The SaaS CFO

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Denis Chernobaev, CEO and co-founder of Getplace.io. Denis shares his background in the fast-growing food tech industry and how it led him to the creation of Getplace.io.

He explains how Getplace.io helps small and medium businesses make informed decisions about their future locations by providing affordable access to valuable data. Through their subscription-based service, businesses can analyze footfall, vehicle traffic, demographic insights, spending data, and competitor analysis, all at a fraction of the cost typically associated with such tools.

Denis also discusses different use cases and patterns of usage among their current clients. Don't miss this insightful conversation on leveraging data for strategic decision-making. Stay tuned for more on The SaaS CFO Podcast!  

Show Notes 
 
[00:01:49] Affordable tool helps businesses choose ideal locations. 

[00:04:04] Choose locations wisely based on research. 

[00:06:55] Limited data, ongoing improvements attract and retain clients. 

[00:10:51] Product launched in February, attracting paying customers. 

[00:15:36] Co-founder experience, MVP delay, remote market. 

[00:19:03] Plans to expand into Netherlands with more complex products and negotiate with partners; considering raising funds for future expansion.

Links:
 
SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/getplace-io-raises-pre-seed-round 
Getplace.io's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getplace-io/ 
Getplace.io's Website: https://getplace.io/
Denis Chernobaev’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denis-chernobaev/ 

To know more about Ben check the links below:

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page
SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/
Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout
Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

#saas #thesaascfo #podcast #saasmetrics #saasmetricsschool #benmurray

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Charles Brecque, founder and CEO of Legislate. Charles shares his insights on the inefficiencies of dealing with contracts and the need for a better solution.  

He explains how Legislate's contract creation and management platform is aimed at people operations and finance, rather than legal teams. Charles also discusses their unique approach of using Knowledge Graph technology to track and analyze contract data.  

We delve into the challenges CFOs face with contract management and the value that Legislate brings to the table. So, join us as we dive into this fascinating conversation with Charles Brecque on The SaaS CFO Podcast! 
 
Show Notes 
 
[00:01:52] We offer a contract management platform for people operations and finance. Our key differentiators are user-friendly features and accurate contract tracking using Knowledge Graph technology. 

[00:05:53] Early stage company pivoting to focus on larger clients and empower businesses to create contracts without legal involvement. 

[00:08:45] Impressive growth, novel approach using knowledge graph, securing patents, ready for market after funding rounds. 

[00:11:13] Fundraising is distracting and stressful for founders, but it's important to minimize distractions and focus on investors who understand the business. 

[00:14:11] Contact us at legislate.AI for more information. 

Links: 
 
SaaS Fundraising Story: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/legislate-secures-3-6-million-in-funding 
Charles Brecque’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-brecque/ 
Legislate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legislate/ 
Legislate Website: https://legislate.ai/ 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Paul Foster, founder and CEO of OnePlan. With a background in crowd science, Paul has extensive experience in managing large-scale events, including the Olympics. 
 
Frustrated with the traditional methods of event planning, Paul embarked on a mission to revolutionize the industry with OnePlan. This innovative platform offers 2D and 3D mapping technology that not only streamlines the planning process but also optimizes risk management and enhances operational efficiency.  
 
Join us as we dive into the world of event planning and discover how OnePlan is transforming the way we think about mapping and simulation. 
 
Show Notes 
 
00:01:36 Paralympic journey led to managing diverse events. 

00:05:25 3D models used in operational planning, security, and commercialization. 

00:08:56 Subscription model for event site plans. 

00:11:55 Startup partner of Olympic Games, advertising methods. 

00:14:12 Sustainable fundraising strategy, milestone-based growth, experienced investors. 

00:17:06 Lessons learned in fundraising and investor strategy. 

00:20:31 Focusing on target markets for progress and success. 

Links 
 
SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/oneplan-raises-5-3-million-in-funding 
OnePlan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-plan-events/ 
OnePlan Website: https://www.oneplanevents.com/ 
Paul Foster’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fosteroneplan/ 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I have the pleasure of hosting Max Brentzel, co-founder and CEO at Spoke AI. Max, hailing from Germany and now based in Berlin, shares his journey in the tech scene and how the city's startup ecosystem has evolved over the years.  
 
With a background in economics and international expansion, Max brings a unique perspective to the table. Tune in as he discusses Spoke AI's privacy-first AI products that help users streamline and prioritize their communication across various tools, ultimately saving time and increasing efficiency.  

Discover how Spoke AI's standalone app within Slack and web app cater to the needs of product managers, summarizing and organizing their busy channels and threads.  
 
Max also delves into the importance of user control and the future plans for Spoke AI's premium tier.  

Don't miss this insightful episode packed with valuable insights for SaaS founders and tech enthusiasts alike. 
 
Show Notes  

[00:01:54] AI products prioritize and summarize communication. 

[00:03:53] User controls communication data processing for privacy. 

[00:08:22] Limited company onboarding to ensure reliable Summarization. 

[00:10:13] Early core team, AI expertise = success. 

[00:15:27] Launching new product, enclosed beta in May. Exciting features coming to Slack app. 

Links 
 
SaaS Fundraising Story: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/spoke-ai-raises-2-million-in-pre-seed-round 
Max Brenssell’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-brenssell/ 
Spoke.ai’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spoke-ai/ 
Spoke.ai’s Website: https://www.spoke.ai/ 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Ratnesh Verma, founder and CEO of Pidge. Ratnesh shares his diverse background, which includes working in seven different countries and holding prominent positions at companies like Whitbread and Hyatt.  
 
Despite not having a tech background, Ratnesh ventured into the world of SaaS startups and founded Pidge. He discusses the timing and opportunity that led him to start the company in India's booming ecommerce ecosystem. Ratnesh also delves into the state of SaaS in India, highlighting the low digital adoption and legacy systems prevalent in the market. 

He then provides an in-depth look at the unique products and services Pidge offers, emphasizing its end-to-end logistics solution with a focus on cash on delivery, customer experience, and demand aggregation. We learn about Pidge's self-serve and low code approach, as well as its pay-as-you-go pricing model.  
 
Lastly, Ratnesh reveals that Pidge caters to anyone who delivers, regardless of the channel or industry, making it a versatile solution for various businesses. Stay tuned as we dive into the world of SaaS and logistics with Ratnesh Verma on this exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! 
 
Show Notes:
 
[00:02:12] Timing and opportunity fueled explosive growth in Indian ecommerce. It will reach a trillion by the end of the decade. The delivery ecosystem is fragmented and unorganized, which our solution is digitizing. 

[00:04:32] Pidge offers unique end-to-end logistics solution. 

[00:09:00] Keep it simple and understood by all. 

[00:13:16] Raise enough capital for successful deployment; continue rapid growth; launch additional services; expand nationally. 

[00:14:27] Fundraising is challenging, time-consuming, but rewarding. 

[00:18:05] Pidge In: One-stop source for all things 

Links:  
 
Saas Fundrasing Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/pidge-raises-3-million-in-funding 
Ratnesh Verma’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratnesh-verma-8418a1a3/ 
Pidge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pidge-mobility/ 
Pidge Website: https://pidge.in/ 
Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, our host Ben is joined by Luba Chudnovets, the co-founder and CEO of Cordless. Luba shares her background, including her experience at a bank, and how it led her to start Cordless. Cordless is a telephony platform that combines AI-driven conversation intelligence for customer support teams.

Luba explains how Cordless helps companies analyze support conversations, provide sentiment analysis, and automate call categorization. She also discusses the importance of 100% visibility in support conversations and the future of voice support analysis.

Tune in to learn more about Cordless' journey, their target market, and their unique approach to pricing. Let's dive in!

Highlights:

[00:01:42] Cordless is a telephony platform with AI-driven conversation intelligence for customer support. It helps companies analyze support conversations, providing sentiment analysis, automatic categorization of calls, call summaries, and enables teams to make outbound calls. The platform is focused on being user-friendly for agents and offering in-depth analysis of support interactions.

[00:03:10] Voice support company industry agnostic, but fintech and insurance resonate most. Compliance and customer support important for regulated businesses. Predicts all companies will use conversation analysis in future. Allows 100% visibility and quick reaction. Embracing Chat GPT technology.

[00:08:18] Multiple channels: outbound, trade shows, marketplaces integration, content marketing. Promising leads and website visits, but conversion is not yet strong.

[00:11:36] Raising funds is harder than expected, need different strategies for investors and customers, don't raise over summer.

[00:15:23] Feeling positive about mission, competitive product, hiring business development managers, working on Chat GPT technology, will change computer interactions.

[00:17:03] Check out Cordless.IO or email Luba at [email protected]. Luba shared insights and experience today.

Links 

Saas Fundraising Stores: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/cordless-raises-2-3-million-in-seed-round 
Luba Chudnovets’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubachudnovets/ 
Cordless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cordless/ 
Cordless Website: https://cordless.io/ 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Janis Vavere, the co-founder of Trace Space. Janis shares his journey from starting as a Sales Development Representative to becoming a sales leader and eventually starting his own company.

He discusses Trace Space's mission to empower and support innovators in the field of systems engineering. Janis explains the importance of requirements management in building complex products and how Trace Space aims to provide a purpose-built solution for engineers and innovators.

We dive into the industries that Trace Space focuses on, their team size, and their recent pre-seed funding round. Join us as we learn from Janis's experiences and dive deeper into the world of SaaS and engineering solutions. It's an episode you don't want to miss!

Highlights:

[00:00:18] Typical background, promoted, managed accounts, scaled company. Empowering innovators at Trace Space.

[00:03:32] Managing large accounts for systems engineering products; organizing user conferences; passionate about the founder persona; working with companies building future products to improve efficiency.

[00:09:11] Validating need, building team, obtaining practitioner validation.

[00:11:31] Early validation, luck, and market analysis key.

[00:15:42] LinkedIn is the best place to learn.

Links:

Saas Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/trace-space-raises-1-5-million-in-pre-seed-round 
Janis Vavere’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b2bsaas/ 
Trace Space LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trace-space/ 
Trace Space Website: https://trace.space/ 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to another exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have very special guests who will reveal the secrets to seamless billing in usage-based pricing in the SaaS industry.

Joining Ben are Griff Parry and John Griffin, co-founders of M3ter, a groundbreaking platform that is revolutionizing the way companies handle pricing, billing, and revenue operations. Get ready to dive deep into the world of SaaS finance as Griff and John, along with our host Ben, discusses the challenges of traditional pricing models, the power of usage-based pricing, and how M3ter is empowering CFOs to take control of their pricing strategies.

Whether you're a SaaS company looking to optimize your revenue streams or a finance professional seeking innovative solutions, you won't want to miss this episode. So grab your headphones, sit back, and get ready to unveil the secrets of successful SaaS invoicing on The SaaS CFO Podcast!

Highlights:

[00:01:13] Early engineering career led to big data. Sold and built systems, worked with Griff. Specialized in complex IT systems for media companies. Expanded to work with Disney, AT&T, Liberty. Used basic tools like IBM, WebSphere, Oracle.

[00:04:32] Usage based pricing pain points inspired Meta.

[00:06:48] M3ter helps CFOs control pricing decisions, billing, and revenue through their platform, which consolidates data sources and provides real-time billing and revenue information.

[00:13:29] Billing is difficult, revenue leakage is common, customer experience and continuous pricing are important. 00:15:47 Pricing agility and automation saves time, money.

[00:20:15] M3ter excels at complexity, billing, and usage-based models. Ideal customers are mid-sized software companies. Key decision-makers are CFOs or product leaders. Primarily focused on North America and Western Europe. Rapidly expanding customer base in APAC.

[00:24:34] Seed stage company, not established product-market fit.

[00:28:40] Easier the second time around for founders.

[00:29:34] Choose partners carefully; UK and US VCs helpful.

[00:33:29] Customer case studies showing platform impact.

Links:

Griff Parry’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinparry/ Founder and CEO 
John Griffin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpgriffin/ Founder and CRO 
m3ter’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/m3ter/  
m3ter’s Website: https://www.m3ter.com/ 
SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/m3ter-raises-17-5-million-in-seed-round 
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben sits down with Vlad Podolyako, founder and CEO of Folderly. Vlad shares his background in entrepreneurship and his journey from running a successful B2B sales agency, Belkins, to creating Folderly, an email deliverability platform.  
  
Vlad dives into the problems they faced with email marketing at Belkins and how that led to the creation of Folderly. He explains how Folderly helps improve email performance metrics by fixing and monitoring issues with mailboxes, domains, templates, and content. Ben and Vlad also discuss the target audience for Folderly, which includes entry-level and advanced users in sales, marketing, and email analytics.  
  
Finally, Vlad shares some impressive revenue metrics and gives insights into the growth and remote team structure of Folderly. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Vlad on this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! 

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:15] In 2019, email marketing faced a problem with low open and reply rates. The solution involved addressing domain infrastructure and using the right ESP provider. This led to the creation of Folderly, a service to help clients with similar issues. 

[00:05:28] Three customer profiles: beginners, knowledgeable, and advanced in sales and marketing. The most important is understanding email outreach consequences. 

[00:11:00] Our brand focuses on lead generation email marketing. We have successful outbound processes and also generate around 30% organic traffic. We educate customers on various acquisition channels and aim to expand our customer base. 

[00:13:46] Google for startups offers funding, mentorship, and camps for entrepreneurs. Applicants fly to Silicon Valley or Europe to share their background, experience, and technology. Interviews and data sharing determine acceptance. 

[00:15:51] Start with an MVP, gain traction with clients and case studies to attract partners and investors. Show progress, don't fake it. 

[00:19:07] Expressing gratitude and reciprocity. 

Links

SaaS Fundraising Story: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/folderly-receives-funding 
Vlad Podolyako’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefdata/ 
Folderly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/folderly/ 
Folderly’s Website: https://folderly.com/ 
Follow Ben Murray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/ 

Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, our host Ben sits down with James Gasteen, co-founder and CEO of Unaric, to discuss his experience in the SaaS space and his vision for building the largest suite of apps on the Salesforce platform.  

James shares insights on the importance of cross-selling, the value of bringing together different products under one vendor, and the unique approach of Unaric as a holding company that acquires ISVs. 

He also discusses their investment thesis and the criteria they look for in potential acquisitions. Have an app that you’d like to sell? Tune in to learn more about James' journey and the exciting future of Unaric. Let's dive in!

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00:12] 13-year veteran in Salesforce, ISV merger success. 

[00:04:43] Holding company acquires small ISVs for growth. 

[00:07:43] Unaric established July 2022, 8-person team. 

[00:12:06] Raised funds, shifted focus to software company. 

[00:13:44] Be clear with messaging, understand investment history, timing. 

[00:18:42] 3 of us have 35 years experience. Initial conversations through network and conferences. Chief architect has certification that opens doors. Community oriented ecosystem. Careful portfolio building. Service space makes sense. Cross selling between industries and buyers. Building relationships and getting validation. 

[00:23:34] Building app suite, cross-selling, customer success approach. 

[00:26:44] Loads of events at Unaric.com, Dreamforce party. 

Links

Saas Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/unaric-raises-35-million-in-seedround 
 
James Gasteen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgasteen/ 

James Gasteen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgasteen/ 
 
James Gasteen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JGasteen 
 
Unaric’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unaric/ 
 
Unaric website: https://www.unaric.com/ 
 
Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray/