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Boltt's Fractional Chief Revenue Officer Sanjit Singh on Hunting vs. Farming (CAC skill diff), Cut-Throat Pivoting to Fail Fast, and Founder Ownership & Accountability

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Q&A Interview: Boltt's Fractional Chief Revenue Officer Sanjit Singh & CEEATTLE's Founder Cee Ng
Q&A Interview: Boltt's Fractional Chief Revenue Officer Sanjit Singh & CEEATTLE's Founder Cee Ng
In this conversation, Cee Ng and Sanjit Singh delve into the critical aspects of sales and marketing for startups, focusing on the balance between acquiring new customers (hunting) and nurturing existing ones (farming). They discuss the importance of understanding the dynamics of customer relationships, the need for scalable sales strategies, and the real costs associated with neglecting current customers. The conversation emphasizes the significance of metrics like LTV and CAC, and how founders can leverage their existing customer base to drive growth.
In this article

In this conversation,⁠ Sanjit Singh⁠, a 5x Founder (3x successful exits), angel investor, and Fractional Chief Revenue Officer of Boltt,  shares his expertise on scaling sales and marketing in a startup environment. We’ll explore the key differences between “hunting” for new customers and “farming” existing relationships, with a focus on the skill sets required for each. Sanjit will also address the gap that founders, especially those from large corporate backgrounds like FAANG, often face when transitioning into startup life, and how they can bridge that gap to thrive in the startup grind.

Founders and executives tuning in will walk away with actionable advice on how to balance acquiring new customers with nurturing and retaining their existing base—vital for sustainable growth. Sanjit will share real-world examples of how to prioritize customer relationships, avoid the common pitfall of neglecting early supporters, and how treating every customer as your first or last can change your approach to sales and retention.

We’ll also dive into the challenges of pivoting in the startup world—how to make quick but impactful decisions, the risks of failing fast without adequate planning, and how to turn crises into opportunities for innovation. Sanjit and I will discuss how founders can avoid chasing after shiny new deals while neglecting the loyal customers who believed in them from the beginning—those who help keep the lights on.

Ultimately, the goal of our 30-minute conversation is to provide insights on how to lead with accountability, adapt to a mindset of rapid execution, and turn challenges into growth opportunities.

Episode 7: Boltt's Fractional Chief Revenue Officer Sanjit Singh on The CEEATTLE Podcast with Cee Ng

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Conversation with Cee:

  1. Hunting vs. farming (CAC skill diff)
  2. Cut-throat pivoting to fail fast
  3. Founder ownership & accountability

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding the difference between hunting and farming is crucial for founders.
  • Customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lifetime value (LTV) are key metrics for startups.
  • Founders must balance acquiring new customers with retaining existing ones.
  • Nurturing existing customers can lead to significant revenue growth.
  • Sales strategies should be scalable and repeatable for long-term success.
  • Experimentation is essential to find effective growth methods.
  • Building strong customer relationships can lead to referrals and testimonials.
  • Startups should focus on their core customers to maximize revenue.
  • The 80-20 rule applies: 20% of customers often generate 80% of revenue.
  • Founders need to be proactive in understanding their unit economics.

Connect with Cee:

  1. Book a 15-minute business transformation consultation with Cee
  2. Watch the episodes on YouTube
  3. Watch the episodes on Spotify
  4. Connect with Cee on LinkedIn
  5. The CEEATTLE Podcast Instagram
  6. Follow Cee on Instagram
  7. Sign up for Cee’s personal letter 
  8. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

  • 00:00 Introduction and Context Setting
  • 19:19 The Importance of Customer Relationships
  • 30:21 Scaling Sales: Strategies for Success
  • 37:45 Balancing Hunting and Farming

Featured Expert:

Credits

This episode is sponsored by CEEATTLE Fine Art (CFA), a premier art gallery that curates and sources original fine art for interior designers, architects, developers, and homeowners. CFA’s art consultants transform spaces into high-performing, luxury art experiences.

Discover and collect exclusive artwork from represented artists based in Seattle, San Francisco, Florida, Vancouver, and London. Each acquisition includes a Certificate of Authenticity with the original artwork.

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Cee Ng
Sanjit Singh