Podcasts about pre seed

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show, Alex Theuma sits down with Marcus Ryu - Co-founder of Guidewire and now a Partner at Battery Ventures - for an honest conversation about the highs, lows, and hard lessons of building and backing SaaS companies. Marcus shares how he went from pursuing a career in academia to leading a billion-dollar business, what it felt like to face years of rejection, and why he believes true founders don't chase easy wins — they lean into hard problems. He also talks candidly about the realities of being a CEO, the shift into venture capital, and whether AI is truly as transformative as it's hyped to be.Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Host Alex Theuma is joined by Neha Sampat, Founder and CEO of Contentstack. In the episode, Neha shares: - Her journey as a serial entrepreneur - From New Kids on the Block fan club to Founder and CEO of Contentstack. - The Contentstack story: Scaling to 600 employees and raising $169M - The difference between being a bootstrapped vs VC funded founder - Life as a female entrepreneur: Giving back to the community, supporting women in tech, and the ERA framework - Key lessons from scaling Contentstack - Growing with Fortune 1000 customers: Why a human approach is key for technology adoption. Guest links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehasampat/ Website - https://www.contentstack.com/ Kara Lawson talk mentioned: https://youtu.be/oDzfZOfNki4 Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Today's Topics: 04:44 Analysis of $3 Billion Windsurf Acquisition 12:39 Will Mega Funds Win the Future of Venture Capital 18:39 Does Every Fund Have to do Pre-Seed to Win Series A and B Today 27:53 Why AI Will Create Massive Unemployment 31:06 The $100,000 Bet on the Future of Work  35:52 Why Venture Has Become a Bundled Good 37:52 Why Stage Specific Firms Will Win: a16z vs Benchmark 40:16 What Does Harvard Losing It's For Profit Status Mean for Venture 42:57 Why AI is Maiming and Not Killing Growth Companies on the Path to IPO 45:41 Decagon Raises 100x ARR: The Breakdown 52:50 Why VCs Are Upside Junkies and What That Means Today 01:03:37 Olo Looking to Sell: What Happens When Public Companies Want to Sell  

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Amira Nakouri, co-founder and CEO of Klaimy, to share her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. With a strong background in strategy consulting for major European insurers, Amira reveals how her drive for innovation—and a spark from the rise of generative AI—led her to launch Klaimy in Paris. Klaimy is redefining the insurance industry by using AI to streamline the complex and time-consuming medical underwriting process. Amira explains how their technology helps insurance companies process medical records with incredible speed and accuracy, cutting decision times from days to just minutes. She also discusses the company's go-to-market strategies, working with mid-sized MGAs, and their hybrid SaaS pricing model. Tune in as Amira shares candid insights about building a startup team, navigating challenges with enterprise sales cycles, and raising pre-seed capital during uncertain times in Europe. Whether you're interested in SaaS, AI, or the future of insurtech, this episode offers valuable lessons for founders and innovators alike. Show Notes: 00:00 From Consultant to Entrepreneur in AI 05:12 Streamlining Complex Insurance Tasks 09:22 Expanding Insurance with AI-Powered Models 12:21 Startup Formation and Partnership Milestones 14:54 Small, Strategic Startup Team 17:49 "Insurance Industry Adoption Challenges" 22:46 Amsterdam Insurance Forum 2024 23:59 Targeted VC Strategy Yields Success 27:13 Explore KLAIMY.com Today Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/klaimy-raises-1-2m-in-pre-seed-round Amira Nakouri's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amira-nakouri-1b729248/ Klaimy's Website: https://www.getklaimy.com/ To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben's daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben's SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Bucky Moore is a Partner @ Lightspeed Venture Partners, announced exclusively in the show today on 20VC. Prior to Lightspeed, Bucky spent an incredibly successful 7 years at Kleiner Perkins working with Mamoon Hamid to build one of the most successful early stage firms of the last decade. Bucky has made investments in the likes of Prisma, Netlify, Browserbase and more.  In Today's Episode We Discuss: 03:07 Big News: Joining Lightspeed Venture Partners 04:09 Why Mega Platforms Will Win the Next 10 Years of VC 09:33 Are Foundation Model Companies Good Venture Investments 16:04 What Applications Will Model Providers Buy/Build? What Will They Not? 22:03 How to Approach Price Sensitivity in a World of AI 28:25 Why is it BS to do Market Sizing When Making Investments in AI 34:03 Is the Future of VC Domain Specialization 38:38 How to Know What Company Wins in Super Competitive Markets 41:06 Why Every Firm Has to do Pre-Seed To Win in VC Today? 44:43 The Risks of Multi-Stage Investing: Is Signalling Risk Real? 48:53 Investing Lessons from Leading Rounds in Glean and Windsurf 56:54 Quick Fire Round: Lessons from Mamoon, Fave CEO, Next 10 Years  

This week, we're running it back to one of our most popular episodes from 2023. Host Alex Theuma is joined by Mike Tessler, Managing Partner at True North Advisory and founding CEO at BroadSoft. Mike shares: - The BroadSoft journey: from its founding in 1998 , to going public on Nasdaq in 2010, and being acquired by Cisco in 2018 for +$1.8B - The process behind the decision to sell BroadSoft to Cisco - Three key lessons from scaling the business to +$500M ARR - How to build a realistic execution plan and hold teams accountable - Why senior leaders have to act as ambassadors as a company grows - BroadSoft's secret to success with go-to-market partners - The biggest partner technology challenge the industry is facing - How he handled feelings of loneliness when at the top Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltessler1/ Website: https://www.truenorthadvisory.us/ Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

In this episode, we speak with Lior Segal, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Horizon Capital Horizon Capital is an Israeli venture capital fund backing founders at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages. It's sector-agnostic by design, built to support early-stage startups wherever opportunity strikes. Lior's path to venture wasn't linear. Before launching the fund, he led Data Matching Solutions as CEO until its acquisition by SafeCharge. He stayed on as VP of Gaming Innovation and later helped shape global payment strategies at Nasdaq-listed TSG. His operator-first lens gives him a practical, grounded perspective that shapes how he evaluates and supports startups. Together with his co-founder - Yani Jacobi, who also happens to be his childhood friend - he built Horizon Capital from the ground up, without a traditional investing background. And while their portfolio includes headline names like Verbit, OwnBackup, and Blue Ribbon, this conversation doesn't focus on the wins. It focuses on the how. “We are trying to master uncertainty.” In this conversation, we dive into what it really takes to run a VC fund like a startup, the importance of founder dynamics, and the discipline required to stay focused in a market defined by noise. We explore: Self-fulfillment and leaving law behind to build in tech. Lior began his career as a lawyer but quickly realized it wasn't the right path. He shifted into the tech and fintech world, trading legal frameworks for hands-on company building. What it means to build a venture fund from scratch. Lior and his partner launched Horizon without prior investing experience - treating it as a startup in its own right, complete with its own pitch process, learning curve, and pressure to prove value fast. How friendship can work in business - if boundaries are clear. They set ground rules from day one: friendship comes first, business second. Professional disagreements are dealt with directly, and personal trust stays intact. The dynamic between co-founders - and what Horizon pays close attention to From subtle looks in meetings to how roles are divided, Horizon places a strong emphasis on how startup founders interact, not just the business model. Why focus matters more than vision at the early stage. Lior urges founders to avoid distractions, skip the five-year plans, and build a short, focused path to the next funding round. “it's very nice to think you know, 5 or 10 years ahead, but in this world, when everything can blow up one morning, you can't really do it. You need to have a great vision, but you need to be very focused." The challenge of monetizing AI products in a crowded market. AI may be everywhere, but few founders know how to turn it into revenue. Lior breaks down the importance of testing pricing early and identifying real user value. The current noise in the AI space - and how to think through it. With so many startups riding the AI wave, it's harder than ever to stand out. Horizon looks for teams that go beyond tech wrappers and hype, and build something defensible. How staying calm is a strategic advantage. In a market that shifts by the day, Lior shares how he makes decisions without panicking - staying anchored in strategy, even when conditions are unpredictable. If you're looking for practical insights on founder dynamics, business focus, and building in uncertain times - this one's for you. Tune in, take notes, and share it with someone who's building something bold.

Join us on this new episode of HR Like a Boss, where John sits down with Jocelyn King, CEO and founder of Virgil HR, to discuss her unique journey from HR generalist to tech entrepreneur. Jocelyn shares how her deep HR experience shaped the creation of a cutting-edge compliance platform and what it takes to scale both teams and technology in today's fast-paced business world. The conversation dives into the evolving strategic role of HR, the power of mentorship, and how tech can be a game-changer for compliance and growth. Whether you're navigating a startup or building partnerships at the executive level, this episode offers a roadmap for making a bigger impact through innovation and relationships.ABOUT JOCELYNJocelyn King, SHRM-SCP is the CEO and Founder of VirgilHR, a SaaS solution that empowers HR professionals to make smart, compliant employment and labor law decisions in real-time. HR has been the passion and focus of Jocelyn's entire career as she's supported high-growth technology start-ups and public companies throughout her tenure. She defines herself as a true HR generalist and has touched on all aspects of HR in her more senior roles. Jocelyn has strong expertise in creating and executing HR strategy, managing employee relations for multi-state and global organizations, developing a diverse and high-performing work culture, owning organization development and change management, and crafting the total reward, talent development, and talent acquisition strategies. In addition to HR, what has also remained consistent in her career has been technology. Jocelyn has worked for technology companies most of her career and, as an HR executive, has had the privilege of supporting executives and departments in all functions across the organizations. In her role as CEO for VirgilHR, she's displayed proven success in building a venture-backed technology company from the ground up. She has held previous roles as the Vice President of People, North America for Ocado Group, as well as Vice President of People for Cybrary, a Series-C start up. She's spent a majority of her career working with a range of tech companies from Pre-Seed to Post-IPO. Jocelyn earned her bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University.

Rahul Vohra (Founder and CEO at Superhuman) joins SaaStock's Alex Theuma to discuss how Superhuman stayed ahead of the generative AI wave, how they're shaping the future of productivity with autonomous email agents, and why great products that delights users — not flashy marketing — are the key to viral growth. Rahul also opens up about the loneliness of being a CEO, his meditation practices, and the game design principles behind Superhuman's success. Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

In this episode we're spotlighting Emerging Manager of the Year finalist Concept Ventures. Andreas talks with Reece Chowdry, Founding Partner of Concept Ventures, about his bold approach to pre-seed: leading rounds, writing big checks early, and building founder trust from day one.Curious who else made the shortlist? Stay tuned—the big reveal's coming soon.Reece shares his journey into early-stage investing and explains how his approach to pre-seed funding means writing big lead checks when others hesitate, building trust and momentum with founders right from the start. He also opens up about his early experiences in tech investing, which shaped his conviction to back talented teams and innovative ideas in a maturing European ecosystem. Reece also dives into the heart of his investment philosophy, focusing on the power of a strong people process and unwavering conviction. He outlines how his team's careful evaluation of team dynamics and growth mindset helps startups skip rounds of dilution and accelerate their progress.Chapters:03:02 Reece's Journey into Investing06:35 The Evolution and Philosophy of Concept Ventures09:44 Challenges and Strategies in the Pre-Seed Ecosystem23:38 Collaborative Investment Strategies25:00 The Importance of People in Venture Capital26:25 Father-Son Partnership Dynamics28:52 Public Markets Insight in Venture Capital

Matt Mullenweg on scaling Automattic to $500M ARR. In this episode of The SaaS Revolution Show, host Alex Theuma sits down with Matt Mullenweg, Co-founder of WordPress and Founder and CEO of Automattic — the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, Beeper, and more. Matt shares the mindset, strategies, and lessons that helped him build one of the most impactful open-source businesses in the world — now generating over $500M in ARR, including: - The mindset and mission behind Automattic. - How AI is reshaping the WordPress ecosystem. - Key lessons from scaling to $500M ARR. - What his ‘ideal' work week looks like. - How he stays motivated as CEO. Guest links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattm/ Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Pre Seed Seed Seed+ Seed++ Series A Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup funding, the raises come in rounds.   The startup can raise a pre-seed round followed by a seed, then a Series A, Series B, and so forth. Many founders view this approach as one step after the other. The reality is there's a large gap between the Seed and the Series A. Some call this the Valley of Death. This occurs because the startup often moves from family and friends and angel funding to institutional investors. The gap is wide between the two investor types. The funding reality is closer to Seed Seed+  Seed++ another $250K bridge round and then Series A. One strategy is to find bigger and more lucrative customers as you move through the series so you can generate more revenue. This reduces the amount of funding required to reach the next level. Another strategy is to factor this many rounds into your fundraising strategy from the start. Consider the valley of death and how you will cross it with your fundraising planning.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

This week, we're running it back to one of our most popular episodes. Recorded live at SaaStock USA 2023, host Alex Theuma is joined by Jason Cohen, Founder of WP Engine. In the episode, Jason reflects on his multi-decade journey as a serial entrepreneur, and shares his lessons from building and scaling WP Engine into a SaaS giant, including: - His journey as a serial entrepreneur. - The science behind why your startup really is like your baby. - Founding WP Engine, the world's largest managed Wordpress platform - From bootstrapped to venture backed, the decision to raise money. - Why most founders shouldn't raise money—and how to know if you're one of them. - How to build a practical strategy that involves the whole team. - How to know your own strengths and why he replaced himself as CEO. Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncohen/ WP Engine: https://wpengine.com/Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

As the energy transition accelerates, the landscape of start-up funding is evolving, particularly in the energy storage sector. The impact of the recent downturns and the growing complexity of the capital stack means energy start-ups need to be ahead of the curve to secure funding in an ever-changing environment.From scaling energy technologies across diverse regulatory environments to the opportunities facing climate tech entrepreneurs today, the world of venture capital is changing and so must the strategies to ensure success. In todays's episode, Philipp Emig, Senior Vice President at Picus Capital, joins Quentin to discuss how start-up get funded in the energy transition. Throughout the conversation, you'll hear about:The role of venture capital and early stage investing in climate tech and Picas Capital's focus in this.Trends in climate tech funding - from the decline in funding levels to the successes of battery and home energy control technologies.Differences between energy markets and comparisons of energy market development stages across regions.The importance of different types of investors at various stages of company growth.Grid-scale energy storage solutions and the potential for software-driven asset management in the energy sectorAbout our guestPicus Capital invest in early-stage technology ventures with a focus on energy & climate, fintech, enterprise infrastructure, generative ai, cybersecurity, healthcare, and enterprise application, specializing in Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A ventures. For more information on what Picus Capital do, check out their website.Philipp joined Picus Capital in 2021, where he focuses on energy & climate investments, as well as on pre-seed stage efforts. Prior to this, Philipp worked for McKinsey & Company in Munich and advised clients across Europe in the energy, mobility and process industry mainly on innovation, strategy and sustainability topics.About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

As the energy transition accelerates, the landscape of start-up funding is evolving, particularly in the energy storage sector. The impact of the recent downturns and the growing complexity of the capital stack means energy start-ups need to be ahead of the curve to secure funding in an ever-changing environment.From scaling energy technologies across diverse regulatory environments to the opportunities facing climate tech entrepreneurs today, the world of venture capital is changing and so must the strategies to ensure success. In todays's episode, Philipp Emig, Senior Vice President at Picus Capital, joins Quentin to discuss how start-up get funded in the energy transition. Throughout the conversation, you'll hear about:The role of venture capital and early stage investing in climate tech and Picas Capital's focus in this.Trends in climate tech funding - from the decline in funding levels to the successes of battery and home energy control technologies.Differences between energy markets and comparisons of energy market development stages across regions.The importance of different types of investors at various stages of company growth.Grid-scale energy storage solutions and the potential for software-driven asset management in the energy sectorAbout our guestPicus Capital invest in early-stage technology ventures with a focus on energy & climate, fintech, enterprise infrastructure, generative ai, cybersecurity, healthcare, and enterprise application, specializing in Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A ventures. For more information on what Picus Capital do, check out their website.Philipp joined Picus Capital in 2021, where he focuses on energy & climate investments, as well as on pre-seed stage efforts. Prior to this, Philipp worked for McKinsey & Company in Munich and advised clients across Europe in the energy, mobility and process industry mainly on innovation, strategy and sustainability topics.About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Host Alex Theuma is joined by Max Greenwald, Co-founder and CEO at Warmly. During the chat, Max shares candid learnings about his journey as a Co-founder and CEO and insights into how he's scaling Warmly. Tune in to hear: - How Max went from Google PM to building a high-growth SaaS startup. - The pivots that shaped Warmly's product-market fit (and what it meant for fundraising). - His approach to blitzscaling Warmly into a future billion-dollar company.

Host Alex Theuma is joined by Go Nimbly CEO (and SaaStock USA Speaker) Jen Igartua for this episode packed with practical advice on making your GTM processes more efficient, including: - Why GTM efficiency is now critical for SaaS growth. - How AI and automation are transforming sales workflows. - The biggest mistakes SaaS companies make with their tech stack. - The tools that top RevOps leaders are using to drive revenue. - Why high-touch, relationship-driven selling is making a comeback. - What's next for Go Nimbly, including the upcoming RevFest event. Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-igartua Website: https://gonimbly.com/ RevFest: https://revfest.gonimbly.com/ Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!Devin: What is your superpower?Emily: Informed decision-makingCities across the world are grappling with rising temperatures, making outdoor spaces increasingly unlivable. The urban heat island effect exacerbates the problem, and traditional cooling solutions often come with high energy costs or water consumption. ThermoShade, founded by Emily Dinino, offers an innovative alternative—a cooling technology that provides relief without requiring electricity or water.ThermoShade's high-tech shade panels use passive radiative cooling, leveraging phase change materials to absorb heat during the hottest parts of the day and recharge overnight. “We saw a gap in the market,” Emily explained. “Shade alone is not cutting it. People and animals need a solution that provides real relief, and we're delivering just that.” These advanced panels can make shaded areas feel up to 20 degrees cooler than traditional awnings.Emily developed ThermoShade while earning her MBA at UCLA. Inspired by firsthand experiences of extreme heat in Los Angeles, she and her team conducted over 100 interviews with scientists, engineers, and potential customers to refine the concept. “We realized that most existing solutions required electricity or water—resources that aren't always available or sustainable,” Emily said. “By applying phase change materials in a new way, we created a cooling solution that's both effective and accessible.”Beyond urban environments, ThermoShade is exploring applications in agriculture, particularly for dairy farms where heat stress impacts cattle productivity. The company is currently conducting a pilot study with Fresno State to analyze how the technology can improve livestock health and efficiency.ThermoShade is currently raising capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on MicroVentures. “We believe crowdfunding makes sense for us because people understand the challenges of extreme heat,” Emily said. “It's an opportunity to engage the public in a solution they can benefit from directly.”With climate change making extreme heat an increasingly urgent issue, innovative and sustainable solutions like ThermoShade are more critical than ever. By leveraging advanced materials and smart design, Emily and her team are helping cities, communities, and industries adapt to a warming world without exacerbating the problem.tl;dr:ThermoShade's innovative panels use phase change materials to provide passive cooling, reducing heat by up to 20 degrees.Emily Dinino developed ThermoShade during her MBA at UCLA, conducting extensive research to refine the technology.The company is raising funds on MicroVentures to scale its impact and expand into new markets.A pilot study with Fresno State aims to assess the effectiveness of ThermoShade in agriculture, particularly for dairy cattle.Emily's superpower is informed decision-making—she synthesizes data, perspectives, and insights to drive innovation and solve complex challenges.How to Develop Informed Decision-Making As a SuperpowerEmily Dinino's superpower is informed decision-making—the ability to synthesize data, perspectives, and insights to confidently determine the best course of action.“Being a founder means navigating an overwhelming amount of input—from investors, customers, and advisors. I take in all that information, challenge assumptions, and make informed decisions that align with our mission,” Emily explained.One defining moment of this ability occurred in her role as a finance manager at an ed-tech nonprofit. Tasked with developing a 10-year strategic plan, Emily had to balance competing priorities from the board, funders, co-founders, and department heads. By distilling complex financial and operational data into a cohesive model, she secured buy-in from all stakeholders, ensuring the plan's success.For those looking to develop this superpower, Emily offers the following insights:Actively listen to diverse perspectives. Understand not just what people are saying, but why they believe in their approach.Challenge assumptions. Question conventional wisdom to uncover the best path forward.Use data to validate decisions. Gather and analyze information before committing to a course of action.Stay confident in your expertise. Recognize that while advice is valuable, you know your business best.Surround yourself with trusted mentors. Seek guidance from experienced individuals who can help refine your thinking.By following Emily's example and advice, you can make informed decision-making a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileEmily Dinino (she/her):Founder and CEO, ThermoShadeAbout ThermoShade: ThermoShade's mission is to make cities and communities more resilient to climate change by providing a cooling alternative that is clean, effective, and affordable. ThermoShade is a high-tech passive cooling shade panel that can be affixed to any outdoor structure, creating a shady space that feels up to 20°F cooler than under a basic awning. Implementing ThermoShade will help avoid electricity related GHG emissions, improve grid resilience and affordability, deliver energy savings to customers, and improve public health and safety outcomes.Website: getthermoshade.comOther URL: https://invest.microventures.com/offerings/thermoshade?referral_code=ThermoShadeSuperpowersForGoodBiographical Information: Emily Dinino is the Founder & CEO of ThermoShade. She spent two years studying the problem of extreme heat as her master's thesis and is passionate about finding solutions to protect people and animals impacted by heat stress. Emily has extensive experience in finance and entrepreneurship across investment banking, venture capital, and nonprofit finance. She has been an investor in mission-driven technology and consumer companies from Pre-Seed to Series C and is intimately familiar with the challenges early-stage companies face. Emily holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/emilydinino and linkedin.com/company/thermoshadeInstagram Handle: @getthermoshade, @emilydininoSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Pivotal Health, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on April 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, April 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Gene Massey, Chairman/CEO of MediaShares, will lead a session on "Secrets For Creating Great Content To Attract Investors." He'll share expert insights on crafting compelling content that engages and converts potential investors. Whether you're launching a crowdfunding campaign or looking to enhance your storytelling strategy, this session is a must-attend! Don't miss it!SuperCrowdLA: we're going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can't-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!  SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Tune in to this episode of the Security Token Show where this week Herwig Konings, Kyle Sonlin, and special guest Brian Anderson from Raze cover the industry leading headlines and market movements, including Sky Grand Prix winners, Cathie Wood on tokenization, another RWA L1 & more weekly news! TokenizeThis 2025: https://summit.stm.co/ STM Predicts $30-50T in RWAs by 2030: https://docsend.com/view/7jx2nsjq6dsun2b9  More STM.co Reports: https://reports.stm.co/ Join the RWA Foundation and Read the Whitepaper: RWAF.xyz Company of the Week - Herwig: Hamilton Lane Company of the Week - Kyle: Manifest  = Stay in touch via our Social Media = Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesonlin/  Herwig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herwigkonings/ Opinion articles, interviews, and more: https://medium.com/security-token-group  Find the video version of this episode on our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stmtvofficial  The Market Movements 1. Raze To Host Ferrox Holdings's Financing Token on Monday: https://raze.finance/  2. Cathie Wood Aims to Tokenize Ark Invest Funds https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/03/18/ark-invest-s-cathie-wood-says-she-wants-to-bring-ark-invest-funds-on-chain?ref=onepagecrypto.com  3. Backed Brings Tokenized $COIN and S&P 500 to Avalanche https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=139438  4. Access Hamilton Lane PE Fund for As Little As $500 on Republic https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2025/03/237547-republic-partners-with-hamilton-lane-with-tokenized-private-equity-fund/  5. Securitize and Ethena to Launch Own Blockchain, Converge, for DeFi https://securitize.io/learn/press/ethena-and-securitize-announce-upcoming-launch-of-converge-blockchain  The Token Debrief 1. Spark Announces $1B in Treasury Allocations for BlackRock, Superstate, and Centrifuge https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/03/18/blackrock-s-buidl-superstate-and-centrifuge-win-spark-s-usd1b-tokenized-asset-windfall-report   2. VanEck Ventures Co-Leads Manifest's Pre-Seed, Focus on Tokenized RE ETF  https://www.cryptopolitan.com/vaneck-ventures-invested-in-manifest/  3. DTCC Joins ERC-3643 Association for Permissioned Tokenized Securities  https://cointelegraph.com/news/dtcc-vows-to-promote-erc3643-token-standard  4. Bitfinex Enables Monthly Subscriptions and Redemptions for NexBridge's USTBL  https://www.bitfinex.com/securities/posts/1108/  5. UK Government to Tokenize Gilts via DIGIT Token, Seeks Partners https://www.ccn.com/news/technology/uk-blockchain-tokenized-gilts-digit/  6. FalconX Launches Structured Credit Facility RWA Offering https://www.marketsmedia.com/falconx-offers-the-first-tokenized-structured-credit-facility/  7. Brickken Expands Tokenization Platform to Polygon https://cointelegraph.com/press-releases/rwa-tokenization-platform-brickken-deploys-on-polygon  8. Korea to Test Tokenized Deposits with 100K People and 7 Banks https://www.ledgerinsights.com/koreas-tokenized-deposit-cbdc-trials-to-start-with-100000-people-in-april/  9. Uranium Digital Raises $6.1M for Platform on Solana, Led by Framework Ventures https://thedefiant.io/news/blockchains/uranium-digital-raises-6-1m-tokenized-yellowcake-trading-platform-on-solana-amid-26a87b1d  10. Australia Proposes Regulatory Structure, with Focus on RWAs and CBDCs https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/03/21/australia-proposes-new-crypto-regulation-structure-plans-to-integrate-digital-asset-into-the-economy  11. Particula Assigns AA- Rating to BMN2 Issuance https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7307738239698628609/  12. Nomura Research Institute Tests Tokenized Bonds via Onchain Deposits https://www.ledgerinsights.com/nomura-tests-digital-bond-issuance-settled-using-tokenized-deposits/  13. Dubai Land Department Kicks off Real Estate Tokenization Pilot, Predicts $16B by 2033 https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/03/19/dubai-starts-real-estate-tokenization-pilot-forecasts-usd16b-market-by-2033  14. tZERO Completes Full TZROP Tokenization https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2025/03/237501-tzero-announces-full-tokenization-of-tzrop-now-complete/  15. Oro Closes $1.5M Pre-Seed for Gold Tokenization on Solana, Led by 468 Capital https://x.com/theusmansal/status/1901670145400926585  = Check out our Companies = Security Token Group: http://securitytokengroup.com/   Security Token Advisors: http://www.securitytokenadvisors.com/   Security Token Market: https://stm.co  InvestReady: https://www.investready.com ⏰ TABLE OF CONTENTS ⏰ 0:00 Introduction 0:16 Welcome 2:18 Market Movements 26:53 RWA Foundation Update 29:42 Token Debrief 44:18 Companies of The Week

The Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pre-seed company raising funding faces a challenge. There are no revenue, traction, or performance metrics to show the investor. The startup basically has an idea, a team, and little else. For the pre-seed pitch deck, cover these topics: Start with the team and show each one's past experiences. Talk about how the team knows a particular market and use case. Highlight the problem in that market. Show the key insight the team has about the market and the problem. Discuss how to solve a problem with that insight. Show why now is the best time to pursue this opportunity. Point out a recent change in the industry or an inflection point in the market that provides an opening. Show what the team has done so far to reach these conclusions and who they have talked to. Show the market size and the entry point into that market. State the investment ask and use of the funds. The key to a successful pre seed pitch is to show you have a strong team with a unique insight that can be exploited in a short time frame.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Host Alex Theuma is joined by Sendspark Co-founder and CEO (and SaaStock USA speaker) Bethany Stachenfeld. In this 30 minute episode, Beth shares: - Her journey from Marketer to SaaS founder and CEO. - The Sendspark founding story and journey so far. - How Sendspark approaches differentiation. - Advice for founders differentiating their product at scale. - How to stay relevant in a fast-moving product space. And more! Guest links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stachenfeld/ https://www.sendspark.com/ Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Host Alex Theuma is joined by Larry Kim, Founder and CEO at Customers.ai."With the benefit of hindsight, it could have been done with even less than $18M. I think what happens is when you raise money, it allows you to make bets that you might not have otherwise made had you been operating on the edge of a knife."In this 35 minute episode, Larry shares:– How he transformed a consulting business into a $55M ARR SaaS company.– The content marketing strategy that generated 50,000 leads per month.– Lessons from his $150M exit to Gannett (USA Today's parent company).– Why traditional inbound marketing is no longer effective in 2025.– How his new company, Customers.ai, is reshaping digital marketing and lead generation.– His learnings on bootstrapping vs. raising venture capital.Follow Larry Kim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrykim/ Website: Customers.ai Hear more from Larry Kim at SaaStock USA – He'll be speaking on the Founderpath Center stage sharing more on the WordStream journey and how to know when to sell.   Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

"Would you be mad at us if we raised more money?"That was the text I got late one night from Will Pearce, co-founder and CEO of Dreadnode, a company we'd funded about nine months prior. I'd gotten to know Will through a cold DM he sent me. The DM had nothing to do with tech or investing, just starting a conversation. At the time, Will was working at NVIDIA as an AI red team lead putting him at the cutting edge of AI and ML security. As we got to know each other, it was clear he had a large vision for where the puck was going for the broader market and where his expertise and insights could create the foundation for building the leading company for offensive AI security. I offered to put together a small round to put he and his co-founder, Nick Landers, in business. We filled the round out with several value-added angels and were off to the races to build product and company with indie ideals at the core. And it worked!Within months, they were signing contracts with the top names at leading research labs and hyper-scalers. On several occasions, they were even profitable! And then the VCs noticed. Shortly after our round closed, the word started to spread on what the team at Dreadnode was building. Then the emails started. The early answers were nos and not interested, but as demand from customers grew and incredible, early potential team members started coming out of the woodwork, these high class problems were becoming very real problems. The team found themselves turning away customers and potential hires as their demand outstripped their resources. Thus, the late night text. The text led to a conversation that led to a formal fundraising process and ended in the announcement last week of Dreadnode's $14M Series A led by Decibel, a top tier firm focused exclusively on security. In today's video, we unpack the conversation and process that unfolded after that late night text. We dig into why Will may have had concerns that I, and indie, would be upset or not supportive of their decision, and learnings from two very green and very technical first time founders getting sucked into their first proper fundraising process. I hope what comes through in video is something I've written often — we are not anti-fundraising. But we believe that the best way to improve your odds of building a generational company that can attract world class customers and investors is to focus on the former, the latter will come. And when they do, you'll be in a position of ultimate optionality that empowers founding teams to pick exactly the partner they want, on the terms they want, and get back to build the company they want. It seems obvious, but it runs so counter to the advice and examples that get celebrated in the startup world. In the case of Dreadnode, they were able to do just that — work with the partner they wanted on the terms they wanted. And, as an added benefit, they were effectively able to skip 2 or 3 interim rounds of funding and skip straight to a fully baked Series A. Our goal with today's video was to put some personalities and experiences to that narrative and I think it comes through here. As always, I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed recording it. PS — if you see any of yourself in the Dreadnode founders, don't hesitate to reach out to discuss what you're building and whether indie could be a fit for you too. 

Book referenced: Designing Your Organization by Jay Galbraith and Amy Kates Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

One of our most listened to episodes, we're bringing back Keji Mustapha, CMO at Partech, who shares how the best founders scale themselves as their companies scale. "If more founders did that, they would probably enjoy what they were doing more. I mean, you quit your job and set out on this journey to build this incredible utopia that you see because you're excited about it. And then if you don't actually get to be excited about it because it begins to drain you, then it's all for nothing. And I think it's a shame. I think you should enjoy the journey while you're on it. And you can only do that if you set boundaries and make time for other things." Keji shares: • The importance of self-awareness and humility (that means knowing when you're not the best person for a task, and admitting it) • Her mantra for hiring great talent - emphasising that leaving a position unfilled is preferable to hiring the wrong person who creates problems for the team • At what stage a founder should get a virtual or executive assistant to help with workload • Why setting boundaries is absolutely essential for founders • Why leaning into imposter syndrome helps founders be better and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Rob Young is a seasoned Marketing Executive and Consultant with over 24 years of experience specializing in B2B Cyber Security, ITOps, and DevOps SaaS GTM. With a strong foundation in IT Operations and Market Research, he delivers impactful outcomes for CISOs and CIOs. Rob has held leadership roles at top firms like IDC and IBM, successfully driving marketing strategies for startups and Fortune 50 companies, fueling growth, securing funding, and facilitating acquisitions. Website: https://cypago.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-young-19021113/ Yam is a multi-disciplinary marketing leader with over 17 years of experience guiding startups from Pre-Seed to Scale-up. He specializes in crafting Go-to-Market strategies, driving profitable growth, and optimizing marketing efficiency to impact core KPIs. With a track record that includes serving as VP of Marketing at Elementor, co-founding a startup acquired by WalkMe, and advising international companies, Yam blends strategic insight with hands-on leadership to build sustainable, high-growth businesses. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamregev/ In this episode, we explore growth marketing strategies, AI impacts, and interdepartmental collaboration with Rob and Yam. Discover how empathy drives marketing success.   Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz   Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments  

Rob Young is a seasoned Marketing Executive and Consultant with over 24 years of experience specializing in B2B Cyber Security, ITOps, and DevOps SaaS GTM. With a strong foundation in IT Operations and Market Research, he delivers impactful outcomes for CISOs and CIOs. Rob has held leadership roles at top firms like IDC and IBM, successfully driving marketing strategies for startups and Fortune 50 companies, fueling growth, securing funding, and facilitating acquisitions. Website: https://cypago.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-young-19021113/ Yam is a multi-disciplinary marketing leader with over 17 years of experience guiding startups from Pre-Seed to Scale-up. He specializes in crafting Go-to-Market strategies, driving profitable growth, and optimizing marketing efficiency to impact core KPIs. With a track record that includes serving as VP of Marketing at Elementor, co-founding a startup acquired by WalkMe, and advising international companies, Yam blends strategic insight with hands-on leadership to build sustainable, high-growth businesses. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamregev/ In this episode, we explore growth marketing strategies, AI impacts, and interdepartmental collaboration with Rob and Yam. Discover how empathy drives marketing success.   Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz   Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments  

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Nathan Latka, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Founderpath (and the powerhouse behind SaaSOpen!), as he shares the truth about AI in SaaS ...and why it counters Microsoft's CEOs prediction. "I would get emails from real sales reps all the time that were terribly written and they'd go right to spam. I'd also get emails from CEOs that were really well written and I would click them or I'd reply and I engage. Nothing changes. All that changes now is that people with less resources can maybe get an outbound campaign going faster. But if you don't structure it in a way that captures the recipient's attention and gets them to reply like it's just useless, you're just spraying and praying. You're just paying for ChatGPT and credits that you know got you no value. So this is why the biggest in demand job towers here is going to be prompt marketing." Nathan shares: • His counter to Satya Nadella: how AI is transforming SaaS pricing to usage-based models ...not killing the industry! • While many SaaS companies are rushing to add AI labels to their marketing, the real opportunity lies in using AI to reduce friction points and help users reach value faster • Why ChatGPT and AI tools have replaced review sites as the go-to for software recommendations • The key to appearing in AI tool recommendations (and why it isn't about gaming the system) • The rise of "prompt marketing" - how to stand out in a world of AI-generated content • How domain ratings and SEO fundamentals will remain a crucial part for AI tool visibility and rankings and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Highlights from their conversation include:Welcoming Back Earnest to the Show (0:45)Inspiration Behind "Stress Wood" (1:05)The Importance of Resilience (2:21)Value of Storytelling in Investing (9:17)Understanding the Supply Chain Landscape (12:27)Opportunities in Non-AI Companies (15:18)Future Investment Focus Areas (21:43)The Industrial Landscape and Labor Challenges (24:43)The Role of Investors in Series A (27:54)Importance of Industry Knowledge (30:17)Pre-Seed and Seed Investment Strategies (31:21)Customer Introductions as a Value Proposition (32:28)Future of Electrification (34:07)Best Ecosystems for Supply Chain Startups and Parting Thoughts (34:16)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Aviv Canaani, CRO at Datarails, who shares how he helped move the company from 90% outbound to 90% inbound. "One of our best performing ads is something actually I saw, usually it comes from the team, but I saw this TikTok ad for I think it was a B2C company. Something like, someone asked a lady a question and whatever they ask she says 'yup'. 'Oh, does it do this?' 'Yup'. 'Does it do this?' 'Yup'. So I sent it to the team. I'm like, let's try to do something like that for Datarails. It's been our one of our best performing ads on TikTok. So I think it's really understanding, you know, the channel you're focused on and you have to create the fun, engaging videos that align with what works in the channel, but with our own spin of marketing, our own software." Aviv shares: • Diversification and reducing dependency on any single ad channel • TikTok success in B2B; from user-generated content to understanding the algorithm • Reducing attribution confusion: the simple switch the DataRails team made to categorise and analyse data • How they've scaled their marketing budget in direct proportion to AE hiring: their data-driven system that predicts meeting generation based on marketing spend • His transition from VP Marketing to CRO and his biggest learning managing sales teams • Combat rising ad costs: why creating platform-specific content rather than using a one-size-fits-all strategy is key and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

One of our most listened to episodes, we're bringing back Mark Roberge, Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, who shares his sales acceleration formula 2.0 with our SaaStock Founder Members. Mark dives deep into the Sales Acceleration formula followed by his previous company Hubspot. He also answers the questions posted by our SaaStock Founder Membership community. Interested in becoming a member? Apply to SaaStock Founder Membership to supercharge your growth: https://www.saastock.com/founder-membership/Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

One of our most listened to episodes, we're bringing back Chris Walker, CEO at Passetto (previously Founder and CEO of Refine Labs, a progressive demand generation agency that challenges the status quo in B2B marketing). Before launching Refine Labs, Chris led marketing at two B2B firms where he built the foundation of his unique perspective on demand generation. Now, at Passetto, a Growth Advisory Firm for SaaS CEOs Scaling from $10MM - $100MM+, Chris helps CEOs and CFOs get instant GTM clarity. Chris joined our host Alex on an exclusive founder members only workshop as part of our SaaStock Founder Membership (SFM), to share how you can grow your business and improve your demand generation strategies. Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Live from the SaaStock USA 2024 Scale Stage, Ashley Kramer, GitLab's Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, sits down with AJ Eckstein, Founder & Creator at Creator Match and Fast Company. Together, they explore the imminent shift in how companies measure AI's impact on efficiency, questioning whether the productivity gains truly justify the risks and costs associated with AI adoption. Ashley argues that forward-thinking companies must move beyond traditional output metrics and focus on those that reflect real business value—such as enhanced software quality, faster time-to-market, consistent delivery, and, most importantly, improved customer satisfaction.Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Steve Oriola, CEO at Unbounce, who shares the leadership lessons he's learnt from navigating a SaaS M&A and the transformation AI has had on business. "We also survey base of employees and those values are landing pretty well. That's an important part of it, is that people understand how everyone works and how everyone should be working and how we should be making decisions. And we correct ourselves all the time on that." Steve shares: • How he's steering the marketing tech ship through choppy waters - from perfecting landing pages to building an AI-powered platform that actually tells you which customers are worth chasing • The behind-the-scenes of marrying two companies' cultures; complete with leadership team matchmaking and values that actually stuck • Why he's betting big on AI being more than just a buzzword • The secret sauce to staying sane as a CEO, including cold plunges, fitness regimes, and the art of not bringing work drama home (even when your spouse is in the industry) • How he's tackling his biggest CEO headache with everything from Berlin Q&As to leadership pow-wows and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

פרק מספר 488 של רברס עם פלטפורמה, שהוקלט ב-7 בינואר 2025 - פרק ראשון לשנת 2025, בתקווה שתיהיה שנת בשוורת טובות. אורי ורן מארחים באולפן בכרכור את גיא גרינאפל מחברת Pillar Security כדי לדבר על LLM ו-Security.

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Kevin Hu, Co-Founder & CEO at Metaplane, who shares how they navigated Metaplane's journey from pivot to Series A and beyond. "Most of us come from tens of thousands of years of subsistence farmers and we're one of the first generations that has the opportunity to build something that can have a large impact with software and capitals leveraged. And when it comes to the CEO job, one can hope that the problems never stop. When the problems stop, I think that's when growth stops. The best case scenario is when the problems are new problems all the time and it doesn't feel like Groundhog Day." Kevin shares: • The reasons that drove Metaplane to pivot (twice!) • The importance of attracting strong leaders and building a repeatable sales process as a company grows • His approach to decision-making and prioritisation; from the way he collects information to committing to decisions • Why being upfront about expectations and offering upside potential is crucial to recruiting top talent • Metaplane's unique onboarding process where new hires "ship something" on day one • Overcoming market headwinds through a product-led approach and land-and-expand strategy and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Abakar Saidov, CEO at Beamery, who shares his success story from Wall Street-er to tech unicorn. "A lot of entrepreneurs actually start businesses out of necessity. And necessity comes from two parts, either you have to do it because you have no other option, or you feel like you have to do it because you want the idea to exist so much. And usually I feel like if those are not your two reasons, one is like you can't imagine a world without this idea or you just have no choice. You're probably not going to make it through the the grind." Abakar shares: • On a mission to create equal access to work opportunities: The founding story of Beamery • Why customer experience is a key differentiator (and one of the reasons they've achieved such high NPS scores for implementations in an industry where low scores are common) • The top two qualities investors look for in founders • How evolving founder perspectives and motivations have shaped the company's growth • What he does to maintain energy after 10+ years as CEO • Why his ongoing process of growth and development is centred around Andy Grove's concept of the Competence Frontier and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Taylor Hersom, Founder & CEO at Eden Data, who shares insights into their global scaling journey during the pandemic. "Your reputation is everything as you're growing fast and trying to make it to your next round. And when you have multiple competitors in a space, you don't want your customer or prospect googling your name and seeing something like a data breach." Taylor shares: • His approach to growing the business; from focusing on partnerships and referrals to differentiating through branding and content marketing • Key security concerns for founders, including reputational damage and the need for certifications like SOC 2 to close deals • How he capitalised on the increased focus on cybersecurity during the pandemic as more businesses moved operations online • How they identified an underserved niche and tailored their offerings and messaging to serve them effectively • The one thing their team does to drive inbound leads and more!Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In episode #256, I address fundraise sizes. Let's break down common pre-seed and seed round raises. - Pre-seed round sizes - Seed round sizes - Sources from TheSaaSNews.com Join my SaaS community for the latest data, trends, and templates: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Preston "PK" Keller, Founder at Emergent3, who shares how he overcame an industry Goliath trying to kill his SaaS business. "When you've hit rock bottom and you're, like, going through hell, you cannot control all the environmental factors around you, but you can control how you react to it. And I read this book, The Gap in the Game, and it basically says, like, focus on the good things right now. That book got me through the darkest times. We also, you know, my wife was also pregnant with our third child and that third child had some serious health defects. She spent months in the NICU and this was during the lawsuit, during the rewrite, it was like there was so much going on in my life and I was like, I'm still so lucky. It forced you to just focus on like, hey, you can't control this environment and things that happen to you, but you can control how you react. And I focused on just, like, I just wanted to make someone else smile that day. " PK shares: • Overworked and under-appreciated: the decision PK took that started it all.. • The first six months of E3: incredible sales, disbelief in the success they were experiencing, and then.. • The moment the sheriff knocked on his door serving him a summons - his previous employer, the 'Big Bad Wolf', was suing PK personally and his new company, E3, all for starting a business that was competing in the same market • Hitting a grand slam: The moment the judge called an instant ruling in their patent infringement case • Reflecting on the toll it took when he got to the point where everything he had, he could've lost in an instant • How this situation taught him that the relationships in his life are the most important thing and more. Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Tony Jamous, Founder & CEO at Oyster HR, who shares how building Oyster HR as a mission driven company helped them scale to SaaS unicorn-dome. "It enabled me to also be detached from the outcome. So no matter what happens, we miss a quarter or somebody quits, then you're not reactive to that. Instead, you remain always centred on your goals, on your values, on your principles and more in an acceptance mode. This journey of building businesses, it's, it's highs and lows. So how can you remain yourself in a mode of clarity, stability, no matter the highs and the lows?" Tony shares: • Hyper growth in the early days during Covid: From achieving product market fit without having a full platform to going from zero to a billion in market cap in two years • Maintaining a mission driven culture: Why instilling meaning and importance to the work employees do you is the backbone of a successful mission driven organisation • Reducing headcount costs doesn't necessarily mean laying people off - it should be a strategic shift rather than a financial exercise • How he reprogrammed his nervous system to become a better leader and be less reactive • Behaviour is an equation that has two variables: who the people are and the environment they're in ( ...and the influence leaders have on them) and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Volta, a new startup with a team split between two headquarters in Milan and Paris, has secured a €6 million pre-seed round ($6.3 million) to develop a new vertical software-as-a-service platform focused on B2B sales. In more practical terms, the Volta team pitches its product as an equivalent to Shopify but focused on B2B transactions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Raluca Ragab, Head of UK & DACH at Eurazeo, who shares how to succeed as a growth company. "If you think of all the companies that had to raise a seed or series A in 2022, when it was hard, in 2023, when it was super hard, and even in 2024, anybody who's been successful to do that and is now graduating, right? So Maybe they were 1 million company in 2022 and they're 5 million in 2023 and they're now kind of becoming a growth stage company. Those companies, they were so scrutinised, they found it so hard to get funded that actually they have much stronger unit economics, they have great stories and they know how to deliver growth without having a bloated cost structure. So I do think that there's a second wave now of these companies that had to go through this kind of much harder time funding in their earlier stage and they never got to being efficient, that they just kind of got the basics and the fundamentals right and they're going to scale off a much more reasonable set of unit economics and cost structure." Raluca shares: • Being a visionary founder versus a 'good process' person • What it takes to build a successful growth stage company and get the right investment • Track records and unit economics: The metrics Raluca and her team prioritise • Europe's lack of global winners and business champions compared to in the US • How AI is lowering barriers to entry for software development to quasi zero and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Marton Medveczky, Associate Partner at Flashpoint Venture Capital, who shares what exactly makes a founder investable in 2025. "There is always a huge difference between talking to the founder and then doing your own desktop research versus talking to a customer. So if you can do that, that's basically the best way to understand what people value about the product. And it also will help you to draw further conclusions about where to look or, like, what is actually the real paper that it solves. And oftentimes it's actually not what the founders think it is, right? Which is very funny, I think. And that's why customer calls are sort of like a super vital component for us to invest." Marton shares: • The key characteristics he looks for in a founder before investing • Nailing value propositions and pain points: the one thing founders *need* to be doing • What the next 12 months look like and if fewer companies are moving into venture • How his initial VC journey started versus what it looks like now • Winning the market and becoming a category leader: what can SaaS companies do to succeed? • Why net revenue retention is the most important metric and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Palash Soni, Co-Founder & CEO at Goldcast, who shares his journey scaling the business to north of $10M in revenue. "We realised that the market is probably in bigger companies because that's where we are getting the pull from, and so our first actual like big customer was this company called Drift in Boston, which very popular Martech company. And that gave us the aha moment that okay, this is where the fit is. And so the moment Drift signed which was in end of Jan. 2021, at that time we were probably like $30, $40k in ARR. And when Drift signed then that started the chain sort of like the messaging and everything came together. Then we got to $1 million in three months." Palash shares: • Having an entrepreneurial itch from a young age; from buying sweets in bulk and selling them at a markup in his school days to renting out a video game console for a cent per hour • Why he believes marketing mediums evolve every 10 years, and how that was an asset to Goldcast • The risk they faced becoming a multi-product company and how he managed internal pushback • Entering the zeitgeist of B2B Marketers • The three key levers getting to $10M in revenue; including investing heavily in post-sales customer success • Why classic outbound doesn't work and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Welcome to The Wholesome Fertility Podcast! Today, I'm addressing an important topic that has come up frequently in my office: fertility-friendly lubricants. Many people don't realize that certain lubricants can negatively affect sperm movement and reduce the chances of conception.   In this episode, I discuss the common issue of vaginal dryness, especially when using fertility medications like Clomid or Letrozole, and how this can be an added challenge for those trying to conceive. I also explore natural ways to boost cervical mucus production, including staying hydrated and making dietary adjustments to improve moisture levels in the body. Additionally, I'll be highlighting fertility-friendly lubricant brands such as Pre-Seed and Good Clean Love, and why choosing products that mimic natural cervical mucus is so crucial.    If you're trying to conceive, this information will help you optimize your chances and ensure you're not unknowingly using something that could hinder your fertility.   Takeaways: Avoid harmful lubricants: Most standard lubricants can be toxic to sperm or slow their movement, which can impact conception. Natural cervical mucus is ideal: Keeping hydrated and consuming foods rich in omega-3s and antioxidants like vitamin C can help increase your body's natural moisture levels. Fertility-friendly lubricants to consider: Products like Pre-Seed, Good Clean Love, and Premom are formulated to be sperm-friendly and closely mimic natural cervical mucus. Vaginal dryness and medications: Fertility medications such as Clomid and Letrozole may cause dryness, making it important to find safe solutions that support sperm health.     Check out Michelle's latest book here: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility   For more information about Michelle, visit: www.michelleoravitz.com   The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/   Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/     Transcript:   [00:00:00] Welcome to the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. Today I'm going to be talking about something that I have not talked about yet, but it is an important topic because I've had a lot of people in my office come in and ask me about the specific topic. And a lot of times it is very important when it comes to fertility because People often don't realize that there are certain things that can actually be harming your fertility. So stay tuned because you're not going to want to miss this. So today I'm going to be talking about lubricants. This is actually a very common thing that people use lubricants and they don't realize that the majority of lubricants are actually not great for sperm. They're either toxic for sperm or they can impact how the sperm travels and slow down the traveling and fertilization of the egg. [00:01:00] So when it comes to fertility. It's a completely different ballgame, and it's really important to choose lubricants, if necessary, that are sperm friendly. So today I will be talking all about that. So first of all, I wanted to start out by saying, talking about why women can be dry, and sometimes it really is a cervical mucus thing, and And where it comes to cervical mucus, there are definitely things that you can do to impact cervical mucus naturally, but not just cervical mucus. It's also when taking certain fertility medications such as Clomid or Letrozole, those two medications can impact vaginal dryness as well. And this can be extremely frustrating when people are trying to conceive and women are having to have the difficulty and discomfort of vaginal dryness. And at the same time also timed [00:02:00] intercourse. So it kind of puts a whole other challenge to the whole challenging situation to begin with.   So according to fertility and sterility, Vaginal dryness has actually been reported in about at least 46 percent of all reproductive aged women, which is actually really high considering. So this is really important because when it comes to baby making, it's really important that a woman feels comfortable because if a woman is dry, it can cause more irritation. It can even cause bleeding. And we don't want that because when that's the case, then you're feeling more stress in really trying to conceive. So many times people will want to find lubricants and they'll find things that are over the counter or certain products that they don't realize are actually harming the sperm. So they're using this and I've had people come in and say that they've dealt with it. the discomforts of vaginal dryness[00:03:00] and didn't really realize, but for the whole time they've been trying and sometimes it's close to a year they've been using lubricants that are not necessarily great for the sperm and didn't even realize it. So this is why I find it so important in the podcast and in general to give information to people because many times nobody really tells you this stuff. You really think that, okay, what's the big deal? It shouldn't make a difference, but it really does. And the same thing also with figuring out the fertile window. All of these things are typically not things that you learn, not in school and oftentimes not even at the doctor's office. So it is really important to understand your body and understand really like how to optimize your fertile window and how to optimize your chances of conceiving and what those certain things are that can impact. that process. So like mentioned before, [00:04:00] a lot of these lubricants can impact sperm movement and impact how sperm is able to fertilize. And this can obviously be an issue because the sperm needs something that's similar to the cervical mucus, which is why the cervical mucus is so important because it It protects the sperm, but it also is created in a beautiful way to allow the sperm to move as fast as possible and most efficiently so that it is able to get to the egg and fertilize for conception.   Another thing that you want to look at is pH levels and if there's any chemicals in the lubricants that are harmful to sperm. So, ideally, you really want your own body's natural lubricant, which is cervical mucus. And there are a couple of things that you can do to improve that. And then I'll go over some other alternatives if that is not [00:05:00] working. But really what you want to do is increase your, in Chinese medicine speak, yin. Estrogen is a really important hormone in that process during the follicular phase that leads up to ovulation because estrogen is a very yin hormone. Yin is an aspect of the yin and yang that is more moist, more cooling, more feminine. So we want to bring in more moisture and we want to make sure that the body holds in that moisture. So there are definitely things that you can do to improve that and the first thing and it's the most obvious thing and I've seen it be the single handedly like the easiest way for people to improve cervical mucus is hydration. You would be shocked At how important it is to just hydrate because cervical mucus is majority is water. It really consists of water. And so if somebody is dehydrated and I've had a lot of people in the healthcare industry[00:06:00] that come in as patients, they just say they don't have time to drink. And I really push them on this because eventually they can actually shift that. It's just easier not to drink. So it's not that you can't drink. It's just that it. Tends to be easier and then it becomes a bad habit. So a lot of these people that are nurses, a lot of people that are dentists that are in the healthcare field don't really feel like they have an option. I work with them on that and they do change that. So it is possible. Anything's possible.   It's just a matter of putting a little more effort to get in the habit. We're just have water with you to just ensure that you're having it and also having water in the morning. , listen, you know, it might be a little inconvenient to have to go to the bathroom a couple of times extra, but it is really important and it really can impact your cervical mucus in a huge way. I've had people that have noticed vaginal dryness and that they've also had many times where [00:07:00]they were not seeing the same kind of cervical mucus that they used to see when they were younger. And all they did was increase the hydration. and that within a couple of months really shifted things and they started to see it. They actually saw when they wiped that they had more cervical mucus and more like egg white consistency on the peak days. So that is actually a very easy way to do this. And as a rule of thumb, you want to take whatever your weight is in pounds, take that number, divide that in half, and that amount in ounces is what you want you know, to drink every day. So say you're 120 pounds. So divide that by half, that's 60. So you take 60 ounces per day is the rule of thumb of water. And ideally you have that in containers that are not plastic. So either glass or stainless steel. And then also make sure to filter that [00:08:00] water. So you know, just kind of a side note, I always talk about that with my patients. So that's really, really important is to increase hydration and part of hydration also is not just water is from time to time to make sure that you're getting electrolytes as well. You also want healthy carbohydrates. So carbohydrates can also help and carbs can help the yin aspect of our body. So it helps your body absorb and , keep itself hydrated. So that you're able to retain a little bit more water because that water is important to retain in order to hydrate your body in many different ways, including cervical mucus. Another really important vitamin that impacts cervical mucus is actually vitamin C. And you can also increase citrus fruits in your diet. This is something that has been shown to improve. cervical mucus. So these are things that you want to do naturally. Ideally, if you could do things naturally, then you're using your own body's [00:09:00] natural lubricant, which is optimized for sperm health and to protect sperm and to help the chances of conception. So ideally you want to try to get it where your body's doing this. Another important antioxidant is vitamin E as well. And that can help regulate estrogen in your body.   You also want to get foods that are rich in omega 3s. Omega 3 fatty acids are really great for cervical mucus. And if you think about it, just oils in general, healthy oils. So, things like coconut oil that you're taking internally. I know some people use it physically, like as lubricant. I'm not a huge fan, but, Take things oils internally because when you're increasing those oils, which are very Yin substances, you're also improving your own body's ability to moisten itself. And you can also get, , those oils through nuts and [00:10:00] seeds, which are very rich in what we call in Chinese medicine, Jing. Jing is really fertile essence. It's really essence of the body. Okay. And if you think about seeds or nuts, they're basically seeds ready to sprout, which is ultimately like what egg and sperm are. So they're fertile, they're fertile by nature, and they have everything that they need and all the resources within it's the seed in order to fertilize and become fertile. So you want things in nature to borrow from so that it improves your own ability to fertilize as well, which of course is conception.   So, here are things to consider if you were to buy fertility friendly lubricants. So, you want to find something that's water based so that it doesn't decrease sperm motility  because that would be the most similar consistency to natural cervical mucus. You also want lubricants that are free[00:11:00] from parabens, fragrances, or any kind of chemicals, and ultimately to be the closest mimicking of natural cervical mucus.  And here are some brands that are the most fertility friendly. And the first one is precede fertility lubricant. You'll see that very often it's available on Amazon, many different places. And then also good clean love biogenesis fertility lubricant. Another one is conceived plus fertility lubricant. And there's also Nautilus, the lube lubricant. And there are many different ones that you'll see. You'll also see Lola, fertility friendly lube, penchant organic. So these are things that you want to definitely look up and make sure that it says fertility friendly. And I always recommend just do your own research and really look into it. Look at the [00:12:00] reviews and find what you think is best for you but ultimately, like I said before, the best thing that you can do is try to get your own natural lubricants going, especially during the fertile window. If you have that a little bit more than, And I also recommend having sex outside of the fertile window.   I often recommend that. And in that case, you don't have to worry quite as much. I still would use natural ones though, personally, because also when your body receives the sperm outside of the fertile window, then it will, lower its immunity so that you are able to receive the sperm because it's considered like an invader through the body.   So you're able to really lower the immune system, which typically would happen in the second part of the menstrual cycle, which is the luteal phase that you're able to receive the sperm. So the more access your body has, or the more interaction it has with a [00:13:00] sperm, even if it's outside of the fertile window into the luteal phase, the more it becomes open to receiving it. And another plus for that is just really being able to connect outside of the fertile windows so that there's no timing on it. And it really is something that you can put towards your relationship with your partner so you can have that connection. And ultimately that is such an important part of the whole process because I know so many people tell me.   And express how difficult it is to have to. put the pressure of timing and when they could do it. And when you open it up to more of a larger window outside of it, there's less added pressure and there's more time for connection. And as I mentioned this in my book, the way of fertility, which I highly recommend you check out because a lot of the things that I talk about are [00:14:00] all bundled up in there described perfectly because I repeat myself a lot. And this is one of the reasons I wrote the book is because I wanted to put all of my ideas and thoughts and all of my findings and lots of the information that I got from, , ancient wisdom and really the basis of Chinese medicine into a book where you can find it with exercises. But I talk about the connection between the partners and really having that connection because when you do have that connection and you really feel turned on, you will naturally also produce more natural lubricant.   So those are natural processes of the body, but it all starts with the mind. So a lot of it really starts psychologically and it's It's about connecting, opening the heart. So I talk a lot about that in the book. You can look at the episode notes to find out more on how to get that. And I will also list these fertility friendly lubricants that I mentioned in the episode[00:15:00] notes. And you can always reach out to me. on Instagram. I'm always there and my handle is at the wholesome Lotus fertility. If you have any questions you want to reach out, you can find me there. So thank you so much for tuning in today and I hope you have a beautiful day. 

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Philippe Botteri, partner at Accel, who shares the 2024 Accel Europe: AI Eating Software. "Just look at the past couple of years, there's been $56 billion invested in AI companies and two thirds of that has gone into the top six companies of each region of the US and Europe, and also two thirds of that money has gone into foundation models. So what we're seeing is AI is really driving the growth and very concentrated in a very small number of companies both in the US and Europe." Philippe shares: • Capitalising on AI to drive growth • Increasing investment outside of foundational models • Why 2025 is going to be the year of the agentic revolution • Growth vs profitability: what's driving the momentum for software companies • The Game of AI Thrones - will it be a winner takes all market? and more! Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, we're thrilled to have Marty Ringlein, CEO and co-founder of Agree.com, joining us to share his invaluable insights on navigating the startup landscape. Marty brings a wealth of experience, from leading multiple successful startups to high-profile acquisitions by giants like Twitter and Eventbrite. In today's discussion, Marty delves into the significance of perfecting your pitch through frequent practice, the importance of building investor relationships before seeking funds, and the innovative solutions his company offers. Agree.com is revolutionizing the e-signature, invoicing, and payment processing space, employing cutting-edge technology like OCR and generative AI to streamline workflows and ensure data privacy. We'll explore how Marty's team of six operates remotely across different time zones, driving rapid development and user growth. Marty also shares some unconventional yet effective guerrilla marketing strategies that have helped Agree.com gain traction, along with his journey in securing a $3 million pre-seed fund. Additionally, we'll cover practical advice for SaaS entrepreneurs on fundraising and standing out in a crowded market. From novel product features to Marty's forward-thinking approach to business operations, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. Tune in to learn from one of the industry's most dynamic leaders! Show Notes: 00:00 E-signature challenges: contract completion, payment integration. 03:27 Generative AI boosts OCR accuracy for invoices. 08:02 $50M threshold: key for organizational collaboration activation. 10:28 MVP facilitates bank transactions via Stripe integration. 14:53 Tracking users and signature numbers for engagement. 17:49 Inserts promotional cards into magazines at airports. 20:21 Capital needed to compete against major incumbents. 25:37 Build early relationships and stand out uniquely. 26:48 Originality matters over following predictable strategies. 30:39 AR, AP automation optimizes financial and sales processes. Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/agreecom-secures-3m-in-pre-seed-round Marty Ringlein's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martymadrid/ Agree's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agreehq/ Agree's Website: https://agree.com/ To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben's daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben's SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Health Tech Founders: Are You Ready for Your Next Fundraising Round?Securing capital is critical for scaling and innovating to stay competitive.But let's be honest—fundraising can feel like a never-ending cycle of pitching, burning cash, and chasing skeptical investors.