The SaaSiest Podcast

Hosted by Daniel Nackovski & Thomas Sjöberg

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214

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Do you want to know what the secret sauce is of the most successful SaaS companies? This show follows founders and leaders of the most prominent European SaaS companies on their way to global success. Learn from their GoTo-Market strategies, how they scale, build winning teams and great products. If you are a SaaS founder or leader looking for tips and tricks from the best in class founders and companies then this is a show for you. Direct, informal and to-the-point discussions with a great level of hands-on advice for the listeners. The show is brought to you by two experienced SaaS professionals, Daniel Nackovski, and Thomas Sjöberg, founders of SaaSiest !

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60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 21559 min

214. Daniel Thulfaut, Head of Product at saas.group - Why AI Is Killing Traditional Product Management

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Thulfaut, Head of Product at saas.group, one of Europe's most active SaaS acquirers. With 24 companies in the portfolio and more than €100M in ARR, Daniel has a unique perspective on how product organizations are evolving in the age of AI. We discuss why many product managers have spent the last decade acting as backlog managers rather than true product leaders, and why AI is now forcing a return to the fundamentals of product management: customer understanding, strategic thinking, prioritization, and decision-making. We also explore why "good enough" products are becoming easier than ever to build, why that raises the bar for SaaS companies, and what legacy SaaS businesses must do to stay competitive against a new generation of AI-native startups. Topics we cover include: • Why the traditional product manager role is changing rapidly • The difference between backlog management and real product leadership • Why AI makes customer discovery more important, not less • Why legacy SaaS companies struggle to realize the promised 10x AI productivity gains • The rise of the "product engineer" and what it means for teams • How feature flags, experimentation, and faster feedback loops change product development • Why shipping more features is not the same as creating more value • What CEOs and CPOs should do right now to prepare their product organizations for the future • Why understanding customer problems remains the most valuable skill in product management One of the most interesting takeaways from the conversation is that AI is not replacing product thinking. If anything, it's making it more valuable. When building becomes easier, deciding what to build becomes the real competitive advantage. If you're a founder, CEO, CPO, product leader, or anyone trying to navigate the future of SaaS, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of food for thought.

June 4, 2026Episode 21447 min

213. Artti Aurasmaa, CEO of Staria - Why the CFO Is Becoming the Most Strategic Role in SaaS

In this episode we sit down with Artti Aurasmaa, CEO of Staria, to discuss how the CFO role is evolving from financial reporting to strategic leadership. Artti has spent more than 25 years helping companies scale internationally and today leads Staria, a €60M+ business serving growth companies across 50 countries. In this conversation, he shares why the future CFO must become a business partner, data steward, and forecasting expert rather than simply the person closing the books. We discuss why forecasting accuracy may be the most important KPI for a modern CFO, how AI is changing finance teams, why strong data foundations matter more than the latest AI tools, and what separates companies that scale successfully from those that struggle. You will also hear Artti's perspective on international expansion, the increasing complexity of global business, and why the best CFOs are moving from the back office to the front row. Topics covered: Why the CFO role is becoming increasingly strategic The shift from historical reporting to future forecasting Why forecasting accuracy is a critical KPI How AI is changing the finance function Building the data foundation before deploying AI The future structure of finance teams International expansion and global compliance Why CFOs need stronger technical and data capabilities The rise of the "rockstar CFO" What growth companies need to scale successfully Whether you're a CFO, founder, CEO, finance leader, or SaaS operator, this episode offers a practical look at how the finance function is changing and what it takes to stay ahead.

May 28, 2026Episode 21358 min

212. George Storm, CRO at N.rich - Why your SaaS Forecasting Is Broken & Inaccurate

In this episode, we’re joined by George Storm, CRO at N.rich, for a conversation about why traditional B2B SaaS forecasting is no longer good enough in today’s market. George shares how N.rich, the European ABM platform, helps sales-led companies influence complex buying committees, warm up priority accounts, and progress accounts before sales ever reaches out. We spoke with George about why forecasting can’t be treated as a static quarterly exercise anymore, why revenue leaders need to account for macro signals like layoffs, budget freezes, acquisitions, interest rates, and market turbulence, and how to move from fixed-number forecasting to ranges, probabilities, and continuous forecast loops. He explains why CROs should think in “regimes” like calm, turbulent, and stormy markets, and how that changes the way you model win rates, sales cycles, ACV, and pipeline coverage. Here are some of the key questions we address: Why is traditional SaaS forecasting broken? Why should forecasts be modeled as ranges instead of fixed numbers? How do macro signals like layoffs, acquisitions, and budget freezes impact pipeline confidence? Why can historical win rates be misleading in today’s market? What does it mean to forecast in calm, turbulent, or stormy weather? How can CROs build a continuous forecasting loop instead of relying on quarterly updates? What should revenue leaders monitor weekly to avoid surprise misses? 🎧 Tune in to hear how George thinks CROs can build more realistic, adaptive forecasting models in a market where hope is definitely not a strategy.

April 17, 2026Episode 21256 min

211. Massimo Arrigoni, CEO of Beefree - The SaaS Apocalypse? Massimo Arrigoni Says No

In this episode, we’re joined by Massimo Arrigoni, CEO of Beefree, the content creation platform behind thousands of SaaS products and one of the companies with a uniquely broad view of what’s actually happening across the software landscape. With customers embedding Beefree into products across industries, Massimo sees the SaaS market from the inside out. And his take is clear: SaaS is not dead. But parts of the model are being challenged, valuations are being reset, and AI is forcing every company to rethink where real value lives. This is a conversation about what is actually changing, what is not, and why the future likely belongs to companies that understand the difference. We spoke with Massimo about why people often mix up SaaS valuations, SaaS delivery, and SaaS business models when they talk about “the death of SaaS.” He explains why software sold to non-technical businesses is far less vulnerable than some people think, why “just build it yourself” is often a misleading argument, and why the real opportunity with AI is not replacing humans, but giving them back a better version of their jobs. Here are some of the key questions we address: Is SaaS actually dying, or are we just seeing a market correction? Why are people confusing valuation resets with a broken business model? What parts of SaaS are most exposed to change, and which parts remain highly defensible? Why is “companies will just build it themselves” often the wrong assumption? What do you learn about the future of software when your product is embedded in thousands of SaaS applications? How are SaaS companies actually approaching AI right now: innovating, reacting, or just sprinkling it on? What kinds of products and use cases are most likely to stay sticky in an AI-first world? Why should leaders think of AI as something that may take your job and give you back a better one? What happens to entry-level jobs, and what should the next generation prepare for? 🎧 Tune in to hear Massimo’s thoughtful and grounded take on the future of software: SaaS isn’t disappearing, but the rules are changing fast. The winners will be the companies that understand where the real headaches still are, where humans still matter, and where AI can genuinely create leverage instead of just noise.

April 1, 2026Episode 21150 min

210. Jens Levin, Founder & CEO of Sitoo - No Overnight Success: 22 Years of Focus, Teamwork, and Playing the Long Game

In this episode, we’re joined by Jens Levin, Founder & CEO of Sitoo, the retail SaaS platform powering in-store experiences for leading brands across the world. Today, Sitoo has 20M Euro in ARR, 40%+ growth, 300+ retailers, and deployments across 40+ countries. But this is not a story about overnight success. Jens shares the reality behind building a company over 22 years, including 10 years of work before finding the real breakthrough. It’s a conversation about longevity, resilience, and why SaaS is not a sprint, but a long-distance team sport where focus and trust increase your chances of success. We spoke with Jens about what changed when Sitoo found its “Holy Grail,” why saying no became more important than saying yes, and how the company evolved from founder-led hustle into a scalable global SaaS business. Here are some of the key questions we address: Why did it take 10 years for Sitoo to find true product-market fit? What changed when the company went all-in on one product and one focus area? Why does saying yes to everything keep you local, while focus helps you scale globally? How do you build a strong partner ecosystem without becoming a competitor? What happens when you scale from 3 people to 135+ employees? Why do so many SaaS companies hit a major shift around 80–100 employees? How do you move from founder-driven heroics to a scalable operating model? How do you keep motivation, culture, and momentum alive over two decades of building? 🎧 Tune in to hear Jens’ honest take on what it really takes to build something lasting: there is no overnight success, only years of iteration, the right people around you, and the discipline to stay focused long enough for the flywheel to start turning.

March 26, 2026Episode 2101 hr 2 min

209. Elena Verna, Growth at Lovable - How to Grow When Everyone Can Copy Your Product

In this episode, we’re joined by Elena Verna, growth expert and currently leading growth at Lovable, one of the fastest-growing companies in tech. Elena shares why the old growth playbooks are breaking down, what growth means in an AI-native world, and why companies can no longer rely on features alone as their competitive advantage. We talk about how growth has shifted from pure funnel optimization to trust, speed, and human connection. Elena breaks down the difference between growth loops and funnels, why Lovable products need to feel alive and constantly evolving, and what companies in crowded categories must do if they want to stay relevant when software is easier than ever to copy or rebuild. Here are some of the key questions we address: What does growth actually mean in an AI-native company like Lovable? Why are traditional growth playbooks becoming less effective in today’s market? Why can features no longer be your only competitive advantage? How should companies think about retention, expansion, and resurrecting users in this new environment? What can B2B SaaS companies in crowded categories do to become more lovable and trusted? Why does speed to market matter more than perfection right now? How do you build teams that can operate in a world where AI changes customer expectations every month? What does Elena look for when hiring people into a fast-moving AI company? 🎧 Tune in to hear Elena’s take on modern growth, why trust and humanity matter more than ever, and how companies can rethink distribution, retention, and defensibility in a world where software is no longer hard to build.

March 19, 2026Episode 20950 min

208. Lisen Zethraeus, CMO at Stratsys - How to Make Your Experts the Face of Your Brand

In this episode, we’re joined by Lisen Zethraeus, CMO at Stratsys, to talk about how B2B SaaS companies can turn internal expertise into thought leadership that builds trust and creates demand. Stratsys has grown to 30M+ Euro in ARR, serves 600+ customers across and has built a strong position in areas like compliance, risk management, ESG, and governance. We discuss how Stratsys puts real subject-matter experts at the center of its go-to-market strategy instead of relying on generic brand messaging. Lisen shares how they use expert-led webinars and studio events, how marketing works closely with sales and product, and why thought leadership only works when the whole company is committed to it. Here are some of the key questions we address: What does thought leadership actually mean, beyond just publishing content? How do you identify the right internal experts to become trusted external voices? Why do people follow people more than brands, and how do you use that without “building personal brands” at the expense of the company? How does Stratsys use studio-style webinars and events to create authority and reach the right audience? How should marketing, sales, and product collaborate to create thought leadership that actually resonates? What metrics matter most when you want to know whether thought leadership is working? How do you keep subject-matter experts visible and relevant between the big event moments? How can AI help accelerate thought leadership production without losing authenticity? 🎧 Tune in to hear how Lisen and the Stratsys team have built a repeatable thought leadership engine, one that combines expertise, consistency, and strong collaboration to become a trusted voice in a complex B2B market.

March 5, 2026Episode 20852 min

207. Adam Dorrell, CEO & Co-Founder of CustomerGaige - Founder-Led Sales vs Scaling: The Hard Transition Nobody Talks About

In this episode, we’re joined by Adam Dorrell, CEO & Co-Founder of CustomerGaige, for a candid conversation about one of the hardest founder transitions: when, and how, to step out of the sales seat without losing the magic that makes founder-led selling so effective. Adam shares the real story behind building CustomerGaige over 16 years, growing it into a recognized international player with a lean global team. We dig into: Why founders often try to hire a sales leader too early, and what confidence has to do with it The painful lessons of cycling through sales leaders who took over the process too aggressively, and what it cost The unsexy truth: you can’t scale sales before you’ve truly nailed ICP + story + value prop How Adam and his co-founder ultimately found the right model: Where a Co-founder adds the most value to the salesprocess at this phase of the business If you’re a founder trying to scale sales, or a sales leader working with founders, this is a practical and honest take on where founders should stay involved, and where they absolutely shouldn’t.

February 26, 2026Episode 20750 min

206. Rahul Yadav, CEO of Paligo - The CEO Blueprint for High-Impact Executive Offsites

In this episode, we sit down with Rahul Yadav, CEO of Paligo, for a practical conversation on leadership alignment - and how to run executive offsites that drive real clarity, trust, and follow-through. Rahul is only a few months into the role, but he’s already implemented a strong leadership rhythm: quarterly leadership offsites, annual full-company gatherings, and a surprisingly effective habit, daily 15-minute C-suite standups to keep priorities aligned and momentum high. If you’ve ever left an offsite feeling energized, just to watch that energy fade in two weeks, this episode is for you. We cover: Why most offsites fail: turning them into a “backlog dump” of unresolved operational issues Rahul’s simple offsite structure: Champagne goals → Risks → Commitments How to keep the agenda light to guarantee openness The “parking lot” technique to prevent rat-holing while still honoring important topics The rule-of-thumb cadence: Quarterly = strategic, Monthly = operational, Weekly = tactical How to create real candor with a new leadership team Why psychological safety is built through daily reps, not big speeches Rahul’s approach to transparency: sharing offsite outcomes immediately in all-hands + weekly CEO reflections A smart meeting role: introducing a Yoda who calls out time, airtime, and when the team is drifting off track Rahul also shares how he thinks about leadership environments: fewer laptops, more reflection, more walking time, and more room to breathe because offsites aren’t just about decisions, they’re about building the trust that makes decisions stick. 🎧 Tune in for a tactical blueprint on how to run executive offsites that create alignment and action that will move your business forward.

January 28, 2026Episode 20655 min

205. Roeland Delrue, Co-Founder of Aikido Security - Why joining the buyer’s journey beats forcing MEDDICC-style sales processes

In this episode, we’re joined by Roeland Delrue, Co-founder of Aikido Security, the fast-growing application security platform that just became a unicorn in under 4 years. Roeland shares what it really takes to scale a company at breakneck speed, from going 5× year-over-year, to balancing startups and enterprise in one GTM motion, to raising a Series B with a single goal: becoming “unignorable.” We unpack how Aikido uses product-led growth, brutal revenue focus, and buyer-first sales mentality to win in one of the most competitive markets in SaaS. We spoke with Roeland about building for continuous wins, why revenue clarity beats buzzwords, and how Aikido joins the buyer’s journey instead of forcing rigid sales methodologies. Here are some of the key questions we address: How did Aikido grow from $5M to $20M+ ARR in one year? What does it mean to build an unignorable company? Why brutal focus on revenue simplifies product, hiring, and prioritization decisions Why joining the buyer’s journey beats forcing MEDDICC-style sales processes How product-led trials reduce churn and increase win rates What it takes to scale from unicorn to decacorn (and why $100M ARR is the next real milestone) 🎧 Tune in to hear how Roeland is building one of Europe’s fastest-scaling security companies and why speed, product, and revenue discipline beat category buzzwords every time.