saas.unbound Beyond the deal: finding hidden growth potential in SaaS acquisitions with Colin Keeley @Verne
Dec 9, 2024
Colin Keeley, Co-founder of Verne and a recruiter in Latin America, shares his insights on SaaS acquisitions. He discusses the nuances of enhancing acquired companies through customer feedback and strategic operational improvements. Keeley highlights the benefits of harnessing global talent, particularly from Latin America, to optimize business growth. The conversation also delves into balancing multiple ventures and the importance of effective communication in managing diverse teams in the competitive SaaS landscape. Tune in for unique strategies and valuable lessons!
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Operators Turned Holdco Leaders
- Tim Schumacher and Colin Keeley both transitioned from operating roles to leading holding companies in the SaaS space.
- They discuss their respective approaches to acquiring and scaling software businesses.
Acquiring vs. Building
- Colin Keeley prefers acquiring established businesses with proven product-market fit over building from scratch.
- Building from scratch, even with funding, is challenging due to the difficulty of achieving product-market fit.
Improving Acquired Products
- Improve acquired SaaS products by polling existing customers for feedback on desired features and pain points.
- Prioritize product improvements before scaling sales and marketing efforts, often requiring 6+ months of work.