The SaaS CFO

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Aviv Frenkel, Co-Founder and CEO of Moonshot AI, to explore the fascinating journey from Israeli media personality to leading an innovative SaaS startup. Aviv Frenkel shares how his background as a radio DJ and television journalist ultimately inspired him to dive into the world of tech entrepreneurship.  You’ll hear the inside story behind Moonshot AI—a generative AI platform that transforms e-commerce websites into self-optimizing “living organisms,” helping online brands boost their conversion rates without massive teams or endless guesswork. Aviv Frenkel walks us through the company’s rapid trajectory, including their recent $10 million funding round, the importance of building with strong design partners, and what it takes to achieve real product-market fit in a crowded space.  The conversation covers the realities of founder-led sales, why Moonshot AI chose a straightforward subscription model, and the key operational metrics driving their growth. If you’re interested in SaaS metrics, startup fundraising, or the future of AI in e-commerce, this episode is full of actionable insights and candid startup wisdom. Tune in to learn more about Moonshot AI’s global journey and discover opportunities to join their growing team!  Show Notes:  00:00 "AI-Powered Ecommerce Optimization"  03:47 "Muncho: End-to-End Website Optimization"  07:53 "Scaling Fast from MVP to Funding"  12:21 Key Business Metrics Discussion  15:06 Evolving CEO Roles and Priorities  16:49 "Join Our AI-Driven Team"  Links:  Aviv Frenkel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aviv-frenkel/  Moonshot AI’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moon-shot-ai/  Moonshot AI’s Website: https://moonshot-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 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben Murray sits down with Michael Salorio, founder and CEO of Solentrex, an ambitious new player in the solar industry bringing an all-in-one, AI-driven ERP platform to residential solar companies. Michael Salorio shares his journey from a finance and wealth management background to building a cutting-edge SaaS product and highlights how Solentrex is streamlining operations for both solar installers and sales teams.  Tune in as we explore the evolving solar market, dive into Solentrex’s product launch roadmap—including a soft launch and a major industry conference debut—and discuss the challenges and lessons learned from fundraising and onboarding early customers. If you're interested in vertical SaaS, ERP innovation, or the future of solar tech, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss!  Show Notes:  00:00 "Philantrix: Team-Driven Success"  04:11 "Streamlining Solar Sales Workflow"  08:30 Delaying Launch for Accuracy  11:37 Solar Growth Through Relationships  13:50 Key Metrics for Growth Focus  17:24 "Streamlining Polar Industry Operations"  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/solentrex-secures-strategic-investment  Michael Salorio’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-salorio-a55204108/  Solentrex’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solentrex/about/  Solentrex’s Website: https://solentrex.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today’s episode, host Ben Murray welcomes John Glasgow, founder and CEO of Campfire—a fast-growing, AI-powered ERP solution built for modern finance teams. John Glasgow shares his background, from early days in finance at Adobe to leading partnerships at Invoice2Go and the inspiration behind starting Campfire.  Together, they explore the challenges of building a next-generation ERP, the role of AI in streamlining finance workflows, and Campfire’s rapid rise—including raising $100 million and landing marquee customers in just two years. You’ll hear insights on current trends in CFO tech stacks, best practices for disciplined growth, and why accounting is becoming more strategic than ever.  Whether you’re a SaaS founder, CFO, or just curious about the future of finance software, this episode is packed with honest lessons, actionable insights, and a look at what’s next for Campfire and the industry at large.  Show Notes:  00:00 "From Finance to Founding Campfire"  03:22 "Building the Modern ERP"  09:58 "Accelerating Growth in ERP Space"  11:44 "AI Growth and Rapid Funding"  14:37 "New Logo ARR Growth Focus"  17:21 "Building ERP: Focus and Conviction"  23:31 Capacity Planning and Growth Strategy  27:23 Finance Software Revolution Insights  28:54 "Ember AI: Agentic Workflows Evolution"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/campfire-raises-3-5-million-in-seed-round  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/campfire-secures-35-million-in-series-a  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/campfire-raises-65-million-in-series-b  John Glasgow’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnglasgow/  Campfire’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetcampfire/  Campfire’s Website: https://campfire.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 this episode, Ben Murray sits down with Kelby Zorgdrager, CEO and founder of Tritami, and Dave Murphy, go-to-market expert, to dive into the rapidly evolving world of corporate and technical training. With decades of experience in EdTech and a track record of building and exiting successful businesses, Kelby Zorgdrager shares his journey from leading Develop Intelligence to reimagining instructor-led training with Tritami. Dave Murphy brings his expertise in enterprise sales and AI marketplaces to the conversation, highlighting the industry’s shift towards live, customizable, expert-led experiences.  Together, they discuss how Tritami is leveraging AI and automation to streamline training logistics, empower engineering teams, and connect organizations directly with top-tier instructors—moving away from outdated, fragmented models. The conversation covers everything from their fundraising journey and building the initial MVP, to the importance of user-driven development, transparent pricing, and the growing demand for personalized learning in fast-paced tech environments.  Whether you're a SaaS leader, an engineering manager, or simply curious about the future of EdTech, this episode offers an insightful look behind the scenes at an innovative startup working to redefine corporate training.  Show Notes:  00:00 Disrupting Corporate Training Market  06:03 AI Tools Adoption Challenges  09:38 Rapid Feedback-Driven Product Iteration  13:06 "AI-Driven Training Automation Platform"  17:24 Flexible AI Training Models  21:11 Focus on User-Driven Development  22:16 "Testing Ads for January Launch"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/tami-software-raises-400k-in-pre-seed-round  Kelby Zorgdrager’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelbyzorgdrager/  Dave Murphy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemurf/  TryTami’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/try-tami/  TryTami’s Website: https://www.trytami.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, Ben Murray welcomes Duncan Barrigan, founder and CEO of Lunos, to share his story and expertise. Drawing on a decade of fintech experience—including scaling GoCardless into a multi-billion dollar company—Duncan Barrigan discusses his journey from consulting to launching his own venture.  Tune in to hear how Lunos is tackling the longstanding challenges of B2B payments and receivables. Duncan Barrigan explains how AI workers are reshaping the manual processes of accounts receivable, making it easier for businesses to get paid with less effort and greater speed.  Whether you’re a SaaS CFO, finance professional, or startup founder, you’ll gain practical insights into fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and lessons learned from the trenches of building a fintech startup. Don’t miss this energizing conversation packed with actionable advice and real-world experience!  Show Notes:  00:00 GoCardless Growth Journey  06:09 "Swinging Big with Venture Capital"  10:06 "Similar Questions, Divergent Answers"  13:07 "Direct Motion and SaaS Solutions"  15:56 "Two-Model Service Approach"  17:12 "Optimizing Onboarding and Efficiency"  20:20 Instant Value via AR Scanning  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/lunos-ai-secures-5-million-pre-seed-round  Duncan Barrigan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanbarrigan/  Lunos AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lunos-ai/  Lunos AI’s Website: https://www.lunos.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today’s episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Aleks Đekić, CEO and co-founder of Alguna, a startup that's reimagining revenue management for modern SaaS and fintech businesses. With a background deeply rooted in product, engineering, and commercial roles across leading fintech and accounting startups, Aleks Đekić dives into the pain points that inspired Alguna’s creation and why flexible, end-to-end revenue automation is becoming essential for scaling tech companies.  Together, they explore Alguna’s journey from early frustrations with billing and quoting tools, through their acceptance into Y Combinator, to fundraising and building a team distributed across the US and Europe. Aleks Đekić shares insights on when SaaS companies should upgrade their revenue management stack, how Alguna’s hybrid pricing and billing platform addresses the needs of subscription and usage-based businesses, and why net revenue retention is his north star metric. Plus, they weigh in on industry trends, from the rise of AI and new software categories to the evolving landscape of revenue management and automation.  Tune in for an engaging conversation about the future of SaaS finances, product-led growth, and lessons learned in building and scaling a next-generation SaaS infrastructure company.  Show Notes:  00:00 Founding Frustrations Spark AI Tool  03:34 "Modern CPQ and Billing Solution"  06:55 Scaling Challenges for Post-Series A Startups  11:11 Raising $4M for Infrastructure Startup  16:06 Focused Sales and Purposeful Growth  17:42 Pricing Strategy and Customer Metrics  20:48 AI Pricing and Monetization Challenges  24:57 "Adapting Quickly to Market Needs"  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/alguna-raises-4-million-in-seed-round  Alek’s Jekic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksdjekic/  Alguna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/algunahq/  Alguna’s Website: https://alguna.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Ben Murray welcomes Matt Blumberg, CEO of Markup AI, to discuss his remarkable journey through the tech startup world. With over two decades of leadership experience—including building moviefone.com, scaling Return Path to $100 million in revenue, and leading executive search disruptor Bolster—Matt Blumberg brings a wealth of insight into startup growth, business transformation, and adapting to evolving technology.  In this conversation, Matt Blumberg shares the story behind Markup AI, a company redefining how businesses safeguard their content using AI-powered “content guardian agents.” He discusses the recent rebranding from Acrolinx, the impact of large language models on both product and customers, and their transition into a new API-first, consumption-based business model. Listeners will hear lessons about navigating private equity ownership, fundraising for transformative pivots, and crafting multi-pronged go-to-market strategies—from enterprise sales to developer-driven adoption.  Tune in for an honest look at leadership, innovation, and what’s next for Markup AI in the dynamic world of SaaS and AI content management.  Show Notes:   00:00 "AI Guardian for Perfect Content"  03:51 Acrolinx's AI Evolution  09:33 "Defining AI Content Guardians"  11:18 Private Equity Risks in Mid-Market  13:57 AI Adoption Strategies in Enterprises  18:44 "AI Growth and Rebrand Focus"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/markup-ai-raises-27-5-million-in-funding  Matt Blumberg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/  Markup AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/markupai/  Markup AI’s Website: https://markup.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 to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! This week, Ben Murray sits down with Albert Gozzi, the co-founder and CEO of Aleph, an innovative AI-driven FP&A platform transforming how finance teams operate. Originally from Argentina, Albert Gozzi shares his journey from Procter & Gamble to Bain, and later as a startup CFO, where he experienced firsthand the frustrations of spreadsheet-heavy workflows in finance. Together, they dive into the founding story of Aleph, its mission to streamline financial data and workflows, and how the company’s AI-powered solutions are empowering finance and FP&A teams to work smarter and faster.  In this episode, you'll get insider insights on Aleph’s rapid fundraising journey—having recently closed a $30 million Series B and totaling $47 million to date. Albert Gozzi candidly discusses what investors look for at each funding round, the nuances of scaling go-to-market efforts, lessons learned from dozens of investor rejections, and why finding product-market fit is just the beginning. Plus, they uncover how Aleph’s unique approach to implementation and pricing is winning fans among CFOs in mid-market and private-equity-backed businesses.  If you want a behind-the-scenes look at building and scaling a modern SaaS finance platform, this is the episode for you. Tune in to hear the latest on Aleph’s roadmap, practical advice for SaaS founders, and where the future of FP&A is headed.  Show Notes:  00:00 "AI-Powered Financial Data Management"  03:59 "Flexible Platform for Mid-Market"  08:18 "Road to Series C"  11:01 "Importance of Market Repeatability"  16:19 "Fast Implementation Drives Success"  20:24 "CAC Payback: A Cautious Metric"  22:14 "Doubling Down on AI Advancements"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/aleph-raises-29-million-in-series-b  Albert Gozzi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/  Aleph’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getaleph/  Aleph’s Website: https://www.getaleph.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! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Nathan Gwilliam, the founder and CEO of PodUp, for an in-depth look at building and scaling a SaaS business in the ever-evolving world of podcasting. Nathan shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, from launching his first business at BYU to building and selling three successful companies—including Adoption.com, the world’s most-used adoption platform.  Nathan takes us behind the scenes of PodUp, a platform designed to streamline every aspect of podcast creation, growth, and monetization through a suite of over 60 integrated tools—including sophisticated AI features. He opens up about the inspiration behind PodUp, the challenges of integrating dozens of technologies for content creators, and how a focus on both software and done-for-you services (through Pod Allies) is redefining the podcasting ecosystem.  Together, Ben and Nathan discuss PodUp’s fundraising journey, the nuances of working with angel investors versus VCs, and key metrics that drive sustainable SaaS growth. Nathan also offers practical advice for founders on raising capital, finding the right investors, and why bootstrapping a functional MVP can dramatically improve your fundraising odds. Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or SaaS enthusiast, this episode is packed with firsthand insight and actionable takeaways for anyone looking to win big in the creator economy.  Show Notes:  00:00 "Integrated Platform Solving Time Constraints"  06:23 "Comprehensive Content & Monetization Tools"  07:40 Podcast Monetization Strategy Explained  12:56 "Board Accountability and Updates"  14:11 Bootstrap Before Raising Money  18:13 DIY Software Market Challenges  22:13 Key Metrics for SaaS Survival  26:39 "Choosing SaaS Use Cases Wisely"  27:26 "SaaS vs Service Business Valuations"  30:37 "Start & Grow Your Podcast"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/podup-raises-5-8-million-in-funding  Nathan Gwilliam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/  PodUp’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/  PodUp’s Website: https://podup.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Ali Hussain, CEO and co-founder of Tabs, for an insightful conversation about the evolving landscape of finance technology. Ali shares his journey as an entrepreneur and operator, discusses the genesis and growth of Tabs, and dives deep into the world of revenue automation for B2B companies.  Tune in as Ali explains how Tabs leverages AI and automation to streamline everything from order-to-cash and revenue recognition to forecasting and metrics reporting. You'll hear about the company's impressive growth since its founding in 2023, the state of AI adoption among CFOs and finance teams, and Ali’s perspective on the dynamic ERP space.  Ben and Ali also talk shop about fundraising milestones, go-to-market strategies, and key financial metrics for SaaS companies scaling from Series A to Series B. Whether you’re interested in the future of AI-driven finance operations, the rise of best-of-breed finance tech stacks, or practical insights on team building and product innovation, this episode is packed with actionable advice for finance leaders and SaaS founders alike.  Show Notes:   00:00 AI-Driven Finance Automation Platform  04:36 B2B Growth Focused on Sales  08:13 CFOs Embracing AI Adoption Shift  12:18 "Modern ERP Collaboration Overlegacy"  15:23 "Sales-Finance Integration via AI"  19:30 Finance Expansion and Accountant Channels  21:58 "ERP Market Ripe for Disruption"  25:53 "AI Business Fundamentals & Metrics"  27:45 Automation, Margins, and Customer Focus  31:48 Cash Forecasting Insights for CEOs  34:20 "Finance Innovation & Future Outlook"  37:23 "Making Systems Transparent"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories:   https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/tabs-raises-7-million-in-seed-round  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/tabs-secures-25-million-in-series-a-funding  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/tabs-raises-55-million-in-series-b  Ali Hussain’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hussain786/  Tabs’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamtabs/  Tabs’ Website: https://tabs.inc/  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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray sits down with Ari Bleemer, co-founder and CEO of One Crew, to dive into the world of construction tech and SaaS for so-called "less sexy" industries. Ari shares the story of how his background in computer engineering and management consulting at Bain led him to uncover a massive technology gap in the construction sector—specifically among paving contractors. You'll hear how One Crew is carving out its place as an all-in-one operational platform for contractors, streamlining every step from leads to invoicing, and eliminating the patchwork of spreadsheets and mismatched software solutions that have long plagued the industry.  Ari opens about the challenges and wins of fundraising, going from a tough seed round to a preempted Series A, and offers valuable insights for founders facing similar hurdles. We also talked about One Crew’s go-to-market strategy, pricing decisions, favorite metrics, and exciting upcoming launches—including their move into enterprise and new features like a subcontractor portal and AI-powered insights. Whether you’re a SaaS founder, investor, or just curious about digital transformation in traditional industries, this episode is packed with practical lessons and inspiration.  Let’s jump into the conversation with Ari Bleemer.  Show Notes:  00:00 Bridging Construction Tech Platform Gap  03:22 Demand for Effective Industry Technology  07:19 Scalable Business Solutions Guidance  10:40 Scaling to Serve Larger Enterprises  12:45 Venture Funding Challenges and Successes  17:06 Optimizing Go-To-Market Strategy  19:59 "Seasonal Growth Challenges and Metrics"  23:26 Enterprise Platform & AI Integration Launch  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/onecrew-raises-3-25-million-in-seed-round  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/onecrew-raises-7-5-million-in-series-a  Ari Bleemer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribleemer/  OneCrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getonecrew/  OneCrew’s Website: https://www.getonecrew.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Brett Carlson, co-founder and CEO of ServiceUp, to share his entrepreneurial journey and the story behind his latest venture. Brett’s background spans over 25 years in tech, with experience founding and scaling startups on the business side. With ServiceUp, Brett turned his focus to the vehicle repair industry, spotting a massive, underserved $250 billion market ready for modernization and disruption.  Brett dives into how ServiceUp started by offering digital car repair solutions directly to consumers before pivoting to serve fleet operators and insurance companies. He explains the pain points that large fleet owners—think Amazon, UPS, and major rental car companies—face with outdated repair processes, and how ServiceUp’s platform streamlines transactions and increases efficiency for both fleets and repair shops. Brett also shares how thoughtful use of technology and automation, including AI-powered voice agents, has accelerated their reach and operational effectiveness.  Throughout the conversation, Brett offers an inside look at ServiceUp’s rapid growth and successful fundraising journey, including securing a $55 million Series B. He discusses the evolving expectations of investors, the importance of backing up metrics at each funding stage, and key lessons learned from navigating both the highs and lows of startup life. Whether you’re an aspiring SaaS founder or just curious about the intersection of technology and traditional industries, Brett’s insights into building ServiceUp are sure to inspire.  Show Notes:  00:00 Switching Focus to Fleet Services  04:20 Major Retailer Faces $175M Collision Costs  08:43 Frugal Growth and Investment Strategy  12:30 "Investor Monetization Contradictions"  15:21 DoorDash's Missed Market Opportunity  20:30 Advanced AI in Voice & Shop Tech  21:16 Automated Market Entry Strategy  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/serviceup-secures-55-million-in-series-b  Brett Carlson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettcarlson418/  ServiceUp’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serviceupio/  ServiceUp’s Website: https://www.serviceup.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray is joined by Ricardo Ghekiere, co-founder of BetterPic. Ricardo takes us through his unconventional entrepreneurial journey, starting with running a coffee bar, dabbling in a variety of ventures, and eventually making his way into the tech space. He shares the fascinating story of how he acquired BetterPic for just one dollar, rebuilt the company from the ground up, and scaled it into a thriving AI-powered business that transforms selfies into professional headshots.  Ricardo talks about navigating the challenges of transitioning from a B2C to a B2B go-to-market strategy, lessons learned from his first fundraising efforts, and his approach to metrics and profitability. We also get a sneak peek into BetterPic’s expansion into the fashion industry, their recent $2.5 million seed round, and Ricardo’s candid insights on scaling, pricing, and international growth. Stick around for actionable advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and a look at what’s next for BetterPic and its new ventures.  Show Notes:  00:00 Difficulty Attracts Talent  03:25 "Consumer-First, Expand to B2B"  08:53 Startup Secures $2.5M Funding  12:38 "Finding the Right Investors"  15:22 "B2B CRM Essential for Upselling"  17:49 Pricing Experiment Insights  20:09 Monthly Business Metrics Overview  23:52 Business Acquisition in San Francisco  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/betterpic-raises-2-5-million-in-seed-round  Ricardo Ghekiere’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ghekiere/  BetterPic’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterpic/  BetterPic’s Website: https://www.betterpic.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Forest Flager, CEO and co-founder of Parspec, for an insightful conversation at the crossroads of technology and the construction industry. Forest shares his compelling journey from growing up in a construction family and working internationally as an architect and engineer, to leading a research group at Stanford and ultimately making the leap into SaaS startups. His winding path led him to co-found Parspec, a platform dedicated to modernizing procurement in construction through AI-driven solutions.  Forest dives into how Parspec is tackling the unique challenges faced by wholesale distributors—those crucial intermediaries who connect designers’ technical demands with what’s available in the market. By leveraging AI, Parspec streamlines the process of parsing project specifications, identifying suitable products, and managing the procurement lifecycle, serving customers across residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Forest also opens up about Parspec’s growth strategy, from landing and expanding with major distributors to scaling up their product offering, which has driven significant revenue increases and attracted $31 million in capital.  Listeners will gain valuable insights as Forest discusses lessons learned around product-market fit, nurturing referenceable customers, and managing investor relationships through effective signaling. He also teases exciting new developments on Parspec’s roadmap, aimed at supporting both distributors and contractors with even more automation and transparency. If you’re interested in SaaS growth, usage-based pricing, or the ways AI is reshaping traditional industries, this episode offers a front-row seat to real-world innovations and strategies for scaling a successful startup.  Show Notes:  00:00 AI-Enhanced Construction Procurement Platform  05:07 "Automated Product Documentation Launch"  09:52 Validating Product Roadmap with Customers  11:59 Preemptive Fundraising and Investor Relations  14:33 Delayed Marketing Strategy Adjustment  17:15 Usage-Based Pricing Model Explanation  22:35 HQ & Engineering Team Locations  23:53 "Full-Cycle Procurement Solution Platform"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/parspec-raises-11-5-million-in-seed-round  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/parspec-raises-20-million-in-series-a  Forest Flager’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forestflager/  Parspec’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/parspec  Parspec’s Website: https://www.parspec.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray sits down with Riya Grover, co-founder and CEO of Sequence. Riya shares her journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship, including the story behind her first SaaS company in the restaurant industry and its eventual acquisition. She dives into the inspiration for Sequence—a modern billing and quote-to-cash platform designed to tackle the challenges of custom contracts and complex pricing models for scaling SaaS and B2B companies.  Riya opens up about the company’s pivotal shift from payments to revenue management, navigating tough conversations with investors, and building a lean, high-impact team. She reveals how Sequence is empowering finance teams to automate billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition, while also offering flexibility for hybrid pricing and go-to-market motions.  Tune in to hear Riya’s insights on scaling a SaaS business, managing a major product pivot, and how AI-powered automation is transforming the future of financial operations. Whether you’re a SaaS CFO, founder, or just curious about the evolving CFO tech stack, this episode has a wealth of lessons and practical advice.  Show Notes:   00:00 Automated Custom Billing Platform  04:29 Scaling Challenges for SaaS Companies  09:11 Pivoting to Custom Payments Solutions  10:54 Early Capital's Impact on Team Building  14:51 Adapting Teams for Changing Visions  16:40 Growth Strategy Focused on Content and Networking  20:31 Hybrid Scalable Pricing Model  24:35 Transforming Finance with AI Agents  29:19 "Contextual Finance Automation Opportunities"  30:25 "Contact SequenceHQ Easily"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/sequence-raises-75-million-in-funding  Riya Grover’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riya-grover-a22a4822/  Sequence HQ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sequence-hq/  Sequence HQ’s Website: https://www.sequencehq.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, host Ben Murray welcomes Ananth Manivannan, founder of Resolvd, for an insightful conversation about building a SaaS solution that’s shaking up healthcare operations. Ananth shares how his journey from supply chain management at PepsiCo to software engineering at Capital One laid the groundwork for Resolvd, a company dedicated to automating complicated, manual workflows in hospital systems.  The discussion highlights how personal experiences—including his own family’s encounter with the complexities of hospital supply chains—inspired Ananth to solve real-world problems with technology. He opens up about the realities of fundraising at the pre-seed stage, landing big-name investors, and winning hospital clients by delivering fast, value-driven pilots that avoid drawn-out sales cycles.  Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a SaaS enthusiast, or just curious about the future of healthcare tech, this episode is packed with candid advice on pricing models, scaling a nimble team, and navigating the unpredictable world of startup growth. Tune in to discover what it takes to bring transformative AI-powered solutions to one of the world’s most challenging and impactful industries.  Show Notes:   00:00 Resolving the Swivel Chair Problem  06:35 Vision and Execution in Fundraising  09:52 Visionary Pitching for VC Success  12:18 Accelerating Healthcare Sales with Results  16:39 "Rise of Consumption-Based Models"  19:39 Measuring AI Workflow Efficiency  21:39 Exploring Pricing Models  24:21 Expressing Gratitude and Well Wishes  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/resolvd-ai-raises-1-6m-in-pre-seed-round  Ananth Manivannan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ananth-manivannan-775a24b7/  Resolvd AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resolvdai/  Resolvd AI’s Website: https://resolvd.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 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray sits down with Idan Bar-Dov, co-founder and CEO of Heka. Idan shares his unique journey from working in finance and law—starting out at an international law firm advising fintech companies—through the challenges of founding a startup during the pandemic, to leading a fast-growing SaaS company transforming how financial institutions use open source data.  Together, they dive into Heka’s evolution from its early focus on reconnecting consumers with their assets amid widespread data gaps, to becoming a global platform that provides advanced fraud detection, contact recovery, and enriched credit decisioning for major banks, fintechs, payment processors, and alternative lenders. Idan also opens up about the company's fundraising milestones, lessons learned from raising $16 million to date, building credibility with Fortune 500 clients, and the importance of sticky revenue metrics as the business scales.  Tune in to hear more about Heka’s mission to become the gold standard in consumer data, outpacing industry giants, and what’s next for their growing team headquartered in New York and Israel. Plus, Idan shares practical advice for founders tackling enterprise sales, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising in the financial technology space.  Show Notes:  00:00 Fintech Pivot During COVID Lockdown  04:15 Global Financial Reconnection Solutions  07:20 Insightful Investors Drive Series A  11:59 Navigating Investment Deals Efficiently  14:42 Investors Drive Financial Innovation  18:48 "Metrics for Growth: Revenue & NRR"  20:49 "Conquer Fortune 500 Market"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/heka-raises-14-million-in-series-a  Idan Bar-Dov's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idan-bar-dov/  Heka Global’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heka-global/  Heka Global’s Website: https://hekaglobal.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, host Ben Murray welcomes Jon Carr-Harris, founder and CEO of Cred, for an engaging discussion about Jon’s global background and entrepreneurial journey. Growing up across nine countries and with experience in multiple startups, Jon brings a unique perspective to building successful tech businesses and understanding diverse user needs.  Jon shares insights into Cred’s innovative predictive intelligence platform, which helps companies bridge internal and external data to drive smarter business actions. The conversation dives into Cred’s go-to-market strategies, enterprise sales cycles, and evolving pricing models—along with how the team secured a $15 million seed round and landed big-name customers in sports, entertainment, and finance.  Whether you’re interested in SaaS growth tactics, data-driven decision making, or scaling a new tech venture, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Jon also hints at an exciting new product launch coming soon, so stay tuned to learn more about what’s next for Cred!  Show Notes:  00:00 "Bridging Internal-External Market Insights"  04:38 PLG to Leadership Sales Strategy  08:33 "Tailoring Sales for Investor Appeal"  12:15 Adapting SaaS Pricing Model  14:28 Data and Revenue Correlation  16:41 "Revolutionary Enterprise Product Release"  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/cred-raises-15-million-in-seed-round  Jon Carr-Harris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcarrharris/  CRED’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/credplatform/  CRED’s Website: https://www.credplatform.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben sits down with Gilad Uziely, co-founder and CEO of Sequence (getsequence.io), for an open and insightful conversation about the rollercoaster journey of entrepreneurship and fintech innovation. Gilad shares his fascinating background—from growing up in Israel to building businesses across multiple industries, including hospitality and tech startups.  The discussion dives deep into Sequence, a platform Gilad describes as “Zapier for money,” designed to help both individuals and small business owners seamlessly connect, automate, and manage their complex financial lives across various accounts. Gilad opens up about the challenges of pivoting from a failed neobank startup, the tough lessons learned through restructuring and fundraising (including wrangling 83 signatures to clean up a cap table!), and the resilience required to move forward.  If you’re interested in the realities of founding, pivoting, and scaling a SaaS company in the fintech world—or want a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build tools for micro-businesses and solopreneurs—this candid episode is for you. Gilad also shares his outlook on metrics that matter, building a strong company culture, and what’s next for Sequence as they take on the challenge of simplifying how we manage money.  Tune in to hear Gilad’s remarkable journey, practical lessons for founders, and what it truly takes to turn setbacks into new opportunities.   Show Notes:  00:00 "Program Your Money Easily"  04:29 Small Business Clients with Diverse Income  06:44 Business App for Revenue Tracking  11:16 Startup Pivot: Conviction and Blue Oceans  13:40 Fraudulent Users Increase Acquisition Costs  18:42 Critical Pivot Fueled by Investment  21:49 Targeting Small Business Customers  26:23 Cutting Acquisition Costs with Partnerships  27:27 "Join Sequence: Community & Content"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/sequence-raises-75-million-in-funding  Gilad Uziely’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giladuziely/  Sequence’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getsequence/  Sequence’s Website: https://www.getsequence.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, host Ben Murray sits down with Braden Hancock, co-founder of Snorkel AI, to explore the journey of turning an academic research project at Stanford into one of today’s leading AI data platforms. Braden shares the origins of Snorkel, how it grew from a PhD initiative to a company helping some of the world’s largest enterprises tackle their toughest data labeling and AI evaluation challenges, and why good data remains the “secret sauce” behind successful AI.  We’ll dive into how Snorkel’s platform has enabled organizations—from major banks to highly regulated industries—to quickly build and customize AI models, and why scalable, programmatic approaches to data labeling are game changers. Braden also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Snorkel’s growth, fundraising journey (raising over $237 million to date!), and valuable lessons learned along the way. If you’re interested in the real-world applications of AI, SaaS growth strategies, or the evolving landscape of enterprise tech, you won’t want to miss this insightful conversation with one of AI’s innovative leaders.  Let’s jump in!  Show Notes:  00:00 "AI Success: Data-Driven Approach"  06:24 Startup Investment Stages Simplified  09:57 Strategic Momentum Drives Startup Success  13:16 Expanding Channels and Partnerships  14:33 AI Platform & Data Solutions Pricing  20:25 Focus on Evaluation Challenges  21:17 "Discover Snorkel Online"  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/snorkel-ai-raises-raises-85-million-in-series-c  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/snorkel-ai-raises-100-million-in-series-d  Braden Hancock’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradenhancock/  Snorkel AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/snorkel-ai/  Snorkel AI’s Website: https://snorkel.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