Episodes
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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, Aleksandar Orlić was our guest. Aleksandar's journey evolved from hands-on coding to leading development teams. He mentions the importance of following your passion, especially for meaningful impact. Aleksandar explains how his role changed when he moved from CTO to CEO, with new challenges and wins.
He also describes how Randevu's revenue model changed from one-time fees to a subscription-based system. In this podcast he showcases how businesses can adapt and grow. Curious about what it takes to go from tech expert to startup founder?
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Randevu’s buyer personas; Tech savvy users and business leaders
~ How to prioritize scalability over immediate profits
~ The benefit of having corporate experience before diving into entrepreneurship
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:15) - Introduction to Randevu: Target audience and purpose(01:02) - Buyer and User Personas defined(02:21) - Aleksandar’s journey from developer to founder(05:22) - The switch from regular programmer to a top leadership role(09:00) - CTO vs CEO: how the roles and responsibilities differ in startup leadership(11:44) - Randevu’s evolution: From inception to team formation and product vision(13:36) - Finding Randevu’s first 10 customers(15:38) - Randevu’s revenue model(18:39) - Choosing scalability: prioritizing API development over hourly services(22:30) - Randevu’s current team size and evolution (24:35) - Future plans: Expanding sales and product development with seed funding(26:18) - Lessons learned: Navigating chaos, discipline and fundraising in the startup journey(28:43) - Where to find Aleksandar Orlić onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Aleksandar:
On LinkedIn: Aleksandar Orlić
Mentioned In The Episode
Randevu.tech Flexible technology for custom B2B marketplaces and digital platforms
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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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we follow the journey of tech veteran Dan Turchin. He founded PeopleReign, a platform that automates IT and HR services.
This episode covers how PeopleReign started, its value proposition, the challenges, major milestones, and its mission to impact a billion people at work.
Dan talks about how focusing on customer value has been a key principle that has helped him stay relevant in tech since the 90s.
As a founder and investor, he also gives practical tips on finding founder-investor fit and managing relationships.Tune in to learn more about:
~ Dan Turchin’s 25-year tech journey
~ PeopleReign’s founding story, challenges, and successes
~ The enduring importance of focusing on customer value
~ Finding founder-investor fit and managing founder-investor relationships
(00:00) - Intro(00:09) - Dan Turchin's background in tech(02:25) - How focusing on customer value helped Dan adapt since the '90s(04:45) - Relationship between employee satisfaction and customer value (06:12) - What PeopleReign does(06:53) - How PeopleReign works(09:22) - Defining PeopleReign's ideal customer profile. (10:26) - More about Dan's tech journey and how it led to founding PeopleReign(12:33) - PeopleReign's mission statement(13:15) - PeopleReign's current success, recent fundraise and notable clients(15:35) - Advice for new founders on leading teams(18:11) - Advice for new founders on decision-making(20:57) - Finding the right founder-investor fit(23:18) - How investors should think about startups they invest in (24:00) - Tips for managing founder-investor relationships(24:39) - War stories from the early days of PeopleReign(28:20) - Where to find Dan Turchin and PeopleReign onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at earlynode.com/subscribe
Follow Dan:
On Twitter:https://twitter.com/dturchin
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dturchin/
Mentioned In The Episode
PeopleReign - virtual agent for IT and HR employee service
AI and the Future of Work - Dan’s podcast on how AI changes the workplace
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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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we feature Wissam Tabbara, founder and CEO of Truebase.
Truebase is an AI sales rep that helps B2B companies automate prospecting. Wissam gives us the scoop on how Truebase is navigating today’s rapidly changing AI space.
A four-time founder, he talks about how his past struggles with prospecting led to Truebase. He also shares the key lessons from his previous ventures that he’s applying now.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ How and why Truebase is building an AI sales representative
~ Truebase's strategies for navigating the fast-paced AI ecosystem
~ Insights from being a four-time founder
(00:00) - Intro(00:12) - How Truebase is using AI to change prospecting(03:05) - Getting Truebase off the ground(05:36) - Navigating the fast-paced AI ecosystem(07:21) - Truebase's journey so far (09:25) - Truebase’s growth strategy(12:06) - Truebase's role in PLG sales motion(14:40) - 3 key lessons from being a four-time founder (19:08) - Where to find Wissam and Truebase onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Wissam:
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wissamtabbara
Mentioned In The Episode
truebase.io - AI Sales Representative for B2B Startups
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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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we're joined by Nicolas Quarré. He’s the co-founder of Accountable, a startup that helps self-employed people manage their taxes.
Nicolas discusses the challenges and successes of building Accountable. He explains their decision to launch in Belgium and their approach to expanding across Europe.
Nicolas also shares why he decided to go the VC route, choosing the right investors and marketing tactics to bet on.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ Accountable’s founding story, challenges and success
~ Building a SaaS in Belgium and Germany
~ How to expand across Europe's multilingual markets
~ Nicolas’ key learnings on fundraising as a VC-backed founder
(00:00) - Intro(00:24) - What is Accountable, and who is it for?(01:21) - Nicolas' previous ventures(02:19) - Accountable's Founding Journey(03:54) - Deciding to raise venture capital (05:05) - Choosing the right investors(06:21) - Accountable's team and user base right now(07:03) - Deciding to launch in Belgium(07:53) - Expanding to Germany(09:44) - Navigating language barriers and localization(11:37) - Expansion: choosing focused depth over shallow coverage (13:31) - Accountable's GTM strategy in a large market(16:52) - Team distribution at Accountable(17:57) - Choosing marketing tactics(18:50) - How to improve CAC Measurement(20:17) - Ensuring transparency and honesty with KPIs(21:16) - 3 key learnings on fundraising(24:23) - Current struggles as a founder(25:26) - Evolution of the role of CEO as the startup grows(27:06) - Advice for pre-seed SaaS founders(29:04) - Where to find Nicolas and Accountable onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Nicolas:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasquarre/
Mentioned In The Episode
accountable.eu/ - Tax management platform for self-employed individuals
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
#SaaS #StartupJourney #TechInEurope
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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we hosted Joe Thurman, co-founder of IIA Healthcare. IIA Healthcare is a SaaS that uses AI to help healthcare employers interview better.
This episode features the story of how Joe and his team took an internal tool to market as a SaaS product with over $1M ARR and $6M funding raised.
Joe also gives us the scoop on acquiring a smaller startup, Gritly, and their plans for the future.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ IIA Healthcare’s value proposition, team structure, and growth
~ How Joe built an internal tool into a successful SaaS product
~ Acquiring smaller startups as a growing startup
~ Hiring and managing engineering contractors engineering teams on contract
(00:00) - Intro(00:10) - What is IIA Healthcare, and who it is for(01:30) - IIA’s founding journey(03:37) - Transitioning from a service to SaaS(06:50) - Taking an internal tool to market(08:35) - Why they chose the VC route(09:39) - IIA’s journey to raising $6M(10:21) - IIA's current ARR and team size(10:39) - The organizational structure at IIA Healthcare(11:17) - The importance of a COO/Operator for startups(12:05) - IIA's recent acquisition of a smaller startup(12:35) - Behind IIA’s early decision to acquire a startup(14:53) - Opportunities for startups to acquire venture orphans(16:54) - Deciding to hire the engineering team as contractors(19:10) - Keeping a committed team environment with contractors(21:09) - Evolving IIA’s value proposition with growth(25:46) - How IIA uses AI to improve hiring (29:00) - IIA's plans for the next 2 years(30:23) - Closing remarksThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Joe Thurman:
On LinkedIn: Joe Thurman
Mentioned In The Episode
iiahealthcare.com – HR software in the healthcare space
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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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we hosted Alexandra Kammer. She is co-founder of Aivy, an HR tech company that streamlines hiring for startups. This episode covers what happens behind the scenes at Aivy & their three-step pre-hiring process.
Alexandra walks us through her journey from graduate school to co-founding her startup. She also gives us the gist of her experience on Germany's Shark Tank, Die Höhle der Löwen.
Alexandra’s story is one of overcoming self-doubt caused by sexism and embracing confidence. We hope you find it as empowering as we did.
Tune in to learn about:
~ Alexandra’s journey from grad school to Germany's Shark Tank
~ How Aivy helps startups speed up their pre-hiring process
~ Thriving as a female founder amidst sexism
~ Overcoming insecurity and building confidence
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:10) - What Aivy does(01:21) - Aivy's three-step pre-hiring process(03:18) - Aivy’s growth so far: choosing sustainable growth over hypergrowth(04:54) - Distribution of the product and GTM teams at Aivy(06:14) - Aivy's transition from enterprise onboarding to self-serve(07:29) - How early clients influenced Aivy’s path(09:13) - Leveraging Aivy's First Mover Advantage(10:25) - Going from grad school to startup(13:06) - Experience at Die Höhle der Löwen (Germany’s Shark Tank)(14:43) - Thriving as a female founder amidst gender bias(16:30) - Struggles with early hires and how they solved that(18:42) - If she had to start all over, what would Alexandra do differently?(20:05) - Where to find Alexandra and Aivy onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at: EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Alexandra:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kammer/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aivy.app/
Mentioned In The Episode
Aivy.app - HR SaaS for 5x better pre-selection.
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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On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we host Joao Aguiam, founder of Veertly and Padely.
We discuss how Joao built and sold his startup, Veertly, to Swisscom. He walks us through how startups are sold. Everything from finding the right price to the roles investors play.
Joao talks about his journey from Portugal to starting Veertly in the US. He also explains how they capitalized on the virtual events boom during the pandemic.
We then learn about Joao’s recent shift to building in public and what’s next for him.Tune in to learn more about:
~ Taking advantage of industry booms: How Veertly did it.
~ A serial founder’s guide to managing different startups and products
~ How startups are sold and the details of the Veertly-Swisscom exit
~ Joao’s shift to building in public
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro(00:15) - Joao's background and journey from Portugal to the US(01:24) - How Joao got into tech and startups(02:18) - How Veertly was founded(03:09) - What Veertly does(04:07) - How Joao took advantage of the virtual platform bubble during the pandemic (06:49) - Solving Veertly's marketing and positioning problem (09:50) - Making the gamble to launch a new product - Gomada (11:46) - Managing the startup team across different products (15:26) - How the startup acquisition process works(17:51) - Why Swisscom bought Veertly(18:36) - How to determine the price for an acquisition(19:45) - The role of investors in negotiation(20:44) - What's next for Joao(23:06) - Joao’s shift to building in public(25:03) - Where to find Joao onlineThe SaaS Operator Newsletter
Get actionable insights from SaaS veterans to grow your MRR.
Join hundreds of PLG founders at EarlyNode.com/Subscribe
Follow Joao:
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joaoaguiam
On Twitter: https://x.com/joaoaguiamMentioned In The Episode
https://veertly.com/ - Flexible platform for your online events
https://gomada.co/ - Employee Engagement Software
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, 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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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
-
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
-
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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