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Jan 21, 2023 · 17m · top-founders

$1m Ecommerce Agency Spends $200k to Launch Shopify SaaS

Mark Allard · 9m spoken Nathan Latka · 5m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

Host Nathan Latka interviews entrepreneur Mark Allard, who details how he leveraged his $1 million e-commerce agency, Walter Interactive, and invested $200,000 in software engineering to build and launch Glodify, an actionable growth roadmap and SaaS platform for Shopify merchants.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 38.3% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 2.3 Guest teaching 1.3 Guest disagreement 0.5 Nathan pushing back 1.8
05100:0010:000:00–3:08 · Nathan as informed peer 1/10 Nathan Latka Announces SaaS Open Conference in NYC The opening portion consists largely of an ad read, event promotion, and introductory framing. Once the interview begins, the host asks basic background questions about the guest's agency history in a polite, standard manner.3:08–5:56 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Conceptualizing Glodify: The Strava for E-Commerce The host shows familiarity with the guest's site and specific growth templates, which surprises the guest. The guest explains the core product thesis comparing Shopify store roadmaps to Strava athletic training.5:56–8:28 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Lean Execution, Team Allocation, and Branding Investment The host assumes substantial capital was spent on site design due to its polished appearance. The guest clarifies that he built it cheaply using a WordPress template over the holidays with minimal logo spending.8:28–11:22 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Development Costs, Design Talent, and Pricing Strategy The host pushes the guest on why he is not charging users yet, questioning if he is falling into the trap of over-investing before launch. The guest explains his rationale regarding the value of waiting for live Shopify data connectors.11:22–14:27 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Cap Table Ownership and Strategic Growth Potential When the guest gives a vague answer regarding equity and cap table ownership, the host presses directly to clarify the exact investment numbers. The host then draws parallels to SaaS frameworks and validates the market fit.14:27–16:48 · Nathan as informed peer 1/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions with Mark Allard The segment follows the standard rapid-fire Famous Five format without friction. The guest reflects on lessons around leadership communication and AI tools before the host delivers a closing summary.0:00–3:08 · Guest teaching 0/10 Nathan Latka Announces SaaS Open Conference in NYC The opening portion consists largely of an ad read, event promotion, and introductory framing. Once the interview begins, the host asks basic background questions about the guest's agency history in a polite, standard manner.3:08–5:56 · Guest teaching 2/10 Conceptualizing Glodify: The Strava for E-Commerce The host shows familiarity with the guest's site and specific growth templates, which surprises the guest. The guest explains the core product thesis comparing Shopify store roadmaps to Strava athletic training.5:56–8:28 · Guest teaching 2/10 Lean Execution, Team Allocation, and Branding Investment The host assumes substantial capital was spent on site design due to its polished appearance. The guest clarifies that he built it cheaply using a WordPress template over the holidays with minimal logo spending.8:28–11:22 · Guest teaching 2/10 Development Costs, Design Talent, and Pricing Strategy The host pushes the guest on why he is not charging users yet, questioning if he is falling into the trap of over-investing before launch. The guest explains his rationale regarding the value of waiting for live Shopify data connectors.11:22–14:27 · Guest teaching 1/10 Cap Table Ownership and Strategic Growth Potential When the guest gives a vague answer regarding equity and cap table ownership, the host presses directly to clarify the exact investment numbers. The host then draws parallels to SaaS frameworks and validates the market fit.14:27–16:48 · Guest teaching 1/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions with Mark Allard The segment follows the standard rapid-fire Famous Five format without friction. The guest reflects on lessons around leadership communication and AI tools before the host delivers a closing summary.0:00–3:08 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Nathan Latka Announces SaaS Open Conference in NYC The opening portion consists largely of an ad read, event promotion, and introductory framing. Once the interview begins, the host asks basic background questions about the guest's agency history in a polite, standard manner.3:08–5:56 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Conceptualizing Glodify: The Strava for E-Commerce The host shows familiarity with the guest's site and specific growth templates, which surprises the guest. The guest explains the core product thesis comparing Shopify store roadmaps to Strava athletic training.5:56–8:28 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Lean Execution, Team Allocation, and Branding Investment The host assumes substantial capital was spent on site design due to its polished appearance. The guest clarifies that he built it cheaply using a WordPress template over the holidays with minimal logo spending.8:28–11:22 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Development Costs, Design Talent, and Pricing Strategy The host pushes the guest on why he is not charging users yet, questioning if he is falling into the trap of over-investing before launch. The guest explains his rationale regarding the value of waiting for live Shopify data connectors.11:22–14:27 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Cap Table Ownership and Strategic Growth Potential When the guest gives a vague answer regarding equity and cap table ownership, the host presses directly to clarify the exact investment numbers. The host then draws parallels to SaaS frameworks and validates the market fit.14:27–16:48 · Guest disagreement 0/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions with Mark Allard The segment follows the standard rapid-fire Famous Five format without friction. The guest reflects on lessons around leadership communication and AI tools before the host delivers a closing summary.0:00–3:08 · Nathan pushing back 0/10 Nathan Latka Announces SaaS Open Conference in NYC The opening portion consists largely of an ad read, event promotion, and introductory framing. Once the interview begins, the host asks basic background questions about the guest's agency history in a polite, standard manner.3:08–5:56 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Conceptualizing Glodify: The Strava for E-Commerce The host shows familiarity with the guest's site and specific growth templates, which surprises the guest. The guest explains the core product thesis comparing Shopify store roadmaps to Strava athletic training.5:56–8:28 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Lean Execution, Team Allocation, and Branding Investment The host assumes substantial capital was spent on site design due to its polished appearance. The guest clarifies that he built it cheaply using a WordPress template over the holidays with minimal logo spending.8:28–11:22 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Development Costs, Design Talent, and Pricing Strategy The host pushes the guest on why he is not charging users yet, questioning if he is falling into the trap of over-investing before launch. The guest explains his rationale regarding the value of waiting for live Shopify data connectors.11:22–14:27 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Cap Table Ownership and Strategic Growth Potential When the guest gives a vague answer regarding equity and cap table ownership, the host presses directly to clarify the exact investment numbers. The host then draws parallels to SaaS frameworks and validates the market fit.14:27–16:48 · Nathan pushing back 0/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions with Mark Allard The segment follows the standard rapid-fire Famous Five format without friction. The guest reflects on lessons around leadership communication and AI tools before the host delivers a closing summary.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 85.9% · guest 14.1%0:00 · Nathan 85.9% · guest 14.1%3:00 · Nathan 19.1% · guest 80.9%3:00 · Nathan 19.1% · guest 80.9%6:00 · Nathan 25.6% · guest 74.4%6:00 · Nathan 25.6% · guest 74.4%9:00 · Nathan 25.9% · guest 74.1%9:00 · Nathan 25.9% · guest 74.1%12:00 · Nathan 37.3% · guest 62.7%12:00 · Nathan 37.3% · guest 62.7%15:00 · Nathan 32.2% · guest 67.8%15:00 · Nathan 32.2% · guest 67.8%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 6:13 Mark counters assumption of large upfront site investment

Mark immediately pushes back against Nathan's assumption that the company invested heavily into building a 100M-scale website, clarifying it was a lean holiday WordPress project.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 10:00 Nathan pushes Mark on perfectionism delaying launch

Nathan directly challenges Mark's hesitation to charge customers, asking if he is the kind of founder who over-invests and waits for perfection instead of selling immediately.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 10:10 Mark explains the core value proposition dependent on data connectors

Mark educates Nathan on why pricing before Shopify connector approval lacks value, explaining that dynamic recommendations linked to live store data are the true differentiator.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 12:17 Nathan demands exact figures on equity and capital contributions

When Mark offers a hand-waving agreement about 75/25 cap table ownership, Nathan refuses the casual dismissal and demands to know the precise financial breakdown.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Nathan Latka Announces SaaS Open Conference in NYC 1000 The opening portion consists largely of an ad read, event promotion, and introductory framing. Once the interview begins, the host asks basic background questions about the guest's agency history in a polite, standard manner.
Conceptualizing Glodify: The Strava for E-Commerce 3201 The host shows familiarity with the guest's site and specific growth templates, which surprises the guest. The guest explains the core product thesis comparing Shopify store roadmaps to Strava athletic training.
Lean Execution, Team Allocation, and Branding Investment 2212 The host assumes substantial capital was spent on site design due to its polished appearance. The guest clarifies that he built it cheaply using a WordPress template over the holidays with minimal logo spending.
Development Costs, Design Talent, and Pricing Strategy 3214 The host pushes the guest on why he is not charging users yet, questioning if he is falling into the trap of over-investing before launch. The guest explains his rationale regarding the value of waiting for live Shopify data connectors.
Cap Table Ownership and Strategic Growth Potential 4114 When the guest gives a vague answer regarding equity and cap table ownership, the host presses directly to clarify the exact investment numbers. The host then draws parallels to SaaS frameworks and validates the market fit.
The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions with Mark Allard 1100 The segment follows the standard rapid-fire Famous Five format without friction. The guest reflects on lessons around leadership communication and AI tools before the host delivers a closing summary.

Statements from this episode (9)

Disclosure
Walter Interactive reached $1 million in revenue in 2022
“So we reached the one million revenue last year of course, with the COVID, the situation e-commerce went crazy.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 2:42
Insight
Successful e-commerce stores often lack marketing roadmaps despite Shopify data
“But it's fascinating how when you start working with them, like they don't have a marketing plan. They don't have like a clear roadmap. And it's crazy because like with Shopify, it gives you all the data and everything you would want to draw like that clear ro…”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 3:41
Disclosure
Glodify plans to publish 1,000 e-commerce templates
“It's really at the beginning, but we will publish around like 1000 templates because like in my own business.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 4:34
Disclosure
Glodify acquired 150 free users prior to launch
“But like right now we are like at Around 150 free users and we're learning from them.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 5:24
Disclosure
Glodify spent $4,000 on its logo and initial branding
“We've put like four top 4000 K on the logo and try to have a branding like to start because our app was missing some structure.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 6:56
Disclosure
Mark Allard spent $200,000 building Shopify SaaS app Glodify
“Oh, I don't know if it's a, if I should be proud, but it's about two full salaries, like maybe 200 K.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 8:38
Disclosure
Glodify plans to charge $100 per month per store
“It's going to be a hundred bucks per month.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 10:57
Disclosure
Co-founder invested $100,000 to reach Glodify's $200,000 build cost
“Okay, so we, he had put 100 K at the start. The project has been already ongoing since when he jumped in with me. So at that point, we were at a 100 K span, and now we are, we reached a 200 K.”
Mark Allard Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 12:29
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Nathan Latka predicts Glodify could become the ClickFunnels for Shopify
“I think once you launch pricing on this, my prediction is you're going to grow very, very fast. I think you guys have a chance of being sort of the click funnels version for Shopify stores. And I hope you go to, you know, from zero to fifty million bucks in re…”
Nathan Latka Jan 21, 2023 ▶ 14:10
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