Podcasts about Saas

Try OCI for free at http://oracle.com/eyeonai This episode is sponsored by Oracle. OCI is the next-generation cloud designed for every workload – where you can run any application, including any AI projects, faster and more securely for less. On average, OCI costs 50% less for compute, 70% less for storage, and 80% less for networking.  Join Modal, Skydance Animation, and today's innovative AI tech companies who upgraded to OCI…and saved.   How are enterprises moving from AI experiments to a true agentic enterprise with measurable ROI? In this episode of Eye on AI, host Craig Smith speaks with Bhaskar Roy from Workato about how organizations can design, orchestrate, and govern AI agents at scale without sacrificing security or control. Together they unpack Workato's approach to building a single workspace for employees while agents and apps work behind the scenes to automate real business processes. They explain why the future of enterprise AI depends on orchestration, permissions, and human in the loop design. You will hear how Workato One and Workato Go bring connectivity, action, and governance into one stack, how teams assign KPIs to agents and track outcomes, and how to reduce agent sprawl while optimizing SaaS spend. Learn how leading companies are defining the agentic enterprise, what pitfalls to avoid when moving from pilots to production, and how to measure impact across sales, IT, support, HR, and finance so AI drives durable business value. Stay Updated: Craig Smith on X: https://x.com/craigss Eye on A.I. on X: https://x.com/EyeOn_AI

A record-breaking Bitcoin seizure. Patch Tuesday notes. Capita fined for unlawful access to personal data. Unity site skimmed by malicious script. Vietnam Airlines breached potentially exposing 20 million passengers. An automotive giant experiences a third-party breach. Tim Starks from CyberScoop is discussing how Sen. Peters tries another approach to extend expired cyber threat information-sharing. In our latest Threat Vector, David Moulton⁠ sits down with⁠ Harish Singh about hybrid work. And inside North Korea's blueprints for deception. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today we are joined by Tim Starks from CyberScoop is discussing how Sen. Peters tries another approach to extend expired cyber threat information-sharing law. Threat Vector Hybrid work has changed the game, but has your security kept up? In this segment of Threat Vector, David Moulton⁠ sits down with⁠ Harish Singh⁠, Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure and Application Management at Wipro, to unpack the evolving cybersecurity landscape at the intersection of digital transformation, SaaS expansion, and AI-powered operations. You can listen to their full discussion here, and catch new episodes every Thursday on your favorite podcast app. Selected Reading Feds Seize Record-Breaking $15 Billion in Bitcoin From Alleged Scam Empire (WIRED) Microsoft October 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes 6 zero-days, 172 flaws (Bleeping Computer)  Patch Tuesday, October 2025 ‘End of 10' Edition (Krebs on Security) Capita Fined £14m After 2023 Breach that Hit 6.6 Million People (Infosecurity Magazine)                     Malicious Code on Unity Website Skims Information From Hundreds of Customers (SecurityWeek) Airline with over 20 million passengers a year involved in customer data breach (Daily Mail) Information Regarding Customer Data Breach (Vietnam Airlines) Auto giant Stellantis discloses data breach affecting North American customers (Top Class Actions) North Korean Scammers Are Doing Architectural Design Now (WIRED) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you market the experience of walking through rooms of illusion that flip reality on its head? In this episode, Stephanie Postles chats with Andy Levey, the mastermind CMO behind the Museum of Illusions, to discover how to craft unforgettable moments that captivate audiences. Learn how to apply these strategies to market brands that sell experiences - from local business, SaaS, B2B, and more. Key Moments:00:00 Andy Levey Turns Wonder Into Marketing Strategy02:00 Inside the World's Most Photographed Museum04:00 From Wall Street to Vegas Viral Experiences07:30 Building the Biggest Brand No One's Heard Of09:30 Cracking the Local Playbook for Global Growth14:14 Data and Science Behind Going Viral16:44 Marketing FOMO With Radio and Influencers19:00 Winning Local Search and the AI-Discoverability Game24:00 Bringing Emotion Back to B2B Marketing27:23 How to Make Customers Feel Your Product33:43 Lessons from Failed Launches38:10 Using AI to Scale Creative, Not Replace It45:00 The Best Marketing Campaigns51:00 Marketing Trends Outro Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael Reid went from studying aerospace engineering to becoming CEO at Megaport, a global network-as-a-service platform. How did he get there, and what can we learn from his journey? We walk his career path, including a pivotal role scaling ThousandEyes from 74 million to over 2.4x ARR post-acquisition, and how those experiences shaped his approach to... Read more »

SaaStr 825: How the AI Era Has Directly Impacted Marketing and Sales with Snowflake‘s CMO and Founding CRO Join us for an insightful episode discussing the impact of AI on marketing and sales at Snowflake. Hosts Chris Degnan, founding CRO of Snowflake, and Denise Persson, CMO at Snowflake, delve into how AI has revolutionized their operations. They share key learnings from Snowflake's data cloud market strategies and their record-breaking IPO. Discover the significance of company culture, security, and a centralized data foundation in leveraging AI. Hear about Snowflake's AI Council, customer use cases, task automation, and the consolidation of intelligence teams. Don't miss this comprehensive discussion on the transformative role of AI in the enterprise and valuable hiring insights for staying ahead in the AI era. 00:00 Introduction and Speaker Backgrounds 02:05 Impact of AI on Company Culture 05:09 Snowflake's AI Strategy and Data Security 08:03 AI Use Cases in Marketing 21:26 AI Use Cases in Sales 29:42 Governance and Security in AI Implementation 32:10 AI's Influence on Hiring and Company Growth 34:58 Closing Thoughts and Resources  --------------------- 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 Intercom:
  Fin is the #1 AI Agent for resolving complex queries like refunds, transaction disputes, and technical troubleshooting—all with speed and reliability. See how Fin can deliver the highest resolution rates and highest-quality customer experience at fin.ai/saastr. --------------------- If you're serious about B2B and AI, you need to be in London this December.   SaaStr AI London is bringing together more than 2,000 leaders and founders for two days of practical advice on scaling into the new year.    We'll have speakers flying in from OpenAI, Wiz, Clay, Intercom, and all your favorite SaaS companies, including yours truly with Harry Stebbings for a live 20VC podcast. It'll be fun, and it's all in the heart of London.    Don't miss out: get your tickets with my exclusive discount by going to podcast.saastrlondon.com   ---------------------   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.

On the podcast I talk with Josh about red flags that tank app valuations, why subscription-only apps are leaving money on the table, and how bootstrapped founders are cashing out for millions in months, not years.Top Takeaways:

In this episode of Power Women Wellness, Dr. Lahana sits down with Brandy Morton - B2B SaaS growth strategist and founder of Brandy Morton Marketing - to talk about building a career on her own terms while prioritizing health and alignment. Brandy shares how resilience, self-compassion, and community have shaped her journey, and why women don't need to choose between business success and personal well-being. Connect with Brandy: Website LinkedIn --- Ready to work with us 1:1? You know, stop the guess work? Let's go! Request a free phone call to see how we can help you! Connect with us on https://www.instagram.com/nuvitruwellness/ + TikTok (@nuvitruwellness) + ! If you're interested in all things Gut Health, Functional Nutrition, Hormones, Wellness + more, check out our other podcast called Functional Nutrition Wellness.

Buying a business is one thing—but knowing how to actually grow it is where the real challenge (and opportunity) begins. In this episode, Jaryd Krause chats with Matthew Person, a corporate strategist, investor, and M&A expert who’s mastered the art of scaling through acquisition. With experience across investment banking, corporate development, and private equity, Matthew knows what it takes to turn good businesses into great ones. He’s the mind behind the Square Management System, a framework built to help entrepreneurs align culture, structure, and strategy so growth happens seamlessly—not chaotically. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ Why understanding customer lifetime value is more important than acquisition cost✔️ How pricing and packaging decisions influence business scalability✔️ What makes the Square Management System a powerful tool for growth✔️ The critical role of cultural fit in M&A integration✔️ How to manage different revenue types and their impact on valuation✔️ Why boring businesses often yield the best returns✔️ The common integration challenges—and how to plan for them✔️ What successful portfolio builders do differently from the rest Jaryd and Matthew break down the real drivers of business success, from understanding customer lifetime value and pricing strategy to building systems that make integration smooth and scalable. Whether you’re eyeing your first acquisition or managing a growing portfolio, this episode shows you how to scale smarter, not harder.

Armand Farrokh reveals how to close a $3K, $30K, and $300K sales deal — and why each one needs a different approach. He breaks down the five buyer agreements that drive every close and shows how to spot deal momentum to accelerate your cycle. Whether you're closing SMB, mid-market, or enterprise deals, this video gives you real-world B2B sales tactics, SaaS closing strategies, and deal frameworks to help you sell faster, smarter, and bigger. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Chad Rubin is the Founder and CEO of Profasee, a dynamic pricing platform enabling brands to predict the optimum price for every product. He has built several successful companies, including the Prosper Show, Think Crucial, and Skubana, which was acquired by 3PL Central. As a speaker and world-class Amazon expert, Chad gives presentations about e-commerce, SaaS, and Amazon at global conferences and webinars. He is also the co-author of the Amazon bestseller Cheaper Easier Direct.  Jason Swenk is the Founder of Agency Mastery 360, a company dedicated to helping digital agency owners grow and scale their businesses. With over 20 years in the agency space, he has built and sold his agency, and he now leverages his experience working with brands like AT&T, Hitachi, and Lotus Cars to mentor other agencies. In addition to hosting the Smart Agency Masterclass podcast, the #1 podcast for digital marketing agency owners, Jason has developed a framework for growing agencies from nothing to eight figures. His unique perspective, shaped by his extensive experience and monthly interaction with over 100 agencies, provides valuable insights into navigating market disruptions and achieving sustained growth. Todd Taskey is a Partner at Tower Partners and an M&A advisor at Potomac Business Capital. He has been an entrepreneur, business owner, investment banker, and business finance advisor for more than 20 years. In addition to providing M&A advice, Todd has been a founding investor, board member, or part of the management team of several business ventures. He helps CEOs and entrepreneurs develop a successful exit strategy through his knowledge of the mid-market investment banking process. In this episode… The pursuit of success often hides a quieter struggle — the constant tug-of-war between ambition, attention, and alignment. Entrepreneurs chase growth, yet time, focus, and meaningful connection remain their scarcest resources. What if the real edge in business isn't doing more but refining how we think, learn, and connect? Chad Rubin, Jason Swenk, and Todd Taskey reveal the books, tools, and habits that keep them grounded while driving exponential growth. Chad credits The 4-Hour Workweek, Atomic Habits, and Lost and Founder for reshaping his view of time and leadership — and shares how AI tools like WisprFlow and Readwise help him communicate faster and retain key lessons. Jason points to Giftology and Never Lose a Client Again as blueprints for loyalty, pairing them with Trello's visual workflow to stay organized and creative. Todd highlights the Same as Ever and The Psychology of Money as reminders that human behavior never changes, pairing wisdom with everyday apps like Maps and Genius Scan to keep life simple and efficient. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Chad Rubin, Jason Swenk, and Todd Taskey about the books, podcasts, and tools that shape their leadership and innovation. They discuss lessons from entrepreneurship, the power of AI for productivity, and how continuous learning and curiosity fuel lasting success.

Databox is an easy-to-use Analytics Platform for growing businesses. We make it easy to centralize and view your entire company's marketing, sales, revenue, and product data in one place, so you always know how you're performing. Learn More About DataboxSubscribe to our newsletter for episode summaries, benchmark data, and moreDave Gerhardt built Exit Five by treating community like a product—not a side project.In this episode, he walks through how the Exit Five team runs community with the same rigor as a SaaS org: dedicated product roles, roadmaps, feedback loops, NPS, and sprint cycles. He also shares why most B2B companies shouldn't build a community, and what to focus on instead.We also dig into how to justify the ROI of brand and community work, why direct traffic is your best brand metric, and how AI is reshaping what lean GTM teams can do.In this episode, you'll learn:Why Exit Five runs its community like a product orgThe biggest mistakes B2B companies make when launching communitiesHow Drift's podcast helped drive $1M in pipeline – with no attribution modelDave's take on brand, content, and the new AI-powered marketerThe exact metrics Exit Five tracks to grow and retain members

Brian Decker gets it. This dude actually gets what it means to be a serial entrepreneur. Not the fake kind you see plastered all over social media. The real kind. Brian spent 22 years building businesses the right way. Started as a CPA. Hated it. Jumped into mortgage lending right before the 2008 crash. Then doubled down when everyone else ran away. Built himself into one of the top loan officers in the country. Made multiple seven figures. Then did something most people never do. He recognized the trap. So he did what real entrepreneurs do. Kept the golden goose running. Took one out of every eight golden eggs. Invested it into the next thing. Then the next. Now he's CEO of a solar energy company with AI and machine learning built in. Recurring revenue model. SaaS multiple. Patent potential. That's how you build real wealth. Brian breaks down the mentality shift from chasing money to watching your employees' lives change. That Christmas party where someone's wife thanks you in tears because she could finally stop working to be with her kids. That's the real reason you do this. This episode will change how you think about building businesses. About what makes something scalable. About knowing your lane and staying in it. Brian's been in the trenches for over two decades. He's made mistakes. He's built the systems. And he's showing you exactly what works.We Meet: Brian Decker, Soar Energy, Modern Lending, CryptochargedConnect:Connect with Rick: https://linktr.ee/mrrickjordanConnect with Brian: https://www.thebriandecker.com/ Subscribe & Review to ALL IN with Rick Jordan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RickJordanALLINAbout Brian: Brian Decker is a serial entrepreneur with several successful exits. He is the CEO of Soar Energy, President/Founder of Modern Lending, real estate investor, cryptocurrency investor/educator, and keynote speaker/creator known for his passion for empowering others to achieve financial freedom.

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:15:00 GMT http://relay.fm/upgrade/585 http://relay.fm/upgrade/585 Slide Over Sickos 585 Jason Snell and Myke Hurley It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. clean 6928 It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Interconnected: Discover the digital infrastructure powering today's biggest tech trends. Listen now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code upgrade50off 1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Submit Feedback Here's the Latest on Apple Suing Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks - MacRumors Apple Original Films' “F1 The Movie” to make global streaming debut December 12 - Apple TV+ Press Immersive live NBA games coming to Vision Pro – Six Colors iPadOS 26.1 beta brings back Slide Over, adds microphone adjustments – Six Colors Sickos Haha Yes | Know Your Meme The NFL's 18th Game Workaround, The ESPN Bull Case & College Sports Holy Wars - Puck Apple nears deal to acquire talent, tech from AI startup Prompt AI – CNBC Apple Reorganization: Services Gets Health, Fitness; WatchOS to Craig Federighi - Bloomberg Apple Fitness Chief Accused of Toxic Workplace Culture and Harassment - The New York Times Gurman: Three new Apple products likely launching 'this week' - 9to5Mac iPhone Air review: Back to the future – Six Colors iPhone Heir to the Throne - 512 Pixels A full list of new functions in N

On this episode of GTM Live, Carolyn and Amber sit down with Steve Armenti, CEO & Founder of Twelfth Agency and former demand gen leader at Google.Steve shares his journey from corporate marketing to building a thriving agency, and dive into why most revenue teams miss the real story in their data, how to flip the script on pipeline analysis by studying rejection instead of just conversion, and the critical role of sales + marketing alignment in fixing the “pipeline black box.”You'll hear practical examples from Steve's experiences as an in-house demand gen leader and now running his ABX agency, insights into what's working for growth-stage SaaS companies right now, and a fresh perspective on building GTM systems that actually deliver results.If you're a CMO, CRO, or RevOps leader looking for new ways to diagnose what's holding back your pipeline, this episode is a must-listen.Key Topics Covered:Lessons from demand gen on identifying what works vs. what doesn'tABM → ABX: creating account-based experiences that align sales + marketingThe “messy middle” handoff between sales and marketing, and why it breaks most funnelsFlipping the script: studying disqualification rates instead of obsessing over MQL → SQL conversionPractical examples of diagnosing rejection data and what it revealedThe underestimated importance of data hygiene, UTMs, and ops rolesWhy improving what you already have often beats chasing new volume

As the founder and CEO of Taazaa Inc., Yasir Drabu leads hundreds of passionate engineers in building advanced software solutions for healthcare, finance, eCommerce, and other industries. He has more than 16 years of experience in software development, design, and architecture and has deep expertise in multiple technologies. Yasir is passionate about finding promising new startups and helping them build the software they need to rocket to success. He enjoys working with thought leaders, learning their processes and needs, and then creating software products that make a meaningful impact on humanity. He's also the Co-founder and CTO of Innago, creators of a cloud-based property management software that simplifies the rental process for landlords and tenants. Audiences interested in software trends, SaaS, and the latest technology breakthroughs will gain insights into the future of custom software development for society and industries. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Yasir Drabu: Website: https://www.taazaa.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasirdrabutaazaainc/                                                                             *E – explicit language may be used in this podcast.

Why you should listenSarah McDevitt shares insider insights from HubSpot's Partner Experience team, revealing what separates successful partners from those stuck in license-selling modeLearn why data quality is the hidden bottleneck preventing partners from delivering on AI promises—and how to fix it before it destroys client trustDiscover HubSpot's innovative use of AI tools to democratize partner feedback and accelerate decision-making across their ecosystemYou're stuck selling licenses when you should be solving business problems—but every time you pitch "transformation," clients just want to know the price per user.In this episode, I sit down with Sarah McDevitt, who leads the Partner Experience team at HubSpot, and we cut through the AI hype to talk about what actually matters. Sarah spent 16 years in agency land before joining the "dark side" (her words) at HubSpot seven years ago, so she knows both sides of the partner equation intimately.We explore why the best partners stop being platform experts and start being business growth experts. Sarah reveals how HubSpot uses AI internally to democratize partner feedback, the real reason behind their partner program changes, and why selling AI without fixing data structure first will be your downfall.If you're a consultant partnering with any SaaS platform—or considering it—this conversation will change how you think about your role. Stop reading the toaster manual to clients. Start asking better questions about their actual business problems.About Sarah McDevittSarah Stone McDevitt is a Radio broadcasting graduate who spent the early part of her career in local radio before moving into agency life. She spent 16 years working across creative, media, content and web development agencies before joining HubSpot almost 7 years ago. She initially joined to manage the CC team in EMEA, and shortly after that, she added the EMEA Onboarding team and Pro Services teams to her management portfolio. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, she took over the Pro Services NAM and EMEA businesses. Today, Sarah leads HubSpot's Partner Experience team, where she focuses on creating exceptional experiences for HubSpot's global partner ecosystem. In this role, she has emerged as a thought leader in the field of Relational Intelligence (RI), pioneering approaches that demonstrate how human relationship-building and emotional intelligence work alongside artificial intelligence to drive business success. Sarah advocates for the irreplaceable value of authentic human connections in an increasingly AI-driven world, showing how RI and AI complement each other to create more meaningful customer and partner relationships.In her personal life, Sarah is married with four children and lives in Dublin, Ireland. She proudly served 13 years in the reserve army in Ireland as a corporal in a communications unit. She is the founder and chairperson of a charity called Help Us Give Smiles which has seen her travel to Kenya for almost 20 years working with vulnerable children and communities. And finally, she is an LGBTQ+ activist focused in particular on the rights of LGBTQ+ parents.Resources and LinksHubspot.comSarah's LinkedIn profileWatch “Why the Future of Work is More Human Than You Think“SpeechifyNotebook LMPrevious episode:

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:15:00 GMT http://relay.fm/upgrade/585 http://relay.fm/upgrade/585 Jason Snell and Myke Hurley It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. clean 6928 It's a new and vibrant era for Upgrade, as we discuss Apple TV changes, iPad software updates, and immersive NBA games. Myke reviews Apple's F1 TV strategy, while Jason comes up with a winning TV series idea and reviews the iPhone Air. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Interconnected: Discover the digital infrastructure powering today's biggest tech trends. Listen now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code upgrade50off 1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Submit Feedback Here's the Latest on Apple Suing Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks - MacRumors Apple Original Films' “F1 The Movie” to make global streaming debut December 12 - Apple TV+ Press Immersive live NBA games coming to Vision Pro – Six Colors iPadOS 26.1 beta brings back Slide Over, adds microphone adjustments – Six Colors Sickos Haha Yes | Know Your Meme The NFL's 18th Game Workaround, The ESPN Bull Case & College Sports Holy Wars - Puck Apple nears deal to acquire talent, tech from AI startup Prompt AI – CNBC Apple Reorganization: Services Gets Health, Fitness; WatchOS to Craig Federighi - Bloomberg Apple Fitness Chief Accused of Toxic Workplace Culture and Harassment - The New York Times Gurman: Three new Apple products likely launching 'this week' - 9to5Mac iPhone Air review: Back to the future – Six Colors iPhone Heir to the Throne - 512 Pixels A full list of new functi

Ever felt like life knocked you flat just as things were going great? Dar Holdsworth knows that story well. From doing multi-million-dollar signage deals to building award-winning custom motorcycles for celebrities — then losing everything and starting over — Dar's entrepreneurial journey is anything but straight. In this episode, Tyler Jorgenson and Dar dig into what it really takes to reinvent yourself, spot new opportunities, and keep moving forward even when your first (or second… or third) business doesn't go as planned.Whether you're riding the highs of business growth or rebuilding after a major setback, Dar's story is a masterclass in grit, curiosity, and knowing when to pivot.What You'll LearnThe unexpected push that got Dar to launch his first businessHow losing his biggest client — and going through a divorce — forced a total resetLessons from building custom motorcycles and scaling product sales onlineThe key difference between being great at your craft and running a profitable companyHow discovering funnels (and a free + shipping offer) changed everythingWhy Dar now helps other entrepreneurs launch AI SaaS businesses that scaleChapters00:00 Introduction to Dar Holdsworth02:07 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins05:09 Overcoming Early Obstacles09:03 Transitioning to Custom Motorcycles12:02 Lessons from the Motorcycle Business17:04 The Shift to SaaS and AI21:00 Navigating Challenges in the Chiropractic Niche24:54 Current Ventures and Future Aspirations

Emanuel Martonca, founder of Soft Fight, reveals how agentic AI is solving one of the biggest challenges in IT services: coordinating pricing decisions across hundreds of people in decentralized organizations.  After his career journey from product management to sales management to discovering pricing at a Simon Kucher workshop, Emanuel shares how his bootstrapped company evolved from traditional consulting to building AI-powered pricing agents that act as an ever-present pricing manager- coaching teams, improving proposals, and recommending pricing models without sending a single byte of data outside the client's infrastructure. In this episode,  learn why AI should augment rather than replace pricing teams, why deterministic calculations still matter, and how to quantify value in IT services without universal quality standards.   Why You Have to Check Out Today's Podcast: Discover how AI solves coordination problems in large IT services companies where hundreds of people make pricing decisions without pricing expertise. Learn why AI should augment pricing teams, not replace them, and why deterministic calculations still matter more than probabilistic AI outputs. Understand how to quantify value in IT services using measurable quality attributes instead of universally accepted standards.   “Pricing is leverage. It allows you to have an impact with very few actions, with little effort."  – Emanuel Martonca   Topics Covered: 01:32 -Emanuel's transformational discovery of pricing at a Belgian retail bank workshop that revealed a world he didn't know existed—launching 18 years of pricing-focused work. 02:37 - Why pricing is the ultimate leverage tool, especially in B2B tech where "it's just communication"—what you write in Excel, on websites, and in proposals. 03:28 - How the pandemic transformed Emanuel from a globe-trotting sales manager into a pricing consultant, then bootstrapped Soft Fight to solve the value extraction gap in tech companies. 04:41 - How large IT companies lose money when hundreds of non-experts across five functions (finance, marketing, sales, delivery, executives) make pricing decisions on every custom project. 06:59 - The evolution from deterministic SaaS pricing rules to AI-augmented agents installed in client infrastructure—solving pricing problems in hours instead of years without sending data externally. 08:00 - Why new deals lack technical depth and renewals lack value articulation—and how AI coordinates knowledge without restructuring organizations. 11:00 - Eight AI agents (four for understanding, four for justifying) with access to all systems but zero external communication—no security or privacy risks. 13:00 - All pricing calculations remain deterministic because AI makes too many mistakes—it's used only for reading RFPs, emails, and meeting notes to improve value communication. 14:17 - How AI acts as a coach recommending pricing models with ready-made arguments, eliminating months of change management—with email as the main interface. 16:17 - Why determining "how long will this take?" is unpredictable and varies by person and timing—and how AI solves the costliest unknown in custom projects. 18:00 - Mark's perspective on why costs matter less than value, and why companies avoid alternative pricing models despite knowing hourly billing hurts both sides. 21:00 - When AI tools cut development time, hourly pricing becomes self-defeating: "You're cutting your own revenue"—forcing the industry to finally sell value, not time. 21:56 - Starting with measurable quality attributes on invented scales that competitors can't compare—getting 80% of the way just by having the quantification discussion. 23:00 - Mark's framework for B2B value and why results translate to economic impact through customer KPIs like reduced complaints, not abstract "quality" metrics. 25:00 - Unlike automotive suppliers with nanometer specs, IT services vendors can define their own quality metrics—putting them two steps ahead of alternatives. 26:00 - The necessity of industry knowledge for value conversations (increase revenue, reduce costs, mitigate risk) and how AI enables understanding of new sectors that would've taken years. 27:30 - Final Advice: AI as Your Pricing Force Multiplier Using AI for research, analysis, and domain understanding when teams are too small or mandates unclear—plus how to connect with Emanuel on LinkedIn.   Key Takeaways: "AI is a huge multiplier for pricing experts—not for calculating prices, I agree with you on that, it's not there yet. But for everything else around pricing, whether we want to call it product management, analysis, or research, it can help us overcome typical challenges." - Emanuel Martonca "Pricing is a change management problem. It can be done, it'll take months, sometimes years, and they have to experiment and they have to make mistakes." - Emanuel Martonca   Resources Mentioned: Simon-Kucher: https://www.simon-kucher.com/en    Connect with Emanuel Martonca: Website: https://www.softfight.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emartonca/    Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.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.FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Patrick Coddou is my business partner & COO at AJF Growth. He previously built, operated, and in 2022 exited Supply, a men's grooming business he co-founded with his wife. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.//Most brands don't have a creative problem—they have a process problem. In this episode, Andrew and AJF Growth COO Patrick Kadu break down how to operationalize creative so it consistently drives profit. We cover why the message is the asset, how to build a database of messages per brand, and how to bolt on a “hook library” that accelerates iteration without bloating your stack.We also dig into Sora 2 (AI video) as a practical tool for 3–5 second hooks—where it works, where it fails, and how to deploy it without derailing your team. You'll hear how we separate Explore vs. Expand in paid social, resist tool proliferation, and turn ideas into a repeatable process clients can trust. If you care about speed, clarity, and profitable growth (not just flashy toolS) then this is your operator's guide.What you'll learn:- A message-first framework that scales creative and protects margins- How to stand up a “hook library” and plug it into weekly cadences- When AI video (Sora 2) is ROI-positive for paid hooks—and when it isn't- The agency principle: performance + trust beats everything//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:58 - Open AI & Sora 200:09:05 - Using AI For Content Creation For Your Brand00:16:19 - Does Your Marketing Clients Want You To Do This?00:19:54 - Ad Inspiration & Using Other User Content00:22:50 - Explore & Expand00:28:39 - Process Oriented Attack For Creatives00:35:00 - Writing a Hook Strategy00:39:04 - Will Meta Dox My Ad? 00:43:23 - Repeatable Process & Implementation00:54:22 - 2 Key Aspects For Good Client Relationships//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

In this episode, CJ sits down with Joe Floyd, General Partner at Emergence Capital, for a candid conversation about the venture landscape reshaped by AI. They unpack how acqui-hires are rewriting the social contract between founders and investors, why AI engineers are commanding “boy band money,” and how SaaS playbooks are being torn up and rebuilt in real time. Joe explains the economics of AI-native startups — from circular capital flows to model-provider costs — and explores whether the next trillion-dollar private company could come from this new wave. Along the way, they discuss valuation frenzy, headcount discipline, and why curiosity might be the most valuable skill in tech today.—LINKS:Joe Floyd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joefloyd/HarbourVest Partners: https://www.emcap.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Why Fundraising Has Slowed Down: Insights from Emergence Capital's Benchmarking Report: From Credit Karma to Notion: CFO Rama Katkar on Leading Finance Through Every Growth Stage:—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview and Intro(00:00:54) Opening and Episode Overview(00:02:53) Sponsor – RightRev | Tipalti | Aleph(00:07:07) Back to the Office and Startup Pace in San Francisco(00:08:40) AI Tooling Experiments and the Risk of Short-Term Hype(00:10:19) Building Stickier AI Products and Competing in Crowded Markets(00:12:27) SaaS Moats, Product-Market Fit, and the AI Shift(00:14:00) How Productivity Platforms Use AI To Stay Sticky(00:15:58) Continuous Authentication and the Next Wave of Security Tech(00:16:36) Sponsor – Rillet | Fidelity Private Shares | Mercury(00:19:54) Acqui-Hires, the Social Contract, and the War for AI Talent(00:22:42) Stock-Based Comp and the Economics of Attracting Engineers(00:24:39) The New Go-to-Market Playbook and Curiosity as a Superpower(00:27:59) AI's Impact on Sales, Forecasting, and Buyer Behavior(00:29:11) Coding Agents, Headcount Reduction, and the Future of Engineering(00:32:21) Building Defensible IP and Competing in the LLM Ecosystem(00:34:34) AI ROI, Payback Periods, and the Search for Efficiency(00:37:17) Valuations, Fund Cycles, and the Venture Market Reset(00:40:20) The Circular Flow of AI Capital and Infrastructure Overbuild(00:45:37) AI Pricing Models, Platform Wars, and Open Source Futures(00:50:02) The Race to the First $1 Trillion Private Company(00:51:09) Credits and Outro—SPONSORS:Fidelity Private Shares is the all-in-one equity management platform that keeps your cap table clean, your data room organized, and your equity story clear—so you never risk losing a fundraising round over messy records. Schedule a demo at https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com and mention Mostly Metrics to get 20% off.Mercury is business banking built for builders, giving founders and finance pros a financial stack that actually works together. From sending wires to tracking balances and approving payments, Mercury makes it simple to scale without friction. Join the 200,000+ entrepreneurs who trust Mercury and apply online in minutes at https://www.mercury.comRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Tipalti automates the entire payables process—from onboarding suppliers to executing global payouts—helping finance teams save time, eliminate costly errors, and scale confidently across 200+ countries and 120 currencies. More than 5,000 businesses already trust Tipalti to manage payments with built-in security and tax compliance. Visit https://www.tipalti.com/runthenumbers to learn more.Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics#RunTheNumbersPodcast #VentureCapital #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupStrategy #FutureOfWork This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Three years since the launch of ChatGPT, what does the landscape of Enterprise AI look like today? What's working, what's struggling and what's still unknown?SHOW: 966SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #966 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK: http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST: "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:[TestKube] TestKube is Kubernetes-native testing platform, orchestrating all your test tools, environments, and pipelines into scalable workflows empowering Continuous Testing. Check it out at TestKube.io/cloudcast[Interconnected] Interconnected is a new series from Equinix diving into the infrastructure that keeps our digital world running. With expert guests and real-world insights, we explore the systems driving AI, automation, quantum, and more. Just search “Interconnected by Equinix”.SHOW NOTES:HOW ARE ENTERPRISES USING AI IN LATE 2025?5% have a clear vision of how to apply Predictive and Generative AI to a set of use-cases that drive differentiation, productivity improvements and cost reductions. They are keeping the details close to the vest.10% have allocated about 3-5% of their IT budgets to AI, typically from a C-level mandate, and have given it to Microsoft or Google. They have checked “the business is AI-enabled” and signaled to the market that they have fully embraced AI. The market is rewarding these companies at higher multiples. 85% aren't sure what use-cases to focus on, have unrealistic expectations during POCs, and are focused on the “no” areas instead of their own learning curves. Enterprises don't have great visibility into AI costs, and limited baselines of what AI should cost - pay for outcomes, pay for seats, pay for tokens, or pay for GPUs?Enterprises don't have easy access to GPUs outside of via SaaS services - makes it challenging for Private or Sovereign AI demand to be metRight now, there is no simple way for Enterprises to build AI AgentsRight now, there is no simple way for Enterprises to share AI experience / learning curve - AI is a very individualized experienceFEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodBlueSky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Dennis Underwood, founder of Cyber Crucible, a cybersecurity software company transforming how businesses manage digital risk. Dennis shares his journey from government contracting to building a global SaaS powerhouse generating $1.2 million in recurring revenue with a lean 10-person team. He discusses the challenges of bootstrapping, the power of automation, and his mission to reshape cybersecurity through innovation and AI. Packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, and sustainable growth, this episode offers a masterclass in scaling a tech business the smart way. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Dennis Underwood, the hardest thing in growing a small business is letting go of someone who's doing a good job but no longer fits the company's evolving needs. He explains that as a product company grows and its focus shifts, even capable and loyal team members might not align with new directions. Making those tough decisions—especially without a “services bench” to reassign people—is one of the most challenging yet necessary parts of leadership and sustainable growth. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Dennis Underwood's favorite business book that has helped him the most is Ready, Fire, Aim. He says it changed his perspective on perfectionism and speed in business. Early on, he focused too much on building the perfect product before going to market—a mindset that worked in government projects but not in fast-moving business environments. The book taught him that customers don't expect perfection; they value progress and adaptability. This lesson helped him launch faster, learn from feedback, and grow Cyber Crucible more effectively. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Dennis Underwood, a great way to grow a small business is by constantly learning from practical, real-world insights. He recommends checking out resources like Y Combinator's startup library, which offers valuable articles for founders, and following industry experts on LinkedIn—especially those who challenge conventional thinking and share unfiltered lessons from experience. For podcasts, he values shows like Grow A Small Business, The How of Business, and Masters of Scale, which feature actionable strategies, founder stories, and mindset shifts for entrepreneurs. These platforms, along with consistent self-education and reflection, help business owners stay grounded, adaptable, and ahead of the curve. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Dennis Underwood recommends using tools that enhance automation, efficiency, and clarity in business operations. He highlights Google Gemini as a powerful AI resource for generating content, refining documentation, and improving communication. By uploading company materials and analyzing AI feedback, he identifies areas needing clearer messaging. For small businesses, he believes leveraging such intelligent tools helps streamline processes, boost productivity, and strengthen strategic growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Dennis Underwood's advice to his younger self on day one of starting out in business would be to have the courage to move faster and fully commit to his vision. He admits he stayed too long in the comfort of government contracting because it felt secure, even though his goals were in commercial software. He says he should have moved out of Washington, D.C. earlier, left behind the “golden handcuffs” of steady contracts, and focused completely on building his product company. His biggest lesson—don't let familiarity or fear delay your leap into the business you truly want to build. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Success in cybersecurity isn't about perfection—it's about empowering people to protect themselves — Dennis Underwood Bootstrapping teaches you discipline—the kind investors can't buy and competitors can't copy — Dennis Underwood You can do everything right and still fail; what matters is how quickly you adapt afterward — Dennis Underwood  

Does Net Revenue Retention (NRR) really move your company's valuation multiple? Absolutely — and the difference can be worth tens of millions of dollars. In episode #319, Ben Murray breaks down new data from Meritech Capital and Benchmarkit.ai to show exactly how changes in your NRR directly impact your revenue multiple and SaaS valuation. You'll also learn why ACV segmentation matters when benchmarking NRR and Gross Revenue Retention (GRR), and how top-performing SaaS companies are using retention metrics to drive investor confidence and higher valuations. What You'll Learn The link between NRR and valuation multiples — a 7-point jump in NRR can double your multiple. How a $5M ARR company can see a $25M valuation swing from retention improvements. The latest SaaS benchmarks from Ray Rike (Benchmarkit.ai) for NRR and GRR. Why you must benchmark NRR by ACV, not company size or industry averages Why investors prioritize retention when evaluating durability, efficiency, and predictability of revenue. Why It Matters For SaaS Founders: NRR improvements can directly increase your exit or fundraising valuation. For CFOs & Finance Leaders: Retention trends reveal the sustainability of your revenue model and influence your ARR growth forecast. For Investors: High NRR signals strong customer economics, pricing power, and efficient growth. For Operators: Knowing your NRR by ACV cohort allows smarter resource allocation and customer success planning. Resources Mentioned The SaaS CFO Academy: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/#section-1744932157830 Quote from Ben “A 5X difference in valuation multiple can come down to just a few points in your net revenue retention. That's the power of strong SaaS metrics.”

Send us a textIn this episode, Matt Brown sits down with Simon Taylor, CEO and founder of HYCU, the world's fastest growing SaaS data protection company. Together, they unpack the findings of The State of SaaS Report 2025, a groundbreaking study surveying over 500 IT leaders on how prepared or unprepared businesses truly are when it comes to protecting their SaaS data.Simon reveals the shocking reality of how many SaaS applications organizations now rely on, why most of that data goes unprotected, and how the shared responsibility model leaves companies dangerously exposed. From ransomware threats and supply chain attacks to real world examples that show the human impact of cyber incidents.Support the show

Learn how to create predictable income and eliminate customer churn with proven retention strategies that make your business worth more — even if you're not in SaaS. In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Revatto founder Jordan Mederich to break down the real reason most businesses lose money — churn. We cover what private equity firms actually look for when buying companies, why recurring revenue is the only “real” business model, and how to build systems that keep customers for life. If you run a coaching program, a SaaS company, or any business with monthly billing, this episode will show you how to stop the leaks, increase lifetime value, and create the kind of predictable income that serious investors pay a premium for.

Check out Mostly Growth and get episodes early. Available on all platforms.* YouTube* Spotify* AppleConference season is back, and CJ and Kyle are swapping stories from the stage—how to nail a keynote, whether conferences are worth the money, and why your walkout song matters more than you think. From there, they dig into a new a16z report revealing where AI startups are actually spending their dollars, and CJ shares results from his summer survey showing that CFOs talk a big game about measuring AI ROI—but nobody knows how to do it. The crew also unpacks how SaaS companies like Slack are bundling AI into their products and hiking prices, before spiraling into a late-night “potentially reliable” rabbit hole featuring a Soviet pole vaulter, beat-and-raise forecasting, and J. Edgar Hoover. They close with lessons on pricing in the real world (yes, Amsterdam's architecture is involved) and one experiment CJ tried this week.Timestamps:00:00 Preview and Intro02:03 Walkout Songs & Kicking Off Conference Season04:12 Sponsored Segment — Metronome05:16 How To Give a Great Keynote and Not Bore the Room11:16 Are Conferences Worth the Money16:02 What AI Companies Are Actually Paying For — The a16z Report21:56 Summer Survey Results: The Elusive ROI of AI23:56 Why No One Knows How To Measure ROI on AI29:38 SaaS Companies Forcing AI — Bundling, Pricing, and Pushback35:32 A Potentially Reliable Thing I Read at 2 AM36:02 Soviet Pole Vaulter, Beat-and-Raise Forecasting & Hoover's Borders41:02 Pricing in the Real World — Lessons from Amsterdam's Skinny Houses44:37 Something I Tried This Week — FixyerEpisodes Referenced: ⁠Are You Bad at LinkedIn… or Is the Algorithm Lying?⁠⁠Why Founders Are Posting Sad Dinners⁠Links:⁠⁠⁠https://www.getmobly.com/⁠⁠https://a16z.com/the-ai-application-spending-report-where-startup-dollars-really-go/⁠⁠https://www.growthunhinged.com/p/how-to-nail-your-next-big-talk⁠⁠https://www.leahtharin.com/p/113-vincent-pierri-how-to-deal-with⁠⁠https://www.freepik.com/⁠⁠https://cluely.com/⁠⁠https://www.mostlymetrics.com/p/it-was-the-summer-of-25⁠⁠https://www.crescendo.ai/⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/posts/justintropic_slack-just-raised-prices-125-by-forcing-activity-7379132597009870848-XI6N/⁠⁠https://www.mostlymetrics.com/p/what-a-soviet-era-pole-vaulter-can-teach-us-about-beating-and-raising⁠⁠https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/03/archives/j-edgar-hoover-made-the-fbi-formidable-with-politics-publicity-and.html⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/73vh2j/til_that_the_dutch_government_once_enforced_a_tax/⁠⁠https://www.clearspaceliving.com/blog/why-dutch-stairs-are-so-steep/⁠⁠https://mjwrightnz.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/amsterdams-taxing-narrow-houses/⁠⁠https://www.fyxer.com/Today's podcast is brought to you by MetronomeYou just launched your new AI product. The new pricing page looks great. But behind it? Last-minute glue code, messy spreadsheets, and running ad-hoc queries to figure out what to bill. Customers get invoices they can't understand. Engineers are chasing billing bugs. Finance can't close the books.With Metronome, you hand it all off to the real-time billing infrastructure that just works—reliable, flexible, and built to grow with you. We turn raw usage events into accurate invoices, give customers bills they actually understand, and keep every team in sync in real time.Whether you're launching usage-based pricing, managing enterprise contracts, or rolling out new AI services, Metronome does the heavy lifting so you can focus on your product, not your billing.That's why some of the fastest-growing companies in the world, like OpenAI and Anthropic, run their billing on Metronome.Visit metronome.com to learn more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Hayden — a passionate accounting strategist and co-founder of Kickstart Accounting — to dig into the real talk about financial clarity, scaling your business, and building systems that give you freedom instead of stress.In this conversation we cover:How to overcome common financial fears that stall business growthStrategies for building predictable cash flow and profitable operationsSimple accounting and bookkeeping frameworks that any entrepreneur can useHow Danielle helps clients get “unstuck” and move from chaos to clarityHer story: the pivots, the lessons, and what's next on the horizonWant to get to know Danielle more? Here's her LinkedIn: (3) Danielle Hayden | LinkedIn

"Are you building a brand that's building customer relationships—and the data behind them—to last or one that's just trying to keep up with today's omnichannel consumer? Agility requires not just reacting to change but anticipating it and even shaping it. It demands a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to adapt your strategies in real-time. Today, we're going to talk about the critical role of data reliability and identity resolution in building an agile brand. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Andrew Frawley, CEO at Data Axle. About Andrew Frawley Andrew (Andy) Frawley, with over 30 years of operational experience, including 25 years in senior leadership, has excelled in diverse industries such as agency, marketing services, software, and professional services. As a seasoned leader, he specializes in SaaS, Digital Marketing, CRM, Big Data, and Marketing Automation. As the CEO of Data Axle, Andy is dedicated to further developing industry-leading client solutions and delivering world-class services to Data Axle clients.   A published author of “Igniting Customer Connections” (2014), Andy is a sought-after speaker on various business and technical topics related to Digital Marketing, Product Innovation, Agency Innovation, Customer Analytics, Big Data, and Customer Value Management. During his distinguished career, he has advised many clients, ranging from small digital businesses to the largest global marketing organizations. Andy's breakthrough thinking and methodologies, including ROE2, Cliquity, Continuous Customer Management, and Value in Play, have guided organizations in delivering tangible ROI from their customer and marketing investments. Andrew Frawley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfrawley/ Resources Data Axle: https://www.data-axle.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/ Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company"

Join Simtheory: https://simtheory.ai----Check out our albums on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28PU4ypB18QZTotml8tMDq?si=XfaAbBKAQAaaG_Cg2AkD9A----00:00 - OpenAI DevDay 2025 Recap03:24 - ChatGPT Apps SDK & MCP UI & Agents SDK42:11 - AgentKit & AgentBuilder: Who is it for?50:41 - GPT-5-pro in API53:15 - gpt-realtime-mini56:53 - Sora 2 & Sora 2 in API Vs Veo31:01:43 - Final thoughts & This Day in AI albums now on Spotify!Thanks for your support and listening xoxo

Comment enrichir vos fiches produits et vos pubs à l'échelle grâce à l'IA générative - avec DataïadsDans cet épisode enregistré à Biarritz au One to One IA & Expérience Client 2025, je retrouve Raphaël Grandemange, CEO et cofondateur de Dataïads, une solution SaaS qui permet aux e-commerçants de produire des visuels et vidéos produits dynamiques à grande échelle grâce à la GenAI.L'ambition de Dataïads : automatiser la création d'assets marketing personnalisés (images, vidéos, visuels publicitaires…) à partir d'un simple flux produit. Résultat : des pages produits enrichies, des publicités plus performantes, et une personnalisation fine à grande échelle.

Most businesses guard their intellectual property like it's Fort Knox. They lock their frameworks behind paywalls, gate their methodologies, and keep their best insights for paying clients only. We're doing the exact opposite - and it's actually better for business. In this episode, Wes reveals why ProductLed invested $150,000 to create The Product-Led Playbook and then decided to give it away completely free. He breaks down the counterintuitive business strategy behind democratizing product-led growth knowledge and why sharing your best IP actually attracts better clients. Key Highlights: 01:04: Why all ProductLed books are free (and always have been)02:09: Turning down publishers 02:50: The $150,000 investment and 16 iterations it took03:10: Why guarding knowledge is actually stupid for business03:53: Democratizing PLG - it's a skill anyone can learn04:39: How free content attracts doers who've already made hundreds of thousands05:28: Using free books to align entire teams on PLG strategy06:37: Why sharing makes onboarding company-wide adoption effortless06:56: The long-term mission - making ProductLed the de facto SaaS scaling system07:40: Why product-led companies can out-give anyone in their market08:29: What's inside - the same frameworks clients pay $30K+/month for08:51: The three core outcomes you'll unlock with the system09:19: Testimonials from Nathan Barry, Esben (Userflow), and G (Empire)

Ever received a push notification on your phone? There's a good chance it came through MoEngage.Raviteja Dodda, founder of MoEngage, shares the story of building a SaaS company from India that now sends 80 billion messages to 2 billion users across 1,200 brands. A decade-long  journey of MoEngage from its early years to becoming a category leader in customer engagement. He shares how the company grew by focusing on Indian customers as the strongest validation of product-market fit, before expanding globally by building regional teams with autonomy and hiring people with a founder's mindset to navigate new markets.Ravi also shares the why behind differences in pricing between US and Indian customers (think Swiggy vs DoorDash) and how revenue margins vary when selling in India versus abroad.Whether you're curious about the software powering some of the most familiar brands and apps we use every day, or want a behind-the-scenes look at how MoEngage built an $800M global SaaS business from India,then this episode is for you.0:00 – Trailer1:12 – Founder of software powering messages to 2B Users3:50 – Building one of India's first mobile apps8:49 – Acquiring India's top consumer Internet companies10:12 – Mobile → online → offline: Covering all touchpoints13:19 – How MoEngage became a category leader16:52 – Customer support is extremely rewarding in India24:12 – Reasons for Pricing gap: Swiggy vs. DoorDash27:55 – Revenue margins: India vs. abroad28:30 – Moving OLA from internal solution to Moengage29:54 – Key milestones in MoEngage's journey32:32 – Revenue split across customers33:37 – GTM to take a product built in India global41:19 – Why MoEngage should've entered Europe earlier43:51 – Middle East as the fastest-growing market44:21 – People who create v/s people who execute playbooks50:05 – How to sign large global customers from India?52:54 – Spotting early adopters in new markets55:59 – Can new companies win in mature categories?59:13 – MoEngage's position in AI1:01:54 – Building a $10M ARR SaaS: US vs. India1:03:57 – Scale in India first or go US on Day 0?1:08:45 – MoEngage's IPO timeline1:10:05 – Most exciting SaaS companies from India1:14:11 – Regional teams as mini-startups1:16:51 – What worked for MoEngage in fundraising?-------------India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Join Shawn Soole in a dynamic conversation with Geoffrey Toffetti, a hospitality insider turned CEO who's reshaping how frontline teams drive guest experience and revenue. From his early days as a hotel valet to leading FPG's SaaS revolution with IN‑Gauge, Geoffrey shares the behind‑the‑scenes strategies that empower hotels to sell more, serve better, and scale smarter.What You'll Learn• Geoffrey's journey from valet to C‑suite—building empathy and strategy from the ground up • FPG's pivot from consulting to a scalable SaaS model, designing IN‑Gauge to empower staff at the point of sale • The value of incremental revenue via front desk and F&B upselling—high-margin, high-impact, low‑overhead • How FPG onboard and train large teams virtually, from launch cadence to ongoing client success frameworks • Looking ahead: integrating AI not to replace, but to amplify frontline creativity, backed by decades of performance data Timestamp Highlights (Estimated)• 00:02:30 – Starting as a valet and rising into leadership—Geoffrey's hospitality origin story• 00:14:00 – Building IN-Gauge: FPG's shift to digital training and performance insights• 00:28:00 – Revenue without renovation: how hotels unlock millions with existing resources• 00:42:00 – Rolling out FPG's onboarding and client success strategy—scalable, virtual, consistent• 00:58:00+ – Leveraging AI to support—not replace—human connection at the frontline

Ron Story Jr. is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and the new owner of Guestio. He's also the founder of SpeakerHub, a global booking platform connecting speakers, podcasts, and event organizers. In the past year alone, Ron has done 125 podcast interviews, 31 speaking gigs, 205 daily webcasts, and written 138 articles—all while adding over $1 million in revenue to his businesses by using speaking and podcasting as growth engines. On this episode we talk about: How Ron generated $1M through podcasting, speaking, and content creation Using lifetime deals to solve churn problems in recurring SaaS models The smartest way to turn software buyers into loyal, long-term customers The mindset shift from selling lottery tickets to selling true business investments Why public speaking and podcast guesting are the fastest trust builders for any entrepreneur Top 3 Takeaways Churn—not customer acquisition—is what kills recurring revenue businesses. Treat your product as an investment in your customer's future, not as a cheap lottery ticket. Speaking and podcasting aren't just about visibility—they create pre-sold leads who already trust you. Notable Quotes “After you sell it, you've got to keep it—that's where the real cost begins.” “People invest in what they understand. The more they engage, the longer they stay.” “Most great speakers speak for free—the money's made when the audience becomes your clients.” Connect with Ron Story Jr.: Website: SpeakerHub.com/Guestio ✖️✖️✖️✖️

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/What happens when your startup's ownership structure gets messy — right before a big investment round?Amit Jethani, Co-Founder at Mantle (https://withmantle.com/), breaks down the world of cap tables, capital calls, and equity management in plain language, while sharing the hard-earned lessons that led him to start Mantle after 15+ years in the startup ecosystem. We dive into how messy spreadsheets cost founders ownership, why one-star reviews can fuel product strategy, and the surprising ways AI is transforming equity management.

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Sabri Suby, founder of King Kong agency and Shark Tank investor, went from making 600 cold calls daily selling Sky TV to building a marketing empire by applying one principle: take what works face-to-face and scale it to the masses.After burning through multiple businesses and hitting rock bottom with $600 in his bank account following his wedding, Sabri rebuilt by cold-calling 150 business owners daily from his bedroom. Tune in for his specific framework for transitioning from selling one-to-one to selling one-to-many.00:00 Introduction01:20 Starting in LA, the energy and entrepreneurial spirit04:36 Why Australian culture can stall ambitious people08:26 Having three daughters and choosing to travel anyway11:27 Cold calling ink cartridges at 16 in a shipping container16:06 The moment of desperation that rewired his sales script19:17 Sales lessons that can't be taught in books or videos24:01 Moving to London and becoming Sky's top salesperson29:00 How rejection taught him to embrace hard things34:53 Dropping out of uni after building a profitable agency39:15 Broke after his wedding, back to cold calling with $5045:34 Building King Kong from his bedroom into a real office51:41 Scaling with a lean team and long-time staff56:38 From individual sales to direct response ad mastery01:00:35 What makes his YouTube ads stand out and convert01:05:12 Copywriting inspiration from legendary advertisers01:10:13 Rolex sent a cease and desist over one of his videos01:12:22 How luxury brands engineer desire and loyalty01:14:03 Tactics he's borrowed from high-end retail brands01:17:57 Keeping it focused: agency, SaaS, Shark Tank investments01:19:31 Shark Tank versus YouTube for personal brand growth» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join @WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow Sabri«YouTube: @SabriSubyOfficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrisuby/?hl=enWebsite: https://selllikecrazybook.com/

If you're drowning in delivery work, putting in 80-hour weeks, and feeling like your business controls you instead of giving you freedom, this episode is for you. I'm sharing the story of one of my clients who was completely maxed out—working across multiple SaaS partner relationships, positioned as an hourly contractor, and so exhausted he looked like he'd fall asleep on our calls. Sound familiar?Here's what most technical consultants don't realize: you're solving the wrong problems. You love complex technical challenges, but you're getting trapped in solving every problem instead of asking if these are the right problems to solve—and if you're getting rewarded properly for solving them. In this episode, I walk you through the exact transformation we achieved using my three Multiplier Method, taking him from 80-hour weeks to landing deals worth one-third of his annual revenue in a single month. If you're ready to break free from being the bottleneck in your own business, this is how it's done.Resources and LinksApply for Mentoring herePrevious episode: 640 - How to Stop Being Invisible to Microsoft's 30,000-Person Sales Force with Rob FeganCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Bradley Keefer is the Chief Revenue Officer and Justin Jefferson is the VP of Strategy & Insights at Keen Decision Systems, where Bayesian-powered marketing mix modeling meets scenario planning and outcome forecasting, helping brands move from rearview analytics to predictive decisioning.With decades of combined experience across SaaS, analytics, and brand strategy, Bradley and Justin are redefining how marketers plan, forecast, and invest. Instead of treating marketing as a cost center, they help brands model “what if” scenarios, forecasting how every incremental dollar drives revenue across channels.Whether you're scaling a fast-growing brand or managing a multimillion-dollar marketing budget, Bradley and Justin offer a masterclass in using data to make confident, forward-looking decisions that compound over time.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:38] Intro[01:12] Measuring how marketing spend drives growth[02:29] Building models that adapt to brand maturity[04:35] Balancing brand building with performance spend[07:24] Shifting focus from capturing to creating demand[08:41] Driving demand to boost bottom-funnel returns[09:34] Breaking growth limits with data-driven planning[12:49] Connecting viral moments to sustain momentum[14:50] Building brands that go beyond ad optimization[15:30] Stay updated with new episodes[15:43] Simplifying setup for data-heavy marketing tools[18:44] Designing analytics tools for marketing teams[20:23] Updating models fast to learn and adapt quicker[22:42] Using data to balance old and new media spendResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeMarketing mix modeling powered by AI keends.com/Follow Bradley Keefer linkedin.com/in/bradley-keeferFollow Justin Jefferson linkedin.com/in/justin-a-jeffersonIf 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!

Ram Krishnan, a seasoned technology executive with a background in systems engineering from UVA, GE leadership, and several SaaS ventures, joined Valant (valant.io) in 2020 to steer the company through its next growth phase.  His team built a “system of record” that serves as the base operating platform for medical practices—handling everything from patient intake, appointment scheduling, and payment collection to clinical documentation, claim submission, and follow‑up care—essentially automating the entire patient lifecycle and positioning the software as the practice's essential OS. His leadership philosophy is anchored by two recurring nuggets: Peter Drucker's maxim that “culture beats strategy for lunch,” and a relentless focus on the core problem being solved, whether in hiring, process design, or technology investments, echoing lean‑startup principles. Website: www.valant.io LinkedIn: ramkrishnan Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.    I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

We spend the entire episode diving into how we can better define Less Annoying CRM's ideal customer profile, and what that would mean for the product and marketing.

About David Zitoun:David Zitoun is the Co-founder and CEO of Submagic, the AI-powered video editing platform that helps content creators generate viral shorts in seconds. Starting from his own frustration editing YouTube content, David bootstrapped Submagic to over $8M in revenue with an ultra-lean team of just 10 people—no sales team, fully self-serve, and 100% remote. Known for his obsessive focus on pricing experimentation, distribution-first strategy, and profitability over growth-at-all-costs, David represents a new breed of bootstrapped SaaS founder winning in the AI era.About Submagic:Submagic is an AI-powered video editing platform built for content creators who need to produce viral short-form content quickly. Born from a founder's personal pain point, Submagic's radical approach combines cutting-edge AI with an entirely self-serve business model. The company has achieved remarkable capital efficiency, reaching $8M in revenue with just 10 team members while maintaining profitability and sustainable growth.Show Notes:00:00 Inside Submagic's pricing page04:04 From frustrated creator to founder09:59 Building a lean, distributed team15:01 Managing hyper-growth with minimal headcount17:34 Building team culture through retreats19:59 The hidden challenges of managing remote teams21:09 Effective communication in remote work: Loom, World Time Buddy, and Sup Bot24:01 Metrics and success measurement32:14 Hiring the right people for growth33:27 Choosing profitability and sustainability over venture-backed hyper-growth

Today, I am delighted to speak with Tomas Hurcik, Co-Founder and CEO of ORCA AG, a Swiss based SaaS company focused on building legal technology to support and automate the growing amount of legal, tax and compliance to-do's that modern families with complex legal structures face. Tomas co-founded ORCA in 2017 after gaining first-hand insight via his wife's family business and family office into the difficulty of assembling, analyzing, and sharing structure charts, entity management, and compliance reporting information. Prior to co-founding ORCA, Tomas spent his entire working life in startups in investment banking, private banking, and e-commerce. Two IPO-ed, one failed. Tomas and his company ORCA are a FOX technology resource partner, and we are thankful to have his expertise as part of our membership community. Families and their complex enterprises have – and constantly generate – a lot of information, and organizing, storing, and retrieving this information is an ever-growing challenge. Tomas talks about this challenge and describes the relevance of organizing important information to families and their family offices. When Tomas decided to create ORCA, he perceived a specific opportunity based on a common pain point that most families experience with their data and information – a pain point that he and his wife also experienced. He describes this experience and shares the pain points he set out to solve. The company Tomas created, ORCA, is gaining ever greater recognition in our space. He tells us what ORCA is – what it does, what problems it solves for families and family offices, and how it solves them. For family office owners and executives in our audience who are focused on managing their enterprise information needs, Tomas offers his advice on how best to do that. He elaborates on how they should think about their information needs and plan to organize, manage, and deliver information to their increasingly diverse and dispersed user base. Don't miss this eye-opening conversation with a leading entrepreneur and thought leader in the family office technology ecosystem.

Even small errors in your MRR schedule can have a massive impact on your retention metrics, and in due diligence, that can destroy investor confidence. In episode #318, Ben Murray explains why gaps in your monthly recurring revenue (MRR) schedule create inaccurate gross revenue retention (GRR) and net revenue retention (NRR) results — and how poor invoicing and renewal practices are often the root cause. You'll learn how to identify, fix, and prevent these gaps so your SaaS financial reporting and valuation metrics remain accurate and investor-ready. What You'll Learn ✅ What causes gaps in your MRR schedule (and how to spot them). ✅ How MRR gaps distort your retention, expansion, and churn calculations. ✅ Why these data issues raise red flags in due diligence. ✅ How to align renewal dates, contracts, and invoicing to eliminate data breaks. ✅ What a clean, accurate MRR waterfall should look like for SaaS and AI companies. ✅ Why you need at least three years of clean retention data before a fundraise or exit. Why It Matters For CFOs & Finance Teams: Gaps cause misleading GRR/NRR trends that erode trust in your data. For Founders & CEOs: Bad MRR data can hurt company valuation and slow down fundraising or acquisition. For Investors: Clean MRR schedules provide transparency into predictable revenue and retention strength. For Accountants: Accurate MRR waterfalls enable stronger financial modeling and forecasting. Resources Mentioned SaaS Metrics Foundation Course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation Quote from Ben “If there are gaps in your MRR schedule, your retention story falls apart — and investors will notice.”

What does it take to run engineering at the heart of modern fintech? In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Imprint CTO Will Larson unpacks lessons from leading engineering teams at Stripe, Carta, Calm, Uber, and more. Will shares how fintech engineering differs from SaaS, the tradeoffs executives face when joining new companies, and why the art of leadership lies in balancing seemingly incompatible frameworks, moving fast while preserving reliability, innovating while managing legacy systems.He also dives into the hype and reality of large language models (LLMs). Will explains why today's “AI engineers” may simply be tomorrow's product engineers, why prompt-crafting is more artisanal than strategic, and how agentic tools could redefine workflows. From the shifting expectations of tech executives over three decades to what really drives innovation inside scaling companies, this conversation is equal parts practical and forward-looking. For anyone navigating fintech engineering or curious about the future of AI in product development, Will offers a grounded perspective on what matters most.

professorjrod@gmail.comCloud perimeters are fading, identities are multiplying, and threats move faster than patches. We dive into the real mechanics of securing a hybrid world—mapping cloud deployment choices, clarifying shared responsibility across SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, and showing how Zero Trust reshapes defenses around identity, posture, and context. It's a practical tour from first principles to field-tested patterns, grounded by case studies like Capital One and SolarWinds and anchored in frameworks such as NIST SP 800-207.We start by decoding public, private, hosted private, community, and hybrid models, then connect those choices to risk: multi-tenant isolation, data flows between zones, and the observability challenges of decentralization. From there, we move into reliability engineering—high availability, geo-redundancy, disaster recovery—and the role Kubernetes plays in scaling securely, with a frank look at container pitfalls and how least privilege and image scanning reduce blast radius. Automation takes center stage with infrastructure as code, autoscaling, and software-defined networking, plus how SASE brings secure access to a remote-first workforce without bolting on more complexity.Embedded systems and IoT get a hard look: scarce memory, weak encryption, default credentials, and unpatchable firmware that turns convenience into risk. We offer a simple playbook—segment aggressively, enforce egress controls, rotate credentials, and plan device lifecycles—to stop small sensors from causing big outages. Zero Trust ties it all together: never trust, always verify; microsegment to prevent lateral movement; and evaluate every access request through identity, device health, and real-time signals. Along the way, we weave in Security+ exam-style questions so you can test your knowledge and lock in the fundamentals.If this helped you see your cloud and Zero Trust roadmap more clearly, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review. Got certified recently or put these controls into practice? Email professorjrod@gmail.com—we'd love to shout you out on a future episode.Support the showIf you want to help me with my research please e-mail me.Professorjrod@gmail.comIf you want to join my question/answer zoom class e-mail me at Professorjrod@gmail.comArt By Sarah/DesmondMusic by Joakim KarudLittle chacha ProductionsJuan Rodriguez can be reached atTikTok @ProfessorJrodProfessorJRod@gmail.com@Prof_JRodInstagram ProfessorJRod

In this jam-packed episode of SaaS Fuel, sales expert Christian Jack joins host Jeff Mains to break down everything SaaS founders and sales leaders need to know about effective sales demos, discovery processes, psychological safety in sales, team culture, and the evolving landscape of SaaS sales.Christian shares his journey from music teaching to sales mastery, the critical lessons he learned about sales psychology, and the costly mistakes most SaaS teams make when it comes to demos and team management. You'll also get hard-hitting tactics to boost conversions, examples of SaaS companies that transformed their sales processes, and powerful leadership insights to help you build an unstoppable sales culture.Key Takeaways00:00 Understanding Cost Perception Objections04:59 "Entrepreneurial Aspirations Amid Uncertainty"09:33 Trust Over Features in Sales12:40 Safety Influences Communication Openness15:26 Tactics for Positive Engagement20:21 Sales: A Cyclical Journey23:15 Highlighting Simple Solutions Over Features25:59 Syntax and Engagement Strategy29:43 Demo Dilemma: Pros and Cons31:26 Marketing's Role: Engagement Initiation35:44 Enhancing Sales with Pre-Call Videos39:22 Transformational Vocabulary Strategies42:13 Empowering Message from an Astronaut47:06 Sales Success Hinges on Culture48:55 Find Christian Jack OnlineTweetable Quotes"Sales has now become even more of a game of building trust, I think, and building connection with people rather than just, you know, we have the best features, we have the best." — Christian Jack"We live it through the words that we attribute to the experience. And so if you are talking to somebody about your product, about your service, about your software, et cetera, the words that you use to describe it are very, very important."— Christian JackThe Secret to Driving Engagement in Software: "How do we actually set up the software in a way where people will actually use it? And what is the specific vehicle that we've used in order to achieve that?" — Christian Jack"Marketing gets people to the point where they start to lean in as soon as they start leaning in that sales job.” — Christian Jack "You want to use words like the door is closing or the window is open because that will start to help people envision in their mind, like they can see a door closing." — Christian JackDeeper Connections Through Nonverbal Communication: "And you can focus on other parts of the interaction, how they're reacting, what the response is, facial expressions, those kinds of things." — Jeff Mains"The dividing line between those two, marketing, sales and then where are they separate and then how do they work together best?" — Jeff MainsBiggest Competitor in SaaS Sales: "the biggest competitor that I think we all have in the marketplace is no action, no decision." — Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership LessonsCulture Over NumbersYour sales team's culture is the foundation of consistent performance and retention—it's critical for growth and survival.Sales and Marketing Must Work in HarmonyMarketing makes people “lean in”; sales takes over when a prospect is engaged. Align these efforts for maximum ROI.Prioritize Discovery, Not Just DemosYou can't sell a prospect unless you deeply understand their context. Tailor every demo and sales conversation.Empower with Psych-SafetyProspects buy when they feel safe. Your job isn't just handling objections, but creating an environment of trust and...

SaaStock Founder and CEO Alex Theuma speaks with Manny Medina, Co-founder and CEO of Paid (and former Founder and CEO of Outreach), about how AI is reshaping SaaS monetisation and the future of work. Manny shares his journey from scaling Outreach to $250M ARR to launching Paid, an AI-native platform built to help SaaS businesses move beyond seat-based pricing models. He explains why legacy systems are holding founders back, how to stay truly customer-obsessed, and why over half of every org chart could soon be filled by AI agents. Tune in to hear more about:: - Building a new monetisation stack for the AI era. - Why “seat-based pricing” is becoming obsolete. - The importance of in-person customer relationships. - Avoiding operational debt as you scale from startup to $100M+ ARR. Guest links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/medinism/ Website - https://paid.ai/       Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

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SaaStr 824: VC in the AI Era - Exactly What's Getting Funded, Why & When with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin In this episode, SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin delves into the current state of venture capital (VC) funding, informed by data from over a thousand reviewed pitch decks and approximately 400,000 startup valuations on SaaStr AI. Learn about the latest trends, what VCs are looking for, and what it takes to secure funding in today's market. We'll discuss the performance metrics and benchmarks necessary for SaaS and AI startups and how AI-native companies are reshaping investment dynamics. Discover SaaStr AI's new tools, including pitch deck reviews and real-time valuation benchmarks, to help you understand where your startup stands and improve your funding prospects.   00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:41 VC Funding Trends and Insights 02:11 Top Quartile SaaS Benchmarks 03:14 AI Native Companies and Hypergrowth 08:00 Public vs. Private Company Growth Expectations 10:22 VC Funding Criteria and Expectations 15:35 SaaStr AI Tools and Resources 20:15 Practical Advice for Founders 26:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts    --------------------- This episode of the SaaStr podcast is Sponsored 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 of the SaaStr podcast is Sponsored by Intercom:  Fin is the #1 AI Agent for resolving complex queries like refunds, transaction disputes, and technical troubleshooting—all with speed and reliability. See how Fin can deliver the highest resolution rates and highest-quality customer experience at fin.ai/saastr.  --------------------- If you're serious about B2B and AI, you need to be in London this December.   SaaStr AI London is bringing together more than 2,000 leaders and founders for two days of practical advice on scaling into the new year.    We'll have speakers flying in from OpenAI, Wiz, Clay, Intercom, and all your favorite SaaS companies, including yours truly with Harry Stebbings for a live 20VC podcast. It'll be fun, and it's all in the heart of London.    Don't miss out: get your tickets with my exclusive discount by going to podcast.saastrlondon.com   ---------------------   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.