Hello, SaaS Founders and Experts 👋,

Welcome to another insightful edition of the Operating System Newsletter by Liberate Labs!

This week we have curated gems from across the internet to provide you with insights that can keep you informed and help you make better decisions.

Let's dive in!

1. Must Reads This Week 📰

The SaaS ecosystem never fails to surprise and this week some strange news is on the way.

Investments in generative AI startups topped $3.9B in Q3 2024 🤑🤑

In Q3 2024, venture capitalists invested $3.9 billion in generative AI startups across 206 deals, with U.S.-based companies receiving $2.9 billion. 

Despite concerns over the technology's reliability and legality, notable investments included 

• $320 million for coding assistant Magic

• $260 million for enterprise search provider Glean.

Analysts predict that 60% of generative AI skeptics will eventually adopt the technology, driven by its application in various industries. However, computational demands are still a challenge.

Zuora Goes Private for $1.7 Billion. Why This is Good News for SaaS 😲

Zuora, a pioneering SaaS company known for its subscription management services, has agreed to be acquired by private equity firms GIC and Silverlake for $1.7 billion. 

This acquisition reflects Zuora's strong performance:

• $416 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR)

• 9% growth from last year, 

• 11% free cash flow margins

• An impressive 104% net revenue retention (NRR) rate. 

This decision reflects the importance of maintaining growth even when profitability might lag. Founders should focus on scaling their businesses and expanding customer bases.

Adobe Competitor Canva Used by 95% of Fortune 500 Companies 🔥

Make a tool so good that even industry pioneers struggle to compete. As per the recent report by 

Canva Enterprise launched five months ago and is now used for many large companies, including the NYSE, Atlassian, HP, Snowflake, DHL Express, and DocuSign. 

More impressively, Canva claims that 95% of Fortune 500 companies use its software.

2. Post of the Week 🖊️

This week Jihad, the Founder of Liberate Labs wrote on a significant aspect of running a business as an owner “founder mode”

I talked about Micromanagement - good or bad? Do we really need layers of middle management?

3. SaaS Essential of the Week ⚙

I know you have been waiting for this section, so here’s the name of the tool: HighLevel. It’s an all-in-one marketing platform to capture leads, nurture them, and in the end convert them, especially if you’re into B2B.

Please note that this is not affiliated with Liberate Labs.

Now, let’s get to it 🚀🚀🚀

High Level: Digital Marketing Engine

Managing marketing tasks can overwhelm agencies and small businesses, leading to inefficiencies.

Disjointed marketing efforts result in lost leads and hindered growth.

Go High Level is an all-in-one marketing platform that integrates CRM, email, SMS marketing, and sales funnel management.

With customizable dashboards and automated workflows, it enhances client engagement and maximizes lead management

4. Insight of the Week by Mickensy & Company 💡

Before proceeding ahead, I want to thank you for the love you have been showing to this newsletter.

If you think there is something we should improve, please do write us about your experience by reverting on this email.

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This week, we reviewed the Mickensy Report, "Future of B2B sales: The big reframe."

Three key strategies leading companies use include:

💡 Data-Driven Insights – Get to know your customers deeply! companies with strong customer analytics are 1.5 times more likely to achieve rapid growth and see earnings boosts of 15–25%.

💡 B2C-Grade Experiences – Only 8% of B2B organizations currently deliver highly personalized marketing, but three-quarters of those who do report increased market share.

💡 Consistent Omnichannel Presence – 72% of B2B buyers say they’re more likely to stick with brands that deliver a consistent experience across channels.

An end-to-end customer-focused approach not only increases engagement but also builds lasting loyalty, as customers are more likely to stay with companies they feel truly understand and value their needs.

5. Growth Idea of the Week: “Customer-Driven Roadmap Releases” 🔥

If you’re an early-stage SaaS startup, you must involve users directly in your product roadmap by letting them vote on upcoming features with early access rewards for top-voted features.

This approach keeps users engaged and invested in your platform's growth.