Top 10 in Tech - What to know for Week ending February 7, 2025

1. SaaS METRIC OF THE WEEK: CAC - in a modern SaaS world that has maturing companies using both Sales Led Growth (SLG) and Product Led Growth (PLG) motions and teams, how do you calculate CAC? The answer is, really, they should be kept separate (see Pod of the Week for more below).


2. PLG vs. SLG: According to the Expansion SaaS Benchmarks report (it's a downloadable PDF), PLG businesses lead the pack, but as stated above, SLG can outperform PLG. According to this article, it's not a "vs." thing—you don't have to choose; both strategies can coexist.


3. BOARD: Mostly Metrics delivers a three-part series on running effective board meetings, covering roles and responsibilities, prepping killer materials, and locking in more discreet updates.


4. MARKETING: We all want to run a high-performing marketing team. MKT1 breaks down that Operating Cadence - how to set the right rhythm for planning, execution, and iteration. From weekly stand-ups to quarterly reviews. This is a super helpful framework to keep all your marketing bits aligned and moving fast.


5. R&D: Research and Development is a major component of any competent Software startup, and often, public R&D incentives (via Grants, Tax breaks, or deductions) align well at the difficult early and growth phases. So, how do you measure if your R&D spend is actually paying off? Mostly Metrics breaks down key efficiency metrics—like R&D as a % of revenue, time-to-market impact, and capitalized vs. expensed costs—to help SaaS leaders optimize innovation investments.


6. CORE 4: Adding onto #5 above is a new framework for your tech dictionaries, Core 4. a pretty powerful (but simple) way to prioritize R&D investments. Instead of spreading resources thin, focus on four core product bets that drive real impact.


7. FACILITATE: A super fun and VERY bookmarkable resource this week. It's a library of tools available to facilitate your next session with people or a team - team building, brainstorming, ice-breakers, check-ins. They are all there!


8. PREDICTIONS: Dave Kellogg's 2025 forecast anticipates continued challenges in the startup ecosystem (yay!), with a stock-standard focus on efficient growth and the rising influence of AI. But he also predicts that LinkedIn may face challenges in maintaining its professional focus amid increasing non-work-related content (why Videos Linkedin? Why?). Additionally, Kellogg discusses the potential for increased division in the U.S. political landscape (check!) and the evolving role of public relations in the era of AI-driven content.


9. MARKETING: eBooks are dead? According to Hubspot, SaaS marketers are pivoting to (free) mini-tools that actually solve problems and add value. Read more about how to get started in that article as well. I guess marketers found the loss leader they've been looking for, and I should start sharing more.


10. CASE STUDY: The GTM Newsletter reveals Outreach's 5-phase GTM framework that drove their growth. This article covers $0-$230m ARR and covers early experiments, scaling tactics, and strategies that cool framework.


POD OF THE WEEK: To marry #1 and #2 above from the SaaS CFO Calculating CAC when you have PLG and SLG motions. ​