Technology

Topline

The #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Tune in every week to hear Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno and Asad Zaman discuss and debate the trends, news, and developments impacting the B2B tech world. Enjoy the hot takes, strong opinions, and dry humor.

Latest Episodes:

TOPLINE HOTLINE: How to get feedback as an executive Feb 15, 2024

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In this mini-episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad discuss getting executive feedback. They explore the benefits and challenges of getting feedback as an executive in both large and small companies.

E43: Recap of Pavilion's CEO Summit Feb 11, 2024

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In this episode of Topline, our hosts recap their time at Pavilion's CEO Summit in Phoenix. They also discuss the impact of macroeconomic improvements on market trends, the recent wave of layoffs in the tech sector, and a prevailing sentiment among CEOs toward prioritizing profitability and sustainable growth amidst market adjustments.

Watch SaaStr's Jason Lemkin's CEO Summit session where he shares his top priorities for the beginning of 2024.

Want more Topline? Read the recaps.

TOPLINE HOTLINE: So, what's the deal with variable comp plans? Feb 08, 2024

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For this week's mini-episode, our hosts discuss a question from the Pavilion CRO Slack channel around the fairness and effectiveness of variable compensation plans for Chief Revenue Officers.

E42: Carta's Peter Walker on Fundraising, Valuations, and Shutdowns Feb 04, 2024

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Carta's Head of Insights, Peter Walker, joins our hosts to discuss the implications of economic rate cuts, company shutdowns, and the challenges founders face during fundraising. The discussion also covers the best investment opportunities today and the importance of equity for employees and organizational health in companies.

Topline Hotline: Where should account managers sit within the organization? Feb 01, 2024

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In this episode of Topline Hotline, our hosts tackle a burning question from Pavilion's Slack community: where should account managers sit within the organization? Should they report to the new business leader? Or to the customer success leader?

E41: Unicorn Companies, Venture Capital Landscape, and Executive Hiring Insights Jan 28, 2024

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In this episode, hosts Sam Jacobs, Asad Zaman, and AJ Bruno delve into the dynamics of the late-stage tech market, discussing trends in unicorn companies, the venture capital landscape, and the importance of aligning business growth with profitability. They also explore the concept of 'stage appropriateness' in executive hiring and share insights on effectively communicating company valuation and equity to employees.

Want more Topline? Read the recaps.

TOPLINE HOTLINE: What percentage of demand should be driven by the sales team? Jan 25, 2024

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In this episode of Topline Hotline, the hosts discuss the balance between inbound and outbound strategies for demand generation in a traditional SaaS business. They explore the effectiveness of different channels and the impact of factors such as interest rates and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of deep empathy for the customer and finding unique approaches that work for each business.

E40: The Carta Controversy, Cloudflare's Viral Moment, and The Death of Growth at Any Cost Jan 21, 2024

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Our hosts discuss viral moments from the past two weeks, including Carta's exit of their secondary market business and Cloudflare's layoff of an AE that went viral on TikTok and LinkedIn. The episode wraps up with a discussion sparked by one of Sam's most recent LinkedIn posts on how Growth at Any Cost (GAAC) is dead.

Want more Topline? Read the recaps.

TOPLINE HOTLINE: How do you revamp a performance improvement plan so it's effective? Jan 18, 2024

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In this episode of Topline Hotline, our hosts delve into their personal experiences with performance improvement plans (PIPs). Drawing from their extensive careers as sales leaders, they share valuable insights on PIPs and provide practical suggestions on approaching and navigating them.

E39: Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures on AI, 2024 Predictions, and Metrics That Matter Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

Founder and General Partner of Theory Ventures, Tomasz Tunguz, shares his founder story, his predictions for 2024, and his point of view on artificial intelligence from the changing landscape of AI to Microsoft's leadership in the AI race.

He also shares insights on the impact of inflation and interest rates on the tech industry, concerns about the size of the venture capital industry, and the metrics that matter for seed and Series A companies. Want more TOPLINE? Read the recaps.

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