Marty Kausas, co-founder and CEO of Pylon, a cutting-edge B2B customer support platform, shares his journey of raising $20 million from top investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Y Combinator. He discusses the intense challenges of "Pivot Hell" and the discipline required to thrive in startup life. Marty recounts how Pylon achieved $120K in ARR and secured initial funding in just six days. He emphasizes the importance of relentless work ethic and how AI is transforming customer support, pushing the boundaries of innovation in the industry.
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insights INSIGHT
Persistence Overcomes Failure
Only one successful outcome is needed to overshadow all previous failures.
Persistence through hardships like "Pivot Hell" is crucial for founders.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Reality of Pivot Hell
Marty experienced constant doubt and external pressure during "Pivot Hell."
Despite everything, he felt compelled to continue, driven by internal resolve.
insights INSIGHT
Target Big Horizontal SaaS Markets
Building in a large horizontal SaaS market offers vast potential for growth.
Emerging communication channels like Slack create fresh opportunities for customer support software.
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How I Raised $17M in 14 Days | Pylon, Marty Kausas
In this episode, we sit down with Marty, cofounder and CEO of Pylon, the first customer support platform built specifically for B2B companies.His key insight: 👉 "All you need is one thing to work out, and that'll blow away all the failures in the past" – demonstrating the resilience required through the inevitable "Pivot Hell" every founder faces.Within just three months of having the idea, Pylon reached $120K in ARR, securing their first customer in only 14 days. They've raised $20 million from top investors including Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and Y Combinator, closing their initial $3.2M seed round in an impressive six days.What sets Pylon apart is their relentless work ethic and focus on leadership by example. Marty shares how the founders were so committed they actually lived in their office – with one cofounder's bed in the living room and Marty sleeping in a meeting room, working 14hour days to outpace incumbents.In this interview, Marty shares candid stories about:
✅ Navigating "Pivot Hell" and the discipline to persist when others question your path
✅ Strategically targeting horizontal SaaS in massive markets to build something truly big
✅ Creating competitive fundraising dynamics that secured favorable terms with top VCs
✅ The future of B2B customer support transformed by AI and conversational data🎧 Tune in to hear how Pylon is consolidating customer support, success, and solutions tools into one powerful platform by recognizing the shift from email to collaborative channels like Slack and Teams.01:23 Success Starts at the End of Your Comfort Zone
03:10 Follow Your Gut Feeling
06:24 The 'Right Time' to Say Yes to Investors
11:40 Advice For Early Stage Founders[EO School Highlight]
Unlocking B2B Growth Playbook by Tae Hea Nahm of Storm Ventures: https://bit.ly/3DpzmgGLinkedIn | @EO STUDIO
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