SaaS Interviews with CEOs, Startups, Founders

Bootstrapped to $82M: How Callum Mckeefery Built Reviews.io from His Kitchen Table


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Callum Mckeefery built Reviews.io from scratch with his wife—no funding, no equity dilution, and no fluff. In this episode, he shares how they scaled to $12M ARR, outpaced VC-backed competitors, and exited for $82M in an all-cash deal.

He breaks down the exact viral loop that created SEO-fueled growth, how they hit $240K revenue per employee, and why he chose not to give employees equity—but still made many millionaires. Callum also opens up about the emotional driver behind the exit: his son's rare genetic condition, and the cutting-edge research he's now funding.

Finally, Callum talks about his new SaaS startup, Partner.io, where he's rebuilding from zero with the same gritty playbook.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How to engineer viral loops in B2B SaaS

  • Why small ACV doesn't mean slow growth

  • How to win against VC-backed competition without fundraising

  • The emotional side of selling a company

  • Tactical breakdown: SEO, paid ads, and partnerships as growth levers

  • Post-exit reflections and the pitfalls of private equity buyers

  • What he's building next at Partner.io

Perfect for: SaaS founders, B2B operators, bootstrappers, PE firms, and investors looking for real, gritty founder stories with no BS.

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SaaS Interviews with CEOs, Startups, FoundersBy Nathan Latka

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