Turning users into influencers. How to run a community-based SaaS | Nicky Szmala @picdrop

Nicky Szmala joined PicDrop as CEO after the acquisition — walking into a company built by photographers, for photographers, with a growth engine already running. What he found was a community-led model that's quietly outperforming the shortcuts everyone else is chasing.In this episode:→ How picdrop finds and works with influencers who already use the product→ The two-engine growth model driving international expansion→ What it actually looks like to lead a team post-acquisition (and why openness is everything)→ Why picdrop team bets on events even though it's "100% not scalable" → Nicky's take on AI, photography rights, and community trust in a shifting landscapeThis one's for founders and operators who want real talk on brand building, community-led growth, and what life looks like inside a SaaS acquirer's portfolio.----------- Episode's Chapters -----------0:06 — Meet Nicky: From Asia to PicDrop CEO1:23 — Why Anna Was Skeptical About the Acquisition2:44 — Joining a Company Post-Acquisition: Nicky's Approach7:03 — Nicky's Background: From Berlin to 16 Years in Asia14:27 — What Is PicDrop and Who Uses It25:20 — How saas.group's Central Teams Supercharge Small Brands🎙️ Nicky Szmala - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickyszmala/picdrop - picdrop.comSubscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-groupStay up to date:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796