In Motion

Inertia Growth

In Motion, powered by Inertia Growth, is a podcast for founders and lean teams navigating the critical inflection points of growth. Motion is where it all begins—those early moves that spark traction. Inertia is what carries that momentum forward, helping companies scale from their first wins to repeatable, sustainable growth. Each episode unpacks strategies and stories from leaders who know what it takes to grow from early traction through Series A, B, and beyond. Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube—because growth doesn’t happen standing still, it happens in motion.

Episodes

  1. FEB 1

    Andy Binkley: AI Workflows That Actually Drive Demand

    In this episode, Andy Binkley, founder of Tourial, breaks down how AI-powered marketing workflows are reshaping buyer behavior in B2B SaaS and what most teams are still getting wrong. We cover how modern buyers actually want to engage, why traditional discovery calls often fall flat, and how referrals quietly outperform most demand gen channels. Andy also shares the most common mistakes early-stage SaaS marketing teams make, why GTM strategy should come before tooling, and how thoughtful AI workflows can drive growth without adding headcount. You’ll also hear practical examples of: Using AI to improve buyer experience (not just automate noise)Designing smarter go-to-market strategiesBuilding creative, scalable workflows for demand generationLeveraging LinkedIn more intentionally for networking and outbound If you’re a SaaS founder or growth leader looking to use AI more strategically (not just experimentally) this conversation is packed with real-world insights. Takeaways AI is transforming the buyer experience.People prefer talking to agents over humans.Discovery calls are exhausting for prospects.Referrals are often overlooked in marketing.Paid ads too early can waste money.Understanding your audience is crucial.GTM engineering is a new frontier.Creativity in workflows drives success.Strategic planning is key to execution.LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Marketing 03:12 The Evolution of Buyer Experience 05:56 Shifts in SaaS Engagement 09:01 The Role of AI in Discovery Calls 11:56 Challenges in SaaS Sales Processes 15:03 Common Mistakes in Demand Generation 17:56 The Importance of Referrals and Foundations 25:32 Effective Referral Strategies 32:49 Trends in Go-To-Market Strategies 37:20 Underrated Growth Opportunities 46:43 Essential Tools for Growth Teams To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit InertiaGrowth.com. To learn more about Peel, visit getpeel.ai.

    49 min
  2. JAN 10

    Allie Howe: Building Trust in AI

    To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit inertiagrowth.com. In this conversation, Allie Howe shares her journey from software engineering to becoming a security advocate in the AI space. She discusses the importance of trust in AI security, foundational practices for startups, and the need for continuous risk assessments. Allie emphasizes the role of security as a business enabler and the necessity of integrating security into the culture of organizations. She introduces her product, Verde, which automates AI security assessments and highlights the importance of moving away from traditional point-in-time audits. The discussion also covers common misconceptions in AI security and the importance of vetting tools used in AI development. Takeaways Security is a business enabler, not a roadblock.Trust is a continuous thing you have to prove.Investing in trust helps your product be more secure.Speed is everything in early-stage startups.Security is not a one-size-fits-all solution.Assume breach is a healthy security model.We need to move away from point-in-time audits.Security needs to be a culture mindset.Vet your MCP servers before you submit data.Trustworthy AI is AI that's revenue generating. Chapters 00:00 From Software Engineer to Security Advocate 02:56 The Role of Trust in AI Security 06:06 Foundational Security Practices for Startups 08:50 Identifying Red Flags in AI Security 11:51 Automating AI Security Assessments with Verde 14:45 The Importance of Continuous Security Monitoring 18:04 Building Trustworthy AI: A Holistic Approach 21:08 Navigating Security Frameworks and Compliance 23:45 The Security Maturity Curve for Startups 27:04 Overhyped and Underhyped AI Security Risks 29:46 Empowering Non-Technical Users in AI Security To connect with Allie, follow her on X @vtahowe To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit inertiagrowth.com

    34 min
  3. 12/07/2025

    Mara Willemin: Navigating the Tech Sales Landscape

    To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit inertiagrowth.com. In this conversation, Mara Willemin discusses the intricacies of tech sales, emphasizing the importance of trust, human connection, and the evolving role of AI in the sales process. Mara shares her career journey, insights on building relationships with customers, and the lessons learned from both startups and large enterprises. We explore best practices for sales teams and the future of sales in an AI-driven landscape, highlighting the need for adaptability and a focus on human interaction. Takeaways Mara has over 12 years of experience in tech sales.Trust is a key differentiator in sales.Sales is about building human connections.AI can enhance efficiency but should not replace human interaction.Sales teams should focus on understanding customer needs.Curiosity is essential for successful sales.Startups can learn agility from larger companies.Larger companies can learn innovation from startups.Sales leaders should empower their teams to take ownership.Building trust requires transparency and accountability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:02 Career Journey in Tech Sales 06:12 The Importance of Trust in Sales 09:06 Navigating Trust in the Age of AI 12:03 Building Trust with Customers 14:50 The Role of Curiosity in Sales 22:00 Understanding Human Psychology in Sales 24:01 The Role of AI in Sales Processes 27:58 Balancing Automation and Human Touch 30:02 Lessons from Startups and Enterprises 33:59 Best Practices for Sales Teams 36:58 The Future of Sales in an AI-Driven World 41:06 Empowering Sales Teams for Success

    42 min
  4. 12/02/2025

    Steve James: Legal Insights for Founders, from Startup to Scale

    To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit inertiagrowth.com. In our conversation, Steve James discusses the challenges of working in a startup environment, likening it to navigating a whitewater raft. He emphasizes the importance of having good legal guidance to mitigate risks and avoid pitfalls. Our discussion highlights how entrepreneurs often overlook the preventive measures that lead to smoother operations until they encounter difficulties. Takeaways Working at a startup is akin to navigating a whitewater raft.Good legal guidance can help avoid significant pitfalls.Entrepreneurs often don't recognize preventive measures until faced with challenges.The importance of reflection during challenging times in startups.Legal advice is crucial for risk management in business.Startups require adaptability and quick decision-making.Understanding the legal landscape can prevent future issues.The role of a lawyer is to guide through turbulent waters.Recognizing past decisions can illuminate current challenges.Effective communication with legal counsel is essential. Chapters Introduction and Background- 00:00:00The Role of a Startup Lawyer- 00:03:00Common Legal Pitfalls for Startups- 00:09:00Fundraising and Legal Considerations- 00:15:00AI's Impact on Legal Work- 00:21:00Scaling and Legal Processes- 00:27:00Communication Between Legal and Business Teams- 00:33:00Conclusion and Contact Information- 00:39:00

    32 min
  5. 10/29/2025

    Victor Schwenoha: Scaling Operations in Startups

    To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit inertiagrowth.com. In this conversation, Victor shares his journey from sales to operations, emphasizing the importance of establishing effective systems and processes in early-stage companies. He discusses the challenges faced in scaling operations, the significance of aligning sales and customer success, and the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency. Victor also highlights the necessity of good data management and the impact of using the right tools to drive growth and success in startups. Takeaways Victor transitioned from life insurance sales to SaaS sales.Understanding data flow in CRM is crucial for operations.Early-stage companies need to establish sales methodologies.Retention is key to long-term success.Sales and customer success alignment is vital for onboarding.AI tools can automate and enhance sales processes.Data quality is essential for effective decision-making.Operational rigor helps in scaling businesses efficiently.Founders should prioritize hiring operations personnel early.The landscape of sales operations is rapidly evolving with AI. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Victor and His Journey 03:07 Transitioning from Sales to Operations 06:05 Challenges in Early Operations 08:58 Importance of Sales to Customer Success Handoff 11:59 Systems for Effective Onboarding 14:49 Leveraging AI in Sales Operations 17:49 Top of the Funnel Strategies 20:53 AI Tools and Their Impact 23:18 Leveraging First-Party Data for Targeted Messaging 25:01 Building a Revenue Organization with Effective Tools 26:55 Innovative MCP Tooling in Go-to-Market Strategies 29:59 The Importance of Data in Competitive Analysis 32:42 Operational Efficiency and the Role of Ops 36:10 Data as the Foundation for Growth Strategies 37:49 Establishing Sales Methodology and Accountability 41:39 Creating a Culture of Data-Driven Decision Making To learn more about Own My Growth or speak to Victor, reach out to Victor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrpipeline/ or Visit OwnMyGrowth.co To learn more about Inertia Growth, visit https://www.inertiagrowth.com/

    40 min

About

In Motion, powered by Inertia Growth, is a podcast for founders and lean teams navigating the critical inflection points of growth. Motion is where it all begins—those early moves that spark traction. Inertia is what carries that momentum forward, helping companies scale from their first wins to repeatable, sustainable growth. Each episode unpacks strategies and stories from leaders who know what it takes to grow from early traction through Series A, B, and beyond. Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube—because growth doesn’t happen standing still, it happens in motion.