The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

SaaStr
The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

The Official SaaStr Podcast is the latest and greatest from the world of SaaStr, interviewing the most prominent operators and investors to discover their tips, tactics and strategies to attain success in the fiercely competitive world of SaaS. On the side of the operators, we center around getting from $0 to $100m ARR faster, what it takes to scale successfully and what are the core elements of hiring. As for the investors, we learn what metrics they hone in on when examining SaaS business, what type of metrics excites them and what they look for in SaaS founders.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    SaaStr 762: How to Build a Product Customers Love and Drive Nearly $1B in Revenue Along the Way with Klaviyo CEO Andrew Bialecki and SaaStr CEO and Founder, Jason Lemkin

    SaaStr 762: How to Build a Product Customers Love and Drive Nearly $1B in Revenue Along the Way with Klaviyo CEO Andrew Bialecki and SaaStr CEO and Founder, Jason Lemkin Klaviyo is the most awesome SaaS company you don't know enough about yet. :) Join SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Klaviyo CEO and Co-Founder, Andrew Bialecki as they discuss Klaviyo's rise as a leading marketing and customer data platform for B2C businesses. Discover the strategies behind its growth, the challenges faced in expansion, the pivotal partnership with Shopify, and insights into successfully navigating the journey from SMBs to enterprise markets. Learn about the company's IPO experience, the impact of strategic product development, and how Klaviyo became an indispensable tool for e-commerce businesses that has millions of raving customers and nearly $1B in revenue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Join us at SaaStr Annual 2025:  Hey everybody - thanks to the 10,000 of you who came out to SaaStr Annual. We had a blast and big news -- we'll be back in MAY of 2025. That's right, the SaaStr Annual will be a bit earlier next year, May 13-15 2025. We'll still be back in the same venue, in the SF bay area at the 40+ acre sprawling san mateo county events center. Grab your tickets at saastrannual.com with code jason50 for an extra discount on our very best pricing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com When the right person for the job is a world away, Remote Talent brings the world to you. As the top job board for remote-first companies, we give you powerful tools to post your listings and reach the world's top candidates and remote professionals. Start building your dream team from anywhere—visit Remote.com/jobs today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Anrok A question for SaaS finance leaders, do you know where your customers are? Anrok tracks where your sales are creating exposure, and automates tax calculation and filing worldwide. Built for high-growth software companies, Anrok protects your revenue and saves you time. Visit anrok.com/saastr to learn more.

    50 min
  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    SaaStr 761: How to Build Pipeline and GTM Alignment with Datadog’s CMO Sara Varni

    SaaStr 761: How to Build Pipeline and GTM Alignment with Datadog’s CMO Sara Varni Sara Varni, Datadog‘s CMO, shares how to build pipeline and create alignment across sales and marketing. The CMO role at Datadog covers the usual aspects of marketing, including product marketing, corporate communications, events, partnership marketing, and solutions marketing. While these insights seem like pipeline 101, they aren’t always implemented. Let’s look at some quick facts about Sara’s experience. She spent a decade at Salesforce before moving on to Twilio as CMO when they were at about $400M ARR with 30 sales reps. They had a healthy self-service motion, but growth was flattening. About four years later, she joined Attentive as CMO, a late-stage startup in the SMS marketing space. Now, she’s the CMO at Datadog. Each of these companies had different GTM motions.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey everybody - thanks to the 10,000 of you who came out to SaaStr Annual. We had a blast and big news -- we'll be back in MAY of 2025. That's right, the SaaStr Annual will be a bit earlier next year, May 13-15 2025. We'll still be back in the same venue, in the SF bay area at the 40+ acre sprawling san mateo county events center. Grab your tickets at saastrannual.com with code jason50 for an extra discount on our very best pricing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com When the right person for the job is a world away, Remote Talent brings the world to you. As the top job board for remote-first companies, we give you powerful tools to post your listings and reach the world's top candidates and remote professionals. Start building your dream team from anywhere—visit Remote.com/jobs today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Anrok A question for SaaS finance leaders, do you know where your customers are? Anrok tracks where your sales are creating exposure, and automates tax calculation and filing worldwide. Built for high-growth software companies, Anrok protects your revenue and saves you time. Visit anrok.com/saastr to learn more.

    30 min
  3. 27 SEPT

    SaaStr 760: CRO Confidential: Rippling’s Top 3 Growth Tactics for Driving Revenue at Scale with Rippling CRO Matt Plank and Former CRO at Brex Sam Blond

    SaaStr 760: CRO Confidential: Rippling’s Top 3 Growth Tactics for Driving Revenue at Scale with Rippling CRO Matt Plank and Former CRO at Brex Sam Blond  At this year’s SaaStr Annual, Rippling’s CRO, Matt Plank, chats with Sam Blond, host of the SaaStr CRO Confidential and former CRO at Brex, about Rippling’s top 3 growth tactics, which have led to the Rippling becoming a $14B company with several hundred million of ARR. A few years ago, Matt was making cold calls from CEO Parker Conrad’s basement, and he’s helped bring Rippling to where it is today. The three growth tactics that worked for Rippling can be categorized into three different stages: Outbound Increasing closed-won revenue rates Serving customers and expanding revenue in the base -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2025 at: SaaStr Annual: May. 13-15 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Get your early bird tickets TODAY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Pendo This episode is sponsored by our good friends at Pendo the all-in-one product experience platform. Pendo brings together product analytics. Guides discovery and replay. So you can improve your product experiences for every customer and employee try Pendo for free at Pendo.io/saastr. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com Ready to expand into new markets with confidence? Remote's comprehensive HR suite propels your growth from the ground up. From setting up new entities and managing intellectual property, to overseeing contractor compliance Remote makes scaling effortless.With their platform and partnership, your business grows not just bigger, but smarter. Transform your growth today with remote at Remote.com.

    40 min
  4. 25 SEPT

    SaaStr 759: 5 Metrics that Matter When Raising Your SaaS Series A and Series B Round with Christoph Janz, Partner at Point Nine Capital

    SaaStr 759: 5 Metrics that Matter When Raising Your SaaS Series A and Series B Round with Christoph Janz, Partner at Point Nine Capital  What data and metrics do you need to convince SaaS investors you’re in good shape and aligned with what they care about? Christoph Janz, Partner at Point Nine Capital, shares 5 key insights during this year’s SaaStr Annual. These metrics are more targeted to those preparing for a Series A or B round and could make the difference between an excited-to-invest-in-you investor and a pass. Why should you spend the time getting your act together before fundraising? If your data is self-explanatory, in good shape, easy to understand, and aligned with what investors care about, you avoid a lot of unnecessary back and forth. Less time clarifying what your metrics mean results in more time to talk to more investors in parallel and increased confidence with each of those investors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2025 at: SaaStr Annual: May. 13-15 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Get your early bird tickets TODAY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Pendo This episode is sponsored by Pendo, the all-in-one product experience platform. Pendo helps your users do the things you really want them to do. You can try Pendo for free at Pendo.io/saastr and check out Mind The Product, the community for product people like… us. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com Big things start like this. Every industry leader began with a simple idea and the courage to dream big. At Remote, we’re here to help you turn your vision into reality. From onboarding top talent to managing payroll worldwide, our tools and expertise support your journey from initial start to impressive growth worldwide. Start anywhere. Grow everywhere. Forge your path to success at Remote.com.

    29 min
  5. 20 SEPT

    SaaStr 758: Avoid These Common Founder Mistakes to Hire a Great VP of Sales in 2024 with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

    SaaStr 758: Avoid These Common Founder Mistakes to Hire a Great VP of Sales in 2024 with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin In this episode of the official SaaStr podcast, we delve into the common pitfalls founders encounter when hiring a VP of Sales. SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin kicked off the SaaStr Annual by reflecting on twelve years of hiring lessons, sharing critical insights into why sales leaders fail and how founders can avoid these mistakes. The discussion covers the importance of due diligence, understanding the product, embracing sales involvement post-hire, and recognizing the signs of jaded or broken candidates. The episode emphasizes the need for rigorous hiring processes and the impact of a bad hire on startup growth. Tune in for practical advice to ensure your next critical hire drives success.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2025 at: SaaStr Annual: May. 13-15 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Get your early bird tickets TODAY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Pendo This episode is sponsored by Pendo, the all-in-one product experience platform. Pendo helps your users do the things you really want them to do. You can try Pendo for free at Pendo.io/saastr and check out Mind The Product, the community for product people like… us. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com Big things start like this. Every industry leader began with a simple idea and the courage to dream big. At Remote, we’re here to help you turn your vision into reality. From onboarding top talent to managing payroll worldwide, our tools and expertise support your journey from initial start to impressive growth worldwide. Start anywhere. Grow everywhere. Forge your path to success at Remote.com.

    45 min
  6. 31 AUG

    SaaStr 757: 10 Cheat Codes I Learned While Scaling to $400M with Yext and Roam Founder Howard Lerman

    SaaStr 757: 10 Cheat Codes I Learned While Scaling to $400M with Yext and Roam Founder Howard Lerman Dive into a unique and tactical journey with Howard Lerman, Founder at Roam, sharing unconventional yet effective strategies drawn from personal experiences and notable figures like John Lennon. Learn the importance of mastering storytelling, the art of live demos, the controversial take on one-on-one meetings, and the benefits of Sunday night executive meetings. Discover how leveraging your cap table for strategic advisors can accelerate your business and understand the significance of maintaining product market fit. Embrace the philosophy of doing things your way and making your company an extension of your vision. This episode is packed with practical advice for startup founders looking to navigate the complexities of building and scaling their companies. Howard's 10 cheat codes: Memorize Your Lines: Master storytelling by memorizing your company's story. The Live Demo: Take the risk with live demos. 1:1 Meetings Are Terrible: Avoid scheduled one-on-one meetings. Sunday Night Meetings: Start your week with Sunday night exec meetings. Advisor-Led Growth: Use stock options to bring on influential advisors. 5-Minute Meetings: Hold short, effective meetings. Meet with Customers: Meeting customers lifts spirits. Board Chair: Have a powerful chairperson. Do Not Delegate: Retain control over critical functions like product-market fit. Have Fun: Make your company your creative canvas.

    33 min
  7. 14 AUG

    SaaStr 756: From Challenges and Churn to Triumph - How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Support at Scale with Monday.com's VP of Customer Experience

    SaaStr 756: From Challenges and Churn to Triumph - How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Support at Scale with Monday.com's VP of Customer Experience In this episode of the Official SaaStr Podcast, Natalie Margolin, VP of Customer Experience at monday.com, shares her journey and strategies for enhancing customer experience in a rapidly growing company. From tackling challenges of scale, implementing AI and chatbots, to ensuring customer satisfaction and building an expert support team, Natalie explains the transformative steps and guiding principles that have positioned monday.com as an industry leader in customer experience. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2024 at: SaaStr Annual: Sept. 10-12 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Podcast listeners can grab a discount on tickets here: https://www.saastrannual2024.com/buy-tickets?promo=fave20 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Paragon Are you constantly saying no to your customers’ integration requests? You’re not alone. That’s why companies like Copy.ai and Sinch use Paragon, an embedded integration platform, to ship integrations 7 times faster. Ready to scale your product’s integration strategy? Visit useparagon.com/saastr to explore how Paragon can help you go-to-market faster with integrations today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com   When the right person for the job is a world away, Remote Talent brings the world to you. As the top job board for remote-first companies, we give you powerful tools to post your listings and reach the world's top candidates and remote professionals. Start building your dream team from anywhere—visit Remote.com/jobs today.

    36 min
  8. 9 AUG

    SaaStr 755: How to Optimize Sales Performance, SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin Answers Your Top SaaS Sales Questions

    SaaStr 755: How to Optimize Sales Performance, SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin Answers Your Top SaaS Sales Questions In this episode, we dive into the intricacies of effective sales check-ins, best practices for managing remote teams, and the essential strategies for hiring and ramping up sales leadership. Jason Lemkin answers audience questions, covers why Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) are becoming obsolete, the significance of measuring sales team activities, and the critical importance of ensuring new hires are product experts before they start. Other key topics include handling lone wolf sales reps, sourcing pipeline percentage, and the differing approaches needed for SMB and enterprise sales teams. A must-listen for SaaS founders, sales leaders, and anyone looking to optimize their sales process in our remote-first world.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2024 at: SaaStr Annual: Sept. 10-12 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Podcast listeners can grab a discount on tickets here: https://www.saastrannual2024.com/buy-tickets?promo=fave20 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Paragon Are you constantly saying no to your customers’ integration requests? You’re not alone. That’s why companies like Copy.ai and Sinch use Paragon, an embedded integration platform, to ship integrations 7 times faster. Ready to scale your product’s integration strategy? Visit useparagon.com/saastr to explore how Paragon can help you go-to-market faster with integrations today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com   Elevate your contractor management with a platform built for SaaS leaders. With Remote, you get zero-cost compliance screening and a fair price guarantee from day one. Enjoy fast, international payments, round-the-clock support, and robust indemnity coverage with Contractor Management Plus. Scale your operations confidently with Remote.com—visit us to start your free 30-day trial and unlock a solution that simplifies end-to-end contractor management.

    31 min

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The Official SaaStr Podcast is the latest and greatest from the world of SaaStr, interviewing the most prominent operators and investors to discover their tips, tactics and strategies to attain success in the fiercely competitive world of SaaS. On the side of the operators, we center around getting from $0 to $100m ARR faster, what it takes to scale successfully and what are the core elements of hiring. As for the investors, we learn what metrics they hone in on when examining SaaS business, what type of metrics excites them and what they look for in SaaS founders.

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