The SaaS Playbook For Growth, Partnerships & Acquisitions

An exit sounds clean on paper. The reality is messier, more human, and way more useful. We’re joined by Brian Nolan, entrepreneur and investor, to unpack how he built Sellbrite by solving a real multichannel e-commerce problem early in the Amazon FBA wave, then sold the company to GoDaddy. Along the way, we get honest about what life looks like after the deal, why corporate pace can feel painful after startup speed, and how keeping fundraising modest can leave founders and employees with real ownership at exit. We also go deep on growth without a giant media budget. Brian breaks down how partner-led marketing actually works in B2B SaaS: earning trust with platforms, showing up at the right conferences, becoming a recommended integration, and doing the math on CAC, LTV, and payback periods. Then we follow the pivots: building BookOutdoors as a marketplace for campgrounds and outdoor accommodation, learning how hard it is to sell tech to operators who still run on phones and calendars, and finally buying a premium lifestyle apparel brand for dog people, Darren & Phillip. We talk US expansion from Australia, 3PL fulfilment, influencer strategy, brand repositioning, and the career advice Brian gives his daughter in the age of AI. More episodes on B2B SaaS available here on Hat MediaSend us Fan Mail