
The GTM Podcast
The GTM Podcast interviews well-known tech executive, VC, and founders - the expert operators in the trenches who have ‘been there, done that’ to build some of the fastest-growing software companies. Every week, a guest joins Sophie Buonassisi to dissect their stories, revealing expert insights around what worked, what didn’t, and how things actually went down.This podcast is produced by GTMnow, the media brand of GTMfund - sharing insight on go-to-market from working with hundreds of portfolio companies backed by over 350 of the best go-to-market executives. GTMfund is an early-stage VC fund focused on investing in the most exciting, up-and-coming B2B SaaS companies across the world. The LP network consists of VP and C-level Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success leaders from companies like DocuSign, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Snowflake, Okta, Zoom, and many more.Visit gtmnow.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletter and other content resources.
Latest episodes

Jul 9, 2024 • 53min
GTM 102: Building Trust, Embracing Old-School Tactics, and Scaling Sales Teams with David Greenberger
David Greenberger leads CHEQ’s North America sales team. CHEQ is a cybersecurity platform primarily focused on protecting the Go-to-Market organization (preventing fake leads to sales team, skewed analytics from bots/malicious users etc). David is well-versed in building and perfecting Go-To-Market processes both from $0 and at 100 y/o companies. CHEQ is David’s 5th startup. Directly before CHEQ, David was in a leadership capacity at Hitachi Vantara, in the deep-enterprise Big Data / AI space. Prior to that he's built teams at Foursquare, Yext, Angi and Splash. Discussed in this Episode:The importance of trust in building effective go-to-market strategies.Navigating the transition from startups to large enterprises in sales roles.Strategies for hiring and developing sales talent with non-traditional backgrounds.The value of long-term relationships and "compound interest" in professional growth.Balancing internal and external relationships in large organizations.The resurgence of old-school, in-person tactics in modern sales approaches.Addressing challenges of invalid traffic and bots in digital marketing.Highlights:[13:35] – Insights on managing generational differences and career development in sales teams.[22:05] – David's experience transitioning from startups to a $90 billion organization.[25:50] – The story of a successful SDR who rapidly progressed to closing multi-million dollar deals.[37:49] – One thing revenue leaders believe to be true that David thinks is bull$***[40:04] – One thing that is working for David in go-to-market right nowGuest Speaker Links (David Greenberger):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgreenberger/Host Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsors:Brought to you by Flex. Flex is a finance super app built around a credit card with unique Net-60 day terms that enables businesses to make an investment today and pay it back 60 days later with zero percent interest. If your business growth is constrained by the cashflow you need for inventory, advertising, or something else, Flex could provide you with an interesting growth lever.Brought to you by Orum. Orum is an AI-powered live conversation platform designed to supercharge sales activity, connect sales teams, and drive more revenue over the phone. Orum’s platform includes an AI-dialer that automates the manual aspects of calling and get sales reps into more conversations, a virtual sales floor for teams to build camaraderie and learn from one another, as well as analytics and coaching tools to help teams improve together.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

Jul 2, 2024 • 1h 7min
GTM 101: A Founder's Guide to Financing Environments and Navigating Venture Debt with Nick Dolik
Nick Dolik is a NYC-based investor, currently the Managing Director at TriplePoint Capital, and is focused on supporting founders and funding high-growth technology companies. Nick is passionate about entrepreneurship and has spent the past ~10 years backing various startups, including multiple unicorns.Discussed in this Episode:The current state of the financing environment for startups.Venture debt: what it is, how it works, and why it exists.Advantages of venture debt for founders and when to consider it.The importance of building long-term relationships in the venture capital world.Nick's unconventional path into venture capital and lessons learned.The value of getting "closer to the sun" when pursuing a career in VC.Common misconceptions about the founder-investor relationship.Highlights: [12:26] – The current financing environment for startups. [24:45] – Nick explains venture debt and its benefits for founders. [39:30] – Nick shares his journey from credit derivatives to venture capital.[47:22] – The importance of getting "closer to the sun" in pursuing a VC career.[51:30] – Advice for founders approaching their first fundraise. [59:41] – One thing revenue leaders believe to be true that Nick thinks is bull$***[1:04:01] – One thing that is working for Nick in go-to-market right now.Guest Speaker Links (Nick Dolik):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndolik/Host Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsors:Brought to you by Flex. Flex is a finance super app built around a credit card with unique Net-60 day terms that enables businesses to make an investment today and pay it back 60 days later with zero percent interest. If your business growth is constrained by the cashflow you need for inventory, advertising, or something else, Flex could provide you with an interesting growth lever.Brought to you by Orum. Orum is an AI-powered live conversation platform designed to supercharge sales activity, connect sales teams, and drive more revenue over the phone. Orum’s platform includes an AI-dialer that automates the manual aspects of calling and get sales reps into more conversations, a virtual sales floor for teams to build camaraderie and learn from one another, as well as analytics and coaching tools to help teams improve together.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

Jun 26, 2024 • 1h 7min
GTM 100: GTMnow, Building a Media Brand on Top of GTMfund
In this milestone 100th episode, Scott is joined by Sophie Buonassisi, VP of Marketing at GTMfund and GTMnow and a key architect behind the media brand's growth. Sophie leads media, marketing and community across the fund and the media company. Discussed in this Episode:The evolution of GTMfund's media strategy to multi-channel brand.Insights on building a profitable media company within a venture capital firm.Key metrics and growth strategies for the GTMnow brand and assets.Lessons learned from acquiring and rebranding a media property.The power of community-driven content and in-person events.Highlights:2:45 - Reflecting on the podcast's journey.6:05 - Importance of in-person events.14:04 - Reacquiring Sales Hacker and rebranding it as GTMnow.16:15 - Content and metrics behind the media brand.23:48 - Failed experiments and learning experiences.28:34 - Leveraging ecosystem for distribution.34:01 - Importance of in-person feedback.36:39 - Content creation process and tools behind the media brand. 46:09 - Which episodes were the 10 podcast episodes!Guest Speaker Links (Sophie Buonassisi):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebuonassisi/GTMnow Website: www.gtmnow.com/ Host Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsors:Brought to you by Flex. Flex is a finance super app built around a credit card with unique Net-60 day terms that enables businesses to make an investment today and pay it back 60 days later with zero percent interest. If your business growth is constrained by the cashflow you need for inventory, advertising, or something else, Flex could provide you with an interesting growth lever.Brought to you by Orum. Orum is an AI-powered live conversation platform designed to supercharge sales activity, connect sales teams, and drive more revenue over the phone. Orum’s platform includes an AI-dialer that automates the manual aspects of calling and get sales reps into more conversations, a virtual sales floor for teams to build camaraderie and learn from one another, as well as analytics and coaching tools to help teams improve together.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

Jun 18, 2024 • 55min
GTM 99: Mastering Customer Success in the AI New Age with Jon Dick
Jon Dick is the Global SVP of Customer Success at HubSpot where he’s focused on helping millions of organizations grow better. Prior to customer success, Jon led marketing teams at HubSpot, Trunk Club, and Klout. He has a background in improvised comedy and earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School.Discussed in this Episode:The rising importance of customer success in the age of AI and efficiency.Balancing proactive and reactive strategies to serve 200,000+ customers.The evolution of content marketing from "clicks to conversations".Choosing people over product and finding passion in your work.The power of generalists and the pitfalls of over-specialization in CS.Go-to-market tactics that are working for HubSpot, from chatbots to intent data.Highlights:3:22 - John's experience with improv comedy and how it applies to business.9:45 - Is an MBA still relevant for today's fast-changing market?13:44 - The new age of customer success and rising importance of AI.18:49 - Balancing proactive and reactive strategies to serve 200,000+ HubSpot customers.24:25 - The shift from "clicks to conversations" in content marketing.34:29 - The power of working with people you like and Jon's HBS reunion story.42:09 - Structuring customer success teams for series B companies.48:15 - One thing revenue leaders believe to be true that Jon thinks is bull$***: obsessing over lead volume instead of lead value.50:49 - One thing that is working for Jon in go-to-market right now: leveraging chatbots and intent data to drive conversions.Guest Speaker Links (Jon Dick):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondick/Host Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsor:Brought to you by Demandbase. Demandbase helps B2B companies hit their revenue goals using fewer resources by using the power of AI to identify and engage the accounts and buying groups most likely to purchase. Their account-based technology unites sales and marketing teams around insights that you can understand and facilitates quick actions across systems and channels to deliver big wins. It’s flexible, scalable ABM built for you.Brought to you by Orum. Orum is an AI-powered live conversation platform designed to supercharge sales activity, connect sales teams, and drive more revenue over the phone. Orum’s platform includes an AI-dialer that automates the manual aspects of calling and get sales reps into more conversations, a virtual sales floor for teams to build camaraderie and learn from one another, as well as analytics and coaching tools to help teams improve together.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

Jun 11, 2024 • 50min
GTM 98: Going From IC to CRO at GitHub and Building a High-Performing Revenue Growth Engine with Elizabeth Pemmerl
Elizabeth Pemmerl currently serves as GitHub’s Chief Revenue Officer, where she oversees all facets of the company's go-to-market strategy and customer engagement, including sales, support, and operations. She joined GitHub in 2015 after a career in the public sector, and has since held leadership roles in nearly all aspects of GitHub’s enterprise business.Discussed in this Episode:The journey from individual contributor to CRO and the lessons learned along the way.The impact of AI on GitHub's business and the future of software development.Strategies for pricing new products and cross-selling within an existing customer base.Insights on hiring, retention, and the power of promoting from within.Highlights:(9:13) Transitioning from IC to sales leadership and driving a forecast cadence.(18:20) Navigating the acquisition of Semmle and lessons learned in M&A.(25:58) Advice for startups on pricing strategy and identifying core buyer personas.(30:58) The future of AI in business and the emergence of the Chief AI Officer role.(42:08) One thing revenue leaders believe to be true that Elizabeth thinks is bull$***.(44:07) One thing that is working for Elizabeth in go-to-market right now.Guest Speaker Links (Elizabeth Pemmerl):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-pemmerl-9172485/Host Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsor:Brought to you by Demandbase. Demandbase helps B2B companies hit their revenue goals using fewer resources by using the power of AI to identify and engage the accounts and buying groups most likely to purchase. Their account-based technology unites sales and marketing teams around insights that you can understand and facilitates quick actions across systems and channels to deliver big wins. It’s flexible, scalable ABM built for you.Brought to you by Orum. Orum is an AI-powered live conversation platform designed to supercharge sales activity, connect sales teams, and drive more revenue over the phone. Orum’s platform includes an AI-dialer that automates the manual aspects of calling and get sales reps into more conversations, a virtual sales floor for teams to build camaraderie and learn from one another, as well as analytics and coaching tools to help teams improve together.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

Jun 4, 2024 • 60min
GTM 97: The Neural Network Training Approach to Enterprise Sales Process with Robert Brooks
Experienced sales leader Robert Brooks IV discusses training sales teams for technical buyers, applying neural networks to sales, turning around challenging relationships, and scaling revenue. Highlights include SpaceX case study and importance of empathy in successful sales.

May 28, 2024 • 56min
GTM 96: The Three Pillars of a Modern Go-To-Market Strategy Every Revenue Leader Should Know with Kelly Hopping
The podcast features Kelly Hopping, CMO at Demandbase, discussing the three pillars of a modern go-to-market strategy and aligning sales with marketing. They delve into creating cohesive customer journeys, the importance of feedback loops, and leveraging AI for marketing strategies. Kelly also shares insights on achieving work-life balance in the marketing industry.

May 21, 2024 • 54min
GTM 95: Going to Market in a Single Platform Ecosystem (HubSpot): Insights from Arrows' Journey with Daniel Zarick
Daniel Zarick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Arrows, a collaborative customer onboarding tool built specifically for teams using HubSpot. With funding from Gradient Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, and GTMfund, Arrows. is well-positioned to become a major player in the HubSpot ecosystem.Discussed in this Episode:The benefits and challenges of going to market in a single platform ecosystem like HubSpotHow to gain traction and build relationships with key stakeholders in a crowded partner ecosystemStrategies for leveraging content marketing to punch above your weight as a startupThe power of focus and persistence in achieving outsized results with limited resourcesLessons learned from navigating a high-stakes fundraising process amid market uncertaintyThe future of the HubSpot ecosystem and where the biggest opportunities lie for emerging playersHighlights:08:46 - Benefits and challenges of going to market in a single platform ecosystem.12:01 - Strategies for gaining traction and building relationships in the HubSpot ecosystem.16:32 - The role of agencies and solutions partners in Arrows' go-to-market approach.21:09 - Leveraging content marketing to punch above your weight as a startup.25:43 - The power of focus and persistence in achieving outsized results.29:27 - One thing revenue leaders believe to be true that Daniel thinks is bull$***.41:18 - One thing that is working for Daniel in go-to-market right now.43:51 - The future of the HubSpot ecosystem and emerging opportunities.Referenced:The Happy Customer Festival on June 4, 2024. Guest Speaker Links (Daniel Zarick):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielzarickHost Speaker Links (Scott Barker):LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ssbarker/Newsletter: thegtmnewsletter.substack.com/Sponsor:Brought to you by Demandbase. Demandbase helps B2B companies hit their revenue goals using fewer resources by using the power of AI to identify and engage the accounts and buying groups most likely to purchase. Their account-based technology unites sales and marketing teams around insights that you can understand and facilitates quick actions across systems and channels to deliver big wins. It’s flexible, scalable ABM built for you.The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.

May 14, 2024 • 52min
GTM 94: Mastering Branding, Pricing, and Customer Success for AI Startups with Holly Chen
Holly Chen, Managing Partner of ExponentialX and former Global Head of Digital Marketing at Slack, shares insights on AI startup challenges like differentiation and pricing. They discuss the importance of strong branding, concrete AI use cases, and transitioning to product-led growth. Also, the rising role of influencer marketing in B2B is highlighted.

May 7, 2024 • 53min
GTM 93: Mastering the Generalist Specialist Role and Decoding the CEO Dashboard with Noah Marks
Noah Marks, a transformative growth leader, discusses the emergence of the 'generalist specialist' in tech, CEO dashboard metrics, balancing perfection vs speed, and applying an investment banker's lens to GTM strategy. Highlights include setting up for success in an executive role, navigating economic challenges, empowering teams, and lessons learned from investment banking.
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