Discover how to spot bad VC investors with 11 practical tips. Learn the importance of reference checks and understanding an investor's long-term goals. Delve into the nuances of second checks and the risks of control in the founder-investor relationship. Explore the decision-making process between bootstrapping and venture capital. Gain insights on enhancing communication with potential investors to secure follow-up funding.

Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner at Theory Ventures, dives into the evolving landscape of SaaS Go-to-Market strategies. He discusses the recent shift from security concerns to ROI as the main barrier for AI adoption. The survey insights reveal longer sales cycles and increased sales quotas, yet founders remain optimistic. Interestingly, AI has yet to prove its value in conversion rates or ARR growth. For those contemplating pricing changes, introducing hybrid models could boost net dollar retention significantly.

René Lacerte, CEO and founder of BILL, shares insights from leading a financial operations platform serving half a million customers. He discusses the evolution of BILL's operations and revenue growth, emphasizing the importance of addressing multiple stakeholders. René highlights the role of AI and mobile accessibility in enhancing user experience and customer engagement. He also explores the challenges of vendor switching, competitive advantages, and the necessity of understanding SMB pain points to create scalable solutions.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing sales practices and the essential role of human intuition in the mix. Delve into the challenges of scaling SaaS companies, from recruitment to multi-product strategies. Gain insights on fostering strong leadership and team relationships, along with the critical nature of hiring top talent. Explore financial strategies crucial for navigating the SaaS landscape while maintaining a profitable Ideal Customer Profile. Real-world examples from industry leaders illuminate the path to innovation and success.

Explore the transformative wave of hyper-functional SaaS, as leaders face rising customer expectations amid fierce competition. Discover how AI and automation are reshaping strategies and the importance of multi-product approaches. Gain insights into current growth challenges, product-market fit issues, and the necessity for innovation. Real-world examples from companies like Slice, Datadog, and Monday highlight navigating market dynamics successfully. Don't miss key strategies for thriving in the modern SaaS landscape!

Join Sameer Dholakia from Bessemer Venture Partners, Julia Chapin of Abridge, Kate Jensen from Anthropic, Rami Karabibar of EvenUp, and Timothy Young from Jasper as they dive into the transformative impact of AI across industries. They discuss building defensible business models and highlight the importance of trust and partnerships to sustain growth. The conversation also covers adapting SaaS and healthcare communications through AI innovations, and the essential strategies for user retention in this rapidly evolving tech landscape.

In a compelling discussion, Loren Padelford, CRO of Slice and former Shopify Plus executive, shares his insights on selling and scaling in vertical SaaS. He breaks down how Slice supports independent pizzerias with tailored software solutions, emphasizing the distinct strategies needed to compete with larger chains. Loren discusses the resilience of the pizza industry, key characteristics of effective sales teams, and the importance of building trust with SMBs. A must-listen for those looking to understand the nuances of vertical SaaS!

Join Andrew Bialecki, CEO and Co-Founder of Klaviyo, a top marketing and customer data platform, as he shares insights on building a product that customers adore. He discusses Klaviyo's journey to nearly $1B in revenue and its transformation from small businesses to enterprise markets. Discover the impact of strategic partnerships, like the pivotal collaboration with Shopify, and learn about their IPO experiences and innovative product features that drive customer loyalty in e-commerce.

Sara Varni, CMO at Datadog, shares her extensive experience in marketing from Salesforce to Twilio, emphasizing the critical alignment of sales and marketing. She discusses building a successful marketing pipeline and the need for regular communication between teams to enhance performance. Varni also delves into effective inbound marketing strategies involving both paid and organic methods, and the challenge of balancing Product-Led Growth with Sales-Led Growth while keeping strong developer ties. Her insights on KPI tracking and budget optimization are particularly valuable for startups.

Matt Plank, the current CRO at Rippling, shares insights alongside Sam Blond, former CRO at Brex. They discuss Rippling's remarkable ascent to a $14B valuation. Key tactics include evolving outbound sales strategies, blending traditional methods with AI, and the crucial alignment of marketing and sales teams. They also dive into the transition from customer success to account management, emphasizing the need for empathy-driven customer relationships that boost revenue and retention. Tune in for actionable growth strategies from industry leaders!