SaaSy Talk S02.15: Building a Global Brand: Lessons from Marcus at Auror

Explicit content warning

08/18/24 • 32 min

SaaSy Talk Unfiltered

About The Guest(s): Born to a Swiss father, and a Maori mother of Te Arawa descent, I’m a little different, and I love it. At the time of writing this, I’ll be splitting my time between being a Dad to two lil lads under 3, sport and mountain bike addict, wannabe chef, and helping Auror empower more retailers around the world to stop crime, for good.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Marcus delves into his experiences at Auror, a crime intelligence platform, and shares valuable insights on building a global brand. From his upbringing in the culinary world to his transition into marketing, Marcus provides a captivating narrative of his journey. He discusses challenges faced while scaling the team, the impact and opportunities that COVID-19 presented, and strategies for competing with bigger brands in the US market. The conversation also touches on the importance of metrics, data-driven decision-making, and the nuances of entering and scaling in new markets.

Key Takeaways:

Marcus emphasises the importance of being bold and confident when entering new markets, particularly the US
He stresses the significance of testing hypotheses in real-time, adapting strategies on the fly, and staying agile
Listening to customers, understanding different markets, and being hyper-focused are key strategies for success
The value of authenticity and human connection sets the foundation for sustainable growth in business
Building a cohesive team, aligned goals, clear communication, and centre of excellence are imperative for maintaining synergy in sales and marketing efforts

Notable Quotes:

Be bold, listen, and test hypotheses early to accelerate growth in new markets
Executing well and aligning global and regional goals are crucial for sustained success
Staying authentic and connected to customers sets the tone for building a strong brand in competitive markets

Chapters 0:00 Building a Global Brand: Lessons from Marcus at Auror

2:37 Auror's Crime Intelligence Platform Reduces Retail Theft Significantly

3:30 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling a Growing Company

6:54 Strategies for Global Expansion and Market Penetration

10:59 Strategies for Market Entry and Scaling Up

16:59 Strategies for Entering and Succeeding in the US Market

24:44 Leadership Evolution and Maintaining Team Cohesion at Auror

29:12 Quickfire Round: Marcus's Favourites from Sports to Peanut Butter

Key Takeaways:

Marcus emphasises the importance of being bold and confident when entering new markets, particularly the US
He stresses the significance of testing hypotheses in real-time, adapting strategies on the fly, and staying agile
Listening to customers, understanding different markets, and being hyper-focused are key strategies for success
The value of authenticity and human connection sets the foundation for sustainable growth in business
Building a cohesive team, aligned goals, clear communication, and centre of excellence are imperative for maintaining synergy in sales and marketing efforts

Notable Quotes:

Be bold, listen, and test hypotheses early to accelerate growth in new markets
Executing well and aligning global and regional goals are crucial for sustained success
Staying authentic and connected to customers sets the tone for building a strong brand in competitive markets

Chapters 0:00 Building a Global Brand: Lessons from Marcus at Auror

2:37 Auror's Crime Intelligence Platform Reduces Retail Theft Significantly

3:30 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling a Growing Company

6:54 Strategies for Global Expansion and Market Penetration

10:59 Strategies for Market Entry and Scaling Up

16:59 Strategies for Entering and Succeeding in the US Market

24:44 Leadership Evolution and Maintaining Team Cohesion at Auror

29:12 Quickfire Round: Marcus's Favourites from Sports to Peanut Butter

Previous Episode

SaaSy Talk S02.14: Building and Scaling: Adam Clark’s Blueprint for Startup Success

About The Guest(s): Adam Clark, one of NZ's leading tech entrepreneurs. He was co-founder and CEO of Groov, and of mobile banking software provider M-Com, which was acquired by Fiserv in 2011 and now serves over 3,000 banks globally. Since returning to New Zealand in 2012, Adam has played a key role in the establishment and growth of many of the country's most promising software companies, including two further exits via acquisition. He has also been deeply involved as an investor and board member in companies such as Tradify, Parrot Analytics, and UneeQ. Episode Summary: In this episode, Adam Clark shares his blueprint for startup success, drawing from his experience founding M-com and successfully exiting the company through acquisition by Fiserv. The conversation delves into the early days of M-com, navigating the dot-com bubble, expanding to the US market, and the challenges and triumphs of building a successful business. Adam emphasizes the importance of deliberate planning, the value of frugality, and the necessity of building high-quality products to succeed in the competitive startup landscape.

Key Takeaways:

Building a startup requires a high level of deliberateness, with a focus on planning and execution.
Frugality and efficiency are key factors in the success of a startup, especially in a market with limited resources.
Partnerships can be accelerants for growth but require careful consideration and deep investment to be successful.
Learning from failures and adapting quickly is crucial for startup founders to thrive in a rapidly evolving environment.
Founders should prioritize building a strong founding team with high intellect, energy, and a shared passion for solving problems.

Notable Quotes:

"You can't outsource the hard work. The hard work's going to be there." - Adam
"The people are everything. Look for a founding team that is super focused, really smart, and high-energy." - Adam

Chapters

00:18 Founding mcom: The Early Days

01:08 Navigating the Dot-Com Bubble

02:30 Expanding to the US Market

04:16 The Fiserv Acquisition Journey

05:02 Challenges and Successes in the US

14:11 Bootstrapping and Fundraising Insights

19:50 The Evolution of the New Zealand Startup Ecosystem

26:18 Challenges for New Zealand Startups

26:39 Value of Experienced Board Members

28:16 The Realities of Partnerships

32:40 Investing in Startups: Lessons Learned

41:49 Quick Fire Round: Fun Questions

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Next Episode

SaaSy Talk S02.16: The Birth and Growth of Sharesies: A Journey with Brooke Roberts

About The Guest(s): Brooke Roberts is the co-founder, director and 3EO (co-CEO) of Sharesies and mother of two. At Sharesies, their vision is to give someone with $5 and $5m the same money opportunities. Sharesies is a wealth app with over half a million investors who’ve collectively invested billions of dollars. Sharesies also partners with NZX and ASX listed companies so they can know and communicate to their retail investors, support with capital raises and provide staff share schemes.

Brooke is passionate about creating equal opportunities and business being a force for good—she puts a lot of focus on making sure Sharesies has a positive impact on people, customers, communities, and the environment. Brooke was the co-winner of the 2020 Women of Influence- Business award, alongside co-founder, Sonya Williams. Brooke was also awarded the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual and 2022 NZ Services Entrepreneur of the Year, alongside co-founders Sonya and Leighton.

Episode Summary: In this engaging interview with Brooke Roberts, co-founder of Sharesies, the discussion revolves around the birth and growth of the company. Brooke shares insights into the co-founding moment of Sharesies, the challenges and motivations they faced, the unique three-CEO model, decision-making frameworks, go-to-market strategies, early challenges, entering the Australian market, and the future vision of Sharesies. The conversation delves into the values, purpose, and mission driving Sharesies to provide financial empowerment for all users. By detailing the strategic decisions, challenges, and successes along the way, Brooke offers a glimpse into the intriguing entrepreneurial journey behind Sharesies.

Key Takeaways:

Brooke and her team conducted thorough research before launching Sharesies, focusing on understanding users' beliefs and experiences around money.
Sharesies started as an investment platform and has since evolved into a comprehensive wealth app, offering access to KiwiSaver, savings, insurance, and more.
The company's unique three-CEO model enhances decision-making and fosters collaboration among the founders.
Sharesies expanded into the Australian market, adapting their product to suit the regulatory differences and market needs.
Brooke envisions Sharesies as the heart of wealth and aims to provide financial freedom and empowerment to individuals globally.

Notable Quotes:

"The risk of not doing this is greater than doing it." - Brooke Roberts
"People want to be investors. They do feel left out, jargoned out. Those that are investors can have a way better experience." - Brooke Roberts

Chapters 0:00 The Birth and Growth of Sharesies: A Journey with Brooke Roberts

3:27 The Unique Three-CEO Model at Sharesies

7:32 Go-to-Market Strategy and Early Challenges for Sharesies

11:00 Fundraising Strategies and the Importance of Mission-Aligned Investors

15:18 Expanding Sharesies to Australia Amidst Regulatory and Market Challenges

22:34 Regrets, Surfing, and Sharesies' Future Vision

23:36 Sharesies' Evolution from Investment Platform to Comprehensive Wealth App

25:40 Quick fire-round

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