This document discusses SaaS (software as a service) trends in Europe and Finland. It notes that there are many small SaaS companies in Europe but few experienced early stage investors. In Finland, established software companies are starting to offer SaaS but focused on the domestic market. The author proposes a Helsinki SaaS Meetup to help companies understand how to build successful SaaS businesses by focusing on customers rather than just technology. Characteristics of both "bad SaaS" and "badass SaaS" are outlined.

1. Why SaaS?
(in Helsinki)

3. /whois me
● HelsinkiJS organizer
○ MoscowJS founder
● occasional speaker
● random tech DD person
● partner at Helsinki Ventures
● founder of StartHQ

9. SaaS in Europe
● lots of small players
○ as opposed to US
● few experienced early stage SaaS investors
○ Christoph Janz
○ ?
● few acquirers
○ telcos
○ SAP?

11. SaaS in Finland
● Games in the spotlight
○ see Startup100
● Established software cos starting to do SaaS
○ but still focusing on the Finnsh market
● Many consultancies and integrators

13. Helsinki SaaS Meetup
● focus on business rather than tech
○ lots of tech & startup meetups
● understand what to build
○ rather than how to build it
● create community & exchange ideas
○ since we are facing similar challenges
● discover early adopters
○ talk to end users and thought leaders

15. Bad SaaS
● vitamin not aspirin
● users over revenue
● monetized through AdSense
● confusing direct sales with customer dev
● competing on features in a crowded market
● not factoring customer acquisition in
● going mobile first

17. Badass SaaS
● lean and mean
● customer centric
● collecting metrics
● experiment driven
● laser focused, yet adaptable
● global from the get go
● scalable

19. AARRR!
● acquisition
● activation
● retention
● referral
● revenue

21. ??? - Profit
● SaaS support as a service
● specific functions
○ Buffer
● niche verticals
○ Farmeron, ChurchApp
● complementary solutions
○ Import2
● unobtrusive SaaS
○ iDoneThis

23. SaaS Trends
● modular SaaS
● wave of resellers
● managers as curators
● consumer SaaS

25. Links
● SaaS topic on Quora
● Saastr blog by Jason Lemkin
● BoS conference videos
● StartHQ :)

26. Thank you!
@helsaas @starthq
@olegpodsechin