“How will you scale your business to $200M?” Yesterday, I asked this question to all the founders at #SaaStrEuropa because I know that every founder wants to achieve this milestone but is sometimes unsure of how. There is no defined or proven blueprint for scaling your business. Building a growth engine and expanding across markets comes with its own curve balls and challenges. During the session, I talked about how we built our sales team at Insider. and shared first-hand experience, real-life stories, and critical lessons - including: 📍 Global expansion is a must for European businesses. Unlike in the US, where large domestic markets suffice, European founders must grow internationally to increase market size, diversify revenue, and reduce risk. 📍 Founders shouldn't delegate expansion efforts. Never delegate your number. Whether it's making deals, building relationships, or setting priorities, founders must be fully involved and committed. 📍 Don’t wait for the perfect moment for expansion. There is no easy way. Expand proactively before opportunities slip away. Finding the right talent is crucial, so seize the chance to grow when it arises. 📍 When expanding a business internationally, balance is crucial. Maintain 60% of your best practices and adapt 40% to the local market to avoid the common mistake of assuming cultural similarities and completely abandoning proven methods. Thank you, Jason M. Lemkin and the SaaStr team, for bringing this amazing event to life.
Very well outlined Serhat Soyuerel. I'd just like to add my favorite soft spot: Scaling globally is all about culture, culture, culture. "Definition of Win-Win, buying patterns, sales cycles, funnel structure, forecasting / sandbagging methods of your local sales team, payment cycles" in some shape or form depend on established culture. This is why even a seemingly simple expansion from UK to US fails miserably most of the time. Don't just look at market size, evaluate your ability to execute in a different culture. Judge your wins and losses based on culture and fit. Your execution depends on it.
Thank you for sharing these invaluable insights! Your emphasis on proactive expansion and founder involvement is spot on. The balance between maintaining core practices and adapting to local markets is a critical takeaway. Founders, let's take these lessons to heart and drive our businesses forward. What strategies have you found effective in your expansion efforts? #GrowthMindset #GlobalExpansion
My favourite talk of the whole event! Fun, insightful, no BS & so much value that can be applied by anyone
Can you dive deeper into "maintain 60% of your best practices and adapt 40% to the local market?" I'm interested in learning more about international expansion
Your presentation was energizing and inspiring. As someone who's had to go the opposite direction of you -> US to EMEA, the 60/40 rule is so helpful. And loved the 'Think Big' Obama mic drop as well 👏🏾
Looking forward to listening when the podcast episode is out!
An outstanding talk—spot on and tangible from start to finish.
Sounds amazing! And also: I am curious about the framed photo on your last picture!
This was one of the best SaaStr 2024 sessions, period.
SaaStr Annual 2024 is Sept 10-12 in SF Bay!! See You There!!
1moWas a great one!!