Marketplace isn't just a technical integration. It’s a strategic decision, especially for engineering leaders.

In this episode of Unlock Cloud Go-To-Market, host Patrick Riley is joined by Mike Romans and Nick Rieniets of Kasada for a real-world look at cloud GTM through the eyes of a CTO. Nick shares why Kasada initially resisted marketplace, what changed, and how partnering with Tackle made the difference between a drawn-out build and a fast, scalable launch.

If you’re a leader weighing whether to go alone or bring in help, or if you’re wondering when the right time to activate your Cloud GTM motion really is, this conversation is your shortcut to clarity.

You’ll learn:

• How Kasada’s CTO assessed the trade-offs of building versus partnering
• What made AWS the right choice for both tech and sales
• The signals that told Kasada they were ready for marketplace
• The overlooked backend wins that made Tackle the obvious move

Resources:
Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-rieniets/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-romans-iamnotabot/
Connect with Dillon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dewoods/
Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmriley/

Learn more about Tackle: https://tackle.io

Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction

(01:11) Exploring cloud go-to-market through the lens of CTO

(02:58) What Kasada does and the bot mitigation problem

(05:02) Why Kasada built on AWS and how it shaped their GTM

(07:03) Leveraging AWS programs for customer alignment

(09:05) Building joint solutions with AWS and proving customer success

(11:43) Landing large enterprise customers early

(13:46) When is the right time for a startup to partner with AWS

(15:33) Why Kasada avoided Marketplace at first

(17:20) The minimal lift required to launch Marketplace with Tackle

(18:29) How Marketplace supported global expansion

(20:54) Tackle’s role in accelerating decision-making

(23:33) How Marketplace shifted customer engagement strategy

(25:59) Managing the AWS partnership beyond the listing

(33:57) How Marketplace simplified billing and operations