

The Revenue Formula
Toni Hohlbein & Raul Porojan
This podcast is about scaling tech startups.
Hosted by Toni Hohlbein & Raul Porojan, together they look at the full funnel.
With a combined 20 years of experience in B2B SaaS and 3 exits, they discuss growing pains, challenges and opportunities they’ve faced. Whether you're working in RevOps, sales, operations, finance or marketing - if you care about revenue, you'll care about this podcast.
If there’s one thing they hate, it’s talk. We know, it’s a bit of an oxymoron. But execution and focus is the key - that’s why each episode is designed to give 1-2 very concrete takeaways.
Hosted by Toni Hohlbein & Raul Porojan, together they look at the full funnel.
With a combined 20 years of experience in B2B SaaS and 3 exits, they discuss growing pains, challenges and opportunities they’ve faced. Whether you're working in RevOps, sales, operations, finance or marketing - if you care about revenue, you'll care about this podcast.
If there’s one thing they hate, it’s talk. We know, it’s a bit of an oxymoron. But execution and focus is the key - that’s why each episode is designed to give 1-2 very concrete takeaways.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 11, 2025 • 35min
SaaS was dead last week, but now it's back.
Wrappers are dead. LLMs are dead. SaaS is dead. The application layer is dead.It's moving pretty fast still in AI, and we thought it was time to take stock of what we know right now.(00:00) - Introduction
(01:03) - OpenAI's Superbowl Ad Breakdown
(02:29) - The Role of AI in Modern Life
(03:16) - Teasing Future Content
(03:50) - The Fast-Paced World of AI
(05:35) - Understanding GPT Wrappers
(07:40) - Hype vs. Reality in AI
(10:04) - The Evolution of Solutions
(14:22) - Consumer Perception of AI
(16:25) - AI's Role in Problem Solving
(17:47) - The Commoditization of AI
(18:50) - Cloud Providers and AI Models
(20:39) - The Future of AI Investment
(22:31) - Challenges in AI Implementation
(28:51) - Skepticism and Realities of AI
This episode is brought to you by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage’s RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Feb 6, 2025 • 39min
You have no moat (With Bethany Stachenfeld)
If 4 developers at a unicorn got a $1m check, could they copy your feature? Well, yes. We discussed why this question is stupid, and how to build true competitive advantages.(00:00) - Introduction
(02:11) - Remote Work and Team Dynamics
(02:47) - Exploring New Features and Innovations
(04:59) - Customer Experience and Building a Moat
(15:05) - Sticky Features and User Retention
(17:52) - Salesforce and the Challenges of Switching Providers
(18:34) - Bad Industry Practices and Network Effects
(19:38) - Building Ecosystem Benefits and Integrations
(20:38) - Strategic Partnerships and Preferred Partners
(23:34) - Customer Feedback and Product Development
(27:27) - Efficient Growth and Competitive Advantages
(33:23) - Outbound Marketing Strategies
This episode is brought to you by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage’s RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Feb 4, 2025 • 26min
Sellers don't sell
Explore why sellers aren't just selling anymore as they navigate the shifting dynamics of today's market. Discover how the knowledge gap has reversed, making buyers more informed than ever. The role of sellers is evolving, especially in an AI-driven world, where customer feedback plays a crucial part. Learn about the importance of guiding clients through complex decisions and addressing their indecision. It's a brave new world where traditional selling techniques can't keep up, and adaptability is the name of the game.

Jan 30, 2025 • 42min
Stacking outbound (With Maximus Greenwald)
What can you learn from someone who's built a motion from scratch to scale? That's what we discovered with Maximus, CEO and Co-founder of Warmly. He shares how they built outbound from nothing.(00:00) - Introduction
(03:05) - Building in Public
(06:41) - Firing Customers
(07:43) - Stacking Outbound
(10:54) - Zero to One: Lessons and Learnings
(19:08) - Dang outbound, it works!
(19:52) - Consistency in Email Campaigns
(20:34) - Profiles for Zero to One Phase
(21:30) - Commandos, Soldiers, and Policemen
(24:24) - Scaling Sales Processes
(25:15) - Layering in more channels
(27:54) - Hiring and Team Culture
(29:19) - Navigating Growth Challenges
(35:27) - AI in Sales and Marketing
This episode is brought to you by Fullcast, the only AI-powered platform that streamlines your entire sales lifecycle — from plan to pay. With modules like territory and quota management, routing, and capacity planning, Fullcast adapts to your unique needs — whether you need one solution or an all-in-one platform.Ready to see the difference? Visit Fullcast.com and mention the Revenue Formula Podcast to unlock an exclusive premium gift, just for listeners!Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Jan 28, 2025 • 34min
3 Signs your GTM is weak
Weaknesses are awesome. If you can identify them that is. We discuss three common GTM weaknesses and how you can identify them...So you can start fixing them and getting better.(00:00) - Introduction
(03:23) - Parenting Challenges
(04:22) - Go-to-Market Strategies
(05:35) - 20-20 vision
(06:22) - 1: I'm just not motivated
(12:37) - You're a bad leader
(15:04) - It's products fault (of course)
(16:30) - Handling Bugs and Product Frustrations
(17:09) - Building a Billion Dollar Business
(22:17) - I'm not listening to you (the customer)
(26:24) - The Value of Qualitative Data
This episode is brought to you by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage’s RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Jan 23, 2025 • 42min
Better unit economics, PLG + SLG and more (with Kevin McIntyre)
How do you get CAC:PB below 12? How do you get reps to close 50% more ARR? By focusing on unit economics.In this episode, we focus on that, merging PLG + SLG and more with Kevin McIntyre.(00:00) - Introduction
(04:24) - Why merge
(07:02) - Bringing together PLG and SLG
(10:24) - Challenges and Strategies Post-Merger
(13:38) - Focus on Unit Economics and Sales Efficiency
(32:40) - Where AI will assist
(38:01) - Reflections on CRO Tenure and Final Thoughts
This episode is brought to you by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage’s RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Jan 21, 2025 • 34min
GTM Velocity: How to out-execute the competition
Discover key strategies to accelerate go-to-market velocity and outpace the competition. Learn about high-tempo testing and how defining kill criteria can steer project success. The discussion dives into optimizing team performance, hiring for speed, and the impacts of excessive meetings on productivity. Plus, think about the contrasting work cultures in Europe and America while chasing that elusive work-life balance. With humor and insights, this session is packed with practical tips for enhancing your execution capabilities.

Jan 16, 2025 • 50min
Time to fire the VP Sales? (With Raul Porojan)
Is it time to fire the VP Sales? How do you know? How do you do it? Did s/he even get setup for success?This and much more we discuss with Raul Porojan(00:00) - Introduction
(03:50) - Firing the VP of Sales: Initial Thoughts
(04:49) - Challenges in Sales Leadership
(05:58) - Setting and Achieving Sales Quotas
(11:24) - Evaluating Sales Leadership Performance
(21:09) - When to Fire a Sales Leader
(24:41) - Final Considerations and Team Dynamics
(25:45) - Identifying the Real Problem
(26:35) - Deciding to Let Go of the VP
(27:00) - Handling the Transition
(28:06) - Founder Involvement in Sales
(29:22) - Bridging the Leadership Gap
(30:34) - Dealing with Team Dynamics
(33:25) - Internal Promotions
(39:02) - Avoiding Common Hiring Mistakes
(40:34) - Making the Right Hiring Decision
This episode is brought to you by by Fullcast, the only AI-powered platform that streamlines your entire sales lifecycle — from plan to pay. With modules like territory and quota management, routing, and capacity planning, Fullcast adapts to your unique needs — whether you need one solution or an all-in-one platform.Ready to see the difference? Visit Fullcast.com and mention the Revenue Formula Podcast to unlock an exclusive premium gift, just for listeners!Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

9 snips
Jan 14, 2025 • 31min
The rise of the GTM engineer
The discussion centers around the intriguing role of Go-to-Market (GTM) engineers, a position that's gaining traction in the SaaS sector. The hosts clarify common misconceptions, emphasizing that GTM engineers optimize strategies rather than just filling gaps. They explore how AI can revolutionize marketing efforts and streamline sales processes. With less than 200 professionals holding this title, the conversation highlights the critical intersection of technical skills and sales acumen, showcasing the evolving landscape of revenue generation.

Jan 9, 2025 • 46min
Community led growth, don't do it (with Matthew Volm)
Okay.. There's a few motions being covered plenty (inbound, outbound, plg etc.)But there's this other thing called community led growth that hasn't been covered a lot -- so we decided to discuss it with someone who built a succesfull community.And that's Matthew Volm, co-founder of RevOps Coop. We asked him to share, well, why you shouldn't do CLG.(00:00) - Introduction
(02:53) - How the community became a thing
(06:53) - Pivoting to Community Building
(12:34) - Challenges in Building a Community
(21:30) - Learning on the Job: The Challenges of Revenue Operations
(22:19) - The Impact of COVID-19 on RevOps
(22:46) - Building a Community for RevOps
(23:18) - Starting a Community: Key Considerations
(23:59) - The Importance of Niche Focus
(25:20) - Community-Led Growth: Success Stories
(26:49) - The ROI of Community Participation
(28:48) - Effective Community Engagement Strategies
(34:31) - The Role of AI and Human Connection in Communities
(38:01) - The Mindset for Building a Community
(41:20) - Customers and prospects
This episode is brought to you by by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage’s RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com