Good Companies Are Bought, Not Sold |  How Founders Can Get Legally Ready for an Exit With Becky Mancero of SPZ Legal

Good Companies Are Bought, Not Sold |  How Founders Can Get Legally Ready for an Exit With Becky Mancero of SPZ Legal

In this episode, Melissa Widner sits down with Becky Mancero, partner at SPZ Legal [https://spzlegal.com/]. SPZ is a law firm that works with technology companies from startup to exit. They discuss the cap table and equity mistakes that become expensive to fix later, like splitting ownership 50/50 by default and missing the strict 30-day window for an 83(b) election. Becky also shares her take on using AI as a companion rather than a replacement for lawyers, including the privilege risks posed by AI note-takers in sensitive meetings. If you're forming a company, thinking about how your team uses AI, or planning for an eventual exit, this conversation covers the legal side worth getting right early on.

What SaaS Founders Get Wrong About Growth and Funding - A Candid Conversation With Greg Head of Practical Founders

In this episode, Melissa Widner sits down with Greg Head [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregheadaz/], founder of Practical Founders [https://practicalfounders.com/], to explore a different path to building successful software companies—one that doesn’t rely on venture capital or “grow fast or die” pressure. Greg shares insights from over 30 years in the SaaS world, working with founders who are building valuable, sustainable businesses through bootstrapping and non-dilutive funding. Together, they unpack what defines a “practical founder,” why most exits don’t make headlines, and how founders can retain control, optionality, and long-term upside. They also dive into the metrics that truly matter—CAC, LTV, and net revenue retention—and how AI is reshaping growth strategies for modern SaaS companies. Plus, Greg offers candid perspectives on venture capital myths, exit timing, and why many founders are better off playing a different game entirely. If you’re a founder weighing funding options, navigating growth decisions, or thinking about your eventual exit, this conversation offers a grounded, real-world perspective on building a company your way.

AI, Venture Capital, and the Future of SaaS: What Startup Founders Need to Know

What does AI really mean for SaaS companies and startup founders? And why has venture capital suddenly cooled on SaaS funding? In this episode of Bootstrapped: The Lighter Side, Melissa Widner speaks with Marc Verissimo, Chair of Lighter Capital and former Chief Risk Officer at Silicon Valley Bank, about the economic forces shaping the future of SaaS, startup funding, and venture capital. Marc explains how he analyzes the economy—from 10-year bond yields and labor participation to productivity growth and political risk—and what founders should actually pay attention to when planning for the next few years. The discussion explores how AI will change the SaaS ecosystem, why SaaS companies remain foundational because they generate the data AI relies on, and why recent venture capital pullbacks from SaaS may be cyclical rather than permanent. They also discuss tariffs, geopolitical shifts, and regulatory volatility, and how these factors impact startup growth, funding availability, and long-term economic outlook. If you're building a SaaS company or navigating today’s startup funding environment, this episode offers practical insights on risk management, capital strategy, and economic trends every founder should understand.

From Cash Flow to Exit: How Sharon Nouh Bootstrapped ProSpend to a Successful Acquisition

In this episode of Bootstrapped: The Lighter Side, we sit down with Sharon Nouh, founder and CEO of ProSpend and Lighter Capital’s first-ever Grit & Growth Award. Sharon shares how she built and scaled a SaaS company without traditional VC funding—and ultimately led it to a successful acquisition by UK-based ISH. Sharon walks through the realities of bootstrapping: managing cash flow, choosing non-dilutive funding, maintaining control as a founder, and navigating the challenges she faced pitching VCs as a female entrepreneur. She also reflects on the pivotal moments that accelerated ProSpend’s growth, including key partnerships and integrations that unlocked scale. Beyond her journey to success, she shares practical lessons on preparing for an exit, what founders should expect from the acquisition process, and why playing the long game can pay off in a big way.

The Market Is Open: Fundraising, Efficiency & the Future of SaaS

In this episode of Bootstrapped: The Lighter Side, Lighter Capital CEO Melissa Widner sits down with Sammy Abdullah, Co-Founder and Chair of Blossom Street Ventures, for a candid, contrarian, and refreshingly practical conversation about the state of the market for SaaS founders. Sammy shares why he believes the pendulum has swung decisively back in favor of founders—despite the narrative that venture capital is still frozen—and why strong companies are getting funded quickly at valuations some investors won’t touch (but others clearly will). He also pushes back on the “AI will kill SaaS” storyline, arguing that established software companies are best positioned to capitalize on AI, not threatened by it. From his data-driven investment philosophy to his unusually open attitude toward cold inbound (yes—he actually prefers it), Sammy breaks down: * Why SaaS fundraising is far more active today than many assume * How lenders and private credit are reshaping the capital landscape * Why quantitative metrics beat team pedigree every time * The SaaS metrics he analyzes first—and why they matter more than pitch polish * A contrarian view on profitability and why many companies are focusing on the wrong thing * What he expects for SaaS, AI, interest rates, IPOs, and growth heading into 2026 If you're a B2B SaaS founder navigating fundraising, growth efficiency, or the rise of AI, this episode delivers uncommon insight wrapped in practical, founder-first advice.