The SaaS Academy Podcast SaaS Academy

“Who are you beyond your professional identity?”
Join Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) as they sit down with Steve Schlafman, a former VC who traded the boardroom for the coaching couch. Steve now guides high-achievers, especially founders, through major life pivots and career crossroads.
In this episode, Steve opens up about his own winding path from venture capitalist to life coach, sharing the "aha" moment that sparked his career shift. He goes deep into the fascinating world of "founders in transition," revealing the unique hurdles and unexpected opportunities that emerge when driven individuals decide to hit the brakes
Tune in to hear Steve's unique perspective on the intersection of high performance and intentional living.
(01:17) - Steve's background
(04:15) - The concept of "founders in transition"
(07:50) - Embracing slowing down
(11:48) - Transitioning concepts that also apply to builders
(15:19) - Habits of founders behind successful transitions
(19:31) - The power of internal monologues in high-performing founders
(27:52) - The eventual necessity of slowing down
(31:09) - How Steve helps shape new identities for founders
(37:23) - The connection between a diversified identity and resilience
(43:53) - Steve's "journey inventory" exercise
(48:48) - The moment Steve realized his passion for helping founders transition
(55:39) - Everyone is always going through micro cycles
(58:23) - The concept of being above the line/below the line
(01:05:55) - Living the undivided life
(01:09:44) - The differences between transitioning and deceleration
(01:16:42) - Building appreciation for deceleration
(01:21:27) - VC-backed founders and the integrated life

Check out Steve on:
➤ Personal website: https://www.schlaf.co/
➤ Downshift: https://www.downshift.me/
➤ Twitter: [](https://www.instagram.com/danielpriestley)https://x.com/schlaf
➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schlaf/

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success - [](https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3MHWUE

👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? [Book a FREE growth session](https://www.saasacademy.com/scalenow?utm_campaign=SAPodcast_2023&utm_source=applespotify&utm_medium=shownotes).

Check out SaaS Academy on:
➤ [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSAcademy) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/saasacademy/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasacademy/) | [Twitter / X](https://x.com/saasacademy) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SaaSAcademy) | [Website](https://www.saasacademy.com/) | [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-saas-academy-podcast/id1718719323) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/05gCHHhhpmDxaFacza6Qpo?si=98bd9025716746c4)

➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mattverlaque/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-verlaque/)

➤ Follow Johnny Page on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnnypage13/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnypage/)

“I just read the best fiction of my life and it was my pitch deck from two years ago.”
Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast as they sit down with Maddie Bell, CEO of Scheduler.ai. Maddie's journey from Procter & Gamble to co-founding a thriving startup is packed with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Discover how Maddie and her husband successfully balance the challenges of building a company while raising a family. Learn how they've leveraged AI to streamline scheduling and cater to a niche market, proving that technology and personal life can coexist harmoniously.

Maddie opens up about the risks and rewards of leaving a stable job to pursue her passion, sharing her experiences from fundraising rounds and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way.

But it's not just about the tech – Maddie delves into the importance of aligning AI with the core principles of customer connection and business growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and achieving a fulfilling work-life balance

(05:40) - Maddie Bell's backstory
(6:34) - Winning two Hackathons (Slack and Square)
(10:32) - Unexpected expansion through 'niching down'
(13:26) - De-risking and setting timelines to go all-in
(21:35) - Expectations before leaving Procter & Gamble and feelings after the fact
(24:30) - Fundraising rounds before and after the change of focus
(26:50) - To patent or not to patent (ROI considerations)
(31:26) - The right and wrong ways to leverage AI
(35:20) - The entry point to start using AI
(37:10) - The three phases of AI (including the two we've seen so far)
(42:45) - Scheduler AI competing with basic ChatGPT wrapped tooling
(47:48) - Intimately understanding the jobs to be done for your customer
(51:40) - The rhythms and habits of Maddie and her co-founder Mike Bell
(55:18) - Maddie's thoughts on 'founders are the ceilings of growth'
(57:15) - The value of coaching
(1:01:48) - "You were digging for oil and you were close but you stopped."
(1:07:30) - What Maddie wants to be remembered for



Check out Maddie’s LinkedIn and her website:
➤ [LinkedIn] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddiebell)
➤ [Website] (https://www.scheduler.ai/)

👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? [Book a FREE growth session](https://www.saasacademy.com/scalenow?utm_campaign=SAPodcast_2023&utm_source=applespotify&utm_medium=shownotes).

Check out SaaS Academy on:

➤ [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSAcademy) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/saasacademy/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasacademy/) | [Twitter / X](https://x.com/saasacademy) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SaaSAcademy) | [Website](https://www.saasacademy.com/) | [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-saas-academy-podcast/id1718719323) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/05gCHHhhpmDxaFacza6Qpo?si=98bd9025716746c4)

➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mattverlaque/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-verlaque/)

➤ Follow Johnny Page on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnnypage13/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnypage/)

"There's a lot of fear and limiting beliefs and identity things that founders get tied up in."
Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast AS they discuss the transition of leadership at SaaS Academy with Dan Martell.
00:00 - Intro / Setting the Stage
01:04 - Reflecting on a Life Changing Hike
03:27 - The Emotional Aspect of Leadership Transitions
04:54 - Creating a Transition Plan
08:02 - Fear and Limiting Beliefs in Relinquishing the CEO Spot
09:27 - Trusting the Talent and Empowering Others
10:24 - Learning to Let Go and Delegate
13:10 - The Pains of a Transition Process
14:08 - The Ego and Accepting Change
21:12 - The Future of SaaS Academy
23:03 - Getting thought leaders to events
24:53 - Attracting Top Talent
26:18 - Collaboration and Building together
28:15 - Strong Infrastructure and Exceptional Customer Experience
29:38 - Dan's future plans with Content Production, Books, and Portfolio of Companies
42:35 - Helping Troubled Youth and Sharing Business Building Experiences
👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? [Book a FREE growth session](https://www.saasacademy.com/scalenow?utm_campaign=SAPodcast_2023&utm_source=applespotify&utm_medium=shownotes).

Check out SaaS Academy on:
➤ [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSAcademy) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/saasacademy/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasacademy/) | [Twitter / X](https://x.com/saasacademy) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SaaSAcademy) | [Website](https://www.saasacademy.com/) | [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-saas-academy-podcast/id1718719323) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/05gCHHhhpmDxaFacza6Qpo?si=98bd9025716746c4)

➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mattverlaque/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-verlaque/)

➤ Follow Johnny Page on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnnypage13/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnypage/)

“You're standing on a mountain of value. You just can't see it."
Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast as they explore the remarkable entrepreneurial journey of Daniel Priestley. From diving into $8000 of credit card debt at age 21 to start his first venture, to becoming the Co-founder and CEO of Dent Global—one of the world's leading business accelerators—Daniel's path is truly inspiring.
He also founded ScoreApp, a tool that revolutionizes how businesses generate qualified, data-rich leads. Daniel's insights have been featured in prestigious publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the Huffington Post, and he's recognized as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs in London. Drawing from his book "Key Person of Influence," this conversation is packed with valuable strategies for anyone looking to make a dent in the business world. Tune in and learn how Daniel scaled multiple 7 and 8 figure ventures.

(1:14) - Importance of launching a waiting list
(3:02) - Getting early insight about proper pricing
(5:41) - Daniel’s background in growing businesses
(7:21) - Zeroing in on world-class feature sets
(9:17) - Origins of ScoreApp
(12:17) - Using scorecards to leverage SaaS growth
(16:42) - Advertising works for fueling fires, less for starting
(24:19) - How Daniel built an audience for his book ‘Key Person of Influence’
(29:01) - What is a micro-niche exactly?
(34:48) - Importance of sharing your personal insights publicly
(43:19) - Building a personal brand is about the ideal client, not yourself
(45:00) - What skillsets can be taught and what are the ones you’re just born with?
(51:04) - Biggest struggle that impacted Daniel’s career
(56:43) - Daniel’s debt cycle into a growth cycle
(1:01:55) - The importance of your team
(1:04:55) - Developing assets to reduce dependence
(1:12:27) - Daniel’s thoughts on building a legacy
(1:14:22) - Raising entrepreneurial-minded kids

Check out Daniel on:
➤ [Personal website] (https://danielpriestley.com/ )
➤ [Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/danielpriestley
➤ [LinkedIn] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpriestley?originalSubdomain=uk)

Key Person of Influence: The Five-Step Method to Become One of the Most Highly Valued and Highly Paid People in Your Industry - https://www.amazon.com/Key-Person-Influence-Revised-Five-Step/dp/178133109X

Entrepreneur Revolution: How to Develop your Entrepreneurial Mindset and Start a Business that Works - https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneur-Revolution-Develop-Entrepreneurial-Business/dp/085708416X

How To Raise Entrepreneurial Kids: Raising confident, resourceful and resilient children who are ready to succeed in life - https://www.amazon.com/How-Raise-Entrepreneurial-Kids-resourceful/dp/1781334293

👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? [Book a FREE growth session](https://www.saasacademy.com/scalenow?utm_campaign=SAPodcast_2023&utm_source=applespotify&utm_medium=shownotes).

Check out SaaS Academy on:

➤ [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSAcademy) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/saasacademy/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasacademy/) | [Twitter / X](https://x.com/saasacademy) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SaaSAcademy) | [Website](https://www.saasacademy.com/) | [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-saas-academy-podcast/id1718719323) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/05gCHHhhpmDxaFacza6Qpo?si=98bd9025716746c4)

➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mattverlaque/) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-verlaque/)

➤ Follow Johnny Page on:...

“The only difference between a really high performing team member and a high performing entrepreneur is their appetite for risk.”
Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by guest Dev Basu, CEO of Powered by Search, as they delve into Basu's entrepreneurial journey, starting from selling video games in high school to scaling SaaS companies through effective organic and paid traffic acquisition. He also shares valuable insights on scaling SaaS businesses, from balancing risk and reward to transitioning to a remote team. With a focus on conversions over traffic and the importance of a 'Who It's For' page, the episode provides actionable strategies for SaaS growth, making it a must-listen for SaaS founders and marketers targeting digital age business scaling.
Timestamps:
(0:40) - Introduction
(1:40) - Dev's entrepreneurial journey
(4:03) - The evolution of powered by search
(6:35) - Building a high-performance team
(8:46) - Navigating risks and opportunities
(14:09) - Powered by search's approach to growth
(21:48) - Aligning sales and marketing for success
(24:20) - Unlocking the power of KPAs in marketing
(26:56) - Creating a feedback loop: The secret to organizational success
(28:02) - Revolutionizing compensation plans
(30:54) - Optimizing marketing and sales strategies
(34:57) - Leveraging compensation and flexibility for team success
(37:53) - Building a world-class distributed team
(43:12) - Empowering marketing strategies
(48:54) - Conclusion
Check out Dev Basu on:
➤ Instagram | LinkedIn | Powered by Search
👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? Book a FREE growth session.

Check out SaaS Academy on:
➤ YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter / X | Facebook | Website | Apple | Spotify
➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: Instagram | LinkedIn
➤ Follow Johnny Page on: Instagram | LinkedIn

“We understood the problem very well, and it was a very real problem in the market.”
Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by Marcel Petitpas, co-founder and CEO of Parakeeto as well as head strategic coach at SaaS Academy, as they explore Marcel's journey from a service business owner to a SaaS entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's business model and mastering operations for success. Marcel explores the transition from service to SaaS, emphasizing the importance of identifying real problems, strategic positioning, and efficient service delivery for profitability. The discussion offers valuable insights for SaaS founders on leveraging agency relationships, optimizing operations, and the long-term impact of content marketing for business success.
Timestamps:
(0:33) - Introduction
(3:46) - Marcel's journey: from Apple store to SaaS CEO
(7:41) - The art of transitioning from service to SaaS
(11:22) - The pitfalls of skipping essential business steps
(16:09) - Leveraging podcasts for business growth and authority
(19:59) - Maximizing podcast appearances for lead generation
(23:08) - The long-term impact of content marketing
(25:13) - The journey from passion to expertise in business
(26:59) - The ripple effect of improving service business models
(28:49) - The challenge of agency profitability and client satisfaction
(33:18) - Exploring performance-driven agency models
(39:58) - Leveraging agencies for SaaS growth
(43:36) - Conclusion

Check out Marcel Petitpas on:
➤ Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | Parakeeto

👉🏻 Want a 3-step action plan to help scale your SaaS? Book a FREE growth session.

Check out SaaS Academy on:
➤ YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter / X | Facebook | Website | Apple | Spotify
➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: Instagram | LinkedIn
➤ Follow Johnny Page on: Instagram | LinkedIn