Y1 of our 1st B2B SaaS acquisition is a wrap! Here are our main achievements and learning lessons

// ACHIEVEMENTS: 1.) Executed all transformation activities, established repeatable playbooks / operating systems, and scalable transformation team > Brand & Website Refresh > Consolidated tech stack (across all operations and customer touch points) with real-time performance analytics > Ambassador OS, Content & Audience OS, Cold Outbound OS > Strategic Investment Decision-Making Framework

2.) Established $20k stable, high-quality MRR and world-class retention ((99% MoM)

3.) Positive QoQ trend lines across all performance metrics: > New site visitors (+3% MoM), trial signs ups (+10% MoM), and trial to paid conversion rate (~17%) > Support ticket volume (~24 / week), response (~6hrs) and resolution time (~2.6 days)

4.) Achieved predictable engineering velocity with 80% user approval for all releases; radically reduced the risk profile of the business by successfully overcoming tech debt (HUGE win)

5.) Normalized all pricing plans and generated $20k free cash flow via an annual subscription plan

// LEARNING LESSONS 1.) Net new MRR goals start when the transformation period ends (~end of Q2Y1 in our typical holding period)

2.) Priority #1 is training an inference model (aka a GPT) on all existing support and product documentation to radically accelerate ramping your team on domain and tribal knowledge

3.) Despite plans to modernize the operational tech stack, immediately establish centralized, real-time visibility across the business and customer touchpoints via a simple dashboard slack alerts

4.) Always start with the cheapest growth tactic available; worst case, you’ll harvest super useful data

5.) Assume pricing and monetization is a powerful lever (Micro SaaS Founders / Sellers generally lack commercial expertise)

6.) Content creation and distribution is one of the largest points of operating leverage available today

7.) Heavily incentivize and enable your biggest fans out of the gate, as they’re already working hard for you

8.) Onboarding = sales process (in SMB B2B SaaS)

9.) Onboarding is a product-based activity, in-app guides are just bandaids

10.) Tech debt must be understood on a relative spectrum measured via drag on your growth thesis or go-to playbooks

Here's a link to the full version with all analysis and metrics:

https://skalingventures.substack.com/p/achievements-and-learning-lessons#saas #acquireandoperate