SaaSy Talk S01.43: Product, Pricing, and Persistence: Oana's Startup Journey with Sequel.io

About The Guest(s): Oana Manolache is the CEO and co-founder of Sequel.io. This platform helps data-driven marketers boost revenue by hosting webinars on their own websites and repurposing video content at AI speed. As privacy laws and social algorithms change, Oana envisions a future where every brand creates its own channel, content, and customer journey, leading to widespread de-platformization. Previously, she served as a country board member, led marketing efforts, and was a spokesperson for HP in one of the company's most profitable units. Her work spanned Western Europe and North America, earning her a spot on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Oana has worked and lived in numerous countries, considers herself a global citizen, and is a staunch advocate for the power of diversity, which led her to build a fully remote SF-based company culture. Summary: Oana shares her journey from working at HP to becoming a founder of Sequel.io. She emphasizes the importance of asking for what you want and working hard to achieve your goals. Oana also discusses the challenges she faced as a young woman in a male-dominated industry and the lessons she learned from her corporate experience. She highlights the significance of building a strong team and creating a positive company culture. Oana talks about the rewarding moments of being a founder, such as acquiring the first customer and building an incredible team. She also reflects on the mistakes and challenges she encountered along the way, including the struggle to find the right pricing strategy. Oana provides insights into balancing product development and go-to-market strategy, as well as the importance of customer feedback in shaping the product roadmap. Key Takeaways: Ask for what you want and don't be afraid to take on new challenges. Work hard and put in the effort to build a successful company. Surround yourself with like-minded people and build a community of founders. Focus on solving customer pain points and building a product that adds value. Be transparent with pricing and avoid discounting as a desperate sales tactic. Quotes: "Having a business owner mentality and being a good team player are crucial traits for success." "Listen to the market and go to your customers when you're trying to build, rather than looking at competitors." "Build with your customers and find innovative ways to solve their problems." "Discounting is the wrong time when you're using it as a desperate sales tactic." "Surround yourself with like-minded people and build a community of founders." "Focus on solving customer pain points and building a product that adds value." "Be transparent with pricing and avoid discounting as a desperate sales tactic." Chapters 00:12 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:16 Oana’s Career Journey and Transition to Entrepreneurship 02:34 Challenges and Achievements in Early Career 04:16 Lessons Learned from Corporate Experience 06:04 Building a Successful Team and Company Culture 08:01 Most Rewarding Moments as a Founder 09:43 Overcoming Challenges and Mistakes in the Founder's Journey 12:50 Balancing Product Development and Go-to-Market Strategy 20:53 Approach to Pricing Strategy and Discounting 26:12 Planning for the Future and 2024 Outlook 27:59 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 29:27 Quick Fire Round and Conclusion Subscribe on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZVkJ12FIqD39oqgj7Kcjq  Subscribe on Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/saasy-talk-unfiltered/id1709426070 Subscribe on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@SaaSyTalkUnfiltered Subscribe on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saasy-talk-unfiltered Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://substack.com/@saasytalkunfiltered Visit our Website:  https://saasytalkunfiltered.transistor.fm/   Follow Ricky Sevta on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickysevta/ Follow Sean Diljore on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/seandiljore/