The SaaS CFO

Welcome to another exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Pete Foley, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of ModelOp. With a rich background as a serial entrepreneur, Pete has successfully launched and sold several companies in the enterprise software space, including notable names like Infoblox and a thriving security company out of Israel.  Now, Pete's latest venture, ModelOp, is pioneering in the rapidly growing field of AI governance, helping enterprises seamlessly and safely integrate AI models into their operations. ModelOp offers an enterprise software designed to ensure compliance with internal and external regulations while maintaining the efficacy of AI models. This innovative approach positions ModelOp at the forefront of the AI market, which continues to expand at an unprecedented pace.  In this episode, Pete shares invaluable insights into his journey, market dynamics, and the strategic vision driving ModelOp forward. Whether you’re interested in AI, SaaS, or entrepreneurial growth, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Tune in for an in-depth conversation packed with industry expertise and forward-looking perspectives.  Show Notes:   00:00 Exited tech startups, ventured into emerging AI market.  03:43 Enterprise software for AI governance and orchestration.  07:49 AI interest spans all industries, emphasizing global opportunities.  09:58 Emerging Chief AI Officer role within organizations.  14:00 AI attracts significant attention and market tailwind.  19:09 Competitive advantage and strong multi-year contracts secured.  22:16 Understanding market maturity prevents over-investment mistakes.  23:44 ARR reflects growth and competitive advantage focus.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/modelop-raises-10-million-in-series-b  Pete Foley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petefoley2/  ModelOp’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modelop/  ModelOp’s Website: https://www.modelop.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we're thrilled to have a special guest, Alex Jekowsky, co-founder and CEO of Cents, as he joins our host, Ben, to delve into the dynamic world of modern laundromat management. Alex's unique journey from founding a payments platform for college campuses to investing in laundromats led him to identify a significant gap in sophisticated software solutions for the industry.  In this episode, we'll explore how Cents provides an all-in-one solution for laundromats, combining software and hardware to streamline operations and enhance customer experience. We'll also discuss the importance of a high-quality onboarding process to reduce churn, the role of fulfillment centers, and the company's strategic approach to revenue streams, including subscriptions, processing, and hardware sales. Alex will share insights on fundraising, emphasizing the importance of aligning with investors and the role of storytelling and metrics in securing capital.  Tune in to discover how Cents is revolutionizing the laundromat industry, covering thousands of locations across the U.S., and aiming for triple-digit growth with innovative solutions and a dedicated team. If you're interested in the intersection of SaaS, fintech, and the laundry industry, you won't want to miss this informative and inspiring conversation. Stay tuned!  Show Notes:   00:00 Considered investing in laundromats after Moto acquisition.  04:13 POS for laundromats enhances service management efficiency.  08:09 High-touch support with streamlined onboarding and implementation.  09:59 Focus on recurring revenue, hardware as loss leader.  15:28 Expanding laundry services across diverse real estate sectors.  17:51 Selling software and hardware through strong distribution.  21:13 Strategic M&A leverages market opportunities for growth.  24:04 Fundraise strategically; tailor stages to investors' expectations.  29:05 Focusing on innovation and deeper laundry industry integration.  30:25 Hiring for various roles; open to connections.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/cents-raises-40-million-in-series-b  Alex Jekowsky’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajekowsky/  Cents LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trycents/  Cents Website: https://www.trycents.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Greetings, listeners! Today on The SaaS CFO Podcast, we have an exciting episode lined up for you. Our host, Ben, sits down with Sam Oliver, the founder and CEO of OpenFi. Sam's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring, having been involved in the startup world for over 14 years with both successes and lessons learned from failures. Notably, Sam grew his previous company, Lead Pro, into a market leader before exiting in a multi-million pound deal.  In this episode, Sam shares his insight into the motivations behind selling Lead Pro, the driving forces behind his current venture OpenFi, and the fascinating potential of conversational AI to transform sales processes. OpenFi, an innovative company specializing in automating the Sales Development Representative (SDR) role, aims to leverage AI to enhance follow-up efficiency, manage leads, and improve customer engagement. Sam provides an in-depth look at how OpenFi is poised to revolutionize professional services using Salesforce integration.  Whether you're a founder, an investor, or a tech enthusiast curious about the future of AI in professional services, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Tune in to hear Sam's perspectives on building value, managing risks, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for OpenFi. Don’t miss it!  Show Notes:   00:00 Started company to solve problems, built value.  05:04 Impressed by AI, overcame doubts, founded company.  07:42 AI builds knowledge base, codifies sales script.  13:32 Third-time founders benefit from network, credibility.  14:34 Focus on targeted niche using Salesforce outreach.  20:45 Prefer direct customer sales over fundraising.  23:11 Excited for robust technology launch and scalability.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/openfi-closes-585k-in-pre-seed-round  Sam Oliver’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam0liver/  OpenFi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openfi-tech/  OpenFi’s Website: https://openfi.tech/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Greetings, SaaS CFO enthusiasts! In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Paul Dudley, the insightful co-founder and CEO of Streamkap. Paul shares his intriguing journey through the SaaS landscape, from his early days as an analyst at Quid to scaling Brightedge's sales in Europe, and eventually founding Streamkap in 2022. Paul dives deep into the world of streaming ETL, explaining how Streamkap is revolutionizing data movement by offering real-time data processing solutions.  We talk about the company's unique value propositions, ideal customer profiles, and pragmatic go-to-market strategies. Paul reveals how Streamkap tackles complex data problems by making streaming data much more accessible and faster than traditional batch processing. Real-world examples, such as real-time data needs in logistics and payments, help illustrate the practical applications of Streamkap’s technology.  Paul also outlines Streamkap's growth trajectory, funding rounds, and plans for the future. From early customer engagements to raising pre-seed and seed rounds, Paul delves into the company’s strategic decisions and lessons learned along the way. Listen in as we explore the exciting advancements in real-time data and gain valuable insights from Paul's extensive experience in the SaaS domain. Don't miss this enlightening episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast!  Show Notes:  00:00 Streaming ETL for real-time data integration.  04:02 Shift to affordable, real-time streaming data systems.  07:59 Focus: Mid-market, small enterprises, not startups.  12:14 Launched data transfer product; secured customers, scaled.  15:30 Customer feedback is crucial for prioritization decisions.  18:28 Focus on integrating data into existing architectures.  20:44 New content, customer focus, product transformations.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/streamkap-secures-3-3-million-in-funding  Paul Dudley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldudley/  Streamkap’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/streamkap/  Streamkap’s Website: https://streamkap.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, our host Ben is joined by the dynamic team behind Toystack, a groundbreaking DevOps platform on Kubernetes designed to simplify and scale deployment for startups and SMBs. We have Mukund, Arun, Sravan, and Torun here to discuss how Toystack operates like an innovative coworking space for DevOps, providing essential services like security, logging, monitoring, and alerts.  Together, they delve into the origins of Toystack, targeting developers and startups who lack dedicated DevOps engineers, and how it accelerates product development while cutting costs. We'll explore their user growth strategy, community engagement on Discord, and future plans for integrating AI and new frameworks. The team will share insights on their monetization approach, focusing on converting trial users to paying customers, and their ambitious goals to double their user base in the coming months.  We'll also hear about their journey in securing initial revenue, their decision to maintain the name "Toystack" despite enterprise considerations, and their adventures in funding and team dynamics. Whether you're part of a small startup or an enterprise team, you won't want to miss the valuable lessons and strategies from the co-founders of this innovative platform. So tune in and get ready to be inspired by the story of Toystack!  Show Notes:   00:00 Investment banker turned entrepreneur with ecommerce marketplace.  05:30 Effortless cloud deployment for developers without DevOps.  07:04 Toystack: Scalable DevOps platform for startups' deployment.  12:24 Launched in February, achieved 7000 users globally.  16:19 Focusing on product-led growth for next years.  18:57 We bootstrapped until gaining traction before fundraising.  23:38 Doubling user growth, fostering an active community.  25:49 Community support and deployments are crucial metrics.  28:17 Toystack showcases live open source project deployments.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/toystack-ai-raises-325k-in-pre-seed-round  Toystack’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/toystack/  Toystack’s Website: https://toystack.ai/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to have a remarkable guest joining us—Lin Qiao, the CEO and co-founder of Fireworks AI. Lin brings a wealth of expertise from her days as a researcher and software engineer, having worked at industry giants like IBM and Facebook. She'll share her inspiring journey from academia to leading innovations in the AI space.  In this episode, Lin takes us through the revolutionary products Fireworks AI offers, aimed at transforming how application developers and product engineers leverage GenAI technology. Imagine building advanced AI-driven applications in days instead of years, without needing an army of engineers. Lin expertly breaks down the company's offerings using a compelling car assembly analogy, making it easy for us to grasp the intricate layers of their technology.  We’ll also dive into the diverse industry applications of Fireworks AI, spanning startups, digital-native enterprises, and traditional companies. Lin discusses the groundbreaking shifts this technology can bring, the unique challenges and costs involved, and how her company aims to simplify this landscape for developers and enterprises alike.  Furthermore, Lin opens up about Fireworks AI's impressive milestones, including their fundraising journey, key metrics, and future product directions. Whether you're an app developer or an enterprise executive, this conversation promises invaluable insights into accelerating innovation with GenAI.  So, grab your headphones and join us for an enlightening discussion with Lin Qiao on The SaaS CFO Podcast!  Show Notes:   00:00 From researcher to impactful software engineer at Facebook.  05:47 Mobile apps revolutionized industries, creating vast opportunities.  06:49 Create videos for automation and business efficiency.  09:55 Latency challenges with engaging, high-size JNAI models.  13:33 Accelerating strategy and execution for diverse companies.  17:01 Critical partnerships, funding growth, expand AI system, teamwork.  22:05 Explore and deploy models with Fireworks AI.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/fireworks-ai-secures-25-million-in-series-a  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/fireworks-ai-raises-52-million-in-series-b  Lin Qiao’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lin-qiao-22248b4/  Fireworks AI’s Linkedn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fireworks-ai/  Fireworks AI’s Website: https://fireworks.ai/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we have an exciting conversation lined up with Nicholas Christiaen and Jonas Deprez, the co-CEOs and co-founders of Donna—a next-generation assistant designed to revolutionize the way sales reps manage their CRM data. Nicholas and Jonas bring a wealth of experience from their previous successful startups, Cashforce and Dalbix, respectively. They share their incredible journey of meeting through a mutual investment opportunity, leveraging their combined expertise to co-found Donna.   In this episode, we dive into the unique features of Donna, its target industries, and the significant pain points it addresses for field sales reps. We also discuss their recent fundraising success, raising $1.7 million in just three weeks, and their ambitious plans to scale globally. Whether you’re interested in how to streamline sales processes, the dynamics of starting a new SaaS venture, or the intricacies of fundraising, this episode has something for you. Stay tuned as Nicholas and Jonas reveal their insights and the future direction of Donna!  Learn more about Donna at askdonna.com. Let’s get started!  Show Notes:   00:00 Donna is the perfect assistant for sales reps.  03:26 Helping reduce admin for sales-intensive industries.  07:06 Main targets: VP sales, innovation leads, sales reps.  10:11 Focused on adoption and potential paid programs.  13:32 Raised $1.7 million quickly with unexpected momentum.  19:53 ROI, time saved, and increased business output.  21:37 Sales reps seeking advantages, PLG motion, enterprise.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/donna-secures-1-6-million-in-pre-seed-round  Nicolas Christiaen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaschristiaen/  Jonas Deprez’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonasdeprez/  Ask Donna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/donna-by-dealside/  Ask Donna’s Website: https://askdonna.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Jonathan Sanders, the co-founder and CEO of Light. With an impressive background that includes working in finance and co-founding successful startups like Pleo and Junie, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience to the table.  We dive into Jonathan’s journey from the finance world in London to founding multiple startups, culminating in his latest venture, Light—a smart financial platform designed to simplify and modernize global finance operations for tech-driven, multinational companies. Jonathan shares insightful details about what sets Light apart, including its modern database architecture on AWS, its intuitive user interface, and seamless integrations with major platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot.  Join us as we explore the challenges and innovations in the accounting software space, the importance of clean data during month-end closes, and the exciting future prospects for Light, including an ambitious goal of achieving one-hour month-end closes and the upcoming launch of their Light Command Interface. Whether you're a SaaS CFO, controller, or interested in the evolution of financial technology, you won’t want to miss this episode!  Show Notes:  00:00 Modern, cloud-hosted, simplified, fast, accounting ledger platform.  07:14 Fast, scalable AI-driven general ledger for clean data.  11:05 Partner for bookkeeping and scaling multinational finance functions.  14:54 Identifying companies transitioning to multinational operations.  17:18 Raised $13M to create scalable accounting products.  20:08 Partner with experts, plan indirectly, prove concepts, learn.  24:05 AI-driven automation for seamless operations and strategy.  25:59 Natural language simplifies complex accounting transactions.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/light-raises-13-million-in-funding  Jonathan Sanders’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-sanders/  Light’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uselightinc/  Light’s Website: https://light.inc/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast, where we dive deep into the financial strategies and innovations within the SaaS industry. In today's episode, our host Ben sits down with Paul Kleen, the founder of Pitchit, a pioneering company in the lead qualification space powered by AI. Since its inception in August 2022, Pitchit has transformed the way sales teams handle and prioritize leads, particularly in the telecommunications sector.   Paul shares insights into the fully remote structure of Pitchit, their unique pricing model that moves away from traditional SaaS frameworks, and the company's impressive revenue metrics, ranging from hundreds of millions to billions annually. You'll hear about the innovative lead scoring system, the challenges and successes in fundraising, and the strategic go-to-market approaches that set Pitch It apart.   This episode is a treasure trove of information for anyone navigating the SaaS landscape, providing a glimpse into how AI is disrupting traditional sales processes and the future of remote work. So grab your headphones and tune in to this enlightening conversation with Paul Kleen on The SaaS CFO Podcast.  Show Notes:   00:00 AI agent qualifies leads and books meetings efficiently  03:57 We target telecommunications dealers selling to consumers.  09:28 Selling AI-based lead qualification service, not features.  11:24 Spam filtered, engagement evaluated, scored cold, warm, hot.  15:49 Human interaction in customer service remains indispensable.  18:29 Keynotes attract influencers, driving effective customer acquisition.  21:05 Niche-specific expos more valuable than broad ones.  23:48 Raised funds minimally to avoid potential pivots.  28:59 Product market fit measured by qualified leads.  32:55 Selected niche clients before publicly raising funding.  33:51 Start stealthily, refine product before advertising broadly.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/pitchit-raises-2-5-million-in-seed-round  Paul Kleen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkleen/  Pitchit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitchitai/  Pitchit’s Website: https://www.pitchit.ai/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we have a riveting conversation lined up with Tom Aley, the co-CEO and co-founder of Aidentified. Join our host Ben as he dives deep into Tom's extensive journey through the high-tech world, beginning in the late '90s and evolving into his current role at Aidentified. Tom shares his early experiences in high-tech sales and his transition into launching a venture fund at Reed Elsevier Ventures, setting the stage for his future entrepreneurial endeavors.  In this episode, you'll hear about Tom's journey of founding several successful companies, including Generate and NetProspex, both of which were sold to industry giants like Dow Jones and Dun & Bradstreet. Tom elaborates on how Aidentified is transforming financial services with its cutting-edge SaaS application and data services, offering unparalleled insights and relationship mapping for clients. He discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in merging consumer and business data to create a comprehensive 360-degree view of individuals and organizations.  Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, Tom’s insights on scaling a business, fundraising, and strategic partnerships are sure to provide invaluable lessons. He offers a candid look at the complexities of growing a tech company, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, quality control, and strategic investor partnerships. Don’t miss this episode packed with wisdom and practical advice straight from the trenches of the tech industry!  Show Notes:  00:00 Raised funds, sold company, crowdsource data, AI, sold twice.  03:05 Integrated 360 view merging personal and business insights.  06:59 Diverse data matching expands networking opportunities greatly.  09:48 Go-to-market strategy: telesales and direct outreach.  12:57 Constant sales growth, pandemic challenges, financial focus, successful funding.  16:00 Choose VCs with relevant industry operational experience.  20:33 Efficient service with fixed gross margins, high.  21:55 Revenue focus essential for sustained business growth.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/aidentified-secures-12-5-million-in-series-b  Tom Aley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taley/  Aidentified’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aidentified/  Aidentified’s Website: https://www.aidentified.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray