How can SaaS companies benefit from the seasoned insights of the Pricing I/O team to navigate complex market dynamics and achieve pricing excellence?

Today I’m speaking with Peter Cohen, Steve Inman, Mario Pereda, Emily Sanz and Amit Saraf - a special lineup of pricing experts from the Pricing I/O team. These experts have vast knowledge across various industries like airlines, freight transportation, and tech. Each of my talented colleagues shares their unique insights into the art of pricing. We engage in a dynamic roundtable discussion, unraveling the intricacies of delivering just the right amount of value without overextending, a vital strategy for maximizing utility in SaaS pricing. Our conversation reveals how to effectively capture value and tackle the complexities of pricing across different sectors, guiding SaaS companies toward optimal pricing models.

The discussion begins with a deep dive into why software packaging deserves more attention than pricing itself, with the team advocating for an 80/20 split in favor of packaging considerations. They explore why providing the right amount of value, rather than maximizing features, is crucial for customer satisfaction and revenue growth in SaaS businesses.

The conversation then shifts to analyzing Salesforce's recent move to conversation-based pricing for their AI agent service, charging $2 per conversation instead of traditional user-based licensing. The team debates the implications of this shift and whether it would work for smaller companies without Salesforce's data advantages and established customer base. The episode concludes with team members sharing their key advice for SaaS leaders in 2025, including the importance of customer feedback, service differentiation, careful discounting practices, and implementing effective pricing committees.

In this episode:
(00:00) Team Introductions - Pricing I/O team members including Peter Cohen, Steve Inman, Mario Pereda, Emily Sanz and Amit Saraf - each bringing different pricing expertise across industries

(05:09) “A-ha” moments, packaging vs pricing, why software packaging deserves more attention than pricing levels, with the recommendation to spend 80% of time on packaging and 20% on price points, why giving customers the right amount of value (no more, no less) is crucial for SaaS success

(17:41) Salesforce's move from user-based licensing to charging $2 per conversation for their AI agent, the pros and cons of this pricing strategy and its implications for the industry

(31:38) Team members share their top pricing recommendations for 2025, including:

- Getting customer and employee feedback regularly

- Focusing on services as a differentiator

- Being careful with discounting

- Implementing a pricing committee

(37:16) Closing remarks, favorite jams

Welcome to Street Pricing, the only show where proven SaaS (Software as a Service) leaders share their mindset and mistakes in pricing so we can all stop guessing and start growing. Street Pricing is hosted by Pricing I/O CEO and Pricing Coach, Marcos Rivera, sought after slayer of bad pricing. With 20 years of pricing expertise, he has helped price over 200 SaaS products and coached over 100 SaaS CEOs and counting! From the streets of the Bronx to CEO, Marcos wants to take the guessing out of pricing.

Resources:

Peter Cohen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-co...

How can entrepreneurs unlock exponential growth by understanding and leveraging “discovery-led growth” in their pricing strategies?

Today, Street Pricing listeners are treated to Marcos’ discussion with Eric Weiss, CEO of Chaos to Clarity. Eric delves into the intricacies of entrepreneurial growth with an emphasis on understanding customer value. Drawing from his extensive experience, Eric highlights the transformative power of human-centered design through compelling case studies, such as differentiating an email marketing platform in a crowded market. Marcos and Eric also explore how companies can leverage customer feedback to enhance user experience and retention, advocating for a ‘discovery-led growth’ mindset.

Later in the episode, Eric provides valuable insights into the challenges and potential of AI in product development. Incremental integration is key to ensure reliable user experiences. You’ll hear the importance of empathy, strategic design, and continuous learning to achieve product-market fit and unlock market potential. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs seeking to harness innovative strategies for growth and value capture.

In this episode:

(00:00) Guest intro of Eric Weiss, CEO of Chaos to Clarity

(04:10) Rewind story, the importance of customer value as a driver for pricing strategies and growth, free master classes

(15:26) Creating better interfaces, how companies can enhance user experience and retention through customer feedback, simplified onboarding, maintaining a discovery-led approach with continuous customer engagement

(20:43) How you can start your discovery-led growth - talk to your customers! Speak their language, ask the right questions, find the custom solution for them

(29:30) What’s going on today - Delving into the challenges of AI integration, the importance of balancing innovation with consistent user experiences, and avoiding customer churn, AI “Agency” - allowing to take steps for you

(41:37) Know your customer better than they know themselves - empathy in understanding customer needs and crafting elegant solutions, aiming to be the best in the market, value of knowing your customer and being a master in your field

(44:38) Closing remarks, favorite jam from Metallica

Welcome to Street Pricing, the only show where proven SaaS (Software as a Service) leaders share their mindset and mistakes in pricing so we can all stop guessing and start growing. Street Pricing is hosted by Pricing I/O CEO and Pricing Coach, Marcos Rivera, sought after slayer of bad pricing. With 20 years of pricing expertise, he has helped price over 200 SaaS products and coached over 100 SaaS CEOs and counting! From the streets of the Bronx to CEO, Marcos wants to take the guessing out of pricing.

Resources:

Eric Weiss LinkedIn

Chaos to Clarity

Marcos Rivera LinkedIn

Marcos Rivera X

Pricing IO