Mastering Tech Growth

Mike Sirius

Weekly chats with industry leaders to bring you you big ideas on how to grow.

  1. 12 GIỜ TRƯỚC

    Why Founders Who Admit ‘I Don’t Know’ Will Win the AI Race — Alan Gregerman

    Stop hoarding expertise. Start unlocking growth with real curiosity. Most tech teams trust expertise. Leaders build, iterate, and launch what they “know”—but 8 out of 10 startups fail because experts don’t check if buyers want the solution. As expertise grows, so does risk: teams build in isolation, decisions loop inside closed rooms, and market changes pass by unseen. Now, you flip the script. Winning founders lead with curiosity and humility. They ask great questions, engage real customers, and spend one day a month outside the office. Instead of perfecting the answer, they chase discovery—with rapid feedback, a culture of open debate, and constant relevance. Start with purpose, build in public, test ideas fast, and adapt before the data goes stale. Bring your team together, not just engineers. Rotate pods, mix perspectives—then go out and find three ways anyone else would solve your problem. Seek the proof of discovery, not proof of expertise. Keep future-focused, stay a bit paranoid, and let curiosity be your growth engine. Book one curiosity day next month. Walk your market, listen hard, then share what you find. Alan Gregerman rewrites the playbook every day, so you learn from real-world results. About Alan Gregerman: Innovation consultant, keynote speaker, author — trusted by 350+ global firms including Google and Mercedes-Benz. What we discussed: → Why customers—not expertise—call the shots in tech growth → How the speed of AI changes experience and timelines → Real failure rates from assuming you “know” the market → Six skills that leaders must master (not just “soft skills”) → Concrete hacks: Lego tests, market walks, cross-silo pods → The role of humility and paranoia in fast-changing industries → How to stay relevant by getting out of the office Where to find Alan Gregerman: → Website: https://alangregerman.com → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangregerman/ Where to find Mike Sirius: → Website: https://www.mikesirius.com → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/ 👉 Grab the community playbooks and join us @ masteringtechgrowth.com Question for you: 🗣️ What single customer need will you ask about before you build?

    1 giờ 15 phút
  2. 22 THG 10

    How to Run a Full-Funnel Playbook for Repeat Revenue

    In this conversation, Mike Sirius and Samir Samir ElKamouny discuss the essential strategies for mastering tech growth, focusing on the importance of identifying bottlenecks, understanding ideal customer profiles, and the necessity of a full funnel approach. They emphasise the significance of competitive analysis, effective messaging, and the need for continuous testing and optimisation in marketing channels. The discussion also highlights the importance of customer feedback and the creation of targeted landing pages to enhance conversion rates. Takeaways Mastering tech growth involves understanding technology's role in business growth.Identifying bottlenecks is crucial for optimizing growth strategies.A full funnel approach is necessary for predictable revenue generation.Understanding your ideal customer profile (ICP) is foundational for effective marketing.Multi-touch decision-making requires addressing various stakeholders' needs.Crafting effective messaging is key to engaging your target audience.Competitive analysis helps in positioning your business effectively in the market.Testing different marketing channels is essential for finding the right fit.Creating targeted landing pages can significantly improve conversion rates.Leveraging customer feedback is vital for continuous improvement. Specific landing pages can significantly improve conversion rates.Targeted messaging is essential for addressing customer pain points.Data analysis helps identify bottlenecks and opportunities for growth.Heatmaps provide valuable insights into user behavior on websites.AI can enhance the speed and effectiveness of creative testing.Budget allocation should focus on personal development and impactful tools.Different social media platforms serve various roles in the marketing funnel.Lead forms may yield lower quality leads compared to landing pages.Video content can dramatically increase conversion rates.Integrating direct outreach with ad campaigns enhances brand recognition. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tech Growth Strategies 03:10 Identifying Bottlenecks for Growth 06:00 The Importance of a Full Funnel 08:57 Understanding Ideal Customer Profiles (ICP) 12:11 Navigating Multi-Touch Decision Making 15:00 Crafting Effective Messaging and Positioning 17:55 Competitive Analysis for Market Positioning 20:57 Testing and Optimizing Marketing Channels 24:11 Creating Targeted Landing Pages 26:56 Leveraging Customer Feedback for Improvement 29:56 Final Thoughts on Growth Strategies 47:44 The Importance of Specific Landing Pages 50:08 Targeted Messaging for Higher Conversions 53:37 Leveraging Data for Business Growth 56:29 The Role of Heatmaps in User Experience 01:01:03 AI in Creative Testing and Marketing 01:10:18 Budget Allocation for Maximum Impact 01:11:07 Understanding Social Media's Role in the Funnel 01:12:07 Lead Forms vs. Landing Pages: Quality Comparison 01:14:46 Creating Effective Proof Assets 01:17:15 Creative Formats Across the Funnel 01:18:31 Integrating Direct Outreach with Ad Campaigns

    1 giờ 22 phút
  3. 15 THG 10

    How to Validate an AI SaaS Idea by Building It in a Weekend — with Richardson Dackam

    Richardson Dackam is an AI Automation Engineer who's built a full ecosystem around one goal — helping founders build faster using AI. A YC Startup School alum and former senior engineer at Ticketmaster, FreshBooks, and Aurora Solar, Richardson blends deep technical experience with rapid prototyping systems that empower solo founders to go from idea to validated AI SaaS in a single weekend. Through his podcast, courses, and community, he teaches how to harness agentic AI frameworks, automate product workflows, and launch with speed — without waiting for a team, funding, or perfect plan. In our conversation, Richardson shares:→ Why most founders freeze — and how to break idea paralysis→ The playbook to validate and build AI SaaS in just 48 hours→ What makes a painkiller idea (vs. a vitamin)→ How to use AI for customer research, roleplay, and PRD writing→ The tools behind “Weekend Architecture” and real-time prototyping→ His favorite way to get feedback before writing a single line of code→ Why community is the ultimate shortcut to traction→ What founders get wrong about market timing and speed Whether you're a solo founder, indie hacker, or operator, this episode is packed with frameworks you can put into action immediately — even this weekend. Where to find Richardson Dackam: → Website: https://richdackam.com/ → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardsondx/ → X/Threads: https://x.com/RichardsonDx Where to find Mike Sirius: → Website: https://www.mikesirius.com → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/ In this episode, we cover: 00:00 Introduction to Tech Growth and AI 05:47 Overcoming Founder Challenges and Decision Paralysis 11:48 Understanding Customer Value and Painkillers vs. Vitamins 17:58 Finding Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) 23:46 Building Prototypes and Product Requirement Documents (PRD) 29:47 The Role of Community in Product Launches 35:49 The Future of SaaS in an AI-Driven World 41:40 The Hype of AI and Its Real Impact 49:46 Understanding AI Context and Its Importance 55:07 Micro Pain and Micro SaaS Opportunities 01:01:06 Building Systems for Efficiency 01:08:30 The Importance of Distribution in Startup Success 🎙️ Was this helpful? Let’s stay connected: → Subscribe to never miss a drop → Reviews mean the world — and help us grow → Drop a comment — we actually read them 🙂 → Want to sponsor? Let’s chat: mike@msirius.com → More episodes: https://masteringtechgrowth.com

    1 giờ 10 phút
  4. 8 THG 10

    What Happens When Engineers Think Like CEOs? — with Ryan Debenham

    In this conversation, Ryan Debenham shares insights on the importance of crossing lanes in the tech industry, emphasising that software engineers must engage with go-to-market strategies to build products that resonate with customers. He discusses the significance of product market fit, the need for empathy in understanding customer needs, and the evolving role of engineers in shaping successful products. Ryan also highlights the value of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, particularly AI, as essential for career growth in the tech landscape. Takeaways A good product is the primary driver of growth.Engineers must understand customer needs to build successful products.Crossing lanes from engineering to go-to-market is essential for growth.Empathy is crucial for engineers to connect with customers.Engineers should actively engage in customer interactions.Developing a value framework can enhance product development.Cultural shifts in engineering teams can improve collaboration.AI is revolutionizing the tech industry and engineering roles.Asking the right questions is key to effective product development.Prioritising professional growth over titles leads to long-term success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tech Growth and Career Paths 02:43 The Importance of Product Market Fit 06:01 Crossing Lanes: The Shift from Engineer to Leader 09:01 Understanding Customer Needs and Empathy 11:51 The Role of Engineers in Product Development 14:39 Building Credibility Through Cross-Functional Collaboration 17:38 The Impact of Organizational Structure on Growth 20:39 Strategies for Engineers to Engage with Customers 23:41 Conclusion: Embracing a Customer-Centric Mindset 42:51 Shifting Mindsets: From Code to Business Value 45:23 Cultural Change: Encouraging Engineer-Customer Interaction 49:35 The Rise of AI in Engineering: Embracing New Tools 53:55 Understanding Customer Value: A Framework for Engineers 01:02:59 Essential Reads for Engineers: Communication and Leadership 01:09:12 Bridging the Gap: Engineering and Business Understanding 01:11:46 The Importance of Purpose: Why Are We Building This? 01:15:38 Embracing Challenges: The Path to Professional Growth Keywords tech growth, software engineering, product market fit, customer empathy, go-to-market strategies, engineering leadership, AI in tech, career development, value framework, engineering culture

    1 giờ 22 phút
  5. 1 THG 10

    Strategy First, Tech Second: How CTOs Drive Business Value

    In this conversation, Mike Sirius and Andrei Nita discuss the critical role of strategy in technology leadership, emphasising that successful CTOs prioritise business goals over technology itself. They explore the importance of understanding business maturity, the challenges of managing a troubled tech stack, and the need for hiring versatile talent. The discussion also covers the transition from a reactive, firefighting approach to a proactive, strategic leadership style, and the significance of aligning technology with business objectives to drive growth and value.  The speakers delve into the multifaceted role of a CTO, discussing the importance of effective communication, understanding technical debt, and the significance of aligning engineering objectives with business goals. They explore strategies for navigating the first weeks in a new role, the necessity of constant updates to executives, and the challenges of leading change in a resistant company culture. The discussion also highlights the importance of financial literacy for CTOs and the need for a clear decision-making framework in urgent situations. Takeaways CTOs should prioritize strategy over technology.Business maturity influences tech decisions.Hiring should focus on generalists with business acumen.Firefighting leads to survival mode, not growth.Establish must-not-cross thresholds for tech stability.Align tech initiatives with business goals.Effective presentations should focus on customer value.Process improvement should be reactive in early-stage startups.Avoid decisions that lead to dead ends in tech development.Tech strategy must resonate with executive goals. Three is a comfortable number for decision-making.Understanding pain points is crucial in the first week.Delivering on a project that others couldn't is a key win.Constant communication with executives is essential.Technical debt should be integrated into regular work.Linking engineering OKRs to business goals is vital.Hiring should focus on maintaining quality and vision.Selling infrastructure upgrades requires focusing on results.CTOs should have a strong grasp of financial metrics.Decision-making should align with company goals. Sound Bites "Put strategy first and technology second." "It's a timeline, not just one thing." "If everything is a P0, nothing is a P0." "You need to understand what the business is." "You need to think about revenue." "Hire generalists, not just developers." "Focus on process too much won't help." "You can have a decision that can be undone." "Assume you're presenting to a customer." "You're there as part of a business." "Communication should never stop." "You should know the business numbers." Keywords CTO, technology strategy, business growth, tech leadership, hiring, tech stack, business value, tech-first mindset, agile development, process improvement, CTO, leadership, technical debt, communication, engineering, business goals, product ownership, infrastructure upgrades, hiring, company culture, decision making

    1 giờ 22 phút
  6. 24 THG 9

    AI & Ads in 2025: What Every Growth-Minded Brand Should Know — with Hikari Senju

    In this episode, Mike Sirius and Hikari Senju delve into the transformative role of AI in advertising. They explore how AI can streamline ad creation, enhance personalisation, and improve efficiency, while also discussing the importance of understanding growth loops and the impact of customer obsession on business success. Hikari shares insights on the evolution of advertising, the challenges of generating effective ads with AI, and the performance metrics that matter. The discussion highlights the balance between leveraging AI technology and maintaining brand authenticity. Takeaways AI advertisement saves time and money for founders.Growth loops create a compelling user journey.Second order effects are crucial for sustainable growth.AI can personalize ads based on real-time data.The creative process in advertising was traditionally labor-intensive.AI can generate multiple ad variations quickly.Performance metrics are essential for evaluating ad success.AI-generated ads can outperform traditional ads in ROI.Authenticity in branding is vital for consumer trust.AI's capabilities in video generation are still developing. The market will dictate who runs advertising cheaper and more effectively.Personalized products have been trending due to social media and targeted advertising.Finding the right audience is crucial for D2C brands.AI fuels the fragmentation of brands targeting niche audiences.Legacy brands may regain value as consumers seek trust and comfort.YouTube's data is a competitive advantage for Google.Legal risks exist in using AI-generated content without permission.AI technology is improving at an exponential rate.Most video ads on platforms like YouTube will soon be AI-generated.Return on ad spend is the most critical metric for advertising success. Sound Bites "Growth loops create a snowball effect for business." "Customer obsession drives growth as a number one." "AI can generate thousands of ads in one go." "Authenticity is key for brand trust in advertising." "AI does a better job with graphic design than video." "AI's uncanny valley still exists in video ads." "The market will dictate who will run this cheaper." "There's been a trend towards personalised products." "AI just fuels that further." "YouTube is a massive treasure trove of data." "Stealing someone's artwork is a real risk." "Return on ad spend is the most important metric."

    1 giờ 9 phút
  7. 17 THG 9

    Mastering Go-to-Market Strategies with Anya Cheng

    In this conversation, Anya Cheng, founder and CEO of taelor.style, discusses the importance of establishing a repeatable go-to-market process, the significance of ownership in product launches, and the role of community engagement in validating market hypotheses. She shares insights from her experiences at major tech companies and her journey as an educator, emphasising the need for clear KPIs and effective internal communication during product launches. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of product launches, emphasizing the importance of planning, internal alignment, and feedback mechanisms. They discuss the necessity of buffers and backup plans to mitigate risks, the roles of various team members in the go-to-market strategy, and the unique challenges faced by startups. The dialogue highlights the iterative nature of product development and the significance of internal buy-in for successful external launches. Takeaways Most launches miss the date mainly because of internal reasons.Building a go-to-market strategy should be systematic and repeatable.Finding product-market fit is crucial for growth.Understanding the target audience is key to success.Validating hypotheses through minimal viable products is essential.Community engagement can help build an initial customer base.PR plays a significant role in startup growth.Clear ownership and responsibilities are vital for decision-making.Balancing central and local ownership can enhance effectiveness.Internal communication is critical during product launches. Buffer time is crucial in product launches.Always have a backup plan for contingencies.Roles in go-to-market strategies can vary widely.Startups need a lightweight playbook for launches.Internal alignment is key for successful external buy-in.Feedback loops are essential in agile methodologies.Understanding your audience is critical before launching.Decision-making processes can prevent team burnout.Establish clear metrics for success before launching.Iterative testing can lead to better market fit. Sound Bites "Start with a minimal viable product." "It's important to really have clear KPI." "You have to believe the test result." "It's about the persona, it's about the problem." "Who will need to do something differently?" "Buffer is extremely important." "You need a backup plan." "Don't limit yourself on who should do this." "In startups, you need a lightweight playbook." "Agile is about getting feedback faster." "The goal is to minimize risk." "Your persona and pinpoint are key." "Not making decisions burns the team out." "You need to have a go/no-go plan." Keywords go-to-market, product-market fit, startup growth, ownership, decision-making, MVP, community engagement, Ania Cheng, tech leadership, AI fashion, product launch, go-to-market strategy, startup, internal alignment, feedback, decision-making, buffer, backup plans, agile, marketing

    1 giờ 20 phút

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Weekly chats with industry leaders to bring you you big ideas on how to grow.