How Shipping Imperfect Products Quickly Leads to Faster Growth

89 - How Shipping Imperfect Products Quickly Leads to Faster GrowthVit sits down with HighLevel co-founder and operator-at-heart, Robin Alex, for an inside look at HighLevel’s origin story, product philosophy, and the future of AI for agencies. Robin shares how an IT-and-ops mindset shaped his journey from running a gaming servers business and his agency Innovate Fast to co-founding HighLevel with Shaun and Varun. They unpack the “skateboard” approach to shipping, why community-led growth beat paid ads, how SaaS Mode unlocked a new model for agencies, and where HighLevel is going next with AI agents, data residency, and B2B-friendly inbox controls. Robin also opens up about founder dynamics, decision-making without silos, and why agencies will remain the critical distribution layer in the AI era.Special Offer 🤩📣📌 🔥 Get 30-day extended free trial of Highlevel, the software I use for my own SaaS Agency (plus $3,277 worth of bonuses that I normally only give my paying clients) https://www.gohighlevel.com/vitAbout Robin AlexRobin Alex is the co-founder of HighLevel. A systems-first operator, he began in IT infrastructure and technical operations, launched one of his first ventures hosting gaming servers, and later founded Innovate Fast, where he helped small businesses scale with smart stacks, automations, and paid media. Those trenches led to HighLevel—a platform purpose-built to turn agencies into SaaS companies—co-founded with Shaun Clark and Varun Vairavan. Robin champions fast shipping, customer closeness, and building for agency leverage.Highlights 🔥Key points we talked about in this pilot episode!👉 [00:01:00] The Origin of HighLevel - Robin shares the story of how he met Shaun and Varun, leading to the creation of HighLevel from a two-day prototype.👉 [00:12:00] Building HighLevel: The "Skateboard" Approach - Discussion on HighLevel's product philosophy of shipping fast, iterating with customers, and the importance of community-led growth.👉 [00:23:00] Innovate Fast and the Duct Tape Method - Robin talks about his previous company, Innovate Fast, and how it influenced the creation of HighLevel by solving complex agency problems.👉 [00:51:00] SaaS Mode and Pricing Strategy - Insights into how SaaS Mode was developed from customer behavior and the flexible pricing model that encourages agencies to evolve.👉 [00:58:00] AI Integration: "With You" and "For You" - Robin explains the dual approach to AI in HighLevel, enhancing both user workflows and automating client interactions.👉 [00:46:00] Community and Organic Growth - The role of community in HighLevel's growth, from Facebook chats to global events, and the power of word-of-mouth marketing.👉 [01:06:00] Future Plans: Data Residency and B2B Flexibility - Discussion on upcoming features like regional data hosting, B2B-friendly inbox controls, and the strategic direction of HighLevel.Our Sponsors:We’re proud to partner with some of the top industry leaders who help make the HighLevel Experience Podcast possible:HighLevelHighLevel is the all-in-one sales, marketing, and automation platform powering thousands of agencies and businesses worldwide. From AI tools to funnels, CRM, workflows, chat, reviews, and more—HighLevel helps you automate, scale, and deliver better results with one powerful system.Click here to get 30-day extended free trial of HighlevelHL Pro Tools - Your All-in-One Agency ToolkitHL Pro Tools helps HighLevel users scale faster with daily coaching, industry-specific snapshots, done-for-you onboarding, branded demos, theme customisers, and white-label resources. It’s the ultimate toolkit for agencies wanting to grow, automate, and stand out — just like we do at the High Level Experience. - Click here to learn more about HL Pro ToolsVAHub PROFree Up Your Time with HighLevel-Pro VAs — $297 Onboarding Fee Waived!Meet VA Hub PRO—the ultimate VA agency built just for HighLevel users. Imagine having a team of skilled “HighLevel ninjas” who handle your GHL tasks flawlessly, freeing you to focus on growth, client meetings, and closing deals. I’ve seen the impact firsthand with my own VAs, Komal and Eyanda—they’re game-changers. Right now, VA Hub PRO is waiving the $297 onboarding fee. Book your call at highlevelexperience.vahubpro.com.Level Up MarketplaceA cutting-edge platform designed to extend the functionality of HighLevel, offering a wide range of custom apps and workflow actions tailored to meet the diverse needs of agencies and SaaS businesses.As one of the only six global HighLevel developer partners, Level Up Marketplace provides innovative solutions that streamline processes, enhance customization, and enable new revenue streams. Whether you're looking to replace external tools like Zapier with native HighLevel integrations or seeking unique app functionalities to solve specific business challenges, Level Up Marketplace delivers agile, high-quality applications that empower agencies to scale and optimize their operations effortlessly. With a commitment to continuous development and community-driven innovation, Level Up Marketplace is redefining what’s possible within the HighLevel ecosystem.SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR PODCAST LISTENERS! Use promo code VITMULLER at checkout to get 20% discount on your Level Up Marketplace Subscription! Click Here To Sign UpMy CRM SimUnlimited SMS & WhatsApp for HighLevelGet your SMS & WhatsApp marketing up and running effortlessly in 5 minutes with myCRMSIM + High Level and enjoy unlimited text messaging capabilities without the hassle of A2P registration or per message charges. Use promo code HLE25 to get 25% off any plan my CRM Plan. Click here to get startedLove This Podcast?Please rate and review in your favorite app by clicking hereSubscribe to High Level Experience Newsletter!Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates, strategies, and a front-row seat to the latest GHL feature reviews, all tailored to propel your journey to HighLevel greatness. Join us now and be part of a community that's redefining success in the digital age! 🚀💼🎧✨Click here to subscribeShare your story to be featured on our next episode! Each episode we feature 3 different GHL agencies sharing 1 inspiring story of businesses and impact made for them as a result of using HighLevel. Click here to submit yours!🎤Got a Beef 🥩with HighLevel? Let’s Hear It!🎤Share it in 60 seconds and join our podcast party! It's your chance to make software talk entertaining and maybe, just maybe, spark the next big update. Quick, fun, and a bit cheeky—record your piece, send it over, and let's add some flavor to HighLevel feedback.Supercharge Your Agency with Exclusive Free Resources! 🚀Get the Tools You Need to Protect, Optimize, and Scale Your Business – Absolutely Free!Running a successful agency is challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. In collaboration with Vit Muller GHL Consulting we now offer you a collection of essential resources to help you protect your content, streamline your operations, and set your clients up for success. Click here to explore all the different resources available to your agency absolutely free!Recommended Tools, Add-ons and Services to Power Up🔥 your HighLevel™ SaaS...