The difference between moderate success and industry dominance in B2B software often comes down to early strategic decisions. This Best-Of Episode of SaaS That App: Building B2B Web Applications features three tech industry veterans who share their hard-earned wisdom about building and scaling successful software: Brett Calhoun, Tom Buchok, and Joe Kowalski.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why vertical market selection can make or break your SaaS business
• How to avoid the common pricing pitfalls that limit growth
• The framework for identifying revenue expansion opportunities within your existing customer base
• Why domain expertise and technical capability are crucial factors in venture funding decisions
• How to successfully implement Product-Led Growth (PLG) strategies for B2B SaaS
• The strategic advantages of focusing on self-service customers versus enterprise deals
• Why Missouri is emerging as an unexpected hub for tech innovation and startup success
• How to leverage startup weekends and incubators to validate and launch tech businesses
  
  

Brett Calhoun is the co-founder and general partner at Redbud VC, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies across the United States with particular emphasis on the heartland region. As an innovator in venture capital and SaaS, Brett brings vast experience from both sides of the startup ecosystem as a founder with companies like Stealth and CapGains, and as an investor identifying and nurturing high-potential tech ventures. His unique approach combines hands-on operational experience with strategic investment expertise, particularly in vertical software solutions and B2B applications.

Tom Buchok is a SaaS entrepreneur, an expert in scaling businesses in the tech space, and the Principal at Reach Frequency, where he advises and coaches B2B SaaS founders on leadership and growth strategies. As the former CEO and Co-founder of MailCharts, he led the company through a decade of growth before its successful acquisition by Validity in 2022. With deep expertise in bootstrapped SaaS businesses and product-led growth strategies, Tom transformed MailCharts from a "Wayback Machine for emails" concept into a revolutionary platform for e-commerce marketers optimizing email campaigns. Currently, Tom focuses on helping other SaaS entrepreneurs navigate their growth journeys while maintaining work-life balance and operational efficiency.

Joe Kowalski is the managing partner of SaaS Labs, where he leverages over two decades of experience in SaaS entrepreneurship to guide and invest in emerging tech startups. Following a successful exit from ServiceMonster, Joe now focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges of building sustainable tech businesses. As an investor and mentor, Joe specializes in identifying promising micro-SaaS opportunities and helping technical founders develop the comprehensive skill set needed to build successful companies in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape.

This podcast is brought to you by Delta Systems, your one-stop shop for front-end, back-end, and full-stack software development. At Delta, Justin and Aaron share the same philosophy when it comes to clients: they treat people like colleagues, not just customers. Maybe that’s why Delta typically spends years working with the same companies: how many software engineering firms can you say that about? So, if you’ve got a big SaaS project in mind but have no idea where to start, come and get a free scope and estimate from Delta Systems on their website.

Highlights and YouTube Chapters:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [01:42] Brett Calhoun Insights
• [07:00] Tom Buchok Insights
• [12:50] Joe Kowalski Insights

Want to Hear Their Full Stories? Click the links below:Brett Calhoun Episode  

• Apple: https://tinyurl.com/3x7a54p8
• Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vvfx2dz
• YouTube:  https://youtu.be/nFzfT7wAvTY

Tom Buchok Episode  

• Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/yxnmay2h 
• Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2expfje8 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/9D28xK98oY4 

Joe Kowalski Episode  

• Apple: https://tinyurl.com/y7fpj538
• Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2vdpcs6t
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/_jMpy9EZcHQ

Episode Resources:

• Brett Calhoun on LinkedIn
• Redbud VC Website
• Tom Buchok on LinkedIn
• Joe Kowalski on LinkedIn
• SaaS Labs Website
• Aaron Marchbanks on LinkedIn
• Justin Edwards on LinkedIn
• Delta Systems Website

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