243: Build in India, Sell to US | Nivas Ravichandran( Head of Marketing, Spendflo)

In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan talks to Nivas, a seasoned SaaS marketer, to discuss his journey and insights into SaaS marketing. Nivas shares his accidental entry into the SaaS world, joining Freshworks (then Freshdesk) post-acquisition of his startup in 2015. The conversation highlights the importance of building a world-class product, visionary leadership from Freshworks CEO Girish, and the challenges of educating the market about SaaS in its early days. Nivas also delves into his role at SpendFlo, emphasizing the value of investing in brand from the outset, developing an intimate event strategy for engagement, and managing expectations when expanding into the US market.  Topics:00:00 Introduction00:27 Joining FreshWorks: Early Days and Challenges03:44 Working with Girish: Leadership and Vision08:59 FreshWorks Marketing Strategies14:57 The Shift to Mid-Market and Enterprise17:26 The Zero to One Journey at SpendFlow23:00 Navigating Founders' Ideas24:36 Importance of Brand Investment26:08 Building Trust Through Branding29:18 Event Strategy and Execution36:54 Expanding into the US Market42:01 Advice for Startup Founders on Marketing ------------------------------------- Click here to get regular WhatsApp updates:https://wa.me/message/ZUZQQGKCZTADL1 ------------------------------------- Connect with Us: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-operator​Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperatorStartup​​ ------------------------------------- If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!