Can churn ever be good in SaaS?

In this episode, Rob Walling is joined by fan favorite Derrick Reimer for a listener Q&A. They break down what it takes to compete with well-funded incumbents, how to decide whether to pivot or push forward, when a technical co-founder is truly necessary, the right time to think about trademarks, and the difference between “good churn” and “bad churn” especially when customers fall outside your ICP.

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Topics we cover:

(3:35) – Competing with well-funded incumbents
(12:47) – Should you focus on competitors or customers?
(20:20) – Pivot, press on, or move on: how to decide
(29:09) – Finding and vetting a technical co-founder or partner
(39:04) – When should you pursue trademarks?
(44:24) – Is churn ever good for a startup?

Links from the Show:

MicroConf US 2026 - Portland, Oregon - Use Promo Code ROB50 for $50 off.
MicroConf Connect
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)
SavvyCal
Derrick Reimer | LinkedIn
Derrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | X

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 801 | Competing Against Incumbents, Technical Co-Founders, Trademarks, and More Listener Questions with Derrick Reimer

Startups For the Rest of Us

Episode 801 | Competing Against Incumbents, Technical Co-Founders, Trademarks, and More Listener Questions with Derrick Reimer