Guest: Prasanth Chilukuri, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Soul Street Ventures

The biggest threat to early-stage SaaS growth isn’t competition. It’s founder distraction, unfocused GTM motions, and chasing quick wins instead of building a real business.

In this episode, Prasanth Chilukuri, co-founder and managing partner of Soul Street Ventures, joins host Ken Lempit to reveal why most early-stage SaaS companies struggle long before product issues surface — and how disciplined strategy, a tight ICP, and hands-on founder coaching unlock meaningful, scalable traction.

Drawing on his experience both as a SaaS founder (Tekmetric) and investor, Prasanth explains why “scale with soul” isn’t just a mantra, but a framework for building durable companies that don’t rely on hype, vanity channels, or coast-driven valuation games.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Why misaligned ICPs and GTM distractions quietly stall early-stage SaaS
How to test, retest, and refine GTM motions using real customer behavior
Why AI discoverability is reshaping marketing efficiency (and what to do about it)
How venture style differs across regions — and why it matters for founders
Why founder coachability, discipline, and mindset are the strongest predictors of growth
How unique SaaS data assets create new value (and why most companies underuse them)

If you’re a B2B SaaS founder, CRO, or CMO navigating early-stage go-to-market, evaluating AI’s impact on your product, or preparing for institutional capital, this episode offers a practical, grounded playbook for building a company that truly lasts.

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Ep. 182 - What Most SaaS Founders Get Wrong About Go-to-Market