Cassie Young, Partner at Primary Venture Partners, joins the show to break down their contrarian $625 million seed fund and the reality of the coming gross retention apocalypse for tech companies. The conversation outlines why classical venture logic is breaking and how AI-native CRMs are plotting to steal enterprise market share from legacy giants like Salesforce. The group also details why the $6 trillion white-collar labor pool is the real target for emerging AI workflows rather than traditio...
Apr 12, 2026•1 hr 6 min
Kyle Norton's AI-enabled revenue team at Owner.com has completely rewritten the economics of what's possible in sales. Kyle joins the show to share why decentralized AI rollouts fail, how to build a core intelligence engine centrally, and why early AI investments must focus on one specific area. The hosts also discuss navigating go-to-market strategy shifts, rethinking RevOps AI integration, and why sales leadership can no longer use budget constraints to delay AI adoption. Key Takeaways: -Build...
Apr 05, 2026•49 min
Amanda Kahlow raised $30 million to build AI sales agents that improve the buying experience. As the founder of 1mind and previously 6sense, she sits at the forefront of modern go to market strategy. In this episode, Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman sit down with Amanda to discuss the reality of AI in the sales motion; she explains how Superhumans (1mind's AI Agents) handle everything from top of funnel enterprise pipeline generation to acting as sales engineers on live demos. The conversati...
Mar 29, 2026•1 hr 1 min
Intercom gave up $60 million in contracted seat-based ARR to bet the entire company on an AI agent named Fin. The result? They passed $400 million in total ARR, with Fin driving over $100 million in revenue and 35% growth. In this episode, Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman break down what went into this massive turnaround. The conversation starts with the problem: the SaaS market cap dropping by $600 billion, and how this creates an urgent need for structural pivots. The hosts discuss the fin...
Mar 22, 2026•55 min
Sam Jacobs (CEO, Pavilion), AJ Bruno (CEO, QuotaPath), and Asad Zaman (CEO, Sales Talent Agency) debate exactly how to handle team members resisting AI adoption. When to leave them, when to nudge them, and when to fire them. The discussion highlights real-world data, including how leading companies reach the top decile of AI adoption and the mechanics of running a 24-hour, four-squad AI hackathon to force experimentation. We also cover a critical performance heuristic from the past CPO of Launch...
Mar 15, 2026•24 min
Is your traditional SaaS experience becoming obsolete? In this new 20-minute rapid-fire format, Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman tackle a specific listener question: How does a senior operator transition from a legacy B2B SaaS role into a high-growth AI company? The market is shifting toward a meritocracy where recent hands-on capability outweighs decades of tenure on a CV. The hosts break down exactly how to position yourself for companies like CoreWeave and EliseAI. They discuss why hiding...
Mar 08, 2026•28 min
Citrini Research claims AI agents will replace white-collar jobs by 2028, triggering a massive economic crash (and repricing of SaaS stocks). Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman analyze the validity of this thesis and the immediate impact on enterprise valuation multiples. The discussion moves to the practical realities of the innovator's dilemma, specifically how legacy software companies must cannibalize their own revenue to survive. They cover strategies for GTM transformation, the loss of p...
Mar 01, 2026•58 min
Nick Turner, CEO of Dreamdata, joins Sam in this special episode of Topline Spotlight. They unpack a challenge many B2B leaders are facing right now: how do you raise capital in a market obsessed with AI when you're not an "AI-native" company? Nick shares his journey from CRO to CEO and what it was like stepping into the top job—only to immediately lead a $55M Series B raise in one of the toughest venture environments in recent history. After speaking with 73 investors in six weeks, he reflects ...
Feb 26, 2026•25 min
Over the course of a few days, $300 billion in market cap was wiped out from public SaaS companies. Looking at the ten most notable US publicly traded SaaS companies over the last six months, they have lost upwards of $600 billion. The public markets are signaling that the classic VC-funded SaaS model is under massive pressure to show rapid AI integration and tangible revenue growth. This episode examines the fallout of the SaaS market correction and what it means for go-to-market operators. We ...
Feb 22, 2026•1 hr 5 min
AJ Meyer, CEO of Pickle Robot, isn't betting on general-purpose humanoid robots. Instead, he's a believer in robots and Physical AI which solve specific, high-volume problems. AJ joins Sam and Asad to reveal how he recently secured a nine-figure enterprise contract and why "boring" logistics tasks are the gateway to mass adoption of robots. But with mass adoption's opportunities, so too are there new risks. AJ shares that while physical safety is an important consideration, the cybersecurity ris...
Feb 15, 2026•1 hr 10 min
Mark Roberge is calling it now: we are about to witness the highest failure rate for a single cohort of startups in the history of tech. As author of Science of Scaling, and co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, Mark joins the pod to dismantle the "growth at all costs" mindset that still plagues founders. He explains why the assembly-line sales model is dead and how AI will force a return to the full-cycle "rainmaker" rep. **Key moments:** The AI Bubble: Why the index fund of the last two years of AI i...
Feb 08, 2026•1 hr 14 min
The AI arms race is getting ugly. With top talent bouncing between Thinking Machines and OpenAI, the guys debate a critical question for every leader: Is loyalty dead, or has Silicon Valley just stopped pretending? Sam, Asad, and AJ discuss the ethics and dangers of the "secure the bag" mindset and what it means for building enduring companies. They also pivot to the tactical side of leadership, breaking down why most managers wait too long to fire and the hard truth that "what you allow, you en...
Feb 01, 2026•1 hr 7 min
AJ and Asad talk about one of the most insane job markets we've ever seen, the rise of AI agents, and the future of AI's talent wars. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Hosts 00:32 The Golden Age ...
Jan 25, 2026•1 hr 7 min
Sam, Asad, and AJ are back to debate the hard numbers shaping the GTM landscape in 2026. The consensus? The freeze is thawing, but the rules have changed. Sam predicts we've entered the "Year of the Deal." Investors are exhausted, founders are tired, and the market is finally ready to clear—even if that means restructuring cap tables to take the win and move on. Asad brings the sobering data on the "Great Concentration," revealing that almost half of venture capital went to a surprisingly small ...
Jan 18, 2026•56 min
MIT reports that 95% of AI initiatives are failing to show ROI. Pablo Dominguez, Operating Partner at Insight Partners, joins the show to explain how to escape that group, and be in the 5% of companies that succeed. Pablo opens the playbook on "Dylan," Insight's internal system of 13 autonomous agents that cut their due diligence process from 35 hours down to 14. Other high points: How Insight used tools like Relevance AI and Gong to build an agent swarm that handles research, analysis, and data...
Jan 11, 2026•1 hr 13 min
Wade Foster (CEO) built Zapier into a profitable powerhouse without traditional VC funding—just $1M post-YC, then profitable ever since. On this episode, the co-founder and CEO shares how that capital discipline shaped their ability to pivot hard when AI hit. Wade also dishes on: The GPT-4 moment that shifted Zapier's roadmap A tested formula for AI agents that actually work How to incentivize internal AI adoption Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newslet...
Jan 04, 2026•39 min
We are multi-million-dollar CEOs specializing in sales and go to market teams in tech. We've met more millionaire sales people than you can count. This is exactly how to explode your income in our favorite career path. We are multi-million-dollar CEOs specializing in sales and go to market teams in tech. We've met more millionaire sales people than you can count. This is exactly how to explode your income in our favorite career path. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscrib...
Dec 21, 2025•1 hr 20 min
In this episode of Top Line, Sam Jacobs, Asad Zaman, and A.J. Bruno dive into the economic and mental health crises facing young professionals, analyzing data on why entry-level opportunities are shrinking in the age of AI. Shifting to business strategy, the group also examines the nuances of pricing power, warning companies against raising rates without delivering commensurate value to the customer. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into...
Dec 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min
We did a comprehensive study on the state of data centers. Where is money going? Where should you be betting? Everything you need to know about data centers, all in one place. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:00 In...
Nov 30, 2025•1 hr 9 min
The Topline team interview Ethan Smith, founder of Graphite, an San Fransico-based growth and SEO agency with clients like Notion, Webflow and Rippling. As well as Rahul Jain from Noble, a consultant who writes and speaks about AI. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep t...
Nov 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min
We ran a comprehensive model to predict how many layoffs may happen in 2026. To see our math, and try to predict what's next, tune into this full episode of Topline. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:43 Show intro &...
Nov 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min
The biggest AI companies in the world have made some bold statements about their priorities, but their actions haven't always lined up. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Back to Topline 00:52 How Well Do ...
Nov 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Dave Kellogg, EIR at Balderton Capital, wrote an explosive piece on the reality of modern startups in 2025. Dave walks us through the winners and losers in the AI era. Read Dave's Article Here: https://topline.beehiiv.com/p/the-era-of-haves-and-have-nots Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenu...
Nov 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min
The Topline crew, joined my Kyle Norton from the Revenue Leadership Podcast, look at the newest ChatGPT usage data. This is getting unhealthy Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast. Chapters: 00:00 AI's Personal Health Impact 00:37 In...
Oct 26, 2025•1 hr 12 min
We ran an analysis on some of the biggest Private Equity assets and acquisitions. Is the explosion of this space a bubble, or is there something deeper happening here? 3 CEOs debate! Chapters: 00:00 – Private Equity's Reach 05:00 – The Broader Impact of Private Equity 10:00 – Toll Roads, Robert Moses, and Infrastructure Power 15:00 – What It's Like to Work for Private Equity 23:50 – Inside Vista and the Private Equity Playbook 27:50 – Preparing for a Private Equity Acquisition 30:50 – Founder Pe...
Oct 19, 2025•1 hr 8 min
3 millionaires explain how they would make $1M with these business models, strategies, and systems. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Agenda 03:17 Bootstrapping: Who It's For and Why It Matte...
Oct 12, 2025•56 min
The Topline crew breaks down the fastest growing startups of 2025. Chapters: 02:20 Welcome to Top Line 02:57 Discussion on AI Company Investments 08:47 Fastest to $10 Million in Revenue 09:53 Debate on AI Market Sustainability 15:58 AI's Impact on Business Strategies 29:58 Fastest to $50 Million in Revenue 33:16 PLG vs. Sales-Led Growth 34:08 Choosing the Right Business Model 37:03 Fastest to $100 Million in Revenue 38:07 Revenue Milestones and AI Companies 42:00 Challenges with AI Accuracy 45:3...
Oct 05, 2025•58 min
Special purpose vehicles are the biggest underworld in startups. They're creating more opportunity to invest in some of the biggest companies in the world. That doesn't mean they don't come with risk. Peter Walker from Carta gives us a full breakdown. 00:00 Too Good to Be True? 01:05 Deep Dive into SPVs 04:03 The Growth and Impact of SPVs 06:04 Understanding SPVs in Venture Capital 23:31 The AI Bubble and Its Implications 32:43 Will Startups Shut Down? 33:52 Hiring and Firing in Startups 39:09 P...
Sep 28, 2025•1 hr 2 min
We went DEEP studying Palantir so you don't have to. We uncover how its stock keeps growing, how the company handles sales and marketing, and to understand why it's such a cultural phenomenon. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Don't miss GTM2025 — the only B2B tech conference exclusively for GTM executives. Use code TOPLINE for 10% off your GA ticket. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech...
Sep 21, 2025•1 hr 4 min
AJ Bruno, the CEO of $21M SaaS startup Quota Path, explains his company-wide experiment to make all of his employees vibe code. The results were shocking. Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday. Don't miss GTM2025 — the only B2B tech conference exclusively for GTM executives. Use code TOPLINE for 10% off your GA ticket. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast , the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel...
Sep 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
