SaaS Origin Stories

In this special episode of SaaS Origin Stories, Phil brings you the season finale of the season. Dan Martell, Mark Stouse, Dani Grant, Brandon Metcalf, Ajay Goel, Geoff Roberts, Chris Frantz, Rand Fishkin, Jason Radisson, and Rex Kurzius share their experiences and insights on various topics in the startup world. They discuss their journeys as founders, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they used to build successful companies. They also touch on topics such as fundraising, product development, marketing strategies, and the importance of understanding the needs of your target audience. They provide valuable insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Guests at a Glance: * Dan Martell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmartell/] * Mark Stouse on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstouse/] * Dani Grant on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danigrant/] * Brandon Metcalf on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/metcalf] * Ajay Goel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaygoel999/] * Geoff Roberts on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrobertsmarketing] * Chris Frantz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctfrantz/] * Rand Fishkin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randfishkin/] * Jason Radisson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson/] * Rex Kurzius on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rex-kurzius-%F0%9F%90%BC-517aa9/] Links from the episode: * SaaS Academy [https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasacademy/] * Buy Back Your Time [https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Back-Your-Time-Unstuck/dp/059342297X/] * Proof [https://www.linkedin.com/company/proofanalytics/] * Misbehavior of Markets [https://www.amazon.com/Misbehavior-Markets-Fractal-Financial-Turbulence/dp/0465043577] * Jam.dev [https://www.linkedin.com/company/75655821/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3Bk%2B7j1TjsT2OFQUd42OsjBQ%3D%3D] * Place [https://www.linkedin.com/company/18750171/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3BCDClKDmaSLeY0OPJFjzC5w%3D%3D] * The Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz [https://www.amazon.in/Hard-Thing-about-Building-Business/dp/0062273205] * GMass [https://www.gmass.co/] * Outseta [https://www.linkedin.com/company/17952659/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BpHrueLENRzSiwac40EIrpQ%3D%3D] * Loops [https://loops.so/] * SparkToro [https://sparktoro.com/] * Rappi [https://www.linkedin.com/company/9997324/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] * 99 [https://www.linkedin.com/company/2635078/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D]  * Uber Technologies [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1815218/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] * Asset Panda [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3270360/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BYwRHUJYxQ9q%2FEDpD%2F5e%2FYQ%3D%3D] Links to full episodes: * Building A Multimillion Dollar SaaS Company From Scratch with Dan Martell of SaaS Academy [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/building-a-multimillion-dollar-saas-company-from-scratch-with-dan-martell-of-saas-academy] * 5 Things They Didn’t Teach You About Leading a SaaS Business with Mark Stouse of Proof [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/5-things-they-didn-t-teach-you-about-leading-a-saas-business-with-mark-stouse-of-proof] * The SaaS Product Market Fit Toolkit with Dani Grant of Jam.dev [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/s1e19] * 5 Things Every SaaS Founder Should Know About Navigating The World Of Startups with Brandon Metcalf of Place [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/using-outbound-marketing-to-create-a-product-market-fit-with-brandon-metcalf-ceo-of-place] * How To Shoestring Your SaaS with Ajay Goel of GMass [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/how-to-shoestring-your-saas-with-ajay-goel-of-gmass] * What SaaS Companies Need To Know About Content Marketing with Geoff Roberts of Outseta [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/what-saas-companies-need-to-know-about-content-marketing-with-geoff-roberts-of-outseta] * How to Refine your SaaS Product with Chris Frantz of Loops [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/how-to-refine-your-saas-product-with-chris-frantz-of-loops] * The End of VC with Rand Fishkin of SparkToro [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/the-end-of-vc-with-rand-fishkin-of-sparktoro/] * Exploring the SaaS Impact of AI & ChatGPT with Jason Radisson from Movo [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/exploring-the-saas-impact-of-ai-chatgpt-with-jason-radisson-from-movo] * How This SaaS Founder Fixed an Outdated Business Model with Rex Kurzius of Asset Panda [https://www.saasoriginstories.com/episodes/how-this-saas-founder-fixed-an-outdated-business-model-with-rex-kurzius-of-asset-panda] Topics we cover: * [01:23] - From Coding to Reading: Dan Martell's Journey of Self-Driven Education * [05:37] - Mark Stouse discusses the Origin, Development, and Unique Funding Approach of Proof Analytics * [09:59] - Dani Grant's Insights: Transition from VC to Founder and Navigating Fundraising * [14:40] - Brandon Metcalf's Journey: From Staffing to SaaS Funding and Mastering Salesforce * [19:47] - Ajay Goel on Building GMass, and Navigating Operational Costs and Monetization * [24:22] - Geoff Roberts on the Journey of Outseta: Part-time Beginnings, Bootstrapping Over VC Funding, and Leveraging Unique Marketing Strategies * [29:50] - Chris Frantz discusses the Art of Software Craftsmanship, Early Fundraising, and Building Loops from Scratch to Simplicity * [34:35] - Independent Pathways and Rigorous Research: Rand Fishkin's Journey to Build SparkToro * [41:11] - Jason Radisson’s Insights: Building a Tech-Enabled Business from Ground Up * [47:40] - Identifying and Solving Market Problems: Rex Kurzius on Asset Management Evolution

In this episode of SaaS Origin Stories, Phil speaks with Jane Portman, Co-Founder of Userlist, an email marketing platform built with B2B Saas in mind. Together, they discuss Jane’s history of creating successful products and how they led to what Userlist is today, the experience of joining an accelerator program as an SaaS founder, and why expansion revenue is the goldmine of SaaS. Guest at a Glance: Name: Jane Portman About Jane: Jane Portman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/uibreakfast/], Co-Founder of Userlist [https://www.linkedin.com/company/11781382/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3ByoVyLR6eTTiXBc0j5TIT5A%3D%3D], an email marketing platform built with B2B Saas in mind. A UI/UX consultant, specializing in web application design, Jane also runs the UI Breakfast Podcast.  * Jane on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/uibreakfast/] * Userlist on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/11781382/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3ByoVyLR6eTTiXBc0j5TIT5A%3D%3D] * Userlist Website [https://userlist.com/] * UI Breakfast Website [https://uibreakfast.com/] Links from the episode: * Jane on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/uibreakfast/] * Userlist on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/11781382/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3ByoVyLR6eTTiXBc0j5TIT5A%3D%3D] * Userlist Website [https://userlist.com/] Topics we cover: * [00:07] - The Problem that Userlist Solves and How Jane Discovered It * [01:26] - Jane’s History of Trial and Error in Creating Successful Products * [06:41] - Making the Decision to Join an Accelerator * [09:54] - Business Growth after Joining an Accelerator * [13:35] - Finding Your First Customers * [19:38] - Dealing with Surprising Customer and Non-Customer Feedback  * [24:25] - Learning the Limit of Resources * [26:04] - Expansion Revenue as the Goldmine of SaaS * [27:44] - Tiered vs. Metered Pricing Models * [31:54] - The Problem with Pricing Too Low [33:02] - A Look into the Current and Future Picture of Userlist

In this episode of SaaS Origin Stories, Phil speaks with Artem Koren, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI, an SaaS platform that uses proprietary AI algorithms to transcribe and analyze meetings. Together, they discuss making smart decisions in the early stages of a startup, as well as how to recover from blunders, insights into building out an AI engine, and how Artem found and filled a gap in the technology market. Guest at a Glance: Name: Artem Koren About Artem: Artem Koren [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akoren/], Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI [https://www.linkedin.com/company/35632636/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BsPCBkoBrSKuqUNSHJJJF9w%3D%3D], an SaaS platform that uses proprietary AI algorithms to transcribe and analyze meetings, making them a more effective experience for teams. Previously he was the Senior Vice President at UMT Consulting, which was acquired by EY Advisory in 2015, and the Co-Founder of Neusana. * Artem on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akoren/] * Sembly AI on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/semblyai/] * Sembly AI Website [https://www.sembly.ai/] Links from the episode: * Artem on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akoren/] * Artem on Twitter [https://twitter.com/clearlykoren?lang=en-GB] * Artem’s article on the Major Pitfalls of Generative AI [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/major-pitfalls-generative-ai-today-artem-koren/?trackingId=Z9TtBhVWSauvJs%2BFeplFcA%3D%3D] * Artem’s Website [http://www.artemkoren.com/] * Artem’s book Untethered [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Artem-Koren/author/B07CVPHT1S?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true] * Sembly AI on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/semblyai/] * Sembly AI Website [https://www.sembly.ai/] * Sembly AI Blog [https://www.sembly.ai/blog/] * Sembly AI on Twitter  [https://twitter.com/sembly_ai?lang=en] Topics we cover: * [00:14] - Artem’s Journey from Consulting to Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer * [03:48] - Sembly AI as a Problem Solver * [08:39] - Insights into Building Out an AI Engine * [20:58] - The Importance of Focussing on Individual User Experiences when Approaching Big Organizations * [27:54] - Finding and Filling a Gap in the Technology Market * [34:23] - Dealing with ‘Hype’ when Building a New Product * [37:39] - Making Smart Decisions in the Early Days of a Startup * [45:52] - How to Deal with Early Mistakes and a Lack of Predictability * [51:46] - Why You Should Approach Customers Earlier Rather Than Later

In this episode of SaaS Origin Stories, Phil speaks with Jason Radisson, CEO of Movo, a platform that helps businesses build, run, and upskill their workforces. On top of that, he is also an Investor & Growth Advisor at Rappi! Together, they delve into Jason’s history as a serial entrepreneur, how Movo acquired online giant Amazon as a client, and why bootstrapping can be both a risky and effective method of funding a startup. They also discuss whether entry-level jobs will be automated away by the likes of ChatGPT and AI. So make sure you stick around for this one; you don’t want to miss out!! Guest at a Glance: Name: Jason Radisson About Jason: Jason Radisson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson], CEO of Movo [https://www.linkedin.com/company/37549386/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D], a platform that helps businesses build, run, and upskill their workforces! On top of that, he is also an Investor & Growth Advisor at Rappi! Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer at 99-Taxis, General Manager at Uber Technologies, and Founder and CEO of Echtzeit GmbH. * Jason on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson] * Movo’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/37549386/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] * Movo’s Website [https://movo.co/] Links from the episode: * Jason on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson] * Movo’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/37549386/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] * Movo’s Website [https://movo.co/] * Rappi [https://www.linkedin.com/company/9997324/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] * 99 [https://www.linkedin.com/company/2635078/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D]  * Uber Technologies [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1815218/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3Bl1gBNpMwSwu4LXOW8B2eYw%3D%3D] Topics we cover: * [00:20] - Jason’s History as a Serial Founder and Entrepreneur * [04:44] - What Distinguishes a Massive Online Marketplace? * [07:03] - How Movo Acquired Amazon as a Customer * [11:10] - Bootstrapping: A Risky But Effective Method of Fundraising * [20:20] - Helping the Bigger Corporations Onboard Your Systems * [24:10] - Most Founders Just Want to Help People Get Ahead * [34:01] - Will Entry-Level White Collar Jobs be Automated Away?

In this episode of SaaS Origin Stories, Phil speaks with Daniel Bakh, CEO of Fullview, a platform that enables SaaS companies to deliver delightful support that is fast, personable, and scalable. He is also the Host of the Collective Hindsight podcast where accomplished founders and investors share their stories, and was previously the Growth Manager at Contractbook and a Product Evangelist at TwentyThree. Join them as they delve into how Daniel turned his frustration in a customer-facing SaaS role into an entirely new business, why going full-time with Fullview straight away was a very risky but worthwhile move, and why your SaaS product needs a hook for your investors. They also discuss why listening to your customers' problems is one of the most important things you can do as a founder. Guest at a Glance: Name: Daniel Bakh About Daniel: Daniel Bakh is the CEO of Fullview, a platform that enables SaaS companies to deliver delightful support that is fast, personable, and scalable. He is also the Host of the Collective Hindsight podcast where accomplished founders and investors share their stories, and was previously the Growth Manager at Contractbook and a Product Evangelist at TwentyThree. * Daniel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbakh] * Fullview on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/75064861/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_position_details%3BNkhRAxaKQ8GN5Ju7HGtU5Q%3D%3D] * Fullview’s Website [https://www.fullview.io/] Topics we cover: * How Fullview saves time for B2B SaaS companies * Going fulltime from day one and the fundraising process * Jumping straight into the company: brave or stupid? * Pitching the idea to investors * Sometimes all you need is a powerpoint * Figuring out your North Star * Why you should meet with every user of your product * Visualizing the design of a feature before actually making it * Listen to the customers, but focus on their problems And more!