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Jul 27, 2021 · 17m · top-founders

How they built 300 person waitlist for new co-browsing SaaS tool

Will Ron · 8m spoken Nathan Latka · 6m 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 Will Ron of Sidebuy.io to explore how the early-stage SaaS startup secured $200,000 in angel funding, built a 300-person waitlist via grassroots outreach, and developed interactive co-browsing software to transform customer support workflows.

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 41.4% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 4.5 Guest teaching 1.2 Guest disagreement 0.8 Nathan pushing back 5.0
05100:0010:000:37–3:37 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Introducing Will Ron and Sidebuy's Co-Browsing Solution Latka explores Sidebuy's origins and probes the founding dynamic. Upon discovering Will is an employee without equity despite being an early core member, Latka pushes him on why he would work without an ownership stake.3:38–5:56 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Grassroots Strategies for Building a SaaS Waitlist When Will offers vague startup jargon about building trust and adding value to get waitlist signups, Latka blunt pushes back and demands concrete tactics and specific communities.5:56–9:06 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Engaging Early Enterprise Design Partners Like Dixa Latka presses for named enterprise design partners, recognizes Dixa, and drills down to the exact stakeholder title being targeted before the mid-roll ad break.9:09–12:48 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Comparing Zero-Setup Co-Browsing to Traditional Screen Sharing Latka challenges the risk of indefinite beta periods and probes funding, runway in Spain, and valuation, pressing Will when he admits he does not have the valuation figure available.12:48–15:34 · Nathan as informed peer 6/10 Establishing Per-Seat SaaS Pricing and Early Bird Incentives Latka repeatedly grills Will on his competitor analysis after Will claims Surfly is huge, demanding exact revenue and install figures until Will concedes he does not have the data.15:35–17:18 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Famous Five Questions and Episode Conclusion A standard Famous Five closing segment where Latka gently redirects Will to name a dedicated product design tool (Figma) before summarizing the company's metrics.0:37–3:37 · Guest teaching 1/10 Introducing Will Ron and Sidebuy's Co-Browsing Solution Latka explores Sidebuy's origins and probes the founding dynamic. Upon discovering Will is an employee without equity despite being an early core member, Latka pushes him on why he would work without an ownership stake.3:38–5:56 · Guest teaching 2/10 Grassroots Strategies for Building a SaaS Waitlist When Will offers vague startup jargon about building trust and adding value to get waitlist signups, Latka blunt pushes back and demands concrete tactics and specific communities.5:56–9:06 · Guest teaching 2/10 Engaging Early Enterprise Design Partners Like Dixa Latka presses for named enterprise design partners, recognizes Dixa, and drills down to the exact stakeholder title being targeted before the mid-roll ad break.9:09–12:48 · Guest teaching 2/10 Comparing Zero-Setup Co-Browsing to Traditional Screen Sharing Latka challenges the risk of indefinite beta periods and probes funding, runway in Spain, and valuation, pressing Will when he admits he does not have the valuation figure available.12:48–15:34 · Guest teaching 0/10 Establishing Per-Seat SaaS Pricing and Early Bird Incentives Latka repeatedly grills Will on his competitor analysis after Will claims Surfly is huge, demanding exact revenue and install figures until Will concedes he does not have the data.15:35–17:18 · Guest teaching 0/10 Famous Five Questions and Episode Conclusion A standard Famous Five closing segment where Latka gently redirects Will to name a dedicated product design tool (Figma) before summarizing the company's metrics.0:37–3:37 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Introducing Will Ron and Sidebuy's Co-Browsing Solution Latka explores Sidebuy's origins and probes the founding dynamic. Upon discovering Will is an employee without equity despite being an early core member, Latka pushes him on why he would work without an ownership stake.3:38–5:56 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Grassroots Strategies for Building a SaaS Waitlist When Will offers vague startup jargon about building trust and adding value to get waitlist signups, Latka blunt pushes back and demands concrete tactics and specific communities.5:56–9:06 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Engaging Early Enterprise Design Partners Like Dixa Latka presses for named enterprise design partners, recognizes Dixa, and drills down to the exact stakeholder title being targeted before the mid-roll ad break.9:09–12:48 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Comparing Zero-Setup Co-Browsing to Traditional Screen Sharing Latka challenges the risk of indefinite beta periods and probes funding, runway in Spain, and valuation, pressing Will when he admits he does not have the valuation figure available.12:48–15:34 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Establishing Per-Seat SaaS Pricing and Early Bird Incentives Latka repeatedly grills Will on his competitor analysis after Will claims Surfly is huge, demanding exact revenue and install figures until Will concedes he does not have the data.15:35–17:18 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Famous Five Questions and Episode Conclusion A standard Famous Five closing segment where Latka gently redirects Will to name a dedicated product design tool (Figma) before summarizing the company's metrics.0:37–3:37 · Nathan pushing back 5/10 Introducing Will Ron and Sidebuy's Co-Browsing Solution Latka explores Sidebuy's origins and probes the founding dynamic. Upon discovering Will is an employee without equity despite being an early core member, Latka pushes him on why he would work without an ownership stake.3:38–5:56 · Nathan pushing back 6/10 Grassroots Strategies for Building a SaaS Waitlist When Will offers vague startup jargon about building trust and adding value to get waitlist signups, Latka blunt pushes back and demands concrete tactics and specific communities.5:56–9:06 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Engaging Early Enterprise Design Partners Like Dixa Latka presses for named enterprise design partners, recognizes Dixa, and drills down to the exact stakeholder title being targeted before the mid-roll ad break.9:09–12:48 · Nathan pushing back 6/10 Comparing Zero-Setup Co-Browsing to Traditional Screen Sharing Latka challenges the risk of indefinite beta periods and probes funding, runway in Spain, and valuation, pressing Will when he admits he does not have the valuation figure available.12:48–15:34 · Nathan pushing back 7/10 Establishing Per-Seat SaaS Pricing and Early Bird Incentives Latka repeatedly grills Will on his competitor analysis after Will claims Surfly is huge, demanding exact revenue and install figures until Will concedes he does not have the data.15:35–17:18 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Famous Five Questions and Episode Conclusion A standard Famous Five closing segment where Latka gently redirects Will to name a dedicated product design tool (Figma) before summarizing the company's metrics.

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

0:00 · Nathan 55.3% · guest 44.7%0:00 · Nathan 55.3% · guest 44.7%3:00 · Nathan 24.3% · guest 75.7%3:00 · Nathan 24.3% · guest 75.7%6:00 · Nathan 61.3% · guest 38.7%6:00 · Nathan 61.3% · guest 38.7%9:00 · Nathan 36.3% · guest 63.7%9:00 · Nathan 36.3% · guest 63.7%12:00 · Nathan 22% · guest 78%12:00 · Nathan 22% · guest 78%15:00 · Nathan 50.3% · guest 49.7%15:00 · Nathan 50.3% · guest 49.7%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 3:21 Defending non-equity employee role

Will gently counters Latka's disbelief regarding his lack of equity by defending the CEO and reiterating his belief in the project.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 14:35 Demanding proof of competitor scale

Latka refuses to accept Will's vague assertion that competitor Surfly is huge, pressing repeatedly for concrete revenue and web crawl install numbers.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 9:33 Clarifying co-browsing versus screen sharing

Will explains to Latka that co-browsing does not merely replace Zoom video calls, but rather complements workflows by enabling interactive control directly inside the browser.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 4:13 Rejecting 'add value' startup buzzwords

Latka demonstrates his interview expertise by immediately calling out generic platitudes and demanding specific user acquisition channels.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Introducing Will Ron and Sidebuy's Co-Browsing Solution 4115 Latka explores Sidebuy's origins and probes the founding dynamic. Upon discovering Will is an employee without equity despite being an early core member, Latka pushes him on why he would work without an ownership stake.
Grassroots Strategies for Building a SaaS Waitlist 4216 When Will offers vague startup jargon about building trust and adding value to get waitlist signups, Latka blunt pushes back and demands concrete tactics and specific communities.
Engaging Early Enterprise Design Partners Like Dixa 5214 Latka presses for named enterprise design partners, recognizes Dixa, and drills down to the exact stakeholder title being targeted before the mid-roll ad break.
Comparing Zero-Setup Co-Browsing to Traditional Screen Sharing 5216 Latka challenges the risk of indefinite beta periods and probes funding, runway in Spain, and valuation, pressing Will when he admits he does not have the valuation figure available.
Establishing Per-Seat SaaS Pricing and Early Bird Incentives 6017 Latka repeatedly grills Will on his competitor analysis after Will claims Surfly is huge, demanding exact revenue and install figures until Will concedes he does not have the data.
Famous Five Questions and Episode Conclusion 3002 A standard Famous Five closing segment where Latka gently redirects Will to name a dedicated product design tool (Figma) before summarizing the company's metrics.

Statements from this episode (6)

Disclosure
Sidebuy waitlist reaches 300 people by July 2021
“I would say around 300 and we are rapidly growing that thanks to our CMO, which is just trying to community build every single day.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 2:08
Disclosure
Product designer Will Ron holds zero equity in early-stage Sidebuy
“I don't have equity.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 3:09
Disclosure
Sidebuy partners with Dixa for early-stage product testing
“So we're working in the early stages with Dixa.com. We are going to be testing with them.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 6:36
Disclosure
Sidebuy has raised approximately $200,000 in early-stage capital
“Around 200 K.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 11:51
Disclosure
Spain-based Sidebuy leverages lower living costs to extend runway
“We are based on in Spain. So the cost of living gear is not as high. So we, you know, we are in the comfortable spot that we could be running for a year or so, but that's not really the plan.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 11:55
Opinion
Will Ron names competitor Surfly as the best in co-browsing
“There's a couple of, I would say the best people in the industry would be Surfly. Definitely.”
Will Ron Jul 27, 2021 ▶ 14:09
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