Protect the Hustle | A SaaS Podcast

Check out the Beyond the Budget Podcast here. Hey Protect the Hustle fans, I hope you're loving the insights from this season. I have something special for you today which is the first episode of our new podcast Beyond the Budget. It's all here in in this email, and if you love it, reply to this email and I'll make sure you get new episodes every Friday. Protect the Hustle will be back next week!...

In the heat of the championship game, imagine your favorite sport and the team captain standing at the center of the huddle. Their experience and familiarity with the weight of the trophy make them the leader every team desires to guide them toward victory. Like the world of sports, B2B SaaS thrives on strong leadership, with the ability to navigate software development complexities, manage multip...

You’re standing at the edge of a vast canyon. You gaze across the seemingly endless expanse. The wind whistles through the rocky outcrops, the sun casts long shadows and a river snakes its way far below. You might not want to, but you’re about to navigate this canyon. To traverse this challenging terrain, you’ll need to understand the hidden paths, the potential pitfalls, and the best way to navig...

Imagine you're preparing to open a brand-new restaurant in a bustling city. The cuisine is exquisite, the ambiance is perfect, and the service is impeccable. But as the doors open and potential customers walk by, they don't seem drawn to your establishment. The problem? Your menu is confusing, the descriptions are bland, and the name of the restaurant doesn't resonate with the passersby. This is t...

This week's guest is Kyle Poyar , Operating Partner at OpenView . Kyle sat down with Patrick Campbell at SaaStock 2022 to discuss the ins and outs of product-led growth and how businesses can capitalize on this strategy to propel their success. Throughout the conversation, Kyle and Patrick delve into the importance of focusing on product usage as a key driver for customer acquisition, retention, a...

This week's guest is John Griffin , co-founder and CRO of m3ter , who joined Neel Desai at SaaStock 2022 to discuss the importance of usage-based billing in SaaS and its impact on businesses. John emphasizes the need for SaaS companies to focus on customer success to drive adoption and product usage, and shares his thoughts on the future of SaaS, suggesting that it will involve a combination of pr...

Today's guest is April Dunford , founder of Ambient Strategy and author of the essential positioning book Obviously Awesome . April's an expert on positioning, including what it is, what people get wrong with it, and what they need to get right with it. She's currently working on her second book focused on teaching teams the structure and processes she's been using to build sales pitches for the p...

Today's guest is Andy Whyte , CEO of MEDDICC and author of the book on MEDDICC . He has been a sales leader for 20 years. His discussion with Paddle's own Andrew Davies illuminated a lot about how one can effectively use MEDDICC. Andy can help you understand how to better identify customer pain points, demonstrate value, engage with stakeholders, and manage the sales process effectively to close d...

Today's guest, Anna Gong , founded Perx Technologies in 2014. Her discussion with Paddle's Neel Desai is a curious one when it comes to the topic of game theory and gamification. While gamification might feel gimmicky and drive shallow customer engagement, it can actually be a tool for good (if done properly). Neel and Anna go over a number of topics in the episode but we'll give you an overview o...

Today's guest, James Mayes co-founded Mind the Product in 2010. Much like the eponymous character in Jerry Maguire, James has a strict code of ethics that he sticks by when thinking of product management. Instead of thinking about how much we are making from our product, James emphasizes the why . But he didn't require a public mental breakdown and a loss of business like Jerry. Quite the contrary...

Today's guest is Godard Abel. He is the Co-founder & CEO of G2.com , a software marketplace with authentic peer reviews to make purchasing software that much easier. With his vast experience as an executive heading up multiple high-performing companies (like SteelBrick and BigMachines - purchased by Salesforce and Oracle respectively), Godard offers valuable advice on what it means to be a ste...

Today's guest is Zandra Moore . She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Panintelligence , an embedded analytics platform for SaaS vendors. Beyond the stellar work she does in tech, Zandra is a champion of inclusivity. In our interview with her and Andrew Davies recorded at SaaStock in 2022, Zandra discusses several topics that make you a better operator. Perhaps most importantly, she beats the drum on in...

Today's guest is Kim Walsh . She heads up Sales, Partnerships, and Customer Success over at Apollo.io . As an early member of HubSpot and her continued journey through sales and growth, she’s learned valuable lessons in the world of B2B SaaS. In our interview with her and Patrick Campbell recorded at SaaStr in 2022, Kim discusses a number of topics that will make you a better operator like hiring...

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 02:01 - What makes a great SaaS community 10:10 - The Three Types of Investors 13:24 - Focusing on the interpersonal side of the business 18:20 - Building and Maintaining the Founder-Investor Relationship 23:44 - Embracing the silence during investor meetings This is a Paddle production—the first media network dedicated enti...

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 01:57 - Why some fintech is really “tech fin” 11:00 - Reducing the time and friction to execute 19:00 - The "Buy now, Pay later" space 23:56 - The anchor tenant persona 30:11 - How to find anchor tenants This is a Paddle production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 01:59 - Connecting emotion and value to drive results 07:18 - What to look for when building a marketing team 16:26 - Prioritizing efforts on areas of biggest influence 21:35 - Setting up a team of highly skilled marketers 34:09 - Which partnerships are essential within your organization This is a Paddle production—the first...

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 02:13 - Zeroing in on Sales Roles 08:23 - Hiring someone with a fire in the belly 14:07 - SDR Training, Enablement and Progression 21:00 - Setting up sales opportunities for success 39:01 - The value of compassionate leadership This is a Paddle production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscriptio...

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 01:50 - The intangible rewards of selling a company 16:29 - Coping with grief after an exit 28:02 - The fundamentals of building in public 34:09 - Why losses resonate more than wins 43:07 - How authenticity scales This is a Paddle production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: 01:59 - What makes an IPO a good idea 14:03 - Maintaining control of the process 20:43 - Crafting your IPO Story 31:49 - Was the IPO worth it? This is a Paddle production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: Marketing-driven growth vs. product-driven growth The ingredients that make up community How community drives the potential of a tech ecosystem The drive to stand out and be different Unlocking your authentic self with a willingness to adapt This is a Paddle Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and...

Check out the field guide here Topics covered in this episode: How to avoid getting sucked into traps Using perspective to get everyone on the same page Creating tools to reveal answers The importances of shared language Understanding nuances to unlock frameworks This is a Paddle Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: Being a champion for small businesses  Democratizing success with technology  Why accountants are superheroes  When growth isn’t the goal The “number 8 wire” mentality. This is a ProfitWell Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Topics covered in this episode: Earning the right to educate Weaponizing your ego Generating demand Characteristics of success The key to leverage This is a Paddle Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: Aligning your business with how customers buy How to implement product-qualified leads The stages of product-led growth How to measure success Simplifying onboarding This is a Paddle Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.

Check out the detailed field guide here Topics discussed in this episode: The transparency rule Personalization and authenticity How marketing is evolving Maintaining a sustainable sales cycle Reducing operational inefficiencies This is a Paddle Recur production—the first media network dedicated entirely to the SaaS and subscription space.