On this episode of The SaaS Operator Podcast, we hosted Joe Thurman, co-founder of IIA Healthcare. IIA Healthcare is a SaaS that uses AI to help healthcare employers interview better.
This episode features the story of how Joe and his team took an internal tool to market as a SaaS product with over $1M ARR and $6M funding raised.
Joe also gives us the scoop on acquiring a smaller startup, Gritly, and their plans for the future.
Tune in to learn more about:
~ IIA Healthcare’s value proposition, team structure, and growth
~ How Joe built an internal tool into a successful SaaS product
~ Acquiring smaller startups as a growing startup
~ Hiring and managing engineering contractors engineering teams on contract
- (00:00) - Intro
- (00:10) - What is IIA Healthcare, and who it is for
- (01:30) - IIA’s founding journey
- (03:37) - Transitioning from a service to SaaS
- (06:50) - Taking an internal tool to market
- (08:35) - Why they chose the VC route
- (09:39) - IIA’s journey to raising $6M
- (10:21) - IIA's current ARR and team size
- (10:39) - The organizational structure at IIA Healthcare
- (11:17) - The importance of a COO/Operator for startups
- (12:05) - IIA's recent acquisition of a smaller startup
- (12:35) - Behind IIA’s early decision to acquire a startup
- (14:53) - Opportunities for startups to acquire venture orphans
- (16:54) - Deciding to hire the engineering team as contractors
- (19:10) - Keeping a committed team environment with contractors
- (21:09) - Evolving IIA’s value proposition with growth
- (25:46) - How IIA uses AI to improve hiring
- (29:00) - IIA's plans for the next 2 years
- (30:23) - Closing remarks
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Mentioned In The Episode
Nikolas Chapoupis
EarlyNode
What is The SaaS Operator Podcast?
Get real stories about the birth and growth of SaaS Startups with our Host Nikolas Chapoupis (CEO @EarlyNode). Each episode gets into the trenches alongside those who were *actually* there when it happened. To reveal the full story of what's working in SaaS right now, from hiring to fundraising, marketing, and product strategy.
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