SaaStr 687: Building a Global SaaS Empire: Freshworks Founder & CEO Girish Mathrubootham on His Biggest Bets

Freshworks' journey involved several important bets, including the focus on inbound marketing, hiring talented individuals regardless of experience, going global through innovative cost structures, developing a multi-product suite, and aligning with core values, which contributed to its success. Takeaways • Freshworks' initial bet on inbound marketing, hiring, and global expansion laid the foundation for its growth and success. • The company's focus on hiring younger talent with a learning mindset and emphasizing inherent skills over experience allowed them to find exceptional candidates for various roles. • Freshworks recognized the importance of going global and building a multi-product company early on, leading to its distinctive market positioning and increased revenue streams. • The company's emphasis on core values and strengths, rather than solely relying on metrics, fostered a culture of craftsmanship and innovation. • Navigating the complexities of overlaying a field sales motion onto an existing inbound motion requires understanding different perspectives and addressing the underlying reasons for team members' suggestions. • Recognizing AI's potential as a disruptive force, Freshworks invested in AI technology to mitigate this threat and harness its value in understanding customers. • The five key bets that contributed to Freshworks' success are focusing on a large market, going global, investing in inbound marketing, hiring young talent with a learning mindset, and expanding into multiple products early.