PHX Founders
We sit down with remarkable founders who are making Phoenix a top software city. In these interviews, we dig in to the highs and lows of company building, and get a little vulnerable to find out what makes these founders keep going.
The PHX Founders Podcast is a production of PHX FWD.
PHX FWD is on a mission to prove Phoenix a top city for sustainable, high growth software companies to start, scale, and succeed. We've seen firsthand how software ventures can be a force for good for individuals, families, and communities.
We believe Phoenix is the best city to start a company, with the best talent, and without a doubt the very best company builders. Watch us prove it.
PHX Founders
From Side Hustles & Cold Emails to CRM Powerhouse: Cayden Phipps and Kieran O’Brien on Building and Scaling Shopgenie
In this episode of the Phoenix Founders Podcast, we sat down with Cayden Phipps and Kieran O’Brien, co-founders of ShopGenie, to discuss their journey of building an innovative SaaS company in the auto repair industry. ShopGenie is an all-in-one CRM platform that streamlines operations for independent auto repair shops through automated text reminders, online scheduling, digital marketing services, and more.
Cayden and Kieran share their entrepreneurial backgrounds, from flipping sneakers and starting a wedding videography business to launching a barbecue cleaning service and a marketing agency. They recount their serendipitous meeting, driven by a cold email and a mutual passion for cars, and their evolution from marketing partners to building ShopGenie.
The duo dives into their decision to transition from white-labeled software to developing a purpose-built solution, fueled by customer feedback and a passion for solving inefficiencies in the auto repair industry. They also highlight their high-growth journey, bootstrapping early stages, and achieving 6.6 million ARR in just over a year while maintaining an obsessive focus on customer service.
Learn about the unique dynamics of their co-founder relationship, the power of healthy organizational tension, and how they've tackled challenges like scaling customer success, simplifying pricing, and balancing personal and professional priorities.
Here’s what we dig into:
- How their upbringing shaped their entrepreneurial spirit.
- The transition from marketing services to SaaS product development.
- Key growth milestones, including their early guerrilla marketing strategies and scaling through customer-centric service.
- Insights into fostering a productive co-founder relationship and building a team that prioritizes customer obsession.
Don't miss this inspiring episode filled with actionable insights for aspiring founders and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.
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