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1-on-1 Enterprise SaaS Strategy & Positioning Consulting

Thoughtful headshot of Sramana Mitra, enterprise SaaS strategy consultant and founder of 1Mby1M, looking focused and professional.

Most VC-funded enterprise SaaS startups fail to reach expected growth velocity not because of product flaws, but because of positioning and strategy breakdowns.

I work directly with founders and leadership teams to diagnose and fix the strategic issues that prevent scale.

Who This Consulting Is For

  • VC-funded enterprise SaaS startups missing growth targets
  • Later-stage SaaS companies stalled below expected ARR velocity
  • Bootstrapped SaaS founders ready to accelerate responsibly

Why Most VC-Funded Enterprise SaaS Startups Miss Growth Velocity

I find myself telling the 1Mby1M companies ad nauseam that VCs are looking for companies that can go from 0 to $100M ARR in 5-7 years. If they cannot meet this velocity, they need to find a non-traditional financing path. Bootstrapping (sometimes with small capital raises) to exit is a possible alternative.

Now, it is also a fact that not all companies that DO succeed in raising financing end up achieving that kind of velocity.

Reasons vary. If the problem is with the product, then it’s more an execution issue.

But often, in my experience, the problem is with POSITIONING. This is a strategy issue.

I have decided to offer consulting to funded startups that have strategy issues, especially positioning. 

We’ve been doing this within 1Mby1M all along. 

Now, we extend the expertise to funded startups that could be a bit further along. Or a lot further along, but not hitting the velocity stride.

I’d like to focus only on enterprise SaaS to begin with.

I am writing a multi-part series to explore the issues: The Startup Velocity Question: What Hinders Acceleration in VC Funded Companies. Please read it and make sure it resonates.

Then, if you wish to work with me, please schedule a 1-hour working session for $1000 (via PayPal).

If we decide to work more closely together whereby I talk to your product team, sales team, customers, and customer success folks, we will work out the terms of such an engagement on a case by case basis.

Please note, if you are looking for a more affordable entry point, 1Mby1M Premium costs $1000 for a year. You can get similar issues addressed through weekly members-only roundtables.

I am a firm believer in bootstrapping. If you have a bootstrapped startup and are now looking to accelerate, by all means, it would be my pleasure to help you pursue that goal.

If you are comfortable discussing your business with me in public, you can also come to our Free Mentoring Roundtables.

If you’re looking for another way to work in private, please try Sramana Mitra’s Digital Mind AI Mentor.

Questions?

Testimonials

“1Mby1M is a very helpful program, and Sramana is very well connected in the industry. When we were looking to talk to investors, Sramana introduced us to multiple investors, and also acted as an advisor helping us navigate complex term sheet clauses like tranche financing and liquidation preferences. 1Mby1M also helped us win the $40,000 Microsoft BizSpark Startup Challenge Grant by helping us refine our pitch, market sizing analysis, and other details. I would enthusiastically recommend the 1Mby1M program for first time entrepreneurs and technical founders who need help with understanding other aspects of running a business.”

Girish Mathrubootham,  Founder & CEO at Freshworks – Raised $484 Million in Funding and went Public on Nasdaq with a $10B+ Valuation

“Working with the 1Mby1M team is perhaps one of the best decisions I’ve made on the spur of the moment. I was tracking 1Mby1M for a while and used to get their e-newsletter. I was always cynical about the pay to play model in the Bay Area. I tested the model quite late in our evolution on a whim and was surprised by everything. It was the best $1000 spent. I would strongly urge founders who are at the ideation stage to sign up – you will save yourself a lot of time, trouble and resources. Through 1Mby1M, I was introduced to Warren Weiss, a renowned former sales executive who worked with Steve Jobs at NeXT, and is now a successful VC in Silicon Valley.”

Dharmesh Singh,  Co-founder and CEO, Fullcast - Raised $4 Million in Series A Funding

“I joined the 1Mby1M Premium program in 2020 and had a very good experience interacting with Sramana. Her inputs during the private roundtable sessions added a lot of value; she addressed the exact objectives I had. She also made a number of valuable introductions. Overall, the program had a very positive influence on our journey.”

Abinash Saikia,  Co-founder of EnCloudEn, Acquired by Quantum Corporation in 2021

“The 1Mby1M program has been a phenomenal help to us. Within days of joining, Sramana introduced us to some key folks in the industry and helped open new doors for us. Her advice is real, focused, and actionable. I would highly encourage entrepreneurs, especially first-time entrepreneurs, to leverage the program. Many thanks for all the help, support and mentorship through the years.”

Vikrant Mathur,  Co-Founder at Future Today

“Working with Sramana Mitra and the 1Mby1M Premium program has been invaluable for Adya as a bootstrapped company to better understand how to best position the product and the company while working within constraints. Sramana has a very fresh perspective that promotes bootstrapped startups making slow, steady progress while rejecting the need for institutional investments. This also makes companies better targets for acquisitions. Thanks to her introductions, we were able to pitch Adya to the right companies at the senior executive levels. This led to, I am happy to say, an acquisition of Adya by Qualys! Without Sramana, this happy outcome would likely not have happened.”

Deepak Balakrishna,  Co-Founder and CEO, Adya (Acquired by Qualys)