$2M Pre-seed to Simplify Franchisor Franchisee Operations with AI

Welcome back to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Gary Liskovich, the co-founder and CEO of Harmonyze, join us. Gary's journey is nothing short of fascinating—starting as a mechanical engineer, his career transitioned from academic research to working with cutting-edge technology at Deloitte and Evolution IQ. Today, he's channeling his diverse experiences into revolutionizing the franchise industry through Harmonyze.  We'll dive into how Gary and his team use AI to streamline operations, compliance, and decision-making for franchisors, making them more profitable and efficient. Gary explains the intricate dynamics between franchisors and franchisees and how Harmonyze's AI agent technology simplifies complex tasks and aggregates data to reduce risk and enhance cohesion within franchise networks.  Plus, we'll discuss the challenges and strategies of building and scaling a SaaS company from the ground up. Gary shares insights from Harmonyze's early days, including their Pre-Seed fundraising journey and the philosophy behind their product development. Whether you're a startup enthusiast, an AI aficionado, or someone intrigued by the nuances of franchising, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Let's get started!  Show Notes:  00:00 AI streamlined complex insurance claims management.  05:32 AI enhances relationships and value across franchise locations.  07:11 System analyzes franchises for overlaps, expirations.  12:27 Founder-led, product-driven, learning-focused seed stage startup.  14:46 Educating investors on franchising challenges through storytelling.  18:12 Focus on solving problems, not features.  Links:  SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/harmonyze-secures-2-million-in-pre-seed-round  Gary Liskovich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-liskovich/  Harmonyze’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harmonyze/  Harmonyze’s Website: https://www.harmonyze.com/  To learn more about Ben check out the links below:  Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/  Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray