role in shaping engineering culture, the future of career ladders, and the illusion of control in modern software development. If you've ever wondered what it means to be a modern tech CEO—or how AI is transforming the very DNA of how we build software—this one is for you.

In episode #293, Ben dives into Contracted Annual Recurring Revenue (CARR)—a once obscure metric that's now becoming a standard in financial dashboards and valuation discussions. Ben explains how CARR differs from ARR, breaks down the formula, and shares how it's being used in real-world enterprise SaaS settings. He also shares why defining ARR is more complicated than it seems—especially with variable and usage-based revenue models. Key Topics Covered What is CARR (Contracted ARR) and how it differs from traditional ARR Why CARR is becoming more widely used in valuation discussions and financial reporting The CARR formula How Ben approaches CARR discussions with CFOs, consultants, and within The SaaS Academy The evolving complexity of ARR definitions, especially in hybrid subscription/usage models Resources Mentioned Blog: How to Define ARR in Subscription & Usage Models SaaS Academy – Courses & Community Shoutout Offer Enjoyed the episode? Leave a 5-star review, send Ben a screenshot, and get a shoutout in his newsletter!

SaaS and cloud-based apps are key to businesses of any size, and the proliferation of apps outside of the data centre presents unique challenges to MSPs managing their clients' infrastructures. In this edition of the podcast, we take a look at the threatscape for SaaS apps, as defined by SaaS Alerts' annual SASI Report.

In this episode, I'm giving you the full behind-the-scenes of how I built and launched an AI-powered SaaS product in just six days—yes, six. I share the wild story of how this all unfolded, why I believe speed is one of the most underrated business superpowers, and how I maintained my non-negotiables during one of the most intense workweeks I've had in years. If you're craving inspiration to move faster, follow your creative energy, and lean into momentum, this one's for you.

Customer-Centric Growth is no longer optional—it's the foundation of business success in an AI-first world. In this episode, Andy Halko, a 23-year marketing veteran and author of The Buyer-Centric Operating System, unpacks how companies can thrive by putting the customer at the center of every decision.If you're trying to decode the minds of today's hyper-informed buyers, improve your startup strategy, or integrate AI in marketing, this episode gives you the tools and insights to get ahead. Andy breaks down why understanding buyer psychology is the most critical competitive edge for founders, marketers, and leaders—and how ignoring it can stall your growth.You'll learn:Why old personas no longer work—and how AI-generated “twins” can fuel smarter decisionsHow companies like Apple use deep buyer insights to predict needs before customers even voice themWhat separates high-growth SaaS founders from the restWhy marketing clarity and leadership clarity matter more than ever in the noisy digital landscapeHow influence building—through public speaking, content, and community—can amplify your message and scale your businessAndy's approach is built for founders and executives who want more than tactics—they want clarity, connection, and customer-obsessed execution. If you're looking to transform your go-to-market game through smarter, customer-centric strategies, this episode delivers the blueprint.0:00 – Welcome & intro to Andy Halko1:00 – Starting a marketing agency with tech + creative roots2:00 – From personas to AI-generated “twins”4:00 – Staying focused vs. missing innovation6:00 – Anticipating customer needs like Apple8:00 – The new hyper-informed buyer & marketing impact10:00 – What top SaaS founders do differently12:00 – Why clarity matters in leadership and messaging14:00 – What clients look for when working with Andy15:00 – Final takeaways and how to connectCustomer-Centric Growth, Buyer Psychology, Hyper-Informed Buyer, AI in Marketing, Startup Strategy, Marketing Clarity, Leadership Clarity, SaaS Founders, Influence Building#CustomerCentricGrowth #AndyHalko #BuyerPsychology #HyperInformedBuyer #AIinMarketing #StartupStrategy #LeadershipClarity #MarketingClarity #SaaSFounders #InfluenceBuilding

INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.//Bill D'Alessandro, founder of Natural Dog Company, just sold his brand to a private equity firm backed by Morgan Stanley. In this episode, Andrew Faris dives deep with Bill to unpack the entire journey—from building the business, to working with an investment bank, to negotiating and closing a deal with a strategic buyer.If you're running a 7–9 figure eCommerce brand, this episode is pure gold. You'll learn:- What makes a DTC brand actually attractive to strategic buyers- The #1 mistake founders make when approaching an exit- Why contribution margin is still king in 2025- How Bill built operational talent that scaled with the business- The difference between “just another Shopify brand” vs. a sellable brand- Why omnichannel distribution is critical to valuation- Why most subscription businesses are really financing problems in disguise- The emotional aftermath of exiting your company//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:18 - Who is Bill D'Allessandro?00:03:00 - The Scope of Natural Dog Co Acquisition00:09:01 - Investment Banking During A Buyout00:22:55 - People Management Is The Hardest With Business00:31:35 - Why Not All Subscription Models Are Great00:42:46 - How Meta Dependency Could Harm Your Business// Bill D'Alessandro is the former of CEO of Natural Dog Co and Elements Brand and current Head of M&A at Food Science, a portfolio company backed by Morgan Stanley. Follow Bill on X at https://x.com/billda and listen to Acquisitions Anonymous by visiting https://www.acquanon.com/.//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREWX: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com

In episode 9 of Platform Builders, Christine and Isaac sit down with Manny Medina, founder and CEO of Paid, to unpack the tectonic shift happening in software. From the rise of AI agents that autonomously perform tasks, to the death of seat-based pricing, and why ARR and SaaS metrics just don't make sense anymore—Manny makes a compelling case that we're entering a new era. If you're building, investing in, or working with AI-native companies, this is essential listening.

How do you bring a feature as game-changing as native mobile app development to a mature platform like Bubble? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with a very special guest, Nick Carroll, the product manager who leads the mobile charge at Bubble.Nick shares the exclusive inside story of their native mobile platform launch—a journey that started years ago as a "when, not if" dream for the founders. We dive deep into the strategic decisions, the engineering challenges, and the "lightbulb moments" that turned this vision into a reality for hundreds of thousands of no-code developers.This is a must-listen for anyone interested in product management, SaaS, and the future of building software without code.00:58 - The Genesis of Bubble's Native Mobile Platform02:30 - Why Web Wrappers Weren't Enough & The Importance of a True Native Experience04:26 - The Challenge of Integrating Mobile into the Existing Bubble Editor07:43 - Reusing Web Components in Native Mobile Apps09:35 - Surprising and Complex Apps Already Built with Bubble Mobile12:45 - The "Hardest Part": How Bubble Solved App Store Publishing & Versioning17:35 - OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates vs. New Builds: When to Use Each21:05 - The Future Roadmap: In-App Purchases, Deep Linking & Advanced Offline Support24:45 - How AI Will Supercharge Both Web & Mobile App Building in Bubble27:00 - Using the API Connector Now to Build AI Features into Your Mobile Apps28:10 - Where to Get Started with Bubble Native Mobile29:30 - Find Out More About Nick's Talk at the Create With ConferenceFind Out More:Bubble Native Mobile: https://bubble.io/mobileBubble Summer Mobile Hackathon: https://bubble.io/c/mobile-summer-hackathonFollow the host, James Devonport: https://x.com/jamesdevonport

Is your e-commerce business ready for the coming AI wave in tax compliance?Reuben Mattinson, Founder and CEO of RJM Tax Exemption, built a multimillion-dollar firm from his bedroom to help over 5,000 online sellers stay compliant, scale rapidly, and prepare for successful exits. Today, he shares how artificial intelligence, SaaS, and smart risk-taking are revolutionizing the world of tax compliance for e-commerce entrepreneurs.Reuben reveals how he tackled one of the most dreaded parts of online selling, sales tax compliance, and turned it into an opportunity for growth. From developing a proprietary SaaS platform that integrates seamlessly with Amazon and Shopify to leveraging AI for staff training and automating tax thresholds, Reuben walks us through the strategies that made his firm an industry leader.But that's not all. We dive deep into how businesses can harness AI not just to streamline taxes, but also to develop new products faster than ever, reducing risk and unlocking growth opportunities previously unimaginable.In this conversation, you'll learn:How Reuben turned tax headaches into a thriving SaaS solution by building tools that sync directly with major e-commerce platforms.Why integrating AI into staff training improves accuracy, agility, and customer experience, critical factors in a compliance-heavy industry.The unexpected benefits of roleplaying tough client scenarios with AI agents to prepare your team for real-world challenges.How AI voice assistants and agents are reshaping both education and elder care, offering new business models and revenue streams.Why Reuben believes AI-driven, government-verified tax advisors could soon challenge traditional CPAs, and what that means for your business.Key Takeaways:Invest in AI and SaaS tools to reduce manual processes and human errors in tax filings.Roleplay tough scenarios with AI to sharpen your team's decision-making and customer service skills.The rapid pace of AI-driven app development has removed much of the traditional risk from building new products.Connect with Reuben Mattinson:Website: https://rjmtaxexemption.com/Fonetti: https://www.fonetti.com/Timestamps:00:00 Bridging Local Expertise Gap05:43 AI-Enhanced Staff Training07:37 "Learning with Case Studies and ChatGPT"13:05 White-Labeled Software Management Solution15:31 Taking Risks on Small Partnerships17:22 Children's Book Recommendation Platform23:36 AI's Impact on Tax Advisory25:17 AI Enhances Accountant Efficiency_____________________________________________

The Cloud Gambit is joining the Packet Pushers network! Launched in 2023 as an independent podcast, The Cloud Gambit cuts through the hype to deliver what actually matters in cloud and AI. Hosts William Collins and Eyvonne Sharp decode the strategies, technologies, and market forces reshaping enterprise infrastructure. Built for engineers who lead, leaders who... Read more »

Think SEO is only for the big-budget brands? Think again.In this episode of the Brick and Mortar Visibility Podcast, I'm joined by SEO strategist Jade Pruitt, who's flipping the script on what local search optimization really looks like for studio owners like you.We're talking:Why SEO doesn't have to cost thousands (really)Where to start if you're DIY-ing it—and how to avoid the common overwhelmHow Jade helps studios dominate search results without a giant marketing budgetAnd the ridiculously generous offer she drops at the end of the episode (no, seriously—don't miss it)I'm stepping away from SEO consulting to go all-in on my Level UP program—and Jade is the expert I trust to take the reins. She gets studio life, understands what matters locally, and is leading the charge on integrating AI into modern SEO.If you've ever felt like SEO is out of reach, this is the episode that will change your mind.

Art Fromm, a mechanical engineer turned sales transformation maven, joins us for an enlightening conversation on Sales Lead Dog. Art shares remarkable insights from his journey and his book "Making Seamless Sales," revealing the magic of fusing customer-centric strategies with a robust collaboration between sales engineers and account managers. Discover how his innovative Sales Opportunity Snapshot aligns sales processes with buying behaviors to nurture enduring client relationships, especially within the SaaS and B2B landscapes. His approach illuminates the path from traditional sales techniques to cultivating long-term success by truly understanding and prioritizing customer needs.  Unravel the synergy between pre-sales and sales functions as we explore the hidden potential that resides in their integration. Art explains how bridging this gap can dramatically enhance win rates, transforming sales from a linear progression to a dynamic, continuous cycle. This episode emphasizes the vital role of client success right from the beginning, and how aligning sales with marketing through effective CRM systems can solidify lasting customer relationships. By adopting a unified pre-sales and sales strategy, companies are not just selling a product but ensuring holistic solution enablement that meets and exceeds client expectations.  Our conversation also ventures into the nuanced realm of sales compensation, particularly in the SaaS and consumption-based sectors. Art advocates for rewarding sales teams based on total contract value and client usage, rather than just initial sales. We tackle the challenges of CRM adoption, underscoring the importance of comprehensive training and impeccable data management. It's through effective communication, continuous process improvement, and a steadfast commitment to client success that businesses can achieve sustainable growth. Join us as we uncover how optimizing sales strategies and fostering collaboration leads to a thriving business environment.  Art helps B2B sales teams boost revenue, win rates, margins, and client satisfaction through his SEAMless Sales® System—offered via speaking engagements, workshops, tools, and his new book Making SEAMless Sales.  With 25 years in presales and sales enablement, and two decades in end-user, sales, and leadership roles, Art brings deep experience to every engagement. After starting in engineering, he shifted into enterprise software, rising through presales and sales leadership before launching his own sales enablement firm in 2004.  Since 2009, Art has led global sales transformation initiatives, including a program that drove a 22% increase in bookings and a 16-point win rate jump for a major electronics manufacturer—who remains a client to this day.  Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Art enjoys family time, travel, and hands-on projects when he's not helping sales teams achieve lasting results.    Quotes: "The magic of sales success lies in truly understanding and prioritizing customer needs. It's not about pushing a product; it's about crafting solutions that lead to happy, successful clients." "Bridging the gap between pre-sales and sales functions can unlock untapped potential, transforming sales from a linear progression into a dynamic, continuous cycle." "Aligning sales with marketing through effective CRM systems ensures that companies aren't just selling a product, but enabling holistic solutions that exceed client expectations." "Sales teams should be rewarded based on total contract value and client usage over time, not just the initial sale. It's about commitment to consume, not just closing the deal."   Links: Email: info@teamsalesdevelopment.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artfromm Published Book: https://teamsalesdevelopment.com/making-seamless-sales-book/ Articles and Events: https://teamsalesdevelopment.com/articles-and-events/ Website: https://www.teamsalesdevelopment.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamSalesDev Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamsalesdevelopment/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeamSalesDevelopment   Find this episode and all other Sales Lead Dog episodes at https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ Tired of your CRM sucking the life out of your team? Visit https://crmshouldntsuck.com to get the book, get your CRM Impact Score, and discover how to rescue your system—and your sanity.

In this episode, Amir sits down with Jay Vijayan, Founder and CEO of Tekion, to explore how digital transformation and AI are modernizing the automotive retail industry. They dive deep into the complexities of dealership systems, the supply chain ripple effects of tariffs, and the evolving consumer experience. Jay explains why legacy systems can't meet today's expectations and how Tekion is building a unified platform that supports everything from purchase to after-sales. They also unpack why delivering a personalized, seamless customer journey may be the key to loyalty in an industry long seen as purely transactional.

We all try to be prepared for setbacks, but are you prepared for success? Lifelong tech entrepreneur Mike Vertolli, Founder of ComTec Systems shares critical advice for aspiring business owners.  He recently appeared on TechVibe Radio to tell us how he founded his first company in high school and how ComTec helps businesses find savings in their energy and telecommunications spends. We pulled some key highlights from his TechVibe interview to share with our time-crunched listeners. Hit play and learn how Mike emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, maintaining proper documentation to facilitate strategic pivots, and being financially prepared for both growth and setbacks. He also offers valuable wisdom on envisioning success and ensuring the right people, processes, and systems are in place. Additionally, Mike recounts an impactful piece of investment advice which taught him to reassess decisions daily, providing a fresh perspective on managing life's uncertainties. Hit PLAY for the good stuff and if you have a few more minutes, listen to his entire interview. Let's get started! The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces this podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

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 #28 of season 5, Anna Nadeina talks with Mustafa, CEO & founder at adtron.io, a digital advertising platform and software solution that helps brands, agencies, and publishers create, manage, and optimize mobile ads. --------------Episode's Chapters---------------- 00:00 - Founding bam! interactive marketing 05:15 - Transition to Product-Based Company 08:54 - Customer Profiles and Onboarding 16:59 - Sales Strategies and Market Expansion 24:18 - Expanding Market Reach 25:34 - Technical Challenges in Asia 26:52 - Global Expansion Strategy 28:48 - Integrating AI into Core Functionality 37:32 - Balancing Privacy and Analytics 40:50 - Biggest Wins and Learnings Mustafa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-mussa-bam-mobile-marketing-online-display-advertising/ Adtron - https://www.adtron.io/ Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-group Stay up to date: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796

#476 Feeling burnt out by freelance gigs? Tired of inconsistent income and trading hours for dollars? In this episode, host Brien Gearin is joined by Russ Perry, founder of Design Pickle, a subscription-based graphic design service. Russ shares his journey from being a struggling creative agency owner to scaling Design Pickle into an eight-figure business. They dive into the challenges of running an agency, the importance of productizing services, and how consistent effort, clear processes, and leveraging global talent fueled his success. Russ offers key entrepreneurial insights on the power of coaching, staying focused, and solving problems creatively. This episode is packed with actionable advice for freelancers and business owners looking to scale! (Original Air Date - 9/6/24) What we discuss with Russ: + Productizing Services: Turning a freelance model into a subscription-based business + From Burnout to Success: Russ' journey from agency owner to eight-figure business + Consistency Is Key: The importance of steady, focused effort + Global Talent: Leveraging international designers for scalability + Value of Coaching: Importance of mentorship and learning from experts + Decision Filters: Using decision-making criteria to stay focused + Recurring Revenue: Inspired by SaaS businesses for stable income + AI Integration: Using AI tools to streamline design processes + Scaling a Remote Team: Growing a global workforce of 700+ Thank you, Russ! Check out Design Pickle at ⁠DesignPickle.com⁠. Listen to the ⁠Jar of Genius⁠ podcast. Connect with Russ 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. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/millionaire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI-native startups are outpacing legacy SaaS companies across every metric—growth, product velocity, and market attention. In this episode, Sam, Asad, and AJ unpack why the GTM landscape is shifting fast. They dive into the resurgence of IPOs, the rise of rollups, and the cultural edge AI-first teams have when it comes to speed, experimentation, and brand building.   Thanks for tuning in! New episodes of Topline drop every Sunday and Thursday.   Don't miss GTM2025 — the only B2B tech conference exclusively for GTM executives. Elevate your 2026 strategy and join us from September 23 to 25 in Washington, D.C. Use code TOPLINE for 10% off your GA ticket.   Stay ahead with the latest industry developments and emerging go-to-market trends with Topline Newsletter by Asad Zaman. Subscribe today.   Tune in to The Revenue Leadership Podcast every Wednesday, where host Kyle Norton talks with real revenue operators and dives deep into what it takes to succeed as a modern revenue leader.   You're invited! Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders, share insights, and keep the conversation going beyond the podcast!   Key chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (01:43) - Market Overview and Current Trends (05:52) - The Impact of AI on Business Dynamics (11:37) - Navigating the Challenges of SaaS vs AI Companies (17:25) - M&A Activity and IPO Market Insights (23:25) - Cultural Shifts in Tech Companies (29:23) - The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing (35:33) - The Future of Go-to-Market Strategies (41:19) - Final Thoughts and Reflections

Amanda Whalen's first unit CFO role began with a question. “You're not a finance technical person,” her company's president told her, “but you're the strongest leader on my team. Will you be willing to be the CFO and help me transform the finance function?” She accepted.Over the following year, Whalen tells us, her team tackled three major initiatives: fixing broken cost accounting at a dairy plant, realigning sales incentives to drive margin, and overhauling the P&L reporting structure to match the new parent company's expectations. The team was skeptical—“They said, ‘You're crazy. There's no way we can do that all in a year,'” she recalls. But they did. The business became 10% more profitable.That experience, Whalen tells us, revealed finance as a powerful lever to drive business transformation—“You get to work with every function… It's highly quantitative and analytical, and it involves working with a lot of really great people.”Now CFO at Klaviyo, Whalen brings the same philosophy. In three years, the company more than doubled revenue and improved margins by 20 percentage points. She led Klaviyo's IPO, expanding the company's readiness across technical, strategic, and investor-facing dimensions. “It wasn't just about getting ready to go public,” she says, “but about operating successfully as a public company for a long, long time.”Whether transforming legacy operations or scaling a fast-growing SaaS firm, Whalen's approach remains constant: think long-term, go deep into execution, and “be kind to your future self.”

In this episode, we're joined by Tina Kung, Co-Founder and CTO of Nue.io, a rising CPQ & Billing platform redefining the quote-to-cash experience for modern SaaS businesses. With a career spanning Ariba, Oracle, Zuora, Salesforce, CA Technologies, and more, Tina brings over two decades of experience building and evolving four generations of CPQ and Billing systems.

The number one thing listeners of the pod ask me for is to flip the script and let someone interview me. I've historically been reluctant to do it because it feels little self aggrandizing or whatever the term is. But you gotta give the people what they want.On this episode my friend Mike Wu, founder of Hire Frame, interviews me on my transition to full time content creation. We talk about* How I sold a company as CFO, and then fired myself immediately* Why having supportive partners in any entrepreneurial endeavor is the real key to success* How I came up with the idea for my second newsletter Looking for Leverage.Mike's a gracious host and shout out to him for letting me share this with my audience. Mike's Podcast: What Worked on Spotify | Apple | YouTubeMike's Company: Hire FrameRun the Numbers is brought to you by Zenskar.Zenskar is an AI-powered order-to-cash platform that automates billing, revenue recognition, and SaaS reporting — no spreadsheets, no engineering required. Built for modern B2B companies, Zenskar supports any pricing model: subscriptions, usage-based, or complex custom contracts.Step into the future of finance today. Visit zenskar.com/rtn and book a demo! Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

Welcome to this classic episode. Classics are my favorite episodes from the past 10 years, published once a month. These are N of 1 conversations with N of 1 people.  Charlie Songhurst is a brilliant strategist, accomplished executive, and prolific angel investor. This episode is one of my all-time favorite conversations, not just on the podcast, but period. Please enjoy this timeless discussion with Charlie Songhurst. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page ⁠here⁠. ----- This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠WorkOS⁠⁠. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. With a single API, developers can implement essential enterprise capabilities that typically require months of engineering work. By handling the complex infrastructure of enterprise features, WorkOS allows developers to focus on their core product while meeting the security and compliance requirements of Fortune 500 companies. Visit ⁠⁠WorkOS.com⁠⁠ to Transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit ⁠joincolossus.com/episodes⁠.  Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up ⁠here⁠. Follow us on Twitter: ⁠@patrick_oshag⁠ | ⁠@JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:01:25) Stack ranking the vices of power, money, and fame (00:02:41) Memorable response to the stack ranking question (00:03:13) Best scenario to explore this stack ranking concept (00:03:55) Other ways to rank founders (00:04:44) Quick look at this career (00:05:16) Time at Microsoft (00:06:03) Features he looks for in startups (00:10:55) Managing the declining curve of productivity (00:14:55) Why founders are often unique people (00:14:57) ⁠Jeff Gramm Podcast Episode⁠ (00:15:04) ⁠ Aliens, Jedi & Cults⁠ (00:09:43) How early entrepreneurs need to make recruitment a serious part of their work (00:23:06) How successful founders win the best candidates (00:25:27) The East Coast vs. West Coast investment strategies (00:30:40) When it's time to bring in quantitative factors into early stage investing (00:34:36) The markers that pop up in companies that hit (00:37:22) Boring but successful investments (00:39:28) Investor aesthetics (00:41:29) Characteristics of investors that he believes are important to success (00:42:57) Impacts of Covid and some of the permanent changes that have happened as a result (00:47:49) Investing opportunities in the local community (00:49:13) His take on cryptocurrencies (00:53:47) Most misvalued asset in the world (00:55:16) Investing opportunities in Europe (00:57:34) Make up of his 483 investments (00:57:58) ⁠Matt Clifford Podcast Episode⁠ (00:59:17) Curation as a skill (01:01:54) Timing and startup success (01:05:11) Kindest thing anyone has done for him

Braydan Young is the Co-founder and CEO of SlashExperts, a leading peer-conversation platform that helps B2B companies accelerate revenue by connecting prospective buyers with real customers. Under his leadership, SlashExperts announced $2M in seed funding in April 2025, marking a significant milestone for the company. Braydan has a background in entrepreneurship, having previously co-founded Sendoso, a successful company that is a leading sending platform simplifying direct mail, gifting, and corporate gifting processes for businesses. Beyond his ventures, he serves as a mentor at ChicoSTART, offering guidance to emerging entrepreneurs. In this episode… Launching a startup is never easy, but scaling one introduces an entirely new set of challenges. Founders often struggle to balance rapid growth with operational complexity, investor expectations, and the pressure to remain profitable. How do entrepreneurs navigate these competing demands while staying true to their vision? Braydan Young turned a simple idea, sending Starbucks gift cards via email, into a fast-growing business by staying attuned to customer needs and market shifts. As demand expanded, he evolved the offering from basic digital gifting to full-scale warehousing and fulfillment, ultimately co-founding Sendoso and raising over $100 million in venture funding, including a $100M Series C. When market conditions changed, Braydan faced tough decisions, including multiple rounds of layoffs, which taught him the importance of transparent leadership and leading with empathy during difficult moments. These experiences shaped his approach to building more resilient companies. He emphasizes the value of listening to customers, staying flexible, and learning from setbacks to drive long-term success. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Braydan Young, Co-founder of SlashExperts, about startup growth, resilience, and innovation. Braydan discusses hypergrowth during COVID-19, the complexities of warehousing, lessons from fundraising, his new SaaS peer-to-peer model, and strategies for lean startup operations.

This week on Cloud Unplugged: AI goes local, Google Cloud breaks the internet, and the DOJ turns up the heat on Google's $32B Wiz acquisition.We're breaking down the biggest stories in cloud and AI:Context & Qualcomm are teaming up to move AI agents off the cloud and onto your device. What does this mean for the future of local-first AI?A major Google Cloud outage caused chaos across Cloudflare, Shopify, and Discord. We explain what went wrong and what it tells us about the risks of centralised cloud infrastructure.The DOJ is investigating Google's acquisition of Wiz, raising questions about cloud security competition and antitrust concerns.Plus: Andrej Karpathy's Software 3.0 vision, is natural language the new programming interface?Hosted by Lewis and Jon, two cloud-native veterans covering the real stories behind the hype in cloud, AI, and dev infrastructure.

Join hosts Ben and Mark on 'The Friday Habit' as they welcome Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading SaaS platform for small business training and onboarding. They delve into discussions about organizational charts, systems, and processes essential for business scalability. Chris shares insights from his journey, including his consulting background, the development of Trainual, and his entrepreneurial roots. He also talks about his book 'The Business Playbook,' which serves as a comprehensive guide for creating effective business systems. Packed with valuable advice and humorous anecdotes, this episode provides a deep dive into the world of small business management and optimization.Key Takeaways:Chris Ronzio shares his entrepreneurial journey from childhood side hustles to founding a successful SaaS company.Trainual began as a simple internal tool within Chris's consulting business before evolving into a platform used by 7,000+ companies worldwide.Chris bootstrapped his first real business—a youth sports video production company—at just 14 years old and ran it for over a decade.His transition into consulting exposed him to 150+ businesses, helping him identify scalable patterns in operations and onboarding.The decision to pivot fully from consulting to launching Trainual as a SaaS company was driven by a desire to solve deeper business problems with greater impact.Creating role clarity, documenting systems, and defining responsibilities are essential for building scalable businesses—even in teams as small as five people.Chris emphasizes the importance of productizing services and standardizing internal processes to reduce chaos and boost efficiency.His bestselling book, The Business Playbook, offers a practical guide for building a scalable operations manual and aligning your team.The culture at Trainual prioritizes clarity, thoughtful onboarding, and enabling every team member to thrive in their roles.Success often starts with giving generously—Chris built trust, reputation, and opportunity through offering free help before monetizing his expertise.Connect with Chris: Website: trainual.comLinkedIn: Chris RonzioLearn More: Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the guide on working on your business rather than in it. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Friday Habit for more real-life business lessons, candid conversations, and actionable strategies to elevate your entrepreneurial journey.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:06 Meet Chris Ronzio: Founder and CEO of Train01:17 Fun Icebreaker: Unlimited Service for a Year02:20 The Importance of Relaxation and Meditation04:07 Chris Ronzio's Background and Early Life07:08 Entrepreneurial Spirit: Early Ventures10:28 Transition to Consulting and New Challenges18:06 The Birth of Train: From Consulting to SaaS21:41 The Challenges of Starting a Podcast22:38 From Consulting to Equity Projects23:28 The Leap to SaaS26:34 Adapting Team Roles for SaaS30:22 The Importance of Clear Roles in a Company33:44 Writing and Marketing 'The Business Playbook'38:56 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Gross profit is a core metric in SaaS—and 80% is the benchmark often thrown around. But is that still realistic in today's landscape? In episode #292 of SaaS Metric School, Ben Murray walks through real benchmarking data from Ray Rike's benchmarks at Benchmarkit.ai and explains how gross profit should evolve as your business scales. He also dives into how to set up your SaaS P&L correctly and what to include in COGS vs. OpEx. What You'll Learn: What gross profit benchmarks actually look like today What is our north star GP%? How gross profit changes as you scale Common COGS setup mistakes in SaaS businesses What to do if your gross profit is trending in the wrong direction Benchmarks Mentioned: Bottom quartile Median Top performers Key Insight: Don't blindly shoot for 80% at every stage. Under $2M ARR? It's okay to be lower. But once you're in the $10–20M+ range, that 80% benchmark becomes more important—and achievable. Resources:

Josh Turley is CEO of RTA Fleet Management, a fleet management software company that his grandfather started in the 1980's and ran as a small family business for decades. Then Josh's father ran the business until 2015, never growing this slow, old-school business past $2 million in revenues. Josh had worked in the business before, but in 2016, Josh bought the business, to over as CEO and slowly began to make improvements—and mistakes—as they started to grow.  Josh had an ambition to grow the company and learn how to be a real CEO. They started retooling their code to build modern cloud software, investing heavily for many years. They transformed their leadership, staff, business model, pricing, marketing, tech stack, and culture as they grew faster. They also focused on state and local government fleets as they grew.  The bootstrapped company grew steadily, with 75 employees and a $15 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) run rate in 2024, supported by some debt. In 2025, Josh closed a $30 million investment round from Susquehanna Growth Equity, a practical growth equity investor that invests in steady SaaS businesses.  Josh is a long-time member of my Practical Founders CEO Peer Groups. He is an avid learner, attending conferences, reading books, hiring consultants, and continually seeking new knowledge.  In this episode, Josh also talks about: How difficult it was to transform an old business into a new one Why their Purpose, Values, and Mission drive successful hiring Why he chose to take on growth equity investors and de-risk with secondary investment Quote from Josh Turley, CEO of RTA “Every problem is a leadership problem. The biggest challenge in building a SaaS business is always the people—making sure you get the right people on the bus in the right seats. We're at 90 people now, and there's no way I can manage 90 people myself. As the CEO, it all starts with you, then your leaders.  “Most problems I see are because we got the wrong person in the wrong seat. You can't outrun that, regardless of how good the product is or how strong your financial model is. It will always catch up to you eventually, and that causes more problems than anything.  “When you get a leadership team to be 100% aligned with one another, it doesn't matter what the market's doing. It doesn't matter what the product is doing. It will figure itself out. It's a forcing function to get that alignment, and then you just can't be stopped at that point.” Links Josh Turley on LinkedIn RTA on LinkedIn RTA website Susquehanna Growth Equity website The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com.

Too many SaaS companies are leaning on “modern” as their go-to positioning—modern data stack, modern payroll, modern analytics. In this episode, we break down why “modern” isn't a meaningful differentiator, how it fails to connect with what customers actually care about, and what to use instead to build a defensible, outcome-driven brand narrative.

Brett Winton and ARK analyst Jozef Soja dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of AI agents—software entities that are increasingly automating enterprise functions like customer support. They explore why AI agents are gaining traction, how they're priced, and the potential for a new kind of agent-versus-agent arms race between companies and consumers. Later in the episode, they're joined by Dr. Alan Bekker, founder of eSelf.ai and former Head of Conversational AI at Snap, who shares his journey from building voice agents for call centers to launching a real-time, face-to-face AI tutoring platform. Alan offers insights into how the rise of large language models (LLM) is reshaping education, what makes a great AI tutor, and why a visual, embodied presence is crucial for learning.Key Points From This Episode:00:00:00 What enterprise AI agents actually do and how companies like Salesforce are pricing them00:03:41 Why $2 per AI conversation may already undercut human support costs00:05:04 The Return On Investment (ROI) model behind agent adoption and enterprise productivity00:06:41 Why agent-based software may retain higher pricing power than other AI tools00:09:11 The coming arms race: AI agents negotiating with other AI agents00:12:30 Scaling demand for customer service with intelligent automation00:15:04 Vertical vs. horizontal Software as a Service (SaaS) in the AI agent ecosystem00:16:43 AI's impact across the software stack—SaaS, Platform as a Service (PaaS) , and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)00:17:56 Why building your own AI apps may soon be cheaper than onboarding SaaS00:20:01 ARK's  internal hackathon and how non-engineers are becoming developers00:20:29 Guest: Dr. Alan Bekker joins to discuss the evolution of conversational AI00:22:04 The journey from decision trees to LLMs: Lessons from Snap's AI team00:27:32 Seeing GPT's impact from inside: OpenAI's early partner outreach00:31:47 Why face-to-face AI tutors found strong product-market fit in education00:33:59 eSelf's go-to-market strategy: Partnering with publishers as a business to business to consumer (B2B2C) wedge00:36:24 Pricing real-time AI tutoring tools in a margin-conscious market00:40:00 Business to consumer (B2C) aspirations: Moving toward a direct-to-student tutoring product00:44:56 What's still missing for real-time AI to match human-level teaching00:48:03 The psychological impact of avatars: Building trust through embodied agents00:51:43 Why personalization—not just LLM knowledge—matters in tutoring00:54:20 Democratizing learning: LLMs as the end of expert-driven education

What if scaling your SaaS didn't require burning out or selling your soul to venture capital? In this episode, Greg sits down with seasoned SaaS founder, author, and startup mentor Rob Walling for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable, sellable SaaS business. Rob kicks things off by sharing how he stumbled into SaaS before it was cool, and how that journey led him to co-create TinySeed, an alternative funding model that puts founders first. He breaks down how TinySeed's 12-month program works, who it's for, and how it compares to traditional VC. But this episode isn't just about funding, it's about founder freedom. We dive deep into the psychological shifts that come with selling your business, how to recognize the right time to exit, and how to protect your energy both before and after a sale. Rob also shares the biggest traps SaaS founders fall into when chasing “growth at all costs” and the core traits he sees in founders who succeed. Whether you're bootstrapping, raising capital, or planning an exit, this episode is packed with honest, actionable insights that will help you scale smarter, and sell without regret. Topics Discussed in this episode: Rob's background and how he got into SaaS (02:08) The origins of TinySeed and how it differs from Venture Capital (12:09) The opportunities that are created through selling your business (19:43) A breakdown of Tiny Seed's 12-month program (22:19) The pros and cons of a “growth at all costs” mindset (28:32) The requirements needed to join Tiny Seed (30:20) The psychological effects of exiting your business (33:56) How to tell when to sell your business (39:40) How to avoid burnout before and after your exit (46:43) The characteristics that successful founders share (52:21) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Startups For The Rest Of Us podcast  Exit Strategy: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Selling Your Business without Regret TinySeed Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take the next step in your SaaS journey with confidence.  

#472 What if the easiest way to grow your business was hiding in plain sight — your existing customers? In this episode, host Brien Gearin welcomes back Brian O'Connor, ex-Deloitte consultant, founder of TalentHQ, and three-time MU guest, to dive deep into the power of customer success. Learn how businesses of all sizes — from SaaS companies to local service providers — can drive massive growth by retaining clients, generating referrals, collecting more reviews, and increasing lifetime customer value. Brian also shares how he helps companies hire top-tier talent from Latin America at a fraction of U.S. prices, and why the Customer Success Manager might be the most overlooked (and most profitable) role in your business. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, this episode will help you unlock more revenue — without chasing new leads! What we discuss with Brian: + Customer success vs. customer service + Retention, referrals, and renewals + How SaaS pioneered customer success + Reoccurring vs. recurring revenue + Upselling through relationship building + Why reviews drive local business growth + Hiring top talent in Latin America + Small business roles to outsource + Automating follow-up for repeat sales + Customer success for online communities Thank you, Brian! Subscribe to Brian's newsletter at OutlierGrowth.com. Follow Brian on social media @thebrianfoconnor. Email Brian at brian@talenthq.co. 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. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/millionaire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All we hear about is AI this, AI that. And yet trying to keep up with all the changes can be overwhelming. Many operators are simply rejecting it outright, or knowingly keeping their heads buried in the sand.So Mitch Bach sat down with Janette Roush, the "Chief AI Officer" for Brand USA, to ask a fundamental question: what are some practical ways a tour operator can get started using AI effectively for their tour business? This isn't a technical, advanced conversation, but rather a clear-eyed overview of the benefits of just getting started and a practical approach to do just that. It's a great first step for those wondering where to begin.Janette is a master communicator on this topic, and everyone should follow her on LinkedIn!

Jeremy Horowitz is the Managing Partner of Because Ventures and the creator of Let's Buy a Biz!, a media brand and private equity-backed content engine built to make ecommerce M&A more transparent, data-driven, and founder-friendly. Because Ventures is a private equity search fund focused on acquiring and scaling Shopify brands and apps, while Let's Buy a Biz! documents what it actually takes to grow Top 1% ecommerce businesses.Before launching either venture, Jeremy worked across every layer of the Shopify ecosystem from scaling high-growth DTC brands like Lumi, to leading growth at top-performing Shopify apps like Gorgias. His on-the-ground experience gave him a front-row seat to what really drives retention, profit, and valuation. Now, through Because Ventures, Jeremy applies that knowledge to acquire and operate ecommerce businesses with sustainable margins and focused stacks.Whether debunking the myth that “every brand needs subscriptions,” tracking the 84% adoption rate of email/SMS across $1M+ stores, or predicting which app categories will consolidate over the next five years, Jeremy brings a deep analytical lens to ecommerce strategy. He shares insights from crawling 103,000 Shopify stores, explains why most loyalty programs fail, and urges founders to simplify their tech stack before adding complexity. His story is a masterclass in using real data, not hype to guide business decisions.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:40] Intro[00:55] Scaling DTC brands to eight figures[02:03] Expanding beyond Shopify Plus assumptions[04:18] Filtering out inactive and duplicate stores[05:05] Highlighting the top 10 most used apps[09:08] Focusing on what actually drives growth[10:56] Comparing native vs third-party app adoption[12:23] Spotting analytics as a breakout category[14:11] Explaining why real CRO starts at $5M+[16:49] Spotting support as an underused category[18:29] Unpacking the subscription model myth[22:47] Auditing app stacks to save thousandsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeEcommerce Social Impact Fund because.ventures/index.htmlInsider analysis of the largest Ecommerce brands' financials letsbuyabiz.xyz/Follow Jeremy Horowitz linkedin.com/in/jeremyhorowitz1If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Jennifer Li, a general partner at a16z investing in enterprise, infrastructure and AI. Jennifer breaks down how AI workloads are creating new demands on everything from inference pipelines to observability systems, explaining why we're seeing a bifurcation between language models and diffusion models at the infrastructure level. They explore emerging categories like reinforcement learning environments that help train agents, the evolution of web scraping for agentic workflows, and why Jennifer believes the API economy is about to experience another boom as agents become the primary consumers of software interfaces.–Full transcript: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/the-ai-infrastructure-stack-with-jennifer-li-a16z/–Sponsor:  VantaVanta automates security compliance and builds trust, helping companies streamline ISO, SOC 2, and AI framework certifications. Learn more at https://vanta.com/complex–Links:Jennifer Li's writing at a16z https://a16z.com/author/jennifer-li/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:55) The AI shift and infrastructure(02:24) Diving into middleware and AI models(04:23) Challenges in AI infrastructure(07:07) Real-world applications and optimizations(15:15) Sponsor: Vanta(16:38) Real-world applications and optimizations (cont'd)(19:05) Reinforcement learning and synthetic environments(23:05) The future of SaaS and AI integration(26:02) Observability and self-healing systems(32:49) Web scraping and automation(37:29) API economy and agent interactions(44:47) Wrap

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Reed McGinley-Stempel, co-founder and CEO of Stytch, to explore what it means for applications to be agent ready. With the rise of agentic AI—intelligent systems that can take actions on behalf of users—the landscape for SaaS and consumer-facing apps is rapidly evolving.Reed breaks down the core concepts around agent integration, including how apps must prepare to serve not just human users but also AI agents acting on their behalf. They discuss the key challenges companies face: earning user trust, managing consent and privacy, and building in human oversight to minimize costly mistakes.Using real-world examples like coding agents and calendar tools, Reed illustrates how agent adoption succeeds where there's low friction and built-in validation. He also dives into the double standard AI faces, and why even psychologically, humans might need a "human in the loop" long after AI is capable of operating on its own.If you're building applications or thinking about AI integrations, this is a forward-looking conversation you won't want to miss.

AI just taught me this cool thing... keep on listening to find out what it is! Today we talk about the massive and fast-moving implications of AI. We share the personal experiences with how AI challenges traditional business structures and workflows, requiring users to reimagine how work is done. We also explores how AI may replace many functions within organizations, from marketing to operations, while still lacking in areas like math accuracy and sales conversations. We also talk about Mary Meeker's AI report, noting unprecedented user adoption, the rapid rise of global competitors like China's DeepSeek, and the prediction that LLMs will become personal, customizable, and nearly costless. We need to rethink AI's role in business, its deflationary impact on cost, and how fast-changing technology may render old tools and concepts obsolete.  We discuss...  How humor and sarcasm could be the final frontier in distinguishing AI from humans. The greatest investment in AI is learning how to use it personally and professionally. How limited human imagination, not technology, is the biggest barrier to innovation with AI. AI's limitations in math were noted, with a warning not to fully trust it as a CFO despite its operational usefulness. AI isn't quite ready for high-touch sales calls but is rapidly closing the gap in other business areas. Global AI adoption is surging, with China's DeepSeek gaining ground quickly through much lower-cost models. Token costs have dropped nearly 100% in two years, and energy efficiency in GPUs has improved drastically. With the penny going out of circulation, it might be time to start saving them as collectibles. AI development curves are moving much faster than traditional SaaS models, making this a truly disruptive moment in tech. Meta's LLaMA has been downloaded 1.2 billion times in 10 weeks, with over 100,000 derivative models created. The performance gap between open-source and closed AI models is shrinking rapidly, with DeepSeek nearly matching OpenAI on benchmarks. The AI ecosystem is becoming decentralized, much like the shift from centralized platforms to blockchain-based alternatives. Decentralization is praised for enabling free speech, innovation, and diversity of thought, unlike centralized control. Most employees are already using AI tools like ChatGPT personally, even if companies haven't officially adopted them. AI is increasing personal productivity, but there's concern it may ultimately compress work rather than improve quality of life. Over 60,000 new AI-related job titles have emerged in just two years, indicating a massive career reshuffle. Without earned knowledge, people can misuse powerful tools like AI, just as they did with nuclear weapons. The future with AI could resemble either Skynet or Star Trek, and no one truly knows which way it will go. There is risk of psychological strain and social dysfunction if people are displaced without purpose. AI tools can now bypass paywalls and summarize articles, challenging traditional media revenue models. The current wealth gap and collapse of the middle class is unprecedented, even before full-scale AI disruption. Decentralized AI (e.g., having your own local models) is seen as essential to maintain independence and avoid manipulation. A growing imbalance of more sellers than buyers suggests further downward pressure on real estate prices. Political pressure is influencing Fed policy, with previous rate cuts seen as potentially timed to impact elections. Global conflict, such as recent Middle East tensions, is having surprisingly little impact on the stock market. Investors should focus on risk management given the unpredictability and detachment from fundamentals. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | ProCollege Planners Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/ai-just-taught-me-this-cool-thing-723 

Attention entrepreneurs: If you think working 80+ hour weeks makes your business more valuable... the data says otherwise.This conversation will change how you think about business building forever.James Brown didn't just sell his business for multiple cash offers he proved that less owner involvement equals higher business value.James is the founder of BizTech Guru, a business consultant who transformed his own accommodation business over many years from requiring 120-hour work weeks to just 30 minutes of monthly involvement. After surviving multiple economic challenges including the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19, he eventually sold the business with 7 offers, 3 of which were cash.In this episode, he exposes the shocking truth about why 80% of businesses aren't sellable, reveals his exact automation playbook, and shares the mindset shifts that create truly passive income.We talked about business automation, but not the tech-heavy complicated kind.We talked about remote team management, but not the micromanagement nightmare kind.And we talked about exit preparation, the kind that actually increases your quality of life WHILE building value.This completely changed my perspective on what makes businesses valuable.Perfect for: SaaS founders, service business owners, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and anyone building for eventual exit. • • •FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/jamesbrown• • • FOR MORE ON JAMES BROWNJames Brown's LinkedIn BizTech Guru WebsiteFOR MORE ON COREY KUPFERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/http://coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!

In this episode, Graham unravels Operation Endgame - the surprisingly stylish police crackdown that is seizing botnets, mocking malware authors with anime videos, and taunting cybercriminals via Telegram.Meanwhile, Carole exposes the AI-generated remote hiring threat. Could your next coworker be a North Korean hacker with a perfect LinkedIn?And BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy joins us to talk about "Ctrl-Alt-Chaos", his new book diving into the murky world of teenage hackers, ransomware gangs, and the strange motivations that lie behind digital mayhem.Plus: competitive pond husbandry, dead slugs, Hitster the board game, and a shoutout to the AI startup that hijacked Graham's SEO.All this and more is discussed in episode 423 of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault - it's like a cauldron of life... but for cybersecurity.Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.Episode links:Operation Endgame.Ctrl+Alt+Chaos.Lizard Squad Member: Why I Took Down Xbox and PlayStation - YouTube.Reckoning With the Rise of Deepfakes - The Regulatory Review.Deepfake interviews: Navigating the growing AI threat in recruitment and organizational security - Fast Company. Why Your Hiring Process is Now a Cybersecurity Vulnerability - Pindrop.Best Practices for Defeating Deepfake Candidate Fraud - Dice Hiring.Phanpy - A minimalistic opinionated Mastodon web client.How to make a mini pond - Gardener's World.Hitster board game.Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)Sponsored by:Vanta– Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!Flare- Uncover the latest threats across the dark web and Telegram. Start your free trial today.Trelica by 1Password - Access Governance for every SaaS app. Discover, manage, and optimize access for any of your SaaS apps - whether managed or unmanaged.SUPPORT THE SHOW:Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on

Lauren Petrullo, founder of Mongoose Media, dives deep into her revolutionary "Email Triage" strategy—an AI-enhanced approach to onboarding emails that radically departs from stale templates. Learn how she reengineers the traditional 5–14 email sequences into dynamic, ultra-relevant pathways that scale personalization without sacrificing automation. Whether you're running an eComm brand, SaaS startup, or B2B agency, this episode will challenge how you welcome leads and redefine your first impression. Tune in to discover how relevancy rules, and why your welcome email might just be your most powerful sales tool yet.Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Lauren's Takeover of Perpetual Traffic00:00:41 - Why “Email Triage” Will Change Everything You Know About Onboarding00:02:27 - The Secret Sauce: Why Relevancy Beats Automation Every Time00:05:10 - Turning Cold Leads into Superfans with Personalized Sequences00:07:27 - What Happens When They Ghost You? Unsubscribes Done Right00:10:05 - Don't Miss This: How to Wow Returning Customers from Email #100:12:13 - Spotting the Serial Sign-Uppers — And Winning Them Back00:18:06 - Desktops vs. Mobile: How Device Data Powers Smarter Emails00:19:55 - Level-Up Time: Inside the Most Advanced Triage Tactics We Use00:21:34 - Crafting Hyper-Personalized Journeys at Scale00:21:59 - “Proof of Life” Emails: The Oddly Effective Trigger You're Ignoring00:23:44 - Beyond the Inbox: Why SMS + Email = Maximum Engagement00:27:13 - Boosting Open and Click Rates Without a Subject Line Trick00:35:03 - They're Not Clicking — Now What? Ninja Moves for Dead Leads00:40:47 - Wrapping with a Challenge: Rethink Your Email Game & Join the CommunityLINKS AND RESOURCES:Tier 11 JobsPerpetual Traffic on YouTubeTiereleven.comMongoose MediaPerpetual Traffic SurveyPerpetual Traffic WebsiteFollow Perpetual Traffic on TwitterConnect with Lauren on Instagram and Connect with Ralph on LinkedInThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Perpetual Traffic? Have some feedback you'd like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!Mentioned in this episode:Free Snapchat CreditsUnbounce - Code PT10off

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” But for online business owners, taxes aren't always so certain, especially when it comes to sales tax. In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Rhoads. Jessica is an internationally experienced CPA and self-confessed “dumpster fire accountant” who specializes in helping business owners untangle messy tax situations. We cover the key types of taxes every entrepreneur should understand, and zoom in on the one that's most commonly misunderstood, and most likely to derail a future exit: sales tax. Jessica breaks down how sales tax applies to non-tangible goods like SaaS products and apps, what triggers a sales tax nexus, and why ignoring it can lead to massive headaches during due diligence. She also shares insight on the best and worst states to set up your business from a tax standpoint, when to file a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA), and how to stay compliant if you're selling across borders. If you're building a business with the goal of selling one day, this episode is a must-listen. It could save you from tax troubles that scare off buyers, or cost you more than you bargained for. Topics Discussed in this episode: The different types of taxes businesses should be aware of (03:45) Why sales tax is so important when selling your business (06:49) How sales tax is applied to software and apps (11:43) An overview of sales tax nexus (17:30) The different tax softwares that can help you figure out your taxes (19:50) The best and worst states to set up your business in (23:07) How to stay compliant if you have sales tax nexus (28:16) How tax works if you're selling in foreign countries (30:37) When to file a VDA (33:56) A major misconception founders have about sales tax that hurts them later (39:39) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Jessicanomics.com Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to get your business taxes in order - before it's too late.