saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies.
In episode #21, Anna Nadeina talks with Augustin, Co-founder and CEO at Weglot, a translation tool that lets you convert your content into more than a hundred languages.
Augustin Prot transitioned from a career in finance, specifically in mergers and acquisitions, to the tech industry when he co-founded Weglot in 2015. His initial experience in finance provided him with a solid foundation in understanding business models and investor expectations. However, it was the opportunity to solve a real problem that drew him to Weglot’s mission.
His co-founder, Remy, faced significant challenges while trying to translate his first startup’s content, which sparked the idea for Weglot. Augustin resonated with the problem and decided to partner with Remy to create a solution that would simplify the translation process for websites.
The Early Days of Weglot
In the early stages of Weglot, Augustin and Remy worked without a formal legal entity for six months. During this time, they focused on finding users and potential customers to validate their idea. This period of experimentation was crucial in determining whether they could build a viable product that met market needs.
One of the challenges they faced was the temptation to build too many features at once or to target too broad a market. However, thanks to Remy’s previous experience as a founder, they avoided many common pitfalls. For instance, they initially focused on integrating Weglot with popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Shopify before realizing the need to offer a more universal solution.
Understanding Mistakes and Learning from Them
As a first-time founder, Augustin learned valuable lessons from their mistakes. One significant misstep was their attempt to expand too quickly into multiple integrations with various web technologies. After a few months of effort without traction, they recognized the need to pivot and concentrate on their core product instead.
Augustin credits their ability to adapt and learn quickly as key factors in Weglot’s success. By focusing on a robust business model and understanding their customers’ needs, they positioned Weglot for growth.
Raising Capital and Financial Education
Augustin’s background in finance played a role in their fundraising efforts. While it provided him with a basic education in financial matters and the language to communicate with investors, he believes the robustness of Weglot’s business model was the primary factor in attracting investment. They successfully raised funds from a business angel club and later worked with an M&A firm to facilitate their second round of financing.
Company Culture and Employee Retention
Weglot has fostered a strong company culture with a remarkable retention rate of 100% after the trial period. Augustin emphasizes the importance of hiring the right people and ensuring they have clear roles and responsibilities from the outset. This approach minimizes the risk of having to let employees go due to poor performance or unclear expectations.
The company also promotes a healthy work-life balance, exemplified by their decision to implement a four-day workweek. This initiative has resulted in improved employee happiness and, interestingly, better sales metrics.
The Mechanics of Weglot
Weglot simplifies the translation process for websites, making it accessible to marketers and content creators rather than just web developers. By integrating with a website at the DNS level, Weglot can provide translations quickly and efficiently. Users can easily manage translations in real time, ensuring that their content remains accurate and relevant across different languages.
Leveraging AI in Translation
AI has always been a part of Weglot’s offering, as they utilize machine translation providers to deliver initial translations. Augustin notes that they continually seek to improve their service by integrating new AI providers as they emerge in the market. Additionally, they are working on enhancing the user experience by incorporating AI features that suggest better translations within their platform.
Customer Acquisition Strategies
Weglot’s customer acquisition strategy has evolved significantly since its inception. Initially, they focused on small businesses and solopreneurs, but they have since expanded to serve larger companies and SMBs. Their marketing efforts are primarily aimed at being discoverable by potential customers searching for translation solutions online.
Augustin highlights the importance of SEO and being active in website communities as key components of their marketing strategy. By engaging with users in these communities, Weglot has built a reputation and gained traction in the market.
Key Takeaways for SaaS Founders
Augustin’s journey with Weglot offers several key takeaways for aspiring SaaS founders:
- Focus on solving real problems that resonate with users.
- Be adaptable and willing to pivot based on market feedback.
- Foster a strong company culture that prioritizes employee well-being.
- Utilize technology and AI to enhance the user experience continuously.
- Engage actively with communities and leverage SEO for customer acquisition.
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