🧑‍💻 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 60 🧑‍💻

What if the biggest barrier to building a tech company is already gone? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Joel Walker, Founder & CEO of Hotline, to unpack how non-technical founders can now go from idea to working product—before hiring engineers or raising significant capital.

Joel shares how he used modern AI and code-assist tools to build a functioning prototype himself, logging 100-hour weeks to turn a personal pain point into a scalable platform. The conversation explores what this shift means for founders, investors, and operators—and why execution, clarity, and obsession still matter more than tools.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How AI is changing who gets to build technology
• Why “prototype first, hire later” creates leverage
• What non-technical founders must still own in product development
• How founder obsession leads to better product decisions
• Why execution discipline matters more than ever in an AI-driven world

This episode is especially relevant for founders, PE-backed CEOs, venture investors, and operators thinking about product, talent, and scale.

📩 Connect with Joel Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelw3/

👉 Watch now, subscribe for more conversations with growth-stage leaders, and drop a comment: Do you think AI changes how early-stage teams should be built?

👤 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 59 👤

What happens when the skills that built the company start to limit its growth?

In this episode of Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Jason Putnam, CEO of Vetty, to explore one of the most challenging transitions in building a company: transitioning from founder-led control to scalable leadership.

Jason shares hard-earned lessons from stepping into CEO roles after founding companies, scaling them from $10M to $50M+, and building repeatable systems that enable growth without chaos. From why repeatability matters more than hustle, to how brand has become a critical growth lever in an AI-driven market, this conversation is a must-watch for founders, operators, and investors navigating scale.

• Why what gets a company started won’t get it to the next stage
• How founders know when it’s time to step back—or evolve
• The real meaning of repeatability in sales and operations
• Why brand now outperforms demand gen in modern GTM
• How elite operators scale faster by bringing proven teams
• Where AI accelerates growth—and where strategy still wins

Whether you’re a founder preparing for your next phase, a PE-backed CEO scaling operations, or an investor evaluating leadership risk, this episode offers a clear operator’s perspective on what scalable leadership really requires.

🎧 Watch now on YouTube 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

📩 Connect with Jason Putnam:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonputnam/
• Website: http://www.vetty.co

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with PE leaders, operators, and founders 💬 Drop a comment: When did you realize leadership had to change to scale?

🏷️ Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 58 🏷️

Most B2B SaaS leaders treat pricing as a number to optimize—when in reality, it’s one of the most powerful strategic levers in the business.

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Daniel Balcauski, Founder & Chief Pricing Officer of Product Tranquility, to unpack why pricing is less about math and more about strategy, positioning, and customer value.

Dan shares hard-earned insights from working with B2B SaaS companies scaling from $20M to $50M+ ARR, including how pricing decisions impact net revenue retention, sales velocity, expansion revenue, and long-term competitiveness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping SaaS cost structures—and why usage-based or token pricing is often the wrong reaction.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “who” and “how” you charge matters more than “what” you charge
• How pricing and packaging influence net revenue retention and expansion
• The hidden risks of “average pricing” in growing SaaS businesses
• Why pricing projects often expose deeper strategy and ICP issues
• How to think about monetizing AI without confusing or alienating customers

🚀 Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode reframes pricing as a core growth discipline—not a finance afterthought.

📩 Connect with Dan Balcauski:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/balcauski/
• Website: https://www.producttranquility.com

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with private equity leaders, PE-backed CEOs, and SaaS founders. 💬 Comment below: How intentional is your pricing strategy today?