The SaaS Growth Podcast - Masterful Founders

Why should startup founders build a personal or company brand — and how do you do it without burning out or breaking the bank?
In this episode, Julia (Mia) Bastos and Will dive into what it really takes to build a brand as a startup, especially when you're starting from zero. They discuss smart content strategies, mistakes to avoid, and how to build trust without chasing vanity metrics. Perfect for SaaS founders, solo entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build visibility online.
💡 Key Topics:
- The difference between personal and company branding
- What to post on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & LinkedIn
- The truth about viral content vs content that sells
- How to choose the right channels for your startup
- Leveraging UGC and archetypes to scale faster
- Why consistency beats perfection
- Paid ads vs organic growth for early-stage startups
 
#StartupBranding #ContentMarketing #SaaSFounders #PersonalBranding #SocialMediaGrowth
 
Connect with Julia (Mia) Bastos:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-bastos/
https://www.auroramusic.space/
 
📚 Book Mentioned:
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon – A powerful read for any founder or creator. This book explores how to embrace influence, remix ideas, and find your own voice by learning from others — perfect for anyone building a brand or creative strategy from scratch.
 
We are online:
➧ Website - https://masterful.info (get a marketing checklist at no cost)
➧ Podcast - https://podcast.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
 
Timecodes:
 
00:00 Introduction to Building a Brand as a Startup
00:41 The Power of Content Creation
01:30 Building Trust Through Online Presence
03:59 The Importance of Community
05:21 Choosing the Right Channel for Your Product
07:04 Adapting Content for Different Platforms
09:57 Leveraging Influencers and UGC Creators
14:53 Consistency and Overcoming Challenges
17:27 Modeling Successful Brands
20:29 The Value of Authenticity
22:33 Exploring Different Content Types
24:26 Utilizing Data and Ads on Instagram
27:52 Understanding User Experience in Ads
28:40 Creative Ad Strategies and Examples
29:19 Targeting Audiences Effectively
30:31 YouTube vs Instagram Ads
34:44 The Power of TikTok
37:28 Challenges and Strategies for Content Creators
44:09 Building a Brand and Startup Tips
48:15 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Mia

What’s the real value of a startup accelerator - and how do you get in as a student or teen founder?
In this episode, Remus shares how he and his co-founders joined a startup program at just 17 years old, built a cybersecurity startup from scratch, and landed a €150,000 investment. From business mindset shifts to learning the hard way why user interviews matter, this is a raw and insightful story for early-stage founders.
🔑 Key Topics🔹 What startup accelerators really offer (besides money)🔹 How to prepare and get accepted - even as a student🔹 Why a strong team beats a "genius idea"🔹 What they did with €150K in funding🔹 Customer interviews: what they got wrong and how they fixed it🔹 Learning to prioritize business outcomes over technical perfection🔹 How to talk to users without selling🔹 Why it’s better to ship an imperfect product than wait too long
📚 Books Referenced in the episode:
The Mom Test: How to talk to customers & learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you by Rob Fitzpatrick
👉 A practical guide on how to talk to customers and learn if your business is a good idea - when everyone is lying to you.
Start With Why by Simon Sinek👉 A bestselling book about the power of purpose in business and how successful leaders inspire action by starting with the “why.”
The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan👉 A productivity and focus book that teaches how to prioritize what really matters and avoid being overwhelmed by too many tasks.
📢 Get in touch with Remus or check the product:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/remus-rughinis-3ab35a2a1
https://pendra.ai
#StartupJourney #StartupAccelerator #InnovationLabs #StartupMindset #TeenEntrepreneurs
Two startup accelerators in Romania:
https://www.innovationlabs.ro/
https://www.howtoweb.co/
We are online: ➧ Website - https://masterful.info (get a marketing checklist at no cost) ➧ Podcast - https://podcast.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
Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 00:20 Founding a Startup 01:01 The Innovation Labs Experience 01:41 Winning the Prize 03:33 Building Connections in Cybersecurity 04:20 Investment and Equity Distribution 07:23 The Importance of a Strong Team 08:58 Adapting and Evolving the Business Idea 12:42 Challenges of Being Young Entrepreneurs 14:06 Balancing Technical and Business Roles 15:39 Developing a Business Mindset 22:32 Validating Your Startup Idea 24:07 Customer Interviews: The Right Approach 26:33 Learning from Mistakes 28:31 Connecting with the Target Audience 31:47 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 32:42 Final Advice for Entrepreneurs
 

Is launching a dating app with no big budget even possible?In this episode, Jesse Hayward shares his raw, unfiltered journey of building a dating app startup driven by network effects. From getting banned on Tinder to creating his own platform and learning marketing the hard way, Jesse opens up about guerrilla tactics, early mistakes with agencies, and what really moves the needle in local user growth. If you're a startup founder navigating matchmaking apps or any platform that requires both sides of the market, this conversation is packed with gold.
📌 Learn how to grow in local markets📌 Guerrilla marketing hacks for small teams📌 Why most agencies won’t help early-stage founders📌 How Jesse got 40% of users from one unexpected hack
🔗 Connect with Jesse & the Hookd app below.
https://hookd.app/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesserhayward/
 
#StartupJourney #NetworkEffect #DatingAppStartup #GuerrillaMarketing #BootstrappedFounder
 
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
 
00:00 Introduction to Network Effect in Startups
00:44 Challenges in Building a Dating App
02:24 Importance of Local Focus and Marketing
05:04 From Idea to Launch
07:34 Initial Launch and Unexpected Hurdles
09:02 Learning from Marketing Mistakes
12:24 Exploring Effective Marketing Strategies
24:51 Balancing Campaigns Organic vs Paid Strategies
25:51 Creative Tactics for Organic Reach
28:18 Guerrilla Marketing Success Stories
34:27 Advice for Startup Founders
37:30 The Role of Agencies in Startup Marketing
39:41 Learning and Adapting in Marketing
48:29 Connecting with the Audience

How I funded my SaaS startup – without chasing VCs? 💸In this episode, Emil Vargelius shares 7 proven ways to finance your SaaS startup.
From bootstrapping and customer funding to government grants, debt financing, and freelancing – we break down real-world strategies that work in 2025’s startup landscape.
You’ll learn how to keep control of your company, when to use soft money, and why you should start building investor relationships before you need them.
🚀Whether you're a first-time founder or looking to launch your second SaaS, this conversation is packed with funding wisdom.
#StartupFunding #Bootstrapping #SaaSFinance #StartupStrategy #AngelInvestors
🔗 Mentioned Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emil-wargeliushttps://www.revelate.app/
We are online:➧ Website - https://masterful.info (get a marketing checklist at no cost)➧ Podcast - https://podcast.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
Notes:🔹 Bootstrapping – Self-funding and revenue reinvestment.🔹 Customer Funding (direct) – Early customer payments and validation.🔹 Customer Funding (industry support) – Industry partnerships that fund development.🔹 Soft Funding – Grants or support from governments, universities, etc.🔹 Debt Financing – Loans with or without government support.🔹 Freelancing/Side Gigs – Using external income to support startup.🔹 Equity Investment – Business angels, accelerators, venture capitalists.

Thinking of selling your SaaS startup?In this candid interview, serial entrepreneur Peter Fedoročko shares the unfiltered truth behind two real SaaS exits. Learn what really happens during due diligence, how buyers evaluate your startup, and why selling isn’t the finish line—it’s just the beginning.
Peter shares mistakes to avoid, how to prepare your team, and what makes a SaaS business acquirable. If you’re a founder thinking about your exit strategy, this is a must-watch.
✅ Insider tips on LOIs (Letter of Intent), earnouts, and employee dynamics✅ Real-life advice from selling to Workday.com and a second upcoming exit✅ The emotional and strategic layers of startup sales
🔗 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other SaaS founders!
#SaaSExit #StartupExit #SellYourStartup #SaaSSuccess #PeterFedorocko
understandlabs.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fedorocko/
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

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