Bryan Armbruster

How do you make tough integrations easier? It’s all about the framework. In this clip from Season 5 Bonus Episode 8 of Founders Only, Scott Brickler, co-founder of CADTALK Software, explains how building a reusable platform simplifies integration development. His team creates more efficient, scalable solutions by focusing on repeatable patterns and isolating unique code. Watch Scott’s episode and download it on your favorite streaming platforms. Click the link in our comments! #integration #founder #entrepreneur #organization #business #entrepreneurship #b2b #saas #podcast #podcastshow #podcasting #businessowner #foundersonlypodcast

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What happens when the start-up honeymoon is over and the realities of scaling in a maturing market hit home? 🤔🌱 Marian Krueger, Co-Founder of remove, is here to help you make sense of it all. In his Session Deep Dive, he breaks down survival math that every CDR start-up needs to stay competitive in the face of our ever-growing market. Marian’s insights will help you make smarter decisions that lead to measurable impact 📈 Tune in to explore how to scale without losing your momentum—or your mission. Listen now 🎙️ https://lnkd.in/epNkK2K8 #MarketMaturity #ScalingChallenges #CDRLeadership #ClimateAction #CarbonUnbound #CarbonRemoval #Climate

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Friends.com was purchased for $1.8m and whether that investment or the strategy behind investing significant sums of money in a startup's domain is subject to debate. On the one hand, you are locking in the most valuable domain associated with your brand, preventing it from being purchased and then resold to the company at an even higher premium. Owning a premium TLD also adds legitimacy to your business. On the other hand, if you want to pivot and rebrand later, investors and stakeholders may not be satisfied with the fact that they have to choose between using a brand name they are no longer satisfied with because of the upfront domain name investment or having to purchase another premium domain and write off the loss. Investors may also be concerned about having funds available for product development. If you have spent significant money on a domain name and have less money to spend on product development, then how valuable is the domain name?

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Excited to announce our latest investment, marimo! Akshay Agrawal and Myles Scolnick are building an open-source programming environment for Python developers that’s reactive, reproducible, Git-friendly, executable as a script, and deployable as an app, fixing many of the fundamental issues with notebooks. The reception from the open-source community has been phenomenal already (7.8k stars and 1M downloads in 10 months) and we’re thrilled to be leading their $5M seed round with participation from AI luminaries like Clem Delangue 🤗, Anthony Goldbloom, Ben Hamner, Jordan Tigani, Charlie Marsh, Paige Bailey, Lukas Biewald, Wes McKinney. Try their product today: https://lnkd.in/dF-M5_z8

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🔊 New Podcast Alert Learn about the PlaySpace journey from CEO Matt Cohen as he talks about his experience so far, and how we're providing new ways for therapists to engage and serve their child patients better. Take a listen!

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Just published a guest blog for the L-SPARK Startup Accelerator 🇨🇦 ahead of next week's SAAS NORTH Conference. If you're asking yourself any of these 4 questions, have a read. 🖊 https://lnkd.in/gqAaxvPr 1. How will the value of our SaaS company ultimately be determined? 2. What SaaS metrics should we focus on in the early days on our way to $1M ARR? 3. How do we know what targets to strive for on these metrics? 4. We’re not experts in finance. How should we track and view our SaaS metrics? #SaaSMetrics #SaaS #SaaSBenchmarks #Startups

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How can your SaaS startup grow faster? A closer look at your pricing strategy might hold the answer. 🔍 Maxio CEO Randy Wootton is joined by Ray Rike, CEO of Benchmarkit to discuss the impact of pricing models on emerging SaaS ventures, based on the data on the Maxio Institute’s B2B Growth Report. A peek into the report reveals that for companies below $1M, those employing fixed-rate pricing outpaced their usage-based counterparts significantly, boasting growth rates of 44% and 41% in the first two quarters of 2024, compared to just 24% and 18% for those with usage-based models. 📈 Yet, the tables turn as companies scale above $1M. Here, usage-based pricing models start to dominate, driving faster growth than traditional subscription models. 🔗 Tune in the to the full episode for more insights: https://lnkd.in/gtgsR5JA

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Want to mentor a startup? Join Chris Houghtaling, CEO of RaiseLink, as we discuss streamlining the investment process and building fundraising readiness. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dHACv5ye #investor #investment #accelerator #incubator #mentor #angel #vc #startup #founder #fundraising #crm #sales #consulting #communication #cybersecurity #soc2 #compliance #security #podcast

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🚀 This week in SaaS & AI Highlights: 💥 ATS Software: Simplify your hiring process with tools designed to save time and streamline workflows. 💸 Funding News: Big moves in the SaaS world—discover the latest funding rounds and acquisitions shaping the future of tech. 🔥 Product Spotlight: Greenhouse Software is revolutionizing hiring with smarter tracking, seamless onboarding, and data-driven decisions. Smarter tools, faster wins, and big opportunities—let’s make work effortless! 🌟 👉 Dive into the details and discover how these tools can help you scale your business. Lever Workable JazzHR Scalestack TruVideo Partful

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Happy Friday! This week at Zipdev, we discussed "Technology Accelerators," the 7th chapter of "Good to Great." Jim Collins illustrates how great companies use technology as an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟳 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Great companies think differently about technology, using it to accelerate growth only after their three circles are well defined. 𝟯 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: 1. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗨𝘀𝗲: Adopt technology that aligns with your Hedgehog Concept to accelerate progress. 2. 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵: Technology should enhance, not define, your strategy. 3. 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Leverage technology to support and improve your key processes, not replace the core fundamentals. A couple of questions that came up in our book club: 1. What existing technologies can we better utilize to accelerate our progress? 2. Are there emerging technologies that align with our Hedgehog Concept that we should consider adopting? This chapter was one of my favorites so far. Because of tech, we are literally seeing companies grow at astronomical rates. Look at what Amazon, Google, and Salesforce have been able to do. I mean, these companies own city blocks. See you back here next week for chapter 8. #Zipdev #TechnologyInBusiness #StrategicInnovation #GoodToGreat #BookClubFriday #BigTech #RemoteWork #LatAm #Timezones #NearShore

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As we approach 2025, founders face critical decisions about where to focus their time and resources. At Madrona, we’ve seen firsthand how the right go-to-market strategy can make or break a startup’s trajectory. That’s why Anna Baird and Loren Alhadeff shared actionable insights during a recent AMA with our portfolio company CEOs. 5 key GTM lessons for 2025: 1) Don’t chase every shiny object — focus on 5 key priorities and measure progress weekly. 2) Customer needs > internal assumptions. Build strategies around their biggest challenges. 3) Revenue is a team sport. Align sales, marketing, product, and customer success on shared goals. 4) Set your GTM team up for success with fair territories, realistic quotas, and strong enablement. 5) Keep your pipeline healthy — it's the lifeblood of growth. These lessons are tailored to help founders drive focus, execution, and growth in 2025.. Check out the full guide for tactical advice on aligning your teams and hitting your goals: https://lnkd.in/gMsYFVhb #founders #GTMstrategy #startupgrowth #FY2025

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I was thrilled to welcome Brian Hanly, Co-Founder & CEO of Brightbeam and serial entrepreneur to the Talent Smart Podcast. https://lnkd.in/eg6ayepu Brian has a deep specialisation in the application of modern ways of working, product management and technology to help enterprises compete in the digital age and to help growth companies to gain commercial advantage with the help of AI. In this episode, we explored the commercial advantages to companies from AI. We explored the adoption and deployment rate and what is stopping companies from progressing with their AI agenda.  In addition, Brian gives us some very helpful models and methodologies to follow when assessing the potential of AI for your business.

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With Grit: Our Merch Is Here We’re rolling up our sleeves (literally) and stepping into the swag game. Introducing the Scalrr Shop, where industrial grit meets startup hustle. This isn’t your typical logo-on-a-tee collection; it’s gear designed for the bold and industrious. Think machinist caps, workman shirts, and hoodies that say, "I build the future and know how to fix an electromechanical system." Here’s the deal: we didn’t create this shop because we expect to sell a ton of gear (spoiler alert: we don’t). This started as merch for our team, but we loved it so much, we decided to share it with the world. Plus, all profits are going to support youth STEM programs—because the next generation of inventors deserve a shot to build what’s next. ⚙️ Orders will take 2-3 weeks (plus shipping) because good things take time. This is a labor of love, not mass production. 👷‍♀️👷‍♂️ Gear up, and let’s make the future happen together. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gkiKaVE9 #ScalrrShop #BuildTheFuture #IndustrialStyle #STEM

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Startup hiring is hard - plain and simple. Recruiting is a muscle that great founders must build over time, but most founders are ill prepared when it comes to hiring their first few employees. Enter: Nathan Hirsch. PearX is our 14-week long accelerator for early-stage founders and it's unique for many reasons. The top of that list is that you'll have a dedicated Recruiter in Nate. Each batch, he helps our PearX companies make their earliest and most critical hires. Last batch, he averaged two hires per PearX company. That means if a company started PearX with two co-founders, then they essentially doubled the size of their company with Nate's help. We know that hiring can make or break a company which is why Nate is there to help PearX companies get off on the right foot. Founders: tell us what you wish you'd known when it comes to hiring in the comments...and maybe Nathan Hirsch will even jump in with some advice.

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Brian Pontarelli shared some bootstrapping wisdom on the recent saas.unbound episode 🚀 "The nice thing about being in that position is that you're never trying to make these massive jumps. These 4-5x growth years. So few businesses ever do that, but every VC thinks every business can." Check it out to learn about: 1️⃣ selling to developers 2️⃣ Brian's journey from code to business 3️⃣ tips on creating a strong company culture 4️⃣ using humor for marketing and of course, a bunch of stuff about cocktails 😁 Links to the episode are in the comments 👇🏻

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Rapid Scaling Isn't Always Optimal ❌ Rapid growth can be alluring, but it often leads to unmanageable challenges that can jeopardize a company's stability. Zynga and 180s are prime examples of how unchecked expansion can lead to failure. Learn how these stories highlight the dangers of scaling too quickly. Rapid growth can strain resources, disrupt operations, and ultimately lead to failure. Remember: There’s no shame in taking a gradual, measured approach to growth. 📈 #scaling #rapidscaling #scaleups #startuptips #startupsuccess #Zynga #180s

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Surviving the SaaS startup rollercoaster? 🎢 Check out Kat Kennedy's feature on the SaaS Therapy podcast episode with hosts 🗺️ Todd Kirk and Casey Trujillo.   Their conversation focused on the challenges and opportunities in the world of SaaS. Tune in to hear Kat share different growth stages of a SaaS company, the essential roles needed to succeed at each stage, and why it is important to stay dedicated to your vision and to believe in what you’re building—no matter the stage!   👉Tune into the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gD4j9hdk #SaaSTherapy #TechTalks #SaaS

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Hey, LinkedIn 👋 — there's still time to participate in Mosaic's first inaugural Vertical Software Benchmarks Survey! We're partnering with OMERS Ventures, Benchmarkit, and Luke Sophinos to bring you industry-specific insights for vertical software companies through this annual survey. If you're building software for a specific industry and eager to learn what success looks like (especially from a venture fundraising perspective) and how you stack up among your peers, this report is for you. By participating, you'll get insights into: 1️⃣ — Industry-standard goalposts for vertical software companies (instead of having to rely on ill-fit comparisons to horizontal software providers) 2️⃣ — Vertical-specific benchmarks for the metrics you and your peers are measuring the most 3️⃣ — What investors are going to care about and grade you against when considering an investment Join the survey by using the link in the comments!

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