Podcasts about Saas

Clay Lawrence built a generalist digital marketing agency to $17,000 a month, but quickly realized he had created a trap: he was exhausted, overworking, and constantly trading time for money on services ranging from drone footage to SEO. Desperate for a change, he took a massive financial risk—firing his clients and watching his revenue plummet to $4,500—to bet everything on a single, scalable idea that didn't require him to be the bottleneck.That bet was Review Harvest, a low-ticket SaaS focused entirely on automating Google reviews for home service businesses. By niching down and utilizing "trench knowledge" to understand his customers better than they understood themselves, Clay rebuilt his business from the ground up. Today, he generates over $35,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) with a streamlined model that leverages software like HighLevel to do the heavy lifting, proving that a focused offer often beats a broad service.In this interview, Clay sits down with Ryan Atkinson to reveal the exact blueprint behind his pivot. They dive deep into the anatomy of a high-converting sales call, borrowing frameworks from Alex Hormozi to close deals on the spot, and discuss why the "Jack of all trades" model is a killer for agency growth. Whether you are looking to launch your first SaaS, maximize your HighLevel affiliate income, or master client acquisition through Facebook ads, this episode breaks down the tactical steps to build a business that serves your life, not the other way around.Takeaways:- Scaling a generalist agency is nearly impossible because you cannot afford to hire experts for every service; narrowing down to a single service allows for process automation and higher margins- Growth sometimes requires taking a financial step back; Clay intentionally dropped his revenue from $17k to $4.5k to rebuild a scalable model rather than remaining stuck in a service trap- The most scalable offer is often the one that works for every client without custom labor; automating Google review requests provided high value with zero ongoing manual fulfillment- Shifting focus specifically to home service businesses allowed the agency to double its growth because the messaging and operational knowledge became specialized and repeatable- Conducting over 1,000 sales calls provides "trench knowledge"—such as knowing a client's CRM software better than they do—which builds instant trust and authority during the sales process- A simple, singular value proposition (e.g., "The Google Review Guy") is significantly easier for networkers to remember and refer compared to a vague "full-service marketing" label- Low-ticket offers like reputation management rely on emotional impulse, making it critical to get leads on a call within 24 hours before their excitement fades- Sales calls should follow a structure of clarifying the prospect's pain, labeling the problem, and "selling the vacation" (painting a vivid picture of the future state) rather than just listing features- Success is often just surviving the lows; Clay faced a period where he only closed $6,500 in two months but credits his recovery to simply showing up every day despite the anxiety- Documenting the business journey on YouTube created a secondary income stream through HighLevel affiliate commissions, which now generates more profit than the agency itself.Tags: SaaS, Tech Ventures, Digital marketing, Affiliate marketing, Home Services, Business scaling, Business growthResources:Grow your business today:  https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Clay: https://www.instagram.com/claywlawrence/?hl=en

BONUS: Impact Engineering—Finding Agile's Lost North Star With Tom Gilb and Simon Holzapfel The Clarity Problem: Why Organizations Start with "Fuzzy B*S*!" "Everybody seems to start from a position of fuzzy b*s*. Nice-sounding words. Management does it, professors do it, politicians do it. And they don't even feel very guilty about it."   Tom Gilb doesn't mince words when describing how most organizations define their objectives. The fundamental problem isn't a lack of ambition—it's a lack of clarity. When leaders are asked about their critical values like "extremely high security" or "employee happiness," they typically respond with circular definitions that provide no actionable direction. Tom's approach starts by exposing this gap and then demonstrating that any value—no matter how "soft" or intangible it seems—can be quantified. Using AI tools, he's shown clients over 1,400 different ways to measure human happiness alone. Why Agile Lost Its North Star "Agile's lost its North Star because the economic problems it was trying to solve within the organization are now mismatched with the digital world."   Simon Holzapfel offers a structural analysis: Agile developed primarily to allay the concerns of pre-digital capital—investors who needed reassurance that their money wouldn't disappear into failed projects. But today's digital economy operates differently. Capital now moves like a service (SaaS model), and innovation is fundamentally stochastic—you can't predict when breakthroughs will happen. Organizations using flow-focused tools when the real problem is value creation are applying yesterday's solutions to today's challenges. The First Step: Quantify Your Critical Values "If you ask AI to quantify employee happiness a hundred different ways, it will do it in one minute for free. So you can no longer be in denial."   The path forward starts with brutal honesty about what your organization actually cares about. Tom's approach involves:   Identifying the top 10 critical stakeholder values Defining clear scales of measure for each Establishing where you are now (status) Setting where you need to be to survive (tolerable level) Defining what success looks like (target/goal level)   This isn't about adding bureaucracy—it's about creating shared clarity that enables everyone to row in the same direction.   About Tom Gilb and Simon Holzapfel   Tom Gilb, born in the US, lived in London, and then moved to Norway in 1958. An independent teacher, consultant, and writer, he has worked in software engineering, corporate top management, and large-scale systems engineering. As the saying goes, Tom was writing about Agile before Agile was named. In 1976, Tom introduced the term "evolutionary" in his book Software Metrics, advocating for development in small, measurable steps. Today, we talk about Evo, the name Tom uses to describe his approach. Tom has worked with Dr. Deming and holds a certificate personally signed by him. You can listen to Tom Gilb's previous episodes here.    You can link with Tom Gilb on LinkedIn    Simon Holzapfel is an educator, coach, and learning innovator who helps teams work with greater clarity, speed, and purpose. He specializes in separating strategy from tactics, enabling short-cycle decision-making and higher-value workflows. Simon has spent his career coaching individuals and teams to achieve performance with deeper meaning and joy. Simon is also the author of the Equonomist newsletter on Substack. And you can listen to Simon's previous episodes on the podcast here.    You can link with Simon Holzapfel on LinkedIn.

Rex Galbraith has worn almost every sales hat over his 20+ year SaaS career, and for the last decade, he's helped build Consensus into the category leader for interactive demo automation. In this episode, John and Rex dive deep into why traditional product demos are failing today's buyers—and what to do instead.You'll hear how Rex and his team use unideal customer profiles (UCPs) to actively disqualify bad-fit prospects, how automating parts of the demo process frees reps to sell smarter, not harder, and why focusing on retention over acquisition is the mindset shift modern sales orgs need.Rex also opens up about leading through tough moments—rebrands, layoffs, even running the company out of a grocery store—and the values that kept him grounded through it all. If you care about sales efficiency, buyer enablement, or becoming the kind of AE who thrives in the AI era, this one's for you.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Rex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexgalbraith Check out the Consensus Website: https://goconsensus.com/

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Shane and Adnan, founders of Software Finder — a global marketplace for buying and selling software, like an OLX for software buyers.With 350+ employees across 4 countries and more than 250,000 targeted monthly visitors, Software Finder has quietly become one of Pakistan's most successful B2B platforms without hype, foreign celebrity founders, or Silicon Valley experience.In This Episode:The story of building Software FinderWhy couples building startups must sacrifice comfortDecline of SEO traffic and the rise of AI searchScaling 350+ employees and 250 digital marketersThe future of software marketplaces & enterprise SaaS buyingAnd what Pakistan needs to succeed in a post-AI worldThis episode is a first-hand look into Pakistan's fastest-growing SaaS marketplace, its digital marketing engine, and how AI is reshaping search, discovery, and software buying forever.Socials:TBT's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠Shane's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-elahi-22a46835/Adnan's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adnan-malikEndeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop talks with Aaron Lowry about the shifting landscape of attention, technology, and meaning—moving through themes like treasure-hunt metaphors for human cognition, relevance realization, the evolution of observational tools, decentralization, blockchain architectures such as Cardano, sovereignty in computation, the tension between scarcity and abundance, bioelectric patterning inspired by Michael Levin's research, and the broader cultural and theological currents shaping how we interpret reality. You can follow Aaron's work and ongoing reflections on X at aaron_lowry.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00:00 Stewart and Aaron open with the treasure-hunt metaphor, salience landscapes, and how curiosity shapes perception. 00:05:00 They explore shifting observational tools, Hubble vs James Webb, and how data reframes what we think is real. 00:10:00 The conversation moves to relevance realization, missing “Easter eggs,” and the posture of openness. 00:15:00 Stewart reflects on AI, productivity, and feeling pulled deeper into computers instead of freed from them. 00:20:00 Aaron connects this to monetary policy, scarcity, and technological pressure. 00:25:00 They examine voice interfaces, edge computing, and trust vs convenience. 00:30:00 Stewart shares experiments with Raspberry Pi, self-hosting, and escaping SaaS dependence. 00:35:00 They discuss open-source, China's strategy, and the economics of free models. 00:40:00 Aaron describes building hardware–software systems and sensor-driven projects. 00:45:00 They turn to blockchain, UTXO vs account-based, node sovereignty, and Cardano. 00:50:00 Discussion of decentralized governance, incentives, and transparency. 00:55:00 Geopolitics enters: BRICS, dollar reserve, private credit, and institutional fragility. 01:00:00 They reflect on the meaning crisis, gnosticism, reductionism, and shattered cohesion. 01:05:00 Michael Levin, bioelectric patterning, and vertical causation open new biological and theological frames. 01:10:00 They explore consciousness as fundamental, Stephen Wolfram, and the limits of engineered solutions. 01:15:00 Closing thoughts on good-faith orientation, societal transformation, and the pull toward wilderness.Key InsightsCuriosity restructures perception. Aaron frames reality as something we navigate more like a treasure hunt than a fixed map. Our “salience landscape” determines what we notice, and curiosity—not rigid frameworks—keeps us open to signals we would otherwise miss. This openness becomes a kind of existential skill, especially in a world where data rarely aligns cleanly with our expectations.Our tools reshape our worldview. Each technological leap—from Hubble to James Webb—doesn't just increase resolution; it changes what we believe is possible. Old models fail to integrate new observations, revealing how deeply our understanding depends on the precision and scope of our instruments.Technology increases pressure rather than reducing it. Even as AI boosts productivity, Stewart notices it pulling him deeper into computers. Aaron argues this is systemic: productivity gains don't free us; they raise expectations, driven by monetary policy and a scarcity-based economic frame.Digital sovereignty is becoming essential. The conversation highlights the tension between convenience and vulnerability. Cloud-based AI creates exposure vectors into personal life, while running local hardware—Raspberry Pis, custom Linux systems—restores autonomy but requires effort and skill.Blockchain architecture determines decentralization. Aaron emphasizes the distinction between UTXO and account-based systems, arguing that UTXO architectures (Bitcoin, Cardano) support verifiable edge participation, while account-based chains accumulate unwieldy state and centralize validation over time.Institutional trust is eroding globally. From BRICS currency moves to private credit schemes, both note how geopolitical maneuvers signal institutional fragility. The “few men in a room” dynamic persists, but now under greater stress, driving more people toward decentralization and self-reliance.Biology may operate on deeper principles than genes. Michael Levin's work on bioelectric patterning opens the door to “vertical causation”—higher-level goals shaping lower-level processes. This challenges reductionism and hints at a worldview where consciousness, meaning, and biological organization may be intertwined in ways neither materialism nor traditional theology fully capture.

Send us a textFeeling overwhelmed in your business? If you're stuck in constant tasks and firefighting, you're operating—not owning. That's why I love partnering with NexusPoint. They help founders hire smarter, streamline operations, and step into true CEO leadership.✨ Renaissance Podcast listeners get their $500 recruiting fee waived.

Cassie Young brings hard earned lessons from a career spanning CRO roles, customer success leadership, turnarounds, and now investing as a General Partner at Primary Venture Partners. She talks about building and rebuilding go to market teams, why sometimes you should fire customers on purpose, and how churn is a lagging indicator that hides deeper retention issues. Cassie shares strong views on overrated metrics like NPS, the incentives that actually drive behavior inside a business, and the myth of finding one perfect KPI. She also brings signature Cassie isms like sunlight is the best disinfectant and the reminder that leaders often get stuck working in the business instead of on it offering practical insights for anyone trying to keep their SaaS metrics from going sideways.—SPONSORS: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/runFidelity 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.Sage Intacct is the cloud financial management platform that replaces spreadsheets, eliminates manual work, and keeps your books audit-ready—so you can scale without slowing down. It combines accounting, ERP, and real-time reporting for retail, financial services, logistics, tech, professional services, and more. Sage Intacct delivers fast ROI, with payback in under six months and up to 250% return. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction for eight straight years. Visit Sage Intacct and take control of your growth: https://bit.ly/3Kn4YHtMercury 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.—LINKS:Cassie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassyoung/Primary Venture Partners: https://www.primary.vc/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:Getting fired 4 times made me a founder | Sam Jacobs of Pavilionhttps://youtu.be/8X-JVOF-1A0—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:02:30 Sponsors Aleph | Fidelity Private Shares | Sage Intacct00:05:21 Returning From Pavilion & GTM Summit Takeaways00:06:49 What Makes a Great Executive00:11:07 The Importance of True P&L Fluency00:12:17 First Team Leadership vs Functional Loyalty00:13:33 Reading the Macro Environment and Market Forces00:14:29 Sponsors Mercury | RightRev | Tipalti00:18:26 Applying First Team Leadership in Practice00:22:24 Churn as a Lagging Indicator00:24:23 Finding Real Leading Indicators of Renewal00:25:30 Customer Value as the Only Path to Enterprise Value00:26:52 Product Adoption Perception and Retention00:29:16 Price to Value Ratio as a Predictor of Guaranteed Churn00:30:37 The Ultimate Question What Gets Your Customer Promoted00:32:33 How NPS Is Actually Calculated00:34:56 Sailthru's Minus 26 NPS and What It Signaled00:37:31 Rebuilding Customer Trust Through Transparency00:40:24 Why Net and Gross Retention Must Be Paired00:42:51 Aligning the Executive Team Through a Unified Bonus Plan00:45:18 Firing Customers When Misaligned Segments Drain the Org00:49:35 Carrot vs Stick How to Motivate a Modern GTM Org00:52:31 Why MBO Plans Fail CSMs01:03:51 Why Time to Value Matters More Than Ever#RunTheNumbersPodcast #CustomerSuccess #ChurnPrevention #GoToMarket #VentureCapital 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

Brevo vient d'atteindre le milliard de valorisation.Pourtant personne ne le sait.Polytechnicien aussi discret que brillant, fils de 2 psychanalystes, Armand Thiberge est un pokémon rare dans l'écosystème tech et entrepreneurial français. L'annonce d'un deal colossal de 500 millions d'euros était l'occasion parfaite pour (enfin) l'inviter sur GDIY.L'histoire de Brevo commence en Inde où Armand s'installe pour un stage à la fin de ses études.Lassé en moins de 2 semaines, il quitte son stage, s'associe avec un Indien et crée une agence web. Mais son âme d'ingénieur bouillonne et le pousse très vite à abandonner le modèle d'agence pour construire un vrai produit.Il lance d'abord un outil d'e-mailing, puis élargit ses services au SMS marketing, développe un CRM et devient l'un des premiers à intégrer de l'IA partout dans la gestion de la relation client.En 15 ans, son SaaS — appelé “MailIn” puis “Sendinblue” et maintenant “Brevo” — atteint 200 millions d'euros d'ARR (revenus annuels) et devient un outil indispensable pour des dizaines de milliers d'entreprises, en France, en Europe et aux US.Dans cet épisode nous revenons sur :Les étapes de croissance de Brevo — de la création à New Delhi en 2007 à l'entrée dans le cercle restreint des licornes tech françaises.Comment opérer une croissance saine et rentable sans se brûler les ailesSon plan pour atteindre 1 milliard de revenus annuelsPourquoi Armand est l'un des rares entrepreneurs à soutenir la Taxe ZucmanUn entrepreneur sous-côté, surdoué et aux mille idées qui rappelle qu'avancer sans faire de vagues est aussi une bonne manière d'atteindre les sommets.Vous pouvez contacter Armand sur LinkedIn.TIMELINE:00:00:00 : Monter sa première entreprise en Inde sans aucune expérience00:17:06 : Comment gérer de grosses différences culturelles00:27:33 : “Aujourd'hui les meilleurs développeurs du monde sont en Inde”00:37:09 : La mine d'or sous-exploitée des clients fidèles00:47:34 : La magie du bouche-à-oreille00:56:14 : Ce défi qui menace tous les SaaS01:07:34 : Refuser 10 millions à 33 ans01:19:14 : Pourquoi il faut absolument des géants européens dans la tech01:27:29 : Le plan de Brevo pour atteindre 1 milliard de revenus01:37:15 : “On a appris dès le début à faire de la croissance rentable”01:47:06 : La méga opération à 500 millions qui fait de Brevo une licorne02:01:54 : Être l'un des seuls entrepreneurs français à soutenir la taxe Zucman02:17:47 : Le combat d'Armand sur le front Ukrainien02:28:53 : “Il faut être plus humble sur ce qu'on va réussir à faire avec l'IA”02:38:27 : Le vrai défi du 21e siècle02:45:55 : Il n'y a pas de plafond, fonceLes anciens épisodes de GDIY mentionnés : #279 - Thibaud Elzière - eFounders - Startups, Web3, Voile Solaire et Maisons de luxe : quand la curiosité n'a plus de limites#1 - Simon Dawlat - Batch - Comment lever 10 millions et se faire blacklister par Apple#487 - VO - Anton Osika - Lovable - Internet, Business, and AI: Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again#480 - Octave Klaba - OVH Cloud - La guerre du Cloud commence#226 - Fabien Pinckaers - Odoo - L'antithèse de la start-up nationNous avons parlé de :BrevoLe principe de régressionProtonLe principe de l'acqui-hiringAnduril, la start-up star de la défense américaineIronflow BatteriesLes recommandations de lecture :The World is Flat - Thomas L. FriedmanLe chercheur d'or - J. M. Gustave Le ClézioUn grand MERCI à nos sponsors : SquareSpace : squarespace.com/doitQonto: https://qonto.com/r/2i7tk9 Brevo: brevo.com/doit eToro: https://bit.ly/3GTSh0k Payfit: payfit.com Club Med : clubmed.frCuure : https://cuure.com/product-onelyVous souhaitez sponsoriser Génération Do It Yourself ou nous proposer un partenariat ?Contactez mon label Orso Media via ce formulaire.Big up à Fabrice Pelosi, soutien incontournable de GDIY depuis l'épisode 1, qui a participé à rendre cet épisode possible.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

It's been nearly a decade since the last evolution of the PaaS platform, but AI has the potential to reshape and evolve this value concept. Let's explore that's possible. SHOW: 982SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #982 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK: http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST: "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:[Mailtrap] Try Mailtrap for free[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 NOTESVercel v0Building Web Apps with just English and AI (Acquired podcast, Feb 2025)Vercel on The Cloudcast (2024)Vercel on The Cloudcast (2021)8 tools to build your own PaaS (2025)IS PAAS READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? Where could PaaS evolve to now?Can new PaaS services abstract the developer, and just focus on business logic and business ideas? What languages or design patterns would be mandated? (web only, mobile only, web + mobile? )Can we template “best practices” enough to be reliable?Can we template compliances needed to handle financial transactions, customer data, etc.?Can troubleshooting become an automated service?Where was PaaS in the past? (Heroku, Google AppEngine, Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes)Language specificCloud specificAbstracting the infrastructure and securityFEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodBlueSky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod

In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel Rowles introduces us to the process of Vibe Coding, a revolutionary approach to software development that leverages AI to make app creation accessible to anyone, regardless of coding experience. Vibe coding shifts the focus from writing manual code to guiding AI with natural language prompts, allowing non-developers to build interactive apps, tools, and even businesses. Daniel explores the three tiers of vibe coding, from basic one-page web apps to full-scale, secure, AI-powered platforms , and shares practical steps, tools and security tips to get started. The second half of the episode features a compelling interview with Christo Snyman, a podcast listener who used vibe coding to launch his AI assistant platform Traderly.ai. Christo takes us behind the scenes of building a real-world startup with no prior coding background, sharing his full tech stack, hard-earned lessons, and the mindset needed to succeed. In This Episode: What is Vibe Coding? Understand how natural language prompts can now be used to create working code, dramatically lowering the barrier to digital creation. The Three Levels of Vibe Coding Level 1: Build one-page apps using HTML, CSS, and React, no backend required Level 2: Add memory, interactivity, and live AI responses through API access Level 3: Create fully-fledged apps with user authentication, databases, and deployment Practical Use Cases - From interactive Google algorithm timelines to embedded AI tools for keyword research and content planning, Daniel shares how these tools are being used on Target Internet's own website. Christo's Journey - From Idea to Startup. Learn how Christo turned a common business pain point — small service businesses missing leads due to message overload — into a scalable SaaS platform. Discover his full tech stack including React, Azure Functions, PostgreSQL, Firebase, OpenAI, WordPress, and more. Key Takeaways: Anyone can now build apps using AI tools, whether it's a timeline, calculator, chatbot, or full customer-facing product. AI-assisted development removes fear and unlocks creativity, especially for entrepreneurs without a dev background. Start small and iterate, your Minimal Viable Product doesn't need to be perfect, it needs to be useful. Vibe coding is the bridge between ideas and execution - fast, flexible and increasingly powerful. The future of marketing and tech creation is conversational and it's already here.

Christoph Gerber, Gründer von Talon.One, spricht über die Herausforderungen von Buy vs. Build Entscheidungen. Er teilt, warum sie ein Innovation Squad Lab aufbauen, wie sie in 2-Wochen-Sprints Prototypen entwickeln und warum die "Existential Crisis of SaaS" oft im falschen Funktionsumfang liegt. Was du lernst: Wie du Buy vs. Build Entscheidungen triffst Die Balance zwischen Core und Innovation Warum schnelle Prototypen wichtig sind Den richtigen Mix aus Lösungen finden ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://stan.store/fabiantausch   Mehr zu Christoph: LinkedIn: de.linkedin.com/in/christophgerber  Website: https://www.talon.one/  Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ 

Mostly Growth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlyGrowthMostly Growth on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-growth/id1842238102Mostly Growth on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3KDtaLaXx1obFp5PUhZ6V3In this episode of Mostly Growth, CJ Gustafson and Kyle Poyar bounce between sharp SaaS insights and delightfully weird internet culture. They start with an unexpected dive into competitive bird-watching apps, then break down recent software mergers like Superhuman + Grammarly + Coda and what they signal about scaling, cross-sell strategy, and private equity mechanics. CJ and Kyle explore why PE portfolios are becoming powerful distribution channels for AI solutions, how niche data “signals” are outpacing generic ones in sales, and share hedge-fund-style tactics for uncovering proprietary business information. The conversation rounds out with “business blunders” — from Y-axis chart crimes to clickbait headlines — and a lively discussion on Spotify's pricing power and how companies should (and absolutely should not) communicate price increases.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/—RELATED EPISODES:The Layer-Cake Playbook for Vertical SaaS Growth | with Roland Ligtenberghttps://youtu.be/yPxWvhPISKo—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:43 Sponsors – Pulley and Metronome00:04:05 Birding, Big Year & AI Bird Apps00:06:42 Software M&A Trends in SaaS00:08:57 Superhuman–Grammarly–Coda Reverse Merger00:10:34 How Larger Valuations Attract a New Investor Class00:11:55 Streaming Wars & Platform Consolidation00:13:20 Private Equity as a Distribution Channel for AI00:14:48 How PE Firms Drive Multi-Company Expansion00:15:56 AI for Efficiency: The PE CFO Playbook00:17:44 When AI ROI Really Matters in PE00:19:23 Signal-Based Selling: High-Intent Buyer Detection00:21:15 Signal Fatigue & the Hunt for Better Data00:22:50 Why Proprietary Signals Win00:24:05 Creative (and Creepy) Data Tactics00:26:09 Pinterest vs. Google: Aspirational vs. Actual Behavior00:27:17 Blurring Work & Personal Signals in AI Tools00:27:46 The Michael Jordan of Y-Axis Crimes00:30:33 Notion Agents Billboard: “Let Them Cook”00:32:31 Pricing in the Real World: Spotify00:34:60 → 00:35:00 How to Communicate a Price Increase00:35:40 Closing Credits#MostlyGrowthPodcast #PricingStrategy #AIGrowth #GoToMarket #PrivateEquity 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

Allen Kopelman returns with another insightful episode of The Biz To Biz Podcast, joined by special guest Albert Howard — entrepreneur, innovator, and leader focused on building better business systems through smarter tech and stronger processes.In this episode, we dive into:✔️ Albert's journey and the lessons he's learned leading teams and growing brands✔️ Why businesses struggle with operational bottlenecks — and how to eliminate them✔️ The role of modern technology in creating scalable, efficient organizations✔️ A fresh perspective on leadership, accountability, and culture✔️ Practical tips you can implement today to strengthen your business foundationWhether you're an entrepreneur, team leader, or business owner looking to push your organization forward, this conversation delivers tons of actionable value.

Struggling with costs in your healthcare organization? Reach out to Michael.  Click Here for more info Episode Summary In this inspiring conversation, Michael Levitt welcomes Ciara, founder of Eventist, a leading SaaS company that revolutionized ticketing for dance competitions. What began as a side project for a friend turned into a thriving event management platform serving studios, festivals, and large-scale competitions. Ciara's story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of solving real problems through technology. Building a SaaS Business from Scratch After losing her job, Ciara chose to create something new. What started as a personal favor evolved into a full-fledged software company addressing a gap in the dance competition industry. Michael commends her for transforming a career setback into a successful entrepreneurial journey. Together, they explore how identifying underserved markets can lead to sustainable business growth. Aligning Developers with Industry Experts Michael and Ciara dive into the challenge of bridging the gap between developers and industry specialists. They discuss how effective requirement gathering and clear communication lead to better, more intuitive software, especially in niche markets like event ticketing. Ciara shares how this alignment allowed her team to build solutions that meet real user needs rather than assumptions. Designing for User Experience, Not Just Features Feature requests can pile up fast, but Ciara knows that usability matters most. She and Michael examine why prioritizing user experience is critical, even if it means saying “no” to certain requests. Drawing parallels to healthcare and other sectors, Michael explains how miscommunication between end users and designers can lead to frustration, while Ciara highlights the importance of serving the majority of users who rely on core functions every day. Turning Customer Feedback into Action Listening to customers does not mean building everything they ask for. Ciara explains how her team implemented a feature voting system, giving users a transparent way to influence the product roadmap. Michael suggests that reaching out to clarify feedback can turn casual users into loyal advocates, showing that thoughtful communication fosters trust and retention. The AI Bubble and Software Evolution Michael and Ciara discuss the similarities between today's AI boom and the early 2000s dot-com era. While AI offers immense potential, Michael notes that many tools being created today will not stand the test of time. The future belongs to products that solve real problems with precision, human oversight, and authentic value. Building a Foundation for Scalability Ciara credits Eventist's adaptability to a strong infrastructure developed over three years. This solid foundation allowed her team to expand into studio management and festival scheduling without rebuilding from scratch. Michael praises this long-term mindset, explaining that scalable success depends on a stable architecture, not shortcuts. Database Discipline and Developer Sanity Ciara shares a golden rule for developers: stabilize your database schema before launch. Her six-month schema freeze policy helps avoid late-night emergencies and production chaos. Michael highlights how this disciplined approach prevents cascading issues and builds user confidence in the reliability of a system. Eventist: Empowering the Dance and Event Industry In closing, Ciara discusses how Eventist empowers dance studios and event organizers with transparent pricing that includes free ticketing software with a flat 25-cent fee per ticket and a 1.9 percent fee for studio tools. Listeners can explore more about her work and updates through Eventist.ca to learn about Ciara's software. Explore workplace and leadership insights at BreakfastLeadership.com/blog. Listen to more episodes of the Breakfast Leadership Show, ranked in the Top 2 percent of global podcasts by ListenNotes.

In this episode, "The Metrics Brothers," Growth (Ray Rike) and CAC (Dave Kellogg), dive into a critical challenge for modern SaaS and AI-Native companies: accurately calculating Net Revenue Retention (NRR) in environments that utilize variable pricing models (usage-based, outcome-based, etc.).They begin by defining NRR, emphasizing its importance as a key metric and its high correlation with Enterprise Value-to-Revenue multiples.The brothers then dissect the primary challenge: the absence of traditional Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in non-annual contract models. They explore different proxies for ARR, including MRR x 12 and Implied ARR (Quarterly Revenue x 4), and discuss the pitfalls of each, particularly the risk of overstating annual revenue due to seasonality or significant one-time deals.Finally, they offer their preferred, cohort-based method for calculating NRR—the "Snowflake Method" or "Two-Year Look Back"—which compares the current revenue of a specific group of customers (cohort) to their revenue from a year ago. They conclude with a discussion on how this method helps dampen the "noise" and variability inherent in usage-based data when trying to measure expansion and contraction.

Andrew kicks off at 8 a.m. with six Docker containers running, and he and Chris dive into what modern Rails development looks like inside dev containers—covering Rails' own images and features, using Mise and Playwright instead of Selenium, and why OrbStack has replaced Docker Desktop on their Macs. They talk through the trade-offs of running services in containers, the quirks of Kamal's new local registry, and how Chris is turning all of this into a practical SaaS building series that shows real-world deployment and scaling with tools like JudoScale. Along the way, they weave in life updates about new babies, daycare costs, and even the power needs of AI data centers and nuclear energy.  Press download now to hear more! LinksChris Oliver XAndrew Mason BlueskyJudoscale- Remote Ruby listener giftWhy Playwright Is Less Flaky Than Selenium by Justin SearlsRails Dev Container Images & FeaturesRuby on MacJudoscale-Process Utilization: How We Actually Track ThatGoRails- Domain Monitor SaaS- Adding the Domain ModelCheeky Pint PodcastSmarter Every Day (YouTube)The DiplomatThe Girlfriend Chris Oliver X/Twitter Andrew Mason X/Twitter Jason Charnes X/Twitter

AGENDA: 04:20 Thrive and OpenAI Partnership  07:14 Databricks Raising $5BN at $134BN Valuation: Cheap or Not? 17:39 Eventbrite Acquired by Bending Spoons for $500M 21:39 Pagerduty's $1BN Market Cap, Just 2x Revenue 26:59 The TAM Trap: Why SaaS Is Like Japan 37:42 Lessons from Companies Hitting $100M ARR 44:57 The Future of Labour Markets is F****** 52:10 The Importance of Compounding in Investments 56:45 The Relevance Game in Venture Capital 01:05:01 Supabase at $5BN or Lovable at $6BN: Which One?  

Filmmaker and tech founder Drew Schettler shares how he went from a strictly ministerial college path and church media work to running a production company and building Atlas, a modern all‑in‑one workspace for filmmakers. He talks about learning business the hard way as a creative, navigating burnout and feast‑or‑famine freelance cycles, and then spending seven months using AI and no‑code tools to ship a real SaaS product for his own industry. On this episode we talk about:   Growing up in a ministry “bubble” and how Drew slowly leaned into photography and filmmaking   Building a freelance video business serving churches, nonprofits, and commercial clients   Discovering AI/no‑code app tools and deciding to build Atlas for filmmakers   Product–market fit, MVPs, and iterating based on user feedback instead of over‑polishing   Why creators need to think like entrepreneurs and how to escape the freelance hamster wheel Top 3 Takeaways 1.  Creatives who want to go full‑time have to think in systems, margins, and client outcomes—not just in terms of making beautiful work.2.  You do not need a massive dev team to validate a software idea; a scrappy, AI‑assisted MVP is enough to start selling and get real feedback.3.  The most sustainable path is often using your high‑ticket services as a cash‑flow engine while you build scalable products that can eventually overtake client work. Notable Quotes   "You have to lead with how you're solving the client's problem, not just how good your video looks."   "If everyone has the cheat codes with AI, it stops being cheating—it's just who executes better and faster."   "Most creatives are trying to impress other creatives instead of building something that actually moves the needle for a client." Connect with Drew Schettler: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drew.schettler/  https://atlasfilm.io/ ✖️✖️✖️✖️

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Daniel Jimenez, co-founder and CEO of Stride Dental Group and founder of Feestream. After a high-level career in engineering and leadership at Amazon, Daniel took an unexpected leap into the world of dentistry—driven by a passion for operational excellence, data, and innovation. He shares what translated well from corporate life (think: metrics, accountability, systems), what absolutely didn't, and why building and scaling in dentistry requires a whole different playbook.  Daniel opens up about the cultural and communication challenges of introducing change in a clinical environment, and how Stride is navigating growth while staying grounded in patient care and team culture. He also discusses his SaaS platform, Feestream, a simple but powerful tool that automates the painful process of updating insurance fee schedules in practice management software. If you're curious about scaling, leadership, or simplifying operations, you'll find tons of insight in this honest and forward-thinking conversation. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.stridedentalgroup.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Security used to be a headache. Now it is a growth engine.In this episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt sits down with Taylor Hersom, Founder and CEO of Eden Data and former CISO, to break down how fast growing companies can turn cybersecurity and compliance into a true competitive advantage. Taylor explains why frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and emerging AI standards such as ISO 42001 are becoming essential for winning enterprise business. He also shares how to future proof controls, connect compliance work to real business goals, and avoid the costly pitfalls that stall companies during scale.Taylor also highlights the biggest blind spots in AI security, including model training risks, improper data handling, and the challenges created by relying on free AI tools. If you are building a SaaS product or selling into large companies, this conversation shows how trust, transparency, and strong security practices directly drive revenue. Key Moments:  00:00 — The Hidden Risks of Scattered Company Data04:11 — Why Early-Stage Teams Lose Control of Security08:22 — Compliance Becomes a Competitive Advantage12:33 — SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: What Founders Need to Know16:44 — Framework Overload and How to Navigate It20:55 — Mapping Security Controls to Business Objectives25:06 — The Gap Between Compliance Audits and Real Threats29:17 — Startup Security Blind Spots That Lead to Breaches33:28 — Rising AI Risks Leaders Aren't Preparing For37:39 — Building Customer Trust Through Transparency41:50 — Protecting AI Models and Sensitive Customer Data46:01 — Why Free AI Tools Create Hidden Data Exposure50:12 — Automating Security Controls for Scale54:23 — Continuous Compliance Beats Annual Audits58:34 — Final Takeaways on Security, Trust, and Growth -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts 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.

In this episode, we once again talk about AI, and oh boy do we get off topic.Here's the AI tool Rick mentioned for recording your screen (we'll talk about that in a future episode)Here's the AI report Rick mentioned

"Start in small areas of your business and test it there, and then you can see the impact of AI implementation." Join Devon Tilly as he chats with Shawn Kercher and Brian Watson of Humming Agent AI! Shawn Kercher is the Co-Founder and CTO of Humming Agent AI, where he focuses on making AI-powered workflow automation accessible and impactful for businesses of all sizes. With a background in engineering and over a decade of leadership in innovation at Comcast Labs, he's led teams building scalable AI solutions that solve real-world problems and drive business growth. Brian Watson is a lifelong entrepreneur that has been running businesses since he was 17. He has successfully grown companies in several industries including Retail, Service, SaaS, and AI. These experiences have given him a tremendous depth of business knowledge and provided him with tangible insights into what it takes to run a successful company. He has expertise in numerous areas including leadership, strategy, sales, marketing, operations, people management, project management, PR, and government contracting. He is a highly collaborative team player who loves winning. He is happiest when getting to contribute his skills towards solving difficult problems that move a company towards success! Follow Humming Agent AI on LinkedIn! Keep up with the Art of Construction (AOC) podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn! Subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

How can you effectively prepare your SaaS for an exit? And what should you know about the valuation drivers, buyer types, and metrics that matter most? In a live episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast recorded at SaaS Summit Benelux, host Joran sat down with René de Jong to unpack what it takes for SaaS companies to scale and prepare for a successful exit in 2026. René helps entrepreneurs—specifically SaaS founders—design effective exit strategies and navigate the full process of selling their businesses to third parties. Across the conversation, he offered clear and pragmatic insights on what separates the SaaS businesses that grow and sell well from those that struggle, how buyers evaluate companies in the current market, and why topics like the rule of 40, net revenue retention, AI-driven scalability, and deal structure matter now more than ever. From early-stage focus at 0 to 10K MRR to strategies for moving toward 10 million ARR, René shared guidance grounded in what he sees every day in the market.This episode turns the full discussion into a clear, actionable narrative that stays true to the original conversation and is easier to follow and revisit.Key Timestamps(0:00) - SaaS Summit Benelux intro, B2B SaaS scaling 2026, Rule of 40, NRR, ARR multiples, Earnouts, Strategic buyers, 0-10K MRR, 10M ARR(0:50) - Guest intro, SaaS M&A advisor, SaaS exit strategy, SaaS acquisition process(1:14) - Scaling your SaaS for 2026(1:20) - What separates SaaS winners in 2026(1:26) - Rule of 40, Efficient growth, ARR multiple valuation(2:18) - Go-to-market strategy, New business team, Net Revenue Retention (NRR), Expense efficiency(3:05) - NRR benchmarks, Churn, Customer concentration, Market standards(4:01) - Efficient growth vs spend, AI scalability, Revenue per employee(5:06) - AI native SaaS costs, VC vs mature SaaS valuation, EBITDA vs ARR(6:38) - VC backing for AI native startups(6:48) - Freemium model 2026, Valuation cycles, EBITDA focus, AI hype, ARR multiples(8:05) - Sponsor: B2B SaaS affiliate marketing, Reditus(8:49) - SaaS valuation benchmarks, ARR multiples range(9:01) - 3.5x ARR cash at close, Earnout, Reinvest, Deal structure(10:34) - Venture capital vs Private equity(10:43) - Strategic buyers, One plus one equals three, Synergy valuation(11:22) - Build list of strategic acquirers, Exit planning(11:29) - Headline valuations vs reality, Purchase price, Earnouts, Deal terms(11:51) - Earnout as bonus, Cash at closing, Burnout risk(13:05) - 2026 growth loop, AI in land and expand, Product-led growth, AI agents(14:10) - 0–10K MRR advice, Founder mindset, Learn fast, Mentors, SaaS community(15:35) - Smart capital, Operator investors, Non-dilutive help(16:06) - 10K MRR to 10M ARR, Focus, Buy-and-build strategy, Autonomous growth, 3–5 year plan(17:43) - Contact info, LinkedIn, anno9082.nl(18:03) - Outro, Subscribe, Sponsor the show, Reditus call-to-action

In this episode of Innovation and Digital Enterprise, Patrick and Shelli talk with Michael Ehlers, the new Chief Technology Officer at PlanSource. Mike outlines his leadership philosophy and career evolution, emphasizing that professional growth is rarely linear. He shares formative experiences at Hewitt and Xerox that taught him the importance of transparency during project setbacks, the value of blameless postmortems, and how to treat failure as a chance to grow.Those experiences inform his current leadership and hiring strategy, which prioritizes candidates with grit, curiosity, and collaborative spirit, over those with rigid technical expertise. He explains that technical skills can be acquired, but behavioral attributes are foundational to a successful dev culture.Mike shares insights earned through his range of experience, from startups to large multinationals, stressing that at any scale, leaders need empathy to understand customer needs, agility to make change, and transparency to build trust.(00:12) Welcome to Michael Ehlers, CTO at PlanSource(03:35) Navigating Leadership Challenges(10:40) The Importance of Career Growth and Culture(23:34) Leveraging Postmortems in Software Engineering(28:31) Cultural Shifts in Organizations(37:32) Empathy in Innovation: Understanding Customer NeedsMichael Ehlers has had a full career leading software and engineering teams, often at SaaS companies in the HR space. Currently, he is the new Chief Technology Officer at PlanSource. Previously, he has held roles at Benefitfocus, Paylocity, Voya Financial, Aon Hewitt (Alight), and Xerox, where he served as Vice President of Front End Development for their HR Outsourcing business. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

In episode #334, Ben Murray breaks down how leading public SaaS and tech companies are reporting AI-driven value creation across their earnings calls. After analyzing more than 130 public tech earnings transcripts, Ben identifies five consistent themes in how incumbents communicate AI monetization, margin impact, revenue growth, and operational transformation to Wall Street. These insights are critical for private SaaS and AI founders who want to understand how to position their own AI value story for Boards, investors, and future fundraising. As AI moves beyond the hype cycle, companies must clearly demonstrate monetization, adoption, and financial impact—not just vision and roadmap. Why It Matters Understanding how public companies frame AI value creation helps private founders avoid vague positioning and instead adopt investor-grade communication. These themes influence: Board reporting Fundraising narratives ARR and revenue forecasting Financial modeling Unit economics and cost structure decisions Long-term valuation strategy As AI transitions from hype to monetization to full transformation, founders must adapt how they report AI's contribution to performance and financial outcomes. Resources Mentioned: Reporting AI ARR: https://www.thesaascfo.com/ai-arr-vs-saas-arr-how-to-define-and-calculate/ SaaS Metrics Course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation

Ryan Collins calls himself a garbage man, but he's also the Managing Director at Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD), a third-generation waste collection and recycling company in Northern California. After a stint in Silicon Valley, he came back to join the family business and walked into a world still powered by slide rulers, highlighters, and paper-heavy workflows. Today, his team is building in-house AI tools that are replacing expensive software and solving real operational problems across the business — all with a lean budget, limited tech experience, and a workforce that now regularly pitches their own automation ideas. We talk through how this transformation actually happened. Starting with Excel and a problem-first mindset, Ryan's weekend vibe coding projects grew into a full-on tech capability at TTSD. From saving $30,000 a year with a $75 microcontroller to avoiding six-figure SaaS spends with local AI tools, this episode is packed with practical stories. We also get into the risks of overengineering, how to decide when to bring in real software engineers, and what hiring looks like when you're prioritizing attitude and curiosity over resumes. If you're looking to build a culture of innovation, even in a non-tech industry, this one is worth a listen. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Inside the episode... Why even garbage truck drivers are suggesting AI tools now How Ryan turned Excel and a tinkering mindset into a culture of problem solving A $75 hardware build that fixed a $30,000-a-year proble Why vibe coding is addictive and how they stay focused on what matters Building in-house AI tools with Whisper, Mistral, and Claude Replacing a $120,000/year call center SaaS with a local tool running on a $2,000 PC How they protect customer data while still using AI internally When to keep iterating and when to bring in a developer What Ryan looks for in tech hires (and why resumes often don't matter) Using AI to bridge the language gap across a mostly Spanish-speaking workforce Mentioned in this episode ESP32 microcontrollers OpenAI Whisper (local speech-to-text) Mistral (local open source LLM) Claude by Anthropic 11Labs (AI voice translation) Google Maps API Upwork Cursor Excel, VBA, Python Pandas Alpha fold  Raptor engine at spaceX Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

In this episode of The Product Experience, host Randy Silver speaks with Teresa Huang — Head of Product for Enablement at global health‑insurer Bupa — about the often‑overlooked world of platform product management. They explore why building internal platforms is fundamentally different and often more challenging than building user‑facing products, how to measure the value of platform work, and practical strategies for gaining stakeholder alignment, driving platform adoption and demonstrating business impact.Chapters0:00 – Why “efficiency” alone no longer cuts it — measuring platform impact in business terms1:02 – Teresa's background: from business analyst to head of product in health insurance6:20 – What we mean by “platform product management” — internal tools vs marketplace vs public‑API platforms7:44 – Why you need to “hop two steps”: address developer needs and end-customer value10:24 – Types of platforms: internal APIs, marketplace ecosystems, public‑facing platforms (e.g. like Shopify)10:55 – Reframing platform work: building business cases instead of chasing “efficiency” metrics13:16 – Linking platform initiatives to core business goals and joint OKRs15:47 – The importance of visualisation — using prototypes and role‑plays to communicate platform value20:57 – Internal showcases: keeping stakeholders engaged with real‑world scenarios23:28 – Success metrics for platforms: adoption, usage, reliability, ecosystem growth26:00 – Retiring legacy services: deciding when low-use tools should be decommissioned28:55 – From cost centre to enabler: shifting the narrative to show value creationOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

Aydin sits down with Mike Potter, CEO and co-founder of Rewind, to talk about how AI is changing both the risk and opportunity landscape for SaaS companies. They cover how AI agents are now deleting real customer data, why backup is more critical than ever, and how Rewind became an AI-native org with dedicated AI ownership, monthly Lunch & Learns, and real internal workflows.Mike walks through the exact N8N workflows he uses to:Auto-triage his Gmail into multiple inboxes using AIGenerate a daily AI brief based on tasks, calendar events, and past email contextAnalyze churn, win/loss, and internal product data using Claude and MCPThey close with Mike's “dream automation”: a full AI-generated business review that looks across financials, CRM data, and benchmarks.Timestamps:0:00 — Welcome to the show0:31 — Mike's intro & what Rewind backs up across SaaS ecosystems1:40 — AI agents as a new failure mode and how Rewind “saves you from your AI”4:05 — Turning Rewind into an AI-native company early on4:53 — First attempt at AI-built integrations (why it failed then, why it might work now)7:23 — Developers trading tedious integration maintenance for more interesting AI work9:45 — Code vs architecture: the Shopify webhooks story and handling 1.1B+ events14:03 — Hiring an AI Engineer: scope, responsibilities, and why background mattered15:33 — How Rewind drove AI adoption: Lunch & Learns, “use it in your personal life,” experimentation20:53 — How AI Lunch & Learns actually run across multiple offices and remote folks23:10 — Examples: CS tools, Alloy prototypes, AI video voiceovers, end-to-end workflows25:13 — Churn workflows: combining uninstall reasons from multiple marketplaces into Claude27:06 — Win/loss and internal analytics using Claude Projects + MCP server into an internal DB29:14 — Choosing between Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini depending on the task (and re-testing every few months)31:23 — Mike's Gmail system: multiple inboxes + N8N + AI classification36:07 — Inside the email-classifier prompt and AI-powered spam that beats Gmail filters41:34 — The “Daily AI Brief”: pulling tasks, meetings, and prior email threads into a single morning email45:02 — Letting AI write and debug N8N workflows (and how assistants in tools are getting better)48:58 — Wishlist: automated AI business review across finance, Salesforce, and SaaS benchmarks51:23 — Closing thoughts: so many useful tools are possible, but GTM is the hard partTools & Technologies MentionedRewind – Backup and restore for mission-critical SaaS applications.Claude – LLM used for analysis, projects, agents, and internal tools.ChatGPT / OpenAI (GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini) – LLMs used for code, prompts, and workflow JSON.N8N – Automation platform used to build email and daily-brief workflows.Gmail – Email client where AI-powered labels drive multiple inboxes.Google Calendar – Calendar data powering the daily AI agenda.Google Tasks – Task list feeding into the morning brief email.MCP (Model Context Protocol) – Connects Claude to Rewind's internal databases.Alloy – Tool for building interactive product UI prototypes.Salesforce – CRM used for pipeline, churn, and win/loss analysis.Gumloop – Workflow tool with an embedded AI assistant.Zapier – Automation platform referenced for plain-English workflow creation.Fellow – AI meeting assistant for summaries, action items, and insights.Subscribe at⁠ thisnewway.com⁠ to get the step-by-step playbooks, tools, and workflows.

The lead story is heartbreaking and I hate $GM for that. Good news is it looks like the internet took care of him. The highlight of the show is absolutely Sidekick with Trendspider. And the look on my face when I realize $MSTU was just a reverse split. Want to see me look like an idiot? TUNE IN! CYBER MONDAY SALES END SOON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TRENDSPIDER SALE - GET SIDEKICK ⁠⁠⁠⁠SEEKING ALPHA BUNDLE - ALPHA PICKS AND PREMIUM Save over $200⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seeking Alpha Premium - FREE 7 day trial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alpha Picks - Save $100 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seeking Alpha Pro - for the Pros ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EPISODE SUMMARY

In this value-packed episode of SaaS Fuel, Mark Osborne, founder of Modern Revenue Strategies and top 25 marketing technology trailblazer, joins host VO and Jeff Mains for a tactical deep dive into building holistic, scalable revenue systems that go beyond the siloed tactics of old. Mark reveals why random acts of marketing and sales are growth killers, the transformative impact of aligning marketing, sales, and customer success, and practical steps for identifying and nurturing your ideal customers. You'll also learn how storytelling and “microscripts” can drive trust and reduce friction, the importance of bow-tie funnels (aka the power of retention and expansion), and get a playbook for creating try-before-you-buy offers that accelerate confidence. If you want your SaaS business to be built for significance and scale—this episode is your treasure map.Key Takeaways00:00 "Mastering Sales & Revenue Strategy"05:11 "Building Effective Revenue Systems"06:17 Revenue Growth Through Three Systems12:35 Identifying Top Customers Strategically13:39 Targeting the Right CRM Customers19:31 "Aligning Teams to Drive Revenue"23:49 B2B Buying Shift: Trust Erodes25:34 Health, Perception, and AI Challenges29:02 "Bite-Sized Client Value Strategy"32:12 Effective SaaS Onboarding Strategies35:49 Focus on One GTM Strategy40:50 The Power of Specialization42:35 "Storytelling Powers Human Connection"47:28 "Creating a Category of One"48:35 "Collaborative Metrics and Visual Mapping"52:31 "3D Holograms & AI Innovation"Tweetable Quotes"But what I find is that really building a revenue system that has multiple components and sort of interlocking components is the real key to growth." — Mark Osborne Category of One Marketing: "And so we have built a proprietary proven process that leverages our unique expertise for this unique marketplace. And if you believe that that's the right way to solve this problem, then we're the only solution that exists for you." — Mark Osborne Quote: "the stat is now that something like 70% of the buyer's journey is done before they talk to a single provider, much less you, if you're the second or third tier provider in the marketplace." — Mark Osborne Lower-Risk Sales Strategies: "it's just a way of giving them that bite of the burger so they can then be excited about coming in and finishing the meal rather than feeling like, well, should I talk to five more people or two more people or get three more references instead." — Mark Osborne The Power of Storytelling in Sales: "Telling stories is the way that we really resonate and connect with people. So each of those different sort of layers of really small stories and really, you know, sort of large allegories are important throughout the sales process." — Mark Osborne SaaS Leadership LessonsBuild Systems, Not SilosSustainable growth comes when every part of the revenue journey is connected—attraction, acceleration, activation.Customer Obsession Beats Logo HuntingLong-term companies focus on advocating for and expanding existing customers, not just acquiring new ones.Say No to the Wrong RevenueThe discipline to turn away poorly-matched clients fuels long-term success and product integrity.Create Alignment Through Visual...

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Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben Murray sits down with Kelby Zorgdrager, CEO and founder of Tritami, and Dave Murphy, go-to-market expert, to dive into the rapidly evolving world of corporate and technical training. With decades of experience in EdTech and a track record of building and exiting successful businesses, Kelby Zorgdrager shares his journey from leading Develop Intelligence to reimagining instructor-led training with Tritami. Dave Murphy brings his expertise in enterprise sales and AI marketplaces to the conversation, highlighting the industry's shift towards live, customizable, expert-led experiences. Together, they discuss how Tritami is leveraging AI and automation to streamline training logistics, empower engineering teams, and connect organizations directly with top-tier instructors—moving away from outdated, fragmented models. The conversation covers everything from their fundraising journey and building the initial MVP, to the importance of user-driven development, transparent pricing, and the growing demand for personalized learning in fast-paced tech environments. Whether you're a SaaS leader, an engineering manager, or simply curious about the future of EdTech, this episode offers an insightful look behind the scenes at an innovative startup working to redefine corporate training. Show Notes: 00:00 Disrupting Corporate Training Market 06:03 AI Tools Adoption Challenges 09:38 Rapid Feedback-Driven Product Iteration 13:06 "AI-Driven Training Automation Platform" 17:24 Flexible AI Training Models 21:11 Focus on User-Driven Development 22:16 "Testing Ads for January Launch" Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/tami-software-raises-400k-in-pre-seed-round Kelby Zorgdrager's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelbyzorgdrager/ Dave Murphy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemurf/ TryTami's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/try-tami/ TryTami's Website: https://www.trytami.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

In this sponsored episode recorded live at AutoCon 4 in Austin, we sit down with Peter Sprygada, Chief Architect at Itential, to discuss Itential’s on-stage announcement of FlowAI. Peter shares his journey from network engineering skeptic to AI advocate, explaining how Itential securely connects AI agents to infrastructure with enterprise-grade governance and traceability. We dive... Read more »

In this episode of the Loan Officer Podcast, host Dustin Owen sits down with John Motowidlak, co-founder of Mpire Financial. Together, they dive deep into the ways technology—such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and SaaS solutions—is revolutionizing the mortgage industry and accelerating Mpire Financial's impressive growth trajectory. John offers valuable insights into the process of developing proprietary technology, emphasizing how innovation and adaptability are crucial for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving market. The conversation also touches on the significance of cultivating a strong company culture at Mpire Financial, and how this foundation supports both employee satisfaction and client success. John and Dustin discuss the upcoming Mortgage Con 2026 conference in Orlando, highlighting the event's potential for learning, networking, and discovering the latest industry trends. Throughout the episode, they explore the exciting opportunities that come with tech-driven change in real estate, as well as the unique challenges that mortgage professionals face in adapting to new tools and processes. John shares his perspective on the future of coaching and mentorship in the industry, introducing innovative coaching platforms and resources designed to help loan officers and mortgage professionals thrive. Listeners will also hear about new networking opportunities, best practices for leveraging technology, and actionable strategies for navigating the dynamic landscape of modern mortgage lending.   TLOP's Originator Coaching ---> Visit Website

随着 ChatGPT、DeepSeek 等 AI 助手成为新的流量入口，我们的购物、搜索与决策方式正在被快速改写：ChatGPT 周活跃突破 8 亿，每日处理 10 亿+查询；近 50% 的消费者已经习惯用 AI 做购物前调研；40% 的购买决策受到 AI 推荐影响。流量入口的变迁意味着营销逻辑的重构：当 SEO（Search Engine Optimization，搜索引擎优化）逐渐演变为 GEO（Generative Engine Optimization，生成式引擎优化），如何让产品被 AI 看见，被推荐和被信任。当 AI 搜索替代传统搜索引擎，商家的增长逻辑将如何重写？ 本期我们邀请到 Deepblumen 联合创始人 Joy，一起从 AI 营销一线观察中国与海外 AI 商业生态的差异，拆解 GEO 的底层逻辑、聊聊未来电商的商业闭环如何在 AI Agents 中重建。 本期人物 Joy，Deeplumen 联合创始人 Yaxian，「科技早知道」主播 主要话题 [03:08] Deepblumen 做什么：AI 原生营销的第一原则 我们做的不是 AIGC，而是让品牌和用户在 AI 生态里更高效连接 - Deepblumen 的核心是 AI 搜索可见性（AI Visibility）。 - AI 搜索让品牌曝光从靠链接变成靠语义理解。 - 不只 Deepseek，小红书等也加入了 AI 搜索战场。 [08:07] SEO/SEM 的过去：为什么我们需要新的 GEO？ SEM 解决速度，SEO 解决长线资产，但 AI 时代它们都不够用了 - SEM：通过付费快速买量、测试人群；SEO：靠内容质量与网站权重换取免费流量。 - AI 时代用户不再点击十个链接，而是大模型总结答案。 - 品牌必须从「为搜索引擎」写转向 「为大模型写」。 [13:45] GEO 是什么？AI 时代的新 SEO GEO 的核心就是——当用户问问题时，让模型想到你。 - GEO = Generative Engine Optimization，让品牌被纳入模型回答，而不是网页结果列表。 - 大模型重视语义结构、真实数据、专家引用。 - 做好 SEO 依然是做 GEO 的前提 [28:00] OpenAI Shop Card：AI 正在重建电商闭环 用户未来不需要跳 10 个页面，一个答案和一个购买按钮就够了。 - ChatGPT 正把 「搜索 + 比价 + 决策 + 下单」整合到一条链。 - 对品牌意味着：电商入口会从平台迁移到 AI 助手。 - AI 电商比传统平台更「去中间化」。 [33:01] 为什么 Deepblumen 要出海？中美 AI 搜索生态有何不一样？ 海外生态更开放，工具链更完整，资本更看好这一赛道。 - OpenAI 商业化节奏快，可接入生态更丰富。 - 像 Profound 这样的第三方监测工具成熟。 - 海外 Saas 与服务体系更配合品牌自建增长体系。 - 中国生态偏向自闭环（抖音、阿里），路径不同。 [51:53] GEO 会不会误导用户？品牌能操纵 AI 搜索吗？ 我们不做虚假信息，AI 搜索也无法容纳虚假——因为语义理解会暴露它。 - GEO 不能制造虚假内容，否则无法通过模型语义筛选。 - 大模型相比 SEO 时代更能识别「垃圾内容」。 - 品牌要求的第一原则是信息必须准确。 - AI 搜索推荐机制依然基于真实需求与内容质量。 [1:00:29] 最终趋势：AI Agent 才是电商终局 未来不是你下单，而是你的 AI Agent 替你下单。 - AI Agent 将读取需求 → 比价 → 决策 → 直接购买。 - 品牌内容必须结构化，以便 Agent 能抓取、比对、调用。 - GEO 是 Agent 时代的基础建设。 - 现在准备，决定品牌能否在未来被自动选中。

While many businesses rely on Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Google Workspace security features, critical blind spots remain—the recent series of high profile SaaS breaches demonstrate this. So what should you do? Mike Puglia, General Manager of Kaseya Labs, joins Business Security Weekly to discuss the risks in SaaS applications. In this segment, Mike will explore how bad actors are focusing their attacks on SaaS applications, hijacking tokens and how misconfigured integrations are used to bypass traditional defenses. Mike will also discuss how IT leaders can rethink protecting their essential SaaS business applications with tools that go beyond endpoint and MFA strategies to secure the modern user. This segment is sponsored by Kaseya 365 User. Visit https://securityweekly.com/k365 to learn more about them! In the leadership and communications segment, The rise of the chief trust officer: Where does the CISO fit?, When Another Company's Crisis Hurts Your Reputation, Effective Workplace Communication Tips, and more!   Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/bsw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-424

In this episode of The Product Experience, host Randy Silver speaks with Teresa Huang — Head of Product for Enablement at global health‑insurer Bupa — about the often‑overlooked world of platform product management. They explore why building internal platforms is fundamentally different and often more challenging than building user‑facing products, how to measure the value of platform work, and practical strategies for gaining stakeholder alignment, driving platform adoption and demonstrating business impact. Chapters0:00 – Why “efficiency” alone no longer cuts it — measuring platform impact in business terms1:02 – Teresa's background: from business analyst to head of product in health insurance6:20 – What we mean by “platform product management” — internal tools vs marketplace vs public‑API platforms7:44 – Why you need to “hop two steps”: address developer needs and end-customer value10:24 – Types of platforms: internal APIs, marketplace ecosystems, public‑facing platforms (e.g. like Shopify)10:55 – Reframing platform work: building business cases instead of chasing “efficiency” metrics13:16 – Linking platform initiatives to core business goals and joint OKRs15:47 – The importance of visualisation — using prototypes and role‑plays to communicate platform value20:57 – Internal showcases: keeping stakeholders engaged with real‑world scenarios23:28 – Success metrics for platforms: adoption, usage, reliability, ecosystem growth26:00 – Retiring legacy services: deciding when low-use tools should be decommissioned28:55 – From cost centre to enabler: shifting the narrative to show value creationOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

Reggie grew up in Brazil, moved to the U.S. at age seven with no English, watched his father deliver newspapers and clean offices at night, and learned early that no job is beneath you when you're building something. He went from making websites at 12, to rental car counter work, to landing a customer support job and suddenly being asked to lead product strategy without any formal product background.Vitaly and Reggie break down:The immigrant work mindset and why it produces resultsHow curiosity is the most valuable skill in businessWhy you must provide value beyond your job description to growHandling imposter syndrome at every levelReal career advice: "Don't wait until you're ready — you get ready while you're doing it.If you're starting from zero, want a career in SaaS, or feel “unqualified,” this is your episode.Subscribe for more founder-led conversations on growth, work ethic, and building real careers in tech. Try Vista Social for FREE today Book a Demo Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Youtube

While many businesses rely on Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Google Workspace security features, critical blind spots remain—the recent series of high profile SaaS breaches demonstrate this. So what should you do? Mike Puglia, General Manager of Kaseya Labs, joins Business Security Weekly to discuss the risks in SaaS applications. In this segment, Mike will explore how bad actors are focusing their attacks on SaaS applications, hijacking tokens and how misconfigured integrations are used to bypass traditional defenses. Mike will also discuss how IT leaders can rethink protecting their essential SaaS business applications with tools that go beyond endpoint and MFA strategies to secure the modern user. This segment is sponsored by Kaseya 365 User. Visit https://securityweekly.com/k365 to learn more about them! In the leadership and communications segment, The rise of the chief trust officer: Where does the CISO fit?, When Another Company's Crisis Hurts Your Reputation, Effective Workplace Communication Tips, and more!   Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-424

While many businesses rely on Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Google Workspace security features, critical blind spots remain—the recent series of high profile SaaS breaches demonstrate this. So what should you do? Mike Puglia, General Manager of Kaseya Labs, joins Business Security Weekly to discuss the risks in SaaS applications. In this segment, Mike will explore how bad actors are focusing their attacks on SaaS applications, hijacking tokens and how misconfigured integrations are used to bypass traditional defenses. Mike will also discuss how IT leaders can rethink protecting their essential SaaS business applications with tools that go beyond endpoint and MFA strategies to secure the modern user. This segment is sponsored by Kaseya 365 User. Visit https://securityweekly.com/k365 to learn more about them! In the leadership and communications segment, The rise of the chief trust officer: Where does the CISO fit?, When Another Company's Crisis Hurts Your Reputation, Effective Workplace Communication Tips, and more!   Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/bsw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-424

My guest today is David George. David is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads the firm's growth investing business. His team has backed many of the defining companies of this era – including Databricks, Figma, Stripe, SpaceX, Anduril, and OpenAI – and is now investing behind a new generation of AI startups like Cursor, Harvey, and Abridge. This conversation is a detailed look at how David built and runs the a16z growth practice. He shares how he recruits and builds his team a “Yankees-level” culture, how his team makes investment decisions without traditional committees, and how they work with founders years before investing to win the most competitive deals. Much of our conversation centers on AI and how his team is investing across the stack, from foundational models to applications. David draws parallels to past platform shifts – from SaaS to mobile – and explains why he believes this period will produce some of the largest companies ever built. David also outlines the models that guide his approach – why markets often misprice consistent growth, what makes “pull” businesses so powerful, and why most great tech markets end up winner-take-all. David reflects on what he's learned from studying exceptional founders and why he's drawn to a particular type, the “technical terminator.” Please enjoy my conversation with David George. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ramp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ridgeline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ridgelineapps.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the platform. ----- This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlphaSense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alpha-Sense.com/Invest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:00) Meet David George (00:03:04) Understanding the Impact of AI on Consumers and Enterprises (00:05:56) Monetizing AI: What is AI's Business Model (00:11:04) Investing in Robotics and American Dynamism (00:13:31) Lessons from Investing in Waymo (00:15:55) Investment Philosophy and Strategy (00:17:15) Investing in Technical Terminators (00:20:18) Market Leaders Capture All of the Value Creation (00:24:56) The Maturation of VC and Competitive Landscape (00:28:18) What a16z Does to Win Deals (00:33:06) David's Daily Routine: Meetings Structure and Blocking Time to Think (00:36:34) Why David Invests: Curiosity and Competition (00:40:12) The Unique Culture at Andreessen Horowitz (00:42:46) The Perfect Conditions for Growth Investing (00:47:04) Push v. Pull Businesses (00:49:19) The Three Metrics a16z Uses to Evaluate AI Companies (00:52:15) Unique Products and Unique Distribution (00:54:55) Tradeoffs of the a16z Firm Structure (00:59:04) a16z's Semi-Algorithmic Approach to Selling (01:00:54) Three Ways Startups can Beat Incumbents in AI (01:03:44) The Kindest Thing

ShadyPanda plays the long game. India mandates tracking software on mobile devices. Korea weighs punitive damages after a massive breach. Qualcomm patches a critical boot flaw impacting millions. OpenAI patches a Codex CLI vulnerability. Google patches Android zero-days. Cybersecurity issues prompt an FDA permanent recall for an at-home ventilator system. Switzerland questions the security of hyperscale clouds and SaaS services. One of the world's largest cyber insurers pulls back from the market. On our Threat Vector segment, ⁠David Moulton⁠ sits down with ⁠Stav Setty to unpack the Jingle Thief campaign.  In Russia, Porsches take a holiday.  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. Threat Vector segment In today's Threat Vector segment, host ⁠David Moulton⁠, Senior Director of Thought Leadership for Unit 42, sits down with ⁠Stav Setty⁠, Principal Researcher at Palo Alto Networks, to unpack Jingle Thief a cloud-only, identity-driven campaign that turned Microsoft 365 into a gift card printing press. Stav explains how the Morocco-based group known as Atlas Lion lived off the land inside M365 for months at a time, using tailored phishing and smishing pages, URL tricks, and internal phishing to compromise one user and quietly pivot to dozens more. To listen to the full conversation on Threat Vector, listen here. You can catch new episodes of Threat Vector every Thursday on your favorite podcast app.  Selected Reading Browser extensions pushed malware to 4.3M Chrome, Edge users (The Register) India plans to verify and record every smartphone in circulation (TechCrunch) Apple to Resist India's Order to Preload Government App on iPhones (MacRumors) President orders probe into Coupang breach (The Korea Herald) Qualcomm Alerts Users to Critical Flaws That Compromise the Secure Boot Process (GB Hackers) Vulnerability in OpenAI Coding Agent Could Facilitate Attacks on Developers (SecurityWeek) Google Releases Patches for Android Zero-Day Flaws Exploited in the Wild (Infosecurity Magazine) 'Cyber Issue' Leads to FDA Recall of Baxter Respiratory Gear (GovInfoSecurity) Swiss government bans SaaS and cloud for sensitive info (The Register) Publication: Resolution on outsourcing data processing to the cloud (Privatim) Insurer Beazley Steps Back From Cyber Market as Attacks Surge (PYMNTS.com) Hundreds of Porsche Owners in Russia Unable to Start Cars After System Failure (The Moscow Times) 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

Brian Halligan is Co-founder and Board Member at HubSpot, a software company that helps businesses with inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. He played a central role in pioneering inbound marketing, redefining how organizations grow in a digital-first world. As a longtime CEO, he guided HubSpot from a startup to a global platform serving hundreds of thousands of companies. Today, Brian continues to shape the future of modern business through his work as an advisor, educator, and thought leader. In this episode… Modern leaders face an era where customer expectations shift rapidly, technology evolves at breakneck speed, and companies must scale without losing their identity. How can founders refine their leadership approach while staying aligned with their teams and long-term vision? And what insights emerge when reflecting on the principles that drive sustainable growth? Brian Halligan's perspective highlights that strong leadership requires adaptability, clear communication, and a willingness to evolve as an organization grows. With deep experience scaling teams, he explains that leaders must transition from hands-on operators to culture architects who empower others through trust and clarity. He underscores the importance of candid feedback systems, thoughtful hiring, and balancing automation with authenticity in modern marketing. Together, these principles help companies build scalability, strengthen alignment, and maintain the customer-centric focus needed in a changing landscape. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, co-hosted by Tyler Lane, interviews the AI clone of Brian Halligan, Co-founder at HubSpot, to discuss essential leadership lessons. They explore how leaders evolve during scale, why authenticity matters in an AI-driven marketing world, and how strategic thinking shapes high-performing teams. Brian also shares insights on building strong sales organizations and evaluating acquisitions effectively.

Hey CX Nation,In this week's episode of The CXChronicles Podcast #273, we welcomed Varun Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO of Enterpret based in New York, NY. Enterpret provides custom AI to transform how you understand customers – from feedback chaos into clear, confident action. Harness superintelligence that feels like intuition, so your product and CX leaders never miss a signal.The Enterpret platform supercharges teams via advanced LLMs to help brands like Notion, The Farmer's Dog, and Perplexity build better products and experiences.In this episode, Varun and Adrian chat through the Four CX Pillars: Team, Tools, Process & Feedback. Plus share some of the ideas that his team think through on a daily basis to build world class customer experiences.**Episode #273 Highlight Reel:**1. On a mission to connect product leaders with their customers2. Pioneering customer intelligence with AI 3. Understand your customers wants & needs 4. Creating actionable reporting to lift your CX & EX 5. VOC support to help grow your business Click here to learn more about Varun SharmaClick here to learn more about EnterpretHuge thanks to Varun for coming on The CXChronicles Podcast and featuring his work and efforts in pushing the customer experience & contact center space into the future. For all of our Apple & Spotify podcast listener friends, make sure you are following CXC & please leave a 5 star review so we can find new members of the "CX Nation". You know what would be even better?Go tell your friends or teammates about CXC's custom content, strategic partner solutions (Hubspot, Intercom, & Freshworks) & On-Demand services & invite them to join the CX Nation, a community of 15K+ customer focused business leaders!Want to see how your customer experience compares to the world's top-performing customer focused companies? Check out the CXC Healthzone, an intelligence platform that shares benchmarks & insights for how companies across the world are tackling The Four CX Pillars: Team, Tools, Process & Feedback & how they are building an AI-powered foundation for the future. Thanks to all of you for being apart of the "CX Nation" and helping customer focused business leaders across the world make happiness a habit!Reach Out To CXC Today!Support the showContact CXChronicles Today Tweet us @cxchronicles Check out our Instagram @cxchronicles Click here to checkout the CXC website Email us at info@cxchronicles.com Remember To Make Happiness A Habit!!

In this special live episode from SaaS Summit Benelux in Amsterdam, Joran sits down with Roelof Otten, founder of SaaSmeister, to explore How PLG Will Change in 2026: AI Agents, Onboarding & Hybrid GTM. Together, they break down the biggest shifts coming to B2B SaaS go-to-market—from the rise of hybrid motions and the evolution of sales roles to the transformative impact of AI-powered demos, agents, and conversational interfaces.Roelof shares actionable, stage-specific insights for founders at every level. You'll hear why PLG is becoming a company-wide strategy instead of a product feature, how onboarding is expanding beyond the UI, why freemium is harder for AI-native products, and what it really takes to build data tracking that supports growth instead of slowing it down.Whether you're moving from sales-led to product-led, building a hybrid GTM, or preparing your SaaS product for an AI-first future, this episode offers a clear roadmap for navigating the changes ahead and meeting buyers where they want to be in 2026.Tune in to learn how to implement PLG effectively, empower your sales team in a consultative model, integrate AI responsibly, and build growth loops that compound over time.Key Timecodes(0:00) – B2B SaaS, PLG, AI onboarding, AI demos, product-qualified pipeline, GTM 2026, SaaS Summit(0:52) – B2B SaaS podcast(0:58) – Roelof Otten, SaaSmeister, PLG(1:07) – GTM 2026, PLG trends(1:42) – Hybrid GTM, PLG, sales-led(2:36) – AI GTM, AI agents, AI demos(3:12) – Interactive demos, AI sales assistant(3:50) – Buyer enablement, AI demo(4:20) – In-product AI, trial support(4:36) – PLG transformation, sales alignment(5:21) – Consultative sales, upsell, PQLs(5:43) – PLG funnel, activation, expansion(6:00) – Conversational UI, AI UX(6:52) – UX transition(7:25) – AI platform, data layer, models(7:37) – MCP, AI integrations, ChatGPT, Claude(8:10) – AI privacy, security, compliance(8:46) – Build vs buy AI, LLMs(9:22) – PLG first, SaaS trial(9:38) – Reditus, SaaS affiliate(10:22) – AI costs, freemium(10:35) – Freemium strategy, CAC, churn(11:39) – Referrals, partnerships, affiliate growth(12:33) – In-app referrals, incentives(13:06) – Onboarding, nurture, reactivation(13:57) – Signup friction, JTBD, ICP(14:57) – Personalized onboarding(15:14) – Founder-led sales, JTBD, messaging(15:45) – ICP focus, activation metrics(16:39) – Product analytics, event tracking(17:01) – Roelof Otten, SaaSmeister(17:15) – Podcast outro, sponsor, Reditus

In episode #333, Ben answers a foundational SaaS metrics question: Should expansion revenue be included in your Lifetime Value (LTV) calculation? Ben walks through the correct LTV formula and highlights how misalignment between LTV and CAC can distort your LTV:CAC ratio. He also covers when expansion should be included. The episode provides a practical framework for SaaS founders, CFOs, and operators to ensure they calculate LTV accurately, compare it properly to CAC, and model unit economics using consistent, reliable inputs. Key Topics Covered The correct LTV formula using average new-customer MRR × subscription gross margin Why the churn input should align with dollar-based metrics using 1 – Gross Revenue Retention (GRR) Why expansion revenue is deliberately excluded from LTV in most SaaS models How including expansion artificially inflates the LTV:CAC ratio The cost mismatch between acquiring new customers (CAC) and generating expansion revenue When PLG motions justify including limited, time-bound expansion revenue in LTV How organic upgrades differ from sales-assisted expansion How SaaS+ businesses must adjust their LTV formula to account for usage revenue The role of gross margin in determining true unit economics The importance of aligning metric definitions when evaluating customer profitability Why This Matters This episode is essential for: SaaS founders calculating LTV for budgeting, pricing, and forecasting CFOs, controllers, and FP&A leaders managing unit economics and CAC payback Finance teams modelling customer profitability and revenue expansion Operators working in PLG environments assessing organic expansion patterns Investors reviewing LTV:CAC ratios in diligence and portfolio monitoring Anyone building SaaS Plus (subscription + usage) revenue models Resources Mentioned Ben's deep dive on SaaS+ LTV: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-calculate-ltv-with-variable-revenue/ SaaS Metrics course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation

In a keynote address from re:Invent, McKinsey & Company's Lareina Yee shares fascinating data, trends and best practices on AI adoption, the future of skillsets, and leadership insights that are needed for AI transformation at scale.Topics Include:Over 80% of companies have adopted AI in at least one business function currently.Despite heavy investment, 62% of companies remain in experimental or pilot phases with AI.Only 7% of organizations have achieved full-scale AI implementation, up from 2% earlier this year.Agentic AI has proliferated rapidly across functions from knowledge management to manufacturing in one year.Between 45% and 5% of companies have implemented AI agents across different business functions today.AI's productivity potential represents $4.4 trillion in economic value beyond just cost savings opportunities.Innovation ranks as the number one goal for AI investments, ahead of cost reduction priorities.Employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and competitive differentiation drive AI adoption alongside revenue growth and cost.High AI performers view implementation as total enterprise transformation, not just technology deployment projects.Leading companies spend 4.9 times more budget on AI investments compared to average performing organizations.Traditional software stacks evolved to SaaS, now transforming into AI-ready tech stacks within one generation.Job outlook remains mixed: 32% expect losses, 13% expect increases, 43% see no major change.Since 2023, significant skill shifts show increased demand for software development and business intelligence capabilities.AI fluency has increased seven times as the most sought-after skill across all job types.AI fluency means using AI in everyday work, not building models or creating large language models.Skills like driving records, coaching, customer service, and management remain harder to automate with current AI.Transactional, data-driven repetitive tasks like inventory management and invoicing face highest automation exposure currently.Historical technology revolutions like electricity created six to eight jobs for every one job displaced.New roles like prompt engineering emerge, requiring skills like effective questioning rather than technical coding.Participants:Lareina Yee - Director of Technology Research, McKinsey & CompanySee how Amazon Web Services gives you the freedom to migrate, innovate, and scale your software company at https://aws.amazon.com/isv/

Jonathan Siddharth is Founder and CEO of Turing, one of the fastest-growing AI companies advancing frontier models. Jonathan has led the company to an astonishing $350M ARR with just $225M raised and a profitable company. A Stanford-trained AI scientist, Jonathan previously helped pioneer natural language search at Powerset, which was acquired by Microsoft. AGENDA: 03:35 Data, Compute, Algorithms: What is Most Abundant? What is Lacking Most? 09:18 What Does No One Know About AI's Data Requirements That Everyone Should? 17:05 The Biggest Challenges Enterprises Have with AI Adoption 20:38 Why Will 99% of Knowledge Work Will be Gone in 10 Years 27:12 How Will Data-Driven Feedback Loops Replace Technology as the Moat 36:08 Who Wins the Data Labelling Market? Who Loses? 38:23 Is Revenue BS in Data Labelling? Are Players Calling GMV Revenue?  45:20 Why is SaaS Dead in a World of AI? 51:23 Will the Phone be the Primary User Interface to an AI World? 57:07 Quickfire Round