Lucas Bean

CEO @ Social Proof | Leader, Ai, Adtech, Analytics, AiO, Fintech, Games, Entertainment, Web3, Creator Economy | ex Atari, Sony, Experian, Deloitte | User Acquisition Expert | speaker, advisor, ENTP

I’m a seasoned tech executive with deep entrepreneurial experience ready to help you build, scale and win.

I'm top 3 globally in:
• User acquisition
• Retention
• Community building
• UX optimization

20+ years in marketing, data science and product leadership
Author of Community Market Fit - Published April 2025 
Ex-Atari, Sony Pictures, Experian, Deloitte
Founder, CEO, GM, CMO, COO, SVP of Marketing & Ops

I specialize in scaling businesses fast through:
• User acquisition & retention strategy
• Data-driven marketing
• Product development
• P&L management
• Advanced automation
• Consumer experience design
• Growth operations

Proven wins:
✔️ Helped raise over $50M in venture capital
✔️ Built & exited a solo venture at $500K+/year
✔️ Took an adtech company public (founded in 2008, IPO in 2017)
✔️ Executive roles at 3 companies that exited for $1.4B+ combined

Marketing expertise:
• Copywriting
• SEO
• Email marketing
• Content creation
• Influencer strategy
• Video & display ads
• Marketing automation
• Flywheel effects
• Full-stack paid media (desktop/mobile)

Industry experience:
Fintech, Adtech, Gaming, Entertainment, Dating, Web3, Creator Economy, Social E-commerce

Leadership style:
I’ve built scrappy teams from scratch and turned underperforming teams into high-output machines.

I believe complex systems can be distilled into simple, marketable messages that resonate deeply with customers, fans, and stakeholders.

Now? I’m focused on helping others build fast, scale smart and stand out.
Open to clients, partnerships, and strategic opportunities.

GM & Head of Product 

Strategic Consulting to startups, founders, executive management of fortune 1,000 companies. Providing expert advice and execution on Web3, NFT, Operations, General Management, digital marketing efforts, Web3 onboarding, core operational issues, Data Analysis, Strategy, P&L Management, Product Development, Product Innovation, User Experience, User Acquisition & Retention. 

I help turn new and existing businesses into finely tuned digital powerhouses by auditing current 
 internal processes. I then use analytics, acquisition, retention, mentoring & media management to determine KPI's and hyper improve performance metrics with precise strategic tactics. 

Channels Leveraged: Analytics, Influence Marketing, Community Building, Social, Display, Search Paid + Natural, email, mobile.

Current Business fields of expertise (no one is an expert, always learning):
NFTs
Web3 (P2E Gaming, Metaverse etc.)
Gaming and esports 
Mobile Gaming
Fintech
Influence Marketing
e-commerce (social selling)
Entertainment 
Mobile Apps
Digital Products
Digital & IRL Events

I’ve learned not to hold people hostage 
to who they used to be.

We all carry outdated versions of ourselves: 

mistakes we’ve made
ignorance we’ve acted on 
pain caused before we knew better 

I’ve seen how one bad chapters can become someone’s whole story in the eyes of others 

But people grow
They stumble
They learn 

They often try to make things right. 

We all have regrets
but that doesn’t mean we can’t begin again.
I’ve watched friends become softer,
more grounded. 

Change isn’t always dramatic
it’s often slow and quiet. 


But it’s real. 


When we dismiss someone for who they were
we miss who they’ve worked to become.

No one should be forever judged
by a version they’ve outgrown.

If we offer ourselves grace
we should offer it to others too.

♻️ Share this with someone who inspires you 
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Lucas Bean 

20 years Marketing, Data Science & Product Executive | Author of Community Market Fit | ex Atari, Sony, Experian, Deloitte | User Acquisition & Retention Expert | consultant, speaker, advisor, Ai Automation Expert

This is why most people quit.

When
it takes
more work
than we thought
it would.

It’s way easier to:

- quit
- make excuses
- get discouraged
- go watch Netflix
- grab a bottle of booze
- go and smoke weed and zone out 


Instead, set yourself up to win by:

- setting time blocks
- setting expectations
- setting up exact tactics
- setting up a realistic timeline


Our aspirations are always greater
then the reality of how much work it is.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 > 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Don’t let 2025 get away from you 


share this to help others in your community 
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We miss you Mr. Obama

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10 Phrases High EQ Leaders Would NEVER say:
(and what they would never say)

You hear them in meetings.
 Stressful moments.
 Tough conversations.

Some words inflame.
 Others invite collaboration.

Here are the worst ones,
and how emotionally intelligent leaders flip them 👇

❌ "You need to calm down" 
✅ "Let’s take a 10-minute break and come back to this."

❌ "This is a nightmare"
✅ "Let’s figure out what we control and fix it."

❌ "I told you so" 
✅ "Let’s fix the problem, not the blame."

❌ "Why did you do that?"
✅ "I take full responsibility, where can we do better?"

❌ "You should have had this done by now" 
✅ "How can I help you accomplish this goal?"

❌ "I said that already"
✅ "Here’s a one-sheet with instructions."

❌ "Not my job, figure it out"
✅ "Let’s walk through this together." 

❌ "That’s your job, not mine"
✅ "Let me sit down with you and we can figure it out together."

❌ "This is how we’ve always done it"
✅ "Let’s find a new way and document it for others."

❌ "Calm down"
✅ "This seems important, let’s revisit when we’re in a better headspace." 

The real difference?
One erodes trust.
The other earns it.

You get to choose your words.
 Choose the ones that build connection.
—
♻️ Repost to help someone lead better 
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10 Signs You're Emotionally Intelligent:
(and you might not know it)

First how do you define emotional intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, 
understand and manage emotions in yourself and others.


The pros: 
These powerful skills help you bring out the best
in both yourself and others.


The cons:
They can leave you feeling drained and exhausted
having to manage peoples emotional state to get the best out of them. 


10 signs you are an emotional intelligent powerhouse:

1. You sense what people need
↳ You can tell when someone needs to talk
 vent or just be left alone.

2. You read between the lines
↳ A short “okay” in Slack tells you everything you need to know.

3. You absorb emotional tension
↳ People naturally calm down when talking to you
 even if you don't say much.

4. You speak everyone’s language
↳ You know exactly who needs all the details 
 and who just wants the headlines.

5. You catch unsaid questions
↳ You notice when someone wants to speak but stays silent.

6. You feel others' stress
↳ Deadlines, tough meetings you feel nervous for your coworkers 
 even when you’re not involved.

7. You notice fake enthusiasm
↳ You can tell the difference between genuine excitement
 and polite agreement.

8. You're everyone’s reality check
↳ People often ask, "How did that really go?" 
 because they trust your judgment.

9. You sense when meetings go off track
↳ You recognize the moment people start checking
 their phones more.

10. You spot hidden burnout
↳ You notice when colleagues aren’t themselves
 even if they try to hide it.


♻️ Repost to inspire someone.
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Most people only see what’s above the surface.
They miss what actually matters.

1. Confidence vs Ego

→ Confidence grows downward.
→ Quiet. Rooted. Patient.

Ego grows upward.
Fast. Loud. Hollow.

One survives storms.
The other snaps at pressure.


2. “Your success was lucky”

→ Luck is the story people tell
→ when they do not see the roots.

They did not see the long nights.
The rejections.
The empty rooms.

Success looks sudden
only when effort was invisible.

3. Validation

→ Most people ask the crowd
→ who they should become.

The truth is simpler.
The only approval that matters
is the one looking back at you.

Everything else is noise.


4. The common path

→ The path everyone takes
→ works for most people.

That does not mean
 it works for you.

Different goals
require different routes.
Confusion is not failure.
It is a signal.


5. Consistency vs Burnout

→ Consistency looks boring.
→ Repetition. Restraint. Patience.

Burnout looks impressive.
Urgency. Hustle. Collapse.

One compounds quietly.
The other burns bright and fades.


6. Progress underground

→ Progress rarely announces itself.
→ It happens in silence.

Below the surface.
Out of sight.

If nothing looks different yet
that does not mean nothing is happening.


7. Time perspective

→ Your younger self is cheering.
→ Your older self is counting on you.

You are the bridge
between who you were
and who you will become.

Keep building.
Even when no one is watching.
Especially then.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs it
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Seven things that might matter more

For much of my life, I measured myself
through the eyes of others.

“They’re judging me.”
“They don't like me.”
“I look foolish.”

It was exhausting.

But I learned something powerful:
The moment you stop seeking validation
is the moment you begin to feel free.

Perspective shapes reality.

“They’re judging me” becomes
“I'm proud to be trying.”

“They’ll hate it” becomes
“I’m proud of what I’ve created.”

“I look foolish” becomes
“I'm OK with being seen trying in public.”

Life isn’t defined by how others see us.
It’s defined by the story we tell ourselves.

When that story is built on respect,
purpose, and authenticity,
everything changes.

The loudest voices aren’t always the wisest.
The most important approval is your own.


❔What story will you tell yourself today? 


♻ Share if someone needs this reminder.
🔔 Follow me Lucas Bean for growth + purpose.

I’ve mistaken movement for momentum.
Being too busy, as if that’s winning.

It isn't.

I’ve seen teams sprint nonstop:

endless activity
new projects
new goals

And yet months later,
they wonder why nothing has changed.

Because motion isn’t momentum.
And being busy isn’t progress.

Speed is exciting.
It makes us feel like we’re ahead.

But without direction,
 you’re just running in circles, faster.

True momentum requires:

✅  Clear goals
✅ Aligned priorities
✅ Consistent execution

The ones who live their dreams
aren’t the fastest.

They’re the most focused.

💡 Progress isn’t about speed.
 It’s about moving forward with intention.


👉 Do you ever confuse busy with progress?


♻ Share this with someone chasing clarity

🔔 Follow me (Lucas Bean) leadership + growth

Increase your luck surface area by showing up


90% of success is literally just showing up.

So create your own luck 

How many:

days
weeks
months
decades

were they showing up consistently? 

They showed up everyday and you call it luck?

It only takes that one time to land an opportunity of a lifetime or to miss it. 

Be consistent.


Follow me Lucas Bean for more

What People Think Marketing Is:

→ Cold emails
→ Pop-up ads
→ PR headlines
→ Trendy logos
→ Funny TikToks
→ Clever taglines
→ TV or radio spots
→ Weekly newsletters

What Marketing Really Is:

 → Split testing
 → Earning trust
 → Crafting offers
 → Guiding prospects
 → Tracking data + ROI
 → Mapping experiences
 → Building communities
 → Knowing buyer behavior

And that’s just the start.
Most assume marketing is about being loud, catchy or viral.

But real marketing isn’t surface-level.

It’s about creating trust,
guiding decisions,
and building relationships that last.

♻ Repost if you agree 
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undefined undefined

Be brave enough to suck at something new 


Scared to:

→ write that article 
→ publish that video
→ post that comment 
→ send that DM to someone
→ Just do it and figure it out later


Your goals should be that of action:

→ have a sense of urgency
→ take action instead of overthinking
→ Focus on the future, not on the past 
→ plan 20% and execute 80% of the time

A ship does not sail on yesterday's wind. 

________________________________

♻️ share to help others take the leap

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People won't remember how much money you made
but 

they will remember how you made them feel.

Anyone can show off their success.
Very few know how to get the best out of people.

This is how Emotionally Intelligent leaders lead:

✅ Make sure everyone feels safe to speak
❌ Don’t speak over people during meetings
➟ Let introverts shine here 

✅ Invest in building relationships that drive team results
❌ Don’t only focus on the core results
➟ build team confidence, everyone wins 

✅ Highlight the whole team and their wins
❌ Don’t take credit for other peoples work
➟ When they are shown winning, you win

✅ Listen to listen first, speak to understand
❌ Don’t push the company agenda at all costs
➟ Let people take ownership on execution 

To get the best out of your team:

1. Give real recognition, not just a pat on the back
 ➟ be specific with your praise
 ➟ Explain how they contributed 

2. Make 1:1's an employee first meeting
 ➟ Ask what you can do for them
 ➟ Don't make this a micro-management meeting 

3. Make an effort to get to know your people 
 ➟ Not all want the spotlight 
 ➟ Everyone does want to know they are doing well 

4. Don't fix the blame, fix the problem 
 ➟ People won't take risk if you react out of emotion 
 ➟ Go over what happened and mutually agree on next steps

Emotionally intelligent leaders get better results. 

When people are appreciated
they wake up with a purpose 
and motivation to do 
their best work

When the team is shown winning in public,
You are shown winning in private.

P.S: Which one is your favorite? 
Tell me in the comments below 👇 

 ♻️ Repost to help your network grow 
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The average person sits for 12 hours a day 
(Moving will increase your EQ)


Research shows that people who engage in regular physical activity 
will have higher levels of emotional intelligence


So here are 15 habits to increase your emotional intelligence:

1. Dedicate at least 30 mins to physical activity daily.
2. Use a fitness tracker to monitor your daily steps.
3. Participate in group fitness classes for motivation.
4. Use a standing desk while working.
5. Hold meetings while walking instead of sitting.
6. Go outside during lunch when the weather is nice.
7. Challenge yourself by setting achievable fitness goals.
8. Choose stairs over elevators whenever possible.
9. Walk or bike to work if feasible.
10. Incorporate stretching exercises into your daily routine.
11. Stand up and stretch every hour.
12. Use apps or alarms to remind you to move every hour.
13. Engage in active family outings like hiking or biking.
14. Dance to your favorite music as a fun way to get moving.
15. Do simple exercises like leg lifts or seated marches at your desk.

A sedentary lifestyle is also a silent killer,
that takes away our health every day we don't move.

The less time you spend sitting during the day,
the better your chances of living a healthy life. 🙏

♻️ Repost this to spread the message
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7 Simple Rules to Live an Amazing Life: 
(number 2 is my favorite) 

1. Let it go
↳Don't take yourself too serious 
↳ Don'r ruin a good day by thinking about a bad day

2. Ignore them 
↳ Don't listen to what other people think of you
↳ People want you to succeed but not more than them

3. Give it time
↳ Give it time, time heals all 
↳ People act out of emotions, don't let them affect you

4. Don't compare 
↳ Don't compare you act 1 to another act 13
↳ The people you compare yourself to are only human

5. Stay Calm
↳ Stay calm, its ok to not have everything figured out
↳ It's a super power to be calm when others are are upset 

6. It's on you
↳ You are 100% responsible for your life 
↳ Harsh truth, no one is coming to save you

7. Smile 
↳ You will never be as young as you are now
↳Life is short, enjoy the moment, this time right now


Which is your favorite? 
Tell me below  ↓ 



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7 simple rules for an amazing life

Who you spend time with matters more than you think.

If you surround yourself with people who:

→ Aim higher than you do
→ Push beyond what feels “comfortable”
→ Dream so big it feels almost unrealistic

Something powerful happens:
 
- Your own vision expands
- Your own standards rise
- Your own belief grows

It’s not magic, it’s proximity.

 We absorb the energy, habits and mindset of those people.

📊 Research backs this up too.
Sit near a high performer → your output rises.
Sit near a low performer → your results drop.

The same principle applies in life:

 • In the gym → Train next to disciplined lifters.
 • In work → Work with people who challenge you.
 • In life → live with those who live with purpose.

But the opposite is also true.

 Stay too long in small rooms with small dreams…
 your ambition shrinks to fit those rooms.

So ask yourself:

Who’s in your circle?
 Do they lift your vision higher or lower it?

Choose people who fuel your drive, not drain it.
Because ambition spreads.

And the right company can change your trajectory.

♻️ Repost this if it resonated.
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The best sales people don’t pitch first.
 They ask smarter questions.

Here are the top 7 Socratic Sales Questions to win:

1. “What’s stopping you from fixing this already?”
 What it means: Reveals the real blockers behind inaction.

2. “What happens if you don’t fix this?”
 What it means: Surfaces urgency and the cost of doing nothing.

3. “What have you already tried, and why didn’t it work?”
 What it means: Shows what failed and where you can stand out.

4. “What would fixing this look like if it worked?”
 What it means: Helps them visualize success emotionally.

5. “Why does this matter to you now?”
 What it means: Exposes timing, urgency, and hidden triggers.

6. “What needs to happen for you to say yes?”
 What it means: Moves from pitching to co-creating the solution.

7. “Who else cares about this problem?”
 What it means: Reveals stakeholders and how deep the pain runs.

💡 Ask better questions.
 You’ll sell without sounding like you’re selling.

👉 Which one do you already use in your calls?

♻ Repost to help someone sharpen their sales
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The toughest truth about being a creator
(and all the future creators out there):

Not everyone will celebrate your growth.
Some will only remember the old version of you.
Others will feel uneasy when you outgrow their expectations.

Not everyone will want to collaborate with you. 
Some will see you as competition and ignore you. 


But being a creator is an evolution. 

You’ll be:
↳ Breaking free from old mindsets
↳ Replacing habits that no longer serve you
↳ Making calls others can’t see or won’t understand

And yes… it can get crazy lonely.
↳ Some will question your choices
↳ Some will try to hold you in the past
↳ A few might even resent your momentum

But you didn’t work this hard to stay the same.

5 ways to grow without losing clarity:

1. Release outdated expectations
➟ You don’t owe loyalty to your past self.
➟ You only owe loyalty to the person you’re becoming.

2. Audit your values regularly
➟ Growth means refining what matters most. 
➟ Stay anchored, but never stuck.

3. Explain the “why”
➟ When you pivot, bring people along. 
➟ Don’t just change connect the dots for them.

4. Choose your circle wisely
➟ Remove people who ask “Why change?”
➟ Surround yourself with people who ask, “What’s next?” 

5. Trust the long game
➟ Growth doesn’t always look like progress in the moment but it compounds.
➟ You’re not supposed to be the same creator you were last year.

 The right people will meet you where you are now not where you used to be.
So keep evolving. 

Keep pushing forward.
 Your next chapter is waiting.

Which version of you are you building next? Tell me below 👇 

♻ Repost to inspire a leader in your network
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5 Stoic Principles to live a better life:
(And how to apply them daily)


Simple mindset shifts can create powerful changes in your life.


Marcus Aurelius, Rome’s most powerful man, used these principles to stay calm, clear, and in control. 

Now you can use them to: 


1. Control your thoughts
↳ Negative thoughts distort reality and fuel suffering.
↳ Say: “This is temporary. I’m in control of how I view it.”


2. Control your reactions
↳ You can’t control events, only your response.
↳ Say: “I choose how I react—calmly and with perspective.”


3. Appreciate beauty
↳ Overthinking blinds you to joy.
↳ Say: “This moment is enough. Look up, breathe, be here.”


4. Separate facts from meaning
↳ Most things are just opinions, not truth.
↳ Say: “Let me verify before I react or assume.”


5. Don’t seek revenge
↳ Wasting energy on payback keeps you stuck.
↳ Say: “Living well is the only revenge that matters.”


Mastering these five will help you stay unshaken in a chaotic world.


♻️ Repost to help someone in your community. 
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Five tips for a better life for Marcus Aurelius

Why First Movers Often Win 
(It’s NOT always quality)

We like to believe the best product always wins.

It’s the first product people remember wins 
Being first in awareness often beats best quality.


Think about it:
→ The first name in a category becomes default 
→ Competitors fight uphill to steal market share
→ Customers go with familiar not always superior

Winning attention matters more 
than a perfect product. 


The strategy is simple:
Minimum viable product 
Get it out there fast and test it 
You could become the industry standard. 


→ Capture awareness now.
→  Perfect the product later. 


Done now, is often better than done perfect later. 

No one is impressed with your perfectionism. 

Do you agree? Tell me below 👇 

♻️ Share this with a perfectionist you know 
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0 quotes to make quick work of Mondays:
(# 10 is my favorite) 

1: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
↳ Passion fuels consistency and quality.
↳ Without love, work becomes a grind.


2. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
↳ Don’t wait—build what you envision.
↳ Ownership beats guessing.


3. “The difference between ordinary & extraordinary is that 
little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
↳ Going 10% further sets you apart.
↳ Details separate leaders from the crowd.


4. “Never give up on your dreams, no matter how impossible
they may seem.” – Walt Disney
↳ Resilience turns vision into reality.
↳ Doubt kills more dreams than failure.


5. “The only person you are destined to become 
is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
↳ Identity is a daily choice.
↳ Intention creates direction.


6. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
↳ Start before you feel ready.
↳ Movement beats perfection.


7. “The only way to fail is to give up.” – Winston Churchill
↳ Keep going—progress is built through effort.
↳ Quitting is the only dead end.


8. “The best way to learn is by doing.” – Aristotle
↳ Action creates clarity.
↳ You can’t think your way to mastery.


9. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow 
will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
↳ Belief shapes outcomes.
↳ Doubt delays action.


10. “Show up where you don’t belong because 
one day, you will.” – Lucas Bean
↳ Confidence is built through showing up.
↳ Belonging starts with courage.


♻️ Share to help your community
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10 quotes to make quick work of Mondays

Here is a list of things that are not doing the thing:

“Preparing to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.

Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on yourself for not doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on other people who have done the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how other people did the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.” 

— Strangest Loop

Now go do the thing

Ferenc Fekete

Helping non-tech Founders transform Ideas into SaaS products @ VeryCreatives | Product Agency, SaaS & MVP Development | Startups

I've watched many startup founders fail at the same exact point: turning their validated idea into actual software.

They waste months (or even years):
→ Trying to hire the right developers
→ Burning cash on poor planning and execution
→ Second-guessing every technical decision along the way

Meanwhile, competitors move faster, investors demand traction, and the pressure to deliver keeps building more and more.

After watching this pattern destroy countless promising startups, we built VeryCreatives to fix it.

But here's what makes us different:

We don't just build your MVP and disappear. We're product people who think like founders, not just developers who code to spec.

👉 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵: We start by pressure-testing your assumptions before writing a single line of code. If the market doesn't want it, we'll tell you straight.

👉 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲: We build like it's our own startup, obsessing over user experience, scalability, and investor readiness from the first sprint.

👉 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱: Whether you're at napkin sketch or Series B, we've been there. We've helped founders go from zero to acquisition, and we stick around for the entire journey.

For the past 14 years, we've built products for venture-backed startups, fast-growing scale-ups, and globally recognized brands like Red Bull, Nestlé, and Philips.

The startups we work with have:
✅ Launched investor-ready MVPs in under 90 days
✅ Secured funding from top-tier investors and VCs
✅ Scaled from first users to thousands of paying customers
✅ Successfully exited to strategic acquirers

Got a SaaS idea that's been sitting in your head for months? 
Let's map out your 90-day path to launch → https://verycreatives.com/book-a-call

Co-Founder

At VeryCreatives, we are a team of expert developers who create powerful SaaS apps that solve problems and drive growth for founders with initial funding. We believe in empowering our clients with innovative software that helps them achieve their goals and stand out in their industry.

Our audience consists of driven and ambitious founders who have just received initial funding for their startup. They are looking for a software development partner who understands their vision, can help bring their ideas to life, and deliver results that will help them achieve their business goals.

Founders with initial funding have a pressing need to build their product quickly and efficiently to maximize their chances of success. At VeryCreatives, we understand this need and are dedicated to creating high-quality SaaS apps that not only meet their requirements but also exceed their expectations. We are committed to delivering value and results that help our clients succeed.

VeryCreatives stands out in the market for our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the needs of our clients. Our unique approach to software development, coupled with our expertise and commitment to excellence, is what drives us to provide outstanding results to our clients.

Industries our clients operate in, using the SaaS products we've built: 
- Digital marketing, Event marketing & Influencer marketing SaaS
- Foodtech & Delivery 
- Fintech, Banking & Investments
- 2-sided marketplace platforms
- Agriculture & Livestock management
- Packaging compliance & Waste

Markets we cover: UAE, EU, UK, US.

The UK is shipping world-class SaaS 🇬🇧

Here's 20 UK startups and the core feature that makes each one worth watching:

Attio (Nicolas Sharp) → AI-native CRM that auto-enriches contacts in real time. ARR quadrupling YoY.

Synthesia (Victor Riparbelli) → Text-to-video with 230+ AI avatars in 140+ languages. $180M Series D.

PolyAI (Nikola Mrkšić) → Voice AI that handles live customer calls in 45 languages. Backed by Nvidia.

Xelix (Paul Roiter) → AI agents for Accounts Payable. Processes 115M+ invoices per year.

Granola (Christopher Pedregal) → AI meeting notepad. Auto-generates structured notes and action items from calls.

Vertice (Eldar Tuvey) → SaaS spend platform that auto-negotiates your renewals. 437% growth rate.

Signal AI (David Benigson) → Real-time monitoring across millions of sources for reputation and regulatory risk.

Plain (Simon Rohrbach) → API-first support where AI agents resolve tickets autonomously. Used by Vercel and Cursor.

Griffin (David Jarvis) → UK's first full-stack Banking-as-a-Service with a full banking license.

Primer (@Paul Anthony) → Single API connecting 100+ payment processors with no-code routing.

hyperexponential (​Amrit Santhirasenan) → No-code pricing models for commercial insurers. Backed by a16z.

Raycast (Thomas Paul Mann) → Keyboard-first productivity launcher. 800+ app integrations with built-in AI.

StackOne (Romain Sestier) → One API to connect 200+ enterprise SaaS integrations. Built for AI agents.

Lindus Health (Meri Beckwith) → Runs full clinical trials 3x faster than traditional CROs.

Metaview (Siadhal Magos) → Auto-generates structured interview notes from live conversations. Used by Sony and Brex.

Sylvera (Allister Furey) → Satellite imagery and ML to rate the actual quality of carbon credits.

Robin AI (Richard Robinson) → LLM trained on 2M+ contracts. Reviews and negotiates legal docs for UBS and Pfizer.

BVNK (Jesse Hemson-Struthers) → Stablecoin payment infrastructure for cross-border business transactions.

Shop Circle (Luca Cartechini) → AI-powered suite for Shopify merchants. Inventory, SEO, analytics in one dashboard.

Tessl (Guy Podjarny) → Forces AI coding agents to write specs before generating code. Prevents hallucinations.

Every one of these started with a sharp product decision: solve one problem exceptionally well, then expand.

What UK startup has caught your eye recently?

Launch products customers love, then exit | 5x exits, $100M ARR created for founders

I’ve developed products for 5x exits

Shock: Don't hire a developer in 2026

Every week, a non-technical founder asks me: "Where do I find good developers?"

My answer: "Why do you need one?"

Usually they don't. Not yet.

Before you hire a developer, you need:

1. Validated problem

→ Real people willing to pay. Not just "interested."


2. Clear scope

→ What are you building? What are you NOT building?


3. User journey mapped

→ Every screen. Every interaction. Every edge case.


4. Prioritized features

→ What's V1 vs V2 vs never?

Without these, you'll waste $15-20k per month while you "figure it out."

If you DO need a developer:

Red flags:

→ Promises fast/cheap (you'll pay later)
→ Doesn't ask about your business model
→ Jumps straight to coding
→ Can't explain trade-offs in plain English

Green flags:

→ Asks more questions than you expect
→ Pushes back on features
→ Talks about users, not just tech
→ Shows similar work (not just "we can do that")

The best developers will tell you what NOT to build.

"The project will cost $50k." - Developer
 
3 months later: $120k. Sh*t. What happened?

Every non-technical founder has heard this: "It will take longer than expected."

But you can prevent it (with some high-school math)

Here's how to build an accurate cost forecast:

Step 1: Break it down absurdly small

Not "user authentication: $5k"

But:

→ Login page design: $500
→ Login backend: $1k
→ Password reset flow: $1.5k
→ OAuth integration: $2k
→ Security testing: $500


Step 2: Add complexity multipliers

→ Simple feature: 1x
→ Medium complexity: 1.5x
→ Complex/uncertain: 2x
→ Integration with third parties: 2.5x


Step 3: Add the "unknown unknowns" buffer

→ New team: +30%
→ Existing team, new domain: +20%
→ Experienced team, known domain: +10%


Step 4: Phase the budget

→ Phase 1: Core features (40% of budget)
→ Phase 2: Secondary features (30% of budget)
→ Phase 3: Polish and optimization (20% of budget)
→ Buffer: (10% of budget)


Step 5: Define cut points

If Phase 1 goes over, what do you cut from Phase 2?

Decide BEFORE you're in crisis mode.


The rule:

If you haven't scoped it in detail, you haven't scoped it.

And if you haven't scoped it, any number is a guess.

So…

Maybe pause that developer project.

Mixpanel is the only company I've seen do this 🔥

They’re putting client logos directly on each pricing tier. 

I think this is smart for a few reasons:

1. Trust at the decision point

You're comparing plans. You're about to pick one.

That's exactly when you see the logos. Trust increases right when it matters most.


2. Self-comparison kicks in

When you see "Uber uses the Growth plan" and "CNN uses Enterprise," you start asking yourself:

→ Which companies are like mine?
→ What plan are they on?
→ Should I be on that too?


3. The proof matches the buyer

→ Startups see startup logos on the Starter tier.
→ Enterprises see enterprise logos on the Enterprise tier.
→ Each plan has its own social proof. Not one generic "10,000 companies trust us" claim.

Small detail. Probably moves conversions more than most people realize.

Have you seen other SaaS companies doing this?

I've been part of 5 SaaS acquisitions.

Here's what buyers discuss privately:

When a company gets acquired, founders focus on revenue, growth metrics, and the pitch.

But after the presentation, when the acquirer's technical team goes back to their office, the conversation shifts completely.

I've seen this happen five times now. The questions they ask each other are almost always the same:

→ "Can we maintain this code without them?"

If the answer is no, the price drops or the deal dies. One of our clients got acquired by Adesso ($1.3B IT company) and one of the deciding factors was code quality. Their team reviewed the codebase and actually kept us as the development partner post-acquisition.


→ "How much technical debt are we inheriting?"

Every shortcut the original team took becomes a line item on a spreadsheet. They calculate what it costs to fix and deduct it from the offer. This can knock six figures off valuations.


→ "Can this handle 10x the current load right now?"

Not after a rebuild. Right now, as-is. If the answer requires re-architecting, that's another cost they subtract.


→ "Is the data clean enough to migrate?"

Messy data means months of integration work on their side. They price that in aggressively.


→ "What happens when the founders walk away?"

If all the product knowledge lives in two people's heads with nothing documented, the acquirer just bought a risk.


Most non-technical founders don't think about any of this until they're already in due diligence. By then the damage is done.

Build like someone's reviewing your codebase tomorrow. After 13 years, I've watched acquisition offers show up when founders least expect them.

What would you want to clean up in your tech stack before a buyer looked at it?

I run a 28-person agency. I used to feel guilty about an ‘empty calendar’ on a Monday. Now I try cancel all of my meetings:

And it’s helped us grow revenue 30%+.

Previously I was in every delivery meeting, every project review, every standup at VeryCreatives.

I thought I had to be in the room for things to run.

Now, our fantastic Head of Delivery meets with the PMs directly. 

And an ‘empty calendar’ means brain space to strategise on growth.

Here's what my Monday looks like now:

1. Strategy session with my co-founder Mate
→ Previous week, pipeline, finances, what's planned
→ Keeps us both aligned so neither of us needs to check in again all week

2. Sales sync
→ New leads, who handles what, timing

3. Afternoon: wide open
→ This is the whole point
→ We use that time to plan new internal tools, shape future services, figure out where we're going next

By lunchtime, the operational part of my day is done.

Everything after that is thinking time.

What's one meeting you could delete from your Monday to create space?

I've helped 5 SaaS products exit. 

Here's what acquirers actually looked at:

5 years ago, a product we developed sold to Adesso ($1.3BN/year IT business).

One of the things they noted was that technical build was a factor in acquisition.

Main problem:

Non-technical founders MOSTLY don’t think about how to build the technical foundation for exit from day 1.

Then in the event of acquisition they scramble to make the product "acquirable" and wonder why due diligence takes forever.

Here's what acquirers evaluate:

1. Code quality

Can they maintain it without you?

I've seen acquirers keep the original dev team post-acquisition specifically because the code was clean. 

Red flags they look for:

→ No documentation
→ No tests
→ Spaghetti architecture
→ Single points of failure


2. Technical debt

How much will it cost to fix?

Every shortcut you take today becomes a negotiating chip against you later.


3. Scalability

Can it handle 10x users?

Not "can we rebuild it to handle 10x." Can it handle 10x NOW?


4. Data integrity

Is the data clean? Structured? Portable?

Messy data = massive integration costs = lower valuation.


5. Team dependency

What happens if founders leave? Is knowledge in heads or in docs?

My ‘exit-ready’ lesson;

Build like someone's going to buy your company tomorrow.

Because if you do it right, they might.

Think about this while building the roadmap for your v1.

My 6-year old son tells $100M private equity firms if product ideas are ‘good’ (I’m serious).

If you can't explain your product to a 6-year old, I’ve got $100,000 on the fact that no one else will get it either.

I sit through dozens of product pitches every year.

The pattern is always the same:

Founder: "So basically, we're building a platform that leverages AI to optimize cross-functional workflows while integrating with existing enterprise systems to enable seamless collaboration and data-driven decision making."

Me: "What does it actually do?"

Founder: "...It helps teams share files."

The 6-year old test:

Can someone who has never heard of your product understand:

1. WHO it's for
2. WHAT problem it solves
3. WHY they should care

In 5 seconds?

If not, here's the formula that works:

"We help [specific person] [do specific thing] so they can [achieve specific outcome]."

Examples:

→ "We help freelancers send invoices so they get paid faster." 
→ "We help HR teams track applicants so they hire better candidates."

Trust me… my 6-year old is a great product idea validation filter.

Can you explain your product in one sentence?

Clay is one of the only companies I’ve seen do this 🔥

When you open the dashboard:

→ There's an AI chat text box.
→ It asks: "What do you want to build?"
→ You type your goal. It takes you to a chat screen. 
→ Then their AI (Sculptor) builds the workflow for you.

I think this solves three problems at once:


1. The blank canvas problem

Clay is powerful but notoriously hard to start with (lot’s of features).

Beginner users will open it, see an empty table, and don't know where to begin.

This prompt box removes that moment. 


2. Slow learning curve

A lot of tools teach you their features via an onboarding. 

But then over a few years they launch 10+ other features you have no clue how to use.

This Clay feature speeds up the learning curve:

→ You describe the outcome
→ The product figures out which features to use
→ You learn by watching it build


3. HUGE time and cost savings. 

For a lot of large products such as Clay, there are off shoots of service based agencies that build with the product for you.

Now you literally do not need to hire an agency.

The product builds what you need for you.

Making it more fun to use.

-

Have you seen other tools do this?

Why US innovation labs pay $500K for what Hungarian teams build for $100K (and get better results):

I just watched an enterprise innovation lab spend $500K on a product that never saw a single real user.

Then in same quarter, we shipped a similar concept for a German client. 

It took six weeks, it cost much less…. and in the end was live and taking payments vs the US one (zero payments).

The problem is US labs have been trained to solve every problem with a 20-person team.

Think about what happens when you have a massive budget:

→ You hire a product manager.
→ You hire three designers.
→ You hire a scrum master.
→ You hire eight developers.
→ You hire two QA engineers
→ And a DevOps team.

Everyone needs to justify their role. So they build. And build. And build.

👉 The PM adds features to show progress
👉 Designers polish screens nobody asked for
👉 Developers architect for scale you don't have
👉 QA tests edge cases that won't exist for years

Six months later, you have a beautiful product that solves nothing particularly well.

OR-

With that same $500k budget, you could run 10 separate validation sprints at $50k each. Even if 8 fail completely, you still walk away with 2 validated concepts to scale.

Compare that to putting the budget on one product that takes six months to discover nobody wants.

Agree or disagree?

Fireflies.ai hit a $1B valuation.

How to copy their MVP strategy:

Founders Sam Udotong and Krish Ramineni would dial into calls as "Fred from Fireflies.ai", sit silently, take notes by hand, and send them 10 minutes later.

They did 100+ meetings like this. Completely manual. 🤯

→ Zero development cost to validate
→ Learned exactly what users needed (by doing the job themselves)
→ Proved people would pay $100/month BEFORE investing in code
→ Only automated after hitting $750/month revenue

What I take from this:

Before you scope features, before you wireframe, before you hire anyone:

Can you deliver the core value manually? Without hiring any developers?

If yes, do that first. Talk to those customers. Understand the problem deeply.

Then build.

-

P.s.

We use Fireflies.ai at VeryCreatives.

We switched from Fathom because it felt more complete and could even log our internal calls in Hungarian. 🇭🇺

Could you imagine Fred joining your call to take notes?

What's stopping you from delivering your product's value manually this week?

Most launches fail in the handoffs. Here's the 20-minute test that catches them.

If we work together on a launch, I will ask you to do one thing that feels annoying:

Close Figma.

Forget your test accounts.

Take a brand new signup and do one complete job in one sitting:

👉Invite the teammates you expect them to invite.

👉Import the messy file they will actually import.

👉Hit the permission edges you are secretly hoping they never hit.

What I keep seeing is the same:

Teams test features in isolation because it feels faster.

Users live in journeys.

Journeys fail in the handoffs.

So, pick one job that really matters.

Time yourself doing it end to end on a fresh account.

Write down every time you pause, swear, or ping someone for help.

Fix the three worst moments before you celebrate anything.

It is not glamorous work, but it has saved more launches for us than any marketing campaign.

When's the last time you did a full journey test on a fresh account?

Hiring a developer is the most expensive mistake a non-technical founder can make. Do these 7 things to save $50k+ for your MVP (avoid Upwork/Fiverr):

1. Define your product strategy first

→ Spend 2-3 days defining exactly what you're building and why. 
→ Don’t scroll Upwork/Fiver for a developer.


2. Create detailed user journeys

→ Every screen. Every interaction. Every edge case.
→ If you can't draw it, you can't build it.
→ Otherwise you’ll end up trusting a developer with the entire thing.


3. Prioritize features ruthlessly

→ What's your V1? V2? Never?
→ Cut 50% of what you think you need.


4. Wireframe everything

→ Before design and before code. Do wireframes.
→ It’s cheap to change (trust me on that one). 


5. Weekly demos with the developer

→ See progress. Catch misunderstandings early.
→ Fast feedback loops save thousands.


6. Fixed scope, not fixed time

→ Tell the developer "Build these 10 features" not "work for 3 months."
→ Not "work for 3 months." or "work for 10 hours this week."


7. Kill features that aren't working

→ Sunk cost fallacy kills startups.


The math:

A few days of product strategy work upfront can prevent $50k-$100k in wrong features.

I've seen founders spend $80k building the wrong thing. Then start over.

Don't be that founder.

The fastest way to make $100k MRR with SaaS 

Copy all of your competitors features:

No, seriously.

But only once you take this into account.

Your competitor has 50 features. 
They’re proven over 5+ years.
They’re clearly making revenue.

Just copy them all right?

Here's the problem:

Your competitor built those 50 features over 5 years.

They added most of them because:

→ A big customer asked for it
→ Someone on the team thought it was cool
→ They were trying to justify a price increase

They probably regret half of them.

What to do instead:

1. Identify their core value proposition (usually 2-3 features)
2. Find which features their customers actually use (check G2 reviews, Reddit, support forums)
3. Identify what they do poorly (read 1-star reviews)
4. Build that. Better.

Don't compete on feature count. 

You'll lose.

Compete on solving one problem exceptionally well.

What's the one thing your competitor does that you could do 10x better?

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