Startups For the Rest of Us

Colleen Schnettler, founder of Hello Query, shares her candid journey through the struggles of entrepreneurship. She talks about the tough decision to shut down her SaaS business after grappling with customer acquisition and a co-founder split. Reflecting on her experiences, Colleen reveals valuable lessons learned, including the importance of speed and execution in the startup world. With a new venture on the horizon and early signs of success, she encapsulates resilience in the face of adversity and the evolving nature of a founder's journey.

Jordan Gal, co-founder of Rosie and former founder of CartHook, dives into the world of AI-driven solutions for small businesses. He shares his journey from e-commerce to pivoting towards AI, discussing the challenges of finding product-market fit and the importance of rapid onboarding. The conversation explores how to quickly build an MVP in the AI landscape, the significance of adaptive feature sets, and the balance between creating a strong business model while ensuring fast growth. Gal's insights reveal the transformative potential of AI in entrepreneurship.

Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hello Query and a talented developer, shares her entrepreneurial journey in search of product-market fit. She dives into her struggles with cold outreach and navigating a complex data landscape. Colleen discusses the pivotal moments that prompted her to pivot her target audience and reassess product direction. With two paying customers, she emphasizes the urgency of setting a timeline for traction and the importance of defining her value proposition, inspiring reflections on resilience in the startup world.

Explore the intriguing dynamics of public deadlines for startup founders and whether they serve as a boost or a burden. Dive into the essence of 'Doing Great Work' and the vital steps for crafting impactful SaaS businesses. Uncover the hierarchy of skills crucial for navigating the ever-evolving SaaS landscape, emphasizing marketing, product development, and team management. Hear personal anecdotes on the challenges of committing to feature releases while maintaining project rigor. A thought-provoking dialogue perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs!

Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of the SaaS startup Hello Query, dives into her journey of solo founding and discovering customer pain points. She shares the challenges of refining her product vision after pivoting from engineering managers to marketing data analysts. Colleen talks about the excitement of landing her first paying customer while grappling with critical UI feedback. The discussion also covers the importance of adapting to user insights, setting early pricing, and ensuring clarity through retreats to navigate the competitive landscape.

Explore the trade-offs between custom-built solutions and white-labeling in SaaS, including its impact on company valuation and growth. Discover the mindset shifts founders experience at various revenue milestones and common mistakes to avoid. Gain insights into strategic hiring and the importance of team composition, along with tools to track SaaS success. Rob also dives into decision-making dynamics and overcoming business bottlenecks, emphasizing adaptability and learning from experienced mentors.

Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hello Query and an experienced startup entrepreneur, dives into her journey of pivoting in the SaaS landscape. She reflects on the emotional challenges after a co-founder breakup and reigniting her passion for shipping products. Colleen discusses the tough decisions surrounding market viability for her AI-assisted SQL report builder, weighing the needs of internal BI teams against marketing insights. Her stories highlight resilience, the importance of feedback, and navigating the complexities of product development in the ever-evolving tech world.

Discover ingenious strategies for launching a SaaS product in crowded markets, including the importance of transparent positioning against competitors. Dive into the complexities of free trials and their true objectives—understanding customer motivations and the impact of urgency on conversions. Learn how to pinpoint what drives business growth, as well as pre-launch marketing tactics that build anticipation. Gain insights on navigating bottlenecks and aligning daily tasks with your bigger business goals to enhance efficiency and success.

Colleen Schnettler, a developer and entrepreneur, co-founded Hello Query but faced significant challenges along her startup journey. She candidly shares the emotional impact of her co-founder breakup and the sense of crushing failure that followed. Colleen discusses the struggle to realign their product vision with market needs and the uncertainty of moving forward solo. Her insights on sacrifice, resilience, and the need for clarity highlight the complex landscape of entrepreneurship and personal growth.

Brendan Fortune, Director of Product Management at Customer.io, brings his wealth of SaaS experience to the discussion. He emphasizes the crucial role of product management in startups and shares frameworks for driving product success. The conversation dives into understanding customer behavior as the basis for product decisions. Brendan also discusses the innovative concept of pricing flywheels and how to establish a 'fair' value metric, illustrating the delicate balance of pricing experimentation for growth.