Stage 2 Capital

📬 Dear Stage 2: "We're a series A company HQ'd in NYC and almost all of our revenue is in North America. We have started to receive some inbound leads from other countries. How should we think about international expansion?" Liz (Cain) Christo, Partner at Stage 2 Capital, tapped Marie-Michèle Caron, a Stage 2 Limited Partner, and leader who has personally made the move to open a new market, to share her advice. Key takeaways: 🌎 Plan globally from the start, but expand gradually ⬅️ Let market demand pull you in, don't push prematurely 🌐 Send a core team member to lead new regional offices 💼 Treat international expansion like an independent business 🤝 Maintain alignment through regular face-to-face meetings Read the full article for more on this week's Dear Stage 2: https://lnkd.in/gdZcaR2P

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 Cable has been recognized as one of the 49 Most Promising Fintech Startups of 2024 by Business Insider, as highlighted by top VC investors! This recognition underscores our hard work and innovation in automated compliance testing. A huge thank you to the team for making this possible— excited to keep pushing the boundaries of compliance for banks and fintech! https://lnkd.in/guKs-kse

Founders: take note! ✍ Some next-level scale-up wisdom from Brian Halligan you won’t want to miss! 

 "If you don't figure this out, you're cooked!" - Mark Roberge Still struggling with siloed sales and marketing teams? You're not alone. In the latest #ScienceofScaling podcast, Mark Roberge, Co-Founder of Stage 2 Capital, shares tactical advice on bridging the gap: Get Sales & Marketing in a Room Together: Bring sales & marketing leaders in a room. Make them hash out their differences and create a unified strategy. Define the Funnel: Map out who owns what in the pipeline. Set hard numbers - exactly how much pipeline should come from marketing vs. sales? Rethink and Establish Qualification: Align on lead criteria, but here's the kicker - prioritize company fit over job titles. Location, industry, and size trump that fancy VP title! Listen now for the full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/g-UgJYR8 #SalesAndMarketing #StartupGrowth #ScienceOfScaling

The discovery call. It’s your first real opportunity to understand your buyer's needs. It's also a crucial step in your sales playbook. And it's a topic that we covered this week on #InsideCatalyst, a behind-the-scenes look at the topics, expertise, and advice shared each week with our Catalyst cohort. In this session, Mandy Cole, Partner at Stage 2 Capital, shares how mastering the discovery call can transform your sales process—helping you qualify the right leads, ask the right questions, and move prospects smoothly through the funnel. And equally important, qualify out prospects that aren’t a good fit. Here’s why the Discovery Call is key: It’s not just about showcasing your product—it’s about understanding your buyer’s pain points and challenges. By focusing on active listening, you’ll gather the insights needed to qualify prospects, ensuring you focus your energy on the right leads. Mandy’s golden tip: The best sales reps spend more time listening than talking! The Discovery Call is one part of a strong GTM playbook, which maps the buyer journey from awareness to decision. Get the full recap of Module #3: Mapping the Buyer Journey to Build Effective Go-to-Market Playbooks 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQF4ca_d #gtmplaybook #salesplaybook #gtmstrategy Sean Po

Will AI make support tickets a thing of the past? 🤔 Mark Roberge, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Stage 2 Capital, is breaking down the disruptive power of AI and how it’s already shifting the landscape in B2B. Mark will be speaking on how AI will impact the SaaS industry and also available for questions from the virtual audience on Wednesday, October 8th at 10:30AM PT (1:30 PM ET). Sign-up to attend: https://lnkd.in/eGa5_VMi #b2bsaas #metrics #saasmetricspalooza Ray Rike

Is your 2025 planning underway? This week on Dear Stage 2, Liz (Cain) Christo, partner at Stage 2 Capital and Zachary Garippa, Co-Founder and CEO of Order.co share advice for mastering the annual planning process. Here are the top tips: 1️⃣ Start with a Clear Goal: Align on your north star with your executive team and board. Whether it's preparing for another funding round or aiming for profitability, make sure everyone's on the same page. 2️⃣ Rely on Actuals and a Bottoms-Up Model: Ground your projections in reality. Use historical data and resist the urge to make overly optimistic assumptions. 3️⃣ Project Manage the Planning Process: Treat annual planning like a project. Set deadlines, publish timelines, and manage your team accordingly. Don't forget to build in buffer time! 4️⃣ Stick to The Plan: Once approved, your plan should guide you through the period. While sales quotas might be higher, track progress against the original plan. 💡 Bonus Tip: Write your 2025 year-end update... now. It's a great way to visualize success and kick off the planning season. What's your go-to strategy for annual planning? Share in the comments. Full article link in the comments.

🎧 Add this one to your weekend listening list. Jeetu Mahtani, Stage 2 Capital Limited Partner and GTM Advisor on this week's 20VC podcast.

Take a page from QuotaPath's playbook at #Inbound: Start early, stay dynamic, and involve your whole team. We love to see an event strategy that ties activity to real pipeline. Their approach is a masterclass in effective event planning. Jot some of these tips down as inspiration for your next event. 👏

Our September update is here! Catch up on the latest content and news from Stage 2 Capital: 📈 New Catalyst Cohort Announced! 13 new companies 💬 Inside Catalyst: How to know when you're ready to scale? 🎙 Mark Roberge's podcast: Solving for a Siloed Marketing and Sales 📰 Portfolio News: Slang + Open Table announce integration, Intelligems launches new personalization tools + more. 💼 60+ job opportunities with our portfolio companies