Traction Podcast

Is generative AI rewriting the rules for how startups scale, hire and grow? In this episode, Brian Rothenberg , Partner at Defy.vc , explores how the resurgence of the Bay Area, the rise of generative AI and the future of marketplaces are reshaping the startup landscape. We revisit Brian’s 2017 talk on scaling marketplaces and analyze which lessons still hold true.  Specifically, Brian discus...

Building a thriving SaaS community isn’t just about content — it’s about creating real, in-person connections that people keep coming back to. Alex Theuma , Founder of SaaStock , shares how he transformed a simple blog into one of the most influential SaaS conferences in the world. He unpacks the highs and lows of scaling a global event, from bootstrapping early growth to navigating expansion chal...

Scaling a company requires more than just great ideas — it demands execution, urgency and adaptability. In this episode, Dan Rogers , CEO of  LaunchDarkly, shares how he has built high-performance teams and driven sustained success, drawing from his experience leading growth at Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce and ServiceNow. Specifically, Dan covers: (03:24) Dan’s passion for technology led to...

The companies that win the next decade won’t just adopt AI — they’ll redesign how work gets done from the ground up. Daniel Saks , CEO and Co-Founder of Landbase , returns to share lessons learned from scaling two companies across two major technology waves. Daniel explores how the path from SaaS to agentic AI is not just a shift in tools, but a complete rethinking of how businesses operate, compe...

Venture capital isn’t just about funding — it’s about making the right bets at the right time. Nick Washburn , Senior Managing Director of Intel Capital , shares insights on founder-investor dynamics, venture capital strategies and the evolving landscape of AI-driven business models.  Specifically, Nick discusses: (03:34) The move from law to venture capital. (10:46) Companies are bought, not...

The most valuable asset in business today isn’t technology — it’s data. Those who control it, refine it and protect it will dominate their industries. SC Moatti , Managing Partner of Mighty Capital , shares insights on the evolving role of product managers, the impact of AI on product development and how businesses can leverage data to drive innovation and market leadership. Specifically, SC discu...

Building wealth isn’t just about working harder — it’s about working smarter. In this episode, Scott D. Clary , Founder and Host of Success Story Podcast , shares his journey in entrepreneurship, personal branding and wealth creation. He explains how building a personal brand can serve as a competitive advantage in an era where AI is reshaping industries and commoditizing work. With a social media...

Building a lasting brand in a rapidly changing digital world requires adaptability, strong insights and an authentic customer connection. Joseph Thompson , Co-Founder and COO of Kits.com , shares insights on building and scaling brands in the evolving digital landscape. As one of the earliest speakers at Traction in 2015, he reflects on how branding strategies have changed over the years and what...

Think marketing to developers is all about hoodies and hackathons? Think again. As the developer-led economy is poised to grow to a TRILLION dollars, companies that offer products for developers must refocus to a business-to-developer (B2D) model as developers become not only users of products, but key purchase influencers. In this episode, Nnamdi Iregbulem , Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners...

Farhan Thawar , VP and Head of Engineering at Shopify , reflects on the evolution of remote work, hiring strategies and the role of artificial intelligence in engineering. Farhan shares insights drawn from his extensive experience, including founding and scaling startups and contributing to shaping Shopify’s engineering culture. Farhan discusses: 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - The evolution of remote work...

The biggest outcomes tend to be founder-led, and building anything great is a long and hard journey. In this episode, Mark MacLeod ,, Startup CEO Coach and host of the Startup CEO Podcast, shares his framework for generating long term sustainable results without burning out and without sacrificing company performance. Mark has spent over two decades helping high-growth technology companies achieve...

Marissa Chacko , Former Director of Product Management at Google , kicks off the inaugural episode of “The NextWave Podcast by Traction” with a discussion on the evolution of conversational agents and AI technology. With over a decade of experience spanning companies like Google, Lyft and Foursquare, Marissa examines the shift from clunky bots to sophisticated AI agents, shedding light on the oppo...

In this episode, Rafael Loureiro , Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth.com , shares insights from his journey from CTO at Emailage (acquired for $500m by LexisNexis) to Cofounder and CEO at Wealth.com which recently closed a $30m Series A led by Google Ventures. Under Rafael's leadership, the platform has gained recognition as a leading technology provider in the trust category, serving over 500 wealth m...

In this episode, Aydin Mirzaee , CEO and Co-Founder of Fellow.app , shares his journey from founding his first startup to leading a successful meeting productivity platform. As a seasoned entrepreneur, Aydin highlights lessons he learned through building and pivoting startups and his unique strategies for scaling Fellow.app in the competitive SaaS space. Specifically, Aydin discusses: - Lessons le...

On this episode, Mada Seghete , Co-Founder, CEO and Marketing at Upside , and Alex Bauer , Co-Founder, Product at Upside , share their journey of rethinking how businesses measure the true impact of their marketing and sales efforts. Drawing on years of experience in the tech industry, they provide insights into how companies can shift their focus from outdated models to more accurate and meaningf...

In this episode, Bruce Wang , Director of Engineering at Netflix , shares his journey from founding startups to leading engineering teams at one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies. With a rich background in tech leadership and a founder mindset, Bruce delves into the lessons learned from both his startup ventures and his time at Netflix. Specifically, Bruce discusses: - The importance...

In this episode, Sarosh Waghmar , Founder, Co-chairman, and Chief Product Officer of Spotnana , shares his journey from building a self-funded $70-million business to launching venture-backed Spotnana with over $150m in funding. Sarosh dives into his experiences, detailing his passion for creating change and how he has navigated through various challenges to build a platform that redefines the tra...

Rob Schutz, Co-Founder of Ro and Founder of Snagged.com , shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, creating successful companies in health tech and beyond. He details his path from healthcare consulting to becoming a key player in the telehealth industry.  Rob also discusses how his ventures have impacted sectors like men’s health, dermatology and mental health. Throughout the episod...

In this episode, TK Kader , Founder of ToutApp, Inc. and TK | Unstoppable , shares invaluable insights on how to build a scalable go-to-market machine that not only drives 3x growth but also sets the foundation for long-term success in SaaS businesses. TK breaks down the essential strategies that can propel startups to $3 million in ARR and beyond. Specifically, TK discusses: - The importance of e...

On this episode, Doug Winter , Founder and CEO at Seismic , talks about how he grew Seismic from a small startup to a major player in sales enablement. Doug shares the key moments and strategies that helped Seismic succeed, including important acquisitions and staying focused on goals. Specifically, Doug discusses: - How Seismic started and the tough decisions they made along the way. - Why they f...

In this episode, Prashanth Chandrasekar , CEO of Stack Overflow , shares lessons from growing to over 100 million users.. Specifically, Prashanth discusses:  - 4 key pillars in the journey of scaling SaaS companies - The importance of assessing the direction of company progress. - Building with the community, not just for the community. - The passion required to build a community from scratch.. -...

In this episode, Dave Pickles , Co-Founder of $47 billion adtech behemoth The Trade Desk , shares lessons from building and scaling the company with little to no funding.  Dave explains: - The early challenges and failures they faced, including tech problems and market uncertainties. - How they kept a lean capital structure to stay focused and efficient. - Partnering with agencies and aggrega...

In this episode, Dan Olsen , Author of "The Lean Product Playbook," explores the essentials of crafting effective product strategies. With a background in working with industry giants like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Uber, Box and Walmart, Dan offers valuable insights into achieving product-market fit and leading successful product teams. Specifically, Dan discusses: - The importance of focusing on...

On this episode, Dan Martell , Founder of SaaS Academy , Founder and CEO of Martell Media and Managing Partner at High Speed Ventures , shares his journey from a troubled youth to becoming a successful entrepreneur and angel investor. Dan’s story is one of resilience, personal growth and the transformative power of software and recurring revenue models. Specifically, Dan discusses: - Overcoming a...

In this episode, Greg Isenberg , CEO and Co-Founder of Late Checkout , shares insights on building successful community-based products and the importance of community in product development. Greg also delves into his journey from the head of product strategy at WeWork to founding Late Checkout, a venture studio based on community and Web3 products. Greg discusses: - The organic and low-risk nature...