The SaaS CFO

Hosted by Ben Murray

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Aug 2026

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September 10, 202618 min

Turning Company Shutdowns into Opportunity with Simple Closure

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

September 3, 202624 min

Skyrocket Your Sales: Insider Tips from a Sales Guru

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

August 27, 202625 min

How They Raised $6.3 Million: The Story of a Cybersecurity Startup's Journey

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

August 20, 202626 min

Taming Contract Chaos: Meet the AI That Transforms Business Operations

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

August 13, 202633 min

How to Secure $25 Million in Series A Funding

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

August 6, 202626 min

Why Vertical SaaS is Winning in Construction—Proven Metrics and Global Expansion

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

July 29, 202645 min

Unlocking the Secrets of the Software M&A Market in 2026

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

July 23, 202623 min

From Army Special Forces to AI Finance: A CFO's Unconventional Path

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

July 16, 202620 min

Navigating AI and Enterprise Sales With Ryan Austin

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

July 9, 202634 min

Get Funded Faster: Proven Strategies for SaaS Debt Financing Success

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray is joined by Josh Axler, Managing Director at Flow Capital, for a deep dive into the world of SaaS fundraising, venture debt, and revenue metrics. Josh shares his perspective on what makes SaaS ARR truly financeable, the nuances between live and committed revenue, and why understanding the quality of your earnings is critical for securing debt financing. Listeners will get practical advice on key SaaS metrics, due diligence readiness, and how to prepare for successful conversations with lenders. Josh also addresses the impact of AI on SaaS businesses, current expectations in SaaS lending, and common misconceptions about equity versus debt financing. Whether you’re a founder, CFO, or operator aiming for growth, this episode offers invaluable insight into navigating the evolving financial landscape for SaaS companies. Show Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Flow Capital 03:13 Evaluating ARR quality and details 07:25 Evaluating SaaS Financial Health 10:08 Finding ideal customer profiles 15:04 Evaluating SaaS Lending Metrics 18:43 Using debt for growth capital 20:17 Challenges with venture debt repayment 25:07 Evaluating AI impact on business 26:55 AI companies and revenue concerns 29:21 Assessing value and revenue impact 33:49 Contacting Josh for more info Links: Josh Axler’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshaxler/ Flow Capital’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowcapital/ Flow Capital’s Website: https://www.flowcap.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