The SaaS Growth Podcast - Masterful Founders

Want to know how remote freelancers can 10x your startup growth?
In this episode, we talk to Elena Zangeeva, an international HR and remote team expert with 12 years of hands-on experience building high-performing global teams.
Learn how to manage remote freelancers, avoid common mistakes, and unlock massive potential by improving communication, motivation, and culture.
Whether you've struggled with disengaged remote workers or you’re looking to scale your startup efficiently, this conversation is full of actionable advice tailored for startup founders.
 
🎯 Topics:
📡 Remote team engagement
🧩 Freelancer management best practices
⚖️ Hiring for values vs. skills
🚫 Common founder mistakes
🌍 Building startup culture remotely
 
#RemoteWork #FreelancerManagement #RemoteTeams #RemoteLeadership #HRStrategy
🔗 Mentioned Resources:
Culture Map Book: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenazangeeva/
We are online:
➧ Website - https://masterful.info
➧ Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info
➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach
➧ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info
➧ Email - wl.interwebs@gmail.com

Discover how The Winner Effect reshapes the way founders think about power, success, and leadership.
In this exclusive interview, a startup founder – Moreno Franjkovic – shares how reading The Winner Effect: How Power Affects Your Brain transformed his entrepreneurial mindset and decision-making.
Whether you're a founder, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, this conversation is full of real-world insights on how power changes the brain — and why that matters in business.
From neuroscience to practical application, this video connects science with startup life.
#Leadership #StartupLife #Neuroscience #EntrepreneurMindset #TheWinnerEffect
➧ Watch now to see how The Winner Effect could change the way you lead.
Connect with the guest Moreno Franjkovic:https://www.linkedin.com/in/moreno-franjković-6b7717237/https://chatbots.seaspace.ai/
We are online:➧ Website – https://masterful.info➧ Podcast – https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) – https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach➧ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info➧ Email – wl.interwebs@gmail.com

Struggling to sell your product to big companies?This episode dives deep into how early-stage founders can build trust and land enterprise clients – without sounding salesy.Join conversation with Matt Doughty as he unpack lessons from years of enterprise sales, sharing raw stories, mistakes, mindset shifts, and practical frameworks that actually work. Whether you're just starting out or trying to scale past founder-led sales, this one's packed with gems.👇 Here’s what you’ll learn:✔ Why selling to enterprise clients is a different game✔ Changing your mindset around sales✔ How to run better discovery calls ✔ Sales tips for introverted or hesitant founders✔ Giving value even when you’re not a match✔ he secret to making every call worthwhile✔ Sales in different industries: construction, education, tech📩 Want to connect with Matt or learn more about Prefactor?→ Visit: prefactor.tech🔗 Subscribe for more founder sales interviews & startup growth insights.#EnterpriseSales #StartupGrowth #FounderSales #B2BSales #SalesMindset #StartupTips We are online:➧ Website - https://masterful.info ➧ Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info ➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach ➧ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info ➧ Email - wl.interwebs@gmail.com

🚴 In this episode, I consult Valentino Sturba, co-founder of the Italian startup XOA – a smart maintenance and tracking app for passionate cyclists.We dive into how to position and promote a niche SaaS product, build traction on a limited budget, and leverage strategic partnerships with workshops, micro-influencers, and cycling clubs. If you're building a niche product and need a step-by-step marketing playbook - from local launch to European growth - this conversation is packed with actionable insights.🎯 Topics include:🔥 How to launch a SaaS product with a €20K marketing budget📍 Why starting hyper-local can be your fastest path to growth📢 Cold outreach, flyers, and guerrilla tactics that still work in 2025🤝 Why micro-influencers often beat Meta Ads🚀 How to build trust and momentum in passionate hobby communitiesPerfect for SaaS founders, especially those targeting tight-knit or sport-based audiences.#SaaS #MarketingTips #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship We are online:➧ Website - https://masterful.info ➧ Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info ➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach ➧ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info ➧ Email - wl.interwebs@gmail.com

In this episode, I talk with Stefan Tabakov, a SaaS founder in the crypto trading space, about how he grew his business using Reddit as his main marketing channel - without spending a cent on ads.With crypto-related ads banned on platforms like Meta and Google, Stefan had to find another way. The result? An organic growth strategy that turned Reddit users into loyal Discord members and paying customers.We break down exactly how he did it: what kind of posts worked, how to build trust on Reddit, how to funnel traffic into your community, and why Reddit can outperform even paid ads - especially if you're a startup in a regulated or competitive market.Highlights include:🔒 How to market SaaS when you're banned from Meta and Google Ads💬 Why helpful comments beat viral posts👤 Building a Reddit profile that converts without being spammy🔁 Turning Reddit threads into Discord members and paying users🔥 Using trolls and criticism to your advantageWhether you're in crypto, edtech, SaaS, or any other niche where ads are expensive (or restricted), this episode will show you a powerful alternative.#saasmarketing #redditmarketing #startupgrowth #reddit https://sofex.ioMasterful Founders – SaaS Growth Hub ★The best marketing strategies for promotion. ★We correct marketing mistakes and increase sales.★Assistance in promoting startups using SaaS technology.Come in, watch and subscribe to the channel!We are online:➧ Website - https://masterful.info ➧ Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info ➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach ➧ LinkedIn of Chris (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruehringer ➧ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info ➧ Email - wl.interwebs@gmail.com

What if selling before building was the key to SaaS success?In this episode, I sit down with Deepak from Sunrise AI, a seasoned B2B founder who’s built multiple companies by breaking the rules of traditional marketing and sales.Forget the typical funnel of marketing – SDRs – sales – customer success. Deepak Shrivastava (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-shrivastava-3baa12/) explains why that model fails today – and what to do instead. We cover why founders must sell early, how to avoid drowning in AI-generated outreach, and what it really takes to validate your idea before wasting time on code.Whether you're pre-launch, MVP stage, or stuck in post-product confusion, this conversation offers raw, real strategies to help you win your first customers faster.#SaaSMarketing#StartupGrowth#CustomerDiscovery✅ Topics covered:💡 Selling before building: why it works📉 The death of the B2B funnel⚠️ Why outsourcing too early is a trap📬 Using authentic outreach to cut through noise💬 Turning rejection into insight💰 How to price – even when you're early📞 What 100+ customer conversations taught Deepak🎧 Subscribe for more tactical interviews with SaaS founders & marketers.Masterful Founders – SaaS Growth Hub ★The best marketing strategies for promotion. ★We correct marketing mistakes and increase sales.★Assistance in promoting startups using SaaS technology.Come in, watch and subscribe to the channel!We are online:➧ Website - https://masterful.info ➧ Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masterful-info ➧ LinkedIn of Will (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach ➧ LinkedIn of Chris (Host) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruehringer ➧ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masterful.info ➧ Email - wl.interwebs@gmail.com Our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@masterful-info

What if storytelling is the most powerful marketing tool your SaaS startup isn’t using yet?In this episode, copywriting and storytelling expert Mike Garner joins host Wilhelm Laubach to reveal how SaaS founders can build trust, create emotional connections, and stand out in crowded markets—all by telling real, human stories.Whether you’re launching a new AI product or scaling your SaaS tool, learn how to move from bland, feature-heavy messaging to authentic storytelling that drives growth.🎯 In this episode, you’ll discover:- Why storytelling in SaaS marketing creates stronger customer loyalty- How to find and shape your founder story (even if it feels boring)- The difference between generic content and stories that resonate- How to collect and use customer stories as powerful social proof- Emotional hooks for “boring” B2B products- The ROI of human, soul-driven marketing💬 Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned SaaS marketer, this conversation will change how you see content, brand, and customer engagement.🔔 Subscribe for tactical interviews that help you scale smarter.📎 Connect with the host Wilhelm Laubach (Will)https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach/ 👀 Want to connect with Mike Garner?Check out his books “Stories That Matter” and “How to Show Off”:https://www.storiesthatmatter.co/books-by-mike-garnerOr connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarner-storiesthatmatter/

Sales isn’t something you’re born with - it’s a mindset you can build.In this episode, Mikita Martynau breaks down how early-stage founders can validate their idea, talk to the right people, and close their first clients - before even launching a product.🧠 You’ll learn how to:❌ Avoid the most common mistakes in early sales🗣️ Talk to users without sounding desperate🧩 Build your first repeatable sales process - even if you're an introvert🚀 This episode isn’t just about landing clients. It’s about creating something people genuinely want.#salesmindset #saas #saasmarketing #entrepreneurship #startups Connect with Mikita Martynau:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikitamartynov/skarbe.comConnect with the host Wilhelm Laubach (Will)https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilhelmlaubach/