Shows
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast011: How to build an MVP | Ryan Heneise Episode 011: How to Build an MVP Welcome, Episode 11 of the Longcut Podcast, where we're busy poking holes in the myth of the overnight success. I'm your host Ryan, and today we're doing something a little bit different. I don't have a guest today; instead, I thought it would be fun to talk about MVPs and let you in on some of the secrets that we use to successfully create brand-new web products. I also want to give you an update on the podcast, because I'm going to be changing...2018-09-2609 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast010: Selling Your Byproducts | Nathaniel Talbott Takeaways: Sell Your Byproducts: Sometimes you have to operate a particular business for a while to recognize that a hole that exists in the market. If you're watching for it, you may realize that the hole is more valuable than the business you're actually operating. Don't be afraid of a big pivot. Spreedly started out as a subscription management service, similar to Stripe. Several years into it, they realized that what customers really wanted was a way to store credit cards in a PCI-compliant payment vault. They eventually decided to sell the subscription product, which had...2018-09-1238 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast009: The Long, Slow SaaS Ramp of Growth | Mason Hale Today on the Longcut we’re talking with Mason Hale. Mason is the founder of TeamTopia. TeamTopia’s flagship product is SwimTopia, which helps teams streamline and manage the logistics of running a swim team. Proactively narrow down your niche audience. Many entrepreneurs have a product or service that they try to apply to as large of an audience as possible. Instead, niche down and narrow your focus - you can’t meet the needs of everyone, everywhere. You’ll be enabled to communicate and connect with your market in a way that is really hard to...2018-09-0544 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast008: Do You Need a Startup Accelerator? | Kevin Koym Takeaways: What to look for in a venture accelerator. Much of the value in the top-tier programs—the most famous and sought-after accelerators like Y-Combinator and TechStars—has to do with the halo effect. You'll have contact and mentorship opportunities with people who can really help move your business forward. Second-tier programs can also offer a lot of value in the community. Beware of programs whose primary emphasis is on the mechanics and structure of the business process. Entrepreneurship is a skill that can be learned. The post-industrial economy is here. Many corporate jobs are migr...2018-08-2841 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast007: In Search of the Perfect Business Model | Allan Branch Takeaways: Beware of entrepreneurial enthusiasm. It can definitely drive your momentum in the early days, but it can also be exhausting. Do ride the wave when you catch it. But channel that energy into creating a sustainable business that will continue beyond the initial wave of entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Younger entrepreneurs may have a longer wave to ride; as we get a little older, and especially once we begin a family, it’s important to balance our energy. It might be tempting to work 14-hour days for a while when you’re single and unattached, but it’s not...2018-08-2138 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast006: Is Your Next Business a Productized Service? | Brian Casel Takeaways: Whether you realize it or not, you’re modeling entrepreneurship to your kids. That’s a good thing. Brian was an entrepreneur before he knew he was an entrepreneur. His upbringing in many ways prepared him for a career of self-employment. For all you parents out there listening; take this lesson to heart: don’t be afraid to bring your kids into your confidence about your business. The lessons you’ll teach them just by watching you will change the way they see the world, and will probably inform their own career choices. Entrepre...2018-08-1443 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast005: How to Validate Before your MVP | Ada Ryland Takeaways: The very earliest days of a startup's life are some of the most exciting, but they're also arguably some of the most risky. Decisions must be made in the early days about all sorts of things that will affect the future of the business: what products to offer, what kinds of customers to serve, what marketing channels to use, what sort of company culture to build, and on and on. Although for many startups the table stakes (investment of time and money) are relatively low, there are plenty of funded startups with...2018-08-0738 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast004: Nathan Barry | Why Direct Sales is the Best Way to Grow a Small Software Company Nathan Barry is the founder of Seva (formerly ConvertKit). I had heard about ConvertKit's story from Nathan before, and it really stuck with me. ConvertKit is an amazing company. They've had incredible growth recently, and it's easy to look at where they are today and think it was a foregone conclusion. Little did I know that there was a time when Nathan considered giving up on the idea. I sat down with Nathan to ask him about why he didn't give up on the idea, and what it was that helped him turn...2018-07-3130 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast003: Brennan Dunn | How You Think About Sales Makes a Big Difference Brennan Dunn is the co-founder of RightMessage, and the founder of Double Your Freelancing, a community of freelancers and agencies, offering courses that help freelancers increase their rates and charge what they're worth. Brennan's latest venture, RightMessage, is a tool that helps marketers build highly targeted messaging for website visitors. The idea behind RightMessage is that you want to talk to people differently depending on who they are and what their needs and interests are. RightMessage allows you to change the content on your website to speak directly to the person who's visiting your website...2018-07-2442 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast002: Shelley Delayne | Why Community is So Important for Entrepreneurs Shelley Delayne is the owner and proprietor at Orange Coworking in Austin, Texas. I wanted to catch up with Shelley because she is someone who has remarkable insight into the psychology and the mental landscape of independent entrepreneurs. Shelley opened Orange Coworking partly out of her own need for a place to work outside the house. But she quickly realized that the need for community—to be around other entrepreneurs and self-employed knowledge workers in a supportive environment—was something that many other people felt. Takeaways: Most business failures happen in the h...2018-07-2433 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast001: Ken Wallace | Create Value Early in Your Startup Ken Wallace is the mind behind MastermindJam.com, a community of entrepreneurs who come together to support one another through mastermind groups. Mastermind groups are peer-led groups of 3-6 people who meet on a regular basis to help each other discuss and accomplish their business goals. Takeaways: Giving things away for free is not always an effective way to grow a base of early adopters. It seems counterintuitive: people should be eager to try something new for free while you’re working on it, right? But it turns out that people don’t valu...2018-07-2352 min
The Longcut: A SaaS Business Podcast000: Ryan Heneise | The Longcut: What's this all about? The Longcut breaks down the illusion of the overnight success by sharing the stories of those who have successfully created, launched, and grown software businesses to solve a problem. In the fiercely competitive world of SaaS, Ryan introduces you to the brilliant minds behind the businesses we admire. You’ll hear perils and pitfalls, stories of staggering success, candid conversations, and what drives these owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators forward. Key themes we’ll explore include product validation, getting your first customers, how much of a MVP to develop, how to know when an idea is worth pursuing, how...2018-07-2303 min