The SaaS CFO

Greetings, SaaS CFO community! Welcome to another exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast. I'm your host, Ben, and today we have a special guest, Jake Soffer, the software founder, and CEO of FirmPilot. Jake's journey is nothing short of inspiring, starting from his days as a recruited hockey player at RPI, diving deep into the fascinating world of Natural Language Processing (NLP), and eventually venturing into entrepreneurship.  In this episode, Jake shares invaluable insights from his experience founding Rollio, a cutting-edge natural language interface for CRMs, and how he navigated every classic first-time founder mistake along the way. We'll delve into FirmPilot, the innovative company he founded in 2023, which is revolutionizing the legal marketing landscape with AI-driven SEO, social media, and ad management solutions tailored for law firms.  Tune in as Jake reveals FirmPilot's journey from a simple experiment to a thriving business, his strategic approach to targeting small and solo law firms, and how they've already achieved top Google rankings for their clients. Plus, you'll hear about how FirmPilot’s go-to-market strategies, fundraising experiences, and metrics for success have shaped the company's growth trajectory. Whether you're a seasoned founder or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with lessons and inspiration. Let's dive in!  Show Notes:  00:00 Data-driven content creation to boost online presence.  03:41 Transitioned from Rollio, helped brother, created MVP.  09:21 Personalized approach and creative outreach for sales.  12:42 Focus on key metrics for current stage.  14:39 Focused on growth, hired first set of bdRs.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/firmpilot-closes-7-million-in-series-a  Jake Soffer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-soffer-00797a62/  FirmPilot’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/firmpilot/  FirmPilot’s Website: https://firmpilot.com/  SaaS Metrics Course here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation-live-cohort-new?mc_cid=b89d27187d&mc_eid=20fbb3e1b5 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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, we're excited to welcome Apoorva Kumar, the co-founder and CEO of Inspeq. Apoorva shares his fascinating journey from working in big tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and SAP to founding Inspeq in Q4 of last year.  Inspeq is a trust layer platform for AI applications, addressing the growing concern of AI inconsistencies and inaccuracies. With a strong focus on enterprise customers, particularly consulting companies, Inspeq provides a robust evaluation and guardrailing solution for large language model applications.  Apoorva discusses the importance of capital in their business, having recently raised $1.1 million from prominent AI funds and seasoned tech executives. He also shares valuable lessons for founders considering fundraising and emphasizes the significance of staying focused on customer enablement and product development.  Join us as we dive into Apoorva's insights on the AI industry, Inspec's growth plans, and their mission to empower organizations to create reliable AI applications faster and cheaper. Don't forget to visit Inspeq.ai to learn more and start "inspeq-ting" your AI outputs today!  Show Notes:   00:00 Relocated from Germany to Ireland, embraced tech.  06:07 Inspeq: Platform for AI application evaluation and optimization.  08:49 Promoting pay-as-you-go developers queue for customers.  12:50 Consulting companies executing multimillion dollar bespoke projects.  16:41 AI business needs capital for growth.  19:32 Guy wins competition, boosts validation and confidence. Heading to San Francisco for grand finale.  20:43 Enabling enterprise customers, focusing on product direction.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/inspeq-ai-secures-1-1-million-in-pre-series-a-funding  Apoorva Kumar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorva-kumar-b2b08431/  Inspeq AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspeq-ai/  Inspeq AI’s Website: https://inspeq.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! In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Parker Gilbert, the co-founder and CEO of Numeric, join us. Parker dives deep into the journey of Numeric, a company revolutionizing financial data accuracy and automation. He shares his insights on enhancing business processes, the crucial role of AI in tech and CFO space, and Numeric's ambitious plans for growth, including expanding their R&D team and developing new products.  We'll explore Parker's unique path from navigating finance challenges in a fintech startup to co-founding Numeric with a vision to provide clean, auditable financial data. He discusses the importance of aligning costs with ARR growth using metrics like the burn multiple, and how essential it is to have prepared financials and build investor relationships.  Listen in as Parker highlights the key strategies that have driven Numeric's success, from lean operations and achieving product market fit, to their comprehensive platform that syncs ERP transaction data and offers robust financial reporting capabilities. Plus, get insights into Numeric's diverse customer base and their go-to-market strategy involving inbound and outbound sales, content marketing, and strategic partnerships. Whether you're a CFO, an accounting professional, or simply intrigued by the intersection of finance and technology, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.  Show Notes:  00:00 Transitioned from different startups to founding own company.  05:53 Teams building closed checklists for financial data.  08:10 Free checklist helps companies simplify and improve processes.  10:20 Identify, flag, and resolve unexpected financial transactions.  15:21 Product designed to aid finance and accounting.  19:27 Efficiency, automation, and value in audit process.  21:11 Prioritizing product-market fit and lean operations.  27:14 Obsession with top of funnel generation.  29:18 Company plans to expand and innovate products.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/numeric-secures-10-million-in-seed-round  Parker Gilbert’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-gilbert-99483298/  Numeric’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/numeric-io/  Numeric’s Website: https://www.numeric.io/  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! In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Mackinnon, co-founder and CEO of Subble, a subscription management platform helping companies identify and optimize their software spend. Nathan shares his journey from being the 13th employee at a startup called ActivePipe, where he transitioned from software engineer to product management, all the way through to a successful exit in 2022.  Nathan and his co-founders started Subble after recognizing the challenges companies face in managing their software spend, particularly in the post-COVID era. Subble helps companies discover what software they're using, identify unused licenses, and ultimately save money on their software bills while improving security.  Throughout the episode, Nathan discusses the evolving software spend management space, Subble’s target market, and their go-to-market strategies. He also shares insights on their fundraising journey and the importance of building relationships and networks as a founder.  Join us as we dive into Nathan's entrepreneurial experience and learn more about how Subble is helping companies take control of their software spend in this exciting new category.  Show Notes:   00:00 Team identified software management problem, decided to solve.  06:09 Diverse approaches to software management and procurement.  08:47 Various stakeholders care about unique distributed problems.  12:23 Using direct approach to educate, form partnerships.  13:48 Fortuitous meeting led to accelerated product launch.  17:41 Seeking feedback on Subble’s journey; future follow-up?  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/subble-secures-1-million-in-pre-seed-funding  Nathan Mackinnon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-mackinnon-648b23205/  Subble’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/subble/  Subble’s Website: https://www.subble.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, we welcome Oksana Tolmatshova, co-founder and CEO of Esgrid, a company providing affordable value chain sustainability management tools for medium-sized enterprises and financial institutions. Oksana shares her 20+ year background in banking and fintech, including her experience studying sustainable finance to understand the essential role the financial sector plays in implementing sustainability.  Oksana explains how Esgrid solves the problem of the lack of ESG data for small and medium enterprises by streamlining the collection and analysis of this data. Founded in August 2022 by Oksana and 3 other co-founders, Esgrid impressively secured their first paying customer before even writing a line of code for their MVP. The Esgrid platform creates network effects as more companies in a value chain provide their ESG data, making it simple to share with other partners.  Recently raising a €500,000 pre-seed round, Oksana provides fundraising tips like selling your experienced team early on and being open to alternative funding sources beyond just VCs. She also shares Esgrid’s key metrics, including the number of companies on the platform that have completed ESG assessments and maintaining a high success rate in boosting client efficiency.  Tune in to hear more about Oksana's entrepreneurial journey with esgrid and their mission to improve the sustainability of thousands of SMEs across the EU.  Show Notes:  00:00 Studied sustainable finance, saw lack of data.  06:11 New in market, sales cycle: 2-3 months.  09:34 Found co-founders, grew the business together.  13:07 Network growth, product-led, and sustainability partnerships.  16:50 Challenges in sustainability investment amid legislative noise.  18:00 Lessons: Team is key, seek diverse funding.  21:12 Appreciate insights and look forward to following.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/esgrid-secures-500-000-in-pre-seed-round  Oksana Tolmatshova’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksanatolmatshova/  Esgrid’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esgrid/  Esgrid’s Website: https://esgrid.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

Hey there, SaaS CFO fans! Get ready for an exciting episode that's all about optimizing your cloud spend. 🚀💰☁️  Our guest today is Roi Ravhon, the brilliant mind behind Finout - a company that's revolutionizing how businesses manage their cloud costs. With a background that spans from the Israeli military to tech, Roi has seen firsthand the challenges of getting a clear picture of cloud expenses and unit economics.  Roi's lightbulb moment? 💡 He realized there had to be a better way. Enter Finout: a game-changing solution that helps you track, allocate, and optimize your cloud spend across multiple providers and services. No more guesswork, just powerful insights that enable you to make data-driven decisions. 📊  In this episode, Roi pulls back the curtain on Finout's ideal customers, go-to-market strategy, and their impressive $26M Series B fundraise. He also shares valuable lessons from the fundraising trenches and the critical SaaS metrics they live and breathe by. 📈  As more companies embrace digital transformation, the challenge of managing skyrocketing cloud costs has never been more pressing. Roi believes Finout is perfectly positioned to become the go-to solution in this space. 🌟  Tune in to hear Roi's captivating story and actionable insights! And don't forget to check out finout.io to dive deeper into the world of cloud cost management. Trust us, your bottom line will thank you. 😉💸  Show Notes:  00:00 An Israeli, military background.  06:17 Vendor cannot automate everything, event reflects costs.  07:39 Agnostic industry focus, targets large and mid-sized companies.  13:29 Series B focuses on scientific SaaS metrics.  15:15 Managing financial data and storytelling for company.  20:19 Cloud optimization company has big growth potential.  21:34 Online platform with abundant information and demos.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/finout-raises-26-3-million-in-series-b  Roi Ravhon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roiravhon/  Finout’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finout-io/  Finout’s Website: https://www.finout.io/  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, everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! 🎉 Today, we have a fantastic guest for you—Michelle Valentine, the co-founder and CEO of Anrok. 🚀 In this episode, Michelle takes us on her unique journey from venture capital and investment banking to the tech space, where she founded Anrok, a company specializing in tax compliance for software companies. 💼💡  Michelle dives deep into the challenges and evolving landscape of US sales tax and worldwide VAT 🌐, particularly how recent legal changes and the rise of remote work 🌍 have shifted the paradigm for many businesses. She emphasizes the importance of tax compliance for SaaS companies 🧩, its impact on revenue 💵, and why founders and finance leaders need to be proactive about these issues. 💡📊  You'll also hear about Anrok's impressive growth, innovative use of AI for streamlining tax processes 🤖📈, and their journey from seed funding to a series B round, raising over $50 million. 💰✨ Whether you're a founder, a finance leader, or just curious about the intersection of SaaS and tax, this episode is packed with invaluable information. 📚🔥  Show Notes:   00:00 Connecting dots backward: finance, government revenue challenges.  06:14 E-commerce companies now collect sales tax.  07:35 GitHub now collecting sales tax on invoices.  11:53 Rise of remote work in software companies.  15:35 Anrock values quality investors over quick fundraising.  17:57 Understanding metrics nuance crucial for business success.  20:36 Plan and time meetings strategically for fundraising. Stick to planned fundraising and process.  26:22 AI embedding into product, streamlining finance workflows.  28:12 Active LinkedIn and Substack presence, rock content.  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/anrok-closes-30-million-in-series-b  Michelle Valentines’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellevalentinehk/  Anrok’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anrok/  Anrok’s Website: https://www.anrok.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! Today, we're thrilled to have a special guest, Max Hahnenkamp, co-founder of Scavenger AI, join us. Max takes us on his entrepreneurial journey, from studying business law in Vienna to working at Deloitte, to ultimately diving into the world of AI with Scavenger. Learn how a chance opportunity in the corporate world led Max to identify a crucial gap in how businesses leverage their data. 📊💡  In this episode, Max shares insights on Scavenger AI's innovative platform that simplifies data integration and analysis, enabling decision-makers to derive meaningful insights effortlessly. We'll also delve into the company's rapid growth, successful fundraising journey, and what's next on the horizon for this promising AI startup. 🚀  If you're intrigued by the intersection of AI and business intelligence or looking to gain valuable lessons from a successful startup journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Tune in now! 🎙️🔥  Show Notes:  00:00 Scavenger helps companies make data-driven decisions.  04:28 Target customer: company decision makers, big or small.  09:07 Seek funding early to accelerate business growth.  12:10 Hindsight shows successful process, ups and downs.  14:01 Focus on pre-seed idea, sales process metrics.  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/scavenger-ai-secures-1-1-million-in-pre-seed-funding  Maximilian Hahnenkamp’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-hahnenkamp-31abb8103/  Scavenger AI’s LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/scavenger-ai/  Scavenger AI’s Website: https://scavenger-ai.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! Welcome to another exciting episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast. Today, we're thrilled to host Colby DeRodeff, co-founder and CEO of Abstract Security, with over 25 years of experience in the cybersecurity field. From his early days at Arcsight to pivotal roles at Silvertail Systems, Anomaly, and Veridan, which later became part of Google, Colby's journey is a masterclass in innovation and leadership.  In this episode, Colby delves into Abstract Security’s mission to redefine the future of security operations. He shares how his team is tackling the relentless cyber threats by monitoring and managing threat data in real-time to protect organizations from breaches. Colby’s passion makes the complex world of cybersecurity both accessible and intriguing.  We also explore his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes of building a SaaS company. Colby offers invaluable advice on fundraising, securing venture capital, and the strategic steps necessary for delivering a successful product.  Whether you're a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, or curious about cybersecurity, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. So, buckle up and join us on The SaaS CFO Podcast as we uncover Colby DeRodeff's incredible story and vision. Trust us, you won't want to miss this!  Show Notes:   00:00 Built fraud detection content, co-founded successful companies.  05:25 Expansion of cloud infrastructure can lead to challenges.  07:42 Company hubs in various U.S. locations, future-focused.  10:09 Leveraging strong networks to shape product direction.  15:07 Be cautious with venture capitalists, seek experience.  16:23 Experienced advisors provide valuable insights for startups.  21:18 Internal product use vital for customer success.  23:05 Appreciate your time, check out Abstract Security.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/abstract-security-raises-8-5m-in-seed-round  Colby DeRodeff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbyderodeff/  Abstract Security’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abstractsecurity/  Abstract Security’s Website: https://www.abstract.security/  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! Get ready for a truly inspiring and eye-opening episode as we sit down with the dynamic Patrick Rafferty, CEO and founder of UserHub. From an unexpected start in commercial real estate appraisal to becoming a trailblazer in the SaaS world, Patrick's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.  In this episode, Patrick unveils how a moment of serendipity led him to his first role in tech and catapulted him into the world of SaaS. Discover the story behind his meteoric rise at Reonomy, where he went from knowing nothing about product management to leading a team of 60 in just seven years. But that's not all—Patrick also gives us an inside look at the creation of UserHub, a groundbreaking user-based billing platform designed to revolutionize how SaaS companies manage billing.  We'll explore what sets UserHub apart, its ideal customer profile, and their innovative solutions that blend user management and subscription management into a seamless experience. Plus, Patrick shares invaluable lessons about fundraising, the importance of practice pitches, and the all-crucial metric of time-to-value.  Whether you're an aspiring SaaS entrepreneur, a seasoned CFO, or just someone passionate about tech innovation, this episode is brimming with actionable insights and fascinating stories. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into this captivating conversation with Patrick Rafferty!  Show Notes:  00:00 Transitioned from real estate to tech innovation.  05:44 Targeting early-stage SaaS companies for CRM.  08:58 Managing product and engineering, buying SaaS products.  11:41 Product development started in early 2023. Early design partners focused on adoption.  16:21 Seek fundraising advice, practice with lower-priority associates.  19:00 User hub enables fast implementation, optimizing developer experience.  20:23 User Hub to expand and target big companies.  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/userhub-secures-3-2m-in-pre-seed-funding  Patrick Rafferty’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-rafferty-b927642b/  UserHub’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/userhubdev/  UserHub’s Website: https://userhub.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