The StartUp to ScaleUp Game Plan

The StartUp to ScaleUp Game Plan

By Gary ReemanBusinessEntrepreneurshipInvesting
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The StartUp to ScaleUp Game Plan episodes

  • Stravito: building a winning enterprise Saas business

    Thor Olof Philogène is the Co-Founder & CEO at Stravito who've sold their AI-driven saas research & insights platform directly to blue chips like Mcdonalds, Electrolux & Pepsi Lipton.


    We explored:

    • Applying the Eric Ries concept of “validated learnings” when launching a SaaS business 
  • How a small European venture can sell enterprise SaaS directly to blue chips like McDonalds 
  • Why focus is your best friend - and how to retain that focus as your business grows
  • The advantages of front-load your hiring 
  • How to build an effective autonomous culture

    • For more Stravito insights check out https://www.stravito.com/ and for advice on hiring exceptional leaders for B2B Saas scale-ups head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    23 min
  • How to go as fast as possible without the wheels coming off!

    Alex Mifsud is the CEO & Founder at embedded finance disruptor Weavr – who recently raised a $40m Series A led by Tiger Global. Other investors include QED, Anthemis, LocalGlobe, Mubadala Capital and Seedcamp.

    Alex walked me through his:

    • journey from academia to tech entrepreneurship
  • learnings - including "how to go as fast as possible without the wheels coming off"!
  • product philosophy: "put yourself in the shoes of customers and start designing the solution you would love to have if you were them"
  • views on hiring & diversity: “the danger of cloning versus the danger of lone wolves”
  • perspectives on the challenges of being a tech entrepreneur: “if it were a very straight line it would be a really boring job”!

    • For more insights into Weavr check out https://www.weavr.io/ and for guidance on hiring leaders for B2B SaaS scale-ups head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

    24 min
  • DeepStream – the saas startup helping companies handle supply chain disruption

    Jack Macfarlane is the CEO at DeepStream Technologies.

    DeepStream's SaaS solution delivers a seamless, visible & automated procurement experience to clients like Maersk and BritishVolt.

    DeepStream was originally backed by TechStars and angel investors - before raising a Series A, led by Beringea, in 2021

    Jack discussed:

    • Switching from investment banking to become a tech entrepreneur
  • Ensuring your employees develop a shared winning mentality & contribute to the company's vision
  • Navigating the path from your startup dream to the reality of scaling your business
  • Diversity – building an eclectic mix of people from the outset
  • Why Procurement is changing from a cost centre to a profit-generation centre

    • For more insights into DeepStream check out https://www.deep.stream/ and for advice on recruiting leaders for your SaaS scale-up head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

    31 min
  • Buddy: SaaS startup helping hospitals to improve the patient experience

    Jussi Maatta is CEO & Founder at the Finnish health tech disruptor, Buddy Healthcare.

     

    Buddy's platform helps healthcare providers reduce their huge waiting lists & enhance the patient experience.


    We explored:

    • implementing agile processes right the way across your organisation
  • how a company's name can encapsulate the company's culture and ethos
  • the pandemic's impact on the demand for virtual care solutions and better patient experiences
  • how Russia's invasion impacted the team's Ukrainian developers 
  • staying fit & healthy to cope with the stresses & strains of leading a SaaS startup
  • hiring a dynamic team of diverse individuals to help shape & deliver the company's vision 

    • For more insights into Buddy Healthcare check out https://www.buddyhealthcare.com/en/

     

    And for guidance on hiring leadership talent for B2B saas scale-ups, head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

     

    23 min
  • Sastrify: how to hyperscale & have a lot of fun at the same time!

    Sven Lackinger is the co-founder & CEO at Sastrify - a rapidly scaling SaaS venture who’ve raised $23m dollars from major VCs like HV Capital and FirstMark for their SaaS procurement solution.

     

    We explored:

    • Why 4 co-founders is too many - you're better off with 2 co-founders who then hire “experts” for the other c-suite roles
  • The benefits of hiring world class talent anywhere in the world & how to build a completely remote team & culture
  • Why Sastrify has launched so many virtual cultural initiatives like Friday Checkouts – where people thank a colleague for something they’ve done and share their weekend plans - and global online chess tournaments to build friendships across timezones and countries
  • How Sastrify are creating a new product category to enable large enterprises to procure and operate their software

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    N.B. This episode was recorded in early March 2022 - shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine


    For more insights into Sastrify check out https://www.sastrify.com/ & for advice on hiring leaders to scale your B2B SaaS venture head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

    20 min
  • Transforming customer engagement & loyalty

    Sampo Parkkinen is the CEO & founder at Revieve whose SaaS platform uses AI, AR & computer-vision to help brands and retailers like Number 7, Superdrug & JC Penney personalise the customer experience and build long term customer relationships.


    We explored:

    • Why scaling yourself - as a leader - is the hardest thing to do as an entrepreneur
  • “The Power Focus” – learning not to chase every opportunity and not to try to put out every fire
  • How & when to transition your SaaS business from focusing on SMBs to winning large enterprise clients
  • Why e-commerce is moving from transaction driven to relationship driven - shaking up the entire consumer brand experience


    • For more insights into Revieve check out https://www.revieve.com/ & for guidance on recruiting leaders talent for B2B SaaS scale-ups head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

     

    28 min
  • How to develop a utopian culture in a rapidly scaling SaaS venture?

    Jonas Thordal is the Co-founder & CEO at Weld – funded by VCs like Frontline Ventures & Cherry Ventures 


    Weld aims to build the world's most customer-centric data company - empowering customers to unlock the full potential of their data.

     

    We explored:

    • Building a utopian culture – how to eliminate politics, tedious decision process & hierarchies 
  • Why one of your earliest hires should be a People Ops person to prioritise your cultural values
  • Recognising that, even if you've a great product, people are what will make or break your company 
  • Developing a company-wide mindset of getting product out there, failing fast, learning & iterating
  • Minimising stress & burnout in a fast-paced startup  - including the benefits of meditation to help each individual achieve focus, prioritisation & clarity of purpose

    • For more insights into Weld, head over to https://weld.app/ 

    And for advice on recruiting exceptional leadership for B2B SaaS ventures, head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

     

     

     

     

    27 min
  • Can algorithms remove bias & improve quality in recruitment?

    Malcolm Burenstam Linder is the Founder & CEO at Series A funded Alva Labs whose digital hiring platform helps organisations improve the quality & diversity of the talent they recruit.

    We explored:

    • why combining data-driven AI & machine learning with psychometrics helps companies improve the quality and diversity of the talent they hire 
  • as we struggle with a global pandemic & a horrific European war, should companies behave like elite sports teams & provide their employees with personal coaches & therapists?
  • the challenges of transitioning from being a hands-on but chaotic entrepreneur - who tries to wear every hat - to a confident business leader who delegates to a highly effective leadership team

    • For more insights into Alva Labs check out https://www.alvalabs.io/ & for advice on recruiting world class leaders for B2B SaaS scale-ups head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

     

    28 min
  • Nethone - Polish scale-up disrupting the global enterprise cybersecurity market

    Hubert Rachwalski is the CEOat Nethone who in 2021 were named Poland’s fastest-growing company in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50

    Nethone provides machine learning-based fraud prevention solutions to online retailers and financial institutions

    We explored:

    • the arms race that pushes software innovators like Nethone to continue to develop advanced technologies and AI to keep pace with the criminals
  • the importance of educating banks & merchants on the risks they face from fraud
  • how a European SaaS startup can sell to international enterprise clients from Day 1 
  • how Nethone has successfully hired strong senior talent remotely but faces increased competition in their home market, due to the pandemic, from overseas employers

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    For more insights into Nethone head over to https://nethone.com/ and for advice on recruiting stellar leaders for B2B Saas ventures head over to https://alpinasearch.com/

    Please note, this interview was recorded over 2 weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine - hence we did not discuss the implications of the invasion during the podcast


    35 min
  • Investing in start-ups helps you learn how to launch & lead your own business!

    Simon Bird is the CEO & co-founder at RevLifter who combine AI, hyper-personalization, data, algorithms, and cutting-edge UX and design to enable retailers to personalise their online offers.

    Revlifter raised their Series A from Gresham House Ventures & Maven Capital Partners - they’ve rapidly scaled to $10m ARR and sold to online businesses of all shapes & sizes including blue chips like New Balance, Harvey Nichols, Staples and AT&T.

    Simon discussed:

    • How he formulated a successful SaaS business concept on the back of a napkin in a London café!
  • Learning the good, the bad and the ugly of startup leadership by investing in start-ups before you launch your own business
  • Lessons for European Saas businesses looking to replicate their success & their culture in The States 
  • “If you’re gonna hire people, they should really be telling you what to do rather than the other way round”
  • The dangers of being too hands-on as a CEO in terms of your mental & physical health – learning how to let go!

    • For more Revlifter insights head over to https://www.revlifter.com/ and for guidance on recruiting exceptional B2B SaaS startup & scale-up leaders check out https://alpinasearch.com/

     

    26 min

About The StartUp to ScaleUp Game Plan

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Insights from successful entrepreneurs & VCs: how to globally scale innovative technology ventures