Pivoting a failing marketplace business to an $11m ARR Enterprise AI SaaS with Gaétan Rougevin-Baville

In this episode of The New Frontier, Max sits down with Gaétan Rougevin-Baville , CEO of Diffusely, an AI-powered visual production platform serving major players in fashion and automotive.

Gaétan shares the remarkable story of how he led a hard pivot from a global photography marketplace into a verticalized AI SaaS business—scaling revenue to $11 million in just three years. Originally joining a company called MERO, Gaétan witnessed the rapid rise and fall of the traditional content production model as COVID-19 and advancing tech disrupted demand for professional photography.

The conversation dives deep into the operational and emotional complexities of the pivot. At its peak, the company had over 800 employees and $45M in GMV, but pivoting to AI meant a complete overhaul - downsizing to 100 employees and realigning leadership. Gaétan opens up about making tough decisions, navigating mass layoffs, and building trust through transparency. He also offers insight into leading with empathy, supporting those affected through job placement efforts, and maintaining morale during massive organizational change.

Looking ahead, Gaétan explains how Diffusely now helps enterprise clients in fashion and automotive generate and manage visual content at scale using AI. By focusing on deep verticalization, robust enterprise integration, and blending AI with human expertise, Diffusely delivers fast, high-volume image production. Gaia shares go-to-market strategies, lessons in hiring and customer success, and how to drive adoption in large, change-resistant organizations. It’s an honest, deeply practical look at modern leadership in the age of AI transformation.

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