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