From Side Hustles & Cold Emails to CRM Powerhouse: Cayden Phipps and Kieran O’Brien on Building and Scaling Shopgenie

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sat down with Cayden Phipps and Kieran O’Brien, co-founders of ShopGenie, to discuss their journey of building an innovative SaaS company in the auto repair industry. ShopGenie is an all-in-one CRM platform that streamlines operations for independent auto repair shops through automated text reminders, online scheduling, digital marketing services, and more.

Cayden and Kieran share their entrepreneurial backgrounds, from flipping sneakers and starting a wedding videography business to launching a barbecue cleaning service and a marketing agency. They recount their serendipitous meeting, driven by a cold email and a mutual passion for cars, and their evolution from marketing partners to building ShopGenie.

The duo dives into their decision to transition from white-labeled software to developing a purpose-built solution, fueled by customer feedback and a passion for solving inefficiencies in the auto repair industry. They also highlight their high-growth journey, bootstrapping early stages, and achieving 6.6 million ARR in just over a year while maintaining an obsessive focus on customer service.

Learn about the unique dynamics of their co-founder relationship, the power of healthy organizational tension, and how they've tackled challenges like scaling customer success, simplifying pricing, and balancing personal and professional priorities.

Here’s what we dig into:

• How their upbringing shaped their entrepreneurial spirit.
• The transition from marketing services to SaaS product development.
• Key growth milestones, including their early guerrilla marketing strategies and scaling through customer-centric service.
• Insights into fostering a productive co-founder relationship and building a team that prioritizes customer obsession.

Don't miss this inspiring episode filled with actionable insights for aspiring founders and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.

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