Redefining SaaS Renewal Intelligence
From concept to first customer – Priviom was founded to tackle a growing challenge in the SaaS industry; businesses overspending on software due to lack of visibility into usage, costs, + renewals.
While many companies struggled with redundant tools, inefficient procurement, + auto-renewing contracts, Priviom provided a data-driven, product-led solution that empowered CFOs + CTOs to make informed decisions.
As Co-founder + Principal Designer, I was a player/coach in product strategy, UX/UI design, + brand identity, helping to build Priviom into an intuitive + scalable platform that seamlessly integrated with existing enterprise workflows.
Problem
With the rapid shift to SaaS subscriptions, companies struggle with:
Lack of Visibility: No clear picture of what software was in use across teams
Inefficient Renewals: Contracts auto-renewed without proper assessment
Redundant Tools: Overlapping applications with no centralized tracking
SMBs + mid-market companies, in particular, lacked the resources to manage software spend effectively, making automation + self-serve analytics critical for success.
Potential Solution
Priviom was designed to be self-serve from day one, enabling users to onboard quickly, derive immediate insights, + scale their usage over time.
Key Differentiators
Automated Data Collection: built browser extension that captures real-time usage data.
Instant Value Realization: AI-powered invoice extraction + spend categorization.
Scalable Onboarding: Low-touch, self-serve setup with guided workflows.
Network Effects: Embedded sharing features that encouraged internal adoption.
Go-to-Market
MVP Development + Iteration
Built first prototype in Bubble.io for rapid testing + iteration.
Shifted from no-code MVP to a scalable tech stack using RDS for performance optimization.
Developed an interactive dashboard that surfaced key SaaS spend + usage metrics.
Driving PLG Adoption
Frictionless Onboarding: Users could upload invoices + see immediate ROI insights.
Freemium-to-Paid Model: Initial insights were free, with deeper analytics behind a paywall.
Viral Loops: Encouraged cross-functional sharing of renewal insights within organizations.
Key Features Shipped
Tenant-based SaaS Catalog + Renewal Intelligence Dashboard providing real-time visibility into contract renewals
Sentiment Analysis Surveys automating AI-powered feedback collection
Usage Reports delivering real-time insights into actively paid applications + their user engagement.
Outcome
Raised $350K in pre-seed funding through Techstars + angel investors
Successfully onboarded Embark as a pilot customer, generating $14K in ARR
Helped early customers identify 15-25% in potential SaaS cost savings through renewal intelligence
Demonstrated product-market fit by securing interest from multiple mid-market IT leaders
Delivered strong early engagement, with over 60% of initial users returning to analyze spend trends
Validated PLG motion through steady self-serve signups + referral-driven adoption
$700K+ in Q124 Salesforce opportunities
Challenges + Learnings
Scaling No-Code MVP: Bubble.io provided speed but had limitations on scalability, requiring a migration
Customer Education: Many companies lacked structured SaaS spend data, making automated ingestion critical
PLG vs. Sales-Led Hybrid: While initial traction was driven by self-serve, enterprise deals required human touch
Founder Exit
Priviom successfully transitioned from an idea to a data-driven, PLG-powered SaaS within a year. By focusing on automation, instant value realization, + frictionless onboarding, we created a scalable product from an idea that resonated with CFOs, CIOs, Professional Services + Procurement teams.
The early traction validated our vision, but due to a combination of tech + market uncertainty + funding constraints, our ability was limited to scale customer adoption quickly enough to secure the next round of capital investment. Despite early traction, world-class team + a strong product vision, runway wasn’t sufficient to bridge the gap between MVP validation + adequate sustainable revenue growth.
