Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Roy Pereira, the CEO and co-founder of Unified. Roy's journey through the tech world is nothing short of captivating; from dropping out of university to jumpstart his entrepreneurial career, to navigating the ins and outs of Silicon Valley, and eventually founding multiple startups. Unified, his latest venture, provides an innovative API integration infrastructure that saves SaaS companies valuable time and resources.

Join us as Roy delves into the specifics of Unified's services, the challenges and triumphs of building API integrations, and the strategic evolution of their pricing models. We also discuss the startup's unique approach to inbound marketing, their lean yet efficient team dynamics, and the arduous but rewarding path of fundraising in today's market. Roy shares invaluable advice for fellow SaaS founders and gives us a glimpse of what's on the horizon for Unified. Don't miss this insightful episode packed with practical wisdom and entrepreneurial inspiration!

Show Notes:

00:00 Unified to: Simplifies API integration, saves time.

05:21 Developed new, customer-friendly, sliding scale pricing model.

08:34 Founded in 2023; automated platform for efficiency.

13:24 Raising funds is difficult; requires targeted networking.

16:05 Metrics-focused meetings emphasize KPIs and customer journeys.

17:30 Expanding API integrations; aiming for 500 total.

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/unified-to-secures-1-1m-cad-in-pre-seed-round

Roy Pereira’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roypereira/

Unified’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unified-to/

Unified’s Website: https://unified.to/

To learn more about Ben check out the links below:

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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 enlightening episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we're thrilled to host Brian Elliott, CEO and co-founder of Blitzy—a groundbreaking company pushing the boundaries of software development through AI. Brian’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, starting from his education and service at West Point and Army Special Operations, to Harvard Business School, where he met his co-founder, Sid, and laid the foundation for what would become Blitzy. Their mission? To democratize and accelerate software development using cutting-edge AI technologies.

In our conversation, Brian delves into the nitty-gritty of building a tech startup from the ground up. He recounts the initial spark for Blitzy, which began as a pro bono project for a local bakery, and how it quickly evolved into a robust platform serving major enterprises, especially in finance and insurance. He elaborates on the unique value proposition of Blitzy—generating enterprise-quality code at breakneck speeds, dramatically compressing development cycles, and offering unparalleled efficiency.

We also look ahead to the future of SaaS, contemplating how innovations like Blitzy might reshape the industry landscape. With discussions on product development, pricing, and go-to-market strategies, Brian provides a wealth of insights that are sure to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike. So, plug in those headphones and join us for a captivating discussion that bridges technology, business, and innovation.

Show Notes:

00:00 Served Army, founded Blitzy using AI innovations.

04:52 Achieved enterprise software breakthrough, patenting technological innovations.

06:25 Expensive product tailored for businesses' code needs.

10:31 Extensible full-cycle system for legacy tech industries.

15:55 Boston's ecosystem excellent for attracting talented researchers.

18:49 Revenue focus; manage pipeline; assess code quality.

20:12 Converted service customers to engaged SaaS users.

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/blitzy-raises-4-4-million-in-funding

Brian Elliott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancelliott/

Blitzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blitzyai/

Blitzy’s Website: https://blitzy.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 today’s episode, we're excited to bring you an insightful conversation with Mohammad AlRazaz, the co-founder and CEO of OTO. Mohammad’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—from his beginnings in electrical engineering to his leap into the startup world, and eventually founding OTO, a revolutionary shipping gateway. This platform empowers small and medium-sized businesses to level the playing field against industry giants like Amazon by offering an all-in-one shipping management solution.

Throughout our discussion, Mohammad sheds light on the origins and rapid growth of OTO. He explains how the company initially targeted omnichannel clients but quickly expanded to serve a wide range of e-commerce businesses. Mohammad also shares their strategic shift from a sales-led approach to a product-led growth model, allowing 80% of their clients to onboard without human interaction. This episode is packed with practical insights, including their fundraising journey which culminated in a successful Series A round, and the vital metrics that guide their business decisions.

As we dive deeper, you'll hear Mohammad’s valuable advice for other SaaS founders, especially those eyeing their Series A. He emphasizes the importance of identifying key milestones, the challenges of fundraising, and strategies for global expansion. If you're keen on understanding how to scale a startup and compete with major players, this episode is a must-watch. So, sit back, relax, and let's learn from Mohammad AlRazaz's incredible journey with OTO.

Show Notes:

00:00 Engineer turned entrepreneur; excels in business ventures.

06:58 Auto facilitates shipping and warehouse management growth.

08:50 Started in auto, thrived connecting during COVID.

12:06 Fast-growing SaaS company raised $3 million seed.

15:01 Shifted to PLG for customer acquisition success.

18:32 Expanding to Turkey requires localization and investment.

22:02 Fundraising consumes time, prioritize building and scaling.

25:36 Expanding businesses in MENA, GCC, and beyond.

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/riyadh-based-saas-startup-oto-raises-3-million-in-seed-round

Mohammad AlRazaz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malrazaz/

Oto’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tryotocom/

Oto’s Website: https://tryoto.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