Episodes
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, Nikolas interviews Adi Singh, founder of Komment.ai, a startup dedicated to solving the problem of software documentation. Adi shares his journey from working at Amazon on AI and robotics projects to founding his own startup, driven by his passion for solving real-world problems in the software development space.
Adi explains that Komment.ai automates software documentation, allowing developers to focus on coding and building, rather than explaining their work. The platform creates comments, read-me files, architecture diagrams, and more, easing the burden of documentation for developers.
He goes into the traits that make a successful team member at Komment.ai, highlighting technical skills, work ethic, and adaptability. Adi also discusses the challenges of ramping up a sales engine and the critical role that other founders play in providing guidance and support as a solo founder.
Adi’s vision for Komment.ai's future is becoming an end-to-end documentation engine that significantly improves developer productivity. He touches on the importance of responsible fundraising and shares insights into how startups can choose metrics that align with their mission.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Transitioning from Corporate to Startup
~ Creating a dedicated team & forming strong relationships
~ Finding the right fund to partner with
~ Communicating progress effectively with investors and stakeholders
~ Leading a Sales Cycle as a Solo Founder
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:28) - What problem Komment solves(02:45) - Adi's journey from working at Amazon to founding Komment.ai(05:47) - How Adi raised funding for the startup through network and relationships(08:26) - Hiring challenges and the key traits for success at Komment.ai(10:59) - The need for teamwork, humility, and work-life balance(17:45) - Ramping up a sales engine & the importance of asking for help as a Solo Founder(22:27) - Responsible fundraising & managing investor relationships(24:28) - Finding a strong North Star metric & key metrics for pre-seed & seed stage startups(26:29) - Adi's vision for Komment.ai in five years(28:55) - Where to find Komment.ai onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Adi:
On LinkedIn: Adi Singh
Mentioned In The Episode
Komment.ai automates software documentation.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we dive deep with Dr. Asaad Hakeem, CEO of SARC MedIQ, an AI-based healthcare platform assisting medical providers in patient diagnosis and treatment planning. He covers the challenges of implementing new technology in the regulated healthcare industry and the importance of building relationships and educating stakeholders.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Building trust and adoption in a regulated industry.
~ The journey of healthcare startups and overcoming industry challenges.
~ Strategies for scaling a healthcare technology company.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:19) - Introduction and Background(00:56) - Overview of SARC MedIQ(03:07) - Challenges in Healthcare Tech Adoption(04:35) - Tactical Approach to Customer Adoption(07:15) - Overcoming Financial Challenges for Physicians(08:43) - Insights into Business Building(12:48) - Raising Funds and Growth Plans(17:46) - Validating Disruption with Conversion Rates(21:09) - Role of Passion in Product Success(23:14) - Where to find Asaad and SARC MedIQ onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Asaad:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaadhakeem/
Mentioned In The Episode
SARC MedIQ - AI-based healthcare platform
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we dive deep with Julio Martinez, the founder of Abacum, an innovative platform changing the game for finance teams in mid-market companies. Julio discusses the launch during the unpredictability of COVID-19 and takes us through the highs and lows of building Abacum from the ground up.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ The challenges of launching Abacum amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
~ The pivotal role of user research in shaping Abacum's product-market fit.
~ Julio's approach to building a robust sales and marketing strategy.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro.(00:28) - Identifying the Problem and Market Opportunity.(02:43) - The founding story of Abacum and how it got off the ground.(05:20) - Acquiring the first customers through networks.(06:41) - Funding journey of Abacum from angel investment to VC rounds.(08:47) - Impact and advice from Y Combinator.(13:07) - The team size and structure post-series A.(13:53) - Organizational structure and the split among different teams.(15:41) - Go-to-market strategy for Abacum.(16:32) - The structure and cooperation between the marketing and sales teams.(18:45) - Challenges and "war stories" from the early days.(21:01) - Learning from hiring mistakes and refining the hiring process.(23:48) - Importance of founder's gut feeling in the hiring process.(25:05) - Vision for Abacum in the next five years.(26:34) - Where to find Julio Martinez and Abacum online.The SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Julio:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejuliomartinez/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JULIOMARTINEZG
Mentioned In The Episode
Abacum - Financial Operations Automation Tool for Businesses.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we sit down with Ivan Maryasin, founder of Monite, a groundbreaking platform that's reshaping the world of B2B finance by enabling platforms like vertical SaaS providers, B2B neo-banks, and payment providers to evolve into finance super apps.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Realistic approach to fundraising in current market conditions.
~ Marketing insights and strategies for technical founders.
~ Freelance vs. in-house teams.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:30) - How Monite helps B2B startups become finance super apps?(02:04) - Target audience and market strategy for Monite.(03:54) - Why Monite went for account-based management over PLG.(05:25) - Monite’s market strategy and customized messaging for different verticals.(09:47) - How Monite’s marketing team executes their strategy.(11:47) - Ivan’s plan to refine sales with account-based marketing strategies.(13:49) - Tech team structure of Monite and their international expansion.(15:47) - Sales and marketing structure of Monite.(20:15) - The challenge of fundraising in current conditions.(25:32) - Benchmarks to raise Series A in 2024.(26:37) - Essential marketing strategies and insights for technical founders.(29:06) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Ivan:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanmaryasin
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivan_maryasin
Mentioned In The Episode
Monite Financial Operations Automation Tool for Businesses.
ReactSquad.io React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we'll welcome Ernest Chan, the founder of PredictNow.ai. Ernest shares the journey of a platform designed to transform the extremely competitive asset management sector, PredictNow.
With a rich background in both Wall Street asset management and machine learning research, Ernest merges these worlds to enhance asset managers' capabilities. PredictNow.ai stands out by promising at least 3x the effectiveness of asset managers using machine learning.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Adapting to an evolving customer base.
~ Importance of data in product strategy for ML startups.
~ How to succeed with inbound marketing and public relations.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:34) - - What is PredictNow AI? And how does it help Asset Managers?(01:48) - - What type of assets are best to manage using PredictNow?(03:10) - - The importance of data in the global product strategy of a machine learning startup.(06:27) - - Budget and ways to source and manage data for model training.(10:05) - - The journey of building PredictNow AI.(12:04) - - Customer types for PredictNow and how they adapted to evolving ICPs.(17:02) - - How a top US Bank’s inbound email changed PredictNow.ai's trajectory?(18:31) - - Ernest’s past in public relations and how it’s helping him with PredictNow.(23:10) - - PredictNow’s team, revenue and their upcoming strategic merger.(24:46) - - How Ernest’s co-founder found him through his books.(26:54) - - Where can you find Ernest Chan and His Impactful Books Online.(27:19) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Ernest Chan:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epchan/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chanep
Mentioned In The Episode
PredictNow - A Predictive Analytics Solutions Platform.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we're thrilled to have Sukh Singh, the co-founder and CTO of Engyne.ai. He shares his journey and insights into building a B2B SaaS platform aimed at revolutionizing SEO and content marketing for startups.
Engine.ai automates the process from keyword research to content publication and analytics, ensuring technical SEO success out of the box. Sukh's story also touches on personal growth, the importance of sales skills for technical founders, and the strategic decisions behind bootstrapping and product pricing models.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Marketing & Sales as a technical founder.
~ The role of AI in simplifying SEO and content marketing.
~ The importance of customer engagement in finding the product-market fit.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:29) - What is EngyneAI and how it helps with SaaS content marketing.(01:47) - Deciding between product bundling and unbundling.(05:07) - How Engyne uses AI to help early-stage startups with content marketing?(07:43) - How Sukh learned marketing and sales as a technical founder.(13:44) - What marketing channels does Sukh use and his targeted cold email strategy?(17:39) - How Sukh uses customer feedback to improve Engyne.(23:37) - Financial strategies and bootstrap funding.(25:47) - Reflections and learnings from the past year.(27:43) - Building MVP and making a first sale.(29:43) - Where to find Sukh and Engyne.ai online.(30:14) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Sukhpal Saini:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sssaini/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisissukh_
Mentioned In The Episode
Engyne - A B2B Content Marketing Platform
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we're thrilled to welcome Sagy Cohen, the founder and CEO of HR Signal. Sagy delves into the intricacies of leveraging AI to revolutionize HR technology, offering deep dives into the formation, growth, and strategic pivots of HR Signal.
With a focus on AI's transformative power in employee retention and career development, Sagy provides a comprehensive overview of the journey of HR Signal.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Building a tech team in the AI era.
~ Identifying the ICP at an early stage.
~ The challenge of finding product-market fit.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:30) - What is HR Signal and who is it for?(03:01) - Identifying the ICP with learnings from user research.(05:17) - How Sagy thinks about customer segmentation.(09:27) - Size and distribution of the HR Signal team.(10:14) - Founding story of HR Signal and the journey to raising pre-seed funding.(14:24) - Transition to full-time commitment by co-founders.(15:29) - Relationship and background of the co-founders.(16:54) - Division of roles among the co-founders.(19:39) - Strategy for fundraising in current market conditions.(23:46) - How to plan tech team expansion post-fundraising.(28:00) - The right approach to hiring in a tech startup, especially for AI roles.(32:37) - Where to find HR Signal and Sagi Cohen online.(33:45) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Sagy Cohen:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagy-cohen-744a57125/
Mentioned In The Episode
HR Signal - AI Platform to help companies retain employees.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we had the opportunity to host Patricio Utz, founder of Abstract. Abstract provides NLP tools to help lobbyists and companies understand how government policies and legislations impact their business.
Patricio talks about Abstract’s journey from a research project to a VC-backed SaaS with millions in funding. He also shares how they’re using AI to grow their product, Abstract’s early challenges, and his vc rejection story.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Best way to retain employees.
~ Integrating Sales & Marketing Teams.
~ GTM strategies for enterprise sales.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:30) - How Abstract.us started and what’s its mission.(01:07) - How Patricio realized the business use case of Abstract.us.(03:51) - Using B2C customers to reach B2B customers.(05:44) - How is Patricio leveraging AI to expand Abstract’s use case.(07:38) - Abstract’s funding history, team growth, and milestones.(10:52) - Paricio’s approach to Go-to-Market strategy in enterprise sales.(13:41) - Team composition of Abstract.(15:32) - Integrating marketing and sales into a growth team.(19:10) - Challenges and focus areas for the year ahead.(21:31) - Maintaining company culture and employee retention strategies.(23:40) - Key lessons learned in 2023 and strategy moving forward.(25:45) - Where can you find Patricio and Abstract.(26:24) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Patricio Utz:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-utz/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatricioUtz
Mentioned In The Episode
Abstract - HR Platform for distributed workforces.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we had the opportunity to host Tony Jamous, founder and CEO of a billion dollar HR platform Oyster. Oyster provides tools to help with hiring, onboarding, benefits and salary management for both contractors and full-time remote employees all around the world.
Tony talks about his motivation behind starting Oyster and how he led it to unicorn status. He also shares his thoughts on becoming a better leader, creating a supportive work environment, and his life as a CEO of a billion dollar company.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How to become a better leader.
~ Best way to lead a fast growth billion-dollar startup.
~ How to create a work environment that helps people to be their true selves.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:32) - What Oyster is and what problem does it solve?(01:04) - Typical customer profile for Oyster.(02:05) - How much is OysterHR worth? Its mission and growth details.(04:00) - Flexibility and leadership during hyper growth.(05:14) - Advice for first-time founders on maintaining flexibility and leadership.(07:34) - Tony's motivation for starting another company after Nexmo exit.(09:55) - Motivation behind building a mission-driven company.(11:58) - How to be intentional about creating an impactful, high-growth business.(13:58) - Criteria for selecting early executives for Oyster.(16:08) - Creating psychological safety within the company.(19:22) - A typical day for the CEO of a billion-dollar company.(21:55) - The role of asynchronous communication and video in managing Oyster.(25:52) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Tony Jamous:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teljamou/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamingo
Mentioned In The Episode
Oyster - HR Platform for distributed workforces.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Lindsay Liu, founder of Super. Super is a productivity software for property managers. Lindsay shares the story behind Super, from her pivotal shift towards monetization and customer-driven development to her take on hiring developers as an early-stage startup.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ When to start charging as an early-stage startup.
~ An incredible way to A/B test your messaging on a low budget.
~ How to start hiring developers as a non-technical founder? – Agency vs In-house team.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:28) - How Super got its name and domain(01:19) - What Super is and who it's for.(02:43) - Origin of the idea for Super.(04:44) - Company size and revenue.(06:02) - Shift from beta phase to monetization.(12:30) - Hiring technical team as a non-technical founder.(18:53) - Lindsay's marketing background and its influence on building Super.(24:49) - Marketing tactics and specifics for early-stage startups.(28:55) - Long-term vision for Super.(30:33) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Lindsay Liu:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayliu/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsayliu
Mentioned In The Episode
Super - A Productivity software for property managers.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we had the pleasure of hosting Bhaskar Deol, co-founder of eDRV, a company providing enterprise SaaS software to power electric vehicle charging operations. From the initial stages of founding eDRV to navigating the complexities of international expansion and fundraising, Bhaskar shares invaluable insights into running a successful startup in the rapidly evolving EV charging sector.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Why product-market fit is important.
~ Strategies for customer acquisition in a niche market.
~ Tips for first-time founders on the challenges of enterprise sales.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:30) - What eDRV does and its target customers.(01:25) - Decision to move the company to the US.(02:53) - Differences in doing business in the US vs. Europe.(04:37) - Fundraising & Customer acquisition strategy in the US and Europe.(06:44) - Bhaskar's journey to becoming a founder.(08:34) - Motivation and transition to entrepreneurship.(11:54) - Current state of eDRV: Revenue and team size.(12:38) - Team composition and roles.(14:04) - Approach to Go-To-Market (GTM strategy).(17:27) - First step in enterprise sales and efficiency in customer acquisition.(21:15) - Learning from first startup to now.(23:20) - How to find and contact Bhaskar and eDRV online.(23:55) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Bhaskar Deol:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhaskardeol/
Mentioned In The Episode
eDRV - API Platform for developers of EV charging apps.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Shay David, founder of RetrainAI, shares his journey of starting and growing three VC backed startups. He also discusses how his latest venture, RetrainAI, makes it easy for companies to hire and retain the right people.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How to lead a vc-backed startup?
~ When is the best time to hire new employees?
~ Most important thing to know as a first-time vc-backed founder
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:32) - What is RetrainAI and who is it for?(01:28) - Shay's journey as a venture-backed entrepreneur.(03:53) - How did Shay start RetrainAI?(10:43) - User types & user journeys for RetrainAI.(16:27) - Shay's leadership advice for first-time vc-backed founders.(19:40) - Is pre-hiring a good strategy?(22:22) - How to get more work done without burning out employees?(26:26) - How to know if you have a product-market fit?(28:42) - How to keep your team aligned on customer value proposition?(30:47) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Shay David:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaydavid/
Mentioned In The Episode
RetrainAI - Skills-based AI to hire and retain the right people.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Paul Dudley, founder of StreamKap, shares his journey of running a data streaming platform with extensive experience in sales. He also discusses the problems he faced, his best tips on hiring a sales team, and the sales process at StreamKap.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How to choose the verticals to target?
~ When is the right time to hire a sales team?
~ How to lead a technical startup as a non-technical founder?
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:30) - What is StreamKap?(02:38) - Why did Paul become an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced?(06:47) - How big is StreamKap?(07:21) - What does StreamKap customer base look like?(08:57) - Problems StreamKap is facing while scaling.(09:50) - How big can StreamKap be according to Paul?(10:54) - How did Paul make the decision to target specific verticals?(12:55) - How StreamKap handles the sales process?(15:34) - Team structure of StreamKap.(16:54) - When is the right time to hire a sales team?(19:31) - 3 Quick Tips on hiring a sales team.(21:07) - What's one thing StreamKap or Paul is struggling with?(23:37) - What Paul learned in the last few years that helped him as a founder?(27:00) - Where can you find Paul & StreamKap?(27:36) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Paul Dudley:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldudley/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulFDudley
Mentioned In The Episode
StreamKap - Real-time data syncing platform
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Bootstrapped SaaS Operator, Alane Boyd, founder of Arvo, shares her entrepreneurial journey with us. She talks about how listening to customers helped her grow Arvo. She also discusses the importance of the work environment and what she’s doing to create a stress-free environment at Arvo.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Why listening to customers is the best way to grow your tech startup?
~ How to be more productive and stress-free as a founder?
~ What’s the best way to bootstrap a tech startup?
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:29) - Alane's entrepreneurial journey.(02:54) - What is Arvo?(04:18) - How Alane decided to pivot her original product?(05:37) - What was the biggest blocker in pivoting?(07:25) - How big is Arvo right now?(08:14) - How does Alane keep Arvo bootstrapped by providing services?(09:35) - What is the team structure for Arvo?(11:03) - How Alane allocates time between services and product as a founder?(12:59) - How does Alane decide which tasks to work on as a founder?(14:02) - What things Alane does differently now than her previous ventures?(15:58) - Alane talks about the work environment and her previous company's stressful experience.(18:03) - How Alane's actively trying to grow Arvo?(23:00) - What are the things Alane's struggling with?(24:45) - Where can you find Alane & Arvo?(24:58) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Alane Boyd:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaneboyd/
Mentioned In The Episode
Arvo - Build SOPs and Process Docs with ease.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Noah Wittman, founder of Priviom, talks about the challenges of managing SaaS spend and renewals at scale. He shares how Priviom's platform helps companies gain visibility into their SaaS usage, identify underutilized tools, and optimize their spending.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How Priviom helps companies make data-driven decisions about their SaaS investments.
~ The challenges of managing SaaS sprawl and the importance of visibility into usage.
~ Noah's journey from enterprise sales to SaaS founder.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:29) - Problem Priviom Solves for its Customers(02:29) - Target Customer Base of Priviom(04:03) - Clarifying the Mid-Market Range for Priviom's Customer Base.(06:39) - Origin of the Problem Priviom Aims to Solve and Noah's Transition from Sales to Founder(13:20) - Early Stages of Priviom, Funding, and Challenges and Decisions Faced(18:13) - Navigating the Lack of Technical Co-founder(20:28) - Advice for Non-Technical Founders in Search of a Technical Lead(28:43) - The Challenges and Learnings of Hiring for Critical Roles(31:20) - Lessons Learned and What Noah Would Do Differently If Given the Chance to Start Anew(35:42) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Noah Wittman:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahdwittman/
Mentioned In The Episode
Priviom - Renewal Intelligence for SaaS
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of the Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Matt Ford tells us about his journey from becoming a programmer in college to starting his own music festival as well as launching his live music management software, Prism. He also goes over how Prism survived the pandemic and why fundraising wasn’t as tough for Prism as for other tech startups.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How to find a market that’s right for you.
~ Benefits of having experience in your target market.
~ How to get through a rough patch in your founder journey.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:10) - What problem does Prism solve?(01:11) - What pushed Matt to start Prism?(04:06) - Fundraising journey of Prism.fm.(09:47) - Team structure of Prism.fm.(10:36) - What's the team split Matt has in mind for Prism?(12:49) - Does Prism rely more on PLG?(14:17) - How does working in your target industry benefit you as a tech founder?(16:39) - A rough patch for Matt Ford as a founder.(19:54) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Matt:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3/
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MattFordPrism
Mentioned In The Episode
Prism - Live Music Management Software
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups.
Nikolas Chapoupis
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Michael Haughton talks about Kernls, a company specializing in facilitating donor engagement for medical research organizations. He also talks about his deeply personal journey from founding the Pancreatic Cancer Foundation of Canada to creating Kernls, along with the company's strategic shift to a SaaS model for more efficient scalability.
Tune in to learn more about:
Tune in to learn more about:
~ The challenges of operating in the nonprofit sector and how Kernls addresses these issues
~ The pivotal role Kernls plays in connecting donors with impactful outcomes in the medical research sector
~ How Kernls is making a substantial difference in improving donor retention and engagement
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:29) - What problem does Kernls solve?(06:03) - Value proposition of Kernls.(07:19) - What is it like as SaaS business in Non-Profit market?(13:31) - When did Kernls became a SaaS?(14:26) - How does Michael approach sales for Kernls?(18:26) - How big is the market for Kernls?(19:57) - Future plans for Kernls.(24:07) - Where can people find Kernls online?(24:58) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Michael Haughton
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-haughton-6ba395156
Mentioned In The Episode
Kernls - A Giving Platform that Helps Fund Medical Science
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
Nikolas Chapoupis
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
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In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Abhishek Raja, founder of Togai, talks about how they provide a flexible billing platform that allows companies to implement any pricing model effortlessly. He also shares their journey, starting from a payment API company to identifying the need for sophisticated pricing, leading to the creation of Togai.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ The impact of Togai's flexible billing solutions on SaaS companies.
~ Abhishek's perspective on the importance of transparency in SaaS pricing.
~ Togai's role in shaping the future of SaaS monetization strategies.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:35) - Purpose and Evolution of Togai from Internal Tool(03:40) - Comparison with Other Payment Platforms(06:11) - Abhishek's Transition and Decision-Making(12:35) - Origins of Funding(14:11) - The Decision to Move Operations to the US(17:56) - Setting Up Teams in the US(19:53) - Learning from Past Startup Experience(25:22) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Abhishek Raja
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/argo1/
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/abhiraja88
Mentioned In The Episode
Togai - A simple billing engine for complex pricing
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of The Bootstrapped SaaS Operator, Justin Cooke talks about building a marketplace for founders to sell their online businesses, Empire Flippers. He also talks about the difficulties for bootstrap entrepreneurs, business transparency, and chasing new ideas.
Tune in to learn more on:
~ When is the right time to start your next venture?
~ How to know if you’re scaling too slow or too quickly?
~ Acquiring the right businesses to grow your company.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:11) - Who is Justin Cooke & What is Empire Flippers?(01:52) - How big is Empire Flippers?(02:52) - When should you chase new ideas?(05:25) - When did Justin know is the right time to start WebStreet?(09:00) - How to run a dual-side marketplace?(11:05) - What Empire Flippers is doing differently now compared to ten years ago?(13:14) - How Justin manages profitability vs growth?(15:32) - How much runway do you need for a company like Empire Flippers?(17:27) - What should companies look for when acquiring other businesses?(20:55) - What's the average ARR multiple you can expect when buying a business in 2023?(23:55) - When is the right time to buy another business?(27:01) - What would Justin do differently if he could start over?(29:36) - Being transparent as a business.(34:07) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Justin:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwcooke/
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/EmpireFlippers
Mentioned In The Episode
Empire Flippers - A marketplace for founders to sell their businesses.
WebStreet - A platform for investors to buy stakes in online businesses.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups.
Nikolas Chapoupis
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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In this episode of the Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, Francesco Teodori talks about building and growing a “Phygital” experience app for events and venues, Popup. Popup allows users to search for events, meet new people, and engage in real-time interactions at their favorite venues. It also offers features like messaging, digital menus, and social functionalities for venue and restaurant owners.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Using UGC ads for SaaS marketing.
~ Behind the scenes of working part-time on a startup.
~ Why you should never give up on a marketing channel.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:12) - What problem does Popup solve?(02:21) - How Francesco found the problem?(04:27) - Funding status of Popup.(05:52) - How Francesco and his co-founder raised the initial investment for Popup?(07:48) - What working part-time on a startup for 3 years looks like?(10:07) - How does Popup get clients?(13:30) - Does UGC Social Media ads work for SaaS?(19:57) - What would Francesco do differently if he could start over?(23:37) - OutroThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Francesco:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-t-85348855/
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FrancescoTeodo6
Mentioned In The Episode
Popup.lol - An app for restaurant owners to maximize user experience.
ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups
Nikolas Chapoupis
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap
On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis
EarlyNode
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode
On X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/EarlyNode
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/
On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode
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