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Episode Description:James reconnects with entrepreneurs Michael and Kass Lazerow, whose journey spans selling Golf.com for $24 million, launching and pivoting Buddy Media into a $700 million Salesforce acquisition, and now investing in breakout brands like Liquid Death. This episode isn't about startup clichés—it's about emotional resilience, firing with kindness, how marriage can (barely) survive co-founding, and how to spot a trend before the world does.They break down their “Go Gauge,” the six-part test they use before investing in a company. They talk about the trauma of being betrayed by family. And they reveal the surprisingly simple cheat codes they've used to keep building—and keep loving each other—across decades of risk. Whether you're building a business, looking for one good idea, or wondering what failure really feels like behind closed doors—this episode will give you a few new answers.What You'll Learn:Why transparency—not optimism—is a founder's best crisis toolThe six traits every idea needs to pass their “Go Gauge”How to fire someone with empathy and still tell them the truthWhat to do when your startup fails and the investors vanishWhy the best startup strategy might be launching a pizza shopTimestamped Chapters:[00:00] Bacon, milkshakes, and a first meeting[03:00] The Golf.com collapse and family betrayal[07:30] The psychology of failure and the will not to quit[12:00] Buddy Media's pivot: from Facebook games to SaaS[15:00] Why failure sucks—but trends are your friend[21:00] Surviving marriage while surviving a startup[26:00] Emotional awareness, therapy, and not “shining the turd”[33:00] The $500M pizza truck startup fail[38:00] The truth about hiring, firing, and reorganizing[44:00] The death of venture capital—and rise of bootstrapping[50:00] Investing in pets, ice cream, and par-3 golf[54:00] Why Liquid Death is a billion-dollar brand[57:00] The Go Gauge: 6 filters for a fundable idea[01:02:00] Friendship, failure, and why they finally wrote the bookAdditional Resources:
What does it really take to build an HR function that's agile, data-driven, and truly influential at the top table? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Janine Vos, Chief Human Resources Officer and Managing Board Member at Rabobank to explore how she has led her team through a significant transformation - shaping an HR function that not only keeps pace with business change, but helps lead it. From embedding agility into the day-to-day to using data as a lever for influence, Janine shares the strategies that have helped her team earn credibility and drive impact. Join them, as they discuss: What being agile actually looks like in practice, and how Rabobank brought it to life How to shift behaviours and mindsets to support new ways of working Why data is only powerful when it's paired with trust and strong relationships How Janine helps her team move beyond the numbers to tell meaningful stories The value of having people analytics report directly to the CHRO - and what others may be missing What HR leaders need to prioritise today to stay relevant tomorrow Whether you're leading transformation or seeking to add more strategic business value, this episode sponsored by HiBob, offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies to help you navigate what's next. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Ania Rodriguez, CEO and Founder of JourneyTrack and Chairwoman of the Board at Key Lime Interactive. Ania shares her founder journey from launching a UX consulting firm to building a venture-backed SaaS company in the emerging category of journey management. With a clear-eyed view of the differences between UX and CX, she explains how aligning with executive-level metrics creates staying power — and why data integration, category creation and capital strategy all matter when shifting from services to product. Key Takeaways: (02:12) Ania's background combines engineering, people and systems for innovation. (08:09) UX focuses on micro journeys while CX strategy operates at higher levels. (09:36) CX covers the full customer relationship, from awareness to advocacy. (11:15) C-suite now cares about CX, tying it to business outcomes and metrics. (12:36) CXPA is more strategic than most UX organizations. (15:30) Journey management tools connect insights to actions using integrations. (17:42) Journey management surfaces insights faster. (19:03) Time to first value is a crucial metric for SaaS adoption and success. (22:03) Knowing your financials and finding a niche are vital for entrepreneurs. Resources Mentioned: JourneyTrack | Website Key Lime Interactive | Website Thanks for listening to the Data Gurus podcast, brought to you by Infinity Squared. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation. #Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech
On today's Legally Speaking Podcast, I am delighted to welcome back to the show Curt Sigfstead. Curt is the Chief Financial Officer at Clio. Curt has a wealth of experience in financial planning, accounting and investment banking. His expertise in financial leadership and understanding of SaaS and fintech is a valuable asset to Clio.So why should you be listening in? You can hear Rob and Curt discussing:- Clio's Customer-Centric and Strategic Growth Approach- Curt's Deep Financial Background and Transition to Operator Role- Evolving Role of a CFO at a High-Growth SaaS Company- Clio's Strategic Vision and Scalable Global Expansion- Significance and Impact of Clio's Series F FundingConnect with Curt here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtsigfsteadOur Sponsor, Clio - https://www.clio.com/uk/
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Simon helps business owners in SaaS and services run their company more effectively, which results in sales that soar. He created the Strategy Sprints Method that doubles revenue in 90 days by getting owners out of the weeds. Simon is a TEDx speaker, Contributor to Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine, and member of the Silicon Valley Blockchain Society. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Less is more. 2. Don't do everything at once. 3. Whatever you think right now, even if it's hard, just keep rolling. It's not about winning the game all the time. It's about staying in the game, learning, and to keep on moving. Check it out on Amazon - Strategy Sprints: 12 Ways to Accelerate Growth for an Agile Business Sponsors ThriveTime Show - Attend the world's highest rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark and now featuring Football Star, Tim Tebow, and President Trump's son, Eric Trump, at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire. Northwest Registered Agent - Don't wait. Protect your privacy, build your brand and set up your business in just 10 clicks in 10 minutes. Visit NorthwestRegisteredAgent.com/fire and start building something amazing.
Sachin Kansal is chief product officer at Uber, where he oversees the Rider, Driver, Delivery, Grocery, and New Verticals product lines used for 33 million daily trips worldwide. He's been in product for over 25 years (at Google, Palm, Flywheel, and now Uber). He is known for his “extreme dogfooding” ethos—personally completing almost a thousand Uber driving and delivery trips to sharpen his product insight and user empathy—and his “ship, ship, ship” mantra, which drives rapid iteration across Uber's global teams.What you will learn:1. Dogfooding at scale2. “Ship, ship, ship” as a cultural mantra3. Obsession with inputs over outputs4. Uber's hybrid marketplace vision for autonomy5. How Uber changed its culture to focus on profitability6. What to do when data says “no” but your gut says “yes”7. Career advice: maximize cycles8. AI as a research assistant, not an oracle9. Uber rider etiquette tips—Brought to you by:• Paragon—Ship every SaaS integration your customers want• Stripe—Financial infrastructure to grow your revenue• Coda—The all-in-one collaborative workspace—Where to find Sachin Kansal:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachinkansal/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Sachin's background(05:00) Dogfooding in practice(11:24) Empathy and understanding drivers(20:18) Balancing metrics and user experience(22:04) Operationalizing dogfooding(24:26) Challenges and solutions in dogfooding(29:49) The motto: “ship, ship, ship”(36:37) Product announcements and live demos(40:49) Career advice for product managers(43:51) The evolution of product management with AI(46:55) Collaboration between engineers and product managers(49:36) Uber's vision for self-driving cars(55:59) Uber's path to profitability(01:01:58) Balancing data and gut decisions(01:07:21) AI tools in product management(01:10:14) Failure corner(01:13:48) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Uber: https://www.uber.com/• Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/en/• Fivetran: https://go.fivetran.com/• Uber for Business: https://www.uber.com/us/en/business• McDonald's: https://www.mcdonalds.com/• Domino's: https://www.dominos.com• PalmPilot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PalmPilot• Praveen Neppalli Naga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pneppalli/• May Mobility: https://maymobility.com/• Uber strikes deal with May Mobility to deploy ‘thousands' of robotaxis: https://www.theverge.com/news/659563/uber-may-mobility-autonomous-ridehail-partnership• Waymo: https://waymo.com/• WeRide: https://www.weride.ai/• Uber and Avride Announce Autonomous Delivery and Mobility Partnership: https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2024/Uber-and-Avride-Announce-Autonomous-Delivery-and-Mobility-Partnership/default.aspx• Dara Khosrowshahi on X: https://x.com/dkhos• Uber Elevate: https://www.uber.com/us/en/elevate/vision/• Uber AV: https://www.uber.com/us/en/autonomous/• Uber Reserve: https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/how-it-works/reserve/• Uber for teens: https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/teens/• Flywheel: https://www.flywheel.com/• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google/• Behind the product: NotebookLM | Raiza Martin (Senior Product Manager, AI @ Google Labs): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/googles-notebooklm-raiza-martin• BlackBerry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry• Peaky Blinders on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80002479• Deep research: https://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/—Recommended books:• Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies: https://www.amazon.com/Blitzscaling-Lightning-Fast-Building-Massively-Companies/dp/1524761419• Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t: Why That Is And What You Can Do About It: https://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Wants-Read-Your-Sh-ebook/dp/B01GZ1TJBI• Steve Jobs: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537• Elon Musk: https://www.amazon.com/Elon-Musk-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1982181281• The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers―Straight Talk on the Challenges of Entrepreneurship: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
In this special 8th birthday episode of Do You Even Blog, I'm pulling back the curtain on the full journey—from the early “rise and grind” days of 2017, to burnout and pivots, to where things stand now in my unpredictable, messy, full-time creator life. I'll share the behind-the-scenes story of how DYEB started, why I walked away (twice), what I've learned through niche sites, YouTube channels, SaaS experiments, and how chasing my version of success changed everything. If you're a creator or entrepreneur searching for clarity, direction, or just a dose of real talk—you'll want to hear this one.AI wrote that ☝️;)Want 1 roundup email of fun & useful resources for creators? JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!https://petemcpherson.com/OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP YOU:- Do You Even Blog: A+ blog posts, podcast episodes, and YT videos to help you grow your audience.- Topical Map AI 1,000 keywords in 1 click.- Promptimizer: Organize & deploy your AI prompts faster than you can say "Hey ChatGPT!".- Aff Tracker: All your affiliate links in one place.- List Gadget: Skyrocket your email list engagement
222 | Samuel und Alex reden über die Tech-Szene und pitchen sich Geschäftsideen. Samuel überrascht mit einer Geschichte über Gen Z - die lässt ihren Flat White stehen und protestiert gegen AI. Alex hat ein Berliner Startup analysiert für die Rubrik "Roast my Geschäftsidee" und die beiden pitchen ihre besten Geschäftsideen der Woche.Mach das 1-minütige Quiz und finde die perfekte Geschäftsidee für dich: digitaleoptimisten.de/quiz.Kapitel:(00:00) Intro(02:30) Deutschland braucht eine neue Infrastruktur(09:18) GenZ rebelliert gegen AI? (ca. 9:00)(21:15) Zerbricht unsere Wirtschaft an AI (ca. 20:00)(27:40) Roast my Geschäftsidee: Endel (ca. 27:00)(43:20) Trend: Startupper übernehmen Mittelständler(54:24) Alex' Geschäftsidee: SaaS Mining(1:00:37) Samuels Geschäftsidee: DT MatchMehr Infos:In dieser Episode von Digitale Optimisten diskutieren Alex Mrozek und Samuel Schneider über die Herausforderungen und Chancen, die Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) und Digitalisierung mit sich bringen. Sie beleuchten die Infrastrukturprobleme in Deutschland, die gesellschaftliche Verantwortung und den Einfluss von KI auf den Arbeitsmarkt und zukünftige Karrieren. Zudem wird die Rolle von Energie und Ressourcen in der Zukunft sowie die wirtschaftlichen Implikationen von KI und Robotik thematisiert. In dieser Episode diskutieren die Gastgeber die potenziellen Auswirkungen von Deflation auf die Gesellschaft und die Rolle von KI in der Zukunft der Arbeit. Sie erkunden, wie KI die Kosten für Dienstleistungen senken könnte und welche Herausforderungen dies für den Arbeitsmarkt mit sich bringt. Anschließend wird eine innovative Geschäftsidee vorgestellt, die KI-generierte Klangwelten bietet, und die Gastgeber analysieren die Vor- und Nachteile dieses Modells sowie die Wettbewerbslandschaft. Schließlich wird die Möglichkeit erörtert, wie solche Technologien im B2B-Bereich eingesetzt werden könnten, um den Mitarbeitern zu helfen, fokussierter zu arbeiten. In dieser Episode diskutieren Samuel und Alex den aktuellen Trend, dass Gründer zunehmend nach Übernahmeobjekten im Mittelstand suchen. Sie beleuchten die Herausforderungen, die mit Unternehmensübernahmen verbunden sind, insbesondere die Bedeutung regionaler Verbindungen und das Verständnis für lokale Märkte. Zudem wird die Problematik der Nachfolge in traditionellen Unternehmen angesprochen. Abschließend präsentieren sie ihre eigenen Geschäftsideen, die sich mit der Optimierung von SaaS-Tools und der Verbindung von technischen Gründern mit BWLern befassen.Keywords:Künstliche Intelligenz, Infrastruktur, Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung, Arbeitsmarkt, Karrieren, Energie, Ressourcen, Wirtschaft, Digitalisierung, Technologie, Deflation, KI, Zukunft der Arbeit, Klangwelten, Geschäftsideen, Produktivität, B2B, Innovation, Technologie, Wirtschaft, Startups, Unternehmensübernahme, Mittelstand, Nachfolgeproblematik, regionale Verbindungen, Geschäftsideen, SaaS, Deep Tech
Welcome to this classic episode. Classics are my favorite episodes from the past 10 years, published once a month. These are N of 1 conversations with N of 1 people. In the midst of her transition to OpenAI, we are spotlighting the force that is Fidji Simo. She is the former CEO of Instacart and grew up in a small town in the South of France and was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. Since then, she has had a dazzling career with stops at France's leading university, eBay, and Facebook. Fidji spent the better part of a decade at Facebook where she led the Facebook App before joining the online grocery platform, Instacart, in mid 2021. We talk about Fidji's consumer product experiences, Instacart's role within the grocery ecosystem, and delve into her personal philosophy on leadership. Please enjoy this wide-ranging discussion with Fidji Simo. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. With a single API, developers can implement essential enterprise capabilities that typically require months of engineering work. By handling the complex infrastructure of enterprise features, WorkOS allows developers to focus on their core product while meeting the security and compliance requirements of Fortune 500 companies. Visit WorkOS.com to Transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:03:51) Comparing her experiences with Facebook and Instacart (00:06:22) The dimensionality of creating great consumer products online (00:07:50) How Instacart uses AI now and her advice to other companies who are ready to incorporate AI into their business (00:15:41) What being a pragmatic technologist means to her (00:18:02) Influences in younger years that led to her career path in technology (00:21:00) The landscape Instacart seeks to build and how major key players within the industry are involved (00:27:09) Data algorithms and their role in helping consumers (00:29:24) Scale around the original core business (00:32:12) The functional difference between Instacart shoppers and delivery drivers (00:34:59) Issues with fully automated grocery store facilities (00:37:32) Insight into working with brands and consumer brand loyalty (00:43:16) Her vision for the future of Instacart (00:46:58) The possibility of becoming the major software platform for most retailers (00:49:34) Her principles for capital allocation (00:52:34) Common misperceptions about Instacart from prospective investors (00:54:21) Her philosophy of seeing the magic in team members (00:56:46) Expanding knowledge while managing a complex business environment (01:01:01) When she felt the most helpless in her career (01:03:46) Insight into generative AI and how it could shape the online grocery experience (01:08:00) The role of content and its importance for businesses like Instacart (01:11:10) The future of AI personalities and customizing your shopping experience (01:12:35) The kindest thing anyone has ever done for her
The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
Kyle Norton is the Chief Revenue Officer at Owner.com, where he scaled revenue from $2M to $40M ARR in under 3 years while selling to one of the toughest markets: SMB restaurants. Before Owner, Kyle led sales at Shopify, where he helped architect one of the most operationally elite GTM orgs in SaaS. Agenda: 00:00 – From Shopify to $40M ARR at Owner.com 06:40 – Why Founders Who Skip Sales Get Burned 11:50 – 90% Inbound, Then 70% Outbound — And Why Neither Is Enough 17:40 – How to Use AI in Sales to Massively Increase Outbound 24:30 – BDRs Don't Get Paid for Demos. Only Closed Revenue. 30:50 – The 3-Part Sales Scorecard That Replaced My Gut 36:20 – I Posted a Job on LinkedIn and Got 1,200 Applicants 42:15 – I Fired a Rep on Day 11. Here's Why. 49:40 – We Don't Do Pipeline Reviews. The Secret... 55:00 – The One Call Close Script That Wins in 99% of Cases 1:03:10 – Why YouTube Is Our Underrated Growth Weapon 1:14:30 – Sales Is a Personal Development Exercise Disguised as a Career 1:20:45 – The Night We Closed Until 1AM and Hit the Number
How close are we to expense reports that create themselves? In this crossover episode recorded live at Emburse in Motion, Blake Oliver explores real-world AI implementation with Adriana Carpenter, CFO of Emburse, and Olga Pavlova from PizzaExpress. Discover how PizzaExpress manages 350+ restaurant locations using AI to automatically flag policy violations and detect hidden SaaS subscriptions buried in expense reports. You'll learn specific strategies for vendor consolidation that deliver immediate cost savings, plus hear Adriana's vision for AI agents that guide employees through policy compliance in real time. From keyword detection that prevents VAT errors to mobile-first expense reporting that's "quarters away, not years away," this episode reveals practical automation wins you can implement today.Meet Our Guests:Adriana CarpenterCFO, EmburseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-carpenter-487507a/Learn more about Embursehttps://www.emburse.com/company/about-emburseOlga Pavlova-Grebliauske FCCALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-pavlova-grebliauske-fcca-8a625470/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page
In questa puntata:✅ 100km del Passatore✅ Smetti di scambiare le cose che contano per quelle che non contano✅ Checklist su Coda✅ Pocket ci abbandona✅ Backup dei Saas?
Watch on YouTube.On this episode of the UC Big News Show, host Kieran Devlin is joined by an expert-packed panel including Jon Arnold, Blair Pleasant, Craig Durr, Evan Kirstel, Mel Brue, and newcomer Derrick Kelly, Vice President of Solutions Enablement at AVI-SPL. The panel tackles the shifting tides of the SaaS and UCaaS landscape in 2025, questioning whether we've hit a saturation point, and whether AI is living up to the immense hype, and what Microsoft's layoffs might mean for both the business's strategy and the future of the jobs market.Is the SaaS market in decline, or just evolving? And is AI revolutionising the workplace - or just overpromising? In this wide-ranging and insightful discussion, industry leaders explore:Why UCaaS growth is flattening, while CCaaS continues to outperform—and what that means for vendors like Zoom, Cisco, RingCentral, and NICE.The growing backlash against SaaS sprawl and why CIOs are prioritising vendor consolidation and tighter spend controls.A reality check on AI adoption: hype vs. genuine enterprise deployments, especially in smaller businesses and government.Why successful AI integration demands strategy, guardrails, and realistic expectations—plus cautionary tales of botched implementations.This candid debate shines a light on the challenges and opportunities facing unified communications and enterprise tech in 2025.Watch the full video to hear how leaders like Blair Pleasant and Jon Arnold are advising clients on navigating the AI hype cycle.Thanks for watching, if you'd like more content like this, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel.You can also join in the conversation on our X and LinkedIn pages.
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Colin Hirdman, the antidote to automated mediocrity. As a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, he has spent two decades scaling SaaS tools, digital agencies, and now Rainmaker – a ‘white-glove’ service that ethically automates LinkedIn outreach to turn connections into revenue. Colin discusses Rainmaker’s ‘Authentic Engine’ framework: 10-30% connection rates, campaigns tailored to micro-audiences, and why human-driven strategies still dominate AI in B2B growth. As well as why he targets 25 people/day — and how even solo founders can replicate this, the ‘criminal justice grad’ who turned entrepreneur, accidently and sold his first startup days after college, and LinkedIn’s automation guardrails: What’s ‘ethical’ vs. what gets you banned. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve done a lot of growth hacking through email and LinkedIn, but I got better results through LinkedIn and ended up building out a software and process for myself. Rainmaker was born through me making it available to other businesses. But, you don’t need me or rainmaker to do any of the things we discuss on this podcast, you can do it manually. You have to be authentic on LinkedIn, both as yourself as well as the brands you represent. You should also have an educational mindset – no one wants to be sold to on LinkedIn, but almost everyone is willing to be educated – and an experimentation mindset, trying different features and functions of LinkedIn, stack the things that work and set aside the things that don’t. Understand the pains an barriers that you prospects are trying to overcome and know what it is that you can teach them. Growth hacks: LinkedIn Events – if you have a direct competitor, industry or organisation putting on a LinkedIn Event that your business solves for, if you attend that event you can see everyone else who attended that event and create a prospects list. Use people who are big in your area as proxies – use people’s open connections to see all first connections to her, second connections to you and is in your area, and begin connecting to them Building out your first connections is critical. I reach out to 15 people per day Monday-Friday during normal working hours. That gives you 500 people per month, which is below LinkedIn’s limits. Typically, you’ll get a 20% connection rate. Within 30 days of sending an invite, and they haven’t connected, withdraw the invite. It’s good hygiene, but after 3 weeks you can reach out to them again. Everything you do after that only gets better and has bigger possibilities as your audience grows. BEST MOMENTS ‘There’s lots of opportunity to engage with you prospects on LinkedIn in ways that are valuable for relationship building and set you up as a thought leader.’‘People undervalue the value of being a first connection, when you’re a first connection you can see all kids of information about them, direct message them, and use other features and functions to engage with them.’‘I typically build my audience through Sales Navigator – a tool within LinkedIn that allows you to hone in on audiences..’‘If you’re using automation that is in any way inauthentic it won’t work, you wouldn’t immediately set up a meeting with someone you just met, I wish people would stop, it’s lazy.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Colin Hirdman is a lifelong entrepreneur, startup advocate, and visionary behind Rainmaker, a platform revolutionizing LinkedIn’s growth strategies through its "Authentic Engine." As co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, a venture studio launched in 2007 with childhood friends, Colin has spent nearly two decades fostering tech innovation and scaling ventures like SaaS tools, digital marketing agencies, and software development firms. His passion lies in unlocking the power of authentic relationship-building—evidenced by Rainmaker’s mission to help founders, coaches, and sales teams expand their networks, generate leads, and close deals ethically on LinkedIn. A Minnesota native, Colin’s journey began with selling his first startup (launched just days after college) and evolved into mentoring entrepreneurs through actionable strategies like LinkedIn automation, audience targeting via Sales Navigator, and educational outreach. His philosophy blends authenticity, experimentation, and a focus on solving audience pain points—principles he shares as a board member of MNblockchain and a sought-after voice in B2B growth. When not advising startups or hosting LinkedIn livestreams, Colin champions the entrepreneurial spirit, proving that even a criminal justice graduate-turned-accidental-founder can redefine 21st-century scaling. Catch his insights on turning connections into revenue—no bots or spam required. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. 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Ola Sars, Founder, CEO & Chairman of Soundtrack Your Brand In this episode of M&A Science, Ola Sars shares the story of his 20-year journey disrupting the music industry—first by co-founding Beats Music (later acquired by Apple), and now as the visionary behind Soundtrack Your Brand. Ola dives into the bold thesis that's guided his career, why he's pursuing a buyer-led M&A approach to consolidate a fragmented background music market, and how he's turning legacy customer bases into scalable SaaS revenue. Things you will learn: How to turn a product thesis into a long-term growth engine How Ola evaluates roll-up targets based on CAC and subscription quality What it takes to digitize a legacy industry with B2B SaaS Lessons from Beats Music, Apple, and Spotify on scaling and selling ______________________ This episode is sponsored by DealRoom! Turn your chaos into control. Tired of chasing updates across spreadsheets and email threads? Discover how DealRoom helps corporate development teams bring order to M&A.
Hey Friend, Are you still hesitating to launch that God-given business idea? I get it! You're definitely not alone in this struggle! In this episode, I'm breaking down the 3 main reasons why so many Jesus-led career moms stay stuck instead of stepping into their calling as coaches and consultants. We're talking about why you're undervaluing what you already bring to the table, how you're missing the goldmine in your professional experience, and why you're dismissing the very journey God used to prepare you for this moment. Here's what we're diving into: Your everyday work skills aren't ordinary - they're your coaching superpowers. Those years of professional experience? That's not just a resume builder, that's your credibility foundation. That personal transformation story you think is "too messy"? That's exactly what someone else needs to hear. I'm also sharing my favorite confidence-building exercise - creating an "Evidence Bank" that will help you see yourself the way God sees you. Plus, we're looking at Gideon's story because if God can use a guy hiding in a winepress, He can definitely use you! Listen now, if you're ready to: Stop underestimating what you already know Turn your experience into your greatest asset Finally, move from second-guessing to serving Your calling isn't waiting for you to feel ready - it's waiting for you to say yes. Let's do this!
In Episode #114 of Geeks of the Valley, we sat down with Jay Zhao , Founding Partner at Leonis Capital, a San Francisco–based fund focused on backing technical founders building transformative AI, SaaS, data-infrastructure and decentralized-tech companies.As a returning guest, we reflect on the growth journey of Jay and the market. Since 2021, he's led or co-led investments in breakthrough businesses including Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ), HireVue (NASDAQ: CG), Mixamo (Acquired by ADBE), Innoviz (NASDAQ: INVZ), and Delhivery (IPO), and serves on multiple boards advising high-growth startups across fintech, enterprise SaaS, robotics and analytics.Prior to Leonis, Jay co-founded T Fund—an early-stage vehicle investing in global SaaS and data-infrastructure ventures—and was a Senior Director/Partner at Walden Venture Capital, one of Silicon Valley's pioneering firms with a global presence in Asia and Israel. He began his career as a Principal at Granite Ventures (ex-H&Q Venture Group), where he helped manage over $1 billion AUM and advised companies like Lime, MaintainX, and Sleeper.An active contributor to the industry dialogue, Jay's long-form research essays have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Venture Capital Journal. He shares his expertise as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Tulane and Wharton, and mentors at Girls Who Code and Habitat for Humanity. He writes the Next Trillion newsletter and hosts a technical-deep-dive Substack on AI's future.Jay holds dual fluency in English and Mandarin Chinese. Outside of investing, he enjoys advising early-stage founders, exploring emerging Web3 protocols, and building community around research-driven entrepreneurship.Website: https://www.leoniscap.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayzhaolinkedin
Send us a textIn this episode we interview Lisa Heiss, UX and behavioral design specialist and founder of Uxcelerate. Lisa helps SaaS startups build better products by using behavioral design principles grounded in data and strategy.What you'll learn in this episode:The real meaning of behavioral design and how it applies to content marketingWhy most content fails—not because of what's said, but how it's perceivedTactical frameworks like the BJ Fogg model that you can apply instantlyHow to reduce friction and increase motivation in your contentThe key difference between describing what you do and showing what it gets peopleSimple strategies to turn complex ideas into compelling, actionable contentHow to design content that leads people naturally to the next step
This episode is a re-run of one of our top episodes from 2023. Host Alex Theuma is joined by Marie Martens, Co-Founder of Tally, who shares how the company bootstrapped to 60K MRR with a team of five. Marie shares: - The choice to bootstrap Tally. - Generational expectations for how to 'set yourself up for success' vs reality. - How Tally is positioned against its competition in the form building space. - The journey from idea to securing Tally's first users (including the little trick she used on ProductHunt). - Why Tally chose a freemium model. Guest links: Since this recording, Tally has scaled to $2M ARR - still with a team of five. You can follow the story on the Tally blog: https://blog.tally.so/we-crossed-2m-arr-with-a-bootstrapped-team-of-5/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemartens/ Website: https://tally.so/ Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward:
Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, joins Azeem to explore how AI is fundamentally transforming software development. In this episode you'll hear: (01:50) What's left for developers in the age of AI? (04:54) How GitHub Copilot unlocks flow state (07:09) Three big shifts in how engineers work today (10:47) Is software development art or assembly line? (15:26) Why developers are climbing the abstraction ladder (19:35) Have we already lost control of the code? (23:15) What it's actually like to work with AI coding agents (39:35) Welcome to the age of ultra-personalized software(45:37) Building the next-generation web Thomas's links:GitHub: https://github.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtom/Twitter/X: https://x.com/ashtomAzeem's links:Substack: https://www.exponentialview.co/Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azharTwitter/X: https://x.com/azeemOur new show This was originally recorded for "Friday with Azeem Azhar", a new show that takes place every Friday at 9am PT and 12pm ET. You can tune in through Exponential View on Substack. Produced by supermix.io and EPIIPLUS1 Ltd
What does it take to go from buying a $43,000 condo to becoming the founder of a property management software used nationwide? In this episode of the Invest2FI, Craig Curelop sits down with Nathan Miller—longtime real estate investor and founder of Rentec Direct—to uncover his journey from humble beginnings to building a rental portfolio and a successful SaaS business. Nathan shares how house hacking before it was cool helped launch his real estate journey, how he scaled during the 2008 crash, and why he built Rentec Direct to solve his own landlord headaches. You'll gain actionable insights on long-term investing, spotting value in foreclosures, and building tech solutions from scratch. Whether you're a buy-and-hold landlord, tech-savvy investor, or someone curious about building wealth slowly but surely, this episode is packed with golden nuggets. PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS: [03:50] Inspiration to start investing and first real estate deal [06:59] House hacked before strategy became mainstream for investors [09:50] Used condo equity to purchase better property and rent [11:35] Bought during 2008 crash using smart financing strategy [20:26] Foreclosure deal became long-term rental at massive appreciation [21:50] Moved into duplexes after realizing scalability of multi-units [24:06] Self-managing rentals led to building Rentec Direct platform [28:34] Warns against assuming all markets behave the same [31:45] Shares how Rentec's features save thousands of hours [39:18] Funded deals using savings, no liquidity events needed [44:50] Answers why he still won't accept venture capital [46:29] Shares biggest lesson from hard-to-rent new builds [48:00] Final Four segment: best advice was stop renting [49:05] Created Rentec solely to save people time [53:28] Advice for young investors to take action now HOST Craig Curelop
SaaStr 803: AI, Sales + GTM in 2025/2026: This Really Changes Everything with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Owner CRO Kyle Norton In this engaging session, we dive deep into how AI is transforming the sales landscape, featuring a conversation between SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Kyle Norton, the Chief Revenue Officer of Owner, a company recently valued at over a billion dollars. The discussion covers Kyle's background and his insights into implementing AI in sales operations, the challenges and benefits of using AI tools, and the critical importance of a curiosity-driven approach to technology among sales leaders. Key topics include the integration of AI in SMB sales, the future of sales professional roles, and the necessity of continuous improvement and adoption of AI tools. The conversation also touches on the need for creating a seamless customer journey through AI and human interface, managing hybrid teams of AI and sales reps, and the potential for AI to close deals. Essential for anyone interested in the intersection of AI and sales, this session offers practical strategies and forward-looking perspectives. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tired of listening to hours of sales calls? Recording is yesterday's game. Attention.com unleashes an army of AI sales agents that auto-update your CRM, build custom sales decks, spot cross-sell signals, and score calls before your coffee's cold. Teams like BambooHR and Scale AI already automate their Sales and RevOps using customer conversations. Step into the future at attention.com/saastr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better? Dumping it and switching to Intercom. But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change. We get it! Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk. Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets, Which makes your customers happier. And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill. Fin by Intercom. Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report. Learn more at : inter.com/saastr --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the tech world, women are still fighting for access—to funding, to resources, and to the table. Nomiki Petrolla is changing that. She's the founder of Theanna, a SaaS platform built specifically to support women tech founders from idea to scale. After years as head of product at an AI company, Nomiki saw the gap firsthand—and knew something had to change. On this episode of The Powerful Ladies Podcast, we talk about the difference between idea people and doer people, why access matters, and how a personal family crisis helped her find her purpose. I love how she leads with heart and honesty, building not just software but a true community of women who are getting things done.
On the podcast I talk with Tim about the importance of trust in web2app funnels, replacing free trials with money-back guarantees, and how they've found success with contractors after struggling with in-house marketing hires.Top Takeaways:
Today on the show we have Andrew Davies, the CMO of Paddle.In this episode, Andrew shares his experience tackling the "champagne problems" that SaaS companies face as they scale globally.We then discussed how Paddle repositioned itself through the merchant of record model and brought a legacy concept back into the spotlight.We wrapped up by discussing the company's strategic phases, the ProfitWell acquisition, and the challenges of narrowing ICP without losing growth momentum.Mentioned ResourcesPaddleProfitWellPrice IntelligentlyIdioOptimizelyChurn FM is sponsored by Vitally, the all-in-one Customer Success Platform.
This podcast interview reveals why the best software breaks all the rules. My guest is Sunil Patel, CEO of Tekmetric. Before building software, Sunil owned and operated multiple auto repair shops, giving him a rare insider's perspective on the industry's real problems. He's a practical entrepreneur who's obsessed with simplicity and hates wasted effort. When in 2016, eight years after iPhones hit the market, shop owners still couldn't leverage that technology to run their business, Sunil decided to be the one to change that. And this inspired me to invite Sunil to my podcast. We explore how breaking industry norms and staying true to first principles creates remarkable companies. Sunil shares hard truths about why they turned down big clients, cut all marketing spending to zero, and raised the least funding in the industry - yet still became the market leader and only profitable one. You'll discover the counterintuitive decision that shocked his competitors but doubled customer loyalty overnight. Here's one of Sunil's quotes that captures his business philosophy: "We used first principles thinking. Everybody in our space wants to copy features from one another. Their sales team says 'we can't win against Tekmetric because they have these features' and they try to emulate what we've built. I don't approach development that way. I want to figure out what we're trying to solve." By listening to this podcast you'll learn: Why maintaining the right departmental hierarchy prevents overselling and product gaps What approach led Sunil to solve in one click what competitors needed 60-80 clicks for When saying "no" to customers with big wallets and long wishlists makes you more money Why hiring the right people trumps everything else in scaling a business For more information about the guest from this week: Guest: Sunil Patel Website: https://www.tekmetric.com/ Want to dig deeper into the 10 traits of remarkable SaaS companies? Get my book The Remarkable Effect at https://valueinspiration.com/book Or sign up for Espresso with Ton at https://valueinspiration.com/daily - a 2-minute daily email to sharpen your thinking and strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ali "AJ" Jetha, CEO of Marketcircle and creator of the Mac-native Daylite CRM, joins Nicholas Kuhne to unpack what it takes to build a SaaS brand in a competitive and ever-evolving space. AJ opens up about bootstrapping, battling giants like HubSpot and Monday.com, and how Daylite is redefining value for small businesses by focusing on usability, offline access, and integrated features that don't break the bank.
In this episode of the Customer Success Pro Podcast, Anika Zubair emphasizes the importance of building genuine human relationships with customers. She discusses the challenges faced by Customer Success Managers in managing multiple accounts and the need to shift from transactional interactions to strategic partnerships. Anika outlines common mistakes CSMs make, such as only reaching out when they need something and failing to personalize communication. She introduces principles for building strong relationships, including being relevant, consistent, and human. The episode concludes with actionable challenges for listeners to enhance their customer relationships.Get your FREE QBR Revenue Guide: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/resourcesGet on the VIP Waitlist for RevUP Academy: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupChapters:00:00 Building Lasting Customer Relationships02:15 Customer Management in CS05:34 Myths in Customer Success10:10 Principles of Strategic Relationships15:44 Consistency Over Intensity19:34 The Human Element in Customer Success22:18 Actionable TakeawaysConnect with Anika Zubair: Website: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikazubair/CSM RevUP Academy: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupSend Anika a text :) Want to be our next guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Podcast Editor: https://podcastmagician.com/
AI's breakout moment is here - but where is the real value accruing, and what's just hype?Recorded live at a16z's annual LP Summit, General Partners Erik Torenberg, Martin Casado, and Sarah Wang unpack the current state of play in AI. From the myth of the GPT wrapper to the rapid rise of apps like Cursor, the conversation explores where defensibility is emerging, how platform shifts mirror (and diverge from) past tech cycles, and why the zero-sum mindset falls short in today's AI landscape.They also dig into the innovator's dilemma facing SaaS incumbents, the rise of brand moats, the surprising role of prosumer adoption, and what it takes to pick true category leaders in a market defined by both exponential growth - and accelerated wipeouts.Resources: Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casadoFind Sarah on X: https://x.com/sarahdingwangStay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Ben Dixon is the CEO of Naxum, a referral marketing technology company that provides innovative solutions to businesses worldwide. Under his leadership, Naxum has introduced tools like the UNIFY platform and predictive action engines, revolutionizing how companies approach referral marketing. With a background in sales and a passion for empowering entrepreneurs, Ben has been instrumental in developing platforms that enhance user engagement and drive growth. He is passionate about helping companies use referral marketing to build strong, trust-based relationships, ultimately driving success in their respective industries. In this episode… Growing a business through traditional advertising is more challenging than ever — trust is low, attention spans are shorter, and competition is fierce. The answer may lie not in shouting louder, but in empowering your best customers to become your strongest advocates. So, how can companies create authentic connections, build trust, and turn relationships into revenue without burning out their teams or budgets? Ben Dixon, an expert in referral marketing and sales systems, shares proven strategies to solve these challenges. He explains the evolution of marketing technology from first-generation tracking to cutting-edge predictive platforms that guide sales reps like a top-performing mentor. He emphasizes identifying the right target audience by focusing on individuals motivated by pain who are already taking action to solve their problems. Ben also discusses how layering multiple referral channels, gamifying engagement, and offering seamless mobile experiences can unlock massive business growth. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Ben Dixon, CEO at Naxum, about building and scaling referral marketing systems. Ben shares insights on predictive sales technology, identifying the right audience, and the power of gamification. He also dives into strategies for supporting a global workforce, lessons from client case studies, and how to create lasting trust through referral programs.
Episode 461 features Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper.Find Alina Online:Website: https://www.chilipiper.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/About AlinaAlina Vandenberghe is Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Chili Piper. She's passionate about building fun SaaS products to solve hard problems and a company where employees thrive.Today, the Romania native and her husband are on their way to IPO — all while giving back to the community through our Citizens Of Our Planet foundation.Alina earned a Master's Degree in Computer Science from the Polytechnic University in Bucharest, Romania. She currently resides in New York City. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn.
How is AI redefining the HR operating model we've known for decades? With AI redefining how work gets done, the pressure is mounting to move beyond legacy structures and rethink HR from the ground up. The traditional three-pillar model is being pushed to its limits, and a new, work-centric, product-driven approach is emerging. To discuss this in more detail, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Volker Jacobs, CEO and Founder of TI People, an organisation at the forefront of helping enterprises transform to innovate people's work. Drawing from TI People's latest groundbreaking research, Volker unpacks how AI is reshaping HR roles, structures, and mindsets - and why it's time to move beyond services toward building HR "products" that solve real work problems. Join them, as they uncover: Why the classic three-pillar HR model is under pressure - and what might replace it The three ways AI is transforming HR: efficiency, innovation, and personalisation Which HR roles are being disrupted most, and what that means for team design What a product-oriented approach to HR looks like in practice The mindset and cultural shifts needed to make this transition stick Where HR leaders can start today, without overhauling everything at once Whether you're leading transformation or just beginning to explore what AI means for your HR model, this episode sponsored by HiBob offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies to help you navigate what's next. Click here to access the full report. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a competitive fundraising environment, traction is everything. Investors want to see proof that people care about what you're building, and few signals are stronger than an active, engaged community. When customers gather around your product, share ideas, support each other, and drive word-of-mouth growth, you're not just building a loyal user base. You're creating an ecosystem. And that makes your startup far more attractive to investors. A well-built community is proof of demand, trust, and staying power, three things investors look for before they write a check. It shows that people aren't just buying your product. They believe in your mission, engage with your brand, and want to be part of what you're building. In this episode of Seed Money, we're joined by Ash Lennar, founder of Odd Circles, a cutting-edge platform that helps startups and brands build high-impact communities at scale. Odd Circles has powered more than 300 communities worldwide, including one used by none other than Seth Godin. Ash shares how founders can use community as both a growth engine and a credibility signal, especially when fundraising isn't going to plan. Topics Covered: How Odd Circles grew to power over 300 real-world meetups The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching to investors Why bootstrapping might beat fundraising in a competitive market How to build a community even if your product isn't “community-based” What consumer brands, SaaS startups, and even food companies can learn from Ash's approach Leveraging community to generate revenue and investor traction How to grow community engagement beyond social media noise Guest Bio Ash Lonare is a speaker, the Founder and CEO of Odd Circles, and host of The Founders Podcast. Odd Circles streamlines community and event management with world-class support, making it easier for you to monetize your events with direct payouts at a fraction of the cost. Connect with Ash on LinkedIn. About Your Host Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she's on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality! Connect: Website: https://seedmoneypodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylasiciliano/ Subscribe and watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@seedmoneypodcast/ Please rate, follow and review the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seed-money/id1740815877 and https://open.spotify.com/show/0VkQECosb1spTFsUhu6uFY?si=5417351fb73a4ea1/! Hearing your comments and questions helps me come up with the best topics for the show!
Since 2014, Ryan Holiday's The Daily Stoic newsletter has landed in inboxes every single morning, offering ancient wisdom in bite-size, highly clickable form.It's also a masterclass in content marketing. In this episode, we're unpacking what B2B marketers can learn from The Daily Stoic with the help of Amanda Dyson, VP, Head of Marketing at FourKites.Together, we explore how to break the marketing mold, why the most impactful content is also the most practical, and how anchoring your message in core values makes it stick. Stoicism isn't just a philosophy; if done right, it's a blueprint for modern marketing.About our guest, Amanda DysonWith 20 years B2B software and SaaS marketing expertise, Amanda specializes in go-to-market strategy; consultative marketing; change and people management; lead generation; account based marketing; partner co-marketing; integrated digital marketing; email marketing; live and virtual events; corporate branding and storytelling; account segmentation and targeting; project and budget management, and strategic advisement.Amanda has run regional and global teams. She has a passion for people and results and a proven track record of success delivering on KPIs and OKRs. She has held successively responsible, cross-functional leadership positions in sales and marketing, including alliances, partnership marketing, ABM, demand generation, field marketing, solutions marketing, events, communications, and corporate marketing for global Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software companies.A California girl at heart, Amanda happily resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her family of five. When she's not growing people or pipeline at leading tech companies, she enjoys spending time with her family in the mountains or at the beach, running daily, and practicing mindfulness. Amanda has an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University with a focus in Marketing, Finance and Supply Chain, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics with a Minor in Professional Writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Ryan Holiday's The Daily Stoic Newsletter:Break the marketing mold. Stoicism may be ancient, but Ryan Holiday has made it feel new and modern. Amanda sees that reinvention as a creative north star. She says, “Let's do something wild. Some of my favorite marketing campaigns have just been weird stuff. It breaks the mold and it gets something done.” Ryan Holiday didn't market stoicism by copying academic textbooks, he made it approachable and surprising. B2B marketers should do the same. Surprise earns attention. A little weirdness, done with purpose, goes a long way.Make it usable, not just insightful. Ryan Holiday's greatest trick isn't sounding smart, it's making stoicism actionable. Amanda says, “He does things in such a bite-size, practical way that you can hold onto it.” That's exactly how B2B content should work. Don't just publish thought leadership that nods at trends. Give your audience tools they can actually apply. Teach them something they'll remember at 4 PM on a chaotic Tuesday. If it doesn't help them do their job better, it's just noise.Anchor your content in core values. The Daily Stoic isn't random. It's rooted in four core tenets: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. Amanda draws the parallel for marketers: “It's all fostered and rooted in these core values or the stoic virtues, which you could look at your brand pillars in the same kind of light.” B2B content should be more than campaign-deep. When your content reflects your company's true values, it resonates longer and travels farther. Think less about filling the calendar, and more about reinforcing what you stand for. Quotes*“ I really challenge my teams to get back to storytelling. You gotta break out of the box, so let's do something wild. Some of my favorite marketing campaigns I've ever done have just been weird stuff: bobbleheads, robots on the beach. Random things that are not B2B software, but it breaks the mold and it gets something done. I think Ryan's done that with his marketing of stoicism. He's broken the mold, right? He reinvigorated this ancient philosophy, and so that's definitely a lesson I think we can learn from him too on content.”*“ So we are all about how do we take one thing and reuse it in different ways. I think if we look at Ryan and his newsletter, I kind of mentioned his repetition. I don't think he sends the exact same newsletter, you know, multiple times. But there's certainly similar messages where you can go back in your archives and dig those things up again and present it in a different way. Content is huge. It drives, internally and externally, all of our activities. But you gotta be really smart about how you do it and how you use it, 'cause you're competing with so much noise. It can definitely be challenging to again break that mold.”*“ Something that makes him a tremendous marketer is that he really believes in what he's selling us, right? He's created this brand that is a lifestyle. Stoicism is a philosophy, so there's a lot of high value attached to it and how you live your life.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Amanda Dyson, VP, Head of Marketing at FourKites[00:58] Why Ryan Holiday's The Daily Stoic Newsletter[03:04] The Role of VP, Head of Marketing at Four Kites[04:18] Origins of Ryan Holiday's The Daily Stoic[09:27] Understanding Tucker Max[13:12] Stoicism 101: Old Ideas for Modern Chaos[20:23] Building a Daily Ritual[22:21] Strategies for Writing Like a Pro[25:35] Inspiration as a Driver for Your Content[35:55] Creating Marketing Tactics That Actually Matter[39:00] FourKites' Content Strategy[40:31] What's Working for Amanda Now?[44:15] Measuring ROI at Four Kites[49:49] Advice for Marketing Leaders[51:27] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Amanda on LinkedInLearn more about FourKitesAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
Before spending a single dollar on paid advertising, you need to ask one critical question: Do you have product-market fit—or at least clear signals of it?In a recent podcast episode, Patrick Cumming, Head of Marketing at KlientBoost, emphasizes that paid advertising, especially paid search, is not a shortcut to growth. If your product doesn't already have demand, paid search will likely drain your budget without meaningful returns. Instead, companies should assess how much of their total addressable audience they can effectively saturate with the budget they have. Success in paid advertising isn't just about targeting the right people; it's about delivering the right message in a way that resonates deeply with your audience.Key Timecodes(0:00) - Introduction: Patrick on product-market fit and paid ads(0:54) - Guest Introduction: Joran introduces Patrick Cumming(1:41) - Common Myths: Patrick discusses myths about SaaS paid ads(2:53) - Small Audience Strategy: The benefits of targeting a small audience (3:16) - B2B SaaS Ad Campaigns Failures: Reasons why ad campaigns fail(4:35) - Reach and Frequency: Importance in marketing strategies(5:48) - Ad Creatives: Patrick's five-step framework for effective ads(7:49) - Audience Targeting: Importance in ad campaign success(8:40) - When to Start Paid Ads: Timing and prerequisites for running ads(10:19) - Experimentation: The challenges of creating new market demand(11:45) - Scaling Mistakes: Common errors when scaling ad campaigns(13:13) - Platform Usage: Using Google Ads and social media effectively (15:27) - Cold Audience Challenges: Issues with targeting cold audiences(16:00) - Building a Paid Ads Strategy: Framework for starting a campaign(17:00) - Analyzing Data: Importance of understanding existing customers(18:18) - High Intent Keywords: Starting point for Google Ads(19:21) - Budget and Audience Saturation: Maximizing ad spend efficiency(20:21) - Account-Based Marketing: Strategy for focusing on target audiences(21:36) - Case Study: Successful strategy for a small audience segment(23:57) - LinkedIn Revenue Attribution Report: Measuring ad performance(25:26) - Correlation in Ads: Understanding ad impact beyond direct attribution(27:54) - Tracking and Measurement: Challenges and importance in ad campaigns(29:08) - Attribution Tools: Using Dream Data for understanding ad influence(31:35) - Trust in Ads: Importance of trusting ad performance over time(33:04) - SEO vs. Paid Ads: Balancing organic and paid strategies(35:45) - Future of Marketing: Preparing for changes in tracking and privacy(38:14) - Bold Advertising: Patrick's advice for standing out in paid marketing(39:10) - Advice for SaaS Founders: Tips for reaching 10k MRR(41:51) - Scaling to 10M ARR: Strategies for growing a successful SaaS business(44:38) - Expanding Channels: Using tools like Primer and Metadata(46:42) - Contact Information: How to connect with Patrick Cumming(48:04) - Closing Remarks: Joran wraps up the episode
#airtable #on2air #builtonair 5/20/2025 - BuiltOnAir Live Podcast Full Show - S22-E07 ___________________________ The BuiltOnAir podcast is a live weekly show highlighting everything happening in the Airtable universe. Check us out at BuiltOnAir.com/join. Join our community, join our Slack channel, and see what's happening. ------------------------ SPONSORED BY On2Air - Airtable Apps and Integrations to run your business operations in Airtable Start a free 14-day trial of On2Air Apps - https://on2air.com?via=podcast ------------------------ ___________________________ IN THIS EPISODE
In this episode, we sit down with Taresh Grover, co-founder and COO of Pullogic, an AI-powered platform transforming supply chains. From predicting demand to optimizing inventory, AI is revolutionizing distribution—especially in the lighting industry. Taresh shares insights on how AI helps manufacturers and distributors reduce lost sales by forecasting demand and making smarter replenishment decisions in real time. He also dives into common challenges lighting businesses face and how Pullogic's data-driven approach aligns supply with customer needs. If you work in lighting distribution, manufacturing, or just want to know how AI is reshaping the industry, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!
In this episode of the e-commerce marketing podcast, host Arlen Robinson speaks with Satej Sirur, CEO of Rocketium, about the transformative impact of AI on ad creatives. They discuss Satej's journey from Microsoft and AWS to founding Rocketium, the challenges brands face in ad creation, and how AI tools streamline the creative process. The conversation highlights real-world applications, such as Colgate's experience with Rocketium, and explores the future of AI in creative production. Key Episode Takeaways: AI is fundamentally changing how brands create ad content. The need for multiple versions of ad creatives is crucial. Traditional creative processes are often fragmented and inefficient. Automation is essential for scaling ad production. AI tools can significantly reduce the time needed for creative tasks. Real-time analytics are now possible with AI integration. Brands can adapt their content for various platforms quickly. The future of creative production will heavily involve AI. Companies are becoming more open to using AI technologies. The combination of AI and SaaS is the future of creative solutions. For show transcript highlights, past guests, and more, visit: https://www.ecommercemarketingpodcast.com Or on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@ecommercemarketingpodcast Twitter: https://x.com/emarketpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecommercemarktingpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emarketingpodcast/ Past guests on the ecommerce marketing podcast include Neil Patel, Nemo Chu, Luke Lintz, Luke Carthy, Amber Armstrong, Kris Ruby and many more. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review.
Why you should listenLearn how to build your own AI revenue streams now with agents and digital employees.Get a reality check on where AI adoption is really at—and how it's disrupting mid-tier SaaS faster than you think.Hear practical agent use cases across sales, support, and delivery—straight from a tech leader who's helped raise $ 400 M+ and worked with Fortune 500s.If you're still hanging your hat on your SaaS vendor adding AI features, you're already behind.In this episode, I talk with Ken Gavranovic, a tech exec who's been building with AI since before most people could spell LLM. Ken shares how agents (aka “digital employees”) are quietly becoming the next big service you should offer—and why relying solely on platform tools like Salesforce's Agent Assist will cost you deals, not win them.We dive into the difference between LLMs and agents, how to package AI advisory work for clients, and the mindset shift SaaS Consulting Partners must make to stay relevant and profitable in 2025.About Ken GavranovicKen Gavranovic is a seasoned technology executive, global keynote speaker, and member of Thinkers50 and the Forbes Council, renowned for helping brick-and-mortar businesses leverage AI and advanced technologies for immediate, impactful results. With over three decades of experience, Ken has collaborated with top venture firms, guiding over 18 successful exits, 35 mergers and acquisitions, and one IPO. Ken's expertise spans iconic brands like Disney World and 7-Eleven, where he implemented technology solutions that improved customer engagement and operational efficiency.Resources and LinksProductgenius.guruKen's LinkedIn profilePrevious episode: 611 - From CRM to Agents: How SaaS Consultants Can Sell Bigger Deals with AICheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources
Marcos Rivera is the founder of Pricing I/O and author of "Street Pricing." He brings 25 years of pricing experience, including a three-year tenure as an operating executive at Vista Equity Partners where he worked on pricing strategies across multiple portfolio companies. He's been running Pricing.io since 2019 and is passionate about the intersection of pricing and AI. In this episode, Marcos shares his insights on the evolving landscape of pricing in the age of AI, the importance of capturing value, and how companies can differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Together, they discuss the shift from traditional pricing models to outcome-based pricing and the role of AI in enhancing pricing strategies. Why you have to check out today's podcast: Discover how AI is changing the pricing landscape and what it means for businesses. Explore the relationship between pricing, value, and customer outcomes. Learn about the importance of low-friction entry points in pricing strategies. “AI forces you to walk the walk versus talk the talk.” – Marcos Rivera Topics Covered: 02:48 – The evolution of pricing in SaaS where the system gets credit for capturing more value using AI. 05:36 – The significance of capturing value quickly and efficiently. 08:09 – Differentiation in a competitive market and the role of pricing power. 12:16 – The importance of entry points and reducing friction for customers. 14:44 – How product design and pricing design are interconnected. 17:07 – The challenges of pricing in the AI landscape. 18:59 – Marcos's approach to using AI in pricing strategies. 28:56 – Pricing advice from Marcos. Key Takeaways: “Pricing is about capturing value, and AI opens up new opportunities for that.” – Marcos Rivera “Entry points matter; make them as low friction as possible.” – Marcos Rivera “Understanding how to differentiate your offering is crucial in a crowded market.” – Marcos Rivera People and Resources Mentioned: Steven Forth: https://impactpricing.com/podcast/691-pricing-in-the-agent-economy-the-future-beyond-subscriptions-with-steven-forth/ Vista Equity Partners: https://www.vistaequitypartners.com/ Pricing.io: https://www.pricingio.com/ Finn AI: https://www.glia.com/ Zendesk: https://www.zendesk.com/ Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/ HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/en/ Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ Slack: https://slack.com/ 99designs: https://99designs.com/ DeepSeek: https://www.deepseek.com/en ChatGPT: https://openai.com/ Claude: https://claude.ai/ Grok: https://grok.com/ Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Connect with Marcos Rivera: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcoslrivera/ Website: https://www.pricingio.com/ Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com
Matt McGarry discusses the concept of Negative CAC—how smart companies turn marketing into profit. He shares real-world examples from media and SaaS, showing how digital products and media can fuel growth and long-term profitability.Learn more about negative CAC: https://www.newsletteroperator.com/p/negative-cacWant more content like this?Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.comEpisode Topics & Timestamps00:00 Understanding Negative Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)02:58 Examples of Negative CAC in Action05:53 The Role of Media Companies in Negative CAC08:59 Long-term Implications and Future of Negative CAC
S4:E172 The Weekly Update and then Paul Interviews MPath Cofounder and CEO Dr. Dave Miller. MPath is an EMR enabled SaaS platform that identifies individuals who need a preventive care service, provides them personalized education and connects them to needed preventive care. Next week we have a special guest, Senate Banking Committee Chief Counsel Ammon Simon, who will answer questions about proposed legislation to reform the accredited investor definition. Paul and I will also be briefly discussing the regulation of Startup Funds and some of the specifics about the RollingSouth ATDC Fund as a tool for startup investing. (interview recorded 4.24.25)Follow David and Paul: https://x.com/DGRollingSouth https://x.com/PalmettoAngel Connect On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgrisell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulclarkprivateequity/ We invite your feedback and suggestions at www.ventureinthesouth.com or email david@ventureinthesouth.com. Learn more about RollingSouth at rollingsouth.vc or email david@rollingsouth.vc.
Send us a textSummaryThis episode kicks off a compelling three-part series featuring John Huber, founder of Customer Success Architects, who brings two decades of experience building CS functions across five different SaaS companies. The conversation centers on the fundamental question every growing business faces: how do you launch a customer success function that actually drives results? John shares his battle-tested approach, emphasizing the critical importance of aligning CS initiatives with company-wide strategic objectives rather than jumping straight into tactical execution. Through a fascinating case study involving a massive platform transformation for enterprise pharmaceutical and high-tech manufacturing clients, he demonstrates how proper alignment enabled a successful four-and-a-half-year migration from on-premise to cloud infrastructure without losing a single customer. This customer success playbook episode provides essential groundwork for any organization looking to build or rebuild their CS foundation.Detailed AnalysisThe discussion reveals several strategic insights that challenge conventional CS wisdom. Rather than immediately focusing on hiring CSMs or implementing technology platforms, John advocates for a "strategy-first" approach that ensures every CS initiative ladders up to broader business objectives. This methodology becomes particularly powerful when managing complex transformational projects, as evidenced by his experience migrating enterprise clients from legacy on-premise systems to modern cloud platforms.The episode highlights three critical success factors for new CS functions: strategic alignment with three-year company vision, cross-functional collaboration (especially with legal and finance teams), and allowing significantly more time than initially estimated for complex transitions. John's approach to contractual restructuring during platform migrations offers valuable lessons for companies navigating similar transformations, particularly the importance of providing financial incentives and flexible contract structures during transition periods.The conversation also underscores how customer success professionals must evolve beyond traditional support roles to become strategic business partners. John's team successfully positioned platform limitations as innovation opportunities, demonstrating the communication skills necessary to maintain customer relationships during potentially disruptive changes.For CS leaders and executives, this episode provides a practical framework for launching CS initiatives that deliver measurable business impact while maintaining strong customer relationships throughout complex organizational changes.Now you can interact with us directly by leaving a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/CustomerSuccessPlaybookPlease Like, Comment, Share and Subscribe. You can also find the CS Playbook Podcast:YouTube - @CustomerSuccessPlaybookPodcastTwitter - @CS_PlaybookYou can find Kevin at:Metzgerbusiness.com - Kevin's person web siteKevin Metzger on Linked In.You can find Roman at:Roman Trebon on Linked In.
Ces solopreneurs cartonnent… sans jamais montrer leur visage. Et gagnent plus que tes influenceurs préférés… avec 10 fois moins d'abonnés.Et si, toi aussi, tu pouvais réussir sans être une star d'Instagram ?➡️ Tu n'as pas le temps de prospecter pour ton activité de freelance ? Découvre l'outil Cli3nts pour prospecter à ta place sur Linkedin! Dans cet épisode, on démonte deux croyances qui bloquent plein de solopreneurs : “Il faut une grosse audience pour vendre.” ”Il faut absolument se montrer pour réussir.” Spoiler : c'est faux !Avec mes invités, on cumule plus de 2 millions d'euros de chiffre d'affaires… avec des audiences qu'on pourrait qualifier de "microscopiques" par rapport aux influenceurs maintsteam :
Krithika Shankarraman was the first marketing hire at OpenAI and Stripe and led marketing at Retool. At OpenAI, she established marketing foundations for ChatGPT for consumers and enterprises, as well as their developer API platform. While at Stripe, she spent over eight years building and scaling their marketing function from scratch. An engineer turned marketer, Krithika brings a uniquely analytical approach to marketing. She currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at Thrive Capital, where she helps portfolio companies on all things marketing.What you will learn:1. Why do most marketing playbooks often fail, and what's a better way?2. Which marketing lever should I pull first?3. Why is trying to be better than competitors usually a losing strategy?4. How do I craft positioning that actually converts?5. What makes messaging stick with developers, enterprises, and consumers?6. What pricing experiments actually move revenue?7. What is working at OpenAI really like?8. Why does consistency and quality matter more than speed?—Brought to you by:Eppo — Run reliable, impactful experimentsAirtable ProductCentral—Launch to new heights with a unified system for product developmentLinkedIn Ads—Reach professionals and drive results for your business—Where to find Krithika Shankarraman:• X: https://x.com/krithix• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krithix/• Website: https://krithix.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Krithika(04:22) Early marketing lessons from OpenAI(11:17) Diagnosing marketing needs(15:06) The DATE framework and why being cheaper is a race to the bottom(17:11) Marketing strategies at Retool(22:29) Insights from marketing at Stripe(32:33) The importance of consistent marketing communication(39:55) Criteria for hiring a marketing expert(41:43) “Capital M” vs. “lowercase m” marketing(43:05) ChatGPT vs. Claude: market dominance(45:31) The future of AI and its societal impact(47:09) Work-life balance(48:41) Transitioning to Thrive(52:35) Career advice for marketers(55:00) The importance of taste and creativity in the AI era(01:00:04) AI product pricing(01:03:21) AI tools in marketing(01:05:17) Failure corner(01:08:46) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• OpenAI: https://openai.com/• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/• Sam Altman talks about his business model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLnyjxgFxew• The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan• Pricing your SaaS product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/saas-pricing-strategy• Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/• Stripe Connect: https://stripe.com/connect• John Collison on X: https://x.com/collision• Patrick Collison on X: https://x.com/patrickc• Cristina Cordova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinajcordova/• Hackpad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackpad• Building Wiz: the fastest-growing startup in history | Raaz Herzberg (CMO and VP Product Strategy): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-wiz-raaz-herzberg• Wiz: https://www.wiz.io/• Thrive Capital: https://thrivecap.com/• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Claude: https://claude.ai/new• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/• Lessons from scaling Stripe | Claire Hughes Johnson (former COO of Stripe): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/lessons-from-scaling-stripe-tactics• Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Tobi Lütke's leadership playbook: Playing infinite games, operating from first principles, and maximizing human potential (founder and CEO of Shopify): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/tobi-lutkes-leadership-playbook• OpenAI's CPO on how AI changes must-have skills, moats, coding, startup playbooks, more | Kevin Weil (CPO at OpenAI, ex-Instagram, Twitter): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/kevin-weil-open-ai• April Dunford on product positioning, segmentation, and optimizing your sales process: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/april-dunford-on-product-positioning• A step-by-step guide to crafting a sales pitch that wins | April Dunford (author of Obviously Awesome and Sales Pitch): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-step-by-step-guide-to-crafting• Severance on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/• Granola: https://www.granola.ai/• Some people think AI writing has a tell—the em dash. Writers disagree: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/09/ai-em-dash-writing-punctuation-chatgpt/—Recommended books:• Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning So Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It: https://www.amazon.com/Obviously-Awesome-Product-Positioning-Customers/dp/1999023005• Circe: https://www.amazon.com/Circe-Madeline-Miller/dp/0316556327/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold
In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson interviews Steffen Schebesta, Chairman of the Advisory Board at Brevo (formerly Sendinblue). They explore Steffen's inspiring journey from a teenage programmer to a successful entrepreneur in the email marketing software industry.Connect with Steffen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schebesta/Use code "GuruMedia" for a 50% discount on Brevo's Starter and Business Plan for the first three months. https://www.brevo.com/partners/guru/Best Moments:(01:52) Steffen's current roles and ventures(03:27) The origin story of Steffen's entrepreneurial journey(05:24) Challenges faced during the early years of the business(07:57) Advice for aspiring SaaS entrepreneurs(12:53) The importance of starting small and focusing on a niche market(16:26) The impact of AI on SaaS companies and coding(20:28) Encouragement for others to take the first step in becoming founders=================================================Guest Bio:Steffen Schebesta is the Chairman of the Advisory Board at Brevo, a global leader in email marketing and CRM tools. Starting his entrepreneurial journey as a teenage programmer, he co-founded Newslayer2Go, an email marketing software company acquired by Sendinblue (now Brevo) in 2019. Steffen's extensive experience spans software development, business growth, and startup mentorship, where he advises young entrepreneurs and supports venture capital firms.=================================================Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/RegistrationGuru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!Register here: www.GuruConference.com=================================================Check out Jay's YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/=================================================AND don't miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!6/24 11am – 12pm ET.Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/=================================================MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ
Imagine an accounts‑receivable clerk clicking through four different systems just to finish one routine task. Chad Gold sees that bottleneck instantly. Fullstory's newly launched Workforce product maps every mouse‑stroke of such employee journeys, then surfaces friction points so companies can “make them more productive, so they can do even more value‑added things,” Gold tells us.The scene encapsulates the finance leader's thesis: data depth wins. “The companies that have the capabilities to capture the most comprehensive sets of data in a meaningful way are going to win,” he says. That conviction drew Gold—now in his fourth CFO chapter—to the Atlanta‑based behavioral‑data platform. Fullstory records the complete digital experience of each customer, from e‑commerce clicks to SaaS workflows, and feeds the corpus into AI models that flag churn risk or recommend instant actions, such as sending a coupon to a wavering shopper. The result drives revenue and reduces churn, he tells us.For its part, Fullstory has raised capital rounds through Series D and counts Kleiner Perkins, Stripes, Premier, Salesforce Ventures, GV and Dell Technologies among its backers, he tells us. Independent directors Ryan Barreto of Sprout Social and former Atlassian CFO Alex Estevez deepen the bench. After 22 years in finance, Gold values “lines, not dots”—long‑term relationships that provide partnership, not just cash. By pairing that philosophy with a platform built to illuminate every click, he aims to turn invisible friction—whether customer or employee—into the next chapter of growth. Stakeholders across the business will feel the lift, Gold predicts.
Are you constantly racing the clock — stressed, scattered, and stuck in your head with a million “what ifs”?Been there. Still catch myself there sometimes.In this solo episode on The Happy Hustle Podcast, I'm talking about the two biggest silent killers of success: HURRY and WORRY — and how to beat 'em both.I'm talkin' real, simple tactics that'll help you slow down, breathe deeper, and actually enjoy the journey WHILE building your dream life.Here's a quick sneak peek of what I covered:Power Hour Time BlocksProductivity ≠ busyness. You need focus. I block 90-minute “Power Hours” for deep work: phone on airplane mode, distractions gone, binaural beats flowing through my Neurable headphones (seriously, game-changer—these headphones even track brain focus and give biofeedback).Can't commit 90 minutes? Use tools like Pomofocus.io or Focus Keeper. Even 25 minutes of distraction-free hustle can move the needle more than 3 hours of scattered multitasking.Daily Digital DetoxUnplug to plug in. One of the 10 Alignments in my S.O.U.L.M.A.P.P.I.N system is unplugging digitally. I aim for tech-free Sundays (though, real talk, not perfect), but I always try to keep the first 30 and last 30 minutes of the day sacred—no phone, no scrolling, no noise.Try it. Sip your coffee in silence. Journal. Pray. Let your brain reboot.The 3x3x3 Morning Gratitude ResetBefore you scroll or stress, write down:3 things you're grateful for3 people you're grateful for3 wins from the day beforeSimple structure. Big shift. You'll start the day rooted in abundance, not anxiety. My latest: Grateful for my wife, son, and Montana breeze. Wins? A killer podcast episode, 2 new Happy Hustlers, and progress on our SaaS platform.The Worry DumpGrab a journal or Notes app and dump your worry. Write down:What you're worried aboutWhat's actually in your controlThe next micro action you can takeWorried about money? You can't control the economy, but you can record a reel, pitch 10 clients, or email your list. Turn anxiety into action.Flip the ScriptYour mindset is the magic. When I started building our SaaS company, my inner voice said: What if it flops? But I flipped it: What if it changes the freakin' world?Choose to turn fear into fuel. Change “what if I fail?” to “what if I fly?”Action Beats AnxietyMicro actions reduce overwhelm. Let's say your podcast downloads are low. Instead of spiraling, take one step: film a short video, email a fan, post a quote. Small steps, big momentum. Rinse and repeat.These aren't fluffy feel-good ideas — they're legit game-changers I use in my own biz and life to hustle with purpose, not panic.So if you're tired of feeling overwhelmed, on edge, and out of alignment.Go listen to the episode now and steal the exact 6 tactics I use to Happy Hustle, not hectic.Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featured Get a free copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Coursehttps://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventurehttps://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsors: If you're feeling stressed, not sleeping great, or your energy's been kinda meh lately—let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer for me: Magnesium Breakthrough by BiOptimizers. This ain't your average magnesium—it's got all 7 essential forms that your body actually needs to chill out, sleep deeper, and feel more balanced. I take it every night and legit notice the difference the next day. No more waking up groggy or tossing and turning all nightIf you're ready to sleep like a baby, calm your nervous system, and optimize your recovery, go grab yours now at bioptimizers.com/happy and use code HAPPY10 for 10% OFF.99 Designs- Need a killer logo, stunning website, or next-level brand design?Stop DIY-ing and start delegating like a boss with 99designs by Vista! Neurable- If you're looking to level up your focus, productivity, and mental wellbeing all at once, do yourself a favor and check out Neurable. You get a special hookup—just use the code HAPPY at checkout and get $100 off.
Mayur Kamat is the chief product officer at N26—a $9 billion neobank serving over 7 million customers in 25 countries—where he leads product, design, data, and research. Prior to N26, Mayur was Head of Product at Binance, growing the crypto exchange to a peak $400 billion valuation. Earlier in his career, he built and scaled products at Google (Gmail Mobile, Hangouts), Microsoft, and travel unicorn Agoda.Learn:1. How to find and focus on the highest-leverage problems2. Why you shouldn't optimize for compensation early in your career3. Why you should optimize for strengths, not weaknesses4. Why you need to decide if you truly want the C-suite path5. Why working at a fintech company creates exceptional PMs6. Strategy = hypothesis × experimentation velocity7. Small, fast wins compound faster than big, slow bets—Brought to you by:• WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs• Paragon—Ship every SaaS integration your customers want• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security.—Where to find Mayur Kamat:• X: https://x.com/5degreez• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayur/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction and Mayur's background(04:49) Working at Binance: An inside look(18:18) Career advice for product managers(27:00) PM career paths(33:58) Understanding fintech customers(36:00) Understanding your strengths(44:46) Creating a culture of experimentation(51:14) Hiring and developing top talent(54:50) Building a diverse product portfolio(57:08) Working in high talent density areas(59:43) Personal and professional balance(01:06:32) High-leverage opportunities and decision making(01:14:28) AI tools in the workplace(01:19:14) Failure corner(01:25:11) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Binance: https://www.binance.us/• Google: https://about.google/• Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/• Agoda: https://www.agoda.com• N26: https://n26.com/• Which companies accelerate PM careers most: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/which-companies-accelerate-your-pm• Which companies produce the best product managers: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/which-companies-produce-the-best• Bezos Says Work-Life Balance is a “Debilitating” Phrase: https://www.investopedia.com/news/bezos-says-worklife-balance-debilitating-phrase/• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html• PayPal Mafia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal_Mafia• Changpeng Zhao on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpzhao/• Ray Dalio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydalio/• Porter's five forces: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter%27s_five_forces_analysis• Jonathan Rosenberg on X: https://x.com/jjrosenberg• Aura: https://buy.aura.com/• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/• Chime: https://www.chime.com/• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/• Alex Algard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexalgard• Hiya: https://www.hiya.com/• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• Writer: https://writer.com/• Google Hangouts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Hangouts• Sundar Pichai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundarpichai/• Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/landing• House on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/ef39603f-eb90-4248-8237-f6168d7c1be1• Big Bang Theory on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/9bde5aeb-5297-4290-b173-19a4d59cc11d• Adolescence on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81756069• The White Lotus on HBO: https://www.hbo.com/the-white-lotus• Robinhood: https://robinhood.com/us/en/• Nikita Bier's post on X about Bible Chat: https://x.com/nikitabier/status/1915252215507210349• Bible Chat: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-chat-daily-devotional/id6448849666?mt=8• Suno: https://suno.com/home• Disfrutar: https://www.disfrutarbarcelona.com/—Recommended books:• StrengthsFinder 2.0: https://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X• The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life: https://www.amazon.com/Types-Wealth-Transformative-Guide-Design/dp/059372318X—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
Wanna know what makes people stop scrolling and actually pay attention to your business?This episode is like sitting front row in a marketing masterclass—with real examples that made me go, “Dang. THAT is good.”I share 3 real-life examples of irresistible marketing—from a PayPal email that stopped me in my tracks, to a blog that made me want to hire the writer immediately, to a customer service email that turned into a sales lesson.And the best part? You can use all of them today in your own business.Here's what you'll hear:A genius way to turn an old-school flyer tactic into digital gold