Building SaaStock: A Community-Driven SaaS Platform

Alex Theuma, founder of SaaStock, the world's leading community and media platform for the global B2B SaaS ecosystem, shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights on building a successful SaaS business. Theuma's passion for SaaS and his belief in the power of community led to the creation of SaaStock, a platform that connects entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

• Theuma's entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age, selling lemonade stands, creating perfume, and doing newspaper rounds.
• His motivation behind starting SaaStock was to create a neutral, community-driven blog for SaaS founders, filling a gap in the existing landscape dominated by vendor-driven content and venture capitalist marketing.
• The success of SaaScribe, a blog for SaaS founders, led to the creation of the SaaS Revolution Show podcast, a Slack channel, and a newsletter, further fostering a vibrant SaaS community.
• This community's demand for a conference resulted in the launch of SaaStock in 2016, attracting 700 entrepreneurs from 34 countries.

The Impact of AI on the SaaS Market

Theuma discusses the rapid growth of the SaaS market and the significant role AI is playing in its evolution.

• The SaaS industry experienced a significant market correction in 2023, with investors pulling back due to macroeconomic issues.
• Despite the slowdown, the SaaS market is still projected to grow to $900 billion to $1 trillion by 2030.
• AI is considered a key driver of future growth, with companies integrating AI into their products and services.
• Theuma believes every SaaS company will need to become an AI company, enhancing its software with AI capabilities.

Scaling Mistakes SaaS Founders Make

Theuma highlights common scaling mistakes SaaS founders make and provides valuable advice for avoiding them.

• One of the biggest challenges is hiring the right people, especially as the business scales.
• It's essential to have a robust hiring process, ensuring individuals are a good fit for the company's current stage and future direction.
• Theuma emphasizes the importance of a strong support network and recommends utilizing executive search companies for specialized roles.
• He suggests joining communities like SaaStock's Founder Membership, which provides access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for SaaS founders.

Investor Priorities for Early-Stage SaaS Startups

Theuma shares insights into what investors look for when evaluating early-stage SaaS startups.

• Investors primarily focus on the team, specifically the founder and CEO's capabilities, experience, and leadership qualities.
• The vision must be compelling and innovative, offering a unique solution or approach within a crowded market.
• While product and market size are also considered, investors prioritize a strong team and a compelling vision.

Building a Successful Tech Conference: Key Takeaways

Theuma shares his experiences in building and leading a successful tech conference.

• Community is crucial, as it serves as the foundation for a successful event.
• Hiring the right people for each stage of the business is essential for growth and success.
• It's important to adapt hiring practices to the company's evolving needs, balancing generalists with specialists.

Fostering a Community in Your Industry

Theuma offers advice for entrepreneurs looking to build similar communities in their respective industries.

• Don't overthink it; start small and take action.
• Begin with simple initiatives like quarterly dinners, WhatsApp groups, or regular meetups.
• Be passionate and committed to building a strong community, as it takes time and effort.

Transitioning from Hands-On to Delegating

Theuma shares his insights on transitioning from a hands-on entrepreneur to a CEO who delegates responsibilities.

• It's crucial to empower your team by hiring individuals who are experts in their roles.
• Focus on strategy, vision, and providing guidance as the CEO.
• Utilize executive coaching to learn delegation skills and build a strong management structure.

The Future of SaaStock

Theuma outlines his vision for SaaStock's future growth and expansion.

• SaaStock will continue to innovate and scale its European event, aiming to solidify its position as the leading SaaS event in the region.
• The company plans to expand its US presence, potentially making it even bigger than its European counterpart.
• SaaStock envisions expanding to other international markets, including South America and Asia.
• The SaaS Founder Membership program will be further developed to provide comprehensive support and resources for B2B SaaS founders.
• The BackFuture fund will continue to invest in promising early-stage SaaS companies, providing them with capital and guidance.