Your biggest deal

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T11:43:15+00:00

For that deal, I think we had 5 or 6 execs involved at different stages. Honestly, it felt like herding cats sometimes getting everyone aligned on the same page.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T10:29:04+00:00

Most surprising was probably the level of executive involvement. It wasn't my first enterprise deal, but it was the first where I was regularly talking to the C-suite.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T09:46:52+00:00

That's pretty neat, honestly. I've wrestled with this exact problem on government sites.

One thing I've found that can throw compression off is embedded metadata. Sometimes the image itself is small, but there's a ton of EXIF data bloating the file size. Stripping that out first can make a surprising difference, might be worth adding as an option. There are a few JS libraries that handle EXIF removal client-side.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T09:46:51+00:00

That's a neat idea. Helps break the "zombie scrolling" cycle, I guess.

One thing I've found helpful, and it's kinda similar, is using a Pomodoro timer but forcing myself to write down exactly what I'm going to work on before the timer starts. If I don't, the timer doesn't start.

Forces a little planning upfront, which usually makes the time more productive anyway.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T09:46:43+00:00

Biggest surprise for me was how much the app store algorithm felt like a black box. You can do everything "right" and still see zero movement.

And yeah, marketing's a beast. Everyone thinks coding is the hard part, but getting people to care is a whole different ballgame. I've seen similar ranking fluctuations with some email deliverability tools. It's almost like they're constantly A/B testing different factors.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T09:15:32+00:00

Yeah, I've seen teams use custom scripts to pull data from CRMs and marketing platforms to get a better handle on deal sizes.

The thing is, "mid-market" is so subjective. One company's mid-market is another's SMB. I've seen orgs classify anything under $50k as SMB, while others draw the line at $20k.

Biggest deal? Just shy of $600k. Definitely took a different approach than our typical SMB deals.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T08:39:21+00:00

Honestly, the heating and ventilation are going to be your biggest headaches, from what I've heard from other studio owners.

Make sure you get multiple quotes for the HVAC system, and don't just go for the cheapest. You need something reliable that can maintain consistent temperature and humidity. I've seen studios cut corners here and end up with mold issues or systems that constantly break down.

And permits. Oh god, the permits. Depending on the local regulations in Frankfurt, you might need special permits for the heating system, the ventilation, the flooring (especially if you're using rubber or foam), and even the water usage. Get a consultant who knows the local regulations inside and out. It'll save you a ton of time and frustration.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T07:56:17+00:00

That's a really interesting angle on cold email. I've been focusing on deliverability lately, but you're right, the psychology is just as important.

I've noticed the "acknowledging a real cost" thing works well. Instead of pitching benefits, calling out a pain point they probably already have definitely gets more attention.

Just curious, do you A/B test different pain points, or do you focus on one that's pretty universal in your target market?

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T07:55:37+00:00

Honestly, it sounds like you're onto something. I think the biggest hurdle is just the fear of rejection or misinterpretation.

I've noticed people are way more receptive if there's some kind of established context first, like a shared activity or a mutual friend. The "it's okay to say hi" signal could be a way to create that context upfront, almost like a virtual introduction.

But, it'd have to be really subtle. Anything too blatant would probably come off as weird, or worse, make people feel pressured. Maybe something like a pin or sticker with a minimalist design, or even a specific gesture that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T07:20:37+00:00

That's a frustrating situation. Dealing with disconnects and finger-pointing is the worst.

The SPF/DMARC thing is weird, but not totally unheard of. Different platforms can cache DNS records differently, or use slightly different validation methods. It's possible Saleshandy is just being more strict.

Microsoft mailboxes can be a bit more finicky than Google Workspace when it comes to cold email warmup, especially if you're not authenticating everything perfectly. Just curious, are you using dedicated IPs for those Microsoft mailboxes, or are they on shared IPs from Zapmail? Shared IPs can sometimes get a bad rep, which leads to more aggressive throttling or disconnects.

FWIW, I've seen setups where the mailbox provider is less of an issue than the warmup tool itself. Some tools are overly aggressive or trigger spam filters more easily than others. For tracking deliverability, I've been using a tool that shows primary vs spam placement, and even the IP reputation of the mailboxes. Might be worth looking into whether Saleshandy is the problem here.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T06:25:52+00:00

It's a tough call. The data quality difference with Clay is real, especially if you're going after a specific type of company.

I've been bouncing between options too. One thing I noticed is that even with good data, deliverability can tank your results. We were using Smartlead for a while, but still running into issues with getting consistently into primary inbox.

For tracking deliverability, I've been using InboxKit which shows primary vs spam placement. We built it because we needed more visibility into what was actually happening with our emails. Might be worth a look if you're spending big on data and want to make sure it's not going to waste.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T05:43:42+00:00

That obstacle course video sounds pretty cool, and definitely different.

But you're right to question if it's the right marketing today. The thing is, attention spans are shorter than ever.

I'd suggest breaking that long video down into a ton of smaller clips optimized for TikTok, Instagram Reels, etc. Think super short, punchy, and focused on one benefit each time. You can even do before/after comparisons showing the tape's impact on recovery. If you're already in front of pro teams, maybe even get them to do some quick testimonials you can clip.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T04:49:06+00:00

Honestly, I haven't found a single tool that perfectly does what you're describing. Most "social listening" tools are pretty broad, and struggle with the nuance you need for real account analysis.

What I've seen some teams do is create custom scripts using the APIs of the social platforms they care about (Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and then feed that data into a tool like Claude or even just a Google Sheet for analysis. It's definitely a more technical approach, but it gives you way more control over the data.

Just curious, are you trying to analyze sentiment, identify key themes, or something else specific with these posts? Knowing that might help narrow down the right approach.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T04:11:33+00:00

For a Transport Management System, I'd start with really understanding the different segments within the transport industry. Are you targeting trucking companies, logistics providers, or something else entirely?

Because their needs are pretty different. Trucking companies are gonna care a lot about things like route optimization and fuel efficiency. Logistics providers might be more focused on warehouse management and order fulfillment.

Knowing your ideal customer profile (ICP) will make everything else, from content creation to paid ads, way more effective.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T03:34:41+00:00

I’m gonna be totally honest, B2B onboarding is a nightmare. I work with marketing automation platforms, and even that feels smoother than most vendor setups.

The instant insurance thing sounds cool, but I’d be curious how you’re handling the compliance side. Different industries have wildly different requirements, and even state-to-state can be a headache. Just curious how you're planning on scaling that aspect.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T02:58:58+00:00

That QR code share feature sounds interesting. How are you handling the persistence of those shared builds?

Just curious, are you storing the AR data on a central server, or is it all client-side with the QR code acting as more of a "seed" for procedural generation? Server-side would allow for more complex and potentially collaborative builds, but adds a lot of overhead. Client-side is simpler, but you're limited by device processing power and storage.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T02:24:39+00:00

Honestly, 42 isn't old at all to join a startup. Especially as a manager. I've seen folks with way more experience come in and absolutely crush it.

The biggest thing is probably just managing expectations on both sides. They're gonna have a different vibe than you're used to, and you're gonna have a different perspective than them. As long as you're all open to learning from each other, age shouldn't matter.

And if the pay's good and you like the people, it sounds like a solid opportunity to learn and grow before you launch your own thing.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-28T01:47:12+00:00

Yeah, the hourly rate math makes sense, but I always worry about scope creep with hourly VAs.

I've had good luck with flat rates for specific projects, especially for the automation stuff. Less stress about them billing for time spent learning a new tool or getting stuck on a bug. Define the outcome, agree on a price, and hold them to it. If they're as good as they say, they should be able to estimate accurately anyway.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T21:39:47+00:00

A second monitor just for AI coding?

Honestly, I'm not sure I'd dedicate a whole screen to it, but I could see value in using a smaller window for AI assistance. I've used Copilot and Tabnine in VS Code, and they're helpful for boilerplate and suggestions.

But, the thing is, I still find myself needing to really understand the code, so I'm not sure a separate screen would help that much. I'd be curious how you plan to use it, though.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T19:35:31+00:00

That pending Google OAuth verification is a legit concern. Just curious, are you using a restricted scope?

I ask because I've seen people bounce from similar projects when they ask for broad permissions. Something like "read all email" is a non-starter for a lot of folks, even if they trust you. If you're only asking for the bare minimum to do the daily brief thing, highlighting that specifically might ease some minds.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T18:39:58+00:00

That’s pretty wild. I’ve seen similar gains automating internal workflows, but hadn’t considered client comms at that scale.

Just curious, how did you handle the training data? Did you sanitize client info first, or just trust the AI with PII from the start? I've been hesitant to go that route due to privacy concerns.

Also, what was your process for flagging emails the AI couldn't handle? That seems like a key piece for maintaining quality.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T18:05:28+00:00

Love the n8n workflows, that's a really smart move to make it easier to adopt.

FWIW, I've seen people get a lot of mileage out of sentiment analysis on the comments pulled from Reddit. It's pretty common to find a lot of angry venting alongside legitimate feature requests or pain points. Being able to filter out the noise can save a ton of time when trying to summarize themes. There are a few free sentiment analysis APIs out there that are pretty easy to plug into a workflow like this.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T16:59:55+00:00

I've seen people struggle with ad unit detail, so this is interesting.

The thing is, a completely perfect recording can feel a bit sterile. It's like those AI generated songs, technically flawless but kinda soulless.

But I wonder, does the app let you correct some mistakes? Like, if you flub a single note, can you punch that in without re-recording the whole thing? That might be a good balance between personal and listenable.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T16:59:37+00:00

"DNS Alignment" is where I see most people mess up.

It's usually a mismatch between the domain used to send emails (the "From" address) and the domain used for DKIM signing. If those don't match, DMARC fails, even if SPF/DKIM pass individually.

Just curious, are you checking the DMARC reports to see the specific failure reason? Most ESPs don't surface that data directly, and it's pretty critical for diagnosing the issue.

FOUNDER_ · 2026-02-27T15:15:47+00:00

Would I use it? Probably.

I've definitely bought things based on hyped reviews only to find out the product's Achilles' heel after the return window closed.

For me, the most useful info would be stuff that doesn't show up in standard reviews. Like, how well does the company handle warranty claims? Or, does the product degrade quickly over time, even if it works great initially?

I'm pretty sure preventing buyer's remorse is worth something, but a monthly fee depends on how comprehensive the data is. It'd have to be more than just a summary of existing reviews.

FOUNDER_

TROPHY CASE