#135: Vertical SaaS Investor Shares Proven Paths to Scale Up Big – Dave Yuan

#135: Vertical SaaS Investor Shares Proven Paths to Scale Up Big – Dave Yuan

Author: Greg Head March 14, 2025 Duration: 55:49

Dave Yuan is the founder of Tidemark, an active growth equity investor focusing on vertical SaaS companies with outsized advantages that can become "control points" in their markets and grow very big. Dave and Tidemark have invested in successful companies like Toast, ServiceTitan, Karbon and Dutchie. 

In this episode, Dave shares some of the most useful strategic growth frameworks for vertical SaaS companies to grow through winning market share, expanding with additional products, and even extending through an industry ecosystem serving new markets. We also talk about the impact of AI on established vertical SaaS players and how it's both an opportunity and a thre

Tidemark supports the global community of practical vertical SaaS founders by publishing their strategic growth frameworks, their annual Vertical SaaS Benchmarketing Report,  and they host the annual Vertical SaaS Collective Live conference for founders. 

Quote from Dave Yuan, founder at Tidemark

"Vertical SaaS founders should not be asleep with AI. You can wave it off, view it as a toy, and say that no one's going to trust that outcome or use it. That may have been the case, but things are changing really quickly.

"Lots of smart people are making it better every month, and you have a massive opportunity to improve it with your data and workflow.

"Jump into it to control your destiny. Don't get caught sleeping without AI in your product in a useful way."

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Greg Head hosts the Practical Founders Podcast, a series dedicated to the often-overlooked builders in the technology and business landscape. Each week, the conversation focuses squarely on founders who have successfully scaled their software companies through means other than massive venture capital. You'll hear detailed, candid stories about bootstrapping, profitable growth, and the strategic choices that define a sustainable enterprise. These interviews dig into the real work of building a valuable company-the early decisions, the pivotal mistakes, the practical systems, and the personal resilience required. It’s for entrepreneurs and operators who are more interested in durable ownership and practical execution than in hype or fundraising rounds. By focusing on firsthand experiences, this podcast provides a grounded perspective on entrepreneurship. Listeners gain actionable insights and honest reflections from leaders who have navigated the complexities of building a business on their own terms. The discussions are in-depth and specific, offering a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the tangible realities of creating a technology company without relying on external funding. This is where the conversation moves beyond theory into the applied lessons of proven founders.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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