Claim OwnershipSaaS Builder Podcast
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Description
Being a SaaS founder is hard.
Product-market fit. Customer acquisition. Culture. Cash flow. Scaling… It’s a lot!
There’s no roadmap, no magic formula—just hard-earned lessons from those who’ve been there.
The SaaS Builder Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you actionable tactics and fresh perspectives from SaaS founders, growth strategists, and finance leaders.
Join Randy Wootton—CEO of Maxio and seasoned SaaS leader—as he hosts conversations with the voices shaping the SaaS industry. From founders scaling startups to CFOs mastering financial growth, Randy & his guests unpack the decisions, strategies, and challenges that define success in SaaS.
No fluff. No filler. Just the conversations that move your SaaS business forward.
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P.S. We're always on the lookout for SaaS experts. For speaking inquiries, fill out this form. For all other inquiries, email podcast@saasbuilderpod.com.
Produced by I Hear Everything
119 Episodes
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In this week's final lightning round on the SaaS Builder Podcast, Brian, CEO and co-founder of Bigfoot Capital, examines the power of alternative financing in enabling SaaS companies to achieve scalable growth without sacrificing control. Highlighting success stories like MailChimp and ServiceNow, Brian underscores the importance of balancing profitability and growth while maintaining flexibility in capital structure. With practical advice for navigating financial risk and crafting a deliberate growth strategy, this episode is a must-listen for SaaS leaders seeking to align their business trajectory with their long-term vision.Connect with:Brian Parks: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Brian Parks, CEO and co-founder of Bigfoot Capital, returns to the SaaS Builder Podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of capital structure for SaaS founders. In this episode, Brian explores the growing trend of diversifying funding strategies with debt financing alongside equity. He shares practical advice on building a peer network, finding mentors, and assembling an advisor bench to navigate complex financial decisions. Whether you're considering non-dilutive growth options or seeking insights on balancing debt and equity, this episode offers actionable guidance for early-stage founders aiming to make informed fundraising choices.Connect with:Brian Parks: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Brian Parks, CEO and co-founder of Bigfoot Capital, is back with Randy to discuss the key metrics SaaS founders should master before seeking equity or debt financing. In this insightful conversation, Brian explores the importance of customer and revenue data, retention metrics, and MRR components for assessing growth potential. He explains the significance of historical performance in shaping future expectations and achieving milestones, offering actionable advice on using non-dilutive capital to bridge the gap to critical growth stages. Whether you're preparing for your next funding round or optimizing your SaaS business metrics, this episode provides valuable strategies to unlock your company's potential.Connect with:Brian Parks: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Brian Parks, CEO and Co-founder of Bigfoot Capital, delves into the intricacies of capital structure for SaaS companies. Explore various financing options, including venture equity, venture debt, ARR lending, and revenue-based financing. Understand the pitfalls of over-leveraging and learn strategies to optimize your capital structure at different growth stages, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.Connect with:Brian Parks: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Gleeson, General Partner and Founder at Success Venture Partners, dives into the nuances of self-service customer support and its growing importance in the SaaS industry. He challenges the common perception that self-service is merely a tool for scaling, emphasizing its role as a foundational element paired with enhanced user experiences. Drawing parallels with consumer tech innovations, John highlights the demand for enterprise solutions to match the seamless, self-guided experiences that have become standard in consumer spaces. Discover the latest insights on how SaaS companies can elevate their offerings by learning from consumer tech trends.Connect with:John Gleeson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Gleeson, General Partner and Founder at Success Venture Partners, delves into modernizing customer success strategies in the ever-evolving SaaS landscape. He challenges the traditional playbooks, advocating for a first-principles approach informed by comprehensive industry and organizational insights. Discover how shifting from seat-based to outcome-based models can redefine success and influence monetization strategies. This discussion emphasizes the critical role of customer success leaders in shaping pricing and packaging for future growth.Connect with:John Gleeson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Gleeson, general partner and founder at Success Venture Partners, shares insights into the critical role of customer feedback loops in achieving product market fit. He dives into actionable strategies for maintaining a pulse on customer concerns, from storytelling in leadership meetings to CEO engagement in customer success. Discover how placing customer stories and feedback at the heart of organizational culture can drive growth, and learn how top leaders like Marc Benioff and Larry Ellison prioritize customer health and satisfaction. An enlightening discussion for those looking to integrate customer success deeply into their business DNA.Connect with:John Gleeson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Gleeson, a general partner and founder at Success Venture Partners, shares his insights on the critical choice between product development and customer feedback. Drawing on lessons from legends like Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, John emphasizes the importance of truly understanding customers, especially in the AI-driven world where products can be built rapidly. This discussion navigates the delicate balance of having a strong vision while ensuring that deep customer knowledge is at the core of a startup's strategy. Discover how this focus can unlock essential growth for early-stage startups.Connect with:John Gleeson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Gleeson, General Partner and Founder at Success Venture Partners, shares his insights on the crucial role founders play in shaping customer success strategies within startups. Discover the concept of "founder led customer success," where post-sales customer interactions reveal true product market fit, often beyond initial sales figures. Gain valuable perspectives on the evolving journey from founder-led sales to establishing a scalable post-sales structure, with a focus on customer validation as a hallmark of genuine product market fit. Learn from John's experiences about the importance of flexibility in customer success approaches to accommodate diverse customer needs during a startup's growth phase.Connect with:John Gleeson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Omar Akhtar, founder and principal analyst at Benchmarker, delves into the complexities of usage-based pricing models for SaaS companies, weighing the pros and limitations of this approach. He discusses the appeal and challenges of hybrid pricing models, highlighting the importance of aligning perceived value with actual costs from the customer perspective. With insights on the evolving nature of SaaS pricing, Omar offers thoughtful perspectives on what might shape the industry's future, particularly concerning AI companies and resource limitations. This conversation is rich with practical takeaways for those navigating the SaaS landscape.Connect with:Omar Akhtar: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Omar Akhtar, founder and principal analyst at Benchmarker, shares insights into the evolving landscape of B2B marketing. Discussing the importance of diversifying marketing strategies, Omar highlights the need to experiment with new channels while traditional methods fall short. The conversation explores the value of staying agile in marketing experimentation and learning from the rapid media shifts that continue to shape brand engagement. With practical advice and real-world examples, Omar emphasizes the significance of keeping marketing strategies fresh and dynamic for brand growth.Connect with:Omar Akhtar: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Omar Akhtar, founder and principal analyst at Benchmarker, shares insights on the pivotal choice between investing in user experience versus brand storytelling for SaaS products. Delving into what brand storytelling truly entails, he emphasizes the simplicity of communicating the user's journey and the solution offered. Highlighting the frequent oversight in clearly articulating this story, Omar provides valuable guidance for technical founders on how to connect effectively with their audience through storytelling. His insights are crucial for those looking to leverage brand storytelling as a means to engage and retain users.Connect with:Omar Akhtar: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Omar Akhtar, founder and principal analyst at Benchmarker, dives into the evolving landscape of brand loyalty versus product features for SaaS companies. He challenges the importance of brand loyalty in a highly competitive market where user satisfaction and quick subscription cancellations redefine traditional business relationships. With insights on the significance of aligning product capabilities with customer expectations, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on ensuring value creation and realization post-sale for SaaS success.Connect with:Omar Akhtar: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Omar Akhtar, founder and principal analyst at Benchmarker, dives into the critical balance between brand and demand marketing for B2B SaaS companies. He reveals insights from his latest research, highlighting that companies exceeding revenue targets tend to allocate more resources toward brand building. Omar also tackles misconceptions surrounding brand spending, emphasizing its long-term value and importance for inclusion on customer shortlists. Listen for actionable advice on how early-stage companies can effectively measure brand success even with limited resources.Connect with:Omar Akhtar: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Wilson, founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, delves into strategic approaches to SaaS pricing that maximize profit without alienating customers. He emphasizes the importance of meeting customers where they are, exploring demand curves, and understanding the unique value proposition of each product offering. Highlighting examples like Apple's pricing strategy, Bill advises on effectively capturing different customer segments and the intertwined nature of pricing and product development. Gain insights into navigating the challenges of expansion, segment targeting, and ensuring your pricing strategy aligns with customer expectations and business economics.Connect with:Bill Wilson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Wilson, Founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, shares insights into sustaining recurring revenue growth through strategic pricing experiments. Delving into the nuances of SaaS pricing models, he emphasizes the significance of continuous testing and adapting pricing strategies as products evolve. Wilson highlights the importance of early-stage monetization considerations when adding new features and how understanding customer willingness to pay can guide effective pricing tactics. Learn valuable lessons about aligning new offerings with business goals and measuring success through clear, actionable metrics.Connect with:Bill Wilson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Wilson, founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, delves into the intricacies of pricing strategies for early-stage SaaS companies. He discusses the balance between flat rate and usage-based pricing models, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer usage before diving into complex pricing structures. His practical insights into packaging, including the concepts of jobs to be done and featuring an all-in-one approach, help simplify how to effectively drive recurring revenue growth. Wilson also highlights the need for creating a disciplined pricing muscle within a company, ensuring a cohesive approach from product development to marketing.Connect with:Bill Wilson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Wilson, founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, shares his insights on the often-overlooked concept of expansion in SaaS pricing. He highlights the importance of focusing on existing customers, explaining how expansion is a reflection of the value provided, and why achieving high net revenue retention can lead to faster growth. Exploring the dynamics between acquisition and retention, Bill emphasizes the need for experimentation and data analysis to better understand customer behavior and refine pricing strategies. This conversation provides actionable insights for those looking to balance growth with customer satisfaction and long-term success.Connect with:Bill Wilson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Wilson, Founder and CEO at Pace Pricing, delves into the intricacies of turning pricing into an art form. He identifies common pricing challenges in SaaS, emphasizing the need to communicate value and ensure pricing strategies are regularly evaluated and adjusted. Bill shares strategies on using hybrid pricing models and the importance of balancing predictability for both companies and customers while encouraging thoughtful experimentation to drive recurring revenue growth.Connect with:Bill Wilson: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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