453: StackAI: From MIT PhD to 7-Figure Enterprise AI Platform - with Bernard Aceituno

Bernard Aceituno went from PhD research at MIT to founding StackAI, a no-code AI platform that's now generating 7-figures in ARR with over 100 enterprise customers and $16M raised. In this episode, Bernard shares how he pivoted from academia to entrepreneurship, why his first product wasn't solving the right problem, and how a perfectly-timed MVP launch on Hacker News created overnight demand. He explains the painful lessons of chasing too many customer segments before finding focus with enterprise IT teams. You'll learn: What signals showed Bernard it was time to pivot from dataset management to workflow automation Why chasing too many ICPs nearly derailed the company and how they found focus How posting a scrappy MVP on Hacker News created 20 customer meetings in just two days Why attempts at reseller channels failed and what Bernard learned from waiting too long to hire sales How focusing on enterprise IT unlocked large contracts and steady expansion inside customer accounts Full show notes → saasclub.io/453 This episode is brought to you by: 💖 Gearheart → Book a free strategy session + get 20% off select services Get weekly SaaS lessons and new founder stories → saasclub.io/email