Eynat Guez, founder and CEO of Papaya Global, was interviewed by Ben Casnocha, co-founder and partner at Village Global, during this masterclass for Village Global founders.
Takeaways:
Show up to key meetings as the founder or executive team — don’t just send the sales team. It signals to the client that you’re personally invested and committed to making the deal a success.
Avoid being overly optimistic about where prospects stand. Serious signals include active texting, detailed questions about implementation, security questionnaires, and the involvement of additional stakeholders.
Be strategic about progressing meetings: PowerPoint to articulate vision, Excel for financials, and Word for legal details.
Build strong relationships with junior VCs as well as partners — they can provide introductions, market intelligence, and future opportunities as they advance in their careers.
Building relationships with clients shouldn’t stop after the deal closes. Ongoing check-ins help position your company as a long-term partner, not just a vendor.
Leaders should periodically dive deep into 2-3 departments or processes each quarter to challenge assumptions and drive innovation.
Engage with junior employees or frontline staff for fresh perspectives — their insights are often more candid than those of seasoned executives.
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