Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, we’re excited to speak with Nilo Pirttijarvi, co-founder of Inven—a rapidly growing AI-powered deal sourcing tool making waves in the M&A world. Nilo takes us through his journey from a background in consulting and investment banking to launching his first startup, inspired by the pain points he and his co-founders experienced firsthand in finding and analyzing acquisition targets. In this episode, you’ll hear how Inven is helping private equity, investment banks, and corporate M&A teams supercharge their deal pipelines—especially when it comes to those hard-to-find, niche targets in the middle market.

Nilo shares candid insights about Inven’s rapid growth, fundraising journey (including a recent €11.2 million Series A), and the lessons learned when building both relationships and ARR to attract top investors. We also dive into the startup’s operational metrics, go-to-market strategies, pricing models, and what’s next for this ambitious international team. If you’re interested in SaaS growth, fundraising, or the future of AI in deal sourcing, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

Show Notes:

00:00 Streamlining Company Analysis Process

06:20 Rapid Startup Growth Pathway

08:16 Relationships Over ARR in Investment

12:00 "Classic Global Sales Model"

13:59 M&A Tool User Variability

17:54 Competitive Multi-Tool Market Strategy

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/inven-raises-11-2-million-in-series-a

Niilo Pirttijarvi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niilo-pirttijarvi/

Inven AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inven-ai/

Inven AI’s Website: https://www.inven.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Katherine Tobias, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of InsightWise. Katherine shares her inspiring journey from her early days consulting at KPMG and working in government to leading one of Australia’s fastest-growing startups. Driven by her passion for delivering real-world impact and navigating mountains of qualitative data, Katherine reveals how these experiences led her to launch InsightWise—a groundbreaking AI platform tailored for consultants and strategy teams.

Tune in as Katherine dives into the realities of startup life, fundraising, and what it takes to disrupt the consulting industry with innovative technology. She opens up about empowering both global enterprises and agile boutique firms with tools that turn unstructured data into actionable insights, while also building a tight-knit team with big ambitions. Katherine’s story is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, seizing opportunities, and harnessing AI to drive business transformation.

Whether you’re a SaaS founder, consultant, or tech enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this engaging conversation packed with actionable advice, honest reflections, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to scale a modern software company. Hit play and get inspired!

Show Notes:

00:00 From Oxford to Global Startup Success

03:12 Insightwise: AI Hub for Consultants

07:20 AI-Driven Data Synthesis Solutions

10:50 "Building Relationships in Consulting"

15:30 "First-Time Founder Fundraising Journey"

16:32 "Strategic Capital for Business Growth"

19:58 "Insightwise AI Free Trial"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/insightwise-closes-1-million-in-funding

Katherine Tobias’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-tobias-40857789/

InsightWise’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightwise-ai/

InsightWise’s Website: https://www.insightwise.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Austin Carroll, the dynamic founder and CEO of Warrant. Drawing from her deep roots in marketing and product management at household names like Capital One, Mercury, and Brex, Austin shares how real-world challenges navigating regulatory approvals inspired her to launch Warrant—a platform harnessing AI to automate and streamline marketing compliance for the financial services industry.

Austin highlights the complexities and pitfalls of adhering to rapidly evolving federal, state, and local regulations in sectors like mortgage, insurance, and banking. She explains how Warrant checks marketing materials for compliance, helping companies of all sizes—from nimble startups to large enterprises—avoid costly missteps and accelerate their go-to-market strategies. Her journey provides invaluable insight into the needs of modern fintech marketers and compliance teams.

Beyond the tech, Austin opens up about her path as a female founder, candidly discussing the fundraising process, her unique go-to-market approach, and the lessons learned from early customer traction. Whether you're passionate about fintech, compliance, or entrepreneurship, this conversation offers a compelling look at the future of AI-powered marketing compliance and the vision of a founder determined to solve one of the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Show Notes:

00:00 Streamlining Crisis Communication Compliance

06:09 Regulatory Challenges in Financial Compliance

07:12 Targeting Small to Mid-Market Clients

10:59 Strategic Market Engagement Approach

16:57 Entrepreneurship: Play to Your Strengths

17:51 Conversation-Driven Fundraising Strategy

21:40 Tracking Key Business Metrics

25:37 "Sign Up for Newsletter Now"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/warrant-raises-720k-in-pre-seed-round

Austin Carroll’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austincarroll/

Warrant’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warrant/

Warrant’s Website: https://www.hellowarrant.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

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m excited to sit down with Adam Chrigström, founder and CEO of Big Audience Machine (BAM). Adam’s journey has taken him from studying economics to a successful run in brand marketing and research, leading to the launch and acquisition of Play Pilot—a streaming guide that reached over six million monthly users.

After serving as Head of AI at the acquiring fund, Adam launched Big Audience Machine, a cutting-edge content marketing platform designed to help companies turn strategy and deep brand understanding into effective, multi-channel content. Adam shares what inspired him to build BAM, lessons he’s learned from pivoting in the creative and SaaS industries, and practical advice for founders navigating early-stage growth, team building, and fundraising in today’s AI-driven market.

We’ll talk about how BAM is helping both agencies and in-house teams, what they’ve learned from working closely with pilot customers, and what’s coming next as they prepare for an exciting public launch. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or just looking to glimpse the future of content and branding, tune in for Adam Chrigström’s story and insights!

Show Notes:

00:00 Pivot from Pre-Production Platform

05:46 "BAM: Streamlined Content Marketing Platform"

07:35 Effective AI-Driven Content Strategy

11:10 AI's Limitations in Brand Intuition

14:57 "Early-Stage Branding Strategy Development"

20:40 Early-Stage Product and Customer Engagement

21:54 "Data Challenges and Future Plans"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/big-audience-machine-raises-350k-in-funding

Adam Chrigström’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-chrigstr%C3%B6m/

Big Audience Machine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-audience-machine/

Big Audience Machine’s Website: https://www.bigaudiencemachine.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, we welcome Yana Lapitskaya, the CEO and co-founder of YAI, an innovative platform designed to enhance the quality of AI-generated marketing content. With over 15 years in marketing and a successful agency exit under her belt, Yana shares her journey from agency founder to SaaS startup leader, and how her hands-on experience shaped her vision for YAI.

Yana discusses the challenges marketers face with AI-produced content and explains how YAI’s tools improve brand voice, clarity, SEO, and prepare businesses for the changing landscape of AI-enabled search. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at building her team, refining the product, and developing go-to-market strategies that resonate with both agencies and enterprise brands.

Tune in to hear valuable lessons on early-stage SaaS fundraising, product activation metrics, and the drive it takes to launch and grow a tech company. Whether you're a marketer, founder, or SaaS enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration from a leader at the forefront of marketing technology.

Show Notes:

00:00 Marketing Expert in Tech Innovation

05:48 "Multi-Brand Marketing Efficiency"

09:46 Dual Approach Market Strategy

11:58 "Challenges of Bootstrapping and Scaling"

16:07 Key Metric: Activation Rate

17:31 Startup Focus: User Value & AI Integration

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/yai-secures-250-000-in-seis-funding

Yana Lapitskaya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanalapitskaya/

YAi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yai-digital/

YAi’s Website: https://yai.digital/

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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I’m joined by Anna Berger, founder and CEO of Trayd—a game-changing construction payroll and compliance software. Anna shares how her career in marketing and personal roots in the construction industry inspired her to tackle the toughest back-office challenges specialty contractors face, from HR and scheduling to payroll and compliance.

We dive into Anna’s journey from working at top ad agencies and Marriott International to becoming a two-time founder and YC alum. She opens up about the challenges and wins of building Trayd, raising $4.5 million in seed funding, and the importance of customer retention and consistent branding in SaaS growth.

If you’re passionate about SaaS, vertical solutions, or just love a good founder story, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Tune in to learn how Anna and her team are streamlining complex operations for contractors and driving rapid growth in an industry that’s overdue for innovation!

Show Notes:

00:00 Diverse Founder Background Advantage

03:31 Unified Construction Software Solution

06:38 Family-Driven Construction Insight

10:56 Startup Fundraising Journey

14:39 CEO Focus: Retention and Growth Metrics

16:37 "Dogfooding to Improve Customer Experience"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/trayd-raises-4-5-million-in-seed-round

Anna Berger’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annajberger/

Trayd’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/traydinc/

Trayd’s Website: https://www.buildtrayd.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Amira Nakouri, co-founder and CEO of Klaimy, to share her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. With a strong background in strategy consulting for major European insurers, Amira reveals how her drive for innovation—and a spark from the rise of generative AI—led her to launch Klaimy in Paris.

Klaimy is redefining the insurance industry by using AI to streamline the complex and time-consuming medical underwriting process. Amira explains how their technology helps insurance companies process medical records with incredible speed and accuracy, cutting decision times from days to just minutes. She also discusses the company’s go-to-market strategies, working with mid-sized MGAs, and their hybrid SaaS pricing model.

Tune in as Amira shares candid insights about building a startup team, navigating challenges with enterprise sales cycles, and raising pre-seed capital during uncertain times in Europe. Whether you’re interested in SaaS, AI, or the future of insurtech, this episode offers valuable lessons for founders and innovators alike.

Show Notes:

00:00 From Consultant to Entrepreneur in AI

05:12 Streamlining Complex Insurance Tasks

09:22 Expanding Insurance with AI-Powered Models

12:21 Startup Formation and Partnership Milestones

14:54 Small, Strategic Startup Team

17:49 "Insurance Industry Adoption Challenges"

22:46 Amsterdam Insurance Forum 2024

23:59 Targeted VC Strategy Yields Success

27:13 Explore KLAIMY.com Today

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/klaimy-raises-1-2m-in-pre-seed-round

Amira Nakouri’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amira-nakouri-1b729248/

Klaimy’s Website: https://www.getklaimy.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

In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Ibrahim Ashqar, the co-founder and CEO of Lumi AI. Ibrahim shares his impressive background in data science and AI, including his time at Deloitte and the supply chain tech unicorn Stord, before diving into why he launched Lumi. The conversation highlights the challenges companies face with traditional business intelligence tools, and how Lumi is revolutionizing data access for brands, retailers, and supply chain operators through agentic workflows and conversational analytics.

Ben and Ibrahim discuss Lumi's focused go-to-market strategy, their partnerships with industry giants like Deloitte and BCG, and how they’re working with mid-market to Fortune 10 enterprises. Listeners will also hear about Lumi’s journey through fundraising, lessons learned in scaling an early-stage SaaS company, and the key product metrics that guide their growth.

Whether you’re interested in AI, enterprise analytics, or the inner workings of a fast-growing SaaS startup, this episode is packed with actionable insights and firsthand advice from the front lines of innovation.

Show Notes:

00:00 Supply Chain Analytics Software Focus

04:54 Strategic Supply Chain Planning Overview

09:13 Educational Analytics Approach Success

11:28 Consultant Challenges: Navigating Clearances

15:36 Complementary Tool, Not Replacement

18:36 Unexpected Visibility During Stealth Mode

21:34 Effective Investor Pitch Strategy

24:34 "Optimizing Intuitive AI Workflows"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/lumi-ai-raises-3-7-million-in-seed-round

Ibrahim Ashqar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahimashqar/

Lumi AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lumi-ai

Lumi Ai’s Website: https://www.lumi-ai.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