Subscribe to SaaS Sessions Podcast. India's first SaaS focused podcast. Taking a deep dive to SaaS with the industry experts. Are you working in SaaS? Have a story to share? Let's talk.
In this episode of the SaaS Sessions podcast, Sunil Neurgaonkar sits down with Jigar Dafda, Chief Technology & Product Officer at Fynd, to unpack how AI is fundamentally reshaping e-commerce in India.
From conversational commerce and hyper-personalization to autonomous back offices and AI-driven customer support, this conversation cuts through the hype to explain what’s actually changing, what’s overblown, and what founders must build for if they want to survive the next decade of commerce.
Key Takeaways -
1. Commerce Is Shifting From Interfaces to Conversations
-Traditional storefronts and search-driven UX are being replaced by conversational buying surfaces.
- SEO is giving way to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) as ChatGPT-like interfaces become the new entry point.
- Merchants will still own fulfillment and data—but discovery will increasingly happen outside their websites.
2. Hyper-Personalization Is No Longer Optional—It’s Infrastructure
- Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) are the backbone for AI-driven personalization across online and offline channels.
- AI enables real-time personalization without armies of data scientists or analysts.
- The real win isn’t better targeting—it’s higher conversion with less customer effort.
3. Dynamic Pricing and Forecasting Are Moving Into the Back Office
- Pricing, inventory planning, and demand forecasting are becoming autonomous systems.
- Decisions that once took days (via SQL and dashboards) now happen in real time.
- AI shifts teams from “executors” to “validators” of system-generated decisions.
4. Customer Support Is the Lowest-Hanging AI Opportunity
- 60–80% of customer queries are repetitive and easily automated.
- AI agents now deliver 24/7, multilingual, context-aware support at scale.
- The real challenge is no longer conversation—it’s clean integration across OMS, WMS, and logistics systems.
Lightning Round Insights:
- Fastest way to learn today: Use ChatGPT as a personalized tutor—summarize, question, and iterate.
- Hardest leadership lesson: Systems are easy. People are not.
- Founder advice: Build for where the market is going, not where it is today—today’s solution will expire faster than you expect.
About Fynd:
Fynd is one of India’s leading unified commerce platforms, powering brands across online, offline, marketplaces, and quick commerce. From storefronts and PIM to OMS, WMS, and omnichannel integrations, Fynd enables end-to-end retail operations on a single stack.
Chapters:
00:10 – Introduction
00:50 – Jigar’s decade-long journey at Fynd
05:20 – AI before vs after ChatGPT
08:10 – Conversational commerce & GEO
13:40 – Hyper-personalization and CDPs
19:40 – Dynamic pricing and demand forecasting
30:30 – AI in customer support
37:20 – Predictions for the future of e-commerce
39:40 – Lightning round
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Tom Drummond, founder and managing director at Heavybit Industries, dissects the seismic shift from graphical interfaces to conversational AI—and why most SaaS companies are thinking about it wrong. This isn't about adding chatbots to legacy products. It's about fundamentally rethinking what software means when voice becomes the primary interaction mode and agents become your customers. Drummond reveals why rapid execution trumps defensibility, how API-first companies will dominate the agent economy, and why trust—not technology—remains the ultimate bottleneck.
Key Takeaways:
1. Large Language Models Are Creating the Biggest Interface Shift Since the GUI
2. Visual Interfaces Won't Disappear—They'll Become Trust Mechanisms
3. Software Must Do More When Friction Disappears
4. Momentum Is the Only Moat That Matters at Early Stage
Lightning Round Insights:
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Heavybit's Investment Thesis
04:33 - The Language Model Revolution: From Screens to Voice
12:13 - Rethinking Product Design: Phone Numbers Over Websites
21:36 - Key Challenges: Trust, Pricing, and Agent Distribution
30:04 - Differentiation Strategy: Momentum Over Moats
36:56 - Why Switching Costs Still Matter for Sustainable Growth
40:04 - Lightning Round and Closing Thoughts
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Bhaskar Roy, Chief of AI Products and Solutions at Workato, breaks down the fundamental shift from app-centric thinking to agent-first architecture. This conversation cuts through the AI hype to reveal how enterprises are moving beyond simple content generation to deploy agents at the core of business processes—from quote-to-cash workflows to IT helpdesk operations. Roy reveals the critical gap between low-agency experimentation and high-value automation, outlines the governance frameworks required for autonomous agents, and explains why getting hands-on is the only way to separate signal from noise in the agentic era.
1. The Agency Gap: Most Companies Are Stuck in Low-Value Territory
2. Purpose-Specific Agents with Enterprise Skills Beat General-Purpose Approaches
3. App Events and Enterprise Acumen Enable Proactive Intelligence
4. The Mindset Shift: From App-Centric to Agent-First Thinking
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:46 - Journey at Workato: From Integration to Intelligent Agents
03:40 - The Evolution from SaaS to Agentic Workflows
07:51 - Best-of-Breed Apps Creating Data Silos and Integration Challenges
10:54 - Employee Productivity Gains Through Unified Agent Interfaces
13:20 - The Agency Gap: Low-Value vs. Core Business Process Automation
17:32 - Real-World Agent Deployments: Quote-to-Cash and IT Helpdesk
20:12 - Proactive vs. Reactive Agents: Where Does Automation Stop?
24:42 - Trust, Governance, and Control in Autonomous Agent Systems
28:42 - Preparing for the Apps-to-Agents Transition
33:04 - Lightning Round: Getting Hands-On to Shorten Learning Curves
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Every SaaS company is racing to “add AI,” but most are doing it wrong. In this episode, Megh Gautam, Former Chief Product Officer at Crunchbase, reveals the hard truths behind building AI into established SaaS products. From avoiding hype-driven features to building trust through data quality and transparency, Megh shares how Crunchbase rolled out AI-powered capabilities without breaking user trust. He also breaks down the internal alignment, cross-functional execution, and relentless feedback loops required to ship AI features that actually matter.
Key Takeaways -
Chapters:
00:10 - Introduction
00:50 - Megh’s SaaS journey (Twilio, Dropbox, Crunchbase)
02:45 - AI hype vs. solving real user problems
06:05 - Why Crunchbase started with AI in search
10:17 - Data quality as the foundation for trustworthy AI
15:07 - Overcoming AI skepticism with transparency
20:01 - Aligning product, engineering, marketing, and GTM on AI launches
25:46 - Feedback loops and customer education
30:32 - Lightning Round: Megh’s favorite AI tools
36:27 - Closing thoughts and key reminders
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
In this powerhouse episode, Max Altschuler - founder of Sales Hacker, former VP of Marketing at Outreach, and now General Partner at GTMfund - breaks down what it takes to build and scale B2B SaaS companies with speed and substance. Max shares his journey from being an early-stage operator to becoming a SaaS investor, unpacking the real mechanics behind GTM strategy, community-driven growth, category creation, and what founders often get wrong. This is a masterclass in strategic execution and long-game thinking for SaaS leaders.
Key Takeaways –
1. Betting on Founders: What Drives Early-Stage Investing
2. Strategic Distribution Is the New Product
3. Acquisitions Are Not Just About Revenue, They’re About Velocity
4. Lessons in SaaS Scale and GTM Execution
About the GTMfund:
GTMfund is an early-stage venture fund backed by 300+ of the most respected go-to-market leaders from companies like Salesforce, Zoom, and Snowflake. It focuses exclusively on backing SaaS startups with strong GTM execution and strategic potential.
Connect with Max Altschuler | Check out GTMfund
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
In this episode of the SaaS Sessions podcast, Jacob Bank, founder of Relay.app, shares his journey from academia to startup founder, discussing the challenges of building a product in the AI space. He emphasizes the importance of validating ideas, finding early customers, and experimenting with various marketing channels. Jacob also highlights the significance of cohort retention as a measure of product-market fit and the need to balance innovation with competition in a rapidly evolving market.
Key Takeaways –
1. You’re not failing - your distribution is
Building is easy; getting customers is the battlefield.
Early channels (Reddit, network, cold email) only take you so far.
Most startup advice is outdated or irrelevant to your context - test everything yourself.
2. Validate with precision, not ego
The Mom Test changed how Jacob gathered honest feedback.
10 well-run interviews can kill or greenlight an idea.
Getting “likes” is not validation - retention and willingness to pay are.
3. Every growth stage needs a new motion
0 → 10: Scrappy hustle (Reddit, LinkedIn DMs, direct outreach).
10 → 100: Partner marketing, SEO, and high-intent blog content.
100 → 1000: Viral LinkedIn content + YouTube for education + community-led growth.
4. PMF isn’t hype - it’s cohort retention
Retention is the only true sign of product-market fit.
Competitive pressure is a forcing function to build better products.
Don’t be afraid to pick a fight in a crowded space - just know your edge.
Connect with Jacob Bank:
🔗 Jacob Bank - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobbank/
📅 Join his Build an AI Agent with Me sessions - https://events.relay.app
🌐 Try Relay.app for free: https://relay.app
Relay.app is an AI agent builder that connects your tools into smart workflows. Designed to bring humans into the loop where automation fails, Relay combines intuitive UX with AI-native capabilities, enabling teams to move faster without drowning in manual ops.
Chapters:
00:10 – Introduction
00:50 – Jacob’s journey from academia to Google to Relay
02:14 – The pain of early go-to-market and what didn’t work
06:09 – Using The Mom Test to validate early MVPs
07:59 – Breaking through with traction experiments
10:52 – Reddit, Product Hunt, and the weak links in early GTM
13:49 – From 10 to 100: What channels actually scaled
15:18 – Facing the 100 → 1000 wall
16:37 – Cracking virality with LinkedIn
21:29 – Mid-funnel levers: YouTube and email
27:13 – Competing in a mature category and why it’s a good thing
33:15 – Defining and validating PMF the hard way
38:27 – Retention is king—no tricks, just product
40:28 – Lightning round
42:41 – Final thoughts + how to join Jacob’s live AI agent sessions
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of B2B SaaS attribution with Deepinder Dhingra, Founder and CEO of RevSure.ai. DD shares insights from his 20+ years in enterprise software, analytics, and AI, unpacking how SaaS companies can harness AI-driven attribution to improve GTM strategies. He explores the challenges of attribution complexity, the role of AI in unifying data, and actionable frameworks for building an effective attribution model. DD also shares his thoughts on the future of AI in SaaS and key misconceptions about being a founder in this space.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Evolution of Attribution in SaaS
- Past GTM motions: Outbound, focused on sales-driven efforts.
- Present complexity: Consumerization of GTM with multiple teams (marketing, SDR, BDR, sales).
- Challenge: Fragmented data across tools requires a robust attribution strategy.
2. AI’s Role in Attribution
- Data Harmonization: AI connects data from CRMs, marketing automation, ABM tools, and offline channels.
- Revenue Graphs: Building linkages across touchpoints like leads, campaigns, and opportunities.
- Predictive Insights: Real-time data analysis to optimize spend and strategy.
3. Common GTM Team Pitfalls
- Misaligned Goals: Teams focus on “who gets the credit” rather than actionable insights.
- Lack of Full-Funnel Thinking: Insights should span marketing, SDR, and sales efforts.
- Overreliance on Rules-Based Models: Shift to data-driven, machine learning approaches like marketing mix models and incrementality testing.
4. Building an AI-Powered Attribution Framework
- Collaborative Effort: Align marketing, sales, and ops under a shared vision.
- Tech Stack Audit: Ensure compatibility with your GTM motion.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Use leading and predictive indicators to measure success.
Lightning Round Insights:
1. Fun Fact About DD: He’s a skilled pickleball player!
2. Challenge to Solve in Indian SaaS: Optimizing cross-border GTM motions.
3. Misconception About Founders: It’s not all fun; founders take the brunt of market brutality and drive teams for competitive speed.
About RevSure.ai:
RevSure.ai is revolutionizing attribution for B2B SaaS companies by leveraging AI to unify data, provide actionable insights, and optimize GTM strategies. Their AI-powered attribution models address the complexities of modern SaaS motions and enable teams to act with precision.
Connect with DD:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepinder-singh-dhingra-66bb54/
RevSure - https://www.revsure.ai/
Chapters:
01:05 - Intro & DD’s Journey in SaaS
02:05 - Evolution of Attribution in SaaS
07:27 - Complexity in GTM Motions and Data Fragmentation
12:10 - AI’s Role in Attribution
15:10 - Common GTM Team Pitfalls
19:02 - Building an AI-Powered Attribution Framework
23:26 - KPIs for Attribution Success
27:42 - Future of AI in Attribution
30:17 - Balancing AI with Human Oversight
32:22 - Lightning Round
36:42 - Closing Thoughts
#b2bsaas #b2b #attribution #marketing #saas
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Episode Summary:
Srikrishnan Ganesan, Founder, and CEO of Rocketlane, joins the SaaS Sessions Podcast to share actionable insights on customer onboarding—a crucial yet often overlooked driver of SaaS success. Sri dives deep into why onboarding sets the foundation for long-term customer satisfaction, retention, and expansion, and offers strategies to optimize this critical phase. This conversation is packed with transformative ideas for SaaS founders and operators, from avoiding common onboarding pitfalls to leveraging AI and standardized processes.
Key Takeaways:
1. Onboarding as a Strategic Driver
- The first 30-90 days are make-or-break: onboarding directly influences churn and Net Revenue Retention (NRR).
- Poor onboarding can result in 25-30% of customers failing to go live, jeopardizing renewals and expansions.
- Early-stage SaaS companies often lack the rigor to drive implementation success, resulting in disengaged customers.
2. Common Onboarding Pitfalls and How to Address Them
- Lack of Rigor: Companies often go at the customer’s pace instead of setting clear timelines.
- Order-Taking Approach: Teams fail to be prescriptive, waiting for customer direction instead of sharing best practices.
- Disorganized Operations: Reliance on spreadsheets and hero-driven processes undermines scalability and consistency.
- Solution: Implement standardized processes, use governance frameworks, and prioritize system-driven operations.
3. The Role of Leadership and Process Design
- Founders often stretch post-sales teams, delaying investments in specialized onboarding leadership.
- Invest in systems that track effort, milestones, and outcomes to scale onboarding.
- Standardize touchpoints like kickoff decks, project plans, and escalation paths to drive a consistent and professional experience.
4. Leveraging Technology and AI for Better Onboarding
- Tools like Rocketlane provide visibility and streamline processes for both customers and internal teams.
- Use AI to automate repetitive tasks, identify early warnings, and enhance follow-up communications.
- Fast and efficient onboarding drives 2x faster expansions and greater advocacy from happy customers.
Lightning Round Insights:
What Sri Wishes He’d Known Starting: How transformative AI would become and its potential to fundamentally reshape product development.
Favorite AI Tools:
- Avoma for sales insights.
- Rocketlane’s own AI-driven features to improve onboarding experiences.
Book Recommendations:
- Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath – Learn to package ideas that resonate and stick with your audience.
- Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen – Understand the "Jobs to Be Done" framework for product development.
About Rocketlane:
Rocketlane is a leading customer onboarding and professional services automation platform, empowering SaaS companies to deliver seamless and efficient onboarding experiences. By streamlining collaboration, improving accountability, and accelerating time-to-value, Rocketlane helps businesses improve retention and expand revenue opportunities.
Chapters:
00:50 - Sri’s Journey: From Freshworks to Rocketlane
01:47 - The Current State of SaaS Onboarding
04:15 - Key Challenges in SaaS Onboarding
07:39 - Building Rigor and Governance in Onboarding
15:23 - Celebrating Go-Lives and Building Advocacy
19:15 - The Impact of Faster Onboarding on Retention and Expansion
27:27 - Ripple Effects of Poor Onboarding
34:04 - Leadership’s Role in Driving Onboarding Excellence
37:04 - Lightning Round
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Lucas Lovell, VP of Product at Paddle, shares his journey from launching a startup in Australia to scaling a SaaS company in Europe. With a focus on global market expansion, Lucas discusses critical considerations for entering new geographies, leveraging local partnerships, and using payments infrastructure as a growth lever. Packed with actionable insights, this episode is a must-listen for SaaS leaders navigating the complexities of international growth.
Key Takeaways:
Lightning Round Insights:
About Paddle: Paddle simplifies payment infrastructure for SaaS businesses, enabling global expansion by handling tax compliance, payment localization, and more. Their platform helps companies turn operational complexities into growth opportunities.
Connect with Lucas Lovell: LinkedIn | Paddle
Chapters:
00:10 – Introduction
01:00 – Lucas’s Journey in SaaS
06:30 – Choosing France for Market Expansion
10:00 – Operational Barriers to Entering New Markets
15:00 – Using Payments as a Growth Lever
20:00 – Localization Strategies for Success
25:30 – Building Partnerships for Distribution
30:00 – First Principles GTM Strategies for New Geographies
35:00 – Lightning Round Insights
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Episode Summary
In this insightful episode of the SaaS Sessions Podcast, we down with Satya Ganni, the CEO and Founder of Userflow and Beamer. Satya shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, having founded six companies before leading Userflow and Beamer, two innovative platforms revolutionizing user onboarding and product engagement. We dive into how AI is reshaping Product-Led Growth (PLG), strategies for leveraging data effectively, and the future of PLG and Product-Led Sales (PLS).
Key Takeaways
Lightning Round Insights
About Userflow and Beamer
Connect with Satya
Subscribe & Stay Connected
Don’t miss upcoming episodes! Subscribe to SaaS Sessions Podcast on your favorite platform and follow us for more insights from SaaS leaders.
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/
Disrupting Travel with Spotnana: Sarosh Waghmar on Building the AWS for the Travel Industry
In this episode, we hosted Sarosh Waghmar, Founder and Chief Product Officer at Spotnana.
Sarosh shares his journey of over two decades in the travel tech industry and discusses Spotnana's mission to transform travel by creating an 'AWS for the travel industry.'
The conversation delves into the challenges and innovations of building a platform that emphasizes trust, transparency, and a seamless user experience.
We also discussed the impact of AI and the future of travel tech.
Key insights include the importance of building a platform that allows others to innovate, the role of cloud-native architectures, and the significance of standing on the shoulders of giants to drive industry-wide change.
Connect with Sarosh on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/swaghmar/
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Sarosh Waghmar's Background and Travel Industry Insights
01:33 Challenges and Innovations in Travel Tech
03:04 Spotnana's Vision and Platform Approach
04:00 Building During COVID and Overcoming Obstacles
07:31 Creating a New Category: Travel as a Service
20:18 Future of Travel Tech and AI Integration
29:51 Lightning Round: Personal Insights
Visit our website - https://saassessions.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/