SaaSy Talk Unfiltered | SaaSy Talk S01.28: Building a Global SaaS Company: Challenges, Fundraising, and Market Expansion

SaaSy Talk S01.28: Building a Global SaaS Company: Challenges, Fundraising, and Market Expansion

December 5, 2023 / 38:01/S1:E28

About The Guest(s): Jason Atkins is the co-founder of Cake, a global SaaS company that provides equity management solutions for startups. With a background in finance and a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, Jason has been instrumental in building Cake into a leading player in the equity space. He is dedicated to driving the growth of the company and helping startups around the world succeed.

Summary:

In this episode, Jason Atkins, co-founder of Cake, shares his journey of building a global SaaS company from the Gold Coast. He discusses the founding moment of Cake and the problem they were trying to solve in the equity space. Jason also talks about the challenges they faced in the early days and the importance of usability in SaaS products. He shares insights into the fundraising journey and provides practical tips for early-stage founders. Jason then dives into the go-to-market strategy for global expansion and the importance of understanding your customer. He highlights the role of marketing in business growth and the power of community-led marketing. Finally, Jason discusses his priorities as a CEO and gives a glimpse into the future plans for Cake.

Key Takeaways:

Cake was founded to bring the speed and innovation of blockchain to the traditional equity space.
Building a startup from scratch is extremely challenging, but focusing on learning and minimizing expenses can make a big difference.
Access to the right people and funding is crucial in the early days of a startup.
Usability is a key factor in the success of a SaaS product, and understanding your customer's buying process is essential.
When expanding globally, it's important to identify your customer and focus on the markets where they are buying.
Being present where your customers are and building a strong community can drive growth and success.
Jason's top priorities as a CEO are evangelism, sustainable revenue growth, and building a strong team.

Quotes:

"If you're in a new space, just give. Volunteer, help others, and learn as much as you can." - Jason
"Raise as little money as possible, learn as fast as possible, and focus on achieving milestones." - Jason
"Be where your customers are and spend time with them. People want to work with good people." - Jason
"Product-led growth is about solving a problem and being there when your customers need you." - Jason

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Founding Moment

00:05 The Problem and Solution

01:30 Choosing a Co-Founder

03:28 Challenges in the Early Days

09:23 The Importance of Usability in SaaS

11:15 Fundraising Journey and Tips

17:37 Celebrating Success and Global Expansion

22:38 Global Expansion and Learning from Different Markets

23:11 Understanding the Product and Market Strategy

23:37 Challenges and Successes in Market Expansion

24:20 The Importance of Identifying Your Customer