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Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today’s episode, Ben sits down with Edward Barrow, founder and CEO of Cloud Capital, for a timely and in-depth conversation about the challenges facing CFOs, controllers, and tech leaders as cloud and AI spending rapidly becomes one of the largest and most complex line items on the P&L. With spend on compute, tokens, and infrastructure rising—sometimes to over 30% of revenue—understanding, forecasting, and optimizing cloud and AI costs is no longer optional for SaaS leadership teams.  Edward brings hands-on experience in both scaling software companies and overseeing strategic finance for cloud-native businesses, sharing research-backed insights and actionable strategies. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping unit economics, why traditional forecasting methods won't cut it in 2027, and what new controls and collaboration between finance and engineering are essential for sustainable growth. If you're preparing for 2027 budgeting and want to stay ahead of the curve on cloud and AI cost management, this episode is for you.   Show Notes:  00:00 Helping CFOs manage cloud spending  05:43 AI investment in software businesses  09:10 Balancing growth and profitability  13:03 AI and Token Cost Management  14:02 Understanding and managing cloud costs  18:13 Automated financial forecasting tools  20:50 Allocating and budgeting production costs  27:11 Commitment challenges in tech projects  27:51 Challenges of long-term tech commitments  33:46 Planning cost optimization steps  34:55 CFOs adapting to cloud and AI  Links:  Edward Barrow’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ebarrow/  Cloud Capital’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-cap/home/  Cloud Capital’s Website: https://www.cloudcapital.co/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben's AI in finance trends 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

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Ben sits down with Giacomo Marchiori, CEO and founder of Talentware, an AI-native skill intelligence platform transforming the HR tech landscape.   From his unique career path in engineering and automotive manufacturing to founding a rapidly growing SaaS company, Giacomo Marchiori shares the story behind Talentware’s creation, its innovative approach to skill assessment across industries and job functions, and the company’s impressive growth fueled by recent fundraising rounds.   Join us as we dive into lessons learned in startup fundraising, navigating the crowded AI space, scaling go-to-market efforts, and building a tech company poised for expansion throughout Europe.  Show Notes:  00:00 Improving Talent Management Processes  04:03 Mapping and Assessing Skills  06:56 Initial VC Fundraising Stages  10:25 Starting VC conversations early  14:20 Choosing a Technology Investment Strategy  17:54 Upcoming events and expansion plans  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/talentware-secures-800-000-in-pre-seed-funding/  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/talentware-raises-3-3m-seed/  Giacomo Marchiori’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giacomo-marchiori/  Talentware’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentware-ai/  Talentware’s Website: https://talentware.ai/en/home/  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 this episode, Ben Murray is joined by Alex Lee, CEO and co-founder of Truewind, a company on a mission to build cutting-edge AI tools for accountants. With a background that uniquely spans aerospace engineering, venture capital, and SaaS startups, Alex Lee brings a fresh perspective to the future of finance.  Listeners will hear how Truewind fits into the accounting close process, empowering accountants with AI-driven workpapers, journal entry automation, and digitized standard operating procedures. Alex Lee explains how the platform streamlines financial operations—without replacing ERPs—and discusses its impact on everything from audit readiness to accelerating the value delivered to customers.  The conversation also explores the evolving role of accountants in an AI-powered world, lessons learned from raising $17 million in venture funding, and thoughtful go-to-market strategies tailored for CFOs and controllers. Don’t miss this episode if you’re interested in AI, SaaS, fundraising, or the future of accounting technology.  Show Notes:  00:00 Building First Startup Blue Light  03:30 Integrating AI with existing ERP  06:40 Benefits of TruWind API integration  10:07 Evolving roles in accounting  14:37 Key fundraising lessons for startups  16:56 Choosing the Right Investor Fit  19:57 Understanding Partnership Tiers  23:09 Tracking Customer Value and Engagement  26:00 AI infrastructure in finance  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/truewind-raises-13-million-in-series-a/  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/truwind-raises-3-million-in-seed-round/  Alex Lee’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlee611/  Truewind’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truewindai  Truewind’s Website: trytruewind.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben sits down with Ali Mirzaei, CEO and founder of Dimension Studios. Dimension Studios is leading the charge in AI-powered automation for TikTok Shop operations with their flagship software, Seller OS. Ali Mirzaei shares the unexpected journey from building the top shop on TikTok to founding Dimension, discusses lessons learned in fundraising, and reveals how the company's unique AI agent—trained on real shop data and industry expertise—is leveling the playing field for brands of all sizes. Tune in to hear how Dimension Studios is scaling quickly, keeping customer acquisition costs low, and balancing both service and SaaS models while navigating the fast-evolving landscape of AI and e-commerce.  Show Notes:  00:00 AI Operator for TikTok Shop Support  06:14 Advice for startup founders  09:57 Analyzing user updates impact  12:04 Macroeconomics and AI impact  14:10 Sharing Ali's journey  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/dimension-raises-1-65m-seed/  Ali Mirzaei's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-mirzaei-a411791b4/  Dimension Studios' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimensionstudios/  Dimenstion Studios' Website: https://www.dimensionstudios.co/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast. In this episode, the conversation focused on one of the hottest topics for finance leaders and founders: managing and tracking AI spend within SaaS businesses. The discussion explored the rise of agentic AI platforms like Stackpack, which help companies take control of rapidly increasing vendor costs, manage contracts, and bring greater visibility into how AI tools are used across teams and departments.  A key theme that emerged was the shift from traditional software spend management to new challenges presented by AI tools, which are often priced on usage, tokens, or credits. Several points were raised, including the limitations of invoice-level tracking, the difficulty in breaking down spend by employee or department, and the importance of integrating HR and SSO data to unlock more granular attribution.  The episode also delved into the creation of effective dashboards for CFOs, strategies for governing AI usage and cost allocation, and tips for budgeting in a landscape where model choice, usage intensity, and pricing models are constantly evolving. The discussion wrapped with insights on measuring ROI from AI investments and how to adapt traditional software spend frameworks for the new era of agentic AI. If you’re a finance leader navigating the complexities of AI spend—or just trying to look good in front of your board this budget season—you won’t want to miss this conversation.  Show Notes:  00:00 Tracking AI Usage Costs  06:32 Teams plan data management  08:29 AI dashboard essentials and trends  13:26 Setting AI policy and costs  14:24 Discussing AI budgeting tips for CFOs  20:33 Increasing sales team output with AI  21:51 Discussing the ROSE metric  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/stackpack-raises-6-3-million-in-seed-round/  https://techfundingevents.com/companies/stackpack.ai  Sara Wyman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-wyman/  Stackpack's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stackpack-ai  Stackpack's Website: https://www.stackpack.ai/  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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Ben Murray sits down with Yagiz Abik, CEO and co-founder of 5U AI. Yagiz shares his journey from building businesses in Turkey to immersing himself in Munich's startup scene, ultimately founding 5U AI—a company delivering digital employees to automate repetitive tasks for logistics companies.   The conversation explores the challenges of selling AI-driven solutions to a traditionally tech-resistant industry, how 5U AI is carving out its niche with mid-market logistics firms in Europe, and the strategies Yagiz used to raise $3.2 million in pre-seed funding within just two weeks. Yagiz dives into the evolving financial metrics for AI-native SaaS, lessons from rapid growth, and what it's like to build a team and product from scratch.   Whether you're a SaaS founder, investor, or curious about the impact of AI in legacy industries, this episode is packed with actionable insights and candid stories from the trenches.  Show Notes:  00:00 Pivoting to New Opportunities  04:45 AI adoption in logistics industry  10:02 Challenges of Raising Pre-Seed Capital  13:32 Charging per task done  15:50 Optimizing with open source models  19:48 Reaching out via LinkedIn  20:49 Wrapping up and looking ahead  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/5u-ai-raises-3-2m-pre-seed/  Yagiz Abik's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abik/  5U AI's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5u-ai/  5U AI's Website: https://5u.ai/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben sits down with Dori Yona, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Simple Closure. Dori Yona shares lessons from building three companies, taking us on Simple Closure’s journey to becoming the go-to platform for automating and simplifying the process of shutting down businesses. With millions of US companies dissolving each year, Simple Closure is changing the landscape by offering tech-driven solutions that save founders time, money, and the hassle of compliance headaches. From monetizing overlooked assets to fundraising insights and AI-powered operations, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways for SaaS founders, CFOs, and startup leaders navigating growth and closure alike.  Show Notes:  00:00 Business closures and market stability  05:44 Vision and launch of Asset Hub  09:30 Creating FOMO in Fundraising  11:22 Partner-driven revenue strategy  15:29 Understanding the recurring market  16:48 Tracking customer impact metrics  Links:  Dori Yona's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dori-yona-b8369877/  Simple Closure's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simpleclosure/  Simple Closure's Website: https://simpleclosure.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast. In this episode, Ben welcomes Ramsey Al-Ramahi, founder and CEO of RevReply, who shares his journey from scaling a lead gen agency to creating an AI-powered SaaS platform for sales conversion.  Ben and Ramsey Al-Ramahi discuss the transition from services to software, the unique challenges of building a platform, and how RevReply found traction with B2B sales teams. They also cover the experience of fundraising, joining the Berkeley Skydeck accelerator, and raising a $1 million seed round.  Ramsey Al-Ramahi opens up about the metrics that guide his business and the ongoing challenges—and opportunities—of leveraging AI in sales. Tune in for actionable insights and an inside look at building a SaaS company in today’s fast-changing landscape.  Show Notes:  00:00 Refining sales techniques with experience  05:06 Evaluating Meeting Productivity Issues  07:11 Target customers: high-volume or complex workflows  12:30 Scaling up and resource allocation  14:27 Managing overwhelming inbound demand  19:07 Focusing on customer retention  22:00 Weighing AI vs. human costs  23:31 Offering free pipeline advice  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/revreply-raises-1m-seed/  Ramsey Al-Ramahi's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramseyalramahi/  RevReply's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revreply/  RevReply's Website: https://www.revreply.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben Murray sits down with Mahdi Abdulzarak and Kim Van Lavieren, the co-founders of Dawnguard—an innovative SaaS platform aiming to transform how large enterprises design, secure, and manage their cloud infrastructure.   Mahdi Abdulzarak, CEO, brings decades of cybersecurity leadership, while CTO Kim Van Lavieren draws on deep technical expertise from organizations like Amazon and the military. Together, they share the Dawnguard founding story, insights on fundraising as experienced founders, building with design partners, and how AI-driven solutions are changing the game in cloud security.   From go-to-market strategies to engineering harnesses and pricing AI-powered products, this conversation delivers a behind-the-scenes look at launching and scaling a SaaS startup in a rapidly evolving industry.  Show Notes:  00:00 Improving IT system design process  05:26 Starting a company from a deck  08:46 Advice for working with VCs  09:56 Finding the right co-founder  16:17 Determining sustainable pricing strategy  17:08 Shifting AI pricing models  22:05 Using AI tools effectively  23:43 CEO and CTO priorities 2026  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/dawnguard-raises-3-4m-pre-seed/  Mahdi Abdulzarak's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdiabdulrazak/  Kim van Lavieren's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-v-0645931b4/?locale=en  Dawnguard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dawnguard/  Dawnguard's Website: https://dawnguard.ai/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast. In this episode, Ben sits down with TJ Clark, co-founder and CEO of Librari, an AI-powered contract management solution. Drawing on his journey from Iowa native and recovering lawyer to serial entrepreneur with a major exit under his belt, TJ Clark shares how the chaos of managing business contracts inspired him to build Librari.   He explains how their AI extracts actionable insights from scattered contracts across various platforms, making compliance and renewals a breeze—especially for CFOs and controllers. The conversation covers the company’s go-to-market approach, fundraising lessons, key SaaS metrics, and the future of AI-powered back office efficiencies.   If you're interested in how technology can streamline contract management—and want a peek inside the founder-led growth playbook—this episode is for you.  Show Notes:  00:00 Solving disorganized contract issues  05:48 Flexible pricing and wide client range  09:45 Securing initial funding  13:05 Providing procurement expertise  14:28 Integrating contract data with systems  18:46 Finding key contacts for networking  21:56 Discussing AI in modern business  23:56 Using AI agents safely  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/librari-raises-1-75m-pre-seed/  TJ Clark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjclark/  Librari's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelibrari/  Librari's Website: https://www.thelibrari.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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today’s episode, host Ben Murray welcomes Lyndon Stickley, CEO of Iplicit, and Rob Steele, CFO at Iplicit, for a lively exploration of SaaS, accounting software, and the dynamics of scaling a tech company. Lyndon, a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple exits, and Rob, a finance software veteran, share their unique backgrounds and how they teamed up to breathe new life into Iplicit—a cloud-first finance solution born from a deep understanding of complex ERP challenges in the mid-market.  Listeners will hear the inside story of Iplicit’s evolution, from humble beginnings and sizable personal investment to rapid growth—leveraging over $25 million in Series A funding and a people-centric, remote culture. Lyndon and Rob pull back the curtain on their fundraising process, explaining how clear vision and disciplined focus created high investor demand. They also dive into go-to-market strategies targeting CFOs and FDs, the pivotal role of partners and resellers, and how channel sales are poised to fuel their next phase of expansion.  This episode is packed with real-world insights on the modernization of accounting platforms, the nuanced role of AI in finance, and the metrics that drive SaaS success. If you’re interested in the intersection of SaaS, finance, and innovation—or curious about how to build, fund, and scale a company in a competitive software landscape—this conversation will leave you inspired and informed.  Show Notes:   00:00 The origins of Iplicit software  06:20 Realizing broader customer demand  08:47 Open API for flexibility  10:50 Opening up to growth funds  16:12 Building Investor Relationships  19:47 Challenges in direct sales and marketing  20:36 Shifting to partner sales channels  26:41 Trust and adoption of AI solutions  28:00 Discussing AI native queries  31:06 Growth slowing as company scales  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/iplicit-raises-29-7-million-in-funding/   Rob Steele's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-steele-686a21169/  Lyndon Stickley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndon-stickley-bab38b78/  Iplicit's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iplicit/  Iplicit's Website: https://www.iplicit.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

The conversation focused on the journey of Alastair Blenkin, CEO and founder of ProcurePro, as he shared insights into building one of the leading SaaS solutions for construction procurement. The discussion explored the company’s origins, its resilience through the pandemic, and how it successfully digitizes complex workflows for general contractors worldwide.  A key theme that emerged was the importance of robust SaaS metrics, strategic fundraising, and the growth tactics required to scale in an industry as fragmented and traditional as construction. The episode highlighted global expansion strategies, the integration of AI into both ProcurePro’s product and internal operations, and evolving pricing models for enterprise clients.  The discussion also delved into the transition from founder to CEO, sharing lessons learned in leadership and organizational design as the company rapidly expands. Whether you’re interested in SaaS growth, construction tech, or the impact of AI on legacy industries, this episode delivers practical insights and inspiring stories.  Show Notes:   00:00 Building an AI-powered pricing layer  03:18 Need for Management Systems  07:10 Discussing SaaS growth strategies  13:15 AI's Impact on Non-Tech Businesses  17:07 Focusing on ARR growth strategy  18:59 Improving team productivity and tooling  23:32 Managing Business Challenges as a Founder  24:34 Designing an effective org chart  Links:   SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/procurepro-secures-11-million-in-funding/ USD  https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/procurepro-raises-6-15-million-in-series-a/  Alastair Blenkin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairblenkin/  Procure Pro's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/procurepro  Procure Pro's Website: https://procurepro.co/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben welcomes back Jim Williams, Managing Director at GLC Advisors, for his fourth appearance to provide an up-to-date look at the software M&A landscape. This conversation dives deep into how the rise of AI is reshaping the market, the evolving benchmarks for software company valuations, and what’s currently defining high-quality SaaS businesses.   Jim Williams shares insights on the barbell effect in multiples, tougher diligence on revenue quality, new questions investors are asking about AI strategy and margins, and how founders can position themselves for the best possible outcomes—whether they're aiming for a solid exit or shooting for that elusive 10x valuation.   Whether you’re a SaaS founder, CFO, or investor, this episode is packed with practical guidance and timely market intelligence you won’t want to miss.  Show Notes:  00:00 AI's impact on market trends  04:06 Impact of AI on business multiples  08:30 AI's impact on SaaS businesses  12:21 Evaluating AI's real impact  15:35 Discussing AI's impact on business fundamentals  17:10 Discussing software company valuations  22:46 Preparing Financials for Buyers  24:27 Focusing on business fundamentals  27:47 Customer segmentation and retention insights  31:19 Discussing growth rates and AI strategy  34:08 Strategizing AI model selection  38:56 Discussing AI adoption challenges  41:17 Discussing market trends and fluctuations  44:57 Contact and Reports Information  Links:  Jim Williams LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-williams-5754953/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast, where we dive deep into the financial and operational strategies shaping the future of SaaS companies. In this episode, Ben sits down with Brian Mongeau, CFO at Cav—a company revolutionizing compliance and assurance for high-reliability organizations in both the government and commercial enterprise space. With a career spanning Army Special Forces, stints at Goldman Sachs and CrowdStrike, and extensive experience in early-stage security tech investing, Brian Mongeau offers a unique perspective at the intersection of finance, product, and go-to-market strategy.  Together, they explore Cav’s evolution from legacy SaaS to the development of its AI-driven ComplianceOS platform, the challenges of pricing and margins in an era powered by tokens, the intricacies of fundraising in a capital-efficient environment, and the lessons learned from driving enterprise growth and retention. Whether you’re a SaaS founder, operator, or fellow CFO, this episode is packed with actionable insights for navigating today’s rapidly changing landscape.  Show Notes:  00:00 Early career experiences and learnings  04:21 Scaling and operationalizing the business  06:52 Developing ComplianceOS and Fundraising  09:55 Importance of cross-department communication  15:18 Importance of Customer Referrals  18:13 Discussing efficiency metrics in federal space  21:21 Investment in Compliance and FedRAMP  23:16 Exploring the CAVHQ website  Links:  Brian Mongeau's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-mongeau/  Cav's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caveonix  Cav's Website: https://cavhq.ai/  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 to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben sits down with Ryan Austin, founder and CEO of Cognota. Ryan shares his journey from being an entrepreneur with a self-described unconventional academic background to building Cognota, a company pioneering the "LearnOps" category for enterprise learning and development teams.   Together, they dive into the challenges of scaling in today’s market, discuss creative approaches to enterprise sales and pricing, and explore how AI is reshaping internal operations and competitive strategy. Whether you’re interested in SaaS growth, fundraising, or the evolving landscape of learning technology, this episode offers unique insights from Ryan's experience leading an agile team and navigating the fast-changing world of enterprise software.  Show Notes:  00:00 Integrating tech for better outcomes  04:53 Managing Longer Sales Cycles  07:20 Investing in leadership team  11:26 Exploring outcome-based pricing models  15:47 Discussing ARR and AI efficiencies  18:32 Making tough business decisions  20:19 Connecting on LinkedIn and LearnOps  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/cognota-raises-5-75-million-series-b  Ryan Austin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanaustin3/  Cognota’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognotahq/  Cognota’s Website: https://cognota.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