
SaaS Builder Podcast
Being a SaaS founder is hard.Product-market fit. Customer acquisition. Culture. Cash flow. Scaling… It’s a lot!There’s no roadmap, no magic formula—just hard-earned lessons from those who’ve been there.The SaaS Builder Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you actionable tactics and fresh perspectives from SaaS founders, growth strategists, and finance leaders.Join Randy Wootton—CEO of Maxio and seasoned SaaS leader—as he hosts conversations with the voices shaping the SaaS industry. From founders scaling startups to CFOs mastering financial growth, Randy & his guests unpack the decisions, strategies, and challenges that define success in SaaS.No fluff. No filler. Just the conversations that move your SaaS business forward.---P.S. We're always on the lookout for SaaS experts. For speaking inquiries, fill out this form. For all other inquiries, email podcast@saasbuilderpod.com.Produced by I Hear Everything
Latest episodes

Feb 22, 2025 • 4min
Words of Wisdom for SaaS Founders
Connect with:Ray Rike: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 21, 2025 • 4min
Correlation or Causation? Companies with higher Net Dollar Retention (NDR) are more likely to have adopted usage-based pricing
Ray Rike, Founder and Chief Evangelism Officer at Benchmarkit, offers insights into the complexities of SaaS metrics like net dollar retention and usage-based pricing. Gain valuable perspectives on the nuances of ARR, revenue recognition in usage-based models, and the crucial importance of aligning on definitions, especially when considering investor communication. Dive into practical examples that highlight clear assumptions and their impact on financial models, providing clarity on common SaaS financial challenges.Connect with:Ray Rike: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 20, 2025 • 4min
Does usage-based pricing always lead to unpredictable revenue.?
Ray Rike is back with Randy Wootton for our next lightning round of the week: Mythbusters. Many SaaS founders assume usage-based pricing leads to unpredictable revenue. But is this a valid concern, or just a myth?Connect with:Ray Rike: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 18, 2025 • 5min
Are usage-based pricing models only suitable for early-stage startups?
Join Ray Rike, Founder and Chief Evangelism Officer at Benchmarkit, as he delves into the intricate dynamics of usage-based pricing models in SaaS. Discover the trends favoring early-stage adoption and the strategic shift towards hybrid models after surpassing the initial million ARR hurdle. Ray also draws insightful parallels between the SaaS industry’s pricing evolution and the mobile industry's shift from minute-based to unlimited pricing. Gain foresight into how these models may evolve, emphasizing the importance of aligning pricing structures with product and customer segmentation.Connect with:Ray Rike: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 17, 2025 • 26min
How is the adoption of usage-based pricing accelerating SaaS businesses?
Ray Rike, Founder and Chief Evangelism Officer at Benchmarkit, delves into the accelerating shift towards usage-based pricing (UBP) for SaaS companies, highlighting its impact on growth and stability. Discover how hybrid models outperform traditional pricing strategies and the complexity surrounding AI monetization. Ray also provides practical insights on improving billing transparency and navigating the challenges of forecasting in a UBP model, all while exploring the shifting dynamics in investor valuations of SaaS revenue streams. This insightful discussion promises actionable takeaways for navigating the evolving SaaS pricing landscape.Connect with:Ray Rike: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 14, 2025 • 7min
SaaS books every founder should read
Benjamin Shapiro, CEO at I Hear Everything, engages in a deep conversation with Randy Wootton on essential books for SaaS founders. Discover Randy's top reading recommendations, like "The Effective Executive" by Drucker and "Execution" by Larry Bosity, that have shaped his leadership perspective. Gain insights on category creation and business scaling from his favorites, including "Playing to Win" and "Traversing the Traction Gap." Additionally, Randy shares a personal reflection on balancing work with self-care through exercise, highlighting its role in managing stress and improving personal relationships.Connect with:Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 13, 2025 • 4min
Do SaaS companies need podcasts?
Benjamin Shapiro, CEO at I Hear Everything, engages in a conversation with Randy Wootton about the rationale behind investing in media creation for SaaS companies. They explore the concept of media-led growth strategies and the value of podcasts in building brand awareness and humanizing leadership. Through this dialogue, listeners gain insights into the multifaceted benefits of podcasting, from enhancing customer and employee engagement to its role in effective sales outreach.Connect with:Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 12, 2025 • 6min
SaaS founders biggest billing problem
Benjamin Shapiro, CEO at I Hear Everything, engages Randy Wootton in a riveting discussion about the key challenges SaaS founders face with billing and revenue recognition. Discover the pitfalls of using legacy systems like Excel and learn why having an efficient billing system can be pivotal for business growth and attracting investment. Uncover when and why early-stage founders should transition from cash to accrual accounting and the significance of back-office operations. Gain clarity on financial complexities that can make or break SaaS success.Connect with:Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 11, 2025 • 5min
SaaS leadership lessons from Salesforce
Benjamin Shapiro, CEO at I Hear Everything, joins the conversation to pose insightful questions about the SaaS landscape. His exchange with Randy Wootton uncovers key learnings from Randy's experiences at major tech companies like Salesforce and their influence on understanding software delivery and business models. Delve into how services like customer success play a crucial role in reducing churn and maximizing customer lifetime value. Plus, explore the transformation from traditional software ownership to the SaaS subscription model, offering businesses a dynamic approach to software acquisition.Connect with:Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 10, 2025 • 8min
How military training helps SaaS leaders
Benjamin Shapiro, CEO of I Hear Everything, delves into the military experiences that shaped Randy Wootton's approach to leadership in the SaaS industry. Discover how military training instills essential skills like structure, detail, discipline, flexibility, and decisiveness, offering valuable insights for navigating the fast-paced world of SaaS. Randy shares personal anecdotes from his 12-year military stint, highlighting lessons on decision-making under pressure and the importance of leadership clarity. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for SaaS leaders looking to cultivate a decisive and results-driven approach in their organizations.Connect with:Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedInRandy Wootton: Website // LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.