EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Scale Your SaaS, Chris Hicken, Chief Productivity Officer at ClickUp, shares his thoughts on the current state of the IPO market, the crucial metrics investors focus on, and the strategic decisions software founders face with host and B2B SaaS Sales Coach Matt Woalch. As the market gradually recovers, many SaaS companies are preparing for potential IPOs, but it's clear that a cautious approach is still prevalent.
PODCAST-AT-A-GLANCE
Podcast: Scale Your SaaS with Matt Wolach
Episode: Episode No. 326, “How to Grow to IPO with a Small Problem-Solving Team - with Chris Hicken”
Guest: Chris Hicken, Chief Productivity Officer at ClickUp
Host: Matt Wolach, a B2B SaaS Sales Coach, Entrepreneur, and Investor
Sponsored by: Leadfeeder
TOP TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE
- Deciding Between IPO and Other Exit Strategies
- Building and Scaling Software Companies
- Transition to ClickUp
- Differentiating ClickUp in a Competitive Market
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- The IPO Backlog and Market Readiness
- The Challenges of Going Public
- Advice for New Software Founders
TOP QUOTES
Chris Hicken
[09:57] "We often selected executives to join the company based on their pedigree, meaning the logos of the companies that they used to work at, they're very impressive people very smart. They were pre-vetted by companies that we liked and trusted. But when they came to UserTesting, they oftentimes weren't a fit."
[12:50] "As we grew, UserTesting, all of these huge productivity problems started to emerge, for example, it became really hard to see what everybody was working on. So transparency, felt like it went to zero."
[20:25] "Right now, in this environment, it's ultra important to build companies that focus on being scrappy, and efficient and minimizing cash burn. So one of the tools that founders can use early on, of course, is to lean much more heavily on AI."
Matt Wolach
[09:57] "I've learned the same lesson. Hiring for culture is so important. It's something I've learned in my career. And beyond that, like you say, being a problem solver and finding those problem solvers is critical.”
LEARN MORE
To learn more about ClickUp, visit: https://clickup.com/
You can also find Chris Hicken on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishicken/
For more about how Matt Wolach helps software companies achieve maximum growth, visit https://mattwolach.com.
Head over to leadfeeder.com and sign up for a 14-day (no strings attached) free trial: https://www.leadfeeder.com/
Get even more tips by following Matt elsewhere:
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.