The SaaS CFO

Hosted by Ben Murray

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed

Episodes

277

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 11, 202627 min

The Secret to Hiring Top Finance Talent in Just 5 Days!

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast YouTube channel, hosted by Ben Murray! In this episode, Ben sits down with Aman Puri, co-founder and co-CEO of Mavi, to discuss the changing landscape of finance talent and recruiting. The conversation focused on the critical shortage of accounting and finance professionals in North America, and how Mavi’s AI-powered platform is connecting US companies with the top 2% of vetted global finance talent. Learn how Mavi’s innovative approach is disrupting legacy recruiting models and helping businesses build stronger in-house finance teams. A key theme that emerged was the impact of artificial intelligence on the finance function—from automating routine tasks to redefining the skills needed for modern finance teams. The discussion explored the increasing importance of AI proficiency for both new and seasoned finance professionals, and why vertical specialization in recruiting can make all the difference. Ben and Aman also unpack Mavi’s unique SaaS-based pricing, which aligns incentives and delivers long-term value for their clients. Several points were raised about the future of finance recruiting and how companies can stay competitive as technology evolves. The episode also offers a behind-the-scenes look at Mavi’s fundraising journey, Ben’s reflections as a SaaS CFO, and practical advice for founders navigating today’s tough hiring environment. If you’re a CFO, founder, or finance leader looking to future-proof your hiring strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss. Show Notes: 00:00 Identifying the talent gap in fintech 04:47 Finance talent shortage issue 08:27 Building trust through referrals 11:11 Connecting US companies with global talent 16:22 Impact of AI on Accounting Jobs 19:37 Raising funds in a tougher market 24:18 Future capital raising plans 26:00 AI in finance hiring trends Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/mavi-raises-4m-seed/ Aman Puri's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-puri/ MAVI's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maviwork/ MAVI's Website: https://www.maviwork.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

November 6, 202615 min

Quantum Computing: The New Frontier in High-Performance Simulations

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Ben Murray welcomes Dr. Laurent Guiraud, co-founder and CEO of ColibriTD. With a rich background spanning roles at Oracle, Google, and Amazon Web Services, Dr. Laurent Guiraud has been at the forefront of technology and innovation for decades. Now, he’s combining his expertise in quantum physics and deep tech to solve some of today’s toughest business challenges. ColibriTD is still pre-product, but its vision is bold: leveraging the emerging field of quantum computing to power complex numerical simulations for industries like semiconductors, finance, and energy. Dr. Laurent Guiraud shares how ColibriTD works directly with R&D teams and large enterprises, co-designing solutions that address the limitations of traditional computing and paving the way to democratize high-performance simulations for businesses of all sizes. In this conversation, Dr. Laurent Guiraud discusses his motivation for starting ColibriTD, the realities of deep tech fundraising, and the unique business metrics he’s tracking as the company shapes the future of quantum computing in SaaS. Stay tuned for an inspiring look at innovation, customer collaboration, and what’s next for simulation engineering. Show Notes: 00:00 Career journey and starting a company 04:48 Democratizing high-performance computing 07:57 Pre-product development strategy 09:42 Building a scalable quantum solution 12:45 Validating Quantum Computing Use Cases Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/colibritd-raises-4m-seed/ https://techfundingevents.com/companies/colibritd.com Dr. Laurent Guiraud's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentguiraud/ ColibriTD's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/colibritd/home/ ColibriTD's Website: https://www.colibritd.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

November 3, 202615 min

How AI is Reshaping Small Business Lending in Africa

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast, where SaaS leaders and innovators share their stories and strategies. In today’s episode, the conversation focused on the unique challenges and opportunities facing startups and small businesses in Africa, particularly when it comes to accessing working capital and preparing financial data for investors. A key theme that emerged was the entrepreneurial journey of Elana Laichena, founder and CEO of Flowt Intelligence. After navigating financing obstacles as a founder herself, Elana developed a SaaS platform that uses AI to transform messy, real-world financial records into clean, investor-ready insights. The discussion explored how Flowt helps climate-focused businesses unlock the capital they need while streamlining the often daunting due diligence process. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on SaaS metrics, the evolving investment landscape in Africa, and lessons learned from both operating and funding startups. If you’re interested in how technology can break down barriers and empower growth in emerging markets, don’t miss this episode. Show Notes: 00:00 Float's financial intelligence platform 05:48 Understanding the competition in digital lending 07:45 Offering Flexible Business Credit 12:02 Pre-seed funding challenges in Africa 13:20 Funding challenges for African founders Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/flowt-raises-undisclosed-pre-seed/ https://techfundingevents.com/companies/flowt.africa Elana Laichena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elanalaichena/ Flowt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowt-intelligence/home/ Flowt's Website: https://flowt.africa/ 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

October 29, 202613 min

Scaling AI Builds: Hermetiq’s Data Layer for Bazel and DevOps Innovation

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, the conversation focused on the fast-changing world of software builds and how AI is transforming the SaaS landscape. The discussion explored how Hermetiq, co-founded by CEO Jake Newfield, is addressing a new bottleneck for engineering teams—not code creation, but the complexities of compiling, testing, and deploying at scale. One concept discussed was the need for deeper observability and intelligence around Bazel builds, leading Hermetiq to develop a "Datadog for Bazel" platform that helps developers identify and fix build issues efficiently. With major AI labs already leveraging this technology, the episode highlights the rapidly expanding demand for smarter build infrastructure. Several points were raised around early-stage SaaS company building, from fundraising and pricing challenges to the importance of conference outreach and direct engagement. Listen in for insights on navigating growth in a market where innovation moves at lightning speed. Show Notes: 00:00 Hermetic automates software build process 04:15 Solving build issues for companies 06:20 Starting up with direct outreach 10:06 Big AI Lab Using Hermetiq 12:56 Wrapping up with contact info Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/hermetiq-raises-2-2m-seed/ Jake Newfield's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakenewfield/ Hermetiq's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermetiq/ Hermetiq's Website: https://www.hermetiq.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

October 27, 202624 min

The Future of Fintech: AI and Small Business Lending in Emerging Markets

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast. In this episode, the conversation focused on the intersection of AI, finance, and SaaS with Zach Marks, co-founder and CEO of Jia. The discussion explored Zach’s journey from working with microfinance in emerging markets to building AI-powered financial solutions that address the unique challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses. Several points were raised, including Jia’s experience in leveraging AI for underwriting, the evolution of the company’s product offerings, the impact of technology on expanding access to credit, and the nuances of pricing and scaling in the rapidly changing world of fintech. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how AI, SaaS metrics, and a mission-driven approach are transforming financial operations for SMBs across the globe. Show Notes: 00:00 Discovering microfinance and joining Tala 03:30 AI solutions for small businesses 08:01 Using AI for credit analysis 11:18 Business model and SME solutions 15:37 Future of AI in finance 18:27 Discussing risk strategies in lending 21:51 AI enhancing financial service delivery 23:34 Company founding and HQ details Links: SaaS Fundrasing Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/jia-raises-3m-seed/ Zach Marks' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmarks/ Jia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jiaxyz/ Jia's Website: https://jia.xyz/ 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

October 21, 202636 min

2027 CFO Playbook: Understand and Analyze Your Cloud & AI Spend

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

October 15, 202619 min

Unlocking Hidden Talents: The Future of Skills Mapping with AI

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

October 8, 202626 min

Closing Books Faster with AI: A Vision for Accountants

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

October 1, 202614 min

The Million-Dollar Blueprint: Building a TikTok Empire with AI

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

September 24, 202624 min

Stop Bleeding Cash: Smarter AI Spend for SaaS

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