In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, Rebecca Hastings speaks with Lucas Lovell, VP of Product at Paddle. Lucas shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Paddle scaled from a growing fintech to a global leader in payments infrastructure—including navigating a major acquisition, evolving pricing models, and hiring talent for scale.

Lucas offers insights into how AI is reshaping SaaS pricing strategies, what makes global expansion successful, and why product-led companies must strike a balance between scrappiness and operational maturity.

Key Topics Covered

• How to scale a SaaS company with intention and avoid common growing pains
• The impact of AI on SaaS pricing—and whether subscriptions are really dying
• What product leaders should focus on to drive growth
• The importance of adaptability when hiring at different stages of scale
• Lessons from merging Paddle with a US-based company
• How AI tools are lowering the barrier to innovation and redefining team capabilities
• Tips for companies thinking about talent pipelines, upskilling, and hiring former founders

Episode Highlights

• [00:59] Lucas’ background and journey from founder to VP of Product at Paddle
• [02:25] Challenges of scaling from 90 to 300 employees
• [06:41] Hiring for growth phases and balancing startup mindset with operational rigor
• [13:55] Lessons learned from acquiring a US-based company
• [19:45] Why SaaS pricing models are evolving, not disappearing
• [26:48] The biggest mistakes companies make when pricing their product
• [30:34] Where pricing roles typically sit in SaaS companies—and why it matters
• [32:36] Are we risking a “lost generation” of talent?
• [36:59] Why AI is lowering the barrier to entrepreneurship
• [39:25] How Paddle is helping its teams stay current and experiment with AI
• [43:00] Advice for scaling SaaS globally with intention
• [44:39] Why hiring former founders can be a major asset

About Lucas Lovell

Lucas Lovell is the Vice President of Product at Paddle. Prior to Paddle, he co-founded Hopstay, an international travel tech company. With years of experience scaling product and engineering teams, Lucas now plays a key role in shaping Paddle’s global growth strategy, talent development, and pricing innovation.

📌 Connect with Lucas:
 🔗 LinkedIn
🔗 Paddle

Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/

Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call

The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/

The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/

Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.