Startups For the Rest of Us
Episode 803 | 8 Key Takeaways From MicroConf Europe 2025
AI Summary
Rob Walling and Laura Sprinkle recap MicroConf Europe 2025 in Istanbul, describing the friendly, diverse crowd and the value of off‑stage networking and excursions. They highlight standout sessions on AI, lifecycle marketing, affiliate programs, and scaling SaaS to $2M ARR, featuring insights from speakers like Marc Thomas, Einar Volset, and Kevin Sahin. The episode distills eight practical takeaways—from leveraging AI and affiliate channels to mastering buyer psychology and community‑driven growth—offering actionable advice for founders looking to scale their software businesses.
Why It Matters
The insights illustrate how emerging SaaS founders can leverage AI, affiliate channels, and community networking to accelerate growth, making MicroConf a catalyst for scalable revenue. Understanding these tactics helps investors and founders prioritize proven growth levers.
Episode Description
What's it really like to attend MicroConf?
In this episode, Rob Walling and Laura Sprinkle, founder of Rootabl, recap MicroConf Europe 2025 in Istanbul. They discuss the MicroConf vibe, standout talks on AI, affiliate marketing, and SaaS growth, as well as the value of networking and connecting while getting outside the conference room.
Topics we cover:
(5:01) – The friendly, diverse MicroConf crowd
(8:06) – Impressions on Istanbul
(9:24) – Marc Thomas on lifecycle marketing
(11:34) – Michelle Hansen & John Knox on networking
(13:04) – MicroConf Excursions
(16:45) – Einar Volset on SaaS Buyers
(20:27) – Rob’s AI talk
(23:27) – Laura’s talk about affiliate programs
(24:47) – Jesse Schoberg on ranking in ChatGPT and Google's AI
(26:31) – Attendee-Led Workshops
(27:58) – Kevin Sahin’s unfiltered lessons scaling to $2M
(31:12) – James Mooring’s journey to $2M ARR
Links from the Show:
Get your Ticket for MicroConf - Portland, Oregon, on April 12 -14, 2026 | Use promo code ROB50 for $50 off your ticket.
TinySeed
Join MicroConf Connect
Deploy Empathy by Michelle Hansen
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
There’s ONLY 5 Ways to Use AI in SaaS (prove me wrong)
Rob Walling (@robwalling) | X
Rootabl
Laura Sprinkle | LinkedIn
Laura Sprinkle (@imlaurasprinkle) | 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!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
Show Notes
What's it really like to attend MicroConf?
In this episode, Rob Walling and Laura Sprinkle, founder of Rootabl, recap MicroConf Europe 2025 in Istanbul. They discuss the MicroConf vibe, standout talks on AI, affiliate marketing, and SaaS growth, as well as the value of networking and connecting while getting outside the conference room.
Topics we cover:
-
(5:01) – The friendly, diverse MicroConf crowd
-
(8:06) – Impressions on Istanbul
-
(9:24) – Marc Thomas on lifecycle marketing
-
(11:34) – Michelle Hansen & John Knox on networking
-
(13:04) – MicroConf Excursions
-
(16:45) – Einar Volset on SaaS Buyers
-
(20:27) – Rob’s AI talk
-
(23:27) – Laura’s talk about affiliate programs
-
(24:47) – Jesse Schoberg on ranking in ChatGPT and Google's AI
-
(26:31) – Attendee-Led Workshops
-
(27:58) – Kevin Sahin’s unfiltered lessons scaling to $2M
-
(31:12) – James Mooring’s journey to $2M ARR
Links from the Show:
-
Get your Ticket for MicroConf - Portland, Oregon, on April 12 -14, 2026 | Use promo code ROB50 for $50 off your ticket.
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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