Gregg Scoresby and Aly Saxe introduce the PHX Founders podcast and test out their interview skills. Importantly, they establish that the bar is high for "best tacos" in Phoenix.

Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sat down with Kentaro Kawamori, CEO of Persefoni to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the impressive development of his company. Persefoni is an enterprise SaaS company focused on climate management and accounting, helping companies calculate and manage their carbon footprints.
Kentaro shares his background, including his experience as CIO at Chesapeake Energy, where he discovered the need for better carbon accounting solutions. He discusses raising $175 million in funding, including a $100 million Series B round, and emphasizes the company's focus on R&D, investing 50-60% of resources into product development. Kentaro also highlights Persefoni's unique position in the market, serving almost 900 companies globally, with 60% of customers new to carbon accounting.
Learn the various aspects of building a successful SaaS company, including the importance of maintaining founder control over product development and avoiding traditional corporate management practices.

Here's what we dig into:

Introduction to Persefoni and Company Overview

Kentaro introduced Persefoni as an enterprise SaaS company with a climate management and accounting platform, helping companies calculate their carbon footprints and manage climate strategies. The company serves almost 900 clients globally, with 60% in North America, 20% in Europe, and 20% in APEC.

Kentaro's Background and Early Influences

Kentaro shared his upbringing in Germany, playing competitive soccer, and his early career in IT and consulting, leading to his role as CIO at Chesapeake Energy, where he discovered the need for better carbon accounting solutions.

Company Formation and Early Development

Kentaro discussed founding Persefoni in 2020 after a brief venture investing experience. He emphasized the company's focus on R&D, investing 50-60% of resources into product development, and maintaining a direct sales enterprise SaaS model.

Funding Journey and Investor Strategy

Kentaro detailed the company's funding journey, starting with seed investment from Rice Investment Group, followed by Series A with NGP, and Series B with Prelude Ventures and TPG, raising a total of $175 million to date.

Product Development and AI Integration

Kentaro discussed the launch of Persefoni Copilot, an AI-powered support tool, and the decision to include it in the base subscription. He emphasized the company's focus on building a system of record for carbon accounting and their plans to leverage AI capabilities as the data set scales.

Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

In our final episode from S1 of the PHX Founders Podcast, we continue our conversation with Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, and we're also joined by his co-founder, CMO, and brother, Johnathan Ronzio.
This episode is a testament to what it means to be a scrappy startup. When money is tight, creativity needs to flow. The humble beginning is when founders need to say "go for it" more times than they think possible. Of all the ideas you test, one or two might work. Especially if they include Mr. Wonderful.

Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

When we think about the worst epidemics in this country, “loneliness” doesn’t usually top the list. But it should. 44 million Americans struggle with loneliness. And not just older Americans. For the first time in history, it's highest among young adults. Loneliness is a condition we all need to take seriously. And we need founders like Cindy Jordan, who have made it their life’s purpose to address this epidemic head on.
Cindy's tackling a problem that impacts all of us, because we all know someone who suffers from loneliness.
This interview touches on mental health, so if you’re struggling, please take care while listening. And if you're interested in receiving help, we’ve put information on Pyx Health in the show notes.

Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.

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.

Listen to more episodes, watch video interviews, and subscribe at phxfounders.com.